The Annandale Troll Edition 56

Gabrielle has written in asking what happened to the Annandale run club floated back in September. Has it got off the ground? If not, we’ll ‘run’ a poll next week to help connect those keen to join, or willing to help get it started.

Last week the hidden mailbox under the Johnston St bridge got an incredible facelift from a mystery maker, or two, it turns out. Paul did the build and Ihara did the install. Thank you both, it made my week :)

Since my dog passed earlier this year, I’m doing fewer walks and sometimes the rain gets to the mail before I do. So this is an official call-out: if your week takes you under the bridge, could you check the mailbox and send me what’s inside? Even better, you can add colour to it by writing or drawing the Troll’s reply.

PS: New here? The mailbox (under the bridge at the bottom of Johnston St) is where people of any age can leave something creative to be published.

The Nelson Lane tawny frogmouths have two chicks this year, both out of the nest and perched. If you'd like to say hello, the tip from the Annandale 2038 group is to walk to the gate at the top entrance of Spindler Park… and look up! Whites Creek is still waiting (with fingers crossed) for its family to appear.

If you're new to these birds, like I was, the Australian Museum has a great two-minute profile on them.

Ever wondered how Whites Creek Valley Park got its shape? Our Park, a 1998 doco by local filmmaker Gillian Leahy, follows the community working with Council to shape the park. The WAGDAGS film club is screening it on the 14th of Nov at Wagstaffe on the Central Coast, with Gillian there for a Q&A.

The story didn’t stop in 1988 though. If you’re keen to get involved, or just curious about what volunteers have been up to, Sally Gillespie has written an update on the recent volunteer work in the garden and the Food Forest on her Substack.

Two council deadlines are closing soon. Festive grants of up to $500 will cover free, public events in the Inner West Council area held between 1 and 25 Dec. The pot is $6,000 and is handed out as applications land, so don’t wait. Applications close at midnight this Sunday (8 Nov). Performers and stallholders can also apply for the 2027 Lunar New Year festivities in Ashfield, closing 15 Nov. Apply to both here.

Young Street was built in 1876 and still drains through its original sandstone kerb and gutters. In heavy rain, they can’t keep up. Council has now received five submissions asking it to build the Young Street stage of a $5.7m drainage plan, which would run a large stormwater pipe along Young, Albion, Ferris and Clarke streets and out into Whites Creek. (Source: Flood Management Meeting (4 Nov))

Sydney Water is working on the stormwater canal beside the Whites Creek Wetlands after a sewage leak turned up last Friday, 30 October. The leak is now fixed, but Council can't pump water into the wetlands while testing and clean-up continue. Council says its Urban Ecology team is watching water levels to make sure plants and wildlife aren't affected. (Source: Inner West Council news)

A letter received this week (see below) suggests the last sentence of this update might be a stretch.

That blue line

Back in August the Troll wondered whether the Olympic marathon ever ran through the Dale. Eileen remembers it.

Whites Creek Wetlands Watch

Ed: The wetlands saga has run since last summer. I do wonder if bringing back the caretaker's contract is on the cards?