Orange Blossom Festival Returns to The Hills This September
By Councillor Mitchell Blue Orange Blossom Festival One of The Hills’ favourite community celebrations, the Orange Blossom Festival, returns this September with a packed month of events and activities across the region. A major highlight this year is the return of the Orange Blossom Festival Parade at Rouse Hill Town Centre on 19th September. Main […]
Nominations Open for 2027 Castle Hill Woman of the Year
Do you know a remarkable woman making a difference in our local community? Nominations are now open for the 2027 NSW Women of the Year Awards in the Castle Hill electorate. This is your opportunity to recognise a local woman who goes above and beyond to strengthen our community through leadership, service, or quiet dedication. […]
Orange Blossom Festival Returns in 2026
By Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne Our signature Orange Blossom Festival is back in 2026 with the return of three main events and a series of community events to kick off spring. Echoes – Moon Garden Nightly, Friday 18th September – Sunday 11th October 2026 | Bella Vista Farm After a hugely successful debut last year, […]
Local News from the Galston Area
By Councillor Jane Seaglove Hornsby Councillor Jane Seaglove shares local news updates on Galston’s drainage works, Aldi public toilets, and upcoming community events. Work has now moved into the next stage of the Galston drainage upgrade. While these projects can sometimes be disruptive in the short term, they are an important investment in the future of […]
Stronger Action Needed on Gang Violence
Families throughout the community are increasingly concerned by the surge in gangland violence across our city. When parents can be targeted during school pick-up, when brutal machete attacks occur in our suburbs, and when innocent family members become caught in the crossfire of organised crime disputes, it is clear that something is seriously wrong. As […]
Community Leaders Come Together for New Line Road Upgrade
I recently brought together community leaders and representatives from local schools, sporting clubs, cultural organisations, churches, and community associations to discuss the long-awaited widening of New Line Road. While the organisations represented different parts of our community, the message was remarkably consistent: congestion on New Line Road is worsening and the impacts are being felt by […]
Galston Community Bank Celebrates $4M Milestone
Four million dollars is a big number for a small branch. But at Galston Community Bank’s celebration on Friday 12th June, the bigger story wasn’t the total. It was what happens next. The branch, the first Community Bank to open in Sydney, marked the milestone with a modest gathering rather than a grand event: tea, […]
Cutting the Ribbon on New Classrooms Marks a Milestone for Warrah Students
Warrah is one of those special places in our community, providing a specialist school, housing and support services for children and adults with a range of disabilities. I was honoured to attend the official opening of two new purpose-built classrooms at Warrah Specialist School on 12th June. This well attended event marked the culmination of […]
Facing Natural Disasters Head-On in The Hills
Residents of The Hills know all too well that our region is no stranger to natural disasters. The repeated flooding of the Hawkesbury River in recent years has been a reminder of how quickly conditions can change—and how vital timely, reliable information becomes during an emergency. In the aftermath of those floods, many locals shared […]
Community Events and Strategic Planning Drive Strong Local Engagement
By Jane Seaglove, Hornsby Councillor This past month at Council has been a busy and productive one, with a range of initiatives and community events reflecting the diverse work taking place across the Shire. From strategic planning decisions to community celebrations and support programs, it has been encouraging to see strong local engagement throughout the […]