Poll closes on Friday: members urged to vote!
National Trust members and friends are urged to vote today to help decide which one of nine short-listed historic sites across Sydney will receive more than $185,000 in funding from the National Trust / American Express Partners in Preservation project. Visit the Partners in Preservation Website and vote for one or more of the following sites – Balmoral Beach Rotunda, Bondi Surf Pavilion, Bondi-Waverley School of Arts, Clifton Gardens Pool, Macquarie Obelisk, Sydney, Wireless House, Glebe, Mosman Cross Street Drill Hall, Sydney State Theatre Butterfly Room and Waverley Cemetery Gates. “The campaign will help preserve part of Sydney’s past for future generations,” says the National Trust of Australia (NSW) Executive Director, Tina Jackson. “The poll closes on 14 December, and we hope as many of our members and friends as possible will go online and cast their vote,” Ms Jackson said.

Peter FitzSimons National Trust Lecture tonight - Last minute tickets available at the door!
Peter FitzSimons, respected columnist for the SMH and Sun-Herald, presenter on Fox Sports, and 2UE broadcaster, has interviewed leaders and stars from around the globe and written 17 best-sellers, including biographies of Kim Beazley, Nancy Wake and Steve Waugh. In 2003, his book ‘Kokoda’ topped Australia’s non-fiction bestseller lists and in 2006 'Tobruk' sold 100,000 copies in hardback. The Lecture is a focal point for contemporary public debate on heritage, conservation, environmental and cultural issues. Join us to hear Peter FitzSimons speak about the places and stories in Australia that are important to him. Grand Ballroom, The Westin Sydney, 1 Martin Place, from 6.30pm, 10 December.
Last minute tickets available at the door, $28 National Trust members / $38 non-members.

Buildings, machines and ghosts: lecture at the National Trust Centre – Thursday 13 December
You are invited to attend a lecture presented by Associate Professor Lucy Taksa PhD on 'Buildings, machines and ghosts: finding value at the Eveleigh Railway Workshops’. Associate Professor Taksa is a leading expert on Industrial Heritage. The lecture will highlight her concern for the disappearing repository of human memories in Sydney. The lecture complements the Trust’s current exhibition: Trains, cranes & ships: Eveleigh Railway Workshop & The Hungry Mile by artist Jane Bennett who will also participate in the discussion. Time: 5.30 for 6pm. Entry by donation, with refreshments available. Please RSVP to Mara Barnes on 9258 0161. For more information please click here

Successful launch of National Trust Wine Service gives much needed help
The new National Trust Wine Service which was launched as an insert in the last NT Magazine and a personalised direct mailing has proved to be very popular amongst members and selected potential members. To date over 1,400 cases of wine have been sold. This is of great help for the National Trust as a percentage of every sale goes back to the Trust while the ongoing marketing costs are carried by our partners the Wine People. In addition the Trust has the opportunity of attracting new members to the Trust via marketing the service to selected audiences in the general marketplace. Feedback from members has been very positive about the quality, variety and value of the wines on offer. Please remember to ask all of your friends about trying the service. Thank you to all those who have supported the service, please consider reordering when your stocks need replenishing. Call 1300 551 668 to enquire or place an order today.

A Bush Christmas at Wirrimbirra Sanctuary – 15 December
Join in a true-blue Aussie celebration of Christmas in the beautiful bush land setting of Wirrimbirra. Sing along with your favourite carols, while Santa entertains the kids with treats. There will be plenty of hot and cold food for sale and a Christmas Raffle which will be drawn on the night. Entry by donation, to go to Wirrimbirra and the Wollondilly Country Music Club.