Did you walk the Harbour Bridge on its 75th Anniversary, Sunday 18 March? That was also the first National Trust Awareness Day - we threw the Trust Centre on Observatory Hill open to tens of thousands of bridgewalkers who finished their crossing on our doorstep. Our exclusive Bridgewalk Certificates sold out, so we’re producing more due to unmet demand. It’s based on the original designed for the bridge’s opening in 1932. Printed on beautiful cream parchment colour paper, this is a memento to pass down the generations.  Click here to order and pay via credit card securely, call 02 9258 0123, or call in at the Trust Centre Observatory Hill. Cost: $5 per certificate; $5 flat fee for postage and certificate-safe packaging, for orders up to 20.

We face unprecedented climate change, rapid technological development, and seismic shifts in world power. What will be our future?

Purchase an elegant numbered Message to the Future Card by credit card now for $5 – just click here, or call 02 9258 0123. We send you the card, you compose your Message, send it back, and it goes in the National Trust Time Capsule. Write your message to a child, your older self, a future generation…  Add personal photographs. Put down your innermost thoughts for posterity. Thousands of messages including yours, those of the Trust Living Treasures, leaders, celebrities and schoolchildren will be buried in the Capsule at Observatory Hill in 2007 and unearthed in 2032, after one make-or-break generation, on the 100th anniversary of the Harbour Bridge. Track your card using the tear-off receipt. Selected entries (with permission) may be used in text and image artworks, projections and publications. This is a once-only opportunity to be part of a unique living history, a collective book of hopes and dreams. You’ll also help support the Trust’s work in conserving the environment and cultural heritage. Click here for more.

The Trust has urged Burwood Council to list the Shaftesbury East Study Area as an Urban Conservation Area on its Local Environmental Plan rather than individual properties within the area. While many properties are certainly worthy of individual listing they would be better preserved and presented within the context of similarly-scaled properties. The Area was listed by the National Trust in 1995.

The National Trust has strongly opposed proposed additions to the church hall adjoining St Peters Church, Watsons Bay which would fatally compromise the setting of the church. The addition would increase the area of the hall by 4.5 times  its existing size and would dominate the site.

The National Trust was disappointed to hear that plans for construction of the M6 through Royal National Park and the green corridors of Sutherland and Rockdale were again being promoted.  The duplication of the Cronulla to Sutherland railway line now being undertaken will have a greater potential to transport large numbers of people at lower cost to the environment and free up scarce road space.

The National Trust Corporate Breakfast series is commencing in 2007 with the Trust’s new President, John Niland AC, speaking at our new venue, the beautifully restored Tearoom, third floor of the Queen Victoria Building. Always hugely popular, the first Corporate Breakfast for 2007 will see John reflect on his current special interest in fostering the National Trust and its trinity of values – natural, built and cultural heritage – and his vision for the Trust as an enduring body with resourcing sustainability. Wednesday 11 April 7.30am – 9am, The Tearoom, Third floor, North End, Queen Victoria Building George St, Sydney. $80 per person. $60 Trust members. $600 for a table of ten. Click here to download the information flyer and booking form.
For more information please call Kylie Westaway on 02 9258 0181.

Children of all ages are invited to descend upon the shady glens and terraces of the National Trust’s Everglades Gardens. Children can win chocolate treats by competing in three legged, potato sack and wheelbarrow races, and by marching in the spectacular Great Easter Bonnet Parade. Pirates will be on hand to help start the races and there will be face painting, egg decorating and Easter bonnet decoration. Cost: Family of four, $26, single adult $8 and children $6. Everglades is located at 37 Everglades Ave, Leura. Enquiries: 02 4784 1938. Click here for more.

Each year our selectors go behind the scenes of the Art Gallery of NSW to choose an alternative selection of portraiture and landscapes from the Archibald and Wynne Prize entries. This ‘best of the rest’ exhibition, now in its 16th year, rivals the official prize show for popularity. Artists are invited to respond to their selected works at our Public Program each Sunday at 3pm. Come and vote in annual Holding Redlich People’s Choice Award. Principal Sponsor: Holding Redlich.
Click here for more information.

Enjoy a guided self-drive tour of architectural icons in Ku-ring-gai: inspect a private Art Deco residence, Killara Golf Club, Dormie House, spectacular Mahratta and finish off with a walk through the Blue Gum High Forest in St Ives. Meet at Killara Station, Pacific Highway side, at 9.45am. Morning tea at Killara Golf Club. Optional lunch at the Greengate Hotel, or bring your own picnic lunch. Cost $40 for NT members and Twentieth Century Heritage Society Inc members, $45 for non-members. Bookings essential. Call Zeny Edwards on  02 9402 7919 or email zenyedwards@hotmail.com.au

Miss Traill’s House and Garden is putting on a special National Trust pre-Easter pantomime this year. In The Magic Egg, all magical creatures have been put on a security alert at the 1845 colonial bungalow. Kids are asked to come to the Enchanted Garden and help Fleur, the magical guide, solve the mystery.  Tickets at the gate: adults $7, concession $6, children $5 and family (2 adults/2-3 children) $20. Gates open at 10am.

Join the After Hours Committee for a leisurely day with Wilderness Tours in the Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves.  Highlights include stops at Kings Tableland Rocky Lookout, the township of Leura, Three Sisters and Echo Point, a visit to the Chocolate Factory, and a stop at Govett’s Leap Lookout. Cost: $130pp all inclusive. For enquiries please call Tony Bastow: 0404 292 208; Ron Bottrill: 0418 112 018; or Pat Barling: 0414 702 677.

Discover the rich cultural heritage of Laos and Thailand on this deluxe 17 day tour visiting World Heritage Sites, museums, temples, palaces and destinations of great natural beauty. Join the world's most exotic train journey, Asia's Orient-Express, and enjoy a two day cruise on the Mekong River. Stay in splendidly refurbished colonial hotels. Enquiries: Clare Williams, Alumni Travel (02) 9290 3856. For more on National Trust Way tours visit http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au

The National Trust discover more member benefits program provides all of our members with fantastic discounts and special offers that can be redeemed everyday. You receive special prices on a wide range of products and services includin, accommodation, dining, flowers, magazines, wine, theatre performances and attractions around NSW and Tasmania. For more information visit about these offers visit http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/membership/morebenefits.asp

Classical music aficionado or not, the soaring notes of Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony are one of the most sublime and spiritual pieces of music ever written. An imaginative exploration of Beethoven's final days as he worked on the Ninth, Copying Beethoven draws inspiration from the music and the 10 minute re-creation of the Symphony is reason alone to see the film. In Cinemas April 19. To WIN tickets to this exclusive advance screening at 11am on Sunday 15 April at Dendy Opera Quays be one of the first 50 people to email your full name and mailing address details to marc@hopscotchfilms.com.au with ‘nat trust’ in the subject field. Only winners will be notified.

Unleash your creative potential in these one day workshops at the National Trust S H Ervin Gallery lead by established artists whose work has been selected for the Salon des Refusés exhibition. Both landscape or portrait classes will be offered in drawing and painting mediums. Cost $80 – includes materials & lunch. Call 02 9258 0122 for bookings.

Self portraits: drawing & painting from the reflection – Thursday 12 or 19 April, 1.30pm - 3.30pm
This popular workshop is inspired by the wonderful self portraits on display at the Salon des Refusés exhibition. Suitable for children (5-12years) wishing to develop their artistic skills it will incorporate exercises to make portraiture more approachable, using charcoal, pastels & acrylics. Perfect for children who wish to develop their self expression.

Sketching the landscape: drawing plein air - Friday 13 or 20 April 1.30pm-3.30pm
This plein air workshop is designed to encourage creativity and observational drawing skills. This drawing workshop is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors while learning elements of perspective, composition and objectivity. Children (7-14years) will create their own drawings of the built and natural environment.  Cost for each class is $30. Call 02 9258 0122 for bookings