Isabella Ross DonateLife Week is officially underway, aiming to raise awareness and registrations for organ and tissue donors. The Minister responsible for the Organ and Tissue Authority, the Hon Mark Coulton MP, urged Australians to not only register but also ignite conversation within the community. “With more than 1,400 Australians on the waitlist for a lifesaving transplant at any one time and a further 11,000 on dialysis, I’m urging people to get online this week and sign up. It’s important that we get as many people as possible to consider the benefits and understand that by registering, they may...

Isabella Ross Opening its doors in 1955, Kelly’s Office Furniture has been a staple business within the Northern Beaches for over 60 years. Moving into its third generation of family members, Sydney Observer sat down with Isabella Harbutt to discuss the history of the business and its success. Their History “In 1955, the business primarily dealt with army disposals. David Harbutt brought the office furniture side of the company into action in 1985, beginning in a garage with only a handful of second hand filing cabinets, desks and chairs next door to the Kelly’s disposals shop,” revealed Isabella. Now...

Isabella Ross  A recent study by Deakin University found evidence that a healthy diet can be a cost-effective treatment for depression. Building on the University’s previous studies in this field, researchers worked with the Deakin Food & Mood Centre’s SMILES trial to show how dietary changes could assist people with mental health issues. Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the University of South Australia, Dr Natalie Parletta, who has also published work in this field, has welcomed these new findings. “It is high time that diet and lifestyle changes are considered at the forefront of treatment options for mental health....

Marlene Even Residents in the North Shore are fortunate to have some of the best vantage points for The New Year’s Eve fireworks. Sydney Observer shares some of our favourite spots to bring in the New Year. Have a favourite spot in the North Shore to watch the fireworks? Share it with us on Facebook or Instagram @sydney_observer.   Blues Point Reserve Where: Blues Point Rd, McMahons Point Cost: Adults $40, Children (3-15 years old) $20 This spot is always popular to have a ‘ring-side’ seat to the western side of the Harbour Bridge. Live DJ and dancefloor will...

Marlene Even Australia first met singer / songwriter Damien Leith 12 years ago when he won Australian Idol. The Irish-born singer charmed the audience with his powerful rendition of Roy Orbison’s song ‘Crying’. Now more than a decade on, he is performing a concert in remembrance of American singer Roy Orbison, lovingly known as ‘The Big O’. The show will be a reprise of Damien’s 2011 album ‘Roy: a tribute to Roy Orbison’ that he produced with the late Barbara Orbison. The album was well received by our local audience, sitting in Australia’s top 20 for a whopping 22...