Campbelltown’s longest serving councillor shares her love for Leumeah

I moved into my triple fronted brick veneer Neeta home in Leumeah in November 1972 and I’m still living there, though the house has changed a bit.

Pictured is returned Campbelltown Councillor Meg Oates, who is one of the longest serving councillors in the Macarthur region.

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I moved into my triple fronted brick veneer Neeta home in Leumeah in November 1972 and I’m still living there, though the house has changed a bit.

Leumeah had its own train station and great local shops and was a green tree filled suburb.

Many of the early residents were baby boomers from the UK and Scotland as well as long established members of local Campbelltown farming families.

I liked the sense of history and community spirit that was shared with us when we established there. Lorna and Jim Storey introduced me to the Leumeah Progress Association and also to local history and places like Hollylea House.

My neighbour ‘Old‘ Ernie Case taught me about the unique bush environment that is still part of Leumeah.

Campbelltown Cr Meg Oates’ husband John works on their Leumeah home in the 1970s.

My kids used to swim in Smith’s Creek and go spotting possums at night.

Leumeah is home to the excellent Campbelltown Stadium and Athletics facility and has many little pocket parks and green spaces. The skate park provides a safe day and night recreation space for young people.

It is lovely to see the green Scenic Hills surrounding our suburb, only 5 minutes away, and a trip to the South Coast beaches is only a forty minute drive.

I appreciate being so close to the M31 giving easy access to the Southern Highlands or the Blue Mountains or greater Western Sydney.

We have two outstanding schools, Leumeah Public and Leumeah HS with dedicated teachers who welcome and encourage our many new residents. The Leumeah community is resilient and generous. The recent Council ‘Love Leumeah’ initiative brought long term and new locals together to share their stories.

Leumeah boasts a great little café ‘Platform 21’ at the station, and the excellent fine dining ‘Hermitage’ Restaurant off Campbelltown Rd.

Meg Oates in Leumeah in 2003. Picture: Robert Pozo

We have great local shops with an award-winning butcher and a Vietnamese bakery near the station.

Wests at Leumeah is a family orientated food and entertainment and conference centre that provides facilities for all local age groups.

For me Leumeah is a friendly and welcoming suburb. I love seeing the new families move in and renovate the older homes. There is a great sense of community renewal. Most people take a pride in their homes and gardens.

However, one thing I really dislike is the growing trend of dumping rubbish on the streets, but I think that’s happening everywhere.

Love Leumeah.