Why I love my suburb: Actor Tahir Bilgic on Georges Hall
WHY I love my suburb is a new series written by Sydneysiders giving their personal accounts about their patches. Comedian and actor Tahir Bilgic tells of the risks his migrant parents took that saw them leave Turkey and end up in Georges Hall.
The Express
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WHY I love my suburb is a new series written by Sydneysiders. Comedian and actor Tahir Bilgic tells why Georges Hall is a hidden jewel.
My family moved to Georges Hall, after my parents bought a block of land to build their dream house. They were risk takers. They took risks when deciding to migrate from Turkey. Took risks when buying their first property in Roselands and took risks in building their house in Georges Hall.
I loved living there because the area was diverse. Our neighbours, to name a few, were Macedonians, Serbians, Lebanese, Italians and Greeks mixed with a healthy serve of Anglo Saxons. ALL living happily together.
This was due to the fact that Georges Hall was relatively a new area and most families had the same story. Hard working couples moving their young families to a new area, a new start and a new opportunity.
First Roselands and then Georges Hall became the suburbs where we met other young kids who became our best friends. In Georges Hall, because of the dead end streets, there would be games of cricket on the roads. Sport was huge and we would always be organising sporting games all year.
iPads and mobile phones were not invented. Hope some children are reading this because yes, we used to actually GO OUTSIDE and PLAY.
Ride bikes, explore Lake Gillawarna and of course The Crest in Georges Hall ‒ a vast expanse of watering holes, bush, tracks and sporting fields.
The Crest is still there, relatively the same with the athletics track.
I was proud when they built the velodrome for the Sydney Olympics. I thought WOW! … the best cyclists in the world are coming to Georges Hall!
The Georges Hall public school has a great reputation with people moving into the area just so their kids can attend the school.
I think it was more to do with the local hamburger.
Let me explain. The shops in Georges Hall, among other things, contained a take away fish and chips and hamburger shop.
They were the best hamburgers ever. Eventually some foodie came and it was rated a hidden gem ‒ top rated hamburger in Sydney.
To me Georges Hall is a quintessential Australian suburb. A hidden jewel with friendly people and great neighbours. The suburb represents where I grew up and it also represents the risks my parents took as well all their hard work. Every migrant kid feels this sense of gratitude to their parents.
● In honour of my hard working parents: Pakize Bilgic and the late and great Mustafa Bilgic.