Community Councillors

Community Council members are elected for a term of three years, which is renewable.

Morningside has places for 14 elected members. Since the elections in October 2009 we have exactly 14, six of whom are new members. We foresee a lively and productive session ahead with such a good mix of experience and innovation.

There are also 7 places for nominated members to represent local organisations. Local organisations may apply to nominate a member, and individuals with a particular interest or skill can be co-opted. These are not all filled so local organisations are invited to apply.

Elected Members	Nominated Members
Jean Thompson (Chair; NP board deputy) Arne Strid (Vice-Chair) Richard Ellis (rep to MTA) John Duffus Stan McWhirter (Environment) Ken McKinlay Irene Harris Aline Haggart (Community Safety) Carol Duncan (Roads and Transport) Lynne Barty (NP board member) Steve Gregory (Secretary; Environment) Dianna Manson (Health) Martin Macari (co-opted - Newsletter editor) Jennifer Scarce (co-opted)	Lindsay Walls (Treasurer) (Friends of Braidburn Valley Park) Goff Cantley (Planning) (Friends of the Hermitage and Braid Hills) Jill Powlett Brown (Morningside Heritage Association) Anne Williamson (Morningside Traders Association) Pam Leslie (South Morningside Primary School) Linda Thompson (asst. Treasurer) (St Peter's school) Cathy Joyce (St Peter's school)

Our Office Bearers

Chair - Jean Thompson

Vice Chair - Arne Strid

Secretary - Steve Gregory

Treasurer - Lindsay Walls

On Friday 27 August 2008, Morningside celebrated the life of SUSAN WONG, former chair of Morningside Community Council, and a dedicated worker on behalf of the disadvantaged, who died on 14 August 2008. No stranger to health problems herself, not the least of which was blindness, Susan rose above her own difficulties to devote her life to others. She was deeply committed within the health sector, fighting for the rights of other people both individually and collectively through the various groups of which she was a member.

Her memorial is a SENSORY GARDEN situated within Morningside Park. The garden is designed to be a beautiful and peaceful place for the blind and partially sighted, withplants specially chosen by Scottish Natural Heritage for their scent and their ability to attract birds, bees and butterflies. In opening the garden, Councillor Mark McInnes said, “It is an enormous privilege to be able to play a part in the opening of the Susan Wong Sensory Garden this afternoon. The community in Morningside owes a huge amount to Susan who worked tirelessly both through her chairmanship of theCommunity Council and through her championing of all those who, because of their circumstances, required support.

From her work and advocacy for those with Asperger’s, their families and carers, to  her constant vigilance on behalf of anyone being disadvantaged, Susan supported all in a selfless and unassuming way. Throughout this time, Susan dealt with her own health issues, but would never allow them to stop her helping others. There can be no better tribute to Susan than this Garden in a park which she visited often and loved and cared for deeply.”

Karen Morrison of SNH spoke of the importance of all the senses being used to enjoy Scotland’s plants and their animal visitors and said the garden would be a resource  for local schools and an attractive feature for local people to enjoy. David Doig,  Environmental Manager for the South Central Neighbourhood Partnership, considered the sensory garden to be a fantastic addition to what is already a wonderful  community park, which would  enhance other recent developments within the park, and would be enjoyed by residents and visitors of all ages.

More than 50 local residents and other friends assembled to pay their tribute toSusan, and the general view was that this was a very imaginative and successful project which they and others would appreciate for decades to come.