Bankstown

Mayor Bilal El-Hayek
City of Canterbury Bankstown
@MayorBilalElHayek
@mayor_bilalelhayek
Contact me at:
P 9707 9522 E [email protected]
@ClrBilalElHayek
At dawn, Australians across the country will gather to remember the men and women who fought bravely for the rights and freedoms we
all enjoy today.
It’s a time-honoured tradition since the very first dawn service, believed to have been held in 1923, when a group of returned servicemen gathered at the Cenotaph in Martin Place, Sydney
to commemorate their fallen comrades.
The day is also marked by marches through our city centres and regional towns and while the number of living veterans has dwindled, the force of their spirit and legacy lives on through their children and grandchildren.
ANZAC Day is a reminder of past and present wars, of suffering and courage, and stirs emotions of sorrow and pride. It is also a timely moment to think about those enduring hardship in the Middle East and around the world.
I encourage everyone to keep our cultural traditions of mateship, courage and sacrifice alive, and to attend a local dawn service or march to pay your respects.
To find an Anzac Day
event near you, visit
www.rslnsw.org.au
Lest We Forget.
ANZAC DAY

Dear Residents,
The theme of this year’s Youth Week is: “We’re the future and the future
is now”.
I can see a remarkable future in the over 65,000 young people who live in Canterbury-Bankstown. They are amazing. Energised, progressive, creative, thoughtful, ingenious, talented and so much more!
But what would young people say about themselves, about our City and the community they live in?
Youth Week is more than just a chance for young people to have fun (although there will be plenty of that). It’s a chance for them to express themselves and show everyone
what matters to them.
Our Youth Week activities, which will run from April 9-17, will give young people that chance, with activities including a young storytellers competition, a “Vibe & Dine” evening of meaningful conversation and a debating competition for schools.
All opportunities for young people to tell us what they think.
But our support for young people is not limited to one week a year.
During Youth Week, Council will be seeking expressions of interest from young people to be part of a Youth Advisory Working Group to make recommendations on what they want to see around our City.
We will also be seeking feedback
from young people in our City at
cb.city/HaveYourSay to help develop Council’s next Youth Action Plan (2025-2029).
This plan will set priorities to help improve the lives of young people in our City and guide our work with young people, the community and service providers over the next few years.
I look forward to hearing all your wonderful suggestions.
Regards,
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR

Dear Residents,
There are many places around the world that claim to be a melting pot of culture, but, for me, our City is one of the greatest.
With over 380,000 people from more than 170 countries, one of the things we love to do together is celebrate our cultures.
We are in the final days of Lakemba Nights during Ramadan, where over a million people from across our City, State and beyond tasted food from five different continents at over 60 stalls.
In just a few days, the Greek flag will fly over Earlwood as our Greek community celebrate Greek Independence Day. Earlwood Senior Citizens Centre will be at the centre of the celebrations, with traditional Greek music and dancing and delicious Greek food on offer.
On Sunday 16 March, our community came together in beautiful Mirambeena Regional Park for I RUN, our first ever running festival. Over 300 people laced up their trainers for events ranging from a 21.1km
race to a short Harmony Day Fun
Run (or walk!).
With so many cultures in one place, and our enthusiasm for celebrations, it’s no surprise that Canterbury-Bankstown also attracts significant events from further afield.
In April, we will host the 2025 Australian Sikh Games, the premier sporting and cultural event for the Australian Sikh community. More than 100,000 people from across Australia and overseas will watch more than 5,000 athletes take part in 15 different sports over three days.
These are just a few examples of the fantastic events happening in our area in just the next two months.
Fantastic events that do the same thing: bring us all together.
Regards,
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek
@mayor_bilalelhayek
Contact me

Dear Residents,
‘It’s time to shine’ at the NSW Seniors Festival 2025!
We all know that getting older can sometimes be lonely, but you’re never too old to make new friends.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are more than 90,000 locals aged 55 and over
living in Canterbury-Bankstown, whom I am encouraging to get involved in the more than 40 activities on offer around our
City during Seniors Festival.
From 3-21 March 2025, you can immerse yourself in a range of activities from drawing workshops and dance therapy to hat making and entertaining comedy shows.
For anyone looking to get active, you can explore the great
outdoors at the fishing day out,
get competitive in a game of pickleball or participate in an exclusive senior’s golf day.
For those wanting to stay up-to-date on their health, bone and
joint assessments, and nutrition and health, presentations will
also be available throughout the month-long festival.
There is so much on offer, and
I encourage everyone to take advantage of the many wonderful activities available, have fun and meet new people.
I also encourage everyone in
our community to reach out to
a senior they know this month,
start a conversation, ask them
how they’re going or if they need
a hand around the house.
See the full program of activities
at cb.city/SeniorsFestival or
pick up a booklet from any of our Customer Service Centres, Library and Knowledge Centres or Leisure & Aquatic Centres.
Regards, Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek
@mayor_bilalelhayek
Contact me at:
P 9707 9522 E [email protected].
@ClrBilalElHayek

Dear Residents,
The start of the school year brings
with it challenges for both parents
and students.
The start of the school year brings
with it challenges for both parents
and students.
From parents ensuring school
uniforms haven’t shrunk over the summer holidays to kids cramming books into backpacks, it’s an exciting and sometimes testing time for all
as we prepare for the year ahead.
There’s no denying that growing up
can be tough. Navigating school, friendships and peer pressure, it’s
no surprise that kids often don’t
realise the great privilege of getting
an education.
And it is our responsibility as adults, parents and leaders to encourage our youth to make the most of their time
in the classroom and learn as much
as they can about themselves while preparing for the world around them.
I encourage all our local students to take advantage of the school year. Learn something new from your teachers, experiment with subjects
you think you might like or even take
the time to volunteer and work out what really matters to you.
Looking back, it’s no secret that I was not the smartest student in the room.
I came to Australia hardly speaking
a word of English and thanks to my parents and teachers I was taught
the true value of hard work and dedication, all which led me on the path to becoming the Mayor of our amazing City.
As a father myself, I know that all we want for our children is the best and I extend my desire for my own children’s success to the over 65,000 young people in Canterbury-Bankstown.
Every one of you is capable of
great things.
And my message to you is simple.
Try your best, study hard and if a kid
like me, who came to this country at
12 with no English, can be Mayor…
the possibilities for you are limitless.
Regards,Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek
@ClrBilalElHayek
@Bilal.ElHayek
Contact me at:
P 9707 9522 E [email protected]
February 14 2025

Dear Residents
“Australians all let us rejoice,
for we are one and free.”
These words that we so proudly boast as we sing our national anthem every Australia Day are a strong reminder that no matter who you are, or what country you come from, Australia is the land of opportunity for everyone who chooses to call it home.
It was also the message at Council’s recent Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony where we welcomed more than 25 new residents to Canterbury-Bankstown just in time
for them to experience their first
Australia Day.
And while Australia Day is all about welcoming newcomers and celebrating our growing country, it is also a time
to thank some of the selfless people
in our City that make living here
so wonderful.
People including Citizen of the Year, Sheila Pham, whose dedication to our youth and health systems drew national attention to our City’s needs during COVID-19, or the Community Woman
of the Year, Linda Nguyen, who has
been closing the gap in the health system by providing optical care to patients who are often overlooked.
I was also inspired by the Young Citizen of the Year, Michaela Loukas, who at
just 16 years old is the co-developer
of a robotic melanoma screening prototype aimed at improving early detection, and Volunteer of the Year, Dina Kheir, who has dedicated over
30 years to supporting charitable organizations and promoting women’s empowerment around our City.
Our City boasts some amazing organisations and groups who each
help build safe places for our residents to enjoy including the Community Organisation of the Year, Riverwood Community Centre, which recently celebrated 50 years of service.
This year’s Jack Mundey Environmental award was presented to the Bankstown Bushland Society, a group focused on safeguarding native vegetation in Canterbury-Bankstown and the
Georges River catchment.
I would like to thank all our nominees and award winners for their outstanding dedication to our community and I look forward to hearing more inspirational stories throughout the year.
Happy Australia Day.
Regards,Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek
@ClrBilalElHayek
@Bilal.ElHayek
Contact me at:
P 9707 9522 E [email protected].