Canterbury Bankstown

You’re probably familiar with the
quote: Reach for the stars!
With that in mind it was appropriate that the theme of Council’s recent major business event, CBEvolve – The Sky’s the Limit, would aim high.
The event, which was held inside
a hangar at Bankstown airport, brought together a number of businesses that are driving innovation, jobs and investment
in our City.
As the third busiest airport in Australia, the precinct and surrounding area supports more
than 160 businesses, 6,500 jobs
and contributes over $1.6 billion
to the economy.
And the potential to double the number of jobs and investment in
our City is not a ‘pie in the sky’
vision – it’s a reality!
It is no surprise that our
commitment to providing opportunities to connect, share knowledge and ideas, and form partnerships or collaborations
has led us to become one of the most innovative cities in Australia.
One of the features of the event
was a briefing and update by a local company behind the technology
to manufacture Australia’s first
flying car.
Amazing technology created right here in Bankstown.
The airport is also home to state emergency service aircraft, helicopter training facilities and Little Wings, a non-for-profit organisation ferrying sick children and their families around the state.
So many wonderful things are happening in our City that we should all be very proud of. And it’s events like this that help create more local jobs so we can live and work close
to home.
Regards
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR

I had the pleasure to recently hand
out Council’s Children and Youth Awards… and if these kids are the future leaders of our City, then our future is looking bright!
The annual event allows us to highlight the remarkable achievements and contributions of everyday kids and teens living in our City.
Choosing the recipients was no easy task, as we received more than a hundred impressive nominations.
From academic excellence, artistic talent and sporting success, the diverse range of talent on show is truly inspiring.
But what really blew me away,
were those young people who were recognised for their dedication to our community, and their willingness to volunteer and help others in need.
Yunes Swade, a junior cadet for
St John’s Ambulance, was a worthy recipient of the Inspiration Category.
A silent achiever, Yunes spends his spare time helping to feed the
homeless and saves up his pocket money to fund water wells in countries where water is not readily available.
And a huge shout out to this year’s Community Involvement Category winner, Wendy Zheng, who was recognised for her countless hours of volunteering at St Euphemia College.
Her vision and passion is to build libraries out of shipping containers
for disadvantaged communities, which
she recently presented to members of the United Nations.
These young people are putting many adults to shame. Their accomplishments showcasing the limitless possibilities when young minds are nurtured and supported, and give us great hope for the future.
Congratulations to all the recipients
and all those nominated.
To see the full list of this year’s
Children and Youth Award winners,
visit cb.city/CYAwards
Regards
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR

I’d like to share a great local story,
a hidden gem, which typifies the character of some of the people
who live in our City.
Local jeweller, Max Garthe, is closing the doors of his Revesby store after putting his heart and soul into a career spanning 72 years. The 87-year-old has spent his life bringing joy to locals, plying his trade after completing his apprenticeship at the age of 15.
For many locals, paying a visit to
Max’s store was more than just buying jewellery. It was about visiting a local retailer they knew they could trust –
a friend and fellow member of
the community.
Whether it was buying or designing
that special engagement or wedding ring, a newborn’s bracelet or your child’s first watch, Max has been there to share in life’s special moments.
And for those needing repair to clocks and watches, he has always been there for “timely” advice. Max opened his first store at Padstow in 1972 and later opened his second store at Revesby – family businesses that he ran with his late wife Joan, his daughter Janette, son Warren and granddaughter Rachel.
It’s hard to believe that some have taken advantage of Max’s kindness, with robbers ransacking the Revesby store in 1991. Max’s wife was tied up and locked in a cabinet – the true extent of the crime not known until weeks later, when it was discovered Joan had sustained a blow which would result in her death.
Running a local business isn’t always easy, but Max has continued to serve the community with a smile for all these years. Max will be shutting up shop on his much-loved business and hanging up his tools and will spend
his retirement pottering around the house, fixing the odd clock or two
and tending to his garden.
To Max, and his family, we say thank you for your dedication and service
to our community.
A very deserving recipient of my next Mayoral Certificate of Recognition.
Regards
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR

Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek @Bilal.ElHayek @ClrBilalElHayek
Contact me at: P 9707 9522 E [email protected]
Let’s celebrate what it means
to be Australian!
It’s about living in a culturally diverse
country, our unwavering commitment
to the community and our resilience
and mateship – being Australian is
about being a good ‘mate’ and helping
the local community is a part of that.
With Council’s Australia Day Awards
nominations now open, I encourage
everyone to think about that person
who has made a real difference in the
community and nominate them for
a special honour.
These awards will be my first as Mayor
and are special to me, because I know
through my volunteering work how
many deserving people we have in our
City. People from all walks of life who
do what they do out of love and a
commitment to helping others.
Carers of the elderly and the disabled,
volunteers, community leaders,
mentors and role models. People who
have made a real difference to your
life, or the life of others.
We all know that a little recognition
can go a long way, and these selfless
local heroes deserve our gratitude and
thanks in our Australia Day honours list.
You can choose from – Citizen of
the Year, Young Citizen of the Year,
Volunteer of the Year, Organisation
of the Year and the Jack Mundey
Environment and Heritage Award.
And this year, we’ve included an
additional category for Woman in
the Community, to acknowledge the
outstanding contributions of women
across our City.
For more information on the
awards, and to nominate, visit
cb.city/AustraliaDayAwards
I look forward to meeting all the
recipients and hearing their stories.
Regards
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR

Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek @Bilal.ElHayek @ClrBilalElHayek
Contact me at: P 9707 9522 E [email protected]
My heart goes out to our Meals on
Wheels family.
They’ve been delivered a terrible blow
with the devastating news that one of
their own was killed in an apparent
domestic violence related incident.
Katherine Safranko, 67, was one of our
tireless Bankstown Meals on Wheels
volunteers who dedicated her time to
helping the most vulnerable in our City.
Each week, these selfless volunteers
deliver more than 1,000 meals to
the frail, aged and people with
disabilities – all without seeking
recognition or thanks.
I’ve had the privilege of joining them
on delivery runs and watching how
they are embraced and loved by those
they serve.
The tragic news has left many in
our community numb with shock
and in disbelief.
It’s hard to fathom how this could
occur only a month after I held a
Domestic Violence Summit, following
the deaths of two innocent women,
Amira Moughneih and Christine Rakic.
The recommendations from the Summit
show that there is so much more to be
done when it comes to stamping out
this scourge on our society.
This November, Council is continuing its
campaign against domestic violence by
hosting the annual Tug O’ War Cup.
Local businesses, schools,
organisations and residents are
encouraged to enter a team of six in
the contest and show their support for
the important cause. For more details,
visit cb.city/TugOWar
I will be picking up the rope and pulling
my weight, and I hope everyone in our
City does the same when it comes to
saying NO to domestic violence and
YES to healthy relationships.
Regards
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR