Canterbury Bankstown

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Anh Do, Frank Lowy and the late Les Murray are well-known Australians with something in common. They built their success and fortunes after fleeing their homeland as refugees.
This week we acknowledge the many refugees, like them, who have found sanctuary in our City. We celebrate their courage, resilience and the valuable contributions they make.
National Refugee Week (18-24 June) is also a reminder of those who are detained in detention centres, waiting
to be settled. Many have experienced extreme hardships and have fled to Australia for safety reasons.
As a migrant who came to this country without speaking a word of English, some 24 years ago, I empathise with their plight and their resolve in calling Australia their home.
I’m proud to be the Mayor of a City that has long been a welcoming place for refugees. Canterbury-Bankstown is home to refugees from all around the world, contributing to a variety of cultures, languages and traditions.
For the past 21 years, our City has been recognised as a “Refugee Welcome Zone”, and has worked hard to create an environment that fosters social harmony and promotes inclusion.
I’m committed to upholding these values and fostering a community that embraces diversity and upholds justice and compassion. So how fitting it is for me to swear in another 250 citizens this week, some coming here as refugees.
If you would like to hear some of the compelling stories of refugees in our City, their journeys to safety and finding freedom, I encourage you to come along to the Canterbury-Bankstown Multicultural Inter-agency’s Refugee Week event at the Bryan Brown Theatre tomorrow, Thursday 22 June. To register, visit cb.city/RefugeeWeek2023
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
21 June 2023
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek

This Men’s Health Week (12-18 June),
I would like to take a moment to remind all the men and boys in our community to put their wellbeing first.
It’s easy to get bogged down in our busy lives and we tend to ignore
our health. But this week’s theme ‘Healthy Habits’ reminds us to take
a good look at our lifestyles and
make small changes that can make
a huge difference.
The statistics show an alarming amount of Australian men are not taking proper care of themselves. Approximately 50% of men are not exercising frequently, 97% are missing out on their veggies and 71% on their fruit.
It’s no surprise that men have a lower life expectancy than women and are more likely to experience higher rates of chronic diseases.
Regular physical activity and making healthier food choices are just the start. It’s also crucial that we make use
of the many services in Canterbury-Bankstown to manage our health and find any problems before it’s too late.
So, what better time to book in your regular health check-up than now!
But men’s health is not just about physical wellbeing. We must also
take the time to do what we love for our mental, emotional and social wellbeing. Taking up a hobby, spending time with friends and
family and even going to the footy
can make all the difference.
And for those men who are looking to socialise and relax, our men’s sheds are a fantastic place to get together, work on projects and enjoy some good old-fashioned mateship.
There are men’s sheds across our
City and to find one near you, visit
cb.city/MensShed
Let’s make this Men’s Health Week the starting point for creating healthy habits and taking those small steps towards a healthier lifestyle.
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
14 June 2023
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek