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The City of Canterbury Bankstown has successfully secured $10 million of funding under the WestInvest Community Project Grants.The funding is
There’s no time to waste!
The clock is ticking on our global waste
crisis as the world produces billions of
tonnes of rubbish a year.
It’s polluting our air, water and soil and
huge landfills are driving people in
third world countries from their
homes. And to top it off, COVID has
made our waste and recycling problem
even worse, with a surplus amount of
new waste which includes masks and
swab testing kits.
The consequences of waste just keep
piling up!
I know many of us might close the lid
on our rubbish bins and think of it as
‘out of sight, out of mind’, but there are
steps we can all take in our homes to
do our part in stopping the global
waste crisis.
The theme of this National Recycling
Week (7-13 November) ‘waste isn’t
waste until it’s wasted’, is an important
reminder to think twice before putting
something in the bin.
It’s all about putting your waste to
good use – dropping plastics off at
participating supermarkets, cashing in
eligible containers for some extra
pocket money, or reducing the amount
of waste in your rubbish bin by
composting food scraps.
I recognise that recycling can
sometimes be confusing and want to
let you know that Council is here to
help you get it right. For some helpful
tips on which rubbish goes where and
locations to take things like old
computers, batteries and chemicals,
check out cb.city/WasteAndRecycling
I would also like to take this
opportunity to remind you that the
NSW Government’s ban on single-use
plastics is now in full force. Our shop
shelves have begun to look a little
different lately as plastic straws,
cutlery, stirrers, cotton buds, plates and
bowls have been replaced with bamboo
and other sustainable materials.
From 1 November, all single-use
plastic items have been officially
banned across NSW and businesses
and organisations caught supplying
plastic items could cop a $11,000 fine.
It’s time to freshen up on
the list of banned items on the
NSW Government website and do
our part to beat plastic pollution.
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
Canterbury-Bankstown Council’s exciting new recycling innovation, which will make roads more durable, has won the Circular Economy category in the
Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour is concerned about a dire shortage of educators at Canterbury Family Day Care, amid worries children
It’s November, and you know what
that means… it’s time to start
growing that mo!
The Movember Foundation runs
events each year in November to
raise awareness and funds to tackle
prostate and testicular cancer and
suicide amongst men.
It’s no secret that men are dying on
average five years earlier than
women, and for largely preventable
reasons. Around 10.8 million men
globally are diagnosed with prostate
cancer, and you may be surprised
to learn that testicular cancer is the
most common form of cancer among
young men. It’s also devastating to
know that, across the world, one man
dies from suicide every minute of
every day.
To spread awareness and raise funds,
thousands of people across the globe,
and I know many in our City, will grow a
mo. And for those who prefer
contributing in other ways, there are
some fun ways to get involved and
show your support. To find out how,
go to au.movember.com
It’s an initiative by the Movember
Foundation to take action so we can
all live healthier, happier and longer
lives. And with men’s health in a state
of crisis, it’s never been more
important to get involved.
Council will be playing its part by
supporting each Councillor and staff
member who grows a mo. For each
Councillor who gets involved, Council
will donate $100 to the Movember
Foundation, and $50 for each staff
member.
A donation which might seem like a
drop in the bucket, but if we all band
together, could change the face of
men’s health. Over the last 18 years,
the Movember foundation has
funded the development of 54
inventions, 70 therapies and 107
diagnostic tests for prostate cancer.
So, this November, it’s time to muscle
up for men’s health and mo up! Your
contribution could help save a father,
a brother, a son, a friend, a man’s life.
Whether it’s a Chopper Reid, a Johnny
Depp, a William Shakespeare, or even a
handlebar, whatever you choose will
help save a bro.
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
‘We all belong to each other. We all
need each other. It is in serving each
other and in sacrificing for the
common good that we are finding
our true life.’
That’s the powerful motto of the
War Widows Guild of Australia and
the words taken from a Christmas
message to the troops sent in 1941
by King George VI.
The War Widows Guild was
established in 1945 by the late Mrs
Jessie Mary Vasey, with the smallest
of beginnings, focusing on teaching
handweaving and other crafts to
women who lost their loved ones to
war. Mrs Vasey singlehandedly grew
the organisation, which now
supports around 61,500 war widows
across Australia.
Not only does the Guild provide
counselling and financial assistance
to war widows, but it’s a safe space
for likeminded women who help
each other heal from their losses.
And it’s only fitting that we
acknowledged the personal
sacrifices made by war widows
across the country on 19 October –
the birthday of the founder,
Mrs Vasey.
A small token from the NSW
Government, but a special day
where the state officially recognised
and honoured the widows of those
who made the ultimate sacrifice to
serve our nation.
Council also played its part by
marking the inaugural War Widows
Day, with a dedication ceremony at
the memorial site at Bass Hill.
It was wonderful to meet and talk to
the beautiful women who have
contributed so much to our City,
and who carry themselves with such
strength and grace.
The ceremony was tinged with a
touch of sadness, as two wreaths
were placed at the memorial site.
One in recognition of War Widows,
and one in memory of Norma Pat
Holdorf, president of the Bankstown
War Widows Guild, who was a driving
influence behind the event.
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
As one of the wealthiest countries in
the world, we still have far too many
people living in poverty.
You would be appalled to learn that
there are 3.24 million Australians living
below the poverty line. And in our City
alone, thousands of families are
struggling to make ends meet.
But what’s most alarming, is that one in
six Australian children are living in poverty
and will often go to school without having
a decent breakfast or lunch.
For children, poverty affects their entire
lives. They may feel left out if they can’t
afford to join a local sporting team;
or they may be living in an overcrowded
home where there’s no quiet place to do
homework. It crushes a child’s hope for
the future, and they carry those scars
with them into adulthood.
It’s not surprising that children who
grow up in poverty are 3.3 times more
likely to suffer adult poverty than those
raised in affluent households. A huge
issue that past and present
Governments have failed to address,
and a situation that will only get worse,
is the ever-increasing cost of living
putting pressure on families.
This Anti-Poverty Week (16-22 October)
is another reminder to band together
and help those who are struggling.
Our Council is playing its part by
partnering with Canterbury-Bankstown
Multicultural Interagency to host a
donation drive.
We have collected arts and craft
supplies, toys, books, healthy snacks
and vouchers, and a team of volunteers
packed the hampers for distribution
to more than 180 households across
our City.
The generosity of our community came
to the fore and I was blown away by the
way they responded. I’m particularly
thankful to our local businesses like
Woollies at Bankstown and the
Commonwealth Bank Bankstown Central
Branch, who made sizeable donations.
For most of us, a hamper may not mean
much, but for people living on the
poverty line, it could be something that
bides them over till payday.
And to those who are suffering in
silence, please reach out to the number
of support services in our City. To see a
full list of services who can help you,
visit cb.city/AntiPovertyDirectory
or call us on 9707 9000.
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce – CBCC Business After Five; Building Safe Workplaces! The BRD sponsorship program aims to create mutually
It’s a sad reality, mental health
impacts the lives of so many
Australians.
With the fast-paced nature of the
world we live in, it’s not surprising
that we are seeing increased levels
of stress and anxiety. Tragically,
almost 9 Australians lose their lives
every day to suicide. And what’s
even more alarming, is the fact that
the majority of those are aged
between 15-44 and male.
Over the years, we have become
more open when it comes to
discussing mental health issues
and dealing with the stigma that is
often attached to it. That doesn’t
mean there aren’t still many people
in our community who are too afraid
to speak out.
Cultural and religious beliefs,
or those too ashamed to admit
that they need help… just a few of
the reasons.
This Mental Health Month (October)
is all about taking time for yourself,
understanding the importance of
good mental health and being able
to identify when you or your loved
ones may need to seek help. And it
all starts with tuning in.
We have a range of programs on
offer, designed to help you tune in to
what’s happening within you, tune in
to your senses, tune in to those
around you, and tune in to stigma.
Mental Health is an issue that effects
everyone… it doesn’t discriminate
against age, religion, gender and
sexual orientation. That’s why our
Council has a range of activities for
active seniors, those studying for the
HSC and information sessions in
different languages. There’s
something for everyone, and I
encourage you all to get involved
and tune in to your mental health.
Just remember, it’s okay not to be
okay! And if you, or your loved ones,
need support, please take
advantage of the help that is there.
To see the full Mental Health Month
program and a list of support
services available, visit
cb.city/MentalHealth
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
