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It’s been 62 years since Ross Graham represented Australia on the basketball court at the 1960 Rome Olympic qualifiers, and
The City of Canterbury Bankstown is launching a new three-month cultural celebration: Let’s Go First Nations.Let’s Go First Nations will
This week is Welcoming Week, an annual campaign that celebrates communities that strive to be more welcoming to all people,
‘Grief is the price we pay for love.’
And love we have for Elizabeth
Alexandra Mary, or, as we all fondly
know her, Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II.
Her Majesty served her people
selflessly with kindness, loyalty and
dignity over seven remarkable decades.
She was an institution and a pillar of
strength over many years. Her grace
and dignity brought nations together,
no matter their religious beliefs or
economic circumstances.
The devastating news of her passing
shocked us all and her loss is being
widely felt, not only throughout the UK,
but across the world. For many,
the news took us on a trip down
memory lane and was tinged with
fond memories.
You might recall the Queen’s visit on
May 27 1980 to proclaim Bankstown a
City. Thousands turned out to welcome
the Queen, and her late husband Prince
Phillip, as they walked through a
cheering crowd, and streets lined with
old Holdens and Valiant cars.
It has been wonderful to see locals
share their memories of the visit, one
sharing that she remembers sitting on
her father’s shoulders and “seeing her
green hat”.
During her trip, Her Majesty signed the
Civic Tower’s visitors’ book;
a piece of history we will always
treasure, but not the only mark the
Queen has left on our City. She will
continue to inspire us all and her legacy
will live on.
As many gathered to bid Her Majesty
goodbye early this week, including our
own Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,
it is only fitting that our country takes the
time to mourn the loss of the woman
who touched so many people’s lives.
In tomorrow’s (Thursday 22 September)
national day of mourning, I hope that we
can all take a moment to reflect on the
difference she has made to our world.
Council will be broadcasting the
National Memorial Service at 11am on
social media, and as a further mark of
respect, a dedicated area at the
Bankstown Library and Knowledge
Centre with photos and headlines of
her visit, including the official visitors’
book she signed all those years ago.
A loving mother, grandmother,
great-grandmother. Rest in Peace Ma’am.
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
There is no greater privilege than
having Australian Citizenship!
It is something that many of us take for granted in our day-to-day lives, but a prized possession we should all value and treasure. And with this Australian Citizenship Day coming up on Saturday 17 September, comes an opportunity to reflect on the meaning and importance of being citizens of this ‘Lucky Country’.
Whether we are citizens through birth or by choice, Australian Citizenship Day is a chance for us all to celebrate the democratic values that we are so privileged to have and take pride in the beautiful country that we call home.
You might be interested to learn that Australian Citizenship came into effect in 1949, and prior to then, Australians could only hold the status of British subjects. Australia’s citizenship legislation has since been amended over 30 times, as Governments, policies and philosophies have changed.
And how fitting to see the Albanese Government, just over a week ago, announce increases to Australia’s permanent migration cap. The new policy will see 35,000 more permanent residents welcomed to our country; each adding vital skills to our workforce and value to our multicultural landscape.
It is truly fantastic to see our country moving away from the focus on short-term migrants, towards permanency and nation building.
And that is exactly what Australian Citizenship does – it builds cities with shared identity, uniting all Australians while respecting our diversity. Without it, Canterbury-Bankstown would not
be the wonderful City, so rich in culture, that we are today.
It is my great pleasure to swear in these new Citizens at special ceremonies every month. Just this year, we held Australia’s largest Citizenship Ceremony, welcoming a record breaking 2,400 new residents to our City. Beautiful people, who have come from far and wide, choosing to call our City home.
Watching our newest citizens singing the Australian Anthem and lining up to take photos and say hello is what makes my job all the worthwhile, for at every Citizenship Ceremony, Australia is richer and better.
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
For six decades Picnic Point Public School has transformed the lives of thousands of students. Over this time, the staff
Some of Western Sydney’s emerging young talent will be on show at Bankstown Arts Centre this weekend.The line up of
The Hon Jason Clare, MP for Blaxland and Minister for Education and Youth of Australia, thanked his election team and
Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders.
Investing time and listening to our
young people is paramount to
creating a better society, both now
and into the future. And with an
ageing population, we must never
lose sight of this fact.
This was quite evident during the past
week, as we celebrated United
Nations International Day of Youth.
The day itself may have come and
gone, but it is an important reminder
of the role we can all play in
mentoring and educating the young
people in our lives.
Young people can learn a lot from
those with years of experience, and
equally the same can be said for our
older generation.
In Canterbury-Bankstown, we have
more than 65,000 young people
between the age of 12 and 25 – that
makes our City one of the largest in
that age group in the state!
With their incredible talent,
dedication and energy, they play an
important role in our community. Their
inspiration and perspectives help
make our City stronger.
That’s why we invest in programs and
events to help them thrive. Over the
weekend, we saw hundreds of
families and young people turn out to
listen to the tunes of renowned pop
star, Dami Im.
From entertainers, to sports stars, to
academic achievers, or community
leaders, our young people strive to be
the best and are truly an inspiration
to many.
Council also has an awesome youth
team, who coordinate a wide range of
programs to support young people at
Belmore Youth Resource Centre
(BYRC). From after school drop-ins
and homework help, to dungeons and
dragons games nights and sporting
programs, BYRC is a one stop shop for
young people in our City.
I have no doubt the engagement and
fruitful discussion by those involved
in the groups at BYRC add another
layer to the fabric of our City. And, I
hope to see more young people get
involved.
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
