Mayor Khal Asfour Archives

Canterbury Bankstown Mayoral Message

There’s no love like a mother’s love.
And this Sunday is a time for us all to show our mothers how much we love and care about them.
As I reflect on the true meaning of Mother’s Day, I’m thinking of one
of the greatest Mother’s Day songs
ever written, Johnny Chester’s
‘The World’s Greatest Mum’.
An old favourite, and how true are
the words:
“I remember oh so clearly, when I was just a little boy, how mum was there to guide me, to turn sorrow into joy. And no matter what the problem, she could always put it right – Be on call for twenty-four hours, through every day and night.”
That’s what mums are all about. They’re the nurses, the counsellors, the teachers, the protectors, the story tellers, the best friends… the backbones of our lives. Mums can take the place of all others, but no one can take the place of our mums.
I feel very blessed to have such an amazing bond with my own mother. And even more blessed to have my wonderful wife, Sally, be an inspiring mum to our three beautiful children.
I want for every child in Canterbury-Bankstown exactly what I want for my own, which includes the benefits of having positive female role models in their lives.
This Mother’s Day let’s all “put
our hands together and join in” celebrating our mums, motherhood and the influence of mums in
our society.
Whether it’s taking her out for lunch, making her breakfast in bed, or simply giving her a hug, make sure you take the time out of your day to make your mum feel special.
And for those who are no longer
with us their memories will live in our hearts forever.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
10 May 2023
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message

Mayor Khal Asfour May 10, 2023

Canterbury Bankstown Mayoral Message

Recycle is not a dirty word, so let’s
do it right!
It’s simple everyday actions like recycling, which can contribute to
a better and cleaner environment.
Council collects approximately
22,000 tonnes of recycling per year, and I’m proud of our residents for doing the right thing.
But there is much more to be done as we are still finding ‘unusual’ items in bins meant for recycling products. Contaminants like batteries,
household appliances, and even on one occasion, a whole car engine.
We must all continue to think twice before closing the lid on our bins, because what you put in your bin,
could end up causing serious injury or damage and at great cost to Council.
Many common household cleaning products contain hazardous chemicals that can be harmful to both people and the environment if not disposed of properly. That’s why Council is taking proactive steps to address this issue.
We hold two household chemical clean out days a year, where residents can safely dispose of items that cannot usually go in the red or yellow bin.
It’s the perfect opportunity to get rid
of those pesky household items like leftover paint, car oil, batteries and gardening insecticides.
I encourage you all to come down to Bankstown City Paceway this Saturday 6 May, from 9am-3.30pm, and take advantage of this fantastic initiative.
And if you can’t make it this weekend, you can also drop off your household chemicals any time of the year at one of the community recycling centres in our City. Find one near you online at cb.city/ChemicalCleanOut
Remember that dumping hazardous chemicals down the drain, or into
the garbage, can have serious consequences for our environment, our waterways and our health.
I urge all residents to take advantage
of what Council offers and properly dispose of hazardous waste.
Let us all take responsibility and work together to maintain a clean and healthy community.
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
3 May 2023
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message

Mayor Khal Asfour May 3, 2023

Canterbury Bankstown Mayoral Message

Keeping the community safe is at
the forefront of everything we do here at Council.
And I know our local Police work tirelessly day in and day out to keep our community safe. We should be proud of the work they do for us
and not feel threatened or anxious walking past a police officer in
the community.
We’ve been joining forces with local Police to reduce crime rates, and
I’m proud to see the latest statistics show a downward trend of crime in Canterbury-Bankstown. We’re also under the NSW State average for
the number of criminal offences
in our City.
Just last year, I joined our new commander of the Bankstown Local Area Command, Superintendent Adam Johnson, to meet locals and hear any concerns. It was great to see so many people wanting to express their gratitude for the work Police do and reinforce how much they enjoyed seeing Police out and about.
And we will continue working together to engage the community and achieve our shared goal of keeping Canterbury-Bankstown
safe for all.
Council staff, along with local
Police officers, will be doing the rounds to each ward in the City to chat to locals about crime prevention initiatives in their area. Throughout the year, they will be visiting all the town centres in our City, starting today at Roselands Shopping Centre.
I encourage you all to come along and meet the Council staff and Police at these outreach sessions, chat about any concerns you may have and learn about what initiatives are happening in your area.
To find out when they will be
at a location near you, visit
cb.city/LocalSafetySessions
Keeping the community safe is a
joint effort and we must all do our
bit to stay informed and achieve the best outcome.
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
26 April 2023
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message

Mayor Khal Asfour April 26, 2023

Canterbury Bankstown Mayoral Message

As Anzac Day draws closer, it is a reminder to pay tribute and honour the brave men and women who lost their lives and who served our country at war. It is a day you will hear the phrase “lest we forget” repeated many times. But have you ever stopped to think about why we say those words?
Borrowed from a line in an 1897
Rudyard Kipling poem Recessional,
the phrase “lest we forget” means
“it should not be forgotten”. The English poet wrote Recessional for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee,
and it became more common across Australia and New Zealand after
World War I.
The words “lest we forget” hold a special significance for me when
I talk about World War II veteran
Reg Chard.
The now 99-year-old Villawood
local joined the army as soon as he turned 18 and in 1942, after the fall of Singapore, he and his fellow soldiers were sent to Papua New Guinea to
fight in the treacherous Kokoda
Track campaign.
After returning home with a serious case of malaria and tropical dermatitis, Reg has continued to serve his community long after the war.
His passion remains sharing his experiences with school students
and visitors at the Kokoda Memorial Track Walkway.
He has been, and still is, very active in the local community and is dedicated to keeping the memory of our fallen heroes alive.
That’s what “lest we forget” means to me. It’s about honouring the memory of our fallen heroes and learning from them. It’s about being inspired by them and keeping their stories in our hearts.
I am very proud of our resilient community and pleased that our residents are keen to keep the ANZAC tradition of mateship, courage and sacrifice alive.
This Anzac Day, I encourage you all to attend a local dawn service and pay your respects to those who have sacrificed their lives for us today.
We must never forget.
To find an Anzac Day event near you, visit www.rslnsw.org.au

Mayor Khal Asfour April 19, 2023

Canterbury Bankstown Mayoral Message

I am looking forward to the Easter break this weekend, a time for family, friends and reflection.
The Easter story has relevance for all of us within our multicultural community. So, let’s take advantage of this opportunity to stop and reflect on the Easter message of hope, love and peace.
May we be inspired and reminded
of the responsibility we have to each other, our families, friends
and the vulnerable people in our communities.
While Easter is a perfect time to gather with family outdoors, at
one of the City’s many parks and reserves, please take care on our roads which are traditionally busy
at this time of year. Also, double demerit penalties apply from
6-10 April inclusive.
We’ve planned more than 60 different activities to help keep children and young people entertained these autumn
school holidays. From slime-making and pyjama parties to skateboarding and cycling clinics, there’s something for kids with
all interests.
Check out the program and join
us these school holidays at
cb.city/SchoolHolidays
Also please remember, while Council’s Customer Service Centres may be closed from Good Friday (7 April) through to and including Easter Monday (10 April), you can still call Council at any
time on 9707 9000.
From everyone here at Council,
we wish you a very safe and enjoyable holiday break with
family and friends.
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
5 April 2023
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message

Mayor Khal Asfour April 12, 2023

Mayor Khal Asfour and Council Host Successful Iftar in Canterbury Bankstown

Mayor Khal Asfour and the council of the City of Canterbury Bankstown hosted an Iftar on April 4th at The

Joseph Najjar April 6, 2023

Canterbury Bankstown Mayoral Message

Mayor Khal Asfour April 5, 2023

Canterbury Bankstown Mayoral Message

In the trenches on the Western
Front in 1917, at Pozieres in France,
a soldier comforted his dying mate and said to him: “I’ll look after the missus and the kids”.
That final exchange between the two diggers became known as
The Promise, a promise which was the inspiration that lead to the formation of Legacy in 1923.
A promise which lives on today, supporting over 40,000 widows, partners and children of veterans across Australia who lost their lives or were badly injured while serving our country.
This is a historic year for Legacy, celebrating 100 years of caring,
love and commitment.
To commemorate the anniversary,
a torch will be lit at Pozieres on
23 April 2023 and will make its way, similar to the Olympic Torch relay, from France, to London and on
to Australia.
The torch will travel over 50,000 kilometres through 100 locations, carried by approximately 1,500 Torch Bearers.
Our City, which boasts one of Sydney’s largest Legacy divisions, has been chosen to be a part of the Centenary celebrations with the Torch being officially received at a ceremony at Paul Keating Park on
20 July.
The War Memorial will be the backdrop of this exciting event with the President of Sydney Legacy handing the Torch to me before passing it on to a local Legacy beneficiary with a disability.
It will be attended by Legatees, Legacy beneficiaries, and their families, Defence Forces
personnel and many others.
I called on Council at last night’s meeting to support this important event and host a morning tea style reception at the Council Chambers.
A milestone to keep The Promise alive in our City, as we enter into
the centenary year and beyond.
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
Mayoral Message
29 March 2023

Mayor Khal Asfour March 29, 2023

Canterbury Bankstown Mayoral Message

Today we celebrate the beginning
of the holy month of Ramadan.
For tens of thousands of Muslims across our City, and indeed around the world, it’s a time to pray and reflect on their lives. It’s also a time to give back to the community and help those in need.
During this period, Muslims fast
from early morning until sunset
and abstain from food and drink.
It promotes patience, discipline
and increases purity of the mind
and piety.
I’m proud of our City and its vibrant culture… people from all races and religions. And grateful we have the opportunity during this important time to learn about different cultures, traditions and celebrate
our diversity.
My favourite part of this time
is seeing our community come together… Muslims and
non-Muslims, for Ramadan
Nights Lakemba.
During the holy month, Haldon
Street is transformed into a global food bazaar from dusk until 3am. Thousands of Muslims will break their fast with family members and friends, while non-Muslims alike
will be welcomed for a culturally eye-opening experience.
Last year, we saw more than
1.2 million people visit the event throughout the month, and I have
a feeling this year is going to be bigger than ever.
I encourage you all to come out
to Ramadan Nights to taste the delicious foods on offer and see what Ramadan is all about. For those wanting to avoid the crowds, come along on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and come early in the evening, as stalls are open from 5pm. Consider taking public transport via the T3 Bankstown line to Lakemba Station or the free shuttle buses running every night.
And may we all take inspiration from this holy occasion to reflect and renew our faith.
Ramadan Mubarak!
Yours sincerely,
Clr Khal Asfour
MAYOR
Mayoral Message
22 March 2023

Mayor Khal Asfour March 22, 2023

Canterbury Bankstown Mayoral Message

Harmony Week is all about celebrating one of our greatest strengths – our diversity!
It’s about showing respect, acknowledging and appreciating everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.
And fittingly on 21 March, we also observe the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination across
the globe.
Here in Canterbury-Bankstown, we have a vibrant, rich culture with more than 129 nationalities represented and around 200 languages spoken.
What makes us so special as a community, is how we embrace the diverse cultures and customs of people who live here.
I love to see people in our City from all backgrounds joining in the special events of different cultures. Recently, we saw thousands get involved the Lunar New Year festivities, and just next week, many will flock to the streets of Lakemba to join in the Ramadan celebrations.
Statistics show that diverse communities are happier, healthier, and more prosperous. Including everyone really does make the
world a better place.
I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate this important occasion than by welcoming our newest citizens who have chosen to call our City home. I’m looking forward to welcoming 500 new citizens, from
all parts of the world, at a special Harmony Day Citizenship Ceremony on Tuesday.
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. I truly believe that with every new citizen, our City is richer and stronger.
And for those wanting to learn more about our diversity, I encourage you to join us for a special International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination event. There will be a panel discussion, morning tea and anti-racism pledge tree. For more information and to register,
visit cb.city/IDERD
This harmony week and beyond,
may we all strive to continue living
in harmony and cast aside any prejudices. Happy Harmony Week!

Mayor Khal Asfour March 15, 2023

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