Blacktown City Council - Medioa Release -Doggone! It’s Lunar New Year

Media release

30 January, 2018

The Year of the Dog will be marked by award-winning international ice sculptor Kenji Ogawa at Blacktown City’s Lunar New Year celebrations on 16 February.

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said visitors would be treated to live demonstrations of Mr Ogawa’s work.

“Mr Ogawa has been exhibiting his ice creations for almost 30 years, throughout Japan, China, Alaska, New Zealand, Canada, Norway, Italy, France and Finland,” Mayor Bali said.

“Now, it’s Blacktown City’s turn to see this talented international ice artist at work.

“One of these icy sculptures will be of a giant dog in honour of the 2018 Lunar New Year – the Year of the Dog.

“I am looking forward to seeing him carve his creations out of massive blocks of ice.”

Mr Ogawa joins a stellar line-up of musicians, dancers and entertainers at the Blacktown City Council organised celebration, at the picturesque Chang Lai Garden in Nurragingy Reserve. 

“Blacktown will be celebrating the many cultures that observe the Lunar New Year”, Mayor Bali said.

“The Lunar New Year is celebrated by the people of China, Korea, Mongolia, Tibet and Vietnam, amongst others.

“We are the most multicultural city in Australia, with 186 ethnicities speaking 182 languages within our borders, and we are proud our festival attracts so many people.

“Last year, more than 20,000 came to see in the Lunar New Year with us, and we expect the same sized crowd this year,” he said.

Award winning Western Sydney-based stunt team, Dauntless Movement Crew, will be the drawcard act on stage, wowing crowds with their hip-hop and breakdancing moves.

The show follows on the heels of a successful 2017 for the talented crew. Last year they took home gold at the Australian Dance Awards and wrapped up 20 sold out shows at the Sydney Opera House.

Dauntless Artistic Director and performer Joe Carbone said the Blacktown performance will feature never-before-seen dance choreography as well as some of the gravity defying stunts the group is famous for.

“We like our shows to be fresh and unexpected, keeping the audience on their feet all the time,” Mr Carbone said.

“It will be a very high energy, fun show.”

Dauntless will follow the PAW Patrol kids show, based on the popular Nickelodeon’s television series by the same name. 

There will also be lion dancing, food stalls, jumping castles, face painting and free craft workshops on lantern making, fan decorating and origami.

Celebrations will draw to a close with an impressive fireworks display from 9pm.

Mayor Bali said everyone was invited to attend Blacktown City’s Lunar New Year party.

“Blacktown’s Lunar New Year Festival is a wonderful reflection of the cultural richness of this great city,” he said.

“I encourage every one of all ages and backgrounds to come together for what is certain to be an entertaining celebration, welcoming the Lunar New Year.”

Event details:

What: Blacktown City Lunar New Year

When: Friday, 16 February, from 5pm to 9pm

Where: Chang Lai Garden in Nurragingy Reserve

Who: Japanese ice sculptor Kenji Ogawa, Dauntless Movement Crew, PAW Patrol

The Dauntless Movement Crew will wow crowds at Blacktown City Lunar New Year celebrations.

Western Sydney Area Health District - Cryptosporidiosis Case - Is Not Just Based In Western Sydney Swimming Pools....

Having difficulty understanding why Western Sydney Area Health Service of Cryptosporidiosis in western Sydney Pools, when this is not the entire story.

Certainly there have been nine cases in Western Sydney, but there were also many caseis saying there was an outbreak s in Tamworth, Wollongong, Randwick and Liverpool.

Blacktown Council says there have been no reports at their facilities, but there was a report at Olympic Park, Homebush.

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a parasitic infection of the intestine and is easily spread from person to person in swimming pools, splash parks, interactive fountains, spas orJacuzzis, and it is a serious illness.

The warning – that kids with diarrhoea should not be swimming – is valid.

But this is a State-wide issue as outbreak reports have been made from across NSW and there hasn’t been an “outbreak in western Sydney” as 2DAYFM reported, prompting our Council’s media team to issue a correction.

https://www.hit.com.au/news/sydney/warning-issued-after-diarrhoea-outbreak-in-western-sydney-public-pools?station=2day&geoRedirect=true

WSLHD should have reported is properly on their 'The Pulse' publication/ web page as quoted below:

Click here for details from Western Sydney Area Health Service

This is one of many reasons why I stand for the area as an advocate and want to quash 'bad' news  not just neing within only in Mount Druitt, Blacktown Local Government area and even inclusive of Western Sydney itself.

What is most disappointing is that it was our own Western Sydney Local Area Health service that did this.

New Couples Getting Married - Tudor Lodge Garden Available At Greystanes

Within Mount Druitt and surrounding areas, there are limited places young couples getting married csan go too within our area, for locating reception places. The choices are limited. 

Yes you can choose function rooms at Local Hotels, Rooty RSL and Nurrangingy Park but Mount Druitt and the greater Western Sydney are limited in having special venues catering for wedding receptioons and when you fin them - they can be expenseive.

A little bit outside our area in Greystanes I met a local community person Shah, who owns the Tudor Lodge in Greystanes. I haven't been there but from he described this wcould be be a good place to check out at least until Mount Druitt has more and better Wedding Reception venues.

Click her for the Tudor House Details

Australia Day - Blacktown City Council Fireworks VIdeo At Rooty Hill 2018

Well what can I say, I turned upearly yesterday, to (literally and  really) get the top seat on the hill, in preparation to watching the entertainment and fireworks on Australia Day at Rooty Hill organised by Blacktown City Council in 2018.

I was so pleased how everything was organised: from patrolling police to security checking bags, to water statins and Council staff offering to  replemish water bottles. The there were the green plastic bags for  the community to place rubbish in the rubbish bins as they leavethe premises at night. There were also placed rubbish bins in strategic areas and I noticed people actuall using their bins to fill up their rubbish.  

The there small amusements for smaller children organised on the far right of stage and the amusement for older children  and adults on the left of stage.

 People were well behaved as at least 25,000 to 30,000 people attended the event. people came with folded chairs tio sit propperly, rather then place mats/ blankets on the ground and there there the people that brough thier tents and were hoping innthe begining and were not blowing away. Although,I did notice one that could not be pegged on the ground was about to blow away and next thing I noticed it was packed away.

Now for the entertainment there was Jay Sweeney Band, The Kami's, Christie Lamb, Peusudo Echo and Diesel - to top it up.  How does Blacktown City Council get there's artists to this event is amazing. They are proably preparing for next years Australia Day straight away. 

Each band/singer always uplifts crowds as they play theor songs and especially as Peusudo Echo played some 'Golden Oldies' I loved 'The Kami's' they were  great bang the Jay Sweeney Band  was a great introduction band for the day and Christie Lamb sanf up;lifting modern country songs, Diesel kept on going with his  song as he uplifted the spirits of the crowd until count down for the fireworks.

As the sun set the weather seemed to have turned to dark clouds, yet the wet weather held down and allowed the  fireworks to proceed.

On behalf of the community of Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs, I would like to offer a huge 'Congratulations' to the Mayor Councillor Stephen Bali (NSW Member for Blacktown), all Councillors and Council Officers, for  preparation for the event and ensuring all people from within Blacktown Local Government Area have thoroughly enjoyed witnessing a wonderful fireworks display for Australia Day.

Click here for Australia Day - Blacktown City Council Fireworks - Rooty Hill 2018 Video

Click here for Australia Day - Blacktown City Council Fireworks - Rooty Hill 2017 Video

The following pictures are from the time I arrived yesterday at Rooty Hill until the commencement of the fireworks. You will notice how  Tents have bring brough in and foldable chairs, providing a better way to watch the entertainment on stage, on the large screen and prior to commencement of the Fireworks display.

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Dive In Movies - Mount Druitt Swimming Pool

Media Release

Blacktown City Council’s unique way to beat the heat and get

entertained – the Dive In Movies – continues its season this 

weekend.

Boss Baby – starring the voice of Alec Baldwin – is the 

upside down comedy about a baby with the mind of an adult.

The film garnered a huge box office response – with the New

York Times saying  "The contrast between the helpless-

infant stage of life and corporate-speak is funny … “

Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali MP said floating in a pool and

watching a movie is the ideal way to keep cool and

entertained on hot summer night.

“The Dive-In Movie events are a great way to cool off during

the summer season, while enjoying some family movie 

time,” said Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali 

MP.'

“They are fantastic events for the whole community to enjoy 

and very affordable night out for families.”

The Dive In Movie season closes on February 3 with Moana,

the 3D animated fantasy about the strong-willed daughter of 

a chief of a Polynesian village, who is chosen by the ocean to

reunite a mystical relic with a goddess.

When blight strikes her island, Moana sets sail in search of 

Maui, a legendary demigod, in the hope of returning the 

heart of Te Fiti and saving her people.

Tickets are available at the gate on the night. For

a single screening, tickets are $5 for children, $10 for 

adults and $30 for a family (2 adults and 3 children or 1 

adult and 4 children).

Carnival Fun Food truck will be serving snacks including soft

serve ice cream, popcorn and fairy floss.

Gates open at 7pm, with movies

starting at 8pm. Tickets are available at the door.

Movie Schedule:

DATE	VENUE	MOVIE
27 January 2018	Riverstone Swimming Centre (Cnr Market St & W Garfield Rd)	Boss Baby
3 February	Mount Druitt Swimming Centre (Ayres Grv)	Moana

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Youth Worker Citizen Of The Year- Mount Druitt People Features....

Media release

 26 January 2018

Rap 4 Change youth worker Ned Narouz from Bidwill has been named Blacktown City's Citizen of the Year.

“Mr Narouz runs Rap 4 Change, a life-changing program that offers rap and hip-hop workshops, sport and fitness sessions, and mentoring to young people throughout Blacktown City,” Mayor of Blacktown City Stephen Bali said. 

“He was inspired to establish the charity in 2015 after organising a school disco in Tregear and seeing how well the students responded to local hip-hop artists.

“Since then, he has made a positive difference to the lives of many at risk youth in the area and has motivated others to do the same.”

Blacktown City’s Young Citizen of the Year is Liliarna Hornby from Chifley College Shalvey Campus

“Miss Hornby is an exemplary young leader who makes many positive contributions to her school, Chifley College Shalvey Campus,” Mayor Bali said.

“She is an active member of the Creating a Safer Shalvey team, which has a particular focus on standing up against bullying.

“As part of this group, she has led several initiatives, including running classes for students and delivering whole-of-school presentations in an effort to reduce bullying and empower bystanders.

“She is a positive role model for her peers and a mentor to younger students, tutoring primary school students and developing a recycling program at her school.”

Blacktown City’s Community Event of the Year is the Special Olympics Australia Soar and Roar Festival.

“The Soar and Roar Festival was a unique event providing people with an intellectual disability the opportunity to experience the thrill of a luxury car ride,” Mayor Bali said.

“The event was held in November 2017 and attracted luxury car owners and motorbike riders from around NSW, who made their way to Sydney Motorsport Park to raise funds for the organisation.

“In 2017 $150,000,00 was raised, which will now be put back into the organisation to create an arena for athletes to exercise, have fun and make lifelong friends.”

The award winners were announced by Mayor Bali at a special Australia Day ceremony held at Bowman Hall in Blacktown.

“Congratulations to both Ned Narouz and Liliarna Hornby on winning these awards. Their achievements and commitment to the local community are a wonderful reflection of the great people we have in Blacktown City”, Mayor Bali said.

Australia Day Celebrations in Blacktown City

Blacktown City Council’s renowned Australia Day celebrations, catering to more than 350,000 residents, were once again an overwhelming success.

Council’s Australia Day celebrations kicked off at 7:00am with the ‘Wake Up with the Wildlife Breakfast’ at Featherdale Wildlife Park in Doonside. The sell-out event attracted hundreds of locals who turned out to share breakfast with our native wildlife.

Before the Citizen of the Year Award event, Council held its Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony in the Bowman Hall, where 165 people became Australian citizens.

The Australia Day celebrations continued with Council’s free Australia Day Concert at the Rooty Hill from 4pm and concluding with Western Sydney’s largest fireworks display.

The 2018 event featured performances by Australian new wave band, Pseudo Echo, and home-grown musicians Christie Lamb and Diesel.  

Happy Australia Day To All : How To Check If Fireworks Are Cancelled Due To Wet Weather

To all proud people from our community, who are Australians by birth or by citizenship,  we all wish you all to have a Special ' Happy Australia Day'.

May we live in peace, not protest,  
May we we speak not yell, 
May we reflect where we were and now where we are. 
May we create not dismantle.

May we  have fun not be sad, 
May we sing not be quiet, 
May we make someone happy and not feel depressed, 
May we seek comfort, when we are feeling distress.

May we be fpund by others not be lost,
May we rejoice in our celebration Day not throw it away,
May we  make it known that 'Australia Day' is a Day for all,
To come together and  have  great fun and have a ball.

Australia Day remoinds myself of the Australian old Band 'The Seekers' song 'I am Australian' - this song brings us together not making us feel different about Australia Day, below afre the lyris to it and  Click here  for the song and sing with them:

"I Am Australian"

I came from the Dreamtime
From the dusty red soil plains
I am the ancient heart
The keeper of the flame
I stood upon the rocky shore
I watched the tall ships come
For forty thousand years I've been the first Australian

I came upon the prison ships
Bound down by iron chains
I fought the land
Endured the lash
And waited for the rains
I'm a settler
I'm a farmer's wife
On a dry and barren run
A convict then a free man
I became Australian

I'm a daughter of a digger
Who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman
On the long and dusty road
I'm a child of her Depression
I saw the good times come
I'm a bushy, I'm a battler
I am Australian

We are one
But we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We'll share a dream
And sing with one voice
I am, you are, we are Australian

I'm a teller of stories
I'm a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira
And I paint the ghostly gums
I'm Clancy on his horse
I'm Ned Kelly on the run
I'm the one who waltzed Matilda
I am Australian

I'm the hot wind from the desert
I'm the black soil of the plain
I'm the mountains and the valleys
I'm the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock
I am the sky
The rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land
I am Australian

We are one
But we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We'll share a dream
And sing with one voice
I am, you are, we are Australian

We are one
But we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We'll share a dream
And sing with one voice
I am, you are
We are Australian

I am, you are
We are Australian

Now the one place, we can find out if the Australia Day Firewqrks is Cancelled today due to weather is the Blacktown City Council Twitter account Click here  and I'm pretty sure on their  Face Book Account Click here

Click here for Blacktown City Council Twitter account details



Click here for previous post on Keeping Australia Day Australia Day

Trains Strike For 29th January Averted - NSW Government

I can remember when I was young and heading to school from the NSW inner city suburb of Paddington  nd  travelling to school to StMarys Cathedral  Primary School that every school day I was travelling from Paddington ( home) to school. The distacmnce according to Google maps is 2.2km's which I find incredibale - I thought it was more.

In fact, it is shorter than if I want to walk from my current home in Whlan to Mount Druitt train Station is 2.7km. So Why am I mentioning this - for 6 weeks there was a bus  strike that made me walk to and from school -m although I found it exhausting after thiose 6 weeks  had completed and most relieved that I could catches buses again to and from school.

I  am  back to work on 29th January and I had made plans, just in case the train strike that was due to happen, happened. Now I am relieved that the train strike is averted by the NSW Government, yet I'm not pleased that we have had people travel to and from work with in my holiday absence, with reduced services due to annual and sick leave increase for train drivers.

I don't doubt Sydney Trains train drivers do not deserve a pay rise - everyone deserves a pay risebut based  on  working with the NSW Government and ensuring that time tables are run to service without increased sick leave and/or annual leavemor even stress caused to drivers  due to  every day experiences.

Click here for details From NSW Government

This may be an ongouing issue until Unions  and Governments work together - hand in hand - to get a resultion on the payrise request.

Blacktown City Council - ' Care For For Animals Tips' - Annimal Holding Facility Video

In summer - we tend to care for ourselves (as humans) especially to prevent thirst and heat exhaustion, in hot sultry conditions. This is our way of tending to our own care first - yet, if we have animals in our care, we also have to look after them in the same way we look after ourselves in the same conditions. 

There maybe different ways of carrinf for animals compared to us humans and I recommend Blacktown City Council - Animal Holding Facity video be watch by our community, understanding how we can tend and care for our animals. I congratulate  Blacktown City Council Officers for their efforts to inform our community of these important issues, the community can learn from.

Click here for video

Blacktown City Coucnil - Media Release - Don’t Ferret Around For Free Microchipping

Media release

23 January 2018

There were more than a few tears of relief when Betrice Flight of Whalan was reunited with her beloved pet ferret at Blacktown City Council’s Animal Holding Facility on Friday.

“It’s amazing; I never thought I’d see him again,” Ms Flight said.

“When the girl at the AHF brought him out in the cage, I said his name, ‘Gizmo’, and he jumped straight out and ran up my arm.

“There was such relief, I burst into tears.”

Ms Flight and Gizmo were brought back together thanks to a Good Samaritan and the enterprising efforts of Blacktown City Council’s AHF staff.

“A passing motorist found Gizmo on the road and brought him into the facility,” AHF Coordinator Ian Burr said.

“He wasn’t microchipped, but we gave him a health check and posted an ad on the pet finder website.

“Thankfully, Betrice saw the post and got in touch with us.

“She was so happy to get her ferret back she kissed him several times in the office.”

Ms Flight said she immediately got Gizmo microchipped, which means if he goes missing again staff at the AHF can scan his body for a chip that contains her contact details.

Unfortunately, she is still missing a female ferret, called Honey, who she believes was stolen, along with Gizmo, from their cage.

She said her reunion with Gizmo has given her hope Honey will be found.

There will be a microchipping day at the Animal Holding

 Facility, Flushcombe Road, Prospect, on Saturday 3 

February from 9:00am to 12:30pm. 

Blacktown City residents get the first two dogs or cats per 

household chipped for free, with a $15 charge for each 

additional pet. 

Microchipping for other animals, such as ferrets, rabbits and 

guinea-pigs, costs $20 per pet.

“Each year, we reunite hundreds of animals with their owners, mostly because they have been micro-chipped, and I encourage all pet owners to take advantage of our free microchipping service,” Mr Burr said.

“Apart from dogs and cats, we have micro-chipped many rabbits, which are becoming more popular as a companion animal, and a few ferrets too.”

For more information about Council’s free microchipping service on 3 February call the AHF on 9839 6161. No bookings required, just turn up between 9.00am and 12:30pm on the day.

AHF Coordinator Ian Burr and Betrice Flight with Gizmo the ferret.

Betrice Flight gives Gizmo a kiss after their happy reunion.

Betrice Flight gives Gizmo a kiss after their happy reunion.