Relationships Australia Surveys on Poor Mental Health Result and New One on Anxiety...

Click here to complete survey on Anxiety

Click here on July 2018 Poor Mental Health Survey

NSW Bus Region 1 - 746 New Timetable - 4/9/2018 -Riverstone to Box hill

A new bus timetable is starting soon for Busways ROUTE 746: Riverstone to Box Hill which you previously opted to receive email alerts for.

Please visit http://www.busways.com.au/travelling-with-us/route/746/route-746-riverstone-box-hill/20180904 to view the route 746 timetable which starts on the 04-09-2018. Until this date the current route 746 timetable remains in effect and can be viewed on http://www.busways.com.au. We will send you a reminder email on the 04-09-2018 to notify you that the new timetable is in effect.

Car Seat Checking Day - Mount Druitt from Kerry Admin for 'whyilovemountdruitt' Face Book Page:

Kerri Bradbury shared a post.

Admin · 39 mins

Tuesday 4 Sept 9.30am - 2.30pm
At: Westfield Mount Druitt - Enter from Carlise Avenue., Covered carpark area between K Mart and the foodcourt entrance., Mount Druitt 2770 👍

Blacktown City Council

Car seat checking day Mt Druitt

Tuesday, 04 September 2018 | 09:30 AM to 02:30 PM

Our Authorised Checkers will ensure that your child's car seat is safe and secure in your vehicle so that your child is protected if you have a crash.  The check and refitting is free. You only pay if you need extra fittings like buckles or extension straps so bring these with you if you have them.

If this date doesn't suit you contact our Road Safety Officer and ask to be included on the email alert list for future car seat checking days.

Sorry, this service is not available to Family Daycarers

When

• Tuesday, 04 September 2018 | 09:30 AM - 02:30 PM

Location

Westfield Mount Druitt - Enter from Carlise Avenue., Covered carpark area between K Mart and the foodcourt entrance., Mount Druitt 2770  

200,000 Hits Milestone For 'Whyilovemountdruitt' Blogspot.....

It is great news that since the 14th February 2014 until August 2018, ' Whyilovemountdruitt' blogspot has reached over 200,000 hits.

This is an overwhelming positive result for the people of Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs. This website was created to bring the community together in obtaining improvements within our community, report good news and  promote 'goodness'. The community issues ranged from a small hole in the ground to complete changes in community infrastructure. We have promoted small businesses with free adds as they  continue to do business in our area.

 The lists goes on: share stories, play local bands, local artists and for 8 months publish Blacktown City Council  Media Releases etc. We have videoed candidates for Local Council Elections and the lists goes on. Thank you to all online viewers for your support. Thank you for the 118 comments raised on current 2210 published posts.

Thank you to Blacktown City Council Councillors, Members for NSW Mount Dtuitt and Londonderry Members of Parliament and Member for Chifley. Thank you  to Mount-St Mary as Standard and former NSW St Marys Star for picking myself for local interest stories and Thank you for  284 members of 'whyilovemountdruitt' Face Book Page.

Now to reach 1,000,000 visits.......                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Rooty Hill RSL Youth Swimming Club Season - Kerry 'whyilovemountdruitt' Face Book Page

Kerri Bradbury shared an event.

Admin · August 22 at 6:23 AM

For swimmers 8 - 18 years of age. Great to improve swimming, get fit and prepare for school swimming carnivals. Starts 2 October and finishes end of March 2019.

TUE, OCT 2 AT 4 PM

Rooty Hill RSL Youth Swimming Club Season Start & Registration

Maxwell Dental ' Ron From 'whyilovemountdruitt' Face Book Page

Ron Vorbach

Admin · Yesterday at 7:12 PM

If your in need of dentures or alike, This gentleman is an artist . He wont give a once in and out then cross his fingers. He molds and measures then double checks and ensures as perfect as humanly possible . I have seen and witnessed his work and am super impressed . It is up to you, your mouth, your comfort.

General CommunitY Leadership Program - Western Sydney Community Forum

What's Your WhY? Generation CommunitY Leadership program. Growing Future Leaders

On a leadership career path? Under 35? The WSCF Generation CommunitY program helps you to define, set and reach your goals.   Over 6 months, young leaders tackle adaptive leadership, thought leadership and change management in a workshop learning environment. Graduates develop transferable skills and knowledge to enable considered leadership, with tools to assist in establishing a self-determined future path.  Alumni of Generation CommunitY work across the careers spectrum, including community services, government, arts, youth, aged care and disability, employment, multicultural, and not-for-profit spaces. Know someone who might be keen?  Contact us to find out more: Charlton Wun, Projects 02 96879669  charltonw@wscf.org.au  wscf.org.au Expressions of Interest are open until 12 October. WSCF members access a special rate.

Ideas To Improve Our Community.... Ed Husic MP

If you're a local group who has an idea to improve our community, it's not too late to send your Expression of Interest for the Stronger Communities Programme.

You may wish to submit your EOI by 5pm tomorrow, Friday 24 August. Further information can be found below. 

I look forward to receiving your applications. 

Regards, 

Our local area will receive $150,000 from the Federal 

Government for small capital works projects that improve

community participation and make our community a better 

place to live.

I’m calling on local community groups to contact me with

ideas and suggestions on how the funding should be used.

Grants of between $2,500 and $20,000 will be awarded to 

successful not-for-profit and local government organisations.  

A local committee made up of representatives from local 

sporting clubs and cultural groups will consider all proposals 

and make recommendations to the Department of 

Infrastructure and Regional Development.

The Stronger Communities Programme requires matched 

contributions in cash or in kind on at least a dollar for dollar 

basis.

Click here to download the Expression of Interest form and 

return to my office by 5pm, Friday 24 August 2018.

For further information including guidelines please see the 

Department's website here or contact my office on 

9625 4344.

Road Closures To 1st September St Marys Spring Festival -

Saturday 1st September is the 
St Marys Spring Festival. There will be road closures so get in early for a good parking spot.

Click here for previous post on 
St Marys Spring Festival

Delivering More Love To Mount Druitt!!.....

Delivering more love to Mount Druitt!!
We're back for more fun at Westfield Mt Druitt and this week we're bringing our friends from Frank's Original Philly Cheesesteak & Dogs for a big weekend!!
Join us for dinner & dessert this Thursday to Sunday from 6pm till late. 
Carlisle Avenue, Mount Druitt 
#knafeh #knafehbakery #beardedbakers#sydneyfood #sydneyeats #sydneydessert

Meca Mount Druitt AUS-Talent Show - Meca Mount Druitt Face Book Page

AusTalent is back for its second edition.
Tickets are now available.

Join us on Saturday 15th September 2018 
Red carpet doors open at 4pm

3A Memorial Dr, Granville NSW 2142

For more information please call 0410752022 - 0489228892

 — feeling excited with Mt Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency and Aus Talent.

Westfield Mount Druitt - Whats's On This Week....

Click here for details

Sydney Story Factory - Supporter News Letter

Family and I decked in colourful clothing/celebrate my 10th birthday/on a very special day/A cost-efficient snack/at a very expensive food court. Poetry excerpt from Arthur Phillip High School, Parramatta.

The weekend before last, on a Saturday night, a very nervous 17-year-old ascended a stage in San Francisco. It was the only public event of the inaugural International Congress of Youth Voices, a three-day event bringing together 100 of the smartest, most interesting young people from around the world. We were asked to send a delegate and were delighted to offer that opportunity to our student Vivian Pham, whose first novel will be published in 2020. Vivian could barely breathe for nerves as she walked onto that stage, but she gave a rousing speech reflecting on her position in colonial history, her privilege and her responsibilities. She received a standing ovation, and was followed on stage by renowned Nigerian writer and feminist,Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who hugged Vivian and called her an inspiration. The Congress culminated in the creation of a group manifesto, published by the Guardian here. Vivian called the whole experience "life changing."


Clockwise from top left) Vivian Pham delivering her speech; Vivian (left) working with other delegates to draft the manifesto; group shot of all delegates at the International Congress of Youth Voices.

IT'S OFFICIAL: BILAL IS OUR LOCAL HERO! Much closer to home, we are delighted to announced that our Storyteller-in-Chief Parramatta, Bilal Hafda, has been named a Local Hero at Westfield Parramatta. The competition involved a public voting process, and Bilal can now be spotted on billboards throughout the centre. Said the judges: "It is impossible not to be moved by the sheer joy and energy he radiates as he and his team give their young charges a safe place in which to open up and tell their stories, either in writing, video or theatre." We couldn't agree more. Congratulations Bilal! Bilal Hafda, our Storyteller-in-Chief Parramatta ON THE SUBJECT OF AWARDS: PLEASE VOTE FOR US! More good news: we are one of three finalists in the Community/Social category of the 2018 Canon Oceania Grants. You can help us win it! The grants are intended to support schools, not-for-profits and community groups who are addressing both social and environmental issues in their community and inspiring change for future generations. Please vote for us by clicking this link before August 31st! We could win $4,000 worth of Canon equipment, and $1,000 cash. Thanks Canon! IT'S HAPPENING! CONSTRUCTION BEGINS IN PARRAMATTA We are thrilled that work is finally underway on our new Parramatta writing centre. Our architects, LAVA, have come up with a fabulous design (click through to see photos and a virtual model) that's sure to inspire all the young writers who come through our doors. We anticipate being open for Term 4, though nearly all our Western Sydney programs are already running. Watch this space.  Director of our Parramatta centre, Nikola Amanovic, looks at a virtual model of our workshop space. He's standing in the workshop space as it is now. LEARNING FROM OTHERS AROUND THE WORLD Our Storyteller-in-Chief Richard Short and Executive Director Cath Keenan recently came back from Word Up! in Amsterdam, the second international conference of writing centres like ours from all around the world. There were representatives of 16 organisations from 11 different countries, all there for three days to share their knowledge around programs, volunteer management, scaling and much more. It was an invaluable and enlightening experience that sparked numerous ideas for collaborations. Read more here. Clockwise from top left: Novelist and co-founder of 826 Valencia, Dave Eggers, talks with Saskia Noordhuis, founder of Noordje (which hosted the conference) and writer Abdelkader Benali; Richard Short presenting at the conference; the poetry phone at Noordje - for emergency poems!; all the delegates; a tutor with children at Noordje, reading the newspaper they'd written.

Until next time, thank you so much for your support. With best wishes from Cath Keenan and the Sydney Story Factory team

STUDENT OF THE MONTH: NATALIE  Natalie has been visiting the Story Factory after school with The Settlement for more than two years. She's an incredibly thoughtful and imaginative writer who has already developed a reflective practice. In a recent interview, she said, "I knew that after I got used to [the initial nerves], they were helping me with things I need help with." Her tutor Lorena (who has worked with her for almost this entire period), thinks she will in time be a "real force of strength and leadership for her peers." Natalie, keep up your amazing writing! Listen to an interview with Natalie right here – have tissues handy.

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: LUCIE TOWERS  Lucie has been with us for just a year, but in that time has proven exceptional in so many areas. She tutors wonderfully, she illustrates beautifully (she once designed a cover from scratch, from home, with a 20-minute deadline). Lately she's been spending hours editing short films from students at Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Waterloo, and mentoring high school kids in our Sunday morning Novella program. Lucie, we're humbled and awed by your commitment to our students – thank you so much for everything, and remember us fondly when you're leader of the universe.

TEACHER OF THE MONTH:  LUCA RIZZO Luca teaches at Centennial Park School, which works with students with mental health issues, and currently brings a full class every week to the Story Factory. The students have a wide range of perspectives on the world, and Luca works alongside all of them with respect and patience. He says: "As we provide a personalised well being-based program, we are able to support students in creative and multi-faceted ways that would otherwise not be possible in a busy mainstream school environment." Luca – thank you, you're tops!