Sydney Alliance 2019

THE YEAR IN NUMBERS & PICTURES John, thank you for being along for the journey in 2019. We hope these images of some of our highlights of the year offer a short distraction from today's heat and ash!   "Get it done!" 1901 assembly participants call for affordable housing & energy ahead of March NSW Election. "Arriving... and being applauded! That is monumental for our community" 152 Sikh leaders from the Glenwood Gurdwara enter their first Alliance Assembly to cheers and applause.  "Its a yes". Don Harwin, NSW Energy Minister joins 9 Politicians of all parties; LIB, LAB, GRN, CDP & IND, in negotiations for a better Sydney. "This is... not what I expected."Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor summarises his meeting with 5 leaders of Voices For Power about a Community Energy Hub in Western Sydney. "It's so different, hearing it direct. It made me grateful and empathetic." 9300 Sydneysiders have participated in  ‘Changing the Conversation’ to date; hearing directly from a person seeking refuge or asylum. 1118 of those in 2019.  "Making this commitment is one of the proudest moments of my life... Thank you to Sydney Alliance for this campaign" Karl Asfour, Mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown commits to 9 Early Childhood Education places in Bankstown Preschools, to be made available for children of people seeking asylum. By year's end a total of 15 Childcare Centres & Preschools have joined the program, including private providers and Catholic Early Education. More to do in 2020! Photo Credit: Danish Ravi.   "It takes organised people to overcome violence. Muslims in Christchurch, Catholics in Sri Lanka and Jews in La Halle and San Diego, we all bleed red. We must strive to make Sydney different" 305 Sydneysiders gathered throughout the year for “The Power of Love”. Building long term, honest and frank relationships across the city’s diversity in the wake of the terrible attacks in 2019. "Sure, they are dense reading, dull as sawdust. But jeez those submissions makes a difference" 155 Sydneysiders fought, planning jargon and tight timeframes to supporting Affordable Housing in submissions to Local-Strategic-Planning-Statements (LSPS). 30 of 33 of Sydney's local councils were targeted. Hundreds of affordable homes will be made available, thanks to your action this year. "I will tell my children - do your power analysis in the playground!" 195 Leaders trained in community organising in 2019. New skills, new power, new leaders ready for action in 2020.   "I felt something had changed within me. I felt like I was a different person. I had grown, matured, aged in some way and was no longer the boy I was merely 24 hours ago" Raul sharing his journey as one of 11 graduating interns in 2019. They join 161 Alumni of the Sydney Alliance Interns program. "Changing the world starts in our own backyards. In Plumpton, Turella, Drummoyne, Greenacre, Cronulla and Pymble..." 247 Postcodes in the Sydney Basin. Your postcode needs you! CALL TO ACTION: In 2020 the Alliance is supporting local leaders like you to listen, discern and act in their own postcodes. If you are keen to be part of "Postcode2020" reply to find out more in the new year! Or support this work with a donation. For the common good of Sydney, David Barrow http://www.sydneyalliance.org.au/

St Marys Spring Festival 7th September 2019

We would love you to join us at the St Marys Spring Festival.

Whalan Public School Fair Require More Stall Holders

Hey guys, still looking at taking some more stall holders and still in need of food vendors for the event.

Please feel free to contact myself or Nicole Wilkinson for any information.

market stalls $60 for 3x3.

Doonside Festival - Blacktown City Council Video

BlacktownCityCouncil

Published on Aug 20, 2019

We had an exciting family day out at this year’s Doonside Village Festival, with great company, awesome performances, great food and fun memories!

Click here for video

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Calling On All Green Thumbs

16 August 2019

Blacktown City Council is on the look-out for gardeners with a

creative flair.

Competitors for this year’s Blacktown City Garden 

Competition have the option of entering 12 different 

categories ranging from best Australian native garden to 

best Sustainable Garden and the overall winner, the 

champion of champions.

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said the 

popular competition was a great opportunity for everyone to 

showcase their gardening skills from beginners through to 

experts.

“Last year, the Blacktown City Garden Competition attracted

over 70 entries,” Mayor Bali said.

“All the 2018 competitors had beautiful gardens to showcase 

and I’m eager to see what our residents have been working 

on this year.

“I encourage you all to apply no matter what level your 

gardening skills are.”

Each entry will be judged on aspects including design, 

construction, maintenance and sustainability, and will be in 

the running to win a number of cash prizes.

Entries are now open and will close 5.30 pm, Friday 30 

August 2019.

Preliminary judging will be conducted between 9 - 20 

September, 2019 inclusive, followed by the final round of 

judging by industry experts.

For more information visit:
https://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Community/Awards-scholarships-and-competitions/2019-Blacktown-City-Garden-Competition

Prospect resident wins the best front garden category 

in 2018.

Westfield Mount Druitt Local Heroes - Vote For One of Them.....

From this list of Nominations, for Westfield Local Heroes - Mount Druitt:


NSW | WESTFIELD MT DRUITT Congratulations to our Westfield Mt Druitt Local Hero nominees: 

• Daniel ANGUS – Headspace Mt Druitt

• Denise AUMAU MAZHEW – I Am Comunity 

• Mayor CHAGAI – Police Citizens Youth Club NSW (PCYC 
Blacktown) 

• Tania DAVIDSON – Greater Western Aboriginal Health Service 

• Rosie SURACE – Shalvey Community Centre 

• Alison EASTWOOD – Mount Druitt Seventh Day Adventist Church 

• (Auntie) Jenny EBSWORTH – Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation 

• John FERNANDES – Lions Club of Kings Langley Inc 

• Emma GILLHAM – Make-A-Wish Australia 

• Darryl HAMILTON – NSW Police - Mount Druitt Police Area 
Command

• Kim KING – Yenu Allowah Aboriginal Child & Family Centre 

• Cheryl LYNCH-GARDNER – Budo Ryu Karate Academy 

• Danny MAYSON-KINDER – Fly High Billie Limited 

• Gricel MENDEZ – Set2Learn 

• Gailsusan MOORE – Community Foundation of North Western Sydney 

• Carol MURRAY – Carol Murray Productions 

• Ned NAROUZ – Rap 4 Change 

• Melinda PARKER – Made With Love - Murrum 

• Gary PONTIFEX – The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation 

• Rooby ROO – Blacktown Area Community Centres Inc (BACC) 

• Jeffrey SMITH – Mount Druitt Neighbour Aid Inc 

• Chris SUFFIELD – NSW Powerchair Football Association 

• John SVOBODA – Western Sydney Suicide Prevention and Support Network 

• Matt TAYLOR – Rooty Hill RSL Football Club 

• Willa TONGIA – Security 

• Law TUILAEPA – Youth Off The Streets 

• Rebecca VERRIER – DT Performing Arts 

• Faye WEBB – Ratha’s Place - help2help 

• Teigan WISE – Coles Mt Druitt

Meet the finalists and vote Now: Click here to vote

Mayor Chagai PCYC Blacktown Rosie Surace Shalvey Community Centre Gary Pontifex The Children's Hospital at Westmead

Danny Mayson-Kinder Flyhighbillie Ned Narouz Rap 4 Change Aunty Jenny Ebsworth Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation

 Click here for previous post

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Western Sydney’s Favourite Running Festival Is Back

20 June 2019

The annual Westlink M7 Blacktown Running Festival is now

open for registrations for this year’s event.

Families, devoted marathon runners, joggers, walkers, kids 

and adults are all encouraged to get involved in the July 

28^th event.

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said the annual run 

is a unique opportunity to combine fun and fitness.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the City of Blacktown to 

come together and get active. There is a race for everyone, 

from professional athletes to families and kids just having a 

go!” Mayor Bali said.

“Blacktown Running Festival is unique in that it is a traffic 

free circuit despite being held on roadways,” Mayor Bali said.

This year marks the 14^th year of Westlink M7 and Blacktown 

City Council’s partnership.

The Marathon, half Marathon, 10km and 5km events will be 

run on the Westlink M7 Shared Pathway and are certified by 

IAAF/AIMS (Association of International Marathons and 

Distance Races).

A 2km Kids Marathon will also be run on the Blacktown 

International Sportspark running track.

Mayor Bali said: “A unique aspect of Blacktown’s Running 

Festival is that the course starts and finishes at Blacktown 

International Sportspark making it very convenient for 

families who wish to enter different races.

“There are also prizes for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place runners in all 

events.”

Don’t miss out on this year’s Blacktown Running Festival. 

Online registrations close at 5 pm on Saturday 27^th July. On 

the day, registrations will be open from 6 am at the late 

registrations tent at the event.

For more information and to register online, please 

visit www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/runningfestival

Event information

Date: Sunday 28 July 2019

Where: Blacktown International Sports Park, Rooty Hill – 

Athletics Facility.

Start Times:

6:45am     Start of Marathon

7:15am     Start of Half Marathon

7:40am     Start of 10km Run

7:50am     Start of 5km Run

7:55am     Start of Kids Marathon 2km

'St Vinnies Sleepout' Prevention of Homelessness In Western Sydney

Can you help us to make an impact for those in need?

This August, Vinnies Western Sydney will bring together business and community representatives to help those experiencing disadvantage. We invite you to join us for our second annual Vinnies Western Sydney Community Sleepout on Friday 30 August to raise vital funds to help prevent homelessness in Western Sydney.

Friday 30 August - Saturday 31 August Western Sydney University Rydalmere Campus

Last year's inaugural event raised more than $70,000 in support of St Vincent de Paul Society services and the people we assist, and this year's fundraising goal of $80,000 aims to support the continuation of Vinnies programs and services across the region - providing emergency relief, financial assistance and addressing social isolation, as well as offering support, advocacy and referral assistance to those experiencing disadvantage. We invite you to join us for this meaningful event to help address disadvantage in Western Sydney. The night will be an experiential, no frills affair. Participants will be given no more than a beanie, a sheet of cardboard and a cup of soup before sleeping out on the grass at the university’s campus, providing just a small insight into what it is like to experience disadvantage in Western Sydney. This combination of fundraising and awareness will allow Vinnies Western Sydney to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place for so many people affected by disadvantage in our local community. To participate in this event, please register via the dedicated website at https://www.communitysleepout.org.au/western-sydney You may alternatively wish to show your support by donating to the event to help us reach our fundraising goal.

Click Here To Register

Blacktown City Council - Community Budget Night Educates ALL......

Yes, I agree, that we are all educated when we understand basics of the 2019-2020 Blacktown City Council  Budget of $736M - it is important to understand how our money is earnt and spent by our Local Council. Based on our current population of 367000 or budget per person is approximately $2,005.45 per person.

We understand that Council would like to have a University it is back yard as a forefront to providing better access & opportunity to obtaining and completing tertiary education. So, with the Australian Catholic University(ACU) wanting to have a further educational base in Blacktown - being a central hub to Western Sydney, students within the Greater Western Sydney, will be provided a great opportunity to achieve great qualifications to boost their career chances.

My issue with holding the ACU in the central part of Blacktown City is that would be vital for any student to attend but difficult to get too, unless there is an uplift to the public transport infrastructure, to support it. That is, upgraded train station or more rapid trains to cope with the increase of public transport commuters and essential bus services from all corridors to meet commuter demands

 I do recommend community members attend these Annual events.

Basic information on our City below:


Our City Our community 
367,000 Estimated population
Born overseas: 40%
Languages spoken: 182 urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in NSW Largest 
Projected population in 2036: 522,000
Population is under 30 years old: 44%
Average age: 33
Suburbs: 48
Our environment
Waste diverted from landfill in 2016/17: 61%
Trees given away in 2016/17: 33,436
Waterways: 262km
Bushcare groups: 12
Bushland under restoration by volunteers: 27.9ha
Our economy $17.11 billion Gross regional product (GRP)
Unemployment (June 2018): 5.2%
Residents working in Blacktown City: 44%
Number of local businesses: 21,207
Number of local jobs: 138,498 of the workforce 
with  22% holding a bachelor  or higher degree 47

Our infrastructure
Local roads: 1,332km 
117 Bridges: 
87km Regional roads:
Our recreation facilities
Playgrounds: 406
Tennis courts: 38
Playing fields: 163
Aquatic and leisure centres: 5
Community hubs: 6
Libraries: 5
Our Council
Number full time equivalent staff 1,677 
Budget forecast $736 million
Capital budget $384 million
Operating budget: $352 million Council’s projected spending during 2017-2021: 
$2.7 billion Budget forecast: $736 million Capital budget