We Farewell And Provide A Tribute To 4 Former Blacktown City Councillors of Ward 4 and 5

Every 4 years there are Blacktown City Councillors that are either not running for election and they retire or they have not been re-elected to Council for various reasons: not being pre-selected from  within their party or resigning from the party and running as an Independent. Each of the the three  Councillors that I would like to dedicate this post to them.

They each have committed so much time personal time in many years, to service their  local constituents and I'm sure that they have each achieved their goals in what they wanted to do as a Councillor of Blacktown City Council.

Retired Councillor, Charlie Lowles OAM, has served the community in Ward 5 for  a long twenty 27 years and his name is well known when it comes to local community improvements/issues. He normally places his hand up first and seeks ways of resolving our local community requirements and turns up at a lot of community events, enjoying himself. He was elected Mayor from 1995-1999 and from 2008-1010. He has  provided so much commitment to his community in everywhere he goes and has served our community with such pride leaving a mark that cannot be forgotten. We wish him well with his retirement.

Retired Councillor, Edmond Atalla has taken up elected office as the NSW Member of Mount Druitt elected to the 56th NSW Parliament in 2015, after  serving the community as a Councillor for over 12 1/2 years in Ward 4, this has given him great insight in being elected as a NSW State Member of Mount Druitt. This new role will give him great character and aspiration to be the best member of our area, especially with his  passionate views on public transport and Mount Druitt hospital as well as education. We wish him well with his newly elected office.

Former Councillor Isabelle White, elected since 2012, was  not re-selected from the local Liberal Party ranks. A vocal voice for the closing of Mount Druitt pool and change of name of Blacktown City name and a current High school teacher, we wish her well in  her future.

Former Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, Ward 4 for 8 years has  provided quality dedicated time to her community and was recently a great support fro Mayor Stephen Bali, as soon as she was elected Deputy Mayor last year. She has supported community improvements from parks and gardens to bus stops to street improvements. She started with fixing and was elected as a Liberal Councilor in 2008, in 2015 resigned from the Liberal party due to local internal party politicking. She since ran as an independent,  and was elected Deputy Mayor for 1 year. Although  she contested Ward 4 as an Independent, she wasn't elected for her third term and will consider her options within the next 4 years, while she takes a well deserved rest. We wish her well with he future decisions.

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson on 'whyilovemountdruitt' - Ward 4, Blacktown City Council Elections

The benefits of showing local council candidates to our community, especially to the community that have never met them before is so great and encouraging  especially prior to the 10th of September 2016, Blacktown City Council elections.

We have proposed to all candidates of Ward 4  & 5, to have themselves filmed and promoted to our  community through Face Book and Blogger on their version of 'whyilovemountdruitt'. There is no charge to the candidates  as  both Ron Vorbach, Director/Producer/Editor and myself are volunteering our time. 

This is a first time for Wards 4 and 5 and most likely Blacktown City Council as a whole is doing this, although this could catch onto other candidates in other Wards or Councils. This is to assist the community perhaps deciding on candidates they were not sure of. Making their decision that much easier. We need to reduce our informal votes and I hope that if  the informal votes reduces at the end result of the election, then this could  have a small impact on it. Every vote counts!

This is Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, Independent candidate of Ward 4's version of whyilovemountdruitt'.

Click here for Jacqueline's 'whyilovemountdruitt'

First Ever Recorded 'Whyilovemoundruitt' Video - Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson,

Today is the first time that  any candidate from Local, State and Federal by 'whyilovemountdruitt' members and  we are so proud of this new initiative.  This places our candidates in a relaxed atmosphere, where difficult questions are not asked and the answers flow from themselves. 

So congratulations  for the first Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, independent candidate for Ward 4, for the Blacktown City Council elections on the 10th September 2016, to be interviewed by us myself (actually she answered all questions in her presentation).

The 3 questions that will be asked for any candidates of Ward 4 and 5 of Blacktown City Council, will be the following:

1. whyilovemountdruitt in their version?
2.  (If the candidate is a current Councillor) 'What improvements have you  made since you have been elected to Council?
3. 'What improvements would you like to see  if you were elected in Council .

 Click Here for First Video of First Candidate : Local Council Elections

 

So The Changes In Ward 4 and 5 Blacktown City Council Elections 10th September 2016

Would you believe it, we are still in election mode. No, not  Federal Election mode, the buzz and excitement is gone, now we have an elected Federal Government. We have  the Blacktown City Council election occurring on the 10th September 2016.

Here are the calendar of events for the  Blacktown City Council, General elections: Click here

Check here for Poling Booths Click here for Polling Booths in All Wards

So, what changes are happening in  candidates/Councillors in Ward 4 and 5 that covers Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs?

Clr Charlie Lowles OAM

Clr. Edmond Atalla

Well we have 2 retirement of Councillors: Ward 4 Councillor Edmond Atalla, now current NSW State MP since 2015, elected  as a Councillor since 2004 and retiring and Deputy Mayor 2006-7 and Ward 5 Councillor Charlie Lowles, with over 26 years of being an elected member  of Council.

This will leave Mayor Councillor Stephen Bali with the strongest chance to win the from Ward 4, 1st elected candidate and the same with Tony Bleasedale in Ward 5 (who'll jump up to number on the Australian Labor Party ticket)

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, will be swapping her nomination as candidate to from Ward 5 to Ward 4, this time running as an Independent. I understand that most of the Blacktown City Council constituents Councillor Donaldson. meet are mainly living on Ward 4. This will leave a big gaping hole in Ward 5 as the former Liberal Candidate Councillor Donaldson had  pick up a dramatic  swing swing to wards her at last Council election in 2012, a new incumbent  Liberal candidate may find it hard to maintain votes.

We don't know if Councillor Isabelle White will re run as a candidate in Ward 4. If she does,  we will advise the community , so most definitely there will be 3 new faces on Council from Ward 4 & 5 after the  Council elections after 10th September 2016.  

We will keep you posted as soon as  nominations have closed and then we will seek  each candidates 'whyilovemountdruitt', to help you consider who you will vote for.

$5M Funding Upgrade Poppendetta Park, Mount Druitt Town Rangers - Blacktown City Council!

As we live within Blacktown City Council local government area, around the corner (in time) will be the Local Government elections to be held in Blacktown. This only happens every 4 years, which is less costly then having the general elections every three years.

The Blacktown City Council's Annual Budget for 2016-2017 has produced a huge bonus to our Mount Druitt area by providing a $5 Million dollar upgrade to Popondetta Park, Emerton.

This is total Credit to Mayor, Stephen  Bali, Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Donaldson and their team of Councillors. Although, I haven't sighted the Annual Report or was able to attend the community meeting this week due to personal reasons this year, it appears that Blacktown City Council must be going from strength to strength each year, to have a surplus of fund like that to cater for Soccer/Football within  our area.

This is a major infrastructure improvement that has is needed and come out at the right time. The Mount Druitt Town Rangers, established in 1970, which is one of the feeder clubs  for the Western Sydney Wanderers.

This  major change in a major area of Western Sydney was well planned and will end up to be a positive outcome for the community which needs this type of pride and recognition. Furthermore there is the prospect of job opportunities for locals, improved lifestyles, more comfort to players and spectators, as well as  a possible chance for an upgrade of Emerton Village Shopping Centre.

On behalf of the Mount Druitt community, I applaud all stake holders that has provided these much needed funds to upgrade Popondetta Park, Emerton, which will have flow on  effects with the Mount Druitt Town Rangers facilities!
Click Information From Football NSW

Click here for Mount Druitt Town Rangers Club website and 

Click here for Mount Druitt Town Rangers Club Face Book Page

Upgrade Of Playgrounds Across Blacktown $1.2M - St Marys Mount Druitt Star!

Great initiative from Blacktown City Council and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, to improve and upgrade  public park playgrounds within Blacktown City Council, with 5 wards in Blacktown City Council,  I would expect about 6-7 playgrounds upgraded within Mount Druitt suburbs:

click for story from St Marys - Mount Druitt Star 

Dementia Awareness Day -Prevention Tips - Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson - Ward 5 - Blacktown City Council!

From Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson's Face Book Page, is giving the community tips on Dementia prevention. Here they are:

At a Dementia Awareness Day How to prevent or delay it;

1 Look after your heart
2 Quit smoking
3 Be physically active
4 Study: Higher Education can protect your brain later in life
5 Challenge your brain: learn a language, do crosswords, play an instrument or board games learn        anything new
6 Do brain games
7 Eat healthy: 5 serves of vegetables 2 of fruit every day 2 serves of fish a week
8 Eat nuts :walnuts, almonds
9 Only have 200ml of alcohol a day. Have an alcohol free day if you have more than this
10 Drink 8 glasses of water a day
11Be social 

Have a great day and keep your brain healthy!

West of Blacktown City Council Wins Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral Elections!

 
The Blacktown City Council Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral elections were held tonight with quite astounding results and rewarding for the future.

Whilst the gallery of the Blacktown City Council Council Chambers was standing room outside, the gallery was excitedly anticipating the result of the dual election.

Elected Mayor Councillor Stephen Bali

So with two candidate nominations for Mayor, being  Labor Party Councillor Stephen Bali and Liberal Party Councillor Jess Diaz. The result of the newly elected Mayor was Labor Party Councillor Stephen Bali: 8 votes to 7.

Elected Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson

And so with two candidate nominations for Deputy Mayor, being Independent Councillors Russ Dickens and Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson. No Councillors from any party were nominated. The  result of the newly elected Deputy Mayor was Independent Councillor, Jacqueline Donaldson: 8 votes to 7.

The re-elected Mayor, Councillor Stephen Bali 'Thanked the community, his fellow Councillors and Officers of Blacktown City Council and most importantly his mother'.

The newly elected Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson explained, 'That she is a true community advocate in the Blacktown City Council and wants to see our city develop into
a great city of the future!'

After the elections Councillor Jess Diaz was about to protest about Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson's leaving of the Liberal Party and voting for the  elected Mayor. The gallery came to mostly an uproar, as there was 'Heat of moment words' against Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson for the result of the election tonight.   Because of the gallery's uproar, I could not hear the rest of  Councillor Jess Diaz was saying.

 Mayor Councillor Stephen Bali approached this situation calmly and correctly with respect to possible personal attacks to Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson and explained himself, Councillor Donaldson, Smith had just attended 'Awareness of domestic violence against women meeting'. Mayor, Councillor Bali had  asked Councillor Jess Diaz to leave the room, unless he apologised. No apology was forthcoming then, so he left the chambers.

A motion was raised by Councillor Atalla against Councillor Diaz's recent speech and this was defeated, as it was brought up by Councillor Karlo Siljeg that during 2012 and 2013, the then Labor opposition Councillors were purposely ensuring Council General and Committee meetings were going into overtime. They were ending by 1-3am. He suggested that a lot of Councillors and Council Officers had to go to work on the same day, causing Workplace Health and Safety issues like fatigue and affecting full time jobs and stress to all Councillors. In 2013 he moved a motion that Council meetings must finish business by 11pm, which has since been passed by Council and adopted as policy.

The meeting was adjourned and when resumed Councillor Diaz provided an apology after he was asked by Mayor Stephen Bali.

You thought Federal politics was exciting, Blacktown City Council is local politics is really exciting!

Congratulations to Mayor, Councillor Stephen Bali (Ward 4) and Deputy, Councillor Mayor Jacqueline Donald (Ward 5). Community members in Mount Druitt have a strong community advocate in Ward 4 of Councillor Stephen Bali (who fought hard against Struggle Street) and a slightly stronger local community advocate in ward 5, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson. We will see how they go from here and make Blacktown LGA a great place to live in!