| OCTOBER message from Bilal El Hayek, Mayor of the City of Canterbury Bankstown |
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A message from Bilal El Hayek, Mayor of the City of Canterbury Bankstown
What a month it’s been across our City, full of energy, culture and community spirit.
The Love Earlwood Festival lit up our streets with the vibrant sights, sounds and flavours of the Mediterranean. It was a true celebration of our City’s rich heritage.
I joined our amazing Meals on Wheels volunteers delivering food to residents in need. A reminder that connection matters just as much as care.
We are installing new lights at Memorial Oval, paving the way for night games and elite T20 cricket right here in Bankstown.
We also welcomed over 300 new Australian citizens and marked 45 years of the Vietnamese Language School.
And what a year the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have had uniting the community.
Council meeting update
At our recent Council meeting, we elected Councillor Rachelle Harika as our new Deputy Mayor and thanked Councillor Karl Saleh OAM for his service.
We also stood united against racism, recognised outstanding community leaders, and continued our fight to keep the Revesby Post Office open.
Launching the Love Earlwood Festival
What a fantastic turnout at the Love Earlwood Festival with nearly 10,000 visitors!
It was wonderful to celebrate the sounds, flavours and colours of the Mediterranean right here in our City along with Sophie Cotsis MP - made possible through state funding.
Memorial Oval: Lights, camera, action!
I was pleased to see construction begin on the new 1000 lux lights at Memorial Oval.
Once complete, they will allow us to host night games and even elite-level T20 cricket in Bankstown.
Learning to swim at 93 years of age
I had the pleasure of meeting 93 year old Wanyi Hong.
Believe it or not Wanyu is learning to swim for the first time and is one of the many seniors who have joined Council's FREE Seniors Splash program.
Big Plans for Tasker Park
We're investing BIG into Canterbury with some major planned infrastructure works.
Plans for the Tasker Park Precinct Upgrades are now open for community consultation until the end of October.
Splash into Summer
The Greenacre Splash Park is open for the school holidays and just in time as the warmer weather kicks in!
Delivering meals and connection
I joined our Meals on Wheels volunteers after a long break to deliver food packages to local residents.
This service is much more than just providing meals - it’s about connection, care and sometimes the only conversation someone has all week.
Bankstown West Public School shone bright
It was my pleasure to present Bankstown West Public School with a Mayoral Certificate for being one of only 18 schools in NSW to achieved above average results in every NAPLAN area.
Celebrating a season of Bulldogs' pride
I had the honour of attending the Dr George Peponis End of Year Presentation for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Empowering the leaders of tomorrow
I enjoyed speaking with students from Canterbury Girls High School as part of the Bulldogs’ Game Changer Program.
Painting our City blue and white
Our City was decked out in blue and white to cheer on the Bulldogs as they headed into the semi-finals.
The community spirit and passion were evident as residents and businesses rallied behind the team.
Celebrating sporting excellence
Our City is home to many talented and passionate athletes.
I celebrated their achievements attending the Bankstown District Amateur Football Association's 75th annual dinner, Football Canterbury's 103 years of providing community football and Bankstown Bruins' 49th annual awards.
Mayoral Sleepout thank you!
Thank you to everyone who supported the Mayoral Lights Out Sleepout. Together with Mission Australia, Maronites On Mission, Brothers In Need and the Bulldogs, we made a real difference for those in need raising just under $40k.
Punchbowl Boys marks 70 years
It was an honour to attend Punchbowl Boys’ High School to celebrate their 70th anniversary. This milestone marked decades of commitment, growth and achievement.
Checking in on R U OK Day
On R U OK Day, I reminded our community of the power of conversation. Sometimes asking the simplest question can make the biggest difference.
Celebrating the Bankstown Children’s Festival
The 27th Bankstown Children’s Festival was a joyful celebration of culture and community.
I am grateful to everyone who made it happen, especially Mr Thuat Nguyen AM for his vision.
Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital Upgrade
I was excited to see progress on the new $2 billion Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital. Once complete, it will transform emergency healthcare for our City.
Honouring 45 Years of Vietnamese Language Schools
I was delighted to celebrate 45 years of the Vietnamese Language School, an impressive milestone as Vietnamese settlement in Australia occurred some 50 years ago.
Welcoming 300 new citizens
I was proud to welcome more than 300 new citizens from over 40 countries to our City. Their cultures, traditions and stories are what make Canterbury-Bankstown such a special place. |
