Bankstown

Can you believe the school winter
holidays are upon us!
For most parents, the holidays
come around too soon and often
they are left scrambling to pull
together a fun list of activities to
keep the kids entertained.
As a working father of four, I know how
difficult it is to come up with some
‘cool’ activities and I’m always on the
look out for suggestions.
And with the cold and unpredictable
winter weather here to stay, it can
almost feel too easy to give in and let
the kids stay inside on their digital
devices all day.
I can let you in on a little secret,
some of my best ideas come from
Council who have created an extensive
list of entertaining and educational
activities which are free or family
budget friendly.
From 8-19 July, your children can
choose from a wide range of offerings
including family favourite movie
screenings, learn to create their own
animations or they can even learn how
to play the ukulele!
For a small fee, kids can also be
dazzled by a magic show, visualize
sound waves at the science of
sound workshop or become a
palaeontologist for the day and
build their own dinosaurs!
And if that’s not enough, kids can burn
off their energy during indoor rock
climbing, have a fun game of laser tag
and bowling, or even join in soccer or
basketball clinics!
There is something interesting for all
children to enjoy and I encourage all
parents to check out the fun activities
on offer to keep the kids occupied
these school holidays.
For more information on what’s on,
visit cb.city/SchoolHolidays
Regards,
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek @Bilal.ElHayek @ClrBilalElHayek
Contact

On any given night, more than 120,000
Australians experience homelessness.
And the sad reality is that these
numbers are only rising, especially
here in our City.
According to the latest statistics,
Canterbury-Bankstown alone
experienced a 10% jump in
homelessness from 2021-2023.
Thousands of men, women, young
people and children forced to ‘rough it
out’ on the streets, ‘couch surf’, seek
shelter in a car or rely on temporary
and insecure accommodation.
A heartbreaking situation that I
encourage each of us to consider
when we return to our warm homes for
hot meals during winter while others
face harsh nights out on the street.
That’s why I am challenging business
CEOs and community leaders to join
me again this year for my second
Mayor’s Lights Out Sleepout.
Last year we raised nearly $30,000
to assist those experiencing
homelessness, and I know that our
passionate community members and
determined businesses can come
together to repeat, or even better,
last year’s amount.
Teaming up with Mission Australia,
Maronites on a Mission and Brothers in
Need, I hope we can all come together
to raise awareness and much needed
funds for those at risk of or
experiencing homelessness.
If you, or someone you know,
would like to join me in tackling
homelessness, we will be sleeping
out at the Belmore Sports Oval on
Thursday 18 July.
You can also donate to the cause.
For more details, visit
cb.city/MayorsSleepout2024
I hope to see you under the stars.
Regards,
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek @Bilal.ElHayek @ClrBilalElHayek
Contact me

What does it mean to be free?
For most of us, freedom is often taken for granted, but for many who have fled to this country from war-torn places or
from persecution, freedom is a world
of difference.
National Refugee Week (18-24 June) is a reminder of the challenges people face when starting a new life in a foreign place. It is also a call on all of us to find space in our hearts and our homes to help those who need it most.
This year’s theme “Finding Freedom: Family” is the perfect reminder that it is everybody’s responsibility to help newcomers find community in the place where they have sought refuge. That it is our job to make up for the family they may have left behind and welcome them to find sanctuary in our City.
As a migrant who came to this country without speaking a word of English some 25 years ago, I encountered many refugees from countries across the world.
Fleeing their homeland not because
they wanted to, but out of fear for their safety and to ensure a better life for
their families.
You will be interested to know that on 26 June 2008, the former Bankstown City Council made history as Australia’s first Council to officially sign the Refugee Council of Australia’s Refugee Charter.
It means our City pioneered change,
we inspired a culture of respect and support and we made room for those
who did not feel safe or welcomed in
their own homes.
I am proud to be Mayor of a City labelled as a “Refugee Welcome Zone”. A City that works hard to create an environment that fosters harmony and inclusion for refugees from around the world who contribute to a variety of cultures, languages and traditions.
If you would like to join us in celebrating diversity, register for Council’s 2024 Refugee Week in Lakemba where you will hear inspiring stories from talented chefs, artists and dancers from refugee backgrounds at cb.city/RefugeeWeek
Regards,
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek

We all remember what it was like to
be young and dream of one day representing your country – and to put the suburb in which you were raised into the history books.
We would look up to superstars like Steve and Mark Waugh, Terry Lamb, Hazem El Masri, Ian Thorpe, or if you’re a bit younger, maybe the Mortimer brothers or Billy Dib.
For most of us, including myself, those dreams remained just that!
But for others, the hard work paid off and they etched their names alongside the greats of their chosen sport and it’s only fitting we recognise the efforts of these local superstars.
That’s why it was important to us to bring back the Bankstown Sporting Hall of Fame where we can honour
the champions in our Bankstown community for their outstanding sporting achievements and display their memorabilia to showcase
their talents.
And while there are a number of athletes honoured in the Bankstown Sporting Hall of Fame, we are looking to add to the impressive list.
Now, for the first time in over a decade, Council is inducting new athletes to the Hall of Fame and I encourage anyone who knows someone that deserves to be honoured to nominate them
for recognition.
If you know someone who lives in the Bankstown region and who you feel should be recognised for their hard work and national achievements in their sport, nominate them for the Bankstown Sporting Hall of Fame at cb.city/HallofFame or call 9707 9699 by 28 June. They could join an elite group of local legends!
Regards,
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR

This Men’s Health Week (10-16 June),
let’s break the cycle of staying silent and encourage the men and boys we know to speak up about their health issues.
It’s so easy to fall into our daily routines and forget to prioritise our health, but, with Men’s Health Week approaching, we are each reminded to put our wellbeing first and encourage those we love and care for to do the same.
The 2024 theme “Good Health Heroes: Good health doesn’t just happen. But it doesn’t have to be hard” encapsulates the importance of developing healthy habits by staying consistent with our efforts. It reinforces that we not only take a day or a week to focus on our health, but we consciously implement small daily actions that keep our wellbeing in check all year round.
According to The Australian Men’s Health Forum, having a close mate plays an important role in reducing mental health disorders. In fact, having no friends, or no social network, is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
These alarming facts are essential reminders of how important it is that we continue to check in on each other and reach out to our friends or family members even in times we may feel
too busy or even too tired.
For those who would like to expand their network, our Council operates Men’s Sheds across our City and realises the importance of bringing men together to work on projects and meet new friends.
To find a Men’s Shed near you,
visit cb.city/MensShed
As for your physical health, it’s important that you don’t ignore the little niggles or early warning signs and get checked instead of putting on a brave front.
So, to the almost 190,000 men who live in our City, let’s make this Men’s Health Week the start of creating healthy habits and taking those small steps towards a healthier lifestyle.
Regards,
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek

With World Environment Day (5 June)
approaching, it is only fitting that we
take a moment to acknowledge the
incredible natural beauty that fills
our City.
From our three main rivers to our
fantastic parks and bushlands, our
environment is an important part of
our community’s character.
This World Environment Day we
should take the opportunity to
reflect on what we can do to ensure
we leave our City a better place for
future generations to live.
We’re lucky to have so many natural
assets in Canterbury-Bankstown and
we must always do what we can to
protect them.
There are many actions, both big and
small, that we can all take to
contribute to making our City more
sustainable. Like making an effort to
put our waste in the correct bins or
ditching the car for cycling, walking
or catching a bus or train. Even
picking up after the family dog to
help keep our waterways clean will
make a difference.
Council is highlighting what we are
doing to help the environment during
a FREE family-friendly World
Environment Day event on 1 June from
11am-3pm.
You can get inspired and learn about
the natural life in our City, take home
FREE native plants, meet some cool
wildlife creatures including lizards
and snakes, and hear about how to
volunteer to make change. Plus, the
first 100 attendees will receive a FREE
lunch from OzHarvest.
There will also be a very special bee
cabaret performance by Doctor
Amelie Vanderstock (Amelie Ecology)
to entertain the young ones and
educate them on how important their
role is in protecting the environment.
To register to attend Council’s World
Environment Day event, visit
cb.city/WorldEnvironmentDay
Regards
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek @Bilal.ElHayek @ClrBilalElHayek
Contact

Every year on 26 May, Australia stops
to observe National Sorry Day, a day
where we remember the historical
mistreatment of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people.
National Sorry Day coincides with
National Reconciliation Week
(27 May-3 June) and is a time to reflect
on how each one of us contributes to
the ongoing journey of reconciliation
in Australia. It also provides us with
an opportunity to deepen our
understanding of our shared histories,
cultures, and achievements with the
Indigenous community.
You might also be interested to know
why National Sorry Day falls on this
specific date.
On 26 May 1997 the National Inquiry into
the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Children from their
Families resulted in the ‘Bringing them
Home’ report. This report examined the
forced removal of Indigenous children
from their families, later known as the
‘Stolen Generations.’
Details of the report were damning and
emphasised the need to acknowledge,
apologise and support Indigenous
People and their families impacted
by the wrongdoings of the past.
The first National Sorry Day was held
one year later and has been a significant
national event ever since.
Reconciliation is a journey for all
Australians, families and communities
and we can all be a voice for
reconciliation in our everyday lives.
I’m proud of our City’s rich Indigenous
roots, dating back some 70,000 years,
and I can happily say that we have come
a long way towards reconciliation. We’re
a City that acknowledges the original
inhabitants of the land and are pioneers
in deepening reconciliation in our
communities – with the former
Bankstown Council being the first ever
to establish a Local Reconciliation
Action Plan.
Council also runs an annual National
Reconciliation Week Art Competition for
local kids aged 4-17 where children are
encouraged to express what
Reconciliation means to them and are
given the opportunity to contemplate
and discuss its importance.
Together with our Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander community members,
let’s work to further strengthen our
community where everyone is truly
equal partners in shaping our vibrant
multicultural City.
Regards
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek @Bilal.ElHayek @ClrBilalElHayek
Contact me

Our youth are the future leaders of
our City, and it’s up to all of us to
ensure we give them every
opportunity to succeed.
Education is for most young people
an obvious factor in their growth and
development, but there are the
social and life experiences that
builds on their character and
shapes who they are.
Good role models, workshops and
seminars outside of school and
volunteering all play an important
role and it is our duty to provide them
with the necessary resources.
As a father, I know we all want the
best for our children, and I am proud
of the work Council is doing in
pioneering activities and programs
that guide our young people in the
right direction.
This week, we hosted the
Empowering Growing Minds: Youth
Alcohol, Other Drugs and Wellbeing
Seminar at Bankstown Library and
Knowledge Centre. It was a huge
success with participants learning
how to make informed decisions
and not bowing to peer pressure.
We also held the first Volunteer and
Work Experience Expo at Lakemba
where those who attended learnt
how to secure work experience in
our City.
Both of these important events
followed Youth Week where young
people explored their future pathways,
joined in on some healthy sports
competitions and channelled their
inner artists in ‘create and sip’ classes.
There’s a wide range of events
happening in our City to keep our kids
off the screens and build their skills,
and I encourage all young people in our
City to get involved in these programs.
You will not only meet new friends but
learn how to make healthy choices and
give back to our community.
Regards
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek @Bilal.ElHayek @ClrBilalElHayek
Contact