Cumberland Council Enews

27 June 2017

School holiday adventures

Cumberland Council wants to make it easier for children, parents and their families to enjoy the school holidays. To help we're transforming Central Gardens, Merrylands into a Winter Wonderland, with free activities for kids aged 0-12 on Friday 7 July.

Alternatively, escape the winter chill by heading indoors with Cumberland Libraries' school holiday program. Taking the theme Awesome AustraliASIA, there will be free movie afternoons, electronics workshops, sushi making, manga drawing classes, cosplay dress ups and storytelling.

We're also launching the first ever Locale Festival; an ambitious series of performances, food tours, workshops and events being held across Cumberland from 14-24 July. Discover adventure hiding in your own backyard by taking a journey through Cumberland.

For the full list of school holiday events please click here.

Malcolm Ryan

Interim General Manager

Cumberland Council

Council's school holiday program makes it easier to get the most out of your local area over the break.

Candidate Information Sessions: Council Elections

Cumberland Council's elections will take place on Saturday 9 September 2017. If you would like to stand as a candidate, you are encouraged to attend one of the free Candidate Information Sessions.

Thursday 6 July, 5.30pm-8.30pm

Lvl 1, Auburn Library, Susan St, Auburn

RSVP Date: Monday 3 July 2017

Thursday 13 July, 5.30pm-8.30pm

Holroyd Centre, Miller St, Merrylands

RSVP Date: Monday 10 July 2017

These workshops will help you identify the key requirements of becoming a councillor; how the role fits in with other roles and various levels of government; and expectations and potential challenges in becoming a councillor. RSVP by emailing [email protected].

Locale Festival: great events in more places

The inaugural Locale Festival celebrates the people and places of Cumberland. Local residents and guests from across Greater Sydney are invited to:

Get a taste of Ottoman night life at a night bazar in Auburn
Dance their way through a Bollywood street party at Regents Park
Discover Cumberland's Aboriginal heritage and try Bush Tucker in Pemulwuy
Live 'La Dolce Vita' for a day with the Italian community in Berala
Bring their skates, BMX or scooter to a pop up skate park in Greystanes

For the full program info click here.

Journey through Cumberland with the eyes of a traveller with Locale Festival.

NAIDOC Week puts spotlight on Indigenous languages

How do you say "G'day" in Darug? Find out by attending Cumberland Council's award winning 'Darug Language and Culture Class', one of the highlights of Council's NAIDOC Week celebrations, from 2 - 9 July 2017.

The theme for this year is "Our languages matter". As part of this Council is hosting a series of activities and events celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For the full program please click here.

Take a walking and bus tour of the cultural and historical sites significant to Aboriginal people in Cumberland.

Peacock Gallery Exhibition: Balik Tanaw "Looking Back"

The Peacock Gallery presents a new exhibition as part of the Bayanihan Philippine Art Project, the most significant exploration of Filipino art ever presented in Australia. Internationally recognised artist Alwin Reamillo joins Ernest Aaron, Alberto Estanislao and Jessa Melicor to explore what gets left behind when coming to a new country.

A highlight will be the Bayanihan Hopping House; an interpretation of a traditional Philippine custom whereby local communities literally pick up each other's houses and relocate after natural disasters. The exhibition will run 8 July - 3 September 2017 and include fiestas, talks and activities. For more info click here.

Jessa Melicor, Coconut Tales, 2017, coconut, paper, ink.

Holroyd Centre wins business award with people first approach

The Holroyd Centre pipped 51 other nominees to win the "Specialised Business" category at the 2017 Cumberland Business Awards. The Holroyd Centre, part of Cumberland Council, is a boutique function and event centre located in the heart of Merrylands CBD.

Holroyd Centre Venue Manager Dean Savetta credited the win to the Holroyd Centre's focus on people: both customers and staff. "We are so grateful to all our valued clients. Without their votes we could not have won," Mr Savetta said. For more info click here.