Cr Karen Pensabene, Mayor of Strathfield

Dear Strathfield residents,

The past week brought immense joy as we celebrated the vibrant spirit of our diverse and welcoming community. Attending the Homebush West Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple - Chariot Festival was an absolute delight, and I extend my gratitude to the priests, temple organisers and worshippers for creating a morning of inclusiveness and friendship. If you haven't experienced the Chariot Festival, you are truly missing out on a local highlight.

The Australia Day weekend was also great one. I felt a great sense of pride and honour while presiding over our Citizenship Ceremony on Friday morning, welcoming 88 new citizens from over 20 countries. Maria Venuti and Col Hardy were our Australia Day Ambassadors, and Col's rendition of "We Are Australian" left us all deeply moved.

We were also delighted to announce our 2024 Strathfield Citizen of the Year, Ms Bridget Sakr and Roukaya Ayoub as the 2024 Strathfield Young Citizen of the Year. Visit our website to read about the incredible achievements of these remarkable women. A special thank you to George and Helen Saad our 2023 Citizens of the Year. We appreciate your wonderful support for our community.

Additionally, your input is crucial as we seek your opinions on the Strathfield Town Centre Masterplan and the Medium Density Housing Strategy. Your insights matter, so please visit haveyoursay.strathfield.nsw.gov.au to share your thoughts. 

Wishing you all a wonderful week, and I hope to see you at the Lunar New Year Festival events in the coming weeks.

If you need to contact me or have any questions, please do so by emailing me cr.kpensabene@strathfield.nsw.gov.au or ring our office on 9748 9999 

L-R: Cr Raj Datta, Cr Sharangan Maheswaran, Strathfield Citizen of the Year, Ms Bridget Sakr; Cr Karen Pensabene, Mayor of Strathfield, Young Citizen of the Year, Miss Roukaya Ayoub & Cr Nella Hall.

Beaches, Boats & Bays: Jillian Corcoran

Beaches, Boats & Bays by Jillian Corcoran officially opens 15 February 2024, 6pm at the Ironbark Gallery. The artist's extensive photographic collection provides a rich source of inspiration for subject matter to be explored. Each painting aims to recreate what was once captured with a camera. RSVP for the opening by Monday 5 February.

Moore’s Bridge

Have you visited the Cooks River exhibition in the Ironbark Gallery yet? Early maps mark Moore’s Bridge over the meandering river at Strathfield South, constructed in 1814 when Liverpool Road was built. Philanthropist, Thomas Moore (1762-1840) was master boatbuilder to Governor Hunter. In 1799 he received a grant of 470 acres between Petersham and the Cooks River. Later he settled on his farm Moorebank where he became a magistrate known as the ‘King of Liverpool’. This property became Moore Theological College, which moved to Newtown in 1891.

Extract from Cumberland County map showing Moore’s Bridge at Cooks River on the Liverpool Road and Homebush, c.1831. Courtesy State Library of NSW