Dear Residents,

Happy Lunar New Year! It has been wonderful to be out in the community celebrating the New Year. I enjoyed attending Bilingual Storytime at the Library on Monday with our littlest residents, who were very engaged and excited to be there! On Wednesday I attended the Flemington Chamber of Commerce's event at Homebush West. The Lion visited all the businesses to ward off bad spirits and bring good luck. So now is the perfect time to visit the shops!

Council’s International Women’s Day 2026 morning tea will be on Friday 6 March. The event is free to attend and features keynote speaker Jean Kittson and morning tea. There are plenty of opportunities to donate money to the charity we will be supporting, Lou’s Place. It is free to attend, but please register to assist staff with catering. I look forward to seeing you there!

On another note, Council staff have been busy as we continue our program of improving road safety. The Pedestrian Crossing program will see 15 new crossings installed in the LGA over the next two years. The most recent one is now operating on the corner of Oxford Road and Heyde Ave, Strathfield. Please check the website for updates on other Council projects.

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

Cr Benjamin Cai, Mayor of Strathfield

💜 Celebrate International Women's Day 💜

Celebrate International Women's Day with Strathfield Council! We’re excited to have Jean Kittson AM as this year's keynote speaker and all funds raised during the morning tea will be donated to Lou's Place.

Jean Kittson AM is an author, public speaker, actor and comedian whose career spans television, radio, film and publishing. A bestselling author and respected columnist, she combines sharp observation with lived experience.

Lou’s Place offers free safety, support, essentials and community for women across Sydney where most of the women who seek support have experienced multiple traumas including homelessness, domestic violence and mental health. 

💜 Council's International Women's Day Morning Tea
📆 Friday 6th March 2026
🕗 10am – 12pm
📍 Strathfield Town Hall

Secure your seat by registering today!

Image: Looking east along Parramatta Road, Homebush, 31 July 1929. Courtesy NSW State Archives & Records.

Parramatta Road, Homebush, 1929

Can you recognise this stretch of Parramatta Road Homebush from 97 years ago? 

On the right, at 144 Parramatta Road, is the butcher’s shop of then Homebush mayor, James Smallwood. He had been elected to Homebush Council in 1925 and would go on to serve as alderman and mayor of both Homebush and Strathfield Councils during his 28 years of public service. Smallwood had established his butchery business in Homebush in about 1919. A tricycle has been left at the doorway of the butcher’s shop and several children are about to cross not-so-busy Parramatta Road. Smallwood also owned the adjoining shop which was occupied in 1930 by Walter Harris, fruiterer.