09 Sept 2008

PHILIPPINE-AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY AND CAMPBELLTOWN
CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON RIZAL PARK

The leaders of the Filipino-Australian community of Campbelltown City and Philippine Consulate General met with Mayor Aaron Rule in August 2008 to discuss the improvements on the Rizal Park situated in Campbelltown City. The Council was also represented by John Hely, Council’s Director of City Works and Nicholas Smologov, Executive Services Manager.

Rizal Park is a 2.6-hectare property off Anthony St, Rosemeadow and beside the John Therry High School. It was in 1987 when the park was named after our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, after the lobbying efforts of the Philippine-Australian Friendship Association .

The Campbelltown City Council is currently preparing the draft master plan and requesting inputs from the different sectors, particularly the Filipino-Australian community. By February 2009, the master plan will be finalized by the City Council and costing of budget estimates will be prepared. The proposed improvements in Rizal Park will include footpaths, street lights, parking spaces, playground and the life-size statue of Jose Rizal from which the Park was named among others.

Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro considered the meeting an important development and a concrete manifestation of the excellent relations between the Filipino-Australian Community of Campbelltown City and the Campbelltown City Council.

The Filipino-Australian community leaders of Campbelltown who attended the meeting were Ross Santos and Francisco Garcia of Ka Grupo Radio; Josefina Bonto and Teresita Soriano of the Filipino Women’s Support Group; Aida Duyvestyn of Filipino and Friends Parish Community Association; Lourdes Kaiser and Cora Michel of Campbelltown and Region Filipino Community Council Inc. and Rey Manoto of the Philippine Community Council (PCC).

Campbelltown City is located 60 kms. southeast of Sydney with an estimated Filipino population of around 1500, including its surrounding regions. The Philippine Consulate and the Council have been celebrating the Philippine Independence Day in joint flag-raising ceremony since 2005.


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