Editors Picks
Featured
30 March 2023
FLOOD RECOVERY GRANTS AVAILABLE
Building community resilience and wellbeing
AFTER the loss and distress resulting from the 2022 floods, the Western Sydney Primary Health Network (WSPHN) is offering wellbeing and resilience grants to support flood-affected communities in Western Sydney.
21 March 2023
STARBURST FILM FESTIVAL COMES TO PENRITH
BE inspired by local filmmaking talent and get involved in free filmmaking workshops as part of the StarBurst Film Festival and Filmmaking Symposium in Penrith on April 1 and StarBurst at St Marys Film Festival on April 2.
The StarBurst Film Festival and Filmmaking Symposium debuts in Penrith on Saturday, April 1 at The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre. Kicking off with the Symposium at 9am, join a panel discussion with experts in the film industry who will share tips and insights on how to access film funding and broadcasting agreements.
From 1pm, enjoy a range of short films made by local creatives that have been submitted as part of the StarBurst Film Festival competition.
Penrith City Council and Screen NSW, through the Screen NSW Film Festival Funding Program, are major sponsors of this event, partnering with event creator Kirstie Boerst, an experienced creative producer and Penrith local. Boerst developed the StarBurst Film Festival to celebrate the film industry, which was significantly impacted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kirstie is a passionate advocate for local filmmaking and for the creation of film content that inspires and motivates audiences.
Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said that this event will promote local creative talent and provide an open door for filmmakers to learn more about the film industry.
“StarBurst Film Festival and Filmmaking Symposium is an exciting new event for our City. It’s a testament to the creative talent we have in our area and the dedication of Kirstie Boerst to give the next generation of filmmakers an opportunity to grow,” Cr Hitchen said.
StarBurst at St Marys Film Festival on Sunday, April 2 invites the community to take part in a range of free stop motion animation and filmmaking workshops where attendees create their own short film with the guidance of film industry professionals.
At Coachmans Park a green screen experience offers young and old the chance for some interactive movie fun from 4pm, followed by a screening of the short, family-friendly films from the StarBurst Film Festival on the big screen from 6pm. Free pizza is on offer for the first 100 people as well as free popcorn for the first 250 people.
“StarBurst at St Marys Film Festival encourages our community to embrace their creativity and take the opportunity to learn from industry professionals, all at no cost. Wonderful memories will be made at these fun and interactive workshops,” Cr Hitchen said.
StarBurst at St Marys Film Festival is sponsored by Screen NSW through the Screen NSW Film Festival Funding Program.
Go to: www.penrith.city/events
Featured
19 March 2023
WEXPO 2023 PROGRAM ANNOUNCED
Four programs in major growth centres
WESTERN Sydney continues to thrive, with the popular WEXPO series expanding to four events in 2023.
11 March 2023
CASTLE HILL’S NEW $11.5M SHOWPIECE
CASTLE Hill Showground Arena will soon be transformed into a modern venue that can hold a range of larger scale community and sporting events thanks to funding received under the NSW Government’s $5B WestInvest Fund.
The Hills Shire Council was successful in securing approximately $11.5M of WestInvest funding - which aims to deliver transformational projects and local infrastructure to communities across Greater Sydney - for the construction of a new arena in the much-loved Showground.
“From being used as an animal flood evacuation centre to hosting fundraisers, sporting competitions and more recently, a kite flying festival - Castle Hill Showground has played an important role in bringing residents together over the course of a century,” Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Peter Gangemi said.
“Our vision is to continue the Showground’s reputation as a ‘thriving cultural and leisure facility’, and we are doing this through modernising the space’s well-utilised Arena so that it can support our growing community.”
Featured
07 March 2023
HOW SIGNIFICANT IS IWD IN 2023?
It's an opportunity to focus on core issues
LEE USSHER
THIS year marks the 110th anniversary of International Women's Day, and it is important in Australia because it shines a light on the social and economic inequalities that women still face in the country.
02 March 2023
BEDROOMS ARE MORE THAN SLEEPING SPACES
MODERN bedrooms are no longer just spaces for sleeping, according to a recent study by UNSW Sydney.
Researchers surveyed 304 Australian residents of different ages and genders and found that 40% used their bedroom as their living space, while 61% preferred to use it just for sleep.
The study revealed that the mean time spent in the sleep environment was 9.31 hours per day, with the mean hours spent sleeping at 7.12.
Younger participants spent more time in their bedrooms than any other age group and used the space for activities other than sleep, such as working or studying.
Watching TV was the most common activity in the sleep environment, followed by reading, studying or working, eating, and exercising.
The study's authors suggest that our domestic sleep spaces need to become more multifunctional to respond to growing spatial needs, and that renters should have more flexibility to customize their space beyond furnishings.
The researchers plan to collaborate with sleep experts to explore how changes to the sleep environment affect sleep quality.
Featured
27 February 2023
COMMENT: BLACKTOWN'S FUTURE BEGINS TODAY!
Why we need people-led design for our CBD
STEPHEN BALI
BLACKTOWN City has an opportunity to truly transform the future liveability of the Central Business Districts (CBD)..
