Parachute4Penrith

by Debbie O'Connor

from White River Design

In October last year I committed to raise $1500 for one of our Penrith charities called Westcare Community Services. The craziest thing about this fundraiser is that I jumped out of a plane at 14,000 feet for this great cause.

It was so exciting and the atmosphere on the day was brilliant with many of us never having skydived before.

Parachute4Penrith is now an annual event with the next Family Day set for October 31, 2009. This year they are involving a kids fundraising event which includes a skip-a-thon and a bike-a-thon.

This is such a great event which raised $35,000 last year. I would encourage EVERYONE to give it a try. Why not show your support and see if you can help Westcare surpass last years target.

For more information log onto http://www.parachute4penrith.com.au/

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Tourism Toolkit launched at the VIC

by Peter Lang
Marketing Officer
Penrith City Council

The Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay stopped by the Penrith Valley Visitor Information Centre recently to announce the release of a new marketing toolkit to help Penrith City Council and local tourism businesses promote their tourist attractions.
The Tourism Precinct Toolkit, developed by Tourism NSW, is part of the $2.7 million Greater Sydney Tourism Partnership Funding Program.
The toolkit will help local businesses increase awareness of their destinations by helping them create a successful tourism strategy. The program includes two streams of funding support – for destination marketing campaigns and for event promotion.
The toolkit includes information on funding opportunities and budgeting, evaluating tourist experiences and information on how to form integrated partnerships with local business and larger tourism bodies.
Each year, for the next three years, $400,000 will be available to support co-operative destination marketing campaigns. A further $100,000 will be allocated for grants to assist local precincts promote events. These events must have the potential to attract overnight visitors from outside of Sydney.
Penrith Valley has so many great natural assets and wonderful tourism experiences to offer that I wouldn’t be surprised to see many new funding program applications pour in from entrepreneurial local tourism and business operators.
For more information, simply click onto the link below:-
http://corporate.tourism.nsw.gov.au/Greater_Sydney_Tourism_Partnership_Funding_Program_p3724.aspx

(Photo L-R - Cr Ross Fowler (Deputy Mayor), MP for Penrith Karyn Paluzzano, Mayor of Penrith Cr Jim Aitken OAM, CEO of Panthers Group Glenn Matthews and Minister for Tourism, Hon. Jodi McKay MP).

Rock with the Mayor!

By Cameron Hepburn
Events Officer
Penrith City Council

It’s time to Rock and Roll with the annual Mayoral Charity Ball on November 13 at the St Marys Band Club.
This year we’ll be taking people back to 1959 to an era of Rockabilly and Jive, so get your 50’s threads on and get pumped up for what’s going to be an amazing night of entertainment, provided by the acclaimed Elvis impersonator, David Cazalet. There will also be a tribute to Aussie rock icon, Johnny O’Keefe.
There’ll also be a sumptuous three course meal and drinks provided. The St Mary’s Band Club is the venue and it’ll be ‘decked out’ to suit the 1959 rockabilly theme, so we encourage everyone to come dressed up in style!
Every year a number of charities are chosen to receive all proceeds raised from the night.
This year Little by Little Inc and the Thorndale Foundation, both very worthwhile local charities have been picked.
The ball is an amazing opportunity for people to dance the night away, while supporting these two fabulous organisations that do such a great job for the local Penrith community.
Tickets for the evening are $110 per person or $1000 for a table of 10, which is just awesome value.
Can’t wait to see you there!

Family Fun Day is coming soon!

By Stacey Rossetto
Services Marketing Officer
Penrith City Council

Penrith City Council Family Fun Day is only a month away! It's on Saturday, August 8 between 11am-3pm and it's open for the whole community to experience.
Family Fun Day is the newly refreshed and revitalised Penrith City Council Open Day. A new name and a slight change in format makes for a great FREE event with something for everyone - a mix of rides, games, displays, information, machinery and prizes, plus a showcase of local performers!
The fun takes place in the green area between Penrith City Library and The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre.
There will be a collection of Council displays with interactive games, giveaways, as well as intriguing facts you probably didn’t know about your local area.
Family Fun Day is a great opportunity to ask all the questions you wanted of your Council and local area – in the one place at the one time! You can also pick up a free native shrub.
The littlies (and the 'big littlies') can get up close with snakes and a crocodile as part of the reptile show that’s in store! There will also be lots of laughs with P.Jamas the Clown roving around the event and her very own show at 2pm in the Penrith City Library Theatrette.

Look forward to seeing you there!