Setting the 'Printing' Standard!

Since the Penrith Museum of Printing began in 2001, after receiving a Commonwealth Grant and a lot of hard work by our founder Mr Alan Connell, we have managed to go from strength to strength becoming an important local and State venue for showcasing the craft and art of letterpress printing to present and future generations.
The museum has now become a fully viable and self-supporting organisation and we are rightly proud of our achievements.
However we recognised that whilst we had a lot of collective printing knowledge, experience and history amongst our members, we were not necessarily skilled in the ways of museum management and conservation techniques.
At the end of 2008 we were approached by the Museums & Galleries New South Wales (M&G NSW) staff which asked whether we were interested in taking part in their successful State wide Museum's Standards Program.
The program is completely voluntary for museums and galleries interested in improving their museum's operation and practices in both an open and supporting way.
It was a unanimous decision by our members to take part in the program.
We took the opportunity to examine the many different aspects of our operation in areas such as sustainability, emergency preparedness, conservation and financial management.
The M&G NSW staff have been extremely helpful and suppotive in guideing us through the program so that we can ultimately have a museum that is not just successful now but one that can be successfull into the future.
The program was challenging - one of the requirements was to sit down and complete a 75 page questionnaire laden with questions on our management, operation and museum practices. Following this brain sapping, (but necessary) activity we hosted two M&G NSW staff who provided their input and suggestions on how best to proceed based on our questionnaire responses.
A further follow-up meeting is scheduled for early October to further explore how we can best continue on the journey to having the best working letterpress printing museum in NSW.
Blog entry by Stephen Brique
Penrith Museum of Printing

Taking the Solar Boat Challenge

Hundreds of school students are primed to take part in Australia's State and National Solar Boat Challenge Finals taking place at the International Regatta Centre, Penrith Lakes on Friday, September 25.
The event, which runs from 9am to 2pm, is the culmination of months of racing challenges around the country including in Victoria and Queensland, which both held State finals.

Penrith City Council's Sustainability Unit will be at the finals with their fun environmental game, 'Eco-Pursuit'.
In a nutshell, Australia's International Solar Boat Challenge is a solar boat race for wire-guided model boats, remote control model and piloted boats.
The aim of the challenge is to increase awareness and encourage competitors to acquire knowledge and expertise in sustainability, climate change and alternative energies in an interactive way.
Run by the non-profit organisation, SEES Ltd, it is supported by government funding, local councils including Penrith City Council who is a major sponsor and numerous local schools and corporate sponsorship.

Good luck to all the students taking part in this worthwhile event!

Would you like to win a modelling course?

THE SEARCH IS ON!
June Dally-Watkins Modelling Competition at
Rock at the Weir Sunday, November 15

Categories:
Junior Miss Penrith 10-12 years (4 days 9am-3pm Modelling Course)
Miss Penrith 13-20 years (5 Day Professional Modelling course)
Mr Penrith 16-25 years (5 Day Personal Development Course)

Criteria: * Must be available for grand final round on Sunday 15 November * Must be a Penrith LGA resident *(Must be available to attend June Dally-Watkins course at Clarence St, Sydney during school holidays should you be successful).

To register please tell us:
Your age and your height, Contact details, Why should we choose you?

Registrations must be in by: Friday October 2, 2009

For more information and to register please call Vanessa Christ- City Marketing on 4732 7647
Or send her an email at: vchrist@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au

Food Glorious Food!

It all begins on Saturday, October 3rd, the Penrith Valley Food Festival at the Hawkesbury Harvest Farmers and Fine Food Market and continues for an entire month of culinary treats and mouth watering delights.
This blog entry is going to sound like one big 'ad' so you'll have to excuse me but there's just so much to tell, that it seems like the only way to get the message across.
Ok, let's get back into it.
The next event on the menu or...should I say....on the list...is the Hubertus Oktoberfest from October 2-5th. After that it's the main course, Mamre 100 Mile Dinner on October 16th followed by some nice desert in the form of the Good Living Festival: "Wine Food & the Good Life" and if you're still hungry, finish the meal with Queen Bee High tea and Honey Open Day on Sunday, October 25th.
WOW....so where are all these wonderful events taking place and what are their phone numbers, I hear you ask?
Hawkesbury Harvest Farmers and Fine Food Market: Civic Centre Precinct. Ph: 0406 237 877
Hubertus Oktoberfest: Hubertus Country Club, 205 Adams Road, Luddenham. Ph: 4773 4444
Mamre 100 Mile Dinner and Good Living Festival: Lot 1 Mamre Road, St Marys. Ph: 9670 5321
Queen Bee High Tea and Honey Open Day: Blue Mountains Honey, Peachtree Rd, Penrith. Ph: 4721 2840
Now while you're around Penrith Valley attending one of these great events why not also take a look around on the Food and Wine Trail, wander the Great River Walk or take a leisurely cruise on the Nepean Belle.
To pick up your copy of the Penrith Valley Food Festival brochure pop into the Penrith Valley Visitor Information Centre, Panthers Carpark, Mulgoa Rd, Penrith or call 1 300 736 836.
You'll be glad you did....and so will your stomach!
Blog entry by Peter Lang, Marketing Officer, Penrith City Council.

Welcome Home Londonderry Playgroup

By Melissa Draskovic
Secretary ~ Public Domain Amenity & Safety
Penrith City Council

Parents and children of the Londonderry Playgroup were excited to return to their local neighbourhood centre following recent upgrades.
Funded by the Castlereagh Community Fund program (NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change) and the Regional Partnership program (Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Local Government) the newly renovated Londonderry Neighbourhood Centre and Amenities Building were officially reopened on Sunday, 26 July 2009 by Mr David Bradbury, Member for Lindsay, Mr Allan Shearan, Member for Londonderry and Councillor Jim Aitken, Mayor OAM, Penrith City Council.
During the celebration Council also name the hall within the Neighbourhood Centre the John Murphy and Alan Mills Hall. Both Mr Murphy and Mr Mills were very strong environmental advocates and instrumental in the establishment of the Castlereagh Community Grants Fund.
The Londonderry Playgroup has called the Londonderry Neighbourhood Centre home for many years and the children had missed being outside with their bikes and sandpit over the past 12 months while renovations were undertaken.
If you would like to join the Londonderry Playgroup and meet other parents and children in the local area, please contact the Coordinator, Kara Wilkinson, on 4572 0705 or 0414 184 268.
The group meets every Thursday from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon for fun, playtime, craft and morning tea.