Children’s Week’s all fun and games

Having fun this Children’s Week is child’s play, with the Mobile Playvan and other free Penrith City Council activities for children and their families across the City.
Penrith City Mayor Greg Davies said the week, running from 24 to 28 October, was a great incentive for families with young children to get out and about to take advantage of the great community services on offer.
Penrith City Mayor Greg Davies said: “Throughout Children’s Week, the Mobile Playvan will keep the kids entertained, while parents can pick up some practical parenting tips and advice on child literacy from trained specialists.
“Children can also enjoy Kids at The Corner at St Marys, with a science workshop, a cultural performance, story time and other activities for young minds to engage in creative play and learning.
“Swimming skills and water safety is another focus area this Children’s Week. The best way for children to develop swimming skills is through learn-to-swim classes at Penrith Swimming Centre and Ripples Leisure Centre at St Marys.
“Penrith City Council is proud to take part in Children’s Week; an Australia-wide event celebrating children’s right to enjoy their childhood. It’s a great time for children to shine by using their talents, skills and abilities,” Councillor Davies said.
Check out the Playvan itinerary at www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au to see when the Playvan’s coming your way. For daily updates call Council on 4732 7678. The Playvan will stop at the following locations during Children’s Week only:
· Monday 24 October: Blaxlands Crossing - Silverdale Road, Wallacia (9.30-11.30am)
· Tuesday 25 October: In front of Cranebrook shops, Borrowdale Way (9.30am-11.30am)
· Wednesday 26 October: In front of Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith or Penrith Library Theatrette in wet weather (10am-12pm)
· Thursday 27 October: Blue Hills Public Reserve Park, Glenmore Park between Glengarry and Torquay Terrace (9.30am-11.30am)
· Friday 28 October: Community Centre Sunflower Drive, Claremont Meadows (9.30am-11.30am).
Visit http://nswchildrensweek.org.au for the full list of events in Western Sydney.
Kids at the Corner will be held on Thursday 27 October from 2pm to 5.30pm at Memorial Hall, St Marys Corner Community and Cultural Precinct, 29 Swanston Street, St Marys. Call 4732 7639 for details.

Cure your cravings for food and knowledge in Penrith Valley

Indulge your cravings for fresh local food and reduce your eco-footprint by heading to the 2011 Crave Food Festival.
Supported by Penrith City Council, the festival opens with an event for all fans of fine food; the ‘Mamre Good Living Festival: Wine Food and the Good life’. The family day out on 16 October will tickle tastebuds and pique your interest with a range of produce stalls, craft and entertainment.
For your next serving, local TAFE students will dish up a menu of culinary delights from our own backyard, with the ‘100 Mile Dinner at Entree Restaurant’ on 17 October.
Then take a pause from the feasting and get some food for thought with topical debate on food security. ‘How Development Is Threatening the Food Bowl’ will be held at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre on 26 October.
Foodies can wind up the month on 29 October with the ‘Mamre House 100 Mile Dinner: Forest, Fire and Drums’. For an overview of the festival and to plan your personal feast visit http://www.penrithvalley.com.au/.

Crave Food Festival events in Penrith Valley:
Mamre Good Living Festival: Wine Food and the Good life
Sunday 16 October, 9.30am-3.30pm
Mamre House, 181 Mamre Road, Orchard Hills
Adults $3, children free
Tel: 9670 5321, http://www.mamre.com.au/
Held in the grounds of historic Mamre House, this is a well-established, creative and dynamic community event, filled with food, wine and produce stalls, craft and entertainment. It also includes World Food Day celebrations and amusements for children.

100 Mile Dinner at Entree Restaurant
Monday 17 October, 6.30-9.30pm
Entree Restaurant, Western Sydney Institute Nepean College Block H, 12-44 O’Connell Street, Kingswood
$80
Tel: 9208 9390, http://www.wsi.tafensw.edu.au/
Western Sydney Institute’s training restaurants celebrate sustainable fare and lower food miles. TAFE training restaurants give hospitality students and apprentice chefs valuable real-life skills. Students will also experience the emerging focus on sustainable living by taking part in this unique international ‘slow food’ movement promoting local, sustainable food and agriculture. All dinners will feature a degustation menu featuring regional produce sourced within a 100 mile radius.

How Development Is Threatening the Food Bowl
Wednesday 26 October, 7pm for 7.30pm start
Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High Street, Penrith
$15 or $10 Concession / SFFA members. Includes glass of organic NSW wine and locally sourced finger food.
Tel: 9440 3545, http://www.sydneyfoodfairness.org.au/
Reservations: info@sydneyfoodfairness.org.au or phone 0410 145 473 or via Facebook – pickup tickets at door.
Urban development in Sydney’s west is encroaching on fertile lands. How do we retain our food security at a time of rapid population growth?
The Sydney Food Fairness Alliance is organising a panel and Q&A in Penrith as part of Crave Sydney International Food Festival. The panel will discuss the need for local food production, which reduces food miles, keeps costs down and helps ensure our future food security.
Panellists include Ian Sinclair, a rural planner with focus on Food and agriculture; Professor Phillip O ‘Neil of the Urban Research Centre; Councillor Alison McLaren, President of the Western Sydney Regional Association of Councils; and President Fiona Simson of the NSW Farmers' Association. MC for the event is Costa Georgiadis from the SBS TV show Costa’s Garden Odyssey. People who cannot make it in person can follow, join in the discussion and ask questions of the panel on Twitter: @SydFoodFairness using the tag #penrithfoodforum.

Mamre House 100 Mile Dinner: Forest, Fire and Drums
Saturday October 29, 6.30-11.30pm
Mamre House 181 Mamre Road, Orchard Hills
$100
Tel: 9670 5321, http://www.mamre.com.au/
Support fresh local produce, the UN International Year of Forests and people of African descent and dine in the grounds of historic Mamre House, once the home of the Reverend Samuel Marsden and a model farm for the colony. The property is now leased by the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta, and provides training and employment services to youth at risk, people with a disability and refugees. Fresh produce, grown on the property as part of The Mamre Farm Project will be showcased at the dinner.
caption; Historic Mamre Homestead