Sutherland Shire is fast becoming a hub for outdoor art, with a $100,000 investment to transform graffiti hotspots in Cronulla into a cultural oasis.
The joint project, to be run by Sutherland Shire Council, would build on the success of the Walk the Walls festival in Caringbah, which reduced crime in a CBD that was scarred by vandalism.
Last year 34 artists decorated 23 walls during the Caringbah festival and the results have been incredible with graffiti plummeting in the area and all murals still intact.
The Cronulla project will be Walk the Walls – Part Two, with Surf Lane, Cronulla Street and Purley Place to be given spectacular makeovers during a three-day festival later this year.
The event will be a drawcard for thousands of visitors and residents as local, Indigenous and national artists paint large scale murals in the suburb’s CBD and rail corridors. Artworks will be protected by anti-graffiti coatings.
Young people at risk of engaging in vandalism will be given an opportunity to learn from professional artists about lawfully expressing creativity.
The event would deliver a boost to the local economy and have long-term benefits for the community.
Cronulla’s CBD is the Sutherland Shire’s premier entertainment precinct at night and beautifying its streets will make it safer and more appealing to visitors.
The Walk The Walls festival will be funded with a $75,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Safer Community Compact program which invests up to $1.35 million every year in grass-roots projects to reduce crime across NSW. Sutherland Shire Council is contributing $25,000 to the project.
The Safer Community Compact program recognises local people understand the crime problems facing their communities and can play an important role in addressing them.
The festival will include live music and food stalls and will be conducted in partnership with council, local businesses, community organisations and young people.
The dates for Cronulla’s Walk the Walls festival are yet to be finalised.
CronullaFest 2024 day 2!
🎶🌮🍷🎠 Music, food, market stalls and rides all happening in the Cronulla CBD til 4pm today (Sunday).
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The rise of social media has seen a huge increase in mental illness, plus sleep, social and attention deprivation, among young people across the western world.
Let’s raise the legal access age to 16.
My short opinion piece in The Leader ... See MoreSee Less
Shire Matters with Mark Speakman: Social media and young people
www.theleader.com.au
Last month in the NSW Parliament I brought a motion, carried unanimously, supporting raising the legal age of...Comment on Facebook
💚💛Australia is making an extraordinary showing at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, currently holding 41 medals — 11 gold 🥇, 12 silver 🥈, and 18 bronze 🥉!
A special shout out to Alexa Leary (@alexa_leary), who not only claimed gold but also broke the women’s 100m freestyle S9 world record! 🌟 That’s after her incredible recovery and resilience from a near-fatal accident in 2021.
Another big shout out to Dan Michel (@Dan_Michel) from Cronulla who won silver for Boccia Men’s Individual BC3!
With our team competing across 17 sports, there’s still plenty of action left and more chances to add to our medal haul! Let’s keep cheering them on 💚💛 #Paralympics #TeamAustralia ... See MoreSee Less
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Congratulations
Go Aussies
Each week over 350 volunteers and over 700 staff from the Chinese Australian Services Society (CASS Care) provide a range of community and other services to over 7000 families across Greater Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne.
Yesterday was the chance to thank selfless volunteers looking after clients from many backgrounds, especially Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean. ... See MoreSee Less
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We were glad to have you with us~
Nice pictures mark
🌞 Good Afternoon, 😃 Congratulations, 🙏 HaVe A GrEaT DaY! #Great_pHotOs, 👍 #Amazing_Work, #GreAt_LeAdeR 👏
I bet you are still supporting the Yes vote for a voice to parliament even though we voted against it. You are definitely one of Australian Labor Party best supporter, another Lib minister that wishes he was Labor minister
While you remain leader of the NSW Liberals they will never make it back into government. I have Voted Liberal for 45years and never have I seen a weaker leader , you are an embarrassment. You have not only damaged state Liberal Party but now you are a risk to the Federal Liberal party. Bo one knew who you were until this latest debacle and now we do we want you gone.
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IT’S LEGACY WEEK 2024
Legacy Week was launched today at the Cenotaph in Martin Place.
The Legacy Week appeal has been running since the 1940s, for Australians to show their support for the widows and children whose loved ones have served our country.
You can help this cause by buying a Legacy badge from any volunteer around the Sydney CBD and across NSW this week.
To donate go to www.legacy.com.au/donate ... See MoreSee Less
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And what is the Liberal Party's legacy? I can't tell you how badly the Liberal Party has failed us. As a member of the Australian Jewish Community, voting for candidates in our council election will be near impossible. I can't vote Greens, or Labor, and most of our independent candidates are a very poor option. You have failed us at the most important time. Antisemitism is through the roof, and we have very little support in council. Now we have less.
Hi Mark. We are liberal voters. Georgia Ryburn is unfit to be Pittwater MP. Liberal Party should not preselect her as the candidate. Georgia Ryburn has never lived in Pittwater in her entire life, also there are scandals about her which will bring the Liberal Party into disrepute. Liberal Party should preselect Michael Gencher who is Pittwater Ward Councillor. Thank you for your service. You are our great leader. Wishing you all the best, Mark!
👩⚕️👨⚕️”Having a gala time” at the Sutherland Hospital fundraising gala 2024.
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Great night
Such a great night . 😊
🌞 Good Evening, 😃 Congratulations, 🙏 HaVe A GrEaT DaY! #Great_pHoToS, 👍 #Amazing_Work, #GreAt_LeAdeR 👏