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Our finest this month is a truly uplifting story. Maryam Zahid arrived in Australia from Afghanistan when she was twenty with three younger siblings. She came under the UNHCR’ s Women at Risk program, and struggled to navigate Australian systems and networks. Several years ago she launched Afghan Women on the Move( AWOTM) to help other Afghan women in all aspects of their‘ new’ lives, enabling them to flourish and‘ thrive instead of survive’, p6 / 7.
Blacktown City Council has launched a 42-day community consultation to gather feedback on its proposed Special Rate Variation( SRV). Community forums and pop-up sessions have been scheduled ensuring all residents are aware of what the increased rates funding would be spent on, p5.
The 29 th Return and Earn machine is now operational in Emerton, making it easier for residents to redeem their eligible containers. Edmond Atalla MP praised the Blacktown community for its‘ enthusiastic recycling’ efforts, p11.
The much-loved Diwali Lights Competition is back with residents once again encouraged to light up their homes to celebrate the vibrant Hindu festival of lights. The streets will once again transform with lights, colour and dazzling displays of intricate artwork called rangoli, p9.
Out sports writer Matt delivers a different kind of story this month- sports people are not beating it out on the field or grappling for their PBs. However, the Family of League make a huge difference in the community. The organisation, then Men of League, was established in 2022 to offer a helping hand for those doing it tough. Over the past 23 years the League has provided more than 10,000 hours of volunteer service and distributed over $ 10 million in financial support, p21.
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