Late Items Agenda of Council - Monday, 7 February 2022

Council 7 February 2022 Item 8.1

MINUTE OF THE LORD MAYOR

ITEM NUMBER 8.1

SUBJECT Condolence Motion: Arnima Hayat

REFERENCE F2021/02779 - D08406248

REPORT OF Lord Mayor, Councillor Donna Davis

CSP THEME: Fair

workshop/briefing date: Nil

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this Lord Mayor Minute is to recognise the passing of Arnima Hayat, who tragically lost her life and to note the candlelight vigil being hosted by Parramatta Cumberland Family and Domestic Violence Prevention Committee in memory of Arnima.

Recommendation:

(a) That Council acknowledge the passing of Arnima Hayat and observe a minute’s silence in respect of her passing, and in recognition of all those who have lost their lives due to domestic and family violence.

(b) Further, that Council note the Parramatta Cumberland Family and Domestic Violence Prevention Committee is hosting a community candlelight vigil in memory of Arnima on Thursday, 10 February 2022.

BACKGROUND

1. I was deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of Arnima Hayat, 19, of North Parramatta, who tragically lost her life.

2. An aspiring doctor in her second year of medicine at Western Sydney University, Ms Hayat has been remembered by her family and friends as a noble child and as someone who just wanted to help people.

3. On behalf of the City of Parramatta, I offer my sincerest condolences to Ms Hayat’s family and friends and propose a minute’s silence be held by Council as a gesture of respect on her passing, and in recognition of all those who have lost their lives due to domestic and family violence.

4. The Parramatta Cumberland Family and Domestic Violence Prevention Committee (the Committee) is a local committee that aims to assemble community involvement and mobilise the power of community and government agencies working in the Parramatta and Cumberland Local Government Areas to reduce domestic and family violence, all the while improving the safety and status of people experiencing violence.

5. The Committee, with the support of City of Parramatta Council and Cumberland City Council, will be hosting a community candlelight vigil event in memory of Arnima Hayat as well as all who have lost their lives due to domestic and family violence.

6. The candlelight vigil will be taking place at 7pm on Thursday, 10 February 2022 in Centenary Square.

7. The Committee invites all City of Parramatta Councillors, and the wider community, to attend as they honour the memory of Arnima Hayat, and take a stand together against domestic and family violence.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION FOR COUNCIL

8. There are no new financial implications for Council as a result of this Lord Mayor Minute.

Lord Mayor, Councillor Donna Davis

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Council 7 February 2022 Item 8.2

MINUTE OF THE LORD MAYOR

ITEM NUMBER 8.2

SUBJECT Condolence Motion: Peggy McGovern

REFERENCE F2021/02779 - D08405668

REPORT OF Lord Mayor, Councillor Donna Davis

CSP THEME: Fair

workshop/briefing date: Nil

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this Lord Mayor Minute is to recognise the passing of Mrs Peggy McGovern, and show our respects for her contributions to the Parramatta community.

Recommendation:

(a) That Council acknowledge the passing of Peggy McGovern, long time member of and teacher at the City of Parramatta Art Society; and

(b) Further, that the Chamber hold a minute’s silence as a gesture of respect on Mrs McGovern’s passing and in recognition of her contributions to the Parramatta community.

BACKGROUND

1. Mrs Annie (Peggy) McGovern, long time member of the City of Parramatta Art Society, passed away on 5 January 2022.

2. Originally from Hollywood, Ireland, Mrs McGovern was a proud resident of Northmead, where she lived with her late husband Tony and raised five children.

3. Following her arrival in Australia in 1960, Mrs McGovern worked at David Jones Sydney and Parramatta before working in local wallpaper stores Medlyn’s and Paul Green. With an interest in interior design and fabrics, she opened two material stores, La Ville Fabrics in West Ryde and Campsie, before taking up painting.

4. A passionate advocate of the arts, Mrs McGovern was a beloved member of the City of Parramatta Art Society since the 1970’s, contributing as a talented artist in her own right and volunteering her time as an art teacher until 2015. Prior to teaching art in all mediums at the Art Society, she also taught at the Arthur Phillip Night School in Parramatta.

5. Renowned for her great character, bubbly personality and wicked sense of humour, she will be sorely missed by the Art Society and broader community for her dedication to promoting and supporting the arts in Parramatta.

6. Council offers its condolences to Peggy McGovern’s family and friends, and holds a minutes silence in the Chamber as a gesture of respect.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION FOR COUNCIL

7. There are no new financial implications for Council as a result of this Lord Mayor Minute.

Lord Mayor, Councillor Donna Davis

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Council 7 February 2022 Item 8.3

MINUTE OF THE LORD MAYOR

ITEM NUMBER 8.3

SUBJECT Condolence Motion: Most Reverend Bishop Joseph Hitti

REFERENCE F2021/02779 - D08407937

REPORT OF Lord Mayor, Councillor Donna Davis

CSP THEME: Fair

workshop/briefing date: Nil

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this minute is to recognise the passing of the Most Reverend Bishop Joseph Hitti, Maronite Bishop Emeritus of Australia, on 3 February 2022.

Recommendation:

(a) That Council note the passing of the Most Reverend Bishop Joseph Hitti, Maronite Bishop Emeritus of Australia, on 3 February 2022.

(b) That Council write to Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral and Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay OLM to pass on our condolences.

(c) That Council note a mass in his memory will be held on Thursday 10 February 2022 at 6pm at Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral, Harris Park.

(d) Further, that Council observes a minute’s silence in respect of his passing.

BACKGROUND

1. On 3 February 2022, the Most Reverend Bishop Joseph Hitti, Maronite Bishop Emeritus of Australia, passed away in Lebanon at the age of 96.

2. Born in Aitou, Lebanon on 30 September 1925, Bishop Hitti received his priestly ordination on 24 March 1951. He served as a Priest for 71 years and a Bishop for 31 years.

3. Pope John Paul II appointed him as the second Bishop of the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Saint Maron of Sydney on 23 November 1990, which he held until 26 October 2001.

4. Bishop Hitti’s funeral is being held in Lebanon, with a mass in his village of Aitou.

5. On behalf of Council, I pass on the condolences of the people of the City of Parramatta to our local Maronite Community and to Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay OLM.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION FOR COUNCIL

6. There are no new financial implications for Council as a result of this Lord Mayor Minute.

Lord Mayor, Councillor Donna Davis

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Council 7 February 2022 Item 8.4

MINUTE OF THE LORD MAYOR

ITEM NUMBER 8.4

SUBJECT 2022 Australia Day Honours

REFERENCE F2021/02779 - D08405422

REPORT OF Lord Mayor, Councillor Donna Davis

CSP THEME: Welcoming

workshop/briefing date: Nil

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this Lord Mayor Minute is to recognise and congratulate recipients of 2022 Australia Day Honours for their contributions to the Parramatta community.

Recommendation:

(a) That Council congratulate the following recipients of the Order of Australia’s 2022 Australia Day Honours for their contributions to the Parramatta community, being:

a. Member (AM) in the General Division

i. Ms Sally Ruston AM

ii. The Very Reverend Father Peter Gregory Williams AM

b. Medal (OAM) in the General Division

i. Clinical Professor Catherine Birman OAM

ii. Miss Patricia D’Apice OAM

iii. Mr Greg Davies OAM

iv. Dr Peter Ellis OAM

v. Professor Elizabeth McCusker OAM

vi. Dr Rosalie Pockett OAM

vii. The late Mr Brian Powyer OAM

c. Public Service Medal (PSM) – COVID-19 Honour Roll

i. Professor Dominic Dwyer, Director of the ICPMR Centre for Infectious Diseases at Westmead Hospital

(b) Further, that Council congratulate Dr Daniel Nour, founder of Street Side Medics, who was recognised as Australia’s Young Australian of the Year in the 2022 Australian of the Year Awards.

BACKGROUND

1. On 26 January 2022, as part of the Order of Australia’s 2022 Australia Day Honours List, the Governor-General was pleased to recognise the following recipients who have contributed greatly to the City of Parramatta:

2. Member (AM) in the General Division

a. Ms Sally Ruston was named a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to primary education, and to professional associations. Ms Ruston has served as the Head of Junior School in Abbotsleigh since 2000 and has held multiple leadership roles in her teaching career. Ms Ruston contributes extensively to professional associations through her membership in the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA), Association of Independent Schools (AIS), Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA) and other professional associations. Ms Ruston has serviced as Federal President, NSW President and NSW Treasurer of IPSHA, Chair of the Independent School Teach Accreditation Authority Council of AIS, and Chair of the APPA Board Finance, Audit and Risk Sub-Committee.

b. The Very Reverend Father Peter Gregory Williams AM was named a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the Catholic Church in Australia, and to tertiary education. Fr Williams has served as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Parramatta, Catholic Church of Australia, since 2011, and has previously served as the Adminstrator of the Diocese, Moderator of the Curia, Episcopal Vicar for Social Welfare, Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, and Parish Priest. Fr Williams also serves as a Member of the Board of Advisors for Australia Catholic University.

3. Medal (OAM) in the General Division

a. Clinical Professor Catherine Birman received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to medicine through otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat and neck conditions). Professor Birman has worked for over 20 years at The Children's Hospital at Westmead as an otologist and cochlear implant specialist.

b. Miss Patricia D’Apice received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to education for people with vision impairment. Miss D’Apice is the Senior Consultant / Teacher Vision Impairment for the Royal Institution for Deaf and Blind Children, and has served as an Adjunct Professor at Renwick College, and organiser of their Braille Camp. Miss D’Apice has also served as a Teacher for the Vision Australia School, and is the Pacific Regional Secretary for the International Council for Education of People with Vision Impairment since 2006.

c. Mr Greg Davies received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to recreational flying. Mr Davies is a founding member of the Sydney Recreational Flying Club, serving as a Flying Instructor since 1986, Head of Engineering since 1997, their Volunteer Chief Flying Instructor since 2007 and currently serves as their Vice-President.

d. Dr Peter Ellis received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to medicine as a forensic pathologist. Dr Ellis was the director of the Department of Forensic Medicine at Westmead Hospital ICPMR for 25 years.

e. Professor Elizabeth McCusker received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to medicine as a neurologist, particularly in the field of Huntington's disease. Professor McCusker was a senior staff specialist in Westmead Hospital's Neurology Department from 1995-2020.

f. Dr Rosalie Pockett was named a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community through social welfare education and initiatives. Dr Pockett was the director of social work at Westmead Hospital for 25 years.

g. The late Brian Powyer was named a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the community through history preservation. Mr Powyer was a passionate advocate for the study of preservation of the history and heritage of the Parramatta District and beyond. Mr Powyer was a long-time member and past President of the Parramatta & District Historical Society, and the inaugural Secretary of the Blacktown & District Historical Society in 1976. Mr Powyer also served as President and Deputy President of the National Trust NSW, Chair of the Parramatta Branch of the National Trust NSW, Secretary of Parramatta Heritage Partners and as Deputy Chair of Council’s own Heritage Advisory Committee.

4. Public Service Medal (PSM) – COVID-19 Honour Roll

a. Professor Dominic Dwyer, Director of the ICPMR Centre for Infectious Diseases based in Westmead Hospital, received a Public Service Medal as part of the COVID-19 Honour Roll. His work includes improving detection of the virus and being part of the international team to investigate its origin.

5. On 25 January 2022, as part of the 2022 Australian of the Year Awards, Dr Daniel Nour was recognised as Young Australian of the Year 2022. Dr Daniel Nour is founder of Street Side Medics, a not-for-profit, GP-led mobile medical service for people experiencing homelessness.

6. With 145 volunteers, and four clinics across New South Wales, Street Side Medics has changed the lives of more than 300 patients. Together, the volunteers have treated many communicable and non-communicable illnesses, dealt with neglected medical needs, and detected conditions that would otherwise have gone unnoticed. This includes diabetes, thyroid disorders, hepatitis C, HIV, heart disease and cancer.

7. Councillors and Council staff may be familiar with Dr Daniel Nour as Street Side Medics provides services to members of our community experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, including at Prince Alfred Square as one of Street Side Medics mobile locations.

8. City of Parramatta congratulates and thanks Dr Daniel Nour, and all our Order of Australia recipients, for their service to the Parramatta community. Their valuable contributions have helped to support and enrich the lives of local residents, visitors and businesses.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION FOR COUNCIL

9. There are no new financial implications for Council as a result of this Lord Mayor Minute.

Lord Mayor, Councillor Donna Davis

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Council 7 February 2022 Item 8.5

MINUTE OF THE LORD MAYOR

ITEM NUMBER 8.5

SUBJECT 2021 Higher School Certificate Results

REFERENCE F2021/02779 - D08406527

REPORT OF Lord Mayor, Councillor Donna Davis

CSP THEME: Thriving

workshop/briefing date: Nil

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this Lord Mayor Minute is to note the success of local students and schools in the 2021 NSW Higher School Certificate, and congratulate them on their achievements.

Recommendation:

(a) That Council note the success of local schools in the 2021 NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC), with the following City of Parramatta schools recognised in the top 150 schools Honour Roll:

a. James Ruse Agricultural High School (1)

b. Tara Anglican School for Girls (34)

c. The King’s School (51)

d. Parramatta Marist High School (53)

e. Arden Anglican School (71)

f. Our Lady of Mercy Parramatta (99)

g. Cumberland High School (110)

h. Maronite College of the Holy Family – Parramatta (112)

i. St Patrick’s Marist College (129)

j. Carlingford High School (133)

k. Redeemer Baptist School (136)

(b) That Council note the following local students achieved first place in an HSC course, and achieved a result in the highest band (Band 6 or Band E4):

a. Oscar Dong, James Ruse Agricultural High School, in Agriculture

b. Piper Stenz, Arden Anglican School, in Industrial Technology

c. Kevin Wang, The King’s School, in Mathematics Advanced

d. Faeza Karimi, Secondary College of Languages Arthur Phillip Campus, in Persian Continuers

(c) Further, that Council write to these local schools to congratulate them on their success, and to recognise the resilience of their students and teachers as they undertook Years 11 and 12 and the HSC exams in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND

1. On 20 January 2022, the NSW Education Standards Authority released the results of the 2021 Higher School Certificate (HSC).

2. In 2021, 66,710 students across NSW were awarded the Higher School Certificate, and 54,487 students were eligible for an ATAR, following the completion of their 2021 HSC exams.

3. The HSC exams took place from Tuesday 9 November to Friday 3 December 2021, following postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

4. The following schools in the City of Parramatta achieved great success in the 2021 HSC, ranking amongst the top 150 schools across NSW, with James Ruse Agricultural High School in Carlingford taking out the top spot.

School	2021 Ranking	Success Rate %	High Scores	HSC Students	2021 Total HSC Exams Sat
James Ruse Agricultural High School	1	70.58	710	160	1006
Tara Anglican School for Girls*	34	31.82	147	82	462
The King’s School	51	25.7	303	206	1179
Parramatta Marist High School	53	25.53	181	132	709
Arden Anglican School	71	21.43	87	75	406
Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta	99	16.67	134	152	804
Cumberland High School	110	15.34	75	97	489
Maronite College of the Holy Family - Parramatta	112	14.97	50	66	334
St Patrick’s Marist College	129	13.89	100	137	720
Carlingford High School	133	13.74	144	205	1048
Redeemer Baptist School	136	13.41	24	32	179
Data: Success Rate – the high scores expressed as a percentage of entries, rounded to two decimal places High Scores – the number of Band 6 (90 or higher) scores *Schools that also have students who have undertaken the International Baccalaureate Diploma

5. The following students in the City of Parramatta accomplished great individual success in the 2021 HSC, achieving first place in an HSC course, including an exam result in the highest band:

a. Oscar Dong, James Ruse Agricultural High School, in Agriculture

b. Piper Stenz, Arden Anglican School, in Industrial Technology

c. Kevin Wang, The King’s School, in Mathematics Advanced

d. Faeza Karimi, Secondary College of Languages Arthur Phillip Campus, in Persian Continuers

6. On behalf of the City of Parramatta, I congratulate these students, schools and their teachers on these outstanding achievements.

7. I also congratulate all students in the City of Parramatta who undertook their HSC in 2021, recognising the resilience they have shown in overcoming the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic as they completed their year 11 and 12 studies.

8. This Lord Mayor Minute proposes that Council write to these schools to congratulate them on their success, and to recognise the exceptional efforts of their students and teachers in achieving these fantastic results.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION FOR COUNCIL

9. There are no new financial implications for Council as a result of this Lord Mayor Minute.

Lord Mayor, Councillor Donna Davis

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Council 7 February 2022 Item 8.6

MINUTE OF THE LORD MAYOR

ITEM NUMBER 8.6

SUBJECT Congratulations Felicity Castagna

REFERENCE F2021/02779 - D08407026

REPORT OF Lord Mayor, Councillor Donna Davis

CSP THEME: Thriving

workshop/briefing date: Nil

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this Lord Mayor Minute is to congratulate Felicity Castagna on winning the 2022 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Writing for Young Adults for her novel Girls in Boys’ Cars.

Recommendation:

(a) That Council congratulates local author Felicity Castagna for winning the 2022 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Writing for Young Adults for her novel Girls in Boys’ Cars.

(b) Further, that Council write to Felicity Castagna congratulating her on this achievement.

BACKGROUND

1. The winners of the 2022 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards were announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday 3 February 2022, with Parramatta resident and author Felicity Castagna announced as the winner of the Writing for Young Adults Award for her novel Girls in Boys’ Cars.

2. Centered around friends Rosa and Asheeka, Girls in Boys’ Cars, has been praised as a razor-sharp, funny, and poignant story about a complicated friendship, a roadtrip in a stolen car, and the stories that define us.

3. The Judges’ Report commended Felicity on her celebration of the complex humanity of self-discovery, and the diversity of Australia’s landscapes in which we live but rarely look at with such acuity.

4. Hailed by the judges as “confident writing, both poetic and profound”, they praised Felicity as a master of the craft.

5. A resident of Parramatta for over 20 years, Felicity is a celebrated author of stories and novels. Her first book, released in 2011, was a collection of stories titled Small Indiscretions: Stories of Travel in Asia. This was followed in 2013 with a young adult novel set in Parramatta, The Incredible Here and Now, which won the Prime Minister’s Literature Award (YA) and the IBBY Honour Book for Australia. It has also been shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literature Awards, the WA Premier’s Book Awards and the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award.

6. The Incredible Here and Now was also transformed into a play which premiered at The National Theatre of Parramatta in July 2017. Felicity has written for stage and radio and her essays frequently appear in magazines and journals.

7. Felicity has also grown more interested in cross-artform collaboration and has worked with artists in many different fields to produce work for The Sydney Festival, the Four Winds Festival and our own Parramatta Lanes.

8. Her latest book, the now-awarding winning Girls in Boys’ Cars was released by PanMacMillan in 2021 and is currently being developed into a play for The National Theatre of Parramatta, to be directed by Priscilla Jackman.

9. On behalf of the City of Parramatta, I congratulate Felicity Castagna on this remarkable achievement and thank her for continuing to produce and share dynamic, vibrant stories that reflect the diversity of our community.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION FOR COUNCIL

10. There are no new financial implications for Council as a result of this Lord Mayor Minute.

Lord Mayor, Councillor Donna Davis

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

REFERENCE MATERIAL