Summer on the Green: All the fun of the fair

“Summer on the Green look to be the biggest community event seen in Sydney’s inner-suburb of Waterloo in years”, long time resident of Waterloo public housing estate Dianne Rodgers said.

“Waterloo is a community with a great community spirit and has a lot to be proud of due to the hard work that goes on behind the scenes by local volunteers and workers this event has been long over due” Said resident Jody Kastrounis.

A traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country started the formal events of the day, which included a Seniors picnic, performances by dancers and musicians, a pets fancy dress parade.Entertainment for local kids included egg and spoon races, a Billy Cart Derby, three-legged races, large bouncy Castles and a host of other activities.  

Several organisations including Kids Speak, Redfern Police, the local Multicultural Cooking Group, Aboriginal Home Care and local volunteers will take turns will be keeping the crowd supplied with tea, coffee, BBQ meats and other treats

The afternoon events will be culminated in the official opening of the new Waterloo Green Mosaic by Margaret Maljkovic from the Department of Housing. The Mosaic Mural was designed and produced by the local Community under the artistic direction of Angela Yeend, with the Assistance of Ken Emininoni. The project received financial support from the City of Sydney and the NSW Department of Housing, which was a year long initiative of the Factory Community Centre and the Redfern Waterloo Housing Communities Assistance Program working in partnership with many residents and local community Services.

Musical and other entertainment will round out the day.  Performers include Mexican music impresario Victor Valdes, the AMS Line Dancers, the Salsa Dance Troupe, and various R&B, hip hop and other musical preferences.

“summer on the Green shows what is possible when residents and organisations come together around a common idea” Michael Shreenan HCAP Community Worker said while acknowledging  the event would be possible without the support of  local residents, City of Sydney, Department of Housing, Redfern Waterloo Authority, Department of Age and Disability, Barnardos , FDN, CDPUNSW project along with many others.

7 December 2007

Program

Contacts:    Michael Shreenan or Melissa Burgess on: 02 9698 9569