For the past three years, Emora Park on Landa Street, Bowenfels has hosted monthly community barbecues.
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The event brings the community together with police, family and community services, health professionals and sporting groups to build positive relationships and, on average, attracts about 100 people each month.
To mark three years of the program, and to recognise the work that has been done revitalising Emora Park for the community’s use, a special gathering was held at the park on Thursday afternoon, March 15.
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The playground, constructed at a cost of $65,000 through a state government grant, has become a well used public facility.
Lithgow Police Inspector Chris Sammutt said he remembered how the park looked three years ago.
“It was a lovely park with literally no facilities,” he said.
The tennis courts were dilapidated and “there were clearly structural integrity issues” with its fence, Inspector Sammutt said.
The idea of starting a barbecue project came as a result of a meeting with Aboriginal Health’s Sonia Cox.
The tennis courts have now been renovated into a basketball court, complete with new backboards and rings. Lithgow Lazers team members regularly attend the barbecues to play with youths in attendance.
The park land is owned by Family and Community Services (FACS) and cared for by Lithgow City Council.
Inspector Sammutt said the park was created with the support of then NSW FACS minister Brad Hazzard and Bathurst MP Paul Toole.
Thanks went to Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Aboriginal health liaison officer Sonia Cox, who was instrumental in pulling together all the services to provide the community barbecue, and the VRA, who mans the barbecue.
“It is a tribute to a successful collaboration between police, council and the community,” Lithgow City Council mayor Stephen Lesslie said at the opening event.
“When the community is as involved in a project as you are, I know this place will be a great success.”
Lithgow Hospital general manager Jill Marjoram congratulated everyone involved in this “wonderful facility”.
“The artwork is just beautiful.”
The backboards
The artwork for the backboards were created by four young indigenous men who are currently inmates at Lithgow Correctional Centre.
The men volunteered their time to create the artwork, which took hundreds of hours to complete.
The design features the goanna, the representation of the local Aboriginal people, surrounding a meeting place, a safe place for everyone.
Other design features including figures, footprints and patterned rivers, reinforcing the message that this is a place of belonging, fun and friendship.