2000s Our Campbelltown

Fred Borg

Fred Borg had amazing commitment, drive and passion to provide services to the people of Macarthur, with no thought for self-interest or personal gain. He served on Campbelltown Council for 17 years, and held the position of Deputy Mayor in 2000/2001. He had been elected in 2016 for a further four year term. Fred worked on a number of committees and local initiatives, but is especially known for being the founder and Chairperson of the 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer. This charity walkathon began in 2005 and has evolved into one of Campbelltown's biggest annual community events, raising money for local cancer care and medical equipment. Sadly Fred passed away at the age of 73, on 20 December 2016, a passionate, generous and unwavering citizen. He was posthumously awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2017. A great example of community spirit, and the strength and heart of the Campbelltown.

(Image sourced from Daily Telegraph)

Brooke Manzione

Campbelltown High School student Brooke Manzione in 2004, with an achievement award from the NSW Education Minister. Brooke has gone on to become a well-known local community worker, MC, and local ambassador.

(Image sourced from Campbelltown- Macarthur Advertiser)

Local Aboriginal Performers

Aboriginal performers in the early 2000s. Our indigenous heritage began to play a bigger role at local events and ceremonies, with acknowledgement of country and smoking ceremonies now a standard inclusion in most local events.

(Sourced from Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser)

Local All-Girl Rock Band

Campbelltown's all-girl rock band, Fanesky, in the 2000s fronted by former Leumeah High student Michelle Woolley – who later returned to her old school as a music teacher organising huge stage performances.

(Image sourced from Michelle Woolley Collection)

School of Medicine is Opened

Advances in medicine rely on advances in knowledge. In 2007 Western Sydney University created a new School of Medicine. In 2008 Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard officially opened the state-of-the-art School of Medicine teaching and research building on the Campbelltown campus. Since then more than 670 graduates have entered the medical profession. Approximately two-thirds of the medical students are from Greater Western Sydney, including Campbelltown, Penrith, Liverpool, the Hills District, the Blue Mountains, Fairfield and Blacktown. Western Sydney University School of Medicine is one of the largest providers of medical, nursing and health professionals to Australia's health workforce.

(Image sourced from www.westernsydney.edu.au)

West Tigers Win Premiership

The Wests Tigers were formed at the end of the 1999 NRL season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs Magpies. The Wests Tigers started playing in the 2000 NRL season and to the great joy of their local supporters won their maiden premiership in 2005.

The 2005 Grand Final winning Wests Tigers team below.

(Image sourced from Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser)

John "Skando" Skandalis, one of the homegrown stars of the Wests Tigers, lifts the trophy above his head to cheering crowds at Campbelltown Sports Ground in 2005 after the team won the rugby league grand final.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

(Macarthur Advertiser)

A New Ambulance Station - end of an era

It was a symbolic moment of change in 2006 when Campbelltown lost its ambulance station, built and paid for in 1960 by the local community via the Fisher's Ghost festivals. A new state-of-the-art ambulance station had been erected next to Campbelltown Hospital, but before the old facility could be bulldozed, local ambulance officers gathered in front of it to show their respects and affection.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

Ingleburn Alive

One of the first Ingleburn Alive events, a local street festival in the heart of Ingleburn's Shopping Village.

(Image sourced from Campbelltown City Council)

Rydges

Opened in 2007, Rydges proved that Campbelltown could not only hold its own, but was ahead of the game in terms of design and innovation, setting a new benchmark for the south west of Sydney. Rydges development was part of a resort-style entertainment precinct sitting within the civic precinct of Campbelltown. When the idea was floated by the Catholic Club for a four and a half star hotel to be built in Campbelltown it was not without its critics. Not only where they proved wrong, Rydges Campbelltown thrived, becoming an asset to not only Campbelltown but it also attracted business from across the wider Sydney Basin.

(Image sourced from Scottcarver.com.au)

Macarthur Indigenous Church

This gathering of several Aboriginal Aunts in Minto began around 2000 as a result of experiencing racism from other mainstream churches. For a couple of years the Sunday Services were taken by a roster of indigenous pastors coming from different churches to minister to the congregation. The Church then approached the Sydney Anglican Indigenous People's Committee and obtained funding for a full time pastor in 2003. The Church has met in various locations but since entering a partnership with St Peter's Anglican Church in late 2011, they have been using St Peter's Church in Campbelltown for their Sunday service and other church activities. Since 2000 the Church has faithfully ministered to the people of the Macarthur Aboriginal community. The Macarthur Region has the 2nd highest population of Aboriginal people in NSW.

(Images sourced from campbelltownanglican.org/church-services/macarthur-indigenous-church)

Kellicar Lane

The popular new Kellicar Lane strip at Macarthur Square in 2006.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

Claymore

Claymore Youth Centre in 2004.

(Image sourced from Campbelltown-Macarthur Advertiser Collection)

Minto

The bulldozers move into Minto's Housing Commission estate in 2005. These poorly-planned estates around Campbelltown has since been redeveloped as a successful public-private mix.

(Image sourced from Campbelltown-Macarthur Advertiser)

Future Prime Minister Julia Gillard, with local MP Chris Hayes, visiting striking workers at Minto in 2007. Campbelltown became a major player in the debate over the Howard Government's controversial WorkChoices reforms.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

Skate Park

The Skate Park at Leumeah in 2005.

(Image sourced from Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser Collection)

Ingleburn High School

School captains at Ingleburn High School in a new school sculpture garden in 2006.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

Queen Street

Queen Street in the early 2000s, complete with shade sails near Lithgow Street.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

Event Cinemas

Kerin Kennedy and her homegrown Swordplay troupe in action at Event Cinemas at Macarthur Square in 2006, promoting a "Pirates of the Caribbean" film.

(Image sourced from Campbelltown- Macarthur Advertiser Collection)

Hurlestone Agricultural Farm

The farm at Hurlstone Agricultural High School. The community bound together to protest from 2009 when housing was announced for the historic site. This battle is still ongoing.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)