2010s Our Campbelltown

People

Jim Marsden

In June 2013 local solicitor Jim Marsden was awarded an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) – the nation's highest honour. Coming from one of Campbelltown's oldest families (his grandfather was Herb Lack – the publican of Lack's Hotel), Jim has spent his whole life in Campbelltown and has given a lifetime of contributions to local businesses, law, sport, art, and volunteer work. He is a passionate advocate for his hometown, as was his late brother John. Jim, as senior partner of Marsdens Law Group has given his time and expertise to a long list of local organisations. They have also been the major sponsor of the Fisher's Ghost Fun Run since 2011.

(Image sourced from Macarthur Advertiser)

Rebecca Hatch

Local achiever Rebecca Hatch was named as Campbelltown's Youth Ambassador for 2018, at Campbelltown Rotary's annual Youth Excellence Awards at Wests Leagues Club.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

Erin Densham

Go Erin! Locals cheering on Campbelltown's own Erin Densham as she won Bronze in the triathlon event at the London Olympic Games in 2012.

(Sourced from Campbelltown Catholic Club)

Community minded locals

Big hearted identities continue to be at the forefront of community life – pictured here at the 2019 Memorial Service for the Appin Massacre, is Citizen of the Year Ricardo Lonza and Brian Laul and Frank Michel.

(Image sourced from Michelle Woolley Collection)

Events

Campbelltown designated a Regional City Centre

The future looks strong for Campbelltown, with the development of a city that is a contemporary and vibrant hub. It was announced in December 2014 by the state government that Campbelltown, along with Penrith and Liverpool, would be designated a Regional City Centre. Council's vision for the future, one of a growing, changing, busy, friendly city with buildings and public spaces embracing the natural environment character, would aim to shape Campbelltown into a city that would meet the needs of the growing population.

Aerial shot of Campbelltown below.

(Image sourced from www.campbelltowncitycouncil.nsw.gov.au)

Dharawal National Park Declaration

Dharawal was declared a national park in 2012 after a grass roots movement to protect the rugged and diverse habitat. Previously, the national park was managed as a state conservation area by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and before that the land was managed as a water catchment by Sydney Water. Over seventy years of restricted public access has kept the area largely undisturbed. Dharawal National Park is the traditional land of the Dharawal or Tharawal Aboriginal people. Their long connection with this country; the land and waterways, and the plants and animals that live in it feature in all facets of Aboriginal culture and are associated with Dreaming stories and cultural learning that is passed on today. The park protects several ancient Aboriginal sites, including drawings and axe-grinding grooves. The national park covers almost both the O'Hares and Stokes Creek catchments. It contains significant biodiversity and ecosystems and Aboriginal culturally significant sites. It has high conservation significance within the region, especially due to the low disturbance within the park and limited public access. The conservation objectives of the park are to maintain the natural and cultural heritage, provide education and research opportunities as well as providing some recreation activities.

(Image sourced from Claire Lynch)

Local elder Uncle Ivan Wellington spoke proudly at the opening ceremony, pictured here with his granddaughter, Lesiley Donovan.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

Anniversary of the Appin Massacre

In 2016 the 200th anniversary of the Appin Massacre was commemorated. Commemorates a dark day in the history of this area and the Dharawal people. Hundreds of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people turned out to pay their respects to the victims of the massacre. The slaughter of Dharawal men, women and children was one of the first government-ordered killings of Aboriginal people in Australia's settlement records. The ceremony is held every year at Cataract Dam.

Plaque to commemorate the massacre of Dharawal men, women and children in 1816 unveiled at Cataract Dam on 15 April 2007.

(Image sourced from Stan Brabender, Local Studies Collection)

Narellan Road Upgrade

Narellan Road drove us all mad with its bottlenecks and traffic jams, and then there was the roadwork!

Stage 1 was completed in 2016, and Stage 2 was officially opened to traffic in 2018. This, along with the opening of Gregory Hills Drive went a long way to easing the traffic congestion.

Waterworth Drive, Hartley Road, and Narellan Road intersection shown below.

(Image sourced from rms.nsw.gov.au)

Changes for the Parade

Fisher's Ghost parade was held in the evening in an effort to freshen-up the long-time event.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

JC Caffyn Plate

The "JC Caffyn Plate" Indigenous Drivers series was first hatched back in 2010. Group One winning local Indigenous trainer and driver, Jimmy Brown approached John Dumesny (who was CEO at Club Menangle at the time) to put up an idea about running a race restricted to drivers of Aboriginal heritage. Jimmy Brown has been one of the concept's greatest allies and has become something of a figurehead for the indigenous drivers. The concept of the "JC Caffyn Plate" Indigenous Drivers series has proven a winner across the board. And while it has been one of the success stories of harness racing in New South Wales, the growth in the concept each year has been nothing short of staggering.

Local businessman and Club Menangle director, Michael Brown, sponsored the race for the first year and has continued to travel this state to show his support and passion for the concept and raise the profile of aboriginal people in harness racing. His passion is to bring something new to the series each year. Beginning as a stand-alone invitational race in 2011, the series has progressed heats now at Wagga, Parkes, Tamworth and Newcastle, with the much sought-after Final at Club Menangle on the annual Fishers Ghost day on the last Sunday in October. The day not only has the best Indigenous drivers on display, but the indigenous culture is also a feature. A smoking ceremony and a welcome to country start the event and this is followed by traditional aboriginal dancers.

The national anthem is performed in both English and Dharawal by indigenous performers. It is a great opportunity for the community of Campbelltown to see indigenous culture.

Danny Scanlan drives the Gemma Rue trained Ziggy Rocks to victory in the 2019 J.C. Caffyn Indigenous Drivers Plate Final, shown below.

(Image sourced from Western Advocate)

Upgraded Tabcorp Park

Newly upgraded Tabcorp Park becomes the centre for harness racing in Australia.

(Image sourced from Simon Bennett, Macarthur Advertiser)

24 Hour Fight Against Cancer

So much more than a charity event, the 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer has become one of Campbelltown's biggest community events, drawing thousands of participants to the Campbelltown Athletics Centre in Leumeah. Pictured are students from St Patrick's Catholic College and Broughton Anglican College showing their enthusiasm.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

Entry fees scrapped and Plant Bank opens

At the Mount Annan Botanic Gardens entry fees were scrapped and a new plant and seed bank opened which holds seed collections of many of the 25,000 plant species that occur in Australia.

(Image sourced from Weekendnotes.com)

Campbelltown City Challenge Walk

Thousands of locals continue to support the annual Campbelltown City Challenge Walk at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan.

(Image sourced from Campbelltown-Macarthur Advertiser)

50th Anniversary of Electric Railway

Mayor George Brticevic with a crowd of community members gather at Glenfield Railway Station in 2018 to mark the 50th anniversary since the arrival of the electric train in Campbelltown.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

Anzac Day

Anzac Day on Queen Street. In the 2010s more emphasis was given to women war veterans, who had seen active service in recent overseas conflicts.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

Anzac Day at Ingleburn RSL Club in 2017, marking the 100th anniversary of many important battles on the Western Front.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

Places

Hospital Re-development

Campbelltown Hospital underwent a major redevelopment completed in 2016, and in 2019 Stage 2 was commenced.

(Image sourced from cherriecivil.com.au)

Campbelltown Arts Centre

Special guests playing the drums at Campbelltown Arts Centre.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill)

Campbelltown Catholic Club

Few corners of the city reflected the staggering rate of growth as much as Campbelltown Catholic Club, which had grown from a small hall in 1968 to a vast complex including The Cube entertainment centre, Rydges four-and-half-star hotel and Aquafit fitness and leisure centre.

(Image sourced from Campbelltown Catholic Club)

Minto Mall upgrade

After years of neglect and public outcry Minto Mall is rebranded and reopened as Minto Marketplace. Shoppers came to Minto Marketplace in their droves, for the first time in years.

(Images sourced from Macarthur Advertiser)

Club Menangle

Campbelltown became a stylish centre of the racing world in the 2010s as Club Menangle hosted the InterDominion and other major harness racing events.

(Image sourced from Jeff McGill Collection)

Claymore Renewal

The Airds Bradbury Renewal Project and the Claymore Renewal Project, were implemented to improve existing public housing and introduce a mix of public and private housing to bring neglected suburbs back to life.

(Image sourced from Andrew Allen, Campbelltown City Library)

Hurlestone Agricultural Farm

Controversial plans to move Hurlstone Agricultural High School to Richmond were scrapped in December 2019. It was announced that Hurlstone Agricultural High School will keep its name and stay at the Glenfield site as an academically selective boarding, agricultural high school. The school had been at its Glenfield location since 1926. After years of protest and community backlash, Hurlstone would stay in its Glenfield location.

(Image sourced from Stan Brabender, Local Studies Collection)