Mayor's Message 2011

On behalf of Willoughby City I welcome everyone to the 2011 Willoughby Spring Festival.  This year we have a fantastic Festival line up for you, as the long awaited projects in the Chatswood CBD come to fruition with the new Chatswood Mall complete and the opening of The Concourse.

Myself, the Councillors and the staff of the Willoughby City are proud to have completed these major infrastructure works that deliver back to the community opportunities for us all to participate together, in celebrating these state of the art, world class facilities.   We would also like to thank the community for their patience while these projects have been developed.

These special places and spaces are designed for community to present their works, gather together celebrate and enjoy.  By the end of this year’s festival we hope that every rate payer, resident and community member has had the opportunity to experience the new Chatswood Mall and The Concourse.

On September the 10th we will celebrate the StreetFair and on this day we will be opening The Concourse up to the community for you to come in take a tour of the Library, Sustainability Education Centre, Studio, Theatre and Concert Hall.  If you participated in The Faces of Willoughby Project there will be an opportunity for you to come to The Concourse Art Space and collect your photo and see the final six images that make up the Face of our community.

The Street Parade will again have over 1000 people and parade floats. The North Shore Orchid Society will be in the Concert Hall foyer, with magnificent displays of Australia’s best orchids.  And for the Mums, Dads and kids the Kid Zone returns to the green space on the Concourse, where your kids will be entertained while you can sit and enjoy a coffee and refreshments at the new cafes at The Concourse.

The Spring Festival would not be complete without the extraordinary breadth of the 50 events that our community produce and deliver to each other.  Many events are booked out before September, and a range of the open house and artist studios, introduce new audiences to the arts community that live and work amongst us.

It is wonderful that so many established events have returned and have become cemented into our city’s cultural calendar. Our theatre, music and educational events offer all age groups, activities that encourage people to get to know one another, while fostering a sense of belonging and well being in our City of Diversity.

I would like to make a special thanks to all of the community members, event organisers, volunteers, performers and technicians involved in running Willoughby Spring Festival events as well as the Cultural Events Committee and Staff of Council for their valued contribution over many years to bring the Willoughby Spring Festival 2011 to the great festival that it is today.

I look forward to seeing you all at StreetFair 2011 and at The Concourse to celebrate community by the community, for the community.

Cr Pat Reilly
Mayor of Willoughby