Every Australian city has its equivalent of Sydney's western suburbs, a region of the city which is densely populated by predominantly low to middle income earners, isolated, underserviced and with a reputation for juvenile crime and little cultural or social life. PATTY BIANCO lives in Sydney's outer west and resents the stereotyped image her community has amongst inner city dwellers. She prepared this alternative view to show that Sydney's "Westies" cannot be dismissed so easily.
Although times have changed a little, the western suburbs are still thought to be populated with walking stereotypes. If detractors took a closer look out here, they would soon realise that we are not a bunch of beer drinking, loud mouthed, head-banging hoons dressed in oil-stained shorts, oversized or undersized T-shirts and worn out thongs.
A substantial slice of the population of NSW lives in the western region of Sydney . While I know there are problems in our community, there are problems in all communities. There is also excellence, goodness and much that is praiseworthy in Sydney's west.
Perhaps the most commonly held belief about the west is that it is devoid of culture. The facts say something different.
Q-Theatre in Penrith can proudly boast that it is the longest running professional theatre company in Australia. The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre opened in 1990, providing excellent rehearsal and recording studios which have been used by amateurs as well as by international and Australian professional entertainers. The Penrith Conservatorium of Music, a department within the Performing Arts Centre, has also been a huge success.
On the banks of the Nepean River, the Lewers Bequest and Regional Art Gallery keeps lovers of the visual arts riveted for hours. The works of art that are permanently held in the gallery are the envy of many larger galleries.
The western suburbs have long been bereft of their own community television station, but thanks to a few persistent Westies stationed at the Greater Western Education Centre (GWEC), there is now a group behind CTV-WEST, a call sign which will go to air later this year. GWEC also provides training in TV production and broadcast.
Community radio is, likewise, still in early development. Several groups are currently contending for full time on-air licences and making test broadcasts in the meantime.
The natural assets of the west have also been underestimated. The Nepean Gorge is truly lovely, and great for swimming and bush walking. The Warragamba Dam is a sight to see, with its thousands of litres of water gushing over the dam wall. The grounds surrounding the dam offer play areas, a kiosk, nature trails and guided tours.
The Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside is a nature reserve. Nurragingy is accessible to the public seven days a week during daylight hours. It has a beauty that greens Blacktown centrally. The reserve offers all the usual picnic grounds and original bushland, ideal for people who want either natural silence or adventure.
Further up from the Penrith district are the Blue Mountains, which provide green, green and more green, only two hours from heart of the city. The crisp, clean mountain air hits you immediately.
When it comes to creating a greener west, 2210 trees were planted and maintained in the streets of Penrith subdivisions in recent years. The Blacktown council provides two free trees per household each year. Locals have been turning up in droves to present their rates notice for the "tree vouchers". The commitment of residents to the environment is also borne out by the necessity for the Salvation Army to construct a sizeable newly expanded recycling complex at Minchinbury.
In this the United Nations year of the World's Indigenous People, the Q-Theatre will present an Aboriginal musical, Close to the Bone, in June.
The Lewers Bequest and Penrith Regional Art Gallery will also be exhibiting works by young Aborigines from across NSW. Penrith City Council chambers is flying the Aboriginal flag alongside the national flag all year.