ENTERTAINMENT
PROPERTY
all new allam homes
STORY ON PAGEs 6 and 7
A NEW COLLECTORS SHOW!
THE AUSSIE DREAM REVIVED
ART, MUSIC, DANCE AND MORE
CHATTER ON THE BOX PAGE 16
OPEN FESTIVAL
June 14 2013 ISSUE 141
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT PH: 9549 1190 FAX: 9549 1122
Rough and ready Business leaders brave the cold for homelessness BASIL NAIMET
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ext Thursday Chief Executive Officers across NSW will take part in the annual CEO Sleepout at Carriageworks in Redfern. The sleepout is a nationwide program designed for businesses to work together to raise awareness of homelessness in Sydney. Erskineville resident and St Vincent De Paul NSW CEO Michael Perusco said the sleepout gives CEOs a taste of what it’s like without a roof over their head. “The sleepout gets CEOs thinking about homelessness and why people are homeless in Australia and what we can do to reduce the numbers of homeless. I think that experience is very powerful,” he said. Mr Perusco said the idea behind the sleepout came from a government initiative that looked at reducing homelessness. “In 2008 the Government wrote a White Paper on halving homelessness by 2020. Over the last four years some good work has been done across states and territories, and we’re in a position now that we can benefit from that.” But the numbers are still high with 58 per cent of people experiencing homelessness being under 35-years, 44 per cent are women and 12 per cent are under the age of 12-years. Mr Perusco said only a collaborative effort between both sides of government and business will help bring down the numbers significantly. “Going into the election in September if we can get both sides of government to commit to these targets to reduce the numbers... we can reduce homelessness by 2020,” he said. Holly Kramer CEO of Best n Less in Leichhardt is looking forward to the sleepout for because it’s a great cause. Her target is to raise $75,000 and is leading the NSW tally, but wants to achieve the $100,000 mark. “It’s a win-win situation for our company because it makes the employees feel good about what their CEO is doing and our customers also feel good because we’re getting involved with worthwhile social initiatives,” she said. To donate see www.ceosleepout.org.au.
WHAT’S ON There are plenty of great activities happening in and around the Inner West and Sydney CBD. All you have to do is know where to look! We’ve compiled a great list of events coming up, from band performances to plays, art classes to guest talks. There’s something for everyone!
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GREENED UP Funding for school kitchen garden PAGE 8
WALL OF OBLIVION The local fight for refugee rights Michael Perusco is ready for the CEO Sleepout next Thursday.
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