The end of August proved a special one for the mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown, Bilal El-Hayek, as winter drew to a close.”

“For me, it was an extra special month as I hosted two events which are close to my heart,” he said.

More than 140 community leaders joined him at his Domestic Violence Summit to share ideas and come up with solutions.

Mr El-Hayek said there were some good ideas raised at the summit which he would forward to the state government. 

Nor did the cold weather deter those from turning up to raise vital funds for the homeless at my Mayor's Lights Out Sleepout. More than $31,000 was raised from the event, which he called a “success”.

“My sincere thanks to those who stood with me on these very important initiatives. The generosity and empathy in our city never cease to amaze me,” Mr Bilal El-Hayek said.

The mayor also met with the Minister for Health Ryan Park and representatives of South West Sydney Local Health District.

They discussed many issues including building the new Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital.

Mr El-Hayek also met up with Bishop Robert Rabbat and members of the Melkite Charitable Foundation over lunch.

He joined the General Secretary of the USU, Graeme Kelly, in 120-year anniversary celebrations and attended the SSI team's Youth Symposium to launch research from their project.