Each year National Families Week celebrates and highlights the critical role of families in Australian society and coincides with the United Nations International Day of Families on May 15.
This year, Families Week fell between May 11 and May 17. In Bingara, over 60 people braved the cold weather to help celebrate the International Day of Families at the Roxy Theatre.
Tanya Heaton – Family Worker for the Gwydir Shire gave a welcome address and discussed the theme for this year Work and Family – Getting the balance right, stating that “families are stronger if they share time together, doing things that strengthen family life”.
Mayor Peter Caskey attended with his family and presented Gwydir Shire Commemorative Birth Certificates to Joel Conway and Jacob Walton.
Winners of the 2008 Families Week Photography Competition were then awarded certificates and prizes. The Williams Family of Warialda won first prize with their entry Brotherly Fun. The Young Family of Bingara took out both second and third prizes, with the Smith Family of Bingara and the Cush, Murdoch and Smith Families from Warialda all receiving Highly Commended certificates.
After the presentations, families had the opportunity to select from the free giveaways, look at displays from WOW Fitness Centre, Gwydir Shire Schools, Preschools, Playgroups and Toy Libraries., while enjoying a free sausage sizzle. Children loved the free balloons and face painting, with spiderman faces, butterflies and skeleton figurines being the most popular choices.
At 8.00pm, a free screening of Mr Magorium’s Magic Emporium concluded the celebrations. Many people commented on how they enjoyed the movie before departing for home.
