Georges River Council will take part in Pink Up Your Town campaign later this year in partnership with the McGrath Foundation to raise awareness of breast cancer.
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The McGrath Foundation was started by Glenn and Jane McGrath in 2005 and supports those affected by breast cancer including by raising money for specialist McGrath Breast Care Nurses to be in communities across Australia.
Recently, the foundation has called on Georges River Council to get involved in their latest community initiative called, Pink Up Your Town.
This calls for entire towns to 'pink up' to raise funds to support their specialist McGrath Breast Care Nurses.
Towns can light their public buildings in pink, decorate their streets with pink banners, ask their staff to wear pink to create a visual show of support for local families affected by breast cancer, and raise greater awareness around the Pink Ribbon campaign.
“This foundation helps countless women diagnosed with breast cancer and provides much needed support,” Georges River Council mayor, Kevin Greene said.
This week, Councillor Greene called on the council to support a donation to the McGrath Foundation of $11,000 and to provide another $11,000 to cover the costs of the 2018 - 2019 'Pink Up Georges River' program.
This will come from the remaining funds in the council’s 2017 - 2018 financial year's donations and grants budget.
He was unanimously supported by his fellow councillors.
“I believe this is an unique opportunity for our council to continue supporting our local
community,” Cr Greene said.
“During the month of October, the council will show our support by working with council staff and the community, and in particular local business, to 'pink up' the Georges River area and raise funds to support the McGrath Foundation's work.”
Cr Greene said that feasible program options for Pink Up Your Town could include pink signs for Hurstville Oval, celebrating the JLT Cup in October with a ‘pink stumps day’, displaying pink street banners in Hurstville and Kogarah town centres, having pink fairy lighting in trees in selected areas across the local government area, asking council’s customer service and library staff to wear pink caps throughout October, and illuminating the Civic Centre, Marana Auditorium and Hurstville Museum and Gallery buildings in a pink wash.
Local schools and businesses could be encouraged to hold fundraising activities and hold a competition for the 'pinkest' area.
And the local community could be encouraged to get involved through the council's Multicultural Reference Group, Access and Inclusion Reference Group, Aboriginal Reference Group, and Youth Advisory Committee.
Cr Greene called on his fellow Councillors to help promote this cause and encourage members of the community to get involved.
“This is an opportunity for all of us to work towards helping those affected by breast cancer and especially those affected by it in the Georges River area,” Cr Green said.
