Every year House With No Steps Sydney Region organises
the much anticipated House Idol talent event. All staff, supported employees
and clients from all regions are encouraged to participate, dress up, entertain
the crowd and have tremendous fun. There is no restriction on what this talent
can be - circus tricks to poetry reading to belting out your favourite song -
all are welcome.
This year provided the opportunity for participants to
win 10 cash prizes!
Judging who would take the winning places is always a
hard job. However, this year was especially hard because we had record
contestant numbers.
We are proud to announce that Tony Magano is the 2009
House Idol! Tony won the crowd over with his juggling and Diablo tricks.
Congratulations Tony.
Top 10 place winners are:
Tony Magano - juggling and diablo performance
Peter Flynn - singing Born To Be Wild
Stanley Cleary - playing Waltzing Matilda on the harmonica
Katherine Stanning - singing Mamma Mia
Susan Pilkington - dance performance to Billie Jean
Brook Crowley - singing his original composition Pillars Of Glass
Stephen Lons - singing TNT
Colin Bruce - singing Peggy Sue
Community Participation Program & Transition To Work clients -
dance performance on Thriller
Jenny Moss - singing Just Let Me Say I Love You
Mayor Michael Regan attended to give support and
encouragement to the staff and supported employees who participated.
Many thanks to:
Catherine Lehnen and Brook Crowley who organised the
event
Glen Street Theatre
Top Cat Productions
Rob and Cathy Cooper
HWNS Sydney Region for funding the event
Sarah Rose and Val Altman who were integral in
ensuring that the day ran smoothly.
Fundraising BBQ Southern Region
John Boccanfuso Honour
You get more than a good quality pen when you buy one from Penrith icon John Boccanfuso, the Plaza Pen Man. The pens cost $3 but the smile, conversation and companionship are free.
It was John's positive selfless nature which inspired his friend, Grahame Edwards, to nominate him for a Citizens Award for his contribution to the local community. Needless to say, this nomination was accepted and a special "surprise" ceremony was held at John's desk next to the fountain at Westfield Penrith on Friday 10th July.
Grahame posted the event on the social networking website "Facebook" to get the word out. There are now over 7,000 members (that means friends) who have joined this site and read about the wonderful work that John does! That's right 7,000! There were posts from Moscow, the USA and all over Australia.
Penrith State Labor MP Karyn Paluzzano, Lindsay Federal Labor MP David Bradbury and Mayor Jim Aitken joined more than 100 people to express their good wishes. Mr Bradbury even came with a special gift for John - a card personally written from Acting Prime Minister at the time, Julia Gillard.
Cr Aitken presented Mr Boccanfuso with a mayoral letter and also announced that all the money from the Westfield wishing fountain this month would be donated to House With No Steps.
John has been selling pens for House With No Steps for 38 years now. Thank you John.
