Jill Whittaker OAM Campbelltown Mayor

19/06/2026

Thank you to the Athelstone residents who joined me for coffee and a chat on Friday. It was a very enlightening conversation about the local area.

It was an opportunity to talk about local issues, trees, drains and lighting for walking in dark streets in Campbelltown City Council (SA).

We also spent time on discussing the housing situation in Campbelltown, the human scale, the view of the hills, affordable housing; continuing with the current piecemeal situation of urban infill scattered amongst the suburbs; or whether taller housing combined with small businesses in limited designated areas would be better.

It was a great start to the newly launched Housing Strategy discussion paper.

Take the link for more information and to provide your own opinion.





https://connect2.campbelltown.sa.gov.au/?fbclid=IwZnRzaASiIlpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR6kSZ0fGlw938jq9Zl6ewZiaJl01QFvNluoxTRbwPVS9cvWcB4xr_Dq3N0Yzw_aem_7vGLlKiROVPaGI6J77-G2Q

17/06/2026

Love to share coffee and a chat with you on Friday. The next one is Tuesday 14 July at 2pm at St George’s Cafe Montacute Rd Rostrevor.

☕ Come along and chat with Mayor Jill Whittaker OAM and staff to share ideas, suggestions and concerns over a cuppa.

📆 Friday 19 June 2026, 11 am to 12 pm
📍 Ratio Specialty Cafe

Food and drinks are available for purchase.

Visit www.campbelltown.sa.gov.au/coffee-chat

17/06/2026

Celebrating the best of our city.

17/06/2026

There are a million refugee stories in Australia. On Monday night we heard one from local restauranteur and author Durkhanai Ayubi. A story of courage, family, food and how they all link in a new country.

Durkhanai is well known for the popular Afghan restaurant Parwana and her love of the Afghan cuisine is evident in her recipe book ‘Parwana’ and her most recent title ‘She Who tastes, Knows’

17/06/2026

At its meeting on Tuesday 2 June 2026, Council adopted its second Climate Solution Strategy.

This strategy outlines the steps we will take to continue our work to reduce corporate and Community emissions, as well as ensuring our City is prepared for future climate-related risks.

Read the adopted strategy at https://brnw.ch/21x3p7v

Thank you to everyone who participated in the consultation process and helped shape the strategy.

16/06/2026

A delay to the local government elections until April 7 2027 will need to be managed carefully.

As we vote on the current Annual Business Plan and Budget at the council meeting on Tuesday night it is worth reflecting on the process which has been part of council agendas at a number of meetings this year as individual items were considered; a bus tour of proposals; consultation and a public meeting about the budget; and a final meeting in July. It is an open and transparent process.

To go to election in April next year with two prior months of a caretaker period, when financial decisions cannot be made, will require careful planning. An added element is that after compulsory training the Budget will be top of the agenda. I predict it will possibly result in a delay in the 27/28 budget.

It also means that current councillors who were thinking of leaving in November may in some councils decide to resign as they had already made other plans.

Meantime I will continue to do my job in the community such as running meetings twice a month, attending Advisory Committee meetings, conducting Citizenship events, representing community interests to the government, responding to media requests, celebrating with community members and organisations and promoting our fabulous city. And of course continue to communicate with residents and make myself available to discuss community issues.

My next Mayor’s Coffee Chat is 11am Friday 19 June at @ Ratio Specialty Cafe on Gorge Rd, Athelstone.

The state's election boss, who has been on leave since a problem-plagued state election, has resigned.

15/06/2026

Anastasia and Andrew are very welcoming at the Hibernia Cafe at the top of Magill Rd in the Magill Village. It is the perfect place for breakfast or lunch with delicious and interesting food plus a unique ambience.

In a heritage building which was a movie theatre it is still an outstanding venue with all sorts of treats to brighten your day.

Love the friendly staff who make every visit a delight. Then there are the works of local artists like Elizabeth Little Artist featured here.

15/06/2026

Many people in our community arrived in Australia with a small suitcase as their only possession - described by former Governor Hieu Van Le as full of dreams.

A huge proportion of our community brought their suitcase of dreams from Italy and Greece after World War 2 as refugees from hunger and grinding poverty.

Last weekend there was a play “The Italian Divorce” in Adelaide which named Rostrevor and Campbelltown city as the capital of this Mediterranean outpost.

The play itself was greeted by the audience with glee - as people recognised the hilarious situations portrayed and the Italian phrases sprinkled through the show.

What it did highlight was the love and connection in the family and with the Greek neighbour. It also showed the way that young people are torn between family pressure and life in Australia in the next generation.

It was a short season but will return I am sure as it was greeted with huge enthusiasm for its larger than life depictions of one family’s life as they build new lives in a country where they have to learn the language, build a home and adapt to a new life.

15/06/2026

A local living legend. What resilience and contributions. 💐

World Refugee Week takes place from Sunday 14 June to Saturday 20 June 2026.

The 2026 theme is "A Million Stories", celebrating the milestone of one million refugees welcomed by Australia since World War II.

Since 1947, Australia has welcomed people fleeing violence and persecution. Every story is unique. Every story matters.

The story of how local resident Teresa Dall’Acqua Leonardi OAM and her family came to Adelaide starts in 1952.

“We had to run to escape the violence. All we had was one suitcase with my grandfather’s boot-making tools, a few clothes for us kids and our family photos.”

Teresa was 5-year-old when her family fled violence in Eritrea, where she was born and where they lived in an Italian colony. They came by boat with nothing but a small suitcase between them — and found safety and welcome in Australia to build a new life.

In 2025, Teresa’s lifelong commitment to the Italian community and to multicultural communities more broadly, was recognised and honoured when she was awarded the prestigious Cavaliere knighthood title, presented by the Consul of Italy in South Australia.

Listen to Teresa’s full story:
https://brnw.ch/21x3ljZ

Podcast: The Good Italian Girl with Claudia Callisto

15/06/2026

We have a local connection to the Socceroos. In the squad and with four games under his belt is Paul Izzo who started his soccer journey at Campbelltown City Soccer & Social Club and now plays in Europe when he isn’t at the World Cup. He was named in the squad against Türkiye. He plays goalkeeper. Congratulations to Paul for this honour and achievement. Rostrevor College will also be proud of him.

We have a lot of pride and admiration for the Campbelltown Soccer club which punches above its weight as a club built on the dedication and determination of its volunteers.

Soccer is one of the most played sports in Australia. In Campbelltown we have a shortage of soccer pitches in comparison to the demand. Women and girls want to play and established clubs like Campbelltown and Eastern United FC are responding. Both of these clubs want to increase their all weather pitches through the use of artificial turf. Currently set weather reduces the ability to train and play due ro ground conditions.

In coming months the council will consider proposals for an additional all weather pitch for both clubs which have both attracted government funding grants to support the expansion of Soccer in Campbelltown City Council (SA).

Perhaps our area can help develop the next Matilda or Socceroo squad member. Or more importantly create more opportunities for all our people wanting to play the beautiful game.

Paul David Izzo (Italian: [ˈittso]; born 6 January 1995) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Danish Superliga side Randers and the Australia national team. He was selected to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He made his professional debut for Adelaide Unitedin ...