Most people would not mention Redfern in the same breadth as New York or Paris but the people of Redfern see it as a place to be proud of and have T-shirts for sale bearing this message. Council member Sol Bellear is part of the process which is bringing a renewed sense of community to the troubled suburb. Another key player is Alderman Vic Smith, Mayor of South Sydney City Council. Vic was born in Everleigh Street, Redfern just around the corner from the Aboriginal Development Corporation. The Corporation has become a focal point for the local community.
People drop in to talk about ideas and to see how things are going.
The Council is keen to support the local community and to respond to the ideas that come forward as positively as we can. Plans are underway for a community centre which will be a resource for the whole area. The Council is also looking at landscaping areas around the Redfern Railway station. The ABC Cop-it Sweet documentary on the activities of the Redfern Police was greeted with despair by the local community. The community feels that the documentary had a negative focus and was not a fair reflection of what it is like to live in Redfern.