Parramatta Sun, 7 October 2009

By Liam Pender

AFTER being elected Lord Mayor last Wednesday, Paul Garrard said it was time for Parramatta to "grow up" and act like a big city.

"We want to be the capital of western Sydney," he said.

The election was a smooth one due to a power sharing deal between Liberals and Independents at Parramatta Council that had guaranteed Garrard his fifth term in office months ago.

Parramatta Advertiser, 6 October 2009

By Di Bartok

ACCEPTING a Chinese cultural exhibition to Parramatta is one thing, but flying the national flag of the Communist country on the town hall was rejected by councillors at a fiery meeting on Monday night.

Parramatta City Council, 2 October 2009

Irrespective of the result of the NRL Grand Final on Sunday, Parramatta City Council believes the Parramatta Eels are winners and to celebrate their success in the 2009 season, the Parramatta Eels Street Parade will be held in the heart of Parramatta - along Church Street - on Tuesday, 6 October from 12.30 pm to 1.45 pm.

Parramatta Advertiser, 1 October 2009

Paul Garrard - Parramatta’s longest-serving councillor- was last night elected lord mayor of the city for the fifth time during his 35 years on council.

Sydney Morning Herald, 1 October 2009

By Ross Cameron, former Federal MP for Parramatta

It may be one of the most politically incorrect hunches of the year, but I suspect the Chinese people are content with their government. If a referendum offered ''multi-party democracy'' or ''current arrangements'' the latter would romp home. After three centuries of upheaval, the Chinese are basically happy.