Planning is under way for the Sydney Stitches and Craft Show at Rosehill Gardens from August 20 to 24. This year's event will feature more than 200 retailers and include papercraft and scrapbooking, sewing, quilting, knitting, embroidery, beading, stamping and needlework. ``The 2008 show is set to welcome experts from more than 17 core crafts, providing a great opportunity for everyone whether novice or enthusiast to seek advice and learn how to master a craft or tackle a new project,'' said exhibition director Susan Mahony.

Details: stitchesandcraft.com.au or 1800770222.

School celebrates big win

Emma Brok and her 28 public-speaking students at Westmead Public School are celebrating their recent success in the McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge. Ms Brok, who entered her entire class in the competition, has inspired students in several grades to take on the state in the under12s public speaking category. A representative of McDonald's visited Westmead on Friday to congratulate the school on gaining a second and third place as well as five highly-commended awards.

A night in the cold

Teachers and staff from Catholic schools in the Parramatta Diocese braved the cold last Thursday night raise to money for the St Vincent dePaul Society's Escape from Poverty Campaign. The participants slept out at Eastern Creek International Raceway with hot soup provided by senior students and entertainment from the Matthew Talbot band. Schools involved in the event had spent months raising money to sponsor their teachers. There were no tents or mattresses but cardboard boxes were donated by Visy to shelter staff from the elements.

Affordable child care

Parramatta City Council has urged the Federal Government to review the impact of the national competition policy on councils and their ability to deliver affordable child care. Lord Mayor Paul Barber said complying with the policy was having a severe impact on the council's ability to run centres at neutral cost. ``For the past two years Parramatta council child-care centres have not been breaking even,'' he said. ``This needs to be rectified to adhere to the competition policy and to maintain good fiscal responsibility.''