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ISSUE 5 | AUGUST 2021

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michael@accessnews.com.au

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info@greaterblacktownnews.com.au Editor Michael Walls michael@accessnews.com.au

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News Reporter Lawrence Machado lawrencemachado@yahoo.com Travel Editor Dallas Sherringham dallas@accessnews.com.au

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Local charities join forces

TWO local charities came together to support our frontline workers, delivering boxes of fresh fruit to Blacktown Hospital for Blacktown and Mount Druitt and also to the Covid testing site at Blacktown Showground.

President of the Blacktown City Lions Rebel Hanlon said: “It was a great feeling to again support the doctors and nurses at our local Hospitals and also support the Covid testing site at Blacktown Showground.

“We appreciate the hard work our frontline heroes put in day in and day out and working with Kids West Children’s Charity is something very special. A big shout out to Woolworths at Eastern Quarter who made a sizeable donation towards our cause.

Trevor Oldfi eld Executive Director of Kids West said: “In these challenging times our support both emotionally and with donations on the ground is so important, the community needs to step up, recognise and support the wonderful work being done by our frontline people and our frontline people need to be shown the gratitude they so richly deserve.”

Picking up the fruit from Woolworths at Eastern Quarter Shopping centre Eastern Creek Blacktown. Trevor Oldfield Kids West) and Rebel and Rachael Hanlon (Lions) delivering boxes of fruit to Blacktown Hospital.

Trevor Oldfield (Kids West) and Rebel Hanlon (Lions) with to senior health workers at the Blacktown testing site.

INDEX

News .................................3 Community .......................4 Local MPs .........................7 BREED ...........................11 Property ..........................14 Michelle Rowland ...........15 Games ............................16 Travel ..............................17 Trends .............................18 Business .........................20 Directory .........................21 Fitness ............................23 Film .................................24 Auto ................................25 Sport ...............................26

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Hospital staff go the extra mile

 DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

THIS is the heartwarming story of Richard and Lorraine Barr who spent the final hours of their remarkable 54 years together arm in arm at Blacktown Hospital.

And it is the story of the compassionate staff at the hospital who went the extra mile to ensure they had the chance to share those tender moments together.

You see, Richard and Lorraine shared a lifetime of memories together, raised two children, became grandparents and were married back in the 1960s which was a universe away from today’s troubled world.

So, it was only fi tting that they had the chance to be together for those fi nal moments when you cherish every golden minute.

Richard was a patient at Blacktown Hospital and was relocated from the cardiac ward to join his wife Lorraine in the cancer services and renal ward for her fi nal moments.

They held hands as Lorraine, comforted by her husband and family, passed away recently.

Lorraine’s daughter Karen Vella, a domestic violence specialist and social worker, shared her gratitude and appreciation for the care and kindness shown with fulfi lling her mother’s last requests.

“Both of my parents were in Blacktown Hospital at the same time. Mum was being treated for complications with her cancer while dad was recovering from a heart condition,” Karen said.

Lorraine was taken to the Blacktown Hospital Emergency Department when her health deteriorated rapidly and she was seen by palliative care registrar Dr Timothy Chow and staff specialist Dr Jacob Kwak. family is cared for as well as the patient,” Dr Chow said.

“This is the fi rst time I’ve arranged for two patients to be together in the same hospital at the same time,” Dr Chow said.

God put them in front of me

Shortly after Lorraine was admitted to hospital, Karen was told that her mother may not make it through the night.

“These doctors were so professional, gentle and did everything with dignity and understanding. I felt like God put them in front of me to help my mum,” Karen said.

Karen was unable to leave her mother’s side and asked both Dr Chow and Dr Kwak to visit her dad in the ward and inform him of this devastating news.

The medical and nursing staff arranged for Richard to be relocated to join Lorraine Blacktown Hospital’s C71 cancer services and renal ward which houses palliative and cancer patients – along with his belongings and medications to follow.

The beds were placed side-by-side and staff moved out all the furniture from the room so Lorraine and Richard could be together. “There are not enough words in my heart to thank the staff for the dignity and compassion they showed my parents,” Karen said.

“When you’re confronted with life and death and horrible situations these doctors and nurses do their job led by their hearts.

“All the staff gave my mother a peaceful, respectful dignifi ed passing that made her last moments the best they could possibly be.”

Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals general manager Ned Katrib praised the nursing and medical teams for going above and beyond their normal duties to facilitate this move.

“I applaud the staff for the way they dealt with this situation and put the needs of patients fi rst,” Ned said.

The helping hands at Blacktown Hospital.

On their children's wedding day. Richard and Lorraine on their wedding day.

Palliative care registrar Dr Timothy Chow was thankful for the family’s acknowledgment of the dignity and respect shown to Lorraine.

“Palliative care is to make sure the

Adapted from a story by Harrison Vesey, Western Sydney Health

6

NewS Grandfather celebrates Grandfather celebrates birthday with Lottery win birthday with Lottery win

AGRANDFATHER from Seven Hills won’t just be blowing out birthday candles at the end of the month, but also celebrating his $100,000 win after scoring the 1st Prize in Lucky Lot-teries Super Jackpot.

The western Sydney resident won the 1st Prize of $100,000 in Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot draw 10479, drawn in July.

Yesterday morning an offi cial from The Lott spoke to the New South Wales player who was left astonished after hearing the marvellous news.

“Thank you very much! I’m surprised,” he exclaimed. “I’ve been purchasing Lucky Lotteries tickets for a while, it’s great to see a win.

“I’m with my wife now, and I’ll have to pick up my youngest grandson from school later. He will be happy to hear about my win.

“It’s actually my birthday at the end of the month too, so this is a nice birthday surprise.”

When asked how he planned to enjoy his prize, the jubilant bloke said he would put it to-wards refurbishing the house.

“We’ve wanted to do a bit of work on the house for a long time now, so we will put it to-wards renovations.

“Unfortunately, because of lockdown, we can’t do anything at the moment to celebrate. Hopefully we can soon. This is great!”

The winning entry was purchased at newsXpress Seven Hills, Shop 38A, Seven Hills Plaza, 224 Prospect Highway, Seven Hills. newsXpress Seven Hills owner Mark Forsyth said he was delighted to hear a local customer won a major prize.

“It’s such great news!” he said. “We were able to assist the winner when he came in today. We’re all really happy for him!

“It’s such a challenging time for everyone in New South Wales, so a major lottery win would certainly brighten someone’s day.

“I hope the winner enjoys their prize and we wish them all the best!”

The Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot prize is now $1.96M for draw 1539, while the Lucky Lot-teries Super Jackpot prize is now $1.15M for draw 10480.

In 2020, 141 Lucky Lotteries 1st Prize and Jackpot winning entries across Australia won more than $48.61M.

During this time, the biggest Lucky Lotteries prize was won by an Ermington woman who a Mega Jackpot prize of $11.73M in January.

Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot and Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot are raffl e-style games, which means there is a set number of tickets in each draw. As each ticket number is unique there is no sharing of prizes.

Tickets can be purchased at any licenced lottery outlet, online from thelott. com or via The Lott mobile app.

In 2020, more than 111.6 million winners took home more than $3.33B in prize money from their favourite games at The Lott, including Saturday Lotto, Monday & Wednesday Lotto, Powerball, Oz Lotto, Set for Life, Lucky Lotteries, Keno, Super 66, Lotto Strike and Instant Scratch-Its.

Last fi nancial year, Australia’s Offi cial Lotteries contributed more than $1.4Bvia state lottery taxes and donations to help community initiatives, such as hospitals, health research, disaster relief and education.

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