Macarthur Advocate - January 2023

PLATYPUS POWER

Education campaign to protect the platypus wins award

THE Platypus Pals project, a citizen science initiative to confirm the presence of platypus in the Georges River, has been recognised at the Local

Government NSW Excellence in the Environment Awards, winning the Communication Education and Empowerment Award. The Council-run project drew on the

support of passionate locals and fishers to collect water samples that were analysed using a new scientific method called environmental DNA (eDNA) which

confirmed a small population of platypus living in the Georges and Nepean Rivers and a population of endangered Macquarie perch with the Georges River. More: Page 3.

Local Mayors take their case to Canberra

Helping people living with cancer since 2005

PLATYPUS PALS PROJECT A WINNER Environmental award for initiative

THE Platypus Pals project, a citizen science initiative to confirm the presence of platypus in the Georges River, has been recognised at the Local Government NSW Excellence in the Environment Awards, winning the Communication Education and Empowerment Award.

The Campbelltown Council-run project drew on the support of passionate locals and fishers to collect water samples that were analysed using a new scientific method called environmental DNA (eDNA) which confirmed a small population of platypus living in the Georges and Nepean Rivers and a population of endangered Macquarie perch with the Georges River.

Council then began an education campaign to protect the platypus, installing signage and tangler bins to encourage behaviours such as responsible fishing and engaging with local schools to teach students about river health.

“When Council and the community collaborate, it can lead to some fantastic outcomes,” Mayor George Greiss said.

“This project saw community volunteers join forces with staff, researches and experts to help survey the river and educate the wider community,” Cr Greiss said.

“Platypus are an iconic Australian species so it’s very important that we

continue to ensure they are able to thrive in the Georges and Nepean Rivers,” he said.

The project was funded by the Australian Government’s Communities Environment Program, OzFish Unlimited, and the NSW Government’s Sustainable Schools Program through James Meehan High School and Macquarie Fields High School, with support from the Georges River Environmental Education Centre.

The collaborative program also included Western Sydney University, Campbelltown City Bushcare, Macarthur Branch National Parks Association, Sydney University, Georges Riverkeeper and Camden and Wollondilly Councils.

Support for taxi license holders

THE NSW Government has presented a final assistance package to NSW taxi license holders, offering the most generous assistance payments in Australia worth $905M. The extra cash injection will see the passenger service levy (PSL) increase by 20 cents to $1.20 (ex GST) and be extended to 2030. The package is more than double the

compensation offered by the Victorian Government and more than nine times the package offered by the Queensland Government, says the Government. This now takes the total assistance package, designed to help fully deregulate the industry, from $645M to $905M. The new package provides $150,000 for every Sydney metropolitan taxi license holder with

a cap of six plates. Each regional taxi plate will be paid between $40,000 and $195,000, with no cap on the number of plates. Should the final package not be accepted, legislation will not be introduced. A Government appointed review will then be launched to assess a compensation package, based on the existing passenger service levy.

First release SOLD OUT

Town Centre Living

Live at the Park

Oran Park has a new land release positioned less than 500m from the Town Centre!

O ran Park is constantly evolving, so now is the time to take advantage of everything this great community has to offer. Here’s what you can look forward to while living at the Park:

• A variety of schools and future tertiary institutions

• Multiple pre-school and day-care centres

• Pedestrian-friendly streets, creating easy access to amenities

• 160km of paths and cycleways for you to explore parklands, playgrounds and sporting fields

• An award-winning skate park and splash park which includes flying foxes, table tennis tables, basketball courts, a ninja warrior course and a parkour course

• Oran Park Library

• Meeting friends and family at Oran Park’s major shopping centre, The Podium

• New dining experiences at the Oran Park Hotel, Atura Hotel and food precincts within The Podium

• State-of-the-art Leisure Centre which houses a 50m indoor Olympic pool, gym, four basketball courts, sauna and more

• Jobs close to home within the Town Centre and nearby Western Sydney International Airport

• World class fiber optic networks with high-speed internet

• An integrated health hub for your wellbeing needs

• Good public transport with a current rotation of buses and a future train station

• A fresh new start in a masterplanned community

Don’t miss out on the opportunity of securing a lot close to the Town Centre.

Contact the Oran Park sales team on 9043 7500.

Scan to learn more or to register your interest.

Library wins award for diversity

CAMPBELLTOWN City Library has received a Highly Commended award from the NSW Public Libraries Association as part of the Outreach and Services Award category for populations over 100,000.

Commended at the annual conference in November, the team were celebrated for their work in the LGBTQIA+ space with the Library’s Sense of Pride project, which focused on making library spaces inclusive and welcoming for LGBTQIA+ members and other intersectional communities.

Initiatives highlighted in the award, included:

• Rainbow Storytime.

• LGBTea Party for Youth.

• Drag Bingo.

• Themed film screenings.

D&D group for women, female-identifying, non-binary, trans and gender fluid.

• Rainbow Forum for LGBTQIA+ individuals to share their life experiences.

“Our libraries are places of comfort for many in our community. These programs have been a great step to increasing the inclusiveness and accessibility of our services,” Mayor George Greiss said.

“Our Community Strategic Plan and

Library Strategic Plan outlined the importance of making our libraries a place for everyone in our community, and this award is a recognition of the hard work our library team has put into making this a reality,” Cr Greiss said.

Upcoming LGBTQIA+ events hosted by Campbelltown City Library can be accessed through the What’s On page.

Banks are out, online is in

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

ONCE the bastions of Australian society, traditional banks are now ‘on the nose’ with customers according to new research.

The days when everyone knew their local bank manager and it was one of the most prized jobs from Bondi to Blacktown are now over.

And our abandonment of loyalty means we are switching to online choices much quicker than anticipated.

Just released research shows that three in four Aussie customers are losing trust in banks and would switch to less costly online financial services

The new research suggests that consumers have a limit to the level of interest rates, fees and charges

they can take before they lose trust in their banking providers.

Nearly three quarters of Australians say they have lost at least some trust in banks based on high interest rates and fees and 74% would consider switching their accounts, loans or transactions to more affordable online services.

Money Transfer Comparison, a comparison website that enables Australian individuals and businesses to source the best money transfer rates, commissioned a survey of an independent panel of 1009 Australians to gauge whether high loan interest rates and fees have caused Australians to lose trust in the banks.

The survey found that 42% of respondents have lost trust in some bank services and 28 % have lost trust in traditional banks as the best platform for all their financial undertakings.

A higher proportion at 75% of respondents are willing to switch their financial undertakings to these non-traditional services, when they believe their banks are charging too much.

Banks also charge wire fees of up to $40 for international money transfers and often higher exchange rates than specialist online money transfer platforms. Missed payments on bank loans and credit cards, and overdrawn accounts, incur fees of up to $15.

Specialist, alternative online financial services –such as money transfer platforms – can often be much more cost-effective options.

When comparing the results across the States, Money Transfer Comparison found that a relatively higher proportion of NSW residents – who are likely paying off the largest mortgages in Australia - have lost trust in the big banks due to their high fees.

MAJOR RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR NMWS 250 jobs up for grabs

FIREFIGHTING and conservation capacity is being boosted by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), as it launches one of the biggest recruitment drives in its history.

Minister for Environment James Griffin said 250 ongoing roles are being filled in locations around NSW, with most jobs based in regional areas.

“As part of the record more than $2B investment in environment and heritage in the NSW Budget this year, the Liberal and Nationals Government committed to delivering a major boost to fire management in national parks,” Mr Griffin said.

“These roles are now up for grabs, with the additional funding ensuring we maintain record levels of national park firefighters to protect communities and

our environment.

“This is your chance to secure a dream job with one of the world’s leading conservation agencies. Your office could be Kosciuszko National Park, the Blue Mountains, one of our coastal parks or a stunning outback landscape.

“It’s an important job, with NPWS conducting about 75 per cent of all hazard reduction burning across the

State, in conjunction with the Rural Fire Service, and deploying teams of specially trained remote area firefighters.”

At least 200 of these roles will be trained as firefighters, delivering on the Government’s response to the NSW Bushfire Inquiry.

Another 50 roles will have a special focus on protecting the most important conservation assets across the national park estate, such as the last stand of Wollemi Pines and habitat for other threatened species.

NPWS is recruiting junior and entry level roles as well as senior and super-

visory positions, offering flexibility as well as great remuneration, benefits and development opportunities.

Since 2019, the Liberals and Nationals Government has secured more than 600,000 hectares of land for addition to the national park estate, implemented record levels of feral animal control, delivered the largest visitor infrastructure package in national park history and made an historic commitment to zero extinctions in our national parks.

To find out more or apply, visit the I Work for NSW website.

YOU CAN HAVE A NEW SMILE IN A DAY

Digital technology helps all

DR Garth Jones has been placing dental implants in Parramatta for over 15 years. With new digital scanning technologies at his clinic, Affordable Implants and Dentures, you can get your new smile within a day.

This article will outline how dental implant treatment using digital scanning technology can help people who experience tooth loss or have previously suffered from tooth loss.

It also shows who can benefit from this type of treatment, and how it can help to improve your ability to eat, and give you back that confident smile.

It’s important to highlight that each person needs to be assessed by a dental professional to determine whether this is the most appropriate treatment in their individual circumstances.

Smile in a day with dental implants

With the arrival of dental implants, a variety of options have opened for people suffering with tooth loss and decay. A dental implant is the closest thing dental professionals can offer as replacement for healthy teeth.

For people who are suffering from significant dental disease, there are a variety of implant solutions available. You may have heard of the phases ‘All-On-4’ or ‘All-on-X’ tooth solutions, but what do they really mean?

In short, an ‘All-on-4’ or ‘All-on-X’ treatment means that a patient who either has missing or failing teeth has four or more implants in either the upper or lower jaw. These implants can then be used to support a row of teeth which are permanently fixed into position.

Whilst this process can occur in one day, there is often weeks of planning involved to ensure implants are placed in the best bony positions, and the row of teeth achieves the smile that the person is looking for.

So, what is the process for a new smile?

Step 1 - Appointment 1

– Information gathering approximately 30 to 40 minutes

The dental professional will look at the patient’s medical history, digital tooth and gum scans, facial photographs, 2D x-rays, and most importantly a 3D x-ray called a Cone Beam CT scan.

The dental practitioner will talk to the patient to understand what they want to achieve, and their unique suitability for dental implants- including the best course of treatment for individual circumstances and costs associated.

If the person is deemed a suitable candidate for digital dental implant treatment, they will be provided with a treatment plan and quote, which is a good time for the patient to ask any further questions.

An appointment can then be booked for treatment, which can also be offered using intravenous sedation or general anaesthetic if the patient feels more comfortable having treatment with enhanced comfort.

Antibiotics, antiseptic mouth rinses, and good oral hygiene prior to dental implant surgery are necessary and will be prescribed once an appointment for the surgery is made. The surgery can last up to three hours if both upper

and lower jaws are involved. Relevant information pamphlets and consents are also discussed.

Step 2 – Planning (Between Appointment 1 and 2

The planning stage is essential in preparing for the implant surgery appointment. Planning includes developing a digital plan for the implant surgery, working closely with the digital scans and x-rays to map the best implant size and positions to place the implants.

3D printing a surgical guide for the dental surgeon to use on the day of surgery is done to ensure the implants are placed in the correct positions. It is necessary to work closely with the dental laboratory to prepare the row of teeth that will be secured to the dental implants.

Colour, shape, and size of teeth are all discussed and selected appropriately according to a patient’s preferences. The clinic preparations and communications and planning with the are often completed in 7-10 days prior to the surgery.

Step 3 - Appointment 2 – Dental implants and Nice New Teeth

The big day has now arrived. The dental surgeon will start by talking to the patient about the procedure, after care, pain management and answer any further questions Depending on the type of anaesthetic administered, there may also be a doctor to talk to about the anaesthetic process and any concerns the patient may have.

Numbing of the jaw and mouth occur after the anaesthetic is administered, so

there is no anxiety involved with this process. Being comfortable and pain free is of the highest priority. The dental surgeon then removes the failing teeth and dental implants are placed, with x-rays taken to confirm that the final positions of the implants are satisfactory.

The Nice New Teeth are now connected to the patient’s dental implants. A 3–4-month healing period and a soft food diet is required to help preserve the newly placed dental implants.

After the healing period has passed a second and permanent set of Nice New Teeth can be organised and placed using several digital solutions and technologies.

Step 4 - Appointment 3 – The post procedure review appointment - 2 weeks after surgery

At this appointment, the dental surgeon checks to see how healing is progressing and whether there are any concerns. This appointment is generally short and gives the patient an opportunity for any questions to be answered.

Step 5 - Appointment 4 - Digital scanning and photos (approximately 3-4 months after surgery

There is no longer a need for a mouth full of goo to take a dental impression. Digital technologies are making the recording process more comfortable and more accurate than ever before.

Now scanning technologies allow for quicker and less messy recording of vital information. At this appointment the dental surgeon will take digital scans and

photos in preparation for the final new teeth.

Step 6 - Appointment 5 – Fit-in check of final teeth - approximately 4-5 months after surgery

At this appointment, the dental surgeon will place a digitally printed copy of the final teeth. They remove the temporary teeth and attach the final permanent teeth.

Now is the time to get those features right for the long term. Following feedback (often with the welcome help of a family member or friend) the temporary row of teeth are sent to the dental laboratory for any further changes and final production. Sometimes if the changes are quite significant the dental surgeon will produce one more set of temporaries for the patient to try and check they are happy.

Step 7- Appointment 6: The FINALE!

At this appointment, the dental practitioner will insert the final ‘New Nice Smile’. This might be made of porcelain or even a super hard acrylic material. The temporary teeth will be removed one last time and the final permanent teeth are placed into position.

The dental practitioner will make some adjustments to make sure the bite is working well with the new teeth. They will then explain how to keep the new teeth clean and talk through how frequently their new teeth should be maintained, which is often every 4-6 months.

Call for a free implant or denture consultation on (02) 7252 9622 or visit Affordable Implants and Dentures located at 23-27 Macquarie St, Parramatta 2150.

Dr Garth Jones is Clinical Director Affordable Implants & Dentures. www.affordablesmile.com. au.

If you suffer from tooth loss or dental disease, contact the team at Affordable Implants and Dentures in Parramatta- Hitoshi Sataka (left) Leif Svensson and Dr Garth Jones- to see how they can help you regain ‘that confident smile.

Digital scanning technology makes the dental impression process much more comfortable and accurate than a mouthful of messy gel and moulds.

WE ARE DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING

Mayors take their case to Canberra

THE outer suburbs are growing more than twice as fast as the rest of the nation and doing the heavy lifting for our housing supply but struggle to get vital infrastructure that other areas take for granted.

This was the message that Mayors and Councillors from Australia’s fastest growing council areas told Members of Parliament in Canberra recently.

“Australia’s population growth stopped during the pandemic – but not in growth areas. In the past decade, the population of growth areas increased by 34% while Australia’s total population grew by just 14.9%. Yet there is no specific funding to get basic infrastructure into these new communities,” said Councillor Matthew Deeth, Chair of the National Growth Areas Alliance and Wollondilly Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Deeth said: “The municipalities that our Alliance represents are home to 5.3 million people. One fifth of Australia’s population lives in just 29 municipalities. We’re building most of Australia’s new houses in the places with the least supporting infrastructure.”

“We came to Canberra to make sure the new government understands the situation experienced by millions of people

living in Australia’s outer suburbs.

“Homes and neighbourhoods are built in designated growth zones as part of local and state government plans. But the building often stops there. Freeway and highway upgrades, bus routes, railway lines, walking and cycle paths should all be built as part of the plan. But they are not, and the result is nightmare commutes and long drives to get to study, health services and sports facilities far from home.”

“Growth is a national issue that the Albanese Government must urgently address, and the missing step is national coordination – with all levels of government working together to address the uneven distribution of people, jobs, houses and infrastructure,” said Council-

lor Deeth.

“The NGAA is calling for a comprehensive national approach with all levels of government working together to address the unequal distribution of people, jobs, houses and infrastructure.

“With another million houses to be built in the five years from 2024, Australia has an opportunity to learn from past mistakes, to build world-leading suburbs and provide the foundation for more than a million children in our areas to reach their full potential.”

Key facts about growth areas

• One in every five Australians lives in a growth area – 5.3 million people. Yet there is no specific funding for getting basic infrastructure into

these new communities. Growth areas are growing at nearly three times the national average (2.9% compared to 1.2%) despite commentary that Australia’s population growth stopped during the pandemic.

• The population of growth areas increased by 34% in the past decade while Australia’s total population grew by just 14.9% (2011 – 2021)

Size of the sustained housing boom

• More than a thousand new homes approved in growth areas every week for the past six years – that’s one thousand families moving in every week without sufficient schools, access roads, health services planned, let alone delivered.

• More than 60,000 new dwelling approvals every year for the past decade. How will these areas cope when the Government’s million new houses land?

Vulnerable communities

• Australia’s most mortgaged electorates are in growth areas. Households in the outer suburbs suffer the most mortgage stress with young families and new homeowners vulnerable to rate rises. 43% of growth area households have a mortgage (33.2% in the rest of Australia).

Housing growth in Western Sydney.

Mathew Deeth.

NEW RECORD FOR MADE IN THE WEST

Our own film festival shines

„ ALEX HON AND MISTY MCPHAIL

MADE in the West Film Festival celebrated their 11th annual red carpet gala event on Saturday, November 26 at Event Cinemas in Liverpool.

A record-breaking 320-strong audience attended on the night to support local filmmakers and celebrate the Western Sydney film community.

Hosted by Still Searchin’ Productions, Made in the West showcases short film content independently produced in Western Sydney, including all genres such as comedy, drama, sci-fi, horror, animation, web series and music videos.

All films feature cast members, crew members or film locations from Western Sydney.

“The atmosphere at the festival this year was absolutely electric with so many people in the house and all the action on the red carpet,” says artistic director Ross Page.

“The films this year were outstanding and we’re so pleased to see so many new filmmakers and upcoming artists included in the festival line-up.”

This year’s official selection featured 19 short films that were judged by a panel of 10 industry professionals, including renowned Bankstown-born actor Bryan Brown, ABC presenter Sunil Badami and local film director Michael Budd.

Kamil Domaradzki took home the ‘Best in the West’ trophy for the film Leopard, Katrina Lay won ‘Best Student Film’ for Baby Dole, and Ashley Dawes was awarded ‘Best Music Video’ for Only One. There were also 9 individual category awards for outstanding achievement awarded throughout the night.

At the end of the show, the audience cast their votes for the highly coveted Audience Choice Award, won by WSU student filmmaker Pamela Manos for Hello My Name Is Mother Nature.

The festival attracts hundreds of filmmakers and fans from around the greater Sydney region to celebrate and network with other creatives while watching the cutting edge screen content made by emerging artists from the western suburbs.

The prize pool for this year’s festival was valued at over $10,000 thanks to the generosity of local businesses and festival sponsors Still Searchin’ Productions and The Pagey Train podcast, Western Sydney University, Luke Walker Productions, Sydney Prop Studios, Creative Plus Business, Irierootsini Photography, Million Masters, AFTRS, Arts and Cultural Exchange (ACE), the Australian Writers’ Guild and Australian Production Design Guild.

Made in the West Film Festival will be screening online throughout December and January via a new on-demand content platform that welcomes a worldwide audience for Western Sydney films.

“We’re excited to be sharing the festival experience on demand this year with our new online platform – online

screenings are a great way for local festivals like ours to reach a wider audience,” says general manager Misty McPhail.

“Hybrid digital and live streamed events have become more popular since 2020 and it's important to continue making this local content accessible to audiences across our region in particular, as well as across Australia.”

The online festival includes all 19 finalist short films in a 3-hour movie marathon with red carpet highlights and filmmaker interviews during intermissions – perfect for anyone who wants to experience the excitement of Made in the West Film Festival from home. More information can be found at www. madeinthewest.com.au

2022 MADE IN THE WEST AWARD WINNERS

MAJOR AWARDS

• Best Music Video: Only One: Ashli by Ashley Dawes

• Runner-up: I Don’t Get You: Particles by Luke Walker

• Best Student Film: Baby Dole by Katrina Lay

• Runner-up: Arco’s World by Kasey Medeiros

• Best in the West: Leopard by Kamil Domaradzki

• Runner-up: Yannis by James Elazzi

• Audience Choice Award Hello My Name is Mother Nature by Pamela Manos

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

• Best Director: Kamil Domaradzki and Ali Zoghi for Leopard

• Best Screenplay: Kamil Domaradzki for Leopard

• Best Editor: Sharon Mani for Seen

• Best Sound Design: Jarad Avnell for Bogan Moths

• Best Production Design: Katrina Lay for Baby Dole

• Best Original Score: Emma Greenhill and Ali Zoghi for Leopard

• Best Lead Actor: Will Bartolo for Yannis

• Best Supporting Actor: Tyson Ibrahim for Leopard

Photo credits: Lexy Potts, Nataly Thomson, Liam Dealtry, Aaron Tully

Scenes from the 2023 gala event.

Alcohol and Other Drug Concerns Support for people with

Alcohol and other drugs often start as an escapism for many people, yet addiction can create more problems than the ones they are covering up. The damage caused by addiction can affect the individual, their family, friends and the wider community.

The Western Sydney Primary Health Network supports service providers in Western Sydney to make sure that AOD services are accessible to as many people as possible, paying special attention to vulnerable and marginalised groups.

AOD Videos

9 Living with Alcohol Dependency is a series of videos featuring Western Sydney community members sharing their experiences about receiving AOD treatment, lifestyle changes and advice on staying alcohol-free. These videos are available on YouTube at bit.ly/AODvideos 9 Getting Help with Alcohol and Other Drug Dependence is an animated video designed to help community members find their way from AOD dependence towards a happy and healthy future. The video is available in English, Arabic, Dari, Farsi and Tamil at bit.ly/gettinghelpAOD

Youth Off The Streets

Young people with alcohol and drug concerns are often alienated from their community and family, and without support and guidance, it can be even harder for them to reach out and get help. Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) is a community organisation that supports young people dealing with alcohol and other drug dependencies, trauma or homelessness.

The YOTS team encourage young people to talk about what they are experiencing, set personal goals, and realise that they deserve a better, AOD-free future. After the initial assessment, the team work with each young person on the root causes of their AOD use, including any previous trauma. They then connect the young person with other providers to ensure they have ongoing support.

Young people are open to change and possibilities. The work we do with them is hard because they make positive gains and then often have to go home to challenges. It’s about helping them understand that their past doesn’t define where they’re going.

- AOD Counsellor for Youth Off The Streets.

We Help Ourselves - Eli’s Story

We Help Ourselves (WHOS) run therapeutic programs for those recovering from alcohol and other drug dependencies.

The Opioid Substitution To Abstinence Residential (OSTAR) program is a live-in program designed to help people reduce their drug use using a Therapeutic Community model. Clients receive drug reduction treatment and counselling and attend workshops to develop the skills needed to live a drug-free life.

Eli* is a 66-year-old man with a history of drug and alcohol misuse which was impacting his health and wellbeing. Eli was living with depression and was also struggling to master the three flights of stairs out of his apartment.

Eli participated in the Therapeutic Community program and received treatment to help with his alcohol, cannabis and heroin addictions. Since joining OSTAR, a multi-disciplinary team of staff have supported Eli, including social workers who advocated for him to apply for a housing transfer to a ground floor flat. The team have connected Eli to other support services and helped him rebuild a relationship with his mum and other family members to expand his social network. He has had access to other allied health professionals, and there has been a marked improvement in his physical and mental health. Eli’s positive attitude and commitment to the program have helped him to achieve a better quality of life for himself.

*Name has been changed to protect the identity of this client

Healthy Western Sydney is delivered by WentWest, the Western Sydney Primary Health Network.

ACROSS 1. Point on the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake

6.

The man who invented the cube that became a world hit, Hungarian designer, Erno ...

New York World Series baseball team

China's ... Zedong

West African republic with Conakry as its capital and chief Atlantic port

Sweet sparkling wine from the Piedmont area of northern Italy

Soviet statesman, ... Gorbachev

Wave-riding

Geothermal springs

BINARY

London

monument that stands close to the site of the Tyburn gallows, ... Arch

An ancient Greek one would have competed naked!

English racing town or sort of salts used as a purgative

Florida swamp region

World champion ice dancers, Jayne ... and Christopher Dean

Paris boulevard leading to the Arc de Triomphe, Champs ...

Cricket scores

Dutch word for 'farmers' used to

Each square in the puzzle may contain either 0 or 1

1. No more than two adjacent squares may contain the same digit, ie you cannot have three adjacent squares in a row or column of the same digit.

CROSSWORD #0303

ACROSS

1. Pirates Of The Caribbean actor, ... Depp (6) 3. Ashton Kutcher replaced Charlie Sheen in the hit comedy, Two ... Men (3,1,4) 8. Brothers & Sisters actress, ... Flockhart (7) 10. Gordon Ramsay cooking competition show, Hell's ... (7) 12. Lana Del Rey's album, ... To Die (4) 13. Soccer star, ... Beckham (5) 14. Pop power ballad by Beyoncé from her I Am... Sasha Fierce album (4) 17. Dallas Buyers Club actor, Jared ... (4) 18. J Edgar and Fair Game actress, Naomi ... (5) 20. Shia LaBeouf action thriller, ... Eye (5) 22. The Chronicles Of Narnia siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund and ... (4) 25. Sitcom starring Jason Lee as a man who believes in karma, My ... Is Earl (4) 26. Remake of a Wes Craven horror, A

Nightmare ... Street (2,3) 29. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' daughter (4) 32. The Matrix actor, Hugo ... (7) 33. Pop star sisters, Kylie & Dannii ... (7) 34. Savages actor, John ... (8) 35. The Black Eyed Peas singer and solo artist (6)

DOWN

1. Grace Of Monaco and The King's Speech actor, Derek ... (6) 2. Russell Crowe's character in A Beautiful Mind, John ... (4) 4. Thirteen actress who plays Rosalie in the Twilight films, ... Reed (5) 5. Movie and computer game, Grand Theft ... (4) 6. Fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Pink with lead single So What (8) 7. Actress who provides the voice for

Gloria in the Madagascar films, ... Pinkett Smith (4) 9. CSI: Miami actress, Eva ... (2,3) 11. Angelina Jolie plays Mariane Pearl in the biopic, A Mighty ... (5) 15. Adam Sandler voices Dracula in ... Transylvania (5)

16. Whitney Houston song, ... Always Love You (1,4)

19. Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel bringing-up-baby comedy, Life As ... (2,4,2)

28. Fred Durst's band, ... Bizkit (4) 30. Lindsay Lohan's nickname (4) 31. Fairy tale drama series, ... Upon A Time (4) Solutions page 23

21. Clash Of The Titans actress, ... Arterton (5) 23. TV presenter and model, Alexa ... (5) 24. Brazilian supermodel, ... Bündchen (6) 27. Colin Farrell vampire horror comedy, Fright ... (5)

TraveL

DAY TRIPPER’S HIDDEN HAWKESBURY GEM

From New York to Brooklyn

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

BROOKLYN on the Hawkesbury River is a hidden gem with a fascinating history most travelers bypass as they head north on the M1.

This little port and growing residential area has a lot to offer the day tripper looking for new experiences. It’s major attraction is the famous Riverboat Postman cruise that draws busloads daily.

Heritage buildings, an interesting shopping centre and good picnic spots are all framed by the literally thousands of pleasure boats now moored at Brooklyn.

It is less than an hour from Parramatta, or you can take the train.

The town provides a range of amenities and activities, while maintaining a quiet village atmosphere. Brooklyn provides convenient access for Western Sydney residents and day trippers to the Hawkesbury River and Pittwater waterways for boating, swimming and fishing and to Ku-ring-gai Chase and Muogamarra National Parks for bushwalking and scenic views

And it has close links with another Brooklyn in faraway New York.

In January 1886, the Union Bridge Company from New York was awarded the contract to build a railway bridge across the Hawkesbury River.

The American roots of the bridge are reflected in the name given to the con-

struction camp, which was named after the 1883 Brooklyn suspension bridge.

The Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge was the final link in the Eastern seaboard rail network and was a major engineering feat at the time of its construction. "Hawkesbury River" was the original platform name when the station opened in 1887 but names varied over the following 20 years with the names "Flat Rock", "Brooklyn" and "Hawkesbury" all being used until the final change in 1906 to Hawkesbury River.

Ferry queues

Peat's Ferry Post Office opened in 1874 and was renamed Brooklyn in 1888.

Brooklyn is positioned at the northern end of the Cowan Bank, a scenic stretch of steep railway track on a 1 in 40 grade. The line drops 200m from the ridgetop near Cowan to almost water level, passing through four tunnels in the process.

Prior to electrification and diesel locomotives, Brooklyn was a staging post for trains heading south to Sydney with "push up" or bank engines being attached to the rear of steam trains here for extra assistance on the 8km climb to Cowan.

Early road traffic was conveyed across the river by George Peat's ferry and prior to the first road bridge being completed there were two vehicular ferries in operation, the "Frances Peat" and the "George Peat".

The new concrete road laid down between Hornsby and Gosford had been completed by 1930 and the increased traffic was beyond the capacity of the ferries. Long queues formed on holiday weekends as vehicles awaited their turn.

Work began on the first road bridge in 1938 and it opened in 1945. The width

and depth of the river between Kangaroo Point and Mooney Mooney presented problems. The total distance to be covered was nearly 800m metres, but an embankment of fill was built out from the northern side, and the actual bridge spans only covered 580 m.

This was supplemented by a second road bridge, a six-lane concrete construction that was completed in 1973 as part of the Sydney to Newcastle freeway.

Riyal visit

In 1901 the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George V and Queen Mary, while in Australia for the inaugural opening of federal parliament, anchored their yacht the "Ophir" in Cowan Creek and boarded the paddle wheel steamboat the "General Gordon" for a tour of the lower Hawkesbury.

A small obelisk unveiled in 1939, adjacent to the railway station and the avenue of tall palms in McKell Park, commemorates the discovery and naming of the Hawkesbury River by Governor Phillip in 1789.

Attractions of Brooklyn.

FitnesS

GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS 50 tips to save calories

„ ADAM SIMPSON

WHEN it comes to weight loss, total calories consumed is what truly matters. If you are consuming less calories than you are burning you will lose body fat. Below are 50 ways that you can reduce the total calories that you consume.

These are just practical suggestions on where I see people over consume without realising. Have a read through and see which of these examples you could implement into your daily routine.

1. When you fill up for petrol stop buying yourself a chocolate or lollies to go with it.

2. Switch from regular Coke to Coke zero.

3. Choose Mustard over Mayonnaise.

4. Go for an open cut sandwich and take off the top slice of bread.

5. Swap your sour cream for Greek yoghurt.

6. Choose the extra lean cut mince.

7. Use olive oil spray over free pouring your oil.

8. Choose grilled fish over fried.

9. If you get takeaway order the water to have water with your meal.

10. Drink white wine over red.

11. Choose red pasta sauces over white.

12. Cut off the fatty bits over your read meat.

13. Have a Paddle Pop instead of a

Magnum.

14. If you want something sweet go for a Zooper Dooper..

15. Greek Yoghurt and Berries over ice cream for dessert

16. Choose Fresh Fruit over Dried.

17. Cottage Cheese over Brie Cheese. 18. Eat off a smaller plate to control your portion sizes. 19. Stop drinking so many calories. 20. Don't eat dessert every day of the week.

21. Choose the smaller size Chocolate bars or thin Dark Chocolate blocks over the large Milk Chocolate blocks. 22. Eat foods high in protein to keep you full.

23. Read the label and choose a lower calorie bread. 24. Reduce the sugar you add to your tea and coffee. 25. Eat your veggies firs.t 26. Eat your food more slowly. 27. When you order at the pub, choose the mash and veg over the chips. 28. Stop ordering large meals at McDonald’s and just get the regular. 29. Stop eating "kids treats" and have a protein shake as a snack instead. 30. Choose the mini dessert options. 31. Read the food labels and make the lower calorie choice. 32. Choose the thin crust pizza. 33. Drink the lower calorie beers. 34. Drink Seltzers instead of cocktails. 35. Stop eating when you are no longer

hungry and not when you are absolutely full.

36. Be aware that low fat or no fat options are not always lowest in calories. 37. Don't keep sugary drinks at home 38. Be mindful of the total calories in your "healthy juices". 39. Make veggie smoothies over juices. 40. Don't over load your salad with dressings.

41. Choose lower calorie nuts like almonds over macadamias'.

42. Don't eat the whole avocado, a portion size would be the size of your thumb. 43. A portion size of carbohydrates is roughly what would fit in your cupped hand.

44. Stop eating the big bag of chips, if you must eat them choose the individual size bags and stop at one. 45. Eat more seafood and reduce your red meat consumption. 46. Eat less of the skin on your BBQ chicken.

47. Choose the lower calorie wraps over Lebanese bread.

48. Choose a light butter they are often half the calories.

49. Choose the baked potato over wedges.

50. Have your protein shake with water and not milk.

Lunch Ideas!!

Often, I get asked for ideas on what people can eat while they are out during the day or just want a good lunch option. I have put together some lower calorie, high protein nutritious lunch options that you can go with when you are out and about or on the run. Remember to adjust portion sizes depending on your overall activity level and goals.

Out and About Options:

1. Subway Sandwich with Turkey and Salads

6 Inch - 263 Calories and 17.2 grams of protein.

Foot Long - 526 Calories and 34.4 grams of protein.

2. Subway Sandwich with Roast Beef and Salads

6 Inch - 267 Calories and 16.6 grams of protein.

Foot Long - 534 Calories and 33.4 grams of protein.

Adam Simpson is lead trainer and founder at Repetitions Group fitness and Personal Training. Visit: www.repetitionspt.com.au

Thin crust pizza.

Blacktown Council lets the dogs (and cats) out of Huntingwood

THE Huntingwood East site of Western Sydney Cats and Dogs has entered the market, as plans for Australia’s first custom-built animal rehoming centre go ahead.

The 46,164sqm prominent corner development site at 415 Flushcombe Road boasts 327 metres of street frontage to Great Western Highway, in addition to frontages to both Flushcombe Road and Oatley Close.

Zoned IN1 General Industrial within a key Western Sydney industrial precinct, the site includes DA approval for two lots at a time where demand is sky-high for industrial and logistics space.

Ray Trimboli and Michael Wall from Savills have been appointed by Blacktown City Council to sell the former animal holding facility via an expressions of interest campaign.

“The site represents a rare opportunity for developers and owner-occupiers to acquire an industrial zoned greenfield site within the M7 Motorway. Huntingwood is one of the most centrally located industrial precincts in the Sydney market with immediate access to its major road networks,” said Trimboli, director of industrial and logistics at Savills.

“We’ve seen occupiers increasingly look to optimise their fulfilment models, either because they are increasing their stock holdings to mitigate supply chain risk or to develop shorter delivery time frames to maximise their operational efficiency.”

The site offers connections to Western Sydney’s arterial road network and interstate B- double transport routes and exposure to approximately 34,000 vehicles each day on the Great Western Highway.

“This has intensified the demand for areas with linkages to Sydney’s orbital network, in turn keeping vacancy at record low,” added Trimboli.

Wall noted that the vacancy rate for investment grade stock above 3,000sqm is currently sitting below 1% in Western Sydney.

“This shift in demand is up against constrained supply, despite an uptick in the development pipeline, resulting in a 28-30% rental growth rate on assets in the last 12 months. In fact, the combination of intense competition for few availabilities and no significant supply

relief has seen growth rates jump well above their long run average of about 3.3%,” added Wall.

“This substantial rental growth, alongside a shortage of existing options and record preleasing commitment on new builds, has also resulted in a notable increase in interest from major groups to own their facilities.”

The property has become available after the Blacktown City Council

announced plans to move the existing animals held at the facility to a new and improved $30 million state-of- the-art Animal Rehoming Centre at 20 Owen Street in Glendenning.

The new facility will include a cattery, dog kennels, adoption condos and kennels, surgical spaces and more.

The expressions of interest campaign for 415 Flushcombe Road is scheduled to close 16 November 2022.

Aerotropolis land ready for take off

AROUND 200 acres of prime land is up for sale with price expectations of $70M, in the largest property to ever come to market in the rapidly developing Western Sydney Aerotropolis precinct.

Offering investors an unprecedented opportunity between Luddenham Village and the western pocket of the airport, 2215 The Northern Road has recently been largely rezoned to Agribusiness.

The strategically positioned Luddenham site, around 42km west of the Sydney CBD, offers flexibility for multiple uses through its zoning, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, logistics and freight, commercial, retail and warehouse.

Thomas Mosca and Nick Estephen from Colliers have been exclusively appointed to list the property via an international expressions of interest campaign.

“I don’t think a property with as much potential has ever been

offered to the market. This is 200 acres of land adjoining Sydney’s only 24-hour international airport. It’s a blank canvas,” Mosca said.

“The Western Sydney Airport is charging towards its deadline of 2026 with construction of the first runway and terminal almost complete.”

Earlier this year, the Aerotropolis Planning Package was finalised adding amendments to boost investments in the future Western Sydney International Airport’s employment precincts, which will see more than 100,000 jobs and 11,400 jobs generated at the circa 65,000-hectares of land.

“Opportunities like this are seldom seen and with the region’s growth already evident, there’s no better time to invest into Western Sydney,” concluded Estephen.

The expressions of interest campaign for 2215 The Northern Road closed on November 24, 2022.

The Huntingwood site.

Ambitiously priced LDV Mifa MPV has

160kW 2.0-litre petrol, lots of standard kit

„ MATT BROGAN AND HAITHAM RAZAGUI

LDV’s futuristically styled, three-variant Mifa people mover range is now available in Australia from $53,990 plus on-road costs and topping out at $72,990 + ORC for seven-seat versions, while eight-seaters will arrive early next year.

The Mifa’s entry and flagship prices are both higher than those of major competitors including the Kia Carnival ($47,480-$67,580 + ORC), Hyundai Staria ($48,500-$66,500 + ORC) and Volkswagen Caddy Maxi (from $48,140-$54,640 + ORC) – all before on-road costs.

LDV’s ambitious pricing for the Mifa pitches it against TDI340 versions of the VW Caravelle and Multivan ($66,490$75,490 + ORC) as well as the Toyota Granvia ($65,250-$75,950 + ORC).

According to LDV, the Mifa has been designed from the ground up with space, comfort and convenience in mind, while also bringing a comprehensive range of safety features to the segment.

The Mifa range begins with the entry-spec Mode from $53,990 + ORC, followed by the mid-tier Executive from $63,990 + ORC and top-shelf Luxe from $72,990 + ORC.

Alongside the driver, passenger, side and full-length curtain airbags, every Mifa variant is equipped with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, anti-lock brakes, stability control and emergency brake assist, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and lane keep assist, fatigue reminder and attention assist, LED adaptive headlights with auto high beam assist, auto hold, rear collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and a speed assist system.

Executive and Luxe grades get front and rear parking sensors plus a 360-degree camera and adaptive headlights with auto high beam system whereas the entry level Mode has rear sensors, a reversing camera and fixed-beam dusk-sensing LEDs.

The mid-and top-spec variants also get leather-trimmed steering wheels, au-

to-dimming rearview mirrors, 220-volt power outlet, rear privacy glass and dual pane sunroof that are absent from the base grade.

Over the Mode, Executive and Luxe grades have electric sliding side doors and a powered tailgate, heated auto-folding door mirrors, one-touch front window switches, rain-sensing wipers and cabin air purification. All have multizone climate control.

Exclusive to the Luxe are 64-colour ambient lighting, genuine leather uphol-

stery, eight-way driver’s seat adjustment with memory and front-seat heating, cooling and massage functions, while the Mode has manual adjustment and the Executive has eight-way electric adjustment for the driver and four-way electric adjustment for the front passenger. Executive and Luxe also have four-way lumbar support adjustment for both front seats.

In the second row, manually adjustable seats are in the Mode, the Executive has four-way adjustment with four-way lumbar support control and the Luxe has captain’s chairs with heating, cooling, massage and recline functions as well as extendable footrests. All variants have a manually reclining and sliding third-row bench as well as ISOFIX and top tether anchors for three child seats.

Every variant has a 7.0-inch digital instrument panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment array wutg wired Apple CarPlay connectivity. A six-speaker sound system is fitted to the Mode, the Executive gets eight speakers and the Luxe twelve. Only the latter two get wireless mobile charging

Wheel choices extend to 18- or 19-

inch alloys in varying designs according to grade.

The Mifa is offered in a range of five colours: Metal Black, Pearl White, Dynasty Red, Mica Blue and Concrete Grey, the latter with an accented black roof.

LDV backs the Mifa with a seven-year/200,000km warranty and five-year/130,000km roadside assistance program with service intervals are set at 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first).

All Mifa variants are powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 160kW and 360Nm, equipped as standard with an Aisin-sourced eight-speed automatic driving the front wheels. The WLTP Combined cycle fuel consumption figure for the range is quoted at 9.3 litres per 100km.

“The all-new LDV MIFA is a glimpse into the future,” said LDV general manager Dinesh Cinnappa.

“Who said the practical people mover couldn’t look cool? With its revolutionary design, next-level passenger comfort and convenience, and impressive levels of standard safety equipment, the all-new MIFA has advanced the people mover game significantly.

“The all-new MIFA is set to shake-up its segment thanks to its sleek exterior styling, the latest safety and technology features, and room for up to seven passengers to travel in comfort and style no matter how far the journey.”

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - 3 Stars

Messy, overstuffed and without the same cohesive vision as the original, this sequel coasts by on memories of the first film, and touching tributes to Chadwick Boseman.

„ JACOB RICHARDSON

THE death of King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) throws the geopolitical sphere into disarray. While Shuri (Leticia Wright) retreats into herself and her technology, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) fronts the UN accusing the nations of the world of increasingly brazen attempts at securing Vibranium from Wakanda.

Little does she know that there’s another party concerned about these attempts; the centuries hidden aquatic race of Atlanteans, led by the superpowered Namor (Tenoch Huerta). Shuri’s initial attempts at diplomacy are scuppered after a violent incursion and tragedy. Now, Shuri must find a way to resurrect the Black Panther and protect her people - and she might just lose herself in the process.

Directed once again by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was always going to have to overcome the tragic passing of the man who made Black Panther what it is today, Chadwick Boseman. The film bookends itself with touching tributes to the late actor, and indeed winds T’Challa and Boseman’s presence throughout.

There’s also some great acting on display here. Huerta is spectacular as Namor, and indeed the entire mesoamerican sub-aquatic species is rendered in beautiful interpretation, stunningly realized without a shred of fear to shooting endless underwater scenes. It’s a bold vision for the comic book character, but

one that comes off extremely well.

Then there’s the action. Despite a briefly brilliant fight scene on a bridge with series standout Okoye (Danai Gurira), and occasional flashes of iconic work with Namor, the rest of the CGI-heavy battle sequences feel flat, dull and frankly more than a little disappointing.

The final battle suffers from Waterworld-esque ocean action issues, and relies way too heavily on CGI suits, flying around and poorly choreographed set pieces.

Script-wise too there is a distinctly underwhelming feeling. For a 2-hour 41 minute film, it’s shocking how much here is just completely irrelevant. The original Black Panther had broadly sweeping emotional beats that felt taut, and paid off. Here, those beats are more ethereal, less formed.

It would be trite to blame all of the issues of this movie on the passing of the original lead. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever does great work in building up Namor and his people. But

The Menu - 5 Stars

it loses so much of what gave the first film an identity. And while you could easily make the case that Wakanda Forever is much better than a lot of the superhero fare we’ve had in the last few years, it also doesn’t even come close to holding a candle to the original.

Reviews by Jacob Richardson Creative Director | Film Focus www.filmfocusau.com

Delectable satire melds the salivating cinematography of Chef’s Table with the thrill of

Midsommar and the satirical comedy stylings of Bodies, Bodies, Bodies.

„ JACOB RICHARDSON

TYLER (Nicholas Hoult) is a food snob, who takes Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) to a super exclusive restaurant on an island. The degustation experience doesn’t appeal to Margot, but it does to the chef-obsessed Tyler, along with the array of wealthy diners along with them - food critic Lillian (Janet McTeer), a fading movie star (John Leguizamo), wealthy older couple Richard (Reed Birney) and Anne (Judith Light) and finance bro trio Bryce (Rob Yang), Soren (Arturo Castro) and Dave (Mark St. Cyr).

They are excited to be entertained culinarily by famed Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes), but the Chef has something else in mind for the group. That is, at least, until he discovers that Margot was never meant to be there - a spanner in his otherwise flawless plans for the murderous evening.

Directed by Mark Mylod (of Succession fame), The Menu is a beautifully poised, perfectly positioned piece of satire for the Chef’s Table generation. It’s an

eviscerating, eat-the-rich take on haute cuisine, that also frequently lambasts social media, cuisine and tech bro culture.

Frequently laugh out loud funny, but also shocking, surprising, beautifully performed, action-filled and thrilling, this plays as the perfect combination of a disparate array of ingredients that have so often been put together with less efficacy and taste in recent years.

The movie frequently has you howling with laughter - not just from the impossibly good dialogue, but even from the spot on menu descriptions on screen, or the sheer ludicrousness of it all.

On a performance level, we’re looking at a Michelin star treat here. Anya-Taylor Joy is fantastic as the main protagonist, and her dining and acting partner Nicholas Hoult is pitch perfect as the whiny,

chef-obsessed social media hound.

Ralph Fiennes, however, steals the show with a truly wonderful performance. His slightest nuanced gesture or facial tick conveys so much, and he seems to be having an absolute blast with this slightly absurdist role.

The film chugs along nicely at a wellpaced 1 hour and 47 minutes. There isn’t an ounce of this movie that you would drop without losing something fun, witty, shocking or essential. There are a few plot threads that perhaps are dropped, or at least don’t make complete sense.

But this is absurdist satire, couched in a gorgeous meal and stunning food cinematography - the odd narrative misstep must be forgiven.

At the end of the day, The Menu is a fully satisfying dish from a satirical messaging perspective, from a comedy perspective, and most importantly from an entertainment perspective.

Reviews by Jacob Richardson Creative Director | Film Focus www.filmfocusau.com

Mental Health

ACTION THE ONLY WAY THROUGH FEAR

Unnatural has become normal

„ MINDSET | MARCUS WHEAN

FEAR is a primary emotion. It is psychological and physiological. We know all too well when in a state of fear.

Almost everything we do is in some way based in and/or around fear. This is very much normal and is the case because our brains are wired that way –to inhibit us out of safety, to look out for danger, to protect us from threats.

Fear is a necessary emotion for survival. When we were living in amongst the wilderness and wildness of nature it makes sense to have a brain that is wired more for fear and to be on the lookout always for danger.

Our ancient ancestors worked with their fears, had to conquer them and ‘do’ anyway regardless of fears. Why, because if they didn’t, they wouldn’t eat or find shelter.

Fast forward to modern times, our technological advances over the millennia and last hundred or so years have been exponential.

We have more comforts of living but in the name of seeking more comfortable

lives we have not actually gotten any fearless. Our brains have not evolved at the pace of technology.

Nowadays, it could be argued, that because our lives are more safe, we are actually more afraid. Our fears are not now of wild beasts or other tribes attacking.

Now, our fears are “does he/she really like me”?; “what do people think of me”?; “what if I don’t, or do…”?; “that person didn’t like my post, they don’t like me”?; “what if…what if….what if….”?

What is happening now is our brains are ‘fear-sensitive’, there’s more anxiety and stress prevalent. Our technologies and busy lives have created a pervasive stress and anxiety not too shy of being a pandemic. What is unnatural has become normal.

We experience anxiety, fear etc and all the above in our minds as thought and in our bodies as heart racing, sweating, nausea, insomnia, headaches, memory loss, trembling just to name a few.

So often our psychology around fear are thoughts of uncertainties and all the ‘what ifs’. These are often irrational thoughts based in some rationale i.e. even every lie has truth in it.

In my experience rethinking and rationalising the perceived threats can help but fundamentally the truth is often we can’t solve a problem with the same thing that created it.

People often know their fears and anxieties are irrational. So, changing them is often hard at best and people get even more frustrated or even depressed knowing they are certain the fears with thoughts and can’t change them with rethinking alone.

Dissolve fear with action

The way through fears, how to resolve and ideally dissolve them is via action. Action always neutralises fears because it is the direct confrontation with and observation of and experience that provides ultimately contradictory evidence in real-time terms; moreover, the physiological reaction is neutralised through experience not thought.

The active part we play when confronting fears is based in psychological theory called operant conditioning. That means our direct involvement behaviourally with a stimulus and

essentially ‘what we do’ that reinforces a new response.

So too, if we keep avoiding threats and fears we stay anxious and afraid. If we confront and ‘do’ differently re our approach to fears and threats we condition a new response, we could call this courage, bravery, confidence or otherwise it’s a good feeling when we confront the world, our fears etc in real time the direct experience itself because ‘realised’ when it’s thinking alone it’s merely theoretical.

In short, always take action to dissolve your fears, always! Rethinking can help but only so much.

We must find courage to act and face our fears and experience directly, that we need not be afraid because being afraid helps us with surviving but inhibits us thriving and truly living freely and happily the way we all want and deserve to.

Marcus Whelan is a Registered Psychologist and Mental Fitness Coachwith 10+ years’ experience in private practice. He holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in psychology and education. Visit: www.marcuswhelanpsychology. com.au

Privacy and legal obligations are very important in terms of protecting a business owner’s interests

KATHERINE HAWES

FOR one, it ensures that you place a disclaimer on the limit and coverage of your liability in case something goes wrong.

Second, it allows you to fully dictate what you are as a company and what you do. Finally, it is the first legal defense that you have in terms of lawsuits.

With the recent GDPR developments, a lot of business owners are now asking this one question: What should my website’s terms and conditions say so I can stay protected for a long time?

The answer is not in just one thing. Your terms and conditions should reflect much more than just what is dictated. It should be flexible and ever changing. It should always adapt to the governing law and whatever law has jurisdiction over the business.

For full protection, it must include and say the following items:

ƒ Who is covered by the Terms and Conditions of Use? Your websites

Terms should provide who is covered by it. In Australian law, this would include the users, customers, and the subscribers of the website.

a. It should cover your customers because it offers protection of the business in case of liability and in

case problems should arise.

b. It should also cover your visitors, users, and subscribers to protect you from any person who would try to copy the content of your website. Plagiarism is a very serious matter.

ƒ Your terms and conditions should show a governing law. A governing law is the general law that would cover the business and in case there is a problem with the product or service you offer. Generally, the governing law is the place of registration of the business. It is advisable to only apply other laws, including international law, when the business has already grown to scale.

ƒ You should also provide whatever is required by law. For Australian businesses, the Australian Consumer Law should provides that the following items must be in the terms and conditions:

a. A statement that you comply and follow the Australian Consumer Law;

b. A statement on how the company is going to detail with product defects and when it would need to do a refund, some repair, or when replacement becomes necessary;

c. A statement explaining information about your guarantee; and

d. The details of your warranty.

ƒ Other details that are necessary to be placed on your terms and conditions are the following:

ƒ For those who are selling a product, it is important to provide details of the products, the expected delivery times, the terms of payment, and the kinds of payment that the company would accept.

a. A cancellation policy should also be

provided.

b. If the company offers a subscription, the terms and conditions of such subscription should be included here.

ƒ The privacy of your clients is also important as well as other legalities should be in this document, they are the following:

a. Limitation of your liability as a company.

b. Notification that you are using data collection policies compliant with the requirements of your country and compliant with the requirements of international law when it comes to data privacy.

c. A warning on plagiarism and liability for copying.

d. All other Terms that are required of you.

Now that you know the items that should be include in your company’s Terms and Conditions, it is important to always be updated with all of the latest requirements of your government and governing law.

Your Terms and Conditions should be the most flexible part of your website just so you can protect yourself with any kind of liability.

Katherine Hawes is principal at www.digitalagelawyers.com

Workers Blacktown is bringing you a place to enjoy life while staying connected to your Blacktown community, your local sports, your family and friends.

Exclusively for over 55’s and located next to Workers Sports Club, Parkside Lifestyle Community is planned to commence early 2023.

To receive progress updates and an invitation to events, express your interest at parksidelifestyle.com.au

Image is for illustrative purposes only. J006714