Macarthur Advocate - December 2024 by Community Broadcast Network (CBN)

$10K FOR LIFELINE MACARTHUR

LOCAL AGENT’S MOVEMBER SUCCESS

SHOP THE ENTIRE ENERGY MARKET

FLOWER POWER

Spreading joy and happiness in Macarthur

THINK flowers, think Averil Walker. This Campbelltown resident has been spreading cheer and mirth by making beautiful flower arrangements from her own expansive garden and delivering it to community facilities as a thoughtful gesture over the last ten years.

SOUTHWESTERN real estate agent Chris York has exceeded his expectations by raising over $11,000 via a unique community-based concept to support the annual month-long men’s mental health campaign.

Mr York’s concept saw Macarthur residents offered the chance to place a billboard emblazoned with the message “This is a sign to check in with your mates” on their property.

Then each time a billboard went up York donated $100 to the Movember charity.

But in a welcome surprise the concept took off faster than expected.

Almost 100 Macarthur locals volunteered to prominently display York's custom-made billboards on their properties, putting the 35-year-old real estate agent well on his way to achieving his $10,000-for100 signs goal early in the month. He was also racing to keep up with demand for signs.

By month’s end Chris had shot well past his goal by raising $11,205. Not only that, but his idea also struck a chord with the community, prompting many

WLocal agent’s winning Movember campaign

people to come forward to share their stories and experiences about dealing with their mates going through hard times.

One resident for instance told Chris he was putting up a sign as he had just lost a mate to suicide.

“It’s been so gratifying to see so much enthusiasm around this idea,” says York, who launched his campaign Nov1 with a full-sized billboard outside his Stone Real Estate Macarthur office on Camden Valley Way.

“Growing up with such a large circle of friends from sport, I saw several close friends go through some tough times as well as a lot of other men I’ve met later in life.

“So I really wanted to do something attention-grabbing for Movember with the community because it’s very clear to me just how much power a conversation has to change a life – and I want the signboards to start as many conversations as we can.”

Those interested in erecting a billboard can visit York’s Movember page or call the Stone Real Estate Macarthur office on 02 4655 3000

Ambulance station welcomed

OLLONDILLY Mayor Matt Gould has welcomed the news that the Wollondilly Shire will soon have a new ambulance station, with the recent purchase of a site at Bargoby the NSW Government.

Minister for Health, Ryan Park MP announced that a site had been purchase at 150 Great Southern Road after an evaluation by Health Infrastructure and NSW Ambulance. The new Bargo Ambulance Station will be built as part of the Government’s

NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program. NSW Ambulance identiﬁed Bargo as a high priority location following a comprehensive service planning process, using best practice modelling software to map Triple Zero calls.

Mayor Gould said: “Council has been advocating for more ambulance stations and improved services within the Shire for some time, and I am very pleased to see that we are a step closer to having a new ambulance station at Bargo.”

Agent Chris York.

ISSUE 24 | December 2023

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Support Partner Local Business Awards in Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly.

ON Friday November 8, Lifeline

Macarthur and Western Sydney was presented with a $10,000 grant from Transurban to support their ﬁnancial counselling services in the local region.

CEO Veronica Macdonald for Camden Sally Quinnell proudly joined Mr Andrew Battishall - Project Director M7 - M12 Integration Project at Lifeline’s Smeaton Grange facility in presenting the generous grant to Lifeline Macarther and Western Sydney CEO Veronica Macdonald.

“At Transurban, we are proud to be able to support projects that bring social, road safety, and environmental beneﬁts to communities near our roads,” said Mr Battishall.

“Lifeline is an incredible organisation that provides vital support to people in distress and this grant will help them provide much-needed assistance to many more people in the Macarthur region.”

Demand for ﬁnancial counselling services has reached crisis point across the Macarthur and Western Sydney region as cost-of-living pressures rise, with up to one in four calls to their crisis services now relating to ﬁnancial stress.

“We are so grateful for the support from Transurban, this funding will have a huge impact on our local community,” said Mrs Veronica Macdonald, “We have never seen such a high demand for our services”.

Lifeline Macarthur receives $10,000 grant

For 24/7 crisis or suicide prevention support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Online crisis support chat is also available 7pm – midnight (AEST) 7 days a week: www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp.

About Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney

As an organisation seeking community mental health and wellbeing, Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney is available to listen, without judgment, to any person in Australia who is feeling overwhelmed, experiencing crisis or longs to be heard.

They are part of a national network providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Services we provide include: Crisis

Support (with call centres in Smeaton Grange and Parramatta), Suicide Prevention Support, ECLIPSE Support Groups, Suicide Support Aftercare, Suicide Bereavement Support, Community Outreach and Financial Counselling.

Lifeline operate six Lifeline Shops that offer lower-price alternatives, help the environment through re-use and recycling, and raise funds for suicide prevention and crisis support: at Camden, Campbelltown, Castle Hill, Liverpool, Narellan and Tahmoor.

Community building fund open

THE next round of the NSW Government Community Building Partnership program will open to applications in January next year, with $450,000 available to Camden.

The program invests in local infrastructure projects that deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes while promoting community participation, inclusion and cohesion.

Since 2009, the program has awarded more than $464M to more than 20,900 projects across the state.

Incorporated not-for-proﬁt community organisations and local councils will be eligible to apply for grants of between $10,000 and $100,000.

Grants can be for building, refurbishing or repairing community infrastructure, or for buying freestanding equipment or vehicles.

Program Guidelines will be available soon at www.nsw.gov.au/cbp. Applications will be accepted online from Tuesday 28 January 2025 and will close at 5pm AEDT, Friday 21 February 2025. Successful organisations will be announced later in 2025.

Sally Quinnell, Member for Camden said: “These grants are instrumental to our community, providing a long lasting and important impact through the projects it helps come to fruition.”

GOOD SAMARITAN BELIEVES IN FLOWER POWER Spreading happiness in Macarthur

 SASWATI MUKHERJEE

THINK ﬂowers, think Averil Walker.

This Campbelltown resident has been spreading cheer and mirth by making beautiful ﬂower arrangements from her own expansive garden and delivering it to community facilities as a thoughtful gesture over the last ten years.

A qualified florist and horticulturist Averil has an amazing garden. Each week, Averil’s husband drives her around the Macarthur community and they drop off flower arrangements, made from their own garden blooms, to the foyer areas of Campbelltown Art Gallery, private hospitals and medical facilities, among others.

So how did it all start?

It so happened that Averil noticed that no one passing by the house could admire her beautiful blooms primarily because they grew in her backyard.

So, she thought of something to showcase her wide variety of ﬂowers and what better way than to hand them out as a token of happiness.

“I make different ﬂower arrangements every week and take them to different places, this is just my way of spreading joy and display my beautiful ﬂowers at the same time,” says Averil.

This lovely gesture has managed to bring a smile on people’s faces and Averil has gained a lot of appreciation over the years for her wide collection of ﬂowers and lovely bouquets.

She is even told that people that visit the facilities always comment about her beautiful ﬂower arrangements.

Early years

Averil grew up on a sheep and cow farm in Southland, on the coast, at the bottom of New Zealand.

She did not get to ﬁnish high school as her dad took her on as a helper at the farm. Interestingly though, she inherited her mother’s and grandmother’s love for ﬂowers and was sent off to learn

Floristry at her uncle’s ﬂoral business when she turned eighteen.

Seeing her interest, she was offered a position of displaying ﬂowers in the foyers and reception areas at a few establishments.

She was supplied with a huge variety of Chrysanthemums to make the ﬂower arrangements and she ensured that she made the best bunches.

When she moved to Campbelltown with her own family, Averil’s passion for plants had only increased. Being in a rented property, she started growing all her plants in pots initially.

Averil’s husband had to hire a big

trailer to move all her potted plants when they moved into their own home.

“We all had a laugh when a passer-by asked us where we were setting up our plant nursery business,” recalls Averil.

And that marked the beginning of Averil’s love affair with her garden, which saw many renovations on the existing property to accommodate all her pots. An ardent learner, she wanted to increase her knowledge of plants and decided to do a course in Horticulture.

Now, 20 years down the line, Averil’s Garden has well established trees and shrubs. There is an Albizia tree, Vi-

burnum opulus (Snowball) tree, Iceland poppies, Weigela and the traditional Apple blossom tree, along with several ﬂowering seasonal plants.

She and her husband also grow vegetables in their garden – the likes of Bok Choy, cabbage, silverbeet, lettuce, snow peas, broccoli, radish, peas and tomatoes. Summers are all about showy sunﬂowers adding splashes of colour to their garden.

Iris, lilies and roses ensure that she has a steady supply of ﬂowers to make arrangements till Christmas. “Then my garden rests till the next spring, so do I,” signs off Averil.

Averil Walker and her flower designs.

Schools group targets school bullying

THE NSW Schools Advisory Council will convene in December to develop a statewide approach to bullying, supported by the NSW Government's advocacy for national action. Representing over 3,120 schools, the council aims to ensure safe school environments by addressing bullying's root causes and standardising responses. Initiatives include banning mobile phones, recruiting counsellors, revising curricula on respectful relationships, and launching anti-cyberbullying resources, underscoring the commitment to improved student wellbeing.

Cost of living making commuting difficult

AUSTRALIA’S cost of living, high fuel prices, and increasing public transport costs are making commuting financially unsustainable for many. The average annual commute costs $5,020 per person, with a national expense of $43.2B. Urban sprawl exacerbates commuting challenges, forcing workers into longer, costlier commutes. Hybrid and remote work arrangements offer a solution, saving costs and improving work-life balance. Experts emphasise the need for commuter-friendly cities and flexible work policies to alleviate financial strain.

Feedback sought on reducing plastic waste

THE NSW Government is seeking feedback on proposals to reduce plastic waste and litter by 30% by 2025. The NSW Plastics: The Way Forward plan suggests phasing out unnecessary plastic items, improving recyclability, and aligning with other states. In 2022-23, NSW recycled only 14% of its 891,000 tonnes of plastic waste. The consultation invites input from communities, industries, and stakeholders to shape policies for a cleaner, more sustainable environment. Feedback closes after eight weeks.

Pharmacists seen as critical in COVID

THE COVID-19 Inquiry Report highlights the critical role of community pharmacists during the pandemic, administering over 12 million vaccinations and rapidly adopting innovations like e-scripts. Pharmacy Guild President Professor Trent Twomey emphasized the need to leverage pharmacists' full scope of practice for improved healthcare access. The report recommends national harmonization of pharmacy practices and empowering pharmacists to address workforce shortages, reduce delays, and enhance patient care in future health emergencies.

Audio updates to speed advisor app

THE NSW Speed Adviser app now includes audio and visual alerts for over 1,300 level crossings, enhancing road safety, particularly in regional areas. Launched during Rural Road Safety Month, the app warns drivers with “Caution, rail crossing ahead” messages, encouraging vigilance. Between 2014-2024, 64 level crossing collisions caused 8 deaths. Complementing this, a $1.2M Rail Active Crossing Systems trial is underway. The app, downloaded 120,000 times, supports broader efforts to reduce road fatalities.

Sports concussion research at new levels

MONASH University-led research has shown that blood tests measuring brain-speciﬁc proteins can track neurobiological recovery after sport-related concussions, aiding safer return-to-play decisions. By analysing 137 athletes, researchers found biomarkers like GFAP and NfL remain elevated for weeks in severe cases, particularly those involving loss of consciousness. This study highlights the need for biomarker-based return-to-play guidelines alongside symptom assessment. While more work is needed for clinical adoption, the ﬁndings emphasize cautious recovery timelines, especially in community sports.

Helping a loved one’s alcohol/drug abuse

AN Alcohol and Drug Foundation survey revealed that 64% of Australians worried about a loved one’s alcohol or drug use feel unsure about how to provide support. Nearly 60% struggle to initiate conversations, and 45% don’t know where to seek help for their loved ones. Barriers include stigma, embarrassment, and lack of privacy. CEO Dr. Erin Lalor stressed the importance of early intervention, reducing stigma, and improving access to support tools like Path2Help and the National Alcohol and Drug Hotline. If a person is concerned about their own, or a family or friend’s alcohol or other drug use, they can call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 or Family Drug Support Australia on 1300 368 186. People can also visit www.adf.org.au for a range of help and support resources.

Workforce stress needs reducing, says AMA

THE Australian Medical Association (AMA) emphasises the need for an adequately resourced workforce to reduce suicide rates in Australia. AMA President Dr. Danielle McMullen highlights critical shortages in psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals, particularly in rural areas. The AMA urges government investment in the psychiatry workforce, multi-disciplinary teams, and mental health services. Improved data collection and coordination are also essential for effective suicide prevention and policy development.

Why infections may hit Dark Ages levels

WORLD Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week highlights the urgent threat of drug-resistant infections, which could return healthcare to the "dark ages." AMA President Dr. Danielle McMullen warns of life-threatening, untreatable infections and predicts AMR may cause 50 million deaths annually by 2050. She stresses careful antibiotic prescribing, research investment, and global coordination, urging Australia to lead efforts against AMR through its Australian Centre for Disease Control and a uniﬁed national strategy.

UNVEILING THE GOLDEN GOODNESS OF CARROTS Rich in nutrients for immune health

CARROTS, with their vibrant orange hue and satisfying crunch, have long been celebrated as a versatile and nutritious vegetable.

Packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, these root vegetables offer a myriad of health beneﬁts that extend beyond their delightful taste. Let's explore the golden goodness of carrots and how incorporating them into your diet can contribute to your overall well-being.

1. Rich in Nutrients

Carrots are a nutritional powerhouse, delivering a wealth of vitamins and minerals. They are particularly high in vitamin A, essential for maintaining healthy vision, skin, and immune function. Additionally, carrots contain signiﬁcant amounts of vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin B6, making them a well-rounded addition to your diet.

2. Vision Support

Carrots are renowned for their vision-boosting properties, attributed to their high beta-carotene content. Beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, plays a vital role in maintaining the health of the eyes. It helps prevent night blindness, promotes a healthy retina, and protects against age-related macular degeneration.

3. Antioxidant Powerhouse

Carrots boast an impressive array of antioxidants, including beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and lutein. These antioxidants combat oxidative stress in the body, neutralizing harmful free radicals. By doing so, carrots contribute to reducing inﬂammation and lowering the risk of chronic diseases, including certain types of cancer and cardiovascular conditions.

4. Heart Health

The potassium content in carrots supports heart health by helping regulate blood pressure. A diet rich in potassium can contribute to the relaxation of blood vessels, reducing the strain on the cardiovascular system and lowering the risk of hypertension.

5. Digestive Health

Carrots are an excellent source of dietary ﬁber, crucial for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Fiber aids in promoting regular bowel movements, preventing constipation, and supporting the growth of beneﬁcial gut bacteria. Including carrots in your diet can contribute to a healthy and well-functioning digestive tract.

6. Weight Management

For those aiming to maintain or achieve a healthy weight, carrots are

a smart and satisfying snack choice. With their natural sweetness and high ﬁber content, carrots provide a feeling of fullness, reducing the likelihood of unhealthy snacking and overeating.

7. Skin Glow

The antioxidants in carrots, particularly beta-carotene, contribute to skin health and radiance. Beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A in the body, promoting skin cell regeneration and protecting against sun damage. Regular consumption of carrots can contribute to a healthy complexion and may even help alleviate certain skin conditions.

8. Immune System Support

The combination of vitamins and antioxidants in carrots makes them a potent ally for immune system support. Vitamin C plays a crucial role in immune function by promoting the

production of white blood cells and enhancing the body's defense against infections.

Blood Sugar Regulation

Despite their natural sweetness, carrots have a low glycemic index. The ﬁber content helps slow down the absorption of sugars in the bloodstream, contributing to better blood sugar control. This makes carrots a diabetes-friendly vegetable that can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.

10. Versatile Culinary Ingredient

Beyond their nutritional benefits, carrots are incredibly versatile in the kitchen. They can be enjoyed raw as a crunchy snack, added to salads, soups, stews, or roasted to enhance their natural sweetness. The culinary flexibility of carrots makes it easy to incorporate them into a variety of dishes, ensuring you reap their health benefits in delicious ways.

The humble carrot stands tall as a nutritional powerhouse, offering a range of health beneﬁts that contribute to overall well-being. Whether you munch on them raw, incorporate them into your favorite recipes, or sip on a refreshing carrot juice, make room for these golden wonders in your diet and let their health-boosting properties shine through.

Staying safe in Extreme Heat

Western Sydney is typically 6-10 degrees hotter than the rest of the city during extreme heat events. Heatwaves are responsible for more deaths in NSW than any other severe weather event. Bring prepared prior to a heatwave is crucial to keeping yourselves and other safe.

How to Stay Cool in Hot Weather

Lie down in a cool or shady area

Remove extra layers of clothing and any tight clothes

Put your hands and feet in cold water, or have a cool shower

Cool by moistening skin and fanning

Have frequent, small sips of water

A Cool Centre is a place you can go to seek relief from extreme heat. These are especially for people who are unable to keep cool at home. For information about Cool Centres open in your area, please visit our Western Sydney Cool Centres webpage.

Those at Risk

While everyone is at risk of heat-related illness, those most at risk are:

Expectant mums and young children

Older people

People with chronic illnesses and mental health concerns

Outdoor workers

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

Mental Wellness During Extreme Heat

In addition to physical health risks, heatwaves can also exacerbate mental illness and increase the risk of domestic violence. Studies have shown that violence increases with warmer weather. This can be linked to disrupted sleep patterns, increased social isolation during extreme temperatures and increased discomfort and irritability due to temperatures1

For free mental health help and guidance, call 1800 595 212

Worried About the Heat?

Heat can be extremely dangerous. Exposure to high temperatures can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke which can be a life-threatening condition.

Contact your GP or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 if you experience:

• High body temperature (over 40’C)

• Nausea

• Confusion and fainting

In an emergency, please call Triple Zero (000).

1 University of Sydney (2024), Rise in suicidal behaviours among young people linked to hotter temperatures. Accessed by: https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/10/rise-in-suicidal-behaviours-amongyoung-people-linked-to-hotter-temperatures

Perth leading the way with accessible tourism

ACCESSIBLE tourism has boomed in the past few years, but there’s one city in Australia that is well ahead of the game. Western Australia’s Perth may be beloved for being home to a sparkling turquoise coastline and rugged red terrain – but its fast-evolving disability tourism scene is also something to write home about.

Stay

The Warders Hotel, Fremantle – base yourself in historical Fremantle in old limestone cottage rooms that were once the Fremantle Warders’ homes. The accessible room features a double bathroom with wheelchair-friendly facilities including handrails and an accessible toilet/shower. Before booking, make sure you give them a call to ensure your access needs can be catered for. If you’d rather stay in the city, Novotel Perth on Murray Street is home to a fully-accessible room, too.

Explore Rottnest Island – ready to don your bathers and spot a quokka? Head to Rottnest

Island for a trip you’ll remember forever. Choose to stay for a few nights or head on a day trip – there’s something special to spot for everyone on this island. Stay in a room that’s as accessible as it is elegant at Samphire Rottnest, and take the accessible Discover Bus Tour with Rottnest Express. Swan River Seaplanes –add a special touch to your Rottnest trip and travel by seaplane. This exciting locally-owned brand is full to the brim with ideas on how to

make their adventures more accessible to all. With big plans in the works and big hearts to match, this is an adventure you don’t want to miss.

Off the Beaten Track –back on the mainland, explore Perth’s great outdoors with avid hiker and passionate people person Tracy Lindsey. She’s dedicated to helping folk with different abilities to explore the world around them and connect to nature. Give her a buzz and she’ll work her magic to create an outdoor adventure

that works for you and your abilities.

Learn WA Museum Boola Bardip

– you won’t ﬁnd a museum that cares more about catering to different abilities than this one. Based in Perth CBD, the staff are intricately trained in accessibility, and even wellversed in invisible disabilities (what a breath of fresh air). Featuring exhibits that thoughtfully cater to different abilities, there’s also a lot to

be said about the functional accessibility, too. Hire a wheelchair for free, get audio assistance and grab a visual or sensory map before you arrive.

Experience

Vertigo Experience – go above and beyond with this sky-high experience above Optus Stadium. If you dare, strap into the iron-grade harnesses and try a few tricks on the custom-built platform 42 metres above the ﬁeld. The team here are passionate about providing an otherworldly adventure, but they’re even more dedicated to making sure it works for everyone who wants to have a go. Contact the team directly to chat about your needs and work out a plan to ﬂy high together.

His Majesty’s Theatre –step back in time and get a dose of culture at the iconic His Majesty’s Theatre. At 120 years old, the theatre is ﬁlled with history, haunts and famous faces plastered on the walls. Arrange a tactile sensory tour where you can wander the theatre and get close and personal with the glitz and glamour.

End the working year somewhere different

 BY IMOGEN KARS

IF you are looking for somewhere for a Christmas drink or catch-up spot around Sydney after work, weekday lunch or on the weekend, here are four brand new or renovated venues worth checking out.

Vinabar

The perfect spot for a quick drink or on a CBD Christmas bar-hop. This is Sydney’s only Vietnamese-inspired micro-bar and offers a super creative cocktail list, inspired by the vibrant nightlife and warm hospitality of Southeast Asia. Walk along Kent Street to ﬁnd number 332, it’s a bit hidden but push the door open to ﬁnd miniature Vietnam inside. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday until 2am and highlights of their new menu include the M?’s Remedy, which combines homemade pho syrup—crafted from the traditional spices of pho with bourbon and citrus, along with Mala-Garita Special, a spicy margarita twist available Tuesday to Thursday from 5-7pm.The staff are super friendly and keen to show you their creative cocktails.

Mainly just a drinks bar they do serve the traditional Baby Banh Mi bun. This yummy pork bun is served with fresh chilli and coriander and comes with a shot of coffee. Ask the staff for a card showing you the other micro-bars within walking distance and go exploring! www.vinabar.com.au book a table online. 332 Kent St City.

Lil Darlin

If you’re familiar with Lil Darlin in Surry Hills, you won’t be disappointed with this second location. Drop in for delicious lunch of sizzling chilli prawns, duck pancakes or Morroccan chicken salad. Everything is mouthwatering and comes out sizzling hot. Drop in for a cocktail or get a group together for an end of year Lil Darlin’s cocktail making class! For

great cocktails try ‘Better The Devil You Know’ (coconut chilli margarita), ‘Gin There Done That’ or the delicious Fairy Floss Martini’. Happy Hour is from 4pm to 6pm daily plus Friday and Saturday from 10pm, Find Lil Darlin at 23 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest. Lildarlin.com.au

Buckle Cafe and Distillery

A brand new family-friendly distillery at the top of the shopping centre. Come for lunch or dinner and bring the whole family. Open for coffees, brunch or cocktails this is a great spot to sit in the sunshine outdoors or enjoy the gorgeous new distillery

Lots of parking available in the shopping centre, visit 1 Frederick Street, Artarmon book online at bucklecd.au or call 1800 729000 bucklecd.au. Open 8am till 9pm and on weekends closing time is 11pm.

Bottega Coco

If you’re missing the vibrant cosmopolitan vibe of a European restaurant don’t miss a visit to Barangaroo’s Bottega Coco. Right in the heart of this busy precinct, this venue has outdoor tables for tractional European people-watching and a gorgeous high ceiling interior.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the food choices are heavenly. For dinner the Risotto Marinara, spaghetti con Gambari and Antatra Conﬁt are excellent choices and the Tiramisu is absolutely delicious.

As a commitment to sustainability Bottega uses sustainable ingredients and has an in-house vertical farm that is fun to view. A great place for a drink, they also have classes for pasta making and cocktail making. Drop in for a dose of Europe soon.

Rottnest Island, home of the iconic quokka.

Calm country getaway during Christmas madness

IF you are in need of an escape from the routine of work and the stress of Christmas. Consider a quick and easy getaway to the Park Proxi Gibraltar in Bowral. This expansive hotel has 77 rooms and suites and includes an 18hole golf course and an indoor pool and gym.

Newly opened, this hotel is just a couple of minutes’ drive outside the town centre of Bowral. Set in a lush country environment, the hotel interiors are thoughtfully decorated in calming forest colours and decor. Sit outside on your own balcony and enjoy the silence and peace and fresh country air. If you have small children with you, the hotel has thought of everything with a tent to play in, colouring pencils and an activity pad and hobby horse to play with.

Harvey’s Bar

The hotel bar is generous in size and low-key in style. Scattered around the bar are multiple armchairs to curl up in. A great spot to relax with a book and a whiskey and looking out onto a lush golf course beyond. Happy hour is 5-6pm daily with $14 cocktails and $6 tap beer. Even if you’re not a hotel guest, drop in!

Lotus restaurant

Lotus restaurant is a beautifully well-lit inside the hotel is and is a delicious Asian infusion culinary affair. The menu is extensive, you can leave it up to white staff to serve recommendations or partake in two banquet meals, $79 and $109. You won’t be disappointed. If you have children with you the Dim Sums, duck pancakes and noodles are a good choice. Restaurant decor style is in keeping with the country theme, with the massive windows letting in lots of light and bright greenery of the woods as far as the eye can see. The room is ﬁlled with ﬂowers arranged thoughtfully in vases and little country style nick nacks and the view is absolutely stunning with light coming in the generous sized windows looking out onto a golf course beyond. For breakfast, hot breakfast

is served here as well and it is worth arriving early to get a window seat in the sunshine to enjoy a hot coffee.

Hotel Activities

Within the hotel itself there is a gym with free weights equipment and rowing machine. The indoor pool is warm with a colder plunge pool next to it. Go and see the pro shop for a round of golf or deals on a membership.

Local Dining and Drinks

In the local area it’s just a 5 minute drive into the town of Bowral for some yummy organic food, smoothies or hot drinks at Raw and Wild Market and Cafe (www.rawwild.com.au) at 250 Bong Bong St Bowral). Onesta Cucina has great Italian food at 5 Boolwey St Bowral (www.onestacucina.com.au).

Local Shopping Wander around the town of Bowral for homewares, clothes shops, knickknack stores, bars and restaurants. City Cave Bowral is an excellent addition to your hotel visit with ﬂoat therapy and red light sauna and massage. 16/ 63-69 Kirkham Road Bowral. 0404 555 223 (www.citycave.com.au/bowral)

Gardens

Bowral is a town where residents take pride in their gardens so a great morning can be spent, coffee in hand, enjoying the roses in Bowra’ residents’ gardens and in the public parks.

Art

The local area is well known for its art culture. Drop into Bowral Gal-

lery at 1 Short Street 10 am to 4 pm daily (free entry) or keep your eye on art trails and exhibitions throughout the year. The exhibition of Miniatures and Small Artworks will be showing between Thursday the 12th to Sunday, 27 December. Regular art classes or workshops are available from time to time. Check out www.bdasgallery.com/term-classes. Archibald Ngununggula, Retford Park, 1 Art Gallery Lane, Bowral is touring from 30 Nov 2024 to the 26 Jan 2025.

Leave your Park Proxi stay well feeling well rested and nourished and feel immersed in nature from a getaway that can be a little as a whole day to a whole weekend. 7 Boronia Street Bowral phone +61 2 486 28600 or visit www. parkproxibowral.com

Park Proxi.

TURBOCHARGED PETROL OFFERING JOINS

1.6 in REVISED Hyundai Santa Fe LINE UP

 MATT BROGAN

HYUNDAI is set to introduce a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol powertrain under the bonnet of its Santa Fe range within weeks.

Priced from $53,000 plus on-road costs, the 2.5T badged model is available across the grade walk (Santa Fe, Elite, and Calligraphy), and with the choice of two- and all-wheel drive (full pricing details available below).

The G4KP-series powerplant delivers 206kW at 5800rpm and 422Nm from 1700-4000rpm – a 6kW and 91Nm uptick on the previous generation’s 3.5-litre V6 petrol.

The 2.5T offering is paired exclusively with an eight-speed (wet) dual-clutch transmission (whereas the Hybrid features a six-speed epicyclic automatic).

Hyundai has tuned the Santa Fe 2.5T range to operate safely on 91 RON regular unleaded petrol, reducing operating costs for Australian buyers.

The model features a 72-litre fuel tank and consumes claimed 9.3 litres per 100km on the Combined cycle. CO2 emissions are listed at 212 grams per kilometre.

While unchanged dimensionally from the Hybrid range, the 2.5T offering is considerably lighter, tipping the scale from 1835kg – or 90kg less than the petrol-electric entrant.

Importantly, braked towing capacity rises 400kg to 2000kg. The 2.5T variant also offers larg-

er diameter front brake rotors, up 20mm to 345mm.

The turning circle of the Santa Fe 2.5T is unchanged at 11.6m, assisted once more by an electrically assisted arrangement.

The Large segment SUV rides on a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension and 20-inch alloy wheels (with full-size spare) across the range.

All equipment offerings are

unchanged, including Hyundai’s generous list of standard safety technologies.

The Santa Fe offers four ISOFIX and ﬁve top-tether child seat anchor points across the second and third rows.

Optionally, the Santa Fe range remains available with a six-seat conﬁguration on Calligraphy variants ($500), premium paint ($695), matte premium paint ($1000), and three optional interior colours –

Supersonic Grey, Forest Green, or Pecan Brown ($295).

The Hyundai Santa Fe currently ranks in seventh place within the SUV Large under $80K segment with year-todate sales of 4957 units (or 4.4 segment share points).

It is topped by body-onframe rivals including the Ford Everest (24,018 units and 21.2 per cent), Isuzu MU-X (16,790

units and 14.8 per cent), Toyota LandCruiser Prado (7115 units and 6.3 per cent), and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (6792 units and 6.0 per cent), and monocoque offerings including the Subaru Outback (9591 units and 8.5 per cent) and related Kia Sorento (9093 units and 8.0 per cent).

The Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5T will be in dealerships within the coming weeks.

TechnologY

SIGNIFICANT COST OF LIVING BENEFITS

Shop the entire energy market

Saive™ is an Australian owned and developed AI platform that enables consumers to shop the entire energy market that services their property. It’s now available and will enable genuine bill relief for electricity and gas users.

Homes and small businesses have already been using the saive™ platform and have realised average savings of 29% for electricity ($657) and19% for gas ($422).

The process is simple. Customers upload their bill onto the saive™ platform, where it takes the sophisticated AI technology less than 20 seconds to shop the entire market. Put simply, it will shop every retailer’s public offer available to a dwelling or small business and rank the best offers to their current deal. It forces the energy retailers to play in a near perfect market, so the most efficient and fair deals are easily found.

Not only does saive™ provide alternative electricity and gas deals with real cash savings, but as a feature of the platform, customers also can choose to automatically monitor changes in the market to ensure that as consumption and pricing ﬂuctuate, customers will never pay too much.

saive™ is currently offering the ﬁrst year of membership for free. After the initial year, annual membership fee will be just $29.95 for retail customers.

This transparent pricing provides access to the platform for managing electricity and gas services across multiple properties, including your primary residence and other investment properties.

For most Australians, this means that maintaining membership will cost less than half a percent of their energy bill, while potentially saving around 24%.

Director of Consumer Experience, Hannah Wilson said that saive™ will revolutionise the way Australians engage with their energy providers.

"The current relationship is broken. Unless consumers are experts in the ﬁeld, they often have no idea what presents as value. The whole process until this point has relied on the premise that the consumer either ﬁnd it too difficult or can't be bothered shopping the market and potentially changing providers. The process is opaque, and the consumer does not know where the commission or rebate streams eventually land,” said Ms Wilson.

“saive™ is providing a trusted service for Australians who ﬁnd it nearly impossible to manage their energy needs, let alone ﬁnd the cheapest option. saive™ enables a member to manage up to four properties on their account.”

Before now, if consumers wanted to ﬁ nd a cheaper deal, the only real

option has been to use a comparison site.

In fact, most people don’t realise the three largest commercial comparison sites are owned by the same group. Consumers have little understanding that they are paid by the energy retailers to market a small and select range of offers to consumers.

This ‘free' market comparison service is costing Aussies far more than they would imagine.

"Then there is the energy loyalty tax issue where the longer the consumer stays with their provider the more they will be paying. The best energy deals are offered to consumers where willing to shop the market," Ms Wilson said.

“saive™is different. It uses AI technology that drives value directly

back to the customer meaning they can avoid the hidden costs of comparison sites altogether.”

Uniquely, saive™ offers its customers a lowest price guarantee. Typical saving examples realised to date include:

• A homeowner in Melbourne's inner east saved $3,600 on electricity and $2,400 on gas. They have a busy house with many children and their partners living with them.

• A homeowner in Sydney northern beaches with solar and battery infrastructure, realised a 23% or $3,800 saving on their electricity plan alone.

• A pensioner in Melbourne’s inner north saving a total of $1,200.

Visit: www.saive.com.au