Parramatta Times - April 2023

PARRAMATTA'A TURNS RED AFTER 12 YEARS.

ALLIED HEALTH SERVICE LAUNCHED

WE EXPLORE COOL TRAVEL OPTIONS

TANKS IN PARRA Australia's most decorated regiment

IF you should hear the mighty roar and rattle of a massive military vehicle in the heart of Parramatta, don’t be alarmed, it is just one of the beautifully restored tanks and other vehicles housed at the Lancer Museum and Barracks. Just a short walk from Parramatta Station at 2 Smith St is Lancer Barracks, headquarters to a fully operational Australian Army regiment known officially known as1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers Regiment. Today the Regiment operates as light cavalry scouts equipped with light skin scout vehicles and the Regiment's mission is to support the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland Regiment. At the base is historic Linden House, the best collection of Military hardware outside the Australian War Memorial, which is fitting because the 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers is Australia's oldest and most highly decorated Regiment. More: page 10.

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Council appoints new a CEO

CITY of Parramatta Council has announced the appointment of Gail Connolly PSM as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis said Ms Connolly was selected by Council following an extensive national search and brings with her more than 30 years’ experience in the public sector.

“I am delighted to welcome Ms Connolly to the City of Parramatta. Council looks forward to working closely with Ms Connolly as we continue to deliver valuable services and important projects for our community,” Cr Davis said.

“Ms Connolly’s extensive leadership experience in local and state government will be an asset to our Council. With her deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges ahead of us, we are confident Ms Connolly is the right person to lead the City of Parramatta through this unprecedented period of transformation and growth.”

Ms Connolly, who earlier this year was

awarded a highly coveted Public Service Medal as part of the Australia Day Honour Awards, was most recently General Manager of Georges River Council, where she successfully led the Council during its amalgamation.

She was previously General Manager at the City of Ryde and has held senior executive roles at several other large local government organisations including City of Gold Coast, City of Sydney, and Campbelltown Council.

Ms Connolly said she was honoured to accept the role and looked forward to serving the people of Parramatta and working in partnership with the community to achieve outstanding outcomes for the City.

“I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to lead the City of Parramatta through its next chapter. I look forward to working with the Lord Mayor, Councillors and staff in creating a dynamic organisation that continues to prosper and serve the diverse and vibrant community of Parramatta,” she said.

Feelings of young people surveyed

MISSION Australia is inviting all young people aged between 15 to 19 to participate in its 22nd annual Youth Survey.

This survey is the largest of its kind in Australia and aims to provide a valuable insight into the thoughts and feelings of young people.

In the last survey, nearly 4,600 young people in NSW participated, and they highlighted issues such as the environment, equity and discrimination, mental health, financial concerns, and housing instability as some of the critical issues that require attention.

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

oranpark.com.au

Mission Australia's NSW State Director, Nada Nasser, believes that the Youth Survey is an essential platform for young people to express their concerns, aspirations, and experiences and to amplify their voices to bring about change. Survey results will be shared with government and non-government organizations and the public.

The Youth Survey 2023 is open from March to August and takes only 20 minutes to complete. Participants can submit their responses online through participating schools, groups, or the Mission Australia website.

• 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.

Gail Connolly PSM.

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ISSUE 36 AprIl 2023

How to get The Times

The Parramatta Times is available throughout the Parramatta LGA at 80 strategic locations. To find a location near you visit our website.

Digital edition

Each edition of The Parramatta Times can be viewed and downloaded in digital format at our ISSUU platform: www.issuu/communitybroadcastnetwork

Contacts

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Editor: Michael Walls michael@accessnews.com.au

Newsroom

News Editor: Di Bartok dibartok@yahoo.com.au

Travel Editor: Dallas Sherringham dallas@accessnews.com.au

Advertising sales

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Administration

Rebecca Swaleh info@parramattatimes.com.au

Design and production Design2Pro, JuJu Graphics.

STEPS2LIFECARE is a new, small team of Allied Health Professionals providing Allied Health and Disability Services for Western Sydney.

“We offer Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Behaviour Therapy, Art Therapy, Dietician, Podiatry, and Physiotherapy,” a team member said.

“We have immediate capacity to take on Speech Therapy, Psychology, Behaviour Therapy, Art Therapy, and a short waitlist for Occupational Therapy.

“We are inclusive of all participants from age 0 to 100, and provide our services to all funding options, including but not limited to, NDIS, Private Health

Insurance, Medicare, GP Care Plans, and others.

“We also have the capacity for Assessments, including all allied health and diagnostic assessments for diagnoses to assist with NDIS funding, and other supports. As well as ongoing therapy options.

“Our clinic is brand new and has amazing facilities that will help the development of all participants, run by a lovely and qualified team,

“We are located at 4 Dunlop St in North Parramatta.

“We also provide assistance in applying for NDIS and other services with parent meetings with our senior therapists.

“We are looking at expression of

interest with social groups and school readiness program during the holiday periods, run by our qualified staff.

“We are also looking for expression of interest for Parent Meet ups for a coffee and chat with our therapists and each other as a community.”

Contact:

W: www.steps2lifecare.com.au

E: admin@steps2lifecare.com.au

P: 0420 773 324

A: 4 Dunlop Street, North Parramatta, 2151 Social Media - @steps2life.care

u b p r o v i d i n g A l l i e d H e a l t h &

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A : 4 D u n l o p S t r e e t

KPMG relocates its CBD offices

At least 500 KPMG staff are based in a newly outfitted Parramatta office as of this week, after KPMG’s Greater Western Sydney office relocated from Phillip Street to Parramatta Square, one of Australia’s largest commercial precincts.

The new office, in the heart of Parramatta’s fast-growing CBD, has been designed to support growth and a workplace lifestyle for employees.

“The upgraded space will allow KPMG to continue its strong history of supporting businesses in the GWS region, with KPMG having first established a presence here in February 2015,” said KPMG Greater Western Sydney partner Kaylene Hubbard.

“KPMG has been proud to offer a diverse and flexible working environment reflective of the region and its population for the past eight years.”

The new-and-improved fit out comes as organisations modify workplaces to attract and retain talent and allow employees to get together in groups and enjoy the experience when they come into the office.

The new office will serve as a Western Sydney hub for clients and staff, with full-service capability. It cements KPMG’s presence in the City of Parramatta, which is forecast to grow by 73 per cent in population over the next two decades.

Parramatta’s CBD has seen an infra-

structure focus over the last few years, with the newly opened Bankwest Stadium; an upgrade to the Riverside Theatre and multiple residential towers among the key projects.

“We’ve created a space that will draw people together to connect and collaborate,” Kaylene says.

“It really is an environment that facilitates innovative and flexible working. We have a great office culture in our GWS office and high presence of staff already. This new office will take this even further.”

The office has been designed to reduce the firm’s carbon footprint and supports KPMG’s commitment to being net zero by optimising energy and resource efficiency.

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AT THE HEART OF THE STEAKHOUSE

Nova worker a social media star

GREG, the kitchenhand who goes ‘above and beyond’, has been a rare and valuable find for the Outback Steakhouse.

"Greg is the heart of Outback Steakhouse," the North Strathfield Managing Partner Medha Ramgoolam said. Medha was referring to the key worker she hired through NOVA Employment.

And he has become a star on the Outback Steakhouse Facebook page with thousands turning in to watch him at work in the restaurant.

The Outback Steakhouse is one of the top-rated restaurants in the West and they required staff they could depend upon to turn up every day and get their work done. Such employees are few and far between in the volatile food and beverage industry.

NOVA Employment came up with a perfect employee in Greg and he has become one of the great examples of how the relationship between businesses and NOVA can do wonders.

NOVA Employment is an ‘open employment’ program. They find their jobseekers work in the general community, with the same working conditions as people who do not have a disability.

NOVA is not a sheltered workshop or ‘business service’.

NOVA supports people with all types of disability to gain employment and assists them in maintaining employment for as long as the worker requires.

If your business needs dedicated staff who love their job, NOVA Employment has skilled and talented jobseekers looking for opportunities.

They help employers find motivated and keen employees with the skills that match the role and assist workers to develop and advance in their careers.

If you are looking for staff for any type of industry or business size contact NOVA Parramatta Manager, Zore Blazeski Mobile 0405 507 546 or call 1300 ABILITY

Popular NOVA worker, Greg, right.

Parramatta turns red after 12 years

„ DI BARTOK

PARRAMATTA turned red for the first time in 12 years with the election of Labor’s Donna Davis to the State seat.

The key seat had been held by the Liberals’ Geoff Lee, who has resigned from politics.

With the redrawn seat taking in the Labor-friendly Olympic Park and Wentworth Point areas, it was always going to be a tough battle for local solicitor and political newbie Katie Mullens to retain the seat for the Liberals.

There was a swing of 20.6 per cent to Labor in Parramatta, reflecting the trend across the Greater West and even in Liberal-held safe seats.

But any thoughts of stepping down from her Lord Mayor role - as touted by some councillors and former lord mayor Bob Dwyer - was for Ms Davis decided by the appointment of council’s new chief executive officer Gail Connolly.

“I will be continuing in my role as Lord Mayor until my term ends in September, to help the new CEO settle into her role,” Ms Davis told the Parramatta Times.

Ms Davis told the Times that she was

not drawing her Lord Mayor pay while campaigning in the election, even though she was still performing lord mayoral duties.

“During the cross-over period, for that short time when I will be doing two

roles, I will be looking at continuing that arrangement - either not drawing lord mayoral pay or donating it to charity,” Ms Davis said.

As for whether she continues as Epping Ward councillor, Ms Davis is undecided but points out that it not unusual for MPs to continue on council.

If she did resign before the 2024 council election, there would be no costly by-election as Parramatta Council has the “countback” system where the next person who would have been elected at the last election takes the place of the councillor who has resigned.

Eager to work with community

Speaking a few days after the March 25 election, Ms Davis’s head was still spinning, but she is eager to get to work in the electorate that has been her home for almost 30 years.

Married with two grown sons, Ms Davis lives in Dundas Valley and first cut her teeth in community work on the Yates Avenue Public School P and C committee.

Having worked for Labor MPs, Ms Davis is familiar with life in politics. She was elected to Parramatta Council in

2017.

A strong advocate of Parramatta’s heritage, Ms Davis is keen to work with the NSW and Federal governments to secure World Heritage Listing for the Female Factory and heritage precinct. But more immediate concerns are the issues that turned people to Laborhealth and education.

“Labor is committed to ensuring that schools and hospitals have enough personnel to deliver adequate services,” Ms Davis said.

“We have to ensure that we have quality education for every child.

“Parramatta is a major health precinct and education centre, with five universities, a growing CBD - it is the place where people come to.

“We have the CBD for business and entertainment, we have Olympic Park with its attractions.”

Wentworth Point residents, disgruntled with over-development and lack of open space, helped get Ms Davis elected as they felt the Liberal government was not listening to them.

Ms Davis is ready to listen to all residents and feels now is her time, with her experience on local government, for her to represent the area she loves in State parliament.

In Auburn, Labor’s Lynda Voltz was returned with a 13.15 pc swing and in Granville, Labor’s Julia Finn was returned with a 14.7 pc swing.

Donna Davis.

MORE THAN GUNS AND TANKS… Military history in our city

„ DALLAS SHERRIGHAM

IF you should hear the mighty roar and rattle of a massive military vehicle in the heart of Parramatta, don’t be alarmed, it is just one of the beautifully restored tanks and other vehicles housed at the Lancer Museum and Barracks.

Just a short walk from Parramatta Station at 2 Smith St is Lancer Barracks, headquarters to a fully operational Australian Army regiment known officially known as1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers Regiment.

Today the Regiment operates as light cavalry scouts equipped with light skin scout vehicles and the Regiment's mission is to support the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland Regiment.

At the base is historic Linden House, the best collection of Military hardware outside the Australian War Memorial, which is fitting because the 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers is Australia's oldest and most highly decorated Regiment.

The Museum is far more than just guns and tanks. It tells the story of the Lancers’ joys and sorrows and the men who fought for Australia in all the major conflicts since their formation in 1885 as a Light Horse Regiment.

Indeed, the museum's collection is heritage-listed, having been added to the NSW State Heritage Register in May 2010.

It was established at the Parramatta Lancer Barracks in 1958 and its main purpose is to collect and preserve relics, artefacts and records that tell the story of the Royal NSW Lancers, their predecessors and their successors.

The museum also collects and preserves relics, artefacts and records of other Light Horse Regiments and the Royal Australian Armored Corps.

Now, it is hard to tell your about it in a few short words because the collection comprises more than 7000 items, including many of international or national heritage significance.

It is committed to restoring and maintaining its fleet of heritage military vehicles in full running order. These include a working example of the first armored fighting vehicle used by the Regiment in WWII, the Bren Gun Carrier.

Join new regiments

Most young Australian volunteers who were destined to join the new armored regiments, hurriedly being formed in Australia as the Japanese entered the war and moved to threaten the country, trained on these carriers while waiting for the arrival of new Matilda Tanks from England.

The heritage vehicle fleet also includes the internationally acclaimed Matilda Tank named ACE, the first tank off the landing craft at Australia's largest ever armored assault, carried out by the Lancers at Balikpapan on Borneo in July 1945.

It was left to rot in a paddock in the

Southern Highlands for half a century and was eventually recovered by museum volunteers and many said it could never be restored.

But it was and after six years, the expenditure of $100,000 and 30,000 volunteer hours, ACE is back to the condition in which its wartime crew would have fought in it, on permanent public display at Lancer Barracks.

It can sometimes be heard and seen starting its engines and driving around and available for public events.

It is the only British or Commonwealth armored fighting vehicle to have seen active service in any theatre of World War II, to have been restored to full mobility and returned to its wartime fighting unit, let alone restored by retired volunteers from that unit.

Until the creation of the regular Australian Army in 1948, the Regiment was the Vice-Regal Escort, providing the mounted escort for the Governors of NSW and, after Federation, the Governors-General of Australia, on all major public events, such as the opening of the first Parliament of Australia and of the

opening of the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

The whole collection therefore traces the active, ceremonial and peacetime service history, both at home and overseas, of the 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers Regiment, from its inception in 1885 through to present day.

On the last Sunday of every month, you can take a unique opportunity to visit and experience one of their heritage fleet of armored fighting vehicles start its engines and drive around the Barracks. It could be the world-famous Matilda Tank, their 50 ton Centurion Main Battle Tank or their WW2 Bren Gun Carrier, the Regiment’s first ever armored fighting vehicle.

You can get up close and experience the world of a "Tankie" by looking inside the tank. To watch, hear and smell a large tank fire its engines and drive around, is like watching, hearing and smelling a large steam train moving – a very different experience from looking at a “dead” item in a display shed.

The Lancer Barracks Museum web site is a great place to learn more: www.lancers.org.au

MARIO’S AIMING AT A WORK RECORD…

56 hours of a continuous podcast

SASWATI MUKHERJEE

COME April 29, 2023 and Western Sydney businessman Mario Bekes will attempt to create history and enter the Guinness Book of World Records.

The 51-year- old is looking at a 56-hour marathon of continuous radio broadcast.

This, Mario says, is his way of challenging life. “I want to set an example, live life to the fullest and inspire people to believe in their abilities,” says Mario who first came to Canberra in Australia in 1998 on an official task.

He took a liking to this country and later moved to Sydney in 2003. This city has been his home since then.

With a background in military and diplomatic affairs, Mario did quite a lot of odd jobs to start off with as a migrant in a new country and eventually started his own business.

A successful businessman now, he took to podcasting as a hobby during lockdown.

A few years down the line and Mario is attempting to enter the Guinness Book of World Records – his proposed schedule would have him in his podcast studio, the ‘Secret Location’ for 56 straight hours and one minute from 11 am that day. That means he must give up on his sleep and talk continuously for the entire length of time. For him, the longest pod-

cast so far has been a two-hour stint.

“I am mentally setting myself up for the challenge, I want to create a legacy,” says Mario who is in the final stages of preparing my script. He wants to touch on his personal experiences around health, friends, family, business and maybe even his books.

Yes, Mario is a successful author of seven published books too.

At this point in time, he is still working out the nitty-gritty’s of the program, and is certainly hoping to make it as interesting as possible.

Sponsorship opportunities are avaiolbale.

The entire broadcast would be available for streaming live through his website: https:// mariosworldrecord.au/

WEXPO at Blacktown Workers Club

Building a Voice for Western Sydney

WentWest, the Western Sydney Primary Health Network, is working with the community to improve health equity. Our aim is to deliver services that are co-designed by the community, for the community, and we are constantly expanding ways to improve our community relationships and partnerships.

Our West Sydney

To help listen and respond to community members in Western Sydney, we have developed an online community hub, Our West Sydney. Our West Sydney is an interactive online forum for community members, health care professionals and partners to come together and share high-quality information, ideas and events.

Facilitated by WentWest, the platform is designed to build and strengthen positive relationships and partnerships that focus on creating a healthier Western Sydney for everyone. By opening up the conversation, Our West Sydney allows you to play a role in the design of quality health care services in our region

Community-led Solutions

When is the last time that someone asked you what the most important health and social care priorities are in your community? At WentWest, we’re trying to shift the way health care is approached and bring community into the conversation about their own health.

We’re already fortunate to have great feedback from our Consumer Advisory Council, but we’re now expanding our reach and creating a series of “Community Juries”.

Community Juries

It’s called a “jury” because the group is randomly selected and representative of the community. Collectively, members will learn about a health and social issue, then debate and discuss the information to come up with recommendations.

At WentWest, we will be running our first two Community Juries in Western Sydney in August 2023. One will be a First Nations group, led by a First Nations facilitator, and the other will be multicultural. Both groups will consider information about the health and wellbeing of Western Sydney communities to provide wellinformed recommendations about what matters to communities in our region.

To prepare, WentWest is listening to communityled Advisory Panels to guide the development of the evidence and refine the language being used to describe and run these groups. Juries will be made up of Western Sydney people randomly selected from a ballot.

To take part in the ballot to be a Western Sydney Community juror scan the QR code below.

You can also chat to our helpful team on (02) 8811 7118

If you want to join our network of community leaders and be a regular part of the conversation, sign-up to Our West Sydney: bit.ly/ourwestsydneycommunityvoices

TRAVELING AND WORKING….

We explore some cool options

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

THERE has been a dramatic 12-month increase in searches for remote work locations in Australia as thousands of workers move to regional centres.

Exclusive data from Instant Offices has revealed a dramatic increase of 82% in searches for remote work since last year- confirming people are growing tired of the city office lifestyle.

With the world opening up since the covid pandemic and workers getting excited to jump back to normality, there was a buzz of excitement last year for everyone to get back to the office, but the new data shows the enthusiasm was short lived.

CMO for The Instant Group John Williams said the significant rise in searches from the Instant Offices data showed a vast surge in searches for remote working.

“It indicates a robust demand for remote and hybrid working, including both careers and workspaces that can enable this working pattern.

"Most people have moved on from the initial post-covid freedom and return to office and are now looking for a more permanent routine that strikes a comfortable work-life balance between commuting, working hours, collaboration, and flexibility.”

People are also using caravans and motorhomes as work bases as they travel around Australia.

However, the best we came across was a Meta employee who plans to work remotely from a new mega cruise ship for several years.

Austin Wells, whose job in augmented and virtual reality for Meta is fully remote, has bought a 12-year lease on the soon-to-launch MV Narrative cruise ship, which markets itself as a “residence at sea”.

Mr Wells said he spent $300,000 on a 12-year lease for an entry-level “Discover” studio on the ship, which will launch in 2025.

Living onboard the ship full-time, the tech employee will have access to a medical centre, a gym and spa, a co-working space, three swimming pools, a bank and even a farmer’s market.

It will make stops in the likes of Rome, Venice, Croatian islands and Greece, as well as travelling to the Arctic Circle, on a yet-to-be-confirmed threeyear itinerary.

“The thing that most excites me is [that] I don’t have to upend my daily routine in order to go see the world,” Mr Wells said.

“I’m going from this model where if you want to go somewhere, you pack a bag, you get on a flight, you rent a room... to now my condo, my gym, my doctors and dentists, all of my grocery stores travel the world with me.”

Passengers can choose to pay an “all-inclusive” living rate per month, meaning all meals, clinic visits, fitness classes and laundry would be covered, or simply pay as they go.

The 18-deck vessel will also feature 20 restaurants and bars, a school, library and a cinema. It is currently under construction in Split, Croatia, from where it will set sail in 2025.

Studies have shown that a stimulating working environment can help to increase productivity. Couple this with advances in mobile technology and you open up a plethora of interesting workplace solutions.

Workspace-sharing website Vrumi offers users a wide variety of locations available to hire, with current listings ranging from a private dining room in Notting Hill to a retro barge moored just

outside Little Venice to a pondside cabin for 10 in Enfield. England.

Many larger corporates are also embracing this trend with PR giant Ogilvy & Mather adopting a carnival-themed design at their offices in China, where workers can enjoy giant Nutcrackers and merry-goround horses suspended from ceilings.

Google’s Zurich base offers themed gondolas for team meetings alongside break-out spaces where employees can sing, dance, enjoy a massage or perfect their slam-dunk on a mini basketball court. We have taken a closer look at some other unusual places to work around the world. Here are our top 5:

1. Sphinx ObservatoryFieschertal, Switzerland

This astronomical observatory is located above the Jungfraujoch in Switzerland. Standing some 11,716ft above sea level, it is precariously balanced on a steep narrow summit high in the Bernese Alps. The observatory has accommodated a multitude of the world’s top scientists and includes living quarters, several laboratories, high-tech weather station, astronomical and meteorological domes, and a 76-cm telescope. It can only be accessed via the Jungfrau railway buried deep within the mountain and entered via James Bond-esque doors carved out of the ice.

2. Stanley Hotel - Colorado, USA

Situated in the beautiful Estes Park and nestled within the Rockies, The Stanley Hotel is said to be America’s most haunted hotel. Staff and guests alike have reported witnessing ghostly apparitions and hearing children playing in the corridors with music drifting from the Concert Hall deep into the night. The hotel is thought to have inspired Stephen King’s novel ‘The Shining’ following the author’s nightmarish stay here. Today, visitors flock to the hotel to see the strange goings-on for themselves and the hotel now employs clairvoyants and Night Spirit Tour leaders amongst its staff!

3. Village Underground –Shoreditch, East London

The Village Underground is an art collective in Shoreditch, East London where creatives can hot-desk within the four refurbished London Underground tube carriages and two shipping containers, all sitting atop a Victorian warehouse which can be hired for events. Holywell Lane Wall, the largest dedicated street art wall in London, is located just outside the warehouse and is repainted every three months by local and world-renowned artists.

4. TREExOFFICE - Hoxton Square, London

The TREExOFFICE in Hoxton was a joint initiative by Groundwork London, Artsadmin and Hackney Council and formed part of the Park Hack project in 2015. The group aimed to create more sustainable, innovative and flexi-working spaces for the local businesses and community. They teamed up with designer Natalie Jeremijenko, in collaboration with artists Shuster + Moseley, architects Tate Harmer and briefing architects Gensler, to create this eightpod tree house office space in Hoxton Square. This project has since inspired similar ventures across the world such as the TREExOFFICE build, designed by students at the University of Colorado in 2017.

5. Inventionland – Pittsburgh, USA

Davison Design & Development’s Headquarters represent America’s largest innovation factory at 70,000sq ft. The self-titled "idea incubator" is the brain-child of Davison founder and CEO, George McConnell Davison. Inventionland is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is a state of the art production facility for educational materials and corporate innovation products. It houses no less than sixteen themed workspaces, including a shipwrecked pirate ship, three running waterfalls and a castle complete with turrets and drawbridge. At Halcyon, we may not be able to boast a fire-breathing dragon to inspire our workers, but we certainly have some beautiful and unique locations, such as the Thorncroft Manor Estate in Leatherhead, Surrey which offers small businesses both flexi-working options and a permanent base.

My Narrative.

Stanley Hotel.

John Wick: Chapter 4 - 4 Stars

RUNNUING tiemn is epic. At 2 hours and 49 minutes, it’s a long one for sure - and particularly with the sort of film that has less story than could be expected. Instead, it’s a lengthy slugfest; with mammoth action sequences, endless shoot outs, and blood by the bucketload.

And that’s exactly what it should be. Keanu is pulling his usual Wick Schtick, grunting his way through the bare minimum dialogue they give him. Director Chad Stahleski wisely keeps him out of the first section of the film; making him more of a bogeyman than before. In particular, the scenes at the Tokyo Continental are particularly effective, with Wick standing like a painting atop the roof, hunted by everyone around the world.

It’s the newcomers, though, that really shine! Donnie Yen is an absolute standout as the blind assassin Caine. He is a complete badass, and worms his way into your heart over the course of the nearly 3 hour film despite being predominantly the villain. Perhaps most surprising is Scott Adkins, who plays the villain Killa in a fatsuit. He monologues fantastically, but more impressive is the physicality of his role. In a film filled with a heap of frankly over the top, fantastical gun violence, the fist fight between Killa and John in a water soaked Berlin club feels

the most visceral.

The fight scenes continue to be striking in this franchise. This installment continues to up the ante. There’s fantastic moments peppered throughout, but the best scenes happen in Paris - one particularly fantastic staircase sequence, a gorgeously shot overhead gun battle in

a Parisian apartment, and a tense gun battle amidst hectic traffic around the Arc De Triomphe. It’s gorgeously shot, stunningly brutal, and completely inventive - as we’ve come to expect from this franchise.

Ultimately, you find yourself longing for the feel of that first John Wick. What

Air - 4 Stars

SONNY Vaccaro (Matt Damon) works for Nike, tracking down talent that the Basketball Division can entice to wear their fledgling array of basketball shoes. He, marketing director Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman), Howard White (Chris Tucker), and the CEO of Nike Phil Knight (Ben Affleck), are all trying to use their paltry budget for the year to entice some lower tier players to join their shoe roster. But Sonny has an idea, to go after just one player and pour the whole budget into that venture; Michael Jordan.

The 3rd round draft pick famously hates Nike shoes, and is almost guaranteed to go to Adidas. In fact, his agent David Falk (Chris Messina) refuses a meeting outright.

But Sonny believes Michael has the chance to be great. He goes down to meet with Michael’s mother Deloris (Viola Davis), as he and his team break all the rules, and all the conventions, to get this future NBA star into a shoe with a swoosh on it.

Air is such an interesting film, because you can see exactly how easily it could have gone off the rails. It’s the sure hand of Ben Affleck here in the director's seat, and the script from Alex Convery, that makes certain Air never overreaches.

It never grabs for the tempting fruit around it; the mile a minute pace of a basketball game, or the tempting headlines that could be generated by having some young up and coming actor play Michael Jordan himself. Instead, it grounds itself in the core heart of this story, and one that ultimately is fascinating.

Affleck makes the imaginably staid process of designing a shoe, doing financial deals for revenue share, and enticing the family into a single meeting,

extremely fun.

He has a fantastic balance for flair and character, and delivers this melting pot of 80’s memorabilia, office politics, and adjacency to big basketball, in a very compelling way. The film gives a very lived in and authentic view of the 80’s vibe, avoiding some of the more poppy versions done in other recent fare.

Character-wise, the balance is all here. Damon delivers the lead role as the straight man, and does so with aplomb, delivering the needed inspirational

happened to the simplicity of that movie? More importantly, what happened to the character work?

There is nothing dialogue-wise here that could possibly match John Wick’s speech in the first film where he proclaims that, yes, he is back.

Perhaps that is because Wick has nothing to fight for here other than his own life. In the first film, John sought revenge; he was hurt, angry, and nothing could stop him.

For the last three films, this one included, his motivation is solely self-preservation; trying to save a life that, even once he saves, he barely wants to live in. Keanu had so much more to work with in that first movie, and while the action has intensified, the emotionality behind it and the simplicity behind it has gone. For that reason, no John Wick film could top that first installment.

That being said, while this film suffers by comparison to the first one in the franchise, it is still the second best in the series by a long stretch. It’s also a fitting end, and head and shoulders above the action fare offered by other modern movies.

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

speech as required. The dialogue may be stock standard, but Damon tackles it winningly.

Bateman plays a sort of more earnest version of his usual character, and has a number of winning jokes. Affleck’s Phil Knight is iconically 80’s, perfectly self-doubting, and a fan fave. Viola Davis, in her brief screen time, also impresses. Chris Messina is an absolute standout as the foul mouthed agent, Falk. He is frequently hilarious, completely over the top, and brings a smile to your face constantly.

Ultimately, what makes Air such a winning film is the fact that it tells an interesting story, self-contains it, and is confident in delivering what it sets out to do. The ambition here is curtailed, but in doing so it foisters a vote of confidence in the source material it’s dealing with.

The tale of this shoe deal is interesting, almost anecdotally, and Air tells it in a fun, enjoyably engaging, funny and affecting way. This movie probably isn’t going to change your life, but you’ll have a blast watching it.

Reviews

by Jacob

Richardson Creative Director | Film Focus www.filmfocusau.com

John Wick, and Keanu, are back and this final film is a complete bloodbath; giving fans of the series everything they could want.

Air is the sort of simple, wholesome content that - when done well, and it is done very well here - makes an impact.

But the Volkswagen MEB-based electric five-seater will not be heading to OZ

„ MATT BROGAN

FORD has debuted its all-electric Explorer SUV this week, with the Volkswagen-based five-seater to go on sale in Europe later this year price from €45,000 ($A72,000) plus on-road costs.

The stylish mid-sized model – which will not be offered in Australia – will be produced at Ford of Europe’s Cologne facility in Germany. It shares underpinnings with the VW ID.4, making it one of two Ford models that will stem from Volkswagen’s MEB electric platform before the end of 2024.

For the EU, Ford will offer the Explorer EV in three configurations: an entry-grade rear-wheel drive with a 52kWh battery, 350km range and 125kW output; a mid-tier rear-wheel drive with larger 77kWh battery, 540km range and stronger 210kW output; and a range-topping all-wheel drive dual-motor with the same 77kWh battery, 490km range and 250kW output.

DC fast charging can replenish the smaller battery pack at a capacity of up to 130kW, while the larger battery pack supports a charging capacity of up to 170kW. A 10 to 80 per cent charge is said to take just 25 minutes.

Ford says the Explorer EV receives its own suspension tune with a familiar MacPherson strut front and multilink rear arrangement providing a “different driving experience” to the Volkswagen derivative.

The 2024 Ford Explorer EV measures 4450mm in length, giving it a similar stature to the Honda HR-V, Nissan Qashqai or Toyota Corolla Cross. It will be offered in two model grades in Europe: Explorer and Explorer Premium, each with a generous list of standard equipment.

Ford’s 15.0-inch SYNC Move central infotainment array offers a moveable, portrait-oriented display that combines wireless app integration with a tailored audio package and advanced driver assistance technology. The screen conceals a storage cubby ahead of the centre console, which itself offers a separate compartment of 17 litres.

The “ultra-modern” interior combines premium materials and sculpted sports seats across two rows. Like many EVs, pre-conditioning of the cabin’s cli-

mate is possible, the space also boasting heated front seats and a heated steering

wheel, a massaging driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, as well as keyless

entry and start.

Further back, and with access via an optional handsfree electric tailgate, the Explorer EV provides “about 470 litres” of cargo space in five-seat mode.

Advanced driver assistance systems include assisted lane change and clear exit assist among a raft of active and passive safety systems.

“(The) Explorer is a trailblazer for a new breed of exciting Ford electric vehicles,” said Ford Model e Europe general manager, Martin Sander.

“Steeped in our American roots but built in Cologne for our customers in Europe, it is road-trip ready for the big adventures and fully loaded with everything our customers will need for their daily drives.”

Speaking to GoAuto about the possibility of an Explorer EV for Australia, a local spokesperson said simply, “while we have no plans to introduce the all-electric Explorer in Australia, we’re looking forward to sharing the next phase of our EV journey very soon”.

Wider track, improved ground clearance add to variant’s (off) street cred

„ MATT BROGAN

FORD has this week announced its special edition Ranger Wildtrak X as an off-road focused competitor to the likes of the Toyota HiLux Rogue (from $70,200 +ORCs) and Nissan Navara Warrior Pro4-X (from $67,515 +ORCs).

Bridging the gap between the Wildtrak and Raptor within the Ranger line-up, the Wildtrak X boast uprated Bilstein Position-Sensitive dampers, a wider wheel track front and rear (+30mm), and improved ground clearance (+26mm) – as well as Ford’s off-road focussed Trail Control and Trail Turn Assist technology – to give buyers even more go-anywhere capability.

Due in showrooms from the second half of this year (2023), the model is further equipped with Ford’s Flexible Rack cargo system making it easier to carry loads of different shapes and sizes.

Ford’s second-from-top-tier Ranger is priced from $75,990 plus on-road costs and is further characterised by grade-specific 17-inch alloys with 265/70 profile General Grabber AT3 tyres, a new off-road grille, Matrix LED headlights with auxiliary LEDs, a 12.4-inch digital instrument panel and premium Bang & Olufsen audio package.

“Ranger is more than just transportation: it enables an unlimited lifestyle, giving owners the ability to tackle work, family and play with one, feature-packed vehicle,” said Ford Ranger chief platform engineer David Grice.

“We have designed and engineered Wildtrak X with the overlanding community front of mind.”

The Wildtrak X is offered in a Cyber Orange paint finish with complementary accent strips and also features a steel bash plate, cast aluminium side steps, blackened Ford badging, variant-specific badging and RANGER letting across the bonnet.

The grille surround, bumper H-bar, wheel lip mouldings, fender vents, mirror caps, door handles and rear bumper are all finished in asphalt black.

Inside, the Wildtrak X boasts new leather-accented seats with Miko suede and Wildtrak X embroidered into the seat backs, upper glovebox and all-weather front and rear floor mats.

Terra suede wraps the glovebox, instrument cluster hood, door trim and centre console rails while Cyber Orange contrast stitching is used on the seats, steering wheel, gear shifter, doors and the upper glovebox. The Wildtrak X is also fitted with an overhead auxiliary switch bank for aftermarket accessories.

Power comes from a 150kW/500Nm

2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel

2023 Ford Ranger 4x4 pricing*:

XL

engine which gains Ford’s more advanced full-time four-wheel drive system and 10-speed automatic transmission as standard. The 3500kg braked towing rating offered elsewhere in the range is retained.

“We know Australian customers love the versatility their Ranger offers them,” said Ford Australia and New Zealand president and CEO Andrew Birkic.

“(The) Wildtrak X really captures their desire for exploration, with new hardware and features so they can head across the country or go further off-road than ever before.”

The news comes at the same time Ford Australia announces modest price increases for the Ranger line-up, full details of which are listed below.

HAVE YOU HEARD OF CORTISOL? Tips for managing stress

„ DR JOHN HINWOOD

CORTISOL is the hormone we release as part of the stress response. When the body perceives a threat, cortisol is released to help us respond appropriately. Now, bear in mind, as part of the animal species, a threat is something that will impact on our wellbeing or livelihood; such as a predator.

However, in this modern world, the things that threaten our wellbeing are losing our phone, not being able to connect to the internet, not finding a park when you’re running late for meeting etc.

So, you can see, it’s not difficult to be living with a chronic level of stress that can cause cortisol levels to remain elevated, which can then lead to a range of health problems.

Here are five warning signs that you may have high cortisol levels:

1. 2-4 AM Wake Up: Cortisol levels naturally peak in the early morning, helping us wake up and feel alert. However, when cortisol levels are chronically high, it can cause you to wake up between 2-4 AM and struggle to fall back asleep.

2. Hard-to-lose Belly Fat: Cortisol can contribute to the accumulation of fat, particularly around the midsection. High cortisol levels can make it difficult to lose

belly fat, even with regular exercise and a healthy diet.

3. Cravings for Salty and Sugary Foods: High cortisol levels can cause you to crave salty and sugary foods regularly. This is because cortisol triggers the release of glucose, which can cause cravings for foods that provide a quick energy boost.

4. Exhausted but Energized: High

cortisol levels can cause you to feel exhausted and wired at the same time. You may feel like you are always on edge, even when you are tired and need to rest.

5. No Morning Hunger: Cortisol is responsible for suppressing hunger in the morning, so when cortisol levels are high, you may not feel hungry when you wake up. This can make it difficult to get the nutrients you need to start the day.

Things you can do to reduce stress levels:

1. Exercise… choose exercise that you love to do.

Research has shown that low-intensity exercise lowers cortisol levels.

2. Sleep… make sure you get enough.

Research tells us that 7 to 8 hours sleep is ideal to allow your brain to complete its cleaning process. Also, you need to get enough sleep.

3. Do things that you enjoy and find relaxing.

Focus on these joyful activities –like reading a book, listening to your favourite music, gardening, going for a walk, matching movies, or whatever these special things are for you.

4. Re-think regular alcohol. TV and movies constantly show us people engaging in alcohol as a destress tool, where in fact, it has an opposite effect of the body. The way to go is to cut back on alcohol.

5. Avoid the late-night news just before bed.

Anticipatory stress is a major problem for many people. Research has identified that bad news can increase your stress levels and interfere in a major way with healthy sleep.

The Hinwood Institute.

Exercise can relieve stress.

QUICK CROSSWORD

10 Refuge (7)

14 Lucky (10)

17 Methods of travel between floors (9)

18 Husbands or wives (7)

20 Staggered (6)

22 Military student (5)

23 Japanese dish (5)

SUDOKU

25 Sat (5)

26 Italian meat-based sauce (4)

1 From 1897 to 1905, what was Sydney’s Kings Cross named?

2 In the comic strip Garfield, what is the name of Garfield’s owner?

3 Who played the third ghostbuster in the film series of the same name, alongside Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis?

4 YouTuber Lindsay Ellis released which sci-fi novel in July 2020?

5 Which Queensland town holds the record for the highest ever annual rainfall in a populated area of Australia?

6 Michael Mancini and Amanda Woodward are characters from which 1990s US TV series?

7 Who wrote the 2000 Booker Prize-winning novel The Blind Assassin?

8 Which character did Audrey Tautou (pictured) play in the 2006 film adaptation of Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code?

9 In what month does the winter solstice occur in Australia?

10 In which year was Tim Flannery awarded Australian of the Year?

ACROSS

1 Hit

5 Competent

6 Behind 7 Border

DOWN

1 Naked

2 In bed

3 Waste

4 Location

WORD FIND No. 026

The leftover letters will spell out a secret message.

9-LETTER WORD No. 026

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included, and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

Secret message:

No. 001

Each number corresponds to a letter. Can you crack the code?

A

002

HIDDEN WORD

Solve all the clues and an eight-letter word will be spelled out.

1 Places that store your money

2 in Wonderland

3 There are 52 of them in one year

4 French for ‘thank you’

5 Jumps

6 White fluffy thing in the sky

7 Opposite of friend

8 Person who fights with gloves

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW...

1. What is Wilde’s real surname?

A. Sidebottom

B. Smith

C. Cockburn

D. Brown

2. In which medical drama did she star?

A. grey’s Anatomy

B. House

C. Nurse Jackie

Olivia Wilde

3. In which teen drama did Wilde have a role?

A. gossip girl

B. Dawson’s Creek

C. Skins

D. The O.C.

4. With which movie did Wilde make her directorial debut?

A. Drinking Buddies

B. Cowboys & Aliens

C. Booksmart

D. The Change-up SOlUTiONS

HIDDEN WORD banks, Alice, weeks, merci, leaps, cloud, enemy, boxer, (BEWILDER)

D. Scrubs

nearby, sabre, stab, standby

MATH puzzles

Enjoy life while staying connected to your Blacktown community, your local sports, your family and friends... every day.

Exclusively for over 55’s and located next to Workers Sports Club, Parkside Lifestyle Community will commence construction soon.

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

AFTER months of anticipation, Par ramatta, Sydney’s second largest city, is finally celebrating the offi cial launch of the Parramatta MO NOPOLY board.

Locals and visitors can now celebrate the diverse and multicultural scene the city has to offer all while playing the world’s most popular board game!

Over the last few months, thousands of locals from Parramatta have been carefully selecting the best locations to feature on the board. After much deliberation and anticipation, the final custom themed squares have been an nounced.

The custom themed squares on the Parramatta MONOPOLY board are:

• Brown – Parramatta River and Lake Parramatta.

• Light Blue – Elizabeth Farm, St John's Cathedral and Experiment Farm Cottage.

• Pink – Parramatta Lanes, River side Theatres and Phive Parramatta.

• Orange – Lil Miss Collins Café, Alex & CO and Ciccia Bella. Red – Church Street, Westfields and Parramatta Farmers Market.

• Yellow – Rosehill Racecourse, Parramatta Aquatic Centre and Commbank Stadium.

• Green – Club Parramatta, Parra Leagues and PARKROYAL Parramatta.

Dark Blue – Old Government House and Parramatta Park.

• Transport – Parramatta Interchange, Parramatta Light Rail,

such a buzzing city full of multicul

oly Parramatta. Roll the dice and visit Parramatta’s favourite landmarks from PHIVE to Elizabeth Farm, the muchloved Riverside Theatres and soon-to-be opened Parramatta Aquatic Centre.”

The MONOPOLY game first hit shelves in 1935 – since then it has been played by more than one billion people. Today, the game is adored all around the world, being played in 114 countries and enjoyed in over 47 different languages.

Winston Hills Shopping Mall

Caroline Chilsholm Dr Shops

Parramatta LGA libraries

Toongabbie Bowling Club

Carlingford Bowling Club

Holiday Inn Parramatta

Mercure Parramatta

Lake Parramatta Shops

Dale Hackett, representative from Winning Moves – the makers of custom Monopoly Boards – said: “Parramatta is

exciting that our City stars in its own new edition of Monop-

The new MONOPOLY: Parramatta Edition is available now from Big W, JB Hifi, QBD, The Gamesmen, Gameology, Let’s Play Games and other local retailRRP $69.99. Grab

Northmead

Parramatta Chamber Events

Parramatta Train Station, Parra

SPORTS QUIZ

1. Which player scored three goals in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final?

2. Which two teams played in the NBL's first Christmas Day fixture in 2022?

3. Leg spinner Rehan Ahmed took five wickets in his Test debut playing for which country?

4. The NBA’s Most Valuable Player trophy is named after which former Bull and Wizard?

5. Before moving to Los Angeles, the Dodgers were established in 1883 in which borough of New York City?

6. The NBA’s Defensive Player Of The Year trophy is named after which Nigerian-born former Rocket and Raptor?

Which country has won the most FIFA World Cups?

The NBA’s Rookie Of The Year trophy is named after which former Warrior, Sixer and Laker?

Pato, a team game played on horseback similar to a cross between polo and basketball, is the national sport of which country?

Bob Dylan’s song Hurricane is about the imprisonment of which middleweight boxer?

Which A-league team was fined $550,000 after their fans’ violent pitch invasion during a match?

12. Aussie swimming star Matt Temple tattooed which teammate with their record breaking butterfly time trial?

13. NRL prop Matthew Lodge planned to debut in which other sport in Dubai?

14. The 2022 literary novel Carrie Soto Is Back is about which sport?

15. What is the name of golf champion Tiger Woods' yacht?

16. Which viral celebrity chef was criticised for his behaviour at the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

17. What special tradition did the Argentine government declare to celebrate their World Cup win?

18. In which year did F1 racer Daniel Ricciardo win the Canadian Grand Prix?

19. Who was named the best coach at the 2022 FIFA World Cup by a French newspaper?

20. And which country/team did they coach?

21. A post by which Argentine soccer player holds the record for the most-liked post on Instagram?

22. Which martial art is the national sport of South Korea?

23. Ivan Cleary and his son Nathan Cleary, are coach and co-captain of which NRL club?

24. Which three-time Wimbledon champion was released in December after serving eight months prison time?

25. Cristiano Ronaldo recently signed with a soccer club in which country?

26. And what is the name of that soccer club?

27. The Greensboro Swarm are an NBA G League team affiliated with which NBA team?

28. Which Brazilian soccer legend’s real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento?

29. By what nickname is New Zealand’s national baseball team known?

30. What medal did Australian 200m sprinter Peter Norman win at the 1968 Olympics?