Parramatta Times - May 2023

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Lord Mayor steps down

ANEW Lord Mayor of Parramatta will be elected by councillors on May 22 following the resignation of Donna Davis in the role.

Deputy Lord Mayor Sameer Pandey is tipped to take the role, making him the first person from the Indian sub-continent to be lord mayor.

But veteran Labor councillor Pierre Esber may also put his hat in the ring. With Labor controlling the chamber, the new lord mayor is likely to come from their ranks.

Long-standing Independent Lorraine Wearne has ruled herself out of the race, according to media reports.

Ms Davis reached her decision to resign from the Lord Mayor role shortly before being sworn in as new Parramatta State MP on Tuesday May 9.

Following her election to State MP at the March election, Ms Davis had declared her intention of continuing as Lord Mayor until that term ended

in September 2023, saying she wanted to assist the new chief executive officer Gail Connolly during her transition period.

Many councillors felt she should step down as Lord Mayor so she could concentrate on her role as State MP, even though the dual roles are allowed until the mayoral term ends.

In her media statement, Ms Davis said she was stepping down now that Ms Connolly had settled into her role.

The Parramatta Times understands this was her own decision, though she was unavailable for any further comment.

Meanwhile, debate over whether the Lord Mayor should be elected by popular election rather than the “horse trade” of councillors’ vote continues.

Residents have been sent a survey on whether there should be referendum on the matter at the 2023 council elections.

Campaign targets Anti-social youth

THE NSW Government has launched the “Just…Don’t” campaign in collaboration with the Maitland Liquor Accord, to address anti-social behaviour among younger patrons of licensed venues.

The campaign targets young people attending bars, pubs, and clubs through digital and print resources, including videos, social media tiles, posters, coasters, and digital assets.

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

The campaign aims to reduce irresponsible and potentially harmful behavior and develop a responsible drinking culture among younger generations.

The Liquor Accords will guide the ongoing work with the new Liquor Accord Strategy 2023-2025 developed by Liquor & Gaming NSW.

The strategy focuses on reducing alcohol-related harm, improving community safety and well-being, and strengthening liquor accords.

• 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.

Donna Davis.

Sameer Pandey.

www.parramattatimes.com.au

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www.linkedin/parramattatimes

ISSUE 36 May 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

admin and General: info@parramattatimes.com.au

Editor: Michael Walls michael@accessnews.com.au

Newsroom

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

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

adver tising sales

Julie Jackson julie@accessnews.com.au

Linda Miller linda@accessnews.com.au

administration

Rebecca Swaleh info@parramattatimes.com.au

Design and production Design2Pro, JuJu Graphics.

Discover Parramatta’s connected past

THE NSW Government is inviting residents and visitors from Sydney and beyond to discover Parramatta North’s rich history on Heritage Day (Saturday , May 13) with tours, family activities, live music, great food and more.

The event, part of the Australian Heritage Festival, is a wonderful opportunity to learn about Parramatta North’s transformation over the years and acknowledge the precinct’s past.

Visitors attending this free event can tour heritage architecture within the Parramatta North precinct, visit artisan markets and Mother’s Day stalls, listen to live music and support local businesses, including the recently opened Havenstone café.

Heritage Day at Parramatta North Precinct will be held between 8am and 4pm on Saturday 13 May. Visit here to book your spot, and visit here to find out more on the development of the Parramatta North Precinct.

“On the Traditional Land of the Burramattagal people of the Dharug clan, the connected stories of Parramatta date back 60,000 years,” said Penny Sharpe, Minister for Heritage.

“I encourage everyone to visit this unique and significant precinct, which features more than 30 significant heritage sites that we are preparing for nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, as part of our Government’s pre-election commitment.”

“In addition to $880,000 funding from the Australian Government to support the nomination, the NSW Gov-

ernment will support the nomination process through Heritage NSW. We will do what we can to get the nomination for this special site completed.”

“There are significant Aboriginal stories and colonial heritage landmarks, including the Parramatta Female Factory and Parramatta Girls Home –stark reminders of the mistreatment of the many women and girls who lived there.”

“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring that the connected history of these sites is never forgotten and that these places are reimagined and restored in a respectful way and preserved for future generations.”

Sydney Water Corporation undertakes to fund environmental projects following a sewage discharge in Homebush in March 2021.

Sydney Water has entered into an enforceable undertaking with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) after a discharge of untreated sewage occurred from a broken Sydney Water sewer rising main in Homebush in March 2021.

The EPA considers that the discharge caused a pollution incident which impacted on the surrounding environment, including Arnotts Reserve and Powells Creek in Homebush, as well as the Parramatta River.

The enforceable undertaking requires Sydney Water to pay $347,100 towards environmental and community projects in the Strathfield Council and Sydney Olympic Park areas.

Sydney Water is remorseful and recognises that the sewage discharge posed a public health risk to the local community and caused harm to the environment.

Sydney Water has published this notice in accordance with the enforceable undertaking.

Find out more at sydneywater.com.au or call us on 13 20 92.

Experiencing heritage at Parramatta.

$1.5M FOR WESTERN SYDNEY Arts and culture stay up late

WESTERN Sydney is staying ‘Up Late’ thanks to a new program announced in Parramatta by the new NSW Government.

The West’s Arts and Cultural organisations are being encouraged to keep the lights on and the doors on into the evening to boost access and finances of the region.

Minister for the Arts

John Graham said the Culture Up Late program was aimed at driving stronger economic activity and audience growth in the vital Western Sydney arts and cultural scene. with grants of up to $200,000 from the NSW Government’s $1.5M Western Sydney Culture Up Late program.

“Culture Up Late boosts audience

engagement and access to art and cultural experiences, while driving greater economic activity and increasing employment opportunities for performers, creatives and arts workers in our fast-growing communities of Western Sydney,” Mr Graham said.

“At a critical time when audiences are returning to venues and looking

for new experiences, this, initiative gives the people of Western Sydney and beyond greater access to experience exhibitions, performances and events.”

“This investment in culture across Western Sydney supports the growing creative sector and builds its reputation as a key cultural destination for art and cultural lovers.”

Major road reaches milestone

ANEW toll-free motorway for easy connection to the future Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport has reached a major construction milestone, with works now underway for a year.

The new 16-kilometre road is on track to open in 2026, and is a $2B investment in Western Sydney being funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments. Expected to carry 52,000 vehicles per day by 2036, the new road will have connectivity via Elizabeth Drive to the east and The Northern Road to the west.

Cultural venues, museums and galleries in eligible western Sydney local government areas can apply for grants of up to $200,000 to stay open after 5pm. By supporting activities after 5pm, Culture Up Late will allow arts and cultural organisations to develop new programs, extend exhibition hours, diversify income streams by accessing traditional audiences and create vibrant local precincts through engagement with local businesses, such as restaurants, bars and transport providers.

Applications for Western Sydney Culture Up Late are open until Monday May 29. For funding guidelines and application information visit: www. create.nsw.gov.au

Current works are being delivered by contractors Seymour Whyte along the central section and CPB-Georgiou Group Joint Venture through the western section of the future motorway with more than 2000 people being directly or indirectly employed.

Major construction on the M12 will be complete prior to the opening of the new Western Sydney International Airport in 2026. For further information visit nswroads.work/m12.

Late night in Parramatta.

DREAMERS VS REALITY FOR COMMUTERS Futurist vision of Western Sydney

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

FUTERISTS and dreamers see a Western Sydney where everyone lives less than 30 minutes from work, but the reality is far different for today’s commuters.

A recent survey showed the average trip to work in Sydney was 62 minutes – or more twice the ideal time. And that commute costs an average of $22, equal with Hobart as the dearest cities in Australia.

The Real Australian Commute Report said the average Australian travelled 33km at 54 minutes, paying $20 for the privilege,

And they sped $4003 per yearn on average, or $43 billion getting from point A to point B.

‘That’s a lot of money and with rising financial concerns and a potential recession, times are tough on the buses, trains and ‘freeways’,” the report said.

Most of the 5000 commuters surveyed at 85% believed that Governments could do more to ease the cost of their daily commute.

The report found 83% of commuters agree the trip to work has never felt as expensive as now and 47% said the growing cost had placed considerable financial pressure on their household.

When it comes to travelling on public transport, bad behavior is another major

problem for our embattled commuters.

Three quarters of commuters believe that commuters with bad manners should be fined or banned from public transport.

Life on the roads isn’t much better with Western Sydney roads clogged to a standstill during commuting periods. A survey of drivers showed 91% of drivers surveyed should have better knowledge of road rules.

And 85% believe drivers are not courteous or safe.

Drivers are not safe

The pandemic also made a big difference with 59% of former fulltime commuters having changed their mind on how much they were willing to spend in time and money going to work.

Going green and saving the environment is also spruiked by civic planners, but commuters have a far more pragmatic view.

The research showed low running costs at 42% and good performance 39% were far more important than environmental friendliness at 21% when buying a new vehicle.

This could explain why the last State Government’s push for electric vehicles fell flat with voters at the recent election. Just 10% of commuters have bought an environment friendly car.

Surprisingly, of those who are considering buying an environment friendly

THE 10 TH

car, men at 60% are far more interested than women at 46%.

But statistics show that this will change with Gen Z at 46% most likely to go hybrid or electric followed by Gen Y at 45%, Gen X 39% and Boomers 35%.

And finally, the best major city for

commuters is Darwin. They average 36 minutes, spend $12 and travel 26km. Brisbane commuters travel 33km over 59 minutes costing just $19. Melbourne with its vast tram network, costs $21, takes 57 minutes and the average commute is 30km.

KAGYU MONLAM BUDDHIST PRAYER FESTIVAL

AUSTRALIA

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Presiding Master:

Ven. Dekhung Gyaltsey Tulku Rinpoche

Date : 18th May 2023 – 21st May 2023

Time : 9.00am – 7.00pm

Address : Club Merrylands Bowling Club 65 Newman Street, Merrylands, NSW, Australia, 2160

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“ Kagyu Monlam is to spread the seeds of loving kindness and pure motivation, to activate their power, and hence bring about genuine peace, love, happiness and well-being in the world.”

Debate on pros and cons of a of popularly-elected Mayor

„ DI BARTOK

TO have the Lord Mayor elected by the people or by fellow councillors - that was the question debated at a Facebook live forum on May 7.

Independent Councillor Kellie Darley hosted the event, which featured former Ryde mayor and now Bennelong Federal MP Jerome Laxale and election analyst Ben Raue giving their arguments for both sides of the debate.

Ryde will have a popularly-elected mayor from next year, after 76 per cent of residents voted for it in a referendum at last year’s local government elections.

Mr Laxale said that a mayor elected by the people led to stability in council, making for better decisions.

“I come from the private sector where there is stability in management,” he said. “When I was first elected to council in 2008, mayors were elected every year and then every two years, which led to more stability.

Too many flaws

“Between 2008 and 2018, Ryde had eight changes in the mayor and general manager. That turnover creates instability for the council and stakeholders - residents and businesses.

“There are elements of Ryde that are similar to Parramatta. In Ryde we have some of the biggest organisations in the world moving here and they expect stability.”

Mr Laxale admitted there were flaws in the system of having the people elect the mayor, such as the mayor not having the support of other councillors, but he felt it was still a better system than the present one.

Mr Raue, who works in the Tally Room and has been analysing and reporting on elections for more than 10 years, feels there are too many flaws in the popularly-elected mayor model.

“(The popularly elected mayor

system) would give unfair advantage to the party that controls council,” Mr Raue said.

“The mayor really doesn’t have the

power anyway; it is a soft power, more symbolic, chairing the meetings, cutting ribbons.

“Having a mayor elected every two

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years (by fellow councillors) has led to more stability in councils (such as Ryde).”

Mr Raue thinks the present system serves the community well, with councillors who are seen as not representing people well voted out.

He does not feel that having a parliamentary-like system in local government would be in the best interests of the community.

His other concern is that only candidates with a lot of money behind them could fund their campaign for mayor, but Mr Laxale disputed this, pointing out that there were caps on what candidates could spend on their campaign.

“(Funding of campaigns) is well-regulated. There could not be a Clive Palmer-style campaign in local government,” Mr Laxale said.

The debate moved into the make-up of the chamber - how many councillors and the ward system.

Mr Raue said in a city such as Parramatta, 15 councillors would be the bare minimum and said if wards were done away with, councillors could still give local representation to the people who voted for them.

Mr Laxale agreed on this, saying councillors would represent the whole area, not only in their area of origin.

Ms Darley said if councillors covered all areas in a ward-less system, “letterboxing” in election time would be a logistical problem.

Parramatta Council has put out a survey to residents, who have until May 15, to have a say on whether they want the issue to go to a referendum at next year’s council election.

Councils that have a popularly elected mayor in NSW are Sydney City, Newcastle, Wollongong, Hornsby, Burwood, Canada Bay and Fairfield.

To view the Kellie Darley’s online debate with Jerome Laxale and Ben Raue, go to her Facebook page

Councillor Kellie Darley.

Transport for NSW

Blueprint for construction future

MASTER Builders Australia has released a blueprint for future-proofing the construction industry's workforce, with the aim of attracting, recruiting, training, and retaining workers. The paper outlines what will be needed in the coming years to meet projected growth projections and replace workers that leave the industry. According to Master Builders, 486,000 workers need to enter the industry by the end of 2026. The blueprint aims to address this by attracting new workers into the industry, retaining current and emerging workers, and ensuring that training and education products and pathways remain up-todate and flexible.

Call for CCTV in abattoirs

THE Australian Alliance for Animals has called on the country's pork and meat processing industries to support the mandatory use of CCTV in abattoirs to ensure animal welfare standards are upheld. The open letter, jointly signed by the alliance's member organisations and addressed to Australian Pork Limited and the Australian Meat Industry Council, comes in the wake of footage aired on the ABC’s 7.30 program showing pigs being lowered into CO2 gas chambers.

HIA backs stamp duty reform

THE NSW Housing Industry Association (HIA) has released its Stamp Duty Watch report, which reviews the latest developments in stamp duty across Australia. David Bare, Executive Director of the NSW HIA, said that the reform of stamp duty in NSW would lead to improved economic and social outcomes, and that the government has become dependent on a tax that is inefficient

and inequitable. The NSW Labor Party’s policy to abolish stamp duty for first homebuyers on homes under $800,000 was also described as a step in the right direction.

New home sales fall

THE sales of new homes in Australia fell by 7.2% in March compared to the previous month, according to the monthly HIA New Home Sales report. The decline leaves sales in the first three months of 2023 down by 45.9% compared to the same period last year, as the rise in the cash rate over the past year impedes sales. The increase in the cost of land and construction, compounded by higher interest rates, is dampening demand further, and the cancellation rate increased in March to 30.5%.

Campaign targets Antisocial youth

THE NSW Government has launched the “Just…Don’t” campaign in collaboration with the Maitland Liquor Accord, to address anti-social behaviour among younger patrons of licensed venues. The campaign targets young people attending bars, pubs, and clubs through digital and print resources, including videos, social media tiles, posters, coasters, and digital assets. The campaign aims to reduce irresponsible and potentially harmful behavior and develop a responsible drinking culture among younger generations.

Red Shield Appeal this year

THE Salvation Army is urging the Western Sydney community to support its annual Red Shield Appeal to raise $1.9M to support local services for those doing it tough. Funds raised locally will remain in the area. Volunteers can

participate in various ways, including through community collection points, doorknocking, online fundraising, or organising a collection at work, school or sporting event. The Red Shield Appeal weekend is set for May 20 and 21, but there are also various opportunities available throughout May. Each year, through The Salvation Army’s nation-

wide network of services, the Salvos provide:

• Assistance to one person every 17 seconds.

• More than 1.86 million sessions of care to people in need.

• Over one million bed nights to those in need of accommodation.

At Cardinal Gilroy Village, our refurbished units offer comfortable seniors living with on-site community facilities, social event programs, and transport links with proximity to Merrylands and Parramatta.

These bright and airy apartments are spacious and well-appointed, featuring generously proportioned rooms, modern kitchens, ensuite bathrooms, plenty of built-in storage and access to the outdoors.

For your comfort and peace of mind features also include air conditioning, shower grab-rails and level flooring throughout. With your lawns and general maintenance taken care of, you can spend more time doing what you love.

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SYDNEY HILLS LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS 2023

SYDNEY HILLS

HILLS

BUSINESS NIGHT OF NIGHTS

Best Hills businesses on show

HOLLYWOOD has the Oscars and the music industry has the Grammys – but for Sydney Hills businesses, the annual night of nights is Tuesday May 30 at Castle Hills RSL.

That’s the date of the 2023 Sydney Hills Business Awards.

Precedent Productions Managing Director and Awards founder Steve Loe said: “There’s no doubt that local business owners and their staff work hard to provide the best possible service to their customers.

“That’s why the annual Sydney Hills Local Business Awards presentation night is always such a popular event.

“It’s a glittering event that gives finalists a chance to dress up and take a break so they can enjoy an evening of entertainment, good food, relaxed chat and celebration with their colleagues and people from other businesses from around the district.”

Mr Loe said being a finalist at the Sydney Hills Local Business Awards presentation night was an enormous achievement.

“It’s also a chance for businesspeople and their teams to reflect on their successes with a fun night out,” he said.

“Making it to the finalist presentation is a great reflection on their efforts and everyone is always extremely proud to be there.”

All finalists in each category are an-

nounced, with their picture shown on the big screen.

“It’s heart-warming to hear the deafening cheers from the crowd as everyone celebrates the achievement of all the businesses in the room.”

“Today is the day when nominees for the 2023 Hills Local Business Awards discover if they have made it as a finalist.”

Mr Loe said the high quality of all nominees had made the job of judges

incredibly difficult.

“Western Sydney Express, which has supported the awards as media partner for many years, will announce the finalists in each category with a special feature in today’s paper,” he said.

“This is a chance for customers and clients to see if the businesses they nominated have become finalists.”

The Sydney Hills Local Business Awards are only possible with the support of Presenting Partner, Commonwealth

Bank and Major Partners, Hills Shire Council, NOVA Employment and BigClean and support partners, White Key Marketing, Cornerstone and Western Sydney Express.

“It’s with great pleasure that I congratulate all the finalists on their achievements, on behalf of the Inner West Local Business Awards,” Mr Loe said.

“I would also like to thank the Inner West community for the huge support that they continue to show for their local businesses through the Awards every year.

“Without them, these outstanding businesses would receive the recognition which they deserve.”

For more information about the Local Business Awards, visit www.thebusinessawards.com.au.

Scenes form 2022 gala awards night.

We are very grateful and humbled to be finalists in the 2023 Sydney Hills Local Business Awards for Outstanding Professional Services, and would like to thank our wonderful team, clients and supporters who have motivated us to excel.

Our highly trained legal team includes experienced solicitors, barristers, conveyancers, migration agents, and affiliated legal experts to provide a wide range of legal services, including Wills and Estates, Commercial Law, Contract Law, Conveyancing, Criminal Law, Employment Law, Family Law, Immigration Law, Litigation, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.

We are happy to assist with your legal requirements and aim to ensure that your experience and results are the best that we can provide.

We are proud to be:

¾ Finalists in the 2023 Sydney Hills Local Business Awards – Outstanding Professional Services;

¾ Winner of the 2022 Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence in Small Business; and

¾ Winner of the 2022 Australian Small Business Champion in Legal Services.

Hills Local Business Awards Finalists 2023

Clube de lutas is Brazilian Jiu jitsu and Martial arts Dojo

A new wave of learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with a focus on mindset, maximising individual potential and optimising personal growth. At Clube De Lutas, we prioritise our students’ safety so that our gyms in Seven Hills and Rouse Hill become a safe haven for all to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and better themselves through martial arts.

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Guide & Grow, teaching our leaders of tomorrow

Guide & Grow is an authentic Montessori 0-6 years early learning centre, tutoring service with a global online support community to help raise our future generations.

It provides parents and educators around the world with rich resources, live events, access to early childhood resources, expert insights, and a global support community.

“ This is all designed to help you nurture compassionate, resilient and confident children ready to make a lasting impact on the world,” a team member said.

Guide & Grow provides a holistic and revolutionary approach to guiding children, to enhance their curriculum and educators’ skills set in dealing with more challenging moments.

Contact us about a visit to our centre so you can understand how a Montessori based education can help create a more cohesive classroom, harmonious workplace and independent child. Email: marketing@guideandgrow.com

Zectron Web™

We help Sydney businesses turn their dream company website into a reality. Using our expert team of developers and designers, we take your ideas and combine them with our agency knowledge and expertise to create websites that have firm, lasting impact.

Zectron IT™

When something goes wrong you need quality support. The team at Zectron is passionate about our customer service, providing quality support so that you understand exactly what is wrong. No more jargon or technical details that you do not understand — professional support from a real person.

Hills Local Business Awards Finalists 2023

Choice Paper is the preferred supplier to the Gaming, Hospitality and Retail Industry.

1300 278 000

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Our focus is our Children’s learning experience.

Our focus is our children’s learning experience designed to exceed children’s milestones. We welcome parents, families and the community to our specialised learning boutique service.

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BUSINESS LUNCH DELIVERY

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OPEN for Lunch Tuesday – Friday

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Hills Local Business Awards Finalists 2023

White Project Co. is an interior design studio based in Norwest Sydney, founded in 2021. We are a small but passionate team of interior designers, offering a wide range of services. From color consultation, interior design, interior styling, residential architectural design, DA and CDC approval drawings, and much more, we provide our clients with the best quality services.

From the moment you enter our clinic, we want you to feel happy and relaxed! Whichever service you choose, we want to make sure that you to walk away smiling and satis ed.

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Coffee Trad3rs, your local specialty café right here in Castle Hill and Rouse Hill. We have a wide range of items on our menu from award winning drinks, vegetarian and vegan dishes, burgers, noodles, salads, and even a special kids menu so no one misses out. Our cafe's have a dedicated kids zone for the kids to play so you can relax while your kids are entertained. Both our locations are pet friendly and we have plenty of parking space.

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Coffee Trad3rs

Bringing design to life

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Fertility Services at Bella Vista

Located opposite the Norwest Private Hospital since 2009, we’ve been locals for some time now, bringing world leading fertility treatment to your neighbourhood.

Genea Bella Vista offers a wide range of fertility treatments and services, not just IVF. Our world leading Fertility Specialists create fertility care plans focused on you after undertaking the comprehensive diagnosis and workup for which we’re known. www.

Hills Local Business Awards Finalists 2023

Established since 1979, we are the only pre-school in the Hills District that offers true Montessori programs and experiences.

We have pre-school programs for children 3 to 6 years and Parent/Toddler program for children from 15 months and their parents. Our programs are rich and varied combining the Montessori principles relating to Sensorial, Mathematics, Geography, Languages, Practical Life, Creative Experiences, Social Learning and Other Cultures. Get in touch with us to see how you can start the Montessori journey today.

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Ace Property Team is a highly experienced and trusted property investment firm dedicated to helping clients achieve their financial goals through property investment.

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Most have protection plans

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

IF the pandemic taught business owners managers anything, it is to be prepared for anything.

Many learnt the lesson the hard way, but as they face a potential financial slump later this year 90% are prepared this time around.

New research reveals that two out of three Australian online retailers increased their revenue in 2022 despite inflation and rate rises, and nine out of 10 plan to invest more in their business to protect against current economic pressures.

These include expanding their product ranges, improving their customer experience online, and offering more delivery options.

The findings were derived from a survey of 200 online retailers by leading parcel delivery service CouriersPlease.

Business owners and senior decision makers across different retailer sizesmicro (one-15 employees), small (16-50 employees), medium (51-200 employees) and large (more than 200 employees) - were asked whether their revenue increased in 2022 and what investment plans they had to help protect their revenue this year.

Nine in 10 online retailers have at least one business investment plan this year, to help protect their business from lower consumer spending. A breakdown of their responses are as follows:

• 42% will expand their product range.

• 38% will improve their E-Commerce stores.

• 34% will invest in marketing. 31% will expand into new markets.

• 31% will implement new technology such as customer service chatbots, automated fulfilment in their warehouses to improve their customer service.

• 18% will introduce more delivery options.

• 15% will create a better returns or exchange processes.

Richard Thame, CEO at CouriersPlease said the results were encouraging and indicated online retailers’ commitment to their business growth.

“Online retailers are still enjoying the positive effects of the E-Commerce boom, and total revenue for the Australian market is forecasted to continue growing steadily year-on-year, with the market projected to reach US$35B by 2025,” he said.

“But the survey shows that retailers are not naïve to economic fluctuations and are acting now to prepare for potential future challenges.”

Micro businesses are most likely to neglect the need to invest in their business to generate sales in a tough economic period, with one fifth of this

group admitting they will do nothing to hedge against an economic slowdown.

This was followed by only 10% of medium-sized businesses and four per cent of small businesses. Zero per cent of large businesses are willing to resign to fate in the event of economic turndown.

The proactive planning and resilience of these online retailers is exemplified by their positive results for 2022. Two-thirds (64%) of online retailers reported increased revenue in the last calendar year, despite inflation and increasing interest rates throughout 2022.

Just over a quarter 28% of respondents said their 2022 revenue remained the same as in 2021, and only eight per cent of online retailers reported lower revenue in the last calendar year.

A closer look at the data reveals 69 % of online retailers based in NSW reported a revenue increase in 2022, closely

followed by Victoria with 66%, then Queensland with 58%.

Given online retailers in these States are already planning ways to tackle recessionary impacts for the year ahead, it is arguable that NSW, Victorian and Queenslander online retailers will report another positive revenue year for 2023.

Larger retailers were more likely to have increased their revenue in 2022 from 2021 levels, chosen by an impressive 91% of large retailers, 68% of medium-sized retailers, 62%cent of small retailers and 53% per cent of micro retailers.

Similar proportions of micro, small and medium-sized retailers achieved the same levels of revenue in 2022 as in 2021, all between 30-32 per cent. This compares with just 5 per cent of large businesses whose revenue did not change in the same period.

Healthy Ageing:Backing Brain Health in Western Sydney

Dementia is an umbrella term for around 100 different disorders that affect the brain and cause a wide range of symptoms, including impacting people’s memory, decision-making, language, and behaviour. Dementia impacts each person differently, and can also cause changes in people’s physical health, wellbeing, social skills, and everyday functions. Despite common misconceptions, dementia is not a normal part of ageing and help is available for those affected.

Dementia in Australia

Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia and the leading cause of death in Australian women1. There are approximately 401,300 people living with dementia in Australia and this is expected to rise to over 800,000 by 20582. Currently, two-thirds of people living with dementia live in the community3 Within residential aged care facilities, over two-thirds of residents have moderate to severe dementia4

Reducing Dementia Risks

Some risk factors for dementia cannot be changed, such as age, genetics and family history of dementia. However, other dementia risk factors can be modified through healthy lifestyle choices. Focussing on having a healthy brain is important for people of all ages, but especially those who are middle-aged and older. To optimise your brain health, have regular check-ups with your GP, ensure that you are a healthy weight, be physically active, have a healthy diet, reduce alcohol consumption, and quit smoking. Participating in social activities and brain stimulation exercises are also important ways to improve your brain health.

If you would like to improve your physical activity, the Western Sydney Primary Health Network proudly funds ‘Live Life, Get Active’ (LLGA) free classes across Western Sydney. For more information, visit wentwest.com.au/LLGA

1,2,3,4 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2023), Dementia in Australia, Summary, available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/ reports/dementia/dementia-in-aus/contents/summary

Recognising the Signs of Dementia

If you are experiencing changes in your thinking or memory, it is important to speak with your GP. Your doctor needs to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms such as fatigue, stress, depression, infection, or nutrient deficiencies. In many cases, these can be treated or managed. If your GP does identify that you have dementia, early treatment can help slow the disease’s progression. Having an early diagnosis can help you to plan your future, including developing an Advance Care Directive to provide health care staff guidance about your preferences if you are ever unable to speak for yourself. You can call Advance Care Planning Australia on 1300 208 582 or visit bit.ly/advancecareplanning-nsw

The following are signs to speak with your doctor:

9 Difficulty remembering the day and date, or recent events

9 Trouble managing your finances

9 Problems with participating in or following conversations, especially in group settings

9 Loss of interest in activities you previously enjoyed

Getting Help

Western Sydney Primary Health Network commissions the Care Finder program in Western Sydney to assist older people who would not be able to arrange services without intensive support and do not have family members or friends who can help. The service connects people with a ‘care finder’ who will meet them and ask questions to understand their situation. The care finder will then support them in working through the steps to address their needs.

Information on the Care Finder providers in Western Sydney is available at wentwest.com.au/carefinder

For clients with a new or ongoing diagnosis of Dementia, we commission Dementia Australia to provide ongoing counselling, support, and service navigation to clients, families and carer. Further information on this service, and the referral pathway, is available at wentwest.com.au/agedcare

WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD OF CRUISING

Life onboard - post COVID

„ DALLAS

SHERRINGHAM

MILLIONS of Australians cruise every year but in 2023 they are finding it’s a new world on the ocean waves as the post-COVID period takes hold.

I have just witnessed firsthand this new order of COVID protocols on a short cruise aboard PO’s megaship Pacific Adventure.

And straight up, let me say I was pleasantly surprised by the discovery that it was largely business as usual on board.

The biggest hurdle was actually preparing for and undertaking the tasks necessary to pass the COVID protocol prior to the cruise. This included full proof of COVID vaccines and a negative COVID test a couple of days before boarding,

P&O uses the Verifly system to register guests as COVID free, but I found it tricky to navigate at first. So, I printed out all my documents so that I had them in hand at embarkation…just in case.

Once on board, it was obvious that P&O took it very seriously with most staff wearing medical facemasks.

Most passengers didn’t wear facemasks, but I recommend you take them just in case, especially if you need to avoid COVID at all costs.

Pacific Adventure is a modern ship which was formerly Golden Princess. And let me say, it is the

best P&O ship I have ever sailed upon.

Anyone who has experienced one of these luxurious floating resorts as part of the Princess line will understand just how stunning they are.

It has four pools – one indoors and one adults only, stunning water slides, a breathtaking nightclub high above the rear deck and multiple dining options.

These include Luke’s Bar & Grill by Luke Mangan, The Dragon Lady Chinese restaurant, Angelo’s Italian, the Waterfront and 400 Gradi gourmet Pizza Restaurant.

The big COVID enforced change is the Pantry on Deck 14 which is first choice for passengers for breakfast and lunch.

It is now a full-service facility with the famous self-service smorgasbord style meals now dumped.

Pacific Adventure has whole decks dedicated to the new cruising ‘rage’--mini suites.

They are worth the extra fare cost being twice the size of a normal cabin including a double size deck.

Mini suite passengers even have their own breakfast venue known as the Byron Bay Beach Club. Here you get a full-service breakfast without the crowds.

Cruise Magazine has a 22-page Ultimate Guide to Pacific Adventure at: https://www.australiancruisemagazine. com.au/pacific-adventure.html

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3 - 4 Stars

THE

The Guardians gang are back! Quill (Chris Pratt) is devastated by his loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and the rest of the team are trying to hold it together.

When Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) throws Rocket (Bradley Cooper) into a coma, however, the team has to travel across the Galaxy to track down a piece of code to save the deadly racoon - in the process, discovering the horrors perpetrated on the animal, by the nefarious High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji).

The beauty of James Gunn’s work with Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3 (hereafter, GOTG3), is that he never shies away from the painful, tortuous and emotional.

Sure, the movie may be overstuffed. Sure, some of Rocket’s old friends will give you nightmares by virtue of their likeness to Toy Story characters that traumatized you as a kid. But ultimately, Gunn succeeds where so many directors of the past few MCU films have failed, by engaging honestly and authentically with the material.

There’s witty quips all around here, and Chris Pratt is mercifully back in the Star Lord box that he seems to have drifted from as a side character in recent adventures. But the star of the show is Rocket Racoon, and the character (and voice actor Bradley Cooper) do a fantastic job of grounding the film and tugging on the heart strings.

Visually, the film continues the trend of the GOTG films - expansive and panoramic space sequences, coupled with gorgeous set design, crazy characters,

and every colour imaginable. The music is also, as always with this franchise, on point; a hodgepodge of classic bangers.

All that said, the film is undoubtedly jam packed and does run long. It’s tough, at this stage of the MCU, to feel fresh and exciting again. At some point during this film, those familiar thoughts of ‘Oh,

I know what’s going to happen now’ pop up. The movie plays by the rules, despite its claims of breaking them, and that remains the ultimate stumbling block in this cinematic universe.

GOTG3 is a welcome return to quality entertainment from Marvel, but the fact

B - 4 Stars

A distinct lack of actual book references in this film.

The gang is back together again. This time, Vivian (Jane Fonda) is getting married, and Diane (Diane Keaton), Carol (Mary Steenburgen) and Sharon (Candice Bergen) take her to Italy for her bachelorette. There, they find stunning landscapes, oodles of prosecco, drama in a pair of dastardly porters, and romance - new, old and rekindled.

Look, this film is going to appeal to a certain type of person no matter how terrible it is. And it is objectively terrible. The plot is borderline nonexistent, t he jokes are the lowest of low hanging fruit, and the performances are borderline sleepwalking. Indeed, one of the funniest parts of this film is watching these characters suddenly break out into ‘tears’ - quotations needed, as the performance level here never allows for real tears, sounds that could really indicate tears, or indeed any change in facial expression.

The film also has a series of tremendously annoying habits. The first is that it insists on using predominantly

film quotes as dialogue for its character (contrary to the media referenced in the title), and having its characters immediately reference what film it came from.

Think nearly 2 hours of “Of all the gin joints. Casablanca.” The second gripe is that halfway through the film, Diane and Vivian just go stand on a balcony

it isn’t bad doesn’t mean it is close to as good, groundbreaking, or strong as the original.

and explain the plot of the previous half of the movie, and then literally say “I wonder what will happen next”. We get it. It’s a movie. Some things have happened. Some things have happened. Don’t pad the runtime with this.

Finally, and perhaps most frustratingly, Candice Bergen delivers a speech in prison that stops and starts more times than the ending of Return of the King.

The most important thing to remember though, is that none of this matters an ounce. The cinema we saw it in, full of people geared towards this exact sort of completely banal, inoffensive, afternoon content, absolutely loved it.

They roared with laughter at all the right moments, and to be fair probably shed a tear. If you loved the first movie, you’ll love this movie too.

MCU returns to its former prowess, with a fun, funny and emotionally powerful installment of our favorite wacky outer space heroes.

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

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

Further specifications, including paint colours and pricing, offered for the NEW coupe-SUV

„ BY THE GO AUTO TERAM

HONDA Australia has this week confirmed pricing for its forthcoming ZR-V coupe-SUV, a model it says will slot between the HR-V (from $36,700 d/a) and next-generation CR-V (pricing TBA) in its SUV portfolio.

Priced from $40,200 drive-away, the ZR-V will be offered in four trim grades and with petrol and petrol-electric (hybrid) drivelines. The flagship e:HEV LX (hybrid) tops the range at $54,900 drive-away.

Honda says the range features various safety, interior and exterior specification details, but is holding information close to its chest until the model’s official launch on May 19.

Colour choices for the model include Crystal Black, Platinum Grey, Platinum Crystal Blue, Platinum White and Premium Crystal Garnet.

“The new Honda ZR-V offers optimal balance of fuel efficiency and dynamic performance, from day to day commuting in city and suburban environments, to weekend adventures on highways and winding coastal and country roads,” said Honda Australia in a statement.

“The petrol variants (VTi LX, VTi L & VTi X) feature the 1.5-litre VTEC turbocharged engine and the e:HEV LX sports a two-motor hybrid system with a 2.0-litre direct injection engine. Both systems deliver an impressive driving experience.”

Honda has previously confirmed the ZR-V will offer features that include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity via a 9.0-inch colour touchscreen, front and rear parking sensors and reversing camera, and LED headlights. However, it is not known if these features are standard across the board, or grade dependent.

Viewing overseas model specifications, it is understood the ZR-V will receive as standard safety equipment including AEB, traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control, though again it is not known how these features will be distributed across the Australian ZR-V line-up.

The Honda ZR-V will rival models including the Nissan Qashqai, Mazda CX30 and Skoda Karoq, but offer its own, unique coupe-like proportions.

The ZR-V features a vertical grille which blends seamlessly with the bumper surround and is flanked by narrow, wide-set headlights like those found on the latest Civic and HR-V. Honda says the front of its latest SUV is meant to convey “highly sophisticated expression, yet with stature and a strong presence”.

With a widened stance, the rear of the body aims to add volume to the ZR-V’s proportions, the rear haunches and tailgate culminating in a smooth, upswept look that is neither as edgy as the HR-V, yet as stylised as many competitors’ coupe-SUV offerings.

Inside, the link between other new-generation Honda models is evident. The cabin of the ZR-V is spacious and open with an instrument panel that stretches out horizontally across the dashboard, and a well-presented array of functional elements finished with their own high-quality design.

Like the CR-V, the ZR-V features a high-deck centre control to separate the front seats and create individual zones for the driver and front-seat passenger.

The model also promises an elevated view of the road and a wide, horizontal field of vision thanks to drawn back A pillars and door-mounted wing mirrors, again like those of the Civic, HR-V and forthcoming CR-V.

LOW IMPACT EXERCISE WITH MANY BENEFITS Swim to your heart’s content

SWIMMING is a low-impact form of exercise that has numerous health benefits for individuals of all ages and fitness levels.

Whether you are an experienced swimmer or just starting out, incorporating swimming into your fitness routine can have a positive impact on your physical and mental health.

In this article, we will explore some of the many health benefits of swimming.

First and foremost, swimming is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise. It can help improve your overall heart health by increasing your heart rate and strengthening your heart muscle.

Regular swimming can also help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease, and improve circulation throughout the body.

In addition to its cardiovascular benefits, swimming is also a great way to build strength and tone your muscles.

The resistance of the water provides a low-impact workout that is gentle on your joints, making it an ideal form of exercise for individuals with arthritis, joint pain, or other mobility issues.

Swimming can also help improve posture and balance, as well as increase flexibility and range of motion.

Swimming is also a great stress-reliever. The rhythmic movement of swimming and the sound of water can

be incredibly calming and meditative, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.

Swimming has also been shown to increase the production of endorphins, the body's natural mood boosters, which can help improve overall mood and reduce feelings of depression.

For individuals looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, swimming can be an effective form of exercise.

Swimming burns a significant number of calories, with an hour of moderate swimming burning around 500-600 calories. It can also help boost metabolism and improve overall body composition by building lean muscle mass.

Swimming is also a great form of exercise for individuals with respiratory issues such as asthma. The warm, humid environment of an indoor pool can help improve lung function and reduce symptoms of asthma.

Swimming can also help improve overall lung capacity and endurance, making it an ideal form of exercise for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other respiratory conditions.

Swimming is a fun and social form of exercise that can be enjoyed by individuals of all ages and fitness levels.

Whether you prefer swimming laps,

water aerobics, or just splashing around with friends and family, swimming is a great way to stay active and connect with others.

Swimming is a versatile and effective form of exercise that offers numerous health benefits. From improving cardiovascular health and building strength to reducing stress and improving mood, swimming can help individuals of all ages and fitness levels lead a healthier and more active lifestyle.

So, whether you are a seasoned swimmer or just starting out, grab your swimsuit and jump in – your body and mind will thank you!

PODCAST AND VIDEO RECORDING MADE EASY

BREED Australia launches studio

BREED Australia, a Quakers Hillbased charity, has launched a new, community-focused podcast and video recording studio at the BREED Business Centre located at Nirimba Educational Precinct.

Named the Sunrise Studio, the facility is designed to provide creators and businesses with a professional and fully equipped space to produce high-quality podcast and video content.

With the growing popularity of podcasts as a medium for content creation and marketing, BREED Australia recognised the need for a dedicated space that meets the needs of podcasters and video producers.

The Sunrise Studio, partly funded by the federal government's Stronger Communities Program, is fully equipped with cutting-edge technology and equipment, including high-quality microphones, a podcast mixer, a video recording camera, and a professional lighting setup.

The studio includes recording and editing software, free parking, amenities, and tea/coffee-making facilities.

The Sunrise Studio also features a comfortable and inspiring space for creators to work in.

The studio is designed to be a welcoming, creative environment that encourages productivity and collaboration.

Studio users can also access house experts to provide mentoring and guidance

to take their projects to the next level.

"We're thrilled to offer podcasters and video content creators a functional and modern studio designed specifically for their needs," said Amber Carlson, Operations Manager of BREED Australia.

"Our studio is designed to help creators produce high-quality content in a comfortable, inspiring environment that encourages creativity and collaboration.

“We believe our studio will empower

our wider community, including students, freelancers, small businesses, and community organisations, to take their content to the next level. We're excited to be a part of their journey."

"The Sunrise Studio is the only facility of its kind in Western Sydney and is aligned to BREED Australia's mission to provide solutions to increase employment opportunities, build mental resilience and develop youth pathways,"

said Emmanuel Martin, General Manager of BREED Australia.

"As an organisation that exists to serve communities, we will provide generous discounts to BREED Business Partners, students, other charitable organisations and disadvantaged groups."

BREED Australia currently accepts bookings for Sunrise Studios and provides affordable and flexible co-working spaces, virtual office solutions, and meeting room hire at its BREED Business Hub.

For more information on BREED Australia and their new podcast studio, please visit www.breedaustralia.com.au.

The new BREED podcasting studio.

CONTROL WITHOUT JUDGEMENT

The power of mindfulness

MINDFULLNESS is a powerful practice that has been gaining traction in recent years for its ability to reduce stress, increase focus, and improve overall well-being.

The practice of mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment, without judgment, and with a sense of curiosity and openness.

In this article, we will explore what mindfulness is and the benefits that can be gained from incorporating it into your daily life.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is an ancient practice that has been around for thousands of years, with roots in Buddhist meditation. It involves bringing your attention to the present moment, focusing on your thoughts, feelings, and sensations, without judging or trying to change them.

Mindfulness is not about stopping thoughts or emotions from arising, but rather about learning to observe them with an open mind and heart.

Mindfulness can be practiced in a variety of ways, including meditation, yoga, and mindful breathing exercises.

The key is to find a method that works for you and to make it a regular part of your routine.

Benefits of Mindfulness

The benefits of mindfulness are numerous and have been backed by research. Here are just a few of the many ways that mindfulness can improve your life:

Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Mindfulness has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety by helping people to become more aware of their thoughts and emotions.

By practicing mindfulness, you can learn to observe your thoughts without judgment and to let them go, rather than getting caught up in them. This can lead to a greater sense of calm and well-being.

Improves Focus and Attention

Mindfulness has also been shown to improve focus and attention. By training your mind to focus on the present moment, you can improve your ability to concentrate on tasks and to stay focused in the face of distractions.

Enhances Self-Awareness

Mindfulness can also enhance self-awareness, helping you to become more in tune with your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. This can lead to greater self-understanding and a greater sense of control over your life.

Improves Sleep

Mindfulness has been shown to improve sleep by reducing stress and anxiety and by promoting relaxation. By practicing mindfulness before bed, you can help to calm your mind and prepare your body for sleep.

Boosts Immune System

There is also evidence to suggest that mindfulness can boost the immune system. By reducing stress and promoting relaxation, mindfulness may help to improve the body's ability to fight off illness and disease.

Incorporating Mindfulness into Your Life

If you are interested in incorporating mindfulness into your life, there are many ways to get started. One of

the most popular methods is through mindfulness meditation, which involves sitting quietly and focusing on your breath or a specific object.

There are also many mindfulness apps and guided meditations available, which can make it easier to get started and to stay consistent with your practice. Additionally, incorporating mindfulness into your daily activities, such as mindful eating or mindful walking, can help to bring greater awareness and presence to your life.

Conclusion

Mindfulness is a powerful practice that can bring numerous benefits to your life, including reduced stress, improved focus and attention, and enhanced self-awareness.

By incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine, you can experience greater well-being and a greater sense of control over your life.

Whether through meditation, yoga, or other mindful practices, mindfulness is a skill that can be developed and honed over time, leading to greater peace and happiness in your life.

puzzles

QUICK CROSSWORD

1. What is the most popular sport in Ethiopia?

2. What is the name of the children’s book written by Neil Gaiman (pictured), that features a boy named Bod?

3. Which Australian actress starred as Kate McGregor in Sea Patrol?

13 Job testimonials (10)

14 Establish in advance (9)

15 Flying machine (9)

17 Education (9)

21 Bird call (5)

23 very keen; ardent (4)

24 Descends underwater (5)

25 Ran away quickly (4)

SUDOKU

4. What type of government controls Lebanon?

5. What is the name of the new Los Angeles stadium that is home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers?

6. Which Ancient Roman goddess is the equivalent to the Greek Athena?

7. The first commercial CD release was a recording of waltzes by which composer?

8. Apia is the capital of which country?

9. Who created the Tv series Gilmore Girls?

10. Which Middle Eastern country has been ruled by the Al Khalifa dynasty since 1783?

ACROSS

1 Grains

5 Pain

6 Pine (e.g.)

7 Fibrous plant

DOWN

1 Promise

2 Land area

3 Those people

4 Leak

WORD FIND No. 028

The leftover letters will spell out a secret message.

WORD No. 028

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:

ENTERTAINMENT CROSSWORD

WORD FILL

5 Le TT e RS

ACROSS

1 2012 film starring Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz and Alan Rickman (6)

5 He played Judas in the 2018 biblical drama Mary Magdalene, – Rahim  (5)

7 Actress and theatre director born in Ivanhoe, Victoria, – Blanchett (4)

9 Aussie actress who won the third season of Dancing with the Stars, – Nicodemou (3)

10 2012–13 US military drama series (4,6)

12 English actor who died while filming Gladiator, Oliver – (4)

Insert each number from 1 to 9 in the shaded squares to solve all the horizontal and vertical equations.

13 Star of Olympus Has Fallen and its sequels, –Eckhart (5)

Multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

14 2012 Norwegian supernatural horror (5)

15 2018 Netflix horror film, The – House (4)

18 Winner of a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in Vice, Christian – (4)

20 Starred as Ted Taylor in Packed to the Rafters, Michael – (5)

No. 037

16 Acclaimed 1994 crime film featuring characters Marsellus Wallace and Winston Wolfe (4,7)

17 Long-running English police drama set in the ’60s (9)

18 Aussie–American actress of the Netflix series Bloodline, Jacinda – (7)

19 British historical fiction series based on Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories series of novels, The – Kingdom (4)

22 Aussie actress who starred in the TV series Damages, Rose – (5)

24 Oliver Stone’s 1991 political thriller (1,1,1)

26 Long-running Neighbours character played by Tom Oliver, – Carpenter (3)

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

TRIAL VENUE

27 Long-running Home and Away character played by Ray Meagher, – Stewart (3)

WAKED WASPS

HERALDS NOWHERE STATION

8 Le TT e RS

SCHEDULE TRANSMIT

10 Le TT e RS

28 Popular US crime drama, Law & Order: Special Victims – (4)

6 Le TT e RS

DERAIL ONSETS

29 Neo in the Matrix films, – Reeves (5)

7 Le TT e RS

GREENEST NEUROSES

CHEMICALLY DIVINITIES

HIDDEN WORD

30 2015 US found-footage horror thriller starring Ashley Benson (6)

DOWN

ALBINOS AUDITOR CANYONS

2 Star of Big Eyes and Arrival, Amy – (5)

3 Actor who plays the lead character in the series Ozark, Jason – (7)

4 2013 British–Australian war film starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman (3,7,3)

5 Thriller starring Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst, The – Faces of January (3)

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

1 A square is a — with four sides

2 Something you put on an envelope

3 Sour fruit

4 Book that tells stories about Jesus

5 Someone who looks after kids, like Mary Poppins

6 Trimmed the grass

7 Thoughts, brainwaves

8 Side dish with mixed lettuce and dressing

S R T

6 Name of the 1960s group of entertainers featuring Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, The – Pack (3)

e G

A S I

21 Australian actress also known by her rap name MC Dusk, – Cornish (5)

23 Comedy-drama starring Channing Tatum (pictured), Magic – (4)

T I

25 Actor, playwright and filmmaker who played the titular character in Alex Cross (5,5)

H R S

7 Actor who played Bill in Tarantino’s Kill Bill films, David – (9)

Insert the missing letters to make 10 words –five reading across the grid and five reading down.

1. In what year was Thornton awarded an Order of Australia?

A. 2019

B. 2015

C. 2009

3. Besides Wentworth, Thornton starred in which prison drama?

A. Prisoner

B. Cop Shop

C. Matlock Police

8 The fifth and final film in the Dirty Harry series (3,4,4)

D. 2005

D. All of the above

NOTe: more than one solution may be possible

11 Star of Tammy and Hereditary, – Collette (4)

14 1996 rom-com starring David Schwimmer and 11-down (3,10)

2. Which iconic Aussie film did she star in?

A. Strictly Ballroom

B. Muriel’s Wedding

C. The Man from Snowy River

D. All of the above

4. Who does Thornton play in Wentworth?

A. Sonia Stevens

B. Vera Bennett

C. Marie Winter

D. None of the above

ROYCE SIMMONS WALKS INTO OUR HEARTS The Trek for dementia

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

MANY years ago in my time as a Rugby League writer, I watched a young bloke called Royce Simmons play his first junior rep game on a cold winter’s day.

The boy from Gooloogong, a little town outside Cowra, had been a Rugby Union junior rep who switched to League and ended playing first grade for the Cowra Magpies and Canowindra Tigers.

He had the familiar trademark wry smile and country drawl and was a sharp young bloke in those days- a far cry from his rugged chunky build of later years.

He went on to become a superstar of the game with Penrith being a regular State of Origin and Test player and winning a premiership with the Panthers.

There was glory and triumph his long, gleaming career, but when the Tumult and the Shouting died, Royce knew something wasn’t quite right.

There were the missing memories, struggles to remember words and misplaced items which can be summarised as cognitive dysfunction. He was devastated when it was diagnosed as the early stages of dementia.

You see, the disease normally terrorises elderly people – Royce was just 60.

SPORTS QUIZ

1. Which decorated Carlton player married his longtime girlfriend in December?

2. Untold: Deal with the Devil is a 2021 documentary film about which former professional boxer?

3. What was the reason for a 40-minute delay during an NBA match in January between Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics?

But bush boys and Panthers don’t curl up and wait to die. He told everyone a year later and decided to do something about raising awareness.

Royce set out to do it the hard waytrekking the bush roads of his youth to raise awareness and funds.

Out in Groups 10 and 11, part of

5. Which NBL team does Xavier Cooks currently play for?

6. Which European golf legend recently passed away at the age of 62?

7. Which team does Qatari Rally driver Nasser Al-Attiyah race for?

8. Which ex-AFL star and analyst announced he was taking a break from his media career and moving his family overseas? Steve Carell plays unconventional boxing enthusiast John du Pont in which 2014 film?

Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell made history after scoring how many points against Chicago Bulls?

Which Australian sporting league recently announced its season would be reduced from 61 to 43 games in future seasons?

12. Which AFLW team finished at the bottom of the ladder during season seven in 2022?

the legendary Western Division Rugby League region, footy stars have many friends, most of whom they have never met.

Recently he walked though those towns again before he took the final steps of his 313km trek into Bathurst and amongst those cheering him on was

13. In what year did Cadel Evans win the Tour de France?

14. Kerri Pottharst and Natalie Cook won a Gold Medal in what event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics?

15. Alexei Popyrin represents Australia in which sport?

16. Which AFL team did Australian test wicketkeeper Alex Carey once play for?

17. Which car company is a major sponsor of the Australian Open tennis?

18. 'Mankading' is a term used in which sport?

19. The Australian Diamonds netball team took part in a quad series in January held in which nation?

20. Earlier this year, which Australian cricketer tested positive for COVID on the first day of the Third Test against South Africa?

21. Which American businessman is president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship organisation?

22. ICC Cricket Hall of Fame member Vinoo Mankad played 44 Test matches between 1946 and 1959 for which nation?

Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen. Penrith City Council was blown away by the former Panthers skipper’s fundraising efforts last year through the inaugural Royce’s Big Walk, which saw him raise almost $1m for dementia

Continued on page 23

23. In 1966, with her attempt to register for the race refused, who became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon?

24. And in 1967, despite interference from a race official, who became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon with an official race registration?

25. Which 1989-founded tennis tournament was replaced by the ATP Cup from 2020-22, which itself was replaced by the United Cup?

26. Which South African bowler was struck by part of a cablesuspended camera system as it filmed the 2022 Boxing Day Test?

27. Australian motorcyclists Daniel Sanders, Toby Price and Andrew Houlihan competed in the 2022 edition of which off-road endurance event?

28. The Motor City Cruise is an NBA G League team affiliated with which NBA team?

29. Which Portugal-born Australian cricketer captains the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League?

30. Pelé played three seasons for which now-defunct North American Soccer League club?

Oyce Simmons is supported by Brad Fittler and Andrew Farrar during Royce’s Big Walk. (Image courtesy of Panthers).

Donovan Mitchell

Cadel Evans

Rookie 11-20: Off the bench 21-25: Rising star 26+ Most valuable player

research following his own Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2021.

This year, Councillors are throwing their support behind the local hero and his charity, donating $3000 to Royce’s Big Walk after his awe-inspiring journey for 2023.

Traveling from Dubbo

Cr Hitchen said Council and the wider Penrith community was incredibly proud of Royce for travelling from Dubbo to Bathurst on foot over 12 days to fundraise and raise awareness.

“Royce Simmons is a remarkable man who was Penrith’s playmaker on the footy field during the 1991 NRL Grand Final and I was taken back to that moment as I watched him make it over the line once more in Bathurst,” Cr Hitchen said.

“Royce has turned his own tragedy into fundraising for dementia research, which is vital as there are more than 400,000 Australians living with dementia and it is the leading cause of death for women in this country,” she said.

“Throughout his journey, this local hero has been holding community events during stops along the way as well as fundraisers for local junior Rugby League clubs, proving his everlasting love for the sport at a grassroots level.

“We are all so proud of Royce and thank him for his selfless and courageous efforts – he is an inspiration and an incredible role model for our community.”

Day one of Royce’s Big Walk saw

Royce and his team travel 30km from Dubbo to Wambangalang. Stops along the way included Baldry, Parkes, Forbes and Orange.

He triumphantly arrived at Carrington Park in Bathurst ahead of the Panthers vs Wests Tigers Royce Simmons Cup match where he was met with roaring fans from near and far.

Royce said he was grateful for Council’s support and that this donation would help make a difference.

"Every dollar we raise through Royce’s Big Walk is another small step towards finding a cure for dementia,” he said.

"Last year we funded three research projects and we look forward to continuing that work moving forward.

"I’m sincerely grateful for the support of Penrith City Council, the people of Penrith and everyone who has got behind Royce’s Big Walk this year."

Royce Simmons with Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen after his 12-day journey ends in Bathurst.