Parramatta Times - February 2023

ELECTION

Candidates face off

PETER WYNN MOVES AFTER 35 YEARS

SPORT: BOXING CHAMP SHOCK DIAGNOSIS

First Nations festival shines across the region

CITY of Parramatta’s First Nations hip hop festival Ngana Birrung is back and bigger than ever with the addition of two new Western Sydney sites. Over three incredible nights, Ngana Birrung (Dharug for ‘black stars’) will take over stages in Campbelltown, Rosehill and Penrith. Rapper JK-47 returns to headline the music event playing audience favourites and tracks from his latest album Revision for Regrowth. The music event brings together some of the country’s best musicians with the stellar line-up including Western Sydney rapper and singer A.GIRL; hip hop artist Prodikal-1; R&B singer and songwriter Keely; rapper TBreezy; rapper Walkerboy and DJ Kapital J. More: page 8.

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Peter Wynn moves after 35 years

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

PETER Wynn has moved his famous sports store after 35 years trading at 197 Church St, but he didn’t’ have far to go when relocating,

“It’s 30m down the street at the corner of Church and Macquarie Sts and is a good location,” he said this week.

Peter Wynn’s Score has been an icon of Parramatta since the former Australian and Eels second rower started it with his brother-inlaw Mark Assef in 1988.

The new location was news nationwide recently and Peter was given a Community Contribution Award for his services to the Parramatta community by Federal Member for Parramatta Andrew Charlton.

Going to the store and having your photo taken with Peter was a ‘rite of passage’ for Rugby League players, fans and celebrities. Everyone from Ray Warren to Bert Newton turned up at the store, as well as TV News and Sports crews when major games were played.

I talked to Peter after his first day’s trading and he said it had “gone well”.

New service centre at North Rocks

ANEW Service NSW Centre will open in North Rocks Shopping Centre, North Rocks, in mid-2023.

The centre will offer over 1000 NSW government transactions, including up to 180 driving tests a week.

The centre will be open 6 days a week and will provide a concierge service and enhanced digital offerings to customers. A Savings Specialist will also be on hand to help customers apply for government savings and rebates.

“The North Rocks Service Centre will make it easier for customers to ac-

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

cess important NSW Government services and transactions, including vehicle registration, Working with Children Checks, Seniors Card applications, trades licences, driver licences and driver testing,” Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said.

The North Rocks Service Centre will be the 116th Service Centre opened across the state since 2013 and the eighth new metro service centre to open in Sydney since 2019, with two more due to open in 2023.

The recent expansion includes 24 new service centres across regional and remote NSW as part of a $20M expansion between 2017 and 2019.

• 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.

SPECIAL FEATURE: The Parramatta Times will have a special feature on Peter Wynn in our March edition.

Peter Wynn, right, is on thje move.

www.parramattatimes.com.au www.facebook.com/parramattatimes www.linkedin/parramattatimes

ISSUE 34

FEbrUary 2023

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THREE MEN TAKE PRIESTHOOD JOURNEY Spectacular ceremony at Parramatta

„ SASWATI MUKHERJEE

ON Thursday, February 2, three men from Western Sydney entered the hallowed journey of Catholic priesthood by being ordained amidst a spectacular ceremony at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta.

Having each completed well over eight years of study at the Holy Spirit Seminary and gained experience by working in various local parishes, they have been out in the community for quite some time, helping the sick, marginalised and needy people.

They would now work together with over 120 priests in the extremely culturally diverse Catholic Diocese in Australia, bringing to eight, the number of new priests ordained since 2018.

The ordination was celebrated by Vincent Long, OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta. All the Clergy in the Diocese- from Western Sydney right up to the Blue Mountains, wore their best vestments, and ended with a ceremonial guard of honour function. The St Patrick’s Choir crooned to songs, penned by a young Sydney composer.

The youngest ever Assistant Cathedral Organist, 19-year-old Andrew Newman, played the 125-year-old Cathedral organ.

“Each ordination is a joyous occasion, and to have three ordinations at one time is truly a sign of hope and renewal of God’s everlasting love for his people,” said Bishop Long.

Stating that the three new priests would rejuvenate the Church in Parramatta, Bishop Long said they are all ready to spread the word and love of Jesus to the community.

The Diocese of Parramatta is the Catholic Church in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains and is home to over 320,000 Catholics with 47 parishes and churches.

The Diocese educates more than 43,000 students across its 82 schools, employs more than 5,000 people and cares for thousands of people in need through its social services arm, Catholic Care.

Significantly, Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv was appointed the fourth Bishop of Parramatta in 2016. He is Australia’s first Asianborn Bishop, and the first Vietnamese-born Bishop to lead a Catholic Diocese outside of Vietnam.

This reinvigoration of faith for young people will be on display later this year as 170 pilgrims from the Diocese celebrate their Catholic faith at World Youth Day in Lisbon with Pope Francis and millions from around the world.

Following the Ordination Mass, the newly ordained priests gave their first blessings in the Cathedral Chapel to the Bishop, members of their families, clergy and seminarians.

The Three New Priests

Parish in Greystanes. He spent his early years in Greystanes, before moving to Wetherill Park, where he attended St Gertrude’s Parish, Smithfield.

Whilst at Patrician Brothers College Fairfield, Adam had fallen away from practising his faith, only to rediscover his love for God with encouragement from a teacher. Attending World Youth Day in Sydney at age 18, Adam encountered the power of the Holy Spirit at work in his life. This was the turning point, with him becoming more involved in his parish, travelling alongside inspirational priests and young adults.

Rev Carlow spent a year discerning with the Capuchin Franciscans, before entering the Diocese of Parramatta as a seminarian.

More nurses join health

THIS year, more than 3,600 graduate nurses and midwives will start their careers in 130 public hospitals and health services in NSW.

This marks an 18% increase from last year and is the largest intake of any state or territory in Australia.

Premier Dominic Perrottet, along with Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor and Minister for Health Brad Hazzard, extended their warm welcome to the new nursing and midwifery recruits, who will start work across NSW public hospitals this month.

The new graduates have an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in the state's healthcare system, which continues to adapt and innovate in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over a third of the record number of new graduates have chosen to work in rural and regional hospitals, demonstrating their commitment to serving their communities.

The large intake of graduate nurses and midwives this year is a significant boost for patients and communities throughout NSW, and the new recruits have the opportunity to make a big difference to the health and wellbeing of those they serve.

At the tender age of four or five, Rev Dimian knew what his calling was. From the very beginning, he was attracted to priesthood as a vocation. Attending Mass with his family at St Mark’s Coptic Catholic Church and school at Redfield College, he was drawn by the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Confession and preaching the truth by faith and reason.

“While I tried pursuing Engineering and then Optometry after school, these paths only made me profoundly restless, and I knew that God wanted me elsewhere,” said Rev Dimian, who finally joined the seminary in 2014 when he was 21.

New emergency dashboard site

ANEW disaster dashboard will help keep City of Parramatta residents safe and informed with real-time emergency updates and alerts from the Bureau of Meteorology, Live Traffic NSW and Rural Fire Services.

The new disaster dashboard offers a one-stop shop with live emergency information and advice including weather warnings, fire risk, air quality and road conditions plus handy emergency contacts.

Rev Jack Elkazzi, 42.

The youngest of three siblings, Rev Elkazzi was born and raised in Australia, a Maronite Catholic, serving in the Latin rite.

He grew up in Sydney till eight, then moved to Couridjah, near Picton, until he was 13, and then moved back to Sydney. He attended Canterbury and Punchbowl Boys High until Year 10, then completed his trade as a light vehicle mechanic.

“Faith played a significant part of my life growing up. However, in my late teens and early twenties, my faith weakened and increasingly, I turned away from God. This led me into all sorts of experiences, until one day, I cried to God for help, for a change, because there is no true happiness in darkness,” said Rev Elkazzi.

This change occurred at World Youth Day Sydney in 2008. Post this event, he found himself once again praying, going to Mass and making regular confessions.

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis said the new dashboard provided up-to-date, reliable information to keep residents updated during emergencies and better prepared for weather events.

“With this year’s record-breaking rain from La Nina and constant high-risk weather events across NSW, it’s more important than ever that our communities feel safe, informed and connected.” Cr Davis said.

“Councils are an important source for local information and the City of Parramatta’s new disaster dashboard is a one-stop shop for advice and alerts about fire, flood, traffic and weather events. We encourage communities to check out our new dashboard, pin it, and keep it as a first point of reference.”

Council’s new disaster dashboard includes:

• Road conditions and closures;

• Weather warnings;

• Flood risk; Power outages;

• Air quality;

• Fires near me;

• Helpful emergency contacts.

Born in 1989, Rev Carlow was baptised at Our Lady, Queen of Peace

In 2015, he joined the Holy Spirit Seminary.

The new dashboard is now live at - www.alerts. cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/

Rev Matthew Dimian, 30

Rev Adam Carlow, 33.

Parramatta a key seat on March 25

PARRAMATTA will be a key seat in the NSW election on March 25, with sitting Liberal member Geoff Lee resigning after 12 years, and a redistribution of the boundaries.

The new seat has taken in areas considered safer for Labor, such as Wentworth Pt and Lidcombe, notionally

reducing the Liberal margin from 10.6 per cent to 6.5 per cent.

It could still go either way but is considered winnable for Labor.

Lee had wrested the seat from Labor in 2011, making it a safe Liberal seat.

Hoping to retain the seat for the Liberals is local lawyer Katie Mullens, a rel-

ative unknown, up against the high-profile Lord Mayor Donna Davis for Labor.

Mullens calls herself the “underdog” but is dogged in her campaign to retain the seat for the government, given the number of projects still in the pipeline.

Davis is banking on the electorate wanting a change, especially in some of

the suburbs that have issues with the government.

Both candidates are busy on the hustings, listening to voters and attending local groups and events.

DI BARTOK finds out what makes these candidates tick and what they feel the electorate of Parramatta needs

Not time for change says Liberal candidate

CALLING herself the “underdog” in the battle for Parramatta, Katie Mullens is doing more than just banking on the Coalition Government’s massive spending in the electorate over the past 12 years.

As the Liberal candidate, the 39 year old local lawyer knows that she does not have the profile of Labor’s candidate, the high-profile Lord Mayor Donna Davis. But she has hit the ground running since winning an uncontested pre-selection last month, meeting people on the street, speaking to business owners and attending community events.

Mullens says she has “received a good response” from people when she has attended local groups or met people on the street.

“I have worked as a lawyer for a small Parramatta legal practice for 15 years so have been exposed to people helping them with their issues,” Mullens said.

“I have lived in Parramatta for most of my adult life, moving here to study at the University of Western Sydney.”

Proud to be the first person in her family to attend university, Mullens worked as a waitress in local cafes to pay for her study.

While she works for Ben Barrak

Lawyers, Mullens says she is “not beholden” to the controversial former Liberal councillor known for his combative nature.

“I am totally independent and I have not been a political staffer, though I have always helped out in Liberal campaigns in past elections,” she said.

Mullens is hoping voters will look at the government’s track record since Geoff Lee took the seat 12 years ago.

“Geoff has managed to bring a record amount of government spending to Parramatta and, if elected, I will work for the completion of the Parramatta Light Rail and for other projects such as the Powerhouse and Westmead Hospital expansion.”

A strong advocate of fitness, Mullens is also committed to seeing green space is protected and expanded in the CBD and suburbs of Parramatta.

With cost of living pressures emerging as the main concern of families, Mullens says the Coalition is helping with toll rebates, the first homebuyer scheme, scrapping of stamp duty and vouchers for families.

“While I know it will be a tough fight in Parramatta, with the redistribution and people feeling there is time for a change of government, with so many projects in the pipeline, this is not the right time ,” Mullens said.

“Premier Perrottet is a strong leader who is not afraid to make tough decisions and stick to them.”

When not working or campaigning, Mullens, who lives alone in North Parramatta, likes to read, write fiction and go to the theatre.

Mullens has the backing of Geoff Lee, who says she will be a strong voice for Parramatta.

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Katie Mullens, centre, meets residents.

Past and future important to Donna

DONNA Davis wants to build on Parramatta’s force as the gateway to the Greater West without closing the door on the past.

Davis believes that development of Parramatta as a leading business-education-health city is compatible with building on its heritage assets.

“We need to see the worth in making Parramatta more of a visitor destination that would benefit our economy,” Davis said.

“This site needs World Heritage listing, which a Labor State government would move on to bring the case to the Federal government..”

Davis and other heritage advocates say the current NSW government has dragged the chain on moving the World Heritage matter forward.

Conceding that most people living in Parramatta do not see heritage preservation as a high priority, Davis points to the long-term benefits to the economy, including the important night-time sector, that would come to Australia’s “cradle city” if heritage tourism was promoted more.

But Davis, as Lord Mayor and State election candidate, is excited by Parramatta’s growth as the West’s epicentre of business, higher education, entertainment, innovation and health facilities.

And, as a place to live, of course, whether in the burgeoning CBD or in the surrounding diverse suburbs, each with their own issues.

With Wentworth Point now in the Parramatta electorate, the dissatisfaction

of residents over lack of open space in the high-rise suburb would help Labor, especially as Davis has been a keen advocate for them.

“Residents there are angry over not getting the park they were promised by 2016 as development continues,” Davis said.

The NSW Government has announced the building of a high school in Olympic Park, which Davis applauds but she says it has come after extensive community agitation.

As for the Liberal infrastructure still underway, such as the Parramatta Light Rail and Metro West lines, Davis said

Labor was committed to those projects and laments the time it has taken for the light rail project, which is due for opening next year, and the fact that Camellia was overlooked as a MetroWest station.

Davis supports a Powerhouse in the city but wants to ensure the museum suits Parramatta.

“We are still not clear on what is going into the Powerhouse and I look forward to having those conversations,” Davis said.

“I want to ensure that we get an incredible arts institution.”

On the hustings, which involves an early start at railway stations, Davis has found that cost of living and issues close to families’ hearts will be driving people on election day.

“People are concerned about rising costs, jobs and housing and then there is all the privatisation of bus services, which is impacting on people,” she said.

In her second year as Parramatta Lord Mayor, Davis has been a councillor for five years and involved in community issues such as saving Parramatta pool, fighting for heritage preservation and open space for families amid development that a burgeoning city has to have.

Davis also wants more staff in local hospitals, schools at Melrose Park, Westmead and Olympic Park and upgrade of valuable open space such as Parramatta Park and Wistaria Gardens.

Davis has lived in Dundas Valley for about 30 years, raising her two sons with husband Michael.

Donna Davis with Parramatta MP Andrew Charlton.

SHINING BRIGHT ACROSS THE REGION… First Nations hip hop festival

CITY of Parramatta’s First Nations hip hop festival Ngana Birrung is back and bigger than ever with the addition of two new Western Sydney sites.

Over three incredible nights, Ngana Birrung (Dharug for ‘black stars’) will take over stages in Campbelltown, Rosehill and Penrith.

Rapper JK-47 returns to headline the music event playing audience favourites and tracks from his latest album Revision for Regrowth.

The music event brings together some of the country’s best musicians with the stellar line-up including Western Sydney rapper and singer A.GIRL; hip hop artist Prodikal-1; R&B singer and songwriter Keely; rapper TBreezy; rapper Walkerboy and DJ Kapital J.

Ngana Birrung (pronounced NinGahna Bir-Rung) is an initiative of City of Parramatta Council to elevate First Nations artists and bring together some of the best talent in the country.

It was first launched as part of Parramatta Nights in 2022 followed by sold out concerts at Bankstown and Blacktown. Artists who have previously graced the stage include Briggs, Miiesha, DOBBY and Denni.

“We are so proud of our Ngana Birrung concert series and excited to see it expanded to reach more audiences across Western Sydney,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis said.

“It’s important we provide a platform to nurture, celebrate and highlight our incredibly talented First Nations artists.”

Ngana Birrung is presented by City of Parramatta in association with Penrith City Council and Campbelltown City

Council. The event series is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

The event is open to all ages, with tickets available from Monday 30 January.

Ngana Birrung 2023

When: Wednesday 15 February, 6-10pm

Where: Campbelltown Arts Centre, Campbelltown

JK-47, Keely, Prodikal-1, TBreezy and Walkerboy

Tickets: FREE

When: Friday 17 February, 6-10pm

Where: Rosehill Bowling Club, Rosehill

JK-47, DJ Kapital J, Keely and more to be announced

Tickets: $5 including booking fee

When: Saturday 18 February, 6-10pm

Where: Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith

Community Migrant Resource Centre (CMRC)

is a not-for-profit, charitable organisation established in 1996.

CMRC is a leader in the provision of specialised support services to newly arrived migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants.

CMRC works within a community capacity building framework to encourage individuals and multicultural communities to identify and address their own issues. It works in collaborative partnerships with a great number of agencies to provide services which have both an immediate and long term benefit for the community.

CMRC employs over 60 full time, part-time and casual multi-lingual staff.

Paramatta office Level 4, 1 Horwood Place

Parramatta, NSW 2150

Ph: (02) 9687 9901

Monday – Friday: 9AM – 5PM

The Hills office

Community Hub Castle Towers Level 3, 6-14 Castle Street, Castle Hill, NSW 2154

Northern Region office

JK-47, Keely, Prodikal-1 with special guest A.GIRL

Tickets: FREE

For more information and to book tickets, go here –www.atparramatta.com/ngana-birrung

230-year-old history unearthed beneath the future Sydney Metro at Parramatta

ATEAM of archaeologists has unearthed a convict hut and historical artefacts that date as far back as 1792, during the start of work at the new Sydney Metro station at Parramatta. Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott visited the new station site to the north of the existing Parramatta Station to meet the team that painstakingly unearthed the treasured relics.

“Standing near the footings of a convict hut that housed women just four years after the settlement of the new colony in the late 1700s is truly astonishing. To witness 230-year-old relics being uncovered beneath our future Sydney Metro is incredible – it’s our past meets our future in Western Sydney,” Mr Elliott said.

Archaeological work is underway on site and will continue until mid-2023. A convict hut was uncovered along Church Street and experts are currently investigating its significance.

The hut dates back to 1792 and will be fully excavated from the site to investigate it thoroughly.

“Once construction is completed, Metro West will revolutionise how connected Sydney is – bringing the Sydney and Greater Parramatta CBDs closer than ever before,” Mr Elliott added.

“With just 20 minutes between Syd-

ney’s two major CBDs, this project will take pressure off the existing roads and transport network and connect people to jobs, major events and back home to their families.”

“As we continue to modernise transport in Sydney it is important, we don’t lose sight of our past, and take these opportunities to learn more about our history.”

Parramatta Station is one of nine new metro stations for the 24km Sydney Metro West line that will link Greater Parramatta and Sydney CBD. It will provide easy, efficient and accessible interchange with buses and Parramatta Light Rail.

VIDEO: www.parramattatimes.com.au

Green light for downtown travel

WHEN the new Metro West line opens, Western Sydney commuters will be able to travel to downtown Sydney in 20 minutes.

And they can choose to enter or leave the line at one of nine stations approved by the State Government: Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD.

“Sydney Metro is a once-in-a-cen-

tury project and the station precincts planned for Sydney’s west will become destinations and landmarks in their own right, linking together one of the fastest-growing regions in this city,” Minister for Transport and Western Sydney Baulkham Hills MP David Elliott said.

“All nine new metro stations will become thriving hubs with fast and reliable metro transport at their heart, they will connect communities and slash travel times in Western Sydney like never before.

“We’re talking about 20-minute metro journeys from Parramatta to Hunter Street in Sydney’s CBD, eight minute Metro trips from Five Dock to Hunter Street – travel times you couldn’t match in a car, not even without traffic.”

Each station will integrate with current and future planned transport, including Sydney Trains, buses, light rail and ferries.

Additionally, planning approval has also been received for rail infrastructure, the essential elements needed to bring

Sydney Metro online and operational in 2030, including a stabling and maintenance facility at Clyde, set to become the powerhouse behind the fully automated Sydney Metro West.

Construction of Sydney Metro West stations, their precincts and rail infrastructure is planned to start in 2025.

Further planning assessments are underway for over and adjacent station development at Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, Pyrmont and Hunter Street.

Retired greyhounds join police

RETIRED greyhounds will be retrained as PTSD companion animals for the Australian Federal Police in a world-first initiative.

The program is a collaboration between the Australian Federal Police Association, Greyhound Racing NSW, and Greyhounds Australasia.

The benefits of pet ownership and support animals for people with PTSD are significant. Police officers are at a

higher risk of acquiring mental health injuries and PTSD due to their busy work life, isolation, and on-call rosters.

Bonding with a support animal can provide independence, routines, exercise, and social independence.

The announcement

of this partnership is less than three months after GRNSW and GA's announcement to supply greyhounds as pets to the Police Association of NSW, which has already shown successful adoptions and a demand for PTSD dogs. The retraining of greyhounds opens up a new career for non-racing greyhounds and highlights the therapeutic benefit they can bring to those suffering from anxiety disorders.

Older people VS tech engagement

OLDER adults are becoming increasingly digitally engaged, but many feel overwhelmed by the pace of technological change and struggle to keep up.

Dr. Jeanie Beh and Professor Sonja Pedell from Swinburne suggest that a key to helping older adults adopt technology is to tap into their interests and hobbies.

This provides a positive motivation for them to learn and see the benefits of technology. For example, an older adult

interested in travel can use websites to compare airfare prices and negotiate with their travel agent, boosting their confidence in using technology.

The research highlights the need for a curriculum that caters to older adults' learning requirements, which are different from those of younger users.

To help older adults become more digitally savvy, the

authors recommend: building on their interests and life experiences, mastering basic tablet interactions, applying learning in a real-world context, repeating tasks in practice, and providing a peer-supported environment.

It is also important to communicate with older adults about what they want and need from technology, and to provide meaningful and positive experiences during the learning process.

Unearthing history, VIDEO see www.parramattatimes.com.au

MARKET RISES IN THE WEST

Our hotspot domination

„ DALLAS

SHERRINGHAM

WESTERN Sydney LGA’s dominate the top five Development Hotspots in Sydney according to leading real estate researcher Terry Ryder.

The Top Five were featured on his highly respected research platform www. Hotspotting.com.au.

Parramatta, Liverpool, Canterbury Bankstown, Badgery’s Creek Precinct and Inner West make up the Top Five According to Mr Ryder, the latest data indicates there are now an increasing number of Sydney suburbs classified as rising markets.

“In the first quarter of 2022, Sydney had 126 suburbs classified as rising or consistency markets, half the levels at the mid-2021 peak,” he said.

“In the second quarter of 2022 this rose to 148 and in the latest quarter to 152,” he told property media platform Urban Developer.

“The proportion of rising markets rose from 26 to 30 % over the period.

Mr Ryder said the Greater Sydney market was currently highly segmented with rising markets generally offering a degree of affordability in an expensive city—including outer-ring areas as well as middle-market locations where apartments offered value for money relative to houses.

“Affordability is relative and it’s notable that some of strongest parts of the Sydney market are middle market areas with house prices in the range of $1m to $1.5m and apartments well under $1M,” Mr Ryder said.

Sydney’s top five areas he tips that developers should be targeting in 2023:

1.

Canterbury Bankstown

The standout and strongest market overall—helped by its relative affordability and good amenities—with 17 of the 23 suburbs in the analysis classified as either rising or consistency markets.

Well on its way to becoming recognised as Sydney’s third CBD, Liverpool is the number one location in NSW for first-home buyers because of its more affordable houses and units.

Extensive new commercial and mixed-use developments have added to existing infrastructure in the suburb and numerous residential developments are under way or in the pipeline.

3. Parramatta

The City of Parramatta is the geographical centre of the Greater Sydney

CBD and its second-largest economic centre with a GRP (gross regional product) of $33 billion.

With the Sydney Metro and Parramatta light rail projects promising quicker access to the Sydney CBD, and the $3.2-billion Parramatta Square redevelopment, the city is attracting new business and investment.

4. Inner West LGA

The Inner West market was a prominent part of the Sydney property market’s revival since the onset of Covid. A key feature of the Inner West market is growing demand for apartments. Many of the area’s suburbs have median apartment prices below the Sydney median. The precinct is well located to benefit from the massive WestConnex and Sydney Metro West transport projects.

Badgerys Creek, the site of the Western Sydney Airport, is destined to

become an economic powerhouse.

The region surrounding the airport has been dubbed ‘Aerotropolis’ because of the massive projects planned. At the centre of this development will be the $5 billion Northern Gateway, a planned city featuring an international university and education precinct, a wellness and healthcare centre, Westfield retail entertainment precinct and a hi-tech logistics hub.

Billions are also being spent on road and rail infrastructure to cater for a population that is predicted to swell to around 440,000 by 2041.

Sources: Terry Ryder’s Hotspotting, Urban Developer -Terry Ryder has been a specialist researcher/ writer on residential property for over 35 years and has published four books. In 2006 he created hotspotting.com.au, to help investors find the best places to buy. He is regularly interviewed by television, radio and print media on real estate issues and is widely sought as a public speaker.

2. Liverpool

5. Badgerys Creek Precinct

I QUIT … AND NOW I REGRET IT

When resigning isn’t the answer

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHM

AT the height of the pandemic, many Australians quit their jobs to start a new job but now they are suffering "resignation regret"

And 2023 promises to be the year this becomes a major issue.

According to Christina Foxwell, leading life and business coach and prominent self-help author, tens of thousands of people jumped out of their secure jobs in 2022 to pursue a life of ‘doing what they love’ in response to the pandemic blues.

And now many are experiencing resignation regret.

“Resignation regret is real and many people are facing it. I regularly coach executives who are feeling burnt out and want to walk away from their jobs but the first thing I always talk about is – can we develop up a system to help you make things better rather than jumping ship,” Ms Foxwell said.

“Often by developing up a strategy to address concerns and issues, managers

can turn things around and go on to achieve much more in their roles and careers, with higher levels of satisfaction as well. They thank me for helping to guide them through their work challenges, rather than encouraging them to cut and run.

“Unfortunately, a lot of people didn’t seek advice and just threw in their job during the pandemic thinking they would find something better or enjoy more freedom setting up their own business. Sadly, the grass is not always greener, in fact, often it is brown on the other side, or it starts out green and quickly dies.”

Ms Foxwell has been working with managers, executives, business owners and board members helping them to hone their leadership style and overcome career and workplace challenges and she said resignation regret was going to be one of the biggest career issues of 2023.

“My advice is simple. Don’t get upset and depressed about your circumstances,

act and start the new year on a positive note,” Ms Foxwell said.

“If you feel like you have made a mistake leaving your job or a particular industry during the pandemic, put things right in 2023. Make 2023 the year of reset, rather than regret. Do the things

you need to do to put your career and your life back on track.”

Energise your social media

The first thing you need to do is to energise your social media presence.

Update your CV

There are plenty of creative design platforms online that enable you to create impressive CV formats.

Connect with others

Resetting your career takes effort, but it also requires connections and networks.

Get moving

How is your health? Mental and physical health are always important, but especially so when you are feeling down.

FOOTNOTE

Ms Foxwell has just released her latest book, 'Glass Angel', which not only explores her difficult upbringing, it also provides readers with insight into how she turned her life around through employing the right mindset.

in Closing the Gap Playing a Role

Western Sydney is proudly one of the largest urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in the nation.

Unfortunately, many community members are managing high rates of psychological distress1, and long-term health conditions impact almost 90% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 55 years2

WentWest, the Western Sydney Primary Health Network (WSPHN), has made supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health a top priority. Working with the local community and organisations around Western Sydney, WentWest aims to improve health literacy and accessibility to holistic, community-based, culturallyappropriate care. WentWest is incredibly proud of the work of its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community partner organisations, who are making a significant positive impact in the region.

Marrin Weejali Culturally-Safe Counselling

Since 1996, the Marrin Weejali Aboriginal Corporation has provided culturally-safe counselling and referral services for Aboriginal community members affected by drug and alcohol misuse or mental health challenges. Marrin Weejali provides counselling, group therapy, referrals and transition assistance, health support, case management and community work. In 2021-22 over 390 clients were supported by Marrin Weejali3 To

3 WentWest Annual Review 2021/22.

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

Baabayn Reconnecting with Community

Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation connects Aboriginal community members to services that help them recover from trauma, reconnect to community, and build a sense of self-worth and confidence. Baabayn has strong contacts in the community and prides itself on providing a welcoming environment where individuals and families can heal. The organisation runs activities, drop-in support and counselling sessions, idea-sharing conferences and cultural Healing Circles for community members.

For more information, call Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation on (02) 8608 6054

Karri* is a young Aboriginal mother who came to Baabayn for support with one of her children. She began counselling sessions to address her child’s behavioural issues but has since continued counselling to recover from her own trauma. Karri has joined other programs at Baabayn and reports feeling more confident in her parenting skills, has more self-belief and identifies more strongly with her culture.

Luke* is a 60-year-old Aboriginal man who has attended The Shed for several years for health, wellbeing and legal services. He is one of the Stolen Generation and was taken from his family at a young age. The trauma still lives with him, but The Shed gave him a supportive space to share his story with a community of like-minded people.

The Shed A Safe Space to Connect

The Shed is a welcoming community environment that supports Aboriginal community members by connecting them to mental health, health, housing, financial, disability, legal and cultural services. In 202122, nearly 3,000 people were supported by The Shed, with over 1,000 of those seen by a case worker .

To find out more, call The Shed on 1300 550 099.

This place broke the monotony of being on a disability pension…I feel much more at home here than going to the medical centre. After meeting and talking to people, I realised I wasn’t alone…I suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder from being taken away, and it comes in waves. You might wake up and have a miserable morning, but coming here, life is not so bad

- Luke

Find out more

To learn more about other Aboriginal and Torress Strait Islander health services in Western Sydney that support Western Sydney children and families, visit wentwest.com.au/aboriginal-health

AMERICA’S WILD WEST STILL A WILDERNESS

Aussies choosing to GO WEST

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

THE western United States is once again becoming a favorite with Australian travelers according to the latest statistics.

Around a million of us will ‘Go West’ in 2023 to tourist hotspots like Las Vegas, Anaheim, Aspen and San Francisco. And unless you are a confident, competent driver, you will take a tour to these regions and sit back and enjoy the spectacular views.

However, driving yourself is the best way to see it with hire cars relatively cheap. If you look at the accompanying breakout you will immediately notice that prestige cars are almost as cheap to hire for a week from LA International as small cars.

The reason for this is fuel usage with a litre average price at $US1.00 or $US3.82 per gallon according to www. globalpetrolprices.com

However I would rather the larger car for its space and safety and pay the extra fuel for a V6 compared to the more economical four cylinder models. You have to pack all your gear in the car and keeping it in the boot, or trunk as Americans call it, is safer than leaving it on the back seat,

The drive from LA to Las Vegas is easy once you clear the city traffic, however you could deter to Palm Springs for a day or before continuing to ‘Sin City’ for a few nights.

From Vegas you are heading east on the original Route 66 to a town called Williams which is a real Old West town. In Williams you can attend a real gunfight with real guns firing blanks.

Squirrels are a nuisance

Williams is the terminus for the Grand Canyon railway which runs right to the edge of the Canyon – try getting that one through a NSW Council!

From Williams, the road is an easy drive through the Ponderosa Pines to the national park.

Now, the West is still wild in places, with people still perishing in deserts like Death Valley, mountain lions appearing in unlikely places and black bears always a worry. At the Canyon it is the squirrels that are a big nuisance, and they will grab cameras, phones and bags.

Looking out across the vista, you finally get an idea how big the Grand Canyon is, running for 400km in big

curves with hundreds of off shoots along the way.

Much of the Canyon is still the wild, wild west and is under the control of the traditional Native American tribes.

I would allow a couple of nights at the Canyon just to take it all in and see it at sunrise and sunset.

From here you have a choice. If you are fan of Western Movies, you can head south east to Flagstaff, Tucson and Tombstone. On the hand, I would recommend driving back to Vegas and head to Valley of the Fires and Zion National Park.

Zion is as picturesque as the Grand Canyon and reminds me of the MacDonnell Ranges of our own Red Centre. From there you drive further east to the high-

light of the road trip- Monument Valley. You’ve seen it in many Western Movies and even in ‘Forrest Gump’ but nothing prepares you for its awesome grandeur in real life.

From here, some Australians head back to LA via the stunning National Parks of the region to the south, while others head for Denver and the Rocky Mountains.

Wherever you choose to go, you will find this part of American a surprising region of great beauty and friendly locals…and wild.

Hire car rates in USA dollars for one week:

(From Los Angeles International Airport)

SMALL:

• Chevrolet Spark $502

• Ford Fiesta $540

MEDIUM:

• Hyundai Ascent $495

• Nissan Altima $506

• Toyota Rav 4 $545

• Toyota Corolla $533

LARGE:

• Buick Regal $507

• Chrysler 300 $506

• Chevrolet Impala $604

Mercedes Benz GLC $853

• BMW 3s $772

• Mustang Cabrio $696

Spoiler Alert - 5 Stars

Michael (Jim Parsons) is a socially awkward TV-obsessed journalist, writing about shows for TV Guide.

ON a night out, he meets Kit (Ben Aldridge) - a much more outgoing personality, with a tonne of cool, hip friends, but also a man who has yet to tell his parents he is gay.

The two start dating, and their loving relationship is explored. The years pass, and their relationship comes under strain. Then the defining moment occurs; Kit discovers he has cancer, and the pair have to stand strong together as they try to beat it.

Directed by Michael Showalter, Spoiler Alert spoils its ending in the first minute or two of its runtime, showing the ending spectacle in all its traumatizing quietude and clinical pain. But the fact that we know where this story is going, never makes it hurt less, or make it any less engaging.

Parsons and Aldridge are tremendous as the leading duo. Parsons, still playing reasonably to type but different enough to his most well-known role, is lovably affable, weird, quirky and kind.

Aldridge, playing more of the ‘fuck boy’ vibe, while also coming across as deeply in love with Parsons’ character.

They are ably supported in particular by Sally Field and Bill Irwin, playing Kit’s parents Marilyn and Bob. Both are so wonderfully charming, that you really feel as if the four are a real family by the end. Field and Parsons have a beautiful back and forth dialogue, founded on their character’s love of running.

For a film that is so clearly, from the

off, about a cancer tragedy, it spends remarkably little time focused on that element. Instead, Showalter is comfortable luxuriating in the relationship between these two remarkable characters.

He doesn’t rush the meet, the first real date, the first sexual experience, the first time at each other’s apartments. Sure, he skips over plenty of details in relation to their respective careers, lives,

etc. but all in service to the relationship between the two of them.

Perhaps most impressive is the restraint shown in the collection of trauma facing these two. Too often, films like this feel the need to pile on drama after drama. A lesser film wouldn’t have restrained itself to just a troubled relationship and a cancer scare.

It would have had Kit’s parents

against his relationship with Michael, career drama for each, and perhaps even a hate crime involved. It may even have couched the events in a historically remarkable event related to their sexuality.

But Spoiler Alert is too good for that. It recognises that the elements on display here are more than enough drama for any normal couple. And that’s what Michael and Kit are, above all else - a normal couple.

They’re heartwarming in their love, absolutely hilarious when joking with each other (this movie will make you laugh much more than Bros), and ultimately completely heartbreaking when they drift apart from one another - first, across the city, and then across a much greater, more ethereal divide.

Spoiler Alert is one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking romances you will ever see, and is a must see for anyone interested in having a real experience in the cinema.

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

Knock at the Cabin - 3 Stars

ERIC (Jonathan Groff) and Andrew (Ben Aldridge) are holidaying with their adopted daughter Wen (Kristen Cui) in a remote cabin in the woods, without phone reception.

Their idyllic stay is interrupted by four visitors - Leonard (Dave Bautista), Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird), Redmond (Ruper Grint) and Ardiane (Abby Quinn).

These visitors tie the family up, and tell them that they are harbingers of the apocalypse. They give them a choicethey can either willingly choose to kill one of their own family here in this cabin, or the entire world will be destroyed and everyone in it, with the trio left to wander the earth alone for the rest of their life.

M. Night Shamylan directs this taut thriller, which to its credit is both self-container and tightly wound. There’s little extraneous here, which makes it feel fast-paced and deserving.

He also has a lot of fun playing with the claustrophobic elements of this cabin; the space feels small, and this is aided by the constant tightly framed close ups

of the actors. We really feel how tight the space is; the danger of proximity, despite the woodland setting.

Groff and Aldridge are spectacular in their respective roles; the comfortable, calm and quietly spiritual Eric next to the angry, scared Andrew. Bautista is also remarkable in the film, calm and impos-

ing throughout.

The remainder of the four horsemen here make less of an impact - Grint’s appearance is mercifully brief, unexplainable-accent-forward, and impactless, Quinn is overly and oft-times annoyingly grating, and Amuka-Bird similarly OTT.

The real star, however, is Kristen

Cui as the young Wen. Wen’s incredulous performance is the perfect foil to the events unfolding on screen. She is a fantastic barometer for the audience; recognising that what we are seeing is ridiculous, but buying into it at the same time.

Ultimately, these films rely heavily on the plot, and while this one is interesting and certainly more successful than something like Old, it also feels overtly religious and a little disappointing. The plane scenes are fantastic, but the rest of the world ending horror is a little bit meh. The conclusion, when it comes, fires like a damp squib more than a culminating punch.

That being said, Knock At The Cabin is a perfectly fine thriller, with enough scares, an engaging enough story, and a suite of enjoyable performances, to make it worth your time in the theater.

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

This taut thriller eschews a lot of the more violent tropes in favor of its intriguing premise, but wraps everything in a religious gauze that feels odd and, at times, contrived.

Mazda ups the price of its 6 sedan and wagon as 20th Anniversary variants arrive

„ MATT BROGAN

MAZDA has increased the pricing of its Mazda6 medium sedan and wagon range by between $420 and $1120 effective from the first quarter of this year, now commencing from $35,540 plus on-road costs.

Additionally, the Mazda6 sedan and wagon line-up now includes Mazda’s 20th Anniversary ‘6’ flagship, the variant issued to celebrate two decades and 144,000 sales of the nameplate in Australia.

It sits atop the Mazda6 range locally and is priced from $53,635 + ORC in sedan format and $54,935 + ORC for the wagon.

Based on the range-topping Atenza, the commemorative model is offered in Artisan Red or Rhodium White metallic paint, features 20th Anniversary badging on the front guards, a high-gloss silver grille, and high-gloss silver 19-inch alloy wheels.

Tan Nappa leather and Leganu synthetic suede upholstery are said to provide the cabin with a “rich, dignified feel” while the front-seat head restraints are also embossed with the 20th Anniversary logo.

As the current-generation Mazda6 enters its fifth update, the model receives a minor upgrade to the Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine available in higher grades, with power rising to 173kW (+3kW) at 4250rpm. Torque remains unchanged at 420Nm.

Turbocharged models also have recalibrated shift logic for the six-speed automatic transmission, offering what Mazda says is more direct upshift response that will “provide drivers with a more direct and intuitive connection to the engine’s torque”.

Across the range, all Mazda6 grades get power steering tweaks to provide “more tactile feedback at medium and high speeds”, Mazda says, while the driver assist tech offered on GT SP and Atenza variants is enhanced with semi-autonomous Cruising and Traffic Support (CTS).

Touring variants also now receive wireless device charging and wireless Apple CarPlay functionality.

Visually, the Mazda6 range is largely unchanged, save for the addition of gloss black signature wings on the front and rear of the GT SP grade. The Mazda6 GT SP wagon further gains gloss black roof rails.

Finally, Atenza grades now arrive as standard with black Nappa leather.

A premium paint charge of $795 applies for Rhodium White, Soul Red Crystal, Polymetal Grey and Machine Grey

exterior finishes.

Speaking on the 20th anniversary of the Mazda6 range recently, Mazda Australia managing director, Vinesh Bhindi, said the special edition car is a tribute to the significance of the nameplate Down Under.

“For many years,

the Mazda6 has captivated driving enthusiasts with its clever mix of dynamics and style, to the point where it was our best-selling model behind the Mazda3 in the mid-2000s,” he said.

“Mazda6 retains a loyal following of fans, and the 20th Anniversary Edition is a special nod to those customers who share our passion for driving for the fun of it.”

2023 Mazda6 pricing*:

G25 Sport sedan (a) $35,540 (+$420)

G25 Sport wagon (a) $36,840 (+$420)

G25 Touring sedan (a) $40,210 (+$690)

G25 Touring wagon (a) $41,510 (+$690)

G35 GT SP sedan (a) $48,440 (+$1120)

G35 GT SP wagon (a) $49,470 (+$850)

G35 Atenza sedan (a) .......................... $51,840 ...... (+$1120)

G35 Atenza wagon (a) $53,140 (+$1120)

G35 20th Anniversary sedan (a) $53,635 New variant

G35 20th Anniversary wagon (a) $54,935 New variant

* Pricing excludes on-road costs

First factory right-hook Corvette Z06 lands in Australia ahead of customer deliveries

„ MATT BROGAN

THE first factory-built right-hand drive Corvette Z06 to arrive Down

Under has been revealed by General Motors Special Vehicles (GMSV) this week ahead of a series of activations planned around the country through out the year.

Arriving almost 70 years to the day since the very first Corvette was unveiled in New York on 17 January 1953, the hardcore Z06 combines Chevro let’s new naturally aspirated LT6 5.5-litre V8 engine with flat plane crankshaft design and thunder ous 8600rpm redline.

The Z06’s widened wheel track is met with improved braking capabilities; the model offers larger 370mm front and 380mm rear rotors when compared with the standard Stingray. The front discs are grabbed by six-piston Brembo calipers.

GMSV says the Z06 features the largest wheels ever offered on a production Corvette measuring 20 inches in diameter at the front and 21 inches at the rear. The forged aluminium wheels are finished in a ‘Spider’ design and are said to provide “surefooted grip to get power to the ground”.

Victorian manufacturer Carbon Revolution produces the Z06’s optional factory-fit carbon-fibre rims, as featured on the show car GMSV has imported along with a raft of cosmetic, comfort and performance upgrades.

Inside, the tech-laden, driver focused cockpit is said to relay all of the vehicle’s necessary driving data quickly and concisely.

“This new Z06 is indicative of what customers in Australia and New Zealand can expect from a MY24 Z06, as we will be offering 3LZ trim as standard,” said GMSV director Greg Rowe.

“This includes a steering wheel beautified with carbon-fibre, shift paddles made from carbon-fibre, sueded microfibre on the upper interior trim, leather-wrapped interior door panels and in-

strument panel, as well as GT2 bucket seats with Nappa leather upholstery and carbon-fibre garnish.

“Our new show car also features the Z07 Performance Package, which makes it even more eye-catching and enhances its performance prowess thanks to the addition of larger brakes with carbon-ceramic rotors, carbon-fibre aerodynamic elements, unique suspension tuning, ultra-performance tyres as well as optional carbon fibre wheels.

“The Z06 will be on the road around

Melbourne and surrounds over coming weeks and

Corvette fans and performance car enthusiasts alike are welcome to stop and grab a photo when they see this amazing new model.”

The Z06 lands in Australia just days after Chevrolet released details of its new electrified Corvette, the E-Ray hybrid.

Promising all-season performance and composure – and a blistering 0-60mph (96km/h) time of 2.5 seconds – the third C8 model combines Chevrolet’s 6.2-litre LT2 small block V8 – devel-

oping 370kW at 6450rpm and 637Nm at 5150rpm – to drive rear axle via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, with electric propulsion adding 119kW and 170Nm to the front wheels.

Total system power is rated at 488kW with battery energy sourced from a tunnel-mounted 1.9kWh lithium-ion unit. Chevrolet quotes a quarter mile (0-400m) time of 10.5 seconds – a tenth quicker than the Z06.

GMSV has yet to confirm if the Corvette E-Ray will be offered in Australia and New Zealand.

TOP 5 FOODS TO AVOID FOR FAT LOSS Focus on the basics

„ ADAM SIMPSON

SORRY to disappoint you, but there aren't any foods that you need to avoid for fat loss.

You can eat any food that you like and still get results. However, if you want results you must start educating yourself on proper portion sizes and learn how to eat certain foods in moderation.

Too much of any foods can lead to you consuming excess calories and that will hold you back from getting results. There is no silver bullet so stop looking for one, instead focus on getting the basics right most of the time and you will get results.

1. Control your total calories consumed.

2. Eat foods high in protein.

3. Moderate how much processed food you eat.

4. Eat a diet full of fresh fruit and vegetables.

5. Drink mostly water.

What to avoid instead

If you truly want something to avoid getting you results. Avoid people who tell you these things.

1. Anyone who mentions "Biohacking" for results.

2. People who believe in one dietary protocol being superior to others without understanding why that particular dietary pro-

tocol works.

3. Anyone who tells you to cut out whole food groups from your diet.

4. People pushing extreme dietary measures that are not sustainable long term

Keeping the Calories Down with your Cheese Platters!

One easy way to make sure you blow out your calories is by overindulging on a cheese platter. Don't get me wrong I love a cheese platter just as much as the next person. But if you have a weight loss goal and you are trying to keep your total calories in check. It is important to be mindful of how many calories you are consuming. It can be really easy to mindlessly consume way too many cheese calories in a sitting and then make it that much harder to get to your goal body weight.

I have broken down the different aspects of a cheese platter and given you lower calorie options to choose from. Making these simple swaps is going to save you a bunch of extra calories and will mean you can still enjoy yourself.

"Lower" Calorie Cheese

Options per 100grams

Cottage Cheese - 96 Calories (a slightly weird option on a cheese platter)

Cambembert - 300 Calories

Brie - 332 Calories

Blue - 352 Calories

Higher Calorie Cheese

Options per 100grams

Cheddar - 400 Calories

Parmesan - 432 Calories

Lower Calorie Dips per 100 grams

Tzatziki - 119 Calories

Hummus - 166 Calories

Higher Calorie Dips per 100 grams

Olive Dip - 450 Calories

Spicy Capsicum - 461 Calories

French Onion - 500 Calories

Lower Calorie Nuts per 100 grams

Cashews - 553 Calories

Pistachios - 557 Calories

Almonds - 575 Calories

Higher Calorie Nuts per 100 grams

Brazil Nuts - 656 Calories

Pecans - 691 Calories

Macadamia - 718 Calories

Lower Calorie Fresh Berries per 100 grams

Blackberries - 43 Calories

Raspberries - 53 Calories

Blueberries - 57 Calories per

Higher Calorie Dried Fruit per 100 grams

Dates - 220 Calories

Dried Apricot - 241 Calories

Banana Chips - 519 Calories

Lower Calorie Cured Meats per 100 grams

Prosciutto - 145 Calories

Pastrami - 147 Calories

Higher Calorie Cured Meats per 100 grams

Cabanossi - 304 Calories

Mortadella - 311 Calories

Salami - 336 Calories

Lower Calorie Crackers per 100 grams

Wafer Crackers - 395 Calories

Sakata Rice Crackers - 396 Calories

An alternative would also be to load up your cheese platter with:

Celery - 14 Calories

Carrot - 41 Calories

Higher Calorie Crackers per 100 grams

Sao Biscuits - 460 Calories

Jatz Crackers - 468 Calories

Lavosh Crackers - 477 Calories

If you are looking to keep the calories down with your cheese platters just read the label and see what options come out at the lower end of the scale and then make your choices from there.

Example to make the lowest possible Cheese Platter

• Camembert and Blue Cheese.

• Tzatziki Dip.

• Cashews and Pistachios. Raspberries and Blackberries.

• Prosciutto.

• Wafer Crackers with Celery and Carrot.

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

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

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

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

BOXING CHAMP SHOCK DIAGNOSIS Billy faces his biggest fight

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

AUSTRALIA’S Dual World Champion boxer Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib has been facing a completely new opponent in Westmead Hospital following his shock cancer diagnosis in late 2022.

Billy, 37, underwent surgery to remove a tumor in his stomach in October and has subsequently been treated for an aggressive and rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma cancer.

With his supportive family by his side, Billy remains upbeat and optimistic about his recovery.

“I’m feeling pretty positive,” he said.

“I’ve got so many beautiful family members, my mum and dad, siblings – they’re constantly doing the roster change so there’s always somebody here which is really helpful.”

And all of us who have followed Billy’s glittering career know what a fighter he is when the chips are down.

He won the IBO Super-Featherweight title in 2008 and the IBF Featherweight title in 2011 – a brilliant effort by The Kid from Kogarah.

Billy is a patient at Westmead Hospital in Western Sydney Local Health District and has been undergoing his third round of chemotherapy.

Health focus for Billy

Speaking to Westmead’s media team at, Billy said he was focused on his health.

He had a quiet holiday period surrounded by loved ones and looking after himself.

“I’ve got a great team of doctors around me and I’ve got a lot of trust and

faith in God, so I’m feeling good about this.

“I’m just a bit tired as you would be during this chemo treatment. With the mercy and the grace of god, I’m getting through it one day at a time.”

Billy also credits the team at Westmead Hospital’s Haematology Unit for his excellent care journey during his treatment.

“Each and every one of these nurses and doctors have been second to none,” Billy said.

“They’ve gone above and beyond to make sure that I’m comfortable.”

Ironically, it was Billy’s health problems that got him into boxing. He was a chronic asthmatic from birth and he took up the toughest sport of all in an

attempt to overcome the condition at age 12.

His parents had emigrated from Lebanon and owned a greengrocery in Engadine where he grew up to become the best featherweight in the world.

Billy boxed at the local Police Boys Club and started taking part in amateur competitions, winning 98 out of 113 bouts. He won three Australian Amateur titles and started training at the National Institute of Sport and seemed to be a ‘certainty’ for the 2004 Olympics.

However a motorcycle accident badly hindered his preparation and he was not selected in the team. Billy turned pro and won 20 fights straight before invited to train with Mike Tyson.

The rest is history. Billy went on

to become one of Australia’s best ever boxers.

He appeared on The Challenge: Australia 2022 late last year but he and partner Cyrell Paule ‘didn’t really gel’ and they were eliminated on the first show.

“Anytime the cameras were on you could see who the clout chasers were and ‘Cyclone Cyrell’ was definitely a clout chaser.”

Their battle was as fierce as a title fight and played out on social media and internet sites. Such is reality TV, as Billy found out the hard way.

Now Westmead’s wonderful team of experts is in his corner willing him on in a tough 10 rounder. And those who follow him will be in the stands, will be cheering him all the way home to victory.

Concord Oval $84M excellence centre

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

AWORLD class sports precinct and community hub in the heart of Concord and beside West Tigers Centre of Excellence and the Rugby stadium has officially opened its doors.

It is major boost for the sporting community in the Inner West and West and puts Concord Oval back in the news after slumbering following its heady days when it was the headquarters of Australian Rugby.

Following a major revamp in the 1980s, Concord Oval hosted several 1987 World Cup matches and Bledisloe Cup battles between Australia and the All Blacks.

It was a great ground to watch Rugby with the crowd close to the action and a quality restaurant next to the main stand. The problem was the limited capacity and when the Sydney Olympic Stadium opened in the 1990’s, Concord Oval’s days as a World Rugby icon were over.

Flash forward 25 years and Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts joined City of Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas to cut the ribbon on the Concord Oval Community and

Sports Precinct, marking the completion of a project years in the making.

As well as the Concord Oval Recreation Centre, the precinct features an outdoor basketball court, match-day facilities for local sports clubs, new venues for hire, and the Wests Tigers Centre of Excellence.

The sports precinct is the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the City of Canada Bay.

“This is a game-changer for the growing inner west, helping support new housing in the area while providing

modern fitness facilities to encourage active lifestyles, as well as spaces for community programs and sports clubs,” Mr Roberts said.

“We know the value of sport and recreation in bringing people together, especially our youth and that makes this investment worth every cent.”

The redevelopment was made possible thanks to $48m from the Parramatta Road Urban Amenity Improvement Program, an initiative to improve open space and active transport links along the Parramatta Road corridor. The precinct

also received funding from the Office of Sport, the City of Canada Bay, the Federal Government and Wests Tigers.

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said the Concord Oval and Community Sport Precinct was a game-changer for the inner west and sits alongside the recently completed Wests Tigers Centre of Excellence.

“The Centre of Excellence has reinvigorated the Concord Oval precinct which will help grow the sport and provide local pathways for our future NRLW and NRL stars,” Mr Henskens said.

“This precinct will not only provide grassroots players with access to worldclass training facilities but also delivers essential community open spaces for the rapidly growing population.”

As part of that funding, a large-scale, multi-colored artwork by Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie has been installed on site, which acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and is visible day and night.

City of Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas said having green, open spaces and public facilities available within walking distance of peoples’ homes, where communities could come together, relax, and have fun had never been more important.

Recovering: champion bover: Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib has.

Artist impression of the centre.

Living Through Experience Your Great Event Awaits.

Bipolar Gala Dinner

31 March 2023 | 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM

Bipolar Australia is holding their annual Gala Dinner on 31st of March 2023 at the stunning Parkroyal Hotel in Parramatta. This event boasts fine food, high level business networking and the opportunity to support a great cause that will save and improve lives.

Supporting, educating, and advocating for all people affected by bipolar disorder to live a productive life free from social stigma.

Event Details

Date: Friday, 31 March 2023

Time: 06:00 pm - 10:30 pm (TBC)

Location: Park Royal Parramatta

General Admission - $150

General Admission (Table of Ten) - $1,200

The African Theatres and Knit For Life Recognition Awards

24 March 2023 | 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM

African Theatres and Knit for Life are back with another amazing event, this time recognising ethnic communities for their work and contribution to society and beyond. The African Theatres and Knit for Life Recognition Award ceremony will be accompanied by multicultural dinner, music and dance. It will be an entertaining and rewarding night to enjoy with your community and friends.

Bring your kindest smiles and mightiest of achievements to bask in the joy of community recognition.

Event Details

Date: Friday, 24 March 2023

Time: 06:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Location: Pioneer Theatre, Castle Hill

Solutions for Growth - Business Expo

MARCH

One of the nations most Dynamic Business Expos is coming to Australia from March 2023. We invite you to come and expand your network and reach your target audience. Our two- day Business Expo in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide will showcase all the latest business opportunities and provide great business networking opportunities. This expo is expected to attract over 2,000 business owners across all industries from: retailers, manufactures, business owners and hospitality workers.

Event Details

Date and Location: Melbourne: March 24 & 25 | 10:00 am-7:00 pm

Sydney: May 5 & 6 | 10:00 am-6:00 pm

Brisbane: May 19 & 20 | 10:00 am-6:00 pm

Perth: September 15 & 16 | 10:00 am-6:00 pm

Adelaide: September 22 & 23 | 10:00 am-7:00 pm

Retirees’ Friends and Family Information Session

You’re invited

If you are thinking about retirement and your next home, but don’t know where to start, join us for our free retirement and financial information session.

There’s no need for you to come alone, bring your friends and family along with you so that we can answer all your questions together

Constitution Hill Retirement Community Wednesday 22nd February 6.00pm–8.00pm

RSVP to Zuzana Nevidal

1300 294 519

znevidal@australianunity.com.au

What to expect:

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• Meet some of our residents

• Enjoy some light refreshments