Parramatta Times - June 2020 by Community Broadcast Network (CBN)

ParramattA ISSUE 11 | June 2021 | www.parramattatimes.com.au

T I M E S

Voice of Australia’s most progressive city

DON’T GO BATTY PARRAMATTA PARK USERS

FEAR BAT BITES W HILE Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) is urging community members to avoid handling bats after the Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) was recently detected among bats in the area, a wildlife expert doesn't want Parramatta Park users to go all batty. “The simple message is that you can only be infected by bats if you handle them– such as picking up injured bats or trying to free them from netting,” said Sandra Guy from Sydney Wildlife Rescue Service.

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“I don’t want people to think that bats from the camp of 15,000 grey-headed flying foxes are going to swoop down on them. Bats may annoy people living near them with noise and smell but they are essential for pollinating native trees and have been there before European settlement.”’ Still, 11 people have been referred to the Public Health Unit at Westmead Hospital after being scratched or bitten by bats so far this year. Story page 3.

CONNECT & GROW YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS IN PARRAMATTA & WESTERN SYDNEY

THIS EDITION Lord Mayor popular vote: 5 Lighyt Rail structure in place: 7

Relevance a Chamber priority: 10 Facelift for justice pillar: 12 The new trend in travel: 16

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ISSUE 11 | June 2021

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ISSUE 11 | June 2021

Don’t go batty over bats Health service urges caution is affected areas  DI BARTOK HILE Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) is urging community members to avoid handling bats after the Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) was recently detected among bats in the area, a wildlife expert doesn't want Parramatta Park users to go all batty. “The simple message is that you can only be infected by bats if you handle them - such as picking up injured bats or trying to free them from netting,” said Sandra Guy from Sydney Wildlife Rescue Service. “I don’t want people to think that bats from the camp of 15,000 grey-headed flying foxes are going to swoop down on them. “Bats may annoy people living near them with noise and smell but they are essential for pollinating native trees and have been there before European settlement.”’ Still, 11 people have been referred to the Public Health Unit at Westmead Hospital after being scratched or bitten by bats so far this year. WSLHD Public Health Unit Director Dr Shopna Bag said four of those people needed treatment. “Lyssavirus can be transmitted from infected bats to humans through bites or scratches, so it is important people avoid handling any bat in distress, trapped or on the ground,” Dr Bag said.

“While human ABLV infection is extremely rare with only three cases ever recorded in Australia, it is fatal if not prevented with early vaccine treatment.” If you have found an injured or trapped bat, call your local wildlife rescue service WIRES on 1300 094 737. Early symptoms of ABLV are flu-like, including headache, fever and fatigue. The illness then progresses rapidly to paralysis, delirium, convulsions and death. Dr Bag said the disease spreads to people from the saliva of an infected bat, so you’re not at risk from urine or droppings if you live, play or walk near their colonies.

What to do if bitten If you are bitten or scratched by any type of bat, clean the wound with soap and water immediately for at least five minutes, apply an antiseptic such as Betadine, and seek urgent medical advice. Following an exposure, people may need a series of injections to protect against lyssavirus infection with the first two to be given as soon as possible. If your pet has interacted with a bat, seek prompt assistance from your vet. If you work with or intend to start working with bats, contact your local doctor about vaccination. For more information on Australian bat lyssavirus visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/ Pages/rabies-australian-bat-lyssavirus-infection.aspx.

Health authorities are warning the public to avoid touching bats.

Community to decide on popularly-elected lord mayor ITHIN six months after the local government election on September 4, Parramatta voters will be asked if they want a popularly elected lord mayor and how the council should be structured. At the community meetings–the format yet to be decided–people will be presented with a range of options relating to the councillor and ward makeup of a council led by a popularly-elected lord mayor. Those options range from having 14 wards of a councillor each, in addition to a lord mayor, to having a lord mayor and 14 councillors with no wards. Other options are two wards or seven wards. All options will be presented in detail at the community consultation, with the Parramatta Times informing the public when they will be held.

At present, the lord mayor is elected by councillors who are voted in by electors every four years. The lord mayor’s term is two years. Present Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer sought to have a referendum on the issue at the upcoming local government election, but councillors decided the issue was too complex to present to the community without detailed analysis of options.

Best outcomes for community All being well, a referendum detailing the options will be put at the 2024 local government election, so there is a possibility that Parramatta will have a popularly-elected lord mayor by 2028. North Rocks Ward Councillor Andrew Jefferies, while supporting the concept of a popularly-elected lord mayor, wants the retention of wards to ensure that local representation remained.

HAVE YOUR SAY. Go to www.parramattatimes.com.au to cast your vote about this issue. “Given the size of the new council and the projected population over the next few decades, it’s a little fanciful to suggest that you could simply introduce a popularly elected mayor, remove the ward structure and all of a sudden, the world is a better place.” Cr Jefferies was critical of David Borger (Western Sydney director of Sydney Business Chamber), Geoff Lee (Parramatta State MP) and David Elliott (Baulkham Hills MP) for advocating for a popularly-elected lord mayor without suggesting a workable model. “A popularly elected mayor could easily have been introduced during the Administration period or have been put up by the Administrator as a referendum vote at

Andrew Jefferies.

the 2017 for the community to decide.” he added. “The best outcomes in local government are delivered when the ward councillor lives locally, understands the community needs and is able to properly advocate for the right improvement,” Cr Jefferies told the Times.

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Parramatta BMW’s new ambassador

How to get The Times The Parramatta Times is available throughout the Parramatta LGA at 110 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

ONE of Western Sydney’s leading premium car dealers, Parramatta BMW, has announced a new partnership with Channel 7 television personality, Kylie Gillies. Gillies, one of the most trusted and recognised faces and names in Australian television will work closely with the team at Parramatta BMW with their events and help promote the company’s community projects that Parramatta BMW is involved in. She will be the company’s Official Ambassador from May 2021.

Contacts Editorial: michael@parramattatimes.com.au Admin and General: info@parramattatimes.com.au Editor: Michael Walls michael@parramattatimes.com.au

The first batch of high school students from Parramatta Marist College take hands-on experience at an actual engineering manufacturing at Precision Metal Group workshop in Wetherill Park, with PMG chief executive Jason Elias.

Roadshow of mobile tradie workshops HE welding helmet seemed too big for the head and the tools too heavy for the hands yet the students from Parramatta Marist College (PMC) wearing highvis gear, as shown in the photo, prove they have got what it takes for future technical trades jobs. At a school holiday “welding camp” recently held for PMC’s youngest

Newsroom News Editor: Di Bartok dibartok@yahoo.com.au News Reporter: Lawrence Machado lawrencemachado@yahoo.com News Reporter: Elizabeth Frias elizfrias@gmail.com Travel Editor: Dallas Sherringham dallas@accessnews.com.au

It’s your uniqueness that matters ESTERN Sydney University Parramatta campus played host recently to Rami Ykmour, the founder of Rashays, a family-friendly restaurant franchise that now has over 30 locations along the east coast of Australia. Mr Ykmour spoke about his leadership style to an audience of business leaders. A self-made man, Rami believes that ‘your uniqueness is your advantage’, and he practices what he preaches. Although he started building his empire at just 22 years old, with his first Rashays store opening in western Sydney in 1998, Rami’s passion for business was ignited as a young child. Working in the family store with his father gave Rami an early education in the value of community and family, and these are still cornerstones of his business beliefs today.

Advertising sales Julie Jackson julie@accessnews.com.au

Administration Rebecca Swaleh info@parramattatimes.com.au

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Support Partner The Parramata Times is the official media partner of the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce.

high school students at Precision Metal Group workshop in Wetherill Park, the experience ignited interest from students and their parents. The idea of a camp kickstarted last October and will be replicated at high schools across Western Sydney as part of a massive industry-led recruitment program for young people across NSW to try an engineering trade as skills shortage is decried by industries.

Gillies is pictured with the BMW 330i Sedan in mineral grey, boasting M Sport Package.

Rami Ykmour.

INDEX

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News .................................5

Venues ............................15

Property ..........................20

CMRC ...............................8

Travel ..............................16

History ............................21

Parramatta Chamber ......10

Fitness ............................17

Trend ..............................24

Geoff Lee ........................12

Cityscapes ......................18

Auto ................................25

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Light Rail bridge lifted into place HE state’s second longest steel arch bridge has been lifted into place over a busy Sydney road, in a major milestone for the Parramatta Light Rail project. Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the bridge will connect light rail users, pedestrians and cyclists across James Ruse Drive in Rosehill which has 65,000 vehicle movements each day. “Over the last six months, the community has witnessed this huge 1,425-tonne steel arch structure coming together right here in western Sydney,” Mr Constance said. “More than 200 workers have been involved in building and moving the 64-metre long and 16-metre-wide structure, and it is great to see it now in place after a meticulous overnight engineering operation.” It took four self-propelled modular transporters, also known as heavy haulage jacks, eight hours to move and lower the structure onto the bridge piers. The

Images show the steel arch being lifted into place.

bridge will now be fitted out with light rail tracks. Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said the new bridge would help the community travel safely and easily across James Ruse Drive by light rail, walking and cycling. “The bridge will connect the local com-

munity with the new Tramway Avenue light rail stop on the western side of James Ruse Drive, and make it much safer for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the busy road,” Dr Lee said. “The Parramatta Light Rail project is committed to using Australian resources

and manufacturing–the steel was fabricated in a workshop at Rooty Hill and the bridge then assembled in Rosehill.” The 12-kilometre Parramatta Light Rail will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia, and is expected to commence services in 2023.

New trees for great west walk ORE than 26,000 new trees will be planted by the NSW Government along the Great West Walk, a 65-kilometre urban trail linking Parramatta to the lower Blue Mountains through three Western Sydney council areas. Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes was joined by representatives from Penrith, Parramatta and Blacktown City Councils at Ironbark Reserve in Cranebrook to plant the first tree

under the Greening the Great West Walk initiative. “One of Sydney’s finest green links will now be adorned with more trees, our greatest weapon in the battle against the urban heat in Western Sydney,” Mr Stokes said. “We’re creating a city within a park and we’re doing that by linking our green spaces with living infrastructure like the Great West Walk. “Parramatta Council has received close to $1M for landscaping work which

includes planting and maintaining around 11,000 trees in four locations along the Great West Walk, with more than 15,000 trees to be planted by our partners Greening Australia and Landcare.” Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the walk traversed stunning landscapes and was an important link through the region. “We know that sections of the Great West Walk have low tree canopy cover and can be 8-11 degrees warmer than other

parts of Sydney, so this investment will go a long way to reducing the urban heat island effect,” Mr Ayres said. The investment will see 3,200 trees planted at Tregear Reserve in Tregear (Blacktown), 7,600 trees in Toongabbie Creek in Winston Hills (Parramatta), 100 trees at Ironbark Reserve in Cranebrook (Penrith) and 9,000 trees at multiple sites across the walk. For more information visit www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/great-west-walk

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ISSUE 11 | June 2021

with COMMUNITY MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTRE

My Name is Not My Name Shared vision of safety and security Suu Kyi and her party were removed from power by a military coup. So again our attention has turned to this small country that borders two superpowers (China, India) and snakes along Thailand.

 PRISCELLA MABOR HE Community Migrant Resource Centre (CMRC) opened its doors 25 years ago in Parramatta. Since 1996, there has been a continuum of new migrants who have sought asylum in Australia, with a shared vision to achieve safety, security and a ballast to set up their tent poles on a new life for their children and for those left behind. Australia signed the UN’s Refugee Convention in 1951 following WWII and migration has charted a path forward for this nation ever since. However like most civil rights changes undertaken throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s, there have been incremental levels of understanding about the true implications of migration. Once packaged as a digestible story bite- increase our culinary repertoire- there have been a multitude of migration-related implications when wave upon wave of new arrive at Sydney airport and undertake a settlement journey that may not necessarily have a start and end date. CMRC has supported a range of communities from Ethiopia, Afghanistan, South Sudan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Sierra Leone, Bosnia and the Kingdom of Bhutan. If we look at the years between 2004 – 2010, Australia welcomed large numbers, however not all arrived in equal size or visibility. Naturally, some larger communities who are granted humanitarian visas, tend to receive more media coverage. But there have been communities who arrived and perhaps are the quiet Australians who do not announce themselves or seek undue attention. The Karen community from Burma (Myanmar) is one of those. The Karen (pronounced KAH-REN) arrived over three consecutive waves of migration. The second large one was during the 60s, and then post 2006 came the majority. Most settled in Sydney and Melbourne, and some gradually moved into regional areas to access agricultural opportunities. I recently sat down to talk to Padoh Saw who arrived in 1992 and found himself living in a dormitory in Kensington. “All I needed was rice but I couldn’t find any at the Kensington Shopping Mall. I had to buy this big bag of bread instead. There were huge slices wrapped in plastic. I had never eaten this type of bread. Later I would see people eating meat with vegetables. I had never seen meat served without rice. It was very strange to me,” he told me. The Karen number living in NSW total about 1, 200. Like most Australian citizens, when COVID happened they were caught up in the Government responses to a global pandemic: restrictions of movement, restrictions on business, mandatory health orders in relation to mask wearing and social distancing. For many Australians, this was the first time their individual rights were restricted, for the greater community good.

Surrounded by beauty

For many this was confronting but eventually the majority responded. However, for many refugee communities, the democratic rights we enjoy in Australia is as precious as gold, especially for those fleeing persecution and discrimination. Democracy is like oxygen: we all know we need it, we can’t exactly see it but we feel comforted by its silent protections of our civil rights. “My father named me by another name. I grew up with nine brothers and sisters who all were Karen by birth. “Our parents were Karen, our grandparents, and their parents. The Karen are descended from Mongolia from 700BC. Yet we all carried two names. Burmese names which were on all identify documents, but at home we were known by our Karen names. “If I had been given a Karen name, my father knew we would be in danger and be discriminated against and wouldn’t be get able to get a job.” Burma has re-captured the headlines this year as on February 1st, the democratically elected leader Aung San

Surrounded by beautiful Asian pears and damson plums, Pandoh lived outside his home state KAREN STATE. He grew up in the capital city of Yangoon. ”I grew up in my grandmothers’ house on my mothers’ side. It was a wooden house that sat on small stilts so we could store charcoal underneath. We also kept a lot of chickens, he said. “Partly to feed ourselves but more importantly to feed guests. In Karen culture it is very important that we share food with visitors and share our blessings. We had enough food to eat as we ate simple meals, fish noodle soup in the day and curries at night. Indian and Chinese influence was everywhere in the city, with Indian spices used in the curries and people making sweet and sour pork dishes. “ Pandoh’s father was a teacher and was well respected. “I would describe his character as very tough and very strict. My siblings and me had to go to school every day on the bus with my father. He was determined we all study. His students were afraid of him, but they respected him. When he passed away, everyone came to his funeral. Whenever I visit Burma, his students all invite me for lunch so they can talk about him and how much he meant. “ Every year, Pandoh flies to the Thai-Burma border to support all the Karen families housed in the refugee camps like Mae Lae Camp. There are still over 100, 000 housed there. In Yennora and Guildford Karen families gather every weekend for soccer and social nourishment. The three most important items Pandoh first shares about his community is the story of the tunics they wear, the history of their flag and most importantly how to say “good day” in Karen. On Wednesday June 23, CMRC will host Borders/ Bonds/Breathing – a Karen Forum and Photo Exhibition at the Riverside Theatre. A great opportunity to find out more about our Quiet Australians who live here and bring a fascinating perspective on what it means to migrate and live a bi-cultural life. When I ask Pandoh what was the first act of kindness he experienced in Australia, he remembers the Karen family who heard of his arrival and visited. “They brought chilli, rice and chutney. They were so warm and I ended up staying with them for two weeks. It really made me feel at home,” he said. Let’s open our hearts on June 23 and join the Karen Community. Priscella Mabor is Inclusion Strategy & Innovations Manager at the Community Migrant Resource Centre. Visit: www.cmrc.com.au

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

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ISSUE 11 | June 2021

Shop Parramatta - Yes, we are open! Shopping locally can save you time and money. Best of all, local business owners love their customers and know how important it is to keep their customers happy. Be a smart shopper: drop by Parramatta, show your support to our hard-working local businesses and be rewarded. Transport for NSW is proudly supporting local businesses during construction of the Parramatta Light Rail. Visit parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au/businesses to ﬁnd out more.

ParramattA ChambeR

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

Scenes from Parramatta Chamber social and awards events over the years. Chambers play a unique role in the people side of doing business.

Relevance a universal chamber priority But business is still essentially about interacting with people  LUKE MAGEE T has been an intense month as the new Chamber President. I was particularly encouraged by several other Chamber leaders reaching out and offering their support, encouragement, and willingness to collaborate. I have so far taken up the offer to meet with a number of them, including Kerrie Sheaves @ the Hills, Wally Mehanna @ Canterbury, Trevor Oldfield @ Blacktown and Kate Rafton @ Penrith. They have been outstanding in sharing their insights, tips, and challenges within their respective Chambers. It seems the issues are quite common; primarily how do we ensure Chambers remain relevant in today’s world. The Parramatta Chamber is 109 years old. The world of 1912 was very different to how we live today, the first ever Chamber of Commerce was reputedly established in 1599 in Marseille, France.

It is a valid question to ask is an organisation created 100’s of years ago still needed? Still relevant? Whilst the way we conduct business may have changed dramatically, business is still essentially about people interacting. People are social beings all with idiosyncrasies. People still require support, advice, encouragement, interaction with

other people, those needs are perennial. That’s what makes Chambers still relevant, the personal / people factor. What should Chambers be doing for the members today. The same as they have offered over time, teach, mentor, facilitate, enable, advocate, build community. The Parramatta Chamber has demonstrated over recent years a phenomenal

YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS BELONG TO A CHAMBER THAT WORKS FOR YOU WEEKLY REFERRAL GROUPS MONTHLY NETWORKING EVENTS QUARTERLY BUSINESS FORUMS LIVE IT LIVE WEBINARS ANNUAL SIGNATURE EVENTS ANNUAL CHARITY DRIVES GROW YOUR BUSINESS BY JOINING THE PARRAMATTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.parramattachamber.com.au Level 1, Suite 2, 111 Phillip Street Parramatta, NSW 2150 02 9635 0022

ability to host major events and provide a powerful networking platform. The Parramatta chamber members are very well connected, and I have witnessed them interacting like a family. The themes I hear when talking to members they want to be connected, informed, introduced, represented and contribute to their community. So, our challenge for the future is to maintain our strengths and tap into our other capabilities via the Board and members. The collective talent we have is amazing. So, watch this space. I very much look forward to working with the other Chambers and the rich myriad of organisations that we interconnect with. If you are in business consider entering the WSABE awards, www.wsabe.com.au I look forward to updating you next month. Luke Magee is President of the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce.

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ISSUE 11 | June 2021

with Geoff Lee MP

Pillar of local justice to get a facelift HE 19th century ‘clock’ tower at Parramatta Courthouse is getting a makeover thanks to a NSW Government initiative aimed at preserving the heritage of the State’s legal landmarks. Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said the work will not only safeguard the history of the tower, but also boost the economy. “This $400,000 project will generate around 30 jobs for tradespeople specialising in restoration of the tower, which was built as part of the 1896 courthouse designed by Walter Liberty Vernon,” Dr Lee said. “This famed architect helped lay the architectural foundation for NSW, working on buildings as varied as the Governor-General’s Sydney residence, Admiralty House, to suburban fire and police stations as well as dozens of metropolitan and regional court houses.” Attorney General Mark Speakman said the upgrade of the Parramatta Courthouse tower is part of the Government’s $7.1M Heritage Program for courthouses. “We want to ensure our legal legacy is being looked after for future generations and

that’s why the NSW Government is investing now to safeguard it. This project marks an important milestone as we continue to care for these institutions which play such as critical role in our communities,” Mr Speakman said. The restoration to the Parramatta Courthouse tower includes: • Façade conservation works, painting and cleaning; and • Replacing internal concrete platforms and access ladders. Vernon’s original plans did not include the tower, which was added after complaints that the courthouse would be overshadowed by larger buildings nearby, including the three-storey Woolpack Hotel across the road. A proposed clock for the tower was never installed. “As the tower, with its ornate carved sandstone NSW coat of arms, is now the sole visual reminder of the old courthouse, it’s restoration will ensure this monument of the past endures well into the future,” Mr Speakman said.

The 19th Century clock tower at Parramatta Court house. Photo Credit: NSW State Archives and Records

GEOFF LEE Delivering for 11 , 3

Free training for veterans ETERANS and their partners will have access to free training to broaden their career opportunities and help transition to civilian life after service. As part of the landmark Veterans Skills Program, eligible learners can study any course offered under the Government’s Smart and Skilled program from a Certificate II to Advanced Diplomas, including all apprenticeships and selected traineeships. Veterans and their partners can choose between more than 450 Registered Training Organisations including NSW TAFE. Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said Skills NSW was working with employers, industry and veterans groups to provide targeted training to assist veterans into jobs. “A key area of the Veterans Strategy is Education and Employment, which aims to ensure our veterans find the right job or training post-service. “In addition to our fee-free training for veterans, our NSW Veterans Employment Program has helped 1,094 veterans find new and meaningful roles in the public sector 18 months ahead of our target date.”

For more information visit: https://education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw/veterans

Religious leaders come together ORE than 30 NSW religious and community leaders have come together to encourage all eligible individuals from diverse faith and cultural communities to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The leaders met with Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and Minister for Multiculturalism Geoff Lee at the mass vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park. “Thank you to community leaders across NSW who have shown leadership throughout the pandemic and continue to provide trusted information to their communities. It is critical to vaccinate our citizens as quickly and as safely as possible,” Ms Berejiklian said. “There are Cultural Support Workers at the mass vaccination centre who can guide people through the entire process in 25 different languages.” The mass vaccination centre is now administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to members of the general public aged 50 and over, along with GPs and other NSW Health clinics throughout the state. The majority of the community leaders have received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

M Geoff LEE MP

Member for Parramatta 02 9891 4722

parramatta@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Ground Floor, 60 Macquarie Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 Authorised by Geoff Lee MP, Ground Floor, 60 Macquarie Street, Parramatta NSW 2150. Funded using parliamentary entitlements.

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

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Parramatta Professionals Forum launched AMPION College Australia, McAuley Hawach Lawyers and Blueprint Property have partnered to launch the Parramatta Professionals Forum. Executives at the tertiary college, law firm and real estate agency hope the Forum will provide a space to contribute to the public debate, open up opportunities for dialogue with government and help deepen ties with similar minded professionals from the Parramatta local government area. The first Forum, hosted on Friday, May 14 at El-Phoenician Restaurant at Parramatta, welcomed State Member for Prospect, Dr Hugh McDermott MP, as guest speaker. Dr McDermott addressed the controversial Bill Voluntary Assisted Dying in NSW, asking the question, “Euthanasia in NSW… is it around the corner?” He shared his personal experiences of watching his father die after battling with cancer and said that the NSW Parliament should defend the sanctity of human life and not fall into the trap of permitting state-sanctioned suicide. After the presentation, Dr McDermott responded to questions. Guests welcomed

the opportunity to engage with an important issue whilst networking and nurturing relationships with other professionals in the community. The next Parramatta Professionals Forum will be held on Friday, August 13. Dr John Fahey, author of Australia’s First Spies, will be the guest speaker. If you are interested in attending or learning more about the Parramatta Professionals Forum, please contact Yvette (y.nehme@campion.edu.au) or Marlyn (marlyn@blueprintproperty.com.au).

Stephen McAuley, McAuley Hawach Lawyers, Dr Hugh McDermott MP, Member for Prospect, Lebba Khater, Blueprint Property, Dr Paul Morrisey, Campion College and Yvette Nehme, Campion College.

40 minutes off airport trip  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM MASSIVE 40 minutes will be slashed off the travel time between Parramatta and Sydney Airport at Mascot when the WestConnex project is finished in

2023. It means decades of stop-start trips through the southern city will finally come to an end. And travelling to the CBD from the end of the M4 at Haberfield and the

southern city or the east will be a breeze compared to the bad old days. The massive WestConnex project has been hailed as one of the biggest breakthroughs in Parramatta and Western Sydney business history in more ways than one. It means that businesspeople, commuters and residents can flash around under the city in a fraction of the time it used to take for the drive from Sydney to Parramatta.

Huge traffic delays have cost business a large fortune in lost time and travel costs for decades. Anyone who ever used the old Parramatta Rd can tell you sad stories of endless delays, stop-start traffic lights and long sessions listening to radio while going nowhere quickly. The WestConnex will finally put an end to the delays and traffic jams for drivers between the CBD, M5, southern city and Parramatta. It will also allow drivers to link with the southern City, the Airport and

Botany, always a nightmare trip of more than an hour. And another ‘breakthrough’ for business has just happened. A major milestone was reached in what is Australia’s largest road infrastructure project, with Roadheaders smashing through sandstone to connect two sections of tunnel for the first time. The dramatic breakthrough connected westbound sections of the mainline tunnels between St Peters Interchange and Annandale, which is about 50m below Newtown.

NewS

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

Used car sales boom in COVID But authorities warn buyers over the contract con  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM ARRAMATTA residents are being urged to be cautious when buying used cars following a recent spate of dealers being found guilty of offences relating to misleading customers. Used car purchases have boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, opening up a major source of revenue for dodgy dealers in Western Sydney. Second-hand car dealership Narita Imports has been found guilty of seven offences relating to misleading customers by entering false information on to an approved sales contract. Lansvale dealership directors Azizul Hakim Chowdhury and Nahida Akhter pleaded guilty to the charges brought by NSW Fair Trading at Parramatta Local Court and were ordered to pay $7,725 in fines and costs. Fair Trading Executive Director of Investigations and Enforcement Valerie Griswold said she was pleased Narita Imports had been convicted and fined given the company’s conduct and intentional nature of the offences. “Narita Imports has previously received education and Penalty Infringement Notices. NSW Fair Trading subsequently made the decision to commence prosecution proceedings,” Ms Griswold said. “Several of the offences concerned dealers notices given to consumers that were false and misleading in that they include a Personal Property Security Register (PPSR) check number and guaranteed that the motor vehicle being

purchased had been checked against the Register and came with clear title, but the PPSR number recorded did not exist on the Register.”

Get what you pay for “The non-existent PPSR check numbers in particular are worrying as this check relates to the guarantee from the dealership that the vehicle comes with clear title, in that no finance is owing. It also shows whether the vehicle has been stolen or if the vehicle has ever been written off. “All motor dealers must make sure that all of the information in dealers notices is reliable. Buying a car is a significant and costly event in a person’s life and consum-

ers must be able to be confident that they are getting what they are paying for.” With the boom in second-hand car sales due to COVID-19, Fair Trading is warning consumers to remain vigilant when purchasing a vehicle. It has outlined methods buyers can use to avoid being ripped off: • Make sure the dealer is licensed under the Motor Dealer & Repairers Act 2013. This can be easily done for free at Public Register– Service NSW. • Ask for registration paperwork and proof of ownership. Compare the VIN number, engine number and registration number to that on the actual car.

• Do your own Security Check which can be done for $2.00 online at www.ppsr.gov.au or call 1300 007 777 – you will need the VIN, registration number, engine number or serial number. The PPSR checks for: - Outstanding finance owing, water damage, written off,, odometer tampering, stolen vehicle

• Do an RMS (Roads and Maritime Services) Vehicle check for: - Registration status and expiry, CTP Policy and expiry.

This can be done free at Check a vehicle registration | Service NSW or via the Service NSW app.

Constitution Hill Retirement Community Discover the relaxed lifestyle and the range of one, two and three-bedroom retirement living units available at Constitution Hill. We are conducting tours in line with current COVID-safe industry guidelines.

Book your tour today 1300 294 519 constitutionhill.com.au 1 Centenary Ave, Northmead NSW 2152 Australian Unity Retirement Community homes at Constitution Hill are sold under a loan lease arrangement. You will have to pay a departure fee when you leave this village. You will have to share any capital gains received with the operator of this village. For more information please email us at: customercare@australianunity. com.au or call us on: 1300 160 170. 21_AU1715

VenueS

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

Evolution of Bankwest Stadium ANKWEST STADIUM is best known for hosting the biggest sporting events in Western Sydney, but dayto-day the stadium has emerged as one of the busiest function centres in town. The Stadium hosted a meeting, function or special event off the pitch on every single day of the month of May, barring those that coincided with a sporting event. In total, 24 events ranging from conferences, exhibitions, training days, meetings and even a Toyota Roadshow were hosted at the Stadium. Since opening to the public in April 2019, Bankwest Stadium’s function spaces have hosted everything from choir rehearsals to baptisms, black-tie dinners, school formals, weddings, conferences and business meetings. “This really shows is that we’re not just a major events venue. The Stadium really was designed to accommodate a range of business, community, cultural and special events,” said David Greselin, Business Development Manager, Meetings and Special Events at Bankwest Stadium. “We pride ourselves on being able to take on any type of event and to make our venue accessible to anyone.” In a normal calendar year, the stadium will host more than 150 of these events and welcome more than 10,000 people into the venue for them. The stadium has a diverse range of indoor and outdoor spaces that can host events from 2 to 800 people and cater for just about any event you can think of. A City of Parramatta report in 2019 showed that major sporting events are worth about $1M in revenue for the city. The day-to-day functions have brought an additional boost to the region as it

offers an appealing location for businesses to host events in Parramatta. The stadium recently hosted a stunning black-tie dinner on the hallowed turf to celebrate Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney’s 40th Anniversary. “Our relationship with Bankwest Stadium recently hit a high point with the hosting of our dinner on the field,” said Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney CEO Belinda Woolford. “The event involved significant and detailed planning with the Stadium team and they were true professional. It was a world class operation.” Bankwest Stadium will remain a busy building for the rest of the year with a number of these specialty events already locked in. Many uses of Bankwest Stadium.

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TraveL

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

Working while you holiday… Welcome to the new trend called SLOW TRAVEL  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM he COVID-19 pandemic’s shutdown of international borders and the move to working from home will have important positive benefits for the Australian travel industry. One of the major findings of the pandemic has been the well documented ability of management and staff to work remotely, using the latest telecommunications. For example, I am writing this story from the annex of my caravan with the sparkling Pacific Ocean laid out before me. So, with tourists opting for longer stays due to many being able to work remotely, and sustainability featuring more heavily in travel decisions, it is clear that slow travel could be a global phenomenon in the next few years. Slow travel mainly refers to the speed of which a trip is taken. And slow travel also means tourists staying longer, connecting with local people, culture, food and music. They will also be able to travel outside the normal holiday peak periods. Sustainability is also at the forefront of consumers’ decisions. Pent-up demand for immersive travel experiences with no set time limit will help ‘slow travel’ become the next big tourism trend. Slow travel mainly refers to the speed of which a trip is taken, where travelers take a train through Australia instead of flying, for example.

Sustainable for local communities However, slow travel is also more sustainable for local communities and the environment and can make a significant contribution to the economies of regions and towns in traditional off peak periods.. Various consumer trends already suggest that slow travel will take off post-pandemic. A trip longer than 10 nights is more highly desired at 22% than a day visit at 10%

or short break away from one to three nights 14% according to an industry poll. And the trend will spread worldwide. There is also a larger remote workforce across the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 70% of global respondents opted to work remotely full time or have a mixture of both remote and office work. Many offices are likely to be more flexible regarding working hours and the location of an employee as a result of the pandemic, meaning blending work and leisure will be easier for employees. Sustainability is also at the forefront of consumers’ decisions. ‘Supporting social causes’ was identified as a key driver in product purchases for 25% of global respondents in the industry’s 2021 consumer survey and for 45% this was ‘nice to have’. Preference for products can reflect on service trends and this identifies that consumers may feel more inclined to support local communities post-pandemic, which is a gap that ‘slow travel’ can fill.

Competition is already intensifying between both niche and major travel intermediaries, suggesting that slow travel is sure to make its mark in post-pandemic travel overseas. Travel intermediaries that offer ‘slow travel’ holidays range from niche operators such as Intrepid Travel and Responsible Travel to more mainstream providers such as Airbnb and Expedia Group. This niche trend reflects consumers’ growing desire for more experiential forms of travel, going above and beyond the hordes of tourists gathered for sun, sea and sand. Its potential growth could further rival the concept of mass tourism and the all-inclusive package holiday concept in travel’s recovery post COVID-19. So it’s, time to put the laptop down and head for the beach and some more research. Love this remote working. Source: ETN Travel Industry News Dallas Sherringham is Associate Editor at Access News Australia and one of Australia’s most experienced travel writers.

FitnesS

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

Change your habits, change your life  ADAM SIMPSON OU don’t need to discover the perfect diet to get results, you just need to work on your daily habits. If you are someone who doesn’t have a background in the health and fitness industry, it can be quite confusing on what it is you need to do to get yourself in shape. There is a myriad of diets out there and many of which can be quite contradictory. Instead of bouncing from diet to diet, I want you to focus on your daily eating and exercise habits. Take a step back and look at what you do each day. Do you exercise? Do you eat enough fruits and vegetables? How much water do you drink? Are there any foods or drinks that you know you over consume? Now, I want you to choose 1-2 of your daily habits that you currently could improve on and for the next month focus on making an improvement. Simple small changes can lead to big results when you are consistent. Let’s look at an example of what I am talking about.

Marcus Whelan, 42, Glenorie, Psychologist and Father of 4. What made you start an exercise program? I started because I wanted to feel happier within myself and improve my confidence. For me it wasn’t about weight loss, but I just wanted to turn up and challenge myself. I also joined the Group Training program as I liked the social aspect of it. What do you love about Group Training? And when did you start? I love the comradery aspect to it, it’s great to have that competition aspect to it, without it really being a competition. I like the idea of supporting others while being supported and you just push yourself that much harder when you do it with others. I started at Repetitions Fitness right before Covid hit and all the gyms closed down. Then I was participating in the online workouts during the lock down and got straight back into the Group Training sessions when the gym reopened. What results have you achieved? I am the fittest and strongest I have ever been, my body looks completely different and have lost around 9kg on the scales.

Marcus Whelan: October 2019 – 87kg

How do you feel now? I feel like a new man. I am stronger, healthier, happier, I am excited to train each week and I think even the kids are happier. What dietary changes have you made? I have just been more mindful of what I am eating and shrunken my portion sizes. I try to limit how many calories I drink, but still manage a few beers. I also try to focus

Marcus Whelan: February 2021 – 78kg

on eating more vegetables and just reduced the amounts of processed food I eat. How many days a week do you train now? And what were you doing before? I am currently training 4-5 days a week now, previously I would do 1-2 sessions a week but nowhere near the same intensity. What pushes you to keep going? And what is the biggest piece of advice you would give someone who is looking to start out?

I am committed to the behavioural changes that I made and have a strong mindset to continue to look and feel my best. I think you need to accept yourself as you are before you are willing to change yourself.

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

CityscapeS

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

Parramatta Lord Mayor, Cr BOB DWYER

Our City’s rich indigenous history shines  BOB DWYER HE City of Parramatta’s rich indigenous history and culture is taking centre stage as part of Council’s annual Warami festival, which kicked off with National Sorry Day on 26 May and will run until Burramatta NAIDOC Day on 11 July. Now in its third year, Warami features a wide range of free and affordable

events, including live music and dance performances, talks and storytelling sessions, Dharug arts and crafts workshops, walking tours, and more. For thousands of years, the Burramattagal people have called Parramatta home, so our City is the ideal place to learn, reflect and celebrate our First Nations people. I invite people from all over Sydney to come and experience the Warami festival. For more information, visit discoverparramatta.com.

OzHarvest Hamper Hub The pandemic has put immense pressure on everyone in our community – none more so than those who have experienced job loss and are finding it difficult to provide for themselves and their families. To help, OzHarvest has recently opened a pop-up Hamper Hub in Granville, providing emergency food relief to those in need. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the new Hamper Hub and see firsthand

the great work OzHarvest does, as well as spend some time helping out. Thank you to the OzHarvest team for their selfless efforts in supporting vulnerable members of our community. The OzHarvest Hamper Hub is open on Thursdays until the end of June, from 11am to 2pm at 3-5 Bridge Street, Granville (opposite Granville Station). For more information, visit ozharvest.org/hamper-hub-granville.

Parramatta’s Historical Treasures Go Global

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer invites everyone to attend this year’s Warami festival.

An exciting partnership between City of Parramatta Council and Macquarie University will see local artefacts dating back to the First Fleet digitised using 3D technology, allowing them to be seen by an online global audience for the first time. As the second oldest colonial city in Australia, Parramatta has a rich and fascinating history. I’m thrilled to see Council’s

incredible collection of historical treasures being made more accessible to the public. More than 30 items from the Parramatta Heritage and Visitor Information Centre’s cultural collection will be showcased online. You can view the 3D collection on the Parramatta History and Heritage website at historyandheritage. cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au

National Volunteer Week Our volunteers play a vital role in our community – and never more so than during this past year. Through the darkness of 2020, there were plenty of bright stars – and National Volunteer Week, which ran 17-23 May 2021, provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate and thank our many volunteers for their hard work and commitment to making our community a better place. One of our local volunteers is Elise Kellett, who was the recipient of the 2021

City of Parramatta ‘Young Adult Citizen of the Year’ award. Elise not only holds volunteer roles with Meals on Wheels and the Starlight Foundation, but she also works as a youth outreach and inclusion coordinator at the Y NSW where she leads local youth programs. I would like to thank Elise and all of our local volunteers for their valuable and selfless contributions to making our corner of the world a better place.

Council, in partnership with Macquarie University, is digitising more than 30 historical and cultural artefacts.

A Bold Future for Parramatta Square

Local volunteer Elise Kellett with City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer at the 2021 City of Parramatta Australia Day Awards.

I’m thrilled to announce that last month we established the Parramatta Square Precinct Alliance – a powerful partnership between Parramatta Square’s landowners and tenants that cements the $2.7 billion hub as the beating heart of our City’s CBD. Under the Charter, alliance members will deliver initiatives to ensure the Parramatta Square public domain is a welcoming and safe space for our community.

Parramatta Square is set for completion in 2022, and will boast commercial towers, civic facilities, retailers, restaurants, and a large public space. Council will be managing the public domain and will also be delivering the refurbished Town Hall and 5 Parramatta Square ‒ a $130 million community, cultural and civic building. Bob Dwyer is Lord Mayor of The City of Parramatta.

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

Get Physical

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PROPERTY SHOWCASE WESTERN SYDNEY

Published in Western Sydney Business Access | Parramatta Times | Blacktown News | www.westernpropertyguide.com.au

Suburbs become millionaires Market sizzles in Autumn cold  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM HE weather has turned cold as autumn bites Western Sydney, but the sizzling hot property market shows no sign of abating. Cashed up buyers are flooding the market in the west according to leading property site realestate.com.au with families on the hunt for larger houses. They have led to an explosion in property prices across Sydney’s west and transformed once affordable suburbs into “millionaire’s row’s”. The latest suburb to become a millionaire’s row is St Clair on the M4, just west of Blacktown. A property sold for $1.438m, which was $238,000 above the reserve price. It was the third property to break the St Clair suburb record this year. The luxury five bedroom home shattered the former record of $1.15M earlier this year. And that property in Tweed Pl beat the previous record from February when a Belledale Cl home went under the hammer for $1.096M. Belle Property Strathfield Principal Norman So said the latest record auction in Galway Pl attracted 11 registered bidders. He said the vendors were thrilled with the result after wanting their home to get the suburb record. “The vendors didn’t care what price it got as long as they got the suburb record title,” he said. There are now 53 suburbs in the Greater Western Sydney region with a median house price above $1 million. And another 11 suburbs are on track to hit the milestone by the end of the year if prices rise by the up to 15% margin forecast by some banks. CoreLogic date shows suburbs that recently became millionaire’s rows included Rydalmere and Northmead near Parramatta and Blacktown suburbs Stanhope Gardens and The Ponds. It means prices in many of the new $1M suburbs were once accessible for critical service workers on lower incomes, such as nurses and teachers, but have since pulled well out of their reach. Getting a mortgage for a house priced near $1m would require a household income of at least $140,000 a year at current loan rates.

The St Clair property.

Houses with backyards are now in danger of becoming affordable only for “elites”. It means parts of the west are now moving in the direction the inner west was 20-30 years ago, according to one expert on realestate.com.

Affordable by comparison Leading auctioneer Michael Garofolo said part of the reason prices had been ballooning out west was because it was more affordable relative to the rest of Sydney. This made it an attractive market for families in other parts of the city who, after enduring lockdowns, wanted larger houses but had budgets in line with more expensive areas, he said. “Where you’re coming from can skewer your perspective,” Mr Garofolo said. “If you’re used to the inner west or the east, you see the houses as cheap and don’t care if you pay well over the listed price to beat other buyers.” Mr Garofolo said it was a similar pattern to how inner west suburbs like Concord evolved 30 years ago.

“Concord was once a blue-collar area considered a bit out of the way but it was a cheaper suburb a lot of people could afford,” he told the property site. “Now it’s one of the most expensive suburbs, it’s a white-collar area. The same thing is now happening in places like Merrylands.” The record St Clair sale means the team at Belle Property Strathfield has sold 278 properties in the last 12 months, with an average sale price of $1.6m and total sales valued at $405.7m. The team sold 143 houses, 134 apartments and 1 block of land or rural property with 151 sales by private treaty and 127 by auction–and these properties were on the market for an average of 50 days. The highest recorded sale price was $6M for 16 Torrington Rd, Strathfield NSW, a 5-bedroom house which sold by auction and was on the market for just 35 days.

Kings Langley $977,000 Constitution Hill $957,550 Chipping Norton $940,000 Moorebank $935,000 Parklea $930,000 Auburn $920,000 Wilberforce $920,000 Canley Vale $900,000 Bossley Park $895,000

THE NEWEST $1M SUBURBS INCLUDE: Mulgoa $1.12m Winston Hills $1.1m Lidcombe $1.1m Glenwood $1.0m Kellyville Ridge $1.08m Northmead $1,08m The Ponds $1.06m Harrington Park $1.05m Berala $1.02m Camden Park $1.02m Stanhope Gardens $1,02m Macquarie Links $1.01m Glenbrook $1m

WESTERN SUBURBS ON VERGE OF $1M HOUSE PRICES Wentworthville $993,000 Carnes Hill $988,000

Sources: Belle Property Strathfield, realestate.com.au, CoreLogic

APRIL 2021 Edition 120

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS

LO OUR CA CI L PA TY PE ’S R

HOW THE WEST IS WON

L LOCA NEW

ParramattA Voice of Australia’s most progressive city

T I M E S

ISSUE 9 | April 2021

Minister pushing for more women on Parramatta Council: 3

%ඔඉඋඓග඗ඟ1 Issue 1 | April 2021

Blacktown'ss LOCAL media voice Blacktown

EXCLUSIVE: Bob Turner on his new role at Blacktown FC.

BEST GIFT SINCE THE OPERA HOUSE POWERHOUSE Parramatta CEO Lisa Havilah is more interested in the flood of excitement over the controversial $920M project than any flood-waters that may lap at its riverside approach. After the recent devastating rains that saw Parramatta River break its banks between the ferry wharf and the site of the museum, Ms Havilah is adamant that the building and its exhibits will not be affected.

FULL STORY PAGE 10

RETAIL BOUNCES BACK -

THIS EDITION

AUTO: SsangYong's mid-life update: 30 BUSINESS: Retailers reveal solutions: 34 TRENDS: Is love passing you by?: 36

World class health care

Westmead Hospital’s new clinical tower oepns: 2

New suburb named BradÀeld

Govy ofÀcially names high tech city at Aerotropolis: 6

Family business in COVID

How many leveraged patience capital during COVID: 12

TALE OF TWO POOLS

Фf^ ÌÓ æ â î î±Ë æ ® þ Ì î® îÓó©® æî ÓÌ EÓÿ â î ±Å âæ ® þ â þ Å î® æÓÅóî±ÓÌæ Ì â Óâ ¨Óâ w æî âÌ ^ą Ì ąФæ У â± Âæ Ì ËÓâî âФ æóßßÓâî Ë æóâ æ Ì ¨Óâ î® ±Ì óæîâą ÓóÌ â î ±Å ±Ì óæîâąϻ óî î®±æ æ îÓâ ® æ ßâÓó Â î®±æ ą â Ì ąÓÌ Ϻ ®±æîÓâą Ó¨ ÓóÌ ±Ì© Â ¨âÓË î® ® â æî Ó¨ î±Ë æϺ FULL STORY PAGE 5

How hope really works

Feature on the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal: 15

SALOVS: How hope really happens: 19

FTER a few hot summers for swimmers who loved Parramatta and w ÌîÿÓâî®þ±ÅÅ ßÓÓÅæ Ì æóđ â during their closures, relief is on the way. Just a day apart, the refurbished Wentworthville pool opened and î® Ĝâæî æÓ ÿ æ îóâÌ ÓÌ î® spectacular Parramatta Aquatic Centre. Both communities have been without a pool since 2017, the Parramatta Memorial Pool demolished to make way for Bankwest Stadium and the previous Holroyd Council wanting to close the tired Wenty pool

rather than refurbish it. After a bit of æ óĖ îÿ Ì W ââ Ë îî ÓóÌ ±Å and the NSW Government on who would pay for its replacement, an agreement was reached on funding for the state-of-the-art aquatic centre. And in Wentworthville, a concerted community campaign and the Cumberland Council, saved the beloved pool with an upgrade. While Parramatta residents wait two years for their pool, they are welcome to dive to Wenty.

FULL STORY PAGE 6

Young people turning their lives around at BYSA.

Youth Needs Our Support

VITAL youth service in Blacktown is set to close after missing out on important State Government funding. The Blacktown Youth Support Association’s Youth HQ program helps young people at risk - those who have

been in trouble with the law or those who may be headed that way. But the service was told at the end of last year by the Department of Communities and Justice that they had missed out on funding, in favour of more “targeted” youth

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The News will be distributed across 110 strategic distribution points in the LGA. Published in digital and print editions the Blacktown News ođers maximum impact for targeted advertising opportunities and reach to Blacktown's diverse population. With a mission of championing community and business issues, the BN is a proud media partner of the Greater Blacktown Chamber of Commerce, the Blacktown Local Business Awards and Blacktown FC.

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As one of the state’s fastest growing cities, Blacktown has undergone a signiĜcant transformation. It's population is set to rise from 400,000 to 540,000 residents by 2036. The Blacktown News is the print and digital media resource that connects residents and visitors to the city’s diverse community, its progress, business opportunities and lifestyle. We value your feedback. Go to www.greaterblacktownnews.com.au to share your story.

Keep up to date with the latest news in and around Blacktown! Get your monthly community e-newsletter today.

The home of jobs in Western Sydney. Connecting businesses with job seekers directly

programs. A letter from the Minister for Families and Communities Gareth Ward suggested that the BYSA seeks funding from other government departments such as education and sport. FULL STORY 10

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ISSUE 11 | June 2021

HistorY

Hambledon Cottage has a colourful history.

History lives in Hambledon Cottage  TREVOR PATRICK HE history of Hambledon Cottage Museum, at 63 Hassall St Parramatta, is part of the Macarthur family story. Following his return from political exile in 1817, John Macarthur turned his attention to the expansion of his family enterprises. Central to these activities was a building program which included additions to his Parramatta home, Elizabeth Farm, and the erection of supplementary accommodation of the estate, then referred to as “the cottage on the plain” and now known as Hambledon Cottage. With a shortage of bedrooms at Elizabeth Farm, Hambledon Cottage accommodated his children, grandchildren and close

family friends for varying periods from several days to many years. Henry Kitchen (1793-1822), a young architect seeking patronage in the colony, completed designs for a building for Macarthur at Camden which was described as a “small but extremely beautiful dwelling in the cottage fashion”. The design which featured French windows opening onto a wide verandah leading to park-like garden so impressed Macarthur that in 1820 he instructed Kitchen to prepare plans for a similar cottage to be erected on his Parramatta estate. The final plans submitted carry the marginal note “cottage for Miss Lucas”, former governess to the Macarthur daughters. As a link with her former home in Hampshire, England, Penelope Lucas chose the name “Hambledon” for her Australian home.

Because of Kitchen’s premature death on 8th April 1822, Macarthur sought the professional help of Henry Cooper, a competent draughtsman, who was able to transfer Kitchen’s original and innovative designs into working plans for the building of the distinctive and elegant Georgian style domestic bungalow which we now refer to as Hambledon Cottage. Parramatta & District Historical Society occupies the cottage as their headquarters and conduct guided tours throughout the year. There are fully furnished rooms in the cottage – Withdrawing or Lounge Room; Dining Room; Bed Room; Study; Kitchen, and the Lucas Gallery. This unique room of the cottage features a changing exhibitions of historic interest; the Female Factory of Parramatta; life and times of personalities from the

pages of history; aboriginal artifacts; models of heritage buildings. The two-acre Hambledon Reserve is designed to create the memory of an English country scene. John Macarthur and his sons planted English Oaks in 1817 making them the oldest examples in Australia. Australian native Bunya Bunya Pines dominate the skyline. The nuts from the Bunya Bunya trees provided a traditional food for the indigenous Australian people. Due to Covid-19 Pandemic, the Museum is currently closed. Trevor Patrick is with the Parramatta Historical Society. The Historical Society continues to provide interesting views through their web site www.parramattahistorical.org.au and www.facebook.com/ parramattahistorical.

Crosswords/Games Solutions page 24

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Little jerks 5. Head downtown? 10. Help in a holdup 14. Balming target 15. Beyond partner 16. Screenplay direction 17. T-bone region 18. Medical research goals 19. Every family has one 20. Illuminated 23. Holiday follower? 24. Skiier’s challenge 25. Unlike a litterbug 27. Palindromic windmill part 30. End of two state names 33. Scratch, say 36. Better copy? 38. Bahrain bread 39. Passed with ease 41. Genetic info carrier 42. Arboreal abode 43. Things to rattle 45. Fishtail, e.g. 47. Daydreamer’s limit? 48. Fit to be fare 50. Killed, as a dragon 53. Tux accessory 54. Prepare for hanging 57. Wrestling area 59. Serving as a diplomat 64. Beer selections 66. Hindu grouping 67. Tat-tat intro 68. Folk facts 69. Pagoda roofing 70. Black cat, some think 71. It may come before “we forget” 72. Failed as a sentry 73. Bird’s perch, perhaps DOWN 1. Chaucer bit 2. They may be clicked on 3. Flu symptom 4. Grad-to-be 5. Bushwhacker’s tool 6. Go to the edge of 7. The good olde days 8. Cooking place 9. Transmit anew 10. Back on a battleship 11. Crooners, often 12. Creation location 13. “High School Musical” extra 21. Main mail drop (abbr.) 22. Disconnected, as a phone line 26. Like siblings 28. Chances in Vegas 29. Roller Derby milieus 31. Checklist item 32. Pretentiously stylish 33. Attack deterrent 34. Military sch. 35. Enrolls 37. Barbary ape’s lack 40. The red 44. Inner city concern 46. Most absurd 49. Official orders 51. Emotion of the miffed 52. Long and thin 55. Sight from Biscayne Bay 56. Gourmand 57. Shoppers’ site 58. Ubiquitous lily relative 60. Place for some polish 61. “Cast Away” setting 62. Manual component 63. A driver may change one 65. Firm or fixed

BINARY

Each square in the puzzle may contain either 0 or 1 1. No more than two adjacent squares may contain the same digit, ie you cannot have three adjacent squares in a row or column of the same digit. 2. Each row and each column must contain the same number of 0s and 1s, eg for a 10x10 grid, each row and column will contain five 0s and five 1s. 3. No row may be the same as another row and no column may be the same as another column. However, a row may be the same as a column.

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

A U S T R A L I A N SMALL BUSINESS

CHAMPION AWARDS 2021

Be part of Australia’s most prestigious small business awards. Entries close Friday 21st May 2021 www. businesschampions.com.au www.businesschampions.com.au

Games Solutions

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

TrendS

Cheers! Shout Perrottet an Aperiti Business lunch is making a comeback  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM COCKTAIL, a big steak and a contract went hand in hand during the golden years of the famous, sometimes infamous, tax deductible Great Aussie business lunch. Today’s busy generations have missed out of the many benefits of a business lunch, but finally salvation is at hand for the nation’s long suffering business lunch devotees. It all disappeared in the days of the miserly Federal Treasurer Paul Keating who reckoned we didn’t deserve a tax break for our business lunches. As a consequence, hundreds of restaurants and cafes were hard hit and thousands of people were left without a job, many of them ‘at home’ parents who could fit in a few hours around midday to host businesspeople. About the only thing that benefitted was the nation’s waistlines, left malnourished and shrunken by the lack of Oyster Kilpatrick and Lobster Thermidor washed down with a liberal splash of Marlborough Sounds Sauvignon Blanc followed by Irish Coffee. Taxi! Well, if Paris is known as the city of light, Sydney will once again become known as the city of the business lunch if the State Government has its way. NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has indicated enthusiasm for winding back the Fringe Benefits Tax, or FBT, in order to restore the era of the tax-deductible business lunch. “I’m all in favor of bringing back the long lunch in Sydney,” Mr Perrottet said recently.

MAY 2021 Edition 121

A first class move Business lunches largely vanished following the introduction of the FBT in 1986. This was a rare anti-business mistake by the usually sensible Hawke government. It was a class-based move. Proponents of the tax argued that wealthy business types should not earn tax breaks by eating oysters and drinking wine. This argument misses the point that business lunches frequently lead to business deals, creating employment opportunities for other Australians.

If ever Sydney and Australia needed some business-boosting incentives, it is right now, during our economic recovery from the damage wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, mindful of the $3.8bn a year generated nationwide by the FBT, won’t cut the tax. So keen is Mr Perrottet, however, that he flagged a NSW-only FBT reform. “If they don’t do it themselves, I’m more than happy to look at something in a creative space from the NSW government

level to help drive that,” Mr Perrottet told media. This would give Sydney a significant advantage over other state capitals which won’t have tax deductions in place. There are also the flow-on effects for restaurants across Western Sydney, which is among the areas most damaged by our economic contraction. Leading restaurateur Luke Mangan told media that bringing back the long lunch by scrapping the FBT could increase trade by up to 50%.

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS

APRIL 2021 Edition 120

Partnership aiming to boost trades jobs

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false information on to an approved sales SED car purchases have boomed contract. Lansvale dealership directors during the COVID-19 pandemic, Azizul Hakim Chowdhury and Nahida opening a major source of revenue Akhter pleaded guilty to the charges brought for dodgy dealers in Western Sydney. by NSW Fair Trading at Parramatta Local Imports Narita dealership car Second-hand Court and were ordered to pay $7,725 in has been found guilty of seven offences fines and costs. Full story: 2 relating to misleading customers by entering

THIS EDITION From career crisis to dream job: 5 Change of guard for Salvos: 8 Sizzling hot property market: 20

Western Sydney’s most sought-after business publication

Mid-market upeat, post COVID: 22

RETAIL BOUNCES BACK I and Now retailers have revealed the solutions on ’TS no secret times have been the toughest for the industry bounce and mortar’ support measures needed record for Western Sydney’s ‘bricks back this year and beyond. a proud retail industry, but this sector has FULL STORY PAGE 5 hardest of times. history of bouncing back from the

Taking a sickie is good for you: 34

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Westmead Hospital’s new clinical tower oepns: 2

New suburb named BradÀeld

Govy ofÀcially names high tech city at Aerotropolis: 6

Family business in COVID

How many leveraged patience capital during COVID: 12

How hope really works

Feature on the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal: 15

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

AutO with JOHN MELLOR

Curtains close on Mitsubishi’s flagship off-roader with the Pajero Final Edition  CALLUM HUNTER ITSUBISHI Motors Australia Limited’s (MMAL) venerable Pajero has finally reached the end of its line with production of the iconic off-roader coming to an end last month, yielding 800 ‘Final Edition’ vehicles for our market. Arriving in local showrooms priced $500 above their regular counterparts, the ‘Final Edition’ nameplate has been applied to all three Pajero trim levels – GLX ($54,990), GLS ($60,490) and Exceed ($63,490) – and refers quite simply to any example produced in March. In exchange for the extra $500 and to help mark them out as the last of their kind, the Pajero Final Editions come as standard with a unique ‘Final Edition’ tailgate badge, tinted bonnet protector, ‘Final Edition’ carpet floor mats, a rear cargo liner, rear boot flap and leather compendium. All the rest of the standard kit is as per the respective trim levels with the GLX sporting a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with DAB+ digital radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity, a leather steering wheel, climate control, LED daytime running lights, power folding door mirrors, cruise control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, a reversing camera, 17-inch alloys and automatic high beam. The mid-range GLS ups the ante with bigger 18-inch alloys, chrome exterior trim, rear privacy glass, leather accented upholstery, heated front seats, 12-speaker Rockford premium audio system, rain-sensing wipers, dusk-sensing headlights and rear parking sensors. At the top of the range, the Exceed adds even more chrome trim, aluminium pedals, illuminated front scuff plates, leather seats and an electric sunroof with tilt and slide functions. All Pajeros feature a locking rear differential, low-range transfer case and MMAL’s Super Select II four-wheel-drive system to help them navigate off-road terrain, helped further by 225mm of ground clearance and approach, departure and breakover angles of 36.6, 25 and 22.5 degrees respectively.

Its fate was sealed Wading depth is pegged at 700mm. In terms of safety, all Pajeros sport emergency brake assist, active stability and traction controls, multi-mode anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake override system and the usual array of front, side and curtain airbags. Just as like it has since 2009, the familiar turbocharged 3.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine continues to churn out 147kW/441Nm with drive sent to the road via a five-speed automatic transmission. As reported by GoAuto in July last year, the Pajero’s demise has been brought about by the ‘Small but Beautiful’ mid-term business plan which aims to reduce fixed costs by 20 per cent or more, most of which – up to 15 per cent – is set to be made through

redundancies and other “headcount rationalisation” measures. The financial woes were largely attributed to the crippling effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with decidedly average sales performances in recent years not helping the Pajero’s case. Slow sales ultimately proved to be the final nail in the coffin for the Prado rival with the Triton-based Pajero Sport outselling its bigger and more expensive stablemate more than three times over in the first half of 2020 (3048 vs 979) – the current figure at the time of writing the original report. The now 15-year-old Pajero recovered somewhat in the second half of the year to chalk up 2399 sales, but that was only enough to snag a 2.6 per cent share of the sub-$70,000 large SUV segment compared to the 6.6 per cent share of the Pajero Sport (6017) – its fate was sealed. It has been a similar story so far this year ending April, with the Pajero Sport once again outselling its bigger cousin more than twice over (2132 vs 1032) however neither can hold a candle to the Toyota Prado’s 5347 sales (15.6% share).

2022 Mitsubishi Pajero pricing* GLX (a) $54,490 GLX Final Edition (a) $54,990 GLS (a) $59,990 GLS Final Edition (a) $60,490 Exceed (a) $62,990 Exceed Final Edition(a) $63,490 *Excludes on-road costs

DirectorY

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

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FilM

Cruella – 3 Stars An expensive looking, but bland enough, vehicle for star turns from two powerhouse Emma’s. STELLA (Emma Stone) grew up without a mother, after a horrific accident she blames herself for. Left to fend for herself, she teams up with Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter-Hauser), and the subsequent band of pick-pockets / thieves robs myriad people blind. However, Estella doesn’t love the life, and instead dreams of being a fashion designer. After Jasper hooks her up with a gig in a fancy fashion department store, her work is noticed by the fabled Baroness (Emma Thompson)–London’s premiere fashion designer. The Baroness takes Estella under her wing (as much as she does with anybody), but this leads to a horrifying discovery from Estella about the fate of her mother. She’s left with only one option; to transform into her alter ego Cruella, and challenge The Baroness for supremacy in London’s fashion world. Cruella has a different look to many of Disney’s recent live-action reimaginings. It’s a bit grittier, a bit grimier, aided no doubt by it’s period look. Frankly, it looks beautiful. But that indie-film look isn’t a factor of its budget, because Cruella cost over $200 million to put on screen. For anyone watching the movie without sound, it might be hard to imagine why that is the case. For those with functioning ears, however, the cost centres are evident immediately, and consistently throughout, because this film has the most gratuitously expensive soundtrack imaginable. Every 70’s banger is featured, undoubtedly blowing the soundtrack budget sky high. The shocking thing is that for the most part, this incessant hall-of-fame rollout adds little to the film, other than dragging you kicking and screaming out of it. The rest of the mammoth budget is likely spent on the things that actually make this film standout–that being the costuming, set design, and lead actresses. The costumes and fashions are absolutely gorgeous, blending a mix of relatable period pieces with stunning new concoctions that help solidify Cruella’s supposed fashion bonafides. The set decoration is similarly impressive, whimsical and grounded all at once. It brings a Disney sensibility to a British period piece. Then there are the two Emmas. Emma Stone is incredible as Cruella, grounding this anti-hero while also showcasing her range–whether she’s faking innocence, streaming tears in emotional scenes, or just throwing lewks as she struts down that catwalk. It’s even more impressive when you consider that the character, as written, gives her very little to work with. In this script, Cruella’s motivations turn on a dime with no rhyme or reason, and a lesser actress would have struggle to convincingly bring Jasper and Horace back to the fold after treating them like garbage for a third

of the runtime. Only Stone could make us care again. She is matched, if not exceeded, by the gloriously cruel Emma Thompson, who dives into her villainous turn with relish. Like a murderous version of Meryl Streep in Devil Wears Prada, Thompson is prone to gloriously sly one-liners, beautiful eyebrow raises, and a stunning fashion sense. She is a joy to watch, chewing this material up and spitting it out into what will surely become a series of not-to-be-missed GIFs. In the end, Cruella is saved by these three elements, because outside of them all we have is a story that we have generally seen before, that retcons a truly villainous Disney character only by giving her someone even worse to go up against, and couches it all behind a disturbingly and distractingly expensive soundtrack that does more harm than good. Reviews by Jacob Richardson Creative Director | Film Focus www.filmfocusau.com

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

FilM

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

A Quiet Place II – 4 Stars John Kransinski follows up his stunning directorial debut with a worthy successor. ARGELY set immediately after the events of the first film (excluding a prelude revisiting the day these sound-hating aliens landed on Earth), A Quiet Place II follows Evelyn (Emily Blunt) as she picks up the pieces of her life post the death of her husband Lee (John Krasinski). Determined to use the technological discovery from the end of the previous film to their advantage, she takes her daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and her son Marcus (Noah Jupe) to find allies. They come across Emmett (Cillian Murphy)–an old friend of the family’s, who has lost hope these past few years. He reluctantly joins the cause, slowly coming to form a bond with Regan, and the crew splits up to solve a series of problems related to their predicament. Regan and Emmett must trek to the ocean and cross it to find a way to amplify the signal from her hearing aid, Evelyn must find more oxygen and medicine from their old town without getting caught, and Marcus has to keep the new born baby quiet and alive, while discovering what secrets Emmett’s hiding place holds. As with the first film, A Quiet Place II

deals incredibly with sound, and the sound design on display here is top notch. When it’s loud, it’s overwhelming–most evident in the first few scenes of normal life on Earth, which ring with a deafening vehemence now that we know how dangerous those noises can be. Similarly, when it’s quiet with only the soft padding of footsteps, or swishes of clothing, it becomes unbearably tense. And then when it goes entirely silent, a bizarre feeling of safety and security washes over you. It’s a tremendous, award-worthy achievement. The acting on display here is once again fantastic, and only bolstered by the influx of Cillian Murphy’s talents. Blunt and Murphy are two of the best actors in the game, and Simmonds keeps up, creating a cohesive and engaging performance tapestry that once again makes this engrossing. Visually, there is lots to love about the film as well, and Krasinski uses his extra time behind the camera to focus on motifs– frequently having our triptych of heroes face similar elements at the same time. The cutting between the three is effective, and only very rarely distracting.

The film loses some of the first’s shock value, because we’ve played with this concept before, and in some respects that is a shame. But Krasinski does an admirable job of building out the world, adding in new intriguing elements (and new horrific elements), while justifying the existence

of this follow up. It’s a worthwhile and engaging sequel, even if it falls short of the original. Reviews by Jacob Richardson Creative Director | Film Focus www.filmfocusau.com

ExpertS

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

Cybersecurity and your business Focus Area

 LEGAL WITH KATHERINE HAWES hink about how many times a day you use digital technology in your business and personal lives. If the answer is multiple times a day, then there are some key things you need to consider keeping your data, information and devices secure.

The daily conundrum Most businesspeople’s typical day starts with a foray into digital land as we check our businesses messages, social media for new clients, emails to ascertain the new priorities for today, our calendars to reorganise appointments and our internal systems to obtain client information on mobile technology.

Do not forget other people are also accessing your client data to manage their businesses. Consider what is going out on social media networks that may impact your business and personal security. Be careful about posting business trips, leaving town on holidays and particularly the destination as well as locations that highlight your customers who can be poached.

Cyber Attackers Rely on Human Error Each year in Australia there are thousands of cyber breaches to businesses. Hackers rely only partly on their security-penetration skills. The other thing they need are regular people making mistakes. These attacks are becoming more

Key Consideration

Management of issues

e-Commerce

Online purchasing Website

Website Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy

Social Media

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumbler, Tik Tok, Linked In, Blogs

Social Media Policy – Customers Social Media Policy - Staff

Operational Systems

Customer relationship management Cloud Based Digital Marketing Networking Transactional

Perform reviews and quality assurance tests for functional and security verification Update your cyber security systems on a regular basis A Policy to change passwords regularly Incident Response Plan and reporting

Employee Management

Orientation Employment obligations Legal obligations Incident reporting

Employment Contracts with inbuilt digital security and social media clauses Training for employees to improve their digital security consciousness

Marketing

Emails Blog Posts News Items Event Notices

Brand and design guidelines that outline the business language Social Media Policy

advanced and sophisticated, training is mission-critical to minimise human error from the cyberattack equation. Don’t open suspicious emails, give out details on the phone, respond to the robo-marketer or used unsecured technology.

Basic security for your business We all know not to click on suspicious emails, open that new friend request from an existing friend on Facebook and be sceptical of the new robo-marketer. However, enhancing your businesses cybersecurity requires a concentrated effort. Today our websites have automatic reminders to clients about our privacy and terms and conditions of use but how then do we remind ourselves, employees and third-party partners of the importance of cybersecurity management?

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Security Know-How Can Advance You in Your Existing Job While it may appear resource intensive to manage your businesses digital security, a security breach will cost you downtime, time out of your business and dollars to repair the issue. However, the most important consideration is brand reputation. Imagine if in your marketplace, your business was known to have breached the privacy of customers or employees.

If you would like assistance in becoming cyber-secure, please call our team on 0288583211.

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

WSABE 2021

WSABE 2021: Don’t miss out Business awards showcase the best of the west IBERAL Senator for Western Sydney, Marise Payne, has reminded local businesses that entries for the Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence (WSABE) close on Monday, June 14 at 11.59 PM. WSABE is managed by the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce. Prime media partner, Western Sydney Business Access is a sister publication of the Parramatta Times. Now in its 31st year, WSABE recognizes the achievements of businesses and their employees across several award categories, including in innovation, exporting and community leadership. Senator Payne, who will again be the keynote speaker at this year’s gala dinner in Parramatta, said WSABE was a unique opportunity to showcase how far Western

Sydney’s business community had come since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. “Last year there was a particular focus on resilience and ingenuity, with so many companies successfully adapting to meet a very challenging operating environment,” Senator Payne said. “This year, as our economic recovery gathers pace, I look forward to again joining with our hardworking businesses to celebrate how far they’ve come, the contribution they make to our nation, and to look ahead to the future.” “As Australia’s third largest economy, Western Sydney businesses are part of the lifeblood of our national economy, so it’s only fitting their achievements are highlighted.” Alan Cadman OAM, Patron of WSABE, said the awards provided a platform for

Scenes form last year's WSABE gala event.

both established and emerging businesses and professionals to receive the recognition they deserve. “With more than 150 eligible postcodes, I recommend that all businesses and professionals in Western Sydney enter WSABE and make use of the platform to showcase their success, demonstrate credibility, and connect with other key leaders across our high performing region,” Mr Cadman said. David Mumford, Managing Director of RBK Nutraceuticals and winner of the 2020 Commonwealth Bank Business of the Year, encouraged businesses to nominate. “Nominating for WSABE was a valuable tool for our business to review our strategies, identify the challenges we’ve faced over the course of the year and remember the wins we had made on the way. It’s a real morale boost to be cele-

brated amongst your peers and I strongly encourage all businesses to participate,” Mr Mumford said. WSABE is supported by 18 local business chambers from across Western Sydney. The annual gala dinner, where WASBE winners will be announced, will be held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Parramatta on Friday, September 3, 2021. Previous WASBE keynote speakers have included the former Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon Julia Gillard AC, and The Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP, Premier of New South Wales. Entering WASBE is free, and businesses are encouraged to self-nominate. For more information about WSABE, visit: https://wsabe.com.au or contact wsabe@parramattachamber.com.au.

ISSUE 11 | June 2021

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Parramatta Times - June 2020

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