Parramatta Times - November 2022

NEW WESTMEAD

Transformation into an innovation hub

WESTMEAD will be transformed into a world-class innovation hub as the nation’s premier health district over the next two decades. The integrated planning and transport vision for the district have just been unveiled by the NSW Government in Western Sydney. Minister for Planning and Homes Anthony Roberts said the finalised Westmead

Place Strategy would guide future planning and development decisions to create Australia’s premier health and innovation district. It is the next stage of Westmead’s growth from an overflow facility for the crowded Parramatta District Hospital in the 1970s.

More: page 3.

Artist impression of an upgraded Westmead.

ESTMEAD will be transformed into a world-class innovation hub as the nation’s premier health dis trict over the next two decades.

The integrated planning and transport vision for the district have just been un veiled by the NSW Government in Western Sydney.

Minister for Planning and Homes An thony Roberts said the finalised Westmead Place Strategy would guide future plan ning and development decisions to create Australia’s premier health and innovation district.

It is the next stage of Westmead’s growth from an overflow facility for the crowded Parramatta District Hospital in the 1970s.

The Westmead Hospital, initially known as the Westmead Centre, was established on November 10, 1978 and was opened by Premier Neville Wran with former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam as guest of honor.

Acute services were relocated to Westmead Hospital with the Parramatta building continuing to function as the rehabilitation arm of Westmead Hospital. In 1991, all services moved out of the old Par

ramatta Hospital and in 1995 the building was decommissioned and redeveloped into the Parramatta Justice Precinct.

“The plan includes 12 directions, sup ported by planning priorities, to transform Westmead and Parramatta North into a world-leading economic powerhouse,” Mr Roberts said.

“Prioritising new jobs, encouraging greater housing diversity, boosting open space and protecting some of our nation’s oldest heritage sites, are just some of the priorities underpinning our vision.”

Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said the Westmead Place-based Transport Strategy in Western Sydney would be integrated with the wider Place Strategy to support jobs, public transport accessibility and high-quality open space.

“Central to this strategy is a transport vision for Westmead that is well-connected and sustainable while anticipating changes in land use, population and travel demand,” Mr Elliott said.

“It will capitalise on more than $14B committed by the NSW Government for public transport, including the Parramatta Light Rail and Sydney Metro West, to sup port our target of 50,000 jobs in Westmead by 2036.”

Commercial leasing at the heart of Oran Park

Artists impression of upgraded Westmead station.

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ISSUE 31

NovEmbEr 2022

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IT’S TIME TO TELL THE WORLD

We’re officially a smart city

„ DALLAS SHERRINBGHAM

AS more and more families and busi nesses consider a move into the booming suburbs of Western Syd ney one of the big attractions will be the region’s ‘smarts’.

The West can now claim to being a global leader in smart cities technology after being named a finalist in the presti gious World Smart City Awards.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the nomination demonstrated the value of the NSW Government’s commit ment to smart cities policy and funding.

“Our investments in modern data systems and technology are helping to improve the livable and vibrancy of many communities across Western Syd ney,” Mr Dominello said.

The Smart Western City Program has been recognised as a finalist because Western Sydney is a world-leading place for innovation and investment.

“And we are in with a fighting chance at winning the Award,” he said.

During the past 18 months, the Gov ernment has invested around $12m from the Smart Places Acceleration Program to help drive adoption of smart technol ogies in Western Sydney, in partnership with local councils, industry and the innovation sector.

The result has been finding new solutions to old problems like provid ing better roads, improving air quality, being smarter with water and tackling urban heat – all with the help of smart technologies.

The Smart Western City Program is the Government’s ‘flagship’ for devel oping the newly unveiled SmartNSW Roadmap, an ambitious five-year plan to make sure NSW remains the num ber one ‘smart’ state in Australia.

Mr Dominello said the Roadmap would help NSW to solidify its strate gic advantage in smart cities helping us attract talent to support future industries.

The SmartNSW Roadmap includes

14 actions between now and 2027, to sup port widespread adoption of technology and data solutions.

Minister for Western Sydney David Elliott said the recognition in the Smart City Awards was reflective of the Govern ment’s commitment and investment in the fast-growing Western Sydney region.

“More and more families are calling Western Sydney home and we want to make life easier for them through innovation and technology. It’s great to see the region recognised on the world

stage,” Mr Elliott said.

Victorians boast to the rest of the nation that they are the ‘Education State’ and even print it on their car number plates.

Perhaps we should follow suit and change the age old ‘Premier State’ into ‘The Smart State’.

Further information is available at https://www.dpie. nsw.gov.au/our-work/strategy-and-innovation/ smart-places/smartnsw-roadmap-2022-2027

Victor Dominello.

PARRAMATTA’S RICH HISTORY…..

Festival showcases our foundation

HISTORY buffs, residents and visi tors are invited to celebrate Par ramatta’s rich cultural heritage through a series of guided walking tours, performances, workshops and demonstrations as part of this year’s Foundation Festival.

Kicking off on Wednesday, Novem ber 9, the Foundation Festival culmi nates with City of Parramatta’s Foun dation Day celebration on Sunday 13 November – with the North Parramatta Heritage Core to host a number of tours, workshops, family activities and live music from 10am to 4pm.

The City of Parramatta and Female Factory Friends will host guided tours on the day, taking you on journey through the City’s history. There will also be horse and carriage rides, flying fox displays and a number of historical vehicles on show, as well as a re-telling of women and children’s experiences at the Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct, and talks by artist, raconteur and historian Judith Dunn.

For those who prefer more hands-on activities, try your hand at basket weav ing, old furniture making, or ceramics at a Parra Clay drop-in workshop. There will also be some blacksmith demon strations and a chance to learn about beekeeping.

“As more people move to Parramat ta they are discovering our incredible history and rich heritage hidden in plain sight,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis said.

“Parramatta’s Foundation Festival is

a wonderful opportunity to learn about the people, culture and buildings that have shaped our City and define our place in Australia’s story.

“The variety of walking tours, heri tage talks and family activities provide an interesting insight into Parramatta’s past – and offer a fun day out.”

There will be number of fascinating activities in the lead up to Foundation Day.

On Saturday, November 12, Past Time Tours will host their ‘Ghastly

gruesome and gripping tour’, where attendees will learn about the surpris ing true-crime tales of early Parramatta while strolling through St John’s Ceme tery at dusk.

Over the weekend, self-proclaimed ‘tombstone talker’ Kerima-Gae Topp will hold several tours of Mays Hill Ceme tery, delighting audiences with stories of some notable and notorious charac ters as well as the respected and rogues throughout history.

History-buffs will be sure to enjoy guided tours of Hambledon Cottage, a colonial Georgian cottage originally built for John Macarthur in 1824, as part of his Elizabeth Farm estate. The tours will take place from November 11-13.

Foundation Day is a free event proudly presented by City of Par ramatta Council. Some Foundation Festival events are ticketed and require pre-booking online.

For more information or to register for a tour, visit atparramatta.com/foundation-festival

COVID support continues

PEOPLE most vulnerable to COVID-19 will continue to be supported in protect ing themselves against the virus with the NSW Government extending free access to Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to 31 January next year. The NSW Govern ment has made millions of tests available to vulnerable and multicultural com

munities, homelessness services, social housing tenants, children and young people in out-of-home care, and Commonwealth Concession Card holders. Tests are avail able through 210 neighbourhood and community centres, and Service NSW centres across the state. To find one near you, visit www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/rapid-tests.

Festival goers.

Celebrations at Rosehill gala event

WINNERS for the 32nd Annual Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence (WSABE) platform, founded by the Par ramatta Chamber of Commerce were announced on October 14, 2022 at the Annual WSABE Awards Gala at ATC, Rosehill Gardens.

Nearly 700 of Greater Western Syd ney’s key professionals, businesses, social enterprises, and entrepreneurs, attended the ‘Arabian Night’ themed Awards Gala in a shared celebration put on show by Australia’s third largest economy, the Greater Western Sydney region.

Hosted by Master of Ceremonies, Media Personality and former Chan nel 9 TV presenter, Kellie Sloane, the

2022 WSABE Awards Gala was inter laced with a specially curated cultural segment, fine-dining experience, and multiple addresses by government and key stakeholders including Luke McGee, President, Parramatta Chamber and Roy Halabi, Chair, WSABE.

2022 WSABE winners were conferred across nineteen dynamic award catego ries recognising excellence across a broad range of industries and fields.

VIEW WSABE 2022 WINNERS - https://wsabe.com.au/2022-wsa be-winners/

In addition to the entry-based award categories, the two most coveted

non-contested category winners were also conferred.

Alan Cadman’s Patrons Choice Award, which recognises an organisa

tion’s outstanding contributions to the wider community was awarded to Em bedded Blooms and The Commonwealth Bank Business of the Year Award, which

Continued on page 9 Scenes form this year's WSABE gala event.

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

Region office

NSW 2112

is awarded to one of twenty category winners in recognition of overall busi ness excellence, was conferred to MATE.

Keynote Address and engagement through digital channels commending all finalists on their innovation, and adaptability was welcomed by WSABE audience, from David Andrew Elliott, Minister for Transport, Minister for Veterans, and Minister for Western Sydney representing the Premier of New South Wales, Geoff Lee MP, Member for Parramatta, Minister for Corrections, Steve Kamper MP, Member for Rockdale, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, Shadow Minister for Property, and Alan Cadman OAM, WSABE Patron.

WSABE would like to extend their gratitude to all applicants that engaged across the WSABE Platform, a sustain able campaign delivered over a twelvemonth period.

WSABE acknowledges the ongoing support of the WSABE Alliance, who en abled WSABE to engage with businesses from more than 150 postcodes across the entire Greater Western Sydney region, including the media partner Access News, publisher of Western Sydney Busi ness Access (WSBA).

WSABE extends their sincere grat itude to Principal Partner, Common wealth Bank and Major Sponsor, City of Parramatta. Including our Category Sponsors, AAA City Removalist, The Al ternative Board, Australian Investigation Security Management, The Australian Turf Club, Business NSW, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, DOOLEYS Lid combe Catholic Club, HomeWorld Group of Companies, Parra Leagues, Parramatta Light Rail, Sellanes Clark, The Universi ty of New England Sydney, and Wenty Leagues.

Rethink what it means to retire

Set amongst landscaped gardens, our warm and inviting retirement community at Constitution Hill has been designed to offer you a comfortable and peaceful lifestyle at whatever pace you choose.

You can embrace a carefree, relaxed retirement with Constitution Hill’s range of on-site resort-style facilities, communal spaces and community rooms all tailored to your needs.

Start each day with a refreshing dip in the indoor heated swimming pool. Catch-up with friends at the community café or try your hand at a new creative pursuit in the craft room.

Book a tour now or call 1300 294 519 to find out more.

Constitution Hill Retirement Community

1 Centenary Avenue, Northmead NSW 2152 australianunity.com.au

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. Australian Unity Retirement Development Management Pty Ltd ACN 131 224 578. AU2130_220817

Australian Unity now offers free bathroom upgrade and six months’ free recurrent charges for eligible new residents who settle on or before 31st December 2022. Available for selected units only. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit constitutionhill.com.au/ retirement-residences#terms for more details.

Do more of what you love at Constitution Hill

Free bathroom upgrade and six months’ free recurrent charges

Witness protection at Parramatta Court

SAFE spaces and modern facilities to help empower domestic and sexual violence survivors and other vul nerable witnesses to give their best evidence in court have been upgraded/ installed at Parramatta Local Court and Parramatta Children’s Court.

Member for Parramatta Dr Geoff Lee said the projects would help ensure witnesses felt more secure when attend ing court.

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting victim-survivors if they choose to report to police, and it is good to know that these facilities are available to support them and help alleviate the trauma of coming to court,” Dr Lee said.

Completed works include:

1. Parramatta Local Court – three new remote witness rooms, an upgraded safe room, kitchenette and secure access doors

2. Parramatta Children’s Court – a new remote witness room, a new safe room, secure access doors and a new bathroom

Attorney General Mark Speakman said the now completed works utilised $9M of COVID-19 stimulus funding from the previous federal government to deliver new or upgraded safe rooms and remote witness rooms in metropolitan and regional courthouses.

“Under the NSW Government’s domestic violence reforms, complainants in domestic violence criminal proceed ings and related apprehended domes tic violence order proceedings have a prima facie entitlement to give evidence remotely via audio visual and in a closed court,” Mr Speakman said.

“These new and upgraded facilities give vulnerable witnesses the private, se cure areas they need to prepare for court and to provide evidence.”

Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said the prospect of having to face an alleged abuser, or their family members, in open court can re-traumatise and exacerbate the stress of having to testify in court.

“This is about further protecting and minimising the trauma of domestic vio lence victimsurvivors,” Mrs Ward said.

In total, there are now 154 remote witness rooms and eight rooms that are directly connected to a courtroom at 100 locations in NSW. In addition, there are 84 safe rooms at 77 court locations in NSW.

Mr Speakman said the NSW Govern ment has delivered a number of signif icant legislative reforms and resources to maintain the right to a fair trial while promoting a trauma-informed approach to court processes, including:

Landmark affirmative consent reforms which were accompa nied by five new jury directions to address common sexual assault misconceptions and ‘rape myths’, research into vic tim-survivors’ experiences with the criminal justice process, and the expansion of the successful “Make No Doubt” consent edu cation campaign

• $5.6M in funding to support the implementation of the NSW Government’s coercive control reforms, which passed the Leg islative Assembly on October 19, 2022. The funding will enable coercive control training and ed

ucation, including for police, lawyers and judges, as well as public awareness raising campaigns.

Expanding the ban on direct cross-examina tion by self-represented accused of complainants in sexual offence pro ceedings to complain ants in domestic violence criminal and related proceedings, through the use of an interme diary ‘Court Appointed Questioner’

AWARDS AWARDS

FINALIST FINALIST

PARRAMATTA PARRAMATTA

PARRAMATTA LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS 2022

NIGHT OF NIGHTS

Finalists take stage in gala event

HOLLYWOOD has the Oscars and the music industry has the Grammys –but for Parramatta businesses, the annual night of nights is Monday, November 28.

Today is the day when nominees for the 2022 Parramatta Local Business Awards discover if they have made it as a finalist.

The Western Sydney Business Ac cess, which has supported the awards as media partner for many years, will announce the finalists in each category with a special feature in today’s paper.

This is a chance for customers and clients to see if the businesses they nomi nated have become finalists.

The Parramatta Local Business Awards are only possible with the sup port of Major Partners, NOVA Employ ment and Support Partners, Marina Square Shopping Centre, Carlingford Court, White Key Marketing and BxNet working.

Precedent Productions Managing Director and Awards founder Steve Loe said tickets for the awards presentation evening to be held at The Epping Club on Monday 28th November are sure to sell out.

“The awards evening is always a glittering event, where our finalists dress up and let their hair down for an evening of entertainment, good food, relaxed con versation – and, of course, celebration,” he said.

“Just being there as a finalist is a huge achievement, and it is a great opportu nity for business people and their teams to reflect on their successes with a fun night out.”

Mr Loe said the high quality of all nominees had made the job of judges a great pleasure but also immensely difficult.

"To be a finalist at the presentation evening is a huge achievement and everyone is always extremely proud to be there,” he said.

“All finalists in each category are announced, with their picture shown on the big screen.

“The cheers from the entire crowd are deafening as everyone celebrates the achievement of all the businesses in the room.”

“I would like to take this opportu nity, on behalf of the Parramatta Local Business Awards to congratulate all the finalists on their achievements.

“I would also like to thank the Parra matta community for the enormous sup port they show for their local businesses

through the Awards every year.

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

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

Scenes from last year's event.

Sweet treats for sweet tooths

MR Fancy Candy is an Austra lian owned business that was established in 2020 by an in spired couple with a mission to deliver a sweet treat for a sweet tooth.

Mr Fancy Candy was born at a time when the world felt like it was coming to an end. Mr and Mr's Fancy had both lost their jobs and business es during COVID-19 and even though the situation at the time felt sour, their hearts remained sweet.

They had formed and developed a business surrounded by all the things that made them happy. "Stressed" backwards spells "Desserts" and a treat was very much needed in a time of hardship.

They continue to strive and de liver all of Australia with the best Authentic American, European, New Zealand, Mexican and many more global confectionery brand favorites.

These included Hostess Twinkies, Takis, Banana Nesquik, Chamoy and much more. Mr Fancy Candy delivers all over Australia and offers multiple ‘snack now and pay later’ options.

2 years ago, the inspiring cou ple began their journey in a small two-bedroom home and today they stand on mountain tops candy hunt ing for all of Australia.

And they have made it clear that they owe it all to their supporters.

Visit: www.fancycandy.com.au

Parramatta Local Business Awards

MODERN, INSPIRED AUSTRALIAN FOOD

Vision: Top brunch destination

LIL Miss Collins café in Parramatta serves modern Australian food in spired by Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine.

Their mission is to make Australians healthier and happier by providing nutritious, great tasting and visually appealing meals and drinks in a vibrant setting. Their vision is to be recognized as the top Brunch destination in Austra lia.

The café opened over five years ago as a pop-up style café and has expanded over the years to provide a unique din ing experience in the Parramatta region.

It’s shaded by a bungalow style shed while the coffee shack is a wooden, tin roofed hut and the kitchen built of a shipping container boasts the styled remains of a historic home’s entryway.

Pressed against the high rises and multilevel parking garages in Parramat ta’s business district, it provides a re freshing shot of rustic comfort amongst the sleek modernity of the city. The

ambience is undeniably cheerful, utterly quirky and positively endearing. The bare back cafe is bright and fun, putting an instant ‘smile on your dial’.

A carefree and effortless set up was created through the addition of repur posed thrifted furniture, weather timber fences, a myriad of plants, colorful win dow shutters, bold floral backdrops and hand drawn signage.

Shweta, the current owner, took over the café last year relinquishing a lucra tive corporate career in Banking.

“As far as I remember, I have always been passionate about food and making people happy through experiences,” Shweta said.

Within a year of taking over the reins, Shweta has given the café a major facelift becoming one of the most popu lar cafés in the Parramatta region. “We use a perfect mix of technique, passion, and ingenuity to turn common ingre dients into unique, tasty and nutritious creations.”

“Our creations go through multiple iterations with select customer groups, before we launch it to all our custom ers. We source all our ingredients from local farms, with almost all our dishes prepared on-premise in a sustainable manner. Each of our creations is irresist ibly chic with the right fusion of colors to create the picture-perfect moment!” Shweta said.

The café has over the last year become Parramatta's favorite brunch destination - known for food that is not just eye-catching but also fresh, tasty, flavorful and unique.

Their specialty coffee, roasted in house with a custom blend of Colombi an and Brazilian beans, is a hit with the local community for its distinctive aroma and texture.

Lil Miss Collins Parramatta is open all 7 days of the week. Weekends get super busy, bookings are highly recommended! Visit: https://www. lilmisscollinsparramatta.com.au/

Securing homes of Australians

INDEPEENTENT Locksmiths & Security has been secur ing the businesses and homes of Australians since it was established in 1973 by Stephanie Griffin and Michael Mc Govern.

The business was originally called Independent Lock smiths Parramatta and had a retail store on George Street in Parramatta for almost 30 years.

In 1984 Independent Locksmiths (NSW) Pty Ltd was Incorporated as a proprietary company. In 2005 the busi ness name changed to Independent Locksmiths & Security Pty Ltd and the operations moved to Church St in North Parramatta.

Evolving into a second-generation business, Stephanie and Michael's three sons now work in management roles.

• Ryan manages the electronic security division and in 2017 launched SecVision Networks.

• Sean is General Manager of Locksmiths.

• Keiran is Locksmith Sales Manager.

Today the McGovern family is running one of Austra lia’s largest and most respected security businesses. With a local staff of 60 and a national service network number ing in the hundreds, they service commercial clients on a national basis.

They deliver. Total Security Solutions for their custom ers with the design, installation, monitoring and main tenance of restricted master key systems and all types of locks, door hardware and safes.

Visit: www.independentlocksmiths.com.au

Delivering facial artistry

THE Art of Aesthetics is a presti gious aesthetic clinic delivering precision in facial artistry through patient-centered, safe and ethical treatment plans.

The clinic is a finalist in this year’s Parramatta Business Awards. Owner and director Registered Nurse Jaci Isaacs said she was beyond proud to be nominated for the Awards.

“Our Vision was to create a cosmetic clinic known for providing consistency in care to all our patients,” Jaci said.

Jaci said: “Your face is a true work of art.”

Art of Aesthetics Cosmetic Clinic of fers cosmetic injectables and skin health procedures including:

• Anti-wrinkle Injections, Dermal Fillers, Lip Fillers, Biostimulat ing Injections, Bioremodelling Injections, PDO Threads, Full Face Threads, SkinPen Mi croNeedling, IPL Photofacial, Ac tive Acne Treatment, Diamond Polar Skin Tightening, Viva Skin Resurfacing, Chemical Peels, Medi-Facials and Medical Grade Skin Care. Visit: www.artofaesthetics.com.au

“The core values of Art of Aesthet ics are to ensure each and every single patient feels cared for and nurtured throughout their aesthetic journey. This vision has been the driving force behind years of professional skill development and experience has resulted in hundreds of happy Patients.”

The team at Independent Locksmiths.

NAVIGATING MY AGED CARE

How to get funding and support

RIGHT at Home (RAH) Sydney Parra matta is dedicated to caring for the el derly and those living with a disability in our community. But how do those elderly and most vulnerable members of our community access funding for this im portant care?

Right at Home Australia is an Ap proved Provider under the Aged Care Act, meaning we can provide quality care under a government package. Approved Providers are private or public businesses that have satisfied the Department of Health’s requirements to provide high quality home care services to eligible recipients.

My Aged Care is the Australian Government initiative to allow elderly Australians to access government-funded care.

A Commonwealth Home Support Package (CHSP) is suitable for those needing entry level, ongoing or shortterm in-home care while a Home Care Package supports older Australians who higher levels of support to remain living independently in their own homes.

There are four levels of Home Care Packages (HCP) to help meet varying lev els of individual care needs. The type of care services is unchanged between each level, with the allocated hours increasing or decreasing as required.

This is where RAH comes in. Right at Home provides Dementia care, disability care, domestic support, companionship

care, personal and post-operative care, and skilled nursing. Our tailored services help you and your loved ones to maintain independence, and a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle.

Right at Home is here to help you nav igate My Aged Care, so that you and your loved ones can receive the care you need, when and where you need it.

When applying for a Home Care Pack age, we help you make the application

on the My Aged Care Portal and help you arrange a government ACAT assessment, which will consider the level of care you need and the income you have.

From there you will wait to hear back from the government for up to six months and when you receive your referral num ber, you will be able to choose any home care provider including Right at Home.

If you choose Right at Home as your provider, we enter into a Home Care

Agreement outlining your rights and explaining the custom care plan we work to develop with you.

Right at Home Sydney Parramatta is here to help you understand and navigate My Aged Care. Give us a call today to see how we can help you.

Call now on 02 8613 3022 or email us at care.sp@ rightathome.com.au or visit our website www. rightathome.com.au

NEW PUBLIC CAMPAIGN

Drive to recruit more teachers

ANEW campaign featuring teachers from public schools across NSW has been launched to encourage people to pursue a rewarding career in teaching.

Minister for Education and Early Learning, Sarah Mitchell, unveiled the campaign today as part of events taking place in schools and communities across the state to celebrate World Teachers’ Day.

Ms Mitchell said the “Teaching Opens Doors” campaign showcases the unique benefits and impact of a career in teaching, not only for students, but for teachers themselves.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate World Teachers’ Day than to shine a light on some of the fantastic, dedicated teachers we have working in our public schools right across NSW,” Ms Mitchell said.

“This campaign shows how teaching as a career has ‘opened doors’ to many

opportunities both within and outside the classroom. It’s just one part of our plan to attract more teachers to the pro fession, including looking at how we can build on existing career opportunities to reward excellence in teaching.”

The campaign, which will appear across print, broadcast, social and out of home media, is an initiative part of the NSW Government’s $125M Teacher Supply Strategy, which will attract an additional 3,700 teachers into the profes sion by 2031.

Sarah Weston, Assistant Principal at Summer Hill Public School, is one of the teachers featured in the new campaign and reflects on how her passion to be come a teacher came from her experi ence as a student.

“When I think about why I wanted to be a classroom teacher, it is very much about my experience as a student. I had

teachers in my world who really cared for me,” Ms Weston said.

Change for the better

“I started out as a casual teacher and I absolutely loved it and knew then teach ing was for me. As a beginning teacher, it’s fantastic to have formal mentors, your supervisor and your team all com ing together to support you,” she said.

Iginas Gasengayire, a mathematics teacher at Orara High School, was born in a war-torn country in Central East Africa, settling in Tanzania and growing up in a refugee camp before coming to Coffs Harbour when he was 15.

“Coming to school in Australia was very different. Having teachers who cared about our education and who really invested their time in supporting us, that was a big change for me,” said Mr Gasengayire.

“I chose to teach in the school where I was once a student because this school offered me a home. It’s the most rewarding job, where we get to make a difference for the future generation.”

Ms Mitchell said qualified teachers have transferable skills that enable them to work anywhere in the state or country, whilst enjoying a rewarding and dynamic career.

“Making a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people is in itself hugely rewarding,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Having access to generous and flexible leave provisions, making the most of the professional development programs and enjoying diverse career opportunities are also high on the list of benefits.”

For more information about the campaign and a career in teaching, visit www.education.nsw.gov. au/teachingopensdoors.

WEXPO at Blacktown Workers Club

Helping Children thrive

We all want the best possible start for our children, and evidence shows that support in the early years can have a positive and long-lasting effect on a child’s life. Access to support services can help families build their parenting skills, gain knowledge and create experiences for children.

WentWest, as the Western Sydney Primary Health Network, works with local providers to deliver child and family support services across Western Sydney. You can read more about child and family services available in our region at wentwest.com.au/child-and-family

9 One in four children aged five and under in Western Sydney will develop poor health outcomes

9 Western Sydney has a young population compared to other parts of NSW, with 0-25-year-olds representing one-third of the region’s population

9 One in five women and one in 10 men experience perinatal anxiety or depression

Thrive@5 in Doonside

Our Thrive@5 in Doonside initiative focuses on a child’s first 2000 days and provides place-based early intervention programs aimed at improving the health, wellbeing and developmental outcomes of children aged 0-5 years. Programs include speech pathology, play therapy and mentoring services for children who have experienced trauma.

Little Possums

Little Possums provide culturally sensitive support through Aboriginal mentoring, advocacy and play therapy. A qualified play therapist and an Aboriginal mentor empower families by offering play therapy sessions for children who have experienced trauma. Families receive face-to-face and phone support to address challenges, build on their strengths and develop a sense of community and belonging.

Kids Early Years Network

Offering a revolutionary new approach, the Kids Early Years (KEYS) Network is designed to deliver a cohesive, coordinated experience for families. KEYS works with children aged 0-5 years by connecting them and their families to tailored, specialist services, including health, educational, social and wellbeing support. Learn more about KEYS at wskeys.com.au

Students as Lifestyle Activists (SALSA)

SALSA is a peer education and leadership program designed to motivate high school students in Western Sydney to maintain a healthy lifestyle and increase their physical activity. The award-winning project trains university students as SALSA educators, and they, in turn, coach high school students to be peer leaders for younger students. The program is run in partnership between the University of Sydney, Western Sydney Primary Health Network, Western Sydney Local Health District, medical practitioners and high schools in Western Sydney.

Around 50,000 students have benefitted from the SALSA program.

CASE STUDY

Rooty Hill High School successfully updated their school gym as part of its SALSA Youth Voices’ School Action Plan to increase physical activity or improve diet. The students used learnings from the SALSA program to identify that a decreased number of girls were physically active, developed a solution, and implemented their plan.

They successfully asked for funding from their principal, ordered the equipment and renovated the space. The new gym has gender-neutral gym equipment and targeted female-only gym classes.

The gym has provided students, particularly females, an extra opportunity to be physically active before school and during lunchtime gym classes.

In a school where 25% of the students live in homes of considerable poverty and 200 of the 1125 students have health plans for chronic poor health, a health strategy of this kind is a powerful opportunity to change health and life outcomes for those students.

– Principal, Rooty Hill High School

Contact Kym Rizzo Liu if your school is interested in participating in the SALSA program: kim.rizzoliu@health.nsw.gov.au

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

THE LAID-BACK DAYS OF PORT

Real country style city

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

PORT Macquarie is a great place for a holiday if you want a relaxed, laidback place to laze in the sun where it is more important to go for a brisk walk then battle traffic or slave away in a city gym.

‘Port’ as it is called by locals, is a real country style city which is just happens to be set beside the sparkling Pacific Ocean.

People say “Good morning” and “G’day” to you even if they don’t know you and this is rather a shock for visitors from Sydney.

The place to walk is the famous Breakwall with its stunning artwork, all the work of visitors to the town. The Breakwall runs alongside the NRMA Car avan Park which is packed by thousands of visitors all year round.

It links the city centre’s Town Green with the Surf Beach and is arguably the best and easiest oceanside walk in Australia.

John Oxley was the first European to visit the area in 1818 and he camped on the hill overlooking the Hasting River’s treacherous entry.

Oxley realised it could be a great port, but the Colonial Government in Sydney decided – as they did in those days – it would be perfect for a convict settle ment.

So, Port Macquarie became a place of misery for decades as hundreds of con victs were sent north as punishment for ‘secondary offences’ in Sydney.

Record of convict life

Luckily, we have a great record of convict life thanks to a writer named “Woomera” who wrote a short book about his experiences as convict. It was a book of great sadness’s with a choice between working on the chain gang or the road gang for most prisoners.

But they did manage to build some eye-catching buildings including the stunning St Thomas Anglican Church which sites high on the hill overlooking the city centre and the old courthouse

And “Woomera” told of some funny times such as when the amputees used to suddenly start fighting amongst them selves and hitting each other with their wooden peglegs.

Stealing was rife as was escape from the settlement and you had to have your wits about you at all times.

Gradually private settlers started

arriving and the penal settlement closed. “Port’ became a busy shipping cen tre with timber and produce from the Hinterland sent down the Hastings from Wauchope.

With the coming of the railway and then the Pacific Hwy, shipping rapidly died out but ‘Port’ became a town and then a city which attracted retirees from the regional areas of NSW and Sydney siders looking to escape the rat race.

And tourists began arriving by road in ever increasing numbers and Port Macquarie became quite an exotic desti nation for holidaymakers. With a warm winter climate it was seen as the start of the tropics for visitors.

Today’s visitors range from those enjoying five star accommodation at places like Rydges or in luxury high rise apartments with superb views, to camp ers, caravanners and ever increasing

motorhome owners.

‘Port’ offers great clubs a string of excellent beaches, fishing, boating river cruises, a zoo, koala hospital and sanctu ary and wineries.

The drive up the Pacific Hwy was once horrendous, but now it freeway all the way from the centre of Sydney to the M1 turnoff 15km from town. It is an easy fur to five hour drive from Greater Sydney.

MATT BROGAN

FORD Australia has announced the addition of a rear-wheel drive (RWD) four-cylinder version of the Everest Sport large SUV as part of its revised ‘2023.5’ model year line-up, priced from $62,790 plus onroad costs.

The new variant will main tain a 3500kg braked towing capacity, and is available exclusively with Ford’s 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cyl inder diesel engine and seven-seat interior layout.

As well as costing $6800 less than the V6 four-wheel drive Sport variant –Sport trim was previously V6 4WD only – the Everest Sport RWD is $2800 more affordable than an Everest Trend with four-cylinder engine and four-wheel drive.

It arrives as standard with black exte rior finishes, black 20-inch alloy wheels, Everest bonnet and tailgate badging, a hands-free powered tailgate, leather-ac cented upholstering with front-seat heating and ventilation, 10-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat with memory, eight-way power adjustment for the front passenger seat, and the

availability of Blue Lightning paint.

The news comes as Ford makes a range of product and pricing updates to its ‘2023.5’ model year line-up. As part of the update, the Everest Platinum now receives steel underbody protection and a black painted roof, and the availability of 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres as a no-cost option.

Further, Everest Sport 4WD and Trend 4WD variants produced from March 2023 onwards will be available with an optional Touring Pack which in cludes black stand-off roof rails, 360-de gree camera technology, zone lighting, and a factory-fitted tow package with integrated trailer brake controller.

Ford Australia says current MY22 Everest stock will continue to be of fered at the current retail price until such time as production concludes in February 2023. Thereafter, modest price increases of between $300 and $695 will be applied across the range (see below).

Option pricing for the MY23.5 Ever est range remains unchanged with the exception of the Touring Pack, which jumps $350

to $2300, and an increase of $25 to the cost of premium paint, now $700.

“The Everest Sport has proven to be a very popular model since we revealed the next generation Everest range earlier this year,” said Ford Australia president and CEO Andrew Birkic.

“With the introduction of the Everest Sport RWD, we are offering our cus tomers more choice, with a very stylish vehicle that can tow the boat and fit the family in safety and comfort.”

„

Bros review - 4 Stars

„ JACOB RICHARDSON

Bobby (Billy Eichner) is a New York based podcaster and author, who is famous for his exploration of unsung gay icons.

Despite his fame, he is facing two dilemmas; firstly, the LGBTIQ+ museum he is the director of is having trouble securing the remainder of the funding it requires, and secondly, his love life is stagnating.

While trying to sort out the first, he happens to run into Aaron (Luke Macfar lane), and despite the fact that they both struggle with commitment, they begin dating.

Directed by Nicholas Stoller, Bros is the first rom-com with an all (or at least predominately so) gay cast, telling a gay love story. After some misfires in the space (a truly terrible Christmas romcom from last year comes to mind), Bros is refreshing for its take on gay relation ships - veering hard into their nature, rather than whitewashing them with heterosexual norms for straight cine ma-goers.

Here, we see a much more authentic picture of the gay experience in the dat ing world; not one that necessarily tracks with the experience of straight patrons.

That’s all for the best, because it means that Bros feels really fresh, inter esting and engaging. Gone are many of the tired rom-com tropes, replaced with excitement, and a sense of suspense for what could happen next in this story.

Ultimately, it also means that the romance between Bobby and Aaron re ally hits home. Their love feels complex, complicated and genuine - two commit

ment-phobes trying to break the mould of their previous relationships and learn to trust another person.

One of the biggest takeaways from Bros is that it's funny. Like, really funny. And it works on many levels - from jokes that produced belly laughs on sight alone, to some real thinkers that will

test whether you’re actively or passively watching.

You’ll find yourself laughing through out. The film suffers only in its compari son to other New York rom-coms.

It’s a staple of cinema, the New York set romantic comedy, and while Bros couches its groundbreaking tale in that

world as a pseudo-statement, it also nec essarily suffers the trappings of retread ing that ground.

The Woman King review - 4 Stars

THE Woman King is gorgeous, violent, eye-opening and start-tofinish thrill-a-minute entertaining.

„ JACOB RICHARDSON

Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) is cast off by her father, after refusing a mar riage proposal. He gifts her to their King, who rules the Kingdom of Dahomey in Africa in the 19th century. There, she joins the Agojie; an all-female unit of worries, led by General Nanisca (Viola Davis) - a warrior who is slated to become the fabled Woman King and sit alongside the King.

Nawi is aided in her training by Izo gie (Lashana Lynch) and Amenza (Sheila Atim), as the Agojie prepare for war with neighbouring tribes over their belief that working with the white man and selling their people into slavery is wrong.

The first thing you need to do with The Woman King is realise that this is

a proper action film. And it looks epic. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood makes the Agojie into a lethal, highly efficient and visually impressive fighting force, as they flip around each other, make superhuman leaps, and more. They come across as the closest thing to superheroes without being a Marvel movie.

But while the movie is undoubtedly very enjoyable from that perspective, and the fight scenes are some of the best you’ll see this year, you’d be mistaken for thinking that this was a mindless action er. Far from it.

The film is couched in a beautiful emotional arc for both Nawi and Nanis ca. They traverse their respective jour neys while also dealing with the fights and war that stems from their King’s decision to reject slavery, and those journeys - particularly in the hands of

Mbedu and Davis - are deeply affecting. Lashana Lynch is another standout.

Her portrayal of Izogie is so incred ibly fierce, strong and funny that you really feel like she is one of the all-time great characters.

It’s a beautiful movie, and the visual

portrayal of the city, the fight scenes, and these incredible warriors, really is something to behold.

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

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

BROS is a fresh, funny and very witty comedy, despite being masked in the genre trappings of New York rom-coms.

EVENT STYLING

OUR STORY

Al MDF we are the place that lakes care of all your styling and event needs, so you can rest easy!

Regardless of your budget, we aim to bring your vision to life. No job is too big or small for us here at MDF. We are well versed in floral styling, as we have a talented team of florists in house. As expected we are also the flow er wall experts in Sidney, as our flover

walls are handcrafted from silk flovers.

From Flower Walls and Prop Hire to Design, we can source and create beautifil prices to transform a space and bright your vision to life. All the events we style are planned to the highest quality, to ensure they are stress free and impress your guests.

OUR STORY

Al MDF we are the place that lakes care of all your styling and event needs, so you can rest easy!

Regardless of your budget, we aim to bring your vision to life. No job is too big or small for us here at MDF.

We are well versed in floral styling, as we have a talented team of florists in house. As expected we are also the flower wall experts in Sidney, as our flover walls are handcrafted from silk flovers.

From Flower Walls and Prop Hire to Design, we can source and create beautifil prices to transform a space and bright your vision to life. All the events we style are planned to the highest quality, to ensure they are stress free and impress your guests. +61433844494

KELLYVILLE’S EVERTON SUPERFAN

Gearing up for Sydney Super Cup

„

STORY AND PICTURES

BY AYUSH KUMAR

HE’S followed Everton FC for more than 50 years, drives a Blues-dedi cated Mustang featuring the num ber plate EVRTON, and his family dog is called Seamus after the famous EPL club captain.

If Kellyville father-of-two Ian Butler isn’t the No.1 Everton superfan in Austra lia, he’s certainly in the Premier League of supporters.

It probably won’t surprise you that we found Ian and his Mustang at Everton Rd, Strathfield this week in the build-up to the club’s first visit to Australia in 12 years.

Everton FC is coming Down Under for the Sydney Super Cup series and will play Scottish Premier League champions Celtic FC at Accor Stadium on Sunday 20 November before taking on the Wan derers, the pride of Western Sydney, at

CommBank Stadium on Wednesday 23 Novem ber.

Born and raised in the UK, at a work ing-class town called Crewe just 50km from Everton’s home ground Goodison Park, an 8-year-old Butler was in troduced to Everton FC by a local who delivered coal to his family’s farm.

The rusted on Toffees supporter took Butler to his first ever Everton game which was played at home against Leeds United in the 1960s. Since then, Butler has been a true Blues supporter.

He recalls catching the train with high-school mates to every home game to watch Everton play. He even enrolled at the University of Liverpool primarily so he could keep going to every Everton home game.

The proud owner of a Mustang wrapped in Everton colours and a licence plate that reads “EVRTON”, Butler’s love for Everton FC runs deep in his family as he describes his sons as more passionate fans of the football club than himself.

The family home at Kellyville features a grand old team poster on the living room wall and there’s also a massive Everton badge on the wall in the TV room.

“My wife doesn't like it very much but it keeps the whole Everton theme go ing and I think my wife has just accepted it and it's never going away now,” he said

Dog named Seamus

The Butler family recently got a dog who they named Séamus after the Ever ton captain Seamus Coleman.

“My eldest boy used to have an Ever ton number plate as well when he was in NSW but had to give it away when he moved to Victoria as he could not get the same number plate there,” said Butler. “My sons’ rooms are Everton themed as well and they have all the kits, shirts and memorabilia.”

The last time Butler saw Everton play in a stadium was back in 2017 when he visited the UK with his family and wit nessed Wayne Rooney score a screamer

from the halfway mark against West Ham.

He says he’s counting the days till Everton arrives Down Under for the Sydney Super Cup matches.

“I don’t know which team wins here but I believe we have a good chance of winning both the games. However, hon estly I am just really looking forward to see them play live again,” he said.

“Hopefully they bring a good strong side and we’re going to have two exciting contests. I’m especially look ing forward to the match against the Wanderers at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium, with the RBB at one end and us Everton fans behind the goal at the southern end.

“I’m really looking forward to both games and experiencing a live Everton match again.”

While fans keenly wait to see who is selected to play in Sydney as World Cup national selections are also finalised, But ler talks about passionately the players he hopes to see play in Sydney.

“I'd love to see Séamus Coleman obviously and Jordan Pickford. He looks like he gets a bit emotional so I'd like to see him in real life. It’s also a new team compared to what we saw in the UK in 2017, so it's a good opportunity to see a new group of players play.”

Tickets and information about the Sydney Super Cup are available at www.sydneysupercup.com.au

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE OPTUS MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION WITH

5G AT: Rosehill Racecourse, Grand Avenue, Camellia NSW 2142 (RFNSA Site No. 2142021)

The proposed upgrade consists of the addition of new 4G and 5G equipment and associated works as follows:

• Installation of internal ancillary equipment within the existing outdoor unit (ODU) including the installation of four (4) new Remote Radio Units (RRUs)

• Reconfiguration of existing equipment

Optus regards the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility in accordance with the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (Amendment No.1, 2021) based on the description above.

In accordance with Section 7 of the C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to communityconsultation@ventia.com or 20 Corporate Drive, Heatherton VIC 3202 by Friday 25 November 2022.

HistorY

PARRAMATTA’S FIRST TENT HOSPITAL

Far cry from today’s facilities

„ DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

TODAY’S ultra-modern Westmead Hospital is a far cry from the first medical facility in Parramatta dis trict which was commonly referred to as ‘the Tent Hospital’.

The Hospital stood to the north of where Jeffery House is now situated but was not literally a tent but was referred to as such because its 'two long sheds' were built in the form of a tent with a thatched roof.

According to the State Library’s ‘Dic tionary of Sydney’, its construction was hastily completed to cope with the high morbidity rate of convicts in the district who typically worked long hours of hard labor with little or no food and lived in close, unsanitary conditions with almost none of life's necessities.

The Tent Hospital could accommo date 200 people, but ‘this quickly proved inadequate as, in addition to injuries caused by corporal punishment in the form of floggings as well as violence between convicts, the convicts' poor diet and living conditions caused a large per centage to fall gravely ill with dysentery and fever and even to die on the spot where they labored’.

Disease was out of control and according to Captain Watkin Tench in November 1790, the Tent Hospital was 'most wretched...totally destitute of every conveniency’.'

The powers that be were concerned as convicts were needed to do a lot of work around the colony, so it was important that they were kept healthy. However, the harsh and unhygienic con ditions in which they lived and worked meant that convicts sometimes fell ill or suffered an injury.

Convicts suffered from influenza, ulcers, tuberculosis, colds, dysentery, pneumonia, inflammation, bruises, skin rashes and back pain. At work, convicts suffered broken bones, burns and cuts.

A brick hospital, 1792–1818

By December 1791 the population of Parramatta exceeded that of Sydney it self, prompting the construction of what was intended to be ‘a more permanent and commodious hospital befitting its role as the main hospital of the colony’.

Foundations made of locally sourced clay bricks were laid 100m from the riverbank behind the original Tent Hos pital in April 1792. The 'brick hospital, consisting of two wards, was finished' by November 1792 and that same month, wrote David Collins, 'the sick were im mediately removed to it’.

The State Library reports a plan of the site dating from around 1792 and a drawing by visiting Spanish artist Fernando Brambila dated 1793, indicates there were numerous buildings that comprised the second hospital – as many as nine, including guards and surgeons' houses, which were plastered and white washed.

The main building was also plastered and whitewashed and measured 80 feet long and 20 feet broad. ] The hospital's two brick wards appear to have been placed a considerable distance apart, potentially indicating that they were used to treat male and female convicts separately.

The second hospital was a vast im provement from the 'wretched' Tent Hos pital that Tench had seen in 1790, but the conditions of the brick hospital proved to

be extremely poor.

Though a stronger building material had been used in the construction of the hospital, limestone was unavailable and this meant the height of buildings was limited to 12 feet or 3.7m.

Another negative consequence of the lack of limestone was serious dilapida tion of the structure, which was evident to David Collins who noted as early as 1798 that all the Government buildings of Parramatta 'were so far decayed as to be scarcely able to support their own weight.'

Governor Lachlan Macquarie thought it probable that the hospital walls would fall in 1809 and that any attempts to repair them would prove futile.

Convicts assigned to work

The State Library report said the convicts assigned to work in the hospi tal as overseers, wardsmen, gardeners, woodchoppers, and nurses also had negative consequences for patients.

‘Typically, those assigned to do un paid work in the hospital were ill-suited to hard labor due to their age and their own health issues, while the women who served as nurses did so as a form of punishment for misconduct. The result was 'neglect of duty' and frequent theft in a hospital that was already suffering from a lack of medical supplies.

Reverend Samuel Marsden de scribed the hospital as being 'open night and day for every infamous character to enter; there are no locks or bolts to any of the doors' and the hospi tal also lacked a room for the deceased’.

The dead, wrote Marsden, '…lie in the room with the living patients.' There was no lighting, and patients experienced distress over a lack of 'common necessaries...sugar, rice, tea and wine.'

Marsden concluded with his char acteristic outrage, 'I do not believe that there was ever such a place for want, debaucheries and for every vice as the general hospital at Parramatta’.

Assistant Surgeon Major West added

that the roof leaked, windows were bro ken, the wood was rotten, the rationed meat was putrid and, in the absence of a mortuary, the dead bodies had begun to be placed in the passage between the two wards.

‘Indeed, the hospital's reported disorderly manner of dealing with the deceased in this period is both con firmed and contradicted by the discov ery during archaeological excavations carried out on site in 2006 of a shallow circular grave 'immediately north of the southern boundary wall and immedi ately east of the 1790s storage cellar’.

Under Governor King, the convict hospitals strictly existed to treat pris oners and convicts assigned to settlers, people of the civil department and oth er government employees such as the military, all at the governor's cost.

The lives of free settlers were put in jeopardy and at least one was lost as a result of these stipulations because surgeons either had to treat free settlers without receiving any fee or refuse to provide medical assistance.

The Colonial Hospital

The State Library reports: ‘At the re quest of Governor Macquarie, John Watts designed Parramatta's third hospital for convicts, known as 'The Colonial Hos pital,' which opened in 1818 on the site of the first two hospitals’. Things finally began to improve.

Heritage Courtyard

‘Parramatta's original hospitals are commemorated in the form of the Heritage Courtyard at 160 Marsden St. Archaeological remains, artefacts, pho tographs, maps, sketches and primary source quotations are displayed along with historical information about the people and buildings that were associ ated with the Parramatta Hospital site, including the 1821 dwelling house, Bris lington, which exists today.’

Source: State Archives: Dictionary of Sydney, sydneylivingmuseums.com.au