Oh Brother, It’s The Bonsai Boys

In 2008, when Barry Neal was looking for a retirement hobby, his brother Trevor suggested that he think about doing bonsai.

Trevor had been into bonsai since 1988, as a way of relaxing and switching off from the world and Barry soon found the same pleasure and interest.

“It is an enjoyable, but addictive pastime and our small backyards soon became cramped for space” reflected Barry and Trevor.

The Neal brothers, who reside at Leonay and Emu Plains respectively, jokingly referred to themselves at “The Bonsai Boys” and they started going to the Glenbrook Rotary Markets that year. They sold excess stock, to make room for continuing their hobby and provided information to people who had an interest in trying bonsai themselves.

The name of their stall stuck, and they are now long-time regulars at the markets. You will find a wide range of bonsai there, including deciduous plants like Maples and Cypress, evergreen plants like Junipers, Figs, Pines and native plants, as well as a variety of bonsaied flowering plans such as Serissa and Loropetalum. The age of their bonsai varies from 3-4 years old up to an amazing 15-20 plus years.

“This is a therapeutic and relaxing pastime as a hobby. We both take pleasure in passing on information through our experiences and advice. If you’re interested, come along and see what bonsai is suitable for you” they said.

The Bonsai Boys stall is just inside the Wascoe Street gate entrance at the Glenbrook Rotary Markets. They are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month, between 8:00am and 1:00pm.

For more information, contact Trevor via email at trevor. neal2@bigpond.com or Barry on phone at 0414 262542. You can also find them on Facebook by searching ‘The Bonsai Brothers’.

PROACTIVE PETS WANTED - PET CARERS

Do you LOVE pets?

Would you like to have a dog or cat stay with you in YOUR home and be paid an incentive for their companionship? Covid-19 restrictions are at last easing and lots of people are looking to get away. As a result, we are looking for kind-hearted, responsible, trustworthy people to assist in caring for pets when their pet parents are on holidays. Some dog

Cabinetmaker

/ INSTALLER WANTED SPECIALISING IN QUALITY KITCHENS, JOINERY AND BATHROOMS, WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN EXPERIENCED CABINETMAKER / INSTALLER TO JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM.

Requirements for this role:

 Experience in residential installations

 Experience in kitchen manufacturing

 Experience in bathroom renovations not essential

 Ability to operate workshop machinery / equipment

 Ability to read and interpret detailed drawings

 Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines

 Self-motivated and ability to work unsupervised

 Ability to work independently and as a team

 Good communication skills

 Ability to work overtime as required

 Australian drivers licence

 Trade qualification

 Own transport to and from work, work vehicle provided for site installations

 Own hand tools & PPE required

If you are experienced and would like to join our fun and friendly team, then we would like to hear from you. Wages will reflect your experience and capabilities.

Please forward your resume to info@kitchenvision.com.au or contact Katie on 0438 047 887 www.kitchenvision.com.au

Renovators Licence No. 236100c r Alana Willetts performing at Camden Civic Centre | Image: Sammie Quaver Media

Teenage musician Alana Willetts is fast making a name for herself on the local music scene. The Emu Plains native is looking forward to the year ahead and spreading her musical talents even further.

The singer/guitarist began singing at just 9 years of age! Honing her skills as a singer and entertainer at Wild Heart Creatives, an interactive show at Disneyland would prove to be an inspiring moment for a budding career behind the microphone.

“I was picked from the crowd and sang a chorus of Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’. After getting a big cheer from the crowd, I knew I wanted to pursue music as a career” she smiled.

Alana has already been performing at Carols on the Course in Leonay and Carols at the Paceway since she started singing. She has also entered the Penrith Show talent quest, Luddenham Show talent quest as well as local festivals and community events.

2023 looks set to be a huge year.

“This year is looking pretty exciting! I have been selected as a featured artist for Pulse Alive, which is an arena spectacular showcasing talent from students in the NSW public school system.

“As part of this initiative, I have also been chosen to participate in the Pulse Rural tour, which involves travelling to country towns to perform and participate in workshops” Alana explained.

Her versatility as a singer goes beyond being a soloist and she performs in a duo with the talented Reisha Sutton and the band ‘The Drunk Uncles’.

“I’m graduating from high school this year, so I am aiming to get myself out there more and hopefully release a single” she stated.

You can catch Alana this month, playing on February 17th at Theo’s Rooftop Bar in Penrith from 9pm to 12am.

For more, find her on Instagram: @AlanaWilletts, Facebook: Alana Willetts Music and TikTok: @alanawillettsmusic. Stay tuned for a website launch soon.

Summer Cinema Coming Soon

Kicking off their Summer Cinema series, you can enjoy the family classic, Night at the Museum (2006) at Triangle Park, Penrith. Be sure to get in quick - there is free popcorn and ice cream for the first 250 people.

Get there early to grab some dinner from one of the local restaurants or pack a picnic, before getting settled and cosy for a relaxing night at the movies.

This event is free and proudly brought to you by Penrith City Council.

Join us for a fun, summer’s night at the movies!

Go to www.penrith.city/events for more information and additional dates.

Local resident and mental health advocate Emily Smith has had the experience of a lifetime, presenting a speech at Parliament House in December.

Emily, who is a Youth Peer Worker with ReachOut, gave a speech advocating for the needs of young people’s mental health and presented the new service at ReachOut alongside their CEO, Youth ambassadors and Ian Thorpe.

“Having a stutter, I was always scared of public speaking. As you can imagine I was nervous to be speaking at Parliament House!

“However, speaking at Parliament House in December last year was an incredible experience. I was so privileged to be able to use my voice to spread awareness around mental health challenges and to present on ReachOut’s new service PeerChat” Emily explained to the Emu and Leonay Gazette.

“After the event, I spoke with many of the politicians and sector partners who attended the event. I also attended meetings alongside my ReachOut colleagues to chat with politicians more in-depth about our new service and explain the need it is helping to fill. To this day I still can't believe I was given the opportunity” she continued.

Emily has been a mental health advocate for the past six years, since she was in Year 11 in high school. She has worked as a Youth Peer Worker for just over four years.

“When I was first exploring what I could do to make a difference in the mental health sector, I never knew that peer workers even existed! It wasn't until I was volunteering at my local youth mental health service that I heard they were looking for a peer worker.

“Over the years, I have struggled with my mental health. Some of the things I experienced included anxiety and disordered eating which led to me seeking professional support” Emily reflected.

“What inspired me to take on the role was having had my own journey of mental health and having had friends who also had their own mental health challenges. I could see that there was a need for more awareness to be spread about mental health so young people felt that it was okay to talk about how they were feeling and seek support” she recounted.

She is passionate about helping others and making a difference.

“I am really passionate about being able to support others and raise more awareness about the mental health challenges young people experience. I love that I have a career where I actively make a difference by sharing my story to help break down the stigma and also advocate for change” ended Emily.

r Emily Smith at Parliament House | Image: Emily Smith

Koala Found in Emu Heights

A young koala surprised a local resident in Emu Heights, when she unexpectedly visited her house recently.

No one in the area — not even the neighbours who have been in the area for 50 years! — had seen a koala in the area. How exciting was that!? Koalas use the critical bushland corridor that runs from the Hawkesbury in the north to the Campbelltown population in the south, so it’s not too surprising to know that they're around.

After a combined effort from WIRES volunteers and Penrith Fire and Rescue, she was secured and taken to a specialist vet for assessment, where it was determined that she was healthy, of good weight, and was likely to begin leaving her mum at that time of year.

After a few days with a koala carer, she was released back into the bushland behind Emu Heights where she came from.

She is now wearing a temporary tracking collar in case she gets herself into any trouble and will have an ear tag for identification purposes if she is spotted again in the future. Penrith City Council wish Emu Heights' newest neighbour well on her trip in Penrith and hope to see her again sometime in the new year — preferably close to the bush and somewhere safe.

This happened a couple of houses away from Clissold Reserve, where they have a local Bushcare Group that meets every month to conserve and protect habitat that the koala takes shelter in and uses as a food source. The Clissold Reserve Bushcare Group is always looking for new members. Email bushcare@penrith.city for more information.

If you happen to have an unexpected visitor drop in, please contact WIRES for assistance.

Article Written + Submitted by:

Monica Purcell | Family Facilitator Nepean Community & Neighbourhood Services

W: www.nepeancommunity.org.au

E: info@nepeancommunity.org.au