Penrith City Council continues to lead the way in cooling the City with the expansion of their Greening our City tree planting program into industrial areas and major transport corridors.
The program first commenced in suburbs that were identified as having low canopy and were vulnerable during periods of extreme heat. As a continuation of this work, we are excited to move our tree planting focus towards industrial areas and major transport corridors that have been identified as having fewer trees.
Council will be planting over 1,000 trees across multiple sites in North and South Penrith, Emu Heights, Emu Plains, and Werrington. All trees used in the program have been specially grown in Council’s own nursery, ensuring that they are well adapted to Penrith’s unique climate.
Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said that addressing the problem of urban heat is critical in maintaining a sustainable way of life now and into the future.
“High temperatures can be detrimental to workers and businesses alike, often leading to a decrease in productivity and greater health concerns for employees,” Cr Hitchen said.
Increasing green infrastructure by planting shade trees will help reduce the amount of heat energy that is stored within our hard surfaces, such as roads, and significantly reduce ambient air temperatures.
Planting trees in industrial estates and major transport corridors is vital in reducing urban heat. These locations consist of large expanses of hard surfaces that absorb and trap heat, which is the main contributor to the urban heat island effect.
The urban heat island effect commonly occurs in urban communities and is caused by large amounts of paved and dark coloured surfaces like roads, roofs, and car parks. The sun’s heat is absorbed instead of being reflected, which causes the surface and ambient temperatures to rise. Council’s Cooling the City Strategy has identified tree planting as one of the easiest ways to mitigate this issue.
“By planting these trees, we are helping to ensure that businesses in the area remain productive and a safe environment for employees, as well as accessible to consumers during the summer months,” Cr Hitchen added.
“Council’s project team will be working closely with businesses in the area to achieve positive outcomes for all involved,” she said.
Planting locations have been carefully considered to maintain visibility of business signage and access to driveways using a variety of native and exotic tree species to
fit with existing infrastructure.
The project is part of the Greening Our City grant program and is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Local Government NSW.
Residents and businesses can keep up to date with these tree-planting projects and provide feedback by following the Greening our City Have Your Say Page at yoursaypenrith.com.au/greeningourcity
rArticle: Penrith City Council
People in cardiac arrest will have a greater chance of survival thanks to a $2.5 million partnership between NSW Ambulance and the pioneering smartphone app GoodSAM.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the technology alerts trained responders to someone nearby in cardiac arrest, so CPR can be started before paramedics arrive.
“Most out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in the home, so if a trained passerby can provide first aid before an ambulance arrives, it could be lifesaving,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Many of the trained Good Samaritans using GoodSAM around the world, and also here in Australia, range from people with basic CPR skills through to doctors.
“If those responders are sitting in a café and someone goes into cardiac arrest nearby, this app will help them navigate their way to the scene, ahead of paramedics arriving.”
The four-year partnership between NSW Ambulance and GoodSAM will see the app integrated with ambulance dispatch and a registry set up to map nearby defibrillators.
The defibrillators could be in the back of a trained responder’s car or fixed to a wall in a building, so the public registry will allow the community to log a device’s location that could then be accessed by a responder, delivering lifesaving defibrillation earlier.
Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone from young children to seniors. NSW Ambulance attended over 10,000 cardiac arrests in the 2021-22 financial year.
NSW Ambulance Executive Director of Clinical Systems and Senior Assistant Commissioner Clare Beech said many of those cases didn’t get defibrillation or CPR from people close by prior to paramedics arriving.
“When someone is in cardiac arrest, every minute without CPR or defibrillation decreases their chance of survival by 10 per cent,” Asst. Commissioner Beech said.
“NSW Ambulance always sends the closest available paramedic in an emergency but this app will allow for rapid intervention by the community, which could save your life.”
Registration for responders will begin in a phased approach over the coming months.
r Article: Minister for Health Brad HazzardIn this position, you will prospect for new customers by cold calling, using leads, or other means of generating interest from potential customers. Developing and maintaining relationships with current customers across several publications both in an inbound and outbound capacity is critical.
The ideal candidate will have strong ties to the area and a knowledge of local business. A willingness to support our communities and highlight the value of local newspapers to our region’s future is essential.
The role is casual, working across our entire portfolio.
Up to 12 Hours Per Week | 6-Month fixed term contract, possible ongoing for the right candidate.
• Calling customers for advertising needs and advocate our products (Warm and Cold Calls)
• Assist advertisers with their advertising solutions in innovative ways.
• Deliver the revenue targets.
• You are easy to talk to and have a professional telephone manner.
• Sound Microsoft Office skills and the ability to learn new systems.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Accuracy and excellent attention to detail.
• Effective time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
• A positive work ethic and strong drive for results, with an ability to work well in a team.
• The ability to use initiative to solve a problem.
• An understanding and keen interest in local business and news
• You have gained work experience in sales or customer service in the media industry (ideal but not essential)
The District Gazette are proudly locally-owned and operated by industry professionals.
For over twenty-five years, publishing 5 Independent Newspapers that are a fresh, modern monthly publication catering to a growing region, with incredible reach into the community.
Apply
Email CV + Cover letter to info@ districtgazette.com.au
Junior AFL’s Dylan Jones has been recognised as one of the most talented AFL players for his age in the country, after being selected to play in the Under 16 World Team last month.
Dylan was part of the World Team that took on The Flying Boomerangs at Gosch’s Paddock in Melbourne on Sunday 9th October. He was in the backline rotations, playing largely as a Half-Back Flanker. His selection in the World Team was the culmination of a series of camps held throughout the country as part of the AFL’s National Diversity Program, aimed at identifying up and coming young players. 27 players were chosen from these camps to attend a 4 day live-in camp, finishing with the game. Dylan was one of only 2 players from NSW chosen for the World Team.
“Dylan’s selection is great for his local Emu Plains/Glenmore Park Lions Junior AFL Club and highlights the club’s level of coaching and it’s aim of encouraging all players to reach their potential. Going forward, it will be positive for our younger players to see the levels which can be attained with dedication and commitment to their training and have someone they can look up to” said Paul Jones, Dylan’s father, and Executive Committee Member of Emu Plains/Glenmore Park Lions Junior AFL Club.
“On a personal note, we are excited to see him being rewarded for his years of hard work and commitment to the sport of AFL, having played over 200 games since starting as an Auskicker in 2010. As a parent, it’s great to see the early mornings, training nights and travel involved has been more than worthwhile in seeing Dylan develop into the footballer he has become” he continued.
The last 12 months have seen him selected in the Under 15’s NSWCCC AFL Team, Under 16’s GWS Giants Academy, Under 19’s Division 1 Inner Wests Magpies/South West Sydney team in the Sydney Senior AFL and now the World Team as part of the AFL National Diversity Program.
“Dylan is highly committed to continuing his football journey, with the ultimate goal being to play AFL at the highest level. The World Team is a stepping stone towards fulfilling this dream” ended Paul.
r Dylan Jones in his World Team uniform | Image: Paul Jones
who prunes, weeds and
prunes, weeds and
your garden, but
also mow?
brings falling leavesWinter sleep is over, Spring has come full of colour and new life
sleep is over, Spring has come full of colour and new life
to get your garden ready for Winters’ sleep and plant your bulbs for Spring’s awakening
Glenbrook Players will be ending the year with a laugh a minute as they present the spirited comedy, Lend Me a Tenor, by Ken Ludwig, as their offering for November 2022.
Kane Baltetsch, in his directorial debut, describes the play as “a door slamming, mistaken identity farce filled with love, lust and passion.”
The 2022 Blue Mountains Art Prize is an initiative of the Blue Mountains Creative Arts Centre in Glenbrook and was held recently in the main room at the Centre. The Centre is a not-forprofit arts facility that aims to foster art in the community.
This year’s prize pool was over $4,000 with a variety of prizes to win. The main prize of $2,000, The Blue Mountains Art Prize, sponsored by Anala Art Advisory, was won by Jeannie McInnes with 'Patterns on the Pathway', a beautiful hand bound book that consisted of a variety of printmaking techniques.
There were three other minor notable prizes in the competition, the Barbara Dahl Prize, sponsored by the Blue Mountains Creative Arts Centre, which was won by Jo Langley with 'Jongleur' an acrylic abstract painting.
The Roy Brooks Prize, sponsored by Brendan Christie, was won by Claire Harmer for a ceramic piece titled 'White Bay' and the Sadie Foster Prize, sponsored by Stuart Ayres, MP, was won by Tess Rappa for a ceramic piece titled 'Creepy'. There were a number of highly commended and commended prizes also given.
This year was the Prize's 5th exhibition and entries to the prize broke all previous records. The quality of the work was very impressive and gave the judges, Rhett Brewer, Linda Seiffert and Vicky Bush much to consider.
The Blue Mountains Art Prize is a completely blind judging where all visible artist names and signatures are covered.
In 2023, the Blue Mountains Creative Arts Centre will have several events to look out for as they will be celebrating the Centre's 50th Anniversary. This will include a special open day and art exhibition, as well as holding their biennial Blue Mountains Print Prize and the annual Blue Mountains Art Prize.
The play takes place in a Cleveland hotel suite where the world-famous tenor, Tito Mirelli (Mitchell Rist), is scheduled to sing Otello for the Grand Opera Company. Incensed by Tito’s peccadillos, his wife Maria (Angela Pezzano) leaves him in a huff, and Tito is accidentally given a double dose of sedatives and presumed dead. It is up to company manager Harry Saunders (James Loder) to develop a plan to ensure the show goes. He begs his assistant Max (Tre Doyle) to don the Otello costume and impersonate the opera singer on stage. When Tito wakes, the surrounding company (Karla Kempster, Ruby Gee, Margaret Bell, Amy Sherdon) believe that both men are the real Tito and compete for time with the tenor, by any means necessary.
“Telling this story, which is a comedic farce, is not simply about slamming doors or mistaken identity. Every character believes in the gravity of their situation and is desperate to achieve their goal. The lengths that each character goes to is what drives the laughter, and this cast delivers the laughs in spades. The audience is in for a real treat.”
Lend Me a Tenor opens on the 11th of November at Glenbrook Theatre with seven performances on November 11, 12, 13, 19 and 20. Bookings can be made online at the Glenbrook Players website or at the Glenbrook Cinema box office.
Nestled in between Lapstone and Glenbrook in the Blue Mountains is the Knapsack Bridge. It is here you will also find the Knapsack Stairs. Consisting of over 100 wooden steps, it’s a steep decent that can be quite challenging to go up and down.
Merinda Husking of Designer Body Mobile Personal Training knows just how challenging it can be. So much so, that she has created a boot camp that incorporates the Stairs into a workout.
She has been offering the hour long sessions for 14 years now and locals can’t get enough of the picturesque training.
“We absolutely love the challenge that every Knapsack Stair session brings. As well as the challenge, we love being outdoors. Knapsack is a local gem, and you can’t help but feel happy training in this beautiful location. These sessions are suitable for all fitness levels, and ages. We can provide and tailor all our programs to suit your capabilities” Merinda said to the Emu and Leonay Gazette.
The Knapsack sessions are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6:00pm and on Saturdays at 8:00am. Their duration is an hour, and they offer a free week trial.
The cost of the boot camps is $30 a fortnight for one session per week, $52 a fortnight for two sessions per week and $72 a fortnight for three sessions per week. Unlimited boot camp classes are $80 a fortnight.
For more information, you can contact Merinda on 0421 773984, find them on Facebook by searching Designer Body Mobile Personal Training, or visiting online at designerbody. com.au.
v Clients running up Knapsack Stairs. Members in photo include Emma Bright, Kylie Cooper, Ashley O’Brien, Jenna Draganov, and Nicole Jones. Image: Elise Husking/LilRed photography by Elise
There are few more demanding parenting moments than dealing with a crying, red-faced, screaming child, especially in public spaces and other places where you have an audience. Here are my top tips for managing the notorious meltdown:
1. Prioritise safety. Wherever possible, remove objects, other children, or people from the surrounding space, instead of grabbing, holding down, or dragging your child. Of course, there will be situations where you must physically restrain or remove your child. If so, take your child to a safe, quiet, and empty space.
2. Once everyone is safe, PAUSE. Take one long and slow breath and then, exhale all air from your lungs. This will reduce your emotional flooding. If you’re not calm, your child has absolutely no chance of calming down.
3. Remind yourself, “my child is struggling”. The way you view your child influences what you do next. Thoughts such as, “she’s doing this on purpose” or “he’s so spoiled” increases anger and reduces your capacity bring your best self to this challenge.
4. If your child is still doing something unsafe such as hitting or kicking, you can hold a limit with love. Repeat one simple phrase in a firm but calm tone, e.g., “you can be angry, but you can’t hit me.”
5. This is not a teaching moment. Many parents ask me how to teach children to manage their feelings during emotional flooding, but you cannot teach someone to swim while they are drowning. Extremely upset children need help, not lessons.
6. Consider whether your child has any unmet physical needs such as hunger, toileting, tiredness, thirst, illness, or pain and attend to this as best you can.
7. Look beneath the surface issue. Meltdowns often occur after a parent sets a reasonable boundary, e.g., no more sweets or finishing a fun activity on time. What children ask for is often different from what they need. Your child might simply need help managing what they feel in response to your “no”. Acknowledge this with a simple reflection, “you’re sad we’re leaving the park.”
Learn more skills to manage common parenting challenges by joining NCNS parent education programs. You can find out what’s happening at nepeancommunity.org.au.
Local kids were treated to a sweet experience at Emu Hall, with a Children’s Honey Making Workshop during the recent school holidays.
Organised by Maya Sunny Honey, the kids workshop classes consist of two parts. The first part being educational, where children learnt about the Queen bee, drones, worker bees, the role beekeepers play, the tools beekeepers use when working with the beehives, the importance of bees in our eco-system and what they can do to help bees.
The second part of the workshop is more hands on, where they get to experience being a beekeeper for a day. This consists of the uncapping of cells from honeycomb frames, extracting frames in the spinner and most importantly taking home a jar of honey!
“The best part of the workshop is seeing how involved and excited the kids get. Not only do kids have great questions, but the adults also get involved and ask us too” explained Andrew Wyszynski of Maya Sunny Honey.
Andrew is the founder of Maya Sunny Honey. With a passion for beekeeping, he assisted his parents from a very young age with their apiary farm in Poland. With his knowledge and experience, Andrew enjoys helping bees as well as educating children and adults of their importance in our world. He has been running the honey workshop classes for a few years.
“Our honey making workshop classes are very interactive, which get the kids involved whilst experiencing beekeeping for a day. As it is quite hands on, kids will remember the process behind a jar of honey and the hard work of bees” he said.
To find out more including where the workshops will be next, search @mayasunnyhoney on social media.
r Extracting honey during one of the workshops | Image: Maya Wyszynski/Maya Sunny Honey
Since I have not visited Café Lattetude in Jamisontown in many years, I wanted to re-visit and enjoy the hospitality and outstanding coffee that they are famous for.
Mum and I were keen to enjoy lunch on the day we went. I chose the Big Breakfast and Mum chose the Lamb Fillet Salad.
The big breakfast consisted of poached, scrambled, or fried eggs, bacon, pork and fennel sausage, hash brown, spiced borlotti beans, grilled tomato, sautéed mushroom, avocado, char-grilled veggie relish and toasted sourdough on the side.
The Lamb Fillet Salad had roasted pumpkin, baby beetroot, Danish feta, cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, black glutinous rice, and green goddess vinaigrette.
The Big Breakfast was one of the biggest breakfasts I have ever eaten while out at a café. What really impressed me about this breakfast was the flavours of the bacon, sausage, eggs, and the hash brown. The sausage was packed with amazing spicy flavours and the hash brown was crunchy, crisp, and cooked right. The eggs were fried, not too runny and easy to eat. The mushrooms were presented in a small dish along with the beans and having the mushrooms and beans in separate dishes made these items easier to eat for someone like myself who has no vision. The grilled tomato and avocado had flavours when enjoyed together along with the buttered sour dough toast on the side. The butter gave the toast extra flavour, and I enjoyed eating the toast slowly.
Mum really enjoyed her Lamb Fillet Salad and Mum said, “The lamb was cooked right.”
One of the draw cards that bring you to Café Lattetude is their famous coffee. Wow, the coffee was exquisite and the crema on top gave the coffee a well-balanced flavour and creaminess that is hard to find in coffee depending on how it has been brewed. Café Lattetude have an impressive Barista who really knows how to make coffee.
The staff were amazing, and I give Café Lattetude ten out of ten.
**Restaurants are not privy to reviews taking place, and all meals are fully paid by us.
Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare Network (HNLN) has launched a new program in Penrith with free activities for everyone and anyone!
The Healing with Nature in Penrith program includes fun events with different activities for all age groups and abilities. It combines fun activities like art, walking, and wildlife watching with the principles of nature therapy - the practice of being in nature to boost mental and physical health.
These events are a chance to disconnect from the busy world, learn practical techniques to manage stress and anxiety*, get outside and try something different that you might not usually have a chance to do.
The program will run from now to December throughout Penrith. Participants can attend one or more events including:
• Scribbling Scribbly Gums, drawing with Patrick Shirvington, Castlereagh, Nov 12th
• Frog Spotting Night in Agnes Banks, Nov 18th
• Sunset Safari at Bellbird Reserve, Nov 25th
• Yoga in Nature & Bushcare, Mulgoa/Wallacia (Date TBC)
• Nature Play & Storytime (early childhood), Werrington (Date TBC)
• Exploring Blue Hills Wetlands, Glenmore Park (Date TBC)
and more!
All events are FREE and will include light refreshments. To register and for more information about events, please scan the QR code or go to: https://penrith_healingwithnature. eventbrite.com.au
Follow HNLN on Facebook to stay up to date about this program and others, or email HNLN to be added to their mailing list.
Whether you spend a lot of time in nature, or a little, you are bound to have fun at these events! If you have any questions please contact Katherine, the Local Landcare Coordinator via email at landcare@hrcc.nsw.gov.au or phone on (P) (02) 4574 9600 or (M) 0410 616 139.
*These mechanisms are not a replacement for professional support.
The Healing with Nature program is run by HNLN and funded through a Wellbeing and Resilience Grant from Wentworth Healthcare. Support from Landcare NSW and Hawkesbury River County Council for the LLC role.
Healing with Nature | Image: https://landcarensw.org.au | Article: Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare Network
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E: roger@epac.org.au W: www.epac.org.au
and 6:30pm | Plus activities for adults and young people
You’d be surprised to hear the story of the Apostle Paul. You may already know that he wrote a lot of the letters in the Bible. He also influenced Luke who wrote another great chunk of it. You may even have heard him called a ‘saint’. In fact, you might imagine God was pretty pleased with Paul.
But Paul had quite a surprising story. He was an expert in the law of God. But when the followers of Jesus started talking about Jesus as God, he was there, hunting them down, ready to put them in jail, and approving of them being killed.
But when he left Jerusalem to continue that hunt, he had a wild experience. He heard a voice, and the risen Jesus appeared to him. But rather striking him down, Jesus changed his heart, mind, and actions from that point on (Acts 9).
Why did Jesus take this undeserving, violent enemy and enlist him to have a huge role in his plans? Paul tells us himself, looking back: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16)
God transformed Paul’s life so all of us could have hope. God gave Paul forgiveness to show that anyone, even the worst of us, may receive his forgiveness.
No matter what you have done, no matter what you have become, God in Jesus offers us this gift, God’s forgiveness. Will you accept it?
Last month, we saw that ulcerative colitis (UC) patients suffer continuing diarrhoea, often passing blood and puss in their stool.
This article was inspired by ground-breaking UC research done in 1980 by Australian Associate professor William Roediger. Up until this work, researchers had been unable to:
1. Find any ‘microbe causing the mucosal changes’ seen in UC.
2. Offer a satisfactory explanation for UC’s causation.
Then Roediger’s work gave us our first insight into a possible cause.
Initially, let’s define a few terms:
1. Epithelial cells are all the different cell types that makeup our body’s mucous coverings.
2. Stem cells are primordial (undifferentiated) cells that live in most tissues. When adult tissue cells die, they need to be replaced with new adult cells. Stem cells receive a signal to divide, to make new baby cells which then develop (differentiate) to become the adult cells that need to be replaced. Tissue stem cells can generally differentiate into most of the different cell types that a tissue requires to function properly.
3. Goblet cells are adult cells – living in mucosal tissue e.g., the colon. They make and secrete the mucus that covers and protects all mucosal cells from microbes.
4. Mitochondria are tiny organelles inside cells. Their job is to
burn fuels (carbs, proteins, fats) to make the energy that allows all cells to function.
When scientists examine mucous membrane cells from UC patients’ colons, they find:
1. Mitochondria inside mucosal/epithelial cells have difficulty making energy.
2. Stem cells of the colonic mucosa have difficulty becoming mature goblet cells.
3. A lack of goblet cells leads to a depletion in the protective mucous covering, leaving mucosal cells “unprotected” from microbes.
The processes of:
1. Mucous stem cells becoming adult goblet cells and,
2. Adult goblet cells making protective mucus require huge amounts of mitochondrial-derived energy.
Roediger showed that the colonic mucosal cells of UC patients have lost their ability to make energy from their normal fuel – a fat called butyrate, which is made by the colonic bacteria as they ferment fibre.
This finding allows medicine to redefine UC, from an “autoimmune disease”, to an “energy deficiency disorder” that specifically affects the cells of the mucosa of the large intestine.
Penrith’s favourite pop culture event is back this month, with Collector Con Penrith returning on Sunday 27th November at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre at Cambridge Park.
There will be 350 trading tables across three halls, with toy, hobby and pop-culture vintage and modern collectables. Stallholders include traders, collectors, artists, and authors. Across the tables, there will be items for kids, entry level collectors all the way through to grail pieces for toy hunters. Items include action figures, trading cards, diecast cars, comics, bricks, gaming items, badges and pins, POPS, artist’s work, novels and more!
The day’s fun-filled activities will include professional wrestling matches by All-Star Wrestlers, Dungeons & Dragons role-playing adventures, cosplay competitions for kids, teens and adults, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Transformers fan groups. The Star Walking Inc team, who not only dress as their favourite characters for the occasion but also showcase their fan creations, will be there. It’s a great opportunity to meet likeminded community members.
“Collector Con is a blast! While there is a lot of work involved in the lead up to an event, on event day we love seeing the unique atmosphere of people coming together from multiple fandoms to celebrate their passion” explained Amy Chandler of Collector Con.
“We love seeing the community grow. At our first event in 2019, we had one D&D table and at our November 2022 event, there will be 15 tables! These are tables run by D&D enthusiasts that have met through Collector Con” she added.
Western Sydney has a thriving pop culture collecting community and this is an opportunity to come together across different fandoms in our own backyard.
“It is awesome to see parents with their children watching a wrestling match, meet and have a photo with a cosplay character, coming together for D&D or what I would be there doing with my dad, hunting for items to add to our collections” Amy smiled.
For more information, head to www.collectorcon.com.au.
It was a once in a lifetime photo that took Blaxland photographer Merryl Watkins by surprise. The moment a Sacred Kingfisher took flight before spreading its wings, frozen in time.
“For a few days we had been hearing the calls of two sacred kingfishers as they were flying around the neighbourhood. For small birds they are quite loud! Whenever I heard them, I'd grab my camera, hoping for a photo” said an amazed Merryl when describing the experience.
“I noticed they were looking at a hollow in a neighbour's tree so I set my shutter speed to 1/2000 sec (they are very fast) and just watched the branch, hoping one would fly there. Eventually one did and I got a series of shots with it looking at the hollow and then flying away. I certainly didn't expect to see it 'levitating'! A split second later its wings were open, so I was very lucky to get this shot” she continued.
Merryl’s favourite camera is a Canon 5D Mk IV with a 100400mm lens. She also has a Sony RX10 Mk IV which is lightweight and perfect for bushwalking.
She loves photographing all wildlife and has a soft spot for birds, “We are so fortunate to have an amazing variety of native birds in Australia and we have many here in the Lower Blue Mountains and along the Nepean. Their colours and calls are fascinating, and they are also a challenge to photograph!”.
Merryl counts Glenbrook Lagoon and Emu Green as two great places locally to find several species of birds. She also enjoys Megalong Valley, where she and her husband have joined the Blue Mountains Wombat Conservation Group, checking on wombat burrows in the fight against mange.
The talented photographer has just released ‘A Year of Birds 2023 Calendar’. It’s available for $25 through Blaxland Post Office, Mjays Café at Blaxland and in her online store, Photos and Cards by Merryl, at www.madeit.com.au/PhotosAndCardsByMerryl.
“We live in a great part of the world. I'd just like to encourage everyone to take even 5 minutes in a busy day to stop and listen and look around them. It's amazing what you can see and how much better you can feel” she ended.
With the warmer weather upon us, snakes are coming out of hibernation.
Your dog or cat may see a snake moving in the yard and its first instinct is to chase it.
The snake may attack and bite your pet as a form of defence. Signs of snake envenomation includes: muscular weakness, wobbliness or paralysis, increased respiratory effort, trembling, salivation, vomiting, slower blood clotting time, bruising, blood in the urine, and abnormal neurological signs (including collapse, seizure, tremors, pupil enlargement).
If you are concerned that your pet has been bitten by a snake, call us immediately.
The sooner the snake antivenom is given, the higher the chance of survival.
If you see a snake, please keep your distance, do not try to touch it or try to contain it and call the WIRES on 1300 094 737.
With the weather warming up it is important to look after your pets:
• Provide shelter for your pets, so they get away from direct sunlight.
• Provide plenty of water. Animals do not sweat like humans and they rely on the evaporation of the water in their mouths to cool themselves down. So they need extra water so they do not overheat.
• Provide extra water sources in case they are spilled.
• Provide kiddy pools so your pet can lay in the water.
• Bring your pets indoors with air conditioning, if possible.
• Consider day boarding in air conditioning.
• Avoid exercising your pets during the heat of the day. Walk them in the early morning, or later at night when it is cooler.
• Do not leave pets in a car or vehicle.
If your pet has a medical condition, they may be more prone to heat stroke: e.g. obesity; Brachycephalic breeds (short-nosed/flat-faced) e.g. Pugs, English bull dogs, French bulldogs, Pekingese and Persian and Himalayan cats; Respiratory disease/breathing problems - laryngeal paralysis, collapsing trachea; Thick/long hair coat; Heart problems/ Cardiovascular disease; Extremes in age (young/old); Neurological disease.
Common signs include:
• Incessant panting; Drooling, salivating; Agitation, restlessness; Very red or pale gums; Bright red tongue; Increased heart rate; Breathing distress; Vomiting, Diarrhoea (possibly with blood); Signs of mental confusion, delirium; Dizziness, staggering; Lethargy; weakness; Muscle tremors; Seizures; Collapsing and lying down; Little to no urine production; Coma or Death.
How do you treat a pet with heatstroke?
First step is to instigate Emergency First Aid by bathing your pet in cool water.
Heat stroke is a life threatening emergency - always see a vet.
Please feel free to pop in anytime and meet the team at Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital.
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A proposal to raise the Warragamba Dam wall by 14 metres has been declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI), as it is deemed essential to NSW for economic and social reasons.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the proposal to raise the Dam wall would save lives, save properties, and would help futureproof Western Sydney from flood risks.
“First and foremost, my number one priority as Premier is protecting NSW communities and we know from the independent flood inquiry that the best way to protect communities downstream is to raise the wall,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This declaration reinforces that raising the dam wall is the most effective long-term flood mitigation strategy to help protect residents across the Hawkesbury-Nepean.
“This region has been hit hard by floods and we are committed to progressing this important project to make sure residents have genuine flood protection into the future.”
Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson said the importance of the Dam was highlighted in the recently released Greater Sydney Water Strategy that showed the significant risks and costs of alternative proposals such as Labor’s plan to lower the supply level.
“In a flood similar to the worst on record in the valley, the number of homes impacted would drop threefold from 15,500 to 5,000, while 14,000 people would need to be evacuated rather than 90,000. The cost of damages would also be reduced by up to $8 billion,” Mr Anderson said.
“Labor’s plan to lower Warragamba’s water supply level by 12 metres would have severe consequences such as putting Sydney into severe water restrictions and increasing people’s water bills.”
Roberts said the CSSI declaration would not impact the rigorous assessment and stakeholder scrutiny the proposal would need to go through.
“The proposal has already been subject to an 82-day public exhibition, which gave stakeholders a chance to provide their feedback,” Mr Roberts said.
“The recent flood inquiry confirmed that raising the Warragamba Dam wall is the most effective flood mitigation option available to us.
“This proposal doesn’t hurt us during drought, but will protect us during floods, balancing the natural extremes that are becoming more frequent.”
WaterNSW will respond to the feedback and issues raised in submissions and its Preferred Infrastructure Report, before a comprehensive assessment is undertaken in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.
(Police, Ambulance, Fire) 000
Penrith Police Station 4721 9444
Police Assistance Line 131 444
Lifeline 24-Hour Counselling 131 114
WIRES (Wildlife Rescue) 4754 2946
NSW Rural Fire Service 1800NSWRFS
State Emergency Service 132 500 Churches
Anglican Church St Paul’s, Emu Plains 47351001
Baptist Church Emu Plains Community 4735 1050
Catholic Church Our Lady of the Way, Emu Plains 4735 1041
Uniting Church 7 Green Street, Glenbrook 4739 6295
Blaxland Presbyterian 15a Wilson Way, Blaxland 0491 174 725
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 0438 006 290
Spiritual Church 0439 453 430
Elevation Church Penrith 4722 8489
Embroiderers Guild Nepean 0466 457 594
Girl Guides Glenbrook 4739 6087
Lions Club Emu Plains 4735 5120
Lung Support Group 4735 1542 Probus Nepean www.probussouthpacific.org/microsites/nepean Rotary Club 0419 725 302 Scouts 1800 SCOUTS (1800 726 887)
Toastmasters Glenbrook 0408 692 770
VIEW Club Nepean 4735 4982
Baseball Club Penrith 0434 116 940
BMX Penrith Panthers 0434 267 785
Junior AFL 0412 579 061 Cricket Club 0418 209 105 Hockey 0419 226 698
Junior Rugby Union 4736 3912
Junior Rugby League 0404 116 226 Karate Goshin Ryu
Little Athletics Emu Plains
Little Athletics Glenbrook
Netball
Rugby League
Self Defence Emu Heights
Tennis Club Glenbrook
Soccer BMFC
Swimming Club Nepean
Triathlon
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Community News... The Emu+Leonay Gazette welcomes community news and events, local achievements, births, deaths, obituaries, weddings, engagements and anniversaries (published free of charge) Articles of interest will be accepted at the Editor’s discretion. Articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editor.
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As we dot our i's and cross our t's in the final stages of compiling the November edition, I catch a glance outside the office window - the weather is bleak at best.
We've had a week of rain, threatening grey skies and blustery days. Not quite the start to Spring any of us were hoping for. The grass is mushy, the weeds are stubborn and for every 'sunny' day we have, it seems 3 rainy days follow.
Here's hoping November has better to offer!
What we do know, is that there are plenty of fantastic events and activities taking place in and around the community, which will get us up, out and about! We've written about a few, take a read or better still take part.
This month our newest favourite contributor Scott, visits another local foodie hotspot and provides a detailed review of all there is to love, loathe or like in 'Food 4 Thought'.
On the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month at the Eleventh hour, we pause to honour our fallen heroes. Please take a moment, to do just that. Lest We Forget.
Enjoy your community news! There is no greater wealth in this world than peace of mind.
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on local businesses, and with the health and safety of our extended team in mind, copies at pick up points during this uncertain period may vary.
Delivered MONTHLY to homes in Emu Plains, Emu Heights & Leonay + Pick Up Points in Glenbrook & Blaxland
or PICK UP YOUR FREE COPY from...
Emu Sports Club
Leonay Pde, Leonay
Lennox Village Newsagent
Lennox Village Centre, GWH, Emu Plains
Chatterbox Cafe
Your Community News will continue as we adapt to these challenging times. All/any events published, will proceed in-line with Government Covid guidelines at the time. All/ any images published have been supplied with permission and in-line with Government Covid guidelines at the time.
Lennox Village Centre, GWH, Emu Plains
Good Practice (GP) Surgery
Now more than ever, small business needs your support!
19 Watt Place, Emu Plains
Michel’s Patisserie
Lennox Village Centre, GWH, Emu Plains
Penola Catholic College
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