FREE Thursday, 10 December 2015
ISSUE 164
VET REPORT: P4 | LEGENDS OF THE NEPEAN: P12-13 | ASK LATTS: P26 | MG: P30
THUNDERSTRUCK! Penrith hosted an historic day for women’s cricket - cover story page 10. Pictured: Hometown heroes Naomi Stalenberg and Mikayla Hinkley with Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown. Photo: Courtesy Penrith City Council
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Supporting “right” airport COUNCIL’S response to the Federal Government’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will reaffirm its conditional support for the project while calling for assurances the airport will bring maximum benefits to Penrith. Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown said the airport will be one of Australia’s largest and most complex infrastructure projects, creating unprecedented opportunities to reshape the region. “Our responsibility is to ensure Penrith secures the maximum benefits and an airport that is truly embedded in the region alongside impacts that are diligently assessed and acceptable to our community,” Cr McKeown said. “The EIS was the first step on a long road and we’ll be working with the Government closely to ensure our community is represented in all decisions being made; this includes flight paths and supporting transport infrastructure as well as the support and delivery of maximum employment in and around the airport.” Cr McKeown said Council’s position enabled it to have a voice. “When we met with Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss in Canberra recently he assured us the flight paths over Penrith are indicative only. All flight paths will be the subject of an airspace architecture study and our submission to the EIS calls for more equitable distribution of these and limits on noise exposure for any single community,” Cr McKeown said. “We’ve reiterated that the airport should have a curfew – if it’s good enough for Mascot, it’s good
Photo: Tom Carey
enough for the communities of the West. If the airport is to operate without a curfew, our view is that the communities that are hardest hit should not have to bear the brunt of this 24 hours a day.” Cr McKeown said we will continue to make the case for a rail link before the airport opens. “Our transport infrastructure is already on life support and the EIS suggests in stage one the airport alone will see 42,000 more vehicle movements each day in Stage 1. We’re adamant the airport must have a rail link from day one that will not only connect the airport to the Western line but also connect the North and South West Growth Centres to reduce commuting across Western Sydney.” Council and the community has until December 18 to comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Airport plan for the site and had 60 days to review and respond. Council engaged independent experts to assess the EIS and their reports are available on Council’s website: penrithcity.nsw.gov.au and can be used by community members to write their own submissions.
Prue Car MP
Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
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Member for Londonderry
Ph: 9833 1122 12/82 Victoria St Werrington Mail: PO Box 4001 Werrington NSW 2747 londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au
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4 Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
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by Kerrie Davies CAN you believe there are only 15 more sleeps until Christmas? And I’m in the same place I’m always in at this time of year - a place called disorganised panic. Every year I say I’m not hitting the shops on Christmas Eve yet every year I’m so unorganised that I have no choice but to. Some things never change. Unfortunately, however, a lot of other things do change. All I want for Christmas is a festive season without having to listen to or read about all the politically correct rubbish that gets bandied about at this time of year. We’ve put up with nincompoops saying that letting your child sit on Santa’s lap for the traditional yearly keepsake should be reconsidered, for instance. Oh I can really see the danger in my child sitting on Santa’s lap while I stand three feet away in a busy shopping centre - will they ever recover from the experience? Add to that the ridiculous calls to end gender specific presents like barbie dolls and trucks and the “offensiveness” of the bible or any religious activity and you’d be excused for thinking that some people go temporarily loopy at this time of year with the things they dream up. Now we’ve got some shopping centres telling people they can’t place invitations to Christmas Carol nights on noticeboards if the venue is at a church. Did I really read that correctly? Christmas Carols. In a church. At Christmas. How terribly offensive! Don’t get me started on the fact that the same shopping centre is happy to bleed your wallet dry capitalising on Christmas! Either I’m going mad or this country is. Let’s just enjoy Christmas without all the politically correct claptrap, please. And on that note, I’m going to add two other words that I refuse to accept as offensive - Merry Christmas! Your thoughts? kerrie@nepeannews.com.au
Parvovirus kills
Nepean
Veterinary REPORT
with Dr Antony Karolis and the team at WellPet Vets phone 1300 WELLPET
Senior Veterinarian and CEO WellPets Vets Mountains, Nepean and St Clair
EVERY summer at WellPet Vets we see an increase in a deadly disease called Parvovirus. So far this year we have seen over 10 confirmed cases of this horrific disease. This disease can be prevented and we bring you this report to warn pet owners, and encourage you to VACCINATE your pet and protect them from this horrible disease. Parvovirus is a serious, life threatening viral disease that most commonly effects puppies and adolescent dogs. Parvovirus can be found everywhere, on floors, in parks, in houses and gardens. It is a very tough virus and can survive for several months in the environment, even in harsh conditions. Shed in very high numbers in the faeces of infected dogs, it can be carried around and spread by people on their shoes and clothes. Once a dog has been exposed to the virus it can take three to seven days for them to start showing symptoms. Once infected, they may shed the virus in their faeces for two to four weeks even after they appear to have completely recovered. Signs of infection include vomiting, diarrhoea, tiredness and poor appetite. The symptoms seen reflect the virus targeting and destroying rapidly dividing cells in the body including the cells lining the small intestine, cells within the bone marrow and in the case of very young puppies cells
within the heart. By damaging the cells within the bone marrow the virus also harms the puppy’s own immune response and ability to fight infection. Diarrhoea is very severe and can quickly become watery and bloody. Fluid loss and the resulting dehydration and shock can be rapidly fatal especially to young puppies. The destruction of the intestinal lining also increases the risk of bacteria crossing into the blood stream causing blood poisoning and death. Without veterinary care the majority of cases are fatal. There are currently no effective anti-viral drugs that target parvovirus. Treatment is based on supportive care including fluid therapy, pain relief, antibiotics, antinausea medication and nutritional support. With appropriate veterinary care most dogs with parvovirus will survive. It may take five to seven days of intensive care and hospitalisation to treat and can therefore be quite costly to you as a pet owner. The good news is that vaccinating your dog will protect it from parvovirus. For puppies under 6 months of age, a course of
three vaccinations, four weeks apart, beginning at 6-8 weeks of age, is currently recommended to ensure immunity against this deadly disease. Adult dogs should be vaccinated every year for life. If you have an adult dog that has not been vaccinated for sometime your dog may require a course of two vaccinations, one month apart. It is very important that puppies that are not fully vaccinated are kept safe from exposure to the virus. This means taking care to keep puppies away from shoes that may carry the virus from outside and not taking puppies to parks, onto the footpath or other public areas that may be contaminated. If they need to be taken somewhere, such as the vet, it is best to carry them. Interaction with fully vaccinated dogs in an uncontaminated environment and puppy preschool are great ways to socialise puppies prior to completing their vaccinations. If you would like more information on this disease or to book your dog in for a vaccination please call WellPet Vets on 1300 WELLPET (1300 9355738)
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STUART Ayres MP, Member for Penrith encouraged local seniors to grab their free copy of the 2016 Legal Aid NSW Legal Topics for Older People Diary, which is now available. “The publication, now in its fifth year, combines important legal information with a practical diary,” Stuart Ayres said. “It contains a wealth of information, including useful telephone numbers and websites and empowers seniors with information about where to turn for help on issues that are important at this stage of their lives.” “Produced in large font, and filled with profound and funny quotes related to ageing, this easy-to-use diary covers a different legal topic every month.” “The chapters cover legal information of relevance to older people, including aged care and retirement villages, financial, family and consumer issues, as well as elder abuse, disputes with neighbours, and future planning.” Other useful information contained within the diary includes details on how seniors can avoid
CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE 9.00am
Contact: (02) 9673 1009
www.newhorizonschurch.org.au
Stuart Ayres
MP
Member for Penrith
unwanted telemarketers calls; what seniors need to consider before guaranteeing a loan for a family member and materials on how to stay at home if a partner dies and has children from a previous relationship. Copies of the Diary are available from my office at 510-534 High Street, Penrith, in many public libraries, at Legal Aid offices and from some community organisations. The diary can also be ordered online at: www.legalaid.nsw.gov. au/publications/order-a-publication “The diaries have been very popular in previous years so I encourage seniors to get in quick to obtain a copy,” added Stuart Ayres.
Phone: 4722 8660 Email: penrith@parliament.nsw.gov.au Shop 23, Tattersalls Centre, 510-534 High Street, Penrith
Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
Free legal aid diary
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Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
Infrastructure central
Community investment
THE Australian and New South Wales governments’ commitment to revitalise the Western Sydney economy has continued with works commencing on The Northern Road Stage One and Narellan Road Stage Two projects this week. Minister for Major Projects Paul Fletcher said it was essential that investments were made in the region’s infrastructure to support population growth. “This includes delivering the new Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek – scheduled to open in 2025 and the continued delivery of regional road upgrades, including the $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan,” Mr Fletcher said. “These investments will ensure the region has strong transport links and additional job opportunities are created as Western Sydney grows. They will support existing businesses and ensure traffic continues to move efficiently.” Federal Member for Lindsay Fiona Scott said residents were enjoying the
STUART Ayres MP, Member for Penrith has announced the recipients who will share in the $200,000 Community Building Partnership Program 2015. Mr Ayres joined Luke Priddis and Tamara VanAntwerpen, General Manager of the Luke Priddis foundation (LPF) to announce they will receive $65,000 that will be used to install disabled access / platform lift to services and amenities on Level 1 at their new premises on High St, Penrith “It was my pleasure to recommend this project for funding which will allow the LPF to continue their wonderful work in early intervention, education and raising community awareness about ASD,” said Mr Ayres. Tamara VanAntwerpen said this project will repurpose and improve current CBD infrastructure, providing services that community members currently endure long waiting periods or travel great distances to access. The foundation recognises that this facility will play a vital role in providing ASD families and many others access to social, medical and welfare services. “The overall renovation and creation of the ASD centre will
dividends from the road investment in the region, especially the upgrading of the Northern Road as a dual carriageway into Penrith. “Work commencing on the Northern Rd is great news for many Penrith residents, as alleviating pinch points around Glenmore Park, the M4 and beyond is happening. Already the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan has created hundreds of jobs locally and this is set to continue,” Ms Scott said. The Northern Road upgrade, which will be completed in late 2019, is being jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments, with $1.23 billion and $351 million contributed respectively.
create a resource that is available for use not only for those associated with ASD but the whole community at little or no cost,” said Tamara. The Nepean District Tennis Association (NDTA) will receive $75,000 to upgrade their courts. “Our club is very appreciative of this grant and we thank Stuart for his continued support,” said CEO of NDTA Chris Woodland. Additionally, $60,000 will go to Penrith City Council for the installation of a Multicourt at Borrowdale Way Skate Park – Cranebrook. The multicourt will be used for a range of activities from basketball, netball and handball through to casual play. “These upgrades will be terrific for our community and I look forward to seeing the completed works,” added Stuart Ayres.
Fusion building and maintenance ready for NDIS FUSION Building and Maintenance are on the front foot with the early roll out of the NSW Government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), bringing access to services for young people with a disability and their families in the Nepean, Blue Mountains area. This includes the Local Government areas of Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow and Penrith. The NDIS will provide a flexible, whole-of-life approach to the support needed to pursue the goals and aspirations of people living with a disability. including independence, involvement in community, education, employment and health and wellbeing. It will provide information and referrals, links to services and activities, individualized plans and where necessary, supports over a lifetime. The scheme will also raise community awareness and encourage greater inclusion and access to mainstream services, community activities and other government initiatives. Fusion Building and Maintenance is registered to provide supports for NDIS across the Nepean,
Blue Mountains including home modification design and construction, therapeutic supports (Occupational Therapy), assistive technology specialist assessments, set up and training (by Occupational Therapist), personal mobility equipment, assistive products for personal care and safety Fusion Building & Maintenance has over 15 years experience as a provider of home modifications and maintenance services and has a
dedicated team of professionals who are all experts in their fields. Staff and contractors work with integrity and reliability and value people and their community. A social enterprise, Fusion Building & Maintenance is dedicated to developing the potential of individuals, while providing best practice in all building work. The team works together with clients in planning for and accomplishing the transformation
of their home, whilst delivering a high quality product with integrity and reliability. The newest member of the FBM team is Occupational Therapist, Damien Davies. Damian’s role is to provide functional assessments of how people undertake the activities of daily living in their home, including showering, mobility and cooking. He assesses whether there are any barriers to achieving these tasks and finds ways to overcome them. Solutions could involve minor home modifications such as handrails or more major works, including whole bathroom modifications. All surplus income from Fusion Building and Maintenance is directed back into the community through Fusion Western Sydney, a youth and community development organisation caring for vulnerable young people and families in western Sydney. To find out more about Fusion Building and Maintenance call one of the friendly team on 8805 5900 or visit the website http://www.fusionbuilding.com.au. For more information about the NDIS services visit www.ndis.gov.au or call 1800 800 110.
Boost for local preschools
Child safety warning
MEMBER for Mulgoa Tanya Davies MP has announced that all community preschools in Mulgoa will receive a 2.5 per cent increase in funding in 2016 and may be eligible for bonus payments of up to 5 per cent. Tanya Davies MP said the extra support for community preschools is part of a $45.5 million package from the NSW Government to increase the number of children attending preschool in the year before school. Tanya Davies visited Harold Wheen Preschool in St Clair to announce this funding boost. “We know the difference that quality early childhood education makes to our kids when they start school,” Tanya Davies said. Angielina, Director of Harold Wheen Preschool, said “Our preschool has been serving the community with quality education for the past 27 years and anticipates we will continue to do this for many more years to come with the ongoing support of the NSW Government.” Angielina and her team are excited about the Government’s initiative to invest an additional $13 million into preschools over the next four years as it means better staff to child ratios and assistance to keep fees as low as
THIS summer Fair Trading is urging families to be aware of window safety to prevent falls as well as to check blind cords for child strangulation risks. Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said around 50 children fall from windows or balconies in Australia every year, resulting in serious injuries or death. “Fair Trading is deeply concerned about these tragedies that could have otherwise been prevented by installing locks and security screens and through active supervision,” Mr Stowe said. The tendency to leave windows open increases at this time of the year and correlates with an increase in reported falls. “Most injuries occur in a child’s own home and as such, parents and guardians should ensure their homes are properly childproofed,” Mr Stowe said. “Proper supervision is crucial. No parent or guardian should ever have to lose a child in such terrible circumstances,” he said.
possible in order to relieve families of the financial costs of sending their child to preschool. “We are known for assisting families and children with their transition to school and congratulate the Government’s decision to ensure more children are given this opportunity,” said Angielina. In addition, the NSW Government is providing bonus payments to services who enrol four and five year old children for 15 hours per week. If services can demonstrate an increase in the enrolment of these children, in their last year before formal schooling, a bonus payment will be made. This payment will be up to 5 per cent of their total funding. In many instances, services will have
four and five year olds enrolled for two days a week, so enrolling your child for an extra half-day could mean a substantial bonus payment for your community preschool. The NSW Government is providing $45.5 million in additional funding to support community preschools in 2016: • $13 million over four years to increase base funding rates by 2.5 per cent; • $11 million in bonus payments to reward services that enrol more four and five year olds for 15 hours per week; • $4 million over two years to provide business advice and support to preschools; • $12 million over four years for a ‘Preschools for Sustainable Communities’ program, to help maintain viability for community preschools in rural and remote areas; and • $5.5 million over three years to improve the collection of data from services.
7 Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
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A Gift for Tyro sprinter By Greg Martin
FIFTEEN year-old Michael Hanna held off his older and more experienced rivals to win his first major title at Penrith’s Thornton Estate Village Green last Saturday. One of the front markers off 11.5 metres, Michael always had his nose in front and led throughout to claim the Penrith Pro Gift run over 90 metres under handicap conditions. The youngster, son of renowned professional sprinter from the 90’s, Robert, just kept on improving at each of his runs to claim his breakthrough victory in the open ranks. In his heat win, Michael stopped the watches at 9.71 secs and improved on that in posting 9.42 secs in taking out his semi-final. However that was the slowest of the three semi-final winning times and Michael would have been the third favourite in the final behind Matthew Murray and Michael Kember. But in the race that really mattered, he was first out of the blocks and kept his smooth form all the way to the line, hanging on to beat the fast finishing
Michael Hanna receives his Penrith Pro Gift trophy from Penrith Deputy Mayor, Ross Fowler.
Murray (7.25m) and Kember who was off 6.25m. Michael once again made vast improvement on his previous times, this time recording a sizzling 9.23 secs ahead of Murray and Kember who were both timed at 9.27 secs. The young man has been running professionally for two years with plenty of success in the junior ranks including a victory three weeks ago in the Junior Novice 120m on the Queanbeyan Gift program. Earlier on that card, Michael was narrowly beaten into third place in the Open Novice. Robert Hanna was also in action at
Michael (left) leads the field home in the Penrith Pro gift 90m.
Penrith, being run-out in the in the 90 Gift semi-finals and then finishing 5th in the 90m Masters final. A big crowd was on hand at the Village Green to witness all the action. More than 150 athletes – juniors and senior men and women competed in events over distances ranging from 70 metres through to 1600m. There was some local success on the day with Springwood’s Earl O’Brien scoring a comprehensive seven seconds victory in the Open 1600m and Whalan’s Alannah Martin taking out the Youth (under 12) 70m in a smart 9.53secs. O’Brien, who finished second in
the same race last year, was off a 40 metre handicap but quickly rounded up the front markers, one of whom was off 260 metres, and over the final lap spreadeagled the field to score an impressive win. Other major winners were: 90m Penrith Pro Junior Gift: Jarno Dolezal. Time: 9.78sec. 90m Women’s: Lauren Keating. Time: 10.39sec. 70m Open: Kiti Vasu. Time 7.28sec. 90m Masters: Kris Wardecki. Time: 10.24sec. 1600m Little Athletics: Rory Wylie. Time: 9.53sec.
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Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
Sixers Thunder struck on a historic day for women’s cricket By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn
IN front of over a thousand fans at picturesque Howell Oval, it took just 13.2 overs for the Sydney Thunder’s womens cricket team to achieve what no male Thunder team has done – defeat cross-town rivals, the Sydney Sixers, in what was Sydney’s inaugural Women’s Big Bash League match. The majority of the crowd came to see hometown heroes, Naomi Stalenberg and Mikayla Hinkley, but they would have gone away impressed with the feats of rising 17 year old fast bowling sensation, Bowral’s Lauren Cheatle and West Indian International, Stafanie Taylor. Cheatle’s 4/20 was the primary factor in restricting the strong Sixers batting line-up featuring household names Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry, to just 9/101 off their 20 overs. After a shaky start, player of the match Stafanie Taylor burst into life in the 7th over, attacking the Sixers’ strike bowler, Ellyse Perry (0/24 from two overs), before leading the Thunder to a comprehensive nine wicket win with an unbeaten 59 not out that included nine fours and a towering six off just 39 balls that confirmed her reputation as being the female equivalent of fellow Jamaican, Chris Gayle. For Penrith’s Cricket NSW Breakers representative, Naomi Stalenberg, the game didn’t present many opportunities for her or fellow team mate Mikayla Hinkley to get too involved in the game but it was a thrill to get the win nonetheless. “It was an easy day at the office basically but it was awesome to get the first win on the board,� the 21
Penrith Cricket Club’s Naomi Stalenberg and Mikayla Hinkley ready to take the field for the Sydney Thunder. Photo: Courtesy of Penrith Council.
year old Hawkesbury junior said. “I’ve played a lot of grade cricket here in Penrith so to see the ground packed today, made for a good atmosphere, it was awesome.� “To have this crowd support both me and Mikayla today it means a lot.� For 17 year old Mikayla Hinkley, who incredibly has just finished Year 11 at Penrith Anglican College, it was a thrill just to be signed by the Thunder and didn’t think selection would come so soon let alone play such a game at her home ground. “I got the call from Nick Cummins early on in the year and I was absolutely stoked,� the Penrith skipper explained. “I didn’t think I would be in the top eleven in the first game in front of the home crowd so it was amazing to be selected.� “Being one of my first professional matches too (it
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was) so nice and comforting to have a home crowd behind me. I definitely recognised many of those voices.� Hinkley admitted it wasn’t easy keeping the news of her Thunder debut quiet after finding out on Friday she was in the team. “They (the family) were very excited and were kind of jumping around in the house but once it went out in the media they were happy to tell a few people and get the word around to get some people down here.� For Sydney Thunder General Manager, Nick Cummins, having Stalenberg and Hinkley in the Thunder’s roster represented a great opportunity to showcase women’s cricket at grounds like Howell Oval. “We’re really keen to have our (WBBL) games played out on community ovals and going to the people,� the Thunder GM explained. “We really want to do more in Penrith. It’s a big area for us and with Stalenberg and Hinkley, I think they’ll both do their local area proud.� “Naomi is proven quality and we saw what she did in the WNCL final last Sunday against SA, she’s a really good striker of the ball.� “(As for Mikayla) I don’t think she could quite believe it.� “Mikayla’s gone from being on the fringes of the Breakers to all of a sudden playing for the team she barracked for in front of her home crowd on her home ground. That’s an amazing rise for her.� The win over the Sixers now means the rest of the competition will be looking out for the Thunder, as they look ahead to their next game in Brisbane against the Heat on December 18.
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Penrith restores sight to 2780 people
Photos: Michael Amendolia
PEOPLE of Penrith have donated more than $68,000 this year to The Fred Hollows Foundation helping to restore the sight of up to 2,720 people. As the year comes to an end, The Fred Hollows Foundation is asking locals to dig deep and give a generous gift to help restore sight by donating this Christmas. The Foundation’s Director of Public Affairs Nick Martin explained that without the generous support of every day Australians, millions of people’s eyes would go unchecked; potentially leaving them to live a life of blindness. “We thank the people of Penrith for their tremendous generosity and ask that they dig deep one more time as we head towards Christmas. With every dollar, they know they will be changing lives for the better,” Mr Martin said. One such life changing case was that of seven month old identical twins Samlan and Sintham. Both boys were born with cataract in both eyes and had never been able to see more than a vague blur of colour. Without an operation, they would have been blind for life. Located in the remote, untouched jungle of Laos, the generosity of donors meant that The Foundation was able to find and help Samlan and
Sintham through one of our eye health camps. The boys and their mother were transported to hospital, but not before a harrowing two-day journey down a perilous river and a rough mud track. Following the surgery, with the patches removed, the boys looked around, caught sight of a toy, and began to track it with their eyes. Their sight had been restored. “More than 32 million people worldwide are blind and it’s a shocking fact that four out of five of those people don’t need to be blind.” In 2014 The Foundation:
• Treated more than seven million people across the world for trachoma. • Trained more than 56,000 health care workers • Performed 728,788 eye operations and treatments. • Screened 16,000 people for the growing global epidemic of diabetic retinopathy. • Built, renovated or upgraded 36 medical facilities. • Delivered $3.8 million worth of medical equipment. • Provided services to more than 10,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
St Marys Outpost Vietnam Veterans Christmas barbecue Caption to
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Legends of the Nepean By Greg Martin
ONE or two too many chardonnays back in 2006 not only subsequently provided Jonathan Green with a headache the following morning but over the ensuing years a host of foot blisters and aching legs. Jonathan, the popular and long-time resident professional out at Penrith Golf Club is the founder of the Great Walk Foundation. Over the past nine years members
of the foundation and supporters have traversed the Blue Mountains from Bathurst to Blaxland to raise funds for local charities and organisations. During that time, these remarkable men and women have raised in excess of $800,000 which has been put back into the community to help those less fortunate than ourselves. The major recipient has been the Children’s Ward at Nepean Hospital which in gratitude to the Great Walk Foundation has named a room in their honour.
Talked the talk and walked the walk! Inaugural GFW walkers (l-r): Jonathan Green, Mark Geyer, Rob Wearn, Mark Mulock, Darren Latty and Dave Crossman.
Other recipients include Great Community Transport which has been provided with two community buses, Sailability has been able to buy two sailing boats, Penrith Community Kitchen and Lifestart, a not-for-profit organisation which provides early intervention support programs for young people aged 0-24 years living with a disability or development delay. And it all started over a few (too many) drops of chardonnay between two old mates on a weekend sojourn in the Hunter Valley in late 2005. “Mark and I and our wives were at a winery at the end of an arduous day travelling around the vineyards when, feeling what is described as ‘tired and emotional’ I made a comment which made the Mule’s ear’s prick,” Jonathan reports. “I had been doing a bit of running at the time and told Mark that I was so fit I could run to Bathurst –in hindsight, I’m glad I didn’t say Broken Hill. “He laughed and told me I was mad but another glass of the fine chardy later he reiterated what he thought of my mental state but if I was prepared to walk it, he would come with me. “If we were going to do this, Mark said we should do it for a reason
– perhaps raise a few dollars for a charity.” The effects of the chardonnays wore off but not Jonathan and Mark’s ambition to do the trek and raise funds. “It took ages for us to jump through all the hoops with various authorities to set-up the Great Walk Foundation but eventually were ready to go and did so in May, 2006,” Jonathan said. Linking with Jonathan and Mark was Rob Wearn, the owner of Mulgoa Quarries and the trio decided to rope in Mark Geyer to aid them in publicising the fundraising walk “On one condition – I come with you,” Mark told them. And so he did and on several other occasions when work commitments with Triple MMM’s The Grill Team permitted. Also roped in as walkers and road crew were Penrith businessman, Ron Fort, Bruce Carter and Jim Small – sadly, all three of whom have departed this place - and Brett Lockett and Flav Varnier, Dave Crossman and Darren Latty. On that very first GWF trek, the walkers strode and sometimes ambled from Blaxland to Bathurst but since then Blaxland has been the starting
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JONATHAN GREEN point and the Lapstone Hotel, the finish line. The 2016 GWF will be held in May and already signed up to travel the full 170km journey is Penrith Panthers legend, Royce Simmons. “Well, he’s threatening to complete the entire trip,” Jonathan quipped. “He and Brandy (Greg) Alexander have previously accompanied our group on sections of the walk but Simmo says this year he’ll go the full distance. “Both the Penrith champions have been wonderful supporters of the walk as has the great Dougie Walters.” So let’s have a look at the man behind this innovative fundraising venture. Jonathan Green is 53 years old and married to Jenny having tied the knot back in 1984 – the couple have two children, Jessica, 26, who is expecting the Green’s first granddaughter early this month, and 24-year-old Jessica. At Nepean High, Jonathan showed outstanding talent across a number of sports particularly rugby league and cricket. Old mates tell your writer Jonathan was a fleet-footed centre and opened the batting and the bowling for his school and was good enough to
represent Metropolitan West in both sports. Yet he had still to put his hands on a golf stick! “In my final year at school I had a bad knee injury playing league so I gave it away and thought i’d try my hand at golf because it wouldn’t put undue pressure on the knee,” Jonathan explained. “After I left school in ’79 I was running a pheasant farm on the family property at Mulgoa and spent my spare time practising and playing golf. “I had my first lesson from Graeme Abbott (Penrith Golf Club professional) in 1980 and within 18 months I was playing off scratch and won the club’s junior championship that year. “Two years later I commenced a traineeship under Graeme and qualified as a member of the PGA (Professional Golfers Association) in 1985. “I was a good at golf but not good enough to make a playing career of it so I decided to make a business career out of it.” Jonathan remained at Penrith GC working alongside Graeme until 1994 when his mentor retired after 25 years with the club and handed over the reins
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Jonathan gives a swing tip to professional golfer, Anthony Gomez.
as head professional to his protégée and friend. Jonathan can still whack a ball and has the finesse on the greens to put the ball into the little white hole. The man has certainly hit a hole in one with the Great Walk Foundation!
Jonathan Green nominated as a Legend of the Nepean by Mark Geyer. If you know a local legend, send us a nomination at greg@nepeannews.com.au
nepeanhistory nepean
14 Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
“Coo-ee to Australia”: Gallipoli Christmas card
By Paul Wheeldon
In the centre of the card is a reproduction of a watercolour illustration by a military artist, Corporal Fullwood
Front cover right and below, the messages.
A
CARD sent to diggers at Christmas 1915 from their commanding officers is a lesson in how the spirit of Christmas can transcend strictly Christian traditions and commercialism, and remind us of the spirit of goodwill at the heart of the festival. During the Christmas season of 1915 the troops of the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces fighting and recuperating in Gallipoli were sent a Christmas card by their commander, General Sir William R. Birdwood. The card contains messages from General Sir William Birdwood, Senator George Foster Pearce who was then Australian Minister for Defence and the British General Sir Ian Hamilton who was Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces. The cover shows a photograph of General Birdwood with his message, “Good cheer, boys, from all old comrades in the firing line. Return soon and we’ll see this through together.” Inside the card, General Sir Ian Hamilton writes: “Happen what may, the Australians who have fought at Gallipoli will bequeath a heritage of honour to their children’s children.” Its centre features a reproduction of a watercolour illustration by a military artist, Corporal Fullwood, of a digger shouting coo-ee from the shores of Gallipoli while a female figure standing on a small Australia-shaped island looks over wattle and sea with outstretched arms.
By 20th December 1915, 90,000 troops had been evacuated from ANZAC Cove and Suvla. “Christmas was celebrated by the troops on the island of Lemnos and on the many ships returning to Egypt. For those sick and wounded soldiers on Lemnos, the nurses attending to them in the hospital tents tried to create a Christmas atmosphere.” Sister Evelyn Davies paints a picture of Christmas for the Forces: “Christmas time on the island was happy. The boys hung up their socks, and I had to sneak around at 3 am and fill them with toys and sweets. Two men saw me and said Father Christmas had a white cap and gown on. There was great excitement in the morning.”
Council Column December’s Council Meeting was a lengthy affair, full of debate and a lot of interaction from the community. Almost every individual councillor spoke at some point, with the Western Sydney airport and rezoning land in St Mary’s dominating the discourse of the evening. By Garion Thain
Badgerys Creek – Community and Council Engage It’s the “biggest piece of infrastructure to ever happen to the west,” said Cr Prue Car - and every councillor wants Penrith to benefit from it, but few seemed to agree on just what that ‘best deal’ Penrith can get from a new airport would be at Monday night’s meeting. A community speaker from the gallery, full of residents staunchly opposed to any airport whatsoever, derided the federal government’s apparent stance of not imposing a curfew and attacked council for not doing more. “Penrith people need to stick up for each other – [aircraft noise] will effect generation after generation,” said Sandra Newham. “You’re our elected representatives,” she continued, going on to ask councillors what they are doing about a lack of curfew. Later in the evening a Peer Review into the Environmental Impact Statement was a high point of discussion, appearing to point to elements of the EIS that would be hazardous for residents. All councillors who spoke held the position that the EIS was flawed in some capacity, however the discussion was divided amongst some who are outright against an airport altogether. Cr Crameri, stating there is “more to Penrith than jobs,” recommended that council not accept the fourth recommendation of the peer review ( that council continue to co-operate with the federal government on the issue) as co-operating with the federal government would yield “no results.” Cr Fowler however responded quickly by saying that “removing number four will take us out of the game,” and will limit council’s ability to participate in the broader discussion about altering the EIS. He also reaffirmed, to jeers from the gallery, that the federal government has reached the stage where an airport is a certainty. “It’s a fact of life, the sun’s going to rise in the morning, there’s going to be an airport in Western Sydney,” said Cr Fowler. He later continued that council should take advantage of the peer review to get a better deal for residents. These sentiments were echoed by councillors Prue Car, Greg Davies and John Thain, the latter of whom noted a recent poll has found that the majority of Penrith residents are in support of the airport, and mentioned council should focus on bringing attention to the holes in the environment plan instead.
Building the St Marys Town Centre A proposal to reclassify land in St Marys was discussed, which if passed would allow Mirvac to approach council with a proposal for an expansion of their St Marys Village Centre. Guest speaker Alex Karavas spoke to council saying if the Village Centre is expanded, he believed Queen Street would suffer from usurped parking spots and a sluggish growth imbalance. “There is a large increase in the residential population and 700 employees working on Queen Street [already],” said Mr Karavas. “It is Queen Street businesses being asked to surrender 300 car spaces to the village centre.” Mr Karavas did not agree with the idea that the expansion would see the inclusion of a new movie theatre, claiming that there is an “overrepresentation of business retail” in the area. He also said he believes that the rise of Netflix and streaming services has resulted in less public interest in seeing new releases at the movies. The councillors present agreed that preserving small businesses’ ability to operate effectively in the town centre was important, and that community consultation and supporting Penrith’s growth are two equally important facets of the discussion. Cr Jackie Greenhow said she was happy to agree to a deferral of reclassification as long as “St Marys residents are taken seriously.” Mirvac approached council after a recent community meeting to say they are interested in being involved in further community discussions. Cr Thain said Mirvac should be welcomed in these discussions so long as they take community needs, such as green spaces, into account. He said council pushing Mirvac away whilst also publically calling for investment in Penrith would be “schizophrenic.” Cr Greg Davies agreed, saying, “suddenly walking away is not the best thing to happen. I firmly believe we need a major shopping centre in St Marys. “Most shoppers from St Marys, North St Marys, Colyton, St Clair will go to Mt Druitt over Penrith to suit those needs. We need an open, frank discussion to take St Marys ahead.” Cr Mark Davies said the reclassification wasn’t “selling land” just yet, but opens up discussion for investors. Nevertheless, all the councillors unanimously agreed to defer reclassification until more input from the community can be had.
15 Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
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16 Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
THE G SPOT
YOU know, I think Boneheads are like the old Gremlins from the 80’s? Just add water, stupidity and lack of brain capcity and they multiply. To be perfectly frank (which I always am), we are becoming overrun by captain boneheads. I must say, it’s not a hard title to obtain and many people are proudly wearing the T-shirt, I give you the drum! I was watching the TV the other night and the great news is that, Qantas in all of their illustrious wisdom have felt compelled to create a show called “Ready for take-off.” Now, don’t get me wrong I love looking at big ginormous planes as well, but we may as well have handed the friggn blue print of our airport procedures to the bad people, commonly known as TERRORISTS! Sigh. Now, I am no rocket scientist or on the finalist list to win the Brainiac of the year award, but in light of what has just recently happened overseas, why the hell would you have a program on every single facet of how an airport operates? Like der… From the pilots walking around and kissing the side of the plane
before take off, checking the tyres, the internals and running of a cockpit (Why not) and oh (Sarcastic voice) let’s just throw in an entire tour of how the cabin crew prepare for takeoff and landing to finish the show off (Yippee, high fives all around). The mind truly boggles. It’s like ASIO having an open day, with free fairy floss, site maps and goodie bags to take home. I actually did security at the Airport many many moons ago. The 4am starts were a killer, me and mornings are like trying to go into Pinegrove and raise the dead. It was a grave issue (Sorry, dying joke there). Anyway, getting back to it, I was the X-ray machine security guard and sat there for hours on end just watching the luggage and bags going through the machines. The upside of it was that I had the power to say “Search that one” with no expression, monotone voice and with the point of a finger. Felt like I was James Bond. The beloved X-Ray operator that has the power to stop an entire line of people rushing to their next destination
With Gina Field, Nepean Regional Security
in one gracious point and a slight eye roll. The power to almost start an all in brawl because I spotted something that could ultimately bring down a plane the size of half a football field – a 3cm pair of blunt ended scissors in a makeup bag. What a glorious way to start the morning with 300 people telling me where to shove a plane. (Sideways). Try explaining that one to a proctologist! We mere security guards always remembered the AFP (Australian Federal Police) marching through, like the Gestapo on a mission, in actual fact it was only lunchtime and they were headed for the lunchroom, but if it was a scene from a movie, the music would have changed to Star Wars when Luke Skywalker enters the scene. Never forget the day I told a lady her engraved crystal glass set looked beautiful and it came out on the belt and it was a wrapped present that she had not opened yet, let’s just say she was not impressed. She also told me where to shove it, but I told her a had a plane issue to deal with first. Met many a celebrity working at
the Airport, some lovely, some not so lovely. Had to bag search a (then) famous boxer’s bag because the X-ray machine had picked up a pair of scissors. Holy Crap, it was like unleashing a starving Crocodile in an abattoir. A nun with an apparatus tucked in the corner of her bag that some would consider not appropriate in her line of work, however it was not a safety risk: well maybe to her, but not to the plane or passengers. The wonderful prosthetic limbs, don’t they go off like firecrackers in a metal detector, setting off every metal alarm on the planet. When all the bells were ringing and lights flashing, I used to think that I was at the RSL and the jackpot went off, then I’d realise I was at work so I put my arms down and stopped cheering. So there you have it, Boneheads are multiplying (quickly). Blueprints for Airports are being handed out for free (get in fast). The boxer got his eye brow trimming scissors back, but I hate seeing grown boxers crying like a baby whilst laying in the foetal position.
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TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY! The cosmetic industry is about making people look and feel good about themselves which is why many people are turning to Cosmetic Clinics to help them achieve the look they want and to feel better about themselves. There is a misconception that cosmetic enhancements are for shallow and vain people. Time and time again I have witnessed people piecing back their lives after divorce, grief and low selfesteem by improving how they look. The plastic dolly look with trout pouts come to mind when talking about cosmetic injections. I have so many women who come into the clinic and are nervous that we will make
them look like that. They are pleasantly surprised with the natural enhancements. In the hands of a very experienced injector, they can restore not distort your features; Lifting cheeks, restoring the Jawline, rejuvenating ageing lips and eyes with dermal fillers. Also diminishing dynamic lines and restoring muscle balance with Anti-Winkle injections can result in a refreshed natural ‘looking good for your age’ appearance. I have been a cosmetic injector for 18 years and have witnessed many transformations not only externally but internally. In my experience, many people are seeking cosmetic procedures for various reasons. Not
only to look their best, but perhaps to regain employment, or to be taken seriously as they age in their work place. Teachers often come in and have their frowns erased from years of frowning! Divorcees want to regain their confidence. Brides want to enhance their looks .Mother of the brides and grooms want to look terrific for the special day. Christmas time also brings in many clients who would like to look their best for the party season and family reunions. I love what I do. Especially when I improve peoples’ lives by making them feel better about themselves and assist them in their life’s journey; whatever age and purpose.
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localnews local WHEN it comes to buying unique Christmas gifts that will be loved, appreciated and wont be re-gifted, you don’t need to look any further than in your own backyard, because the shops in the Penrith CBD have got your back. You’ll always be able to find that special present that hasn’t been seen in every other shopping centre at stores like the fabulous Duck Inn and the little shops you’ll find in and around the arcades, such as the NK Centre and Penrith Centre, Mega Games, Millers, Down Patchwork Lane, Muscle Bros, Mysterys and many more retailers stocking the most amazing unique trinkets and gift ideas. The Elizabeth Arcade has loads of ideas including funky clothing and second hand books which are in great order and at affordable prices. The perfect gift for the sports lover can be found in Skiptons Arcade, and while you’re there, what a perfect time to grab a great cup of coffee and snack at Skiptons to recharge the batteries and shop some more! Why not relax and enjoy a beauty treatment in time for the Christmas festive season? The CBD has many beauty specialists, CHIC in Riley Street, Rejuven8 and Ella Bache in High St to name a few. Even your pets shouldn’t be left off the Christmas list this year, as next to the Commonwealth Bank (Pets Charming, shop 3, Nepean Walkway) you’ll find a lovely lady selling designer clothes for animals! Oh yes, Penrith CBD has absolutely everything covered! CEO of Penrith CBD Corporation, Gai Hawthorn said Penrith is the perfect place to do all your shopping - supporting local businesses while shopping local.
“Our retailers offer an enormous variety,” she said. “No matter how many people you have on your Christmas list, and no matter what ages they are, you’re sure to find something for everyone.” There is even a 24 hour chemist should you need to down a headache tablet after wrapping all your presents; download the Penrith App - it’s free for all your CBD directory needs. You can even pick up free shopping bags thanks to
Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
Shop local for some great Christmas bargains
17
Penrith CBD Corporation and Penrith Bowlo, who is celebrating their 75th birthday but they’re giving out the presents! Check their website out for more details. And remember, when you shop in Penrith, your dollars stay in Penrith! Penrith CBD Corporation is always proudly supporting small business, you can join in by visiting their Facebook or website.
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RECRUITMENT REVIEW
with Linda Kemp
Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
Sourcing the best person for your company Okay…so you’ve completed the hardest part. You’ve written an awesome job description, you know the reason for the position, you’ve identified the duties and responsibilities and you have a clear idea of the type of person who will fit in well. Now the big question is…how do we find that person? There are many ways to do this, some companies will choose one way while others will use a combination. Here are some of the most popular ways of sourcing candidates and the benefits of each. Word of mouth/referrals from friends or colleagues– Benefits: It’s free, can have fast results, can be good to have someone who’s been recommended – Downside is that is if it doesn’t work out it can affect relationships Major newspapers such as Sydney Morning Herald and/or The Daily Telegraph Benefits: Large readership, especially on the main ‘Positions Vacant’ days – Downside, more expensive per line than local papers and readership is very wide geographically Local papers Benefits: Much cheaper per line than the major newspapers so you can fit more into the ad plus the readership is local - Downside, papers only come out once or twice a week, if it’s urgent you’ll have to wait for response Job boards such as SEEK, Career One, My Career, Google Benefits: There are many free job boards, but
major boards average $100+ per ad, wording is unlimited so you get a lot for your buck. No waiting for publications to come out, response can be immediate – Downside, ease of application means people apply who haven’t read the ad thoroughly, and don’t have the skills, experience or residency which can increase the time taken screening replies For specialist roles … Specialist industry magazines or trade publications Benefits: Respondents are likely to be experienced and/or interested in the role and the industry Downside, published periodically so there may be a waiting time before you get replies Australian Government JobActive networks Benefits: It’s free and in some cases, the government pay a wage subsidy if you hire an eligible jobseeker – Downside, applicants may not have recent experience, as jobactive services are generally only available to the unemployed receiving income support. Professional recruitment consultancy that is an RCSA member Benefits: With most reputable recruitment consultants you’ll only need to interview a shortlist of 2-3 candidates who’ve been screened, interviewed, skills assessed and thoroughly reference checked. There’s normally a free replacement guarantee – Downside, there’s a fee for service. So now you just need to decide which of these is for you……….happy seeking …………in the next issue we’ll cover off on preparing and running the interview.
Complete Recruitment Solu ons is different from most specialist recruitment consultancies…… you’ll see why from the moment you apply to us. For both temporary and permanent roles, we source the most suitably skilled and experienced candidates for our clients’ needs. Our guarantee to our clients means that all candidates are required to complete our screening process. This includes thorough reference checking, skills assessments and in depth interviewing. Here is a small selec on of the roles that we are currently recrui ng:
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MECHANIC LIGHT AUTO, HEAVY VEHICLE OR DIESEL MECHANIC PENRITH LOCATION, PERMANENT ROLE $50K $60K + SUPER Mechanic with diesel engine experience needed for well-established retailer of motorhomes and caravans. Large service team, excellent work condi ons and great opportunity for career advancement. CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WETHERILL PARK LOCATION, PERMANENT ROLE $50K $52K + SUPER + BONUSES Global company within automo ve parts industry seeking experienced CSR with strong conflict resolu on skills. Mix of telephone and face-to-face customer liaison, varied du es, great team. PURCHASING/WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS ST MARY’S LOCATION, PERMANENT ROLE $45K + SUPER + BONUSES This varied role is split between warehouse opera ons and purchasing/supplier management. LF forkli cket required as well as car licence and experience in both warehousing and purchasing. Lots of local casual ‘on call’ work for reliable industrial workers with own transport and references
TRADES CNC SETTER/OPERATOR $60K $70K WETHERILL PARK Permanent full me role – Se ng and Opera ng CNC Lathes. Must have Mazak se ng and opera ng exp (no programming req). FITTER/WELDER $32 $35P/HR SMITHFIELD Temp to perm role – MIG weld aluminium, mild steel and stainless – Fi ng and Fabrica ng work – Manufacturing petroleum/LPG tankers. PRODUCTION TEAM LEADER $65K $70K MID BLUE MOUNTAINS Permanent role – Excellent leadership & problem solving – LEAN Exp – Customer service driven. CONSTRUCTION MANAGER $120K + CAR + MOBILE Permanent role – Current builders licence – New home building industry – Computer literate – Must understand council and RFS issues in Penrith/Blue Mountains area.
INDUSTRIAL FORKLIFT DRIVER $26/HR + SUPER + OT EASTERN CREEK Temp to perm role – Working in the steel industry – loading and unloading b doubles, semis, flatbeds – dog and chain exp. PLASTERERS & CARPENTERS WESTERN SYDNEY BASED COMPANY COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL ONGOING WORK Projects based throughout Sydney Metro & CBD areas. FORKLIFT DRIVERS WESTERN SYDNEY Experienced, reliable, & efficient forkli drivers and storepersons needed. MR, HR & HC DRIVERS Permanent roles available. Must have truck and dog experience and a good driving record. Plenty of over me available.
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E N T E R T A I N M E N T
Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
2016 Music Scholarships - Apply Now! P E N R I T H Conservatorium of Music is very excited to be relaunching its prestigious music scholarship program for 2016. Penrith Conservatorium of Music housed at The Joan, and is driven by a passion for music that has enriched the lives of the local community for over 25 years. To reconfirm Conservatorium our commitment student Georgia to developing and Rautley nurturing local talent, we are offering eight scholarships for 2016. These to professional concert performance scholarships recognise talent and standard. Applications close 21 December, future potential, and offer pathways for people to pursue a career in 2015. Auditions will be held on 28 & music. Scholarships are open in 29 January 2016. For more information and an all instruments including voice, contemporary and classical, students application pack please contact of violin, viola, cello, flute, and guitar Penrith Conservatorium of Music at The Joan on 4723 7600 or email are encouraged to apply. Each scholarship has a significant heather.davies@penrithcity.nsw. value, covering either a full years’ gov.au (Heather Davies- Music worth of weekly individual tuition Education Coordinator at Penrith ($2000), or 50% of the yearly fees Conservatorium) The Penrith Conservatorium of ($1000) as well as offering aspiring musicians the opportunity to work Music is located at the Joan Sutherland with professional and highly trained Performing Arts Centre at 597 High teachers. Teachers can take students Street, Penrith. Nearby parking and from AMEB Grades 1-8 and beyond public transport are available.
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E N T E R T A I N M E N T
Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
Aladdin is back with even more crazy fun! RUBY Productions is at it again with more fractured fairy tales for all ages full of comical characters that include the Three little Pigs who turn into Elsa’s (from ‘Frozen’) backup singers, Superman and Wonder Woman working together to save the day while the bad guys Cruella Deville and The Joker do their best to steal a fortune! The Madhatter along with Alice in Wonderland and their sidekicks Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb are the baddies trying to kidnap Elsa in order to keep the Red Queen of Hearts happy! Meanwhile we have two Minions who set out to just have fun by dancing with our audience! You can even meet these colorful characters after the show and have pictures taken! Full of interaction with the audience this production is not to be missed! Come dressed as your favorite character in the play. By Richard Brooks and Anthony
Brown and directed by Anthony Brown with musical direction by Linda Holland. Performance Dates: January 13th till 23rd two shows every day at 10.30am and 2.30pm and will be staged at Emu Sports Club (which offer great meals at affordable prices). Ticket price is $20 for adults and $15 concession. Family of 4 $50. To book tickets go to www. trybooking.com/152351 To reserve show only phone (02) 47355422. “More Aladdin’s Fractured Fairy Tales” will be performed at Emu Sports Club, 1 Leonay Parade, Leonay. www. rubyproductions.com.au
CROSSWORD ACROSS 8 Boyfriend (4) 9 A synthetic fabric (5) 10 Skin irritation (4) 11 Supper (6) 12 Imposes (8) 13 Affability (8) 15 Whitener (6) 17 Show religious devotion (7) 19 A passage from a larger work (7) 22 Bovine mammary glands (6) 24 Eternally (8) 26 Luxuriates (8) 28 Metric units of mass (6) 30 Look amorously (4) 31 Author Mark _____ (5) 32 Relating to the ear (4)
DOWN 1 A beautiful and graceful girl (4) 2 Satisfies thirst (8) 3 A natural cavity in a bone (6) 4 Precipitated rain and snow (7) 5 A small ornamental tin (8) 6 Stab (6) 7 Skin disease (4) 14 Egg-shaped (5) 16 Cavort (5) 18 Clear understandings (8) 20 A city in Alberta Canada (8) 21 Sexually gratifying (7) 23 Oozed (6) 25 Consuming food (6) 27 Wooden pins or pegs (4) 29 Heroic (4)
solution 26/11/15
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finance and real estate matters
Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
Don’t let debt run your life in 2016 With Steve Beard
Select Mortgage Broker
WHERE has 2015 gone! All of a sudden Christmas is around the corner. Hopefully you have some well-deserved holidays coming up and you can spend some quality time with the people in your life that matter the most. After you have cleaned up after your Chrissy festivities, you can then spend some time to plan your personal and financial goals for 2016. A lot of people have gaols and New Year resolutions but most don’t achieve them. To increase your chances of success of achievement, it helps to discuss them with your family and important people in your life so they can support you to reach them. Write your goals on a piece of paper or have them as your home screen on your computer. You need to be able to see what your goals
are every day so they are not forgotten or put on the back burner. Goals also have to be measurable. If you have a $10,000 credit card debt that you want to repay, it is better to say that you will reduce the balance by say $1,000 each month then just say that you want to repay the whole debt by the end of 2016 for example. If you can’t track your progress, most people won’t achieve their targets as it becomes too hard if you are not continually moving in the right direction. Going back to credit card debt again, too many of us rely on debt to fund our life styles. People would rather have a good time today on borrowed money and put off the pain of paying off the debt for a later time. Most of the western world lives this way and the amount of debt owed by each individual in this country is at the top of the world rankings. Australia hasn’t seen a recession for the last 25 years so most people under the age of 40 have not experienced the pain a
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Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
GOLDEN POINTS WITH STEW MOSES
Sea-Eagle Set to Escape The Nest to Penrith? Reports are building that unwanted Manly outside-back Peter Hiku is to sign a three-year deal with the Penrith Panthers as a replacement for recently departed centre, Jamal Idris. Hiku has been told he is free to leave the Sea Eagles given recently released Rabbitohs centre, Dylan Walker, is likely to finalise his deal with Manly in coming days. Hiku is certainly in demand, with the likes of Parramatta, who have lost Will Hopoate to the Bulldogs and St George Illawarra, also reportedly keen to sign the Kiwi international. The latest developments come fast after the Panthers were immediately linked to another centre, Bulldogs Tim Lafai, who equally is in demand from several clubs after he was granted a release to accommodate the signing of Hopoate.
As An Ex-Panther Ironcially Asks for a Release The Gold Coast Titans have been rocked by the news that centre, James Roberts will be leaving the club ahead of the 2016 season, adding fuel to an already heated player market especially for outside backs. Having previously been sacked from two clubs including Penrith, it’s ironic that Roberts, who appeared to have finally settled down on the Gold Coast to play his best football at the Titans, has decided not to repay the Titans faith in asking for the release, despite unwillingly being dragged into a club scandal that saw a club official resign after admitting to forging the star centre’s signature on his renewed contract. While Brisbane and NZ Warriors loom as potential suitors for Roberts’ services, don’t rule out the Rabbitohs, fresh from releasing Dylan Walker to accommodate Sam Burgess, to remarkably make a play for a player they sacked just three years earlier. Who says the off-season is quiet especially heading into Christmas?
Young Panthers Set to Enter NSW Origin Pathways Programme Penrith’s Oliver Clarke, Nathan Cleary, Robert Jennings, Dylan Edwards and Tyrone May have all been selected by the NSWRL in an initial NSW Under 20’s squad ahead of an Origin Pathways High-Performance Camp held at Narrabeen this weekend. The camp represents a great opportunity for these
All smiles as Trent Merrin (middle) models the new 2016 Alternate Jersey as Matt Moylan (left) and Bryce Cartwright (right) look on. Photo: Jeff Lambert (Penrith Panthers).
players to get together with upwards of 30 of the state’s most promising players and learn from a range of Origin greats including Blues coach Laurie Daley and former skipper Brad Fittler among others.
Members Brunch sees Launch of Alternate Jersey Last Saturday week, hundreds of Penrith members mingled and met players old and new, before being the first to see the new Panthers alternative jersey, modelled by star signing, Trent Merrin. The striking gold and black jersey that has been designed in line with the home and away jerseys unveiled last month, is set to be a winner with Penrith fans especially with Christmas just around the corner.
As 2016 Memberships Hits Milestone After a slow start, Penrith memberships have surged in recent times on the back of the Members Brunch and an enthusiastic telephone campaign that saw the player group call many members about renewing their memberships. As a result memberships have now gone past the 5,000 mark with 5,449 members having now signed on for the club’s historic 50th season in 2016. Having achieved a record number of memberships in 2015, with over 20,000 members, the 2016 target has been set at 22,500 members.
2016 Draw Kind to Penrith The 2016 NRL draw was recently released with
@THERIFFMARN
Penrith playing its first opening game of the season away from home since 2009, when they travel to Canberra to take on the Raiders on Saturday March 5 at 3pm. Penrith then has one of two five-day turnarounds in the opening 20 rounds of the season, when they play their first ever home game on a Thursday night when they take on Canterbury. The game represents one of nine Free-To-Air (FTA) games the Panthers will feature in across the opening 20 rounds, which is one more than the total number of FTA games Penrith had in 2015. There is plenty to like about the draw for Penrith fans, despite the fact that Penrith’s lucrative two year minimum deal that will see a home game go across the Tasman to Christchurch, resulting in just ten games being played at Pepper Stadium in 2016. Next week we’ll go in-depth into what makes the 2016 draw one of the best in recent times for Penrith fans as the club approaches its 50th year celebrations plus we’ll highlight the key games in 2016.
As Rich TV Deal Spells an End to Monday Night Football…in 2017. On the same day the NRL released its much anticipated 2016 draw, a massive new NRL broadcast deal was unveiled hours earlier, worth $1.8 million over five years and with the sale of international and radio rights to come, is likely to exceed $1.9 billion. Whilst the deal has plenty of positives, 2016 will see NRL matches played five days a week from Thursday to Monday inclusive which means a continuation of the controversial five-day turnaround for many teams, which has upset the Rugby League Players Association, who weren’t consulted on the 2016 draw. Whilst player concerns should ease in 2017 when NRL matches revert to being played four days a week (Thursday to Sunday), the move to replace the Monday night game with a Friday 6pm game will no doubt polarise fans with concerns over poor crowds already being widely expressed.
And Happy Birthday to our Panther Legend Happy Birthday to one of our finest columnists and Panther legend Mark “MG” Geyer, who turned a rather youthful 48 yesterday (Dec 7). How lucky are we that MG writes for us!? Happy birthday MG, you’re an absolute champion big fella!
BEHIND THE STUMPS Sydney Thunder Are Back at Howell This Saturday! With over a thousand fans flocking to witness last Sunday’s first ever Women’s Big Bash League clash at Howell Oval, expectations are high that as many as 2-3,000 fans could be at Howell Oval this Saturday to witness the Thunder’s intra-club trial. Sydney Thunder General Manager, Nick Cummins says the game is a great opportunity for local cricket fans to get up close with their favourite Thunder squad member, given virtually the full squad will be in attendance less than a week out from their opening Big Bash League clash against the Sixers at Spotless Stadium. “Just about everyone (will be available),” Cummins said. “Usman Khawaja may or may not be here depends on how he’s going with his hammy and Andre Russell arrives (in Sydney) the next day but Jacques Kallis will be here as will Gurinder Sandhu, Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Clint McKay and all the other guys.” “We’ll have a Thunder A versus Thunder B practice match and the guys will hang around to sign autographs.” “Again it’s a great chance for people to see their heroes up close before our first game on Dec 17.” Play is expected to commence at 4pm.
But One Panther / Thunder Won’t Be Playing Again This Summer… Penrith’s hopes of Pat Cummins playing at least as a batsman this summer as he recovers from a back injury looks all but dashed after Cricket Australia confirmed Cummins would miss the upcoming T20 World Cup to be played in March 2016, with the injured fast bowler set to be fully rested until at least June.
Round Seven: Late Wickets but Another Big Run Chase Looms…. Day One versus 12th placed Gordon at Chatswood Oval, saw 11th placed Penrith stem the flow of runs in the final session after Gordon were at one point 4/247 and looked set to score an even bigger total.
Chris Withers was the pick of the bowlers taking 4/84 while Michael Collins chimed in with 2/46. Coach Steve Small praised his team given the conditions well and truly favoured the opposing batsman and was confident his side can once again chase down another large total. “We played really well today,” Small said. “They (Gordon) never got away from us especially at the end.” “But we’ve got to take another two wickets so that’s what we’ve got to focus on first next week.” “This ground is tiny and it’s quick if not quicker than Mosman Oval.” “If we bat as well as we did at Mosman, there’s no reason why we can’t chase this total down.” Penrith suffered a set-back midweek when left-arm spinner, Adrian Isherwood, who was set to replace Jake Wholohan (NSW U19’s duties), broke his finger which allowed Peter Betros to come in to the side instead.
WITH STEW MOSES
get back to playing good solid cricket after that disastrous first session we had last week,” Small lamented. “Tommy (Kohler-Cadmore) played wonderfully well again for 150 not out which set us up to bowl 30 overs at them and try and take a few more wickets today and help our quotient at the end of the year.” Kohler-Cadmore’s is now ranked 6th in the batting averages (110.67) and the young Englishman agreed that his innings against Sydney proves he can adapt to different game situations. “If you grind it out over those 90 overs then you’ll be 150-160 odd anyway but today we needed to force it a bit so it allowed me to play more expansive which I enjoy,”KohlerCadmore explained. “Today a few went just over the rope whereas next week it could fall into safe hands.” Penrith declared their second innings at 5/254, and by close of play, Sydney were 2/43 with Michael Collins taking both wickets.
Lower Grades Wrap: Round Seven Seconds and fourths have already claimed first innings points, thirds face an uphill battle while fifths hangs in the balance. 2nds: Gordon 89 vs Penrith 8/163 3rds: Penrith 129 vs Gordon 0/11 4ths: Gordon 109 and 1/1 vs Penrith 4/117 dec 5ths: Gordon 8/218 vs Penrith
Round Six: Black Cats Dominate Day Two but No Points Despite Ryan Smith leading the way with 6/40 to dismiss Sydney for just 155 and Tom Kohler-Cadmore scoring an unbeaten 150 at better than a run a ball, the Black Cats ran out of time in their quest to secure a second innings outright win against the competition leaders. Coach Steve Small said it was important nonetheless that the Black Cats dominated day two after a disastrous day one that saw Penrith at one point 6/25 before being dismissed for 126. “No points today but we’ve out played Sydney and we just wanted to
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Lower Grades Wrap: Round Six Fifth grade were the only side to enjoy any success against Sydney, with a resounding outright victory. Seconds, thirds and fourths were unlucky not to have won their games. 2nds: Penrith 189 (T McKay 50) def. by Sydney 8/190 (J Lee 3/18, T Finemore 2/55) 3rds: Penrith 273 (B Betros 156) def. by Sydney 9/277 (K Balgowan 5/64, D Sparkes 2/64) 4ths: Sydney 276 (J Patterson 2/26, S Kitchener 2/42) def Penrith 253 (N Maskell 101) 5ths: Sydney 41 (T Weir 4/7, D Dent 2/3, B Vella 2/4, D Miklosz 2/11) and 68 (D Miklosz 4/23, J Newton 2/7, C New 2/11) def by Penrith 8/192 dec (J Newton 47, B Vella 44)
@THERIFFMARN Camden and Gordon to remain undefeated since switching to the T20 format. First Grade: Round 9: Campbelltown-Camden 8/112 (A Day 3/10) def. Penrith 5/95 (M Hinkley 31) Round 10: Gordon 2/155 def. Penrith 9/65 Second Grade: Round 9: Penrith 0/114 (A Day 54* E Breaden 52*) def. CampbelltownCamden 5/98 (A Day 3/14) Round 10: Penrith 7/104 (A Day 34, E Breaden 29) def. Gordon 7/92 (S Luczak 3/14)
Repping the Black Cats Penrith’s Josh Lalor hasn’t played a lot of cricket of late but did manage to play for NSW against Tasmania in a recent four-day Futures League match, taking 3/71 in the second innings. Unfortunately for the Black Cats, Lalor will soon be unavailable until late January, given his impending commitments with the Brisbane Heat for the latest instalment of the Big Bash League. Penrith’s Naomi Stalenberg finally got her chance to shine when the NSW Breakers took on SA in the WNCL title, last Sunday week at Hurstville Oval. Coming in down the lower order, Stalenberg top scored for the Breakers with a blistering 58 off 38 balls but it was to no avail as the Breakers’ strangehold on the WNCL title ended. Finally in Under 19’s National Championship news, Penrith’s Jake Wholohan, Cameron Weir and Ryan Hackney have enjoyed limited success so far, with highlights being Weir’s 54 vs SA, Wholohan’s 41 vs VIC Country and Hackney’s 59 vs VIC Metro.
Next Up Women’s Wrap Penrith’s first grade side remain winless since Round Two, losing both T20 games to Campbelltown-Camden and Gordon. Second grade’s resurgence continues having defeated both Campbelltown-
Round Seven (day two): Saturday 12/12 v Gordon Poidevin-Gray Round Four: Sunday 13/12 v Manly at Manly Oval (Womens) Round Eleven: Sunday 13/12 v Bankstown (both teams at home) #LoveTheCats
27 Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
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Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
Ryan Smith deserves rep honours says Penrith coach By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn PENRITH first grade coach Steve Small, says Ryan Smith’s 6/40 in last round’s loss to Sydney reinforces his view that the fast bowler is destined for higher honours. While Penrith didn’t win the game, Smith’s efforts with the ball across the two Saturday’s produced the third best bowling figures of the season so far in Sydney first grade cricket. “A terrific effort from Ryan,” the former NSW opener said. “He’s been bowling well all year on slow wickets and got his rewards (against Sydney).” “He was really persistent, keeps coming and thoroughly deserved his six wickets.” The Hazelbrook junior, who first played in the top grade with Penrith at just 18, is a late developer according to Small but is worthy of at least selection in state’s second XI team. “He’s been around for a fair while now,” Small said. “He’s had a bit of trouble with (a shoulder) injury” “He had a shoulder reconstruction several years ago but he’s a fantastic trainer.” “He trains with Kevin Chevell, who
Nepean News
Ryan Smith in full flight, took 6/40 against Sydney. Photo: Fred Marzano Photography.
is Glenn McGrath’s trainer here in Penrith.” “Ryan has a real good work ethic, (is) always the first to training (and) last to leave. He’s that sort of player.” “He’s a bit of a late developer but he wouldn’t be out of place in the second XI (for NSW) that’s for sure. There’s plenty of time for him.” Smith himself was pleased with the way he bowled and said his 6/40 fell just short of his career-best figures. “It felt really good the way the ball was coming out, just unfortunate we
didn’t have too many runs to play with,” Smith said. “Another 30-40 runs would have been nice.” “We were able to restrict Sydney to a minimum (155) by cleaning up the tail fairly quickly like they did to our top order (on day one).” “6/36 are actually my best figures in first grade but 6/40 is right up there.” Whilst Penrith came away from the game without any points, Smith said their performance on day two was important as they attempt to rebuild
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some momentum before going into the Christmas break, starting with their two day clash with Gordon. “We turned the negatives into positives quickly during the week and we came back and showed them we do have what it takes,” Smith said. “Should we play in the semis, we’ll show Sydney and the like that we aren’t afraid of them.” “But for now we’re trying to take some momentum into Christmas.” “If we win the next two games we’ll be on 30 points which puts us in a good position to actually make the finals with a strong second half of the season.” Ryan comes from a well-known sporting family, with older brother Hayden, the standout having played international rugby before getting a chance to play NFL with the New York Jets, while younger brother, Lachlan also plays cricket at Penrith. “Hayden’s had a pretty good sporting career,” Smith said. “This will be his last year. He is pushing on (in age) so he’s thinking a bit more about getting a full time job but he’s had an amazing career and the family is obviously proud of him during that time.” “Lachlan plays with the Colts team but is currently having a couple of games off at the moment but he’s pretty enthused playing for the club.”
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PENRITH’S BIG BASH Stafanie Taylor very popular with the fans after the game
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Despite the loss the Sixers obliged the local crowd as well
ACTION BUTTON: Went quickly to the home turn in a recent heat then had the brakes put on down the running. From Jason Coyle’s yard, this is certainly one to look out for. COURTLY: Is a member of the powerful Godolphin team and the Street Cry gelding was only out for a look when third in his sterling barrier trial task. Very keen to get on with the job that day! DAMEDGE: Hails from the Chris Waller operation and, after jumping quickly, was never off the bit running third in a Warwick Farm barrier trial. By Redoute’s Choice and should come to hand quickly. DOUBLE DOLLARS: Looked very tidy leading throughout at the Warwick Farm trial session. Big and strong, this Denman youngster would have needed time to mature, going on his hefty frame.
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FLIPPANT: Has always shown a bit of class and now looks forward enough after dominating in a trial last week. From the Peter and Paul Snowden yard and sure to be placed to advantage through the summer. MANADALONG BELLE: Gary Nickson’s racy juvenile shot clear with a recent Warwick Farm trial. She’s a real runner and suited to short course events in coming weeks. RAMATUELLE: Can gallop and Bjorn Baker’s stable is white-hot at the moment with winners left, right and centre. This big Charge Forward filly ambled to a narrow trial win when only stepping out for her second assignment. Yet to race. RENESEMEE: Was never out for serious stuff when second in a Farm heat. She’s from David Vandyke stable which is churning out its steady stream of winners, many being well backed.
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29 Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
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Nepean News 10 December 2015 Issue 164
MY WORDS WITH MARK GEYER
MY RATINGS FOR 2016 WITH just under three months till kickoff for season 2016 of the NRL I thought I’d look at the 16 teams from last year and make some fearless predictions about their individual chances for the up-coming season. I will give each team a mark out of 30 - out of 10 for their season last year, 10 for their off-season buying, and 10 for their chances next year. Let’s start at the top and work our way down! Cowboys: What a year for the Townsville natives. Their first-ever premiership was indeed well deserved. But now they become the hunted. And with virtually no movement in the player market in the off-season, they’ll be relying on the squad they have to get the job done again. 2015 season 10. Off season buying 2. 2016 chances 8. 20/30 Broncos: Like their grand final opposition have been rather quiet in the comings and goings department. Justin Hodges retiring leaves a massive hole but you get the sense they have a squad that can go all the way this time. 2015 season 9. Off-season buying 2. 2016 chances 9. 20/30 Roosters: It’s hard to get a grasp on the Bondi boys. After winning another minor premiership under Trent Robinson the scene was set for another competition but alas it wasn’t to be. Major losses are James Maloney and Roger Tuivasa Sheck but the Roosters have exceptional depth. I’m looking forward to watching pommy winger Joe Burgess strut his stuff. 2015 season 9. Off-season buying 2. 2016 chances 9. 20/30 Storm: The Storm remain with their constant status quo of not really delving into the player market but picking up a couple of journey men in Cheyse Blair from Manly and Matt White from the Titans. But as long as they have the big three in Smith, Slater and Cronk they are a chance. They also have the game’s best coach in my opinion in Craig Bellamy. 2015 season 8. Off-season buying 3. 2016 chances 8. 19/30 Bulldog: As I write this column the Doggies have just announced the signing of Origin back Will Hopoate. Basically their only major signing this off-season! Conversely they have lost Frank ‘the Tank’ Pritchard and playmaker Trent Hodkinson. Tim Lafai is also on his way out. The Doggies are always a chance in the comp and cannot be underestimated but I’m predicting a lean year for Dessie’s men. 2015 season 8. Off season buying 4. 2016 chances 6. 18/30 Sharks: After a resilient 2015 the Sharks of 2016 are looking poised. Many thought the boys from the Shire over-achieved last season but for mine they simply dug deep after 18 months of uncertainty. With two of the best youngsters in the game in Valentine Holmes and Jack Bird (who may well play Origin next season) being joined by James Maloney, Chad Townsend, Joseph Paulo and Jesse Sene - Lefao. Things are looking bright for Paul Gallen’s men. 2015 season 8. Off- season buying 6. 2016 chances 7. 21/30 Rabbits: Michael McGuire welcomes home Sam Burgess which alone puts them straight back into the premiership race. The loss of Isaac Luke will hurt as will Glenn Stewart to a lesser degree but the excitement level of having the big brutish Brit back at Redfern is palpable. 2015 season 7. Off- season buying 7. 2016 chances 8. 22/30 Manly: Perhaps the most active club this off-season in gaining not only a new
coach but an absolute plethora of players. Nate Myles, Lewis Brown, Nathan Green, Apasi Koroisau, Darcy Lussick, Tim Moltzen and biggest signing for mine, the human wrecking ball Martin ‘Kupow’ Taupau. They missed the 8 this year which cost the coach his job, one gets the feeling season 2016 will be kinder to the Peninsula faithful. 2015 season 6. Off season buying 8. 2016 chances 7. 21/30 Raiders: Ricky Stuart’s Raiders had a season to relish thanks to the likes of Blake Austin, and have acquired an exceptional back- up hooker in Adam Clydsdale from the Knights and young Sezer from the Titans. I liked watching the Raiders play this year and am looking forward to watching them next season too. 2015 season 7. Off season buying 6. 2016 chances 6. 19/30 Panthers: What a tumultuous 2015 it has been for our local mountain men. Cleary gone, Barrett gone, Lewis Brown, Adam Docker, Jamaal Idris, Isaac John, Apisai Koroisau, Brent Kite, Sika Manu, Nigel Plum and Dave Simmons all gone too. But have faith people. Along with Trent Merrin the Panthers have brought some of the best young talent in the entire premiership starting with the Cowboys’ Viliame Kikau, the Tigers’ Ta Maire Martin and Eels utility Zac Docker Clay. And new coach Anthony Griffin has that John Lang feel about him. A steadying influence. 2015 season 6. Off season buying 7. 2016 chances 7. 20/30 Eels: Another club quite active in the off-season with perhaps the potential buy of the year in Kieran Foran from the Eagles. Couple him with Michael Gordon and Beau Scott and almost instantly the experience level at Parra goes through the roof. 2015 season 5. Off season buying 7. 2016 chances 7. 19/30 Warriors: If Foran is to be the buy of 2016 he will have to beat Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to the punch. He along with Isaac Luke bring instant pedigree to the always inconsistent Warriors. With coach Andrew McFadden seemingly on borrowed time that may all change if his off-season signings as well as a fit Shaun Johnson firing. 2015 season 5. Off season buying 7. 2016 chances 7. 19/30 Titans: Like the Sharks the season before the Titans year of misery was neverending. They have been somewhat active this off-season purchasing Nathan Friend, Tyrone Roberts, David Shillington and Zeb Taia. The competition needs a thriving team on the Gold Coast, the 2016 version is an improvement. 2015 season 4. Off season buying 6. 2016 chances 5. 15/30 Tigers: Coming second last this year with a roster they had was simply inexcusable for the joint venture team. Constant speculation about this and totally uncertainty about that didn’t help. The Tigers faithful cannot wait until season 2016 ticks over. 2015 season 3. Off season buying 4. 2016 chances 5. 12/30 Newcastle: This season’s wooden spooners only have one way to go and that’s up. New coach Nathan Brown basically has one new recruit in ex-Bulldog Trent Hodkinson. And while I think they’ll improve on this year’s debacle it will be a year or three until they challenge for a finals birth. Season 2015 2. Off season buying 3. 2016 chances 4. 9/30 There you have, the crystal ball is polished now let’s see how accurate it is. Have a great (and safe) Christmas and I’ll see you at the game.
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Thursday, 10 December 2015
sport
Harpo’s marks
MY good mate, Nicky Saad, had his 65th birthday recently and, as you do, I bought him a present I thought he – and I - would thoroughly enjoy. It was a boxed set of DVDs showing the Rabbitohs’ five grand final victories since the inception of live telecasts of the matches in 1967 – ’67 of course, then ’68, ’70, ’71 and of course the drought-breaking win in 2014. Naturally I borrowed the DVDs and had a good gander at them over the ensuing week. Just so wonderful to once again to watch in action great Rabbitohs such as Ron Coote, Bob McCarthy, John Sattler, Bobby “Evil” Grant, Denis Pittard, Eric Simms, Mike Cleary, Paul Sait, Gary Stevens, Ray and Arthur Branighan, ElwynWalters , John “Lurch” O’Neill and all the others! There were no slouches in the opposing teams as well! Canterbury (’67) boasted captaincoach Kevin “Kandos” Ryan, John Greaves and Les Johns, Manly (’68,
’70) had the likes of Bob Fulton, Bob Batty, Frank Stanton and Freddie Jones and the Saints side in ’71 had two of the all-time greats – “Changa” Langlands and Billy Smith. Which brings me to Billy Smith! Australia has produced a swag of great halfbacks ever since the game began here in 1908 - from Pony Holloway through to the current stars such as Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston. But lemme tell you – throw ‘em all in – Peter Sterling, Andrew Johns, Barry Muir, Kevin Langer, Tommy Raudonikis and Steve Mortimer – and I can confidently say Smith was the best of the lot. Beg, borrow or steal a video/DVD of the ’71 grand final and just watch in amazement what this man does throughout 80 minutes on the footy field. He made just the one blemish in the entire match, missing a tough tackle on Ray Branighan when he scored in the corner. Otherwise his game was flawless – Billy made a host of tackles (including front-on hits on the Rabbitoh big men)
and was dangerous every time he had the pill in hand when either making numerous bursts or setting up his support players. His work rate was just phenomenal! It was a truly awe-inspiring performance and I have never better by any halfback since. See for yourself! And lemme tell you, the game back then was faster - much faster - than what we see today. Crikey, why did we ever make scrums a no contest? In the ’71 grand final, a scrum was packed inside 15 or so seconds – unlike nowadays when it takes over a minute to pack down a scrum as players watch to see which members of the opposing side pack into the scrums or where they stand in the backline. HAPPY MARKS: This is my final column for the year and I take the opportunity to wish each and every one of you a safe and enjoyable Yuletide season. HIGH MARKS: Watching Billy Smith in the ’71 grand final. Absolutely amazing!