Nepeannews 11january2018

free Thursday, 11 January 2018

ISSUE 217

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Nepean News 11 January 2018 Issue 217

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Council services building at St Marys closed due to flooding The Council Customer Service Office and Library on Queen Street St Marys are closed, due to flooding.

Penrith Mayor Cr John Thain said the damage is significant and will take some time to be repaired.

“Unfortunately a good portion of the building was damaged, along with the Library collection and equipment inside,” Cr Thain said.

“It’s a devastating thing for this to happen, and

a blow to the community who use this facility, especially at such a busy time of year.

“But I am pleased to say that Council staff have responded quickly and repairs are already underway,” he continued.

Council hopes to reopen the Customer Service Office and Library at St Marys, with limited services, by the middle of January.

The Civic Centre customer service counter and

Library at Penrith remain open as normal, and the Library opening hours at the St Clair branch have been extended, to provide additional services while St Marys is closed for repairs.

To find out more about Library opening hours and services, please visit library.penrith.city.

For more information about Council Services, please call 4732 7777.

Passenger dead, driver charged following crash at Mulgoa A man has died after a single-vehicle crash at Mulgoa last week.

Emergency services were called to Fairlight Road about 5pm on Thursday 4 January, after reports a car had left the road and rolled.

The front seat passenger, a man believed to be aged in his 20s, was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition but later died.

The driver was taken to Westmead Hospital to undergo mandatory blood and urine testing. He is also being treated for shock.

The two backseat passengers were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers from Nepean Police Area Command established a crime scene and commenced investigations assisted by officers from the

Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit.

The driver was taken to Parramatta Police Station where he was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, and negligent driving causing death.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 31 January 2018.

Dog seized after pet attacked and killed in Penrith Inquiries are continuing after a woman aged in her 80s was injured while defending her pet at Penrith before Christmas.

The 87-year-old woman was walking her small dog along Stafford Street, Penrith, about 7pm on Sunday 17 December, when it was attacked by a larger, unleashed dog.

The woman tried to save her pet but was knocked

to the ground, sustaining bites to her hands and arm, as well as injuries to her head and hip.

A passing motorist intervened along with the larger dog’s owner, a 46-year-old woman, who was able to lock her dog in her vehicle.

They assisted the injured woman until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived and took her to Nepean Hospital.

The woman’s dog died from its injuries at the scene.

Police from Nepean Police Area Command initiated an investigation and have spoken with witnesses and the dog owner.

The dog was surrendered to the council ranger to be euthanised.

Inquiries are continuing.

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he Lions organisation was 100 years old last year and since as early as 1925, has allocated part of its’ service activities towards sight; be it blindness prevention, sight restoration or other related matters, through an initiative called SightFirst.

On a local level, the Emu Plains Lions Club follows this initiative by collecting old prescription glasses to ‘recycle’ them to those people in developing countries who do not have access to prescription eyeglasses and for whom reading is a task they cannot perform, but for whom Lions provide a wonderful gift.

You can assist by looking around the house and locate any old glasses and donate them by dropping them in to the Lions collection boxes located at the following collection points; • Emu Plains Optical, Emerald St, Emu Plains, • Specsavers in Westfield Plaza, Penrith, • Penrith RSL Club, • Edinglassie Retirement Village, Emu Plains, • OPSM, Penrith, • Precision Specs, 54 Queen Street, St Marys, • Helloworld, Lennox Shopping Village, Emu Plains, • Specsavers, Centro Nepean • the Gaels Club, Kingswood and • Helloworld, 413-427 High Street, Penrith Although this is largely a Club and community activity, the driving force behind the initiative are Sue Hunt, Club Secretary, along with her husband, Jack, a Friend of Lions. Sue and Jack carefully pack the glasses and then forwarded them to the Lions sorting house in Clontarf, Queensland.

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Once they arrive at the sorting house, they are then graded by trained opticians, and are then packed for distribution overseas to Third World countries. The Queensland facility received their first lensometer machine in 2000 and today they have 24 current CL300 machines, 12 CL200’s 6 upgraded industrial cleaners, grading machines, lens-cutting machines and related equipment. The workforce includes 30 persons on the Commonwealth Work for the Dole programme,4-10 persons on community correction orders and many volunteers.

Last year, Emu Plains Lions have forwarded 2,985 pairs of glasses and a staggering 23,956 pairs since 2007.

For any enquiries concerning the program, please contact Emu Plains Lions’ Secretary, Sue Hunt on 0409 393 711 or Jack Hunt on 0408 208 747.

Attached photo; Emu Plains Optical with Sue and Jack Hunt.

Nepean News 11 January 2018 Issue 217

Lions’ ‘sightfirst’ initiative

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Ph: 9833 1122 154 Queen Street, St Marys londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au

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Nepean News 11 January 2018 Issue 217

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203 Banks St Clair 203 Banks Drive,Drive, St Clair

Bridge spans a milestone

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Call 9834 5579 to find out your nearest outlet.

By Keegan Thomson

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Make 2018 the year that counts

Max’s Mum was able to spend his first few weeks close by, thanks to Ronald McDonald House.

W

Lana and Roger Borg preparing meals for Mama Lana’s.

ELL here we are at the beginning of 2018; a new year with new goals and news horizons standing before us. Why not make 2018 the year you make a difference? There are loads of local clubs and charities that you can join and make a difference in another person’s life. Mama Lana’s is a local charity focused on ensuring our local homeless get a home-cooked meal. Lana and Roger Borg spend their time and money cooking and distributing meals for those who’d otherwise go hungry.

But they could do with some help, more helpers and donations of food items would be greatly appreciated and help ensure nobody goes without a hearty meal. Join their group on facebook: Mama Lana’s Community Foundation and pledge to help. Alternatively you

can contact Lana on 0407 909 447.

The Ross Hutchison Foundation is always out and about helping those in need. Give Rossco a call to find out what you could do to support his many charities on 0422 664 448. How about volunteering at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Nepean Hospital and help make a difference to families dealing with sick kids? Contact 47 342 455.

Or how about joining one of the great local social clubs who focus on helping other such as the Lions Club or Rotary? For Lions Club contact Jim Devine on 0427 110 063, for Rotary contact Chris Miller on O417 409 720.

Make this year count! You’ll help others and at the same time feel good about your efforts!

CONSTRUCTION on the Nepean River pedestrian bridge has hit another milestone with one of the large footbridge segments set to launch out over the river in the coming days.

MP for Penrith, Stuart Ayres was on hand to show off the latest updates to the build site including the 25 metre long bridge segment that is nearing completion.

“The first bridge segment was launched to the edge of the eastern side of the Nepean River just before Christmas last year and the remaining segments are now being progressively launchd across the river to the pier on the western bank,” Mr Ayres said.

Once the whole bridge is complete and open to pedestrians the MP for Penrith said the state government will then look into demolishing or cutting off the current walk way on Victoria bridge, one of the oldest and most used routes across the river.

“If we can take it [the walkway] away we probably will,” Mr Ayres said.

“We want to encourage everyone to use the new shared pedestrian bridge,” he said.

Currently the one segment of the new bridge that is nearly completed and is ready to be put inton place has

finished paint work, nearly completed railings, a deck and lighting.

When the next segment of the bridge has been pushed out from the construction shed and over the Nepean River, the full frame and the paint job will be clearly visible to all. The colour is something Mr Ayres said he is particularly happy with.

“The vibrant ochre colour of the bridge will become obvious to the community once the first 25 metres of the segment is launched,” Mr Ayres said.

“The colour of the bridge was chosen to represent the orange tree orchards which once grew on the Emu Plains side of the river as well as the colour of the sunset when it hits the sandstone piers of the Victoria Bridge.”

Hydraulic lifts will push each segment out over the river to create one long continuous span making the new Nepean River pedestrian bridge a one-of-a-kind addiction to the region and a stand out bridge to the nation.

“The whole project is going quite well. It is a very unique project,” Mr Ayres said.

“There is probably not a bridge like this anywhere else in the country and you’ll go a long way around the world to find another bridge like this.”

The new Nepean River pedestrian bridge is set to be completed before October 2018 but with favourable weather conditions the bridge could be open to foot traffic well before then.

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tuart Ayres MP, Member for Penrith encourages local community members to provide input into the planning and design of the $576 million Nepean Redevelopment, which includes a transformation of hospital and community-based health services.

The project team is inviting community members to register their interest in consumer consultation opportunities which will occur into 2018 and beyond.

Community input into the new and improved facilities is essential to deliver high quality care that meets the needs of patients in Penrith and Blue Mountains catchment area for decades to come.

Stage 1 of the Nepean Redevelopment, which is funded by the NSW Government, will include: • A new clinical services block • A new and expanded Emergency Department • At least 12 new operating theatres 18 birthing suites in new accommodation, an increase of 10 • A new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit • More than 200 overnight beds in new accommodation • A new helipad • New community health services; and • Expansion of cancer services (doubling

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The project also includes the construction of a multi-storey car park to support the expansion of services.

Planning and consultation will continue for several more months to determine the best layout and design of the project.

The consumer participation form is available at the Nepean Hospital main reception area and can also be downloaded from the Nepean Blue Mountains website: www.nbmlhd.health.nsw.gov. au/nepean-redevelopment

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Nepean News 11 January 2018 Issue 217

Have your say

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ouncil’s Australia Day event is returning to Jamison Park on Friday 26 January, from 3-8pm.

Following the success of the 2017 event, Council will again be celebrating Australia’s heritage, diversity and traditions with a family fun day in the heart of Penrith City.

Council’s event is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate who we are, what has shaped us and the wonderfully unique and diverse country we live in.

It is also a unique experience full of fun and free activities for all ages.

There will be traditional activities and games including Pavlova decorating, wood carving and hand spun crafts, as well as interactive displays and shows.

We will also have some more modern Penrith traditions like bubble soccer, face painting, amusement rides, and the return of the Swamp Dawkins bush band!

And there will also be a special live performance by family favourite, Paw Patrol!

Once you’ve worked up an appetite from all the dancing, games and excitement, you’ll have a delicious array of food to choose from the

Enjoy Australia Day celebrations at Jamison Park again this year.

many food trucks and stalls, including burgers, Gozleme, ice cream and fairy floss. And it wouldn’t be Australia Day without a traditional Aussie BBQ.

Jamison Park is close to public transport and parking, so getting to the event is easy for the whole family. So grab friends, family and the neighbours and head down to

Jamison Park to enjoy an afternoon of free family fun!

Event details are available on our website: www.penrithcity.nsw.gov. au/ausday2018

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Nepean News 11 January 2018 Issue 217

Free family fun on Australia Day

Nepean News 11 January 2018 Issue 217

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New Year centenary birthday A

By Keegan Thomson & Paul Green

SPECIAL St Marys local celebrated her 100th birthday on the turn of the New Year.

Dulcie Green turned 100 on New Years Day, 2018 at her home. She was joined by family and friends for this special occasion.

Carol Volkiene, Dulcie’s niece, sent the remarkable story of her aunt to Nepean News.

Ms Volkiene describes her aunt as a very strong and loving woman.

“She is very loving but in a disciplined way,” Ms Volkiene said.

“I would say she has a very black and white idea about what is right and wrong and what is expected, although she is soft around the edges.

“You can tell her anything and she’ll always give you her opinion on anything, even if you don’t want it,” she joked.

This lovely lady was born to Ethel and William Hackett at their family home in St Marys on Victoria Street, now the Great Western Highway, where Hogs Breath stands today. Dulcie is the sixth of 9 siblings and recently celebrated her sister’s 90th birthday.

During World War II, Mrs Green worked at the Munitions Filling Factory in the pyrotechnics section and caught the train from St Marys station to Ropes Creek station, now the suburb of Ropes Crossing.

She met and married Ron Green from Ryde. Mr Green had served in the ADF as a Lance Corporal

and fought in Papua New Guinea during WW2.

With his new wife, Mr Green built their first home in Ryde where they had two sons, Paul and John, and lived there for about 13 years.

Paul Green, Mrs Green’s proud son, said he is thrilled at his mother’s achievement.

“It is a milestone in anyones language,” Mr Green said.

“My mum isn’t somebody who likes to be fussed over but this is a massive achievement.

“Even though she’s 100 she still has a lot going on in her head. She’s still very switched on,” he said.

After their time at Ryde they moved out to St Marys. Mrs Green’s parents lived in St Marys and most of her siblings had settled here as well.

The family moved to Saddington Street and lived there for approximately 40 years. Mrs Green still lives in the area, now resides in St Clair with her younger son John.

Her family boast about Mrs Green’s skills as a wonderful homemaker and is renowned for her morning teas, which her family still enjoy on a regular basis.

Mr Green says his mother still makes homemade sausage rolls each fortnight and they always attract a hungry crowd to the dinner table.

Born into the region, Mrs Green is a descendant of the Hackett family and is the great granddaughter of James and Mary Ann Hackett.

James Hackett was transported to the Australian Colonies as a convict in 1826. Two years later Mr Hackett was working for Sir John Jamieson of Regent Villa, now Regentville, as a jockey, horse trainer and coachman. He received his “ticket of leave” in 1835 and was free to take up work in the Evan (Penrith) district. In 1838 James married Mary Ann Bradley the granddaughter of first fleeter’ Anthony and Elizabeth Rope.

Parvo free Penrith by 2020

Parvovirus is a deadly, highly infectious viral disease that affects dogs. The virus is shed from infected dogs in their saliva, vomit and faeces. It is extremely hardy and can resist most household disinfectants and survive in soil. It can be transported on shoes, clothes, flying insects and tyres (these kinds of transport are called fomites).

Dogs become infected when there is oral exposure to the virus in faeces, soil and fomites and they will be affected within 3-7 days of exposure.

Clinical signs of infection are inappetence, vomiting and haemorrhagic diarrhoea. The virus causes sloughing of the intestinal lining and attacks the immune system. Affected dogs have severe abdominal pain, they become dehydrated and will often develop complications like pneumonia and sepsis. Dogs without treatment normally die rapidly. To detect parvovirus infection a simple test that takes only minutes to perform is available.

There is no way of killing the virus once dogs are

affected. Treatment is intensive and aims to support the body until the virus is fought off by the dog’s own immune system. Patients require treatment in isolation with IV fluids, antibiotics, anti-nausea medications and pain relief. They often need plasma transfusions to help replace proteins lost from the gut. Transfusions also offer some antibodies from the donor. Recovery depends on the strength of the dog’s immunity and if complications can be successfully treated. Most dogs will recover with

treatment but it can be lengthy and expensive, some dogs despite treatment sadly still die. Dogs will continue to shed the virus 2-3 weeks after recovery.

The best protection from parvovirus is vaccination.

Puppies require a series of vaccinations, normally three. Adult dogs require boosters to maintain their immunity. There are vaccinations that offer either 1 or 3 years of protection. Most dogs that are affected are either unvaccinated with no immunity or not fully vaccinated with only partial immunity.

Commonly cases are seen in puppies being exposed while they are still receiving their vaccination course and adult dogs that miss their booster vaccinations. Isolating dogs reduces exposure risk but due to the way parvovirus is spread isolation alone is not guaranteed to fully protect your dog.

Our mission is to have the Penrith Region free from Parvovirus by the year 2020. This can only be achieved by increasing vaccination rates. As with human diseases, the more animals in a population that are protected, the more effectively it reduces the spread of the disease and helps protect those most vulnerable to infection. We recommend all dogs are kept up to date with their vaccinations to provide protection against this deadly disease.

Through ongoing support from the RSPCA and our staff volunteering their free time, we have developed community service programs to increase vaccination rates and provide assistance to eligible pet owners. Please call the clinic or visit our website to find out more about vaccination and our community service programs.

Coreen Avenue Veterinary Clinic Units 2 & 3/117 Coreen Ave, Penrith NSW 2750

Phone 47 313 055

Best of Legends 2017

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Isabel Donnollan

By Keegan Thomson

I

n 2017 we filled the pages of Nepean News with yet again another strong batch of Nepean legends. The community came out in droves with nominations of locals who lived, grew up or still call the Nepean their home.

AL PALMER Local small business owner, charity entrepreneur and former racing car champ, Al Palmer was recognised as a Legend earlier on in the year.

Opening up his workshop in Penrith to us, he showed off his beloved and well looked after racing cars.

Al raced in NSW Formula 3 State Championships across a number of years at tracks like Eastern Creek, the old Oran Park circuit and Winton. In 2015 he took out second in the overall championship rankings.

“You’ve got to have basically little or no fear,” Al said with a grin when we spoke about racing car driving.

“Some people have that naturally, some find it easy to let go, but to begin with that is hard sometimes.

“After a while I was able to force myself to get up to speeds quickly and often much quicker than a number of other racers,” he said.

Al was also nominated as a Legend because of his tireless efforts as an advocate for disability transportation and access.

Isabel Donnollan We published a very special Legends thanks to Elaine Crabtree, the daughter of Isabel Donnollan, a former school teacher in western Sydney.

Phil Martin

Elaine Crabtree came all the way from England to talk to us about her mother’s story and her time in western Sydney.

Isabel was the first female Councillor on Rockhampton Council, in Queensland, but she was also one of the first full time maths teachers at a number of schools across the Nepean.

“It was a hard time for women back then so it was such an amazing thing that my mother was able to fight for equality at such a local level,” Isabel’s daughter Elaine said.

“At the time she wasn’t allowed a full time teaching job in Queensland because of her family and marriage situation.

“But once we moved to Sydney she was able to find a more permanent job as a teacher,” she said.

PHIL MARTIN The 2017 St Marys citizen of the year is Phil Martin, a humble community man and former western Sydney police officer.

Phil was named the citizen of the year from St Marys town management because of his years of ongoing community and public work. He was a Police Officer serving for 38 and a half years, he is a committed member of Rotary and South Creek Probus clubs, he has co-organised the St Marys Spring Fair for a number of years and he has lived in St Marys for 68 years.

For Phil the honour of winning the award meant he would get to ride up and down Queen street, St Mays on the back of one of the Bennett’s wagons.

“Being a bit of a history buff, I’ve always wanted the chance to get up there and ride on one of the Bennett Wagons down Queen Street St Marys on Spring Festival day,” Phil said.

“Lucky for me, the winner of Citizen of the Year

Noel Rowsell

gets to ride on one of the wagons during the Spring Festival.

“It was a great experience that I could sit up on a bail of hay and they pulled the wagon down the street.

“As silly as it sounds that was the thing about being named Citizen of the Year that I found most exciting,” he said.

Noel Rowsell After a stellar 50 year long career both playing and covering basketball, Noel Rowsell had decided to hang up his shoes and put away the camera.

“The best experience was photographing the top players in Australia in the NBL,” Noel said.

“I’ve been fortunate to both see and photograph some amazingly talented American imports and excellent Australian players over the years.

“I photographed some of the more notable Americans, being Dwayne McClain, James Crawford and Lanard Copeland bank in the 90s,” he boasted.

Across his time Noel has been a massive supporter of the expanding influence of basket ball across the Nepean, particularly the wheelchair basketball and western Sydney’s own team, the Razorbacks.

“They [the Razorbacks] played in the National Wheelchair Basketball League competition which feature many team from every state in Australia,” he said.

“I was fortunate to photograph all of Australia’s leading male and female wheelchair basketball players.”

We would love to hear your nominations for the 2018 Legends of the Nepean.

Send them to nepeannews@aol.com

Penrith melts on 47.3 degree day

By Keegan Thomson

H

OT weather has scorched western Sydney with Penrith copping a sizzling on a recordbreaking 47.3 degree day.

Recording the hottest day Penrith has ever clocked, the Bureau of Meteorology said Penrith was the hottest place in the country on Sunday, January 7.

Jiwon Park, a forecaster for the Bureau of Meteorology said this kind of weather event is quite “unusual” despite the warmer than predicted summer we’ve been experiencing.

“The last time we had a number of 45 plus degree days was back in 2013 when we had wide spread temperatures of 46 degrees across Sydney,” Mr Park said.

“This sort of weather is quite extreme.”

Although 47.3 degrees is a new record for Penrith it isn’t the hottest day recorded in Sydney.

Back in 1939 the Richmond weather centre in the Hawkesbury recorded a 47.8 degree day, something that hasn’t been beaten in Sydney since.

According to the Bureau, the warmer than average weather was the result of a very warm air mass floating above western Sydney that was combined with a number of other perfect heatwave conditions.

“We had a very warm air mass over western Sydney that was ahead of a southerly change,” Mr Park said.

“There were no clouds in the sky as well which added and mixed with the warm air near the ground,” he added.

Unfortunately this hot weather seems to be melting

the brains of some select individuals. Some careless people decided to allegedly light fires during a total fire ban in Penrith. One person was arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station where they were charged with failing to comply with the direction of the minister.

We still have some seven weeks left of summer and Mr Park said we can’t rule out a return of this record breaking hot weather.

Nepean News 11 January 2018 Issue 217

Al Palmer

Nepean News 11 January 2018 Issue 217

NEPEAN HISTORY

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Early St Marys Railway

Continued from last issue....

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he curved observation windows of the control room were covered by blinds from inside and metal sun control panels from outside as direct visual communication was not required. The station has research and technical potential for its ability to provide evidence on the construction techniques and operational system of the NSW Railways in the 1880s and during the World War II period. St Marys Station Group represents a significant combination of a range of buildings and structures dating from the 1880s and World War II period to the present day. The Station Group features several rare structures including the goods shed, the only brick example of its type in the state. A rectangular face brickwork goods shed with a corrugated metal pitched roof. It is the only brick example that remains relatively intact. The shed features simply detailed timber bargeboards at both gable ends, semi-circular arched tall window openings (boarded externally) with cement rendered sills, flat cement rendered lintels and timber thresholds to two-panel timber board loading doors on both station side and street side elevations, and a single segmental arched door on the western side facing the bus interchange. Facades of the Goods Shed are emphasised by recessed bays with dentilated tops around the arched windows. A brick platform with bull-nosed capped brick retaining walls along the edges and the sides of brick steps is located on the rail side of the Goods Shed. Inside the Shed is essentially a large single space with exposed timber framed truss roof underneath of the corrugated metal roofing visible and timber board flooring. Configuration of the multi-paned steel windows with fanlights and toughened glazing is evident from the interior. The brick walls are painted. Horizontal steel mechanisms for the sliding loading doors cross over the fanlights of the windows. The crane is of a five-ton capacity with official number of “T166” and is one of a few remaining cranes in the Sydney area manufactured by Frederick Gregory & Co and placed at St Marys on the 24th August 1943 on an octagonal concrete foundation and currently preserved as an industrial archaeological item within a brick dwarf wall around its perimeter. It is one of approximately 8 jib cranes remaining in the Sydney area.

The line was duplicated in 1886. Platforms 3 & 4 dates from 1888, the contractor was John Ahearn & William King. Major changes were made to the site in 1942-3 that included construction of the present signal box, the building of platforms 1 & 2 and the islanding of both platforms as well as the opening in stages of the branch line to Ropes Creek. These changes were one part of a much larger scheme to increase the tracks to four main lines between Lidcombe and St Marys during World War II to provide maximum track capacity to the munitions area. It took over 32 years until all aspects of the quadruplication lines were completed between Westmead and Blacktown. Quadruplication reached St Marys in 1978, while the Granville to Westmead section was finally completed in 1986. The 1943 footbridge underwent major upgrading work in 1994-95, including covering the footbridge deck and stairs and a new overhead booking office designed by Spooner Harris & Associates and replacing the canopy on Platform 1 & 2 building. In 2001 additional platform canopies were constructed.

There is no visible evidence of the 1942 brick station building that was removed from Platform 1 & 2 or other previous structures. St Marys Station has therefore low archaeological potential. Sources: GML Heritage online, NSW Government online.

Lyn Forde – Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Summer is officially here and this year The Joan invites you to take a holiday at home. To make this holiday season the best it can be, The Joan offers a full calendar of music, workshops, shows and activities, right here on your doorstep.

Headlining the 2018 season is power vocalist, X Factor winner and Eurovision sensation Isaiah Firebrace in concert.

Isaiah will perform his own work Its Gotta Be You, Don’t Come Easy and Streets of Gold plus tracks from the Best of X Factor album and a bunch of charting songs with his five-piece band.

Not only will your teens love Isaiah you will enjoy his soulful music and natural talent!

Sunday 21 January 7:30pm Standard$65 | Concession$60 Celebrate a gifted artist, Carole King, with two of Australia’s formidable vocalists - Vika Bull, of Black Sorrows fame, and Debra Byrne, Australia’s Queen of Pop as they come together for Tapestry – The songs of Carole King.

Reminisce and sing along with You’ve got a Friend, I feel the Earth Move, and more as they come to life in an intimate setting where every seat is a good seat!

Friday 9 February 7:30pm Standard $79 |Concession $75 How about summer holiday festival of music and film – just for kids (and their

Nepean News 11 January 2018 Issue 217

Holiday at home this summer

adults)? Mini FEST is the perfect way to break up long summer days and get everyone out of the house! The day starts with the magical melodies of singersongwriter Angie Who, before moving into the Concert Hall for the very best of Little Big Shots – Australia’s number one international film festival for kids. All that entertainment will build appetites, so we’ll be feeding hungry tummies – as part of the ticket price – before heading back to the Music Lounge for a special treat – Nay Nay, star of ABC Kids and creator of Tinkertime!

Suitable for ages 3 – 10 | Tuesday 23 January 11am – 1.30pm Adult $35 Child $30 Family (4, at least one adult) $100 (includes lunch).

Take a Wednesday morning and accompany your favourite active senior to a great concert. Embark on a Celtic journey from Dublin to Dundee with tenor John MacNally, Eileen McCann and piano accordion playing highlander John MacDonald. Featuring greats like Danny Boy, Mountains of Mourne, How Great Thou Art, I’ll Tell Me Ma, Dublin’s Fair City (Cockles & Mussels), Runaway and Galway Girl.

Wednesday 24 January 11:00am Morning Melodies Tickets $20 (includes a delicious morning tea served from 10am).

January Scho o l Holidays

at The Joan

ISAIAH FIREBRACE ONE SHOW ONLY! 21 Jan 7.30pm

The Joan’s 2018 Season gets off to an electrifying start when Isaiah Firebrace lights up the stage, opening the season on Sunday 21 January. Firebrace’s blazing success story from small-town NSW to Eurovision — picking up a coveted X Factor win along the way — has captured the hearts of many. When he launches into Don’t Come Easy you’ll be glad you bought the hottest ticket in town.

Standard $65 Concession $60 OR SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE!

HOLIDAY DANCE WORKSHOPS

SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY & THE JOAN

8 to 11 years | 15 and 16 January 9.30am–4pm each day

Nay Nay

12 to 16 years | 17 and 18 January

A fun and focused environment for young people to improve their dance technique and learn new routines under the direction of professional teachers and choreographers.

Workshops are designed for passionate young dancers with some previous experience.

Covering a variety of different dance styles (Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Hip Hop and Street) for boys and girls 8–16 years, Sydney Dance Company holiday workshops offer an exciting and supportive environment to dance.

Fee: $170 per 2-day workshop

HOLIDAY THEATRE WORKSHOPS

8 to 12 years | 23, 24, 25 January, 9am–4pm each day Angie Who

miniFEST! A summer holiday festival of music and film — just for kids (and their adults)!

A great opportunity for young artists to enjoy new aspects in theatre-making and share the experiences with new friends over their summer holidays. Workshops include costume design and storytelling and participants can join for a single day to experience one set of skills, or for the full three days of the program.

Fees: $60 per day, $162 for 3-day package

13 to 17 years | 22, 23, 24 January, 10am–3pm each day Growing young performing artists can dive into specialised workshops covering Voice (including accents, Shakespeare’s voice, and sound exploration) and Movement (covering stage combat and physical theatre workshops). Participants can join a single workshop for a half- or full day, or for a multi-day package to enjoy a range of theatre skills on offer.

Fees vary, check website.

Ages 3 – 10 | Tuesday 23 January 11am – 1.30pm This is the perfect way to break up those long summer days and get everyone out of the house for some holiday fun! The day starts in the mini-Music lounge with the magical melodies of singer-songwriter Angie Who, before moving into the Concert Hall for the very best of Little Big Shots — Australia’s number one international film festival for kids. All that entertainment will build your appetite, so after the screening we’ll be feeding hungry tummies — as part of the ticket price — before we head back to the Music Lounge for a special treat — Nay Nay, star of ABC Kids and creator of Tinkertime!

Adult $35 Child $30 Family (4, at least one adult) $100 Ticket price includes lunch

PENRITH REGIONAL GALLERY SUMMER HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS 22 – 25 January

Focus Exhibition: Landing Points Have fun exploring the role of storytelling in contemporary art. Workshops include Comic Book Adventures, Collage Creations, Mask Making, Stamped Clay Tiles, Reverse Pastels, Landscape Drawing, Woven Watercolours.

Check website for details: penrithregionalgallery.org Victoria Garcia UNITY, 2017 Pigmented ink printed on cotton linen, mixed media installation. Courtesy of the artist.

Visit www.thejoan.com.au for more info and bookings or call 4723 7600

HAMPTONS INSPIRED MOUNTAIN RETREAT & SEPARATE STUDIO 6 Dawn Crescent, Mount Riverview $950,000 – 1,050,000 5

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33 Town Terrace, Glenmore Park NSW 2745 354 High Street, Penrith NW 2750 12/69 York Road, Jamisontown NSW 2750 (Events and Conference)

02 4737 9977

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13

SPORT

By Noel Rowsell

L

eonay Golf Club’s recent Presentation Night was a celebration of the ages, with both veterans and juniors among the host of players lining up for awards.

Veteran Bruce Grant took home six trophies, including the Scratch and Nett Divisions in the B Grade Club Championships, the ‘Joe Harsham Trophy’ for the ‘Best Nett Score Over All Grades’ and the Veterans Nett title.

Grant also partnered Leonay GC Ladies Champion Judith Knox to win the Mixed Foursomes Nett Title, finishing runners-up to powerhouse couple Laurie and Lynn Cupples in the Scratch event.

In the Junior ranks, Eric Summers capped off an outstanding year by winning both the Scratch and Nett Junior Club Championships and those trophies should sit nicely in his ever-growing trophy cabinet, alongside his award for winning the Stonecutters Ridge Junior Classic earlier in the year.

Other youngsters featuring in the awards were Kyle Homan as runner-up in the Junior Scratch Championships, whilst Coby Carruthers finished runner-up in the Don Watson Trophy.

The full list of winners is: A Grade Scratch - Andrew Moon, Runner-Up Adrian Kuipers. Nett - Adrian Kuipers B Grade Scratch - Brian Grant, Runner-Up Peter McFarlane. Nett - Bruce Grant C Grade Scratch - Ross Woodley, Runner-Up Brian Metcalfe. Nett - Scott White Veterans Scratch - Laurie Cupples. Nett - Bruce Grant

Leonay Golf Club juniors Eric Summers and Coby Carruthers in action at the Stonecutters Ridge Junior Classic.

Photos courtesy of Noel Rowsell (www.photoexcellence.com.au)

Juniors Scratch - Eric Summers, Runner-Up Kyle Homan. Nett - Eric Summers Foursomes A Grade Scratch - Adrian Kuipers, Ben McArdle, Runners-Up - Ian Barnes, Chris Blakeley. Nett - Mark Pennefather, Gavin Bennett Foursomes B Grade Scratch - Mick McCormick, Ian Hogg. Runners-Up Trevor Day, Warrick ChinNam. Nett - Les Royle, George Thompson Don Watson Trophy - Winner Peter Fowler, Runner-Up Coby Carruthers Ray Dukes Cup - Winner Tony Wright, Runnerup Andrew Moon Last Man Standing - Peter McFarlane Leonay GC also announced it’s Major Men’s

Pennants team for 2018, led by A Grade Stroke Play and Foursomes Champion Andrew Moon.

The squad also contains A Grade Foursomes Match Play Champions Ian Barnes and Chris Blakeley, whilst former Club Professional Wayne Worthy will manage the team.

The full squad is Mark Cain, Daniel Worthy, Andrew Moon, David Grosse, Adrian Kuipers, Ben McArdle, Dave Moore, Chris Blakeley, Ian Barnes, Tony Wright, manager Wayne Worthy, assistant manager Jimmy Markham.

Leonay’s opponents for the season are Richmond GC, Northbridge GC and The Coast GC.

OFFER ENDS 31 JANUARY 2018

Offer ends 31/1/2018. See in Store for Terms and Conditions.

Nepean News TRADES & SERVICES Phone 9834 5579 to place your Trade Service ad PAINTERS

GT’s Penrith Valley Painting Service findgarth@hotmail.com

0430 106 399 ABN 5411 933 9171 Licence 265238c

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Nepean News 11 January 2018 Issue 217

Juniors feature in Yearly Awards

Nepean News 11 January 2018 Issue 217

SPORT

PENRITH PANTHERS

14

Settled Tamou primed for a big 2018

By STEWART MOSES

B

@TheRiffMarn

y his own admission James Tamou’s first season as a Panther was an inconsistent one.

The former Cowboys prop came to Penrith with plenty of fanfare given he was the club’s star recruit.

But despite being one of three players to have played every games for the Panthers last season, his form was notably down on what he was able to produce previously for North Queensland.

Looking back on 2017, Tamou admits the move from Townsville to Penrith was a tougher challenge than he expected.

“It was a lot harder than I thought it would be,” Tamou told Nepean News.

“At the time I didn’t think it was too hard but looking back now, adjusting to the Penrith style of play it was a lot more difficult than what it seemed.

“I think last year was a learning curve for a lot of us given there were a lot of debutants in the team.”

There were also challenges off the field as well with the former Kangaroos and Blues prop conceding his focus

Photo: 77 Media

initially at pre-season training wasn’t all there given he was concerned his young family had still not found somewhere to live when he fronted for training with his new club for the first time.

But twelve months on and a more relaxed and settled Tamou is fully primed for a big 2018 season.

“That first day of pre-season we still didn’t have a place of our own that

we could call home yet and obviously I’m thinking about my wife and kids during that time,” Tamou admitted.

“It was one of those times where there was a lot on my mind.

“But a year on and we’ve all settled in well now so it makes it a lot easier for me to concentrate on football.

“Going through this pre-season everything has become a little easier and I’m looking to start fast in 2018

and can’t wait for the season ahead.”

Although Penrith heads into 2018 season minus that ill-fated favourites tag which the club struggled to come to terms with for the better part of the 2017 season, there is still plenty of expectation that this roster needs to take the next step by becoming a topfour side in order to have a serious chance of challenging for the title.

Tamou says that while the team will benefit from not being 2018 premiership favourites, there are lessons to be learned from their 2017 season, if they are to challenge for another premiership.

“I think it takes a lot of pressure off the playing group,” Tamou replied.

“When you read too much about yourself, you get your tail up and you think you don’t have to do too much (to win a game).

“I still remember the start of last season quite vividly and it hurts.

“But while there was something there for us as a whole to be able turn it around during the season especially winning a few on the trot, we can’t rely on that again.

“We need to take everything into account on what during that last season just gone and take those learnings into this year and start well.”

St Clair Junior Rugby League Club PLAYERS REQUIRED Under 6’s (can play when 4 years old) up to A Grade LOOKING TO FIELD GIRLS SIDES FROM UNDER 6’s UPWARDS 2018 Registration Information Days Saturday Players ONLY pick up your gear at Peppertree Reserve (Cnr Peppertree & Swallow Drive, Erskine Park) Saturday 17th, Sunday 18th Feb and Sunday 25th Feb 10.00am to 3.00pm

rice P r e w o P Beat w! o n s U l l , ca s e s a e r c n

ALL REGISTRATIONS AND PAYMENTS ARE NOW ON LINE from the 1st Feb 2018.

Go to playnrl.com/register and press Play.

You are able to utilize your $100 Active Kids Voucher.

Let us Help you Avoid Bill Shock

Training starts the week of 5th Feb. All players welcome.

See web page for times and details.

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For Further Enquiries please contact: Registrar: Michael Zammit : Mobile 0412 531 935 Email – mzammo@outlook.com.au Secretary: Bill Borg : Mobile 0425 226 683 Email - bill@stclairjrlc.org.au More details on the web page www.stclaircomets.com.au All NEW players will need to show a copy of a Birth Certificate or Passport.

FREE SHORTS, SOCKS & HIRT WHEN REGISTRATION FEES PAID

www.nepeansolar.com.au

A Grade and C Grade training on Tuesday and Thursday 6.30pm at Solander Drive St Clair

SPORT

15

How good is that!

“

Congratulations to our ambassador Chloe Esposito in winning her competition in Poland yesterday. After being behind 50 seconds going into the shooting and running event, she ended up blitzing the field by a large margin. We are so proud of you!

“

Happy New Year, I hope everyone had some well earned rest over the Christmas and New Years break. But now it’s time to get back into it.

Last time I spoke to you all I was just about to head off to a competition in Poland. Update on that, I won. Although it was a win which I’m super happy with, I now see things that I need to improve and work on even more coming into the 2018 season.

Over the Christmas I had a nice little get away to London for a week with my husband and his family. It was so nice just to leave the pentathlon world, relax and just let my mind also rest, but I couldn’t help myself, packed my runners and got a few runs in .

Sometimes we need a little break from training, a little get away to let the body rest and recover then to come back, want it even more, refreshed and ready to achieve new goals.

This time next year I hope we have all achieved some goals we set out to. We are all in this together, no matter how big or small the goal is, it is achievable and will get there. Remember it takes time, no rush.

Make sure you keep an eye out for the next promotion ‘Wild Panther Fitness’ are running in March, it’s going to be a good one!

Lots of love Chloe xx

MG and Lewi

Nepean News 11 January 2018 Issue 217

Strengthen your weakness with Chloe Esposito

More than meets the eye

13 Woodlands Drive, Glenmore park $679,000 - $719,000 4

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33 Town Terrace, Glenmore Park NSW 2745 354 High Street, Penrith NW 2750 12/69 York Road, Jamisontown NSW 2750 (Events and Conference)

02 4737 9977