As we creep towards Christmas, Prue Car MP is on the lookout for some local artwork to feature on her Christmas cards for 2022.
“shopping centres are preparing to play Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey on loop, lights are going up and entries have officially opened for my annual Christmas Card Competition,” Ms Car said.
“Using the entry form, prepare your best artwork for a chance to be featured on this year’s Londonderry Christmas Card:”
The entry form can be found at https://pruecarmp. news/Christmas-CardCompetition
“Be sure to get your entry back to me via email to londonderry@parliament. nsw.gov.au or drop them into my office at 154 Queen street, st Marys NsW 2760 by 5pm, 25th November 2022.
“Good luck!”
Kerrie Davies 0422 067 644
Korena Hale 0403 045 880
Larry Davis 0432 062 643
Malama Psarianos 0416 203 777
Noel Rowsell 0424 007 202
Greg Yanda 0425 232 043
Dale “Tex” Walker 0411 627 113
Kennedi Geyer 0452 455 844
Stacey Fortescue 0420 319 893
Pegasus Print Group, Blacktown nepeannews@aol.com issuu.com/nepeannews
How lucky are my husband Greg and I, we spent october on the travel adventure of a life time!
Three years ago we booked a ten night cruise, sailing around Greece, Italy and France and then Covid hit. After several delays, a few add ons and some nice incentives thrown in from the cruise line to deter us from taking a full refund, we embarked on our incredible month-long holiday last month.
we spent the entire month of october swanning around places like Qatar, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Spain and France. wow!
we visited mind-blowing places including the Vatican, Pompeii, the Alps, the Amalfi Coast and the French Riviera.
we drank massive steins of beer at the oktoberfest in Munich, sang our way around Salzburg on the Sound of Music Tour and made a.. umm... donation at the roulette table in Monte Carlo.
Talk about living the dream!
we’ve stayed in hotels, apartments, former churches and cruise cabins. we are now at some accommodation where the beds don’t get made for us, the towels stay on the floor until we pick them up and we have to get our own drinks and cook our own food. You guessed it - we are home.
we really did have a blast. A lot of people are still wary of overseas travel after the pandemic. My advice is if you’re in the position to get away, can afford to and are reasonably healthy just do it! Life is short and the places we visited were pretty much “Covid? Shmovid.” Everyone is just having a great time. If you have the capacity to, go and live your best life!
So now it is home sweet home for me and back to reality, and there’s a warm and fuzzy feeling in that too. Because as fabulous as the last four weeks have been, there’s really nowhere on earth like Australia.
ouR region is split into three state electorates, and our three members of parliament are outstanding representatives. Prue Car, Tanya Davies and Stuart Ayres are all incredibly passionate about this region. And they all work very hard to ensure western Sydney is heard.
It is great news that both Prue and Tanya are running for re-election. Both have been incredibly strong advocates in parliament and its good to know they are putting their hands up again. what about Stuart Ayres then, I hear you ask. Good question. Stuart, having held several ministry positions in an impressive portfolio has ensured that Penrith has always had a seat at the big table. A recent media storm in a teacup saw him resign from those positions pending two enquiries. The outcome cleared him of any wrongdoing resulting in him being emphatically exonerated.
So there’s no reason why Stuart Ayres shouldn’t put his hand up again for Penrith. A quick look at his facebook page or indeed in this publication and the western weekender shows that he’s always working around the clock. He’s certainly not pulling back or showing any signs that he is considering changing jobs. He is one of the youngest in the NSw Parliament but he’s one of the most experienced, so there’s still a lot more fuel in the tank. It is mind-boggling that the Premier has not reinstated Stuart into the Cabinet, especially when he’s had Ministers retiring and walking out the door in droves.
Many pundits are predicting the current government will lose in a landslide in March. when you consider the leadership change from Gladys to Dom, the odd controversy here and there and then throw a pandemic and a four-month lock-down into the mix, you have a government that has faced challenges regarding re-election throughout the entire term.
Election result predictions are always shaky in politics - the tide can turn in an instant. All any leader and his hopeful candidates can really do is put their best team forward and run a tight campaign.
Chris Minns is smart enough to have Prue Car featuring prominently in the spotlight to show what a government he runs would look like.
Dom Perrottet needs to do the same with Stuart Ayres. You can’t expect to win the game with one of your best players side-lined on the bench. I suspect he is well aware of that and I predict there will be an announcement shortly that Stuart Ayres is running for Penrith, and has been reinstated as a Minister.
Iam proud to announce that I was successfully endorsed as the Liberal Candidate for Badgerys Creek (formerly mulgoa) electorate,” mrs Davies said in a statement.
“I want to first and foremost thank the people of my electorate for their support over the years and for giving me the honour of serving as their local member in the NSW Parliament.
“Since I was first elected in 2011 as part of the Liberal & Nationals Government we have secured significant investments for our community. Some of the projects I am proud to have helped deliver include the:
• $1.0b Nepean Hospital Redevelopment
• More than $700m Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospital Redevelopment
• The $4.4b Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan[1] that has rebuilt The Northern Road, Bringelly Road, Werrington Arterial Road and more,
• New Fernhill School in Glenmore Park and the under construction Nangamay Public School in Mulgoa Rise
• $248m Mamre Road Upgrade Stage 1 commitment
• M4 Roper Road westbound onramp
• $500m Cooler Classrooms Program to deliver air conditioning in many Western Sydney learning environments
• $13m Performing Arts and Learning Centre
• $27m purchase of historic Fernhill Estate in mulgoa for parklands and recreation, and
• More than 70 cost of living support programs to ease the pressure on household budgets.”
“These achievements are evidence of a strong Government delivering for the interests of its citizens. I am excited by the opportunity to continue delivering projects like these to help build a brighter future for every family in Western Sydney,” mrs Davies continued.
“If given the honour to represent you as the Member for Badgerys Creek in March 2023, I will continue to fight for you and what is rightfully ours in western Sydney. If elected in a Liberal and Nationals Government I will fight to:
Deliver the Elizabeth Drive upgrade, Complete the Mamre Road upgrade, accelerate the delivery of more affordable housing,
Cut the ribbon on the Palliative Care Unit at Nepean Hospital, and more
Together, with a re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government we can build a brighter future”
NovEMBER is the time when the spotlight is on scam awareness. This Scams Awareness Week, along with over 350 partner organisations, we’re encouraging you to learn ways to identify scams and take the time to check whether an offer or contact is genuine before you act on it.
With scammers continually developing new ways to catch people out, we need to increase our vigilance in checking for those little clues that can alert us that something is a scam.
Scams cost australian consumers, businesses, and the economy hundreds of millions of dollars each year and cause serious emotional harm to
victims and their families.
In 2021 Australians made more than 286,600 reports to Scamwatch and reported losses of around $324 million. By the end of August this year, australians had lost even more with reported losses of over $381 million.
as alarming as these numbers are, we know that around one third of people who are scammed never tell anyone, so the true numbers are probably much higher.
Follow Scamwatch on Twitter and explore our website for more information and tips on how to protect yourself from scams. www.scamwatch.gov.au
November marks NSW
Small business month and small business owners and operators are invited to “Connect for Success” at one of the many events across the state.
Stuart Ayres mP, member for Penrith said here in Penrith we have the Ignite: Light Up Your business one-day event and the DIY Low Cost marketing morning. These events are there to help small businesses learn new skills and strategies for growing their business and connect with other small business owners.
“Small business month is about bringing together small businesses across the State to learn, to collaborate and to celebrate the experience and expertise of our 800,000 small businesses in NSW,” Stuart Ayres said.
“Small businesses are a vital contributor to our State, employing 1.8 million people and adding more than $400 billion into the economy every year.
“I encourage local small businesses or those interested in starting a business to get involved and attend one of the events held this month.”
The theme for Small business month, “Connect for Success” points to the importance of business owners,
experts and industry leaders coming together to share ideas and build networks after the challenges of the past two years.
Hundreds of organisations are hosting NSW Small business month events and activities in November.
So far, 136 not-for-profit organisations, including councils, chambers of commerce and industry
associations, have received grants to host events free-of-charge.
other businesses have signed on as official Collaboration Partners, including microsoft, Amazon, Commonwealth bank, NAb, Xero, University of Technology Sydney, NbN Co, black Dog Institute, TAFe NSW, business NSW, the ATo and indigenous business incubator,
Supply Nation.
Small businesses have a variety of ways to participate in Small business month, including attending live online events and connecting inperson at events in their local area.
For more information on NSW Small business month events go to www.smallbusinessmonth.nsw.gov. au.
When it comes to cost of living relief, Australians feel that they have been abandoned by the Government. In fact, people and small businesses in Western Sydney are raising the alarm that without greater support from the Albanese Government, lives will begin to unravel.
Prime Minister John howard calls my community of Lindsay in Western Sydney a microcosm of Australia, because in his words “it’s got families, it’s got retired people, it’s got lots and lots of small businesses and it’s got a very strong community spirit.” It is these reasons, and the aspiration driving my community, that we are the epicentre of the cost of living crisis, and why we should all be worried that if the ‘howard Battler’ of the past becomes the new ‘Albanese Abandoned’ of today, our whole country is in deep trouble.
The 2021 census revealed that mortgage stress was already impacting nearly 17% of households in Lindsay, meaning people were spending more than 30% of their income on their
mortgage repayments. With interest rates reaching the seventh straight rise to 2.85% and RBA Governor Philip Lowe anticipating inflation to peak around 8%, above the 7.75% tipped in last week’s Federal Budget, more and more households will be under significant financial strain.
“But it’s not just about interest rates. It’s the cumulative impact of each and every cost of living pressure. Whether it’s electricity prices, inflation or interest rates, the pain is felt in Western Sydney.
A local homelessness and housing organisation has told me that food insecurity is on the rise, and that most of the people coming through the doors to collect food hampers of groceries aren’t people sleeping rough. They are pensioners, retirees and families. The decision whether to pay the rent, mortgage or use electricity, against putting food on the table, is very real.
Also standing at the edge of the cliff is small business. Manufacturers are facing energy price increases of over 300%. Where they may have paid $60,000 a month in energy, they are now paying more than
$200,000. The outrageous costs are about to push them beyond the point of no return. In an era where we are fighting for a resurgence of Australian manufacturing, businesses are at threat of either closing or going offshore. Thousands of local jobs will be gone.
Local café owners who have been struggling to find staff, are now struggling to make ends meet. They tell me they can’t absorb all the increased costs of supply chain shortages and electricity prices. They are now left wondering how much people will pay
for a coffee when the café needs to pass on the costs to keep their doors open. The $275 cheaper electricity that Labor promised Australians during the election is now not only a broken promise to households and small business owners, but a drop in the ocean when electricity prices are looking at rising over 50%.
The underlying impact of all these pressures, combined with a pandemic and floods also means we are facing a tsunami of mental health issues. As Shadow Assistant Minister Mental health and Suicide Prevention, I know that mental health organisations are preparing for this. It is now understood that mental health impacts are not fully realised until two to three years after a significant event. In a time when Australians need support the most, the Albanese Government is failing to continue the Medicare subsidised psychology sessions that in 2020 the Coalition doubled from 10 to 20. The subsidised sessions are due to return back to 10 sessions in December.
Western Sydney has raised the alarm, but will the Albanese Government hear?
TRAnSPoRT for nSW is installing parking sensors along sections of Derby and Somerset streets in Kingswood as part of the Penrith Digital Smart Kerb pilot.
As part of this project, a temporary closure of parking lanes is required to carry out this road work.
Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions on Derby Street between Parker Street and hargrave Street from 5pm Tuesday 15
november to 5pm Wednesday 16 november.
There will also be temporary parking lane closures on Somerset Street southbound between hargrave Street and Derby Street during this period.
Should this work not proceed as scheduled due to wet weather, work will take place on the following day.
To minimise traffic disruption, one traffic lane will remain open in each direction and the parking bay
will be available for use following the installation of a sensor.
Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.
Transport for nSW thanks the community for their patience during this time.
For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.
FRoM Friday 11 november 2022, the Great Western highway end of York Street, emu Plains will permanently close due to the realignment of River Road which is part of the Regatta Park upgrade.
Traffic
Road to intersect with the Great Western highway at Lamrock Street expected to be completed by the end of February 2023.
York Street will remain accessible from Willow Tree Avenue, Westbank Avenue, napier Avenue and Vincent Avenue.
key performance areas and critical success factors.
Active Care Network has continued to diversify the social experiences they offer and partnerships to reach more people and to balance clients’ interests and independence whilst maintaining their safety and wellbeing.
The commitment and service provided by Active Care Network’s team of 87 staff and volunteers was recognised when they received the Community Transport Provider of the year award at the peak body’s annual conference.
Active Care Network provides transport, home and garden maintenance and repair and community connection to almost 4000 people in the Penrith, Blue Mountains, and Blacktown local government areas.
Announced at the Community Transport Organisation Conference, the competition was of high calibre with ten nominees statewide and the judging criteria thorough.
“Winning this award means a
lot to our team and clients. It is acknowledgment of the extra mile all our staff and volunteers go to when delivering our services, and keeping our clients connected,” said CeO Ben Jackson.
“This award is recognition for all the communities that we serve, the clients that we love and strive for, the other community transport providers that we learn from and share with, the community organisations that are our partners in service and the leaders within our communities that share and help us understand all the cultures that we encounter every day. Without the funding bodies and sponsors our service could not run and we hope they continue to listen to Active Care Network and other community
transport providers about the needs in their communities,” Mr Jackson enthused, accepting the award on behalf of the team.
COVID hit all community transport operators and their clients extremely hard. It was Active Care Network’s evolving business model and vision for an empowered, engaged and connected community innovating to achieve independence and well-being – for the first time not emphasising or inferring transport – that has driven their engagement and service delivery today. It enabled them to address key principles of wellness and reablement; sustainability and continuous improvement; excellence in service innovation and delivery; that are embedded in our values,
The newly developed home Support Services commercial home and garden maintenance and repair arm enables them to channel 100 percent of the profits from this business back into community connection programs that support older, marginalised and vulnerable people.
If you, your family, or friends need assistance with transport for shopping, medical or personal appointments or social outings; are after a quote for garden or home or garden maintenance, or you would like to volunteer with an award-winning team, give Active Care Network a call (02) 4722 3083 today for more information on our services.
And in case you need convincing – here is what one of Active Care Network’s clients, Rita says “I am extremely impressed with all the team at Active Care Network and the hard work they do in the office and on the road.”
Accordingto a report from Flourish Australia, one in five people suffer from mental health issues in Australia (20% of the population).
800,00 Australians are living with complex mental health issues, including anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia and bi-polar disorders.
More than half of all mental health issues begin by the age of 24 and suicide is the leading cause of death for young Australians aged 15 to 24 years.
Fifteen percent of people who have complex mental health issues don’t have anyone to confide in and thirty-eight percent of people with complex mental health issues have experienced stigma and discrimination.
Flourish Australia is a community mental health service and registered NDIS provider that helps people with a lived experience feel supported and meet their everyday challenges.
Every person’s lived experience, when it comes to mental health, is unique and symptoms may vary. Some people experience only intermittent effects, whilst for others, the impact can be more disruptive and long term.
Adrian is currently being guided and supported by Flourish Australia, following a 9-year black journey with mental health.
A former soldier, office worker and community radio announcer, who suffered a nervous breakdown in 2013, Adrian came to Flourish Australia in 2016 and has benefited greatly from group activities in particular, including walking groups, art and music.
Music has been a huge influence on Adrian and others at Flourish, with the result some have joined together to form a band, known as the ‘D Street Riffs’.
Knocked back on two occasions for a disability pension, which was yet another stressful experience, Adrian was also knocked back by the NDIS in 2018.
Such stressful circumstances may have had a tragic result, particularly in Adrian’s early days of his mental health issues, but the staff at Flourish are providing a professional, caring, personal service, which is helping to guide troubled individuals through difficult times and circumstances.
Adrian describes his situation as being broken into pieces but Flourish is providing him with the
glue to piece himself back together.
Complex mental health can be debilitating and in extreme cases prevent a person from doing their job, being with other people or even leaving their home.
Flourish Australia helps Australians find meaningful employment or a place to call home; make new friends or develop new skills and interests.
With a local staff of 33, Flourish Australia will connect you with the right people, support services and opportunities to go after your goals.
If you would like support, or know someone who would like support with their mental health, please phone Penrith Flourish Australia on 9393 9799
By Noel Rowsell
Banks Ps ran two major events in the past two weeks, starting last week with superhero Day.
The students were asked to come to school dressed in their favourite superhero outfit, with money raised on the day sent to a company which manufactures superhero shirts for sick children in hospital.
These shirts are especially designed and manufactured to allow easy access to veins for administration of treatment drugs and blood, enabling the children being treated to be less disturbed during either process.
The school raised $1,160.00 on the day and spokesperson kim Dunn praised the children involved on the day, and teacher Ms Hiser-smith for having the great idea.
Banks Ps then held a colour run this week, as a fund-raiser for the P&C.
“after two years where schools were not able to do such activities, it was fun had by all,” said kim.
The money raised from the Colour Run will go towards improvements within the school and staff expressed their thanks to the P&C for their time and effort putting the event together, and Miss snape for her organising of all the notes and the planning of the course.
You may be infectious for up to 10 days. You are most infectious in the 2 days before your symptoms start and whilst you have acute symptoms (such as a runny nose, sore throat, fever, cough).
To reduce the risk to others NSW Health recommends you: 1. Stay home until your acute symptoms have gone
2. Don’t visit people at high risk of severe illness, anyone in hospital or an aged or disability care facility for at least 7 days.
3. Wear a mask when indoors and on public transport, if you must leave your home.
4. Avoid large gatherings and indoor crowded places, especially where you will be in contact with groups of people you don’t live with.
5. Talk to your employer about when you should return to the workplace.
If you work in a high-risk setting such as health, disability and aged care, it is recommended that you stay away from the workplace for 7 days and until you have no symptoms to help protect other staff, patients, residents, and clients. If your employer needs you to return to the workplace before this time, they may ask you to take additional steps to protect others, subject to their work, health and safety assessment.
6. Tell people that you live with, or spend a lot of time with, that you have COVID-19.
People you live with or spend a lot of time indoors with are at greatest risk of catching CoVID-19 from you. You should tell then you have tested positive and try to separate from them as much as possible. They should monitor for symptoms and if they get sick, they should get tested and stay home. They should follow the Information
for people exposed to CoVID-19 fact sheet.
7. Register your positive rapid antigen test result with Service NSW.
If you or someone in your family can’t register online, please call Service NSW on 13 77 88. Registering your result helps you access medical support from NSW Health, including antiviral medicines if you are eligible, and also assists NSW Health respond to the
ongoing CoVID-19 pandemic. This keeps you, your loved ones and the community safe. If you tested positive on a PCR test, you do not need to register your result.
How should I manage my symptoms?
When you register your positive rapid antigen test (RAT) or test positive on a PCR test you will be asked to answer some questions that help NSW Health determine if you are at a higher risk of severe illness. Please respond to these questions as soon as you can as you may be eligible for antiviral medicines. Antiviral medicines work best when taken as soon as possible, usually within 5 days from when your symptoms start.
Most people with CoVID-19 have a mild illness and recover in a few days, with some people having no symptoms at all. Most symptoms can be managed with:
• Bed rest
• Regular paracetamol and ibuprofen to relieve pain and fevers
• Throat lozenges for a sore throat
• Keeping hydrated with regular sips of water.
Continue to take any medications you have been prescribed as usual. If you are unsure about continuing to take your current medication or treatment, or have any concerns about your health, call your doctor.
So we have just experienced the wonderful world of Halloween. To me it is almost like that movie, “The Purge” where for 12 hours everyone battens down the hatches so that the bad people don’t come a knock’n or get in.
Now before everyone goes crazy and thinks I am calling their gorgeous children bad people, I am not, so calm the farm.
What I am saying is that it is like a fish frenzy attack on a piece of meat thrown into the red sea.
I can hear people in the supermarket, saying “oMG get home before the kids come banging.”
It’s like Earth hour on steroids for we adults who do not believe in Halloween. We sit in complete darkness, silent, until the banging stops. You watch the doorbell cameras and watch the noses pressed up against the glass of the front door. Some of the kids, as little as six, banging like SWAT ready to do a Police raid.
I did leave a bowl full of broccoli out one year, but that was not well received. I think the note “You Suck” left on my door, by the gracious gorgeous little things was a dead giveaway!
The birds did enjoy it, so that’s a bonus.
What I do find extremely ironic is that, for 364 days a year we actually teach kids NoT to take anything from strangers, but then on Halloween, encourage kids to bang on strangers doors and beg for treats. Go figure, its Halloween, right? No stranger danger on that day, matter of fact I am guessing only really good people live in every house (Staring emoji with shocked face).
Then parents, carers or whatever, have kids bouncing off the walls for 16 hours because they have digested enough sugar to last a year. Again, ironic, then complain when little Johnny doesn’t sleep all night, night after night, but then on the 31st october, pump ya kid full of sugar. (Thumbs up Emoji)
Parents all the next day, boasting at the school yard fence with each other, “oh I got seven thousand lollies in one swoop, how great is that!”
“Nah,” says the other one. “I only got five thousand lollies, that street sucks. I will boycott that one next year and hit Smith Street, they come up with the goods.” Failing of course, to get the gist of what Halloween is all about, a little like Christmas I guess?
okay here comes the word again, Ironically, then little Johnny has to eat his veggies at dinner time as it’s healthy, and then raid the Halloween surplus after the healthy stuff has been eaten.
I think that may be my new word - ironic! I used to use the word consistent, however that’s a little 80’s now, I need to get with the program and stay relevant.
Catch Ya, in the next addition of NN!
“Not only will Brooks Tavern Jordan Springs be a great venue for local people to enjoy - construction has created hundreds of local job opportunities and over 100 staff will be employed once open! “I am looking forward to seeing the completed project and enjoying summer afternoons with everyone there,” Prue Car said.Penrith SES doing their bit for Pink Up Penrith Stuart Ayres MP presented Mr Owen Sargeant with a Community Hero Award. “Owen’s upbeat personality and can do attitude are second to none!” Mr Ayres said. “Involved with Emu Heights Public School since 1985, Owen’s contibutions to the school and school community are well deserving of this recognition.” Females in frocks and fascinators were out in force across Penrith on Tuesday to celebrate the 2022 Melbourne Cup Former Lindsay MP Fiona Scott was spotted cycling the 80 kilometres from Sydney to Wollongong on Sunday in the MS Gong Ride. It was a spooky atmosphere on Halloween at Atmosphere Gym Penrith! Guess who is arriving at Westfield Penrith tomorrow??
With the upcoming 100th year of the WW1 War Memorial at Victoria Park St Marys and Remembrance Day this month, it seems appropriate to show the immediate preparations at the start in 1914 and “the Australian Offer”. in the days immediately before the declaration of war and the intense anxiety of when Britain will play a part, steps taken were equally uncertain and there was a feeling in the British dominions that a declaration of their support would strengthen England’s position in the eyes of the world. On 30th July 1914, New Zealand offered to send a force of their troops if the need arose. in Canada on the 31st of July the Prime Minister hurriedly summoned a meeting of the Cabinet and telegraphed the British Government that it could count on the fullest aid from Canada. During the next few days several telegrams reached the Australian newspapers reporting statements attributed to the talkative Canadian Minister, of Militia and Defense. he had said that “an offer of 30,000 men had been practically decided upon,” and that 20,000 Canadians would be ready to sail within a fortnight if required. this news appeared in the Australian journals on Monday the 3rd of August under large headlines: “Canada offers 30,000” but the actual terms passed unnoticed in Australia. Within two months in Canada as in Australia, the men in training were far more than was originally contemplated. Australia had our “Defense Scheme” almost ready. in i908, the imperial Conference came up with the plan. the Chief of Staff of the Australian Forces was Colonel William throsby Bridges, a soldier and a man whose grim driving force at all times strongly influenced whatever Minister might be working with Bridges (whose title was Chief of
Intelligence as the “General Staff” had only been established since the South African War and was new), so Bridges started a Defense Scheme of his own. he began with detailed measures to be taken by the Commandants in the six Australian States, each a ‘‘District” in the Australian army system. in this work he was joined by a young officer, Major C. B. Bean of the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery newly returned from two years in the British Staff College. When Colonel Bridges left the headquarters Staff in Melbourne in order to become the Australian representative on the imperial General Staff in London the work was continued under his successor Brigadier-General Joseph Maria Gordon. Photo of Sir William throsby Bridges KCB CMG courtesy of the Australian War Memorial. We Will Remember Them by Lyn Forde, President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. Information from “Official History of Australia in the 1914-1918 War” by Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean (Author).
By TOMAS HAMILTON
Tread gently on this foreign field, for it lies soaked in blood That flowed across this battlefield, a tragic crimson flood The names of those who fell near here, are muttered now by few A brave and selfless sacrifice, the living would all rue
Tread gently on this foreign field, I am every mother’s son Who saw my face at every dawn and each setting sun She kept her lonely vigil, till eternity claimed her soul Her tears no longer wash my name, upon an honour roll
Tread gently on this foreign field and dare not cast your scorn On all that I could have been and descendants now unborn For we all charged like Lemmings, for country and for crown And in the flower of our youth, we were all cut down
Tread gently on this foreign field and remember all those lost Their legend, part of history that came at too great a cost
For the horse that stands unbridled and an empty chair at home Memories of the loved ones, who lie beneath this loam
Tread gently on this foreign field, the wretched path I trod Now I lie without a name , that is known only to God
A farmer’ plough may strike my bones and I might find a grave But weep you not for my past, it’s your future you must save
hy is this day special to Australians?
At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The allied armies had driven the German invaders back, having inflicted heavy defeats upon them over the preceding four months. In November the Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted allied terms that amounted to unconditional surrender.
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years. The moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war. This first modern world conflict had brought about the mobilisation of over 70 million people and left between 9 and 13 million dead, perhaps as many as one-third of them with no known grave. The allied nations chose this
day and time for the commemoration of their war dead.
On the first anniversary of the armistice in 1919 two minutes’ silence was instituted as part of the main commemorative ceremony at the new Cenotaph in London. The silence was proposed by Australian journalist Edward Honey, who was working in Fleet Street. At about the same time, a South African statesman made a similar proposal to the British Cabinet, which endorsed it. King George V personally requested all the people of the British Empire to suspend normal activities for two minutes on the hour of the armistice “which stayed the worldwide carnage of the four preceding years and marked the victory of Right and Freedom”. The two minutes’ silence was popularly adopted and it became a central feature of commemorations on Armistice Day.
On the second anniversary of the armistice in 1920 the commemoration was given added significance when it became a funeral, with the return of the remains of an unknown soldier
from the battlefields of the Western Front. Unknown soldiers were interred with full military honours in Westminster Abbey in London and at the Arc de Triumph in Paris. The entombment in London attracted over one million people within a week to pay their respects at the unknown soldier’s tomb. Most other allied nations adopted the tradition of entombing unknown soldiers over the following decade.
After the end of the Second World War, the Australian and British governments changed the name to Remembrance Day. Armistice Day was no longer an appropriate title for a day which would commemorate all war dead.
In Australia on the 75th anniversary of the armistice in 1993 Remembrance Day ceremonies again became the focus of national attention. The remains of an unknown Australian soldier, exhumed from a First World War military cemetery in France, were ceremonially entombed in the Memorial’s Hall of Memory. Remembrance Day ceremonies
were conducted simultaneously in towns and cities all over the country, culminating at the moment of burial at 11 am and coinciding with the traditional two minutes’ silence. This ceremony, which touched a chord across the Australian nation, reestablished Remembrance Day as a significant day of commemoration.
Four years later, in 1997, GovernorGeneral Sir William Deane issued a proclamation formally declaring 11 November to be Remembrance Day, urging all Australians to observe one minute’s silence at 11 am on 11 November each year to remember those who died or suffered for Australia’s cause in all wars and armed conflicts.
Remembrance Day is an opportunity to pay tribute to all our service personnel who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of our nation and values. It is also a time to thank our current military personnel for their service to our country.Sydney, NSW, 11 November 1919. The view from Castlereagh Street looking down towards George Street, of a large crowd which has gathered in Martin Place to celebrate Armistice Day. The clock on the GPO building says twelve o’clock and a replica sailing ship float has been set up in the centre. A bandstand with a domed roof is visible in the background.
WIth spring comes glorious sunshine, warmer weather — and ticks. Although ticks can occur year-round, their peak period is spring and summer when warm weather combines with periods of rain.
Unfortunately, there is currently an Australia-wide shortage of tick paralysis antiserum. this is a result of a sudden increase in demand due to tick resurgence with the change in weather. It is more important than ever to ensure that your pets are protected from these deadly parasites.
What are paralysis ticks?
there are around 75 different species of ticks in Australia, but the most common are the brown tick and the deadly paralysis tick. the paralysis tick is by far the most dangerous parasite when it comes to your pet. It is commonly found in bushy coastal areas along the East Coast of Australia, from North Queensland to Eastern Victoria. ticks are most prevalent from Spring to Autumn, however, can occur at any time of year.
When paralysis ticks attach to our pets, they inject a neurotoxin which causes progressive paralysis, respiratory depression, and death in animals which have no immunity to the toxin.
What does the paralysis tick look like?
Paralysis ticks can be identified by their grey body and legs close to the head. their legs are the feature
which best distinguishes them from other ticks that occur in the same regions. Paralysis ticks have one pair of brown legs closest to their head, then two pairs of white legs and then one pair of brown legs closest to the body.
It is not always easy to identify paralysis ticks. If the tick is not fully engorged, its body shape and colour will be hard to determine. Often, a veterinarian will be the only person who can accurately identify the type of tick; it is vital that you take your pet to a vet if you have found a tick.
What to do if you have found a tick on your pet?
Seek veterinary treatment immediately as the tick needs to be removed. If not already done, your veterinarian will remove the tick so it is unable to
inject any more toxin. It is important to take any removed ticks to the veterinary clinic so your vet can identify it. Even if you have removed the tick yourself and your pet is not displaying symptoms of tick paralysis, it’s important to get them checked over by a professional.
Tick paralysis symptoms
• affected coordination
• weakness or collapse
• vomiting or retching
• change of bark or meow
• difficulty breathing Prevention
there are a number of parasite prevention methods on the market. topical applications, rinses, sprays, and collars can aid in tick prevention, however, these methods do not 100% protect your pet. Regular tick searches, which involve running your hands through your pet’s entire coat (including down the legs, over their stomach, and to the tip of their tail) is recommended if you live in a tick-prone region such as Winmalee, Yellow Rock and Castlereagh. these methods, in conjunction with all year round tick prevention and regular vet health checks, are your best bet at keeping nasty ticks away from your beloved furry friends.
For more information, please contact us at Greencross Coreen Ave on (02) 4731 3055.
Phone 47 313 055 Units 2 & 3/117 Coreen Ave, Penrith NSW 2750
FRIENdS of hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter seek the “extras” for the dogs and cats in care at hawkesbury Pound. they also visit the pound each week and take photographs and temperament tests of the animals to post online and promote the animals. they upload their images and opinions of
these animals to Facebook, twitter and PetRescue. to follow them, look them up on facebook and twitter.
For any inquires related to these animals at hawkesbury Pound, please contact them directly on (02) 4560 4644.
When Bowie came to the Shelter she was very scared. She has been with us awhile now and has come out of her shell, she has shown what a lovely girl she is! Bowie would love to find a family that is willing to give her the time and care she needs to settle with them and blossom.
Rose has bounced into the shelter and is ready to find a Forever Home. She is a happy, energetic girl that would provide her new family with hours of entertainment. With a beautiful smile and great personality you can’t pass up a meet and greet with Rose..
Cost: $339.70 Age: 2 years and 6 months type: dog Breed: American Staffordshire Cross Sex: Female
All prices include microchipping, lifetime council registration and 1st Vaccination. R251000145
Maddie is a gentle little girl, she likes attention and enjoys your company. If you are interested in little Maddie please come to the shelter to meet her.
Cost: $162.70 Age: 5 Years
type: Cat Breed: domestic Short hair Sex: Female
All prices include microchipping, lifetime council registration, desexing and 1st Vaccination. R251000145
Bowie is a super active dog who loves to play ball with you and would make a great companion. If you are interested in adopting her please come to the shelter with your family dog and the children to meet her.
Cost: $424.65 Age: 1 year type: dog Breed: Kelpie Cross Sex: Female
All prices include microchipping, lifetime council registration, desexing and 1st Vaccination. R251000145
Owners of Penrith’s muchloved nepean Belle, Chris and Carol Bennett, are set to launch their next business venture, with their brand new floating bar and cocktail destination, The river Boat Bar.
with two spacious levels, a luxurious fitout and floor-plan, 3 bars with delicious cocktails, multiple dance floors, DJ bar, state-of-the-art stereo technology and a delectable grazing platter menu, it’s got everything for the perfect party on the water this summer.
Operating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, The River Boat Bar will provide both locals and tourists to Western Sydney with the ultimate venue to host private events and occasions of all kinds, boasting a large variety of group packages and spaces available for booking.
Mr Bennett said, “Part of The river Boat Bar experience is getting out to the bar and its location amongst the Nepean Gorge by our Riverboat Taxi, which boards guests at the jetty on Factory Rd. It’s all part of the entire day out,” he said.
when asked about the motivation to build the river Boat Bar, Carol said: “Through owning and operating the nepean Belle, we know how much people love being on the water and we wanted to create something new and exciting for people in the West to enjoy.”
Penrith’s newest floating venue will become a first for Western Sydney, enhancing the region’s reputation as the leisure and recreation capital of Sydney. The island venue takes inspiration from concepts similar in Sydney Harbour and will be home to themed events, entertainment and much more.
The Joan’s monthly stand-up comedy is back with Comedy Night on Friday 18 November. host Frida Deguise, who has built a reputation for breaking stereotypes, brings another fabulous line-up of five comedians to the Q Theatre.
Chris Radburn - is one of Australia’s best and most sought after comedians. he is an award-winning international headline comedian who has performed at every major comedy festival in Australia and has over 20 TV credits including The Footy Show, Thursday Night Live, Sydney Comedy Festival Gala, The Comedy Channel, and was an international finalist in America’s Last Comic Standing.
Tim Govers - has appeared in ensemble shows at The Sydney Comedy Festival and The Sydney Fringe Festival, written for The UnAustralian and performed standup at comedy venues up and down Sydney and around Australia.
Peter Green - has told jokes at every major comedy venue in Australia and New Zealand. he has written for Australia’s Funniest home Videos, the TV Week Logies and Game of Games. he is also the author of two comedy books, Are Youse the Comoydians? and Bad hobbits.
Sam Silla - hails from the UK
and is known for his confident and conversational style. he is rapidly becoming one of Australia’s exciting new voices. Combining observations of Australian culture and politics with humour over his family and their roots, Sam has a rich repertoire of comedy gold.
Andrew Hamilton - is Sydney’s newest bad boy of comedy fresh from Long Bay Prison straight to the stage! he is one of this year’s RAW Comedy State Finalists and will have the audience laughing ’til the place gets raided.
Comedy @ The Joan is on Friday 18 November at 7:30pm. Tickets: Standard $35, Concession $30, Under 30s $25. www.thejoan.com.au/ events/comedy-the-joan-2022/
EvEryonE’s favourite cheeky and adventurous friend, Edward the Emu has been on walkabout around Penrith! Follow his giant orange footprints from Westfield Penrith or Penrith City Library to The Joan to experience a unique imagining of two beloved Australian picture books, Edward the Emu and Edwina the Emu, by sheena Knowles and rod Clement live on stage this month.
Written for the stage and directed by Eva Di Cesare, the award-winning team behind Possum Magic returns with a heartfelt, clever and funny new tale. Join Edward and Edwina as they hilariously navigate their own feathered existential crises, seeking to find their place in the world.
Featuring exceptional, world-class puppetry, an original score and inventive storytelling, the emus’ journey of hijinks and tenderness leads them to discover that the best thing you can be is…you!
Enhance your theatre experience with an exclusive exhibition of Edward the Emu illustrator, rod Clement’s works at The Joan and Penrith City Library before or after the show. Plus, visit the library for a range of egg-cellent fun activities including hand puppet workshops (14 & 17 november), craft activities (until 22 november) and Edward and Edwina’s Pre-show Party (22 november, 4pm –5:30pm). Participate in the library’s Edward the Emu Bingo Competition for your chance to win an amazing prize pack including an olga the Brolga poster signed by rod Clement.
Edward the Emu is suitable for ages 4 – 10 and their families. It plays at Joan sutherland Performing Arts Centre on Tuesday 22 november at 12pm (schools and GP Performance) and 6pm (GP Performance) and Wednesday 23 november at 10am (schools and GP Performance – soLD oUT) and 12pm (schools and GP Performance). Duration: 50 minutes (no interval, followed by a 20-minute
Q&A with the cast). Tickets: standard $25, Family of 4 $90. school Groups $20 per student/teacher (1 free teacher per 10 students). Bookings at www. thejoan.com.au/events/edward-the-emu-2022/ Accessibility: The performance on Wednesday 23 november at 10am will be a relaxed performance. A visual story will be available from The Joan’s website closer to the performance season to accompany this performance. our theatre is equipped with space for wheelchairs.
For more information about the Edward the Emu activities happening at the library visit https://penrithcity.spydus.com/cgibin/spydus.exe/MSGTRNGEN/WPAC/ PROGRAMS?HOMEPRMS=UD_ PROGRAMS
James erskine was born in september 1817 at maryborough, Queen’s County in Ireland. He joined the army and served in the West Indies from 17911797 with the 22nd Regiment taking part in the san Domingo campaign in 1794 when he was gazetted to Captain. In June 1798 he was transferred to Ireland where he fought at the battle of Vinegar Hill and shared in the task of suppressing the rebellion. Transferred to the 48th Regiment in 1803 he was promoted to major erskine. In april 1805 he married sarah andrews of Cheltenham. He served in the Peninsular campaigns where he was slightly wounded in 1809 and later promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in 1810, and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1811. In august 1817 he arrived with his regiment in sydney on the Matilda and was sworn in as LieutenantGovernor of the Colony in september. In may 1818 he received a grant of 3,000-acres at (melville) south Creek that he called “erskine Park” and he was known for his kind treatment of his convict servants. In august 1821 an advert appeared in the sydney Gazette giving notice that there was only one public road through erskine Park, namely from North to south and commencing at Reverend marsden’s land and ending at the entrance to Nicholas Bayly’s land and that anyone found trespassing or removing the fences would be prosecuted. This became a problem when the grants and settlers fenced in their land entitlements but left no passageway for those who lived in the area. In 1825 James went to madras to re-join his regiment but he died of cholera four days after arriving there. By 1827 George Bunn who lived in George street sydney was the owner of the property that he rented out to Terence murray esq as a country residence with James evans as the overseer. In June 1830 at the supreme Court, simon Hunt and Richard Baker were indicted for stealing sundry articles of wearing apparel the property of our sovereign Lord the King at Penrith in april. a second account was laid, the property of some “person or persons unknown”. The attorney General conducted the prosecution and mr Therry appeared for the defence. The evidence in the case was the evidence of circumstances, or rather the evidence of inference as it appeared from the testimony of the witnesses that about the month of February it was reported that a man named samuel martin who was employed as a market man to Terrence murray fell from a dray on the road to sydney and was taken to the General Hospital where he died on the 26th the same month. so much of the evidence was merely a report, as none of the witnesses could say that the occurrence took place and had never seen samuel martin or knew that he was employed at erskine Park?. It appeared however from direct testimony, that on or about the day that simon Hunt was in the service of Terrence murray he told Richard Baker that samuel martin had died in Hospital and “will not trouble this place anymore” and that samuel had left his trunk in his charge but not the key. simon Hunt said he had heard that his master settled with samuel a short time before he left and that they might as well take what was left behind before anyone else gets it. The witness who spoke of having overheard
this conversation went on to say that he saw simon Hunt through a chink in the partition, break open the box with an axe in the dairy and take out some clothes consisting of trousers, waistcoats, a blue jacket and other articles similar to those produced before the Court. It further appeared on the evidence of a female servant to mr Hook at Bayly Park that on or about the time stated in the information the two prisoners came to her master’s house at night with the clothes tied up in a bundle and Baker requested her to put them near the fire to dry for him when he returned which she did, but she did not see either of the prisoners again and the clothes were handed over to Terrence murray at erskine Park. a tailor residing in sydney was then called on who proved he made the clothes shown to him for a man named sam (he knew him by no other name) who lived up country and that he heard that he was dead and remarked at the time that he had lost money that remained due for sam’s clothes. a clerk in the General Hospital was also called and said that a man named samuel martin was received into the hospital and died there on the 26th of February and he was buried at the expense of the Government. This concluded the case for the prosecution. mr Therry submitted that the information could not be supported on the ground of uncertainty and that all the indictments were bad. The attorney General contented that on the first count the information was good. The property of all intestates was property of the King until executors were appointed and besides, property might be laid on the person by whom the expense of the funeral was defrayed, and it was in evidence that the deceased man samuel martin was buried at the expense of the Government. The court knew that robberies might be committed and parties convicted without it being possible to ascertain who the property belonged to and it would in such a case be sufficient to lay it on some person or persons unknown and be submitted that none of the witnesses on the present trial spoke with any certainty of the deceased. The Judge then summed up the evidence and the Jury retired and returned a verdict of Not Guilty. In 1893 at a st marys Council meeting in august, a petition from residents of erskine Park was asking for Council’s attention regarding the state of the road, or rather what should be a road, namely the one leading from erskine Park Road to mamre Road and known as Page’s and Baker’s Lane that was impassable and was the only road they could take their produce to, and get supplies from st marys unless they travelled by the erskine Park Road to mt Druitt that was also in a very bad state so, would Council take the matter into consideration and have something done to either one or the other of the roads at once?. It was signed by 11 ratepayers of erskine Park. alderman Cox moved that the petition be granted and alderman Fleming seconded – all carried.
Sources: manuscript catalogue under J. Erskine (State Library of NSW), National Archives of the United Kingdom, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Ancestry, Sydney Gazette & NSW Advertiser, The Australian, Nepean Times.
Watercolour of James Erskine courtesy of State Library Dictionary of Sydney.
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth ii, King Charles iii inherited his mother’s wealth worth a combined £17billion. the vast majority of this wealth has been passed down over nearly 1000 years rather than being created by the current generation. it consists almost entirely of centuries-long ownership of land and property across the country and even the seabed around the British isles. With the ownership dating back to at least 1066 during the Norman conquest of Britain.
in the UK’s former colony of America, the new elites have been doing something similar with Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Ray Dalio, ted turner, and the like quietly buying up huge swathes of farmland. it’s not just billionaires that are doing it. Wall Street has been buying up land as well. A lot of this is to do with food security as the world increasingly moves away from agrarian societies and towards urbanisation but land has also been an excellent hedge against monetary debasement and inflation.
Let’s have a look at some other assets as a store of generational wealth.
Stocks can be a great way to generate wealth, but it is hard to think of many companies that are 100 years old and still relevant today. Businesses live in a world of constant innovation and change, with the top 10 companies in the world changing over time. the old guard of banking and finance has recently given way to tech stocks such as Amazon, Apple, and Google. holding onto a portfolio of stocks without at least
some form of knowledge and management is likely to result in declining returns.
Precious metals – in particular, gold has a 5000-year history as a monetary metal and store of value. this is increasingly being bought up by the sovereign wealth funds india, China, and Russia as trust in the USD declines. While effectively remaining flat over the last ten years, gold is a legitimate store of wealth with a high stock-to-flow ratio. In other words, the global supply of gold inflates relatively slowly at around 2% compared to around 15% for fiat currency. The only issue is that it doesn’t generate any retirement income and may be of limited use for individuals. You also run into problems with storage and verification should you ever need to use it for an emergency.
The problem with the fiat (paper) currency system is that money is no longer a store of wealth. the ability of the central bankers to print endless amounts erodes its value of it over time. this is clear in America, where the economy currently makes up around 25% of the global GDP. This has fallen
from 40% in 1960. But US dollars are still used in 80% of global trade. Given a long enough timeline, global reserve currencies have always failed, lasting, on average, about 100 years. the USD has been the reserve currency for around 80 years now and getting long in the tooth.
in Australia, the money supply has been increasing at around 9.5% per annum. If we were to divide stocks, gold, or property by M3, it would surprise most to find that the value of all these hasn’t grown over the long term. the one exception is property when purchased with leverage – the use of leverage has been one of the easiest ways to circumvent this problem. Well-selected property has traditionally been and continues to be one of the best ways for Australians to build wealth.
Please do not hesitate to contact me on 4739 4500, 0403 166207 or beards@selectgrp.com.au if you what to discuss your situation, any financial matters or have any home Finance questions that i can assist you with.
Phone: 4739 4500 Mobile: 0403 166 207
Email: beards@selectgrp.com.au Award
ri CHA r D Green surged, stumbled badly within sight of victory, then gathered himself again to birdie the final hole of the tournament and thus secure a dramatic victory in the nova employment Australian PGA Seniors Championship, his fourth win of a remarkable year.
Having led at one point by five shots in the final round, Green surrendered his hard-earned advantage with three bogeys on the back nine, eventually leaving himself tied in first place with 2020 champion Andre Stoltz, as they prepared to play the final hole of the tournament.
Green had already won two seniors tournaments in europe this year, and last week’s nSW Senior Open in Albury on the SParms PGA Legends Tour, and held his nerve to birdie the 54th hole in front of the impressivelypacked amphitheatre.
“i think to win the way i have this year is unbelievable,” Green said.
“When i was on the main tours, they
(the wins) were coming every decade sort of thing, so to win four times this year is an incredible feeling.
“For things to not go the way i wanted them to go on the back nine, and then to get it, that’s what let it (the emotion) out.”
Green shot a four-under-par final round of 66 to post 11-under overall, to win by a shot from 2020 champion Stolz, who narrowly missed a putt from the fringe behind the 18th green to join
Green at 11-under and force a playoff. michael Long (new Zealand) and Hervey bay professional Chris Taylor were tied for third at 9-under-par.
Speaking of the pressure of the final hole and his ability to hold it together, Green said “Years of experience to not let that happen.
“You’ve got to gather yourself, gather your emotions and do your best on every shot. That’s what i set out to do at the start of the day, the start of the
week, the start of this year, just to give everything on every shot.
“Fortunately, that’s what got me there in the end.”
Green is headed to the Champions Tour qualifying school in America soon and dreams of playing on that circuit in 2023.
nova employment had signed on as major sponsor for 3 years, ensuring the tournament returns to richmond GC for the next two years.
Anumber of local juniors are entered for the upcoming JnJG brett Ogle Junior masters, which will be held at Goulburn GC over the 19th-20th november.
The list includes blake Hodges (nSW GC), Coby Carruthers, Tyler nesci and Grace Lee (Concord GC), Ti Fox (richmond GC), Darcy mackay (Stonecutters ridge GC) and a further 5 players from Lynwood CC, including 12-year old Camilla Kim, who is coached at Twin Creeks GC.
The tournament will also be an excellent warm-up event for Coby, Grace and Camilla, who have all qualified for the prestigious 2022
By Noel Rowsell
iT’S great to see polo being played back in the Hawkesbury, after flooding once again inundated our polo fields,” said Kim McDougall, one of the organisers of Polo events at Windsor Polo Club.
“We’ve had 12 teams competing over 3 grades the last few weekends, with the Spring Cup decided on Sunday 6th november.
“Congratulations to our winners of The royal richmond Hotel Spring Cup, including: 4-Goal: AZ Polo (James Parry-Okeden, Alex Zak, Shannon booth, Dirk Gould); 0-Goal: Bella (Pete martin,
Hannah Harris, Drew Harris, Steve barnard); Sub-Zero: Bellevue Polo (Teneille murray, Pete Handbury, Lucia Gilmore, George Phillip).
“Thank you to everyone who came out to play, watch, help and enjoy at our first tournament back at the Windsor Polo Club grounds.
“it’s been a tough year but nothing compares to the joy of a beautiful sunny day and seeing dozens of players and horses on the field.
“Look forward to seeing you this week (10th-13th november) at The Winten Cup!”
The Winten Cup is the highlight of the Spring polo calendar. entry is free and spectators are welcome.
Champions Trophy, which will be played at bonville GC over 30th november - 2nd December.
The other local players who have qualified for Bonville are Annoushka maikap and ryan Cadle (Stonecutters ridge), along with brielle mapanao (The Australian GC).
The bonville Champions Trophy is a World Amateur Golf ranking (WAGr) and Golf Australia Junior Order of merit (GA OOm) event for players who won a Jack newton Junior Golf (JnJG) Tour event during the 2021 / 2022 season.
The tournament will be played over 72 holes in three days, with a cut after 54 holes. All players who miss the cut will caddie for another player in the final round.
to our FOTF sponsors De bortoli and bb Millinery.
awkesbury race Club hosted the annual Lander Toyota Ladies Day on Thursday 3rd November, with approximately 1,500 people in attendance to enjoy a great day of racing and fashions.
“The sun was finally out for Ladies Day, for the first time in 3 years, and it was great seeing the crowds enjoying the sunshine and the racing,” said kim McDougall, Marketing and Communications Manager.
“we had forty-three women register for ‘Fashions on the Field’ (FOTF). The winner of best Dressed Lady was Cindy Fullerton, runner-up was Madeleine Leva and best Millinery winner was susan Tricker. Thank you
H“we would also like to thank our race sponsors, including Lander Toyota, blakes Marine, Irresistible Pools & spas, Fowler’s Civil Contracting, All Aspects Roofing sydney, stannix Park Lodge, airmakers air Conditioning service and belle Property Hawkesbury.
“kirwan’s Lane, trained by John O’shea and ridden by Tom sherry, won the 2022 Listed Lander Toyota Ladies Day Cup.
“we look forward to seeing everyone back track-side at Hawkesbury race Club again soon.”
Full race results can be viewed at https://racing.racingnsw.com.au/ FreeFields/Results.aspx?Key=2022 Nov03%2CNSW%2CHawkesbury
wITH summer and the swimming season upon us, Penrith families are being encouraged to take advantage of the enormously successful First Lap Voucher program, helping kids keep safe and having fun without breaking the family budget.
stuart ayres MP, Member for Penrith said families across Penrith can use their First Lap voucher to ensure their children learn about water safety and learning to swim.
The First Lap program provides families of eligible Nsw children aged 3-6, not enrolled in school, with one $100 voucher
to offset the costs of swimming lessons.
“signing your child up for swimming allows for them to make new friends, learn important safety skills and stay healthy,” stuart ayres said.
“Now is the perfect time to download your vouchers for the kids to have some fun in the water this summer.”
“I encourage families to get on the service Nsw app or website to create their child’s vouchers,” said stuart ayres.
More information on the First Lap program is available at: www.sport.nsw. gov.au/firstlap
there has been an obsession within the game of rugby League across the last decade with structure and patterns of play. to the point the game now resembles checkers on grass with most teams falling into the same ‘shapes’ and ‘structures’ in the hope that they can execute them to the same point of perfection as those teams who have demonstrated success using them.
the truth is that most teams do not have the player talent to consistently execute these patterns or structures consistently across long periods of time. Usually this results in the coach getting sacked due to poor results / performances. Why? Because he values structure over strategy. the structure will bring the team success... sometimes it will when the talent allows for it. But often there is no thought given to how the structure fits the players at the coach’s disposal... and what strategy or style of play would suit them best.
this structure obession is stunting the growth of our game at the junior level particularly from ages 12 through to 18. During this time the game becomes purposefully more structured and patterned... Why?
Because of the obsession around having our game at the schoolboy and junior rep level look the same as it does at the elite level in the nrL. this has never and will never be achievable. the meaning of development should be enough to jolt some common sense into those who walk down this road year after year.
When you start to really delve into the reasons behind the structure and patterned play at this age you start to understand the root of the problem is not only the robotic nature of the coaching, but it is also the style of coaching delivered which inhibits the growth of game intelligence and awareness. Coaches at this level are often great recruiters, they will assemble talented lists and dominate competitions with strong teams but they rarely extend and develop the players. they assemble, structure and rarely coach. Putting players through patterns of play and the same monotonous drills is not coaching. it is coaching malpractice.
the game at this level rewards success for the most part. not development. Because naturally we are selfish, we want a return on investment now. If
-
Shepperdi coach the players this way, the team will succeed, players will move onto the next progression and we all get what we want, right? Wrong. these players often get to the age of 20 and the lack of coaching and progression catches up with them. these foundation years from 12 to 18 have involved very little coaching, so the players are often quite resistant to coaches challenging them and sadly a lot of these players become stranded in the part time and semiprofessional levels of our game.
What is the solution? to coach is to play chess on grass. not checkers. it is to teach your players to have adaptability, flexibility and resilience. To coach is to lead by doing the right thing. We are so obsessed by doing things right... And we lose sight of what is really important as coaches. Which is to coach our players, to teach them the game through allowing the game to teach them. Decision making situations, repetition of different scenarios and situations will challenge and develop the next generation of nrL players. not a cut and paste checkers structure copied from the most recent team to win the nrL Grand Final!
Penrith City Archers, which is based adjacent to the Colonial Golf Course in Werrington, is celebrating two national title winners, with 14-year old Emily Griffiths (Wilberforce) and 68-year old Kevin Girard (Katoomba) winning their respective age groups.
emily was in action at the Coast Archers range on the nSW Central Coast on the weekend of the 16th-17th October, taking out the Archery Australia national target Championships national title in her age group with a compound bow.
Despite first taking up the sport as an 11-year old, COVID and the ongoing flood situation in NSW has meant heavily restricted time on a range, resulting in just 12 months actual shooting practice in the past 3 years.
The family home was flooded in recent storm events, so for the past seven months emily and her family have lived in a caravan. With each subsequent flood, the archery course has also been closed for up to 3 weeks at a time and with the ongoing rain, she was unable to practice for considerable periods of time.
in spite of those hardships, emily’s success at the national championships did not come as a surprise to her family, supporters or club members, as she also took 3rd place in the national indoor target championships in July.
emily is coached by roy Fratini, began her education at Wilberforce PS and is now in Year 7 at the Centre of Excellence in Agriculture (COE), at the hawkesbury University Campus.
68-year old Kevin Girard is at the other end of the age spectrum, claiming gold and silver medals in the 60+ Longbow events at the Archery Australia national target Championships.
Kevin found himself in a bizarre situation at the national championships, after helping a fellow competitor with some tips on technique.
that competitor rose to the occasion and pipped out Kevin for Gold in the short course event, before Kevin rallied to the challenge and strode away with Gold in the Fita / AA Fifty Metre 1440 event.
A late starter at the age of 50, Kevin is on a disability support pension but competes against ablebodied archers without variations.
“not only can you begin later in life, you can begin and maintain your activity and participation through ill health,” said Kevin.
those athletes with more severe health / physical limitations can compete nationally and internationally.
Shooting with Longbows is a less-popular discipline but is gradually gaining devotees.
Kevin makes his own bows, arrows, quivers and belts and after developing a keen interest in medieval sports, is now making chain mail as well and participating in medieval tournaments.
in 1964, Jim Cotter, later a Master Archer, a member of the Fairfield Club, was instrumental in founding the Penrith Archery Club, which is affiliated with both Archery nSW and Archery Australia.
On 20th August of that year, eight other interested people met with Jim in the Penrith School of Arts and decided to form the Penrith City Archers. Officebearers were elected and nomination and annual subscription fees were set.
these toxophilites, as archery participants are technically called, became the core of the Penrith City Archers Club, which has continued for almost 60 years.
the foundation president was John inall and the first home ground was located in the south-east comer of Jamison Park, Penrith.
however, concerns about the safety of other park users - who refused to stay outside the boundary ropes set up to keep them away from the shooting area - caused the club to move to a new venue.
In fact, the Penrith City Archers spent the first twenty-five years of its existence moving from venue to venue - seventeen in all - as it sought to obtain a permanent home ground. During that time the club constantly relied upon the goodwill of landowners for safe areas to shoot in the open.
the club also enjoyed an indoor shooting range at the disused Colyton Jam Factory, a venue that was used by several groups at that time. Unfortunately, repeated vandal attacks rendered the factory unsafe and, after several accidents, it was eventually closed to all users.
Despite all these setbacks, the club managed to keep afloat, albeit without outside funding and in 1986, obtained the present site in Werrington.
‘try Archery’ days are held on Saturdays and 5-week beginner classes are also available.
After 5 weeks of pool games and quarter finals, the Rugby League Cup in England has reached it’s pointy end. Last weekend we saw 8 become 4 as the following results were recorded.
Australia beat Lebanon 48-4. New Zealand came from behind to defeat a valiant Fiji 24-18. England powered to a statement-making victory over PNG 466. And finally in the wee hours of Monday morning the game of the tournament so far saw an upset of sorts with Samoa taking down neighbours Tonga 20-18.
And then there were 4! This Saturday morning Sydney time Australian take on our Anzac comrades, the Kiwis, in the first of the semi finals at 6.45am. Then in the second semi final hosts England take on Samoa at 1.30am Sunday morning.
It is interesting to see the Rugby League World rankings before this current tournament took place. Rankings were based upon results over the past four years of competition. And given there has been next to no action played at an international level over that period the ladder read like this:
the same even after watching the same thing happening in the ladies’ version of the world cup. The teams being beaten will only learn from this magnificent opportunity to ply their trade on the world stage.
So, how will the two semi finals play out over the weekend? I’m guessing, no I’m actually predicting, that the Kiwis will throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at the Aussies in the opening stanzas of the first semi on Saturday morning. They’d be silly not to given their forward power. The first 20 minutes are a CANNOT miss. But as we know a game of footy goes for 80 not 20, and its then where I expect the Aussie juggernaut to click into gear and win the game by a score line of around 28 points to 12. James Tedesco to be man of the match.
In the second of the semis we witness a fascinating match-up. In round 1 of the Cup back on October 16 England embarrassed the Samoans 60-6. There were calls from all quarters to sack coach Matt Parish, that he had lost the confidence of the playing group etc etc…. “its a marathon not a sprint, our team takes time to warm up” were his prophetic words almost a month ago.
And here they find themselves one game from the final.
The English have been, in a word AWESOME! The inclusion of Victor Radley, playing along side Bateman, Whitehead, Burgess, and co has been significant. The Poms will start pronounced favourites Sunday morning and like the first final, expect fireworks from the Samoan lads.
Lebanon weren’t even in the top 8 yet they made the quarter finals. The rankings will have a completely different look once the final is played at Old Trafford on Sunday the 20th of November at 3am Sydney time.
I spoke of the minnows last time we were here together and my stance remains
But I think ultimately the England boys will prevail in a tight contest 16-12, setting up a final for the ages against the old foe Australia. Set your alarms these are two games you do not want to miss.
See you at the coffee pot……..
MG (random Westie) OAM