Nepean News 11 October 2018

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Thursday, 11 October 2018

ISSUE 237

ML No. 405714685

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L ving life Ann Willmington from Vintage FM, organiser of the brain cancer fundraiser, Music 4 Life with Dr Charlie Teo, who saved her life. Support this wonderful cause and book your attendance at the biggest local event of the year on October 27. More details on page 11.

Carolyn’s Guide to Retirement Living in Western Sydney Meet Carolyn, an expert with years of experience in the retirement living sector. Here she continues her column sharing insights and answers to the frequently asked questions people have about living in a retirement village.

Are Retirement Villages Pet Friendly?

It’s important to know that each separate village operates under its own pet policy. Most villages know that there is a loved family member of the four-legged persuasion that you wouldn’t want to leave behind, and that staying with your family pet can sway your decision from moving into a village.

At Jordan Springs, a brand new retirement village is coming and here we love our pets. The new villas will have courtyards and of course you are welcome to walk your dog around the village and wider community on a lead. Pets are also welcome in the planned apartments. Located right next to the beautiful Jordan Springs lake, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a stroll with your best friend.

Call Carolyn on 0430 189 447 to find out more about our brand new village, the villas, apartments and lifestyle on offer, or visit jordanspringsretirement.com to register your interest and receive VIP updates on how to buy.

local news

By KeRRIE DAVIES

O

ctober is Breast Cancer Aw a r e n e s s Month and the McGrath Foundation has asked communities across the state to ‘Pink Up’ their entire town to raise awareness and funds for the McGrath Foundation.

Penrith City Council has joined forces with the ‘Pink Up Penrith’ committee and is proud that Penrith has become the first metropolitan city to embrace the ‘Pink Up Your Town’ campaign.

The McGrath Foundation aims to increase awareness of breast Photo: Hilary Nathan Media health and raise money to place specialist McGrath Breast Care Nurses where they and outside of the Civic Centre including pink bows, are needed Australia-wide. By taking part in ‘Pink ribbons, cushions, banners, posters and lighting on Up Penrith’, Penrith City is supporting this fantastic both the exterior and interior of the building. program.

“On 10 October we’ll be lighting up the Civic Penrith Mayor, Councillor Ross Fowler OAM, Centre in a sea of pink lights at night time and the thanked the Pink Up Penrith Committee for driving October 29 Ordinary Meeting of Council will turn our local campaign and said he’s sure we’ll see pink”. many local businesses jump on board and embrace This is a great opportunity to place the spotlight the pink theme. not only on our city as we raise awareness and funds “As part of Council’s involvement throughout for a most worthwhile cause but also on the McGrath the month of October, you’ll see the Penrith Civic Foundation and the amazing work they are doing.

Centre like you’ve never seen it before,” Councillor This is particularly important when statistics show Fowler said. that 50 women a day have been diagnosed with “You’ll see decorative accents to both the inside breast cancer in 2018 alone.

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Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

Council turns Pink during October

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From the Editor’s Desk

Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

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By KeRRIE DAVIES

O

n Anzac Day last year, the Australian Newspaper ran a story stating that there were fewer than 200 Australian WWII veterans left.

This year will claim even more no doubt, and sadly for my family one of them was Jack Richardson, at 94 years of age.

To me he was Uncle Jacky, my mother’s oldest brother.

The oldest of six siblings and the only male, Uncle Jacky went off to war at the age of 17. He’d fibbed about his age like many patriotic young fellas did in those days.

It was a number of years before he returned from war to his homeland, and his younger sisters were playing hopscotch when the young soldier strolled up the street. My mother hadn’t been born when he left and her older sisters had no idea who the handsome soldier was. It is a picture that’s almost unfathomable in this day and age of instant contact via mobile phones and social media, but that was the reality of the 1940s.

Uncle Jacky was a salt of the earth type of bloke, with many war stories held close to his kind and gentle heart. He was proud to be part of the elite group of WWII veterans that were left, but he realised how fast they were dwindling when he was the only one left to march on Anzac Day from his branch.

With Remembrance Day next month, it is a good time to remind ourselves that those who gave their all and fought for our freedom won’t be around forever, so let’s make the most of the time we have left with those who are still here.

RIP Uncle Jacky. You were loved, adored and admired by so many.

local news

By KeRRIE DAVIES

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tuart Ayres MP, Member for Penrith has announced that the new Nepean River Bridge will hold its grand opening on Sunday, 28 October.

Following the opening ceremony, the new 257 metre long dual pedestrian/cycle bridge will be available for the public to use for the first time.

“The new bridge will provide a safe crossing for pedestrians and cyclists over the Nepean River so that they no longer have to walk or ride on the narrow footpath on Victoria Bridge,” said Stuart Ayres “For the first time since 1867, people will be able to look down and see the Nepean River as they walk or ride from Penrith to Emu Plains and back.”

Further details will be announced in coming weeks and will be available at: www. rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/ sydney-west/nepean-riverbridge/index.html

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Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

Nepean River Bridge opening

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COVER STORY

By KeRRIE DAVIES

L

ocal braincancer cure warrior, Ann Willmington, from Vintage FM, has been championing the cause and encouraging the kindhearted people of Penrith to dig deep.

Tickets to the 2018 Music for Life Ball to be held at the Penrith Panthers Pavilion on Saturday 27th October are on sale now. All the proceeds from this special night will go to Charlie Teo Foundation, which is devoted to “a world without brain cancer”.

“In 2008 I was diagnosed with a Brain tumor and I was told I had about 18 months to live,” Ann said.

“Personally I didn’t listen to what they told me. The first operation was in Penrith hospital and I was in for 14 days. Dr Nair who did my surgery told me the tumour was bigger than expected and he said that there was only one person who may be able to help me; Dr Charlie Teo. “After my first meeting with Charlie Teo I was not sure what to do as he said the risks were high. I said to Charlie, what would you do? He said do you have kids, I said yes, and he said the options are, that if you don’t have the operation you definitely won’t see your kids after 12 months or with the

operation you may be in a wheelchair, you may be paralysed, but you will see your kids. I had the operation and it was a success. This tumour was not cancer.

“Four years later Dr Charlie found that the tumour had come back, so I

went in for my third surgery, this time it came back as cancer so I had to go through chemo and radiation.

“I am now committed to help raise money so we can find a cure for this terrible disease.”

Now in its 8th year, Music for Life

has raised over $410,000 for brain cancer research. Music for Life this year is about “A Night to Remember,” a night that you won’t forget and a night to remember those that are no longer with us.

It will be “A Night to Remember” for all the right reasons.

This year has amazing entertainment with NEVER ENDING 80’s that will take you back to the best of it all. With a show packed full of the biggest hits by the biggest artists, the vibe created means that there is nothing else you can do except sing along and dance!

The NEVER ENDING 80’s have been performing around the Country to sellout audiences.

Cameron Williams from Nine News Sport will be the MC and Dr Charlie Teo will be the Guest Speaker who will update us on progress made so far with brain cancer research.

For more information, please call Ann Willmington or Nicki Gillis on 4731 1876.

Music for Life consists of an amazing 3 course Dinner, Entertainment, Auctions, Raffles, a Night with lots of Fun, Information and of course lots of Music as well right through the night.

Tickets are $150 per person or $1300 for a table of 10.

To book go to www.musicforlife. net.au

Journalist hoping to creatively write an end to hunger

By KeRRIE DAVIES

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FORMER Nepean News journalist is adding creativity to his fundraising to end world hunger by 2030.

Keegan Thomson is taking part in The Hunger Project’s Unleashed Women campaign with funds raised going to empower women across India, Africa and Bangladesh to end their own hunger.

“I wanted to get involved with The Hunger Project because it has a sustainable vision for ending world hunger,” Mr Thomson said.

“Instead of handing out food to people living in hunger, The Hunger Project sees people as the key to ending hunger, so they educate and change mindsets so people on the ground can end their own hunger.”

Mr Thomson is raising funds for The Hunger Project by unleashing his own creativity. For every donation above $25 he will write the donor a piece of creative writing, either a poem or a short story depending on the donation.

“I’m not pretending I’m a big name writer, or that any of my writing is going to be very good, but for me writing a poem or a short story for someone is a challenge and I know that it is nothing compared to the

challenges faced by people living in hunger,” Mr Thomson said.

One donation of $25 roughly translates to the education of 20 women and young mothers about locally available food that can be fed to their families to prevent malnutrition.

The Hunger Project works worldwide with the head office of the organisation based in New York City. Instead of handing out food The Hunger Project teaches local villagers

about changing mindsets, so they can lift themselves out of hunger.

Melanie Noden, CEO, The Hunger Project Australia said Unleashed Women promotes gender equality so everyone can come together to help end hunger.

“We know that women in developing countries often bear the responsibility of obtaining the basic needs for the community and their family, yet are systematically denied the resources and

the voice to fulfill that responsibility.

Unleashed Women aims to achieve gender equality and end hunger for everyone by empowering women to be the key change agents,” Ms Noden said.

If you’d like to donate to Keegan’s Unleashed Women fundraiser you can go to www.bit. ly/keeganthomsonunleashed.

All donations above $25 will include a poem.

Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

Help Ann solve the brain cancer puzzle

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Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

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local news

Former Mayor to manage Luke Priddis Foundation

By KeRRIE DAVIES

T

he Luke Priddis Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of a new General Manager.

Chairman of the Foundation, Luke Priddis, has formally announced the appointment of John Thain to the position.

Mr Thain, from North St Marys began this week having just completed a two year term as Mayor of Penrith City Council.

In making the announcement Mr Priddis said the experience and leadership which Mr Thain brings demonstrated to the Board that the Foundation is in good hands as it continues to grow and service the needs of families in which Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an everyday aspect of their lives.

“John is a passionate advocate for disability services and providers in our city, his appointment will enhance our service capabilities as we experience growth in assisting our families,” said Mr Priddis.

“The Luke Priddis Foundation opened the LPF Centre for Autism in High Street, Penrith 18 months ago and has gone from strength to strength in helping families navigate their ASD journey, understand information, develop skills and peer support through facilitated activities and groups.

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“John’s appointment will enable us to pursue new opportunities and programs as we continue to transform service delivery for parents, carers, young adults and children.”

Mr Thain said it is a privilege to join the Foundation, an organisation which he has a close affinity to as an ambassador.

“As a parent of a child with special needs, I understand the difficulties faced by those in a similar position and hope that through this role I can lead the way in helping families navigate the challenges in securing the best care and therapy for their children,” he said.

Mr Thain said he thoroughly enjoyed his Mayoral role “It’s been great, I loved every minute of it,” he said.

“It is hard to believe the two years has gone so quickly. It has been a lot of hard work but Tricia (Hitchen, Deputy Mayor) and I have really enjoyed it. We made a great team.”

Mr Thain’s first official duties in his new role will be the annual LPF Ball which is being held at St Marys Band Club on 20 October 2018. The Ball is a major fundraiser for LPF with the introduction of more social groups, the expansion of our facilities and providing support to many families. For more details or tickets for the Spring Ball, call 4736 2202 or email events@lukepriddisfoundation.com

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local news

By CONNER LOWE

T

he Riding for the Disabled Association (NSW) are celebrating their 35th year in Orchard Hills.

The RDA will be hosting their 4th Family Fun Day at the RDA Nepean Centre, on Saturday the 27th of October and want everyone to come down and support the event. The event will commence at 10am and conclude at 4pm, with free entry for everyone in attendance. It’s guaranteed to be a great day out.

After the flood disaster in June 2016 which took the lives of several horses, it took the RDA over a year to recover and rebuild. RDA NSW Nepean Centre reopened in August last year and they are celebrating their recent as well as past achievements.

Sara Dautzenberg, the RDA NSW Nepean Centre President spoke about the importance of the Family Fun Event.

“It’s free, we have invited everyone, including people with a disability, who live in respite or group homes, we wanted this year to be about and for them,” she said.

“We tried to make the day

inclusive for the families of people with a disability as well. It’s hard to be a sibling of a person with a disability.

“We provide people with disability equine-related activities. They can include horse riding, horse care, mental health horse activities.”

The 2018 Family Fun Day will be a great day out with family friendly games and inclusive activities; featuring Face Painting, Pony Rides (under 12’s only), Petting Zoo, with heaps of farm animals, Dress up Area, with medieval chain mail, Horse exhibits, medieval performers, Craft Area, loads of kids crafting indoors, in a quiet area, Hobby Horse Games

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prizes for lots of races, Live Music, Performers, Jumping Castle (all ages, even adults), Canteen and BBQ, Raffles!

Sara also spoke about the non-profit organisation and the dedication they get from the volunteers to help raise funds for the organisation.

“RDA is non-profit, volunteerrun. No one here gets paid, we are all volunteers.

Coaches, committee and volunteers are all doing this out of their time and money,” she said.

“We fundraise for all of the costs of running programs and the cost of caring for our horses and ponies.

“We can apply for government grants, but there are not many. So about 40% comes from participants fees and 60% from direct donations and fundraising.”

There have been many changes over the years, but the miraculous healing power of horses and the joy they bring will always be the same. Come and have a fun day and help the RDA celebrate.

There will be free entry for everyone, please book in advance so the RDA can be prepared for numbers.

See the link below! www.eventbrite. com.au/e/rda-nepean-family-funday-2019-tickets-47884455696

Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

The RDA host the Family Fun Day

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Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

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local news

Enjoy a Summer cruise on the Nepean River

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s Summer fast approaches and you’re looking to have a great day out, look no further than a day out on the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler.

With some fantastic events coming up and the upgrade of the “Private Feast” on all their cruises, the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler is a great day out with friends or family.

The Discover the Secrets cruise is on Saturday 27 October 10AM-3PM. With pricing for Adult $125, Senior $110 -16yrs $65. Be surprised and delighted by all the things you never knew about the Nepean River and region! Visit sites of historical significance along the river as you travel at a leisurely pace on this 5-hour cruise, enjoying a Devonshire Tea, our 2-Course lunch and a small afternoon tea.

The Psychic Cruise is on the following day, Sunday 28 October 4-7PM, with tickets only $59 (Adults only). Grab some friends and come along for a 3-hour experience only available on the Nepean Belle! Savour our famous Devonshire Tea, have a 10-minute reading with one of our popular Psychics and be entertained with information all about crystals with a display and crystals available for purchase on the cruise.

However, if you are unable to get the weekend off for these two magnificent cruises you can always ask for an early Christmas present and get yourself a gift card for any up and coming cruises that interest you. A Nepean Belle Gift Voucher is the perfect gift for that someone who has everything. Give them a gift of experience - a relaxing cruise on the Nepean Belle is just what they need at the end of another big year. Make your purchase in a matter of minutes, personalise your message, print and pop it in a card.

Bookings can be made at the link below: www.carol-bennett-691l.squarespace.com/

Liberal party pre-selection underway in Lindsay

Michael Creed

Belinda Hill

Ray King

Melissa McIntosh

T

HE Liberal party has four nominations for pre-selection in the running to be their next Federal Candidate for Lindsay. They are Michael Creed, Belinda Hill, Ray King and Melissa McIntosh.

The successful candidate will be chosen by members of the Liberal Party and be announced in due time.

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local news

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ress up, grab a Halloween bag and get ready to pound the pavement as part of the St Marys Trick or Treat Trail. There will be free lollies, entertainment and prizes to keep the whole family entertained.

Be part of this year’s amazing Trick or Treat Trail to be held on Saturday 27th October from 10am till 2pm in Coachman’s Park, Cnr Charles Hackett Drive and Queen Street, St Marys.

Building on the success of last year’s Halloween event, where over 1200 children registered and participated, this event is sure to be even better with nearly 40 stops on the trail.

Alex Karavas, Chairman of St Marys Town Centre said “Last year’s Halloween event was an extremely successful for St Marys Town Centre with numbers tipping just over 1200 children registering to participate in the day. It was fantastic to see so many people of all ages dress up and parade along the street in their amazing costumes. Business owners saw a lot of new faces coming through their doors. It’s great to see this kind of community support, not to mention people attending this event from outside of the area.”

The Halloween trick or treat trail is a FREE family event for the whole family with entertainment, airbrush tattoos, balloon bender, jumping castle and our walkaround characters for the kids to meet.

The streets will be patrolled with traffic controllers positioned on certain streets making it easier for parents and

children to cross safely.

There will be prizes for the best dressed on the day so make sure you get creative and join us in Coachman’s Park for the fancy dress parade.

To find out the latest information about the St Marys Trick or Treat Trail event please head to www.facebook. com/stmarystowncentre

Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

Safe way for kids to trick or treat

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Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

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local news Can your pet suffer from hay fever and allergies?

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an your pet suffer from hay fever and allergies?

People commonly suffer with hay fever and sinus problems around springtime every year. There are a large number of antihistamines available to control symptoms of hay fever in people. Unfortunately, there is not yet a widely available treatment to “cure” people who suffer with hay fever.

Pets can also develop seasonal allergies that occur every year around spring. Some animals may show signs of seasonal allergy at different times of year, depending on the trigger for the allergy. Commonly pollens and air-born particles contact with the skin of the pet and trigger a reaction in animals that have a hypersensitised immune system.

Pets do not show signs of sneezing and sinus troubles as commonly. Some pets will have sneezing and watery eyes, but most pets develop

itchy, reactive skin as a sign of seasonal allergies.

They can scratch repetitively on their bodies, or lick all the times at their feet. Some animals with seasonal allergies will madly rub their face along the lounge chairs or on the ground. The skin around the eyes and in the ear canals can look very inflamed.

Some pets only signs of seasonal allergies are repeated ear infections at certain times of the year.

What can we do to help these pets? Treatment is recommended for pets that suffer from seasonal allergies to make them comfortable. Intense itching and skin inflammation can cause real suffering and affect quality of life for many animals. Treatment may involve a course of antihistamines for the period

of time that the pet is reactive.

There are some excellent animal antihistamines, and sometimes your veterinarian may recommend human medications. It is important not to just give antihistamines without the guidance of your Veterinarian as pets need different dosages than people.

To help reduce any further irritation on the skin it is important to prevent parasites living on your pet’s skin. The most common skin parasite for pets is fleas. There is now a convenient three-monthly flea tablet (that also prevents ticks) that can be given to control these parasites.

Other parasites that may affect the skin (and in combination with seasonal allergies worsen the symptoms) include Demodectic and Sarcoptic mange. These parasites need specific treatment.

So, if you see your pet itching, scratching, rubbing or sneezing, then make an appointment with your Veterinarian to have this assessed. Whilst “cure” may not be possible, for many animals their symptoms can be controlled and they can be given back a comfortable life again.

Greencross Vets | Phone 47 313 055 Units 2 & 3/117 Coreen Ave, Penrith NSW 2750

Film Maker Releases Witness in Heaven

By Noel Rowsell

E

Photo: Eelan Elanko

elan Elanko is a Tamil migrant and film-maker, currently living in St Clair.

As a university student in India, Eelan organised and performed as a singer in over 1,000 successful stage shows in a music orchestra named “VAANAMPAADIGAL”.

He started a production company called “AMMA CREATIONS” in 2005 and has produced and directed the first Tamil movie made in Australia with local artists and technicians, called “Iniyavale Kaaththiruppen” meaning “Sweet heart I will wait for you”..

The movie was screened in Auburn Reading Cinemas in Sydney and other Australian locations in 2012.

The movie is narrated with sensitivity and portrays the relationship between two Australian Tamil families and the cultural challenges they face in their adopted homeland.

The story, written by Eelan Elanko, explains the transformation which migrant communities go through when they move into a new country.

“Iniyavale Kaaththiruppen”, produced in the Tamil language with English subtitles, was also entered in the Norway Tamil film festival in 2013 and won an award.

Eelan has also been recognised for this achievement in the Australian Parliament by Honourable Minister of Parliament Mrs Julie Owens.

Eelan has written, directed and achieved many international awards for his short films and has a very good network world-wide and in the film industry in India.

His latest offering ‘WITNESS IN HEAVEN’ follows a story-writer getting emotionally disturbed while collecting evidence for a real story and trying to kill herself to get ‘witness from heaven’.

The film, which Eelan says has been banned by the Government of Sri Lanka, is based on Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka, their experiences and sufferings in their adopted lands.

There are three different stories, connected by a main storyline, with one of the stories filmed in France and the remainder in Australia with local artists, both Tamils and Australians.

Tamil and English are balanced equally in the movie with Eelam Tamil dialect.

“We strongly believe this movie will bring a big change in the history of Eelam Tamils,” Eelan said.

“As we are all well aware for the past sixty years, we have been struggling to build a platform for our film industry.

“Only if we make a change in the film industry, can the talents of our upcoming generations reach heights and gain commercial benefit to build an Industry.

“We don’t want the hard work, dedication and dream of hundreds of people to go in vain without screening the film worldwide,” he said.

Witness in Heaven will be in cinemas in November.

local news

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hey came from as far as Dubbo, Vaucluse, Epping, Revesby and just around the corner in Penrith. So many different personalities, so many stories, but there was one thing binding them all together; these women had all been diagnosed with, and had survived breast cancer.

Early Monday morning, joined by the Today Show’s Natalia Cooper, Skypeak Adventures and St Marys Rugby League Club hosted a very special event to honour these women and their journey. Foregoing a public holiday sleep-in, 50 breast cancer survivors were invited to participate in the event starting at 5.15am with a climb of Skypeak Adventures and then a breakfast on the Club’s Ironbark Terrace Deck.

Organised to celebrate these extraordinary women, the event was also the Club’s official launch of Pink October.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting Australian women with an estimated 18,087 women and 148 men being diagnosed with the disease in 2018, an average of 50 people every day. As part of the McGrath Foundation’s Pink Up Your Town program, St Marys Rugby League Club is urging all businesses in Penrith & St Marys to ‘Pink Up’

Photo: Rhonda Lee Photography©

this year and help raise funds for the Foundation.

On organising the morning, Deb Ferguson from the Marketing Department at St Marys Rugby League Club said “Like many people, Breast Cancer Awareness and Fundraising is incredibly close to my heart, and to work for an organisation that does so much for the local community and embraces opportunities like this is just amazing. We hope by having these

incredible women here, we’re able to put a spotlight on the disease that affects so many people.”

Janette Fry and her fellow teammates from Pendragons Abreast Penrith all participated in the morning.

“I would just like to say on behalf of our Club, a huge thank you to St Marys Rugby League Club and Staff and the wonderful Staff at Skypeak Adventures. It was a wonderful success and listening to all the feedback from those present everyone had a fabulous

time and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience,” Janette said.

Another initiative during October is Saints inaugural Pink Afternoon Tea on Sunday October 14th, raising funds for the McGrath Foundation. Kicking off at 1pm, the afternoon will be filled with guest speakers including Tracy Bevan from the McGrath Foundation, local Pink tribute artist Megan Macguire and thousands of dollars in silent auction items and raffles. Every prize has been donated to the event and every speaker and performer has donated their time for this wonderful cause. In addition, St Marys Rugby League Club will also be selling pink cocktails & cakes throughout the month and holding Pink raffles with over $4,000 in prizes each Sunday with all profits going to Pink Ribbon Day. Limited tickets to Pink Afternoon Tea are still available and can be purchased at St Marys Rugby League Club or by calling the Club on 9677 7777.

To find out more about the Clubs Pink October, head to www. stmarysleagues.com.au/whats-on/ To find out more about how you can Pink Up Penrith & St Marys, call Penrith CBD Corporation on 02 4722 5565.

Seeking Australia’s future female Olympians

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he NSWIS-Western Sydney Academy Rowing Talent Development Program will be launched in October as the latest highperformance initiative aimed at finding Australia’s 2024 Olympic stars.

Run by the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) and the Western Sydney Academy of Sport (WSAS) in partnership with Rowing NSW, the program will focus on developing female athletes from the Western Sydney region into future national team members.

The talent program will operate out of the NSWIS Don Croot Shed in close proximity to the Hancock Prospecting Women’s Rowing National Training Centre in Penrith, providing the ideal environment to inspire the sport’s promising young female talent.

NSWIS CEO Kevin Thompson was looking forward to seeing the program in action.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Western Sydney Academy of Sport and Rowing NSW on an initiative that will help secure success on an international level for 2024 and beyond,” he stated.

In addition to providing the training home, NSWIS will be supporting the program through funding a new Talent ID coaching role specifically focused on the talent initiative.

Minister for Sport and Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres acknowledged the

benefits such a program can have both locally and on a national scale.

“The initiative provides a wonderful opportunity for some of the local youth to take advantage of the Institute’s world class expertise and potentially set themselves on a path to the Olympic

Games”, he said.

“It’s the latest demonstration of Western Sydney’s thriving sports hub, which is set to play a significant role in shaping the future of Australian sport.”

The Program will begin in October, working towards the first goal of

contributing one athlete per year to the NSW U21 team with the view of transitioning athletes to underage national teams by 2021.

Interested athletes are encouraged to register for testing days via rowingnsw.asn.au.

Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

Survivors conquering mountainous challenges

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14

Legends of the Nepean Zenio (Ben) Feszczuk APM

By Noel Rowsell

S

uperintendent Zenio (Ben) Feszczuk (APM, Assoc Dip Justice Admin [Mitchell CAE], Master of Arts [Mgt – Macquarie University], Grad Dip [Applied Mgt – Australian Institute of Police Management] AIMM, JP) joined the NSW Police Force in early 1968.

Following a sterling career in both uniform and plain clothes roles over the ensuing 35 years, Ben was appointed Local Area Command (LAC), Penrith in 2003 and served in that role with distinction for the next ten years.

Ben came to Australia with his parents in 1949 at the age of 11 months.

His parents were both displaced from their home country Ukraine during WWII and decided to emigrate to Australia.

The family settled in Penrith in 1950 and whilst his mother is still alive, his

Sworn in at 19 years of age in 1968.

father passed away in 1976.

Ben attended St Nicholas of Myra School, Penrith to Year 5, then a Foundation Student at St Dominic’s College, finishing at Penrith High School when he completed the lastever Leaving Certificate in 1965.

Ben worked for the Sydney Water Board as a trainee accountant, before joining the NSW Police Force in 1968, at the age of 19 years.

Beginning his service at Parramatta, Ben would subsequently move to Warragamba Dam Station in 1973 on General Duties, before being promoted into the Criminal Investigation ranks at the No. 21 Special Squad CIB in Sydney.

Ben’s full career resume is impressive, as follows: 1968-1973 General Duties & Traffic Parramatta 1973-1975 General Duties Warragamba Dam 1975-1976 Criminal Investigation No 21 Special Squad CIB Sydney

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Zenio (Ben) Feszczuk APM was nominated as a Legend of the Nepean by Greg Davies.

15

If you know a local legend, send us a nomination at nepeannews@aol.com

At the Local Area Command office at Penrith Police Station

1976-1980 Criminal Investigation Penrith 1980-1985 Criminal Investigation Homicide Squad CIB Sydney 1985-1987 Criminal Investigation Blacktown 1987-1989 Criminal Investigation Penrith 1989 Criminal Investigation Springwood – Divisional Det Sergeant 1989-1991 Patrol Tactician Katoomba 1991-1998 Criminal Investigation Penrith – Chief of Detectives - Crime Manager 1998-2003 Local Area Commander Campbelltown

2003-2013 Local Area Commander Penrith Ben’s career highlights are understandably among his years in the Criminal Investigation Division.

The most notable being the investigation of the murder of Anita Cobby at Blacktown and the subsequent arrest, trial and conviction of the perpetrators.

Ben also rates his time studying with the FBI in Quantico Virginia USA, as part of the National Academy Course, as one of his biggest highlights.

Ben’s career has won him distinction among his peers, winning numerous awards during his Police Service,

including: 2004 Australian Police Medal 2003 NSW Police Medal Sixth Clasp to the NSW Police Medal 2003 Second Clasp to the National Medal 1994 First Clasp to the National Medal 1994 Recognised by State Commander for considerable initiative in developing local Case Management System 1984 National Medal 1983 Awarded the “Anthony Hartcher Memorial Prize” for achieving the highest marks in the

unit “Criminal Justice Systems I” in the Associated Diploma in Justice Administration for the 1982 academic year.

Ben is also the co-author in 1977 of “Paternalism in Contemporary Management”.

“I, like my former colleagues, joined the NSW Police Force to make a difference and I would like to think I have done that,” Ben said.

“I am very proud to have been the Local Area Commander Penrith, given that I have lived in the area for the most part of my 70 years.

“I had an excellent team of men and women, who were dedicated to providing superior policing services to the community of Penrith.”

His former work colleagues, along with local residents and business owners in Penrith showed their respect for Ben at his retirement function, packing out the Evan Theatre to capacity (including an overflow) to farewell the popular LAC. Ben is still heavily involved in the well-being of the Penrith District, having been a Member of the Rotary Club of Penrith since 1991, a pastPresident and also the Club Treasurer since 1995.

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All Chrysler Day at the Museum of Fire

Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

16

A

nother g r e a t event is scheduled for the Museum of Fire when the NSW All Chrysler Day will celebrate its 32nd anniversary on Sunday 21th October 2018.

So if you like to see some of Australia’s motoring history from the early 1920’s Chrysler, Dodge, Desoto and Plymouth cars and the very well-known Valiant and Charger models. The 1970’s saw some of the best muscle cars ever built in Australia and everyone remembers the slogan “Hey Charger” so come out to the Museum of Fire for a great day out on Sunday 15th October 2017.

If you own a Chrysler vehicle get it out of the garage and bring it to the show, this is a great opportunity to show it off and maybe win one of the many trophies that will be presented on the day.

The gates will open at 8:00am and everyone is welcome to come along and not only see some of the best Chrysler vehicles but also take a tour through the Museum of Fire for the

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low entry fee of $20 to put your car on display or just $5 per person as a spectator.

There will also be food vendors selling gourmet snacks, hot and cold drinks available all day.

The cars will be on display from 8:00am until after the presentation of trophies to the winners starting at 2:00pm.

This is not only a great car display but a much needed fund raising event for the Museum of Fire that will go towards the preservation of this great display of the Fire Services of the past.

For more information visit the All Chrysler Day Website at www.allchryslerday.com or phone 0416 290 487.

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One schnitzel please Harry!

Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

18

I

Shop 1 St Marys Village, Charles Hackett Drive, St Marys Phone 9833 2158

F you love a good schnitty you’ll be thrilled to hear that St Marys is home to an eatery dedicated to the schnitzel lover, aptly named Harry’s Schnitzel Joint.

Owned and operated by local business partners James and Jason, Harry’s Schnitzel Joint is situated inside St Marys Village Centre in the food court area.

A schnitzel lovers’ paradise awaits to tantalise your taste-buds and there’s plenty of other tempting choices on the menu for those looking for a schnitzel alternative.

“We aim to provide our customers with the best schnitzel experience on the planet,” said James, and one glance over the menu proves just that.

From chicken schnitzel wraps, schnitzel burgers, beef burgers,

southern fried chicken to piping hot chips served with chicken or plain salt, chicken and chips in a tub or plate with gravy to parmy and chips, you’ll be asking for “One schnitzel please Harry” before you know it.

For the chip lovers there is an abundance of choice when it comes to dipping sauces, with peri peri mayo, hot chilli, aioli, and mayo available, just to name a few.

“We also have the kids covered with a ‘Small But Famous Wrap’ or schnuggets and chips including a juice, and don’t forget the old school milkshakes and thickshakes,” said Jason.

Mmmm, feeling hungry? Head to St Marys Village Centre today and say “One Schnitzel Please Harry!”

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Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

20

Kids can have a wild time at Real Festival

F

amilies are in for Jurassic-sized fun at Real Festival, with the acclaimed live theatre show Dinosaur Zoo headlining the kid’s entertainment at the Nepean River from 2-3 November.

Internationally renowned theatre company, Erth are set to thrill and delight audiences with a one-hour interactive show on both Friday and Saturday nights at this year’s event.

Erth’s fun and educational performance showcases their lifelike collection of prehistoric creatures including some of the largest carnivores and herbivores to have walked the planet.

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM said Dinosaur Zoo is a must-see show at Real Festival this year, and there’s plenty more free entertainment and activities for families.

“There’s so much for families to see and do at Real Festival and Dinosaur Zoo should be at the top of the list.

You’ll get to observe, meet and engage with dinosaurs, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime interactive experience that’s not to be missed,” Cr Fowler said.

“There’s also plenty of other opportunities for kids to let loose and families to have fun together. Show your dance moves in the silent disco dome, unleash energy in the illuminated ball pits, challenge yourself at the trapeze school and escape into nature with kayaking on the Nepean River. It’s all at Real Festival, and it’s all for free.

“The fun continues with pre-registered workshops for kids including African drumming, sand painting, cooking, painting and a bush tucker tour along the riverbank.

Bookings are essential.”

Head to the Real Festival website realfestival.com. au to view the full event program, book workshops and plan your trip to the event. Connect with Real Festival on Facebook to keep up to date with news.

EVENT DETAILS

What: Real Festival When: Friday 2 November, 5-10pm and Saturday 3 November, 2-10pm Where: Tench Reserve, Nepean River Web: realfestival.com.au

Socials: • Facebook.com/realfestivalpenrith • Instagram.com/realfestival • Facebook.com/events/261065887735452 Hashtags: #realfestival #visitpenrith

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ENTERTAINMENT

22 Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

Magical musical adaptation

I

f you loved The Gruffalo, don’t miss the sequel, which returns to the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre on Saturday 3 November following previous sellout Australian tours! Join the Gruffalo’s Child on her adventurous mission in this magical musical adaptation of the muchloved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, published

by Macmillan Children’s Books.

One wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the deep dark wood.

After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist... does he?

Exploring the “brains over brawn” theme, the creatures, the rhythms and rhymes are fun and infectious, bringing together physical theatre, music and puppetry to deliver songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up, and their adults.

Conceived in 1999 and premiering in 2001, Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of The Gruffalo’s Child has

toured the UK, Europe, North America, Asia and Australia – including runs in London’s West End, on Broadway and at Sydney Opera House. Get in quick – tickets are selling fast! “...this brave little offspring of the Gruffalo captures the young audience and keeps it entranced....the production does true justice to the much loved characters...”

(Stage Whispers, Sydney) Saturday 3 November 10:00am | 12:00pm | 2:00pm Tickets Adults $25 | Children $20 | Family $76

30th Annual Doll Bear & Craft Fair

O

n Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th October 2018 the Museum of Fire will be holding its 30th Annual Doll Bear & Craft Fair.

The Museum has been running this fair for the past 29 years and it has become one of the premier fairs in New South Wales. With over 110 stalls undercover, all on one level with wheel chair access and plenty of bus/coach parking, it makes for a fun day out for all ages.

Stalls this year include, an assortment of dolls, including reborn, porcelain, vintage, and pixie dolls, many handmade and hand dressed teddies, homemade children’s clothes, Christmas decorations, Quilts, Soap, Candles, Doll Cradles, Dream Catchers, Jewelry, Doll Clothes, enviro bags as well as fully restored prams and to many more craft stalls to mention.

Many stallholders travel a long distance to be here as it is one of the few 2 day indoor fairs still left in Sydney.

The Fair is open to the public from 9.00am to 3pm both days and we also have free Doll Valuations being done by a member of the Doll Collectors Club of NSW on Saturday from 10am till 2pm.

We have kept our entry prices reasonable at just $6.00 for Adults, $4.00 for Concessions and $2.00 for

children aged from 2 – 13 years.

The Museum of Fire, located in the old Penrith Power Station, 1 Museum Drive (off Castlereagh Road) opened as Australia’s only dedicated Fire Safety Education Centre in 1986.

The Museum is a Registered Charity, dedicated to teaching and promoting Fire Safety and raising awareness of the heroic role fire fighters play in serving the community.

Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

24

NEPEAN HISTORY

St Marys – Penrith Area Rifle Clubs

I

n May 1885 a notice in the Nepean Times from a Mr Collins from Mulgoa was interested in setting up a rifle club there and he called for names of people interested, but because of the lack of interest, it didn’t happen until three years later. There was an interest in setting up a club to be connected to Penrith’s Volunteer Rifle Club and in May 1887, public school cadets were being supplied with breech loading rifles along with ammunition. Also at that time, Sir Henry Parkes was speaking at a Legislative Assembly meeting and answered a question regarding when ammunition could be found for the local rifle clubs? He said he was aware that the local rifle clubs were at a great disadvantage and had only being given a reserve of the ammunition from the Government, but the rest of the ammunition was required to be held in case of the possibility of war and would be supplied once the ammunition ordered two years ago arrived. By April 1888 the Government had the intent to form bush cavalry corps for the purpose of being specially trained in the use of the rifle and sabre with the intent to reorganise the military forces of the country. At the beginning of 1889 riflemen where shooting at the Emu Rifle Butts thanks to generous prizes from the people of Penrith and in August the Annual Rifle Shooting in connection with the Penrith Volunteer Corps took place where the shooting was very good with Colonel-Sergeant Earp and Pte Lennox classed as marksmen and firstclass shots, others were Lieutenant F. H. Judges, Sergeant Field, Corporal Blade, Pte Harrington, Pte Harford, Pte V. Stanton. In November 1889 saw a movement to form a Reserve Rifle Company for Penrith where they hoped to obtain one of Mr. Smith’s fields near Lemongrove for a range.

By December, Major-General Edwards proposed a federation of all the forces with an officer of the rank of Lieutenant-General be appointed and a uniform system of organisation and armament and a common defence amalgamation of the permanent forces into a “fortress corps”, along with a federal military college for the education of the officers, the extension of rifle clubs, a uniform gauge for the railways and a federal small-arms factory. In January 1890, the Mulgoa Rifle Club had their first annual meeting with all members requested to attend. In May on Easter Monday, the members of the Mulgoa rifle club competed for a silver cup presented

by Messrs. W and E Fulton of Penrith. It was said that the Club should be grateful to those gentlemen for identifying themselves with the affair and presenting such a very handsome trophy. Around 1910 St Marys had a “Shooters Club” and in 1914 their annual meeting was held at the Park View Hotel, presided over by Captain H H Matthews with a good attendance of members. The Secretary (Mr H T Dollin) reported on the club’s progress for the year that was a very financial one and also a successful one from a sporting point of view. The club had several interclub shoots and were successful in four and also entered in the Nepean District Rifle Club United handicap competition and filled 7th position out of 16 teams. The club held pride of place until the final round but owing to the handicapper only allowing 12 points from the scratch team they failed in getting a place. The club also entered in the Gilmour Cup competition at Bathurst on Easter Monday and “the boys” shot remarkably well, averaging 63 points per man. In this competition they again filled 7th position. Mr T Fisher was the only member who secured a prize in the Metropolitan meeting he got second place in the figure target shoot.

The club had six handicap shoots during the year and were won by K Basedow (club’s prize); H Basedow (Mr H Andrews’ trophy); G Dawson (club’s prize); E Basedow (club’s prize); J Brell (Messrs A Thompson’s trophy); H Dollin (club prize). The secretary, on behalf of the members of the club, presented Captain H H Matthews with a beautiful gold medal for services rendered. The secretary in presenting the medal, spoke of Mr Matthews as being a clean sport and a good captain. He also spoke at length of the good work the recipient had done for the club during the

five years of his captaincy. He (the captain) was also the instigator of the rifle range being erected in St Marys. Mr Matthews in responding, thanked the members for the beautiful medal he received. He did not agree with presentations as he thought it generally caused ill-feeling, but he said what he had done was for the benefit of the club and he was only too pleased to assist them whenever he could, and as he was heart and soul in the club it was only a pleasure. The election of officers resulted as follows: — Captain, Mr H H Matthews; secretary, Mr H T Dollin; treasurer, Mr T Fisher; general committee, Messrs’ J Brell, R Woodland, E Basedow, G Dawson, G Chesham; handicappers, Messrs H T Dollin, J Brell, B Woodland; auditors, Messrs J Brell and R Woodland; delegate, Capt. H H Matthews. Mrs Kerr donated 10s 6d. In 1891 in December, Mr H Sampson a watchmaker of High street in Penrith, presented to the Penrith Volunteers a silver hunting Elgin lever watch, valued at £5 10.0 with a suitable inscription as a prize at their annual competition that was viewed in the window of his shop in High street before the presentation.

In September 1893 concessions were granted from the Railway Department for rifle clubs, both Volunteer and civilian to travel to prize meetings within the colony as long as they held a special certificate from the Secretary that would to be sent to the competitor with his returned entrance form claiming that he is a bona-fide competitor. In June, 1901 the Penrith Civilian Rifle club held its prize shooting on the Belmore Park range. J R McNamara put up a record for the club scoring 70 and 68 off the rifle in two consecutive shootings. Much favour is being shown to the young members taking greater interest in the shooting. A movement is at foot amongst some of the members to have the handicap limit raised to 70, to give the second-class shots a chance at all. Unless this is done, there seems to be trouble looming in the district for the club. Members who scored on the day were:- J McNamara, F Earp, J Lennox, A Plunket, C C Essy, H Neale, W S Walker, E Fulton, Leo Price, G Evans, Halwyn Robertson Price, H Witts, A Farrell, W Dukes, J Beatty, A Roberts. Several of these men enlisted in WW1 with the confidence that these rifle clubs helped their experience with the rifle when needed overseas. Information from the Nepean Times – Photo of Penrith Rifle Club 1907 – Courtesy of Penrith Library. Lyn Forde – President & Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc.

SPORT

people who could be awarded this award as well so it’s an awesome opportunity to just be nominated.”

This year Laura was selected for the U17’s and U19’s Australian squads.

Laura was also part of the NSW Waratah’s Open’s Team which ‘had been a big goal of mine and I’m super proud to have accomplished it,’ she said.

Laura also spoke about enjoying her sport with friends and her goals for 2019 and beyond.

“There’s definitely ups and downs in sport, but it makes me happy to do what I love with friends and it’s cool to know you’re playing a part in each other’s journeys to reach our goals,” she said.

“For 2019 I am hoping to make the NSW Waratah’s team again, I think we can get to the Grand final and take it out next year and really want to be a part of that environment again.

“I would love to play professionally and help grow the sport to a place I think it deserves to be. I love coaching young kids so hopefully more of that to come and I’m also studying a Bachelor of Psychology hoping to graduate within the next few years.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be given a lot of opportunity within Netball NSW so hopefully I can keep working hard and progressing in the right direction.”

We would like to congratulate Laura on her award from Penrith Valley Sports Foundation and to continue striding for success in Netball for the future.

By CONNER LOWE

T

he Penrith Valley Sports Foundation has awarded Laura Towell the Senior Sport Star Award for the month of September for her amazing development and skill in Netball.

Laura started playing netball when she was 4-years-old, and when she was 6-years-old she was already playing up in the U/8’s team. Laura grew up playing all sports, getting involved with Netball, Swimming, Athletics, Basketball, Touch Football, Gymnastics, Dancing and a few more, however when Laura was 14 she dropped them all to focus on Netball.

Laura spoke about what it means to be nominated for the award and how she felt to be playing alongside talented players.

“I’m super excited to have been nominated for this award, you put so much time and effort into training to be the best you can, not for any recognition but because you love it,” she said.

“There are so many girls who play netball and I’m really proud to be among such a talented group of people, but it is always nice to be seen and nominated for an award like this.

“I feel very honoured to receive this award, I’m very passionate about my sport and about its development so anything we can do as athletes to make our mark is really exciting.

“I’m sure there’s many other talented

Dunheved GC Hosts Farmers Drought Relief Fund-Raiser

D

unheved Golf Club hosted a hugely successful four-person Ambrose event on Thursday 3rd October, in support of the Farmers Drought Relief Campaign.

The Club raised in excess of $5,000 on the day from green fees and a monster raffle, which was supported by over twenty different sponsors.

148 golfers teed off in brilliant Autumn weather, enjoying what is undoubtedly one of western Sydney’s best and most challenging golf courses.

Also known as a Wildlife Sanctuary, Dunheved GC certainly lived up to it’s status, showcasing an amazing array of birds scattered around the various creeks and ponds, whilst an abundance of giant gum trees further enhances the natural beauty of the course.

The winning four-person team was John Creswell, David Hurney, Gary Scott and Michael Silleri from the Dunheved Club, ahead of Simon Curry, Karl Sowter, David Abraham and Tony Van Der Hout of Leonay GC.

The view of the 13th Green.

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

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Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

PVSF Senior Sport Star Award

25

Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

26

SPORT

On the mend Pat keeps Cummins back to Howell Oval

By STEWART MOSES

P

@TheRiffMarn

at Cummins is on track to making a return to international cricket on home soil since being diagnosed with a bone edema in his vertebrae, that ruled him out of this year’s lucrative IPL T20 season and the limited overs series in England.

After making his successful return in Round One in Sydney Grade Cricket for Penrith, Cummins followed it up with an appearance for NSW against Queensland in the JLT Cup limited overs competition.

The fast bowler may even play some second XI cricket as Cummins hopes to reach full match fitness in time for the upcoming home ODI’s against South Africa and tests versus India and Sri Lanka.

Cummins, who confirmed he is raring to go again following his recent game for Penrith and now NSW, also admitted that his gruelling workload since making his return to the Australian side after a six-year absence, made it inevitable that he would pick up another injury.

“After bowling so much over the past 18 months or so, I was bound to have something and just had a little niggle in my back but if I kept playing it would have become a bit more serious and that would have ruled me out of a lot of cricket,” Cummins told Nepean News.

“Fortunately, winter wasn’t too busy cricket schedule wise because the injury did take a few months to get over.

“The last month or so I’ve been building up. I’m probably a little bit ahead of schedule.

“I feel like I’m 100 percent fit again and the body feels great so it was good to squeeze in a grade game.”

Cummins’ hit out for Penrith was encouraging, hitting a brisk 24 off 11 balls batting at four, before taking 2/12 from six overs including the key wickets of Josh Clarke (0) and ex-Australian, NSW and QLD batsman Peter Forrest (0).

Then in his return to domestic one-day cricket, Cummins (1/56 from 9 overs) took the key wicket of Chris Lynn (135) which triggered a late batting collapse.

But it was the ability to play for Penrith at Howell Oval, which left the local junior simply thrilled, adding that despite the travel requirements from Waverley to Penrith, Cummins couldn’t see himself playing for any other Sydney grade cricket club.

“It’s always good fun to be back here at Howell Oval and play with the club that I have been with my whole life,” Cummins replied.

“I’ve got quite a few close mates in the team. I’ve also got some guys that I’ve been playing with since I was 8, 9, 10 years old in junior cricket.

Pat Cummins in full flight. Credit: 77 Media.

“It’s still home to me, Penrith. Mum and Dad still live out here and I couldn’t imagine myself ever playing for another club.”

Cummins’ return from injury, has added to an already exciting start to the NSW Premier Cricket season given the unprecedented interest created by the return to grade cricket of the suspended David Warner (Randwick-Petersham) and former Australian captain, Steve Smith (Sutherland) which has already attracted crowds and received bumper media attention.

Having made their return to grade cricket, Cummins believes that despite their indiscretions, Warner, Smith and Bancroft should be reinstated back into the national team sooner rather than later.

The paceman also dispelled concerns that they wouldn’t be welcomed back with open arms by team mates, despite the wounds that opened up following the sandpaper scandal during the SA tour, had the potential to split the team.

“Warner and Smith are two of the best batsmen in all three formats of the game in the world, I think

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any team would be absolutely itching to get them back,” Cummins exclaimed.

“The three of them are doing great things at the moment and hopefully they return really soon because they are class batsmen and good people to boot.

“It was an unprecedented issue. It came out of nowhere. I didn’t really know how to deal with it at the time and it was certainly a tough couple of weeks.

“Maybe in hindsight it was good there was a little bit of a break afterwards for us all to reset our minds.

“It could have divided the team but I think we are lucky that we have such a good group of people at the moment.

“We’ve got Justin Langer, who has a real clear vision on how he wants the team to be and now a new captain.

“Everyone’s really passionate about playing cricket for Australia and we’re all keen to get out there and make Australia proud.”

SPORT @TheRiffMarn

Williams, Hodges star as Black Cats remain on top Penrith has overcome a shaky start with the bat to maintain their strong start to the 2018-19 season having gone within two wickets of claiming an outright win over North Sydney at Howell Oval.

Sent in by the visitors on a wicket that was doing plenty, the home side quickly found themselves in serious trouble at 6/73.

But a brilliant knock of 138 from Brent Williams, arguably his finest century in the top grade, steered Penrith to a more than competitive 271.

Late wickets on Day One continued Penrith’s momentum reducing the Bears to 3/31 at stumps before they secured first innings points soon after lunch on Day Two dismissing the visitors for just 133 and still 138 runs behind.

Spinner Luke Hodges was the chief destroyer, with a four wicket haul and was ably supported by his skipper, Ryan Smith (3 wickets).

Sent in to bat again, the Bears again look set to crumble but despite another three wicket performance from Hodges and a cameo two wicket haul from Williams, the Bears hung on to pass Penrith’s 1st innings 8 wickets down before stumps was called.

Smith had plenty of praise for Williams and Hodges after the game.

“Last week Williams batted really well, assessed the situation really well and then got us right back into the game with that 271 total,” the Penrith skipper told Nepean News.

“Then to take a few quick wickets last week to leave them 3/31 overnight was the icing on a great day one.

“Today we came out and take another fifteen wickets was really good despite the wicket being probably better than last week so full credit to everyone.

“Luke Hodges bowled really well, long spells for us and everyone else put their hand up and kept the momentum going.”

Smith credits the belief Hodges has in his game at this level for his rapid-fire start to the season that has already yielded ten wickets in just two games.

“Hodgo (Hodges) has started really well and is getting the ball to turn and is adjusting his lengths really quickly for the batsmen that are in and keeping the pressure on them which is great,” Smith replied.

“He is starting to really learn how he bowls and not sort of feel that he is out of his depth when he bowls.

“Having that belief in his game is showing so far having taken a few wickets which is great.”

While for Brent Williams, the early wins show just how well the side has gelled so early into the season, given the strong finish to last season where Penrith won five games straight.

“As a side we have gelled so much already for a short period and coming off the back of last year with five wins and carrying that form into the trial (v Wests) then

Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

BEHIND THE STUMPS

with Stew Moses

27

Skipper Ryan Smith chimed in with three wickets to help maintain Penrith’s bright start to the 2018-19 season. Credit: 77 Media.

Round 1 (v Hawkesbury) and carrying it on to round two, we just go out there and play so freely,” Williams declared.

“I think that’s sort of our key to winning at the moment and to scrap 271, then come out and take 18 wickets for 280 odd runs is a really good effort.”

Williams said it was easily his best first grade knock with the bat given the tough conditions.

“The wicket was slow and did a fair bit due to the rain early on in the week,” Williams responded.

“It was still playing up a bit after lunch. I thought that while once you got your eye in, you will never really in but you just had to.

“That’s the best one yet coming off the back of the position we were in at 6/70 and 3/30 when I came in. It definitely beats the previous two I had scored.”

The Panthers now travel for the first time this season when they to Manly for another two-game day starting this Saturday.

Meanwhile with the wet weather playing havoc with much of grade cricket last weekend, only 3’s managed to play.

2s: Penrith: (6/468 B Atherton 177* T Sargeant 136, SG Finemore 79) drew with North Sydney 1/16 3s: Penrith 144 (J Newton 84) def. by North Sydney 192 (H Railz 3/24) 4s: Penrith 230 (L Coad 132) drew with North Sydney 0/8 5s” Penrith 250 (Ryan Gibson (Jnr)* 92) drew with North Sydney 1/8 The results mean that after Round Two Penrith are in second position on the Club Championship ladder, just three points behind Sydney University.

In the Poidevin-Gray Grand Final replay, Penrith once again accounted for Gordon, this time by 17 runs playing under the T20 format at Bill Ball Oval last Sunday.

Penrith 6/150 (T Liddiard 53, R Hackney 50) v Gordon 133 (R Singh, T Weir 3 wickets each) Next Sunday fortnight, Penrith will travel to Waverley to take on Eastern Suburbs in another T20 match.

New Penrith women’s coach David Williams has got off to the best start possible, with the Lady Cats defeating Gordon at Howell Oval last Sunday, despite the late withdrawals of Sarah Coyte and Rebecca Cody for personal reasons.

Batting first, Penrith made 5/184 off 48 overs (C Davis 44, N Stalenberg 38) before dismissing Gordon for 143 with Lisa Griffith taking 4/33.

Next stop is an away trip to Drummoyne Oval to take on Sydney, before returning home the following Sunday to host Parramatta, with both games set to be played without skipper Naomi Stalenberg (NSW Breakers duties).

In other news Mikayla Hinkley has confirmed she will not play in the BBL this season for the Perth Breakers and will solely focus on playing on Penrith whilst pushing for NSW Breakers selection.

A reminder to turn into Sportswatch each and every Saturday morning from 6-9am on 89.9FM Hawkesbury Radio, with grade cricket coverage between 7-8am featuring myself, Nicholas Kutjnak and Mikayla Hinkley, with Cameron Weir calling in to talk all things Penrith CC and a little bit more at 7:50am. #LTC

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Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

28

SPORT

Wanderers made to pay for missed opportunities

By STEWART MOSES

T

@TheRiffMarn

he first ever Sydney Derby to be played at Panthers Stadium, albeit in the FFA Cup semi-final ended in disaster for Markus Babbel’s young side, having missed good chances in the first half, before wilting in the second to go down 3-0 to the defending cup champions and arch-rivals, Sydney FC. Second half goals from Sydney’s new signings Trent Buhagiar, Siem de Jong and Adam Le Fondre consigned the Wanderers to their ninth defeat from their last fourteen derby fixtures played in the last four-and-a-half years.

The hosts dominated the first half and looked likely to score as early as the seventh minute, when Oriol Riera was put through on goal only for the Spainard to spoil the moment when opting to supply supporting forward Roly Bonevacia with a less-thanperfect pass.

Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne then denied his former club the opening goal with a low reflex save to his far post from Wanderers captain Brendan Hamill’s shot from a corner and was at his best again moments later to keep out Riera’s header from a free-kick, again reacting quickly to make the save down low at his far post.

Redmayne again kept Sydney in the

game with a timely intervention ahead of Wanderers winger Josh Sotirio after the half-hour mark, before coming up with his best save of the first half when he blocked Sotirio from finishing off a slick counter-attack.

Wanderers’ coach Markus Babbel lamented his team’s inability to score and suggested his young team would need to work harder on their mental edge.

“This is very unlucky for us and very sad for us but we will learn a lot from a game like this,” Babbel conceded.

“We have to work harder to have success. We have to get a mentality that you win games like this.

“You want it. You keep going until the goal is coming. Don’t give up.

“You saw on the technical and tactical side we were better than them.

“We had more control of the game.

We created many good chances to 100 percent goal chances but couldn’t score.”

Having outplayed their opponents, despite not being able to convert those first half opportunities into goals, a clinical Sydney FC made the Wanderers pay in the second, scoring from their first three shots on target to secure their third consecutive Cup final appearance, away to Adelaide United on October 30.

Sydney’s first goal came just four minutes after the restart when de Jong slipped a clever through ball to

Over 14,000 fans turned up for Penrith’s first ever Sydney Derby. Credit: Penrith City Council.

Buhagiar, with the former Mariners striker calmly slotting past Wanderers’ goalkeeper Danijel Nizic.

The Wanderers could have levelled the scores just past the hour mark, when Socceroo Josh Risdon was set free inside the box with only Redmayne to beat, but the fullback’s shot was blocked by the in-form Sydney goalkeeper.

Soon after, De Jong doubled Sydney’s advantage courtesy of a stunning long-range free kick, a powerful curling effort that sailed into the back of the net.

However Babbel, who felt his team were the better side apart from their inability to score goals, was infuriated

Coach’s Corner T

The need for more Patient And Intelligent Development Pathways

he NRL season finished with the Roosters defeating the Storm to take the 2018 Premiership which returns to Bondi for the first time since 2013. Having a look back at the 21 seasons during the NRL era it is staggering to consider that one of these two clubs have been involved in 15 of 21 Grand Finals during this period.

They both develop players with different methods and philosophies which have given them sustained success for an extended period of time. Which highlights the need for all clubs to have patient and intelligent development pathways.

Developing athletes effectively is a long term process which involves the implementation of clear pathways and progressions. Short term plans which lack patience and balance often push young athletes away from sport through the feeling of constant pressure, over training and the absence of fun and enjoyment.

Junior sporting organisations need to ensure they have clear plans in place to provide a structure and framework to best support young athletes in achieving their goals. A game philosophy is best suited when dealing with young athletes and volunteer coaches.

How should the game be played? This should be the most enjoyable and fun style for the players to participate in. It should also be the most enjoyable style to watch.

The most popular sport on the planet has adopted the global philosophy of ‘the beautiful game’. An attractive worldwide acknowledged style to best play the game of soccer. Very simple and very effective.

When looking at my chosen sport of Rugby League I believe the game is eating itself from the inside out.

NRL teams are playing with robotic styles of play which are almost identical and gone are the different and styles and philosophies which once existed within the game. This lack of variation in styles is flowing down into the junior levels of the game through a one size fits all robotic coaching philosophy. We are now as a game producing players who are coached to play the same robotic style who have limited cognitive awareness or ability to break down defences and think creatively.

Game intelligence is a vital part of the junior development process and needs to be applied at all levels to ensure players are progressing at the applicable age appropriate stages. Develop the athlete’s ability to read and understand the game through their progression to ensure their decision making skills are constantly challenged. The ability to read and understand what skill or tactic is needed at what time during the game is often overlooked with the expectation the player must execute. Just because a young athlete cannot execute a skill or tactic consistently does not mean they do not cognitively

by the decision to award Sydney a penalty, converted by Le Fondre, claiming it was a poor decision that killed off any hopes of a comeback.

“They were not better than us. They were simply scoring the goals which is the most important thing,” Babbel insisted.

“The penalty? You have to accept this sometimes comes on your side and sometimes goes against you, that is football.

“But for me sorry it was not a penalty.

“I was believing that if we score one goal then maybe it would change the whole game.

“But 3-0 was the important point and you saw afterwards the heads go down.

“They did many things right but this is the point. If you can’t score then you are sitting here now thinking it was not a good day for us today.”

Babbel said that despite the less-than desirable result, he was impressed by the turnout of over 14,000 spectators at Panthers Stadium.

“I feel very sad especially for our supporters because it was a fantastic atmosphere today,” Babbel said.

“I loved it and I hope the crowd saw there was a team on the pitch who were fighting and gave everything.”

“But it is very hard for us at the moment because we were a massive chance of making the final but we couldn’t take it today.”

Brock Shepperd Wests Harold Matthews Coach Fifth and Last NRL Podcast b.shepperd@hotmail.com

understand why they need to apply it at the relevant time during the game. This is often the hardest element to coach particularly at the elite level. Hence its vital importance at the junior level.

Volunteer coaches should be equipped with information and plans in order to support them.

How do we expect coaches who are often mothers and fathers with full time jobs to create in depth and effective plans which are age appropriate to best develop junior players? These same coaches are often criticised for running the same style and game plans they see on television. But what are we doing to support them? If we are not giving them the support they need then we should not expect them to produce players with the appropriate skills to best fit an attractive style of play. Coaches should be supported with programs that address all aspects of the game for each development stage of training. This should all feed into the positive and enjoyable style of play for junior athletes.

The philosophy for junior coaches should be to develop, not to win at all costs. If we create environments where players are learning within clear and structured training sessions through fun and enjoyable games and drills then the players are more likely to stay within the game in the long term.

This will then give junior athletes the best chance to succeed and progress onto the elite levels of the game.

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PENRITH PANTHERS

SPORT

By STEWART MOSES

S

@TheRiffMarn

kipper James Maloney may have said it best when he quipped after yet another second week finals loss, this time at the hands of arch-rivals Cronulla. “I think there was more in this team.

We could’ve and probably should’ve been playing next week.”

“And I’m very proud of this young group,” Maloney continued. “But while they’re young, they’re also very good we could’ve gone further.”

But in finishing fifth and exiting the finals in week two, did the Panthers actually meet expectations?

Speaking to Nepean News, 2003 Clive Churchill Medallist, former Penrith hooker Luke Priddis, believes that they did given the injuries and the trials and tribulations stemming out of the coaching dramas that unfolded just four weeks out from the finals.

“They were on par with expectations. The way they bowed out was a little disappointing. But anytime you are finishing in the semi-finals, you’ve done a good job,” Priddis said.

“There’s expectations that they need to go better but there was a little bit of drama towards the end of season which I think didn’t help.

“We will never know without the coaching disruptions whether they would have made the top four and got that second chance to go deeper or not but hopefully they can build on 2018 for next year.”

Priddis didn’t pull any punches when asked what needed to change, citing the Panthers need more from their senior players if they are to make the next step and go deeper into the finals, adding that expectations on Nathan Cleary will grow as a result of his new mega-deal contract, that is likely to pave the way for his father Ivan, to coach his son at long last possibly as soon as next season.

“Frankly these senior players need to step up a little bit more, more often,” Priddis declared.

“The enthusiasm of the younger players I think picked the senior players up this year and there were a couple of times where maybe the senior players didn’t step up enough and provide that direction required in games.

“The senior players have to play their part as well and sometimes they just can’t rely on the younger players to get them up.

“As for Nathan Cleary, he will have a lot on his shoulders, having just signed a great contract and with such a great contract comes even bigger expectations.

“Nathan will need to stand up and deliver regardless of whether or not Maloney is there to partner him.

“He cannot sit back and have an average game. Nathan will

need to give 8’s and 9’s out of ten performances every week.”

“Age is no longer a barrier and no excuses.”

Priddis says while the roster looks strong overall for 2019, he believes there are concerns that some issues could prevent the club from fulfilling their potential as a premiership contender and adds that the club will find it hard to particularly replace Kangaroos utility, Tyrone Peachey while comparing his impact to that of premiership-winning team mate, Preston Campbell.

“I think they have the side but the one question mark to me is who will be that x-factor player now Peachey’s gone like we had with Presto back in our side? Every side has got that magic player that can create something out of nothing and this year, that was Peachey,” Priddis explained.

“He did some amazing things that got the side out of a few holes in 2018, so who is going to step up and do that next year?

“On face value out of the seventeen players that played week in week out you have to question whether there is a player that is going to step up and play Peachey’s position.

“But that’s what the pre-season should be about trying to sort out who that is.”

Priddis also says that Penrith have yet to adequately replace retired skipper Peter Wallace at hooker, having shared the role between Sione Katoa, Wayde Egan and Tyrone May, given no one has yet to put their hand up to show they can play 80 minutes in the position.

“I also do think someone needs to step up and play that 80 minute hooking role next year,” Priddis demanded.

“With Wal retiring they probably lacked that consistent direction out of dummy half which can then affect your Nathan Cleary’s, your James Maloney’s performances as well.

“I wasn’t quite aware of the injuries to the young bloke from Lithgow (Wayde Egan).

“But I don’t think anyone really put their hand up to be the key hooker at that stage of the season either.

“At the moment Penrith has Sione Katoa who can be dynamic out of dummy half but whether he reads the game as well as the other young hookers I am yet to see that in his game.

“Egan probably isn’t as dynamic out of dummy half but I think maybe reads the game a little bit better.

“Whilst there are a few key issues to resolve, on balance the roster is pretty strong at the moment and I think there is enough talent there to beat anyone.”

The premiership-winning hooker is equally concerned that salary cap issues that have already resulted in Peachey and Corey Harawira-Naera’s pre-mature departures, given the club has not played in a grand final since

Best Game A vastly understrength Penrith side feeling the combined effects of injury and Origin workload were considered to be cannon fodder for a much more experienced NZ Warriors on a chilly mid-winter’s evening in Penrith.

But instead a star was born with Jarome Luai’s starting debut leading the Panthers to a shock 36-4 win.

Priddis says finding another X-Factor player for the departing Tyrone Peachey is a key to premiership success in 2019.

Credit: 77 Media.

2003, could lead to more departures.

“I hate to think that these are salary cap issues that Penrith have got themselves into again considering we haven’t even been near a grand final in fifteen years,” Priddis lamented.

“It is a little bit disappointing to think that we are having to shed players due to the salary cap when usually a side does that when they have a won a grand final.

“I would like to see Penrith get into a situation where we are only shedding due to salary cap issues because we have either won a grand final or we are aiming a few grand finals in a row.”

Player of the Year When Nathan Cleary went down injured in Round Three, James Maloney became the game’s top game manager in the opening half of the season and catapulting the Panthers’ star signing into the lead for the Dally M’s POTY award, when voting went secret after Round 12.

But Maloney never polled another point again as injury curtailed form over the second half of the season.

Instead Viliame Kikau is our Player of the Year ahead of Isaah Yeo. Kikau’s remarkable and rapid transformation from a struggling NRL interchange prop to arguably the NRL’s most destructive 80 minute left edge back-rower in just twelve months, even earning himself a place in the RLPA’s XIII team of the year, was hard to overlook in a season where Maloney, Peachey and James Fisher-Harris were among Penrith’s best.

Worst Game Losing at home to bottom eight sides North Queensland (Bathurst), Manly and Newcastle cost the Panthers a minor premiership spot let alone a top four spot.

But a week away on the Gold Coast preceded a 50-18 away loss to the Brisbane Broncos, which signalled that under-siege coach Anthony Griffin’s time was coming to an end.

Despite managing to mount big comeback wins over the following fortnight over Manly and Canberra, Griffin was swiftly sacked with management citing recent performances were such that the club could not challenge for the title given that form, despite being in equal fourth spot.

Biggest Story Griffin’s story and the very public fallout that quickly consumed both the axed coach and EGM Phil Gould AM was a massive story in its own right.

BUT even that was usurped when Gerard Condon from Reading The Play, broke the news on 2SM on the day of Griffin’s sacking, that his likely successor is none other than Ivan Cleary, who was sacked by Gould back in 2015. It was a move viewed by many as a counter-attack to an anticipated raid by the Wests Tigers after November 1 to reunite father and son at the joint-venture club.

Penrith has since made its’ intentions loud and clear in looking to bring back the coach by 2021.

With recent speculation suggesting the deal is already done for 2021, pressure is mounting on the Tigers to move on Cleary before the start of the 2019 season (albeit for compensation from Penrith) and bring in more expensive coaches such as Wayne Bennett or Michael McGuire.

2018 Departures Christian Crichton, Corey HarawiraHaera (both Canterbury-Bankstown), Tyrone Peachey (Gold Coast), Corey Waddell (Manly), Tom Eisenhuth (Melbourne), Maika Sivo (Parramatta), Oliver Clark, Soni Luke (both Wests Tigers), Tim Browne, Peter Wallace (retirement) 2019 Additions Tim Grant, Malakai WateneZelezniak (both Wests Tigers), Matheson Johns (St George Illawarra), Brayden McGrady, Glenn McGrady (both Tweed Heads Seagulls – QLD ISC)

Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

2018 Panthers Season Review: Priddis asks who will provide the X-factor going forward?

29 29

Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

30

SPORT

PENRITH PANTHERS

GOLDEN POINTS with Stew Moses

@TheRiffMarn

Yeo’s Merv Cartwright Medal win caps stellar 2018 season Isaah Yeo’s well-deserved accolade as Penrith’s Merv Cartwright Medallist last Wednesday night, caps a terrific season in which the Dubbo junior played his 100th NRL game and made his captaincy debut.

The back-rower held off the likes of James Maloney, Viliame Kikau and James Fisher-Harris to be acclaimed as Penrith’s best and fairest in season 2018.

Other key award winners included Josh Mansour (John Farragher Award for Courage and Determination), Viliame Kikau (Members’ Player Of The Year), Peter Wallace (Club Person Of The Year), Jack Hetherington (Ben Alexander Rookie Of The Year), Jarome Luai (OAK Plus Try Of The Year), Caleb Aekins (ISP Player Of The Year) and Daine Laurie (Jersey Flegg Player Of The Year).

The highlights of the night were arguably the emotional speeches given by Panthers’ Executive General Manager Phil Gould AM in thanking the departing players especially Tyrone Peachey and Corey Harawira-Naera and Panthers legend, John Cartwright.

Notable absentees and for a good reason were selected Kangaroos for the upcoming tests against New Zealand (Oct 13) and Tonga (Oct 20), Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Peachey, who were in camp preparing for last Saturday’s PMXIII clash against PNG. The club also confirmed the departures of Corey Waddell (Manly) and 2015 Jack Gibson Medal winner as the Holden Cup Grand Final Man of the Match, Soni Luke (Wests Tigers).

Meanwhile another top 30 departure could on the cards with suggestions boom ISP goal-kicking centre / five-eighth Adam Keighran could be joining the NZ Warriors next season.

Reports suggest that Penrith have signed centre / back-rower Tyrell Fuimaono from the South Sydney Rabbitohs, while St George-Illawarra Under 20s Player of the Year and NSW Under 20s centre, Matheson Johns has signed with the club for 201920.

Some Panthers will be going under the knife prior to their return to pre-season training in November.

Wigan this coming Sunday morning AEST, for the English Super League title. The win was no mean feat knocking over former Panthers lower grades half, Justin Holbrook’s minorpremiership-winning St Helens, last weekend.

With determined efforts like this, its no surprise Isaah Yeo is the 2018 Merv Cartwright Medal winner. Credit: NRL Photos.

James Maloney was ruled out of Kangaroos contention after it was determined that he would require surgery on a troublesome neck issue, while Nathan Cleary will undergo surgery to repair a torn ankle ligament.

Both are set for a return to pre-season training in January.

In a somewhat of a pleasant surprise NZ fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been confirmed as the new captain for upcoming tests against Australia and England, with James Fisher-Harris named to start this Saturday against the Kangaroos.

Meanwhile Panthers hooker Sione Katoa has been named in a strong looking Tonga squad for their test against Australia.

The Blore’s, Dean (Kiwis) and Shawn (Kangaroos) will face off against one another in the upcoming test between the Junior Kiwis and the Junior Kangaroos, with both players named to start for their respective teams.

Having secured Christian Crichton on a longterm deal, the Bulldogs now have their eye on his younger brother, Australian Schoolboys representative Stephen, who featured recently in both the Schoolboys Cup final and the Jersey Flegg final.

The fallout from Anthony Griffin’s sacking continues with suggestions that departed Athletic Performance Manager, Anthony Guilfoyle, will be replaced by NSW and former Gold Coast Titans High Performance Manager, Hayden Knowles.

Congratulations to Ex-Panthers Sitaleki Akuaola and Ben Murdoch-Masila, with their current club, Warrington Wolves taking on

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Watch this space with the NRL draw due out possibly as early as next week, after comments made on social media by Gould suggest the Panthers are exploring the possibility of taking a home game against a rival Sydney club - possibly either Souths, St George-Illawarra or Sydney Roosters to the new Western Sydney Stadium in Parramatta, next season.

Sydney FC defender, and self-confessed Panthers tragic, Rhyan Grant finally got to play on hallowed turf last Saturday night, capping the occasion with a win that takes his side into yet another FFA Cup final.

Grant, who hails from Canowindra, revealed it was his father’s close association with Royce Simmons, that got him hooked on the Panthers as a child.

“A great game and great performance but to get to play on Panthers Stadium was pretty cool,” Grant told Nepean News.

“I’m a pretty diehard Panthers supporter from way back.

“I used to come here when I was younger travelling up from Canowindra with my old man just to watch the Panthers.

“My old man knew Roycey Simmons and was always a Panthers supporter.

“Roycey got me into the change rooms when I was a young fella while he was coach and got the boys to sign a footy for me.

“Since then I have been a diehard fan and follow them very closely and love the Panthers.

“But it is the first time I’ve played here. The pitch is pretty cool and something special and to get the result itself was great too. Happy days all round.”

Grant also revealed his favourite all-time player was Ryan Girdler.

“I was a big big Ryan Girdler supporter when I was younger,” Grant said.

“I even wear my draw string out because he used to do it when he was playing so little things like that.” #PantherPride

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PENRITH PANTHERS

with MARK GEYER

The Rugby League merry-go-round continues TO spin

T

 Tiger to Panther?

he Grand Final may have been run and won by the Sydney Roosters in emphatic fashion but even with the competition ending the Rugby League merry-go-round continues to spin.

Especially where coaches in the NRL are concerned.

And this time again it’s hitting very close to home with Ivan Cleary being linked to the Panthers as early as next year! The comp had barely ended when the rugby league grapevine went into overdrive.

The feeling is that Ivan will finish his stay at West’s Tigers effective immediately to link with the Panthers, with Broncos mentor Wayne Bennett then being linked to take over the bus driving duties at Tigerland, with Michael McGuire and Kevvy Walters front runners to take over from Wayne in Brisvegas.

And while this was all going on McGuire knocked back the coaching gig at Manly with it looking more and more likely that either John Cartwright and Trent Barrett will simply swap positions next season.

Phew! Talk about musical chairs.

It had been announced last week that Ivan Cleary had agreed to terms at Penrith from 2021 and on. Of course those at the Tigers would be more than disappointed but I believe it’s a win-win situation for both clubs. If Ivan has signed to be a Panther from 2021 why not accelerate the process? The Panthers would then be

 Bronco to Tiger?

in the enviable position of having both Cleary and Ciraldo at the Panthers.

For the Tigers they’d be getting a coach that has the best record of all of those that have followed and preceded him. He’s a winner. I get the disappointment in the Tigers fans re Ivan as he has turned a rudderless outfit into one that looks primed for a bit of glory in the next few seasons, but unfortunately in modern day rugby league loyalty is something that simply does not exist anymore. Money is the only language spoken these days in the NRL, sad fact but the quicker we realise this the quicker we move on.

Whatever way the dice does roll regarding the current coaching merry-goround you can be sure of one thing, it’s not slowing down for anyone and in fact it’s just continually making us dizzy.

The 2019 season is 6 months away, we’d be silly to think that in that space of time there won’t be more mention of coaches AND players being linked to various other clubs.

This is Rugby League, the never-ending ad free soap opera that we can never get enough of.

See you at the game...

MG (random Westie) OAM

31 31 Nepean News 11 October 2018 Issue 237

MG on the mark

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