Nepeannews 16june2016

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Thursday, 16 June 2016

ISSUE 177

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BUSINESS AS USUAL O’Donoghues Irish pub in Emu Plains has bounced back incredibly quickly, to be sure, to be sure! Story inside.

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localnews local LONDONDERRY MP Prue Car says the NSW Department of Education’s latest Annual Report reveals a massive amount of underspending on the state’s schools.

“The Baird Government committed to investing $14.2 billion on education during 2014-15. Yet the Department’s own report (p.56) shows an actual underspend of $281 million less than promised,” Mrs Car said.

“Millions in unallocated funds should have been spent reducing the crippling maintenance backlog in western Sydney schools or building a new school at Jordan Springs to alleviate overcrowding in growing communities. The report also reveals (p.69) that in 2015 the government decreased spending on maintenance by $26.6 million from the previous year.”

Mrs Car said NSW Labor obtained documents under freedom of information in April that indicated “a staggering $732 million maintenance backlog” across NSW primary and high schools.

In the electorate of Londonderry, Mrs Car said 26 schools have maintenance backlogs totalling $$8,439,040.

“The backlog consists mainly of basic necessities like toilet and sewer repairs, carpet replacement, painting, fixing damaged rooves, installing guttering, replacing windows and other general repairs,” she said.

“Under the Baird Government the school maintenance backlog has surged. Reporting by the NSW Auditor-General shows the maintenance backlog jumped a whopping $195

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million between 2013-14 and 2014-15, more than 36 per cent in one year.

“The underspend is particularly concerning given the urgent need for a new primary school at Jordon Springs.

“As well, playgrounds in many schools across Western Sydney are being taken over by demountable classrooms and this money could have been used to expand schools in growing communities, “Tackling the huge maintenance backlog and building a new primary school in Jordan Springs is more important than coming in massively under budget.

“The maintenance backlog is not for luxury items in schools, it’s for basic things like heaters and fans that don’t work, taps that leak, peeling paint and threadbare carpets,” Mrs Car concluded.

Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

Jordan Springs needs a school

3

Prue Car MP Member for Londonderry

Ph: 9833 1122 12/82 Victoria St Werrington Mail: PO Box 4001 Werrington NSW 2747 londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au

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From the Journo’s Desk

4 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

203 BANKS DRIVE, ST CLAIR OFFICE: (02) 9834 5579 Editor: Sales Manager: Journalist: Journalist: Journalist: Journalist: Sports Journalist: Graphic Design: Photographer: Printer: Letters to the Editor: Web:

Kerrie Davies 0422 067 644 Korena Hale 0403 045 880 Greg “Harpo” Martin 0420 655 524 Garion Thain 0430 424 101 Keegan Thomson 0421 382 560 Jarrod McGrouther 0406 826 259 Stewart Moses 0417 680 533 Stacey Fortescue 0420 319 893 Tom Carey 0425 803 180 Pegasus Print Group, Blacktown nepeannews@aol.com www.nepeannews.com.au

Nepean News is not tossed onto your front lawn. Collect your crisp copy FREE from local newsagents, service stations, libraries, Council and shopping centres.

Call 9834 5579 to find out your nearest outlet.

by Keegan Thomson I’VE only been in this job for about 12 weeks now but I’ve almost learnt more on the job in these last three months than in the last three years of uni.

Now I’m not saying uni was a waste and I didn’t learn anything, but I am saying is being on the ground, shuffling through the journos at press conferences, working on sources and building relationships within the community is a powerful learning experience.

Taking stock of the last three months I’ve spoken to politicians vying for their political future, I’ve conversed with charities who’ve give up their lives to make western Sydney a better community and I’ve interviewed young upstart rock stars who might be the next big thing.

Across my reporting I’ve come to realise that western Sydney is a unique and flourishing community which is developing and growing at speeds never before seen in this or the last century.

There are ideas coming out of the west that no-one in the city will listen to, there is music coming from bedrooms across the west that will one day rule the radio waves, there are voices calling out from the west that are telling stories that no-one wants to hear because they’re too heartbreaking.

The area is expanding, the people of western Sydney have all got something to say about it and I feel privileged to be able to share the stories, the victories and the losses of the communities and voices of western Sydney.

If you have something to say, or a story to tell, I’d love to hear from you. keegan@nepeannews.com.au

Check www.nepeannews.com.au for complete list of distribution outlets

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Nominate a carer STUART Ayres MP, Member for Penrith is encouraging the people of Penrith to submit a nomination for the 2016 NSW Carers Awards.

“More than one in 10 people in NSW are unpaid carers and it is important for us as a community to show our appreciation for the role they play in enhancing the health and wellbeing of others,” Stuart Ayres said.

“If you know someone who cares for others, I would encourage you to nominate them today.”

The NSW Carers Awards acknowledge and celebrate the significant contribution unpaid carers make in supporting those people who need care because of disability, mental illness, chronic health condition, dementia or Stuart Ayres MP with Ted Brock and his wife/carer Sally Brock because they are frail and aged.

This year there will be 10 Awards in total, two A total of 10 individual carers and organisations for each category outlined below. One of the ten will be recognised throughout NSW. They recipients will become the 2016 NSW Carer of will be invited by the Hon. John Ajaka, MLC, the Year.

Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, to Individual: a State ceremony during Carers Week where the • Family carer • Young carer • Senior Carer 2016 NSW Carer of the Year will be announced.

Organisation: Carers Week runs from 16 – 22 October 2016.

• Carer Support Group • Carer Employer “The dedication of carers is commendable Nominations can now be made online at and I thank all carers for the important work www.facs.nsw.gov.au/carersawards and close they continue to do on a daily basis within our midnight on 10 July 2016. community,” added Stuart Ayres.

9834 1044 NEPEAN DISTRICT

Stuart Ayres

MP

5 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

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Member for Penrith

Phone: 4722 8660 Email: penrith@parliament.nsw.gov.au Shop 23, Tattersalls Centre, 510-534 High Street, Penrith

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University students embrace SALSA program

FOR the 12th consecutive year, the Students as Lifestyle Activists (SALSA) program is being rolled out in high schools across western Sydney.

Volunteer university students take part in a SALSA workshop that equips them to train Year 10 students to coach and motivate Year 8 students, empowering them to make healthy lifestyle choices in a fun and informative way.

Western Sydney Local Health District Primary Health Care Education and Research Unit Associate Professor Smita Shah said at a time when western Sydney is

experiencing a diabetes epidemic, the SALSA program’s ability to influence so many young people is crucial.

“Already this year, we’ve held three SALSA educator workshops, with more than 90 university students involved,” she said.

“We are excited to continue our strong association with the University of Sydney, Western Sydney University and welcome our new partners, the University of Notre Dame and the University of New South Wales.”

The trained university students will team up with one of 28 high schools in western Sydney who have enrolled in the program.

SALSA recruit and Parramatta resident Melissa Wehbe got involved in the program because she was interested in public health and the lessons were very clear and condensed.

“I completed the training in April and have educated a group of Year 10 students from Erskine Park High School,” the 21-year-old said.

“The Year 10’s will then teach the Year 8 students about healthy nutrition.

“We hope the Year 8 students will take this information home and share it with their families.”

SALSA’s effectiveness is recognised outside western Sydney, with demand

for the program spreading across greater Sydney, nationally and internationally.

“Initiatives that change the attitudes, eating behaviours and exercise habits of secondary students are rare, but SALSA actually works,” Smita said.

“It is critical that collaborative action is taken to improve the lifestyle behaviours of young people.”

If you are a university student or faculty member interested in being involved in the SALSA program, contact Assoc Prof Shah on 9845 6505 or visit: http://sydney.edu.au/ medicine/public-health/salsa-triple-a/ salsa/index.php

Share some warmth this winter

By Jarrod McGrouther

THE unfortunate reality for many people today is that unemployment, unexpected illness or family separation can quickly drive people into homelessness. Compounded with low vacancy rates and increased rents, it can then be hard to get back in to a stable home.

For those people doing it tough, some perhaps sleeping in their car or on a park bench, winter is a frightening time, consisting of freezing nights and little warmth. How can we help? All we need to do is ‘Share some warmth’ this winter.

‘Share some warmth’ is an initiative that provides blankets, gloves, thick socks, beanies, coats and nonperishable foods to the homeless. The items are all donated by the public and go a long way to helping those in need during the winter months.

Vanessa Tomas and her husband Jorge are behind the concept. Vanessa is a community services worker at Wentworth Community Housing, a local community housing and homelessness services provider.

Everyday Vanessa comes face to face with people who need her help.

Vanessa and Jorge decided to start

collecting blankets amongst their friends and relatives to provide some initial comfort for the people she met each day. Vanessa and Jorge’s initiative has now grown to include involvement from the community, with local partners such as Street Med, Penrith Community Kitchen, Mama Lana’s and Christ Mission Possible

joining the cause.

Local Laundry service Diamond Laundry has also offered to wash all donated blankets. This is welcome news to Vanessa, whose washing machine has been overworked in recent times. Vanessa is urging anyone that can help to donate this year, “We hope the Penrith community

will get behind this initiative and donate a blanket to keep someone warm this winter”.

‘Share the warmth’ Ambassador Fiona Scott MP added that anyone can get behind this great cause by donating during the month of June, “This is something the whole community can do together to help.”

Fellow ambassador Wayne Wilmington, Penrith Citizen of the Year and Vintage FM Director is a strong believer in the concept, and encouraged businesses to assist too, “It would be great if the business community could get involved and encourage their customers to donate.”

Blankets can be left at the following locations throughout June; Wentworth Community Housing Penrith, St Mary’s Libraries, Penrith PCYC, Penrith CBD Corp Offices, Vintage FM Studio, Westfield Penrith and ANZ High St. ‘Share some warmth’ is proudly supported by Wentworth Housing, Penrith CBD Corporation, Penrith Community Kitchen, Mama Lana’s Community Foundation StreetMed and Christ Mission Possible.

For more information, please call Denise Daynes at Wentworth Housing on 4777 8096.

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Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

Getting to know ...

Council funded for Naidoc event

Prue Car with Jarrod McGrouther

1. What was your first paid job?

When I was at school I taught my neighbours kids piano in the afternoons 2. What is your guilty pleasure?

Too much retail therapy 3. What is your biggest fear/phobia and why?

I am seriously FREAKED OUT by moths :S 4. What is your worst habit?

Misplacing things – keys, phones, glasses 5. Best advice you’ve even been given?

The legendary Ron Mulock once told me ‘Never give up, never give in, and keep fighting.’

6. If you only had $50 left in the bank, how would you spend it?

I think my three year old Max goes through $50 worth of fruit every two days, so I guess that answers that 7. Favourite holiday destination and why?

My family has a lovely beach house on the South Coast and I have been spending summer holidays there since I was a little girl. Now we take Max down with us and he loves it!

8. Do you have a favourite sporting team?

The mighty Penrith Panthers, of course!

9. Name one reason that you love western Sydney I love that people from Western Sydney are proud of where we come from.

10. In three words, describe your perfect Sunday Playgrounds, pugs, family!

STUART Ayres MP, Member for Penrith has announced that a grant of $3,000.00 has been awarded to Penrith City Council to host a Family Gathering in partnership with Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2016.

The event will be held at Jamison Park on Friday 8 July, 2016 and will provide a variety of activities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to participate in.

“NAIDOC Week honours and promotes the rich culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia, with the theme for 2016 being Songlines” said Stuart Ayres.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people used Songlines to navigate vast distances and map oceans, waterholes, rivers, birds, animals, plants and hunting grounds and are recognised today in crafts, dance, songs and stories.

“Our local community is home to a rich and vibrant Aboriginal culture, so I am delighted that Penrith Council has secured funding for their event,” said Stuart Ayres.

Penrith Council was one of 122 organisations across NSW to share in the $200,000 Grant fund.

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Leslie Williams has congratulated the Aboriginal and community groups receiving grants.

“The NSW Government understands how important it is that local organisations lead NAIDOC Week celebrations, sharing their history and culture with the broader community,” she said.

“These grants support events in towns and suburbs right across NSW, which include family fun days, traditional arts and craft workshops, and Elders storytelling.

“Our Aboriginal communities have so much to be proud of and I look forward to joining in the celebrations,” Mrs Williams said.

For more information, please visit www. aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au.

Is your pet in pain this winter?

Nepean

Veterinary REPORT

with Dr Antony Karolis and the team at WellPet Vets phone 1300 WELLPET

Senior Veterinarian and CEO WellPets Vets Mountains, Nepean and St Clair

BRRR its freezing! As we rug up and turn on our heaters, it’s important to remember that our pets feel the cold too! For many of our pets, the cold can mean pain. Arthritis is a painful condition that is generally exacerbated with the coldness of winter.

Arthritis effects the joints. It can occur not just in older pets, as joint cartilage degenerates, but can also be seen in younger pets with congenital joint abnormalities. This means joint pain can occur in any age pet. Arthritic pain is a nagging constant pain.

Most pets will live with this painful condition in silence. Pets don’t cry and seldom call out in pain. It’s therefore up to you as a pet owner to ensure your pet is not suffering in silence.

How do you know if your pet is in pain due to arthritis? The following symptoms can indicate joint pain and should be addressed by your veterinarian; - Slowness and/or stiffness when getting up or moving around

- Inability to jump up on the couch or bed anymore - For cats, inability to jump onto things as high or at all. Often cats will limit their movement.

- Licking at the joint areas - Tenderness in certain areas that may put pressure on joints – may be sore to touch.

- Cats will often growl when picked up or touched on the back.

- Dragging of back legs and worn toe nails - Cats may also show a lack of grooming Is there a cure? No. Unfortunately there is no cure for arthritis. However, it can be managed by a number of different treatment plans to alleviate pain. To find the best arthritis management treatment, speak to your vet. Treatments can include; - Weight control and management - Change in exercise routines and physiotherapy – more gentle approach like swimming may be recommended

- Omega 3 rich dietary change - Joint cartilage protection medication – like Zydax or Cartrophen (injections) - Nutraceuticals like Glyde -An additive to your pets diet. These products contain important minerals and nutrients to increase the cartilage production and reduce inflammation.

- Acupuncture – Wellpet Vets Dr Sarav is trained in acupuncture therapy.

- Anti-inflammatory medications as prescribed by the vet to help reduce pain.

If you think that your pet is showing signs of arthritis or would like to find out more about this condition, please contact WellPet Animal Hospitals on 1300WELLPET NOW! Wellpet Vets will also be holding a Pet information evening in August to educate pet owners on this condition and other common pet conditions.

Details to come on our facebook page – Follow us at www.facebook.com/ wellpetvet

RDA lose three horses and suffer massive damages

By Keegan Thomson

STAFF from the Nepean branch of the Riding for the Disabled have been left heartbroken after the recent massive flood events.

The floods, which reached heights of over two metres, washed away four of the RDA’s horses from their stables at Orchid Hills and into nearby South Creek.

Three of the four horses washed away died during the flash floods with another three horses sustaining deep lacerations and major bruises to their legs.

Helen Monday, a coach at the Nepean RDA told Nepean News the one surviving horse was swept over the fences and onto the nearby M4 motorway.

“He was found on the M4 with injuries on his legs,” Ms Monday said.

“From the looks of it the water went above the fences, and it is very likely he was washed over the fence,” she said.

The animals weren’t the only victims of the floods with the building and stables all bearing the brunt of the torrential water.

Ms Monday said the water had tore through the feed shed, the RDA had received their entire years supply of hay the week before, and destroyed their

Helen Monday with shetland pony Boogie from the Nepean RDA. Source: Keegan Thomson

office and tack room with some of their equipment being washed some 600 metres away from the buildings into South Creek.

Inspecting the damage Ms Monday was blown away by the wide spread nature of the destruction.

“We’ve lost basically everything from all the things we need for admin, computers, all our paper work. Our canteen is trashed, our tack room, all our saddles and our bridals, our medical therapy tack, our equipment, the lot of it is all gone,” she said.

“It is big but our focus at the moment is looking after the horses that are injured.”

There was an outpour of grief and support from across the community on the Nepean News facebook page with many pledging their well wishes.

Sara Dautzenberg, another coach at the Nepean RDA has started a Go Fund Me crowd funding project for anyone interested in donating to the charity. She wrote, “We are in need of funds to cover the vet care of all of our horses.”

So far there has been nearly $5,500 donated to the charity.

Donations can be sent through the website www.gofundme.com/ rdanepeandisaster with all money raised going towards the vet costs and equipment costs.

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Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

New car park THE planning proposal for a new commuter car park north of Penrith Station – which will provide 350 extra spaces – is now on public exhibition.

The State Government said the new multistorey car park will sit alongside the existing deck and replace the current at-grade car park.

The project will also include a new lift, stairs and lighting and CCTV upgrades.

Construction of the new commuter car park is expected to start in late 2016. It will take about nine months to complete.

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown said Council had been advocating to the State Government, who are responsible for commuter parking, for more parking to be provided.

“As Penrith grows we have to be smarter about car parking,” Cr McKeown said.

“We know we need to find the balance for commuters, shoppers and workers in and around our City Centre and the lack of parking at the station has a flow on effect to local business.

“We have been talking to the State Government about providing extra commuter parking for a number of years, and know the extra 350 spaces will make a difference to parking in Penrith City Centre.”

You can have your say on the State Government’s commuter car park proposal until Monday 20 June.

Go to http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/ projects-tap/current-works/penrith-commutercar-park for more information.

New facility opens in Penrith From left to right: Jane Narnock, Nusre-Councillor, Shelley Fitzpatrick Centre Manager, and Fran Nicholson Oncology Massage Therapist. Photo: Tom Carey

DID you know we have a very unique organisation giving support to people with cancer in Penrith and the Blue Mountains?

The only organisation of its kind in NSW. Blue Mountains and Nepean Valley Cancer Support has recently relocated their Penrith Centre to premises in Warwick Street providing heavily subsidised therapies during and after cancer treatment.

“A great facility with a wonderful atmosphere which reflects the type of support we offer at the centre.” Says CEO and Founder, Robyn Yates.

BMNV Cancer Support is a not-for-profit organisation that has been helping people in our community with cancer for 11 years and believes in

a holistic approach to managing a cancer diagnosis with a focus on nutrition, mind, body and spirit.

They offer therapies including counselling, oncology massage, group therapy, yoga as well as other complementary therapies which can offset side effects of cancer treatments. BMNV Cancer Support operates from the generosity of community donations, volunteers and the income generated from Op-Shops in Penrith and Katoomba and also has a Cancer Support Centre in Katoomba.

For appointments or to make a tax deductible donation please contact the Katoomba Centre on 4782 4866 www.cancerhelp.net.au

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Celebrating 100 years of RSL Clubs

By Kerrie Davies

LIKE most Australians, RSL Clubs have been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

This year they’re celebrating their 100 year milestone, and for me it has triggered many fond memories from dinners out with the family as a child, to trying to sneak into them as a dolled-up and unconvincing underaged teenager (hey - in the 80’s that was quite normal!) to more recently as an adult enjoying the entertainment line-ups they’re always guaranteed to have.

And of course there are many memories of the poignant services over the years commemorating ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day and the Boer War memorial.

I have childhood memories of ignorant fools who dared to keep eating when The Ode was playing; those individuals felt the full wrath of my father’s horror, as he’d shame them, very loudly. “Get up on your feet and show some respect!” Those silly enough to venture into the RSL wearing a hat also copped a venomous earful from him.

In my teenage years my world

Penrith RSL CEO Neel Chand and Board Member Brian Bellomo in front of the interesting display at Penrith RSL. Photo: Tom Carey

revolved around Clovelly RSL, which was the closest venue to where I lived, and we gave it many nicknames “The Aree” “The Rissole” and “The Diggers” In fact, it’s near impossible to stretch my mind back over the years and find a memory that an RSL club didn’t play some sort of role in!

The RSL is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected national organisations. The League was

founded in 1916 and supports serving and ex-service Defence Force members and their families and promotes a secure, stable and progressive Australia.

The League evolved out of concern for the welfare of returned servicemen from first World War. During 1916, a conference recommended the formation of The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA) which included

representation from Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

New South Wales was admitted to the League the following year, and Western Australia in 1918. In 1927, the Australian Capital Territory formed a branch and was admitted.

In 1940, the name of the League changed to the Returned Sailors’ Soldiers’ and Airmens Imperial League of Australia (RSSAILA), and a subsequent change of name took effect in 1965, as the Returned Services League of Australia (RSL).

Two more name changes occurred, in 1983 to Returned Services League of Australia Limited (RSL) and in 1990 to Returned & Services League of Australia Limited (RSL).

[1] The objects of the League remain relatively unchanged from its first incorporation.

Locally, St Marys RSL and Penrith RSL are popular venues for people of all ages. St Marys RSL has a great Chinese restaurant, bar cafe and bistro and a massive auditorium for entertainment. Penrith RSL has one of the best smorgasbord meals around, has great live entertainment, a bar cafe and a great open area with live entertainment every weekend.

11 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

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Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

2016 Federal Election Libs have bettered their odds ACCORDING to our unofficial election polling resource, Sportsbet, the Liberals are set to retain Lindsay with a convincing hold.

Last time we checked the odds Liberal MP Fiona Scott was a safe bet running at $1.35 but two weeks later the odds have fallen even further in her favour because she’s now running at $1.10.

This isn’t the most dramatic change to occur over the last few weeks.

According to our trusty poll ALP candidate for Lindsay, Emma Husar, has fallen behind with the punters. Two weeks ago she was sitting on $2.60 and now she is on $6.00 which is not good news for her.

Ms Husar isn’t the only candidate to suffer a fall within the last few weeks. Both Kingsley Lui, the Greens candidate, and Stephen Lynch, the NXT candidate, have dropped back in the odds for winning Lindsay.

The Greens are now sitting on $51.00 and Stephen Lynch is pulling in $31.00, with the rest of the pack, made up of the seven other candidates still sitting on $34.00.

We are at the business end of the campaign now so check back in two weeks time to see who the bookies are favouring closer to election day.

Lindsay ballot draw finalised AT 12 noon on June 10 all the candidates throwing their hat into the ring for the for the seat of Lindsay in the 2016 election had their names drawn out and the ballot order was finalised.

Pulling out the lucky spot at the top of the ballot was independent candidate Cr. Marcus Cornish, who is contesting his first federal election. Greens candidate, Kingsley Liu and Fiona Scott, the Coalition incumbent, were pulled out second and third respectively.

The last name, and the 11th pulled out for the ballot was NXT candidate, Stephen Lynch, who is also contesting his very first election.

In some cultures it is lucky to be last but in terms of what it is like on a ballot it is not so lucky because of a silly little thing called a donkey vote.

A donkey vote is when voters simply place a number in each of the boxes in descending numerical order. This means the candidate one will get a one in their box, candidate two will get a two in their box, candidate three will get a three in their box and so on until the end.

In this case of a donkey vote Cr. Cornish would get a one and Mr Lynch would get an 11.

Donkey votes can change the results of an election if it is close and can raise the profile of fringe candidates. Close elections can also cause recounts, and in some extreme cases could trigger a bi-election.

Scenes from the Lindsay ballot draw. Source: Thomas Carey

NXT is all about grassroots campaigning QUIRKY and confident Nick Xenophon Team candidate, Stephen Lynch, has been campaigning in a very different fashion during the 2016 election.

Famously running on a ‘dental floss budget not a shoestring budget’ the NXT candidate has employed campaign stunts and grassroots tactics to get as much exposure as he can.

He has followed former and current Prime Ministers through shopping centres, created his own corflute commuter army, danced around in a corflute dress of sorts and he’s even produced a few homemade YouTube videos to match.

Mr Lynch said his unique campaigning methods haven’t been something of a coordinated attempt.

“It has all been by necessity and not by design,” he joked.

“It is a matter of getting my name out there with very little funds, so you do those crazy things like fill a train carriage full of corflutes and take some happy snap of it, or like when Nick [Xenophon] paid a visit to us we hired out a big red London bus to tour around the Macarthur and Lindsay electorates in,” he said.

Along with the campaign stunts and shenanigans, Mr Lynch is know for his no guts no glory method of approaching fellow politicians, particularly current and former Prime Ministers.

When former Prime Minister John Howard was in Lindsay to campaign with Liberal incumbent, Fiona Scott, he approached the pair and offered up some of his campaign materials.

“I was handing out the flyers and all of a sudden all these camera crews turn

up and I had no idea. I saw the former Prime Minister and I waited for him to do his press conference, then when he was finished I shirtfronted him and gave him one of my flyers,” he joked.

During a recent visit by the current Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Lynch approached the PM and asked him for selfie. The PM obliged until he realised he was about to take a selfie with the candidate for the NXT so he took a step back and refused Mr Lynch his selfie.

When questioned about whether or not his special style of campaigning was working he said he was happy to be simply getting the NXT name out there.

“I’ve got people coming up to me surprised to hear that Nick is standing in New South Wales let alone in Lindsay. I’ve made it my drive to bring people up to speed to know we are here and we are fighting for the people of Lindsay,” Mr Lynch said.

coverage

with Keegan Thomson

Labor brings it to the west MR Shorten was joined on a tour of the Werrington Park Corporate Centre by local MP for Chifley, Ed Husic, the Shadow Minister for Communications, Jason Clarke, and Emma Husar, the ALP’s candidate for Lindsay.

During his campaign stop Mr Shorten announced if they’re voted into government, the ALP would scrap the existing plan for a copper to the home NBN and would instead continue to roll out Labor’s original plan of fibre to the home.

There was much scepticism around his announcement because Mr Shorten said the ALP could deliver a better service for the same amount of money.

In a statement he said a government he would lead could cap the existing funding to the NBN whilst supplying a better product.

“The Liberals have doubled the cost of their second rate NBN up to $56 billion. A Shorten Labor Government will cap the total funding for the NBN at $57 billion. Labor will spend exactly the same amount of public funding on the NBN as the Liberals. There will be no impact on the budget from this announcement,” he said.

After his tour of Lindsay Mr Shorten

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten with ALP candidate Emma Husar (centre). Source Supplied.

went on to do a a special episode of ABC TV’s Q and A program filmed live at the Joan Sutherland theatre.

He was grilled by voters on a number of topics including the NBN changes, Aboriginal rights, public transport changes and the estimated 300 day waitlist for elective surgery at Nepean Hospital.

One more divisive moment came from Gina Field, columnist for Nepean News, when she asked why an ALP government wouldn’t support the Coalition’s proposed tax cuts to small businesses.

She asked, “Are you prepared to match the 10 year plan proposed by the government?”

He bluntly replied, “No we are not prepared to support the plan.”

In a follow up Mr Shorten suggested his bluntness and straightforwardness is a good quality of leadership.

“I’d like to tell you what you want to hear, but that isn’t leadership,” he said.

This won’t be the last time the Labor leader campaigns in the west this week, in fact the ALP will officially launch their campaign on June 19 in western Sydney.

Cr. Marcus Cornish preferences Labor IN a shock move conservative independent candidate for Lindsay and Penrith City Councillor, Marcus Cornish, has preferenced the ALP candidate Emma Husar over more conservative candidates.

On Cr. Cornish’s how to vote card he has preferenced Emma Husar at number 7 and Liberal incumbent Fiona Scott at number 8, meaning on election day his preferenced votes may trickle down to the ALP and could lead to a less conservative government being formed.

He has even preferenced the more centre left Nick Xenophon Team ahead of both the major parties.

In a statement to the ABC Cr. Cornish said, “I personally want to see the Liberal Party retain government and control the Senate. However, in the seat of Lindsay I cannot ask the people of Penrith and Lindsay to preference a candidate that I lack trust in and would not preference myself.”

Cr. Cornish dramatically resigned on the opening days of the election campaign after he felt the Liberal Party had lost its conservative roots.

He has also accused Ms Scott of being a ‘backstabber’ on numerous occasions believing she played a part

Marcus Cornish (right) draws the first place on the ballot with NXT candidate Stephen Lynch (left) drawing last place. Source: Thomas Carey

in last September’s Liberal leadership spill. Nepean News broke this news on facebook and the backlash was irrefutable.

On facebook Shane said, “So the traitor-accuser becomes the biggest traitor of all. Any votes he might have claimed will go straight back to voting

Fiona Scott MP - Member for Lindsay now.”

Michele posted on the Nepean News on facebook, “Another candidate off my possibilities!

Stupid, stupid statement - LNP not conservative enough, but Labor is OK!?”

Deb also wrote, “Lost my vote. No true conservative would ever throw support to Labor! EVER!!”

It seems there is a lot of frustration towards Cr. Cornish for his preferencing but we will have to wait until July 2 to see if his deals have brought him undone.

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We are currently looking for donations of blankets, gloves, beanies

and non-perishable foods for the winter appeal.

DONATION BOX LOCATIONS

• Westfield Penrith • Wentworth Housing Borec House - Suite 1002, Level 1 29-57 Station St Penrith • Penrith CBD Corporation - 3/488 High St Penrith • Vintage FM Target Radio - 2/42-48 Able St Penrith • PCYC - Station St Penrith • Penrith City Library - 601 High St Penrith • St Marys Library - 207-209 Queen St Marys

Contact Gai at Penrith CBD 4722 5556 or Denise at Wentworth Housing 4777 8096 for more details

Emma Husar Q&A EMMA Husar is a local mum of three and a familiar face in the local Labor Party standing and running in her very first federal election for the ALP. This will be the second year in a row that Ms Husar has come up for election after she contested in the 2015 state election. She’s been fighting hard in Lindsay for NDIS and the healthcare system.

What made you want to run as the Labor candidate for Lindsay?

The challenges associated with my little boy, he was diagnosed with autism when he was 18 months old, and as a mum I found it incredibly daunting to access services so I started really doing a lot of work in advocating for the NDIS and how important it was and how much of a missing link there was in our community. I’m incredibly passionate about the NDIS and also education, I trained to be a teacher at university and left teaching because there wasn’t enough money in the system, so really passionate about education because it really is the future of this country.

I’m passionate around women’s rights, and making sure we’ve got more females participating at various levels of government, directors of companies, boards and things like that.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

We’ve got some fantastic policies coming to the July election, policies that will make a difference to the people who live and work out here [in Lindsay]. This is the 8th highest electorate in the country out of a possible 150 that rely on bulk billing, so what is setting us apart is our ability and our commitment and our loyalty to protect Medicare, and to ensure that is something we never lose in this country. We don’t want to Americanise our health system.

We don’t want to go down a pathway where only people that can afford to pay get the treatment they need.

In terms of what sets me apart on a personal level, I don’t know any of the other candidates well enough to say that. But I’m a mum, I’ve got three children, one of which has provided a lot of challenges so far over the course of his life which has given me enormous insight and experience, my youngest child also has a chronic health issue, and I’m a single parent.

There are a lot of families like mine in this community and in the county, and people are often talking about wanting real experience and real life challenges that go along with them. So that is one thing, but then again I don’t know them [the other candidates] well enough to say.

What three things are you running your election platform on?

We are going to ensure we fully fund the last two years of Gonski. In this community, again, needs based funding is a need. We need to make sure all of the kids, no matter where they go to school, if it is Catholic or independent, so it is sector blind, that the kids are getting what they need.

So that means the kids who are really bright get the funding they need, kids that are struggling get what they need as well.

The second thing is sticking up for healthcare. 77 percent of this electorate are earning under $80,000 a year, the medium income is $215 a week. To impose on families, middle income, low income, fixed income people, the GP copayment or extending the price of medicines at the pharmacy, is getting completely out of reach for people. You’ll have people in this community that I’ve loved and grown up in and called home, that will choose between maybe having two scripts that week and not the four that they need just to make that savings,

By Keegan Thomson

and I don’t think that is good enough for this community, I don’t see any sense in the long term productivity of this community to have people that are too sick to participate in work or activity that will lead to a healthy lifestyle.

And the third thing that I will focus on is really fighting hard for Nepean Hospital. It is the most under pressure hospital in the state. We have the greatest size and scope on every corner of this electorate, except for where we are land locked to the west, over Emu Plains way, and our population is growing, our hospital is not keeping pace. We need to ensure that the infrastructure matches the population and the population growth.

You’ve got a state government who’ve promised to promise to make a plan at some point, but haven’t given any commitment. The federal Liberal government who’ve stripped $57 billion out of healthcare, which is just phenomenal. We’ve got some of the best and hardest working medical staff working at Nepean, who are chronically under funded and are being asked to do more with less money. So the hospital is something I’ll absolutely be fighting for to ensure that our community can access a good quality hospital that is well funded and can deliver the beds that we need.

Why should you be voted into parliament above all the other candidates in Lindsay?

Labor’s policies in moving forward are fair, they’re directed at putting people first, putting big businesses ahead of families not putting big businesses ahead of healthcare, and not putting big business and big business tax cuts ahead of small businesses. It’s about being a fair society as well as a productive one. I believe that Labor’s policies and our commitment over the course of the Labor party’s history, we’ve always

15 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

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stood up for Medicare, we’ve always fought hard for education. You’ve got Tony Abbott that came out last election and sat in our community, which irritates me to on end, and sat there and said, no cuts to health, no cuts to school education, no cuts to all of those things, and then get into government and do those things he said he wouldn’t do. I think this community deserves somebody who is going to be honest with them and trustworthy. In the case of the current sitting MP, she supported all of those things. She support a freezing of the GP copayment. She’s not standing up for these things, and I believe this community deserves a fighter who is going to stand up for them.

You’ve been accused by the Greens and the NXT candidates of being a small voice in a large party.

If elected can you be more than a small voice?

Neither of those two parties will be able to form government, so they are going to be a minority voice. So if they think I’m going to be a small voice in a minority party, they’re going to be a smaller voice in a smaller minority party. I don’t know why they think I’ll be a small voice, clearly they’ve not spoken to me very much, but I’ll be speaking up for this community and standing up for what this community needs.

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Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

Louise Markus Q&A

By Keegan Thomson

LOUISE MARKUS, LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR MACQUARIE LOUISE Markus has been an MP for the Coalition since 2004 representing first the seat of Greenway, then after a redistribution of the electorate in 2010 she ran and won in Macquarie.

She’s an advocate for young people pledging more jobs and educational infrastructure for the youth if she’s reelected on July 2.

What first motivated you to get into politics?

I have always worked at a grassroots level with the community, I have a social work degree and have worked in that field across the Greater Western Sydney region, including the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury, on a range of responsibilities. During that period of time I saw what happened to everyday Australians, small business people and the most vulnerable every time Labor got in. And so for me, when I was considering running for the seat of Greenway first, I thought I was pretty committed that the Coalition, who was lead by John Howard at the time, would be re-elected because I’d never wanted to see Labor do what they did every time they got back in.

What motivates me now is not just what I can contribute and influence in

Louise Markus, Liberal incumbent for Macquarie. Source: Keegan Thomson

policy on the national scene, but also what I can do for my local community, and I’ve always chosen jobs and roles that have involved service to the community. So I think that is one of the things I really love about my job now.

If the Liberals are reelected what can you do for Macquarie that no one else can?

Well first of all, a Coalition government always delivers what it promises. First of all, what they will deliver is a foundation of an economy that is well managed, a budget that is managed effectively so we can deliver.

So that will include infrastructure, that will be roads and bridges. If you look at the National Disability Insurance Scheme that we have been rolling out, if you look at the e-health network that we have been rolling out, those kinds of services can only be rolled out under a government where the budget is managed efficiently and effectively. I will continue to see the NBN rolled out and it is rolled out to a significant number of homes and business in Macquarie already. We also have a lot of issues with mobile phone coverage, particularly within the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury region where we have a propensity for natural disasters.

I’m passionate about delivering more in the area for the youth, particularly in the area of providing them opportunities for employment.

In the transition to work program, I and others worked for those who have challenges who have issues transitioning from education to work, or from education to further study, so the transition to work study which has been rolled out across the Hawkesbury is about about to be rolled out in the Blue Mountains in the coming months.

Susan Templeman Q&A

Do you think you can win Macquarie again?

I never assume anything. I never take this seat or the people I represent for granted. So I’ll continue to work every day, from now until the election, to ensure that the people of Macquarie have the best representation that they deserve. Why I believe that it is better to chose us rather than Labor or anybody else is because I believe we are the only side of politics that can deliver jobs, growth and a stronger community.

What are the three things you’re running your reelection campaign on?

Infrastructure that will create more jobs. Opportunities for young people to transition from work to employment. And guarantee funding for health, education and roads, which will only result from a position of strength and good management of both the budget and economy.

Who are you preferencing?

I can’t actually tell you that at the moment. We don’t know all the candidates. All the candidates nominations aren’t in yet.

By Keegan Thomson

SUSAN TEMPLEMAN, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR MACQUARIE SPEAKING out against the proposed Western Sydney Airport, Susan Templeman is prepared to fight her own party on issues she thinks are important to the locals of her community. She’s the Labor candidate for Macquarie and she’s contesting her third federal election.

What made you want to throw your hat into the ring for Macquarie?

When Bob Debus decided to retire, it seemed to me that we needed a local to represent the area, and there was some talk of somebody being brought into the area to replace him, and so I thought that was absolutely the wrong way to go, I thought we needed a local and we needed a woman. I felt strongly that there needed to be a woman, and in fact I spoke to a whole lot of women in the Mountains, and they agreed. So that is what caused me to reflect and say, you know what, I’m at a time in my life where my kids are not so demanding because they’re older and my parents are not so elderly that they need care, and perhaps I might be able to make a difference here, and what really drove me to want to make a difference was a belief that the mental health system doesn’t support young people or older people as well as it could. There are a lot of things where having been a mum and raised kids in this community for 20 years, there are

a lot of things where you think we can do it better. What made me want to be a politician was the view that mental health is letting down our young people and if we don’t do something about we are going to see it grow greater and greater. So if you unpack it, it goes back to that, or even further to having been a journalist and wanting to have a better understanding of the world and make it a better place, which is really why I think most politicians want to be politicians.

Compared to the other candidates what can you do for Macquarie?

Well I think what I bring to it is a breadth of experience, and something which is missing a little bit from parliament, and that is the perspective of someone who has run a small business for 25 years, someone who hasn’t been part of the party machine, I didn’t join the Labor Party til I was in my 40s, I bring the wisdom of being 50 something, as opposed to coming just straight out of a political environment.

I just think it is that life experience, which mean I know how we should be funding schools better. It’s not an abstract concept for me, I know what it is like to be P&C President and to struggle to raise funds for what really should be considered as the basics.

Like any mum in the Mountains I’ve had kids who’ve needed to go to

Susan Templeman, Labor’s candidate for Macquarie. Source: Keegan Thomson

hospital, I think we should be funding health systems so you don’t need to wait for 8 hours in emergency at Nepean hospital. So I reckon I bring a few things; life experience, the ability to stand up to a party when I don’t agree with them, and a lack of fear about expressing a view which should be heard but sometimes people are fearful to say.

What are the three things you’d change and fight for if you win the seat of Macquarie?

The number one thing would be to protect this area [the Blue Mountains] and it’s people as much as possible from the impacts of a second airport, because that is set to make a massive difference to the quality of life and the

quality of the environment that we live in. The second thing would be putting funding back into education and health. That would be implementing Gonski and saving Medicare and the third would be NBN. Making sure the Lower Mountains, because it is too late for the Upper Mountains, making sure the Lower Mountains and parts of the Hawkesbury, that have not yet got proper NBN, get a full and really decent fibre NBN that doesn’t rely on copper. That, I think, could fundamentally change the economy of the Lower Mountains.

Compared to other candidates in the Mountains why do you think voters should chose you?

Voters have had seven years to get to know me, and to know what I stand for and more importantly know that I want to be a strong advocate for the things that are important to this electorate.

It’s a really diverse electorate and there are lots of really local issues that effect everyone’s day to day life. People know I will fight for the things that matter to our area, it is not much point being a local member if you’re not going to stand up for your community, and I think people have seen the disappointments that occur when your local member isn’t prepared to fight their own party to stand up for what really matters.

ADVERTISEMENT

ALA’s Steve Roddick calls for reform FORMER PM Tony Abbott recently called for Islam to Reform, and Jeff Sparrow from the ABC wrote: “Tony Abbott has been widely reported as declaring Islam needs reform, but it’s not Muslims who are his main target. The institution he’s really keen to change is the Liberal Party - and the reform he wants begins at the top.” - Jeff Sparrow “It’s not culturally insensitive to demand ... respect for Western civilisation. Cultures are not all equal.”

A lot of Australians I speak to these days are tired of Political Correctness, and tired of not being able to discuss things that concern them without being called a racist or a bigot, especially when it concerns security issues.

It is a lot more complex than just saying Islam needs reform, but the question is legitimate, and remember that when we had the debate or talked about Nazism we did not blame Germans, it was not racist to discuss Nazism, the German people were oppressed, and many did not follow the herd and commit the atrocities that Nazi’s were infamous

for. In fact many left Germany, to countries like ours.

Much like many who practice Islam, in fact the huge majority of Muslims in this country came here for a chance to escape the oppression, and to live in a secular country that allows freedom of speech and an opportunity to provide for your family and get ahead. Our nearest neighbour is Indonesia, a secular country, with a large population of secular Muslims, thankfully!

However, there is no denying that there are radicals or extremists among us, and the debate needs to be had. We need to identify the problems, articulate them clearly, and then deal with them. These people need to be dealt with firmly, our Government’s first priority should be the protection of her people from all threats, domestic and foreign. The current rhetoric does not achieve that aim.

Another public figure that calls for Reform is Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and I was lucky enough to hear her speak at the Centre for Independent Studies, here in Sydney recently. She has a very logical way of explaining the

issue.

Ayaan Hirsi Magan was born into a devout Somali Muslim family.

Throughout her school years, Ayaan received a strict Muslim education, and as a young girl, she underwent traditional Somali female genital cutting. In 1992 Ayaan was married—against her will—to a distant cousin. While en route to join him in Canada, she fled to the Netherlands, where she applied successfully for political asylum; during the process she changed her name to Ayaan Hirsi Ali and adjusted her birth date to make it difficult for her family to find her.

Ali went on to become a MP in the Dutch Parliament, and now lectures at a University in the United States, and writes books about the topic of Islam.

Ali identifies three different groups of Muslims: Medina Muslims, Mecca Muslims, and Muslim dissidents. These groups amount to: those who take Islam seriously, those who take it semi-seriously, and those who choose to think critically about the religion. Ali’s goal is to persuade Mecca Muslims to become

Muslim dissidents, to examine Islam critically, to judge it accordingly, and, preferably, to do what she and a small minority have done: exit.

Ali specifies five areas that require amendment, and they amount to a complete repudiation of the essence of Islam. Ali aims to persuade Mecca Muslims to: Repudiate “Muhammad’s semidivine status, along with the literalist reading of the Quran.

Deny “the supremacy of life after death.”

Repudiate “Shariah, the vast body of religious legislation.”

Reject “the right of individual Muslims to enforce Islamic law.”

Reject “the imperative to wage jihad, or holy war.”

Australia is a secular country, separation of State and Religion is fundamental and constitutional, and whenever Sharia Law is practiced in this country it is in breach of that, I look forward to the day that Politicians and the general public can speak freely about Islam and Sharia Law, and the dissidents within the religion grow in numbers substantially.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send your letters to the editor to kerrie@nepeannews.com.au Cornish preferences Labor?

So Marcus Cornish ditched the Liberal Party because it was “Not Conservative Enough” Hah! Yeah right, so preferencing the (Karl Marx) Labor Party will fix it?

Funny how people will throw their integrity out the window when they get a sniff of power.

M.McCoy, Penrith Cornish wouldn’t have Abbot’s support If Marcus Cornish thinks Tony would support him on this he really is deluded. Even after being knifed as a Prime Minister, Tony would never want people to vote Labor. That’s the way true conservatives roll, Cornish! Get the memo!

S.Baxter, Penrith ALA all the way The only party I can see that have the ability to tackle the problems Australians face with ISIS and associated radical Islamic groups in a sensible and rational way is Australian Liberty Alliance.

The two major parties have shown that all they will do will pussy-foot around the topic, toeing the line of political correctness. Its time to vote for change.

D.Stevens, Kingswood Vote no airport In the piece by Keegan Thomson on the proposed Badgerys Creek Airport (Nepean News 5th May) I consider it necessary for residents of western Sydney communities should fight this imposition tooth and nail. To foist this totally unnecessary abomination on western Sydney is appalling.

The location at Badgerys Creek is a low-lying area which is heavily effected by fog in season and would be lost as part of the Sydney food bowl. Should this transport anachronism be forced on residents, treating us like Mermerdons with the “pie in the sky” promise of jobs, (a fallacy, some jobs will merely be moved from the city, minimum new labor will be required at an airport dealing with freight) Sydney Airport is under-utilised far below its capacity.

If this BCA. disaster is allowed to go ahead with its associated 24 hour noise, pollution, temperature increase, traffic increase and general damage to lifestyle, valuable financial resources will be diverted from the ultimate interstate transport - V.F.Rail - which needs to be operational by 2040.

Of course this will mean that the BCA will be relegated to cater almost entirely to freight.

The days of passengers travelling to major cities over Australia’s relatively flat continent by air are limited by common sense.

Long distance travel by air is logically only efficient to overseas destinations.

At election day don’t vote any party that will treat western Sydney like a population of Mermerdons!

W.Cox, Mulgoa

Candidates: Please look after Lindsay’s seniors Federal policy and funding decisions since 2014-15 have stripped $3.1 billion from Australia’s aged care system. In the past 6 months alone, $1.7 billion has been unfairly cut for services to the frailest senior Australians, suffering from chronic pain, degenerative disease, severe arthritis and complex wounds.

In 2015 there are over 1.91 million people in NSW aged over 65, including those seniors in the seat of Lindsay. In ten years this figure is projected to increase to over 1.58 million an increase of some 32.7 percent. This is no surprise, yet there is an ongoing failure by Governments to properly plan for, and fund aged care services to meet this demand, and deliver services that meet the acuity needs of seniors receiving aged care services.

In the face of this future capacity demand, and the increasing complexity of the care that seniors need as they live longer, the current Coalition Government in its first term has responded to these challenges by stripping $3.1 billion from aged care funding.

The Coalition Parties are yet to announce their aged care vision should they be re-elected on 2 July.

Although welcome, Labor’s ‘Creating an Age-Friendly Nation’ announcement (Thursday 26 May) about a review of the Aged Care Funding Instrument is only a first step towards laying the strong foundation required for a future age care sector. Labor has not committed to reversing the $3.1 billion cuts in aged care, though it condemned the cuts during parliamentary debate.

LASA is calling on sitting member Fiona Scott (Liberal) to appeal to the Prime Minister to reverse the savage cuts. We also call on candidates - Emma Husar (Labor), and Kingsley Liu (Greens), and all other candidates to appeal to the Leaders of their respective parties – and reverse the $3.1 billion of cuts to aged care imposed by the current Government.

The seniors in Lindsay, and seniors Australia wide deserve to be treated with respect, and deserve to have effective treatment, and pain management, properly funded.

All the candidates contesting the 2016 election in Lindsay need to understand the scale of the challenge, and that they must not be silent. The elected member for Lindsay post the 2016 Federal election must advocate for, and deliver for the seniors in Lindsay today and into the future.

Loula Koutrodimos, Chief Executive Officer, Leading Age Services Australia

19 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

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Legends of the Nepean

By Garion Thain

PENRITH is a city that has attracted thousands to its suburbs over the years. Many legends have moved here to start new lives, new jobs, raise a family or just enjoy the Nepean itself. For some, like Jim Hill, these suburbs were their first home, and over 50 years on and

several successful business ventures later, still is his home.

At two years old, Jim Hill’s family moved to North St Marys, where he was raised on Cedar Crescent, and attended North St Marys public school. This is a street that this author is also familiar with, so I and Mr Hill, a former boxer, brain cancer survivor and Director – Manager of Nepean Solar Solutions, started with the small

Jim Hill and I met at his office in Penrith, where he’s been busy managing Nepean Solar Solutions. He will soon be moving to a factory unit.

things when we sat down to discuss his nomination as this week’s Legend of the Nepean, an honour he says he is humbled to receive.

“I still remember going to the shops with 20c, and getting a bundle of chips wrapped in newspapers,” he smiled.

“The primary school didn’t have the big fence then, just a waist high picket fence.”

North St Marys has changed with the rest of Penrith over time, but Mr Hill says it’s still a good area, having driven back to reminisce just recently.

Later on, he also attended school in South St Marys and Penrith high.

Living in Penrith almost his whole life, Jim and his wife of 33 years, Gillian, did move to Western Australia for a few years and enjoyed a beach view, but when they decided to moved back to Sydney, chose Penrith again.

“You can’t beat Penrith – it’s home,” Mr Hill said.

And home it is. Involved in electricity for over 35 years, Mr Hill started his apprenticeship in 1979, and has since employed 40 himself, many of them going on to be involved with and start their own businesses in Penrith, also.

“It’s a nice reward seeing them

succeed,” he said smiling.

Mr Hill is currently the Director – Manager of Nepean Solar Solutions, and sold his old business of 22 years to chase the new technology.

“Solar technology is really interesting,” Mr Hill said on starting a new business.

“It’s a unique opportunity to grow something and challenge yourself.”

When the word Entrepreneur was brought up, Mr Hill shrugged it off slightly, saying Penrith is a great example of why that word’s definition may be evolving.

“Penrith’s always had a lot of people ready to have a go, in a whole lot of different areas,” he said.

“There’s a terrific community spirit too, and it always comes out when someone needs a hand. If you wanted to, you could go to a fundraiser every week.”

Mr Hill himself recently helped hold a fundraiser for little Bryson Miles, recently featured in Nepean News, who was suffering from brain cancer.

Mr Hill fought a brain tumour of his own, which he said is hard to pick up in general checks.

“I thought I’d had a stroke when I fainted, so when they told me I had a

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JIM HILL tumour, at first I actually felt a little relieved. I was that naïve, I thought it was just a lump.”

After undergoing major surgery and chemotherapy, Mr Hill said his heart went out to Bryson because he could hardly fathom that experience happening to a child.

“If someone’s three years old and dealing with that – your heart goes out to them.” “[Brain cancer’s] one of the biggest killers of under 21’s, and it doesn’t get a huge amount of publicity. Every cancer’s terrible. Terribly unfair, cruel,” he said.

Now in remission and back focusing on work, Mr Hill says he has no regrets.

“There’s still stuff I want to learn how to do, like learn how to sing,” Mr Hill said.

“When you’ve got your health, the world’s your Oyster. That’s the most important thing.”

This attitude helped Mr Hill have a bout at boxing in between his busy work life, and he managed to proceed from a charity match to a fight with an audience of 500, almost in his 50’s. His word to describe trying that?

Tense.

“I just didn’t want to get knocked out!” Mr Hill said laughing.

“It wasn’t the opposition intimidating you, it was the crowd.”

It wasn’t a bout without precedent though. Mr Hill mentioned in his school days he came 2nd in a nationwide wrestling comp.

About to move Nepean Solar Solutions into its own factory unit, Jim Hill is focusing on his business and

spending time with his wife Gillian and daughters Aimee and Meaghan.

Penrith is home he says, and I believe him. This legend of the Nepean has so many stories to share from here.

21

PENRITH is a city that has attracted thousands to its suburbs over the years.

Many legends have moved here to start new lives, new jobs, raise a family or just enjoy the Nepean itself. For some, like Jim Hill, these suburbs were their first home, and over 50 years on and several successful business ventures later, still is his home.

Jim Hill nominated as a Legend of the Nepean

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

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localnews local

Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

B positive for blood donation MEMBER for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies MP, has urged Mulgoa residents to make an appointment to give blood, in light of National Blood Donor Week, which runs from 12 June to 18 June 2016.

“With National Blood Donor Week commencing, now is the time to reflect on and celebrate the 495,000 life-saving blood donors that contribute to this vital cause, right across our State and country,” said Tanya Davies.

“Individuals from all walks of life need blood products. For some, blood products are required to get them through a serious medical condition or event in their lives, such as cancer or a dangerous pregnancy,” Tanya Davies said.

“Others have medical conditions that necessitate the ongoing use of blood products in order to remain healthy and to stay alive,” said Tanya Davies.

One in three Australians will need blood or blood products during their lifetime. Yet, only one in thirty Australians gives blood each year. Most people are able to give blood if they feel fit and healthy, are aged between 16 and 70 and weight over 50 kg.

“As such, I would urge those who are able to do so to make an appointment to give blood and be a part of something greater than themselves,” Tanya Davies said.

“With every blood donation having the potential to save up to three lives, I say to all of those who are considering making a blood donation, be brave, roll up your sleeves and make a lasting impact and real difference to the lives of everyday and ordinary people,” Tanya Davies said.

To find out if you are eligible to donate, please contact 13 14 95 or visit: http://www.donateblood.com.au/blood-donor-week

Nita

Ask

A regular column to answer your medical cosmetic queries

WITH a plethora of skincare ranges on the market all claiming to deliver results, it can be difficult to determine the best product for our needs.

Results, quality and product differentiation are just some of the questions we pose to ourselves when selecting a new skincare range. These are all relevant questions, which I often get asked by my clients. This is why I have turned to the specialists to recommend a product that delivers proven results and one that is trusted within the industry.

Dr Geoffrey Heber has been a

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Cancer

by Aunty N.

CANCER the crab is the fourth sign of the zodiac for those born between June 21 and July 22. The ruling planet is the moon, the Great Mother of the heavens in ancient times.

A water sign, Cancer is one of the most sensitive signs of the zodiac although they often won’t show their emotions.

Cancerians have a tough exterior, like the crab, and may retreat into their shells when feeling vulnerable. Another metaphor for the crab is the Cancerian attachment to their homes. Home and family are the most important element of a Cancerian life and when these are threatened the crustacean will mount an impressive attack with those pincers.

The crab makes an extremely loyal friend to those who appreciate and support them. Their sensitivity makes them a great friend to have when going through difficult times and they have the ability to make others feel good about themselves.

On occasion, Cancerians can be a little oversensitive, moody or self-absorbed.

They generally dislike receiving advice or being told what to do.

Famous Cancerians include Will Ferrell, Ricky Gervais, Phyllis Diller, Bill Oddie, Dave Allen, Tom Hanks, Vin Diesel, Tom Cruise, Lindsay Lohan,

Meryl Streep, Kathy Bates, Anjelica Huston, Ginger Rogers, Liv Tyler, Natalie Wood, Michael Phelps, Mike Tyson, Schapelle Corby, Jessica Rowe, Vera Wang, Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss, Oscar de la Renta, Rembrandt, Helen Keller, Ernest Hemmingway, George Orwell, Henry David Thoreau, Nelson Mandela, Prince William, Princess Diana, Julius Caesar, Angela Merkel, Benazir Bhutto, Mary McAleese.

Careers that Cancerians would enjoy include doctor, pharmacist, teacher, nutrionalist, personal trainer, chef, lawyer, politician, historian, realtor or antiques dealer.

The best relationship matches for Cancer are Taurus, Scorpio, Virgo and Pisces.

Do you feel overwhelmed when it comes to skincare products and recommendations? cosmetic physician for over 20 years working with patients exposed to one of the harshest conditions in the world - the Australian sun. Geoff and his team have developed the Ultraceuticals Ultra MD range to specifically target skin aging and hyperpigmentation. This science based regimen includes a high-concentration of formulated ingredients which have been tested by real consumers, including myself and comes recommended with my stamp of approval.

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23 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

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24

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

Open for business and ready to serve!

O’DONOGHUES Irish Pub in Emu Plains is a favourite venue for many locals; it is a place where you can always guarantee you’re going to find excellent food, great people and terrific entertainment.

Last weekend O’Donghues hit the news through no fault of their own, with reports of a fire that burned two people - one of them later passing away from his injuries.

While the matter is under police investigation, sources say that the two men were asked to leave the premises early in the night, and came back after closing hours, allegedly to set the premises alight.

But the alleged plans backfired, literally.

Sources say that an alleged plan to throw petrol and setting it alight backfired on the pair, when the window chosen didn’t have clear space behind it, so

the lit petrol came back on the men.

Police officially reported that at about 1.45am Friday 10 June, emergency services were called to the hotel following reports of a fire.

On arrival, officers from Penrith Local Area Command located a 29-year-old man on the road with serious burns.

Police rendered assistance to the man. He was taken to Nepean Hospital and later transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He died the next day.

A second male was located by NSW Ambulance Paramedics at Avoca Street, Emu Plains, with serious burns. He was taken to Concord Hospital.

A crime scene has been established and police are treating the blaze as suspicious, and anyone with information in relation to the incident is urged to

contact Penrith Police Station on (02) 4721 9444 or Crime Stoppers.

Nepean News broke the news of the alleged plan on social media, and the news spread quickly.

At the time of going to print, the post had been viewed by 32,600 people, shared by hundreds, with hundreds of others making comment about both the incident and passing on their best wishes to O’Donoghues.

The pub is open for business, and serving their succulent meals as usual and the entertainment line up is as good as it always is.

Let’s get behind O’Donoghues and show them that a foolish act seemingly born out of revenge will not keep us away from one of the greatest, historical and fun venues in our community.

Call in for a great meal and beverage!

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Local winners visit state parliament

MEMBER for Mulgoa Tanya Davies has congratulated Mrs Rebeka Vianello and Miss Katherine Wong, the winner and youth winner, respectively, of the Mulgoa Electorate photography competition.

Local resident Mrs Rebeka Vianello’s winning photograph depicts a stunning sunset in the Mulgoa

Valley.

Miss Katherine Wong also lives locally and her stunning black and white photo is of nearby Luddenham.

“I was thrilled to welcome Mrs Vianello and Miss Wong to Parliament House for lunch and a tour. It was a pleasure to thank them for their beautiful

27 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

entries and acknowledge them personally,” said Tanya Davies.

Mrs Vianello’s and Miss Wong’s winning photographs are now on display in the new Mulgoa Electorate Office at St Clair.

Media Contact: Jessica Neale (02) 9834 2966.

FOR THE ATTENTION OF MEMBERS AND GUESTS OF ST MARYS BAND CLUB NOTIFICATION OF CLOSURE OF WESTERN CARPARK – MONDAY 27th JUNE, 2016 Club renovations will be commencing on Monday 27th June, 2016.

The western carpark will not be accessible from this date.

Parking will be available in the eastern carpark only and in surrounding areas of the club during this period.

Pedestrian access to the club will still be available via the existing main entrance and via the eastern entrance.

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Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

French Kiss - An Australian in Paris A star of the flute! -London Daily Mail An artistic young musician goes to Paris to learn how to live…

Jane Rutter, Australia’s queen of the flute, re-lives her student days in Paris.

This concert-theatre piece includes delicious French music from La Belle Époque to the present day.

Using French poetry and her own anecdotes, Jane relates her experiences in this most beautiful and romantic of cities, as well as the tales of many other artists, writers and musicians who flocked there to create and recreate themselves.

An Australian in Paris includes the company of Pablo Picasso, Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, Colette, Josephine Baker, Janet Flanner and Gertrude Stein. Jane plays music by Claude Debussy, Charles Aznavour, Gabriel Fauré, Claude Bolling, André Jolivet, George Gershwin, Marin Marais, Maurice Ravel, Edith Piaf, Cole Porter & Henry Mancini.

Offering Sunday afternoon entertainment in a laid back environment with post-show wine, cheese and crackers included in the ticket price, The Joan’s Sunday Series is the perfect package. The Series also includes performances by Fiona Joy & The Blue Dream Ensemble on

28 August and Marcus Corowa’s Bill Withers tribute on 18 September.

Tickets are $35 (standard) or $30 (concession).

To book call The Joan’s Box Office on 4723-7600 or online at www. thejoan.com.au ABOUT JANE RUTTER Classical free sp¬ir¬¬it flautist, Jane Rutter, is an internationally acclaimed soloist renowned for her onstage

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warmth, technical brilliance and dynamic performances. A musician sans frontiers (without boundaries) Jane is considered a world expert on French-style flute playing, and its affiliation with the voice. Following the French tradition, Jane’s classical career has been enhanced by her ability as a ‘cross-over artist’ (theatre, cabaret, world music, improvisation, film, and composition.)

Jane Rutter has appeared in the UK, Europe, USA, South-East Asia, South America and China, and is a household name in Australia. Described by ABC Classic FM as “one of Australia’s leading performance artists”, she has released 17 top selling solo albums and in 2007 was listed by Limelight Magazine as one of the top female influences in the world of classical music.

Theater production: The moon’s a balloon ON 17 and 18 June, The Joan will present Patch Theatre Company’s highly acclaimed visual theatre production The Moon’s A Balloon for a strictly limited season.

A balloon can be a friend to play with or a maker of friendships. It can hold its breath for days and disappear in an instant. It can make your hair stand on end and fill you with laughter. A balloon can be something loved or something lost; something shared or something broken. A balloon can be anything you need it to be.

Aimed at ages three and over, The Moon’s a Balloon takes a playful look at childhood games, invention and friendship in a highly visual performance.

Backed by a stunning soundscape, lit like a dream, and steeped in digital artistry, this is a show that will set your imagination alight.

This little gem of a production is inspired by EE Cummings’ poem The Moon’s a Balloon, which suggests that amazing possibilities can come from the simplest of things. The play presents two performers exploring and playing with white balloons as they search for meaning and friendship.

The Moon’s A Balloon story is presented through words, dance, colour, music and sound.

“The Moon’s a Balloon is simply the best theatre around at this moment. Patch Theatre continues to grow, evolve and deepen. This show is not just for kids, it’s for everyone and works on many levels… a true masterpiece. Five stars!” Unjay Markiewicz, Early Childhood Educator Tickets are $22 Adult, $18 Child (12 and under) and $72 Family (four people, at least one adult). Schools bookings are also available at $18 per student. To

book call The Joan’s Box Office on 4723-7600 or online at www.thejoan.com.au About Patch Theatre Company Patch Theatre Company has a diverse repertoire of acclaimed, tour-ready productions for 4-8 year olds and their families.

The company is based in Adelaide, South Australia and has presented over 100 new productions to more than 1.8 million children and their families since it

began in 1972.

Over the last decade, Patch Theatre Company has presented 9 of its repertoire productions, in more than 29 international seasons, to children’s festivals and venues in the US, Canada, Singapore, Korea, Japan and New Zealand. In that time, Patch Theatre has delivered 10 national Playing Australia tours and has presented 9 seasons at the Sydney Opera House and 10 seasons at the Arts Centre, Victoria.

29 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

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PIONEER

TAVERN

Thirteen thousand reasons to smile

By Kerrie Davies

IRIS Russell is a publican of the old school - affable, hardworking and loves bringing smiles to the faces of her patrons.

Two of the patrons at the Pioneer Tavern where she is Licencee and Event Manager are former rugby league great, Triple M presenter and Nepean News columnist, Mark Geyer, and Penrith Golf Club Pro Jonathan Green.

And both these blokes had plenty to smile about last Friday, when Iris presented them with a cheque for over $13,000 towards the charity very close to their hearts, The Great Walk Foundation.

The funds were made available through the proceeds of a charity luncheon with MG and Matty Johns held a few weeks back at the Pioneer.

The Great Walk Foundation supports many local charities, and Mark Geyer shared with us the story behind it’s beginnings.

“When two great mates sat down for a ‘long lunch’ just under a decade ago, they couldn’t have imagined in a million years that the conversation they were having at that very minute would change so many peoples lives significantly,” MG said.

“The two great mates were Penrith golf pro Jonathan Green and local solicitor and Nepean legend Mark Mulock.

“The exchange that day went along the lines of ( after three or possibly six bottles of Red) “I reckon I can walk between here and Katoomba”.

“Well I reckon I could run from here to Lithgow” “ Ok I can walk from here to Orange!”

“After ‘tooing and frowing’ for much of the afternoon it was decided “We will walk from here (Blaxland) to Bathurst! Hence the Great Walk Foundation was spawned.

“In the first year we walked we all quickly decided that it was a lot more beneficial on our lower limbs to walk the opposite way and start at Bathurst and finish at Blaxland. All 160kms of it.

“The Great Walk Foundation is one of the proudest organizations I have been associated with. After this current walk was completed (May 24th- May 28th) astonishingly the charity has now raised over $900,000! With every red cent going straight to the beneficiaries. The Great Walk give 100% of monies raised to the designated recipients. In 2016 $120,000 was raised and we’re only just starting the month of June.

Fantastic really,” MG said.

Those that have felt the GWF’s love this year alone are: HeadspaceMental Health program in Bathurst district with a

xxxxx

priority area of suicide prevention.

Lithgow HospitalSupport through funding of new equipment for hearing tests for children in the local area.

Riding for the Disabled- Nepean Branch, assists with the purchase of food and other incidentals for horses used in the program.

SailabilityNepean Branch.

Purchase of purpose built yachts for disabled sailors.

Greater Community Transportpurchase of another new bus for

community transport.

Springwood HospitalNew purpose built beds for palliative care patients.

Nepean Hospital Children’s Wardnew equipment for Ward, including incubators in the NIC (Newborn intensive Care) unit.

As you can see the Great Walk’s donations cover a vast array of institutions who each are incredibly appreciative of the efforts of the walkers.

“On the walkers, what a special

bunch of men,” MG said.

“Along with Jonathan Green and Mark Mulock, there is Dr Tony Bowden, Trent Baker, Greg Nelson, Rob Wearn, Cameron McInnes, Graham O’Kell, Dave ‘Crossy’ Crossman and yours truly.

“And the walk couldn’t take place without the honourable road crew, who are Flav Varnier, Jeff Townsend, Nick Shaw and Brett Lockett.

“Your blood should be bottled boys,” he said.

31 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

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32 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

Western Sydney film makers love crowdfunding

By Keegan Thomson

CROWDFUNDING is turning the dream of film making into a reality, particularly for those in western Sydney.

Recently the independently produced and crowdfunded film Broke, directed and written by Penrith local Heath Davis, was screened nation wide.

Instead of the traditional methods of securing financial backing, crowdfunding goes to the masses and asks charitable and generous people to donate money towards a project.

Angela Pezzano, director and producer at Nuh Productions, a film production company based in western Sydney, is at the moment undertaking a crowdfunding campaign through the website Indiegogo.

She told Nepean News she has found it hard to get grants from the government to support her film company so instead she has had to branch out and go to crowdfunding for help.

“People say there are lots of grants out there for film producers but it is really hard to get any of the funding because we don’t

Poster for Who Knew. Source: Nuh! Productions.

fit with any of the categories.

Unless you’re really new or you have a famous face attached to the company you can’t get any money,” Ms Pezzano said.

The crowdfunding campaign will lead to the funding of Nuh! Productions’ first feature length film entitled Who Knew, which will feature a cast mainly made up of local western Sydney actors and film makers.

So far the crowdfunding campaign has had a slow start but Ms Pezzano has called for faith.

“We really need people to believe in us,” she said. “This film will be made no matter what. The story is far too important.”

She described the film as a coming of age drama about two best friends and their journey through the last year of high school and into the outside world.

On top of this she covers the important and always relevant topics of eating disorders, family breakdowns, addictions and sexuality.

You can donate to the campaign www.indiegogo.com/ at/WhoKnewMovie with Ms Pezzano sending out personal thanks to everyone who donates.

SUDOKU: MEDIUM SOLUTION: 2nd June

33 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

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INSTRUCTIONS Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9 with no duplicates

CROSSWORD ACROSS 8 Boyfriend (4) 9 A synthetic fabric (5) 10 Skin irritation (4) 11 Supper (6) 12 Imposes (8) 13 Affability (8) 15 Whitener (6) 17 Show religious devotion (7) 19 A passage from a larger work (7) 22 Bovine mammary glands (6) 24 Eternally (8) 26 Luxuriates (8) 28 Metric units of mass (6) 30 Look amorously (4) 31 Author Mark _____ (5) 32 Relating to the ear (4)

DOWN 1 A beautiful and graceful girl (4) 2 Satisfies thirst (8) 3 A natural cavity in a bone (6) 4 Precipitated rain and snow (7) 5 A small ornamental tin (8) 6 Stab (6) 7 Skin disease (4) 14 Egg-shaped (5) 16 Cavort (5) 18 Clear understandings (8) 20 A city in Alberta Canada (8) 21 Sexually gratifying (7) 23 Oozed (6) 25 Consuming food (6) 27 Wooden pins or pegs (4) 29 Heroic (4)

solution 2/6/16

34

finance and real estate matters

Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

Australia needs short term pain for the long term gain!

With Steve Beard Select Mortgage Broker

WITH the Federal election due in a few weeks, the politicians are playing their games of trying to entice the swinging voters with money for this and money for that. They also talk about cutting expenses and waste here and there plus reducing benefits to various groups of people like superannuation entitlements and social security benefits etc.

As a nation, our debt is at record levels and growing by about $100 million every day. Our Federal government now owes about $455 billion. The states, territories and local government also owe $311 billion so the total government debt is a staggering $766 billion.

When the Coalition came into power, they made a lot of noise about the debt crisis and began to cut spending. They had many other spending cuts planned but could not get them passed by the senate as Labor and the minor parties

blocked many reforms.

In our democratic society, we now have to decide who has the best ability to try and run our economy smarter and reduce our debt. If we continue to increase our national and government debt, we are just making life harder in the next period of time and for future generations.

What we need are people who are not just mainly worried about being elected to the parliament or the senate. We need people (and not just professional politicians) who have the guts and support of their party and the people to make the hard decisions. They may hurt certain groups of people now, but these decisions need to be made to make the economy stronger and more flexible for the future.

During the election period, we constantly hear groups wanting money for this and that. Some causes are more worthy than others of course but the country can’t afford to keep spending as they are. However, expenditure on many items just keeps on increasing due to our expanding and aging population

and the regular natural disasters.

Expenditure on health, education, defence, welfare and aged pensions etc are all increasing anyway.

At the same time revenues to the government are dropping and there is no major positive events in the economy on the horizon that will increase revenue.

This only leaves two other main options, reduce general spending and reduce welfare and benefits to those who can afford it.

Other topics doing the rounds before the election was called were major reforms to the taxes system, GST rates, superannuation, welfare spending and changes to negative gearing of investments and capital gain tax. Most of these changes are now not part of the governments’ options as they are seen to be too unpopular and could cost the Coalition votes.

As a society, we can’t just expect federal and state governments to keep paying all these costs when they are broke and have to borrow $100 million every day!

SELECT

If we do want our governments to be in stronger financial positions, we all need to accept the reality that they need more income and reduce spending, especially on people who don’t need it.

Australians enjoy an extremely high standard of living. However, history shows that it is inevitable that our standard of living is and will continue to decrease for many reasons. One reason is due to our desire to have a lot of things without having to pay for it. But that is another whole story right there.

If you think you are doing it tough, than just look to most other countries to compare.

Let’s all hope that the next group of politicians put the country before their own personal situations and make the hard decisions now and not keep putting them of until tomorrow and for future generations to pay for!

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.

Ph: 4739 4500 Mob: 0403 166 207 Email: beards@selectgrp.com.au

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All your real estate questions answered, with Darren Latty ~ darren@prd.net.au Have the rules changed again about pool safety compliance?

OVER the past few years a number of new regulations concerning pool safety have been introduced.

The most recent change – as of 29 April - is that one of the following compliance certificates must now be attached to the sales contract or any residential property: - Certificate of compliance (valid for three years) - relevant occupation certificate (if

the pool is less than three years old. In these cases, evidence that the pool is registered must also be provided) - certificate of non-compliance A compliance inspection and certificate should cost $150 - $200 and can be performed by your local council or qualified private companies. If a certificate of noncompliance is issued, the buyer will have 90 days to rectify the situation

– so beware that this may put buyers off! Compliance is dependent on the correct fencing, self-latching gates and signage being around the pool.

If this is not done, it could affect whether the sale goes through. If there is no certificate, the purchaser can rescind the contract within 14 days.

Not having a compliance certificate can also slow down the process of

getting your property on the market, as a completed sales contract is required before advertising can begin.

The new requirements also affects landlords, as any newly signed lease needs to have a compliance certificate attached (this does not apply to pools that are part of a strata scheme).

You can check a pool’s status at www.swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov. au

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35 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

realestate real

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36 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

Emu Plains Railway Station and Stationmaster’s Residence

by Patsy Mopett

W Platform facade

HEN the railway came to Emu Plains the first train crossed the bridge in June 1867. One year later the Emu Plains Railway Station was opened on the south side of the Bathurst Road. Subsequently this building was abandoned and a new railway station building and station master’s residence was opened in November 1886. A telegraph office was opened at the station a year later.

Emu Plains is located on the western banks of the Nepean River at the foot of the Blue Mountains. It has many historic buildings and sites, which date back to the first settlement.

The river and the mountain range bounded the new colony to the west and a mere trickle of movement ventured beyond these topographical features at first.

The sighting of emus on the river flats may have prompted the name in the late 1700s, and may have originated from Watkin Tench in his early exploration of this part of the region.

The name Emu Plains came into use around 1814. The government farm was established here in 1819 by Governor Macquarie, where convicts cleared the land and carried out cultivation of wheat, maize, tobacco and other crops for 13 years. The town of Emu was surveyed for settlers in the early 1830s. By this time a road had been established across the mountains to the Bathurst plains and more land was being sought for expansion of Sydney town. The convict farm was officially closed in 1832 and the land sold.

The river was crossed at first via the ford, and the Emu Ferry. The challenge to bridge the river was thwarted several times by the significant floods which occurred regularly. The final bridge which met the challenge was the Victoria Bridge, a road/rail structure.

The Victoria Bridge was given over to road traffic only in 1907, when a new railway bridge was opened. The line from Penrith was electrified in 1956.

The second railway station building was a two storey structure with the stationmaster’s residence upstairs. It is one of the oldest railway stations in Australia. A Victorian era Gothic Revival style railway building, it is only one of three remaining metropolitan examples (with Fairfield and Riverstone) of the early custom of providing accommodation for railway staff within the same building as the station facilities, and is the only two storey metropolitan example.

It is constructed of face brick with stone detailed quoins capping and mouldings.

The building actually presents two storeys to the platform, and actually three storeys to the street frontage. Distinctive features include the steep gabled and parapet slate roof, and two medieval style chimneys, fretted motifs on gables.

A bay window to the basement and ground levels dominates to eastern facade.

Changes to the building include the incorporation of ticket windows and door replacements. The stationmaster’s residence is accessed from a concrete stairway from the rear.

Inside, the original floor layout is retained with minimal changes. Substantial renovation occurred in 2008-2009. Many features were retained such as fire place surrounds, custom orb metal ceiling, lathe and plaster ceilings with ceiling rose, and the timber staircase. Most other original fittings have been removed.

References: www.penrithhistory.com/suburb-profiles; www.smh.com.au/NewSouth-Wales/Emu-Plains; www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp

Panthers women rule the roost

By Noel Rowsell

THE Penrith Basketball Association hosts three Youth League games this Sunday, in Round 13 of the 2016 Waratah Youth League competition.

The competition-leading Division One Women play the eighth-placed Newcastle Hunters at 1pm, followed by the ninth-placed Division One Men against the third-placed Sydney City Comets at 3pm.

The ninth-placed Division Two Men host first-placed Hills District Hornets at 3pm on Main Court Two. Penrith is fielding one of the tallest teams in this year’s Youth League Women’s competition and have the ability to dominate Comets in the paint, led by leading scorer Ella Tofaeono, Natalia Beaumont, Chloe Bloom and Rhiannon Pope.

The Panthers are on a four-game winning streak, defeating the Northern Suburbs Bears 59-40 in their most recent game (Round 12).

The Division One men are on a four-game losing streak and will be hard-pressed to contain the Comets, given the recent form of each team.

Penrith’s most recent game saw them fall 82-76 to the Northern Suburbs Bears in Round 12.

Leading scorer Sean Weeks and

Ella Tofaeono has been a colossus in the paint this season for the Panthers Youth League Women’s team. Photo courtesy of Noel Rowsell (www.photoexcellence.com.au)

centre Adam Lulka will be the keys to the Panthers success on Sunday.

The Panthers may have a small edge, with the Comets playing the Blacktown Storm at Mt Druitt on Saturday night and needing to travel back out west for their second game

of the weekend on Sunday.

The Division Two Men are on a three-game losing streak, which includes a 77-52 loss to the Hornets in Round 11 and an 87-57 loss to the St George Saints in Round 12.

A number of Penrith players were

#SIDELINE-EYE

chosen in their respective school representative teams last week and competed at the NSW All-Schools Basketball Championships, which were held in Terrigal on June 6.

Binta Salawu and Natalia Beaumont were both members of the Combined High Schools (CHS) Women’s team.

Chloe Bloom, Meg Jefferson, Kevin Achampong and Joel Klein were members of the respective Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) Women’s and Men’s teams respectively.

Adam Lulka was a member of the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Men’s team.

CIS were dominant in the Men’s competition, defeating CHS 91-81 and CCC 82-47.

The Women’s competition saw all three teams record a win, with CIS defeating CHS 71-61, CHS defeating CCC 79-74 and CCC defeating CIS 71-67.

Beaumont was subsequently selected into the NSW All-Schools Women’s team, whilst Lulka and Klein were both selected in the NSW All-Schools Men’s team.

Both teams will compete in the School Sports Australia (SSA) Championships, which will be held in Terrigal from August 6-13.

with Jarrod with Jarrod McGrouther McGrouther

‘KEEPING YOU UP TO SPEED WITH LOCAL SPORTS IN THE NEPEAN AREA’ @J_MCGROUTHER AFL

FOOTBALL has been in hiatus mode for the last two weeks for the Penrith Rams. The torrential rain and flooding that hit Sydney two weeks ago forced the postponement of four games at Greygums Oval on June 4 and the long weekend provided a bye for the club.

However, two Ramettes hit the track during this period. Renee Tomkins was awarded one of the highest honours, being selected in the NSW/ACT State team that played South Australia at Adelaide Oval and absolutely justified her selection with a great game despite the team going down by two points.

Diminutive midfielder, Emma Nolan was selected for the Sydney Team that trekked to Canberra to play the nations capital’s representative side. After a tardy start, Sydney stormed home and went agonisingly close to pulling off an upset win, going down by just three points.

Football resumes this Saturday at Greygums Oval with first grade taking on ladder leaders, NSW University, Reserves play Balmain and Third’s face up to NSW Uni with the first match to commence at 10:00 AM. The Ramettes have a bye.

NETBALL

AFTER a busy start to the Premier League season, Penrith had a week off to finish May, before playing Sutherland last Wednesday. In a tight contest Penrith went down 55-43. The Under 20’s side went agonisingly close to victory, with Sutherland proving too good, winning 48-47. GWS and UTS are the upcoming fixtures for the girls, with the Panthers currently sitting 7th in the Premier League and 4th in the Under 20’s competitions.

ICE HOCKEY

THE Sydney Bears had eight participants in last weekends AIHL All-Star game. In an event that was fun for the whole family, the game didn’t disappoint, with ‘Team Schlamp’ beating ‘Team Armstrong’ 109. The Bears also had success in the skills challenge element of the weekend, with Brian Funes winning the elimination shootout, and goalie Anthony Kimlin taking out the goalie race. In other hockey news, the USA and Canadian teams are in town this weekend in Homebush for their annual All-Star series. Tickets still available.

RUGBY UNION

THE long weekend was an immense weekend for the Penrith Emus. While the seniors played Sydney Uni and showed the tenacity and determination that has become a part of the club culture, it was the juniors that stole the limelight. The First Grade Colts played a team sitting top of the table, and matched them try for try, only losing as a result of a couple of wayward kicks. Our Colts president was very proud of the boys, tweeting “this team is a positive sign for the club as the majority of them are products of our very successful junior program.”

Our junior program was also on display this weekend, with our bumblebee striped juniors competing in the NSW State Championships. Each team had success over the weekend, with the U12’s making it to the final day, a fantastic effort. This weekend sees the seniors home to Northern Suburbs Rugby FC. Get down to the ground and support the team!

37 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

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penrith panthers celebrating 50 years

Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

Panthers handed a chance for redemption in Queensland

By Jarrod McGrouther

PENRITH skipper Matt Moylan has been selected alongside fellow teammate Josh Mansour for the NSW Blues for State of Origin II, kicking off June 22 in Brisbane. With only one change to the side, coach Laurie Daley has stuck strong, showing loyalty to the team that was defeated by only two points a fortnight ago.

Moylan will play his second game at fullback for the Blues, and retains his spot despite calls for Tigers flyer James Tedesco to replace him. Speaking with Moylan early last week about game one, he knew that his selection would depend on his own club form leading into selection this week.

“If that (selection) is going to happen it’s going to come off the back of a good performance and a good team performance.”

And didn’t that prediction come true, with Moylan playing a big hand in Penrith’s come from behind victory over Manly. The Panthers outscored the Sea Eagles 27-4 in the second half to earn a vital two points leading into a bye this week, and there’s no doubt Moylan’s performance forced Laurie Daley’s hand in selecting him for Origin II. With a try assist, a field goal and 110 running metres, the Blues

Photo: NRL photos

XXXX

have a playmaking fullback ready to make a big impact in a week’s time.

Speaking with Moylan about game one, he signalled a few areas that need improvement to take his game to the next level. Despite the few hiccups, including a spilt high ball, he spoke of the enjoyment he felt and his confidence on the big stage moving forward, “I knew it was going to be physical

and intense going into the game, I really enjoyed that atmosphere and that arena, and I’m confident with it (the high ball) moving forward.”

Josh Mansour also got the nod and will play on the left wing again next Wednesday. He was as impressive as ever in Brookvale on Sunday, running for 115 metres and crossing for an important try.

After Penrith’s bye this weekend,

Moylan and Mansour will back up for a clash at home against Souths Sydney on Friday, June 24. Penrith currently sit inside the top 8 and are on their way to cementing a spot in finals football in 2016.

Congratulations also go to panthers Samuel Radovu and Sean O’Sullivan, set to represent NSW in the u18’s team to play QLD, curtain raiser for the big game on Wednesday night.

We are seeking interest from those who would like to participate in our Bootcamps, which will begin in September, in Penrith and surrounding areas!

Groups will be limited to 10 people per 1 hour session.

If you’re interested, please enquire now at: info@wildpantherfitness.com.au

BROCK SHEPPERD NRL Level 3 High Performance Rugby League Coach Masters of Coach Education, Sydney University Listen in to the Fifth and Last NRL Podcast, available every Wednesday in the Podcast App, iTunes and on audioBoom b.shepperd@hotmail.com

HAS RUGBY LEAGUE AND SPORTS IN GENERAL GONE SOFT? RUGBY League has gone soft! Sportsmen and women in general are not as tough as they once were. Interesting notion when it is widely accepted that the modern day athlete is far superior in terms of physical strength and conditioning to those of generations past.

Rugby League has been labelled as soft for completely outlawing any punching or acts of physical violence on the field. It has been labelled soft for slowing down the game to penalise players for head high tackles or acts of foul play. Rugby League has also been labelled as soft for suspending offenders for lengthy periods of time.

Yet in popular night spots across Australia every weekend there are people hospitalised for one punch assaults, some of these result in death. Sprawled across every newspaper in the country are calls for harsher penalties for these thugs and rightfully so.

How do we separate the acts of players on the field to those of members of the general public off the field?

We accept and encourage one, but we are outraged by the other? Unfortunately we cannot have it both ways!

Is Rugby League soft for outlawing incidents similar to the Paul Gallen flurry of punches on Nate Myles in State of Origin I in 2013? There were plenty saying that the game has gone soft as a result of the one punch and you are off rule. We all understand that emotions sometimes spill over and fights happen. It is a competitive game. When you magnify that intensity to the level of State of Origin it is at an even higher level of intensity and competitiveness.

What if that punch had killed or severely injured Nate Myles? Our opinions would be different. Rugby League and sports in general need to ensure they are protecting their players and protecting their product.

It would be an extreme case for Nate Myles to have suffered a severe head trauma from that incident. But who is to say that this current group of NRL players

will not suffer the effects of these head knocks in 20-30 years?

On August 29, 2013 the NFL settled with more than 4,500 former athletes on a concussion lawsuit which cost the league in excess of more than $765 million dollars. The former players accused the NFL of concealing the dangers of concussions and rushing injured players back onto the field while glorifying and profiting from the kind of bone-jarring hits that make for spectacular highlight-reel footage.

Rugby League and sports in general have not gone soft. They have created more intelligent and highly skilled athletes. If you want to compare the on field acts of modern Rugby League players to those during the years prior to the year 2000 you will find a lot of fighting, kneeing, elbowing, facials, swinging arms and broken bones. The so called good old days!

Those times were unsustainable and unrealistic.

Modern players cannot and should not be compared to players of past generations. The game demands different skills and tactics as it matures and changes over time. The players from past generations were tough and one dimensional, this is what the game required. Rugby League was less complex and was played in a very simple fashion. The modern game is far more complex with several rule changes along with full time coaches, players and support staff. Modern technology allows players and coaches to break games down and isolate deficiencies in opposition players. The modern player needs to be multi-dimensional or they do not survive.

Foul play has been eliminated by the advances in technology. The referees simply could not see all of the foul play and or it was accepted as part of the game. Fast forward to the present day and we have at least 20 different camera angles available for every single NRL game. We have two on field referees, two touch judges and the bunker and a match review committee. You simply cannot get away with the

tactics and foul play that once existed. Even though Nathan Brown may argue this after he stomped on the groin of Agnatius Paasi and escaped suspension!

Why should those who call the players and the modern game soft and criticise rule changes rethink their thought process?

1. Player Safety – Players need to be protected.

Simple. We cannot afford an NFL type law suit.

2. Protecting the Product – The product of Rugby League gets better and better each and every season.

Why? Because the game has never been more entertaining. It is entertaining because the players are of such high levels of intelligence and skill.

The players are tough and put themselves through a physical grind each and every week in order to take the field to entertain the fans.

Are there elements of the game that need to be cleaned up? Of course! Players diving and staying down to receive penalties has become a blight on our game.

The lack of foresight from the NFL has placed their game into a very dicey predicament, where there are talks the sport may not exist in 25 years.

Simply because parents will not allow their children to play the sport and development streams may become non-existent or unable to sustain the demand of the College and NFL teams. The sport has made dramatic changes to the rules over the past few years.

NFL commentators and experts reacted to these changes by labelling the game as soft…

Adapt or die! We need to ensure our own development streams are protected for the years ahead. If we neglect the opinions of parents and young children we may find ourselves with less players coming through into the NRL in the years ahead. For those calling Rugby League or any other sport for that matter soft. I would ask this simple question: Do you want your sport to exist in 25 years’ time?

39 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

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penrith panthers celebrating 50 years

Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

MG ON THE MARK

WITH MARK GEYER

PLEASE HELP OUT SOME PEOPLE DOING IT REALLY TOUGH

BEHIND 24-4 at Brookvale Oval last Sunday, the Penrith Panthers were looking down the barrel of the real possibility of missing out on being one of this years top 8 teams. In what was a 50 minutes to forget, Anthony Griffin’s men awoke from their slumber to ram home 27 unanswered points in an act of defiance to the growing number of naysayers.

Again Trent Merrin was good, as were rookies Nathan Cleary and Leilani Latu who both look to have long, illustrious careers ahead of them. Bryce Cartwright made a good fist of 5/8th but in the back row is where he is most potent.

With a bye next on the Panther’s schedule, last Sunday’s game was indeed a 4 point victory. A loss against Manly - which at half time looked Inevitable would have had the Mountain Men anchored at the bottom end of the table with the teams who are desperate for a wet sale run home.

I’ve gotta give a special mention to Peter Wallace.

He has been a revelation at hooker this year and deserved the extension to his contract he got earlier this year. There were rumblings preseason that the Blaxland veteran would see limited time in first grade this year given his relationship with incumbent coach Griffin. The same coach he left Brisbane for as their relationship had deteriorated. Well kudos to both men for handling what could have been a messy affair so professionally. The Panthers are a genuine top 8 footy team, they just have to show it consistently. Losses to the Titans and Dragons this year may come back to haunt them but at least now they are in charge of their own destiny. A good position to be in.

And another thing...

The recent Storms hit parts of Sydney real hard. Coogee, Colloroy, Camden and Wallacia all reeling from mother natures fury. But the town that copped the most was Picton. Over 6 feet of rain hit the western Sydney suburb and over a period of 3 hours saw the entire town drowned in water.

Last Wednesday I took one of my producers from the Grill team down

there to check it out ourselves and then I did my part of the show from there on the Thursday morning. Driving in on Wednesday night 24 hours after the waters from the storm had subsided, the very first thing you noticed was the overwhelming smell of mud. That and the sad faces on all the shop owners who had lost everything.

I met one young bloke called Shane. Shane is a teacher at the local high school. Shane is 26 and he and his girlfriend share a house in Picton. The storm totally destroyed it. It wasn’t insured.

Shane had planned on insuring his home once the up-coming school holidays had come and gone and he would have picked up some extra money labouring.

He was too late. Shane is just one of the many stories coming out of Picton. I don’t ever use this column to ask for help but I’m asking now.

The people of Picton need us. If you can spare anything, clothing, furniture, gold coins, money or just moral support it would be greatly appreciated.

There is a fund set up that I will give the details for at the end of this piece.

It’s not nice seeing fellow Aussies battling for whatever reason, but when a storm comes and basically decimates your lovely sleepy town it hurts even more.

Once the people of Picton have got themselves back on their feet please visit their town. They could really use some tourism dollars as well as a warm smiley face. Thank you.

There is two ways you can help: All monies will assist homeowners and business owners who have lost everything.

Woolondilly Shire Council Mayors relief fund. Bank account NAB BSB 082-883 Account 359330786 or Jai Rowells Storm Relief Fund Bank Account (BSB 633-000) account number 157665639 Bendigo Bank.

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Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

GOLDEN POINTS WITH STEW MOSES

@THERIFFMARN

JAMIE SOWARD DOESN’T EXPECT A QUICK RETURN TO THE NRL It’s certainly been a big fortnight in Pantherland with coach Anthony Griffin making the stunning decision to drop two integral members of Penrith’s spine, James Segeyaro and Jamie Soward.

In relation to Jamie Soward, he certainly has to be admired for the way that he has conducted himself within the media, including after Saturday’s game when he spoke to Hawkesbury Radio after a scrappy team performance last Saturday.

Soward was open and honest on Hawkesbury Radio as to the reasons behind his demotion from first grade along with where his immediate playing future lied.

“I wasn’t good enough in Melbourne and I put my hand up for that,” Soward declared.

“All I can do now is come down and play for these boys and Steve (Georgallis) and the crew.

“I was excited to play but the first half was just frantic with myself and Chicko.

“I think we tried too hard there rather than just sticking to the structure.

“The first half I didn’t really give it to the right people at the right time.

“It was nice to get the win but I’ll probably spend another couple of weeks in reserve grade after that.”

Meanwhile, James Segeyaro in last weekend’s Sunday Telegraph, revealed he was all set to accept a lucrative offer to join a prominent English Super League club (believed to be Leeds) but over the course of the weekend changed in mind, citing he wasn’t done with the NRL just yet.

Reports suggesting Brisbane will make a play for Segeyaro appear to be wide of the mark but it wouldn’t surprise if he joined ex-team mates in Elijah Taylor and Tim Grant at the Wests Tigers, should Leeds manage to snare Robbie Farah.

Speaking of Leeds, the hot rumour of the fortnight was the linking of 2015 Man of Steel Zak Hardaker with the Panthers.

The Leeds fullback, who can also play in the centres or out on the wing has been told he is free to leave early in order to play in the NRL. But it would surprise to see this eventuate given that its’ unlikely current fullback Matt Moylan will move to the halves any time soon given the emergence of Nathan Cleary and Te Maire Martin in the NRL squad.

Josh Mansour’s future looks to be increasingly

BARRIER RISE with Tony Brassel

Rumours surrounding interest in Manly utility forward Tom Symonds and even more recently, Paul Carter, the son of Penrith legend, Steve were just that with both players having confirmed their futures.

Symonds has announced he will be heading to the English Super League to play for Huddersfield while Carter has re-committed to South Sydney for another two years.

Jamie Soward says he has paid the price for his indifferent showing against Melbourne. Credit: 77 Media.

elsewhere with Penrith reportedly struggling to match offers from other clubs, with the Sydney Roosters said to be leading the chase.

But team-mate Jeremy Latimore, well known for hamming it up with Mansour over the years as the club’s “odd couple” says he is hopeful of a positive outcome given what Josh offers the team.

“He’s still my brother, we travel to training everyday so it’s still on but I go easy on him these days,” Latimore said.

“Josh has probably been one of our better performers this year and to see him make his Origin debut last week I was like a proud father.

“He’s certainly come a long way in the time that I’ve been at the club.

“What Josh brings to the team even off the field, he’s a good character and the boys love having him around so hopefully he does stay at the club.”

Last edition, we told you that James Tamou was still some way off with a decision on his playing future.

But in the last week, Tamou’s manager, Sam Ayoub has confirmed that the prop will bring his family back to Sydney and that his team-mates had been told of the decision.

Whilst Ayoub added that there were several clubs to now discuss offers with, it’s understood that Penrith as expected, have already won the race for his signature with an announcement expected in due course.

DIAMOND FEVER: Went like the wind to take a Rosehill heat last week. Bjorn Baker trains and she’s a daughter of the the former outstanding mare, Dane Ripper. Ready to fire fresh on her dominant win.

LAUCALA: Could be good for a win or two this prep.

The Chris Waller filly was never asked for top speed when third in her heat at Rosehill. That was the first trial this preparation so expect another one before resuming.

NEMRUD: Has yet to step out but keep following him this prep. By Reset and from the Godolphin operation, he found the line strongly when third in a trial after travelling midfield most of the way.

NICCOLANCE: Remains one of the best maidens in training after three starts. That should soon change after Team Snowden’s colt motored home for second to tidy Morton’s Fork in a Randwick heat.

REGENESIS: Looked a bit of alright finishing a

I couldn’t help but notice Malcolm Turnbull announcing that the Federal Government will match the Labor Opposition’s $100 million pledge that will enable Townsville, in the heart of the moderatelymarginal LNP held seat of Herbert, to have a $250 million venue that looks like being used for just twelve games a year by the North Queensland Cowboys.

Yet in the far more marginal seat of Lindsay, where the issue of a new Penrith stadium has meandered along for many years now and shows no signs of being resolved any time soon with the NSW government firmly committed to its Big Stadia program.

The question has to be asked whether Fiona Scott or Emma Husar will lobby their leaders for some form of funding that will get the ball rolling for a new Penrith stadium.

It must have been comforting for Nathan Cleary as he ran out on Brookvale Oval last Sunday to see his family led by his Dad, Ivan in the crowd on the hill.

After the game, Nathan confirmed to the media that while his Dad’s sacking was hard to take, Nathan also said that he wouldn’t be in playing in the NRL so soon if Ivan was still coaching Penrith.

Confirmation following our last edition that former Panther, Kieran Moss has left Parramatta and will re-unite with former Panthers Holden Cup assistant coach, Rohan Smith at Bradford.

Be sure to catch up with Episode Eight of “The Sin Bin” with Mark “MG” Geyer and myself, available now on https://soundcloud.com/user127982816 . Also stay tuned as we will announce later this week a special guest for Episode Nine and fans will have a chance to ask questions.

Of course if you have any Panthers news you wish to share, email me stewart@nepeannews.com.au See you at the game! cruisy third at the Randwick trial session last week.

This John O’Shea-trained gelding is a son of Street Cry was placed in one of his two runs last time in. Expect improvement.

SAMANTHA: Is yet another unraced Snitzel set to fire for Gerald Ryan. She chased bravely for second behind the huge youngster Viatrix and gained ever so slight near the line.

VIATRIX: Stood head and shoulders over her rivals when skating home to a Rosehill barrier trial success.

From the Hawkes operation, the juvenile is typical of the Artie Schiller breed – most are leviathans!

ZOEASY: Appeared for the first time when second in a Rosehill trial behind Lusitania. The daughter of Zoffany showed natural dash and certainly wasn’t pressured near the post, suggesting she went better than the winner.

REPEAT SETS WITH STEW MOSES

@THERIFFMARN

CARDIAC KIDS ARREST FORM SLUMP IN REMARKABLE FASHION LAST edition, we talked about how Penrith have suffered some fairly agonising losses in the last ten minutes.

But against Melbourne, fans were spared that kind of agony but they were again exposed to a clinical display from their arch-nemesis.

The Panthers started brightly enough taking an early six point lead but from there it was all the Storm as Cooper Cronk showed no ill-effects from that preOrigin ankle injury and skipper Cameron Smith led their team to their 16th win from their last seventeen starts against the Panthers.

The Panthers had their share of pre-match hype when during the week leading into the game coach Anthony Griffin sensationally dumped James Segeyaro back to the Intrust Super Premiership team.

This enabled 18 year-old Junior Kangaroo Nathan Cleary to make his NRL debut alongside Jamie Soward, while new buy Chris Grevsmuhl also made his first appearance since making the switch from South Sydney.

The Storm wasted little time relentlessly sending the big men down Penrith’s right edge which resulted in Bryce Cartwright making over 40 tackles and Cleary 36, which had the effect of sapping their attacking energy.

With Soward’s attacking game also having little effect, the Storm coasted to a 24-6 win that means that the Panthers have not only lost all six games played at AAMI Stadium but Penrith’s one win from seventeen is now officially the worst current head-tohead record between any two NRL clubs, having also not won in Melbourne since 2005.

It also meant that the team had equalled their 2015 halfway point record with five wins, seven losses.

THREE days later, it was confirmed that Soward, like Segeyaro the week before, had been dropped to the Intrust Super Premiership and a new halves combination in Bryce Cartwright and Nathan Cleary was named to take on a Manly side missing Daly Cherry Evans, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Martin Taupau and Brenton Lawrence.

Penrith, despite the selection dramas which saw its most inexperienced NRL team of the season named, were clear favourites to win at a ground once known as “The Fortress” where in 2016 all but one opposition team had managed to win thus far.

But someone forgot to read the script as former Panthers assistant coach Trent Barrett’s men charged

will Souths’ Greg Inglis and Adam Reynolds).

Josh Mansour leaves NSW team mate Dylan Walker in his wake during the second half comeback. Credit 77 Media

to a 20-4 halftime lead on the back of relentless pressure in possession and multiple pieces of individual brilliance from Dylan Walker, who in the opening 40 minutes ensured he wasn’t going to lose his NSW utility bench.

The Panthers soon trailed 24-4 with thirty minutes of the game remaining and looked like they would have to surpass their Round 3 comeback against Brisbane if they were to prevent a three-game losing streak.

For 50 minutes, Manly not only respected possession but all but starved Penrith of any. The first half alone Penrith had just 31% possession completing 9 of 12 to Manly’s 21 from 23 sets.

But while Penrith had missed 23 tackles in the opening half, they were required to make a whopping 212 tackles to Manly’s 98 yet the Sea Eagles still managed to miss 21, hence there was still hope should Penrith somehow square-up possession in the second half.

Sure enough the Panthers roared into life scoring 27 unanswered points to win relatively comfortably in the end 31-24. Cleary in just his second NRL game, played with a level of maturity far beyond the norm for an 18 year old and in tandem with Cartwright and Moylan, conjured up a remarkable win.

The Panthers now head into their second bye with some much needed confidence before they embark on the run in starting with South Sydney next Friday night at home, where they will hope to continue Souths inconsistent season and repeat last year’s win, despite the fact that Matt Moylan and Josh Mansour will have just two days to prepare for the clash (as

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IN Intrust Super Premiership action, Penrith have now won three straight games and now sit in sixth position going into this Saturday’s game against the struggling defending premiers, Newcastle.

Last Saturday week, the Panthers in cyclonic conditions arguably played their best game of the season and showed remarkable control in possession to rack up a convincing 42-24 over the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval with the front row trio of props Moses Leota, Andy Saunders and hooker Sione Katoa ably assisted by a rapidly improving Viliame Kikau creating havoc out wide.

Then boosted by the inclusions of James Segeyaro and Jamie Soward, the Panthers were expected to repeat the 50-12 defeat they dished out to Manly at Brookvale Oval earlier in the season.

But after an early converted try to each side, the match became bogged down for the best part of fifty minutes as both sides showed little respect for possession.

The harder Soward and Segeyaro tried the worse it got as the combinations with new teammates struggled to gel despite the ideal playing conditions on offer at Pepper Stadium.

With ten minutes remaining, Penrith’s most dangerous ball-runner on the day, Will Smith proved to be the difference, running in two more tries to complete his hat-trick before Zac Dockar Clay’s last play of the game try provided Penrith with the flattering 24-6 final score.

MEANWHILE the defending Holden Cup champions are in danger of virtually losing one competition point should the washed-out Round 13 clash versus lowly Melbourne cannot be rescheduled and points are split.

The Panthers still comfortably lead the competition by three points with a game in hand over the North Queensland Cowboys after they smashed last placed Manly, 60-6 last Sunday despite missing the likes of Dylan Edwards, Robert Jennings, Nathan Cleary and Tyrone May. Like first grade, the Holden Cup side will enjoy the weekend off before they return home to take on South Sydney.

Let’s Gone Panthers! #PantherPride

45 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

penrith panthers celebrating 50 years

46

penrith panthers celebrating 50 years

Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

Focus is on Panthers not Origin: Merrin

By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

PANTHERS forward, Trent Merrin isn’t perturbed by whether he plays State of Origin or not, insisting that his focus is firmly on helping ensure the Panthers turnaround their indifferent form as the race for the finals starts to intensify.

The back-rower, who played 80 minutes for just the second time in season 2016, in Penrith’s dramatic come from behind 31-24 win over Manly at Brookvale Oval last Sunday, confirmed that NSW coach Laurie Daley had not been in contact since the Origin opener.

“No (contact with Laurie). If I get a call up (this series) that would be great but I just need to play great footy for the team,” Merrin stated.

“That’s why I came over it because it’s the challenge that I needed.

“If it (Origin) comes my way I’ll grab it with both hands and do the best I can but my focus is totally on the Panthers.”

The win over Manly means that Penrith have now orchestrated the two biggest comebacks in the NRL seen in season 2016, having come back from a 24-4 deficit early in the second half to go with their 16 point comeback against the Brisbane Broncos back in Round 3.

Manly dominated possession to such an extent that by the end of the first half they had 69% of the ball.

But Merrin says although the team showed great

Trent Merrin was busy as usual with 145m from 17 runs to go with his 38 tackles. Credit 77 Media

character to come back and win that game, in truth they had prepared during the lead-up to the game so as to avoid such a situation from happening in the first place, adding that the team is often starting way too slow in games. “(At 20-4 down) it says that we’re slow starting,” Merrin declared.

“We’d done our homework and knew they would come out strong like they did as they definitely had a point to prove and we didn’t handle it the way we trained and the way we like to play.

“There’s a lot of homework we need to do.

“There needs to be a bit of honesty amongst the playing group, work hard at it and turn it around.

Nonetheless Merrin says that the playing group, despite being Penrith’s most inexperienced NRL side thus far in 2016, having amassed just 936 NRL experience between them including Nathan Cleary

(1 game) and debutant Moses Leota, were still confident that if possession swung their way in the second half they would get the result.

“We had the confidence in each other to work hard for each other and slowly chip away at the lead and get back in the game,” the back-rower said.

“We definitely did that and it was a great response by the team to bounce back the way we did and get on top of them.”

Merrin pinpointed the turning point occurred midway through the second half.

Having worked their way back into the game at 24-14, Manly had several sets on Penrith’s try-line but the Panthers were able to deny the Sea Eagles any further points in the game, before setting sail with three late tries of their own to snatch the sevenpoint victory.

“Around the 20th minute mark (of the second half) we just had to focus on our defence,” Merrin said.

“We knew we had to defend, work hard, push each other and play some tough footy.”

With the Panthers enjoying the second of their byes with that win under their belt, Merrin says it’s a great time now for the playing group to learn from their mistakes before spending some time away from the game in readiness for the final run in, starting with South Sydney at home on Friday week.

“It’s time (this week) to work on the little things that we need to work on,” Merrin explained.

“But it will be great to then freshen up and get away from the game, clear our heads before we get back to business.”

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Tamou would be a welcome addition to Penrith: Latimore

By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

PENRITH prop, Jeremy Latimore says that the likely signing of premiershipwinning Cowboys prop, James Tamou will add to the already intense competition for spots, as the playing group continues to adapt to life under new coach Anthony Griffin.

Tamou’s expected arrival in 2017 will add considerable fire-power to the front row that apart from Latimore already boasts the likes of Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Leilani Latu, Sam McKendry, James Fisher-Harris and Chris Grevsmuhl.

Latimore, 29, also says that if Tamou signs with Penrith, it will also be a significant boost to the development of a squad that contains some of the best up-and-coming forwards in the game in Moses Leota, Viliame Kikau and Oliver Clark.

“James’ experience and standing in the game is pretty well held highly,” Latimore said.

“What he’ll bring to the team environment as well our team on the football field is exciting.

“It does (create extra pressure for spots) but even this year the competition is really good and to have that competition is good as it helps the team play better.”

“And we do have a lot of young boys here so it would be good to have that sort of experience to help them develop because there’s going to be some truly special players in this group so it will be interesting if it does happen.”

Much of the competition this year stems from Griffin’s determination to see his team playing to

Panthers Prop, Jeremy Latimore says James Tamou would be an ideal signing despite the extra competition for spots it would create. Credit 77 Media.

their potential and as Latimore has experienced already, he isn’t afraid to make the tough calls if that potential isn’t being realised, as shown by the most recent demotions of Jamie Soward and James Segeyaro.

“Hook’s not afraid to make a big decision and sometimes as a footballer a kick up the arse is what you need,” Latimore explained.

“You might get comfortable with how you’re performing but often it’s not what the team needs.

“I got a kick up the arse earlier in the year and I’ve been back in the team since but I have to keep performing well.

“I know Jamie and Chicko are true professionals and they’ll go back and do their best and hopefully get back into the team.”

Before last Sunday’s win over Manly, Penrith reached the halfway point of the season in virtually

the same position as last year with just five wins from twelve starts.

But with the top eight starting to take shape, Latimore says the team needs to aim for more than just a top eight spot, given the team was able to play to the standards required to be a top team at the start of the season, if they are to emerge as a title contender in 2016.

“It is only the halfway point of the season but you can sort of see that top eight starting to take shape,” Latimore explained.

“But we don’t want to be a middle of the road sort of team, we want to be up towards the top.

“At the start of the year, we were performing to the standard of them top teams so we have to make sure we get our form back to that.”

But footy is just one many things happening for Latimore at the moment, as he juggles his club commitments with family needs after the recent birth of his daughter Emily, along with upcoming exams that will allow him to complete his business degree.

“Little Emily was born last Tuesday so that’s two kids now and it’s pretty full on at home at the moment while trying to prepare for my uni exams this week but that’s not really happening,” Latimore said.

“These are my last two exams ever and I’m finished my degree so while there’s a lot on lately it’s exciting times in terms of the new bub, uni finishing and obviously footy.

“Once I’ve knocked the degree over, I’ll probably have a month off and help the wife around the house with the two kids.

“But after that I’m looking to do some work with Pepper Finance and try and find my place in the business world.”

Sports Scenes

(With Thanks to 77 Media)

Our latest instalment of Sports Scenes took us to Brookvale Oval where the cameras of 77 Media were on hand for Penrith’s remarkable 31-24 win over Manly.

Gather round boys pre-game group hug time

Penrith’s new halves pairing, Bryce Cartwright and Nathan Cleary (the “CC’s”) gave the Panthers plenty of bite in attack

As Leilani Latu dives over the tryline and the comeback is on!

Manly’s defence think Cartwright’s doing the “Eagle Rock” but the Panthers Five-Eighth had other ideas.....

Before the skipper puts the final icing to a win that thirty minutes earlier looked very unlikely.

Smile Chris. You’ve just won your first game as a Panther!

47 Nepean News 16 June 2016 Issue 177

penrith panthers celebrating 50 years

Thursday, 16 June 2016

sport

HARPO’S MARKS

JJUST when you think Anthony “The th Mouth” couldn’t utter M th” Mundine M anything more outrageous than his “Sonny Bill (Williams) can be as good a fighter as Muhammad Ali” statement a few years back, he’s back bigger and more mindless than ever.

There’s of course his stated desire to return to the National Rugby League at the ripe old age of 41.

Utterly ridiculous of course but that bit of news pales into insignificance alongside his musings issued on social media the day The Greatest, Muhammad Ali, passed away.

The dumb-cluck related how, on meeting Ali a few years back, the legend told him “I was the greatest until you came along”.

Fair dinkum, I nearly crashed the car when I heard that on the radio.

Laugh, I haven’t laughed as much since The Mouth’s misguided statement about SBW’s boxing prowess!

Yeah, sure Muhammad, who for

many years now has had trouble understanding let along speaking, had that discourse with The Mouth!

Next we’ll be hearing that Ali told Eddie the Eagle he was unsurpassed as a ski jumper and Eric Moussambani was a better swimmer than Mark Spitz!

Lemme just run through a list of Australian boxers who fought against and beat much stronger opponents than Mundine ever met.

Let’s see.. ..Young Griffo, Les Darcy, Dave Sands, George Barnes, Vic Patrick, Tommy Burns, Jack Hassen, Elley Bennett, Ron Richards, Jimmy Carruthers, Tony Mundine, Johnny Famechon, Lionel Rose, Lester Ellis, Barry Michael, Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding.. .. ..

And what about all the other sensational International boxers across the full spectrum of the weight divisions!

Crikey, just in the middleweight class alone Mundine wouldn’t have stood a chance against the likes of

Stanley Ketchel, Harry Greb (my all-time favourite boxer), Jake La Motta, Sugar Ray Robinson, Gene Fulmer, Dick Tiger, Emile Griffith, Carlos Monzon, Sugar Ray Leonards, Marvin Hagler.. .. ..

Gimme a break!

Harry Greb, I hear you ask.

Harry had 298 bouts as a welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight, winning 261 of his 298 stoushes.

And stoushes they were because Harry wasn’t known as the Pittsburgh Windmill for nothin’.

He raced out of his corner at every bell and kept throwing punches until his opponent was counted out or the bell sounded to end the final round.

Harry was the world middleweight champion from 1923-26 and fought many of the greatest fighters the world has seen including Johnny Wilson, Tommy Loughran, Jeff Smith and Tiger Flowers.

He was the only man to inflict defeat on the great Gene Tunney

when they met for the American light heavyweight title on May 23, 1922.

Greb was named the 7th greatest fighter of the first 80 years of the 20th Century by Ring Magazine, the 5th greatest fighter of all-time by historian Bert Sugar and ranked as the No 1 middleweight and the No 2 pound-for-pound fighter of all-time by the International Boxing Research Organization.

The outstanding statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Greb as the No 3 ranked middleweight of all-time and the 8th greatest pound-for-pound fighter ever.

Oh yes! And Harry didn’t mind a little bit of the e....um.. ..hanky-panky just prior to getting into the ring.

That’s what you call a pre-fight warm-up!

SADDEST OF MARKS: The passing of Ali – great boxer and an inspiration, not only to his race but all of us.

LOWEST OF MARKS: The Mouth. Antithesis of The Greatest.