Nepeannews 16march2017

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Thursday, 16 March 2017

ISSUE 196

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By Kerrie Davies

GINA FIELD. It’s a household name in this town due to the many, many roles this amazing girl plays in our community. She is the CEO and Founder of Nepean Regional Security, the President of our Chamber of Commerce, G Spot Columnist at Nepean News, winner of many awards and now she’s just been named the NSW Woman of the Year for 2017!

Nominated by Maralyn Kastel from the Detail Devils, Gina was invited with the other state finalists of the prestigious award for afternoon tea with the Governor and his wife.

“That was the pinnacle,” Gina said, “I kept touching the gold walls and staring at everything like a kid in a lolly factory, I actually started to get the frog in my throat and I wanted to savor every minute of that.”

Little did she know, Gina’s lovely day was about to turn absolutely fabulous.

“Compared to the other finalists and their achievements, I was extremely humbled that I was even among them,” Gina said.

“I guess I underestimated myself, I was sitting there thinking what the hell am I doing here, what have I done that is so special?”

Then came the magical moment when the girl from Penrith took out the statewide gong.

“To be perfectly honest it was hard to hear whilst up on stage, so I was terrified I missed it and it was going to be an Oscars moment where

Worship and Communion Sunday 9:30am

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I ran forward and it really wasn’t me called,” she quipped in her comedic style.

“I couldn’t believe it, it wasn’t until I heard (husband) Paul scream out YES that it really sunk in.

“I did it, I really did it, I won!”

When asked what advice she would pass on to other aspiring women, Gina didn’t need to think about her answer.

“Hard work is the only way to succeed, and knowing that there are no get rich quick schemes, It has to be about YOU YOU YOU for a while, you and your business,” she said.

“Women find it hard to do that as they put family and partners first. You have one life and a chance to have a shot at it. Blow your own trumpet and always stay humble and grateful for every achievement.”

Congratulations Gina, you are an inspiration for other women, especially in our local community.

Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

Our Gina is number one

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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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4 Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

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by Conner Lowe

What’s gone wrong in Australian football?

SINCE the inaugural season of the Hyundai A-League in 2005 the fans of Australian football have had encouragement and excitement about our own domestic league and how we can perform in Asia and help develop Australian youth players. However, 12 years later and the A-League almost seems to have taken a step back in the progression with the quality of football, crowd numbers at games and the expansion of the league halted by the Football Federation of Australia. Many fans are questioning the reasoning for a lack of expansion in the league and the quality of players Australian clubs can sign within the salary cap.

The lack of development and opportunities for Australian youth have meant that they have gone overseas to have an opportunity or given up on pursuing a career as a footballer.

Australian football hit its pinnacle in 2014 with the Western Sydney Wanderers wining the Asian Champions League against all odds and proving that dedication, belief and hard work is more important than money in football.

However, three years later in the same competition Western Sydney Wanderers, Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar have all suffered humiliating defeats and the once champions of Asia, the Western Sydney Wanderers have lost their first opening two games of the Asian Champions league 4-0 and 5-1, showing a lack of development and quality in the A-League compared to the rest of Asian domestic leagues.

The FFA have held back on the expansion of the Hyundai A-League and the possibility of raising the salary cap that makes it so difficult for Australian clubs to keep hold of their valuable players and signing quality players for the A-League.

This leads to the discussion of how or if the National team could be affected due to the lack of development and progression within the domestic league.

Current Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has helped the national team to a good World Cup campaign against strong opposition with Spain, Netherlands and Chile and a win in the AFC Asian Cup. Although, the success and progression of the national team could still be halted due to the quality of youth players coming through the A-League and around the world.

I believe with a lack of expansion in the A-League, no raising of the salary cap or investing in the development of Australian youth players, will not only hurt the Hyundai A-league clubs in the immediate and long term future both domestically and in Asia, but could possibly and very well hurt the progression of the Socceroos and our long term goals for the national team.

Your thoughts? conner@nepeannews.com.au

LEASED

5

5O year old art society has a bright future THE Nepean Art Society turns 50 this year and the future of the society is looking brighter with the securing of community funding and local sponsorship.

The area has a long history of important Australian art works and the society has a significant membership of artists from around the Nepean district.

Well-known local artists, such as Joe Cartwright, Gunter Barth, Julie Simmons and Sue Gasser have been long-term members. The art work of society members is highly regarded and encompasses a range of styles and mediums.

As an anniversary initiative and to ensure the societies future in the coming years, the society is offering sponsorship opportunities to a small number of local businesses and individuals to become “Friends of the Nepean Art Society” for the next 5 years.

These friends will become part of our NAS “family and the funding will help to provide free art classes for local groups such as “Home for Heroes” veterans at Governor Phillip Manor and “Queen of Hearts Foundation”.

The very first ”Friend of Nepean Art Society” is Complete Recruitment Solutions. Linda Kemp, Founder and CEO of Complete Recruitment Solutions has jumped at this opportunity as she says that “she has purchased a number of paintings from the NAS and has always been impressed by the quality of the work”.

Additionally Linda joined Joe Cartwright’s

9834 1044 NEPEAN DISTRICT

Stuart Ayres

MP

Member for Penrith

watercolour class and she said that the experience was enriching and extremely enjoyable. Complete Recruitment Solutions is supporting NAS to help make art accessible to members of the community who are in difficult situations such as Homes for Heroes and Queen of Hearts Foundation.

“I am delighted to be part of this support group and wish NAS every success for the next 50 years” said Linda.

The second “friend” to be announced is the Penrith RSL Club Limited following a board meeting in February. Society President, Maralyn Kastel, has also announced that they have received a NSW Government - Community Partnership Funding grant to replace the 40 year old floor carpet at the society’s Station Street studio.

The society looks well placed to push on for another 50 years. For more information on becoming a Friend of NAS and other sponsorship opportunities contact Maralyn on 0476 161 359.

Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

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internationalwomen’s women’sday

Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

Mulgoa Woman of the Year – Debbie O’Connor

By Garion Thain

THE NSW seat of Mulgoa found its 2017 Woman of the Year in Debbie O’Connor last week, as politicians across the state commended remarkable women in their electorates on International Women’s Day. Ms O’Connor was commended by Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies for her work in the region that has spanned many years, as a “brand specialist by profession and graphic designer by trade,” as Ms O’Connor says.

Ms O’Connor spoke to Nepean News this week about the award, which she says came as a surprise.

“I was amazed, surprised, very humbled and astounded that Tanya Davies, who is the Minister for Women, wanted to make me her nominee for the New South Wales Woman of the Year Award,” Ms O’Connor said.

“I must admit, as a woman in business doing what I do every day, something that I love doing, both from my graphic design studio White River Design, getting to help small business owners build and grow their brand is a privilege,” she continued.

“I help by mentoring them, developing brochures, websites, whatever’s required to help build their business.”

Ms O’Connor said helping people in the Penrith area has been so rewarding to her because she gets to “help change their lives,” through the assistance needed to grow and develop their businesses.

Ms O’Connor has worked closely with both Gina Field from Nepean Regional Security and Linda Kemp from Complete Recruitment Solutions in developing their brands. Both Ms Field and Ms Kemp were winners in the recent NSW Women of the Year awards, so Ms O’Connor reflects that she must be doing something right.

Ms O’Connor recalls her early

years in business when she still worked from home. She can relate to the challenges that small business owners face when home based, “I had staff members at my house which meant that my home was no longer a home, it was a place of work,” she said.

The challenges of moving out of home into premises spurred one of her other ventures, the award winning co-working venue The Creative Fringe.

As a co-working space, The Creative Fringe allows businesses and commuters the opportunity to hire a desk or office in a full fitted out, inspiring and motivating environment.

“You can come in where there are already desks set up, along with NBN wifi, meeting rooms and tea and coffee facilities.” said Ms O’Connor.

“A business owner who’s looking to move out of home – all they have to do is pick up their laptop and their phone and come on in.

“For people used to commuting to the city, they can hire a desk, and leave home late and arrive home early,” she continued.

Ms O’Connor said she enjoys knowing she’s helping people feel less fatigued and more productive.

“I think between my two businesses I have been able to make a really big difference to the lives of our community, it really is very humbling to be recognised for it.”

With two local businesses and many people helped, Ms O’Connor need not feel surprised that she received such a deserving recognition this year.

International Women’s Day Londonderry Recipient- Jackie Greenhow

By Garion Thain

JACKIE Greenhow is an Order of Australia Medal recipient and, after leaving last year, Penrith’s longest serving female councillor as an Independent. She was honoured for this feat with several walking lights in the St Marys town centre and Penrith CBD being replaced with female figures, long before Melbourne did it – recognition she says made her very proud and very humble.

Last week, Ms Greenhow received an award that, like her OAM, was not for her work on council, but rather the community involvement she has undertaken herself for decades. Ms Greenhow was recognised as the 2017 Londonderry Woman of the Year by

Londonderry MP, Prue Car – at an assembly at her place of work.

Last week I visited Ms Greenhow at her workplace – North St Marys Public School, where she has worked as a Community Liaison Officer since her time on council. Ms Greenhow graciously shared her experience of winning the award and some of her community efforts.

“Prue [Car] was coming to the school assembly, and the Principal asked me if I could be there,” Said Ms Greenhow.

“I’ve worked with Prue and have done a lot of work with politicians, so this wasn’t unusual.

“Prue walked in with [Councillor] Aaron Duke, holding something close to her chest – again I didn’t think anything of it.

“Prue was addressing the kids, then she started talking about me. I looked at the Principal, the Principal and the teachers were looking at me smiling,” Ms Greenhow laughed.

“Then I saw my son at the back, pleased as punch.”

Ms Greenhow said she said to Ms Car, “You’ve well and truly got me.”

Ms Car wanted to personally present the award at an assembly.

Commenting afterwards, Ms Car said she as an MP could not think of anyone more deserving of this year’s accolade.

“Anyone who has met Jackie will know of her passions – St Marys, community service and helping others,” said Ms Car. “As we celebrate International Women’s Day I am so proud to have nominated Jackie for this award.

“She is a true role model for others seeking to make a difference.”

Ms Greenhow holds a Life Membership of St Marys High School, St Marys Senior High School and is a triple life Member of the P&C Association of NSW for her volunteer work in St Marys and Penrith. Further, she also served as the Chair Person of

Nova Employment and Training for over 10 Years, resulting in her OAM win in 2013 for disability advocacy.

Ms Greenhow said that early on, she knew she could be a voice for people in the community who couldn’t get their messages across. She realised as time went on and she became more visible that people often already knew her from little things.

“People knew me from canteens, tennis courts, in ways I didn’t think mattered.

“If I said I would do something, I did it.”

Ms Greenhow says she has spent years fuelled by a prevailing philosophy.

“If everyone gets it right for the lowest common denominator, you get it right for everybody.”

Spending her life becoming one of St Marys’ most recognisable faces for amazing reasons, it is no surprise that Ms Greenhow is the Londonderry woman of the year.

SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES

Would like to congratulate the winners of Women Of The Year Would like to congratulate Gina, Linda, Debbie and Jackie for their successful awards and leading the way in our community.

Well done girls!

Gina Field

Debbie O’Connor

Linda Kemp

- NRS

- The Creative Fringe

- CRS

NSW Business Women of the Year

4732 5369

Tanya Davies presented Local Women of the Year

Stuart Ayres presented Local Business Women of the year

4732 4766

4731 2333

International Women’s Day Penrith Recipient – Linda Kemp

By Garion Thain

PENRITH business woman and founder of Complete Recruitment Solutions, Linda Kemp, has been honoured for her entrepreneurship and dedication to the city with an accolade as the Penrith recipient of the 2017 Local Woman of the Year.

Ms Kemp is a familiar name to the Nepean News, as well as many in the area. Her business employs over 700 people a year in casual work with companies throughout the area, and has placed over 800 people in permanent roles since opening Complete Recruitment Solutions over 10 years ago.

Ms Kemp spoke to Nepean News about her business and her commendation.

“I came up with the name of the company because that’s exactly what we do, we offer our clients complete recruitment solutions,” said Ms Kemp. “I started in the recruitment industry in London in 1973 with the largest recruitment company in Europe and when I came to visit family in Australia in 1979 and felt like I’d come home.”

After working with larger recruiters in Sydney, Ms Kemp opened her first recruitment company in Parramatta

Ms Kemp said she is incredibly humbled by the accolade, and passed on her thanks to Member for Penrith Stuart Ayers for recognising her work in the electorate.

in the mid 90’s, but living in the mountains, she longed to work closer to home, and after decades of commuting, opened in the Penrith area in 2006.

The result is a Penrith business staple, and a multi-award winning company with many hard earned links to local businesses. Complete Recruitment Solutions is a sponsor of business awards and a major sponsor

of 2017 WWA awards.

Ms Kemp said that she was honoured by her recognition as the Penrith Local Woman of the Year.

“I was really thrilled when I became aware that Stuart Ayers had nominated me for the NSW Woman of the Year.

There are so many outstanding business women, and to be nominated alongside them is an incredible honour. I was so happy to see my

friends Debbie O’Connor receive the Mulgoa Award and Gina Field receive the NSW State Award.”

Ms Kemp received her award at Mr Ayers’ International Women’s Day breakfast, when he called her on stage and presented the award.

“I was surprised and honoured, his speech made me feel quite emotional,” said Ms Kemp. She went on to describe the Member for Penrith as a “strong visionary”.

Stuart Ayers had high praise for Ms Kemp when commenting about her win. “It is a privilege to be able to acknowledge Linda’s work and her success, not only in her business, but for what she gives back to our local community.” Mr Ayers said.

Indeed, as a winner for Penrith Ms Kemp said she is proud of Penrith and enjoys spending her time in the area.

She sponsors several NFP’s locally, is on a number of local boards and is a former board member of the Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce. Ms Kemp says that the city has grown to such an extent that she sees the migration of more businesses to the area as a positive inevitability.

With faith in the city, an active involvement, and more than a decade spent helping its people, Ms Kemp is a deserving award winner.

7 Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

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Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

GETTING TO KNOW....

Thornton Markets returns for 2017

Michele Ellery CEO of Queen of Hearts Community Foundation with Conner Lowe

1. What was your first paid job?

Dental Nurse at Revesby 2. What is your guilty pleasure?

Custard Tart with whipped cream 3. What is your biggest fear/phobia and why?

Heights. Not sure why.

4. What is your worst habit?

Nail biter 5. Best advice you have ever been given?

Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution.

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

Ensuring our wonderful clients who have experienced Domestic Violence have essential supplies for their first night away from violence.

7. Favourite holiday destination and why?

Fiji, the people are amazing and friendly. Beautiful scenery and ideal place to escape.

8. Do you have a favourite sporting team?

Penrith Panthers 9. Name one reason that you love Western Sydney?

Supportive and friendly Community. Sense of belonging to a community that looks after their own.

10. In three words, describe your perfect Sunday?

Long sleep in

THORNTON Markets, Penrith’s favourite art and design market, will return for 2017 on Sunday March 19. The markets launched last April and enjoyed great success in 2016, providing the area with a unique shopping opportunity and chance to interact with friends and neighbours on beautiful Thornton Green.

The markets are run by notfor-profit organisation The Westies, who’s founder is Penrith-born. Katrina James has made it her mission to bring quality events that promote community cohesion and interaction as well as stimulate local economies to Penrith and Western Sydney in general.

“There is so much talent in Western Sydney that just hasn’t been given an outlet close to home - it’s not that people in the west don’t want arts and cultural events, it’s that they have never been given the chance to engage with it” said James.

“These markets are about much more than selling items, they bring the community together and give us pride in where we are from and mean we no longer have to travel on our day off to do cool things.”

The market launched last year with 25 stall holders, all from the local area producing everything from candles to smallgoods and desserts.

On March 19th 2017, 42 stall holders will take to the green to sell their wares, so even if you have been to Thornton Markets before you should head on down and see what is new!

You will find hand-made kids clothing from

Sew What ‘Cha Want - a label born out of founder Rachael’s desire to find fashionable and well-made clothing for her daughter and the range has been expanding as her daughter grows. Crowd favourite Gotzinger Smallgoods will be back selling their range of delectable small goods and firing up the BBQ for the best sausage sandwiches around.

Grab one to eat and a pack of sausages to take home for later.

Don’t forget your furry friends! Poochie Bake sell home-baked, all-natural treats to keep them happy- so bring them down for a taste test.

Thornton Markets has quickly become a pillar of the growing community at Thornton itself, and a firm favourite in the eyes of the locals in more-established Penrith. It’s an amazing opportunity to come down and see the people and events that are making the west great.

Thornton Markets are held at Thornton Green, Aviators Way, Penrith on the third Sunday of the month, starting March 19th from 9am-2pm.

Rat bait poisoning in dogs THE use of rat bait around the home is very common to aid in controlling rodents. Unfortunately, rat bait toxicities in dogs are one of the most common toxicities that we see as vets.

Most rat baits include green or blue dyes, however, dogs have poor colour vision and often think that these are food. If you know your pet has eaten rat poision, it is important that you let your vet know immediately.

How does rat bait work? Rat bait kills by interfering with the ability of the body to produce clotting factors.

Rat bait does this by abolishing the recycling of vitamin K in the body which is a vital step in the clotting cascade in the body. This means that as soon as vitamin K reserves are depleted, there can be no clotting in the body. After rat bait is ingested, it

takes several days to deplete vitamin K. After it is depleted, even the smallest trauma like a small cut can lead to life threatening bleeding.

What are the symptoms of poisoning? Signs of poisoning usually appear a few days to a week after ingestion. This happens because it takes a few days to deplete vitamin

K. Signs include lethargy, pale gums, bleeding gums, coughing blood, blood in urine or stools and small bruises over the body.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosis is made through history and based on a blood test that can check clotting times. If your animal ingests rat bait in the previous few

hours, the vet can give your dog a medicine that will make them vomit; this allows most of the toxin to be removed from the body. An antidote for rat bait (vitamin K) is available and is given for 4-6 weeks post ingestion; unfortunately, this long course is required as rat bait can last in the system for an extended period of time. Sometimes rat bait is ingested without the owners knowledge and an untreated animal can suffer from severe blood loss; these animals generally require aggressive treatment involving blood and plasma transfusions.

Luckily, rat bait poisonings can be treated. It is essential that you advise your vet as soon as you suspect that your pet has eaten rat bait. Treatment is much simpler in the early stages of ingestion. If you decide to use rat bait around your home, please make sure that is can not be accessed by pets or children. If you have any concerns, please phone us on 4731 3055.

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

Phone 47 313 055

Dream comes true: LPF Centre for Autism officially opens

LUKE and Holly Priddis have realised a 10 year dream in opening The LPF Centre for Autism, a multi-disciplinary centre dedicated to supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families.

Located on Level 1, 496 High Street, Penrith the centre boasts diverse therapies, services and individualised support to over 450 families.

The LPF Centre for Autism realises the vision of Luke and Holly Priddis whose son Cooper (15) is on the spectrum and were at a loss in knowing where to turn for information and support when he was first diagnosed at two and half years of age.

Chairman of the Luke Priddis Foundation, Luke Priddis said it is wonderful achievement to see the

centre come to fruition.

“To see what we have been able to achieve for families whose children are on the spectrum is quite special,” Luke said.

“Holly and I set out to provide families like my own, the ability to access support services and programs that would make a difference in their child’s life and the lives of their

families.”

Holly added, “The grounds in which we stand today are built by the blood, sweat and tears of many. We carry the history of the parents that came before us and the parents that are yet to follow the path we have travelled.”

“It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a community to build a centre.”

A day in the life of... A palliative care volunteer

By Keegan Thomson

FACE it, we don’t have much say as to how we’re going to die. Reality says it is something as inevitable as taxes. With this in mind there are volunteers across western Sydney who’re there to help those who are facing their final days.

David Calderwood and Gwen Mason are two western Sydney locals who give up their time to care for dying people because they’re palliative care volunteers.

After her mother died, Ms Mason became involved with palliative care volunteering nearly 10 years ago. She said the volunteering is about helping out those who’re in need.

“Mostly my clients have been single people, they have family, but for whatever reason they can’t be with their family, and that can be quite sad for someone,” Ms Mason said.

“It can be really rewarding to help with someone like that.

“One lady is even teaching me to crochet.

“I take them out, take them to their doctors appointments, we’ll have a chat and make a cup of tea,” she said.

Palliative care volunteers are some of the most selfless people around. They’ll go into the homes of

terminally ill people and offer respite to carers. They’ll also go out of their way to assist terminally ill people who need transportation to their doctor appointments.

Mr Calderwood, a Vietnam veteran, became involved in palliative care after his wife died in 1999. This is his 18th year of volunteering.

He said even with all the mental strains involved in his line of work he remains openly optimistic about it all.

“We can’t help them or fix them medically and we realise we can’t stop the clients from dying,” he said.

“We’re not there to play God or anything.

“But what we can do is we can offer some help, and if we can make the client feel good or give the family some rest and relaxation time, then we’ve done our part,” Mr Calderwood said.

He cut to the chase with a very

simple explanation, “We’re there to help the family, and help the clients, with dying.”

Ms Mason reinforced by saying she doesn’t see her work as being negative or morbid.

“If we can give someone a little extra enjoyment and company before they pass then we’ve done our job.

“You get to know the clients and often some people will confide in you more than anyone else because you’re not there to offer up judgements on anything,” she said.

Being a military man, Mr Calderwood said his training has equiped him to connect to veterans who’re terminally ill on many different levels.

“Sometimes former veterans can’t talk to other people about what they saw, what they went through, and having someone to relate to, particularly when you’re dying, can make a big impact.

“I’ve had former Diggers tell me things they’ve never told their closest mates or even their family,” he said.

Palliative care volunteering is a volunteer based service offered at Nepean Hospital and across the Western Sydney Local Health District.

If you have an open heart and a set of working ears then consider inquiring about the life changing opportunity that is palliative care volunteering.

9 Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

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Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

Local students vie for lions youth of the year

By Jim Devine

THE Lions Club of Australia with the support and sponsorship of the National Australia Bank, has hosted the Youth of the Year Quest for over 20 years, giving contestants the opportunity to be selected as an outstanding youth, to be an ambassador for his/her country and travel overseas under the auspices of Lions International.

The Lions Youth of the Year Quest is designed to foster, encourage and develop leadership in conjunction with other citizenship qualities of our youth, at the age when they are about to enter the fields of employment or higher education.

The Regional round of YOTY was held recently at Bankstown Condell Park Trotting Club, and two local students were vying to move to the next level of the Quest.

The Final consisted of Emu Plains Club winner, Brittany Reeves, of Penrith Anglican College, competing against Penrith Club winner, Hartley Dhyon of St Dominics College, plus two other competitors; Stephanie Lee from Presbyterian Ladies College and Andrew Clark of St Patrick’s Strathfield. In a keenly fought final.

The overall winner was Hartley, who will now progress to the District round, on Saturday 25 March at Hornsby RSL. Emu Plains Lions wishes Hartley

REPLICA PISTOL SEIZED – WERRINGTON Police have charged a woman with possessing an unregistered firearm after seizing a replica pistol during a car stop in Werrington on Friday night, March 10.

Just before 10pm, officers from the Police Transport Command stopped a car on the Great Western Highway at Werrington and located a replica pistol.

As well as the replica pistol, police located a small amount of what is believed to be methylamphetamine in the car.

The two occupants were arrested and were taken to St Marys Police Station.

The driver, a 40-year-old woman from Werrington, was charged with possessing an unregistered pistol and refused bail. Her passenger, a 19-yearold man, was released pending further inquiries.

INVESTIGATION OF FATAL CRASH – LONDONDERRY A critical investigation has been launched after a fatal crash in Sydney’s west.

Just after 8am on Friday, March 10 emergency services were called to The Driftway, Londonderry, following reports a bus, carrying school students, and car had collided with a car.

good luck. Brittany was supported by her father, David, plus PAC mentor, Mrs Monica Palmer; newly appointed Public Speaking and Debating Coordinator, replacing Charles Merz, who retired last year.

Mrs Palmer said, “I am very keen for this program to be highlighted in our school. I participated in the Lions Youth of the Year in 1985 and I know what a wonderful experience this is for younger people.”

The Emu Plains Club Sponsor for the Youth of the Year Quest is Jim Aitken + Partners.

POLICE FILES The male driver of the car died at the scene with five students treated at the accident by NSW Ambulance paramedics for minor injuries. Three of the students were taken to Nepean Hospital for further observation.

The driver of the bus was uninjured and taken to hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

Prior to the crash, an unmarked police vehicle was in the vicinity; however, the full circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation.

A crime scene has been established and will be examined by specialist forensic officers.

DANGEROUS TRUCK DRIVER CHARGED – ST MARYS A 31-year-old Victorian man will appear in court after being charged with several offences relating to the dangerous manner in which his truck with trailer was driven through St Marys last month.

Police commenced an investigation into the manner in which a truck was driven on the Great Western Highway last month after numerous complaints from members of the public.

Thursday March 9, the Victorian man presented himself to the Wetherill Park Heavy Vehicle Inspection Station as directed.

About 11.30am on Friday March 10 investigators from the Joint Traffic Task Force spoke to the 31-year-old who was the driver of the truck and trailer previously identified on social media.

The man was later issued a field court attendance notice for the offences of driving in a dangerous manner, negligent driving and not giving way when moving from one marked lane to another.

He is expected to appear at Penrith Local Court on Thursday April 20.

TEENS CHARGED OVER DOUBLE CARJACKING AND PURSUIT – ROOTY HILL Two teenagers have been charged after a double car-jacking and a police pursuit across Sydney’s west on Sunday morning.

Just after 3am on March 12, a man stopped at a service station in Plumpton was approached by a 15-year-old boy.

As the man got into his vehicle, a Ford Fairlaine, the boy allegedly produced a knife and threatened the man, demanding his vehicle. Police have been told a second 15-year-old boy also entered the car before driving away.

The owner of the vehicle contacted police and officers at Mt Druitt Police

Station.

It’s been alleged a taxi driver located the Ford and the two teenage boys, about 4am and stopped after being flagged down. The two boys asked the driver to take them to a train station.

Both teenagers, allegedly produced knives and threatened the driver, demanding he stop. The man has jumped out of the taxi and the teenagers drove off.

Officers from Rosehill located the taxi driving along James Ruse Drive, Rosehill and as it turned on Parramatta Road, Granville, and a short pursuit was initiated.

As the vehicle approached the Great Western Highway, Wentworthville, the car struck the median strip and the pursuit was terminated.

Both boys were arrested and taken to Mt Druitt Police Station. One of the boys was charged with two counts of aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it armed with weapon; two counts of not stop at stop line at red light, unlicensed for class, and police pursuit not stop driving dangerously.

The second 15-year-old boy was charged with two counts of aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it armed with weapon.

They were both refused bail.

Safe women’s shelter shapes up

By Keegan Thomson

FEDERAL Member for Lindsay, Emma Husar, has backed a community campaign to open a second much needed women’s shelter in Penrith.

The campaign is a joint partnership between the MP and the not-for-profit organisation, Women’s Community Shelters (WCS).

The announcement was made last week during Ms Husar’s Women of Lindsay awards breakfast, held in celebration of International Women’s Day. Ms Husar said women from Penrith are being turned away because there simply aren’t enough beds in crisis accommodation.

“We know that across a one-month period this year already, 56 women and 95 children in our community were turned away from crisis accommodation because there were simply not enough beds.

“These were women fleeing violence in their home, and many of them were forced to return to that violence.

“While this might only affect a small portion of our community, we know that domestic violence is a significant issue in our area, so we need a safe place to go for women and children experiencing violence,” Ms Husar said.

According to the MP, due to the lack of funding provided, both the state and federal governments are letting down victims of domestic violence, which is why she’s now reaching out to the public.

Annabelle Daniel, the WCS CEO, with Emma Husar, MP

“In the absence of adequate funding from state and federal governments, we’re reaching out directly to the community to get this project off the ground.

“We’re asking locals to help raise an initial $25,000 to get this project started,” said Ms Husar.

Annabelle Daniel, the WCS Chief Executive Officer, kick-started the community fundraising campaign which will be supported by WCS throughout the lifetime of the shelter.

WCS will match the initial $25,000 through their corporate and philanthropic sponsors, and

then provide two-thirds of the recurrent operating funding for the first two years, and 50% thereafter.

Ms Daniel said local community has much to gain by supporting the shelter.

“The best thing about our shelter model is the local people who are involved.

“There are many ways to participate - through volunteering, fundraising, and donations in kind are all welcome,” said Ms Daniel.

Anyone wanting to donate can call Emma Husar’s office on 4722 0600.

Travel spotlight: Seven wonders of Hong Kong

By Keegan Thomson

HONG KONG is the true meaning of east meets west. A city with a population of some 7.5 million people, this British influenced Chinese city has a lot of offer for any tourist. HK inspires with colourful sights, tasty delights and boundless places to explore. These are my picks for Hong Kong’s seven wonders.

Victoria Peak The number one stop for any tourist in HK is Victoria Peak. Ride the funicular tram up its steep 27 degree gradient to the top of the peak and experience the breathtaking views.

From the top of the peak you’ll get the best views and perspectives of Hong Kong city and Kowloon Peninsular.

Due to the pollution you want to pick a nice clear day to visit the peak, that way you’ll get the most out of your trip.

Downtown Kowloon Asia is the busy city capital of the world, and of all those capitals, one of the busiest would have to be Hong Kong. For all the best cheap shopping, experiential eating and hustle and bustle culture then head to either downtown Kowloon or central Hong Kong. Just don’t get carried away in the massive crowd crushes as you try to cross the street.

City lights of Hong Kong. Photo: Keegan Thomson

Markets galore There are hundreds of different markets in Hong Kong. Some of the best ones to check out include the bird market, the gold fish market and the flower market. If you’re after cheap electricals and souvenirs then head along to the Ladies Market as well.

They’re all located in the busy streets of Mong Kok. Victoria Harbour There’s a lot of see and do around Victoria Harbour with evening being the best time to check it out. Set yourself up on the Kowloon side of the harbour and watch the lights of the city skyline turn on across the water. Stick

View from Victoria Peak over HK. Photo: Keegan Thomson

around for the nightly light and laser show.

Star Ferry This is a must for any budget traveller or 5 star adventurer alike.

Take the vintage ferry from Kowloon or from Hong Kong and experience the city from a whole new level. A 15 minute one way ticket will set you back around 30c Aussie so it is well worth doing a couple of times.

Tian Tan Buddha If you’re itching to escape the hustle and bustle of the city then jump on the train and head to Lantau Island. One of the biggest cultural landmarks in HK is the Tian Tan Buddha on the peak of

Lantau. Climb 268 steps to the top for a view of the 34 metre tall, 250 metric tonne sitting Buddha. For a small fee you can venture inside the Tian Tan Buddha to see the relic of the ashes of Gautama Buddha, the religious icon.

Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens Another freebie, this massive public park, botanical gardens and zoo is a must for all. Check out the 700 plus species of animals living in the park including monkeys, birds and reptiles.

This quiet oasis in the middle of the city is best viewed in the day when the animals are waking up for feeding time, plus it is less busy in the morning.

11 Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

localnews local

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Legends of the Nepean

By Garion Thain

Mr Piccirilli (all four pictures) has a history with the business spanning back to 1962, wherein he began an apprenticeship.

GUIDO’S Hair Care has been a St Marys staple since 1947. The barber, notable for its storefront’s genuine 50s’ and 60s’ flair rare to the modern eye, has a very large and loyal customer base that sees the Queen Street shop thrive into its 70th year in 2017. Owning and operating the business is Guido himself, Mr Guido Piccirilli, who from his humble beginnings as an apprentice at the shop eventually worked his way up to buying the store that now bears his name. Mr Piccirilli was nominated as a local legend, and the longtime St Marys resident graciously offered some of his time coinciding with a refurbishment of the business for its 70th anniversary to look even more classic and artistic. Mr Piccirilli was excited to talk about his past with his business on the cusp of an equally exciting future.

“I first started working at the barber in 1962,” said Mr Piccirilli. “[The business] has been a part of the town and the scene of St Marys my whole life,” he continued, “we’re now undergoing our first major renovation in years.”

Despite renovating, the site of the barber has changed many times in its history.

“When it was opened by the former owner and my old boss, Mr Hackett, it started on the highway,” Mr Piccirilli said pointing subtly south.

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GUIDO-PICCIRILLI “We moved into the old St Marys movie theatre for a while, there weren’t enough chairs for all the staff.

“Then we moved next door in 1964, before moving here.”

Mr Piccirilli proceeded to pull out a local business pamphlet from 1964, which featured classic ads for the Nepean Performing Arts Society, other businesses with suitably retro ad, and one for the hairdresser. Accompanying this pamphlet was a large, framed, quartet of photos from the early 60s’ days, Mr Piccirilli, then an apprentice, in all four.

He was quick to point to the barber’s chairs in the photos, then to the one next to him.

“These are exactly the same chairs from Hackett’s old shop,” he said.

“All of them are Australian made, from Melbourne. They stopped making them soon after and replaced them with American made chairs,” he continued.

“We’ve kept the all of the same chairs and the till.

“We respect what we do, which is why we’re happy to keep these all in use, in good condition, and keep up the nostalgia,” he continued.

This is nostalgia Mr Piccirilli holds himself, too, with his investment of time and labour in St Marys.

He says that he and Mr Hackett, who personally wanted to sell it to Mr Piccirilli, are the only two owners in its history.

“When I came from the old country, I didn’t have

13

Mr Piccirilli is one of two owners of the Barber in its 70 yearhistory, the former owner wanting to sell it to him personally.

a job or speak a word of English. This guy taught me the trade, the language.

“There’s a saying, you fall in love with St Marys, well for me falling in love was part of the deal.”

Despite not having five chairs, Mr Hackett still “squeezed” Mr Piccirilliin regardless. While there were apprentices before and after, he stuck around.

Mr Piccirilli first found the job through his brother, who was also involved.

“The guy wanted an Italian kid,” said Mr Piccirilli.

“One of his old apprentices, a 17 year old Italian, had died in Melbourne saving a little girl from drowning. He was more than willing to take on

another [Italian],” he said.

That squeezed placement became a business ownership for Mr Piccirilli, who today sits on the edge of a transformation for his business’ façade to better reflect what it is. For Guido Piccirilli, his sincerity, talent, and devoted family and staff will surely help Guido’s Hair Care thrive, as a staple, for much longer.

Guido-Piccirilli was nominated as a Legend of the Nepean by Penrith Mayor John Thain.

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

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Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

Autumn Adventures - something for everyone!

AUTUMN is here; the heat leaves the day and the nights start to get darker earlier - the perfect time for an entertainment journey - participating, watching, ruminating on and talking about great works of art, whether you’ve caught them at the Penrith Regional Gallery or the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre. Our Autumn calendar is brimming with so many events that getting to the must-sees alone could be a full-time job.

If theatre is your thing then venture out to The Q’s own production of Black Birds, billed by the Sydney Morning Herald as one of the hottest 20 stage shows this year, and it’s right here in Penrith!

Created and performed by Emele Ugavule and Ayeesha Ash – the show delves into life lived with the challenges of difference and belonging; how hair can alienate and at the same time unite.

How your skin colour and hair can have you the centre of a bet on where you are from. Is it right? Is it cruel? Is it typical? Should it matter? Catch Black Birds in The Joan’s Mullins Studio from 30 March – 8 April.

Do you have younger children or grandchildren you’d like to introduce to the world of theatre? Treat your kids as you bring them to Horrible Harriet Sunday 19 and Monday 20 March and

Black Birds

Horrible Harriet

see Australian Children’s Laureate Leigh Hobbs’ bestselling series come to life on stage at The Joan.

Alexandre Da Costa and his Stadivarius violin will ignite the fire in those who love fine music. Even if you are very new to violin, Violin eXtreme has something for everyone, as “the fastest fingers of violin” – perform soulful sounds of the recognized film score of William’s Schindlers List, to the sheer drama and march-like piece that has gained infamy as the theme to The Apprentice – The Montegues and Caputlets!

Always wanted to sing, now is the time to be involved with other like-minded people. Use your first instrument - your voice – and enjoy the pleasure of being part of a group that sings. Not to be taken too seriously,

Visions of Utopia

the Conservatorium’s ensembles are for those who always wanted to express themselves outside the shower and were a little afraid! All voices will come together at either a musical theatre, opera or kids’ ensembles at The Joan.

Interested in watching a painting come to life? Hard Edge Live at Penrith Regional gallery is a free action painting performance by Sydney based abstract artist Chrissie Ianssen. Hard Edge Live is a chance to get up close and personal with abstract painting – to see how it’s done, what it takes and who makes it! The perfect opportunity to break through the notions of abstraction being obscure or hard to understand – Hard Edge live will be a pure, unadulterated experience of paint, of colour and of art, don’t miss

Seven Decades of Hill End

out 17-19 March 10am-4pm.

Pop into the Penrith Regional Gallery to see Visions of Utopia a collection of non- objective art that will leave you open to discussion of your favourites, enjoying the simplicity and Scandi feeling of some and being refreshed by the purity of others.

Admire the detail in Rochelle Summerfield’s pencil and graphite, with a quirky nod to humour in her survey of the Nepean River, in the Lounge Room at Penrith Regional Gallery.

If Hill End is a place of your childhood memories, weekends away or camping then the Hill End: Seven Decades exhibition will bring back images of iconic bush, gold mining towns, historic homes, old pubs, community and artists at work!

Photographic Exhibition by members of the HENRY LAWSON CAMERA CLUB Exhibition in the Lower Lounge area at: Penrith Central Library 601 High Street, Penrith

By Luciano Vranich

THE exhibition showcases the work of some members of the camera club. Members were asked to submit three images for me to evaluate in terms of their technical quality and their expressive quality. Two images per member were chosen by me. The range of subject matter is pleasing and shows a growth over the last 12 months by individual photographers.

New members to the club are welcome. The camera club meets on the first and third Monday of the month at 7:30pm, in the theatre at 144 Henry Lawson Avenue (Corner of Henry Lawson Ave & Dunheved Rd,) Werrington County.

Enquiries: please contact Luciano Vranich on 0405 099 029.

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The Bard comes to Emu Plains

By Keegan Thomson

THEATRE, particularly Shakespeare, isn’t everyone’s cuppa tea but the team at the Acting Factory is trying to make the words of the Bard more accessible for a western Sydney audience.

Currently the team behind the popular Shakespeare by the River is performing a contemporary version of Much Ado About Nothing, one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, revamped to be set in the American Civil War. Kathleen Smith, the Director of the play, said she was inspired to bring Shakespeare in the Civil War to western Sydney after she spent a year in and around the American deep south.

“The show is set during the American Civil War in South Carolina because I thought it would offer up something different,” Ms Smith said.

“I spent a lot of time in the south, it is such a mixing pot.

“No one ever does that period in Sydney, so if you can make it a comedy, and you can make it a bit different, then people should come,” she said.

The play is known as the Bard’s most popular and best comedies working on elements of mistaken identities, love and honest hilarity.

Ms Smith fell in love with Shakespeare after she studied his works in New York city. She said once someone was able to help her understand the complexity of his works then she was able to fully appreciate it.

“I studied Shakespeare in New York but it wasn’t until someone helped me to understand it that I fully fell in love with it.

“At first, like a lot of people, I didn’t get it, but then

The cast of Much Ado About Nothing. Photo: Supplied.

I was shown how it works.

“If we can bring something across that is assessable then maybe we can get Shakespeare popular again because everyone can appreciate it if they give it the

time,” she said.

One of Ms Smith’s main objectives behind bringing Shakespeare to western Sydney was to offer up a diverse cast. She said western Sydney was a “melting pot of cultures” and it should be represented on the stage.

In the play one of the leads is an Indian Australian actor, Sameer Malla, who plays Claudio.

Western Sydney isn’t known for its theatrical output, but Ms Smith has a theory as to why westies aren’t getting involved in theatre.

“I think a lot of people don’t realised that we have a great theatre scene here in western Sydney,” she said.

“People think theatre is only in Newtown, at the Sydney Theatre Company or at the Riverside in Parramatta.

“The thing is people will come and get involved in theatre if they knew it was on. There isn’t enough promotion for local theatre in western Sydney,” she said.

This is the first time Ms Smith has directed a play and tackling Shakespeare was certainly a challenge for her.

“It wasn’t an easy first pick for my first time of directing.

“Half the actors in the cast haven’t done Shakespeare before but it has been really good. The southern accents makes it a challenge but the results have come together really well,” she said.

The performances are totally free and are held at Regatta Park in Emu Plains. 8 PM evening performances will be held on Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18. There will be a 4 PM matinee performance on Sunday, March 19.

15 Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

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16 Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

Ride the night away with Barnsey at Fernhill Estate

By Keegan Thomson

FERNHILL Estate is thrilled to announce that Jimmy Barnes and Jon Stevens will be headlining a unique, first of its kind, all ages concert on the grounds of the Estate on Sunday, 7 May 2017.

Built in the 1830s, Fernhill Estate is one of Australia’s oldest and grandest properties set on over 1,000 acres of landscaped gardens and lush pasture overlooking the beautiful Mulgoa Valley.

On Sunday, 7 May Fernhill Estate’s natural amphitheatre will be transformed into a unique entertainment hub with a massive stage, a food village and parking for almost 2,000 cars as well as transport options from Penrith Station and Penrith Panthers’ complex.

Fernhill Estate Presents Australian rock legend, Jimmy Barnes Jimmy Barnes is a working class man who is known for his antics on stage and off. With a Barnesy gig there ain’t no second prize because he gives it his all. Along the way he has sold more records and drank more cheap wine than any other domestic rock & roll artist. Jimmy’s live shows are legendary for their intensity and

we can’t wait till he rocks the house at Fernhill Estate. Jimmy always brings the good times.

Along for the show will be Aussie rocker Jon Stevens, who has had a remarkable journey as a singer, songwriter and performer. He’s best

known as the frontman of legendary Australian band, Noiseworks, joining INXS as the “seventh member”, and maintaining a successful solo career as one of the country’s foremost touring artists. This will be Jon Stevens’ only Sydney performance.

Whether you choose to picnic on the rolling lawns or pick up a Golden Circle or VIP Heritage Package, you’ll be part of one of the greatest local gigs of all time. The premium packages include transport options, reserved seating, delicious hampers and a whole lot more.

Why not make a whole night or weekend event of it, so you can really rock the night away? If the option of spending the night in Penrith following the concert sounds appealing, check out the Mercure Penrith for some of their great deals! (Contact details in the ad below) Fernhill Estate Presents promises to be a spectacular evening for the whole family and tickets will sell out quickly. For full details on the ticket packages, transport options and Fernhill Estate, go to www. fernhillestate.net.au Fernhill Estate Presents is proud to support the work of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia and a portion of all tickets sold will be donated to the charity.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the inaugural Fernhill Estate Presents on Sunday, 7 May 2016. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Thursday, 16 March 2017. See ad on next page for more details!

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18 Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

ST MARYS DUTCH FESTIVAL MARCH 2017

In touch with the Dutch

At the REMBRANDT Dutch Club 87 Dunheved Circuit, St Marys ~ 9623 2569

Friday 24th 10am - late Saturday 25th 10am - late Sunday 26th 10am - 4pm ~ Dutch shop, food and bar ~ Dutch Australian genealogy group ~ Children Corner ~ Children ride and jumping castle from Friday after school

ENTERTAINMENT FRIDAY • Little Black Ducks • Cool River and ShElvis • One man bands “Chris”, “Tony”, “Herman” SATURDAY • Norm Bakker • Dutch Connection • The Great Escape SUNDAY • Herman • Dutch Connection • Backwater

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Only during the Festival days will there be a free shuttle service from St Marys train station to the Rembrandt Dutch Club and back; Follow the sign at St Marys station.

The Rembrandt Club St Marys is usually open Fridays 11am till midnight and Tuesdays 10-4pm. Information for members and their guests

GRAB your clogs and your family and head on down to the Dutch Festival for a great time enjoying a cultural blast of everything Dutch on March 24, 25 and 26.

Friday March 24 is senior day, the fun starts at 10am and will be celebrated with two floorshows at 12noon and 2pm.

If you have senior friends, take them out for the day! There is no entry fee all weekend.

Saturday and Sunday there will also be loads of things for the children to do, so circle the weekend on your calendar now.

There will be live music all weekend,

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from typical Dutch to Country and Australian tunes. The award winning Elvis impersonator (Sheryl) will ‘show off’ on Friday night, so be sure not to miss a night of rocking on with ShElvis.

You simply haven’t lived if you’ve never tried Dutch donuts (no holes, but plenty fruit) or the Poffertjes (mini pancakes). Your tastebuds are in for a treat with all the Dutch goodies available over the weekend.

Visit the Dutch Festival on 2425-26 March held at the Rembrandt Club located at 87 Dunheved Circuit, St Marys and keep in touch with the Dutch!

We promote the responsible service of gaming and alcohol. All our advertising and promotions are not implicitly or explicitly directed at minors, excluded persons, or vulnerable or disadvantaged groups.

Taming the credit card monster With Steve Beard Select Mortgage Broker

LAST month I wrote about various tips on reducing your household spending. One of those topics included credit cards and how to reduce your interest. Australians currently owe over $32 billion (that’s $32,000 million) in credit card debt that is attracting interest.

The total amount of interest accruing on these cards each year is over $5.5 billion, with an additional $18 billion in credit card debt that isn’t accruing any interest. This means for the 7.5 million credit card holders, their average debt accruing interest is over $4,000 and they are paying over $700 per year in interest (based on the average interest rate of 17.2 per cent).

The good news is that the total amount of debt is currently declining.

However, if your debt is not declining you should be taking action to turn this

around and reduce the interest you’re paying to the bank.

If you have $4,400 of credit card and debt and only make the minimum repayments ($88) each month it will take you 31 years to pay it off. This will cost you $14,900 in interest, based on an 18 per cent interest rate. However, if you pay off $216 each month you’d pay off your debt in 2 years and save $9,700 in interest.

If you owe $10,000 on a credit card and pay the minimum balance of 2 per cent each month it will take you over 43 years to repay the debt and you would accrue interest of over $26,000.

If you can increase your repayments to $492 each month the debt will be repaid over 2 years and you’ll save over $24,000 in interest.

Generally, you only get the benefit of the interest-free period if your previous monthly balance is paid in full. If you have not paid your previous balance in full then any interest accrues from day one.

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Another trap are retailers who offer interest free credit card deals with your purchases. If the debt is not repaid by the end of the interest free period, then interest is back dated to day one and the interest can be as high as 32 per cent.

Hopefully I have motivated you to reduce your credit card debt. Here are the best ways to achieve this; 1. Stop adding more debt to your credit card. Take your card out of your wallet and put it in a draw out of the way. Or if you are serious about your debt (especially if you have multiple cards) cut the card up and throw it away.

2. Use your cash to pay for all your bills and essential items. If it’s not essential, make do with what you have.

3. Set up a direct deposit to pay a fixed amount off your credit card debt every pay day. This will take the take the stress out of keeping up with repayments.

4. If you have more than one credit

card, pay off the one with the highest interest rate first, or tackle the one with the smallest debt first. This will make your debt more manageable.

5. Don’t buy things for the sake of buying (resist the sales!). There’s no point in getting 50 per cent off something if you have to pay 200 per cent extra with your credit interest.

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nepeanhistory nepean

24 Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

A Cricketer’s Grandfather

I

N 1887 Richard Grainger Napoleon Benaud a watchmaker, moved to Penrith from Maclean, Clarence River. He was born at Manning River in 1861, his father Captain Jean Arthur Benaud a Frenchman was one of the first skippers to cross the Manning bar in a trading schooner. After the father’s death the family moved to the Clarence then to the Richmond and set up as a watchmaker and jeweller after running a similar business at Maclean for some time. Before leaving Maclean in June Richard was given a farewell and judging by the report in the local paper Richard, or “Dick” as he became known must have been immensely popular and they wished him every success in Penrith. He opened a jewellery shop next to John Bissland’s in High Street. He came with exceptional credentials and was considered quite an acquisition to Penrith’s business men and also a benefit to the town. He didn’t waste any time getting about the district broadcasting his business and making himself popular with some of the clubs in the area. In addition to being the first Secretary of Nepean A.H. and I. Society he was interested in other local activities including river regattas. He was a keen rower and on one occasion with Ernest Fulton they won a double sculls race. He joined local lodges and was appointed Secretary of the first Nepean Rowing Club and by December he was in Penrith Police Court testifying to John Hart being charged with wilfully damaging one pane of glass from his shop to the value of 5/- (shillings) and John was ordered to pay a fine of 10/-, the price of the glass 5/- and for riotous behaviour another 20/shillings, the total of 40/- which he paid. Richard married Nellie Hill a Penrith girl. He loved to sing and in 1888 at the opening of the new Order of Royal Forrester’s Hall in Penrith, Richard sang “Let me like a soldier fall” and at St Stephen’s Prize Fund Concert Richard received an encore for his singing of “The Tar’s Farewell” but, it was said that if he should study expression more “his singing would be greatly improved.”

In November, 1889 Richard was on the Jury at Penrith Court House regarding the death of Henry Bathurst Eager who died at Penrith’s Post Office. It was found that Henry died of a heart attack from the pain of cancer of the prostate gland. He had in his pocket a watch and gold chain engraved with thanks from the Great Western Railway in 1874. Richard sang “The British Lion” in a concert in 1890 to aid the Nepean Cottage Hospital and received an encore. At the Penrith Council Municipal elections in October 1890 Richard, as a candidate, arranged to speak on the balcony of the Federal Hotel and was held by many as a joke. He withdrew his nomination on the 1st November. He donated many prizes, some included the Druid’s Anniversary at Rowe’s Picnic Grounds for the Locomotive Employees - Penrith branch of the Railway Department at Lady Robinson’s Beach. At a send-off and presentation in January 1892 for Mr Smithers held at the Commercial Hotel in Penrith by the Penrith Cricket Club, Richard sang “Who Killed Cock Robin”. In February, a presentation and send off at the Red Cow Hotel for Mr Dempsey who was moving onto Bathurst for the Railway Telegraph Department saw Penrith Councillors give a speech including Richard who was now a Councillor. From Penrith Richard moved to

Parkes in 1895 where he bought out a business that included hairdressing as well as watchmaking and jewellery (for the hairdressing he employed a barber).

Leaving Parkes he took up residence at Port Macquarie and was there for about three years then he went to Coraki where he lived for 28 years and where his brother Louis was the proprietor of the “Richmond River Herald”. He was an Alderman on Coraki Council for about 16 years and Mayor for seven terms. He took interest in the river regattas and was Secretary of the Regatta Committee. In June 1902 at Coraki Police Court Richard was granted a Hawker’s Licence and again in 1906. He later moved to Grafton where in September 1921 Archibald Gardiner appeared in court charged with stealing a walking-stick belonging to Richard who was living in Princes street. The local Constable stated that he visited the rear of Roche’s Hotel and found Archie lying under a table in a room with a walking-stick who said that he had bought it at South Grafton and that he did not take it out of Richard’s shop but the Constable noticed that Archie was under the influence of liquor. Richard recognised the walking-stick as his property with a market value of about 25/- but stated that he would not sell it for anything like that.

The local Sergeant verified that Archie was not a rogue and that he did not know what he was doing at the time but a fine was imposed of 30/or in default seven days. Richard’s later moves were to Punchbowl, Bathurst and Shortland and finally returning to Penrith in the 1920’s and again conducting a watchmaking business in High Street, but by 1937 he moved to Cootamundra. In January 1938 practically all the residents flocked to see Richard ride the first tricycle known as ‘a penny farthing.’

He succeeded in riding from one end of the street to the other and no one tried to emulate the feat. In April, 1949 in a letter to the Nepean Times Richard, now living in Martin Street at Shortland writes: “It is approximately 60 years since I became a subscriber to the “Times” and I still look forward with unstinted pleasure to its coming to hand to peruse its columns with the same interest. Especially of interest to me are the “Fifty Years Ago,” items, which bring back memories of events, etc., of those times long ago. If I am spared until May 29 next I will have seen 89 summers. A lot of water has run under the bridge in that period.” Richard Grainger Napoleon Benaud of 397 High Street died in the Nepean District Hospital in July 1953 at the age of 93 years. The funeral took place at Stephen’s Church and he was buried in the Penrith General Cemetery (Church of England portion). He had two sons:— Louis Richard Benaud (teacher) and John (postmaster) and a daughter Gladys Hollier (dec.) Richard’s son Louis was also a very successful grade cricketer and is the father of Richie Benaud who was a member of the Australian XI who was in England at the time of Richard’s death.

He was born in Penrith in 1930 and died in 2015.

Sources: Nepean Times, Trove, Richmond River Herald & Northern Districts Advertiser, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Sydney Sun, Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Examiner (Grafton), Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer. Photo is of Ritchie Benaud Lyn Forde – Research Officer of the St Marys & District Historical Society Inc.

OFFER ENDS 31ST MARCH 2017

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COACH’S CORNER NRL SEASON PREVIEW

Continued from last edition...

Panthers Here we go Panther fans! The time for rebuilding is over and the club is now entering a premiership window. Whether they can win the competition in 2017 is difficult to know, however the key to having the best chance is to ensure you finish in the Top 4. To me anything outside of the Top 4 finish for the Panthers this season will be a disappointment.

Anthony Griffin has done a great job picking up the baton from the excellent foundation laid by Ivan Cleary and with more astute recruitment over the offseason the Panthers look set for a bumper season in 2017. The plethora of young stars who have dominated the lower grades for the past few years now look ready to play consistently at the NRL level and the mainstays of the rebuild in Moylan, Mansour, Peachey, Watene-Zelezniak, Cartwright, Yeo and Campbell-Gillard have all passed or are close to Phil Gould’s golden rule of needing 50 NRL games to truly be a first grader. Exciting times to be at the foot of the mountain!

Rabbitohs Are South Sydney about to bounce back or regress even further? It’s a tough one to work out and the fall from grace since their 2014 Premiership has been quite surprising. They still boast a very physically dominant forward pack and the likes of Inglis, Walker and Johnston out wide. However the slide in the form of South Sydney in my opinion comes back to the injuries which have punctuated Adam Reynolds past two seasons and also the under rated loss of Issac Luke who played nice and direct

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

out of hooker which got the Souths pack rolling forward. The inclusion of Robbie Farah has been much talked about and irrespective of whether you love or hate him, Farah may have a huge say in the success of the Rabbitohs in 2017 as he can get out of acting half similar to Luke and get South’s rolling forward which will open up some chances for their outside backs. Adam Reynolds has recently sustained another long term injury which I think will see the Rabbitohs miss the Top 8.

Dragons Have not done enough over the offseason to relieve the pressure and reliance on Gareth Widdop to create the majority of points for this football team. Josh Dugan does not ball play or create point scoring opportunities for players around him and the club moved Benji Marshall on and has not been able to sign a suitable replacement in order to create more points and attacking opportunities. Paul McGregor is on the hot seat and the pressure on this club to perform in 2017 is huge. I cannot see them challenging for the Top 8 and they will need to wait for Ben Hunt to arrive in 2018 to see some real improvement.

Roosters Have hopefully moved on from 2016’s disastrous season which included off field incidents, injuries and below par performances from a squad and coaching staff which demands has become accustomed to success. You cannot keep a good team down and I expect the Roosters to rise up again in 2017 and hit back hard by making the Top 8. They have repaired the damage inflicted from the losses of

James Maloney and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck by adding Luke Keary and Michael Gordon and they cannot possibly experience such bad luck and difficult circumstances two seasons in a row.

Warriors Predicting where they will finish is like playing darts in a room with the lights off. Impossible! They have added Kieran Foran which has the potential to improve them immensely pending on what version of Foran has moved to Auckland. Roger TuivasaSheck returns from a season ending ACL injury and Issac Luke looks to be in better shape heading into the season. They have an international spine, explosive outside backs and a solid forward pack. You cannot avoid the poor culture of underachievement at the Warriors but with a new coach I am picking them to make the Top 8.

Tigers Robbie Farah is gone and so are all the underlying problems at the Wests Tigers… I don’t think so!

Over the last few months has had to deal with Kyle Lovett and a drugs possession charge he kept secret from the club and now Tim Simona allegedly placing bets on opposition players to score tries against him during matches. They have lost a stack of players and only added Jamal Idris whose motivation and fitness are both questionable. Jason Taylor is on the hot seat and the pressure to go one better and finish in the Top 8 this season is immense.

For The Record…..

Top 8 – Broncos, Cowboys, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks, Warriors and Roosters.

Premiers – Cowboys.

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CROSSWORD ACROSS 9 Tedium (7) 10 Referees (7) 11 To kindle (7) 12 Army reserves (7) 13 Adolescents (9) 15 Spots (5) 16 Style of music (7) 19 Inebriated (7) 20 Genus of hemlock spruce (5) 21 Pernicious (9) 25 No longer alive (7) 26 Overthrown (7) 28 Type of light (7) 29 Breed of cat (7)

DOWN 1 Showing submissiveness (6) 2 Increase threefold (6) 3 Concept (4) 4 Unit of electrical current (6) 5 Suspected (8) 6 Bewitched (10) 7 Lath (8) 8 Killer (8) 14 Familiar with (10) 16 In a resentful manner (8) 17 Forcing out of bed (8) 18 Giving off (light, heat, radiation (8) 22 Pleasure from causing pain (6) 23 A marine mollusk (6) 24 Turfed (6) 27 A juicy gritty-textured fruit (4)

solution 2/3/17

25 Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

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Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

Kikau’s overcomes family grief to make exciting NRL debut for Penrith

By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

FIJIAN prop, Viliame “Vili” Kikau made an instant impact on his NRL debut, helping Penrith overcome the disappointment of last week’s surprise loss to the Dragons, to record a dominant win over the Wests Tigers.

Vili became Penrith’s 567th first grade player courtesy of a last-minute call-up by coach Anthony Griffin after Tim Browne ruled out with back spasms.

Having trained with the Intrust Super Premiership all week, Kikau was shocked but excited when told of his call-up, having realised a life-long dream of playing in the NRL. “I didn’t really find out until just before captain’s run when Hook called me to come in,” Kikau told Nepean News.

“Afterwards he gave me the heads up and I was hyped and a bit nervous all at once.”

But the joy of being told that he was making his NRL debut was quickly tempered by the fact he knew he had to contact his family at a time when they were grieving over the death of his uncle Tui, whom Kikau says he was extremely close to.

“I just waited for the right moment because I knew Mum and Dad were coming back from the funeral feeling a bit emotional,” Kikau explained.

“I told Mum I got picked to play in the first grade team and make my debut tomorrow.

“Mum didn’t know what to say. It was emotional for her.

“I think she had a few tears but Dad was really happy about it.

“I was really close to him (uncle Tui) as we go way, way back.

“He’s been a big influence, making sure that growing up as a kid I was doing the right things.”

Kikau’s 25 minutes at Campbelltown Sports Stadium were certainly memorable.

A try with just his second touch of the ball and a bone-rattling hit on James Tedesco late in the first-half alone left Panthers coach Anthony Griffin impressed by his efforts on debut.

“It was great to see him get that try and he had a couple of really strong carries,” Griffin said.

“It’s great that whenever you see someone debut. I was really happy for him today.

“He’s shown what he’s capable of and his potential.”

But after the game the 2015 RLPA Holden Cup player of the year was simply humbled by the experience, admitting he didn’t think his NRL debut would come so soon.

“I was really grateful for the opportunity to get the call up and I took it with both hands,” Kikau said.

“I came out here with the goal to play hard and tackle hard but I’m grateful to get that try on my debut.

“To get a chance this early it’s just surreal. I didn’t really expect it.

“Hook just told me to keep working hard because I missed all pre-season last year.”

The path to the NRL with Penrith has been far from smooth-sailing for Kikau, having missed most of last season’s pre-season and most of the opening half of the 2016 season due to an ongoing ankle issue.

That was compounded by visa issues which scuttled a possible NRL debut against the Warriors, instead playing an Intrust Super Premiership game against

Latest Panther sensation, Viliame Kikau.

Credit 77 Media

Newtown that ended badly as the 195cm, 120kg prop suffered severe concussion and a badly broken nose.

But despite the setbacks, Kikau was determined not to lose sight of his goals.

“It was tough and a bit painful as well as I was one step (away) from getting a run but I knew I had to keep working at it,” Kikau said.

“Moyza (Moylan) when he had the same ankle rehab as mine, he was telling me to keep working hard on rehab and that I’ll get my time.”

Gibson hopes second homecoming leads to premiership double

By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

PENRITH batsmen, Ryan Gibson is hoping his rollercoaster cricket career will be an omen for Penrith as they enter their third finals campaign in four seasons, having qualified in sixth position.

The Penrith RSL junior, who is no stranger to having played finals both for and against Penrith in consecutive seasons, hopes that it will bring the club some luck as they pursue a rare feat in Sydney Grade Cricket, winning the Belvidere Cup / One-day Title double, despite the challenge presented in playing this weekend’s quarter-final away to minor premiers, Sydney University.

“It’s actually happened twice so far in my cricket career. In the under 15’s I played for Fairfield against Penrith in a final and then went back to Penrith to play in a final for them the next year,” Gibson told Nepean News.

“Hopefully it happens that way again and we go all the way and win the Belvidere Cup because not many teams have done it (winning those two titles in one season) but we do have the team to do it.

“Finishing sixth doesn’t really matter because you know you have to beat the best to be the best.”

Gibson left Penrith four seasons back to link up with Campbelltown-Camden, where he became one of the competition’s top batsmen, culminating with another finals appearance against Penrith last season.

But while Gibson said he was always destined to return to Penrith, he only did so once he was confident about his own game.

“I was always going to come back,” Gibson declared.

“But the stage I was at when I left, I needed the

Ryan Gibson hits out against Sydney. Credit Michael Gibson

change because I didn’t think I was improving myself and was just going through the motions here at Penrith and I didn’t like that.

“So I decided to make a change that would push me to take my game another level up and prove that I am first grade worthy or higher.

“Once I felt comfortable with where my cricket was at, I knew I needed to come back to Penrith.”

It would have been easy for the son of former Socceroos goalkeeper, Michael Gibson to follow in his dad’s footsteps and pursue a footballing career but the gun batsman said he preferred the comradery

cricket had to offer.

“I like the cricketing environment a lot more, spending virtually the whole day with your mates out on the field,” Gibson said.

“Whereas with soccer you’re kind of with them for that ninety minutes and when the game is over you don’t see them again until the next week.”

And who can argue with Ryan given that 201617 has been a stellar season to date, having earned selection in the Cricket Australia XI domestic oneday squad, before being given the opportunity to make his debut in both Shield for New South Wales and in the Big Bash League with Sydney Thunder.

Gibson says while making his debut for the Thunder in the season opener before a sold-out Spotless Stadium was a highlight, he couldn’t go past making his Shield debut at the hallowed SCG. “It’s been a roller-coaster ride but I can’t go past making my debut for New South Wales,” Gibson declared.

“To make my debut for the Sydney Thunder in front of a packed house of 20,000 plus was up there but getting that “baggy blue” (cap) was probably the highlight for me.

“Steve (Small) was there when I got presented and so too were my parents making it a special day and one I will remember for the rest of my life.”

But while Gibson has scored over 1,300 runs in all forms of the game throughout the season, a grade hundred with Penrith has so far eluded him, despite playing some important innings for the club of late.

“I’m pretty disappointed in that to be honest,” Gibson admitted.

“I keep getting to sixty to eighty in grade and keep finding a way to get out.

“But hopefully I can go back-to-back-to-back (hundreds) in the finals, that would be nice.”

BEHIND THE STUMPS

WITH STEW MOSES @THERIFFMARN

BLACK CATS FINALS-BOUND AFTER OVERCOMING RAIN, BATTING COLLAPSES AND INJURY Penrith has qualified for its third first grade finals series in four seasons with a comfortable 24 run win over arch-nemesis, Sydney Cricket Club in the final round of grade cricket, played at Drummoyne Oval.

The Black Cats entered the final round clinging onto sixth place and ahead of Manly by just one point after an opportunity to secure their finals place was denied by a 70 run last wicket stand by Mosman (194) in their Round 14 match at Howell Oval before rain prevented Penrith’s run chase.

But Penrith’s place was finally assured with the last round win, which sees the club remain in the hunt to achieve a rare double; adding the Belvidere Cup, to their one-day title won last month.

However the win was marred by the loss of leading wicket-taker Josh Lalor, who dislocated his left thumb when taking a spectacular catch at short mid-wicket and is unlikely to play in this weekend’s do-or-die (for Penrith anyway) clash with minor premiers, Sydney University.

Electing to bat first, John Di Bartolo (44 from 39 balls) got Penrith’s innings off to a flyer before Ryan Gibson (75 off 66 balls) and Michael Castle (41 from 53 balls) saw the away team reach 2/179 and a score of 300 plus looked to be on the cards.

But Gibson’s dismissal again exposed Penrith’s attimes brittle batting, triggering an 8/38 collapse to be bowled out for just 217, with over nine overs remaining in their innings.

Nonetheless Penrith skipper, Matthew Halse said after the game that he was confident of defending the smaller-than expected total, adding that Sydney never really looked like winning after being reduced at onepoint to 5/58.

“We should have probably got at least 270-280 but in saying that if we get around 220 in one-day cricket, we’re usually pretty hard to beat,” Halse told Nepean News.

“It was a shame not to bat out our fifty overs but we still got the six points after we bowled really well with the new ball.”

Halse also admitted that it was good to get one back on Sydney, who defeated Penrith twice in 2015/16 including the semi-final, but conceded there’s more to do if the club is wanting to go all the way this season.

“They knocked off in the semi-final last season so to get one back over them is satisfying even though they went through regardless of today’s result,” Halse

Mick Castle continues his recent strong form. Credit: Michael Gibson.

declared.

“But there’s probably some areas both teams will need to back up and improve before next week’s finals.”

Wickets were evenly shared among the bowlers, with Ryan Smith, Jake Wholohan and Michael Castle each taking two wickets.

Penrith will also play in this weekend’s finals in third grade (v Sydney University, Venue TBA) and fifth grade (v Randwick Petersham at Howell Oval).

It wasn’t all good news for the club as losses in seconds, thirds and fourths ended Penrith’s club championship aspirations.

A shattering loss in seconds (tenth) and a tough final-ball loss in fourths (equal sixth but knocked out

by Manly by just 0.03 on quotient) saw both teams just miss out on finals positions and prevented the club from making the finals in all grades for the first time.

But despite the setbacks, club president Paul Goldsmith says there is much for everyone at the club to be proud of this season, adding that winning back-to-back club championships was always going to be tough.

“It was always going to be a tough ask with four teams within thirty points of each other,” Goldsmith conceded.

“But I think we’ve certainly got a top-four finish if not potentially a top-three which we can certainly be very proud of.”

Penrith Cricket Club’s Pat Cummins has all but

completed a remarkable comeback from a series of injuries, after earning a recall to the Australian Test squad that is currently locked at 1-all with India.

The call-up means that Cummins is likely to play just his second test for Australia, six years after earning man-of-the-match honours after taking 7/117 on debut against South Africa in Johannesburg as an 18-year old.

It’s been quite a fortnight for Penrith Cricket Club’s only locally-produced Australian international cricketer, having gone from Howell Oval to the SCG and now India.

Cummins played a major role in Penrith’s epic onerun win over local rivals Hawkesbury in Sydney Grade Cricket’s one-day final.

Then that almost six-year wait to return to Shield cricket was finally over when Cummins played against South Australia at the SCG, taking eight wickets and scoring 42 runs in a man-of-the-match effort.

Penrith first grade coach Steve Small, who was hoping that Cummins would at least be available for part of the upcoming grade finals, says Pat’s selection is wonderful news.

“I thought we were going to have him playing for us. I wonder if “Boof” (Darren) Lehmann would like to leave him with us for another week or two,” Small joked.

“But it’s fantastic news for the district.”

The irony of Pat Cummins’ selection for Australia meant the NSW selectors needed a replacement for their Shield final qualifier against WA to be played this week in Perth.

It’s believed Josh Lalor was going to be that man, meaning the injured Panthers fast bowler was unlikely to be available for this weekend’s quarterfinal in any event.

Penrith’s womens cricket has plenty to celebrate too, with their second grade side qualifying for this weekend’s semi-finals, taking on minor premiers St George-Sutherland this Sunday at Glenn McGrath Oval for a place in the final.

The team, under skipper Hannah Darlington, qualified in fourth position despite a late season form slump that has seen the team not win since Round 10, with two losses split by a washed out draw. #LoveTheCats

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Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

MG ON THE MARK

WITH MARK GEYER

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT.... BARNSEY!!

The Skipper back to his best

Jimmy Barnes coming to town!

LAST Sunday, even at this very early stage of the season, the Panthers faced a mini litmus test. Their opening game of the year ended in a drubbing at the hands of the Dragons. Unexpected, but nonetheless eye catching for all the wrong reasons.

Coming up against a team like the Tigers on their home turf after they’d thumped the Rabbitohs the week prior was always going to be an early barometer of just where the premiership contenders stood.

And stand staunchly they did!

With the match at a stalemate for the opening 30 minutes locked at 2 all the mountain men pounced, to go into the halftime break with 3 unanswered tries to break the Tigers backs and spirit.

The subtle change of position from coach Griffin in moving Whare one in from the wing worked wonders, as did unleashing perhaps the biggest bench in the Panthers history. Lead by Fisher- Harris, Leilani Latu and human wrecking ball and debutant Villame Kikau. At 6ft 5 and 119kg this kid looks the goods BIGTIME. But it was the scoreboard that Griffin will be most ecstatic with, only allowing the single penalty goal against a highly dangerous attacking side was the highlight. Along with 7 players running for over 100 metres lead by mercurial skipper Matt Moylan who with his 22 runs and 140 metres was everywhere.

As was NSW bolter Tyrone Peachey. His start to season 2017 has been a real highlight.

Now for the improving Roosters this Saturday night. Your team need you

Panther fans, let’s get there and be loud and proud and urge your charges home.

See you at the game!

And another thing....

It’s about bloody time!! Put this date in your diary, Sunday the 7th of May, 3pm-9:30pm the great Jimmy Barnes, that’s right Jimmy Barnes, along with good mate Jon Stevens as well as a local band or two will unleash a mega concert at the pristine grounds of the Fernhill Estate which is 5 minutes south of Penrith on Mulgoa Rd. It’s a massive coup for all concerned especially my mate Tommy from Fernhill who has been working strenuously over the past few months to pull this off.

And boy have they.

Not since 1983 when Midnight Oil played at Penrith Park in front of 18,000 people has the greater West been afforded such a high caliber of entertainer in such a unique setting. Fernhill is over 1000 acres of sweeping greeneries and it’s hoped that if this concert does as well as is expected it could be the first big show of many to play at the Fernhill Estate.

Tickets go on sale today (Thursday the 16th of March) from Ticketek 13 28 49 or online at www.ticketek.com.au but hurry this is sure to be a sell out with anticipation high. Jimmy Barnes is one of the best entertainers I’ve ever seen live, now that he’ll be here in our backyard we should all be excited. www. fernhillestate.net.au

MG (random Westie) OAM

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FINALLY GOOD NEWS FOR CARTWRIGHT AFTER HIS WEEK FROM HELL It’s an understatement to say the least that Bryce Cartwright has endured one of the toughest weeks of his life let alone as a footy player, after seeing his name linked to alleged claims by a “Miss X” splashed all over the TV and newspapers.

But finally some good news came on Monday.

Having being forced from the field in Penrith’s big 36-2 win over Wests Tigers, their first in five visits to Campbelltown Sports Stadium, there were fears Cartwright had possibly fractured his fibula.

However scans cleared Cartwright with the diagnosis being bone bruising, which may even heal in time for Cartwright to take his place for Penrith’s blockbuster opening home clash against a resurgent Sydney Roosters side this Saturday night.

In relation to those allegations, whilst Cartwright has remained silent up until this point, expect him to address those claims made against him, but only when the time is right to do so.

In further good news for the club, wingers Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Peta Hiku are set to return for this Saturday night’s clash with the Roosters.

The news is especially good for Hiku, who having copped amore than suspicious knock to the face early in the clash against the Dragons, that resulted in a fractured eye-socket, is set for an early return as coach Anthony Griffin alluded to at last Saturday’s captain’s run press conference, with surgery not required as first thought.

Tim Browne (back spasms) is also expected to return this week, having also been named in that 21-man NRL squad, adding to coach Anthony Griffin’s selection headaches.

It turned out to not be the best week for an upcoming Panther to compromise a Sunday recovery session.

As was the case last season when Tyrone Peachey was dropped to the ISP side for a similar misdemeanour, Moses Leota also met the same fate for the last Sunday’s clash.

Whilst Leota was arguably best on field in Penrith’s big 52-12 win over the Wests Tigers, he might have to cool his heels in the lower grades for at least another week despite being named in the 21-man NRL squad, such were the performances of Sitaleki Akauola and NRL debutant Viliame Kikau in Penrith’s big win.

they prepare to face leading contenders Mounties and Wyong over the coming fortnight.

Mitch Rein’s home-coming to Kogarah Oval as a Panther ended in the visitors winning 28-6 over the defending premiers, Illawarra.

In Round Two action, the Panthers minus Dylan Edwards, Michael Oldfield, Oliver Clark, Rein and Kikau, were still too strong for an equally under-strength Wests Tigers outfit 52-12.

Will Cartwright play this Saturday night? Credit: 77 Media

Penrith’s 36-2 win was a complete and welcomed form-reversal from the rather unexpected and disappointing 42-10 loss to St George-Illawarra in the opening round.

Tyrone Peachey continues to look every inch the part in the centres as he tore the Wests Tigers edge defence to ribbons.

Matt Moylan, ably supported by his young halves, Martin and Cleary, pulled the attacking reins superbly and out-pointed current Origin fullback, James Tedesco.

Up front, James Tamou and Trent Merrin returned to the form normally expected of two representative-level players after both had quiet Round One games, leading what was a very enthusiastic performance from the Panthers pack.

In fact it was a day to remember for Penrith at Campbelltown last Sunday, outscoring their opponents 124-18 across the three grades and in Penrith’s 36-2 win, it represented the first time in two seasons to the round, Penrith last kept their opposition try-less in a game (2015 v Gold Coast 40-0).

Penrith have justified their short-priced favouritism in the Intrust Super Premiership, starting the season with two convincing wins as

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Meanwhile in Holden Cup it was a mixed weekend with Penrith going down narrowly to 2016 preliminary finalists, St George Illawarra, 18-16 after trailing 18-0 at the break.

But it was a different story last Sunday as a Jarome Luai-inspired Panthers side, blew away the Tigers to win 36-4.

Ironically it was both he and Jack Hetherington’s first game in 2017, having been suspended after playing the Tigers late in 2016.

Recently Brian Fletcher mentioned in this newspaper that he thought Penrith deserved home crowds of at least 15,000.

That theory will be put to the test when the Panthers host the Roosters in an early-season 7:30pm Saturday night match at Pepper Stadium.

In contrast it will be interesting to see what initiatives are made to encourage crowds to watch next Friday’s 6pm clash with Newcastle.

It’s a bitter sweet timeslot as workers based away from Penrith will struggle to make the new Friday night timeslot, while benefitting families with young kids who often playing junior sport the next day, which often curtails normal Fridaynight attendances.

Penrith’s 21-man squad for Saturday’s clash with the Roosters has been named in numeric order as follows: Matt Moylan, Dean Whare, Waqa Blake, Tyrone Peachey, Dylan Edwards, Te Maire Martin, Nathan Cleary, James Tamou, Peter Wallace, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Bryce Cartwright, Isaah Yeo, Trent Merrin.

James Fisher-Harris, Leilani Latu, Viliame Kikau, Sitaleki Akauola, Moses Leota, Tim Browne, Peta Hiku, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

See you at the game. #PantherPride

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31 Nepean News 16 March 2017 Issue 196

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Thursday, 16 March 2017

Ripples wins swim centre of the year

By Conner Lowe

THE Ripples Leisure Centre was awarded the coveted 2016 NSW Recognised Swim Centre of the Year award at the NSW AUSTSWIM Awards Dinner on Friday, 24th February, 2017 held at the Epping Club.

The win comes off the back of the Swim Schools National Award win for Swim Australia’s 2016 Best Swim School Marketing and the 2015 NSW Water Safety Awards Local Community Initiative of the Year for our Free Water Safety Road Show.

Ripples Leisure Centre was awarded this prestigious honour in recognition of the dedication and commitment of the Ripples Leisure Centre staff in providing new opportunities to access and utilise the Leisure Centre, as well as continually educating the community on the importance of water safety and supervision. The win also means that Ripples Swim School becomes a finalist for the National AUSTSWIM

Awards held in Tweed Heads in late September 2017.

Amongst the many initiatives, Ripples Leisure Centre was acknowledged for their work and achievements with: • The delivery of the FREE Water Safety Road Show to local preschools and schools. Ripples educated over 9000 students from over 80 local preschools and schools in 2015/2016. The goals of this program are to raise general water safety awareness in children ages 0 to 14 years, the dangers present in various waterways and practical ways for all

ages to stay safe and enjoy all water environments.

• Participation in industry and affiliated partner initiatives such as Swim Safer Week, Kids Alive “Learn to Swim Week” and creation of our own encouragement program - the “Ripplets Swimmer of the Week” award. This “Ripplets” award is based from instructor nominations for students that behave well, consistently try their best or achieve important milestones.

• The Maniah Betham Squad Scholarship. Maniah was a talented and beloved National swimmer of

the Ripples Squad who tragically lost his life in July 2014 at the tender age of 15. Ripples developed this annual scholarship in honour of his memory and his amazing achievements in and out of the water.

Ripples Swim School is based at three facilities St Marys, St Marys Hydrotherapy Centre and Penrith (Penrith summer season only) and is partnered with many industry leaders to ensure they are delivering the highest quality swimming lessons to their students.

In celebration of their award win Ripples has a very special offer for new customers. Book and Pay for remainder of Block 1 plus Block 2 and get 2 swimming lessons FREE*!

Valued at $29.00. *Terms and Conditions apply. *Offer valid from 13th March until 31st March 2017.

Safeguard your child and give them a skill for life! SWIM, SAFE, SURVIVE! Book your swimming lessons now. For more information, visit www.ripplesnsw.com.au like us on facebook or contact St Marys on 9833 3000.

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