Nepeannews 20july2017 by Nepean News

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Thursday, 20 July 2017

ISSUE 205

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Bush bash

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2017 Variety Bash will be starting from St Marys Rugby League Club on August 3. More inside. Pictured here is Club President Warren Smith with the adorable Goldie Chatto.

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Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

Our birthday belle: 35 years young She is one of the most popular ladies in the Nepean and many have fallen for her charms and returned time and time again to enjoy her company, and now she’s approaching her 35th birthday. Penrith’s first tourist attraction, the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler, is turning 35 in November, and the local community is being invited to help celebrate the event by contributing memories, stories, photographs and videos, to create a living history of the Western Sydney icon. Not only are her owners keen to hear people’s experiences of being on the boat, but the best contribution will win a Christmas party for ten people valued at $1000. Originally going to be named ‘Explorer Princess’, the paddlewheeler was the dream of John Wakeling and his wife Helen who moved to the Nepean area in 1976. John’s design for the boat was based on the Mississippi sternwheelers, and it was the last hull project built by De Havilland Marine at Homebush Bay. The Wakelings owned and operated the Nepean Belle for over thirty years, before selling it to local couple Chris and Carol Bennett in October 2013. The couple have continued the boat’s proud history, running cruises three to four times each week, as well as lunch and dinner cruises every weekend. “It is largely due to the tenacity of John Wakeling that Penrith has had the Nepean Belle for the past thirtyfive years,” said current co-owner and captain Chris Bennett, who worked as a deckhand on the boat as a schoolboy. “John held on to his dream despite immense opposition and initially not even being allowed to put her on the water.” The NSW Department of Environment and Planning originally refused approval for the slipway on the Nepean River, but it was eventually approved in March 1982, subject to some modifications. The ‘Belle’ as she is affectionately known, was launched on the Nepean River on 21

October 1982, and welcomed her first passengers on board with a charity gala day on 14 November the same year. Since 1982 the Nepean Belle has played an integral role in events and experiences for countless families, couples, individuals, social groups and businesses, all of whom hold fond memories of occasions such as weddings, baptisms and naming ceremonies, birthdays, Mother’s Day lunches, Christmas parties and even wakes and the spreading of ashes. One local resident chose to be married on the boat because it was a way to be close to her late father, whose ashes had been scattered in the river. “We have been privileged to be part of some really special and important events,” said co-owner Carol Bennett. “Over the past few years we have seen lots of marriage proposals, (which we love helping with if we have advance notice), milestone birthdays, and other special events. “However, having only been involved with the Belle for the past

four years, much of her history is unknown to us, so we would love to hear from members of the community who have photos, videos, memories and stories from earlier times. “We have had people come on a cruise who tell us they have memories of going on the Belle when they were children and they are now bringing their own children on to experience it. “It would be fantastic if there were ‘then and now’ photos of some of these people on the Belle as children and recent photos of their children on her as well,” Carol said. The Nepean region, including the river itself, has changed a great deal in the past thirty-five years, and the Nepean Belle has become a familiar sight on the river throughout this time. “She is the gateway to the magnificent Nepean Gorge, providing access for people who don’t have a boat and wouldn’t normally be able to see this amazing natural attraction,” said Carol. “The Belle is not a floating restaurant, she is an experience (that also happens to serve great food), and

we really want to hear about some of these experiences and memories. “We are hoping that the community will want to share them with us. “Hopefully this will allow us to compile more of her extensive history from over the years, to create something special and make this thirtyfifth birthday a real shared celebration for the community. “We are very proud of the Belle and all she means to the people of Penrith,” said Chris. A special website has been created to allow people to upload their photos, videos, memories and stories of the Nepean Belle at www. memoriesofthebelle.com.au. Every entry will be eligible to win the prize of a Christmas party for ten on the Nepean Belle valued at $1000. ‘They don’t have to be professional stories, photos or videos,” said Carol, “they just need to come from the heart.” For further information go to the website, or contact the Nepean Belle on (02) 4733 1274 or email info@ nepeanbelle.com.au.

localnews Services Worship and Communion Sunday 9:30am Wednesday Fellowship Wednesday 7:30pm Dare Youth Saturday 6:30pm Healing / Revival First Friday of Month 7:30pm

Contact: (02) 9673 1009

www.newhorizonschurch.org.au

Member for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies MP has congratulated the St Mary’s RSL Subbranch upon receiving a $22,000 grant from the NSW Government for the upgrade of the sandstone memorial and plaque which forms the centrepiece of all commemorations and remembrance events. As a Patron of the St Marys RSL Sub-branch, Tanya Davies was pleased to present the cheque to President Ron Blakely and other members of the sub-branch. “Over many years, I have witnessed the sub-branch executive and members’ vibrant

community activities both locally and further afield. I am proud to provide this financial support in recognition of their community service, contribution and highly skilled welfare and advocacy for our community,” Tanya Davies said. This grant has enabled improvements to the visibility of the memorial including raising the sandstone memorial piece, inserting flood lights to highlight the memorial stone and laying a cement pathway that links the memorial upgrade to the Vietnam war APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier).

Giving Hope Today Sunday Worship 10:00 AM Boy’s and Girl’s SAGALA (Similar to Scouts) 6:00 PM Monday Women’s Meeting 10:30 AM Thursday Street Dreams (Dance Group) 4:00 PM Thursday Kid’s Club 4:00 PM Friday (Dedications, Wedding or Funerals by appointment) 48 Luttrell St Glenmore Park P: 02 47331133 W: www.salvos.org.au/penrith E: salvospenrith@gmail.com

Prue Car MP Member for Londonderry

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

Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

Memorial upgrade

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From the Sport Editor’s Desk 203 Banks Drive, St Clair Office: (02) 9834 5579 General Manager: Editor: Sales: Journalist: Journalist: Sports Journalist: Sports Journalist: Graphic Design: Photographer: Printer: Letters to the Editor: Web:

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Nepean News is not tossed onto your front lawn. Collect your crisp copy FREE from local newsagents, service stations, libraries, Council and shopping centres. Call 9834 5579 to find out your nearest outlet. Check www.nepeannews.com.au for complete list of distribution outlets

by Stewart Moses It is with great sadness to have learned of the passing of the man regarded by many as the godfather of Nepean cricket, Trevor Henry Wholohan OAM on Monday, aged 79. Trevor or “Jed” to those who knew him well, served the game with great distinction for over sixty years as a player, volunteer and administrator at all levels of the game. But the one-time butcher by trade, will always be best remembered by many, myself included for his tireless work with the Penrith Cricket Club. Having developed an interest in Sydney Grade Cricket, I first met Trevor as a teenager in the mid 80’s and for many years, an afternoon at Howell would never be complete without one of his many chats about the game. His knowledge on the game itself, the players was nothing short of amazing and if he didn’t know about a particular game or player, chances were it wasn’t worth knowing to begin with. Both his son Michael, as a player and now coach of the club and grandson Jake, continue to represent the family name with pride, and through it all, even in his late years, you could guarantee that Trevor would be there watching on outside the pavilion whose function room bears his name today. My passion and love for the game of cricket, would probably not be where it is today if it wasn’t for Trevor and for that I’ll always be grateful. A visit to Howell Oval each Saturday over the coming season to cover the Black Cats, will be a surreal feeling, knowing I will no longer see him watching his grandson play the game he loved. Rest in Peace Jed and my condolences go out to wife Patricia, children Michael and Gai and grandchildren Jake and Emma. Please note that friends and family are warmly invited to Trevor Wholohan’s funeral service, which will be held in the North Chapel of Pinegrove Crematorium, Pinegrove Memorial Park, Minchinbury on Wednesday, 26 July at 11am.

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This year’s 2017 Variety Bash will be starting from St Marys Rugby League Club on August 3. Over 100 Bash cars of all shapes, sizes and characters will start to assemble from 6am for the official start at 8.30am of the 2017 Boronia Rd to Buffalo Creek Bash. The Bash is for those who want to help make a difference to the lives of Aussie kids in need. This is the 17th year that St Marys Rugby League Club has participated in the Bash, donating over

$700,000 to Variety – The Children’s Charity. The official starter of the Bash is the gorgeous Goldie Chatto, who suffers from Rett Syndrome. A rare genetic mutation affecting brain development in girls, over time losing coordination, speech and the use of the hands. To improve Goldie’s quality of life, St Marys Rugby League Club, through Variety The Children’s Charity donated $25,000 towards a special wheelchair and car conversions.

Growth looks different for every business. Together, let’s turn your vision into a sustainable future. Through our new advisory practice, KPMG Penrith, our professionals can share their deep industry experience to help you see opportunities and set foundations for success. To learn more contact: Peter Tracey Partner, KPMG Enterprise +61 2 9455 9144 petertracey@kpmg.com.au

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5 Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

coverstory

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By Keegan Thomson

PENRITH’S coolest co-work office space has just finished up a big, warm and cuddly winter charity drive with a difference. The Creative Fringe, a creative hub and co-work space on York Road Penrith, has handed over some 41 hand-sewed, multi coloured and extremely warm blankets to Mama Lana’s Community Foundation. Rienna Kroh, the Community Manager at the Creative Fringe, said the response from charitable locals has been overwhelming. “At least 100 people got involved with this with some people donating one square and others donating bags of squares,” Ms Kroh said. She said the bright nature of the blankets show that they’re made with love and are there to cheer people up. “Even though darker colours might be more practical, the bright colours will really brighten up someone’s day and also add a little warmth into the lives of people who need it most,” Ms Kroh said. The technicolored blankets reflect the Creative Fringe’s ethos of creative collaboration and the inspiration behind the campaign comes from their very community focused mentality. “We can’t stick our heads in the sand about these things, Penrith has a big homeless community,” Ms Kroh said. “As it started to cool off in the winter months we realised there was a need out there for warm blankets made with love.”

Six weeks ago the Creative Fringe put a call out to the community. They wanted any avid, novice or beginner sewers to stitch together a 20 centimetre by 20 centimetre knitted square that would eventually come together to form a patchwork blanket. After taking in more than 1800 donated knitted squares the team at Creative Fringe then pulled in an army of volunteers to construct 48 unique patchwork blankets that will all go to the Mama Lana’s Community Foundation. Lana Borg, who runs the foundation, said the

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Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

Warm and colourful donations

blankets will go to some of western Sydney’s most vulnerable people. “These are going to the domestic violence victims because a lot of them flee with nothing at all really,” Lana said. Six nights a week Mama Lana’s Community Foundation offers free meals to the disadvantaged and underprivileged people of Penrith, serving up warm dinners in the Judge’s Carpark. Currently Mama Lana’s is running their winter appeal and is asking for donations at the Nepean Square shopping centre.

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Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

Getting to know....

Trivia night for juvenile diabetes

Jim Hill

By Conner Lowe

CEO, Nepean Solar Solutions with Conner Lowe

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

What was your first paid job? As an 11-year old in Dennis Dunbar’s Veterinary in St Marys, cleaning cages, earning $2 per hour and KFC. What is your guilty pleasure? Drinking wine. What is your biggest fear/phobia and why? Shark attack. You don’t see them coming. What is your worst habit? Telling dad jokes. Best advice you have ever been given? Treat people as you would like to be treated. If you only had $50 left in the bank, how would you spend it? A haircut, a bottle of wine and a Lotto ticket. Favourite holiday destination and why? Bali, it’s relaxed and far enough away to chill. Do you have a favourite sporting team? Penrith Panthers. Name one reason that you love Western Sydney? It has everything, terrific people, great restaurants and good access to anything from the Mountains to the beaches. In three words, describe your perfect Sunday? Not at work.

If you love a good trivia night and want to support a fantastic cause, circle August 19 for a fun night at St Marys Band Club. The night will be hosted by ‘Team Critto’ who will be raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The event will cost $160 for a table of eight people with activities going on through the night to keep everyone entertained. JDRF is the world’s leading not-for-profit supporter of type 1 diabetes research. They bring research results into the lives of people living with type 1 diabetes and work towards a cure. They provide support to the type 1 diabetes community with information, resources and personal connection. Type 1 diabetes is a life-long autoimmune disease that usually occurs in childhood but can be diagnosed at any age. Type 1 diabetes affects over 120,000 people in Australia alone. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the immune system mistakenly turning on itself, destroying beta cells within the pancreas and removing the body’s ability to produce insulin. Insulin allows the body to process sugar to create energy and without insulin, the body literally starves as it cannot process food. On the trivia night, every table will win a prize plus there will be a lucky door, silent auction, coin toss, balloons and a raffle for everyone involved. There will also be a theme for the night which will be ‘Denim’ to keep

things interesting and to make sure everyone involved has a good night. The trivia night will begin at 7:30pm with St Marys Band Club located on the Great Western Highway, St Marys. It will be a great night out with friends and family to support a fantastic organisation helping people across Australia with type 1 diabetes. Booking is essential, so for a table contact Julie on 0402109602 or Shane on 0408230894. You can also follow them on Facebook ‘Team Critto’ for more events and fundraisers.

Blocked bladders in cats Urinary obstructions in cats is unfortunately something that we see often as vets. Male cats can develop an obstruction of the urethra which is the small tube that drains urine out of the bladder. It is rare in females as they have a much wider urethra and can generally pass urine easier than males. A urinary obstruction can occur in cats that have inflammatory changes in their bladder; this may be due to blood in the urine, stones or infection. What are the symptoms? Generally the first sign of a urinary obstruction is straining to urinate. Often, this can look like constipation so it is important to seek immediate veterinary attention if your cat is going to the litter tray more often and hunching over in pain. A blocked bladder can be very painful and some cats will vocalise loudly and stop eating. In the more advanced stages of the disease, a urinary obstruction can also cause vomiting, lethargy and life threatening renal failure. What causes a blocked bladder? There are several causes of urinary obstruction and sometimes these can be difficult to predict. Most commonly obstructions occur due to an accumulation of minerals in the bladder that form little stones or plugs. It can also be caused by urinary tract

infections and less commonly lesions in the bladder such as a tumour. How is it treated? Cats that have a urinary obstruction require emergency treatment. An anaesthetic is generally required so that a catheter can be passed into the urinary tract to relieve the obstruction. The bladder is thoroughly flushed and drained; and typically a urinary catheter is left in place for a few days while having the cat on a drip to encourage urine flow. Blood tests are also generally performed to make sure there has been no damage to the kidneys. In extreme circumstances, bladder surgery may be required. Can it be prevented? Not every blocked bladder can be prevented. But, there is a well documented link between stress and urinary disease in cats. High levels of stress in cats can cause a sterile bladder infection and this can lead to a blocked bladder. Try and keep your cat to a normal routine and avoid sudden changes in things like food and litter type. Cats should always be encouraged to drink lots of water as this keeps the urine more dilute and less prone to causing a blockage. We strongly recommend the use of a water fountain as most cats love running water.

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

Phone 47 313 055

Donations set sail to Papua New Guinea

 The community of Kiriwina Island. Photo: Supplied by Men’s Shed

By Keegan Thomson

THE BLOKES at Nepean Men’s Shed are backing yet another great initiative with one of their members asking for donations for poor communities in Papua New Guinea. John and Gwen Stalling are sailing off to Papua New Guinea in September and they’re planning on taking with them donations for the Yalumcwa Elementary School on Kiriwina Island. In a statement from the Men’s Shed, the couple said they were working on a list of basic teaching items the school desperately need. “The local people who live on Kiriwina Island are extremely poor and their schools are in need of the most basic stationary items like black, blue and especially red pens, pencils, colour pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, rulers, maths sets and other

stationary items,” Mr and Mrs Stalling said. “Also the other items that the school needs are whistles for the teachers, tennis balls, soccer balls, footballs and air pumps to inflate the soccer and footballs for sport.” The couple previously visited PNG in 2016 and took over a trove of donations to the community of Kiriwina Island, a place that has no electricity or telecommunications, according to Mr and Mrs Stalling. “Yalumcwa Elementary School is 10 kilometres inland from where the cruise ships anchor and these island communities do not have electric power, phones or ccomputers. We have written to the Village Elders asking if they could meet with us at the cruise markets on Kiriwina Island so we can donate to them on behalf of the Nepean Men’s Shed these much needed gifts for their school and community,” the couple said. Mr Stalling is an avid painter who has kindly

 Collection box at the Men’s Shed

painted and sold some of his art work, with the proceeds going towards buying more donations for the school and the community. “With the sale of one of my paintings and the money so kindly donated by Nepean Men’s Shed earlier this year we have been able to purchase 2 baseball bats and balls, 8 whistles, and 12 packets of coloured pencils,” Mr Stalling said. The couple are heading off to Papua New Guinea on September 6 and they’re calling on members of the community and local businesses to help them out before they go. You can make a donation to their cause by visiting the Men’s Shed at 18 Simeon Road, Orchard Hills.

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Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

Help needed to get Taryn vital treatment By Conner Lowe

LOCAL resident Taryn McCaffrey has intractable epilepsy (meaning not controlled by medication). She was first diagnosed at the age of five years old and will be turning 20 in October this year. Initially she was diagnosed with Frontal Lobe Epilepsy. When initially diagnosed, it took six to seven months to find medication that was effective to help manage Taryn’s condition. Taryn is on two different medications, taken morning and night at very high dosages. Taryn also does not breath while having seizures. She has been in and out of Westmead Children’s Hospital and now Westmead Adult Hospital, having extensive testing, multiple CT scans, MRI, EEG Telemetry, DNA testing, Genetic testing, PET scans and SPEC scans in hope of brain surgery. The last batch of testing has shown Taryn has brain damage (memory and vision memory loss) and it’s starting to affect her speech, as well as the epilepsy now being spread to her right temporal lobe. The highly-educated specialists cannot explain how, why and when this happened as research has not given the information or knowledge of understanding how our complex brains work. The wonderful specialists in Australia have been amazing in helping Taryn through this journey. They are very confident of sending Taryn to the Cleveland OHIO Epilepsy Centre in America to pinpoint the exact location of Taryn’s brain to be removed. These tests have been scheduled in for the 7th of

August 2017 and will go for about 10-14 days. The cost for the testing is going to be $203,447 US, so just under $300,000 AU. This must be paid prior to Taryn’s arrival in America. On Friday the 4th of August, a Golf Day will be held at Leonay Golf Club to raise money for Taryn’s trip to America. On the day, all money raised will go into the funds that Taryn needs. Currently only $25,000 has been raised for Taryn and her mother Tracey is considering all options including selling the family home as she would rather see her daughter live for years to come. Dr Chong Wong, Neurologist at Westmead Hospital, has sent all of Taryn’s data to America so they can plan strategically what test Taryn

needs so the brilliant specialists helping Taryn at Westmead Hospital can do the brain surgery here in Australia. Tracey McCaffrey, Taryn’s mother spoke about how no amount of money will be able to thank the hospitals and staff for their amazing work with Taryn and to thank those who have contributed to raising money. “Whilst it seems to be a lot of money, having been in hospitals I see the equipment expertise and have a view that no amount of money can thank the hospital staff nurses and radiologist specialists for how they help so many of us on a daily basis. Also, what dollar value does one put on a life. “To everyone who has helped and continue helping Taryn through fund raising and her gofundme page words cannot express the appreciation we feel, especially the sponsors and Justine O’Donovan and Troy Kennedy for all the work they have done for the Golf Day fundraiser,” she said. If any readers or businesses would like to help support Taryn, there is a gofundme in support for her: https://www.gofundme.com/send-taryn-toamerica

Help give our princes and princesses a magical night By Keegan Thomson

BALL gowns, suits with ties, shoes and accessories are on top of the wish list for the Australian Foundation for Disability (Afford), as they launch their 2017 Project Princess donation drive. The Project Princess donation drive is held on the lead up to Afford’s 2017 Gala Ball, an event that gives some 800 people with disability the chance to doll up in elegant dresses and suave suits to experience a formal ball function. Steven Herald, the CEO of Afford, said the Gala offers so many benefits for all those involved. “Celebrations and opportunities to get dolled up and feel glamorous for the night are some of the important pleasures in life,” Mr Herald said. “With the support of the Project Princess initiative, the Afford Gala Ball is a dream come true for hundreds of clients, and does incredible things for their confidence. The Afford Gala Ball is also an important opportunity for carers to enjoy a night out and build support networks,” he said. According to Mr Herald, many of Afford’s clients don’t get to attend their own end of school formal so, putting on a gala is one way they can give back to those who’ve missed out. “For many of our clients, they do not have the opportunity to attend large-scale or fancy events like these either due to cost or accessibility, and did not have the opportunity to attend their Year 12 formal, so the Afford Gala Ball is a uniquely glamorous event that our clients look forward to,” he said. The Project Princess donation drive is also on the hunt for any make up artists, hair dressers or fashionistas who can volunteer their time to help glamorise some of the gala goers. “Members of the community can volunteer to

provide hair, barber and makeup services so that along with their perfect dress or suit, our clients are able to be pampered and feel a million-bucks on the night,” Mr Herald said. “It is a dream come true moment for hundreds of clients and their families that they get so much joy out of, and thanks to Project Princess it is not just a day on their calendar, but a celebration they are able to prepare for and enjoy a lead-up to,” he said. One of the local champions of the Afford Gala Ball and Project Princess is Federal MP for Lindsay, Emma Husar, who attended the event last year. “I attended last year’s inaugural Afford Gala Ball and it was one of the highlights of my year, seeing the absolute joy on so many faces,” Ms Husar said. “This year I’m joining with Afford to ask our generous local community, to give people with lifelong disabilities, a magical night,” she said.

Anyone who has old formal clothes, suits, dresses or dinner wear can donate them at Ms Husar’s office at 331 High Street, Penrith. With so many formals, dinner events and functions happening across the region, Ms Husar said there is bound to be some beautiful donations made to Afford. “People buy formal dresses and suits, often for a one-time-wear and then they sit in the cupboard,” Ms Husar said. “This is a great way to repurpose them for a great cause. “I’m hoping we’re going to receive some fantastic outfits and services for these incredibly special men, women, their families and carers,” she said. The gala will be held on September 30 and if you wish to donate your time to help glam up the attendees you can call Afford on 1300 223 673.

Stay connected and ‘sing your age’ Older people living in the Mulgoa electorate and interested in singing and choir groups are set to benefit from a new grants program ‘Sing Your Age’. Member for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies MP has announced the NSW Government program will provide $150,000 in total to encourage more seniors to discover the joy of singing. “Sing Your Age is an important initiative that will see more people in the Mulgoa community enjoying the power of song,” Tanya Davies said. “This grants program will help tackle challenges sometimes faced by older people, including social isolation, loneliness, and negative perceptions of ageing.” The program will be supported by the Australian National Choral Association (ANCA) which is now inviting singing groups and community organisations to apply for funding. There are three grant categories including; • Category 1 - $100 to $1,000 for expanding existing singing groups to include older people • Category 2 - $1001 to $7,000 for creating a new singing group or choir in one location. • Category 3 - $7,000 to $15,000 for creating or expanding singing groups in multiple locations. Minister for Ageing, Tanya Davies, said creative arts, including singing, are a key component of healthy and active ageing. “It’s a great way to bring older people together to build and strengthen friendships in the community,” Mrs Davies said. The grants can be used for promotions, professional conductor fees, professional accompanist fees, the purchasing of musical equipment, and venue hire.

For more information about the Sing Your Age grants program or to apply for funding visitwww. anca.org.au/facs-sing-your-age . For assistance making an application contact the Australian National Choral Association on (03) 9254 1019, or email admin@anca.org.au . Grant applications close on Friday 18 August 2017 at 5.00pm.

NOVENA

Thank you Lord Jesus for all the blessings given to my daughter. May the name of sacred heart of Jesus be adored, glorified loved and praised throughout the world for ever Amen.

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Legends of the Nepean By Keegan Thomson

BRIAN Cartwright reluctantly accepted the accreditation of Legend Of The Nepean saying he was mildly “embarrassed about the whole thing” but his penchant for modesty probably comes from his years of working as a behind-the-

scenes man for many politicians, local clubs and in the defence force. Born in the town of Hamilton in Scotland, Brian and his family followed other members of his family and emigrated to Australia in 1983. It was here that he decided to join the air force, something he’d been dreaming of for a while. “When I was still back in Scotland

Brian at his graduation in 1985. Photo: Supplied.

I had applied to join the air force and then the Falklands broke out and they started conscripting people but I didn’t get in,” Brian said. “So when we came to Australia I went through all the recruiting process for the air force and I was given my letter just before Christmas 1983. “I had my nineteenth birthday when I was doing my training,” he said. He was recruited to be working with communications installations all across the Australia and Asia regions, which meant he would spend a lot of time away from home. “I could spend between six and nine months of a year away from home doing installations for communication facilities across Australia and south east Asia, I loved it,” he said. There is a long and proud history of military service running through Brian’s family so there was little wonder that he had such a drive for the air force. One of his uncles was a member of the British Army who moved to Australia as a “ten-pound-pom”. Another of his uncles, a navy officer who later worked as a defence contractor, came to Australia on holiday. He enjoyed the lifestyle

so much, he stayed too. Two of his mother’s brothers worked for the British Army as well. Even Brian’s son is in the RAAF. With so many family members and personal history in different branches of the defence force, Brian says he has seen changes in the ways in which the force runs and conducts business. “When I was serving most people lived on base, you almost had to beg to move off base, where as now they encourage people to live off base,” Brian said. “In some cases this can be quite isolating for the younger ones.” “From moving off base you can remove yourself from the defence force lifestyle, you can see it as a nine to five job, and the sense of mateship changes. “When I was serving you’d eat, sleep, work and live with the same people 24 hours a day seven days a week. You developed a solid mateship with them. You’d spend more time with your workmates than your family and in most cases your workmates become an extension of your family,” he said. After 11 years and 250 days of service in the RAAF Brian left the air force and went into the private sector.

Brian Cartwright After 15 years working corporate he made the move back into the public sector, but with a bit of a difference. After helping Fiona Scott’s 2013 election campaign, Brian was offered a job working in Ms Scott’s office in Penrith, which also meant spending time in Canberra. “When you work in Canberra you feel like Dorothy in Oz. Someone has peeled back the curtain and you can see inside this world you only usually get a glimpse into,” he said. “It is different, in a good way, because most people sadly think politics is only question time but it isn’t. There is so much more that goes on in Canberra, and people don’t see any of it.” After Ms Scott failed in her reelection attempt, Brian was offered some work with another politician, the State MP for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies. Mrs Davies is a member of the state Cabinet and Brian says that working with her can be just as busy as the work he did with the Federal MP. “Working for a cabinet member is busy work because they’re often having to go to different electorates to communicate and talk about issues all over the state,” he said.

Photo: Kennedi Geyer

“They also have to come back to their own electorate and do lots of work there too. You can’t neglect your own electorate, it is a very fine balance.” During the last council elections Brian ran fifth on the ticket but he says he has no political aspirations. On top of all this, Brian is an advocate for returned service men and women as well as former service people. Currently he holds an executive position at the City of Penrith RSL sub-Branch and is a strong campaigner for Homes For Heroes. “When I was in Canberra I was able to represent Penrith and St Marys RSL

sub-Branches in a meeting with the Minister for Veteran’s Affairs,” Brian said. “The natural thing for me, having left federal politics, was to get involved with the local sub-branch. Part of my role, now as Vice President of Penrith RSL sub-branch, is in marketing and recruiting.” Currently Brain is pushing along the development of a new drop-in centre at the Penrith RSL sub branch. It will be run by veterans themselves and will also be a space open to use for Homes For Heroes. “There are some 3000 homeless

veterans living in Australia,” Brian said. “There isn’t enough infrastructure for homeless veterans, we need to do something about that. Some people have told me that as soon as they walked out the gate for the last time they were simply forgotten and pushed aside. “It isn’t a deliberate act but you become isolated from the outside world inside the defence force, and you often forget there are others outside the base. It is an unconscious incompetence,” he said. It is clear Brian isn’t interested in playing the blame game when it comes to veterans affairs because he is a man of action and hard work. His current work with the RSL is more than proof of that ethos but his personal history reflects a man who is more than willing to simply get on with the job. A true Nepean Legend.

Brian Cartwright was nominated as a Legend of the Nepean by Greg Davies. If you know a local legend, send us a nomination at nepeannews@aol.com

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14 Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

Nepean Doctor swimming his way to France By Keegan Thomson

A doctor from Nepean Hospital is braving the cold, choppy waters of the English Channel in an effort to raise funds for Australia’s first intensive care unit (ICU) follow up clinic. Dr Stuart Lane is going to attempt to swim the 32 kilometre stretch of water between the United Kingdom and France, a waterway that sees roughly 600 shipping tankers and 200 passenger ferries each day, in an effort to raise $21,000. Speaking to Dr Lane from London he said the Channel swim was a challenge he’s always wished he could face. “I was a competitive swimmer when I was younger, and I have lived next to the sea all my life, before I moved to Sydney in 2002,” Dr Lane said. “There is so much tradition and history between the two countries, and it is the ultimate open water challenge. It has always been there in the back of my mind, and it’s an itch that needs scratching,” he said. Dr Lane went to medical school in the UK and has been a member of staff at Nepean Hospital since 2006. Since then he became a specialist in 2007 and is currently working in the ICU. In preparation for his big swim, Dr Lane said he has been training hard, clocking up some 50 kilometres a week. “I normally swim every week, and have been swimming more for the past year. The past three months I have been swimming between 40-50 kilometres a week,” he said. Depending on the tides, the swim will take him

between 10 and 13 hours to finish, but Dr Lane is aiming to finish in 12 and a half hours. Along the way he will have the help of a support crew, operated by his wife, Kathleen, but thankfully there isn’t any worry about sharks in the Channel. “There are no sharks in the area that I am swimming as it is too cold,” Dr Lane said. “I have a boat piloted by an official who will escort me across the channel. It is the busiest shipping lane in the world, so I do need to be guided away from cargo tankers. “I have a support crew of five people led by my wife Kathleen, including a support swimmer who can get in the water for two one-hour spells,” he said. Dr Lane is raising money for a follow-up clinic with the ICU at Nepean Hospital, something he said needs to be available for patients who survive critical

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illness and who’re struggling with the ongoing affects of their ailments. Before he left he said some of his patients in the ICU think what he is doing is complete lunacy. “Some of the patients who have spent a long time in the ICU often come back and visit, hence the reason for the post-ICU patient follow-up clinic,” he said. “They think I am crazy for swimming the Channel, but really like the idea of raising money to support the development of the follow-up clinic and current and future ICU projects.” Dr Lane is attempting to raise $1000 for every mile he will swim. You can donate to Dr Lane on his crowdfunding https://crowdfunding.sydney.edu.au/ project/6890. His swim is set to take place between July 28 and August 6 depending on the weather.

Council catch up with Keegan Thomson FOR the inaugural Council Catch Up I met with Councillor Aaron Duke on Queen St, St Marys, which is currently under refurbishment. Last week Council backed plans for a homelessness support service policy. Cr Duke said the policy aims to support those who’re helping out the region’s most needy. “There are existing services that operate in Judges Car Park, and what this policy is about is it ensures the requisite support for organisations and it endorses Council’s regulations and guidelines,” Cr Duke said. The policy itself states that Council wants to strengthen the services that “provide outreach mobile services to people who are homeless and/or disadvantaged to create improved access to pathways out of homelessness.” “Homelessness in Penrith is a big issue,” Cr Duke said. “We know that there are certain parts of Penrith that attract homeless people and with the ever-increasing population this is a problem that isn’t going away.” There was a big win for sporting fans after it was announced that Penrith’s Pepper Stadium will host a game between Australia’s national women’s soccer team, The Matildas, and Brazil’s national women’s team in September this year.

Councillor Duke praised the Council co-sponsored event. “This is a fantastic initiative that Council has kicked off and it is a partnership between Penrith Council and Football Federation Australia,” Cr Duke said. “This is something I feel passionately about because a big goal of mine is to promote the assets we have in the city,” he said. “Council has a role in promoting our infrastructure and we need to attract as many international events as possible.” Currently Queen Street, St Marys, is getting a glamorous facelift with wider, greener and safer pathways leading from the Great Western Highway all the way down to St

Marys Station. “It is important for us to keep pushing for the development of businesses into Queen Street,” Cr Duke said. “There is a tendency to think that Penrith revolves around the CBD but I think Queen Street will have huge potential when the works are completed. “High Street [Penrith] is important but we also need to be thinking about other parts of the LGA which need further attention from Council. “I would love to see night markets in St Marys and I’d love to see more of the restaurant and dining scene come to St Marys. We have so much potential here,” he said.

One of Cr Duke’s pet projects at Council is a renewed push to beef up the nighttime economy around the Local Government Area. “I was very pleased to support our food truck policy,” he said. “People will see a lot more mobile food trucks around and I’m pleased Council was able to endorse a policy surrounding that so that the food trucks can operate to best practices.” Being a young person, a member of Generation Y or a Millennial, Cr Duke is also keen to get more young people involved in local government, but he said he is finding it hard to get a concrete policy made. “It is something that has been a bit difficult to kick off at the moment, but I want to try to encourage a space where young people can be involved in Council,” he said. Council will meet on Monday night, July 24, for the next ordinary Council meeting. The aim of Council Catch Up is to nut out the thoughts and goingson surrounding Council issues with different Councillors each issue of Nepean News. I want to take community issues to the people who’re voted into office to represent the people of Penrith. If you have any issues you’d like covered email me keegan@nepeannews.com.au .

15 Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

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Environmental volunteering in Penrith going strong A SURVEY by Greater Sydney Local Land Services has found landcare and bushcare volunteers in Penrith contributed more than 1320 hours of environmental service in the 2015/16 financial year. Greater Sydney Regional Landcare Facilitator Vanessa Keyzer said their contribution equated to almost $47,000 worth of conservation work to protect and restore the region’s unique and beautiful bushland. “The Penrith region is home to 170 active volunteers making up 10 groups

regularly carrying out activities such as bush regeneration, tree planting, community education and advocacy work,” she said. “Key projects volunteers have worked on throughout Penrith include weed control at Ropes Creek, School House Creek, and Peppermint Reserve at Kingswood and control of weedy woodland passionflower (Passiflora morifolia) along South Creek. Volunteers have also planted native trees along the bank of the Nepean River near Russell Street.”

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Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

Kids taught how to save lives By Keegan Thomson

KIDS have been taught the basics of life saving skills in a fun and engaging new first aid program. Held during the school holidays at Penrith Panthers, the team at First Aid For You presented a hands on, funny and childfriendly approach to the sometimes difficult topic of first aid. Mary Dawes is the Managing Director and host of the lively and very child friendly take on first aid. With children laughing and getting along together, Ms Dawes said the event went off like a house on fire. “It was beautiful,” Ms Dawes said. “The children loved every minute of it and I can’t believe how well behaved the Penrith kids are,” she said. Over two session in the Panthers club more than 110 children learnt the basics of first aid including how to dress a wound or spider bite to how to undertake simple CPR. Ms Dawes said it is important for children to know these skills because they might some day even need to use them to save the life of someone they love. “It is important for the children to learn these skills because they’re often the first people on the scene when mum, dad or a grandparent is found sick, passed out or someone has taken a fall,” Ms Dawes said. Throughout the hour-long workshop children also learned practical science skills about blood and simple biology science.

 Mary Dawes with Panthers Mascots Scratch and Penny. Photo: Keegan Thomson

One of the best parts, Ms Dawes says, is that the parents stick around to watch the program so they too might learn something they didn’t already know. “Parents are responding really well to the workshops,” she said. “I’ve had parents tell me after that they’ve learnt something new which is always nice to hear and they’re really happy to see their children responding to the first aid skills so well.” Across her ten years of experience Ms Dawes said

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she’s presented to more than 9000 children across the country. “All the talk of blood and vomit makes the workshops really appeal to the children,” she said. “They laugh and giggle and get grossed out while they’re learning practical skills.” Due to the popular demand for the first aid workshops Ms Dawes is considering putting on more programs next school holidays, with dates yet to be announced.

Stu Hunter - a rising jazz star!

Multi award winning Australian composer, producer and pianist Stu Hunter is a genre defying musician who has worked with a huge cross section of artists and has appeared on over 120 music releases worldwide. His music is described as intensely emotional and humanely intelligent which often engenders a highly visual response in the listener. A true original – Radio National. Stu’s latest recording and suite, The Migration, premiered live at the 2016 Sydney Festival featuring 10 of Australia’s finest creative musicians and received a standing ovation. The Migration is a soul-searching response to life, love and cultural complexity, and is the third in a series of critically acclaimed suites by Hunter. Driving grooves and lush sonic landscapes form powerful harmonic, complex and deeply emotive melodies at the frontier of modern Australian jazz. The Migration recently won two Australian Jazz Bell awards including Best Australian Jazz Song for Eagle Fish and was nominated for an ARIA award in 2016 for Best Jazz Album. Stu Hunter made his breakthrough with his lauded album, the muse (2007), followed by the awardwinning sophomore suite, the gathering (2010) which The Australian declared a milestone in contemporary jazz. Performed with a masterful ten-piece band, the migration is a multi-dimensional celebration of life’s journey. The stage is beautifully set and enables the spotlight to fall to each orchestral member and their ability and showmanship highlighted in a

performance like no other. Audience curiosity is aroused as the limelight is handed over to each section, the music builds to a crescendo and all sections come back together again in a full “tutti” the climatic finish! Besides his own projects, Hunter has made a name behind the scenes accompanying the likes of Passenger, Silverchair, Delta Goodrem and Katie Noonan with his rock pop and funk key board playing and record production. The title has a threefold meaning for Hunter and gives insight into the migration. Partly it is about the cultural enrichment provided by Australia’s own immigrant history. “It’s also about the movement of my own ideas and beliefs through my life; of being born into a belief system which I then found that I did not relate to at all and

walked away from,” he says. “And history has shown that empires crumble and borders change, so all of that is mixed up in the overall idea, too. “My ideas begin to develop as I just play freely for an hour or two and if any ideas come up that I like I record them on my phone and archive them,” Hunter says. “I do that as a daily process, so that I lose that pressure of having to turn up and write something good on any given day. It slowly builds as an archive, and then I go back through it after a period of time and start to pick out the things that I felt have a thread, and that’s how the long-form ideas develop.” Join in on Sunday 30 July at 5pm for a laid back afternoon as you experience a note of Jazz before taking on the working week! Tickets Adult $50, Concession $45 Children $15.

17 Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

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Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

Can you help feed 500-800 people a week?

The answer is yes you can! By joining wonderful people who are doing the exact same thing by attending Penrith CBD’s Virtual Casino Cruise! Penrith CBD Corp are raising money for the Christmas Appeal for Penrith Community Kitchen - who feed 500-800 people a week and they would really appreciate the community’s support. By purchasing a ticket or a table, you would

be instrumental in keeping the kitchen open and providing meals to our underprivileged and homeless in addition to hosting a Christmas luncheon and relief hampers which are much-needed in December. “We would love for you to join us for a night of nautical fun and games with our cruise director, casino tables and a delicious dinner while enjoying the excitement of harness racing at the

Paceway!” said CEO Gai Hawthorn. Tickets are on sale now! They’re just $100 per person or $900 for a table of 10. If you’d like to sponsor a table you can do that for $1200. For ticketing inquiries and booking please email: admin@penrithcbdcorp.com.au or call (02) 4722 5556. Come on, make a difference - and have agreat fun night while you’re at it!

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 High school certificate (7) 5 Spoke in ignorance (7) 9 Bellicose (9) 10 San Antonio fort (5) 11 A writer of laments (7) 12 Cloths used in mending (7) 13 Very irritable (9) 15 Coarse files (5) 17 Not yesterday (5) 19 Teachers (9) 22 Find innocent (7) 25 Acquired the knowledge (7) 26 City in Viet Nam (5) 27 Grape plantations (9) 28 Jagged (7) 29 Inhabits (7)

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Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

Let there be light!

ack in the early 1880’s Penrith Municipal Councillors were starting to talk about gas versus the new electricity to light the streets and homes of Penrith. Aldermen and residents were divided, with some wanting to stay with the gas that they had known and used for many years and some wanting the brighter lighting of electricity. In 1882, an exhibition of smoke preventing appliances was being held in South Kensington in England and published at that time in the “London Times” regarding an unexpected development tried by German experimenters of electrical science in hiving bees when they swarm and it was thought that by utilising an electric force, the bees might be stupefied for a necessary period without being injured and the result proved correct. The first attempt was made upon bees that had gathered on trees, with the bees falling on the ground in a kind of trance which made them safe to handle and then the next stage was to capture the bees when they were about to swarm. By introducing the ends of the two connecting wires into a fully occupied honeycomb and turning on the current, the bees were rendered inactive for about thirty minutes with no bad results when they woke up!! Charles E Buell of New Haven had patented a device that was said to overcome the main difficulties in the way of storing electricity and promised to make the electric light available for ordinary use, banishing gas from chandeliers and fixtures to the realms of the furnace and kitchen where it would replace the wood and coal. In August 1882, the NSW Electric Light Company ordered a plant from England for lighting the city of Sydney and private dwellings, said to go ahead in October of that year, but a fire caused by an electric current in the Telephone Exchange in Sydney caused concern. In Penrith, the Council received a letter through Ald. T R Smith from the Australian Electric Company answering the Council’s query regarding the cost of lighting the streets with regards to the price of 60 lamps + apparatus at £600. In 1883, Reverend Parsons explained the science behind electricity to a small crowd at the Temperance Hall in Penrith that went down well with the audience. In 1886, an advertisement appeared in several Australian and NZ papers regarding the lamps of the Norman Electric Light Co of Philadelphia where they would forward portable electric lamps after receiving payment, but this was investigated and found that there was no such company and the person was arrested and charged with fraud by the US Postal Authorities for fraudulent use of the mail. In July of that year Ald. Cross asked if Council was aware that an English Company had bought the rights to carry on the water and gas supply in Penrith and that a Melbourne Company was going to work it? Ald. T R Smith said that he heard this was so, but the Mayor said that they had water and gas until the present contract with Huntley and Barnard’s ran out. At a Council meeting in August 1889, Ald. Cross moved that tenders be called for and considered for lighting the town of Penrith with gas or electricity because he thought it was understood that tenders being called for would supply Penrith with either gas or electricity and the day had arrived when they required better lighting as they had been in the dark long enough and also they should never give a privilege to anyone as they gave to Barnard & Huntley, and that they

should do the same as other towns had done and call for tenders if the motion was carried. The motion was carried and considered in two months time for lighting the town of Penrith with 30 to 40 lamps either gas or electricity for five or seven years. By October 1889, nothing had been done and individual Council members were firmly convinced that it was urgently necessary to have the streets lighted, but no one had formed any decided opinion as to whether gas or electricity should be used for that purpose. Several of those members who had expressed themselves in favour of electricity when asked if they would have it introduced into their houses said that they would not think of doing so but would use gas. Because of this a Commission of Inquiry consisting of Ald. T R Smith (Mayor), Ald. Judges & Clissold were appointed to visit Young who had adopted electricity before the Council made a decision on the tenders that they already received from Wood Brothers & Co and John T Browning (with testimonials from Colchester Gas Co, Hudson Bros Ltd Granville & Australian Gas Light Co). After greeting the Committee, the acting Mayor of Young gave a tour through the engine room and works and the Committee was present when the engine was turned on for the lighting of the town. They also saw a young man with lights around his body when he turned them on and off to prove that it was safe. They were assured that since turning on the electricity seven months ago the town had not the slightest hitch with the power which would be less expensive than gas. In November 1889, a tender from Mr Kingsborough for electricity for Penrith at a price of £6,500 (secured by rates) was successful to light the town with 200 poles with a payment to Mr Kingsborough of £800 for the first year. It was estimated by the Council that £1,102. 10s pa for 4 churches, 3 banks, 8 hotels and one club and out of 500 houses (they estimated only 166 of them would be suitable for lighting), one library, one police court, one railway station and yard (about 120 lights) and one post office. They intended around 40 street lights with Council borrowing £5,500 with a Government Contract. Electric light was finally turned on in Penrith in 1890 and in 1931 the supply was taken over by Sydney City Council. At St Marys in 1907, kerosene lamps were erected along the Western Road and Queen Street but the lighting was so bad that civic minded citizens were volunteering to place lamps outside their premises along the roads. From 1910, the lamps were attended to daily by a lamp lighter until St Marys was finally connected to electricity in 1931. In June 1945, a red-letter day for the citizens of St Marys when their two main thoroughfares were finally illuminated with the brilliance of 600 candle power lamps using Council electricity. The public of St Marys’ were invited to the Official Switching on of new street lighting by the Hon. J. J. Cahill, Minister for Works and Local Government that took place at the Corner of Great Western Road and Queen Street at 8 p.m. The ceremony was performed by the Mayor Ald. Robert Hope on a wooden platform especially built for the occasion on the awning of a butcher’s shop on the corner of the Great Western Road and Queen Street. Sources: - Nepean Times, NSW State archives Lyn Forde – Research Officer - St Marys & District Historical Society Inc

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The G Spot

Today’s story is going to be about procrastination, well maybe it is going to be - anyway who knows? In my type of industry, the beloved procrastinators are almost a breed of their own. I truly believe that there is an island somewhere in the pacific that is just filled with procrastinators, and they are just bumping into tropical palm trees rubbing their heads and moving to the next palm to knock themselves on. They are all starving to death because they can’t decide what to eat, there is no cabins, light or fires, it is just vast land with people aimlessly walking over the island, almost like a scene from Walking Dead, except these people are not zombies, well I don’t believe so?

I call them “The serial navel pickers” you know, the people that just pick the fluff from their navels and wonder if at birth their tube was cut internally or externally and does this particular useless apparatus look attractive? The little dot thing that sits on my stomach and serves no purpose except to aid the procrastinator, well I guess anyway? Why am I writing this? Well you see, in my line of work, if I had a dollar for every time I said “I told you so” I would be probably sipping a Moet from Jimmy Choo shoes on Frank Lowie’s boat somewhere. Then we have the people that lack pro-activeness. Whilst the two P’s – Procrastination & lack of Pro-activeness are like chalk and cheese and ebony and ivory,

With Gina Field, Nepean Regional Security

they are still on par with each other, however when you get a human with both these wonderful ground-breaking qualities, I think the technical medical and scientific term for this may be “royally stuffed!” Just saying. So, you may be asking, what the hell has this got to do with security? And get on with it you crazy woman. The two P’s, to the security industry is like kryptonite to superman. Why? I hear you ask. Well? You would be surprised how many people I speak to who say that they don’t need any form of security because it will never happen to them, no one would steal what they sell, we have good neighbours, we have high fences, we have a savage dog and the friggn list goes on, and on and on.

Sigh…. However (as I gulp my coffee on this frosty morning, whilst typing this), I then get a phone call, usually with a person screaming frantically down the phone asking for me to pull security techs out of my rear end at midnight, because ….. They have been broken into. I usually get the words “yes I know you told me, but..” So whilst I don’t have to tell you the rest, the two P’s can be very dangerous in most, if not all, situations in life. So there you have it- Pro-activeness for PM, no zombies were hurt or injured during this story, and I would like to sit on an island and play with my navel any day, and stay right away from the two P’s.

21 Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

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154 Jeff WatsonBenard - Club Bratusa President, St Marys Band Club - 9623 1211 Councillor

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158

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164 Steve Beard - Select Mortgage - 0403 166 207

158 Aaron Tyers - @print - 4731 5055 Nicole Keene - Blink Property - 1300 629 610

148

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Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

Coach’s Corner

Brock Shepperd Sydney Roosters NYC Development Squad - Head Coach Kaizen Sports Performance Rugby League Academy - Head Coach Fifth and Last NRL Podcast | b.shepperd@hotmail.com

The Need For More Patient And Intelligent Development Pathways

Developing athletes effectively is a long term process which involves the implementation of clear pathways and progressions. Short term plans which lack patience and balance often push young athletes away from sport through the feeling of constant pressure, over training and the absence of fun and enjoyment. Junior sporting organisations need to ensure they have clear plans in place to provide a structure and framework to best support young athletes in achieving their goals. A game philosophy is best suited when dealing with young athletes and volunteer coaches. How should the game be played? This should be the most enjoyable and fun style for the players to participate in. It should also be the most enjoyable style to watch. The most popular sport on the planet has adopted the global philosophy of ‘the beautiful game’. An attractive worldwide acknowledged style to best play the game of soccer. Very simple and very effective. When looking at my chosen sport of Rugby League I believe the game is eating itself from the inside out. NRL teams are playing with robotic styles of play which are almost identical and gone are the different styles and philosophies which once existed within the game. This lack of variation in styles is flowing down into the junior levels of the

game through a one size fits all robotic coaching philosophy. We are now as a game producing players who are coached to play the same robotic style who have limited cognitive awareness or ability to break down defences and think creatively. This philosophy has manifested to the point that our New South Wales Blues are struggling with our depth through a lack of any young super stars coming through in key positions. Aside from Nathan Cleary who doesn’t need the pressure this early in his career it does look a little grim for the future and that’s scary considering our recent results against the Queenlanders! Game intelligence is a vital part of the junior development process and needs to be applied at all levels to ensure players are progressing at the applicable age appropriate stages. Develop the athlete’s ability to read and understand the game through their progression to ensure their decision making skills are constantly challenged. The ability to read and understand what skill or tactic is needed at what time during the game is often overlooked with the expectation the player must execute. Just because a young athlete cannot execute a skill or tactic consistently does not mean they do not cognitively understand why they need to apply it at the relevant time during the game. This is often

the hardest element to coach particularly at the elite level. Hence its vital importance at the junior level. Volunteer coaches should be equipped with information and plans in order to support them. How do we expect coaches who are often mothers and fathers with full time jobs to create in depth and effective plans which are age appropriate to best develop junior players? These same coaches are often criticised for running the same style and game plans they see on television. But what are we doing to support them? If we are not giving them the support they need then we should not expect them to produce players with the appropriate skills to best fit an attractive style of play. Coaches should be supported with programs that address all aspects of the game for each development stage of training. This should all feed into the positive and enjoyable style of play for junior athletes. The philosophy for junior coaches should be to develop, not to win at all costs. If we create environments where players are learning within clear and structured training sessions through fun and enjoyable games and drills then the players are more likely to stay within the game in the long term. This will then give junior athletes the best chance to succeed and progress onto the elite levels of the game.

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The Nepean District enjoys success in State selections By Conner Lowe

The Nepean Hockey Association has had some extremely good results in recent months with both women and men teams. The Nepean district has also had women and men both selected to represent their states in the upcoming State Masters. The Nepean men’s Masters were held last month and the Over 35’s Team won for the second time after securing gold in the 2016 tournament. Shane McIntyre was selected for the State team and will travel to Hobart for the Australian titles in September. His wife Jo will also be making her over 35’s association representative debut. Shane and Jo spoke about their selections into the representative teams and how they feel coming into the Masters Tournament. “Getting selected last year was a complete shock. It was really unexpected as I wasn’t even going to nominate for selection until one of my team mates really pushed me to put my name down. When I heard, I was selected in the team I was shocked but extremely proud of my achievement. This year I was excited to nominate myself for the team and really push myself to be selected in the NSW team again,” Shane said.

“I’m feeling a nervous excitement. This is my first full season back in over a decade but I’m really looking forward to playing with lots of my old team mates,” Jo said. The Women’s Masters selections are traditionally held prior to State Tournaments and from the recent trials four ladies were selected. Chantal Knowles, Michelle Kennedy, Judy Gray and Kim Butler who have also represented at Australian Masters as well. Michelle Kennedy and Judy Gray spoke about their excitement about being selected for their state and the possibility of being selected for Australia after the State Tournament.

“I find it very important and thoroughly enjoy representing my State. I enjoy the team spirit and the high level of competition. I feel excited, thrilled and a little nervous. It is such a great tournament. I will nominate myself for selection and hope to play well enough to be selected in an Australian Masters Team,” Judy said. “I feel a range of emotions when I find out I’m selected firstly to name a few - lucky, privileged, honoured and thankful. I would love to be selected for Australia again however my knees are getting on and so is my age but I’ll give it my all and work really hard to have the best shot at selection,”

Michelle said. The Australian Masters is being held in Newcastle this year in September. The 2017 Women State tournament is in Grafton and the Nepean Association is entering three teams. An over 35’s division one, an over 45’s division two team and an over 50’s division one team. The over 35’s team that were gold medallists in 2016 boast a similar squad for the tournament this year and the State girls will be joined by Corina Buckley who is an ex-Australian U21’s player and Michelle Ward. The over 45’s team who were runners up in 2016 and the over 50’s ladies are also expected to do well.

Dynamic Edwards making the difference for Penrith By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

Penrith fans might be heralding the decision to at long last move Matt Moylan into the halves as the moment their anticipated season finally kicked started with the Panthers still a hope of making the finals after overcoming a 2-7 start to win six of their last eight. But the decision to elevate Dylan Edwards as the player to replace Moylan at fullback that has arguably reaped even bigger benefits for the club, providing that James Tedesco style of game that even Moylan as fullback struggled to provide. Since his promotion, Edwards has averaged 173 metres per game, ranking him third in the NRL, while his 42 tackle-busts in just eight games to date, puts him third, behind only Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (57) and Tyrone Peachey (48). While Edwards might only have one NRL try to his name, he has six linebreaks and three try assists against his name including the all-important linebreak for Nathan Cleary’s second try against the Warriors that put Penrith permanently back in front. It’s no secret among those within the club that Edwards is churning out such numbers given the strong pre-season he had, which the Bellingen-Dorrigo Magpies junior admits he was required to do if he was going to progress into the NRL side this season. “I’m stronger than what I was last year playing 20s.” Edwards told Nepean News. “But just knowing the physicality of playing against men, having had a bit of a chance to play some reserve grade last year, I knew it was going to be even tougher if I wanted to play first grade. “That was my goal so I had to get stronger and fitter.”

 Edwards’ all important line-break led to Cleary’s second try against the Warriors. Credit: Penrith Panthers

Apart from a surprise early season appearance in the fullback role against Souths after Moylan was demoted to the Intrust Super Premiership team, Edwards had to wait patiently until Round 13 before coach Anthony Griffin gave him the opportunity to play in his preferred position in the NRL. But since that promotion, Edwards says that while he is happy with his running game to date, there is still much work to do especially in forming key combinations and isn’t afraid to continually seek advice from the former custodian, Moylan. “I just wanted to try my best in Intrust Super Premiership and hoped that I would get a shot eventually. That was my aim, just to try week in week

out,” Edwards explained. “But I’m loving it up here. I’m just trying to do my job of working in more, getting good ball. “Running out of trouble isn’t going too bad at the moment so my aim now is to improve week in week out and work on some with combinations with the boys.” “I also keep picking Moyza’s (Moylan) brain and learning tricks and tips off him. “If I keep working, get in there and do my part for the team, hopefully I can make this (playing fullback in the NRL) a regular thing.” Edwards also says that while Penrith’s mid-season draw, which has seen the Panthers play once at home over the past two months has made it

easier for him to gel with the team, he admits he is looking forward to the run home into the finals given the team has five of their next six games at Pepper Stadium. “It’s been good, the boys have done really well but has been a bit tough at times,” Edwards declared. “We’ve tried to come together more and more, week in week out and I think we’re really gelling well as a team now. “But (prior to Manly) we haven’t played at home in over two months. “You can never take it for granted playing at home and a home crowd cheering you on. “If we can get good crowds at home, it would be nice help for us get a good run in (for the finals).”

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Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

Leilani Latu’s timely return to form By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

Penrith’s recent win over Manly was important in many

respects. It put to end a nine-game losing streak against top-eight opposition, stretching back to last season’s semifinal loss to Canberra. It also meant the pre-season competition favourites avoided the potential embarrassment of having not defeated top-eight opposition during the regular season for the first time since 1980. But perhaps most importantly of all, the 16-8 win over the high-flying Sea Eagles may have just heralded a welcome return to form of prop, Leilani Latu as the Panthers face a run into the finals without the services of their most influential forward, Trent Merrin. There’s no doubt Latu’s form has dipped in 2017, having averaged just 61 metres and 16 tackles per game despite being just one of four Panthers to have played all 17 games to date. But while Latu confirmed his 42 minute effort against Manly that produced 143 metres from 19 runs with 20 tackles without a missing a beat to boot, was easily his best game of the season to date, he also revealed his form has suffered on the back of currently playing as an interchange prop that has seen average game time dip from 46 minutes last season to just 36 thus far in 2017. But while Latu’s predicament has even led to speculation that the prop forward could be heading elsewhere

 Leilani Latu was a handful for the Manly defence. Credit: 77 Media.

in 2018 despite having only last season signed a three-year extension that ironically takes effect form next season, the Tongan international says he appreciates the faith shown by Panthers coach Anthony Griffin. “I’ve been very disappointed with my form as of late,” Latu told Nepean News. “From starting last year to coming off the bench this year has been a big transition for me. “But I’m very blessed to have a coach like Hook (Anthony Griffin). “Each week he takes me aside and talks to me about my game and what I can improve on. “Tonight all he said was try and make an impact when you come out there and I tried to do that for the team.

“My effort tonight is a step forward for my game and anything I can do for the team that better us then I glad.” Latu’s under-rated attacking game has also gone amiss for large chunks of the season, having produced just 13 tackle-breaks, 3 line-breaks, 2 offloads and 2 tries to his name as opposed to his stellar 2016 season that yielded 25 tackle-breaks, 4 linebreaks, 13 offloads, 4 try assists and six line-break assists. But the prop denies that it is due to the absence of Bryce Cartwright, who having forged a strong attacking confirmation with Latu in 2016, has all but missed the 2017 season to date. “Not necessarily (missing Bryce) but I’m trying to build some combinations

with Yowie (Yeo) and Corey on the other side,” Latu admitted. “That’s the NRL. Some players get injured and they get replaced. “You’ve got to learn to adjust to that. “Those combinations are getting there and hopefully we can continue to build on that.” The team’s forward pack led by Latu, Merrin, James Tamou and Reagan Campbell-Gillard paved the way for the win and followed up by last Friday’s victory across the Tasman, the Panthers just now two points outside the top eight with seven rounds remaining. But while Latu concedes the team were somewhat fortunate to defeat Manly given their attack was at times too clunky to take advantage of the plethora of possession received on the back of a controversial 14-4 penalty count, he added it was nonetheless important to quickly get back on track after the poor performance against Souths. “We were a bit frantic at times on their try line but for us to get that try before half time was crucial,” Latu said. “At half time the coach gave us a little talk about that. “I believe we went out there with a good game plan and we stuck to it in the second half. “We were all disappointed with our defence (against Souths) and we all played a part in that upset win by them but that’s the NRL. “We had to turn that around within a week and we were fortunate enough to do that against Manly and get away with that win”.

Juniors In the Swing at Leonay By Noel Rowsell

Leonay Golf Club Head Professional Ben Breckenridge ran his first Junior Clinic during the second week of the school holidays and there are positive signs for the future of golf in the district. Twenty-one children attended the Under 12 segment on Tuesday morning, with six attending the Over 12 segment. Wednesday saw quite a few new faces at the Clinic, with thirteen players aged under 12 and once again six over 12’s attending on the second day. Breckenridge was pleased with the strong turn-out, stating “The Junior Clinic was a great success”. “All of the kids appeared to have a great time and lots of the kids showed some real potential, so with a bit of luck they will be back for more”. Leonay GC committee member Les

Knox said “The Leonay GC Junior Development Committee was very pleased with the number of juniors that attended the clinics over two days, with the morning sessions for under 12’s being booked out on both days”. “Many of the juniors showed a high degree of enthusiasm and an ability

to grasp the art of playing golf” said Knox. “Special mention must go to the Sponsors of Junior Golf at Leonay, the Tattersall’s Centre at Penrith”. Knox said “With this sponsorship, there are many more plans ahead for Junior Golfers at Leonay”.

Knox also singled out Breckenridge and one of the Club’s leading A-Grade male players Simon Masters, who has just returned from College in the US for their efforts. This pair were also ably assisted by three of Leonay’s Lady Member Golfers, Judith Knox, Pam Savage and Sister Julie.

Repeat Sets with Stew Moses

@TheRiffMarn

CLEARY MASTER-CLASS KEEPS PANTHERS IN FINALS HUNT Normally a win over the New Zealand Warriors isn’t exactly anything to get too excited about. But in the context of Penrith’s season, last Friday night’s come from behind win over the Warriors at a cold and wet Mt Smart I mean Manu Vatuvei Stadium was a huge result. It came despite losing Matt Moylan to a hamstring injury pre-game and replacement skipper Trent Merrin just 25 minutes into the game, coupled with the season’s worst sin-binning decision on Corey Harawira-Naera which enabled the Warriors to score their only points of the second half. Shaun Johnson was forced out of the game in the 60th minute but with the likes of Roger Tuivesa-Sheck, Kieran Foran, Isaac Luke and Shaun Mannering to call upon, the Warriors should have been far too good, as coach Anthony Griffin alluded afterwards. “I don’t think it had anything to do with Shaun going off,” Griffin replied. “It was a tough grinding game that first half and the boys just took it up a level. “I thought it (the win) was going to happen no matter what.” The game should instead be remembered for the inspired performance of Nathan Cleary. His scintillating three-try effort and having a hand in the other three tries scored by the Panthers was arguably the most dominant individual performance in the NRL this season. While it be easy for Cleary himself to embrace calls for his inclusion in next year’s Origin series, instead he showed great humility when questioned by the media that he agreed with Phil Gould’s post-Origin comments that the half was not ready for Origin football. Griffin acknowledged how pleased he was his 19-year old halfback with just 32 NRL games under his belt rose to the challenge of partnering Tyrone May on debut in Moylan’s absence. “He’s going to be a good player when he grows up but it was a really mature effort from him,” Griffin declared. “He’s got a first-gamer playing with him in Tyrone May and losing our captain Trent, we could have made excuses tonight for not playing as well as we did as a team in particular. “He’s just a really composed kid and we needed him there tonight. “We needed our halfback to get a job done and

in the top eight. “They have been undefeated for the last four-five weeks and have taken a few scalps. “They’re a really good side so our middle had to be strong and they were. “It was a real solid 80 minute performance.”

 Cleary’s deeds against the Warriors arguably the individual performance of the NRL season to date. Credit: NRL Photos

did it beautifully.” The Warriors win came just six days after Penrith grounded out a controversial 16-8 win over a Manly Sea-Eagles side that was looking for six wins in a row against a Panthers outfit that had failed to defeat a topeight side in eight previous attempts. A 14-4 penalty count for the home side certainly helped matters as did the controversial decision from the Bunker to award Dallin Watene-Zelezniak a try just before halftime. But after the game Griffin was more concerned about the second half no try to the Kiwi winger when quizzed about the matter, before downplaying opposing coach Trent Barrett’s comments that they were denied a chance to win the game, adding Penrith have been on the end of similar penalty counts this year. “I thought the one with 15 minutes to go was tinged with more controversy,” Griffin replied. “But that’s just a roll of the dice with the way the game is officiated these days when it goes to the Bunker. “We’ve been on the back end of those (penalty counts) sometimes too so I think it all evens up in the end.” Most of all, Griffin was pleased with the way the team responded to the heavy loss against Souths the week before despite looking clunky at times in attack. “I just really pleased with the way we responded defensively after last week. “As I said last week it was a performance that we weren’t proud of and we didn’t accept. “Tonight we didn’t get a lot of things right at times but the main thing was our attitude and our effort in being able to grind out a tough win. “Manly are a quality side, they’re well entrenched

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Penrith have entrenched themselves in third spot in the Intrust Super Premiership after resounding wins against Blacktown (54-0) and Wests Tigers (48-6), that sees them undefeated in five matches. Since the 42nd minute of the Norths game three rounds back, the Panthers were on track to keep consecutive clean sheets but a late try to the Tigers put paid to that. This Saturday, the Panthers play Illawarra before taking on the competition leaders Wyong away the following Saturday. David Tangata-Toa’s Holden Cup side hold down second spot behind clear leaders, Cronulla after mixed results over the fortnight, with an upset loss at home to Manly followed by a resounding win over bottom-placed Warriors. Next up are two very winnable games at home against the Titans followed by the Wests Tigers. In team news, Peter Wallace will slot back into the hooking role for this Saturday’s titanic clash with the Gold Coast, with Mitch Rein named among the four reserves at this stage. Moses Leota has been named to replace the injured Trent Merrin at lock, while Matt Moylan also comes back into the side. Dean Whare remains unavailable while Bryce Cartwright will return through the ISP side in the lock position which may be a telling indicator as to where he could play when ready to resume in the NRL. The 21-man squad is as follows in numeric order: Edwards, Mansour, Peachey, Blake, D WateneZelezniak, Moylan (C), Cleary, Tamou, Wallace, Campbell-Gillard, Harawira-Naera, Yeo, Leota. Interchange: Katoa, Latu, Browne, FisherHarris, May, Kikau, Akauola, Rein. The following Thursday sees Panthers host the Bulldogs as they continue their push for a finals spot. See you at the game. #PantherPride

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Nepean News 20 July 2017 Issue 205

GOLDEN POINTS with Stew Moses

@TheRiffMarn

WILL PENRITH FACE A TITANIC STRUGGLE TO MAKE THE FINALS WITHOUT MERRIN? That’s the question league fans are asking right now after scans confirmed Merrin’s worst fears that he suffered a high grade medial ligament tear in his knee in Penrith’s gutsy 34-22 win over the NZ Warriors at the specially renamed Manu Vatuvei Stadium last Friday night. The injury will see Penrith’s top metre-eater upfront side-lined until Round 26 at best or at worst Week Two of the finals after suffering the injury in providing the offload for Tyrone May to score his maiden NRL try on debut. Moses Leota has been named as Merrin’s replacement with James Fisher-Harris preferred on the interchange bench for the Titans clash. Speaking of Fisher-Harris, the father-to-be in making his NRL comeback against the Warriors got to do so alongside compatriot Corey HarawiraNaera for the first time, ironically on NZ soil. It isn’t all doom and gloom for the Panthers on the injury front however. Matt Moylan (hamstring) and Peter Wallace (groin) have been named to start for the Titans clash with Dean Whare (jaw) set to return next week. Meanwhile Bryce Cartwright (knee) will return this weekend via the Intrust Super Premiership team and will start the game at lock. Mitch Rein despite his good form in Wallace’s absence surprisingly looks set to be relegated to the ISP side unless Anthony Griffin is playing ducks and drakes with his side again. Some further good news has emanated from the Cartwright household with confirmation the back-rower and current partner, Shanelle Peeti are expecting their first baby together. While everyone raved about the performance of Nathan Cleary, the effort of Reagan CampbellGillard who ran for 180 metres and made 28 tackles in 60 minutes straight, should not go unnoticed. The performance came off the back of the lastminute decision to start with Tim Browne instead which drew a response from former Panther Jamie Soward, who on twitter questioned why would Penrith’s best forward in 2017 be relegated to the interchange bench.

A shame for mad Arsenal fan Josh Mansour with NRL scheduling throwing a spanner in the works or any possible visit by the English Premier League giants to the Panthers academy. However just hours after having landed back in Sydney following his team’s win over the Warriors, Josh was on hand at ANZ Stadium last Saturday night to see his beloved Gunners defeat the Western Sydney Wanderers.

 Trent Merrin’s injury a big blow for Penrith’s finals hopes. Credit: 77 Media.

The win last Friday night was also a resounding vote of confidence in how Penrith are building for success. Six members from the 2015 Holden Cup winningsquad featured - Dylan Edwards, Tyrone May, Nathan Cleary, Sione Katoa, James Fisher-Harris and Corey Harawira-Naera, while team-mate Moses Leota was 18th man. Add to that the inclusion of 2013 winning Holden Cup members Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Waqa Blake, Isaah Yeo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard and there is plenty to like about the future. Reports have emerged that Leilani Latu’s days as a Panther could be numbered with suggestions the club is unhappy with his playing weight and in turn the prop being unhappy at being overlooked as a starting prop. While the prop has previously admitted to Nepean News his form has struggled as a result of playing off the bench, at Tuesday’s media session, Latu strongly denied he is looking to effectively terminate his three-year contract extension starting from 2018 and join either Newcastle, NZ Warriors or Parramatta. However Jeremy Latimore said similar things just months before he was released a year early from his contract to join Cronulla, so watch this space as they say in the classics. There are also the perennial reports that always seem to do the rounds whenever Tyrone Peachey has a prolonged stint playing off the interchange bench that he too wants out of the club.

Congratulations to Tyrone May who in replacing Matt Moylan last Friday night became Panther #572. Like Viliame Kikau and Corey Harawira-Naera before him, May scored on debut and was also on a winning Panthers side first up, having recovered from a shaky start that saw Shaun Johnson get the better of him in their opening try after just two minutes. Also congratulations to James Tamou, who brought up his 100th NRL win (eight of them as a Panther) last Friday night. And finally congratulations to Panther juniors, Lindsay Smith and Spencer Leniu on their selection into the 2017 Australian Schoolboys squad. There is no doubt Makio Sivo is an exceptional talent and is making every post a winner since his elevation to the ISP team, culminating with his 100th rugby league try since coming across to Australia in 2015 when he linked up with Group Nine club, Gundagai Tigers, in the recent ISP game versus Blacktown. However a News Limited article which included a highlights video put together by his management company and suggested Sivo is “the NRL’s next Semi Radradra” that Penrith will find hard to retain for 2018, is nothing short of farcical. The video, which serves as an advertisement of Sivo’s services by his management company, owned by the writer’s brother, details how these tries were being scored in the Intrust Super Premiership when in truth they were mostly scored in the Sydney Shield, two competition tiers lower than what was being portrayed, while other glaring errors were also hard to miss. See you at the game. #PantherPride

MG on the mark with MARK GEYER

Nathan Cleary: big footy career ahead

 Nathan Cleary on route to a near perfect game

 The gang on Whitehaven beach

“Cometh the hour, cometh the man!” Boom halfback Nathan Cleary played near the perfect game of rugby league last Friday night against the NZ Warriors. In fact it was close to the best performance from any halfback this season. Scoring 3 tries and having a hand in the other 3 the Panthers scored, Cleary put on an absolute master class of half back play. They say that “opportunity makes the man” and didn’t it what! With Panthers best player and captain Matty Moylan ruled out with a hamstring strain someone had to step up, Cleary did in spades. Already comparisons are being made to Penrith’s best ever player Greg ‘Brandy’ Alexander, which is unfair to both players. Brandy had won Dally M rookie and Dally M player of the year at 20 years of age. Cleary at 19, if he continues in such a rich vein of form will definitely start to feature in the conversation. Craig Gower knows only too well how that feels. Cleary’s cool hand last Friday answered one question for me and that is he is definitely ready for the next level. By that I mean state of origin! He’ll have another year’s experience under his belt and his goal kicking is second to none. Such irony in the coming out party of young Cleary being in the very place he once was ball boy whilst his dad coached. Cannot wait to watch this young levelheaded man’s career unfold. And another thing....

With Meags enjoying the warm weather of the Whitsundays 

Waking up most mornings to a 3.40am alarm to drive into Sydney to be part of the Grill Team on radio sometimes does have its benefits. Like the holidays we get. These past two-week school holidays just happened to coincide with ours on radio. So we all decided to go somewhere a bit warmer than it is here in Penrith. Cue Hamilton Island!! What a place. When we booked way back in March it was just before they copped the full brunt of a cyclone that tore up most of the Whitsundays, but to our amazement when we arrived the place was impeccably tranquil and serene. My family and a few of the kid’s friends enjoyed one of our best holidays ever. As Molly Meldrum would say “do yourself a favour” if only to experience Whitehaven beach, voted one of the top 10 beaches in the world because of its see-through water and snow-like sand. And the water sports, food, drink, basically the total ambience of the island is an instant de-stresser. We can’t wait to get back. I’d also like to thank my good mate Mark Warren for ‘covering’ for me last edition and putting together a great column on the Jeff Horn victory. Thanks brother. See you at the game...

MG (random Westie) OAM

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