Nepean News 21 January 2022 by Nepean News

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ISSUE 321

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Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

NEPEAN HISTORY

Sudden Death at Mulgoa Road By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc.

ustralian Royalty family James Evans was born in 1802. He was one of 220 convicts transported on the ship “Batavia” in October 1817 after being convicted at Stafford Assizes for “privately stealing”. At the Assizes the total number of people tried amounted to 123 and of these 17 received the sentence of death. He was sentenced for a term of 14 years and arrived in April 1818. In the 1828 census he was a labourer for Henry Cox at “Littleborough”, Kelso where he met Mary Ann Lewis a widow born in the colony in 1792 and living in Bathurst. Her husband had died before 1825 and she was left with some cattle, sheep and a working ox. A letter was sent to the Governor asking permission for James and Mary to marry with the consent of Henry Cox who asked that he remove James “some distance from the district”. The religious marriage of James and Mary Ann took place in 1829 in Kelso. Mary’s original husband Richard Lewis, a grazier in Bathurst and came on the” Coromandel” sentenced for 7 years. His marriage with Mary was solemnized at St James church in Sydney in January 1825. Mary Ann died in December 1868 in Sydney and is buried at Pioneers Memorial Park Leichhardt, Inner West Council, James is not buried with her. Their son James (Jnr) was born in 1830 at Richmond. He married Sarah Mary Purcell in 1851 at Pitt Town, Wilberforce. They resided in Penrith had nine children. He learnt the trade of blacksmith and it was believed he served his apprenticeship with Henry Hall of Emu Plains. For many years he carried on farming successfully at Castlereagh. Later he became a Government contractor building several public schools in the District as well as some of the best houses in the town of Penrith, but in his later years he was not as successful and finally gave it up and tried farming again at Castlereagh. The altered conditions of farming became somewhat new to him and he gave it up after a short trial. He then started again as a blacksmith of agricultural implements. Finally giving up when there was not enough business and assisted his son-in-law Alderman Easterbrook in the butchering business. James was highly respected throughout the district with the position of Alderman in the Penrith Municipal Council from 1876-81 then re-elected in 1883 and became Mayor in 1885 but didn’t stand for re-election in 1886. He was a prominent Mason having been a Past Master in the old Queen’s Lodge E.C, his lectures were always perfect and he did more to advance the cause of Masonry in the Penrith district. He never occupied the position of Master in the new Nepean Lodge although he was ready to assist in the raisings, passing’s, and instruction as well as delivering charges, etc. He died in April 1895 at Penrith at the age of 65 in “mysterious” circumstances” his death remaining a mystery. His inquest was held at Joyce’s Hotel before Mr J K Lethbridge, J.P., District Coroner and a jury of twelve. His daughter who lived at Mulgoa Road with her parents attended the inquest and said she was at home and saw her father last when he went to bed at a quarter to eight as he usually retired early and appeared to be in good health and spirits and was talking to us before bed. In the morning she heard him come out into the dining room from his bedroom he came to her bedroom door as he usually did and called out Eva and she replied that she was getting up and heard him winding up the clock then went out and came back in again and was standing on the veranda talking to her about the fowls then she went into the dining-room and saw him lying on the couch. She asked what the matter was and he replied he had a pain in his stomach that he had all night so she brought him a hot

 Photo of “Littleborough” courtesy of Sue Rosen Assoc.

cup of tea and she heard no more until she heard her mother ask him what’s the matter and he said he was ill and could not speak any more. They sent for Dr Shand who first noticed that there was no change in his breathing but sometime afterwards he appeared to be convulsed in pain. It was thought that he took a crystal substance of a reddish colour from a bottle in the house and at the time there was a half packet of Epsom salts on the shelf in the dining-room like what was produced at the inquest. There was also two bottles of poison in a small box on the chest of drawers in her mother’s bedroom and something said to her that morning made her look where the poison was kept and she found the strychnine that had been in the house for ten or twelve years and that her father had not been able to get work for a long time and didn’t know if he had been pressed by anyone and it never seemed to trouble him about money matters or want of work and with her father being so long out of work the money was nearly all gone and there was not more than £3 or £4 owing to her knowledge as her father was a very steady man and lived happily with us. Several other people gave information at the inquest including a Small Debts Court bailiff who said he had a warrant to distrain on James’s goods and chattels for rent due amounting to £5/10s and was told he could not pay it but would settle with me today. The verdict was “The death was probably caused by an overdose of strychnine but that there is no evidence to show how, or by what means, such strychnine was administered.” His funeral was a Masonic one with about forty of the brethren taking part in the procession. The W.M. of the Lodge (Brother Colley) read the service at the grave. The procession was said to be the largest seen in Penrith for some time. He was buried at St Stephen’s cemetery, Penrith. Photo of “Littleborough” courtesy of Sue Rosen Assoc. Source: State Library of Queensland. Convict Transportation Registers Database 1787-1867, Bateson, Charles. The convict ships 1787-1868. 2nd ed. Glasgow : Brown, Son & Ferguson Ltd., 1969, 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census, British Newspaper Archive, Ancestry, BDM, Nepean Times, 1825 muster (1823-1825), NSW and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, 1822 Muster, Star (London) - Tuesday 25 March 1817, State Library of Queensland. Convict Transportation Registers Database 1787-1867, Bateson, Charles. The convict ships 1787-1868. Glasgow Brown, Son & Ferguson Ltd., 1985-1969, Ancestry.1828 New South Wales, Australia Census, British Newspaper Archive on-line, Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950 on-line, BDM, Nepean Times, New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, Citation details 1822 Muster, Australia Death Index, 1787-1985.

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Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

Key site primed for employment opportunities By KeRRIE DAVIES

n industrial site in Emu Plains will unlock new opportunities and generate economic activity in the City, with grand plans for Penrith City Council’s recent purchase of the site set to create jobs while strengthening the local economy. Council has been handed the keys to the expansive property, at 158-164 Old Bathurst Road, and has commenced preliminary works on site to convert it into a hub of jobs growth and innovation. The 16.29 hectares of industrial land previously housed concrete pipe supplier Rocla until 2020. Located close to the M4 Motorway, Emu Plains train station and next door to the commuter car park being delivered by the State Government, the sprawling site is set to become an employment hub that will support vital industries and allow more residents to find work closer to home. Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said she was excited by the property’s potential and the transformational impact it will have on Penrith. “Council purchased this site with the vision to create a contemporary industrial hub that will unlock hundreds of jobs within our LGA and drive incredible change in our City,” Cr Hitchen said. “This will allow businesses to stay local, as well as drive further investment in Penrith and build on the revitalisation of our City. “Our decision to purchase the site will have significant benefits for the community as Council endeavours to stimulate the local economy. The development will attract key industries such

as advanced manufacturing, ecommerce and construction to create innovative local businesses, and local jobs.” Plans for the site include subdividing the land to accommodate over 40 industrial businesses, large and small, and create 300-350 new jobs. The project is expected to inject an estimated $36.4 million into the local economy each year. Council is working towards a Development Application submission in early 2022. “This strategic, economic-initiative will see Council’s plans for the expansive property unfold alongside many other city-shaping projects that are coming to fruition,” Cr Hitchen said. “The revitalisation of strategic locations, like 158-164 Old Bathurst Road, aligns with Council’s Employment Lands Strategy to support Penrith’s continued economic growth into the future,” she said. For more information visit penrith.city/ oldbathurstroad

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Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

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By KeRRIE DAVIES

any of us would have been thinking at the end of last year, “bring on the new year and just get this one over with; nothing could be worse than 2021.” There’s an old saying “Don’t ever challenge worse.” We may be out of lockdown, but so many other roadblocks that we never envisaged are now in our way. Many people are in various stages of isolation, staff shortages are everywhere you go and supermarket shelves have never looked so empty. Everyone now knows people who have or have had Covid, and for those of us who have so far successfully managed to evade it, its like skipping through a minefield dodging positive cases left and right. As a friend recently quipped to me, we started the year with a mouse plague and ended it with a rat shortage. Who’d have thought getting your hands on a RAT would feel like hitting the jackpot? The only racquet we can arm ourselves with to backhand this thing is our ability to be considerate of others. We all need to stick to the rules that are there to protect others; even the grand slammers. As we weave our way through the latest grenades this mongrel pandemic throws at us, we wish you a happy Australia Day and all the best for the year ahead. May you and your family be safe, healthy and employed. Lastly, I’d like to congratulate our new Mayor, Tricia Hitchen. I’ve known Tricia for many years and she is one of the most genuinely goodhearted people I’ve ever met. As honest as the days are long, she’s extremely passionate about ensuring the best deal for our local area and its residents. Following on from her former career in the Police Force, over the years she has been a particularly strong advocate for families facing challenges, victims fleeing domestic violence situations and those with disabilities. As the calls for help go out for a person or organisation in need, Tricia has already rolled up her sleeves and taken action. That’s how she rolls. Tricia is also a very loyal and considerate friend, and I’m so very honoured to have her as one of my closest. Congratulations on a well-earned achievement Madam Mayor, and congratulations to Penrith; this was the perfect time to have someone like Tricia elected to lead us through our challenges.

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Innovation Roof Restoration Councillor Tricia Hitchen has been elected Mayor of Penrith City with Councillor John Thain appointed Deputy Mayor.

enrith City Council’s Mayoral election will be embedded in Penrith’s great story as an historic moment, with the outgoing female Mayor passing the baton to another female for the first time in Council’s 150-year history. The recently formed 15-member Council elected longstanding Councillor Tricia Hitchen as Mayor of Penrith City during Monday night’s Ordinary Meeting and watched on as Councillor Karen McKeown OAM handed over the Mayoral chains. Cr McKeown expressed her “heartfelt congratulations” to Cr Hitchen and paused to reflect on the pivotal event. “It is a momentous occasion for this Council in 150 years it’s the first time a female Mayor has handed the chains to an incoming female Mayor and I really take great pride in that,” Cr McKeown said. Penrith’s new Mayor will serve a two-year term with Councillor John Thain elected to be Deputy Mayor through to September 2022. Cr Hitchen, a retired police officer who was first elected to Council in 2012, has served two terms as Deputy Mayor since 2016. After being elected unopposed, Cr Hitchen said she had looked back on the past 10 years and how much Penrith has changed, in particular the many new estates which have been developed including Thornton, Caddens, and Twin Creeks. She said it’s an exciting time for Penrith with several transformative projects taking shape, such as the Regatta Park upgrade, the Police Cottage

refurbishment, City Park, and the Soper Place car park revitalisation. “Given the success of these projects in Penrith, we now have the opportunity to expand similar projects into St Marys and the eastern part of our LGA, to synchronise with the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport,” Cr Hitchen said. “St Marys has a unique opportunity to grow and provide our residents with an exciting shopping experience, CBD and lifestyle,” she said. Cr Hitchen is currently a volunteer director of The Haven – Nepean Women’s Shelter. She is an active member of Council’s Access Committee, Local Traffic Committee and is on the board of St Marys Town Centre. Cr Hitchen strongly advocates for people with disabilities through her own experiences of having a child with special needs, which has seen the introduction of more accessible spaces in the St Marys and Penrith CBDs. In recent years, Cr Hitchen has started a local community garden at Kingswood, been vocal about her concerns regarding the overdevelopment of Oxley Park and pushed for an upgraded off-leash dog park in St Clair. New Deputy Mayor Cr Thain, who was also elected unopposed on Monday evening, has been a Penrith Councillor since 1999. He first served as Deputy Mayor in 2004-2005 and has been in the Mayoral role twice, in 2005-2006 and again from 2016-2018.

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Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

Council appoints Mayor, Deputy Mayor

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

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Covid jabs for juniors underway

accinations for children aged five to 11 have commenced with parents and carers urged to book their children an appointment as soon as possible. Premier Dominic Perrottet said the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) will be made available for the roughly 720,000 children in that age group across NSW. “More than 18,000 kids aged five to 11 have caught COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, which highlights why vaccination is so important,” Mr Perrottet said. “We saw a great vaccination response for children aged 12-15 years, so we hope parents will book in their younger children before they start or go back to school. “I want to also encourage anyone who has not yet received a COVID-19 vaccination to do so. This includes adults who had their second dose four months ago and are now due for a booster.” Children aged five to 11 will be able to receive their COVID-19 vaccine in a range of centres and local community settings including general practitioners, community pharmacies, NSW Health clinics and other providers such as Aboriginal Medical Services. NSW Health has so far delivered more than 326,027 booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines, in support of the Federal Government’s vaccine program.

People aged 18 years and older can get a booster at least four months (this has since been changed - see story on page 13) after receiving their second dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines registered for use in Australia. Health Minister Brad Hazzard said most parents have always embraced the public health messaging which has helped lift our childhood vaccination rates across NSW. “Whether it be measles or whooping cough or Pneumococcal or Hepatitis B, parents in NSW have always listened to the science to help protect their kids,” Mr Hazzard said. “No one wants to see their child in hospital and the best way we can safeguard our kids against COVID-19 and importantly, the elderly around them, is to get them vaccinated.” NSW Chief Paediatrician Dr Matthew O’Meara said parents should protect their children against the risks of getting COVID-19. “Everyone who can get vaccinated should get vaccinated whether they’re healthy or not, and it’s especially important for kids who have underlying medical problems or are above a healthy weight.” Bookings can be made at a NSW Health clinic, GP or pharmacy via the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder.

nyone who tests positive using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) will now be required to register their result with Service NSW. Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new registration process was an important part of managing the pandemic. “NSW residents can register their result with just a few clicks on the Service NSW website or by using the Service NSW app,” Mr Perrottet said. “Registering your RAT result enables NSW Health to provide you with advice on self-isolation and managing COVID-19 symptoms at home, to connect high risk people to clinical care services and to help inform the ongoing public health response.” Most people do not need a PCR test to confirm they are positive for COVID-19. Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the reporting of a positive RAT will be required under a public health order. “Ensuring individuals are connected to the appropriate public

health advice and keeping a watch on trends is the prime purpose,” Mr Hazzard said. If you are under 65 years of age, have had two doses of COVID-19

vaccine, do not suffer from any chronic health conditions and are not pregnant, you may be able to safely manage COVID-19 at home. Customer Service and Digital

Government Minister Victor Dominello said privacy would be at the forefront of this new feature. “This technology has been built with trust and security at its core. Service NSW will send the information directly to NSW Health, it isn’t shared with any third parties, and is then deleted from Service NSW records within days,” Mr Dominello said. “There are more than seven million Service NSW account holders but we’re also committed to making this process inclusive for those without that access. Those who need assistance can contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.” Most people with COVID-19 will have a mild illness and will recover in a few days or so, with some people having no symptoms at all. Please contact your GP or call the NSW Health COVID-19 Care at Home Support Line on 1800 960 933 if you are pregnant, or if you have a chronic condition. For the most up-to-date COVID information visit nsw.gov.au

Changed traffic conditions on Great Western Highway at Minchinbury Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions from next week on Great Western Highway at Minchinbury for utility investigations. Work will be carried out along the highway from Minchin Drive to

Rupertswood Road until Monday 7 March, weather permitting. The work will take place in two day shifts from 7am to 5pm on weekdays and 8am to 1pm Saturdays. Temporary lane closures, traffic

control and reduced speed limits will be in place for the safety of pedestrians, workers and motorists. Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.

Transport for NSW thanks the community for their patience during this time. For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

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mall businesses that are continuing to face challenges due to COVID-19 will benefit from an additional two months of rent relief, with the NSW Government extending its rent relief regulation until March 13. Treasurer Matt Kean said it was a difficult time for many businesses and this extension will provide muchneeded support for small commercial and retail tenants to keep their doors open over the coming weeks and months. “Small business is the engine room of our economy and we need to make sure we support impacted businesses through this latest Omicron wave,” Mr Kean said. “With staff shortages and reduced foot traffic, many businesses are struggling at the moment but the ability to negotiate rent will give them a buffer so they can keep the lights on now and recover more quickly.” “We appreciate and acknowledge the constructive approach of commercial owners in working together with their tenants in these very challenging circumstances.” Minister for Small Business Eleni Petinos said eligibility for rent relief would remain unchanged. “We know that rent is one of

the biggest fixed costs for small businesses and this measure will provide crucial support helping them get through the next couple of months,” Ms Petinos said. Commercial and retail tenants will be eligible for the rent relief if they have an annual turnover of less than $5 million and continue to meet the eligibility criteria for JobSaver or the Micro-business Grant, had those programs continued. Landlords of tenants that have received protections for any period under the Retail and Other

Commercial Leases (COVID-19) Regulation 2022 are prohibited from evicting their tenants for certain breaches of the lease, without first attending mediation. NSW landowners will also have more time now to apply for land tax relief, with applications extended until 28 February for eligible commercial and residential landowners. Eligible landlords can access the Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund, which provides small commercial or retail landlords with a monthly grant up to the value of any rental relief

provided, to a maximum of $3,000 per month per property. To find out more about land tax relief: https://www.service.nsw.gov. au/transaction/apply-covid-19-landtax-relief To find out more about the Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund: https://www.service.nsw.gov. au/commercial-landlord-hardshipfund-guidelines For more on the rent relief extension, go to: Commercial leases and COVID-19 FAQs | Small Business Commissioner (nsw.gov.au)

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

Rent relief extended for small businesses

I tested positive to COVID-19: here are my tips on how to manage it at home Tips from the sickbed by Western Sydney Local Health District Senior Corporate Communications Specialist Alyssa Faith.

n mid-December, along with many others across NSW, I was struck down by the dreaded COVID-19. My holiday celebration dreams of family gatherings, my sister’s amazing roast potatoes and one-too-many candy canes were quickly replaced by bed rest, Hydralyte and bone broth. Thankfully, I successfully managed my COVID-19 symptoms at home. If you are under 65, have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, do not suffer from any chronic health conditions and aren’t pregnant, you are likely to be able to as well. Here are some top tips for managing COVID-19 at home: Stay hydrated Keeping hydrated is of utmost importance when fighting any virus. Fluids are essential when fighting a fever or when experiencing diarrhea – which are both common symptoms of COVID-19. If you don’t love water, 100% fruit juices, sparkling water, coconut water, sports drinks, and fruit-infused waters are also all great options.

“

Regular sips of water and hydration aids such as Hydralyte and Berocca were lifesavers for me – as were icy poles! Alyssa Faith

Rest up You know all that sleep you’ve been meaning to catch up on? Now is your opportunity. Your body needs rest to

heal so take it easy. Pull those blinds, put on that Netflix series you’ve been eyeing off and rest. Whilst your body is fighting COVID-19 (whether you are symptomatic or asymptomatic), it is important to rest and not exercise. With a mild case of COVID-19, medical practitioners advise taking at least 10 days off from exercise, or until all symptoms have gone. Please consult your GP to see if this advice that is right for you. Manage your pain To help relieve body aches, headaches and fevers, NSW Health recommends using regular paracetamol and ibuprofen. Throat lozenges can also work wonders. Ensure that you continue to take any medications you have been prescribed as usual. If you are unsure about continuing to take your current medication or treatment, or have any concerns about your health, call your GP.

Eat well Just like staying hydrated, it’s important to eat well when sick! Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and processed foods whilst your body is fighting COVID-19. Focus on giving your body energy and nutrients such as Vitamin-Ccontaining fruits, meat and vegetable broths, leafy greens and fibre such as oats. You may lose your sense of taste or smell for a short period of time due to COVID-19. Plain foods might be best at this point in time to ensure you can keep eating. Self-isolation, face masks and general hygiene To try and avoid spreading COVID-19 to your loved ones and those you live with, you will need to self-isolate in your home or accommodation and remain separated from others. I live with a housemate who thankfully remained COVID-19 free!

Hand washing, hand sanitiser use, wearing masks when moving around the house, using separate bathrooms and not sharing spaces at the same time was key. Obviously if you have children, this would be far more difficult to navigate, however this is what worked for us. Read how to self-isolate at home here. When to call Triple Zero (000) If you develop severe symptoms (particularly severe dizziness, are drowsy or confused, suffering shortness of breath, chest pressure or pain lasting more than 10 minutes, unable to stand) you should call Triple Zero (000) straight away and tell the ambulance staff that you have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Other support available “There are effective treatments available for people at risk of severe disease from COVID-19,” said Dr Shopna Bag, Western Sydney Local Health District’s Acting Population Health director.

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Of course, the most effective way to prevent serious illness related to COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and get your booster dose if you’re eligible. Dr Shopna Bag

“

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

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If you need other clinical support or have non-urgent health related questions during isolation, please call the NSW Health COVID-19 Care at Home Support Line on 1800 960 933. For more information, please read the Testing positive to COVID-19 and managing COVID-19 safely at home fact sheet on the NSW Health website.

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By KeRRIE DAVIES

VER the last decade or so, there has been some great progress on addressing the issue of domestic violence. Of course we have a long way to go to even look like stamping it out, but we have surged forward in speaking about it openly, providing safe escapes for victims and making perpetrators accountable. But there’s one aspect of domestic violence

that is still often swept under the carpet and that’s domestic violence where the victim is male. Domestic violence against men takes many of the same forms as it does against women. Unfortunately due to barriers such as social stigma, embarrassment and shame, men are much less likely to report being a victim of domestic violence – however, Police say this is starting to change. We can all play a part in ensuring that all

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Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

Staying silent can be deadly

perpetrators of domestic violence, regardless of their sex, are called out. We need to do this to ensure victims, regardless of their sex, are safe and protected. Take a stand against domestic violence now. If you hear or see domestic violence occurring, call Triple Zero (000) immediately. If you suspect Domestic Violence happening to someone else, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 (24/7). You can remain confidential. Staying silent can be deadly.

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Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

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The day a nation stopped to lend a hand Granville Train Disaster, Tuesday 18th January, 1977. 45th Anniversary 2022 By NSW Historic Patrol Vehicles

he 06:09 train from Mount Victoria, in the Blue Mountains, to Sydney had at least 469 passengers aboard by the time it left Parramatta station. At 08:10, its electric locomotive derailed on an 80km/h (50 mph) curve in a deep cutting at Granville and speared into the supports of the Bold Street bridge above the tracks. The locomotive tipped on its side and dragged the first two carriages off the rails. Eight people were killed in carriage one, which tore open as it hit a power stanchion. Everyone survived in the second carriage. The bridge, with four cars on its deck, teetered for a few seconds, then rained at least 470 tonnes of concrete and steel on carriages three and four. The weight crushed the roof of the wooden-framed carriages to within 60cm (24 inches) or less of the floor. Some areas were crushed to floor level. Within minutes, a vast rescue assembled - police, firefighters, ambulance crews, doctors, nurses, engineers, railway workers among them. The cutting hindered initial access until ladders, then stairs, could be erected. The accident drew civilian volunteers, some just teenagers, to lend a hand but also many ghoulish sightseers turned up. By 08:50, 1500 people lined the cutting. The crowd spilled onto the tracks. Some disguised themselves as rescue workers and climbed onto the unstable bridge wreckage for a closer look, risking the lives of trapped passengers and their rescuers beneath. Doctors, nurses and police rescue crews crawled into tiny spaces to reach the injured, with rubble above likely to shift and further compress the carriages. In one instance, a police rescue officer was lying prone in a 35cm gap from floor to roof, clambering among victims’ bodies to get to an injured man. A doctor had to amputate the arm of a dead woman to aid the rescuer but, without warning, a slab shifted above and compressed the carriage another 5cm, injuring the officer’s back. Police were diverted from the rescue to control the crowd. Gas was leaking into the carriages, preventing the use of oxy-acetylene cutting equipment. Power lines had to be cut one by one before cranes could begin lifting pieces of the collapsed bridge. The stifling heat sapped the rescuers. Compressed air did little to ease the sweltering conditions. Emergency lights strung through the carriages added to the heat. Seven trapped passengers suffered potentially lethal crush syndrome - in which potassium, acids and other toxins built up in a person’s trapped limbs can be released quickly once they’re freed, causing life-threatening heart, respiratory and kidney issues. Three died from it. Nevertheless, Granville became an object lesson in treating crush syndrome. One policeman used a knife to cut through seats and remove springs to ease pressure on trapped passengers. The last living person was freed around 18:15 but died in hospital. The last body was extracted 31 hours after the crash. Tina Morgan, the youngest survivor of the

disaster, said the scars from that day will never heal. “It will never go away. For thousands of people involved, this will never go away, it’s major trauma,” she told the Australian Associated Press. Ms Morgan, then 14, was trapped for at least five hours with her back injured and a piece of timber piercing her chest. Of the 77 passengers in carriage three, 44 were killed. In carriage four, 31 passengers out of 64 were killed. The efforts of emergency workers were praised following the disaster, but a debrief a month later showed there were some problems. In some instances, there was too much help on hand, crowding the scene. A disaster simulation conducted near Granville only weeks earlier had prepared medical teams well, but the review found too many medicos came to the scene and could have been better used if directed to nearby hospitals. Volunteers sometimes complicated things. At one stage, up to 30 people were observed trying to carry single stretchers. Importantly, there was no plan for psychological support for emergency workers traumatised by the appalling scene. In all, one-quarter of emergency staff at Granville reported symptoms of anxiety, depression and insomnia a month later. The National Association of Loss and Grief was established in 1977 in response, and commenced work with workers adversely affected by the disaster. Psychological and pastoral care became more available to emergency service workers. An inquiry headed by then NSW District Court chief judge, Justice James Staunton, began in February 1977. It revealed that the Bold Street bridge had been struck by derailments on the same section of track twice before - by a locomotive in 1967 and a loaded coal wagon in 1975. The track there was in a “very unsatisfactory condition”, poorly fastened and badly aligned. The tracks had spread wider than standard gauge. On the morning of the crash, this caused the locomotive’s front left wheel to drop inside the track and sent it careering into the bridge supports. The defects should have been identified and repaired, with failures reaching into the highest echelons of the Public Transport Commission (although no-one was held directly accountable) and exacerbated by a high turnover of track inspection staff in the months before the disaster. Budgetary constraints were also a factor. The Public Transport Commission ran at a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Among his recommendations, Justice Staunton called for senior emergency personnel to be trained in disaster management and that more general training in crisis intervention be provided in crisis management for health and welfare workers in traumatic events. The Wran government, which only came to power months before the accident, announced an immediate $200mil railway improvement plan. Forty five years on, the response continues. Ahead of Wednesday’s anniversary, Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the government planned to apologise to victims’ families. “It’s a tragedy which no-one would ever get over and it’s hard for a lot of us to imagine the grief that people experience lifelong because of the very nature of that happened,” he told the ABC. Each year since the Granville disaster, survivors, rescuers and loved ones of those killed gather on the Bold Street bridge on January 18 for a memorial service, dropping 83 roses to remember those lost.

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or those seeking a rewarding career helping others, nursing may just tick all the right

boxes. NSW Health is offering an opportunity to contribute to the positive health outcomes of patients at public hospitals across the state through enrolled nurse scholarships with guaranteed employment. The 2022 Enrolled Nurse Scholarship program is now open for application and will cover the cost of course fees for the Diploma of Nursing. The scholarships not only include a position in the Diploma of Nursing program but also guarantee employment as an enrolled nurse in a NSW Health facility following the successful completion of the diploma and standard recruitment and registration. Jacqui Cross, NSW Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, said there were placements available at 24 campuses across the state, including six in Sydney and 18 across regional Local Health Districts. “We are encouraging anyone who wishes to work as an enrolled nurse and seeks a meaningful and rewarding career in a public hospital to apply,” Ms Cross said.

“Nurses across the state, and across the health care network, provide essential frontline care to people in hospital and, in many ways, are a source of comfort to their patients. “Our enrolled nurses will have the opportunity to work across a variety of NSW Health clinical settings, including in acute medical and

surgical units, operating theatres and mental health, enabling them to care for patients when they need it most.” Applications open Tuesday 11th January 2022. To be eligible for an enrolled nurse scholarship, applicants must: • Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident • Live in NSW

• Meet English language skill standards • Provide evidence of HSC completion, Certificate III qualification or equivalent. For more information around all available nursing scholarships and eligibility, visit: www.health.nsw. gov.au/nursing/scholarship/Pages/ default.aspx

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

Enrolled nurses to benefit from new round of scholarships

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

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Celebrating the achievements of local women and girls

NEPEAN CAPA - Elina Roberts-Turner (middle) By KeRRIE DAVIES

he Zonta Club of Nepean Valley celebrated the achievements of some amazing local women and girls at the end of last year. A function was held at Panthers last month to celebrate the end of the year and Christmas, and there was also an award presentation. There were 5 awards given: TAFE award to a woman who is furthering her education after surviving adversity

Woman of Initiative - Elizabeth Valek (left)

St Marys Senior High - Anna Moore (middle)

STEM Award at Blaxland High to a female student who has improved significantly in one of the STEM subjects NEPEAN CAPA for an outstanding female student in the Performing Arts ST MARYS SENIOR HIGH to a female student active in her school and showing evidence of leadership and community service WOMAN OF INITIATIVE which is awarded every second year to a woman who has initiated a program, event or activity that has touched our

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TAFE - Maryam Al-Atrash with sponsor Rebecca Nicholls of Global Skills

community This year’s winners were: TAFE - Maryam Al-Atrash STEM - Jessica Robinson NEPEAN CAPA - Elina RobertsTurner ST MARYS - Anna Moore WOMAN OF INITIATIVE Elizabeth Valek Congratulations to these outstanding local females. Zonta International is a leading global organisation of professionals empowering women worldwide

STEM Award - Jessica Robinson (right)

through service and advocacy. Zonta International envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognised as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential. In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision making positions on equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence. If you are interested in learning more about the Nepean branch, please email nepeanvalley@zontadistrict24.org

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illions more people in NSW are now eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccination after NSW Health brought forward the interval between doses by a month. State-run vaccination clinics will begin offering COVID-19 booster vaccinations three months after people have received their second dose from Friday January 21. The change from a four-month interval to three months means there are now an additional 3.55 million people in NSW who can book in for their third dose of vaccine. Premier Dominic Perrottet said being triple vaccinated offers extra protection against the effects of the Omicron variant. “The advice is clear – getting boosted means there’s less chance you’ll get the virus and, if you do, the effects are generally much milder,” Mr Perrottet said. “That’s why we are offering more people the opportunity to get the booster sooner. “I urge everyone who is eligible to get boosted to do so as soon as possible. This will help to protect our older population, as well as vulnerable members of the community.” Health Minister Brad Hazzard said there are more than 40 state-run vaccination clinics spread throughout NSW as well as mobile outreach locations that these clinics visit. “Along with public health safety measures including wearing masks indoors, working from home where practicable, not singing and dancing and minimising the size of gatherings in homes, the other big protection is getting a booster vaccination. Being able to get that booster at 3 months after your second dose gives the opportunity to be much safer, much sooner,” Mr Hazzard said. “In addition to the state facilities opening at three months for boosters, individuals can still attend with their GPs or pharmacies when the Federal Government authorises them to provide boosters at three months, in due course.”

Health Minister Brad Hazzard

NSW Health Deputy Secretary Patient Experience and System Performance Susan Pearce, who leads the NSW Health vaccination rollout, said the change to the vaccine schedule in NSW will help people maintain a high level of protection against the COVID-19 virus. “As we face into the challenges brought of the Omicron variant, a booster dose will ensure people have increased immunity, and a lower risk of requiring hospital treatment,” Ms Pearce said. NSW Health has delivered a total of 440,681 third/

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booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines in support of the Federal Government’s vaccine program. NSW Health is contacting people who are registered in the NSW Health vaccination booking system with a reminder text message. NSW Health clinics offer Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to people aged 18 years and over. Eligible people can also receive a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine from their GP and participating community pharmacies. A booster vaccination can be booked through the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder.

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Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

Booster doses to be brought forward

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

AUSTRALIA DAY 26 January Good ole-fashioned

Aussie lingo With Australia Day coming up let’s have a bit of a gander at some old Aussie slang sayings that only true blue Aussies would understand!

Old slang.. all but forgotten!

› As flash as a rat with a gold tooth › It beats a poke in the eye with a blunt stick › Ya bloody scallywag! › He’s cactus › He’s got a head like a beaten favourite › How ya going Cobber? › Ken oath! › Bangs like a dunny door in a hurricane › On the blower › Hum dinger › She’s got a kangaroo loose in the top paddock › Stone the flamin crows › You pong! › He was grinning like a shot fox › She’s the duck’s guts › Amber fluid › He’s as fat as a butcher’s dog › Feeling as crook as Rookwood › Where’s me doovalacky? › Grouse! › She’s up at a sparrow’s fart › He’s come a gutzer › Within a coo-ee › That’s about as rare as rocking horse poo › Big-noting yourself › Bonzer bloke › Off like a brides nightie › Barrack for your team › Strewth › She’s done the Harold Holt › London to a brick › Hoo-roo › She shot through like a Bondi tram › He’s lower than a snake’s bum › She can talk under water with a mouthful of marbles Q: What is the difference between an Australian wedding and an › I’m so hungry I could I could eat a horse and chase its rider Australian funeral? › I’m busier than a one legged bloke in an ar$e-kicking competition › She could eat a toffee apple through a tennis racquet A: One less drunk at the funeral - (applied to buck teethed women)

› My throat feels like the scrapings from the Cockie’s cage › She’s got a face like five miles of unmade road › As popular as a pork chop in Jerusalem. › As much use as an ashtray on a motorbike › He’s as reliable as a two bob watch › His language was so bad, he’d make a warfie blush › Fits like a bum in a bucket › She’s as thick as two short planks › He’s so fat you’d need a cut lunch to get around him

Q: Why do kangaroos hate rainy days? A: Because their children play inside. Q: What did the necktie say to the Akubra Hat? A: “You go on a head mate, I’ll just hang around.” I was recently turned down on my application for an Australian green card, on account of my criminal record. Bit bloody ironic is it not?

Prue Car MP “

Member for Londonderry

Our diverse community comes together as one to celebrate the love we all share for this great nation on Australia Day Ph: 9833 1122 154 Queen Street, St Marys londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au Authorised by Prue Car MP. Funded using parliamentary entitlements. January 2022

“

When you hear the Aussie chant, does your heart pump more blood, Does your spine start to tingle, do your emotions flow and flood. Anywhere, anytime when Aussie Aussie Aussie is the cry, Proud Australians come to order, Oi, Oi, Oi the only reply. We are the best country in the world they say, built on hardwork and respect, To call yourself an Aussie a couple of things we need to check. Do you wear thongs during summer, have a stubbie holder in reach, Do you wear budgies or boardies when you’re swimming at the beach. Can you cook sausages on the barbie, operate tongs with your left hand, Do you spread vegemite on toast? Is Cold Chisel your favourite band? Is Bob Hawke our greatest Prime Minister, favourite cricketer Warnie or Big Merv, When you walk past a good sort, do you look back and have a perv? Do you bet on the Melbourne Cup, were you taught to slip slop slap? Importantly, can you move the sprinkler without turning off the tap. Now these are just the basics, minimum requirements some may say, I encourage you to run this test while celebrating this Australia Day. Cheers to all that pass this test, crack a beer, relax and enjoy, Make sure you sing this loud and proud - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi. See more tributes @ mrdannytribute.com.au

Australia...it’s the greatest place on the planet and there’s no better way to celebrate that than to have a safe and enjoyable Australia Day.

Stuart Ayres MP Member for Penrith Phone: 4722 8660 | Email: penrith@parliament.nsw.gov.au Shop 23, Tattersalls Centre, 510-534 High Street, Penrith Authorised by Stuart Ayres MP. Funded using parliamentary entitlements.

15 Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

How Aussie Are You ?

26 January

WORD SEARCH

AUSTRALIA DAY

Aussie Slang Arvo Billabong Billy Bonzer Chook Corker Fairdinkum

Gday Heaps Joey Jumbuck Moolah Mosquito Outback

Ripper Snag Swag Thongs Togs Tucker Yabber

AUSTRALIA DAY

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

26 January

Where did the Aussie accent come from? By Keegan Thomson

NE element of the Australian story that is often overlooked is the linguistic history of the Australian accent. It is a harsh accent with lots of hard sounds and unique abbreviated colloquialisms, but where did it come from? The story is cemented into us from the fourth grade of school: The First Fleet of lawbreaking convicts from across the English Isles made their way into Sydney Harbour to start up the new colony of New South Wales. From the second the convicts set foot on Australian shores they started chatting. They probably spoke about the rough ride over, the crappy food, the rats they had to share their beds with and most important the weather. You had convicts from Scotland talking to thieves from London’s East End and petty criminals from the highlands of Wales. They all started mixing their accents, words and phrases from the get go. Professor Catherine T. Best is the Chair in Psycholinguistic Research and Director of Research at the MARCS at Western Sydney University. She has studied accents and the difficulties of learning a second language. Her research has helped her better understand the linguistic history of the Australian accent. Prof Best says there are many elements to what made the contemporary Australian accent what it is today and they all date back to the First Fleet. “The first English speaking people to come to Australia came from all over the United Kingdom.

They were criminals and their overseers from across the British Isles,” Prof Best said. “Within the UK there are very marked accent differences and in Australia these accents came together. “Here people were thrown together with all different accents and vocabularies and told to work productively together. To do this they needed to communicate. When people come together in that way they start developing a similar lingo overtime so they can community effectively,” she said. Prof Best says there is evidence to show the Australian love affair with shortening words into colloquial abbreviations comes from the first convict settlers. “This tradition has some connection to secret word play that convicts would have used to cover up criminal activities and talk to one and other in code,” Prof Best said. “The tendency to make Australian abbreviations, like calling an electrician a sparky, comes from these

abbreviation codes and cockney rhyming slang.” Before British settlers came to Australia there were hundreds of Aboriginal tribes living across the continent. Their history, language and culture has had many impacts in the way the Australian accent has developed. “There were many tribes of Indigenous people who worked with the English settlers in many productive ways. As a result everyone tried to learn each other’s languages,” Prof Best said. “By sharing the terminology and subtle changes of the pronunciation of some words the changes to an in-between pronunciation that is mixed between a British English and an Indigenous accent.” The subtle language elements that the Indigenous people contributed to the Australian accent is similar to that of Australia’s new wave immigrants. Listen in and you can hear the three main Australian accents spoken across the country. A broad accent, spoken by someone like actor Paul Hogan, an educated accent, spoken by the previous Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and a more general accent that is spoken in major cities. These three main accents also have subtle changes that can also be heard across state lines and in different regions. “Informally there is a ‘Westie’ accent,” Prof Best said. “It isn’t a broad Australian accent but it has features that distinguish it from the general Australian accent spoken in, say, Gosford,” she said. It is difficult to figure out where the Australian language is going but if we listen in extra hard we might be able to hear the changes.

Authorised by Chris Bowen MP, ALP, Fairfield West

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

local COLUMNIST

Holiday travel with your pet A

s a pet owner, there is a lot to consider when planning a holiday. Should you leave your pet at a boarding facility, arrange a pet sitter, or even bring them along with you? Whichever option you decide this holiday period, there are a few basic must-do’s before you begin your holiday: • Vaccinations – Ensure your pet is up to date with their vaccination. Boarding facilities request that your dog has had a Kennel Cough vaccine at least two weeks prior to their stay. • Heartworm prevention – Monthly preventatives or even a Proheart heartworm injection that lasts twelve months is a great idea. • Flea and tick prevention – Apply / administer flea and tick preventatives at least two weeks before you travel, especially if you are going into known paralysis tick regions. Remember to reapply at correct intervals. • Microchip details – Just in case your pet decides to escape or take a holiday of its own, ensure that their microchip details are up to date. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and ID tag that includes your mobile phone numbers. Research your destination: When planning your holiday, learn about your destination and accommodation. Check that your accommodation includes secure fencing and search for access to dogfriendly areas such as beaches, parks and walking

tracks. Don’t forget to read local council regulations and make sure you have the contact details of the closest Vet should your pet require medical attention. Make yourself familiar with the local hazards, especially paralysis ticks and known snake regions. Travelling in the car: Get your pet ready for car travel well in advance. If your pet is anxious during car rides, it is best to be prepared. If your pet is drooling, panting, yawning or trembling they may be uncomfortable. Start with very short trips, praising them when they show calm, relaxed behaviour. As they improve, progress to longer trips. If you have a pet who dislikes car trips, you can get them used to the car environment by feeding them treats or

their meals near the car while it is parked – make it fun and slowly but surely build them up to the travel experience. Praise them when they show calm, relaxed behaviour. Other tips include: • Not feeding your pet for approximately 4-6 hours prior to travel (water is fine) • Plan regular, short breaks for your pet to get out the car, ensure they have fresh water • Ensure there is plenty of fresh air (open the windows or an air vent) • Remember that pets have sensitive hearing so limit loud music while travelling • Talk to your Vet if you feel your pet would benefit from calming medications. This will need a trial run before you head off on your holiday, so prepare this well in advance. Travel safety: Restrain your pet in the car. Unrestrained pets are distracting to the driver and are a potentially dangerous projectile if the car suddenly swerves, stops, or is involved in an accident. Cats or small dogs should be placed in a secure carrier and seat belt harnesses used for medium or large breed dogs. Place animals on the back seat or cargo area if you have a wagon, never the front passenger’s seat due to airbags. Pets shouldn’t be allowed to stick their head out of the window due to the risk of injury especially to their eyes. Happy travels. For more information contact the team at Greencross Vet Coreen Ave on 4731 3055.

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

2021, a year in review and how it may affect you in 2022 With Steve Beard Select Mortgage Broker

2021 is done and dusted and everyone is hoping 2022 will be a better year in many ways. And what a year it’s been. We’re now living through the most extreme government intervention in financial markets in history. It is wise to review some of the big picture things shaping the world around us and hopefully figure out how to best position our portfolio and assets in order to take advantage of the coming changes. The continuation of covid was expected and has played havoc in the main street economy but as with all crises over the past 40 years, the predictable response by the RBA has been to drop interest rates to stimulate the economy. Each time this has caused a spike in financial markets – and the struggling retail and hospitality industry is juxtaposed against the all-time highs in both the stock and property markets. The economy has a lot of moving parts though, and the attempted management of it always throws up a few unintended consequences to keep us on our toes. We have seen multiple supply chain shocks through the pandemic which raises questions about some of the shortcomings of globalization and just-

in-time inventory management. Beginning from the difficulty in sourcing PPE for front line staff at the beginning of the pandemic, to the current difficulties in sourcing steel and timber for construction and to the narrowly averted Adblue diesel fuel shortage in the transport industry. Of course, it is impossible to understand what is happening in Australia without looking at the world around us. Incredibly 40 percent of all US dollars ever in the history of America were printed in the last 12 months and in October the House of Representatives passed legislation to raise the debt ceiling again to avoid default in December. Then in April the Federal reserve discontinued weekly updating of the M1 and M2 money supply series with Chairman Powell explicitly stating that money supply is unrelated to inflation…! You can’t make this stuff up as this is the exact opposite of traditional economic theory. Of course, the inflation figures came out in April at a disturbingly high 4.2 percent (well above their 2 percent target) when we were told that inflation was “transitory”. They have been anything but transitory with the figures creeping up ever since most recently coming in at 6.8 percent and the highest level in 40 years. Whether that has been to the increase in money supply, a supply-side shock due to the shipping crisis or a combination

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of both has been a matter of debate amongst money managers and capital allocators. In many ways, Australia is a microcosm of the other major industrialised economies and we have ventured down the path of money printing as well. Globally the central banks and governments have added $15 trillion USD in ‘stimulus’ packages in order to soften the blow of COVID-19. This equates to around 17 percent of global GDP. Given that global debt in 2019 already stood at $250 trillion it doesn’t take a genius to guess that all of it is borrowed. Borrowed money is effectively future demand and consumption brought forward to the present. There have been many times in history that this has played out from Weimar Germany, Nixon taking the USD off the gold peg in 1971, the Black Monday share market crash of 1987, the GFC in 2008. Each time it caused a boom in property prices as generational wealth was transferred from creditors to those that held hard assets like property and precious metals. I don’t expect this time will be much different. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 4739 4500, 0403 166 207 or beards@selectgrp.com. au if you want to discuss your situation or have any Home Finance questions that I can assist you with.

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local news

or the first time, local Penrith residents can gain a competitive edge to jumpstart a career in the banking industry, thanks to a new virtual course in Certificate IV in Banking Services offered through TAFE NSW. The financial services workforce is expected to grow by another 28,000 workers by 2025, with over 2800 banking positions currently advertised on online employment marketplace, Seek across New South Wales. TAFE NSW Head Teacher Alex Arfanis said graduates develop realworld skills in financial services, banking products, and compliance to meet industry financial regulations and hit the ground running. “We’ve seen the banking industry undergo a rapid transformation in the last two years to meet increased customer demand for digital services and a shift to flexible working as a result of COVID-19,” said Ms Arfanis. “Offering the course via virtual delivery opens access to regional NSW and enables students to develop strong digital literacy skills, including the ability to work collaboratively virtually. “There is a significant digital literacy skills gap in Australia, with over 87% of positions in Australia now requiring these skills. TAFE NSW is creating a pipeline of workers with the confidence to navigate the

changing work environment, with greater flexibility to find the job that best suits their lifestyle.” Former Qantas employees Julie George and Gary O’Riley (pictured above) have embarked on a new career in banking after completing a Certificate IV in Banking Services in November. Ms George said after 30 years flying together, they both realised their skills in the sky weren’t going to get them

jobs on the ground. “First we enrolled in a computing course at TAFE NSW Bankstown to update our computing skills. A teacher pointed out we had transferable skills that would suit the banking industry,” said Ms George. “Three weeks into the course, lockdown hit, and we moved to virtual delivery. I’d never used Microsoft Teams or Zoom before, but the transition was seamless. Each day

was different, and I felt so connected to my teachers and fellow students. I now feel 100% confident that I have the digital skills to work flexibly.” Mr O’Riley has already secured a Customer Service Consultant position with Bank Australia and said learning virtually prepared him to perform successfully in online interviews. “What makes this course exceptional was the teacher’s ability to support and engage each student. They go that extra step further, helping you create a resume and assisting with job applications,” said Mr O’Riley. “Banking isn’t something I had considered, but learning banking terminology and developing skills in how to sell products and services gives you a solid grounding for an entry-level position. “If you’re thinking about a career change, bite the bullet and consider the Certificate IV in Banking Services. You won’t get better support and encouragement than the TAFE NSW team to start your new career.” The Certificate IV in Banking Services can be studied virtually full-time or part-time from anywhere in NSW and is currently open for enrolment. To learn more about studying the Certificate IV in Banking Services at TAFE NSW, visit www.tafensw.edu.au or 13 16 01.

Brave Beatrix! COVID-19 vaccinations for 5 to 11-year-olds commence

to reduce her risk of catching COVID-19 and reduce the spread in the community.” NSW Health vaccination clinics

“

I think if there’s anything we can do as parents to keep our kids safe, we should do it, and that’s why I haven’t hesitated to get my daughter vaccinated. Beatrix’s mum, Carly

“

ix-year-old Beatrix was one of the first children aged five to 11 to receive her COVID-19 vaccine in western Sydney. Vaccinations for the age group have commenced with parents and carers urged to book their children an appointment as soon as possible. “My vaccine didn’t hurt! It was quick and easy. To everyone out there, get vaccinated,” the six-year-old said afterward. “The nurse showed me exactly what vaccination she was receiving, then talked to Beatrix and administered the vaccine,” followed Beatrix’s mum Carly. The Pfizer (Comirnaty) children’s vaccine is the approved COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 – 11 years in Australia. The dose is around 1/3 of the dose for people aged 12 years and older. Children will receive two doses of the vaccine, given 8 weeks apart. In certain circumstances, the second dose can be brought forward to 3 weeks after the first dose, including: • in an outbreak response • prior to the initiation of significant immunosuppression • before international travel. Consent is required from a parent or guardian at booking and at the appointment. If the parent or guardian

WSLHD Granville Vaccination Centre Kids start getting jabbed. Left to right: Carly and Beatrix 6 years old

is unable to attend the appointment, a nominated accompanying adult can be identified during the booking process. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said vaccine will be made available for the roughly 720,000 children in the age group across the state. “More than 18,000 kids aged five to 11 have caught COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, which highlights why vaccination is so important,” Mr Perrottet said. “We saw a great vaccination

response for children aged 12-15 years, so we hope parents will book in their younger children before they start or go back to school.” Beatrix’s mum Carly says she didn’t have any concerns about getting her daughter vaccinated as she’d read the information available to the community from trusted sources. “I’d say to other parents, if you’re thinking of getting your kids vaccinated and you’re not sure, read trusted sources like NSW Health. I wanted to get my daughter vaccinated

across the state are administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children. Parents can book their child’s appointment at a range of centres including general practitioners, community pharmacies, and NSW Health clinics.

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

Considering a career in local banking?

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

local news

Local actress shines brightly By Noel Rowsell

ate Jirelle is a young actress, writer, producer and educator, with an extensive and impressive resume and reputation in the entertainment industry. Born in Penrith and raised in the lower Blue Mountains, Kate attended Hazelbrook Primary School, then St Columba’s College, Winmalee. Kate attended the University of Notre Dame (Bachelor of Marketing & Public Relations) - Awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Medal - School of Business. Kate was also awarded with a 1st Year Scholarship at Notre Dame and attended the Australian Catholic University (Master of Teaching – Secondary), which she completed in 2 years. Once in the entertainment industry, Kate has worked regularly, underlining her quality of performance and a strong work ethic. Kate’s personal highlight reel of performances includes appearing in the Australian feature film, ‘Love You Like That’; the short film ‘Trespass’ which included a lead role and which was filmed primarily in the Jamistown, Penrith district; also the feature film proof of concept – ‘The Home’ which is still in post-production. In 2021, Kate was employed as a children’s chaperone for ‘Born to Spy’, ensuring the wellbeing of the children appearing on the show. This involved liaising with directors, assistant directors and production coordinators, to ensure the children were only working the legal maximum amount of hours and getting their mandated breaks, etc. Kate was also working on set of the Russell Crowe

Kate Jirelle in The Tame Painter. Photos supplied

film ‘Poker Face’ as an academic tutor, for one of the young actresses in the movie who was sitting her Year 12 / VCE exams at the time of filming. Kate would meet with the young actress on her ‘off days’ of filming to help her study and supervise some exams. Not content with just appearing on camera or assisting with cast, Kate also began writing and producing, including a short film called ‘Meet Cute’ for a group of actors in Queensland. Kate is currently in the early stages of setting up her own independent production company ‘Riegen Creek Creative House’ and is in early pre-production with a few scripts she is working on producing through that brand. In her biography, some of Kate’s earliest memories take place in the living room of her grandparents’ house, as her Nanna and Poppy regaled her with tales of times and people long since past. If there’s one particular gift her grandparents gave her, it was that no person or experience is ever lost, as long as there are those on earth who endeavour to tell the world about them.

Kate Jirelle

It is perhaps understandable Kate is building her career on the telling of stories. From copywriter to teacher, to actor, screenwriter and producer, Kate is building a life aimed at using words to both educate and inspire others, by using her talents to share the beauty, honesty and complexity of the human experience. In addition to Kate’s own favourite roles, she has appeared in several successful short films, including the role of Pandora in ‘The Tame Painter’ - a multiaward-winning film produced by Travelling Circus Productions. Kate’s portrayal of Pandora won the ‘Best International Supporting Actress’ award at the Prodigy Film Festival. In May 2019, Kate was also voted as runner-up in the Most Promising Actress of the Month competition, which had been run by Star Central Magazine. Kate’s success in the entertainment industry is helping further lift the profile of both Penrith and the lower Blue Mountains and her ongoing journey through the entertainment industry promises to be an ongoing pleasure to watch.

The Good Place a great fit with Penrith’s positive community vibe

local personal trainer has joined forces with one of his clients to bring a unique café – with a focus on genuinely healthy food, community service and environmental sustainability - to the people of Penrith. The Good Place is unique in that its 100% gluten-free menu uses ingredients sourced directly from local regenerative farmers, along with a commitment to community and environment that includes hosting clean-up days, minimising waste by composting organic matter to grow their own micro-herbs in local community gardens, and providing expert education about health. Business partners Amie Reid and Joe McManus, launched The Good Place Penrith on Derby Street, Kingswood, on January 12. “The more we exposed ourselves to the philosophy of The Good Place, the more we felt, ‘This is really cool’ and we couldn’t wait to get going,” Joe said about the venture. “The fact that we want people to know where their food comes from, how it’s produced, and ideally learning about the farmers who are growing food that supports and regenerates the land, I think that’s something that everyone is loving. “The more we tell people what we’re doing, the more interest that it sparks - people we tell about it, our close friends, the fitness community around here, they all think it’s a unique thing and quite cool to start in Penrith, because there’s nothing really like it around here.” Amie and Joe began talking about opening a genuinely healthy cafe together at the start of last year – Amie was Joe’s fitness client, and they both

have a passion for health and fitness. “My two kids were getting older, I was exercising more, and I struggled to find good clean healthy food myself, so I started to look into how I could make this type of food more available,” Amie said. Along with sit down meals and take away, The Good Place Penrith will provide healthy “grab and go” meals to cater for the busy workers in the precinct. The Good Place operates with the “Green Caffeen” initiative, whereby customers buy coffee in returnable cups. It is also one of few businesses of its size that has a full-time staffer dedicated to reducing the chain’s carbon footprint.

Amie and Joe are bringing that vibe to Penrith, educating locals about wholesome food, and the value of sourcing from local producers who support the environment. “I fell in love with Penrith when I moved here,” Joe explained. “We genuinely believe we can help. Helping people get healthier, helping them move more, not only changing the way they look but changing the way they feel, I know that food plays a big role in that as well, and having somewhere like The Good Place in Penrith just seemed like a nobrainer. “We want our community to be able to buy highly nutritious meals and knowing that they’re not going to get any toxins or additives or any nasty by-products that come with the mass-produced produce.” The community work will include community clean-up days – initially focussed on the Nepean River and surrounds – as well as movement and exercise sessions. They also intend working with niche Indigenous communities and youth groups that need help learning about healthy eating, to impact positively on the Penrith community. “We’re about making people feel good – feeling good that they’re eating nutritious meals, but also feel good about caring for the environment, being part of a community that’s inclusive and supportive,” Amie said. “The Good Place is special and unique, in that it puts health, community and the environment as core priorities, and we’re excited to be bringing these good things to the people of Penrith.”

ENTERTAINMENT

By KeRRIE DAVIES

ENRITH YOUTH ORCHESTRA (PYO) has evolved into a high-quality symphony orchestra for talented school-age musicians since it was established in 2015. A partnership between the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO), Penrith Conservatorium at The Joan and Penrith Symphony Orchestra (PSO), PYO rehearses and performs four times per year under the guidance of Artistic Director, Dr Paul Terracini. PYO ACADEMY They are thrilled to announce the prestigious weekend intensive program, PYO Academy will return in Term 1, 2022! Delivered in partnership with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, PYO Academy runs over the course of three days and led by renowned violinist Aiko Goto. The weekend will culminate with the opportunity for students to play as part of a full Symphony Orchestra, as well as the String Ensemble or Woodwind, Brass and Percussion Ensemble. After the irregularity and time online of the previous semesters, this is an invaluable chance for PYO participants to have in-depth experience, playing alongside the best of the best.

ACADEMY DIRECTOR - AIKO GOTO Aiko Goto is passionate about teaching and sharing her love of music with young musicians and in 2012 established the ACO Academy, held in July each year. She is also a mentor for the ACO Emerging Artist Program and ACO Collective. INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS No audition is required to join PYO. They encourage all applications, even if students are well above or slightly

below the recommended minimum standard guidelines. Places are allocated according to

performance standard and ensemble experience. Applications are open to all instruments, however PYO is particularly seeking talented, Viola, Double Bass, Oboe, Bassoon, French Horn, Tuba, and Percussion students. The recommended minimum standards are: Violin: Grade 5 AMEB | Suzuki Book 5 or equivalent Viola: Grade 3 AMEB | Suzuki Book 3 or equivalent Cello: Grade 5 AMEB | Suzuki Book 4 or equivalent Double Bass: Grade 3 AMEB | Suzuki Book 3 or equivalent Woodwind, Brass & Percussion: Grade 4 AMEB or equivalent To apply head to: https://form. jotform.com/202941885960061

2022 DATES PYO ACADEMY

TERM 2

TERM 3

TERM 4

Friday

Sunday

04 March

05 June

07 August

06 November

Saturday

Sunday

05 March

12 June

14 August

13 November

Sunday

06 March

19 June

22 August

20 November

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

Penrith Youth Orchestra: 2022 applications now open!

OUT N ABOUT with Malama

To advertise in Nepean News or request your event to be added call Malama on 0416 203 777 OR EMAIL: sales@nepeannews.com.au

Throwback to 2020 Penrith RSL. Happy Australia Day!!

3 LEGENDS IN CONCERT Don’t miss the chance to relive all the great memories and all the great songs when these three music legends come together for one show only! NORMIE ROWE AM was Australia’s first King of Pop with hits including “Shakin’ All Over”, “Ohh La La” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So” and starred in a myriad of stage shows including “Annie”, “Chess”, “Evita” and as Jean Valjean in “Les Miserable”. He has done it all. DINAH LEE (the Queen of the mods) is a New Zealand born singer with hits including “Don’t You Know Yockomo”, “Reet Petite” and “Do The Blue Beat” and is acknowledged as New Zealand’s greatest musical import to Australia. JADE HURLEY OAM dubbed by Johnny O’Keefe as Australia’s King of Country Rock is Australia’s very own Piano Man with the unique record that every record he has released has achieved gold, platinum and double platinum status.

THIS IS NO TRIBUTE SHOW … THIS IS THE REAL DEAL

Vesna Pervan Quilting Queen reading Nepean News in Henry Street Penrith.

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OUT N ABOUT with Malama

To advertise in Nepean News or request your event to be added call Malama on 0416 203 777 OR EMAIL: sales@nepeannews.com.au

My88, Penrith’s radio station turns one!

Happy Birthday My88! Penrith’s very own radio station celebrated its first year milestone as the new year dawned. Playing the best decade in music 24/7, they’ve kept us entertained throughout a challenging year. A big congratulations to Richard, Wayne and Leona. The eighties was arguably the best music decade in history. As disco faded out it was all about, pop, hip hop / rap, new wave and hair metal. Bands broke up and lead singers launched solo careers, Australian rock bands dominated the decade along with more one hit wonders than any other era. The eighties produced mega-stars including Madonna, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, Phil Collins, George Michael & Cyndi Lauper. Mega bands like Duran Duran, Culture Club, Wham, U2, INXS, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Guns and Roses. Australian bands AC/DC, Australian Crawl, Midnight Oil, Icehouse, Crowded House, Mental as Anything, Hoodoo Gurus, Men at Work, and the Divinyls shone. My88 is the place to get your eighties fix - it’s your home of the 80’s! Tune in!

AUSTRALIA

MAZE

Classes starting February 2022 • Sit n sew (now on) • Patchwork • Machine embroidery • Beginners • Kids classes (in school holidays) Classes are 8 per class only Our hours: Monday-Friday 9am-4pm Saturday 9am-1pm

97b Henry St, Penrith | 47 114 114 (previously Penrith Patchwork)

SUDOKU: EASY

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

SUDOKU: MEDIUM

ENTERTAINMENT

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

SOLUTION: 7 January EASY

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Delights (9) 6 A gesture of indifference (5) 9 On the beach (7) 10 Elongated squares (7) 11 Voter (7) 12 A bar or pub (7) 13 Meryl Streep and Judi Dench (9) 15 US symbol (5) 16 Not stale (5) 19 Non-indulgence (9) 22 Laughed an unpleasant laugh (7) 23 Playacted (7) 25 From Italy (7) 26 An installment of a TV series (7)

27 After the eighth (5) 28 Maintained (9)

down 1 A stage (5) 2 Sincere (7) 3 Travel repeatedly between 2 points (7) 4 Detection device (5) 5 Enclosed displays (9) 6 Quiet (7) 7 Raving (7) 8 Light and delicate (9) 13 Fondness (9) 14 League-wide results (9) 17 Restrain (7) 18 Diabolical (7) 20 Strange or rare objects (7) 21 Sometimes happens to toenails (7) 23 Stalks (5) 24 Fearful anticipation (5)

solution 7/1/22

SPORT

By Noel Rowsell

59-year old veteran golfer David McMillan is the patriarch of a family golfing dynasty, which currently includes three generations. David began his golfing journey as a 9-year old playing at Hurstville GC, eventually played off scratch as a young man and now, 50 years on from his introduction to the game, is still playing off single figures with a current handicap of 3. David’s family moved to Mt Druitt in 1972 and he joined Dunheved GC as a Cadet. In 1983, David completed his apprenticeship as a Golf Professional, working at Dunheved GC. Golf took a back seat to his growing family in 1987 and David did not return to golf until 2002. He re-joined Dunheved as an amateur then, in 2015, also joined the fledgling Twin Creeks CC. Over his golfing career, David has won 9 x Mixed Foursomes Championships, 2 x District Mixed Foursomes Championships, 7 x Men’s Foursomes Championships and 2 x Matchplay Championships. 34-year old elder son Chris plays off a handicap of +1 and began his golfing career at 15, having spent his younger years playing cricket. Chris won the Cadet Championship at Dunheved in his first year, also taking his handicap down from 14 to 6 within 12 months. Over the next 4 years, Chris would win 2 x Junior Championships and 2 x Junior Matchplay Championships and, at the age of 18, was playing off an impressive handicap of 2 and won selection to Dunheved’s Major Pennant team. Chris played Pennants for Dunheved from 2008 – 2017, receiving 3 x Undefeated Medals and also winning a Division 3 Pennant in 2015. During the years from 2008–2017, Chris won 3 x Colt Club Championships (U23), 2 consecutive Club Championships, 2 x Foursomes Championships and 3 x Len Howlett Championships. Chris joined Twin Creeks CC in 2018 and has since played Major Pennants each year, winning the Division 2 Pennant in 2019 which elevated the Club to the prestigious Division 1 in 2020. 25-year old younger son Justin plays off a handicap of 1 and also began his golfing career as a 9-year old. His playing resume of victories is the envy of most golfers, with his wins including the Encourage Shield, 2 x Junior Club Championships, 2 x Junior Matchplay Championships, 1 x Foursome Championship, 2 x Matchplay Championship, 1 x Club Championship and a Division 3 Major Pennant title – all of the above at Dunheved GC. Since joining Twin Creeks CC, Justin has also won the Glenmore Cup, South Creek Cup, 3 x Club Championships, 2 x Foursomes Championships, 1 x Matchplay Championship and was also a member of the 2019 Major Pennant team, which won the Pennant and subsequent promotion to Division 1. The new kid on the block is 9-year old Hunter, who began swinging plastic golf clubs the day he started walking in 2018. At the age of 6, Hunter played in the US Kids Australian Sydney tour, gaining 2nd and 3rd placings in his first session. In 2019, Hunter had his first victory at Twin Creeks, along with 3 x 2nd place, 2 x 3rd place and 2 x 4th place finishes that year. As a member of the Jack Newton Junior Golf (JNJG) Foundation, Hunter also competed in the Under 12 State Championships that year, finishing in the Top 20. 2020 featured a personal competition with his own handicap, reducing it from 42 to 32 in just 12 months.

Photo supplied

Chris McMillan (Twin Creeks). Action photos by Noel Rowsell

Justin McMillan (Twin Creeks)

David McMillan

Hunter McMillan

Hunter also competed in the State Age Championships, taking out the Nett title, then played again with the US Kids tour and winning a 2nd place. 2021 has seen Hunter drop his handicap from 32 to 20, also placing in the Top 3 place-getters in 7 of

the US Kids tour events. Hunter’s 5-year goal is to get down to a +2 handicap and father Chris is supporting him all the way, with the pair hoping to win a father/son event and also play Pennant Golf in the same team at Twin Creeks.

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

Twin Creek’s golfing dynasty

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

SPORT Twin Creeks Dana Byrne the Golf NSW Champion of Champions By Noel Rowsell

ana Byrne (New South Wales GC / Twin Creeks GCC) has claimed the 2022 Manly GC and Golf NSW Women’s Champion of Club Champions title by an impressive eight shots. Thirty-four Ladies from across NSW competed in the 36 Hole, 1-day stroke event, which was held on Monday 17th January at Manly Golf Club. Dana was one of four women in the field who were dual Club Champions in 2021 and playing in this year’s event. She won the Club Championship at New South Wales and was also crowned Club Champion at Twin Creeks. Dana’s 2-round score of 149 gave her a winning margin of 8 shots over runner-up Maddie Woodley (Concord GC), who had been the first round coleader. Stacie MacDonald (Merewether GC) finished in third place with a total of 162. “The course was perfect and I really enjoyed the day with my playing partners,” said Dana. “I can’t wait to be back here again next year.” Samantha Hamilton (Penrith GC) was the next best among the western Sydney contingent, shooting rounds of 92 /85 to finish on 177. “Manly is such a tough course,” said Samantha. “There are bunkers and hazards everywhere waiting to catch a loose shot but I played much better in the 2nd round.” Juanita Robb (Glenmore Heritage Valley GC) shot rounds of 97 / 97 to finish on 195; Margaret Haworth (Leonay GC) shot 109 / 109 for 218 and Claire Bradley (Springwood CC) shot 106 in her first round, before retiring with an injury.

Dana Byrne (Twin Creeks CC) is the 2021 Golf NSW Champion of Club Champions. Photo supplied.

Our other 4 local Club Champions who also competed in the Champion of Champions tournament at Manly GC. Photos supplied. Juanita Robb (Glenmore Heritage Valley GC); Samantha Hamilton (Penrith GC); Claire Bradley (Springwood CC), Margaret Haworth (Leonay GC)

Waratah Showjumping opens the calendar at SIEC

Action from the Waratah Showjumping at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. Photos by Noel Rowsell

he Waratah Showjumping Inc. 3-day event opened the calendar at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC) over the 15th-17th January. Staged over 2 arenas on all three days, the event was heavily promoted on Facebook with regular updates over all 3 days. With the Australian Championships approaching

rapidly in February, Edwena Mitchell organised the January Waratah Showjumping event to provide a good hit-out for the competitors headed for the national event. The prestigious Chatham Park 1.50m Grand Prix was held on Saturday and attracted a strong field of 14 riders, who are all going to the national championships in February.

All of the main competitions were held on both Saturday and Sunday, with Monday provided as a quiet, relaxing day with less pressure on both riders and horses. For a full analysis of events and results, the link to Waratah Results on Facebook is www.facebook. com/Waratah-Showjumping-496768987335799

SPORT

By Noel Rowsell

ourteen young golfers from western Sydney and the Blue Mountains competed in the 2022 Harvey Norman Sydney Week of Golf last week, which was co-sponsored by Taylormade Golf. This event is one of the world’s only 90-hole, 5-day tournaments and attracts many young golfers hoping to gain invaluable tournament experience. 280 players faced the starter, playing at 5 different suburban golf courses over the week, beginning at Cabramatta on Monday, Liverpool on Tuesday, Brighton Lakes on Wednesday, Cumberland on Thursday and finishing at Muirfield on Friday. Dunheved youngster Coby Carruthers and Stonecutters Ridge junior Kade Webber both looked possible winners mid-week but did not put their best game on show on day 4, slipping down the leaderboard. Coby recovered to eventually finish in 4th spot overall and 3rd in the 16/17 Boys Age division, whilst Kade finished 7th overall and 5th in the 16/17 Boys Age division. The next best were Blake Hodges (Dunheved) and Darcy Mackay (Stonecutters Ridge) who finished in a tie in 15th position overall and tied for 4th in the 14/15 Years Boys Age division. The best finish in the Girls overall results was Sayaka Iwatani (Twin Creeks CC) in 8th spot, whilst Annoushka Maikap (Stonecutters Ridge)

www.westcare.org.au

Annoushka Maikap (Stonecutters Ridge GC) finished 3rd Scratch and 1st Nett in her age division at the Harvey Norman Sydney Week of Golf - file photo by Noel Rowsell

finished 3rd in the Scratch results in the 12/13 Year Girls Age division and 1st in Nett. The full list of local players in the event is: Stonecutters Ridge GC - Annoushka Maikap, Kade Webber, Ryan Cadle, Joanna Lee, Darcy Mackay, Jackson Northey; Dunheved GC / New

South Wales GC - Blake Hodges; Dunheved GC / Concord GC – Coby Carruthers; Penrith GC – Riley Cleminson, Brent Gadd; Twin Creeks CC – Sayaka Iwatani; Wallacia CC – Noah Reitsma; Wentworth Falls CC – Harry Daniels; Concord GC – Tyler Nesci (Leonay)

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

Young golfers busy week of action

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

SPORT

Carruthers late rush earns high reward By Noel Rowsell

he 2022 Harvey Norman A.C.T. Week of Golf was co-sponsored by Taylormade Golf and it proved to be a tournament tailor-made for the outstanding Australian and NSW Junior Champion Jeffrey Guan (The Australian GC), who led from start to finish to claim the Boys’ Division by a staggering 17-shot margin. Guan’s opening round of 6-under 66 set a benchmark which ultimately proved out of reach for all, in what must be emphasised was a tremendously high-quality field. The maximum handicap limit was set at 2.2 but even when many of the male players were on plus handicaps, Guan once again stood head and shoulders above his opposition on a +5 handicap. The best performance from the small but talented group of western Sydney golfers would be the everconsistent Coby Carruthers, who lives in Jordan Springs and is a member of both Dunheved and Concord GC’s. Carruthers had a start to forget in the opening two days, shooting 76 and 75 to be back in a tie for 11th, 14 shots behind Guan. Two high-quality final rounds of 69 / 69 would elevate Carruthers past all

Coby Carruthers (Jordan Springs / Dunheved GC / Concord GC) in action during December 2021. File photo by Noel Rowsell

but one of his rivals (that being Guan) into 2nd spot on a score of 289. Kade Webber (Stonecutters Ridge GC) was in 2nd spot after the completion of Day 2 and was always in the top 5 over the 4 days, eventually finishing in 5th spot on a score of 294. Guan, Carruthers and Webber would also finish 1st, 2nd and 5th respectively in the 16/17 Years Boys age group. Tyler Nesci (a Leonay resident and member of Concord GC) also looked in contention for a Top 5 finish early in the week, before fading slightly to finish tied for 11th, whilst Darcy Mackay (Stonecutters Ridge GC) finished in a tie for 38th. In the Girls Division, Grace Lee (a Glenmore Park resident / member of Concord GC) grabbed the initiative on Day One, shooting a 1-under par 71 to hold a share of the lead with Ella Scaysbrook (The Australian). Lee would struggle on Day 2, shooting a disastrous 13-over par 85 to drop back to 9th spot. She would however show plenty of character to shoot good rounds of 73 / 75 on the final two days to move back up into 7th spot overall and 4th in her 16/17 Years Girls age group. Sarah Hammet (Emerald Lakes GC) would ultimately take out the Girls title with a score of 291.

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PENRITH PANTHERS

SPORT

Christian Crichton in action for the Panthers in Round 25, 2018.

By Panthers Media

enrith Panthers is delighted to announce the signing of Christian Crichton on a oneyear deal for the 2022 season. The 25-year-old winger made his NRL debut at Panthers in 2018 before spending the last three seasons at Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

The older brother of Panthers centre Stephen Crichton, Christian has been training with the Panthers squad on a train-and-trial contract since December. “It’s always satisfying when we have the opportunity to bring local juniors back to Panthers,”

Panthers General Manager Rugby League Matt Cameron said. “Christian has a strong connection with our playing group, our club and our community. “There’s no doubt his signing adds valuable depth to our NRL squad for the upcoming season.”

Panthers is home for me says Kenny By Panthers Media

enrith Panthers is delighted to announce Mitch Kenny has signed a two-year contract extension with the club. The 24-year-old hooker has committed to Panthers until at least the end of 2024 season. “I’m completely stoked because Panthers is home for me,” Kenny said. “The people at this club have shown faith in me from the very beginning and been patient with my

development. I give them so much credit for making me the player and the person that I am today. “It feels awesome to know that I’ll get to keep putting on the Panthers jersey and representing our community.” A local junior with Windsor Wolves who progressed through the club’s development pathways, Kenny has played 36 NRL games for Panthers since making his first grade debut in 2019. “Mitch has shown patience and dedication in developing his

www.panthers.com.au

game over the last few years and we are thrilled to reward him with a contract extension,” Panthers General Manager Rugby League Matt Cameron said. “He is a well-liked and highly respected member of the playing group, and there is no doubt his best years are still ahead of him. “We consider Mitch a shining example for every young player in the Penrith district, and across the game for that matter, in regards to what can be achieved through hard work and perseverance.”

Nepean News 21 January 2022 Issue 321

Christian Crichton signs with Panthers