Nepeannews 23november2017

free Thursday, 23 November 2017

ISSUE 214

Your Local Knockdown Rebuild Specialist

w w w. z a c h o m e s . c o m . a u

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Touchdown

Local resident and Minster for Defence, Senator Marise Payne has reached an incredible milestone; 20 years in politics.

Read her interview with our Editor, Kerrie Davies on page 9.

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Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

Scrivener breaks down the door for his first professional win

By Roy Fleming

It takes unwavering mental fortitude to believe that a win will come, especially when the gap immediately following your most recent success is a decade.

Back in 2007 when Jason Scrivener won the Australian Junior Championship, Sydney’s median house price was $521,000. Tiger Woods still had a Major win ahead of him (2008 US Open), and John Howard was Australian Prime Minister (we’ve since had four).

Still, the 28-year-old knew his time would come; he just didn’t know when.

Thankfully, he doesn’t have to face that question again.

The 28-year-old West Australian broke through for his maiden professional win on Sunday, winning by seven shots in a result that was closer and more challenging than the scorecard suggested.

Scrivener’s front nine of -3 did all the damage. Although a late surge came from Victorian Lucas Herbert who trimmed the lead to three with a

birdie on 11 and eagle on 12, Scrivener had already broken the backs of all challengers. Eventually, the West Australian cantered home to enjoy his first professional win with a final round of -7 to win the NSW Open by six shots at 24-under.

“It was a weird feeling those last

couple of holes,” he said.

“The first was brutal, I had to stay so focused. Even though I was playing nicely, you never know, especially around here where there’s eagles and birdies to be made but also bogeys and doubles. Only when I got to 17 did I really relax.”

Scrivener’s approach all week was disciplined; clean, and methodical. It was mature and responsible.

He found par-savers when he needed them, a tricky four-footer on the third this morning was immediately rewarded with a birdie at four. It released something, a run of four birdies on the front, and then successive birdies on 10 and 11 and the 15 and 16 to put the matter beyond doubt.

Herbert tried to mount a challenge but said Scrivener was in a class of his own.

“I’m pretty proud of myself playing the way I would’ve liked in the last round,” the Victorian said.

“I said to Jason that’s probably some of the best golf I’ve ever seen. In those conditions, last round pressure – he didn’t miss a shot. So, I’m not too unhappy. Second’s pretty good.”

Lowest amateur was shared by Queenslander Chris Crabtree and NSW amateur Blake Windred, who had the equal low round of the day (along with Scrivener) at -7 in the biggest results of their young careers.

Lucas Herbert

Local talent on show at this year’s NSW Open

By Noel Rowsell

Local 17-year old Amateur sensation Joshua Gadd (Penrith) fell away in the final round to finish with a total of 286 but still thrilled his followers with his shot-making skills and confidence.

Gadd shot 65, 72 and 72 in his first three rounds to be well in contention, before shooting a 77 in the final round to fall back in the field.

NSW Golf also ran a Junior ProAm on Wednesday, with 75 junior players from Clubs throughout NSW and Canberra invited to compete, accompanied by a leading Professional in each group.

The players representing the Penrith district and Blue Mountains were Coby Carruthers (Leonay GC), Blake Hodges (Dunheved GC), Ben Watson (Springwood CC) and Chazz Ritchie (Wentworth Falls CC).

 Coby Carruthers in action during the 2017 NSW Golf Open Junior Pro-Am

 Joshua Gadd in action during the 2017 NSW Golf Open.

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

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By Kerrie Davies

OVER 87,000 voters in the Lindsay electorate wanted their voice heard in the Marriage Equality postal vote, with 56 per cent saying Yes and 44 percent saying No. Nationally, 62 percent of voters returned a ballot in favour of the law changing to allow same-sex couples to marry and 35 percent voted against.

Over 12.7 million voters across the country took part in the postal survey that many predicted would have a low return rate.

The result was quite different in the neighboring electorate of McMahon, which includes St Clair and Erskine Park but stretches to Fairfield. Voters there  Glenmore Park residents James Whelan and Michael Creed are returned a staggering 65 pretty happy with the result percent saying no, while the yes votes only reeled in 35 percent - making told the government that they do wish to see it the third highest No response in the country. changes made.

Although several western Sydney electorates All interested eyes will now be focused on returned a higher No vote than Yes, the overall what happens in Canberra over the coming result is the one that matters so Australians have weeks.

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Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

Lindsay delivers a yes

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Prue Car MP Member for Londonderry

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

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Call 9834 5579 to find out your nearest outlet.

From the Political Editor’s Desk

by Keegan Thomson FOR months now Malcolm Turnbull has been juggling the fallout from numerous Senators and MPs who’ve had to retire due to their dual citizenship.

Watching the debacle unfold I’ve learnt two things.

Firstly, some politicians wouldn’t know what genealogy and family history was even if it hit them in the face. And secondly, I learnt that politicians actually care a lot about their jobs and the people they represent.

All up six Senators have been kicked out of Parliament because of their dual citizenship. There are no by-elections for the Senate so they can’t stand again for their place in the Senate until the next election.

Each Senator who was forced to vacate Parliament due to their mistaken citizenship was given time to address the Speaker about their time in the House. One by one the Senators took to their feet to give a passionate and teary goodbye speech.

One speech that stood out to me as a real plea for compassion was from Jacqui Lambie, one of the most polarising politicians Australia has seen for decades.

Love her or hate her, Ms Lambie fights for a version of Australia she believes in and the Australian people who inhabit it. She vowed to fight against extremism, she swore to fight for veteran’s lives and promised to clean up the nation’s drug problems, all at whatever cost.

Watching her give her farewell speech she looked physically and emotionally wrecked. Her emotions conveyed her love for the job. Her love for serving the people of Australia. She was a woman on fire and she burned for Australians.

I see that same raw energy in the eyes of all politicians I meet. The local MPs, the Cabinet Ministers and even the Councillors. They all do it because they love the job and they love to serve the people.

Your thoughts? keegan@nepeannews.com.au

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Executive Producer, Performing Arts

Penrith Conservatorium Manager

Joan Sutherland Performing Arts CentrE Full-time | 3 year contract

Part-time | 12 month contract

We are seeking an experienced all-round arts programmer with creative flair, excellent project management and delegation skills and broad industry networks to lead and develop artistic, community and cultural growth at one of Western Sydney’s most dynamic and exciting performing arts venues: the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre (The Joan).

A motivated and experienced performing arts producer, the Executive Producer is responsible for development and delivery of the established public performance seasons program at The Joan across commercial and community hires, deals and buy ins.

This role calls for a strategic thinker with expertise across programming, budgeting and production with a view to continuous audience development and innovation, and is additionally responsible for the delivery of pop up events, talks, live streaming, and for developing potential new seasons with a focus on a younger demographic and contemporary music and comedy.

The Executive Producer is an integral part of the senior management team and leads a small team to achieve results in line with the Strategic Plan.

Closing Date: Friday 15 December 5pm (to start before end January 2018) For more information: http://thejoan.com.au/news/

Penrith Conservatorium, housed within the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, has been delivering innovative and outstanding music education since 1990. Incorporating the fledgling Penrith Youth Orchestra (a partnership with the Penrith Symphony and Australian Chamber Orchestras supported by the Crown Resorts and Packer Family Foundations), individual tuition and ensemble programs, the Conservatorium is wellestablished and successful with yet to be realised potential.

To that end, we are seeking a leader to spearhead the future development of the Conservatorium. With a brief to develop a three-year strategic plan incorporating new business modelling, this role calls for an experienced manager with expertise in music education, change leadership, business development and community engagement.

Working across PP&VA teams to draw synergies between the Conservatorium and music performance, presentation, education and community programs at The Joan, the Conservatorium Manager will be future-focussed whilst maintaining an agile management across current programs of activity.

Closing Date: Friday 15 December 5pm (to start before end January 2018) For more information: http://thejoan.com.au/news/

Flood funding

SOLD BY

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9834 1044 NEPEAN DISTRICT

Stuart Ayres

MP

Member for Penrith

Stuart Ayres MP, Member for Penrith has announced that Penrith City Council has received two NSW Government grants totalling $537,000 to help protect Penrith from flood risks.

The NSW Government’s Floodplain Management grant program provides funding to councils to help manage local flood risks.

“This funding helps reduce the impacts of flooding on our community,” said Stuart Ayres.

“We want to help council protect residents and their properties from the impact of flooding.”

Penrith City Council propose to undertake a detailed local overland flow study for the Emu

Plains locality and continue the Nepean River floodplain risk management study and plan.

These projects are two of 51 to share in more than $7 million as part of this round of Floodplain Management grants funding.

This grant program supports councils, which hold the important role of managing their communities flood risk, to undertake priority projects to assess the risks and provide increased levels of flood protection in NSW. For more details and project descriptions visit: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/coasts/ Floodgrants.htm

Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

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Lions club reaches 100 year milestone

By Keegan Thomson

THE Lions Club International is turning 100 this year and the Emu Plains branch of the club are celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2018.

Jim Devine, the Publicity Officer at the Emu Plains branch of Lions, said he is proud to be a member of such a community minded club.

One of the most unique things about the Lions Club is that they encourage their members to try new things and learn new skills. Mr Devine is an accountant by trade and he said he was shown new leadership roles when he joined the Lions.

“We are all encouraged to get outside our comfort zones to learn new skills and get more experience doing something different,” Mr Devine said.

Being an accountant Mr Devine said he assumed he would fall into a role with treasury of the club. At the time they already had a Treasurer so he became their publicity officer. From there he was given the role of running the local branch’s website as their Webmaster. Then came his favourite role as Chairman of the Youth of the Year contest.

One of the challenges facing the local Lions Club is funds. They’re desperate to raise more funds so they can give back to the community. One way you can give back to the Lions is through their chocolate wheel fundraisers each Saturday morning in Westfield Penrith Plaza.

“We’ve done some maths and across our whole time doing the chocolate wheel we’ve raised more than $750,000 and all of that money

has gone back to the community,” Mr Devine said.

All of the money raised through the Lions Club goes back to the community and is donated to someone who is in need or less fortunate.

“A few years ago we put some money together to help a boy in a wheelchair,” Mr Devine said.

“But we organised to get him a wheelchair that allows him to stand upright.

“It is always great to be able to help out people in the community, in anyway possible,” he said.

If you want to give to the Lions Club to help them continue their community work you can donate at their chocolate wheel in Penrith Plaza each Saturday morning.

If you want to become a member of the Emu Plains Lions Club you can contact Jim Devine on 0427 110 061.

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Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

Safety first at James Erskine

Win this quilt A beautiful quilt that was hand-made in Penrith by Lorraine Kool and her team of volunteers at Do Your Block For Charity has been donated to the Penrith National Servicemen’s association.

This team makes quilts and donates them to be raffled to raise funds. The material alone on the quilt is valued at over $700 and as you can imagine it has taken many hours of labour to produce.

You can purchase a chance to win the quilt and at the same time help raise much-needed funds to support our local Nashos.

Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5 and the winner will be drawn on the 8th December and the winner will be notified.

Tickets can be purchased from Maureen Gildart on 0448 983399.

Students of James Erskine Public School are now benefiting from the installation of new safety infrastructure around local schools as part of a statewide program.

Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey alongside Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies said the improvements to pedestrian infrastructure around schools in the region would make it safer for children walking in the area.

“The $5 million program is being rolled out across 132 schools around the state and is part of the NSW Government’s $10 million boost to

school zone safety,” Mrs Pavey said.

“Every school in the region already has at least one set of school zone flashing lights installed and these upgrades will only further enhance the safety of our local children.

“Since 2013, there have been no child pedestrian deaths in an operational NSW school zone and these upgrades will further protect our children, especially during the busy school drop off and pick up times.”

Tanya Davies said she was pleased Mulgoa has benefited from the Liberal & National Government investment to provide important infrastructure to

protect the students at James Erskine Public School.

“Improvements at the school include fencing and kerb extensions around the pedestrian crossing,” Ms Davies said.

“It’s also still vitally important to remember that we all need to play our part in keeping pedestrians safe – always obey 40km/h school zone speed limits and keep an eye out for children who might run onto the road unexpectedly.”

The number of pedestrian deaths in NSW so far this year stands at 41, which is 12 less than the same time last year.

Beware! Snake season Snakes are more active in the warmer months and we see a large number of snake bites at this time of year. Snakes are generally timid creatures and stay away from humans and pets. It is often our inquisitive pets that seek out snakes and tend to lead to problems. Dogs are generally at highest risk of being bitten but cats are also susceptible, especially those that like to hunt.

In the Penrith area we tend to see 2 main types of venomous snakes; either red belly black snakes or brown snakes and both types of snake bites are potentially fatal.

The brown snake tends to cause more neurological symptoms such as collapse and difficulty breathing.

The red belly black snake is more likely to cause haemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells).

However, either snake can cause both symptoms with disastrous consequences if left untreated.

If you suspect that your pet has been bitten by a snake, try to keep your pet calm and relaxed and seek veterinary treatment as soon as possible. The sooner your pet is seen by a vet, the higher the chances of a recovery. Snake venom can transfer onto our skin and can enter our blood stream, if the bite site is known do not touch the area. If a bite

is suspected using gloves can avoid contact with venom.

Identifying the snake can help with treatment and prognosis. If possible taking a photo can be helpful, but, never try to catch or kill a snake. If we are unsure if your pet has been bitten or unsure of the snake type, a snake bite detection test can be performed on your pet’s blood or urine.

Treatment involves the administration of an antivenom. Antivenom is very expensive and can mean treatment for snake bite is costly. There are

combination antivenoms that can be given if the snake species is not known. Other medications and stabilization with IV fluids is also required.

Complications including kidney failure and immune mediated disease can occur after a snake bite and animals can die despite treatment.

Snake bites can be reduced by minimizing areas where snakes are most likely to hide. These include wood piles, clutter and long grass.

If you have any questions or concerns please call Coreen Avenue Veterinary Clinic on 4731 3055.

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

Phone 47 313 055

Senator Marise Payne: an incredible 20 years in politics THEY say a week is a long time in politics, imagine the stamina required to last 20 years.

Politics is certainly not a career for the fainthearted. While armchair critics love to label our political representatives as overpaid underachievers living a cruisey lifestyle, the reality is really quite different. The pay packet might be decent, but the actual hourly rate isn’t so great when you consider that a hardworking successful politician often puts in double or triple the hours of the average worker in this country.

It is also a mammoth responsibility; every decision made will have consequences for entire communities, or the whole nation.

Add to that the pressure of saying the right things all day every day and being continuously judged by social media for the way they look, dress or spend their private time, and you’d find that most of the critics wouldn’t last five minutes.

Local resident and Australian Defence Minister, Senator Marise Payne has chalked up 20 years in politics, an incredible journey that began with her filling a casual vacancy as a NSW Senator in the Australian Senate in 1997.

Over the last 20 years Senator Payne has served on numerous committees, held several Shadow Minister positions and been appointed as the Minister in two different portfolios. Her current role as Minister for Defence has seen her enter Federal Cabinet.

Last month I was honoured to be among hundreds of friends, family and colleagues who gathered to celebrate Senator Payne’s two-decade milestone. It was more than an acknowledgement of a successful career; it was a celebration of Marise the person, a trailblazer who has carved a name for herself through sheer guts and determination.

Senator Payne has never had a road paved in gold before her; she’s had to work incredibly hard to show her worth. She has risen to where she is today through her loyalty, patience and dedication, I met with her recently at the stunning Settlers Cafe in Mulgoa to have a chat about the last 20 years.

Australia’s 53rd Defence Minister truly is amazing.

If you were to list all of the qualities and abilities she has on a piece of paper, you’d run out of space pretty quickly. She is a person who has proven herself competent on every level, she’s one of the most articulate orators in politics and a fabulous role model for women across the country.

KD: Casting back to 1997, where did you see that your career would take you at that point in time?

MP: I think it’s really hard to have a final view or a target at that time. I always hoped that I would be appointed in some capacity as a Minister. It didn’t happen for quite an extended period, but I loved what

I did; absolutely loved being a Senator and did a lot in the international affairs space, so I wasn’t particularly worried about it. When I became the Shadow Minister for Housing in 2010 I was really happy about that.

I felt it was a great achievement, in fact I was rapt.

Following that, on becoming the Minister for Human Services I was very happy. Being appointed the Minister for Defence is the most extraordinary honour I could ever have imagined.

KD: Was the Defence Portfolio something you ever thought attainable, given that it is a space that has always been male-dominated?

MP: It’s an interesting question. I was at a meeting of ASEAN Defence Ministers in the Philippines recently. Twenty or so Ministers were in the room and only two of those were woman. I was one of them, as was the Minister from India. India, as the world’s largest democracy has a newly-appointed female Defence Minister. I think that says a lot about how the world is changing. Following my recent 20 year celebration, one of my friends who attended sent me a quote from Robert Menzies from 1943: “There is no reason why a qualified woman should not sit in Parliament or on the Bench or in a professorial Chair, or preach from the Pulpit or, if you like, command an Army in the field.” My friend who sent it had been a reservist for 51 years, which is an extraordinary contibution to service. I just smiled to myself when he gave me that, and thought to myself, “it’s no wonder I became a Liberal, Robert Menzies really got it.”

KD: You’re quite the role model for females wanting to succeed in politics - or women in general really - but I think that the respect that you’ve earned is not just symptomatic of your success, but also in the knowledge that it has been no easy road to get there: it has taken sheer determination, loyalty and patience. Do you think that’s an accurate assessment and how seriously do you take the position of female role model?

MP: I think it is an accurate and fair assessment, it is probably not one I would use myself, because I don’t like talking about myself. It took a lot of

patience. When people ask me what I have learned across 20 years of elected politics, one thing I have learned most is in fact patience. There are always times when you have to do a self-critical check to make sure that the path is still ahead, and I’ve done that more than once in my life.

As for being a role model, sometimes I’m surprised by people thinking that. But then I look around and I think... actually not a lot of people have done this.

So I suppose it does qualify me in that way. I had quite significant role models myself. The number of Cabinet Ministers in the history of federation stands at 380, of which 357 have been men. I am one of 23 women, and I also fall into the category of people who have done something for the first time; that being Australia’s first female Defence Minister. I am very honoured, and very proud of that. I hope that the phrase, “you can’t be what you can’t see” works for some people. If they look at the job that I’ve been given the honour of doing, and the jobs other women are doing, I hope they are thinking, “I can see that so I can be that.”

“

There is no reason why a qualified woman should not sit in Parliament or on the Bench or in a professorial Chair, or preach from the Pulpit or, if you like, command an Army in the field.

Sir Robert Menzies, 1943

“

By Kerrie Davies

KD: Are there any particular moments over the last 20 years that stand out above everything else?

MP: Being sworn in as a Senator on day one was pretty amazing, as was being at Yarralumla being sworn in as a Minister twice by the Governor General. Recently though, I was at the War Memorial for the Last Post ceremony with eleven WWII veterans. Those blokes were so nice to me, they were so generous in their words and in what they said to me - and I was the one who was incredibly honoured to meet them. So every day that something like that happens, I pick those out as special days.

KD: What can you tell us about your upbringing and your WWII veteran father’s influence?

MP: When I meet veterans like I did just recently, they often remind me of my father. If he was still alive he would be 101. His service in WWII in New Guinea and New Caledonia shaped a lot of my views of Australia and the world. He had a passion for current affairs and international issues which I think I absorbed. Either that or it was in my DNA! He didn’t live to see me appointed to the Senate; he died in 1994. But the fact that as a soldier he fought for the way of life that we enjoy now, and that I am now Australia’s Minister for Defence, leading our Armed Forces, is an extraordinary synchronicity I think, and that makes me pause and think every day.

Editor’s note: If I had that piece of paper I mentioned earlier with her qualities listed it on it, I think I’d put “humility” at the very top. People from all walks of life - and might I add, all sides of politics - warm to Marise immediately. I have been able to observe her at numerous local events over the years and the level of respect for her is off the chart. She is literally in charge of an entire army and yet when speaking with any one person, their story matters to her.

She is genuine, down-to-earth and most importantly, she is real.

Congratulations on your magnificent milestone, Senator Marise Payne.

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Withdrawal woes: no more getting off at Redfern

By Keegan Thomson

NSW LABOR has hit out at the Liberal government over the roll out of a new public transport timetable Penrith MP Stuart Ayres says the changes will mean the majority of people will be better off.

Pure Car, MP for Londonderry has called the new timetable “bad news” as it was revealed Blue Mountains-Penrith-Central express services will no longer stop at Redfern.

“This is a huge loss for people travelling into that employment hub of Redfern and also I’m getting a lot of complaints from students who study at the University of Sydney who get off at Redfern,” Ms Car said.

The Nepean News facebook page has been flooded by complaints about Redfern being cut from the express service including some readers who are worried their morning commutes might be extended significantly.

NSW Labor’s candidate for Penrith, Karen McKeown said commuters could be forced to add an extra 20 minutes on to their commutes from Penrith due to the changes with the express services.

Stuart Ayres, MP for Penrith admits there will be some disruptions but says additional commuter times of 20 minutes won’t be the case.

“For those travelling from Glenbrook to Redfern for example, while they have to change at Parramatta to access Redfern, peak journey times have increased by as little as 4 mins,” Mr Ayres said.

“Fitting in an extra 1500 weekly train services into the existing network has had to mean some slower journey times but customers now have more choice, more reliability and less dwell time at stations.”

A Spokesperson from Transport for NSW has

 Jodi McKay MP, Prue Car MP, Cr Karen McKeown. Photo: Keegan Thomson

also quashed these concerns. They said commuters will not face any longer commutes with 150 daily services from Penrith to Redfern.

“Travel times between Penrith and Redfern will be similar to today on most services. In fact, some western line services will be faster than they are today,” the Spokesperson said.

The revamped timetable will include a train every seven and a half minutes in the morning peak and will include more trains across the weekend on the T1 western line.

Transport for NSW said the new timetable is based on evidence that says people catching the Blue Mountains-Penrith-Central express from Penrith get off at Central rather than Redfern.

“The new timetable employs an evidence-based

approach, considering high priority factors like customer feedback and opal data which shows us where and when our customers are travelling,” the Spokesperson said.

“For example, in the weekday morning peak, five times as many customers from Blue Mountains stations are travelling to Central rather than Redfern which is why we’ve prioritised Central Station for Blue Mountains customers.

“While we recognise some customers will go through some change, we know that the majority of customers will be better off with more services more often,” they said.

You can find more information about the timetable changes coming into effect on November 26 at www.transportnsw.info or by calling 131 500.

Councillor Carney to have another crack at Mulgoa

By Keegan Thomson

FOR the second time round Todd Carney is having a crack at the NSW electorate of Mulgoa in the upcoming 2019 NSW state government election.

Mr Carney will now spend the next 15 months battling it out with the Liberal incumbent, Tanya Davies, for the Mulgoa seat.

This is the second time Mr Carney has tried to unseat Mrs Davies after his unsuccessful election bid back in 2015. He said he’s currently figuring out his election campaign approach.

“There are a lot of things I want to do the same this time round, like door knocking, phone calls and community engagement,” Mr Carney said.

“But there are also some things that I want to approach differently. There are some new angles to my campaign, and in particular there are new things to be campaigning on.”

Since he last ran for election there have been a lot of developments in western Sydney, including the Western Sydney Airport and the incinerator at Eastern Creek. With this in mind Mr Carney said he wants to “get the best deal for the people”.

“There are outstanding things that need addressing. The incinerator still needs to be rectified. It is a shadow over the heads of the people and it needs to be knocked off,” Mr Carney said.

“Over the next 20 years we are going to see so much growth here and I will make sure that we’re not duped.”

One thing Mr Carney is worried about is the current state of the TAFE system. He says there are students graduating TAFE without appropriate and

 Todd Carney with his family and Opposition Leader Luke Foley. Photo: Facebook.

proper education.

“TAFE is really important and we need to protect it. Getting into TAFE is getting out of reach because of the costs and the impacts of a loss of classes,” Mr Carney said.

“Students aren’t receiving the training they need and they’re graduating with less education hours under their belt so employers I’ve spoken to are

reluctant to put on TAFE students.

“We need to make sure we have a high class public education and TAFE system for our kids so they can remain competitive in the workplace,” he said.

Mr Carney was last year elected to the Penrith City Council where he represents East Ward. He said his time on Council has given him a bit more perspective and has opened his mind.

“Being on Council brings the issues to the forefront. It highlights what you need to do to make an issue better for the people,” Mr Carney said.

“People like it when you speak to them about why you’ve made a certain decision on Council.

They might not like what you’ve done but you gain the respect of the community through talking with them,” he said.

Even though this is his second time round, Mr Carney said he wouldn’t be able to do this without the help of his family and his in-laws.

“I have a fantastic family. No one could run for parliament without a supportive family in the background. I want to thank my wife Sharon and my kids Zach, Illy, Indie for the support over the coming months,” Cr Carney said.

We might be 15 months out from the next NSW state election but Mr Carney says he has the stamina to keep door knocking and phone calling until the close of the polls.

“I just want to be out there in the community, door knocking and making calls. Politics is all about the community so I want to work hand in hand with them,” Mr Carney said.

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By Keegan Thomson

MORE sacred soil from Werrington House and from a former World War One recruiting station has been collected for a special installation at the new War Memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney.

St Marys Sub-branch members, politicians and local school children gathered to collect the soil from Werrington House last week.

This week, in the drizzling rain, State MP for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies collected two bags of soil from Mulgoa Public School, which will be added to 1700 other dirt samples collected from across the state in the new War Memorial in Sydney, opening next year.

Mrs Davies was joined by Councillor Jim Aitken, Gary Scott from the Penrith RSL sub-branch and six students from Mulgoa Public School to collect the soil.

“It is a wonderful day today because students from Mulgoa Public School are able to participate with the War Memorial soil collection,” Mrs Davies said.

“This collection spot represents the place where young men, who were just a few years older than the students

today, gave up their lives to fight for our freedoms and their country.”

The soil collection site at Mulgoa Public School is but one of the many collection sites across the Nepean, including Memory Park in Penrith, Dukes Oval, Llandillo and Werrington House.

Next year the 100 years of Anzac will come to an emotional close after the commemorations for the 100th Armistice Day is observed on November 11, 2018. The closing of the centenary of Anzac will include the

opening of the new memorial in Hyde Park, the place where the collected soil will feature.

Mrs Davies said the sacred soil collected from Mulgoa and across the region will cement the 100 year legacy of Anzac and the sacrifices made by the people of the Nepean during the Great War. “The centenary of Anzac finishes up next year and this memorial plaque in Hyde Park is going to be an on going legacy for the men who’ve come from places like Mulgoa,” Mrs Davies said.

Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

Soil samples collected for special Memorial

11

“Many young men gave up their lives to make sure we have the freedoms we have today.

“Every bit of soil represents the lives that were given up for the causes of freedom. It is special and needs to be treasured,” she said.

Mr Scott said the sub-branch is very pleased to be apart of the soil collection ceremony.

“Anzac is a very special occasion for the RSL, the sub-branches and the community. It is great to be able to participate,” Mr Scott said.

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Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

Ms Husar wants inclusive classrooms in local schools FEDERAL MP for Lindsay, Emma Husar, welcomed Canadian Politician Jody Carr MLA to her electorate to chat about inclusive education and how Australia can improve disability services at school.

Ms Husar hosted Mr Carr to discuss what Australia can learn from Canada’s current education model.

Mr Carr was the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development during the development and implementation of Canada’s award winning Inclusive Education Policy of 2013.

Together the politicians shared the stage at the National Symposium on Inclusive Education to discuss where Australia stands in the inclusive education space and where it is heading.

“Labor wants an education system that is truly

inclusive, where schools have the funding and support necessary to meet the needs of students with disability.” Ms Husar said.

“It isn’t fair that parents and carers have to fight to get their children included in schooling and to get their needs met.

“We need an education system that treats every child well and supports the dignity, rights and well - being of all children who live with disability,” she said.

Canada’s province of New Brunswick adopted a legally - binding policy on Inclusive Education in 2013. It forbade segregated settings in schools and targeted it for all children, not only those with disabilities.

 Emma Husar MP with Jody Carr MLA. Photo: Supplied.

50 years of serving the community Member for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies MP has congratulated St Clair resident (Anne) Lesley Daly upon celebrating 50 years of service as a Justice of the Peace.

Tanya proudly presented Lesley with a certificate of acknowledgement on behalf of the NSW Government for her service.

“Celebrating 50 years as a JP is truly a remarkable achievement, I congratulate Lesley on reaching this special milestone and for the decades of service to our community,” Tanya Davies said.

As a Justice of the Peace, Lesley has played a vital role in the legal system and the Mulgoa community.

Lesley first became a Justice of the Peace as a requirement of her employment and has gone onto assist hundreds of Mulgoa locals.

“Back when I applied to become a Justice of the Peace, the process was very different to how it is today. I had to visit the MP’s home to have my paperwork signed, and then police officers came to my house to conduct my police check,” Lesley Daly said.

Lesley continued, “Once the application was processed and approved, I was officially sworn in as a Justice of the Peace at Darlinghurst Courthouse. I was the only woman sworn in that day, amongst dozens of men.”

“I commend and thank Lesley for her invaluable commitment, dependability and service to the Penrith region over the course of the past 50 years.” Tanya Davies said.

Council catch up with Keegan Thomson COUNCILLOR Greg Davies is a veteran of the Penrith City Council.

First elected to Council in 1995 he has served three terms as Mayor and also as Deputy Mayor. He he a proud Westie and a supporter of local jobs and sustainable living for the people of western Sydney.

Something that Cr Davies says will bring local jobs and economic growth to the region is the Western Sydney Airport at Bedgerys Creek.

Cr Davies has said during past Council Meetings that he sees the airport as a “done-deal” and because of this he wants to make sure the people of Penrith get the best deal possible.

“From the beginning of my life as a Councillor my aim has always been to create a lifestyle for people here,” Cr Davies said.

“I want to help create jobs out here, close to where people live, so that they’re not stuck in traffic travelling to work for an hour and a half each way every single day.”

One of the very first things Cr Davies did when he was elected to Penrith Council was to advocate for the creation of what is now the Erskine Park business and industrial area.

Proudly Cr Davies said when he started on Council in 1995 there were 33 jobs for every 100 employable persons in Penrith. Now he boasts there are 62 jobs per 100.

Some of the increased job growth in Penrith can be traced to the teamwork ethic of the Penrith Council. The teamwork mentality and selfless approach is something Cr Davies appreciates most about the current make up of Council.

“All in all I think this is a good Council make-up,” Cr Davies said.

“In the whole time I’ve been on Council we’ve never really had the internal political fights that are notorious with other Councils. Most of our decisions

will be unanimous because we all care about Penrith and put the people first.”

Despite the collaborative nature of Council there is one shadow looming over Council’s decision making processes; IHAPs. The Independent Hearing and Assessment Panels (IHAPs) will remove most of the Council’s development approval abilities. It is causing concern to many Councillors in Penrith but none are more vocal than Cr Davies.

He has stood up at numerous Council meetings deploring the IHAPs and their impacts on Council and the community.

“Currently we have got a number of residents from Werrington who are concerned about a development happening near them.

They’re writing to Council and voicing their concerns in a democratic way,” Cr Davies said.

“They are raising their concerns with Councillors, which we will be attempting to address but if this was after March 1, 2018 we would no longer be able to do that and they would be out in the cold.

“The residents will have no say at all. They’ll have to go to their local MP, who will have no say, or they’ll have to go to IHAPs, but we’ve got no clue who is going to make up the IHAPs and how people can engage with them,” he said.

The State Government wants to crack down on corruption and they state the IHAPs will help that. Cr Davies said by leaving DA decisions in the hands of the developers on the IHAPs there is no way to be certain that corruption will be stamped out.

“IHAPs are supposed to be a prevention to corruption, however when the development industry makes up the IHAP boards and elected Councillors are left out of the conversation, I fail to see how it is stamping out corruption,” Cr Davies said.

“We can’t simply let democracy be thrown away because the people will be the worse off for it,” he said.

Christmas spirit in a shoe box

By Keegan Thomson

CHRISTMAS charity runs strong through a team of local entrepreneuring women who are sending handmade Christmas gifts overseas to disadvantaged children.

Barbara Vanderheyden, Helen Cousins and Sue Armour lead a team of women to sew their way through hundreds of shorts, skirts and dresses for disadvantaged children overseas each Christmas. This year the Christmas donations are being sent to Madagascar.

Each year the women, who are all based around the lower Blue Mountains and the Nepean, fill thousands of shoe boxes with their knitted gear and send them off to vulnerable children who might not be lucky enough to celebrate Christmas.

The aim is that a disadvantaged child will receive a shoe box filled with goodies and love.They do this through the charity initiative Operation Christmas Child.

The shoe boxes include a handmade totes bag, hand stitched clothing, school supplies, a knitted teddy, health supplies and some jewellery for the girls. All these goods are either bought brand new by the women or are made with sourced materials.

Mrs Vanderheyden said it is a labour of love for all the women involved in their donation efforts.

“We do this because it is a way we can give

back and spread some love to disadvantaged communities,” Mrs Vanderheyden said.

Each week across the year the women will get together to sew up the thousands of pieces of clothing, soft toys and tote bags that are put in the shoe boxes.

Mrs Armour says she loves to be doing something that matters, by helping children in need, but she also loves the group sewing time she has with her friends.

“We bond over our work,” Mrs Armour said.

“We have a chat, enjoy a cuppa together, do some sewing and just connect with one and other.

“We also have the radio on so we’re always cracking into a song or two as we stitch, knit and sew,” she said.

These charitable deeds are apart of the Samaritan’s Purse campaign, Operation Christmas Child.

Currently the women’s nearly 3000 shoe box donations, filled with lovely knitted goodies, is heading on a container ship to Madagascar.

They’ve got a few weeks respite but they’ll be back at it in January.

“We start to collect things around the back to school sales,” Mrs Armour said.

“That way we can collect all the school books and pencils and pens for the children for the following Christmas.”

If you want to contact Sue Armour about donations or sewing materials you can call her on 0418 972 521.

13 Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

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 Some of the hand knitted toys. Photo: Keegan Thomson

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nepeanhistory

14 Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

“Toonerville” – the war awakes a country town

....Continued from last issue

T

his was the Toonerville which the House saw doze and while away the long days of the 1850’s, 60’s and 70’s. By the 1880’s the track that the bullock teams had stamped down was a main cottagebordered highway. The town had begun to feel a little conscious of its old village hand-me-downs. The village took on what dignity was available. It had the district declared a municipality in May 1890. While Toonerville was growing from a resort to a village into a town climbing to its peak, Australia was growing from a colony to a young nation. As the 1880’s ended, factories hungered for raw materials. The House was watching Toonerville approaching its boom and a picturesque heyday. Tanners and woodcutters poured in regularly to spend lavishly. Andrew Thompson’s two tanneries along with Armstrong’s, Desborough’s, Hamilton’s, Martin Brell’s, Harford’s, Jones’, Millin’s, Paskin’s these tanneries brought real money into the town and the two sawmills of Frederick Andrews’ and GarnerAndrews and George Turner’s. The workers who could not get a foot on the rail at the Stranger’s Home, Shane’s Park Inn, the Volunteer, the Commercial or Harford’s, could get a glass of milk from a thriving dairy industry. James Hall, Andrew Thompson and J. K. Lethbridge ran successful dairies.

Local establishments to these bigger industries were turning money over in the little town. Grandpa James Bennett had started his wagon building in 1875, by the 1890’s was sending them all over Australia.

The Sainsbury’s and Benjamin Loveday were carpenters, building many of Toonerville’s houses with the Dollin’s as bricklayers. Andy Morrison and Jim Hope were baking Toonerville’s bread, and J. H. Beacroft the butcher selling meat from the other Beacroft’s Maria Farm. Hackett’s were farming too. Toonerville was at its 1890 into the 1900’s peak. By 1902 Toonerville had its own grim fight - the drought which knocked the dairy industry and it began to nod again.

Two tanneries drifted out early in the 1900’s and old families began to leave. A few of the bigger families sold their estates. The House itself was out of Lethbridge hands for a time. John Harris, Phillip Parker MacArthur King owning it, between times Sir Henry Parkes living in it. Toonerville was almost asleep again when the Great War broke and this nudged the town and it woke to another peak.

Fortunes were made by the tanneries in the war. Bennett was “the

 Werrington House

best-known wagon-builder in Australia,” sending wagons as far as America and South Africa. But when the war ended Toonerville quickly lapsed again into its country quiet. By 1920 most of the wood mills stopped. Only the wagon building flourished. By 1925 motor trucks were in and wagons out. By 1928 Pat Bennett says there was only repair work on wagons. But now Toonerville will sleep no more. Modern industry has come to stay and members of the old families are already working at the district’s new factories.

With a huge home building project talked of, Toonerville is at its biggest peak and the House on the Hill can see it wide awake and climbing”. P.S. Boo Eddy was directing Toonerville comedies made by the Betzwood Film Co of Philadelphia based on a comedy comic strip called “Toonerville Folks” from 1918. The films were popular in the picture houses in Australia.

Sources - “Frank Capra: The Catastrophe of Success” - By Joseph McBride. Photo is of Werrington House (the House on the Hill).

(This is not the full transcript) Lyn Forde – Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc.

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By Conner Lowe

All schools love to have new equipment for their students and Colyton Public School is in need of an upgraded playground. The school has over 600 students and with wonderful staff they deserve to win the upgraded playground.

Currently the school is involved in a competition to collect as many cosmetic bottles and containers to recycle in a chance to win the new playground. The competition to win the playground is held through Garnier and Teracycle. Teracycle are the company who recycles these cosmetic products to make the playgrounds and are supplying the winner with a playground worth $42,000. This would be a great addition to the Colyton Public School students and staff.

Teachers and staff are organising drop off locations for these cosmetic containers and bottles at the school and also at New Dimensions Health Club located at 280 Beames Avenue, Mount Druitt.

Products that will be accepted for recycling are as listed below.

Cosmetic packaging such as used lipstick and lip gloss, mascara, eye shadow, bronzer, foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow, lip liner, and concealer packaging.

Hair care products such as used shampoo and conditioner bottles and caps, hair gel tubes and caps, hair spray and hair treatment packaging.

Skin care packaging such as lip balm, face moisturiser, face and body wash soap dispensers and

Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

Colyton Public School needs your help

17

Amanda Toby-Smith New Dimensions Gym Mount Druitt and Leonay (On left) Students, teachers and parent Yesim Gulasi (on right)

tubes, body and hand lotion dispensers and tubes and shaving foam packaging.

Yesim Gulasi, a parent of Colyton Public School spoke about how they need the playground and what they have been doing in order to collect these used containers.

“This school, students and teachers are just amazing and I wanted our little voices to be head and for us to be able to collect empty cosmetic bottles,” she said.

“The more bottles we can post the better chances we have to win this playground worth $42,000 and I have put posts up on Facebook as well as gone house to house to collect as many bottles and containers as possible.”

“We can also collect points through voting online, every day we are allowed to vote once,” she added.

The competition closes on the 8th of December. To vote for Colyton Public School and help them win the new playground just go to: http://goo.gl/PxtbpN

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e n t e r t a i n m e n t

Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal celebrates thirty years of helping those in need

Residents from Penrith are continuing the tradition of giving through the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal.

Kmart Penrith have officially launched their annual Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal aiming to help thousands of Australians in need at Christmas and beyond.

Celebrating 30 years of giving, Australian’s largest and longest running gift collection Appeal, together with The Salvation Army, will once again support countless children, adults and seniors at a time where support is need most.

The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal has collected

more than eight million gifts over the past 29 years and could not be a success without the support of the local community.

With more than 2.9 million Australian’s living in poverty, all Australian’s are encouraged to dig deep and help us celebrate 30 years by giving to the Appeal in store or online.

You can give to the Appeal by: 1. Placing a gift under the Wishing Tree at any Kmart store nationally* 2.

Add a little extra to your transaction by clicking the Wishing Tree logo on the self-serve checkouts 3.

Drop your spare change in a coin collection box at any register 4. Take a bauble tag off the Wishing Tree and scan the barcode at any register to contribute 5.

Give online at kmart.com.au/wishingtree The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal draws to a close on Christmas Eve. *Gifts do not need to be purchased at Kmart nor do they need to be wrapped.

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Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

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e n t e r t a i n m e n t

Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

Queen of Hearts family Christmas appeal

By Conner Lowe

It’s almost that time of year again where family and friends get together and enjoy a wonderful day of great food, gifts and wonderful memories.

However, not all people get to enjoy this on Christmas Day and that’s why the Queen of Hearts Community have decided to put together 16 Christmas Hampers to give out to families who are victims of domestic violence.

The Queen of Hearts Community Foundation is a registered charity that provides Trauma informed practice Counselling, Case Management and advocacy to the community who have experienced Domestic Violence and/or trauma from childhood sexual abuse in the Penrith Local Government Area and it’s immediate surrounds.

They are currently seeking help from the community for gifts, Woolworths gift cards, wrapping paper, small gifts for teenagers from 1317 years of age, clothing, tinned food and anything that will help the hampers. There are two drop off locations for gifts at Stuart Ayres office on High Street, Penrith and at the Queen of Hearts office on Henry Street, Penrith.

The adopt a family Christmas appeal will stop on the 17th of December so the families can receive their hampers on the 19th just in time for Christmas.

Michelle Ellery, the Founder and CEO of the Queen of Hearts Community Foundation spoke about how they are trying to grow the family appeal and what families receive the Christmas hampers.

“The families that receive the Christmas hampers

are Victims of domestic violence and are struggling financially and need the help of the community to make Christmas a happy day.” She said.

“This is the second year for the annual family Christmas appeal and we are hoping to grow it bigger every year, looking for assistance from the community and businesses to help with gifts,

vouchers and anything that will help brighten up a family on Christmas day.”

If you want to help and make a contribution to the Queen of Hearts family Christmas appeal then purchase any food vouchers, small gifts or Christmas decorations and drop them at the drop off locations to help the families in need.

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finance and real estate matters

Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

PERSONAL DEBT KEEPS INCREASING TO DANGEROUS LEVELS With Steve Beard Select Mortgage Broker

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently looked at household debt levels around the world and singled out Australians as having one of the highest proportions of debt to the Gross Domestic Product (income) of the country.

Our personal debt (excluding business and governments) is now 100 percent of the national income of Australia. Most other advanced economies debts are around 50 to 63 percent of their nation’s income.

Also, our personal debt as measured against our personal incomes has risen to dangerous levels. We now owe almost twice as much as each household earns each year.

Most of our debt has been on the back of higher perceived wealth due to our homes having had great capital gains over the last 6 years. Currently people think they have more wealth so they are borrowing more for personal items and property, with the intention of repaying the debt once their property is sold in the future.

For those who have their home as the only property they own, this is a dangerous game to

play unless you are prepared to sell your Sydney home and relocate to a cheaper inland location in the future.

If you don’t have any property, borrowing large amounts for cars, holidays, weddings etc and using credit cards to live on and pay for your consumer items is far more risky and dangerous.

My advice is that it is best not to get yourself into situations of increasing personal debt, regardless of how much your home is worth. As I have said in previous articles, if you can’t afford to pay cash for personal items like holidays, weddings and new furniture etc, then just don’t buy them, especially if you have a reasonably high home loan debt or pay rent.

Cost of living has been increasing for essential items like electricity, gas, some food, education and government charges etc so people with kids on average incomes are feeling a strain on the cash flows. This is because these costs of living have been rising greater than the average incomes.

Personal debt is so high that the average household is spending 44 percent of their income to service their home loan. If interest rates were to increase by 1 percent then they would have to spend 55 percent of their income to service the same home loan.

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Mortgage or rental stress is generally defined as when it costs more than 30 percent of your income to service your housing costs. So the current 44 percent is already way too high and is the biggest contributor to the overall stress felt by too many households currently.

My advice is to always be ready for harder times that may come around the corner. Don’t rely on credit cards to live, have a buffer of extra repayments in your home loan and a buffer of cash put aside for rainy days.

Christmas is almost upon us. If you don’t have savings to use to pay for your gifts, then don’t do what 55 percent of Aussies do and put extra debt on the credit card and try to pay it off later. Be wise and reduce your spending to match your income and don’t go over what your budget can afford. Better to spend quality time with your loved ones over Christmas than to buy them gifts that you can’t afford to pay for.

This information is of a general nature and you need to get expert advice on what is the best type of loan for own circumstances.

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26 Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

BEHIND THE STUMPS

with Stew Moses @TheRiffMarn

Castle’s 100 fails to deliver as Black Cats remain winless in 2017-18 Penrith run of outs in the Belvidere Cup continued losing by 35 runs in their Round Five clash against defending first grade premiers Sydney University at Howell Oval last Saturday.

Resuming on 0/3 going into Day Two, the Black Cats raced to 0/48 but lost momentum leading into lunch, losing 5/36.

Despite a timely 54 from the previously out of form Jona Sammut, who was batting in the unusual position of seven and a breakthrough innings of 109 not out from the skipper Michael Castle, Penrith were not able to overcome University’s 320.

The University side found themselves in early trouble on Day One at 4/83 with former test and state player Ed Cowan already back in the pavilion before an unbeaten 70 from former Black Cat Tim Cummins, steered the away team into a commanding position.

Whilst happy with achieving his initial first grade score over 50 since joining the club last season, Castle says catching and the top order’s inability to do the hard yards required to successfully chase down a decent score, again proved costly for a side still missing Ryan Gibson, Josh Lalor and Ryan Smith.

“It was nice to get a hundred but it was a little bit disappointing that we couldn’t come away with the six points,” Castle lamented.

“We bowled really well last week but dropped a few catches which probably cost us maybe 50 runs in the field, which proved vital.

“There was one tough chance but there was probably two or three fairly standard chances that should have been taken at this level of cricket, which we let slip and unfortunately everyone we dropped went on to get that 40, 50, 60 or in Timmy’s (Cummins) case 70.

“It was one of those games where the catches actually cost us.

“Then today we were in a pretty good position early on but we didn’t quite do the hard work that was required before lunch that would have set us up for the run chase later in the afternoon.

“But we did really well to get as close as we did all considering.”

Castle also admitted it’s time the club’s fringe players stood up when given a chance in the top grade as he looks for the side to more consistent cricket.

“We’ve got plenty of talent in second grade that need to start coming up and taking their opportunities (in the top grade) and look to cement a spot in our first grade squad,” Castle declared.

“But we’ve still got a fairly inexperienced playing group still and it’s a matter of trying to get through to them that to win against good teams, you have got to play six good sessions of cricket.

“I think at the moment we are probably playing three good sessions.

“If we can put five and six good sessions of cricket on the board we’ll win the game.

 Skipper Mick Castle took 1 wicket on Day One before scoring his maiden century for Penrith last Saturday. Credit: 77 Media

“I have every faith that we can do that moving forward, our results will improve.

“But we’ve just got to go back to the drawing board, work a bit harder at training and rectify those little issues that haven’t quite got us over the line in these first few rounds.”

Plenty of credit for Castle’s maiden first grade century for the club, goes to tail-ender Kaine Balgowan, who helped guide his skipper from 66 to 109 in a 48 run last-wicket stand despite scoring just two of those runs himself.

In some better news for the club, Josh Lalor made an unexpected but timely return from injury making an appearance for the first grade T20 team, leading the way with both bat (29 from 20 balls) and ball (2/21) to help the Black Cats remain undefeated in two games with a thrilling seven run win over Western Suburbs at Pratten Park last Sunday.

The win means that with a home double-header to come on December 3 against CampbelltownCamden and the ACT, the club is a real chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

However skipper Michael Castle confirmed Lalor would only be playing the short form of the game at this stage as his prepares to head north to Brisbane for his third and final season with the Brisbane Heat in the upcoming BBL series.

In further good news, Ryan Smith has resumed training and is a good chance to return to the first grade line-up for it’s must win two-day clash with Randwick-Petersham starting this Saturday at Howell Oval.

A good round overall in the lower grades for the Black Cats.

Wins in seconds (3rd), fours (13th) and fifths (outright – now 2nd) was somewhat offset by news that

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third grade (12th) lost, which lifts the club into the top ten of the club championship.

Penrith’s Poidevin Gray are in a reasonable position of making it through to the quarter finals after dual wins over Bankstown the previous Sunday at Bankstown Oval as the competiton heads into its more traditional fifty-overs a side format this Sunday with the Black Cats hosting Campbeltown-Camden at Howell Oval.

The Lady Cats run of wins continues, having won both games over the past fortnight to be undefeated in their last four rounds and knocking on the door of a finals spot having defeated both Northern Districts and Sydney.

Naomi Stalenberg’s maiden 100 for the club (121) was the difference as Penrith scrapped home by one week chasing the away team’s 7/208 before the big three –Stalenberg, Mikayla Hinkley and Lisa Griffith combined for their best win of the season to date, a nine-wicket away win over Sydney.

Griffith and Stalenberg starred with the ball taken four and three wickets respectively before Hinkley scored an unbeaten 77 to steer Penrith home.

Good to see Ryan Gibson who had been out of touch in prior innings in the CA XI’s tour matches against England, find some form in his final innings of the two-game series scoring 49 at the top of the order.

Finally congratulations to Pat Cummins, who is set to receive his first test call up on home soil when Australia take on England at the Gabba starting this Thursday. #LoveTheCats

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Stalenberg Reaching for the Stars

By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

Penrith Cricket Club’s Naomi Stalenberg credits her change in pre-season approach for a recent form surge that has the recently re-signed Sydney Thunder star within reach of a future call up to the Southern Stars squad, despite having just retained the Ashes against England.

Stalenberg in recent weeks has scored back-toback hundreds, including a memorable 114 against a powerful England bowling attack in the recent tour game at Blacktown before following it up eight days later at Howell Oval to score her maiden first grade century for the Lady Cats.

The NSW Breakers player admits her recent performances has given her renewed confidence that she can reach her goal of breaking into the national team.

“It’s been amazing, playing against England and with their world class attack, for me to get those kind of runs is a massive confidence boost,” Stalenberg told Nepean News.

“Getting a hundred in a tour match against England, that has opened the eyes of a few selectors.

“But obviously didn’t get the test call up but that’s OK. “For me it’s about making small goals and achieving those along the way and I definitely will get there eventually and once I get there I want to stay there.

“For now I’m excited to be in contention by

 Penrith’s Naomi Stalenberg with club and Sydney Thunder team mate Lisa Griffith is looking to continue her recent form with the bat in the upcoming WBBL series.

Credit: Penrith City Council.

playing for the CA XI and its really enjoyable playing even more cricket given the limited matches that we get to play in.”

Stalenberg credits the work put in with Sydney Thunder assistant coach Dominic Thornley as being the catalyst for her early-season success with the bat.

“I feel like I have had a really strong pre-season this year and when I bat I feel really calm and collected and I think that’s what’s gone in my favour so far this season,” Stalenberg replied.

“I worked a lot with Dominic Thornley our assistant coach.

“He’s shape my game a little bit differently which has really helped me.

“I’m definitely a lot stronger, having worked really hard on our strength and conditioning this season, which has helped out when out there batting in the middle.

“I’m hitting more balls and working on different shots in the nets with Dom. “I’ve really enjoyed everything that I’m working on with my game.”

Stalenberg will be hoping her current form can continue with the NSW Breakers going into the upcoming final rounds of the WNCL in Perth against WA and the ACT before turning her attention to the Women’s Big Bash League.

The third instalment of the WBBL will once again feature a game at Howell Oval against the Melbourne Stars on December 16, with Stalenberg looking forward to having the opportunity to play in front of her home crowd as recognises the impact such a game provides for the sport locally.

“It’s my club ground, I love it here in Penrith and it’s really good for the community to keep local grounds going around in the WBBL,” Stalenberg said.

“It lets a lot of people see our games and get a good crowd happening.

“It’s really important for the community to get a feel for who we are, what we do.

“It gets a lot more kids playing, they can come down and watch us.

“It’s free entry which is really exciting.

“For us to get to play at local grounds is really important especially for me being in Penrith.”

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27 Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

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Rhiannon’s Penrith homecoming for Ironman 70.3 Having competed at the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) for more than a decade, former national rowing representative Rhiannon Hughes has a special relationship with the Penrith complex and she is hoping her “local knowledge” will come in handy when she competes at the Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship Western Sydney on Sunday 26 November.

The Adelaide based, former nationally ranked sculler, turned triathlete, will get a different view of the Regatta Centre when she competes over the 1.9km swim/ 90km cycle and 21km of the Ironman 70.3 format.

“I have spent a lot of time at the Regatta Centre and it was pretty much my second home. We were always out at Penrith for all of our trials, State and National and all of the competition was done out there. It is going to be weird to be in the water rather than on top of it but that is what attracted me to doing Ironman 70.3 Western Sydney,” she said.

Rhiannon said that after years of training three sessions a day there was a real desire to keep training and find a competitive outlet and triathlon was a natural place to start.

“You need a pretty good engine to row so moving onto triathlon was fairly natural as I was always doing a

fair bit of riding as cross training and also a bit of running. I was going to two to three training sessions a day with rowing so I almost wanted to fill that void,” she said.

Rhiannon’s first triathlon was a local one in Adelaide but she quickly ramped up the distance competing in the standard distance Noosa Triathlon and Ironman 70.3 Ballarat last year.

“I really got a feel for the sport and loved it instantly and of course my competitive nature was always going to be there. I just wanted to take it a little bit further and look for the

next challenge. My ability to train, commitment and ability to hurt was transferable to triathlon and that is certainly what I think has helped me progress as quickly as I have in the 18 months I have been doing it,” she said.

Rhiannon and her fellow triathletes from Adelaide’s Lakers Triathlon Club are joining more than 1200 athletes competing at the Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship Western Sydney looking for personal best or to qualify for Ironman 70.3 World Championship to be held in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa next year.

Strengthen your weakness with Chloe Esposito Another big week of training has ended, now onto the next. We are in more of a routine here in Budapest and finally get to move into our apartment this week, and then it’s really going to feel like home away from home.

Last week we started back our new gym program so myself and my brother (Max) have been in a lot of pain, haha, but the good kind of work out pain, when you know you’re doing the right thing.

As well as a lot of physical pain it was a tough week mentally, as now it’s really sunk in that I’m going to be away from my husband and family for a long period of time, it also doesn’t help knowing that the weather is already cold and just getting cooler. But lucky for Max, Dad and FaceTime I’m able to push through these hard weeks and really focus on why I’m here and what I’m doing.

That’s for all those Wild Panthers back home too, some weeks are definitely going to be harder than others but as long as you have a supportive network around you aka Wild Panthers, family and friends it makes those weeks a little bit easier.

Let’s be realistic we aren’t going to be motivated every day of the year, but it’s those days that we aren’t and push through which help us so much more and you feel so much better for it.

Also setting short term goals is something I do to keep my mind on the job, as if I’m thinking too far ahead I just loose my way and don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.

So first little goal is in 5 weeks, l have my first competition back!

Exciting times! It’s just a small comp which will be held in Poland to get that competition feeling again, and back into it all.

Before I go, make sure you jump onto the Wild Panther Fitness website, and check out all the new gear that you can now pre -order which will be ready early December. And also check out all the existing gear that is on sale!

That’s all from me at the moment but will speak to you soon, keeping you up to date on how it’s all going.

“I am doing Ironman 70.3 Western Sydney and I have Ironman 70.3 Geelong booked in as well in February next year and I will do whatever I need to qualify. I imagine 70.3 Western Sydney is going to be very busy with the Asia Pacific Championship so we will see how it goes,” she said.

As the Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship, Western Sydney now offers 60 qualifying slots to the 2018 Ironman 70.3 World Championship, to be held in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa.

GOLDEN POINTS with Stew Moses

@TheRiffMarn

SALARY CAP ISSUES LOOM IF MALONEY’S THIRD PARTY DEAL IS DENIED Matt Moylan has smoothly sailed off into the sunset having joined Cronulla nearly two weeks ago.

However it’s been anything but smooth sailing for Panthers-bound Cronulla playmaker James Maloney.

Recent comments made by Maloney suggest a third-party arrangement worth a reported $200,000 with Keno, was organised by the Panthers and not his player manager, which goes against competition rules and could be knocked back by the NRL as a result.

Should the Panthers decide to pay Maloney the extra $200,000 if the TPA deal is refused, it will almost certainly mean that a player will need to make way in 2018 to accommodate the extra cap required to sign the Kangaroo representative player.

In fact it could cost more should the Panthers then have to pay some of any released player’s 2018 salary as well as replace that released player with at least a minimum $100K player in the top 30 squad.

The news comes at a time where a war of words has erupted between Panthers RL CEO Brian Fletcher and Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary over the playing future of Nathan Cleary, who comes off contract at the end of 2019.

Cleary senior in a recent interview with NRL.com did not hide the fact that he wanted to work with his son, who recently turned 20, in the future.

“Basically we’re both coming to the opinion that we’d like to play together. It’s just a question of timing really,” Cleary Snr said. “…But we both realise that this situation is a pretty unique opportunity.

“We’re not thinking about it too much right now. Probably in 12 months time, it will be more relevant.”

When asked by the Daily

Meanwhile it hasn’t been the ideal preparation for Kikau leading into this Friday’s semi-final at Suncorp Stadium after being forced to stay in Wellington for two extra nights when customs officials discovered his working visa into Australia had expired.

Fortunately a temporary visa has since allowed Kikau to rejoin the team in Brisbane on Tuesday.

 James Maloney’s third party agreement is set to cause problems if denied back by the NRL. Credit: 77 Media.

Telegraph whether Ivan’s comments were of concern, Fletcher conceded that while Nathan’s loyalty to his father would be “pretty hard to beat”, he also suggested that the playmaker’s decision could come down to whether he wanted to play for a successful club or not.

“Well, we can’t do anything about that. If he wants to go and play with his dad, well, you could understand that too,” Fletcher said.

“We’d do everything in our power to keep him but family loyalty is pretty hard to beat. “(But) just say for instance if Penrith finish in the top four and Wests finish in the last four, do you want to go to a club that is a chance of winning a comp?

“Do you want to go to a club that might not be a chance of winning a comp? Or yes, you go there because it is your dad.”

Penrith prop Reagan CampbellGillard continues to hold down a spot in the Kangaroos 17 ahead of this Friday’s semi-final showdown with fellow team-mate and one of the tournament’s real success stories, Viliame Kikau and his Fijians.

In other RLWC Panthers related news, Tongan hooker Sione Katoa has been selected on the interchange for this Saturday’s semi-final clash with England.

The other piece of the lower grades coaching puzzle was solved with the recent announcement of ISP assistant coach Guy Missio as the new ISP head coach for 2018.

Missio is arguably the most successful member of the coaching staff in the club’s history having missed finals football only once since 2010 in his various roles and has featured in five grand finals (2010, 2014-2017), winning three titles.

In further good news, former player David Simmons will become Missio’s assistant coach.

Another pre-season got under-way last Monday week and a few new faces have arrived, with confirmation Panthers has recruited Bulldogs’ Tyrone Phillips and Adam Keighran, Sharks and Italian RLWC back-rower Jayden Walker, Rabbitohs playmaker Chad O’Donnell and Group Six Campbelltown City Kangaroos winger Joey Peato, on one-year deals with the club.

In other player news, Josh Mansour’s “clone” Lebanese winger Abbas Miski, is reportedly set to join the Panthers on a 16 week

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trial and train contract.

The winger previously played for Souths’ feeder club North Sydney.

Another Panther looking elsewhere for next year is Lachlan Stein, with his management indicating the centre could be heading to the English Super League to resume his career following his standout performances for Scotland in their recent RLWC campaign.

2018 home and away jerseys have been released by new apparel sponsor Classic Sports.

Among the features was the notable new chest sponsor ESQ 1818 Penrith which through Lew Zivanovic’s company, Cabe Developments, is set to become Panthers’ biggest residential and retail property development project and is reportedly due to start construction next June.

A nice gesture with the Panthers social media team paying their respects to AC/DC’s Malcolm Young after he passed away last weekend, given that the Panthers play the classic AC/DC hit Hells Bells as the first grade run-out song at home games.

Following Panthers involvement in last Saturday’s Westfield Penrith Christmas Parade which featured the likes of Peter Wallace, Bryce Cartwright, Isaah Yeo and Dylan Edwards, details of the annual Panthers Members Christmas Party have been announced.

The event to take place on Saturday December 16 from 9:30-11:30pm in The Backyard at Panthers and will feature among other activities a Q&A session with Panthers Executive General Manager Phil Gould AM. #PantherPride

29 Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

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Boost for Penrith as dynamic duo re-sign

By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

Two of the NRL’s most promising talents to emerge in 2017, fullback Dylan Edwards and utility Tyrone May have signed new twoyear deals with the Penrith Panthers that will see the 21-year olds remain with the club until at least the end of the 2020 season.

Originally from Dorrigo in the north of NSW, Edwards progressed through the junior grades at Panthers and was a member of the premiershipwinning NYC side in 2015.

He made his NRL debut the following year before a string of impressive performances in 2017 saw him establish himself as the club’s first-choice fullback, taking over the role from the recently departed Matt Moylan and was even nominated for the Dally M Rookie of the Year Award.

Edwards, who is expecting his first child in 2018, believes a NRL premiership title for the club isn’t too far away for the club and is excited to have the chance to be a part of any such success.

“It feels great - I’m really excited about my future here,” Edwards said.

“The boys are coming closer and closer every year… you come into

 Penrith’s Dylan Edwards and Tyrone May will remain Panthers until at least the end of 2020. Credit: 77 Media.

work with a bunch of your mates every day.

“We’ve got a lot of talent (at Panthers) and hopefully it comes to fruition throughout the next couple of years and we get some really good results.”

Panthers Executive General Manager Phil Gould AM is equally excited to have retained Edwards’s services.

“We are extremely lucky to have such a quality young man at our club,” Gould said.

“Dylan is the perfect example of how success smiles on hard work and

persistence.”

“I’m confident he has a great career ahead of him.”

Meanwhile May’s contract extension puts to bed any speculation over his playing future at the club despite the impending arrival of James Maloney.

May progressed through the grades at Panthers and like Edwards, was a member of the club’s premiershipwinning NYC side in 2015.

The Junior Kangaroo made his NRL debut in Round 19 last season and capped his maiden first grade appearance with a try that helped

Coach’s Corner Athletic Intelligence Athletic Intelligence is defined as: ‘Increasing the capacity for learning and understanding various physical skills and techniques and how they relate to game or performance scenarios’. Throughout high school and during my time playing in junior rep programs I was constantly reminded that the chances of becoming a professional athlete were very small.

This is the reality of professional sport and in time the percentage of young athletes that progress through to become professional athletes will become smaller and smaller with the growth in population.

This fostered the belief that completing the HSC and spending more time at school were far more important than playing sport and participating in games. We have a belief as a society that a good ATAR or HSC equals a high level of intelligence and that to tick those boxes paves the way to a bright future, while playing sport and games is fairly trivial.

Athletes are not considered intellectual or intelligent.

Working as both a teacher and a coach places me in a fortunate position to see the benefits of both education and sport. Let me make perfectly clear that formal education is the greatest gift any young person can receive. I also believe athletes and their level of intelligence separates the elite from the rest.

Looking specifically at Rugby League there are some great examples of athlete intelligence and its

relationship to elite performance. To what do we attribute the high levels of performance that players such as Andrew Johns, Johnathon Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith, Brad Fittler and Darren Lockyer were able to achieve consistently throughout their time in the game? Are these players considered the greatest of the modern era because of their ability to function at a higher physiological level than other players? Or are these players at a higher level of intelligence than their peers? Athletic geniuses who perfected their art in Rugby League?

The disassociation between intelligence and athletes comes from our misperceptions of sport and games in general. When we watch a great athlete perform we see things such as physical dominance, speed, strength, power and agility. We then recognise the performed feats to be those of an athlete with an abundance of talent or natural gifts. The success the athlete achieves is often attributed to his or her muscles not the brain.

These judgements are all based on our visual perception of an athlete or a performance. It is the invisible aspects of a performance that occur in the brain that we ignore unless we have a special appreciation for the visual motor skills (Ability to take advantage of what an athlete can see with the correct execution of skill) and cognitive perception

Penrith orchestrate a victory over New Zealand Warriors before going on to score a total of five tries from nine NRL appearances in his rookie season.

The utility was on track to make his international debut for Samoa at this year’s Rugby League World Cup before suffering an unfortunate ACL injury in the Semi-final defeat to Brisbane.

The Minchinbury Jets junior is relieved to have resolved his future with the club he has been associated with since the age of 15.

“I was always focused on staying here and I never really wanted to leave,” May said.

“When the (contract) offer came up, I just accepted and was really happy and excited.

“It’s really good that Panthers have shown faith in me even though I’ve got an injury.”

Gould is also pleased to have retained another local junior that has come the development system.

“Tyrone is another local junior who has been a part of the Panthers development system since he was 15 years of age,” Gould said.

“It was exciting to see him come through to NRL level last season and he acquitted himself brilliantly.

“We are grateful to have him as part of our club.”

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

skills (Ability to look at a scenario and understand what is happening through perception) an athlete possesses. This is built through several years of training and game play under pressure along with an abundance of errors and failures.

Instances during games when there is an example of brilliant perception skills demonstrated we attempt to then give that execution of a cognitive skill a physical quality. Commentators will often refer to players as ‘freaks’ or ‘masters’ as that is the best description of a skill that has been executed that the audience cannot visually witness.

We discount those invisible skills such as the ability of a player to anticipate a movement of a fellow team mate, opposition defender or the different patterns of play in the opposition attack or defensive structure.

How the player then breaks the opposition down with different responses to the various stimuli. We see the physical representation of this and perceive it as a physical gift or skill.

We are often guilty of ignoring the player’s intellect. When we think of intellectual development we think of classrooms and books not the sporting field. Research which has been conducted in recent years points to the benefit of sports participation in gaining skills which improve academic performance which I will cover in my next column…..

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MG on the mark with MARK GEYER

World Cup Boil-over!

 Jarryd Hayne and his Fijian teammates. “Dare to Dream”

Last Saturday saw one of the more remarkable games of rugby league you will ever see.

And if I didn’t witness it with my own eyes I’d still be skeptical. Fiji, the little island to the east of us took on the might of the Kiwis in the quarter final stage of the rugby league World Cup and blow me down, came up with an historic 4-2 victory!!

Can you believe it? Well you and I might not, but don’t dare tell the Fijians that. Their self-belief has been one of the overwhelming sentiments of this cup and it just shows that when you dare to dream ANYTHING can happen.

Now the Mick-Potter-coached country must overcome the competition juggernaut that is the Kangaroos, who thumped a disappointing Samoa 46-0 in the opening quarter final on Friday.

In other games England were too strong (36-6) for an extremely brave PNG who have also had a World Cup to remember.

In the other quarter final was the Brad-Fittler-coached Lebanon who almost upset the power of the Tongan side going down in somewhat controversial circumstances 24-22.

Lebanon, who started the World Cup ranked lowest of all nations at 21, were one of the real surprise packets of the past month of footy and played some enterprising rugby league.

Now onto this weekend’s semi finals where the Aussies take on Fiji and Tonga await England across the ditch. It’s very hard to go past Mal Meninga’s men on Friday up in Brisbane but you get the feeling Fiji will be up for the fight.

On the other hand, the other semi final is hard to get a gauge on who will come out as victors. Tonga after beating New Zealand were always going to have an emotion dump against Lebanon and hopefully for them they will be fresh and up to the task against the Sam-Burgess-inspired English.

Either way the final at Suncorp on December 2nd will be a fantastic culmination of the most successful rugby league World Cup to date. Let’s hope the best countries win this weekend and that the emotion displayed in the opening rounds of this six-week competition doesn’t dissipate one iota.

See you at the game!

MG (random Westie) OAM

31 Nepean News 23 November 2017 Issue 214

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