Nepean News 24 January 2025

Community building partnership program

Tannounced the next round of the NSW Government Community Building Partnership Program is scheduled to open from 9am on Tuesday 28 January 2025.

The program invests in local infrastructure projects that deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes whilst promoting community participation, inclusion and cohesion.

Mrs Davies encourages eligible organisations to consider projects that need attention, ahead of applications formally opening later this month.

“I look forward to supporting applications for projects that will positively impact our local community,” stated Mrs Davies.

Since 2009, the program has awarded more than $464 million to more than 20,900 projects across NSW.

Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations and local councils will be eligible to apply for grants of between $10,000 and $100,000. Grants must be for building, refurbishing or repairing community infrastructure, or for buying freestanding equipment or vehicles.

Program Guidelines are available now at www. nsw.gov.au/cbp.

Applications will be accepted online and will close at 5pm AEDT, Friday 21 February 2025. Successful organisations will be announced in August 2025.

ANYA Davies MP, Member for Badgerys Creek has

PENRITH

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From the Editor’s Desk

BY KERRIE DAVIES

AUSTRALIA DAY

ONE of my favourite days on the calendar has always been Australia Day. I enjoy celebrating all things Australian. To me that means both celebrating and reflecting on our history.

I’m proud of our first nations people; their culture and their heritage.

I feel lucky that of all the places that they could have ended up, my own ancestors were shipped all the way to Australia. How fortunate!

I’m happy to roll out the welcome mat to those who’ve come from other countries and want to ‘haveago’ and make this land their home.

Australia Day should be an opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come as well as everything we can be in future.

United as one.

Indigenous people, the offspring of European Settlers and those who’ve come here from other countries - all of us, as one, celebrating the great country we all call home. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just do that?

There’s always debate around this time. We have people who want to celebrate being Australian on the traditional day and not change that. We have people who hate the date as they see it as the start of British Invasion, and, as many Indigenous lives were lost, they see it as a day of mourning.

For quite a while now, being proudly Australian is somewhat clouded by debate over changing the date. Is it truly just a date that offends some and stops them from being loud and proud? Personally I don’t care what date it is, as long as it stays in summer.

Would those who shun the January 26 date be OK if it was a day or two either side of that day? Would those digging their heels in about keeping the date really care if were say, January 24 or January 28?

What will it take for us to get on with celebrating being Australian?

Crikey, let’s just get this sorted. Address it, discuss it, debate it then settle it. We are missing a great opportunity to unite and celebrate by allowing it to fester. If it is as simple as a date change, great! Pick a date either side of the 26th, whatever - just get on with it.

None of us has the power to change anything from the past. But collectively we have the power to design our future. What will it take to unite us all so that we can get on with celebrating the fact the we live in the greatest country in the world?

St Clair and District Men’s Shed extends popular welfare program

BY NOEL ROWSELL

THE St Clair & District Men’s Shed embarked on a trial welfare program for its members in 2024, utilising professional trainer Kristy Bissett for weekly exercise sessions.

Following a good response from participants, the Men’s Shed has now undertaken an extension of the program through 2025.

Costs for any additional exercise equipment is at individual members expense, as it may vary from person to person.

The program is presented at 11am on Monday’s (except public holidays).

The St Clair & District Men’s Shed is a non-profit, community-based organisation for men, with the major objective to advance the health and well-being of men.

St Clair now has a member tally of 71, aged from 38 through to 92.

The club has a well-equipped wood and metal workshop, providing a safe and friendly environment where skilled and unskilled men can work on a range of personal, shed and community projects.

“We provide a place for men of all cultures to share their skills, learn new skills, make new friends, swap yarns or just socialise over a cuppa,” said Paul Tarlinton.

Kristy added “it is really lovely to be able to give these men someone to talk to in the health space, outside of their GP. I hear their past health conditions and what pains or limitations they (think) they have today and in turn I encourage them to still come along because I will find something they CAN do.”

For more information, go to the FB page or visit www.scadms.com.au/

St Clair & Districts Men’s Shed members exercising.

Mike Creed: “It has never been harder to find a bulk billing doctor”

LIBERAL Candidate for Macquarie, Mike Creed and Shadow Minister for Health, Senator Anne Ruston have released a statement saying the findings of the 2025 Cleanbill Blue report are damning.

“Under the Albanese Labor Government, bulk billing is going backwards as out-of-pocket healthcare costs are going up across Hawkesbury, Penrith and Blue Mountains,” the joint release stated.

“Bulk billing has collapsed, despite all of Labor’s disingenuous rhetoric. According to the findings, the rate of clinics that will bulk bill new adult patients without a concession card in in NSW has decreased by 2.7% in the past year alone to 34.5%.

“At the same time, out-of-pocket costs for patients in NSW who cannot get access to bulk billing have risen by more than 4% in just one year to $44.05 on average in 2025.

“This adds further stress to household budgets in the middle of the cost-of-living crisis, forcing people to make the difficult choice between going to see a doctor or paying the bills. Concerningly, more than 1.5 million Australians avoided seeing a

GP in 2023-24 due to cost concerns – a shocking 25% increase in just one year.

Senator Anne Ruston said that it has

“literally never been harder or more expensive to see a doctor than under the Albanese Government,” and this is hitting the people of NSW at a time when they can least afford it.

“It is unacceptable that more and more Australians are being forced to avoid essential healthcare because they just cannot afford it under Labor. This poses a serious risk for the health

of all Australians and for our hospital systems, which we know are already overrun,” Senator Ruston said.

“Instead of focusing on the record high healthcare costs that they have created, Labor is lying to Australians with a third attempt at their disgraced Mediscare campaign. The reality is that the Coalition increased Medicare funding every single year in government and oversaw record high bulk billing rates. Under Labor, Medicare has only been weakened.”

Liberal Candidate for Macquarie

Mike Creed said the Macquarie electorate has been forgotten by the Labor Government.

“Another three years of the Albanese Government would be a disaster,” Mr Creed said.

“It has never been harder for locals to find a bulk billing doctor.

“Liberal Governments increased Medicare funding every single year and delivered record bulk billing rates, while the Albanese Labor has overseen a bulk billing collapse.”

“The Coalition already announced that we will invest in women’s health, including specialist cancer nurses to support Australians with Ovarian Cancer; we will double the number of Medicare mental health sessions; and we have committed $400 million to grow a strong pipeline of home-trained GPs, which we know is critical to addressing Labor’s primary care crisis.

“This investment will provide financial incentives for junior doctors to choose to train as a GP in the community. As the Cleanbill report makes clear, ensuring the availability of local doctors right now is a necessity.

“We are focused on ensuring that the Macquarie community has timely and affordable access to healthcare.”

Penrith Museum of Fire announces 2024 Art Competition winners

ON Thursday 16 January 2025, the Penrith Museum of Fire hosted the awards ceremony for the 2024 Art Competition.

The year 2024 marked 140 years since the creation of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), later known as the NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB); and today is known as Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW). Prior to this, there were fire brigades in Sydney, however, they were operated independently by various businesses or local communities.

To celebrate this important milestone the Museum chose ‘The History of FRNSW’ as its 2024 Art Competition theme.

Museum staff were very impressed by the level of research that has clearly gone into so many of the artworks, as the variation in design and composition is outstanding.

The standard is regarded as some of the best artworks ever seen entered in the annual competition and this did make selecting the shortlist difficult, but the Heritage team worked overtime to select just 33 works for this year’s exhibition.

The commitment and hard work of the young artists are evident in every entry and this is a testament to how important our firefighters are to the wider community.

The First Place Grand Prize Winner was presented at the conclusion of

the ceremony by Councillor Todd Carney, Mayor of Penrith, with the winner receiving a $200 Museum voucher, an Officeworks art prize, perpetual trophy, and having their artwork become part of the Museum’s permanent collection.

The winner was Niamh Davison (Year 5), with her work “Fiery Helmets Through Time”. In her own words “Helmets have changed so much through the years. I chose four different helmets to paint. My great grandfather had the oldest helmet and I like all the decoration on it. I think the modern helmet looks the safest.”

This was Niamh’s first time entering into the Museum’s Art Competition.

FRNSW were also represented at the event by Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell, who presented the FRNSW Commissioner’s Choice Award to the winner Grace Young (Year 6) for

her work “Standing Guard” where she received a FRNSW gift pack from the Museum. Grace’s artwork will be displayed in the emergency services academy at Orchard Hills and will also be added to the Museum’s permanent collection. She describes her artwork: “Looking back through time, this image of a firefighter from

the past reminds me how important and special firefighters really are, and how brave they are when they stand up to a fire to protect our buildings.”

Karen McKeown OAM, State Member for Penrith, also presented the People’s Choice Award to winner Vera Alieva (Year 2) for her work “Trees in Bushfire”, which was voted by the public both in the Museum and online. In Vera’s own words “My dad took me to the mountains to show me the impact that bushfire has on the environment and trees. I imagined me and dad standing there as though we were two trees, looking out into the valley in the middle of a wild bushfire, desperately waiting for the firefighters to arrive.”

In addition, Federal Member for Macquarie and Special Envoy to the Arts Susan Templeman MP handed out certificates to all shortlisted artists who were present.

A full list of winners can be found on the Museum of Fire FB page or on their website.

BY NOEL ROWSELL

Penrith Mayor Todd Carney and Competition winner Niamh Davison. Photo supplied.

Big fella Mark ‘MG’ Geyer joins 2GB radio

BY KERRIE DAVIES

FANS and friends of the Big Fella Mark MG Geyer (myself included) were left reeling at the end of last year to learn that they wouldn’t be hearing the views of the most genuine bloke on radio as they drove to work or ate their breakfast.

So it made a lot of listeners happy this week when the news broke that MG would be joining 2GB.

“One of rugby league’s most popular personalities, Mark Geyer OAM, has announced that he will be joining 2GB and Nine Radio on a three year deal from 2025,” Radio station 2GB announced.

“The NSW and Australian representative, and 1991 premiership winner with Penrith, will feature weekly with The Continuous Call Team and Wide World of Sports programs and also contribute each weekday on 2GB’s new Drive-time program, Sydney Now with Clinton Maynard.

“I’m pumped to be joining the team at 2GB and very grateful for the opportunity. Some of the biggest names in radio have gone through those 2GB corridors, so it’s humbling

to be a part of such an established team. Let’s rip in!” Mark Geyer said.

2GB Content Manager, Luke Davis, said: “We’re so excited to welcome Mark Geyer to the 2GB and Nine Radio family! ‘MG’ is a league legend, an experienced media personality, a business owner, a voice of Western Sydney – and never short of an opinion. We’re looking forward to his unique insights across the NRL season – and further-strengthening our top-rating Continuous Call Team line-up as we enter our 39th year on air.”

Great news MG, we can’t wait to tune in!

Natalie Xuereb

New Research paves the way for better cancer cures

WESTERN Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) is proudly highlighting a groundbreaking discovery in cancer research that could significantly improve cancer treatments and increase cure rates.

Westmead Health Precinct scientists from WSLHD and Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) have solved a major mystery: why cells die in different ways following radiotherapy.

The findings were published in Nature Cell Biology by first author Dr Radoslaw Szmyd of CMRI’s Genome Integrity Unit led by Professor Tony Cesare, with contributions from Western Sydney Local Health District Radiation Oncology Network’s associate professors Harriet Gee and Eric Hau.

Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is a critically important type of cancer treatment.

Scientists have struggled for decades to understand why radiation therapy kills cells from the same tumour in different ways.

This is important because some forms of cell death are unnoticed by the immune system, while others trigger an immune response that kills other cancer cells.

Unleashing the patient’s immune system to kill cancer cells and clear tumours is a major goal of cancer treatment.

“The surprising result of our research is that DNA repair, which normally protects healthy cells, determines how cancer cells die following radiotherapy,” said Prof Cesare.

“The DNA inside our cells is constantly experiencing damage, and

DNA repair is happening all the time to fix that damage and keep our cells healthy. Now, however, it seems these repair processes can recognise when overwhelming damage has occurred (e.g., from radiotherapy), and instruct a cancer cell how to die.

“When DNA damaged by radiation therapy was repaired by a method called homologous recombination cancer cells died during the process of reproducing – a process called cell division or mitosis.

“Unfortunately, death during cell division goes unnoticed by the immune system, so it won’t activate an immune response.

“However, cells that dealt with the radiation-damaged DNA through other DNA repair methods survived the cell division process but did so by releasing byproducts of DNA repair into the cell.

“These repair byproducts mimic a viral or bacterial infection, causing the cancer cell to die in a way that alerts the immune system. This is the response we aim to achieve.”

The research team demonstrated that blocking homologous recombination

changed the way cancer cells died, triggering a strong immune response instead.

They also found that cancer cells with mutations in BRCA2—a gene critical for breast cancer and homologous recombination—did not die in mitosis following radiotherapy.

In addition to solving a major scientific puzzle, these discoveries will make it possible to use drugs that block homologous recombination to force cancer cells treated with radiotherapy to die in a manner that alerts the immune system to the existence of a cancer, (which the immune system had not previously noticed), signalling that the cancer needs to be destroyed.

Co-project lead, Associate Professor Harriet Gee, a radiation oncologist from the WSLHD Radiation Oncology Network, emphasised the clinical significance of these findings.

“We found that the manner in which tumour cells die after radiotherapy depends on the engagement of specific DNA repair pathways, particularly when radiation is given at very high, focussed doses.”

This opens up new opportunities to enhance radiation efficacy through combination with other therapies, particularly immunotherapy, to increase cancer cures. “ “

Prof Cesare credited these breakthroughs to live cell microscope technology, which enabled his team to observe irradiated cells for a week following radiation therapy.

“Live imaging showed us the full complexity of outcomes following radiation therapy, allowing us to tease out exactly why this occurred.”

Dr Szmyd dedicated six years to this “incredibly difficult nut to crack.”

Prof Cesare praised the team’s perseverance.

“Everyone is aware of patients battling cancer. Discovering something like this that has the potential to make a big difference to people’s lives is very rewarding.”

Authors on the paper include CMRI researchers Sienna Casolin, Lucy French, Dr Anna Gonzalez-Manjon, Dr Melanie Walter, Lea Cavalli, Scott Page, Prof Hilda Pickett, Dr Chrisopher Nelson, and Dr Andrew Dhawan from the Neurological Institute at the Cleveland Clinic in the US and A/Prof Eric Hau from the Westmead Clinical School at the University of Sydney. Both A/ Prof Gee and A/Prof Hau are staff specialists in Radiation Oncology in Western Sydney Local Health District.

Penrith Valley Rotary provides a help with education

BY NOEL ROWSELL

THE Rotary Club of Penrith Valley has long been an advocate for improving the education of children in this community and State. The Club has implemented, or participated in, a number of programs, such as School in a Box for remote, regional and far west schools, Books in Homes for four of our local Primary Schools, uniforms for regional first nation schools, and Educational Packs for local disadvantaged children, etc.

The living crisis has hit our communities hard, with many families struggling to put food on the table, let alone have the means to kit a child out for school. So last week, the Rotary Club of Penrith Valley members put together another 40 educational packs for five local schools, for disadvantaged children, so they can make their first positive steps for this year with the necessities for their learning.

The club’s Community Service Director, Jean Vranich said “The team of The Rotary Club of Penrith Valley is committed to helping and enabling those in need in the community. We would welcome any like-minded people to come and join us on a Wednesday evening at the Penrith Bowling club and meet the team. If you are interested please contact me on 0410586437.”

Club members gather to assemble Educational Packs. Photo supplied.

Hitting top gear with new motor skills

YOUNG people at Cobham Youth Justice Centre are getting hands-on experience in simulated work environments that provide an avenue to the automotive industry post-release.

The donation of an MX5 motor by the Motor Trades Association (MTA) will help young people at the Putland Education and Training Unit, located within Cobham, gain useful mechanical skills, while dedicated Try a Trade Days and workshops provide further opportunities for young people to try their hand at new skills.

The MX5 motor is a readily accessible resource young people can tinker with and it complements the skills and training initiatives jointly provided by NSW Youth Justice, the Department of Education (which operates schools within each of the six Youth Justice Centres) and Training Services NSW.

In April, the Motor Trades Association ran a four-day panel workshop to provide accreditation opportunities for young people, while the Cobham Youth Justice Centre held its biggest Try a Trade Day yet, with 10 trades on offer.

Through Try a Trade, young people can experiment with concreting, hospitality, traffic control, gyprocking, bricklaying, barbering, roofing, plumbing and bike mechanics and fencing.

Try a Trade days are run across all six Youth Justice Centres and they enable young people to experience what a day in the life of a ‘tradie’ feels like, while also setting up potential business connections in the outside world.

Since December 2022, more than 200 young people have taken part in Try a Trade days

and several young people have taken up trade apprenticeships upon release.

Minister for Youth Justice Jihad Dib said it was important that during their time in the youth justice system, young people have every opportunity to find a more positive pathway upon release.

“The skills and training initiatives available in these centres are a great example of the work Youth Justice is doing, in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training Services NSW, to provide new experiences and options for young people,” Mr Dib said.

“The generous donation of a MX5 motor by the Motor Trades Association gives young people in Cobham a resource they can use to hone their mechanical skills, providing a potential pathway into the automotive industry.

“Specialised schools, such as the Putland Education and Training Unit within the Cobham Youth Justice Centre, are essential in providing pathways for young people. Through education and training, we aim to empower students to make positive contributions to society.

“This course is more than just a training opportunity; it’s a lifeline for these students. It offers a tangible pathway to success, opening doors to apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities.

“In creating these opportunities, we’re offering a pathway to young offenders who may not have supportive environments to return to. Here, they can flourish and thrive, building brighter futures for themselves and the community.”

An MTA NSW spokesperson said the collaboration is a shining example of how industry partnerships, training programs, and instilling selfbelief can have a transformative impact on the lives of young people.

“Not only are we supporting youth who are in need of better future prospects, but this is also part of our wider mission to alleviate the current skills shortage. It was with great pleasure to have been a part of such a meaningful project, and we look forward to continuing our community support,” the spokesperson said.

Calling Veterans - Keep Your New Year’s Wellbeing Promise

BY TONY FRYER

ST MARYS RSL sub-Branch and the Outpost Veterans Support Centre combine to encourage all veterans to keep your wellbeing promise … come along and join in one of the activities detailed on our February calendar below. You do not need to be a member of the RSL, although veterans will be very welcome to become a member for no cost.

2025 provides a new opportunity to maintain wellbeing … not just for yourself, but also your partner and family. Yes, our Wellbeing Program is certainly directed towards Veterans but most of the activities are also ‘family’orientated.

For those already ‘veterans’ of the program, we’re off to a flying start for the year – remember, the first Friday of each month (1000hrs at the Diggers Club) is devoted to a fun Barefoot Bowls activity; the second Saturday (0730hrs at the Veterans Support Centre, aka The Train) starts the weekend off with a casual (or not –your choice) walk followed by a hearty breakfast – ideal for the whole family.

Our Guitars for Veterans group meets every Wednesday at the Train from 0900hrs – come and learn … or come and jam, all with an expert tutor.

Are you interested to help others?

With training provided, you can become a valuable contributor to either of these activities:

• Wellbeing Support Officers. These committed individuals, in pairs, visit veterans in hospitals or rehab centres weekly, to offer guidance to veteran patients on where to seek/ obtain services to help with their rehab after their confinement period, or to simply offer an ear and a welcoming smile to keep their spirits up.

• Governor King Day Club. The Club offers a ‘day-out’ of the house (Wednesdays 9.30am till

about 2.00pm) for elderly citizens in our local area – the role is to assist plan entertainment and lunch for the group.

Again, these are not restricted to Veterans. If you have a desire to assist veterans, then one of these activities may hold interest for you.

Check our February calendar here for these and many other activities of offer in our Veterans Wellbeing Program. Your presence is all that is missing! For detail about any of the Program’s activities, email the RSL sub-Branch (st-maryssb@rslnsw.org. au) or the Outpost Veterans Support Centre (vietvet@vvaastmarys.org.au) or phone 0406 399 976 or 9833 4700 –leave a message if out-of-hours.

Wellbeing activities for Veterans and their families

Coffee n Chat Veterans Mon – Fri early mornings – simply just a chat on the Train veranda (Veterans Support Centre)

Social Guild Veterans & partner Occasional social outings local or coach overnight

Hospital Visitations Veterans & partner Usually Tuesday mornings; Teams of 2 visit veterans in local hospitals

Guitars for Vets Veterans Wednesday mornings @ Veterans Support Centre (the Train); learn to play or join a jam session

Monthly BBQ B’fast Veterans & family 8.00am last Thursday of each month @ Veterans Support Centre (the Train)

Exercise classes White or Gold card holders Tue and Fri @ 8.00am @ Ripples, St Marys; occasional walks from/to the Train in lieu; must meet criteria

Walk n Talk n Breakfast Veterans & family Monthly walk on local footpaths from/to the Veterans Support Centre (the Train) Breakfast provided on return

Small bus day-trips Veterans

Occasional, weekday or weekend; greater Sydney area; lodge interest at Veteran Support Centre

Computer Classes Veterans and partner Thursday mornings @ Veterans Support Cente (Train carriage); for beginners or for Photoshop classes

Merrie Widows Partners of deceased vets Last Wednesday of each month - gathering for lunch @ St Marys Diggers Club

Gov King Day Club Veterans & partner Wednesdays 9.00am @ Mamre House area

Packing Care Boxes Veterans 6-monthly day trip to Randwick to pack care boxes

Barefoot Bowls Veterans and partner 1st Friday of the month - mornings @ St Marys Diggers Club

Wellbeing activity for February 2025

DATE ACTIVITY

EVERY MONDAY

EVERY TUESDAY

Coffee n Chat

Coffee n Chat - Exercise Class

EVERY WEDNESDAY Gov King Day Club - Guitars for Vets

EVERY THURSDAY

EVERY FRIDAY

Wednesday 26th February

Thursday 27th February

Friday 7th February

Saturday 8th February

Coffee n Chat - Computer Classes

Coffee n Chat - Exercise Classes

Merrie Widows

BBQ Breakfast

Barefoot Bowls

Monthly Walk’n’Talk and Breakfast

For enquiries about any of the activities, please contact either Leanne G at the RSL sub-Branch 0406 399 976, st-maryssb@rslnsw.org.au or Leanne M at the Veterans Support Centre 9833 4700, vietvet@vvaastmarys.org.au

Sun safe tips for a great Australia Day

AUSTRALIA DAY is a great opportunity to get out in the good old Aussie sunshine (fingers crossed - we have had some beautiful weather in the past) Protecting yourself and your little ones from the sun is more important than ever—even on cloudy days!

Sun exposure can add up quickly, so make sure you’re following these simple yet effective sun safety tips.

The 7-Teaspoon Rule – For full-body sun protection, use 35ml (7 teaspoons) of sunscreen on your child’s skin. This ensures every exposed area is covered adequately.

Don’t Miss a Spot – Ears, feet, hands, and neck are often forgotten, but they’re just as vulnerable to sun damage. Make sure these areas get the protection they need.

Sun Protection All Day – Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before heading outside and reapply every two hours to maintain coverage. Even on cloudy days, harmful UV rays can reach the skin.

Water & Sweat Awareness – Swimming, sweating, or towel-drying removes sunscreen faster. Reapply immediately after these activities to keep skin protected.

Make It a Daily Habit – Whether it’s sunny or overcast, adding sunscreen to your child’s morning routine is a great way to build lifelong sun safety habits.

Stay sun smart this summer and keep your little ones protected!

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!

› As flash as a rat with a gold tooth

› It beats a poke in the eye with a blunt stick

› He’s got a head like a beaten favourite

› Bangs like a dunny door in a hurricane

› She’s got a kangaroo loose in the top paddock

› He was grinning like a shot fox

› He’s as fat as a butcher’s dog

› Feeling as crook as Rookwood

› She’s up at a sparrow’s fart

› That’s about as rare as rocking horse poo

› Off like a bride’s nightie

› She’s done the Harold Holt

› 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

› I’m so hungry I could I could eat a horse and chase its rider

› My throat feels like the scrapings from the Cockie’s cage

› 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

Old slang.. all but forgotten!

› Ya bloody scallywag!

› How ya going Cobber?

› On the blower

› Stone the flamin crows

› He’s cactus

› Ken oath!

› Hum dinger

› You pong!

› She’s the duck’s guts › Amber fluid

› Where’s me doovalacky? › Grouse!

› He’s come a gutzer › Within a coo-ee

› Big-noting yourself › Bonzer bloke

› Barrack for your team › Strewth

› London to a brick › Hoo-roo

Q: What is the difference between an Australian wedding and an Australian funeral?

A: One less drunk at the funeral

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?

26 January

Cool down locally in the hot Aussie sun

AS you will have read, there’s a lot of activity at Penrith Beach for some fun in the sun. There’s also many other free water options around the city. Looking for some fun places to cool down that close to home? Penrith City Council have several water play facilities you can go to and enjoy for free!

GIPPS STREET RECREATION

PRECINCT at 34 Gipps Street, Claremont Meadows

The water play area operates from September through to April from 9am-8pm (with shorter hours during the cooler months) and features large, shaded water play area, including fountains and jets in various colours and sizes for kids of all sizes. It’s fenced with a nearby picnic area and is close to toilets.

REGATTA PARK PAVILION at Nepean River

Regatta Park’s water play area can be found under the pavilion with water flow trays and pumps, pump see saws and water fountains, and a sandpit with a slide and two diggers. The best part about this playspace is that it’s “people-powered”, meaning kids will have fun using the see-saw to get the water fountains going and pushing the pump to start the water into the flow trays.

SPLASH PADS at several playspaces:

• Pacific and Phoenix Reserve, Erskine Park

• Livvi’s Place, Jordan Springs

• Ron Mulock Oval, Thornton

• Werrington Creek Park, Werrington

Legends of the Nepean

VALE LAURENCE (LAURIE) JOSEPH COADY JP

BY NOEL ROWSELL

THE final verse of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Firefighter’s Prayer states ‘Grant that there may never be a shortage of men and women of courage, character and integrity who will volunteer to train and serve in the course of fire and emergency protection within the NSW Rural Fire Service’.

Such a statement applies in all ways to Laurence (Laurie) Joseph Coady JP, who passed away on 28th December following a lengthy illness.

His dedication and commitment to the community was in full evidence at his funeral service, with a capacity attendance and a tribute with firefighting vehicles from the RFS celebrating his wonderful life.

Joanne Coady said “My father was a man who wore many hats. He was a partner, a father, a grandfather, and a man who was highly regarded by his peers in so many different roles throughout his life.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t have the easiest start, losing his mother when he was just an infant. Dad was the youngest of 4 siblings, with 2 brothers and 2 sisters, the youngest sister Joan, taking on a motherly role.

“This naturally led dad to see Joan as the closest thing to a mother, a relationship he always held very dear to his heart. He then sadly lost his father in his mid-teens.

“The true depth of dad’s pain would become only more apparent in the stories he shared with us over the years, giving insight to the heartache that remained as a result of this tragic loss. This was a defining moment in his life, one that forced him to shoulder responsibility far beyond his years and grow up much sooner than any young boy should have to.

“His tough upbringing shaped him into a stoic man of independence, and one of the hardest workers I have ever known. Late in life, he would

display that stoicism through several health troubles, and I called him ‘Mr Immortal’.”

“Dad began working his first job at just 13, as a paperboy for the Sydney trams, then as a labourer for the Brickworks at age 16, before moving onto the abattoirs in Homebush, during which time he became involved in the workers union, fighting for the rights of others.

“He was conscripted into the National Service, where he would later tell us stories of his expert gun cleaning skills.

“Dad met and married my mother Edna Fay and they came to settle in Llandilo, where they had my brother Laurence Jnr and I.

“Llandilo is where he found himself getting involved in many local volunteer groups, and the one I feel he was most renown for was achieving position of Captain of Llandilo Bush Fire Brigade, a position held for 8 years.

“During this time I recall my father miraculously juggling his captain’s

role whilst working crazy long hours at Pioneer Quarries in Penrith.

“Amongst all of this activity, he still managed to take on extra responsibilities, including conducting workplace training and holding many delegate positions.

“Through my eyes I saw him as an entrepreneur, always coming up with new ideas and ways to better educate people in the workplace.

“Despite the hardships he endured, Dad displayed immense strength and resilience to achieve great milestones throughout his life.

“As much he thrived on working hard, dad was the king of charisma and the best joke-teller that ever lived. He absolutely loved being the life of the party, I can’t help but think how much he would have enjoyed seeing so many people gathered here today (at the funeral service), not only to honour him but to celebrate the life he lived so fully.”

Son Laurence Coady Jnr also spoke at the funeral service of his father’s tough yet caring nature, regaling the

Laurie Coady

Young Laurie Laurence & Edna Fay Coady.

mourners of working through injuries, leading young and sometimes troubled youths on bush camps and outings, teaching them to survive in the outback.

Laurence said “My dad was a master of reading a fire and was excellent at timing back-burns. I can’t say how many times I’ve seen him grab a drop torch and just go for it. He was so proud of his crew when he was the captain of Llandilo.

“Dad was strong, selfless and always cared for others. His spirit and the lessons he shared will never be forgotten.”

Subsequent to the funeral, RFS Senior Deputy Captain Tim Hearn wrote “It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Life Member Laurie Coady, who was an integral part of Llandilo Brigade, serving as our Captain from 1989 to 1997. His leadership and dedication played a

pivotal role in shaping the Brigade into what it is today.

“Laurie’s journey with the then Bush Fire Brigades began in 1967. Over the years, he held a variety of leadership roles, including Vice / Deputy Captain, Captain and Group Leader. He was a qualified trainer, with expertise in First Response Firefighting within the mining industry.

“Laurie’s expertise and leadership was instrumental during major fire campaigns, including Dubbo (1988), Orange / Bathurst (1990), and the State of Emergency in 1994.

“His service is marked by many significant achievements, including Long Service medals for 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years of dedicated service. He was also recognised for overseeing the extension of our station in 1990, which we still occupy today.

“In 1997, Laurie was honoured as one

of four Llandilo members recognised as a foundation member of the NSWRFS. His exceptional contributions were further acknowledged when he was awarded Life Membership of the Brigade on August 2, 1998.

“Even after stepping down from active duty at Llandilo, Laurie’s commitment to the community remained steadfast. He continued his work with the Cumberland Support Brigade, where he contributed many more years of service.

“Many of the ‘younger folk’ in the brigade will remember Laurie for his regular appearances at AGM’s and his visits to the station. He loved sharing stories of the “good ole days” and often expressed that being a member of Llandilo was one of his greatest achievements.

“Laurie’s influence extended far beyond his time with the Brigade. He mentored countless members, many of whom are now leaders within the RFS. His strong values, commitment to excellence, and integrity will continue to inspire us all. His legacy lives on through the members, cadets, and organisations he impacted.

“Laurie retired from the NSWRFS in 2021.”

Harry May (Penrith NASHOs) said “Laurie, joined the Penrith subbranch of the National Servicemen’s Association (NASHOs) in December, 2005.

“He was a very vocal and supportive member of the Association; he was

always there, willing to help wherever it was needed. He would assist at our Annual Memorial Services by collecting the chairs and returning them to the hire place, and assisting in formation of the Cadets at the Service. On occasions, Laurie would act as the RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major) at various Parades, keeping us in step, and funerals, calling us to attention and the Salute when required.

“On one occasion, the power box was inaccessible at the Park during one of our recent Memorial services, which we needed to run the PA and BBQ, Laurie immediately called upon one of his mates to bring a generator to help us out; that’s the sort of person he was, always willing to help.

“On our bus trips, Laurie was always a regular passenger, either on his own or with his late partner, Clara, They, along with everyone else, enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie amongst fellow members and others.

“Even through his illness, Laurie would attend meetings and functions when able, the last being our Christmas function in December, where he attended with his daughter Joanne. They thoroughly enjoyed the occasion and it was a pleasure to see them both there.

“At our last AGM in April, Laurie was awarded Life Membership to the Association, recognising his love, dedication, passion and unselfish commitment to the Association, as he and all of us are ‘Proud NASHOs’.”

Joanne, Jesse, Caprisse, Laurie. Photos supplied by the Coady family

Jeff, Laurie, Lukas, Jacob Coady.

Laurie, Melissa McIntosh, Clara, Roy Young.

Governor General David Hurley (left), Laurie Coady (right).

Saints carpark drives next power move

ST

MARYS

Rugby League

Club is proud to announce the launch of Stage 2 of its $8 million commitment to sustainability and renewable energy. This expansion marks another significant step toward reducing the Club’s environmental footprint and supporting a greener future for the Western Sydney community.

Stage 2 involves the installation of 1,220 solar panels on new carpark canopies, delivering an additional 740kW of solar power. The project will also provide 225 shaded undercover car spaces, reducing heat and enhancing comfort for patrons during warmer months.

Construction has commenced and disruptions will be kept to a minimum..

Combined with the 451kW system from Stage 1 (completed February 2024), this initiative will generate enough solar energy to power the entire Club during daylight hours.

Stage 1 of the solar project at St Marys Rugby League Club has already delivered impressive results, generating 419 megawatt-hours of renewable energy and achieving a cost saving of $101,968 thus far.

Importantly, it has helped reduce 282 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, significantly decreasing our carbon footprint. These outcomes demonstrate the powerful impact of sustainable energy on our operations and the environment, and we’re excited to build on this success once Stage 2 is complete.

Club CEO Rod Desborough highlighted the long-term benefits of the project:

“Sustainability is a core focus of our operations. Expanding our solar capacity helps us lower emissions, reduce costs and invest in communityfocused initiatives. We thank our members and guests for their patience as we complete this important work.”

St Marys Rugby League Club’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy already includes initiatives like water harvesting, LED lighting upgrades and expanded recycling programs.

This solar project reflects the Club’s broader commitment to responsible business practices and environmental leadership in the hospitality sector.

For further information on the Club’s sustainability efforts, visit: stmarysleagues.com/environmentalsocial-governance-esg

IT goes without saying how lucky we are to live in Australia. Our country is safe, it’s beautiful, and it offers a quality of life that many around the world envy. But another thing I think we often take for granted is the sunshine. We get a lot of that here - especially this time of year in Western Sydney!

Jim’s Gems

And you know what thrives in conditions like that? Solar.

This week, I’m going back to basics and sharing everything you need to know about solar: what it is, how it works, and why it’s worth having on every roof.

Let’s start with an example. As I write this - on Tuesday, the 22nd of January - the weather is forecast to hit 39 degrees Celsius. In typical Penrith fashion, you can already feel the heat, even though it’s still well before midday.

But here in the office, we’ve got the aircon pumping. Not only are we cool as cucumbers, but we’re working comfortably for free, because the sun is providing all the power we need.

IThanks to my system at home as well, it gets even better. I’ve set the aircon on a timer, so my house is combatting the heat while I’m at work and the sun is out - again, at no charge to me. By the time I return tonight, my home will be perfectly cool, and I won’t have to worry about what it’s costing me.

This is one of the biggest benefits of solar. You can cool or warm your home for little to no cost, live comfortably, and avoid the shock of a hefty electricity bill.

So, what is solar, and how does it work?

In simple terms, solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into electricity to power your home or business. This electricity can be used

immediately or stored in a battery for later. It’s clean, renewable energy that reduces your reliance on the grid - and your financial stress.

Beyond comfort and savings, solar offers:

• Energy independence: Protect yourself from rising energy prices.

• Environmental benefits: Reduce your carbon footprint and help the planet.

• Added value: Increase your property’s resale value.

Australia’s sunshine is one of our greatest assets. Solar energy helps us harness it, keeping us comfortable year-round while slashing bills. So, stop sweating over energy costs. Take control of your comfort and make the switch to solar today!

LEFT OF FIELD

S it just me or have people noticed the (Jaws music please) the New Year’s Resolution walkers!?

Run for your lives, they are taking up our streets, roads, footpaths and even parks, they are everywhere, don’t feed after dark or add water.

Yes folks these are the people that you never see all year round, they are like hermit crabs all year and then suddenly......

The one thing I also notice is all the different types of walkers out there.

Mixed Matched walker - The mixed match walker is a person who has never bought fitness gear in their life and it appears that they have replaced an engine block prior to the walk.

The determined walker - This is a person that has the look of pain on their face, like they are passing a large object, however they’re walking slower than a snail. There’s a lot of arm pumping going on but not much distance happening.

The I don’t give a rat’s bum walker - This is a walker that proceeds to kick every stone up along the path and meander like they are heading to work or something.

The sweaty walker - This is a walker that looks like they have swum 10 laps and then jumped out of the pool for the evening walk. The sweat beads are pouring out and the t-shirt looks like the last scene of Rocky when he is yelling out for his wife, Adrian!

The male bum crack walker - This is a walker that feels the need to wear shorts with no elastic. Their pants are constantly sliding down and they are presenting a crack bigger than a plumber’s.

The Harry High Pants - This is a walker who wears their shorts so high it looks like they need an operation to get them off.

Colour co-ordinated walker - Thank God for these ladies, with matching shoes, socks, tops and of course the Lycra pants, with, yes folks, the matching thin colour stripe down the side of the pants. (I hear the angels sing).

Supermodel walker - This is a walker who attends the beautician to have their hair and make-up done simply for their daily walks. These people don’t care if they are getting fit as long as they get 20 thousand car horns beep, they’re happy.

Now I know you’re asking what has all of this crap got to do with security, but alas my dear readers it

has a lot, because I am going to give you walking security tips. So just keep ya knickers on!

Firstly, tell people where you are walking, so when you are not back in 48 hours they know where to come looking. They can also cash in on your life insurance as well.

Secondly, we know how much you love Dolly Parton, but having her screaming at 70 thousand decibels in ear phones is not really good, considering you won’t hear anything or anyone around you.

Thirdly, walk in groups, so society not only has to put up with one of you on the street but 15. (Yippee) Fourthly, don’t keep checking facebook. Taking selfies on every street corner is not really needed, because to be quite frank we don’t really care that you have decided to walk for two weeks only into the New Year, and it also takes your attention away from what you are actually doing.

So there you have it the NYRW (New Year’s Resolution Walker) not for the faint-hearted folks, this is a trend that you must approach with fear and caution as it only happens at 12.01 on the 01/01 of the New Year - miss the boat and you have to wait another 12 months!

With Gina Field, Nepean Regional Security

ORCHARD HILLS

VETERINARY HOSPITAL

49 Wentworth Road, Orchard Hills

Tyson’s Triumph – A story of resilience and recovery

BY KELLIE TICKNER, ORCHARD HILLS VETERINARY HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR

AT Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital, stories of courage and healing unfold every day, but some leave a lasting impression on both our hearts and our commitment to care. Tyson, a spirited 6-year-old dachshund, is one of those stories.

Tyson came to us as an emergency, presenting with a rapidly worsening wound on his lower back and tail. What initially seemed like a simple wound was found to be quite severe having become infested with maggots. Fly larvae, commonly referred to as maggots, can quickly colonise open wounds, feeding on the skin and causing significant pain, infection, and tissue damage.

Recognising Tyson’s distress, Dr. Omnia and Dr. Camille acted swiftly. He was immediately given pain relief, and the affected area was carefully clipped and cleaned to remove the maggots and prevent further infection. The wound was quite open and close to the rectum, so any surgery to close the wound may have caused complications.

A groundbreaking treatment was used to allow the skin to heal over time without surgery, Phovia a fluorescent light treatment. Phovia is a noninvasive, light treatment that combines a special gel containing chromophores with an LED lamp emitting blue light. When applied to the affected skin, the chromophores in the gel are activated by the lamp’s blue light, releasing fluorescent light energy. This energy penetrates the skin, boosting its natural regeneration processes and potentially reducing healing time by up to 50%. What’s remarkable about Phovia is its pet-friendly approach—no sedation is needed, and it is well-tolerated by even the most nervous of patients.

Tyson has undergone three Phovia treatments to date and is showing remarkable progress. His wound is

healing well, and his once-dimmed spark is returning, much to the delight of his loving family. Tyson’s case highlights not just the challenges that maggot wounds can pose but also the importance of timely, innovative veterinary care.

Thanks to the prompt and skilled care of our team, Tyson’s condition was treated without the need for a surgery.

For pet owners, Tyson’s story serves as a reminder to be vigilant, especially during warmer months when flies are more active. Promptly addressing any

wounds, no matter how minor they seem, can prevent complications like maggot infestation.

At Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital, we remain committed to embracing advanced treatments like Phovia to provide the best care for our furry patients. Tyson’s resilience inspires us, and his story underscores the incredible bond between pets, their families, and the veterinary professionals who stand by them every step of the way.

Here’s to Tyson—a true champion of healing and hope.

Looking for adoptive parents and forever home

FAnimal

dogs

cats

care

GORGEOUS DECKER IS STILL WAITING

Meet Decker, the sweet and playful boy who is eager to become your next best friend! His infectious zest for life and charming disposition make him a delightful addition to any household.

Decker’s a social dog who thrives on human interaction and enjoys every moment spent in the company of his loved ones. Whether it’s accompanying you throughout your day at home or offering a friendly paw to your co-workers at the office, Decker is happiest when surrounded by those he likes.

Decker is playful and sweetly affectionate, bringing smiles to everyone around him. This well-mannered pup is also toilet trained, making him an easy-going and reliable companion, especially when he’s hanging out with you at the office.

Bring Decker into your life, and you’ll discover a loving, joyful dog eager to make every day brighter and more enjoyable for you and those around you.

Adoption Fee: $99 Age: 1 Year, 10 Months and 2 Weeks

Type: Dog Breed: Staffy Sex: Male

LUCKY WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU

Meet Lucky, a loving and loyal canine companion who is on the lookout for a best mate. While he may take a bit of time to warm up, once he’s comfortable, Lucky transforms into an incredibly devoted and trustworthy friend. His journey to trust may require a little patience; however, this investment will be rewarded with unwavering loyalty and companionship. Lucky thrives in a stable environment with a patient person or family who is willing to take the time to truly know him.

If you’ve been longing for a loyal friend who is as reliable as they are kind-hearted, Lucky might just be the perfect match for your home. He is eager to leave his paw print on your heart and share in life’s adventures together.

Adoption Fee: $99 Age: 3 Years and 4 Weeks

Type: Dog Breed: Australian Kelpie Sex: Male

Meet Rupert, an energetic dog with a zest for life! Always ready for some fun, Rupert will thrive in a home where he can share his zest for life with his new family.

He knows basic commands, making him a wonderful fit for those who appreciate a well-mannered dog. His intelligence shines through during playtime and training sessions, and he’s eager to learn more. Good with other dogs, Rupert is a social pup who enjoys the company of his four-legged friends; we do suggest bringing your own dog for a meet and greet if you think he could be the right fit for your family. Whether it’s a romp in the park, a game of fetch, or a long walk, Rupert is ready to be your partner in adventure. If you’re looking for a loyal, energetic friend to join you and your furry family members, Rupert might just be the perfect addition to your home.

Adoption Fee: $99

Age: 5 Years, 4 Months and 1 Week

Type: Dog Breed: American Staffordshire Terrier Sex: Male

RIENDS of Hawkesbury Companion

Shelter seek the “extras” for the

and

in

at Hawkesbury Pound. They also visit the pound each week and take photographs and temperament tests of the animals to

post online and promote the animals. They upload their images and opinions of these animals to Facebook, Twitter and PetRescue. To follow them, look them up on facebook and twitter.

Tyson on presentation

Tyson after 4 x Phovia treatments

JStruck By Motor Car

By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc.

AMES Bourke a resident of Orchard Hills died in High Street Penrith on Friday on the 2nd January 1925. Mr Norman Wade was driving his car up High Street and when opposite the Federal Hotel he saw James crossing the road. He blew his horn and swerved his car but continued on when James suddenly staggered in front of him. He was driving slowly and pulled up quickly but his car struck James and his body was pulled along by it. James’s body was taken by Norman to Dr Higgins who pronounced life extinct and his body was then removed to the Hospital morgue.

THE INQUEST. The district coroner Mr Arthur Judges held an inquiry at Penrith Court House on the Tuesday morning. Dr Higgins stated that on Friday the 2nd of January at about 8 pm he examined the body of James Bourke in the car in front of his surgery and found that life was extinct. He had known the deceased for about 24 years and about the last six or seven years had treated him for various conditions especially vertigo and sent him down on one occasion to consult a specialist about it. In this condition there is frequently a disturbance of equilibrium and general instability of movements, attacks of dizziness being common, sometimes at intervals of a week or more and sometimes continuously. It is usually due to trouble either in the middle lobe of the cerebellum or also in the Labyrinthine portion of the internal ear. He thought he also suffered from fatty condition of the heart. He had a scalp wound but there was practically no haemorrhage which is very unusual as the scalp is very vascular. For many reasons he considered that death was due to natural causes and not to injury by contact with a motor car. No bones were broken and in addition to what he had already stated that the deceased was deaf. Frank Herbert Judges (storekeeper) stated that on that evening about 7.45 p.m. he was standing on the pavement in front of his store and saw the deceased leave the footpath on the opposite side of the street and at the same time he saw a car approaching from the west. The driver swerved when near the deceased and he saw the deceased hesitate and seemed to be confused and lurched forward in front of the car and he believed the driver of the car had the brakes applied at the time and was traveling not more than eight miles an hour. He saw the car strike the deceased and his body was carried along the length of the car. Both wheels on one side went over the body and the brakes must have been well on as he was afraid the last wheel of the car would rest on the body. The body was then picked up by the driver of the car and taken to the doctor but he did not recognise who was injured. Norman Victor Wade stated that he was a motor driver living in Belmore Street Penrith and on the night

about 7.40 o’clock he was driving in High Street in an easterly direction accompanied by Victor Purcell and another passenger, driving about nine or ten miles an hour and when opposite the Federal Hotel he noticed a man crossing the street. He blew his horn and the deceased stopped. He swerved the car and continued on when suddenly the deceased seemed to stagger in front of the car on the offside. He pulled up about the length of the car and picked the deceased up and took him to Dr Higgins in his car. He then reported the occurrence to the police while the doctor was examining the body and then he took the body to the Penrith morgue. He has been driving a car for ten years and he was a careful driver. When he blew the horn he continued because the deceased just stood there and he thought he would be able to pass him and he would have done so if he had remained still but he fell forward and there would have been no necessity for him to pull up if the deceased had stood still. Victor Purcell stated that he was a motor driver and resided in Station Street Penrith and he remembered the night he was in a car with Norman Wade at about a quarter to eight. They were going in an easterly direction travelling about 9 miles per hour at the time and when opposite the Federal Hotel he noticed a man crossing the street and he said to the driver “Norman look out for the chap coming across the street.” Norman blew his horn and the man seemed to stop to let us go past but he then staggered and fell in front of the car near the offside wheel and Norman pulled up the car and we then picked the man up and took him to Dr Higgins and reported the matter to Constable Whitten and then he assisted the Constable to convey the body to the morgue. He could feel that the wheel had gone over something. Constable Whitten stated that at about a quarter to eight Norman Wade and Victor Purcell called at the Penrith Police Station and Wade told him that he had knocked over a man in High Street and believed he was dead. Dr Higgins said that the body was sent to the Hospital morgue. He then removed all clothing and examined the body. There was a wound at the back of the head that was bleeding. Later he examined the spot where the deceased had been knocked down and it was close to the footpath near Judges’ Pharmacy. The coroner stated that he must be guided to a certain extent by the doctor’s evidence where he stated that death was possibly due to natural causes and believed the whole thing had been purely an accident due to the shock of being hit by the motor car. James was born in Greendale in 1860. He married Annie Wedesweller at Camden in 1882 and was a retired Engine Driver.

Photo of the Grave courtesy of the Find a Grave Website.

Source: Nepean Times Saturday 10 January 1925, Ancestry.

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

News coverage (9)

DOWN

1. Floating logs tied together (5)

2. An associate (7)

3. A plant sometimes used to make pies (7) 4. Concepts (5) 5. A teenager’s punishment (9) 6. Male royalty (7)

7. Porridge (7)

8. Supporting (9)

13. Certain posts in a fence (9) 14. Tagging (9) 17. Try (7)

10/1/25

18. An Old World crocus (7)

French for “New” (7)

Momentum (7)

23. Brightest star in Virgo (5)

Result (5)

 Photo of the grave courtesy of the Find a Grave Website.

OUT N ABOUT

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

Forever homes needed for puppies

Friends of Hawkesbury Companion Shelter have announced that these gorgeous puppies are now ready to find their Forever Homes!

At 8 weeks, they are fun, playful, and ready to start their new adventure. Being Kelpie mix, they will need the appropriate amount of exercise and training needed to keep them stimulated and happy.

If you are looking for a slightly older pup, our beautiful girl Willow is also looking for a home. If you have the time, care, and commitment these pups deserve, then please visit 10 Mulgrave Rd Windsor and meet them anytime during open hours.

Adoption Fee: $99 each Age: 8 Weeks & 4 Months

Type: Dog Breed: Kelpie x Sex: Female & Male

All prices include microchipping, lifetime council registration, desexing and 1st Vaccination. R251000145 Phone 4560 4644

CALLING ALL TINY TOTS

Come and join the tiny tots (ages 2-4)physie class in 2025. Physie js a mixture of dancing, aerobics, flexibility and ballet.

NEW TINY TOT MEMEBR SPECIAL - sign up and enjoy first term fees HALF PRICE!

Contact us today for details and our 2025 information handbook stclair.physieclub@gmail.comstclairphysicalculture.com.au

Get ready for a night of glamour, power, and timeless music as Paulini takes the stage to perform the classic anthems of the James Bond franchise at Panthers!

Grab your tickets now https://bit.ly/40ntfkq

This

week in pictures

Penrith Showgirl Sam at Albion Park Show over the weekend.

Proud Aussie: Our local Federal MP Melissa McIntosh at the river.

Brothers-in-law MG and Brandy stopped by to see Rod at Drummond Golf before stepping out for a hit.

Panthers’ Liam Martin hard at it. The strive for five is alive!

Rod from Nepean Men’s Shed and his beautifully wood-burned artwork. Strive for five Panthers!

*MEMBERS ONLY

Penrith hosts Canoe Slalom Oceania Championships

BY NOEL ROWSELL

PENRITH will host the 2025 Canoe Slalom Oceania Championships this week at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium, from Friday 24 - Sunday 26 January.

In addition to our own strong local talent, including Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallists Jess Fox OAM and Noemie Fox, competitors from

across the globe will be in the thick of the action, including Spain, Belgium, Columbia, Canada, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Japan, Poland and the USA.

The Oceania Championships will double as a selection event for the 2025 Australian Senior team, which will compete on the World Cup circuit, and at the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, which will also be staged Down Under in Penrith from 1-6 October 2025.

St Clair Physie celebrates a stellar year

BY KERRIE DAVIES

- ST CLAIR Physie a local not-for-profit friendly club who celebrated a fantastic and successful 2024 season and are getting excited to do it all again in 2025.

- St Clair Physie is a fun and energetic dance sport that promotes fun, fitness and friendships, for all ages! It is an affordable dance sport associated with the school of Bjelke Petersen School of Physical Culture.

- “We strive to be supportive and encouraging to all, giving members a sense of good health, connection and belonging,” said President, Chelsea Cahalane 2024 RESULT HIGHLIGHTS

• Ariana Tantalos was awarded 2nd place in the 7 Years section at the Junior National Championships.

• Megan Jones was awarded 4th place in the Open O33s Ladies section at the Ladies National Championships, which then qualified her to challenge for the title of Ladies Grand Champion.

• Tahlya Johnson was awarded 4th place in the 1st Years section at the Senior National Championships held at the prestigious Opera House.

• The club also had a 9/10 Years team compete in the Championship Grade National Competition, which is a huge achievement for the club.

- The teachers couldn’t be happier as their enthusiastic physie family keeps on growing and loving their physie. You can join them in 2025!

- St Clair Physie Club has a registration day on Tuesday 4th February between 5:30pm-7:00pm at St Clair Public School

- Venue for classes held at St Clair Public School

- Send an enquiry to join in 2024: stclair.physieclub@ gmail.com or call 0404 988 381

- Also check out their website: www. stclairphysicalculture.com.au

- Follow on social media through Facebook and Instagram for exciting updates about the 2025 physie season

Action from the 2024 Oceania Championships. Photos by Noel Rowsell

Carruthers Finishes Top Ten at 2025 Australian Amateur

JORDAN

SPRINGS junior Coby Carruthers (Concord GC) has finished in the Top Ten at the prestigious 2025 Australian Amateur, which was held over the 14-17th January at Commonwealth and Cranbourne Golf Clubs.

Coby shot rounds of 74/68/72/72 to finish on 286, tied for 10th behind runaway winner Jye Halls (Mollymook / NSW GC).

Coby was never out of the Top 15 throughout the 4-day tournament, sealing his Top Ten finish with a subpar final round.

16-year-old Ti Fox (Richmond / Concord GC) shot rounds of

75/72/75/68 - 290 to finish the tournament tied 16th, on even par, after sitting well back in the field in a tie for 68th following Day 2.

Ti began a rapid move up the leaderboard on Day 3, gaining 24 positions on the day, then shot the 2nd-best score of the final round (5-under-par 65) to move up a further 28 positions and claim a coveted spot in the Top 20.

Kade Webber (Stonecutters Ridge / Concord GC) shot 73/71/67/71 - 292 to finish in a tie for 32nd.

The other three males (Chayse Thorpe, Darcy Mackay, Matthew Fullerton) and two females (Savannah Webb, Camilla Kim) from western Sydney all missed the 36-hole cut after Day 2.

2025 Pennant season set to tee off

BY NOEL ROWSELL

THERE will be almost a full house of Western Sydney clubs competing in this year’s Golf NSW Metropolitan Men’s Major Pennant, which begins on 2nd February and will be played on a home and away basis.

Division 1 - Penrith GC in Section 1; Lynwood GCC in Section 2, Stonecutters Ridge GC in Section 3. Division 2 - Glenmore Heritage Valley GC in Section 1; Fox Hills GC in Section 2; Richmond GC and Twin Creeks GCC in Section 3; Division 3 - Springwood CC in Section 1; Dunheved GC in Section 3; Division 4 - Leonay GC in Section 1; Division 5 - Wallacia CC in Section 2.

Several Western Sydney players should also feature in squads with Concord GC, New South Wales GC and The Australian GC.

Stonecutters Ridge GC is the only Western Sydney club in this year’s

Golf NSW Metropolitan Women’s Major Pennant, which also begins on 2nd February. Stonecutters will play in Division 1, Section 1 against NSW GC, St Michael’s GC and Concord GC, on a home and away basis.

The Golf NSW Women’s Grade

Pennant commences on 14/2/25.

Penrith GC will play in Division 4, along with Woolooware GC, Castle Hill CC, Mona Vale GC, Moore Park GC and Cumberland CC, with each club alternately hosting a round as a Central Venue during the season.

Penrith

GC

scoop the pool in team challenge

DIANE Montgomery reports “The Penrith Ladies Team Challenge day was a success, despite the rain on day one.

We had a field of 70 players from Camden, Everglades, Gold Creek, Lakeside Moss Vale, Murfield, Nelson Bay, Richmond, Social Golf Australia, Stonecutters, The Ridge, Warringah, Windsor and Penrith.

As a result, the new golf carts at Penrith GC got a real work out (in the conditions).

Penrith GC provided all of the winners in the event, with Joanne Ogle and Jeannette Robertson taking out the major trophy, whilst the Scratch winners were Diane Montgomery and Tracey Warne.

“Our Raffle raised $590 with all proceeds going to the Great Walk foundation,” Diane added.

WSRVGA hosts 2025 Open

A FIELD of over 140 veteran golfers braved the cool conditions and the threat of rain last Friday at Springwood CC, to contest the 2025 Western Sydney Region Veteran Golfers Association (WSRVGA) Open.

In addition to the 8 member clubs (Springwood, Wallacia, Glenmore Heritage Valley, Penrith, Leonay, Dunheved, Stonecutters Ridge and Dunheved), invitations were also sent to Fox Hills, Windsor and Lynwood.

Fox Hills players made the most of their opportunity, dominating the prize list in both the 2BBB medley and women’s singles competitions. Manuela and Steve Quirk (Fox Hills) combined

for the best 2BBB score of the day, a remarkable 52 stableford points, whilst Kaylene White (Fox Hills) and Jill Baldacchino (Springwood) finished in second place with 40 points, on a countback from Glenda and Allen Pont (Fox Hills, 40).

Women’s A grade individual competition –Manuela Quirk (Fox Hills, 39 points), Glenda Pont (Fox Hills, 33), Jill Baldacchino (Springwood, 32).

Women’s B grade - Fiona Mildren (Lynwood, 33 points), Robin Kent (Fox Hills, 31), Chris Amery (Lynwood, 31).

Men’s 2BBB - Stephen Archer and Peter Blazek (Leonay, 46 points c/b), Preca Tardiani (Leonay) and Greig Tardiani (Lynwood, 46), John Pawliw

(Windsor) and Allen Davies (Richmond) - 44 points.

Men’s A Grade - Mark Foley (Springwood, 37 c/b), Gary McSullea (Glenmore, 37), Stevan Malesevic (Leonay, 36 c/b).

Men’s B Grade - Peter Blazek (Leonay, 38 points), Richard Cross (Springwood, 37 c/b), Allen Davies (Richmond, 37).

Men’s C grade - Steve Quirk (Fox Hills, 42 points), Vince Preca (Leonay, 39), John Connelly (Richmond, 38).

The next event for WSRVGA members is the first Interclub challenge of the year, hosted by Dunheved GC on Tuesday 18th February.

Penrith Team Challenge Winners Jeannette Robertson and Joanne Ogle (photo supplied).

BY NOEL ROWSELL

BY NOEL ROWSELL

Coby Carruthers in action at the 2024 NSW Open. File photo courtesy of Golf NSW.

Craig Elllings and Justin Fitzgerald. File photos from the 2024 Major Pennant season.

Dunheved GC Hosts the South Creek Cup

BY NOEL ROWSELL

DUNHEVED GC will host the annual South Creek Cup on Saturday 25th January, with a strong field of visitors aiming to capture one of the season’s most coveted Vardon events.

Player numbers entered should exceed 200 on the day, with the trophies on offer including:

The South Creek Cup (Scratch winner); Captains Cup (Nett winner); Colts (Scratch winner; John Fearnley Junior Cup (Scratch winner).

There are currently 30 visitors entered for the tournament, with 20 of those on single figure handicaps.

Blake Hodges wins JNJG Sydney Week of Golf

BY NOEL ROWSELL

ERSKINE PARK junior Blake Hodges (NSW GC) has scored a resounding 7-shot victory in the JNJG Harvey Norman Sydney Week of Golf, which was held at several courses in Sydney over 1317th January.

Blake, who is also a member of Dunheved and Twin Creeks Golf Clubs, shot three rounds under par at Brighton Lakes, Strathfield and Lakeside Camden respectively to hold an imposing lead over the remainder of the Boys field, then had to endure a 24-hour wait as Sydney’s wild weather washed out Day 4 at Cumberland.

Blake subsequently shot a 3-over par 72 on Day 5 at Muirfield but there would be few contenders pushing from the chasing pack in the heavy conditions, allowing him to cruise home to a comfortable victory with a total of 273. Blake also won the 16+ Boys age group.

The next best western Sydney player in the Boys field was Jesse Hardaker (Wentworth Falls CC), who finished in a tie for 46th place at 303.

Annoushka Maikap (Stonecutters Ridge) was

in the Top Five in the Girls division for the first three days, leading the field after Day 2 and Day 3. She fell away on Day 5, shooting a 7-over-par 79 to drop back to 4th place on 297, although she did take out the Nett prize in the 16+ Age group.

Jessica Fog (Penrith GC) was next best outright in the Girls division, finishing 15th on 320, ahead of Marie-Claire Domingo (Stonecutters Ridge) in 16th on 322.

Action from the 2024 South Creek Cup.

Photo by Noel Rowsell.

Blake Hodges. Photo courtesy of Ethan Keane / JNJG.

Local trio chosen in Australian Cheerleading Team

BY NOEL ROWSELL

13

-YEAR

OLD Tannah Ashford-

Wykes is one of three local athletes chosen in an Australian team to compete at the International Cheer Union (ICU) Junior World and World Cheerleading Championships, which will be held in Orlando, Florida (USA) in April.

The Australian Cheer Union (ACU) team of 26 athletes and alternates will be attending a training camp in Melbourne over the Australia Day long weekend.

The team is scheduled to arrive in Orlando on 18th April to begin training in preparation for the championships which run over 23-28th April.

Tannah, 11-year old Aiden Blok and 12-year-old Kyah Stonestreet are all members of the Liberty Allstars Cheerleading Club, which is based in Regentville Road, Jamistown.

Tannah trains 10 hours / 4 days per week, in addition to a further 5 hours per week assisting with coaching for the youngest athletes in the club.

Tannah began cheerleading as a 5-year old and has progressed through to Senior Co-Ed Level 4. She will compete in Orlando with the Australian

This will be Tannah’s second overseas cheerleading competition, having competed in Hawaii (USA) in 2024.

In order to qualify for this year’s Australian team, athletes were requested to submit a video audition to the national selectors, who then narrowed the field to 70/80 athletes.

All competitors were required to attend an in-person tryout in December 2024, with Tannah, Aiden and Kyah all winning selection to the ACU team.

Tannah’s parents have established

a Go Fund Me page: https://gofund. me/92643be3 for anyone who may wish to assist with funding.

In 2008, Gymnastics Australia (GA) established the Australian Cheerleading Union (ACU) as a wholly-owned subsidiary of that National Sporting Organisation, under the brand ‘AUS Cheer’. However, as a consequence of Cheerleading becoming one of Australia’s fastest growing sports, which in turn developed new requirements and attention to keep up with the growing demands, GA divested itself of its leadership and management role as a result of its

inability to meet this demand.

Following the separation of the cheerleading discipline from Gymnastics Australia’s National Sporting Organisation administrative umbrella in 2018, in May 2019 the International Cheer Union established the Australian Cheer Union (ACU) through creation of an Interim Board and appointment of Interim State Members to drive establishment of a National Federation.

The Australian Cheerleading Championships in 2024 were the largest single sporting event in Australia.

2025 REGISTRATION OPENS MONDAY 2 DECEMBER

DON’T WAIT - REGISTER EARLY!

JOIN THE STC FAMILY

www.playrugbyleague.com Click register, search St Clair and follow the prompts.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

• Playing kit - shorts and socks

• Training shirt for under 5s - 13s

• Club polo for Under 14s - Opens

Clothing pick up days will be posted on the Club Page in the New Year

Current Active Kids Vouchers are accepted.

Important information:

As per JL, Internal Transfers don’t open until 1st February 2025 and won’t be accepted prior to then.

Players are required to be registered to be able to train and covered by insurance. Teams from under 12s to Open are Train and Trial before teams are selected. If players are not chosen into a team then registration will be refunded.

Contact Club Registrar

- Michael Zammit via text 0412 531 935 or Club Page for more information.

2025 SEASON STARTS NOW

Youth Co-Ed Intermediate squad.

Kyah, Aiden, Tannah. Kyah, Tannah, Aiden. Supplied by Bec Ashford-Wykes.

Bombshell new report recommends moving 2032 Olympic Canoe Slalom events to Penrith

BY NOEL ROWSELL

REPRESENTATIVES

of local community groups in Queensland have got in touch with Nepean News to say “a bombshell new report” has underscored the overwhelming benefits of using the existing worldclass Penrith Olympic Whitewater Stadium for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games Canoe Slalom events.

The groups say the report has raised “serious concerns about the $100 million Olympic Whitewater Centre proposed for the special conservation lands of the Birkdale Community Precinct (BCP) in Redland City (QLD), warning of potentially devastating environmental impacts that will likely spell the end for the local population of endangered koalas.”

They say it urges decision-makers to abandon the project in favour of using existing facilities in Penrith, thus sparing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) the inherent risk of tarnishing the ‘Olympic brand’ through direct association with devastating harm to koalas.

The group states the new report identifies major risks associated with the Redlands Whitewater Centre development, including significant harm to groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) comprising Core Koala Habitat. There are also concerns about apparently insufficient

groundwater analysis, limitations to assessment methods, as well as mapping inaccuracies.

Lavinia Wood, spokesperson for the Community Alliance for Responsible Planning (CARP), stated “The report findings show Redland City Council’s decision to proceed with the Redlands Whitewater project appears to have been based on insufficient data and a lack of due diligence. The decision to proceed should be abandoned immediately.”

Ms Wood also highlighted strong and consistent community opposition to the project, noting that the most recent survey indicated nearly 80% of Redland residents oppose the Whitewater Centre.

Kathy Petrik (also with CARP) added “Discussions about venues for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics have been ongoing for several years now, and with the change in the Queensland State Government, a new 100-day review is taking place. Hopefully, this will finalise the matter in an evidence-

based and practical way.

Community consultation ended last Friday (3rd January) and the new committee examining them will be making announcements in early March, we believe.

Public submissions to the 100-day Review of Olympic venues, set up by Premier Crisafulli, have now ended. The Premier’s 2032 Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority is supposed to put an end to all the venue controversies once and for all when it has reviewed public input and makes its final recommendations in the weeks ahead.

“We are hoping this independent Authority will deliver its decisions in the public interest, as was promised.

“One surprising thing about the proposed site is that unlike other similar whitewater Olympic venues, there is no water source available on the Birkdale lands, which means water must be pumped in from the SEQ water grid, at additional costs.”

Set of Six: Games not to miss in 2025

BY PANTHERS MEDIA

With the 2025 NRL season just around the corner, Panthers members and fans have plenty to look forward to.

FROM blockbuster rivalries to historic occasions, these six unmissable games at CommBank Stadium will define the year as the Panthers chase five-straight premierships. Here’s your guide to the must-watch matchups!

ROUND 2 V ROOSTERS

Friday, 14 March – CommBank Stadium

The Panthers’ first home game of the season at CommBank Stadium is one to mark on your calendar. It’s also their first match back in Australia after the historic Vegas season opener, providing fans with an early look at how the team is shaping up. With new recruits on show, this clash against the Roosters promises plenty of excitement

ROUND 8 V SEA EAGLES

Saturday, 26 April – CommBank Stadium

The ANZAC Round is always special, and this year, the Panthers take on the Sea Eagles in a game dedicated to honouring those who served our country. With star power on both sides, the contest is bound to be a fitting tribute and an electrifying matchup.

ROUND 13 V EELS

Sunday, 1 June – CommBank Stadium

The Western Sydney derby returns with the Panthers hosting the Eels at CommBank Stadium. This fierce rivalry will take on extra significance as both clubs share the venue. Add in the charm of Sunday afternoon footy, and you’ve got a match fans won’t want to miss.

ROUND 17 V BULLDOGS

Thursday, 26 June – CommBank Stadium

A Thursday night blockbuster against the Bulldogs, this game brings plenty of intrigue with former Panthers coach Cameron Ciraldo and captain Stephen Crichton now leading the charge for the opposition. The atmosphere at CommBank Stadium will be electric as familiar faces return to face their old club.

ROUND 21 V WESTS TIGERS

Saturday, 26 July – CommBank Stadium

Another Western Sydney showdown, this time against the Tigers, who feature former Panthers stars Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva. The rivalry between these two clubs runs deep, and this clash will be another gripping chapter in their shared history.

ROUND 24 V STORM

Thursday 14 August –CommBank Stadium

It’s a Grand Final replay at CommBank Stadium, with the Storm looking for redemption. As the business end of the season approaches, this game will carry significant weight for the ladder and finals aspirations. Expect a high-stakes, high-quality showdown that could define the season for both teams.