Nepeannews 2february2017

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Thursday, 2 February 2017

ISSUE 193

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PENRITH’S NUMBER ONE Tireless charity worker and well-known local identity Ross “Rossco” Hutchison has been named Penrith’s Citizen of the Year for 2017.

More inside!

Photo: Kennedi Geyer

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Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

Welcoming new interns

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Welcome! Swati Dharmaraj, Bashar Alani, Dennis Goudie, Karan Singh, Jaffar Hosain, Alvina Ng, Shaun Khanna

WESTERN Sydney Local Health District has welcomed a total of 141 new medical interns.

Pictured are some of the new group of medical graduates, set to undertake a year-long internship at Mount Druitt Hospital and also Blacktown Hospital.

The 52 interns, including 11 from interstate and one from overseas, will rotate through the hospitals in 2017 – they will attend a two-week orientation program before starting compulsory terms in medicine, surgery and emergency.

The interns are part of the 141 medical graduates, starting their year-long internship across Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD).

WSLHD board chair Richard Alcock said the interns would complete compulsory terms in medicine, surgery and emergency.

“It’s a remarkable thing to start a career after

the incredible study, effort and sacrifice the students have put in,” Mr Alcock said.

“I wish all of our interns well at the start of this challenging new journey.”

NSW guarantees intern positions to all domestic medical graduates of NSW universities and provides internships to many graduates from interstate universities, and, where possible, international full-fee paying medical graduates.

The interns will rotate through metropolitan, regional or rural hospitals, as well as GP practices.

54 new intern doctors were welcomed to Nepean Hospital last month, who will undertake a year-long internship in 2017.

“I’m so pleased these new doctors will undertake their internship at our local hospital.

Every intern will benefit from the support and direction of our clinicians,” Penrith MP Stuart Ayres said.

Prue Car MP Member for Londonderry

Ph: 9833 1122 12/82 Victoria St Werrington Mail: PO Box 4001 Werrington NSW 2747 londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au

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4 Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

From the Editor’s Desk

by Kerrie Davies

203 BANKS DRIVE, ST CLAIR IT has been a controversial first week for President Trump, to say the least, and everywhere you look be it on TV, in newspapers or social media there is footage of a protest springing up.

It makes me wonder what these protesters hope to achieve? He’s in and that’s it. Hillary lost a demcratic election, that’s it, move on. Trump hasn’t even had a chance to get his feet wet in the job yet, who knows how it will turn out at this early stage? It’s hard to get your head around the sense behind a protest when a) it changes nothing and b) 20 people lay dead following a recent one.

The most surprising thing I’ve seen is a group of 400-odd protesters in QLD. Any minute I’m sure there’ll be a newsflash across the globe: “President Trump has just heard that a bunch of Aussies don’t like him so he’s resigning!” Not bloody likely, so why waste their time? I can think of 400 better ways to waste my time.

I’ve just returned from a 14 day tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. It seemed surreal that while people were protesting about a President that they just don’t happen to like, we were visiting the Killing Fields of Phnom Penh, Cambodia looking into the horrific mass graves of those killed at the hands of their former President, Pol Pot and his team.

An estimated 3 million people were mercilessly killed under the cruel regime, on the probability of them simply not agreeing with his communist politics. It went even further than that, anybody educated (teachers, doctors etc) were executed without warning. Babies and children of educated persons were held by the feet, bashed against “the killing tree” and thrown into a pit.

Seeing rows and rows of human skulls, arranged in age order on shelves, gives one some insight into what an evil President really is.

A democratic government is a dream come true for these people.

A bit of perspective always shows just our lucky we and the rest of the western world really are. And if you don’t agree, come to Cambodia with me and I’ll show you the product of actual evil. Peace out.

Your thoughts? kerrie@nepeannews.com.au

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Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

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Penrith Mayor John Thain outside the new temporary commuter carpark in Thornton

A 240 space temporary car park at Thornton has been constructed by Penrith City Council and opened this week.

The car park is on the north side of the railway line on an UrbanGrowth NSW site at Thornton (east of the existing commuter deck).

This project has been jointly funded by Transport for NSW and Penrith City Council.

A further 200 parking spaces were provided in Thornton in December when Penrith Council temporarily removed 4-hour and 2-hour parking restrictions. These spots (on both sides of Lord Sheffield Circuit and on the southern side of

Thornton Drive from Combewood Avenue) are now all-day parking.

The temporary carpark will provide much needed relief during construction work on the upgrade of the Penrith Train Station.

The NSW Government’s construction of the new deck is expected to take approximately 10 months.

For more information on the Penrith Commuter Car Park upgrade go to the TfNSW website – http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/ projects/tap/current-works/penrith-commutercar-park

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Local pollie’s thoughts on new premier

By Keegan Thomson

LOCAL politicians of all persuasions have come out to voice their opinions of the state’s new Premier, Gladys Berejiklian.

The MP for Penrith and Minister for Sport, WestConnex and western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, has thrown his support behind his new captain.

“Gladys Berejiklian will be an outstanding Premier,” Mr Ayres said.

“I can think of no person in modern NSW history that has more runs on the board going into the job,” he said.

Mr Ayres vouched for the new Premier’s commitment to the Nepean saying she “has always been committed to Penrith for as long as I can remember.”

He credits Ms Berejiklian for the boosts in infrastructure around Penrith, including the record spending and

future upgrades of Nepean Hospital.

“Her leadership in the transport and treasury portfolios has already seen a number of wins for our community.

“They include additional funds to our local schools, planned upgrades to Northern and Mulgoa Roads, the largest ever investment in Nepean Hospital and massive upgrade to Penrith Station and its car parks,” Mr Ayres said.

On the other side of the pendulum,

Labor MP for Londonderry, Prue Car has called on the new Premier to prioritise the western Sydney region above all.

“NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian must ensure that Western Sydney is at the front and centre of the NSW government,” Ms Car said.

“For too long Western Sydney had been treated with disrespect and now, the new Premier has an opportunity to make the people of Western Sydney

a priority for the NSW government,” she said.

Ms Car also said she was disappointed that as Treasurer, Ms Berejiklian “failed to allocate money for Jordan Springs Primary School” an issue which Ms Car has been lobbying for since her election.

In a statement Ms Car laid down an urgent list of demands and called on the Premier to bring more school funding to western Sydney.

The MP for Londonderry wants to see affordable housing across western Sydney and above all allocated funds for the construction of Jordan Springs Primary School. She is also calling on the Premier to stop TAFE cuts.

They say elections are won and lost in western Sydney and with at least two more years until the next state election it will be interesting to see how Premier Berejiklian works with the people of western Sydney.

Two local members in charge of six portfolios

By Kerrie Davies

ALONG with a new Premier came the obligatory reshuffle of the Cabinet; and a huge vote of confidence in our local members with two MPs given the responsibility of six important portfolios. Penrith MP Stuart Ayres has retained his position as Minister for Sport and has also been appointed Minister for WestConnex and Minister for western Sydney. It has been ten years since we had a Minister for Western Sydney who lived and worked within a bull’s roar of Penrith - the last local was Diane Beamer - so this is quite a score for the region.

Mulgoa MP Tanya Davies’ hard work has paid off - she has has been elevated to Cabinet as the Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Women and Minister for Ageing.

“I am very honoured and excited to have been asked to join cabinet and represent the community on these three important portfolio areas, especially serving under the first Liberal female Premier of NSW, Premier Berejiklian,” Mrs Davies said.

“I am focussed on meeting all the stakeholders in these portfolio areas and understanding the issues and challenges that exist to ensure we continue to make life better for all people within NSW. “I look forward to being a strong advocate for people throughout Mulgoa, Western Sydney and right throughout our state in the substantial portfolio areas of mental health, ageing and women.”

Mrs Daviessaid all of these areas have a direct impact on our communities and all of us at times.

“Mental health continues to remain a top priority for our Government, especially for young people, as society continues to better grapple with its prevalence, as opposed to past practices,” she said.

“Moreover, I will always champion the needs of the elderly in NSW, in recognition of their work and service in making our communities what they are today. We live off the prosperity built form generations past as our population continues to age there will be challenges that need to be faced .

“Further, while we have made significant advances for women, I recognise that it is fundamental that the challenges in society, at home and in the workplace that face women continue to be adequately represented.

“It is incredibly encouraging and exciting that so many western Sydneybased MPs are getting the opportunity to represent and champion the causes

that are central to our region, as well as that of our State and nation.

“Undoubtedly, western Sydney represents a core component of the population growth and economic and demographic shifts that are taking place across NSW and, accordingly, the NSW and Federal Liberal and National Governments are recognising the significance that our region will play in driving the long-term economic growth.

“As opportunities continue to drive Western Sydney, the future prospects for our communities are well and truly being enhanced.”

Mrs Davies is pleased that western Sydney has cabinet representation from both herself and Penrith MP Stuart Ayres.

“I absolutely believe that the appointments made by Premier Berejiklian of Stuart and I represent a recognition of the ongoing

transformation and development of the Penrith LGA, as it shifts to take on the role of a major city, in fact the third city of Sydney. This is in conjunction with the long-term development strategy for Greater Sydney, along with Western Sydney Airport, which will initiate over the course of the next decade or so.

“I am deeply committed, as I have always been, to ensuring that the greatest provision of the best services for our local residents is provided and that will only be enhanced in my new role.

“I am aware and conscious of the fact that the State Government has a central role in service delivery when it comes to matters pertaining to mental health, ageing and womens’ services and have spoken about the profound sadness of domestic violence in the past, a pervasive evil that must be addressed in our communities.”

7 Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

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Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

Ready for a fun-filled year NEPEAN Valley RSL Day Club is a club for all seniors which meets every Friday from 10am to 2pm at Penrith Valley Seniors Centre in Station Street.

It provides mental and physical stimulation by means of gentle, fun exercise, quizzes and activities normally on a themed basis, speakers monthly and the occasional outing.

Our Club is run entirely by volunteers and we are always looking for physically fit people to join our transport, catering or program teams.

The Club is full of fun and everyone goes home with a smile on their faces. If you think you would like to join us as a member or volunteer, please phone Jan Eaton, Club Coordinator on 47048506.

Work underway during school holidays BUILDING and maintenance projects valued at close to half a million dollars have been conducted at NSW government schools in the Penrith electorate over the summer holidays in preparation for the 2017 school year.

Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres said the holidays are quiet times for schools and allow capital works and maintenance projects to take place.

“These holidays, major capital works with an estimated total cost of more than $180 million are underway across NSW,” Stuart Ayres said.

“More than $33 million of work commenced or was ongoing in minor capital works and in maintenance.

Examples of minor capital works include classroom and canteen upgrades, disability access works, and upgrades to facilities like toilets and walkways. The bulk of the maintenance is painting, floor coverings and roofing.

The schools benefiting from minor works and/or maintenance in Penrith are: Henry Fulton Public School Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School Samuel Terry Public School “It’s not glamorous work but it’s essential to maintaining our schools as welcoming and functional

learning environments,” Stuart Ayres said.

“Students and staff will notice a difference when they return to school in 2017.”

Since 2011, the NSW Government has committed more than $4.9 billion to school infrastructure and maintenance.

In the 2016/17 State Budget, $330 million was allocated over two years to planned and priority maintenance works in NSW schools.

Memorial service

Body located – Glenbrook

PENRITH Nashos are having their anniversary memorial service at Victoria Park, Corner of Great Western Highway on Sunday February 5th at10am for a 10.30 start.

A INVESTIGATION is underway following the death of a man in the Blue Mountains Just before 10am on Tuesday 31 January, emergency services were called to The Oaks fire trail off Bruce Road, Glenbrook, following reports a body had been located.

Officers attached to Blue Mountains Local Area

Command have established a crime scene.

Inquiries into the man’s death are continuing; however, at this stage the death does not appear to be suspicious.

The identity of the man, believed to be in his 60s, was not yet known at the time of going to press.

localnews local

By Keegan Thomson

A MOTHER and daughter pair from Colyton have raised over $3000 for local charity, Rosie’s Place, through a very bright initiative.

Last year Nepean News spoke to Sharon and Ebony Peach, two community minded small business people, who set out to raise money through the use of their very bright and wonderfully luminescent Christmas lights.

Across a number of weeks the pair managed to raise more than $3000 for local children’s charity, Rosie’s Place, thanks to their some 350,000 Christmas lights.

Josene Perri, the Administration Manager at Rosie’s Place, said people like Sharon and Ebony help bridge their widening funding gaps.

“Funding is always an issue for us so people like Sharon and Ebony are amazing. We’re so thankful for their support,” Ms Perri said.

The funds raised by Sharon and Ebony will go into the production of a special children’s booklet published

by Rosie’s Place.

“We have a booklet called, Popcorns and Jellybeans, it is a children’s activity booklet. It is about empowering kids and getting them to look at themselves in a positive way.

“We want to help children recognise their hopes and dreams,” Ms Perri said.

The booklet will pay tribute to Sharon and Ebony’s contributions to Rosie’s Place with a special mention inside.

“In the front we’re going to thank the efforts put in by Sharon and Ebony and their tireless contributions,” she said.

Sharon Peach said she chose Rosie’s Place as her charity of choice because “it holds a special place in our heart”.

Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

Bright lights raise money

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Sharon and Ebony Peach decorated their home with some 350,000 lights.

Photo: Kennedi Geyer.

Rosie’s Place focuses on helping children and teenagers who’ve been the subject of different forms of violence and trauma. They’ve been operating in western Sydney for the last 30 years.

Each Christmas Sharon and Ebony work together to raise money for Rosie’s Place through their brilliant Christmas light installations. Last year Ebony told us it took her nearly six weeks to set up all the lights.

In 2016 the pair’s display went viral after Ebony shared their handy work on social media.

After Sharon and Ebony handed over their raised funds, Sharon gave us a little insight into their 2017 Christmas set up.

Josene Perri, Ebony and Sharon Peach.

Photo: Kennedi Geyer.

“It is going to be bigger than ever,” she said. “We have a sleigh that is so big and heavy that it took four men to

take it off a truck.”

It is fair to say Colyton will be a brighter suburb come Christmas 2017.

Listen to our very own Keegan Thomson with News Hour - Monday mornings from 9am to 10am Also on WOW is Music Memories with Isobel Impell on Wednesday - Midday to 2pm

www.wowfm1007.com.au

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Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

Carer says hospital facing the strain of overcrowding

By Keegan Thomson

FRESH allegations of overcrowding and ailing facilities at Nepean Hospital have come to light after a concerned resident approached Nepean News with her story.

Kaylene Sheen has been taking her husband to Nepean Hospital for treatment of an ongoing medical condition for the past 15 years.

She said the facilities at Nepean Hospital have become overcrowded and are currently overflowing.

“I have been taking my husband to Nepean Hospital for about 15 years and over the past two years or more I have watched it become full to overflowing,” Ms Sheen said.

“In the past I’ve taken my husband to Nepean Hospital, as he has numerous medical issues, where he was triaged and taken straight to a monitored bed.

“Over the past two years, on some occasions, there have been no monitored beds and in some cases no beds at all, so he has had to sit in a chair near the triage nurse’s desk,” she said.

She said the triage two rooms are small, uncomfortable and don’t offer up much room for the patient’s family or carers.

“This room is so small and uncomfortable,” she said. “Nepean can hardly fit patients in there let alone carers or family.

“The room is that small and compact that nursing staff have trouble bringing in and using monitoring equipment. They have had to ask family members to move to the corridor so they can manoeuvre their equipment,” she said.

Brett Williams, General Manager of Nepean Hospital, responded to some of the allegations in Ms Sheen’s letter.

He said the triage rooms are only meant for short assessments “to assess a patient’s urgency of care; and are designed to only accommodate the triage nurse, patient and a family member or friend.”

“This is to allow the triage nurse to make a thorough and uninterrupted assessment and maintain the patient’s privacy,” he said.

Even with this in mind Ms Sheen wrote in her letter to Nepean News that staff and health professionals are concerned about the state of the hospital.

“I’ve been told firsthand by medical professionals and a prominent specialist from Nepean that the hospital is full to overflowing, and that it’s a nightmare to fight,” she wrote.

Brett Williams said the hospital is currently facing an increasing population of Penrith.

“Nepean Hospital is currently experiencing a high demand for services from an expanding population

with many new housing developments and more people than ever moving into the Penrith region,” Mr Williams said.

“As a teaching hospital, we also provide complex clinical care to residents west of Penrith from across NSW. All of these things can make us a very busy hospital.

“However, we have highly experienced staff that work to maximise flow and bed availability every day,” Mr Williams said.

Mr Williams didn’t comment directly on the allegation of his staff speaking out about the overcrowding but instead commented on the movement of staff across the local health district.

“To make more beds available for new patients, we may transfer patients who no longer require tertiary care to other hospitals within the Local Health District to continue their recovery - often closer to home.

“Many of our doctors work across our hospitals and so patients receive continuity of care from their own doctor,” he said.

Due to the “the overcrowding” of Nepean Hospital Ms Sheen said she and her husband have had to look elsewhere for their medial treatment.

Currently they’re driving to Blacktown Hospital for any treatment simply because there is more room with bigger facilities.

Ms Sheen said she could talk about these only as a carer, not as a patient, but she thought these issues were important to the community.

“I would like to respond, from a carers point of view, so the public and people of western Sydney knows what it’s really like,” she said.

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Miracle medals in mystery find

By Keegan Thomson

ONLY a month into 2017 and Penrith has been delivered one great Australian mystery and one helluva story.

Local removalist and pet controller, Jay Edwards and his team were gutting an abandoned building in Kingswood one afternoon when they came across the find of a century.

Behind an old dusty and rusted out cupboard were four, century old British war medals.

“We were cleaning out the unit and it was a dump,” Mr Edwards said. “We found the medals hidden behind the cabinetry.”

Shocked at the discovery Mr Edwards put pictures of the medals up on facebook. He asked his mates if anyone knew whose medals they were.

After a few days his story and the medals had gone viral with his post attracting hundreds of likes, shares and comments.

Initially Mr Edwards though the medals were Australian war medals until he received an email from a gentleman in the motherland, Great

Britain, who claimed the medals belonged to his great uncle, Harry Willimott-Watson.

“It has all be a little bit surreal,” Mr Edwards said.

Neil Harris, the great nephew of Harry Willimott-Watson, spoke to Mr Edwards after it came out that he’d found these medals and has arranged

for one of his relatives to come pick up the medals in Penrith.

“Someone from the UK will be in Australia, just out of pure coincidence, and I’m going to meet with them to hand over the war medals,” Mr Edwards said.

Even though, through the power of the internet, Mr Edwards has been

able to track down the medal owner’s family there are still a number of questions simply bursting to be answered.

Mr Harris gave some insight into the recipient of the medals, Mr Willimott-Watson, who died in 1950 and was buried in St Marys cemetery.

The medals were from the British Navy and were from World War One, they’d been awarded to Mr Willimott-Watson for extraordinary efforts in the war. After the war Mr WillimottWatson moved to Australia and to western Sydney, but there isn’t much else known about him.

What were the medals doing in an old abandoned unit block?

How did they get there? What happened to Harry WillimottWatson and why did he decide to move to Australia after the war?

Did he have family here and if so where are they now?

Hopefully when Mr WillimottWatson’s British relative picks up the long lost medals some more answers can by found.

We will keep on this story and will continue to update with any new information.

11 Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

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Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

‘Honoured and overwhelmed’

By Keegan Thomson

CHARITY MAN with a heart of gold, Ross ‘Rossco’ Hutchison has been named the 2017 Penrith citizen of the year.

Announced in conjunction with Penrith council’s Australia Day celebrations, Rossco was honoured at a special dinner organised by council.

“I’m really proud of council because they’ve dignified the citizen,” Rossco said.

“But I’m still in a little bit of a fog,” he said. “Is this really real? I’m used to being the giver and never the receiver.”

Council gave Rossco the Penrith citizen of the Year award because of his many years of tireless charity efforts in the community and his never ending support for the local performing arts scene.

With his heightened level of local notoriety, Rossco said there are a number of community projects and initiatives he wants to get behind.

“I will be enthusing every child, parent and senior around to get involved in the performing arts around the region,” he said. “We have choirs and dance groups and I’m going to be a big advocate for that.”

Acknowledging he wont have any special powers on council, Rossco said he would still use some of his voice to speak up on a number of issues around the Penrith CBD. “We need to improve access in this city, we need more parking.

“I think the CBD needs a serious refresh and I’d like to light the city up.

“Penrith is the riviera of Australia, and we should have lots more restaurants, events and investments along the great river we live on. We need to celebrate it a lot more and bring more people down there,” he said.

He was nearly overcome with emotion a number of times when he spoke about how much love he’d felt from the local community after receiving his honours.

“I’ve had to walk away from my facebook for the time being because there is so many people writing so

Rossco on the awards night with Mayor John Thain

many beautiful things to me,” he said.

“It is really quite emotional and I feel honoured and overwhelmed.”

Rossco grew up in Penrith and has lived in the region for more than 50 years. He spent most of his early

life living in Penrith and Kingswood before show business stole him away from the Nepean.

Returning to the city he has worked for the last 30 years as a pillar of the Penrith community. He set up the

first Performing Arts Academy and has taught thousands of children.

He has been an active member of Rotary, community radio and has given a number of carer cars to the community.

Thank you for another fantastic LAST Thursday 26 January, Penrith celebrated another fantastic Australia Day. This was the first year the event was held at a new location, Jamison Park, and focussed on providing a community oriented and family friendly celebration. The event was a huge success, drawing a crowd of

5000 people.

Families took part in traditional Australian activities and games, including sheep shearing, whip cracking and cow milking, and the Pavlova decorating was a favourite of the day. Competition was also fierce in the games arena, with families and friends working hard to best each

other at cricket and bubble soccer.

Kids of all ages delighted in the children’s zoo and face painting, and Shaun the Sheep was a big hit with all!

The food stalls were so popular they had to restock supplies several times throughout the day to keep up with demand.

Penrith Mayor Councillor John Thain declared the event a success, calling it a fantastic day out.

“It was such a delight to see families playing together and dancing together,” Councillor Thain said.

“Once again Council staff put on a fantastic event and it’s clear we made the right decision to move the

Saluting our region’s finest citizens

By Keegan Thomson

AS WELL as Rossco being named Penrith citizen of the year, there was a bunch of other well deserving and hard working Nepean legends who were given local appreciation awards.

Mitchell Beggs Mowczan was named Penrith young citizen of the year.

He is a true community leader with a heart of gold, who has dedicated six years working for the Aboriginal health team, Close the Gap. Mr Beggs Mowczan frequently goes above and beyond assisting members of the community wherever he knows they need help.

Leonie Moore is the Penrith sportsperson of the year. She has been involved in Penrith basketball for more than 30 years, supporting and growing the sport throughout the

Nepean region.

Ms Moore is passionate about fostering young women through the sport and has seen a number of young people go on to successful sporting careers.

Ray Debono has been named Penrith’s local hero thanks to his humble, selfless commitment to his community.

Mr Debono helps raise funds across the local area to support important causes and help change peoples’ lives.

Ray has donated blood and plasma over 225 times, shaved all his hair (beard and legs included) to raise tens of thousands of dollars for the World’s Greatest Shave, and has raised over $116,000 in the Oxfam Trail Walker event.

A Penrith local appreciation award was given to Kevin Finlayson, who has been an active community volunteer and advocate for disability awareness for more than 15 years.

He volunteers his time helping

Australia Day event to Jamison Park. The park was absolutely packed to the rafters.”

“This event would not have been possible without the support and generosity of our sponsors. The Western Weekender and Target Radio network have my thanks for their continued support of our community events,” he said.

With the success of the new-look Australia Day event, it’s likely to stay a staple of the Penrith event calendar for years to come.

Australia Day at Jamison Park was a great success with locals.

patients at Nepean Hospital, as well as with the NSW physical disability Council and Penrith city council’s access committee.

Mr Finlayson is also now coordinating the No Boundaries Art Group – a place for people with disability to be creative and engage socially, and enables inclusion through City-wide events.

Despite his own personal and health challenges, Mr Finlayson has used his experience to help others and advocate for the rights of people with disability, making a profound and immeasurable difference to our community.

Denise Roberts’ work in the community has been recognised with a local appreciation award.

Mrs Roberts has worked as the Service Coordinator for the Penrith Disability Resource Centre INC for the last eight years. During her time there she has shown exceptional leadership and skill, as well as

passion and dedication in advocating for people with disability.

Robert Baines marked 26 years of service with the Emu Plains Lions Club in 2016 and was recognised by with a local appreciation award He is well respected and described as selfless, hard-working and always ready and keen to help. In addition to the countless hours Bob spends volunteering with his fellow Lions, he’s also heavily involved with The Community Kitchen.

Christine Erskine has dedicated her life to improving the health, safety and quality of life of children and was given a local appreciation award.

As a mother of four she became involved in the Nursing Mothers Association – a charity that supports mothers and babies, where she devoted two decades of volunteering.

Mrs Erskine works as the Executive Officer of Kidsafe NSW where she works to help prevent unintentional injury and death of children.

13 Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

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Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

Valentines Day WITH Valentines day just around the corner we thought we would discuss a few potential toxins that your pets may inadvertently come across.

While it may not poison your lover, if may harm your pets!

Lilies are commonly used in floral arrangements and cats often have access to them, however, most cat owners and florists are unaware that lilies are toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure.

Indoor cats and especially kittens are drawn to flowers as they are a novel feature in a familiar environment. In investigating the flowers, cats will often play with and chew parts of the plant. This often goes unnoticed by owners and can even occur when the cat is home alone.

The toxic chemical in lilies that causes injuries to the kidneys is

unknown but all components of the plant are toxic – this includes the petals, stamen, leaves and pollen. As little as 2 leaves or part of a single flower have been reported to cause death. Even a kitten mouthing a plant should be considered a potentially fatal ingestion.

Signs of lily toxicity usually start within several hours of ingestion and signs may include depression, loss of appetite and vomiting. Within 1-3 days, the toxin will cause sudden kidney failure and this will cause pain, drooling, vomiting and a marked reduction in the amount of urine produced. At this stage, aggressive treatment is needed and many cats will die despite treatment.

If you suspect your cat may have ingested lilies it is vital that you seek immediate veterinary attention as early detection and treatment is vital.

The prognosis for a full recovery is excellent if treatment is started before kidney failure develops.

Another potential toxin that may be lurking around on Valentines day is chocolate. Chocolate contains cocoa and cocoa contains a compound called theobromine. Theobromine is unfortunately toxic to both dogs and cats. Chocolate toxicity occurs mainly in dogs as they are more inquisitive and they are more likely to eat foreign objects but it can also be seen in other pets.

How much chocolate is toxic?

The concentration of theobromine varies depending on the type of chocolate. Generally speaking, the darker the chocolate, the higher the concentration of theobromine and hence the more toxic it is. If your dog eats any amount of chocolate, it is important to immediately contact your veterinarian for advice.

The symptoms of a toxicity depend on the amount of chocolate eaten and they can vary in severity.

They generally include excitement, trembling, vomiting, diarrhoea,

increased heart rate and tremors. In severe cases, affected animals can even seizure and die.

Unfortunately there is no antitoxin available for theobromine and treatment is generally supportive.

If your dog has eaten chocolate in the previous few hours then your veterinarian can induce vomiting through the use of medications.

Medications such as activated charcoal can also be given orally as this binds up any leftover toxin.

Animals that are already showing symptoms are also usually placed on a drip to help flush the toxin from their body.

This Valentines Day, make sure you avoid lilies if you have cats and keep chocolate away from your pets.

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

Phone 47 313 055

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localnews local

Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

A day in the life of... The Mayor

By Keegan Thomson

THE MAYOR of a council is a bit like the walls of a house. If the walls come down then the roof falls in on the house. Mayor John Thain is serving his second term as Mayor of Penrith and says this time around his experience is helping him.

“This is really exciting, I’m excited about the stuff going on at the moment,” Cr Thain said.

“I’m really enjoying the role and this time around I feel older and wiser,” he joked.

According to Cr Thain it takes about three months to get back into the job as Mayor simply because you need to get your head around all the ins and outs of where the city is at.

“The first three months are a little harder because you’ve got to get right into it all again,” he said.

Cr John Thain was re-elected unopposed as Mayor in 2016 after he served a stint in the job a decade prior.

“It was really humbling to be re-elected unopposed,” he said. “You really feel like the other councillors trust you and your decisions in the job and that is very humbling.”

Across a week Cr Thain said he is forced to take at least one day off because otherwise he’d be overloaded with work.

“My days are very full now,” he said. “I’ll often work six days a week including weekends with some of my busiest days being Saturday and Sunday.”

“There is always functions, sports events, meet and greets happening so the weekends are always busy,” he added.

Mayor John Thain visiting North St Marys Public School, pictured with former Penrith Councillor Jackie Greenow

As Mayor his week usually begins with briefings, meeting and council meetings on a Monday.

“Mondays are usually the busiest,” he said.

“We’ll have council meetings, which can go on long into the night, and we’ll do policy meetings as well on a Monday.

“The rest of the week is usually filled up with briefings, meetings with the community and meetings with other council members. There’s always people in the community who’ll be up for a chat,” he said.

“Even when you’re on holidays you’re not really on holidays.

THE G SPOT

DOES anyone remember the song “everybody was Kung Fu Fighting”? I always think to myself, surely to God not everyone was Kung Fu fighting; there had to be a few in the toilet or at the queue at the bar.

The song always makes me remember the early days in the clubs and pubs, when it was almost tradition to have an all-in-brawl at the end of a great night, the club managers would order us security people to start removing bar stools and anything of value at about 10.30pm in preparation for the males in a gorilla brawl. If you didn’t lose 20 glasses and (glass ashtrays in those days) on a Saturday night, then we would statistically place that down as an unsuccessful night.

It was almost like the International Frisbee throwing championships to see how far a glass could go across the room. If there was half a beer in it then that was a bonus throw and 100 points. (If you didn’t spill any of course). There was some of the best windmill punching and hitting like nothing you had ever seen in your life. All we needed was to add Lycra and it would have been the latest “workout video” for drunks.

The ironic thing was that at the end, people would all be hugging (after beating each other up) telling

“I’ll receive many emails on a range of issues, and if something like an emergency crops up then as Mayor I’ve got to deal with it.”

Politics and public life wasn’t something Cr Thain chased, instead it was semi-thrust upon him thanks to an old mentor of his.

“It was accidental,” he said. “Former MP for Londonderry and a great mate of mine, Jim Anderson, came to me out of the blue and said ‘You really need to run for council’.”

“Roger Price, the former MP, he came to me and said the same thing.

“So I put my name on the ticket and was lucky enough to get a place on council,” he said.

Being a strong advocate for St Marys, Cr Thain said he wants to put a focus back on the area.

“I’ve really fought hard to make the place a well established area. St Marys is like an island between Penrith and Mt Druitt and Blacktown, and it can’t be lost, that is why I’ve always fought to bring a little TLC into the area,” he said.

Being the first among fifteen hasn’t given Cr Thain anymore power than he would already have when it comes to arguing for specific council matters, he said.

“You should always argue your point in council and at the end of the day, I can honestly say hand on heart, if my ideas are shot down and the majority wins, I will advocate and push for any ideas, because that is my job as a representative of Penrith.”

Cr Thain will maintain his position on Penrith council until 2018.

With Gina Field, Nepean Regional Security

each other how much they “Wuv you, no I wuv you more” slobber slobber and then clear themselves out, staggering out like newlyweds.

Jobs done! We would say, security (tick), club cleared (tick), three broken teeth and not one bar stool broken (tick). Ahh yes them’s was the days.

Back in those days cops could legally moonlight as security guards and most worked on clubs and pubs doors, can I tell you, no one played up at those places (Hell no), violence was almost at zero (besides the off duty cops kicking the crap out of you) and people got just deserts if they played up. Would I have those days back again? Yes and no, possibly without the amount of corruption that went on, but the authority side of things I would have back in a heartbeat. I will clarify, with the old time hard cops not the fluffy brigade of today. It seems as the levels of violence are escalating the softer we are all becoming, ironic, almost bordering on stupidity. (No tick).

Anyway, so now its toupee or not toupee this is the question, love him or hate him, Trump is there and he seems to be on everyone’s lips. I am successfully placing myself into a self-induced coma when people

start talking about it now, it’s really fun, you are in a morphine state but are able nod in agreement at the same time. To be frank, I do like leaders with gonads, which we do appear to lack a lot of representation in this nether region, however it’s going to be a “Watch this space” for me. I was waiting for the Earth to drop from the solar system after the election (As peoples T-shirts and banners said) but we are still here, so I guess we are still all okay.

One has got to ask one’s self, are we really panicking for nothing? Or should we really move to the Red Planet?

So what exactly is this article about you must be asking yourself? Well, it’s a Sunday, it’s hot, I have read all the crap on social media, drinking a coffee and decided to ponder the navel a bit, perhaps even pick fluff from it. Let’s just say this article is about reflection, deflection and enlightenment.

The closest I will come to Kung Fu Fighting is when I walk into a spider web; I become the best martial artist in the world. So there you have it avid G Spotters, a quick review on nothing at all. Just like the Seinfeld series a show about nothing!

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St Marys Post Office

I

N March, 1882 a “spit the dummy” moment occurred regarding non-information on the upcoming Post & Telegraphic office at St Marys that was delayed with no one saying “yes” or “no” to it being built. People were asking for a letter to go to their M.P., to find out if it was even out to tender at that stage and what was the cause of the delay? In August a letter was sent via T R Smith the district M.P., stating that the tender was put on hold after the contractor pulled out but there was a sum of money for the Public Works Department to go ahead with the project so new tenders were advertised for the erection of the building. In January 1883 Messrs Dunkley, Giblin (& later Booth) were given the tender to commence the building of the Post Office but by September the building was delayed due to some defects and with the contractors having to put a hall right through the building and instead of a pigeon hole they had to build a counter in the office room. In November, the townspeople were questioning the duel names of “South Creek” for the railway station and school and “St Marys” for the Post Office which was very confusing for those visitors in the area and they were asking for a town meeting to change the name to St Marys for the whole of the town and this was eventually agreed at a meeting in 1885. The beginning of December in 1883 saw the Post Office building completed and passed and in January 1884 the Nepean Times featured an article by “Japonica” where he wrote that in November 1844 the first Post Master was William Woodlands who stayed for 13 years in a long building opposite Victoria Park that was originally known as the “Terraced Houses” and part of the O’Connell Estate bought by James Hackett. After thirty-nine years and eight building changes for the postal services, “Japonica” wasn’t an admirer of the new “cottage like” building that was built back from the highway with Mrs Russell in charge. By September, 1884 George Bennett wrote a letter to the General Post Office in Sydney asking for a street lamp and horse railing to be placed outside the Post Office with a reply sent via T R Smith M.P., stating that the Works Department had been told that the erection of a store room adjoining the servant’s room and a wash shed with a copper was to be built against the fence (but detached from the building) with the yard to be divided at the back of the water closet (toilet) with a fence and a small gate containing a few yards of gravel at the back door and horse posts to be erected at the front of the building that had been asked for in April and they (Works Department) were in the process of finding out what lighting was needed. James Sainsbury the local builder was given the tender to carry out these improvements for £72 and by November the Post Office had a new light installed outside with the thanks of the locals who could now see to post their letters. The telephone exchange was opened in 1910 with 38 subscribers by 1914. In 1967 the old building ceased to be a Post Office when a new St Marys Post Office was built in Queen Street and the building was leased by Penrith City Council from the Department of Administrative Services for five years for a Community Arts Centre. In August, 1976 Reg Campbell, a member of the Royal Art Society of NSW opened the Old Post Office Community Arts

Centre in the building. Some of the activities at the centre being weekend workshops including the Leatherworkers’ Guild, part of the Penrith Potters, Nepean Community Radio, the St Marys’ branch of the Y.M.C.A., the Bridge Club and the Chifley Players theatre with the help of Alf Randell, Jean Kirby, Jaci Cooper and volunteers. The building was broken into - the thieves apparently had a taste for history because items taken were an old prayer book, china figures and coins along with a large picture of Queen Victoria all belonging to the St Marys Historical Society. They came in through the back windows by removing the glass louvres and bars on the inside and took the whole lock off the hall door and cut a hole in the door in the gallery to open the bolted door there. The Society used a room in the building as their headquarters and to hold monthly meetings and the South Creek Park Development Committee also used a room for meetings. In 1980 a plan to demolish the building on its present site and reconstruct it at South Creek Park was put forward due to the widening of the highway. It was proposed that it could become part of an historical village on the park. Members of the St Marys Historical Society wanted to save this historic building with President Len Stapleton reminding that the building was the last of the historic public buildings still standing on the highway at St Marys in its original position and it was hoped that the original building materials would be used to reconstruct the post office at South Creek Park, although it was understood that the building would not be rebuilt in its original state but the façade could be maintained. The last to leave the building was the arts and craft group who moved to the old St Marys’ Council Chambers on Mamre Road. An offer of $1 to the owners of the property was suggested and the tenders were called for the demolition of the building. It was also hoped that Government grants would be available for this type of project and voluntary labour should be used to make it profitable. It was hoped that once the building was reconstructed on South Creek Park that it could be used as a museum and depending on the money available a meeting room could be added and could be available for the Historical Society who now had no home. Mr R K Warnken who was the spokesman for the Department of Administrative Services said that the Department of Main Roads had not contacted them regarding the purchase of the building regarding the widening of the highway and as far as they were concerned the Penrith Council had control of the building under the lease, but he did mention that a request by the Historical Society to remove the Post Office building would be considered. Penrith Council agreed to store the bricks from the building. Thirty years ago on the 12th January, 1987 the post office in Queen street was celebrating the re-opening after renovations and additions were made at a cost of $350,000.

Sources: “Nepean Times” 1924 - Old St Marys as it was in the 1850’s, Local Newspaper clippings & souvenir programs.

Lyn Forde – Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc ALSO Secretary of the first St Marys Historical Society & Secretary of the South Creek Park Development Committee.

17 Nepean 2015 Issue 143 NepeanNews News19 2 February 2017 193

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Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

Valentine’s Day: shower your honey with love!

By Kerrie Davies

VALENTINE’S DAY is fast approaching - the most romantic day on the calendar. Many lovers will shower each other with gifts, hopefuls will choose the day to declare love to an often unaware conquest and others will agree to tie the knot.

In a changing world where there’s some push to de-genderise just about everything, I’m going to risk all, bare my old-fashioned soul and declare that this day is one of utmost importance to the ladies!

Uber-feminists might want to hang me from my bra straps, but I’m putting it out there that in general the female species yearns for love and to be shown love.

Valentine’s Day represents a day of hope when there’s someone out there we fantasise will fall madly in love with us. Its the day of judgement for those fellas who’ve just started dating us. And for those in long-term relationships and happy marriages, it can be the day of ensuring we still feel loved. For troubled relationships, its the day of reckoning.

But for the ladies who have no current love interest, it can be Single Person Awareness Day. (SPAD) If you’re in the loved-up category, its a good idea to be mindful of the feelings of those friends in the SPAD phase, they probably don’t want to hear all about the perfect roses, perfect chocolates and perfect hand-written poems you received from your perfect boyfriend... 27 times. They’ll get it the first time you say it.

And I have some tips for the lads, too. If you want

a lady to know how you feel about her, take the punt and aim cupid’s arrow in her direction - send her some flowers! The worst that can happen is you’ll be a few bucks out of pocket, and if the same spark isn’t felt by her, at least she’ll always refer to you as “that sweet guy.”

If you’re in a new relationship and wondering if it is too soon, I have one point to make. It is NEVER too soon.

Married guys who think its all commercial BS get off the platform on this one - steal some flowers out of the nearest garden and present them to her.

Blokes who’ve not been the greatest partner

they could have been - shell out a few bucks, get a bouquet and write some nice words in a card. A bit of sly cash and ten minutes worth of effort could reverse a multitude of sins in one hit. Do it.

And even though I think Valentines Day is a special day on many a female’s calendar, there’s definitely some guys out there who rate it too. So girls, if you’re dating a SNAG, married to a romantic or not been the best partner you could have been yourself, shower your honey with love and show them what they mean to you.

Happy Valentines Day! (Hopefully my husband reads this, ps I love red roses)

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Rehearse (8) 5 Relating to the iris of the eye (6) 9 Attacks (8) 10 Be against (6) 12 Draws through a straw (5) 13 Blimps (9) 14 Dried grape (6) 16 Cigar (7) 19 Seeing (7) 21 A style of architecture (6) 23 Pasta (9) 25 A mendicant preacher (5) 26 Stableboy (6) 27 Thoroughly soak (8) 28 Faery (6) 29 Hated (8)

solution 19/1/17

DOWN 1 Kudos (6) 2 Companion (9) 3 Guided journeys (5) 4 A native member of a state (7) 6 Be a delegate for (9) 7 Hindu loincloth (5) 8 Distilled wood tar (8) 11 Heroic (4) 15 Most meager (9) 17 Not reproductions (9) 18 Eludings (8) 20 Fence door (4) 21 A contorted facial expression (7) 22 Pal (6) 24 Plays a role (5) 25 An unpleasant woman (5)

Mouthwatering experimentations FROM the creators of the explosively popular burger joint, Down and Out West, comes High Street Social, a fresh new look on burgers and affordable delicious eating.

Launched in December 2016, High Street Social aims to bring cheaper and more delicious burgers, fried chicken and woodfire pizza to Penrith.

The menu boasts some of the most delicious food in the Nepean with locally sourced ingredients served with a flair of excitement.

Playing with food has never been a good idea but at High Street Social their methodical tinkering of different ingredients has produced some amazing flavours and culinary experiences.

One of the stand outs on the menu is the big man’s burger, The Social Experiment.

Boasting six wagyu beef patties, six delicious cheese strips and chock loaded with bacon, The Social Experiment is a burger made for conquering.

Want to win FREE burgers for a year?

Go and like the High Street Social facebook page and simply comment on your favourite burger.

The competition will be drawn on Valentine’s Day. Good luck!

The results are in and all the labs rats say this is one successful experiment.

If you’re in the mood for a burger but you don’t want all those guilty carb feelings then you can try their San Choi Bow. They’ve taken all the goodies out of the burger, like the juicy wagyu patty, the fresh salad and the sauce, and thrown it in between some crispy lettuce. The results are good for both the soul and the hips.

High Street Social also serves up one of the tastiest batches of fried chicken this side of the Mason-Dixon line.

Using locally sourced breast chicken the cooks at High Street Social have

come up with a crunchy, spiced chicken crumb that will leave you licking your fingers as you order one more serve.

The team at High Street Social really pride themselves in the attention to detail with little things, and when it comes to burgers the little things are the sauces. All the sauces served up are all handmade to perfection.

You can wash all the tasty food down with one of their hand chosen craft beers from their local selection or you can sample their creamy milkshakes.

High Street Social boasts by saying they’ve got a milkshake that is done simply perfectly. The standard milkshake done right.

If you’re not fussed on cooking you can also order in and get the delicious food from High Street Social delivered to your front door for dinner.

No matter what the occasion there is always time for the delicious and family friendly food, on a budget, that is served up at High Street Social.

P e n r i t h C B D p r o u d ly s u p p o r t s

For bookings please call 4789 0187 or message us through facebook www.facebook.com/highstreetsocialpenrith 204 High Street, Penrith

19 Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

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20 Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

WORDSEARCH

VALENTINE’S DAY ADMIRER ADORE AFFECTION ATTRACTION BEAU BELOVED BOYFRIEND CANDLES CANDY CHOCOLATES COUPLE CRUSH CUPID DARLING

DATE DEAR DEVOTION FANCY FEBRUARY FLAME FLOWERS FONDNESS FOREVER FRIENDSHIP GIFT GIRLFRIEND HEARTS JEWELRY

LIKE LOVEBIRDS LOVERS PARTNER PROPOSAL RELATIONSHIP RESTAURANT ROMANCE ROSES SENTIMENT SUITOR SWEETHEART

Be swept away in the romance of Love Unspoken BE carried away by the magical onstage chemistry of Amelia Farrugia and David Hobson, two of Australia’s leading operatic stars, as they perform Love Unspoken at The Joan, 18 February 7:30pm.

Love Unspoken features highlights from great works in opera, operetta and musical theatre and will be a night to remember. Right around Valentine’s Day it will be perfect night of romance.

This dynamic duo will recreate some of their favourite roles performing heavenly duets from La Boheme, The Merry Widow, The Phantom of the Opera, Candide and more. With crystal clear, powerful voices and the ability to delve into songs and characters, their dramatic ability brings to life the stories of romance.

Amelia Farrugia is one of Australia’s best loved sopranos and is well known to music lovers as La Stupenda’s successor, such is the power and beauty of her voice. Since her opera debut in 1994 she has sung many leading roles for Opera Australia, performed with all ABC Orchestras and appeared internationally with a lengthy list of distinguished conductors.

Australian tenor and composer David Hobson is one of Australia’s best known operatic and recording artists. Like his co-star he has sung many roles for Opera Australia and both state and international opera companies, including his award winning performances of Rodolfo in La Boheme and the title role in Orphee. Both consummate professionals, they’ll weave their special magic on stage for just one enchanted evening - don’t miss out!

The bar will be open for before the show, so come along and enjoy a champagne and a complimentary Valentine’s chocolate while you experience the

romance long associated with the opera.

Tickets on sale now. One show only, Saturday 18 February 7:30 pm. Tickets are selling fast!

Tickets available at the Box Office or phone 4723 7600 or online at thejoan.com.au Standard $65, Concession $60 – or subscribe and save.

Unlock the door and light the fire

By Kerrie Davies

So that was the end of my love affair with The Radiators music - at least until I learned how to hide my records and play them when there were no adults around.

There aren’t too many Aussies from my generation that didn’t rock to the Rads. Homegrown, with a great beat, churning out hit after hit at a time that was still a fairly conservative period in

Australian mucic - they were a guilty pleasure that we all wanted a little piece of.

On Friday February 17, don’t miss the chance to relive the good ole days as The Rads will be Comin Home to play at The Pioneer Tavern at 9pm.

One of the greatest things that they have managed to maintain over the decades is their original Aussie

pub band style - and they sure are experienced at that - clocking up a whopping average of 200 gigs a year back in the day.

So why not rock along to see The Rads on Febuary 17 - I’ll be there with bells on - so if you see me be sure to pop by and say hello, but don’t offer to wash my mouth out unless it is with a cold beer or ten!

SUDOKU: MEDIUM

MY head is filled with sweet desire... oh the memories of being young the sun, the surf, the boys, the stern parents... and The Rads!

I was still in primary school when my collection of saved 5 and 10 cent pieces finally totalled enough for me to catch a bus to the record shop and buy the record Feel The Heat by The Radiators.

Excited beyond imagination, I raced home and hooked up my portable record player and turned it on full blast. As I stood in the lounge room whipping my long hair around the room as I head-banged to Gimme Head Baby I did not hear the sound of my Nanny entering the room on her walking stick behind me. I did however hear the sound of my brand new record scratching as she swiped the needle off to stop the offensive music, yelling “You ought to be ashamed of yourself! You need your mouth washed out with soap. God will punish you!”

I was about 10 years old, and I had absolutely no idea what Gimme Head meant - I just loved the sound of The Radiators music. Imagine if she’d heard the lyrics to Fess Song.

SOLUTION: 19th January

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

21 Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

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24

finance and real estate matters

Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

Tips to control your living expenses With Steve Beard Select Mortgage Broker

CHRISTMAS has come and gone for another year. If you were smart and used your savings to buy all those presents for your loved ones then you deserve a pat on the back.

However, if you are like the majority and use your credit cards and debts are too much and have been unable to repay the credit card balance in full, you will be getting hit with high interest in most cases. Here are some financial tips to get the newyear off to a great start.

CREDIT CARDS - Put the credit card in a draw until you are able to repay the outstanding balance in full and only use your cash and savings to buy essential items. If you haven’t got and cash or savings, then don’t buy it, especially if it is not essential.

If you have multiple cards or debts, pay in full the smallest balance card or

debt and then destroy that credit card.

Then start repaying the next smallest balance card and so on. Having outstanding balances each month on multiple credit cards is a recipe for financial disaster.

HOME LOANS - Review the interest rate you are paying. Ask your lender for a lower rate and the best options (fixed rate etc) for your circumstances. If they don’t give you a better rate, talk to me about refinancing to a lender who will give you a lower rate and be able to save you money every month.

INSURANCES - Most general insurance policies start off cheap but then the price rises as insurance companies know that most people will stick with their current policies.

It pays you to shop around every year or so. You can save hundreds each year by doing some homework on the net or on the phone. Most insurance companies will give you a lower premium if you apply on-line as well.

SELECT MORTGAGE F MORTGAGE FINANCE INANCE

ELECTRICITY AND GAS Shop around. I was able to get 25 per cent off the usage rates recently for both electricity and gas from AGL (and my usage is low as well). If you call another supplier and they say the maximum discount is 20 per cent for example, then go back to your current supplier and ask them to better that offer. Keep calling different suppliers and make them beat the previous best offer until you are getting a 25 per cent discount.

CHARGE YOUR ADULT KIDS BOARD - In my job as a mortgage broker, I am stunned by how many people I talk to that don’t charge their adult kids any board and just pay for most of their living expenses even though the kids are earning an income.

Your kids need to learn that living (food, water, electricity, council rates, foxtel etc) all cost money. Unless you are happy to pay for your kids living for their whole lives, then they need to learn the living costs.

Charge them 10 to 25 percent of the

take home pay as board. They may learn to appreciate the good situation they have at home a bit more. If your kids are bad savers, charge them a higher board and put some money aside for them when they really need it, instead of them coming to you for a loan. Some tough love perhaps!

SUBSCRIPTIONS Cancel any subscriptions to gyms, clubs, newspapers etc that you don’t use regularly. Most people who join a gym or group training class do so with a high amount of intent at the start. If you’re not committing time and energy to something, then stop paying for nothing. Go for a nice long walk with your kids or friends. If you are puffing while walking and talking, your body, relationships and your wallet are all benefitting.

Please do not hesitate to contact me on 4739 4500, 0403 166207 or beards@selectgrp.com.au if you what to discuss your situation, any financial matters or have any Home Finance questions that I can assist you with.

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Nines “veteran” Isaah Yeo to lead youthful Panthers squad

By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

PENRITH, has named Isaah Yeo as captain of a young squad featuring eight Nines debutants, as coach Anthony Griffin made good on his promise to not name players who either played in the Four Nations, were selected to play in the All Stars game or have had pre-season preparations hampered by or recovering from surgery.

With so many big names missing, the likes of James Tamou, Nathan Cleary, Waqa Blake and Yeo will compliment a largely locally-produced squad, containing ten players who were part of Penrith’s Holden Cup winning side on 2015.

The youthfulness of the squad is such that Tamou, who won the tournament with North Queensland in 2014, has more NRL experience (170 NRL games) then the rest of the squad combined (142 NRL games).

Tamou, along with Jed Cartwright and Darren Nicholls, will make their first appearance in Panther colours since joining the club.

Yeo, who is set to become the only Panther to have played in all four Nines tournaments since its inception in 2014, was shocked but equally excited by his appointment as skipper, having never previously captained a side in his time as a Panther.

“It wasn’t something I expected to do, to be captain of the club in any format of the game,” Yeo declared.

“I’m very excited to be getting this experience and I’m looking to getting out there and leading the

Isaah Yeo is looking forward to his fourth nines tournament. Credit: 77 Media

team and having a good tournament.

“This is my fourth nines tournament. I’ve been lucky enough to play in all three previously and it’s a really fun weekend.”

Although Yeo can understand the club’s precautionary approach to the tournament given it’s injury record in previous Nines, the Dubbo junior says the youthful squad still has plenty of incentive to do well, adding that the weekend ahead will especially be beneficial to the high number of players that have recently graduated from the Holden Cup. “There’s always that chance of injury but you put that to the back of your mind and play as well as you can,” Yeo said.

“Obviously the big picture is the Bulldogs trial the weekend after and being ready for Round One. “But we’re representing Penrith so I’m sure all the boys will be really excited and can’t wait for a few days in Auckland.

“It’s an exciting tournament and it will be really good especially for the younger players coming out of 20’s as they really don’t often get to experience a big crowd until they get a chance to play in the Auckland Nines.”

Qualifying for the next phase of the competition won’t be easy as Penrith will have to overcome Waiheke Pool opponents and fellow 2016 NRL finalists, Canterbury (Sat Feb 4, 10:25am AEDST), defending NRL premiers, Cronulla (Sat Feb 4, 1:55pm AEDST) and the Gold Coast (Sun Feb 5, 9am AEDST).

Each opponent have named strong squads on paper, featuring the likes of Josh Reynolds, Sam Kasiano, David Klemmer (Bulldogs), Wade Graham, Luke Lewis, Jack Bird (Sharks) and Jarryd Hayne, Ryan James and Kane Elgey (Titans).

PENRITH’S 2017 AUCKLAND NINES SQUAD: Oliver Clark*, Christian Crichton, Corey HarawiraNaera, Corey Waddell*, Darren Nicholls, Dylan Edwards*, Isaah Yeo (c), James Tamou, Jed Cartwright*, Kaide Ellis*, Malakai WateneZelezniak*, Moses Leota, Nathan Cleary*, Sione Katoa, Sitaleki Akauola, Tyrone May*, Waqa Blake, Zach Dockar-Clay. (*Auckland Nines debutant)

Black Cats bounce back, book place in semi-final

By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

PENRITH has once again reached the limited-overs semifinals, after recording a stunning 29 run victory over competition frontrunners, Sydney University last Sunday.

The Black Cats, coming off an equally stunning loss to lowly St George just 24 hours earlier at Howell Oval, again suffering the batting wobbles to be dismissed for just 165.

But the return of Josh Lalor, who missed the entire Big Bash League season with the Brisbane Heat through injury (broken rib), took 3/30 and inspired his fellow bowlers to apply relentless scoreboard pressure that proved too much in the end for Sydney University, who were dismissed for 136.

Penrith captain Matt Halse was obviously pleased with the character his side showed, particularly against a batting line-up that included the likes of Greg Mail, Ryan Carters and Nick Larkin, but admitted his team should have done better with the bat, despite the wicket not being at its best.

“To bounce back today after the disappointment of yesterday was terrific and a real credit to the boys,” Halse said.

Josh Lalor returns from injury to lead Penrith into the one-day semi-finals.

Credit: 77 Media.

“It was the kind of wicket you ever really felt comfortable on.

“But in saying that we should have got 200-220 easy especially with the good start.

“In the end we got enough to win so I’m not too unhappy.”

Despite having two poor days with the bat, Halse said the team didn’t need too much motivation to perform in the field, adding that Lalor was

a positive influence on the team in general.

“Not really. It was a pretty easy equation really,” Halse declared.

“I just said we’ve got to bowl them out or we lose.

“We started well with a few wickets and didn’t take our foot off the throat.

“It’s great to have Josh back. He was a little bit rusty but he bowled quick and really well.

“All the bowlers did their job and it was a real group effort.”

The Black Cats now take on Sutherland in the semi-final on Sunday February 12 at Glenn McGrath Oval but first, a must-win two-day game looms against local neighbours and fierce rivals, Hawkesbury, with former Black Cat Josh Clarke having a break-through season with the bat, having scored nearly 1,100 runs in all forms of the game, a point not lost on the skipper.

“Massive game for us as they are on the same number of points as us,” Matt replied.

He’s (Josh Clarke) having a fantastic season to date so hopefully he’s due to miss out.

Despite having defeated the team with the best batting average in the competition, Halse admits the side may need to bring back former first grade middle-order batsmen, Matthew Hopkins to add some balance to a batting line-up that averages the least amount of runs in first grade, having averaged over 150 runs since going back to seconds.

“Hops (Hopkins) is coming under close consideration for a recall,” Halse confirmed.

“He has made every post a winner since going down.

“But we’ll have a look at that during the week and see what we think the best balance is for this weekend.”

25 Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

penrith panthers

26

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Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

Sports Scenes

(With Thanks to 77 Media)

The cameras of 77 Media were on hand as Penrith suffered a shock loss to lowly St George on a hot afternoon at Howell Oval.

Jake Wholohan attempts to get the scoreboard ticking over.

Ryan Gibson on his return to Howell Oval, looked all class at the crease....

With the umpiring raising his finger to confirm the dismissal....

Skipper Matthew Halse take his guard.....

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BEHIND THE STUMPS

WITH STEW MOSES @THERIFFMARN

SHOCK CAPITULATION WITH THE BAT CONTINUES PENRITH’S ROLLER-COASTER SEASON Matthew Hopkins to return to the first grade Having defeated competition strugglers, side, according to coach Steve Small.

Campbelltown-Camden and Fairfield“I’m not a selector but I think they will Liverpool in consecutive weeks, Penrith have to have a look at the batting,” Small bounced back to earth with a thud after a declared. stunning 120 run loss to seventeenth-placed “We are probably a batter short but St George. there’s the development of blokes like Jake But early on, it looked anything but another Wholohan who was a top order player in Penrith win was on the cards when the home second grade and came in as an all-rounder. side reduced the Dragons to just 5/28 early on “In future years I can see him moving up day one. the order.

Some dogged resistance from the middle “Matt Hopkins has done a terrific and lower-order enabled the visitors to post job, averaging over 100 (since going a more respectable 226 with Ryan Smith the back to second grade) and is surely pick of the bowlers, taking a five-wicket haul. knocking on the door putting pressure on the However given Howell Oval has been a selectors. batting-friendly wicket all season, one would have thought that it wouldn’t be enough In some better news, all-rounder Mick especially with the return of Ryan Gibson from Not even the return of Ryan Gibson could stop the rot for Penrith Castle (ruptured disc) has resumed Big Bash duties with the Sydney Thunder and against St George. Credit: 77 Media. training and could take his place in the with his side already 1/46 in reply.

Penrith set-up purely as a batsman, But the wickets tumbled quickly with Penrith losing 9/60 and with it the chance to enter the “It’s a good wicket Howell Oval, it’s not easy to get possibly as early as this weekend’s local derby with Hawkesbury, should he receive medical top six not only went begging but the club now faces the wickets there. daunting task of possibly needing to win its remaining “Today people will look at the result and think it was clearance. four games, three of which are played away from Howell a dodgy pitch but we just got ourselves out went too A few weeks back, we told you moves were a foot to Oval, despite being in eighth place and just three points had at the ball. outside the top six.

“They dictated terms from ball one and we paid the bring in another batsman into the club.

It can be revealed that Jordan Silk, whose future Although bitterly disappointed with his own young price.” with Tasmania after this season remains up in the air team’s batting performance, coach Steve Small had nothing but praise for St George for their effort in Another tough round for the club’s lower grades to a point where the former Black Cat is set to return the field noting the influence of their skipper, Trent with only second grade winning, resulting in home to New South Wales, where he is a strong chance Copeland before adding that their opponents were better Penrith slipping back to fourth position in the race to reunite with his former club. than their lowly standing suggests. for the club championship, as Northern Districts In representative news, a mixed bag for Pat “They bowled well, fielded well. But we couldn’t get continues to lead the way. a couple of partnerships going and that’s what cost us,” All grades are either in or within the top six with Cummins and Ryan Gibson.

Cummins’ comeback continue to gather pace Small lamented. seconds currently in 7th position, thirds (3rd), with the quick bowler taking seven wickets in five “We’ve gone from the highs to the lows in a matter of fourths (5th), and fifths (5th). games against Pakistan. weeks but that’s what happens when you have a young However, Ryan Gibson’s Sheffield Shield career team.

Penrith’s Poidevin-Gray side easily accounted “St George, you can put 17th against their name but for Western Suburbs to remain unbeaten in all six has been put on-hold for now, having been demoted they’re not a 17th side. matches played and qualified for the finals in second from the NSW squad that will take on Victoria this “Sure they’ve had some disappointing results through position and will take on Fairfield-Liverpool, who they Wednesday at the MCG. not having their star players around as often as they accounted for earlier in the season, at Howell Oval on Off the field and while Penrith are yet to confirm would like.

Sunday February 19. their annual Captains’ Luncheon, the club can confirm “Trent’s a first class player who has played international cricket and those kids lifted in the field and In AW Green Shield action, Penrith’s Under that a Trivia Night will be held at Howell Oval this to his credit.

16 side’s season fell one game short, having been Saturday Feb 4, with friends, family and sponsors all “That’s one of the things Sydney club cricket really defeated in the semi-final by eventual runners-up welcome to attend. needs, these guys coming back from first class teaching Northern Districts.

In women’s cricket, some terrible news for the kids how to play. He was very good today.

Small refused to concede that the Black Cats should In some bad news for the Black Cats, star English Mikayla Hinkley, who has suffered a stress fracture have dismissed St George for a lower score, despite the import, Tom Kohler-Cadmore has returned home to of the foot and is looking at a 6-12 week recovery. last five wickets putting on almost 200 out of the 226 the UK early after dislocating his shoulder in a mid- The injury robbed Hinkley of the opportunity to reclaim her spot in the closing games of the WBBL runs they scored. week T20 tournament.

“We didn’t miss too many chances. They put some With the opening batsman, who was starting to show season. partnerships together and played pretty well,” Small glimpses of his 2015/16 form, having now gone back #LoveTheCats replied. home four weeks early, the door could easily open for

27 Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

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28 Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

THUNDER It was the best times, it was the worst of the times.

The batting capitulation against a Strikers side with nothing to play for but pride just days after inflicting an equally heavy defeat against crosstown rivals, the Sixers, summed up perfectly the defending champions’ season.

Whilst the batting from the Thunder with everything on the line in their final game was poor losing 8/22 in just 23 balls, having reached 2/79, in truth the inability to hold catches at crucial moments of the Strikers innings, enabled the visitors to set the home side a record run-chase.

Four points separated first to last at the end of the regular season, but it was the severity of most of the Thunder’s losses that ultimately saw the defending champions receive the wooden spoon once more.

Not long after the Thunder’s season had ended came the announcement that after four seasons at the helm, Sydney Thunder General Manager, Nick Cummins was leaving to take up the CEO role at Cricket Tasmania, starting in April.

In giving his summation on the

Thunder’s season, Cummins believes that despite the disappointment of failing to make the finals, the team is well positioned to challenge once more in the next instalment of the BBL. “It’s been up and down. We’ve played some games and been outstanding and then we’ve played some games where we’ve been dreadful and there hasn’t been a lot in between,” Cummins lamented.

“It probably reflects the fact that we have got a lot of young players at the moment and their performances can be up and down.

“We’ve also had a couple of unforeseen things happen.

“I don’t think anyone including Andre realised just what a toll the potential ban hanging over was

having on him and his ability to perform.

“And Watto being injured as well really robbed us of our two most dynamic players. That was a tough start.

“The season is so short that if you don’t nail it from the outset, you’re chasing the game and the slow start we had, put us under too much pressure in the end.

“But to comeback from that and at least give (making the finals) it a real shake is encouraging.”

Cummins admits the while the team’s success is ultimately measured on making the finals, the out-going GM can see a lot of positives moving forward too and not just on the field.

“Some of the young guys that we’ve backed this season, for instance Chris Green has had a lot more responsibility, while Jay Lenton has come into the team.

“Kurtis Patterson and Ryan Gibson have shown that they’re capable at this level as is Arjun.

“We’re talking about a group of guys who are 24 and under in Arjun’s case he’s still a teenager so there’s a lot of upside there.

“We were aware losing Hussey

and Kallis (plus Usman) cost us a lot of experience.

“But that’s why we’ve put so much time into the Academy, getting these guys ready for the opportunities to play.

“I can see a pathway for us to get back into the finals relatively quickly.

“We’re really pleased with some of the off-field stuff too.

“Four sell outs, 6,000 members, having real fans who are really passionate and engaged now.”

While Pat Cummins has been confirmed as having re-signed with the Sydney Thunder, there are still some off-contract players that have been identified to be retained for next season, with Cummins adding that the squad needs at least two new players including the possibility of one if not two new international players as uncertainty remains over the playing future of Andre Russell and the availability of Eion Morgan.

“Of our best eleven, Usman, Kurtis Patterson, Fawad and Arjun are the out-of-contract guys plus Gurinder,” Cummins replied.

“Usman, Ahmed and Patterson are the priorities plus Nair, Sandhu so we are in talks with all of them at

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the moment.”

“There’s a few guys we’ll look at this year. Whether we renew or not that provides us with an opportunity.

“I think possibly we need a little more experience in the top order which our international player I think will deliver that.

“From a bowling perspective, maybe another fast bowling option with some experience but that’s hard to find at the moment.”

One of those off-contract players, Gurinder Sandhu, remains hopeful of being retained by the Thunder despite having two poor seasons with the ball.

Sandhu told Nepean News recently that despite being surprised and disappointed with being left out of the Thunder’s 13-man squads when Pat Cummins went on international duty, he hasn’t given up hope of a new deal for next season.

“It’s always disappointing (when you miss out),” Sandhu confirmed.

“You always want to try and being in the 13 and be on the field and try and help the boys win but its ok, its cricket.

That’s what happens in sport.

“But to be honest while I was surprised to left out, it turned out to

day where it all starts for me to end the year in a good way.

Kurtis Patterson (opposite page) is seen as a key player to retain for the Thunder, while offcontract Gurinder Sandhu (above) remains hopeful of a new deal. Credit: Ian Bird Photography.

be a good result to play Penrith and to take six wickets, which will hopefully it will help my confidence and help my bowling.

“There’s a lot of good people in the squad trying to play for the Thunder.

“It’s tough but that’s what it’s all about, having people who are there to push you to become better.

“I haven’t given up on the thought of playing for the Thunder again, it’s where I started playing in the BBL. “But for now, I’m focused on finishing off the season as best I can, be it in first grade cricket, second XI cricket or shield cricket, I’m just trying

to finish it off.”

Sandhu says his six wicket haul in a recent grade match against Penrith might just be the tonic to kick-start a career he admits has been a rollercoaster ride since making his one-day international debut for Australia back in early 2015. “(My career) has been a rollercoaster.

I think any sport is a bit like that,” Sandhu replied.

“You have your good times and your bad times and you just need to come out of the bad times as quick as you can.

“Hopefully against Penrith was the

Meanwhile the Sydney Thunder’s woman’s side, having won a thriller against eventual champions Sydney Sixers in a Super Over, had their late push to make the finals effectively ended at the hands of the Hobart Hurricanes two days later.

Their season was officially declared over with a split series result over runners-up Perth Scorchers, to finish sixth, three points out of the top four, which was a disappointing result given the expectations of the defending champions going into this season.

Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

RUMBLINGS

29

From a Penrith perspective, terrible news broke just days out from the Scorchers games that Mikayla Hinkley, who had played just two games to date and was set for a return to the starting side, had been ruled out (stress fracture – foot), ruling her out for between 6-12 weeks, which could effectively rule her out of the remainder of the Sydney Grade Cricket season too. #ThunderNation

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Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

New Years Resolution?

Strengthen your weakness!

By Kerrie Davies

THE silly season is officially over and now its time to get back to work, dream about your next holiday and, shed those extra kilos you no doubt acquired.

Most of us would like to trim down and/or get fit, but let’s face it, most of us are also very good at coming up with excuses on why we don’t.

The most common excuses are cost and time.

Wild Panther fitness was founded in 2015 by two good mates of mine,

Scotty Lewis (Lewi) and Mark (MG) Geyer.

Former Panthers legend MG, whom you can listen to every weekday morning on MMM and read his words in this paper every fortnight (back next edition!) is a tower of strength and fitness. I can’t think of a better role model to help you look and feel great!

“Wild Panther” is the term affectionately given to MG by his radio workmates at the ‘Triple M Grill Team,’ thus best mates MG and Lewi decided to run with the slogan for their business venture.

Wild Panther Fitness is your one stop shop for everything that deals

with ones’ well-being. Tips are offered for everything from what to eat and when, to how to look good without sucking the tummy in.

Wild Panther Fitness aims to help those that are doing it hard sticking to the game plan of life.

They’ll show you fun and effective ways to make the journey a little less uncomfortable.

“We are extremely pleased to announce the launch of our new website,” Lewi said.

“For just a $1 a day, enjoy 24/7 access to weekly workout plans and video tutorials, informative resources on fitness, nutrition and exercise, plus

email support from WPF coaches.

“Our goal at Wild Panther Fitness is to give people the best tools in any type of medium possible that will help you improve yourself to reach your full potential,” he said.

“Training and working out is not just lifting things and putting them down,” MG added.

“It’s about self-improvement, and its one of the best ways we’ve seen with our own eyes as a vehicle for people to connect to their inner selves, whilst also becoming better human beings in all facets of their life.”

Go to www.wildpantherfitness.com. au to register!

GOLDEN POINTS WITH STEW MOSES

@THERIFFMARN

EDWARDS NOMINATED AS THE PANTHER TO LIGHT UP THE AUCKLAND NINES: YEO With Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Peta Hiku unavailable for the Nines, Dylan Edwards, who has been amongst Penrith’s best during preseason according to Yeo, gets an early opportunity to stake a claim for a NRL wing spot vacated by the unavailability of Josh Mansour due to injury (knee).

“Dylan Edwards has had a phenomenal pre-season and I think he’ll be one to look out for at the Auckland Nines,” Yeo confirmed.

“He’s been outstanding from day one and I’m really excited to see how he goes at this form of the game.”

Meanwhile, two of the players not considered for the Auckland Nines, Peta Hiku and Dean Whare are hopeful that they will be right to play in the club’s final trial, against Parramatta.

But should either player fail to play in the trials, it could open up the possibility of Edwards starting on the wing for Penrith’s Round One clash with St George-Illawarra.

Having already ruled out a plethora of players either returning from injury, had played in the Four Nations series or were picked to play in the upcoming All Stars game, there is a good reason behind the further delay that saw the club announce its Auckland Nines squad only on Monday.

The delay came about after it was discovered that both Ratu Tuisese and Viliame Kikau had visa / passport issues that, despite the feverish work of the club and the NRL behind the scenes, were unable to be resolved in time for the Fijian duo to take their place in the squad.

Whilst on the Auckland Nines, there are concerns that the Nines tournament could be at risk in 2018 given with players required to have a seven week stand down period after the Rugby League World Cup due to a clause in the current collective bargaining

junior league clinics and participating in educational sessions with students to regional centres and towns including Bathurst, Parkes and Orange, as part of the NRL’s Community Carnival.

Penrith will then conduct a similar school blitz in the local area on February 20.

Dylan Edwards is set to light up this year’s Auckland Nines. Credit: 77 Media.

agreement, which could see many top players blocked from taking part.

Panthers CEO, Brian Fletcher also weighed into the Nines debate questioning the validity of such a tournament given the associated injury-risk involved and the lack of compensation clubs get for injuries suffered, telling News Corp media that he would prefer to see clubs play only trials.

Plenty of Panther fans could have been excused for thinking Sione Katoa had joined Cronulla after being named in their Nines squad. But alas, it was Siona Katoa, the Holden Cup winger.

How is this for an ex-Panthers Nines squad based on those former players picked to play in this year’s series: Wade Graham, Luke Lewis, Joseph Paulo, Tim Glasby, Elijah Taylor, Matt Eisenhuth, Kevin Naiqama, Robert and George Jennings, Braidon Burns, Anthony Cherrington, Blake Austin, Eddie Aiono, Brent Naden, Suaia Matagi, James Roberts and Leivaha Pulu.

The Panthers will be keeping up appearances when players not involved with the Auckland Nines will travel west this Thursday and Friday conducting

One-time Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has been appointed as the new head coach of the Lebanon national team at this year’s Rugby League World Cup. Cleary, who has been out of a head coaching role since his dismissal at the end of the 2015 season, says that the opportunity to guide a developing nation to this year’s Rugby League World Cup was one that he was eager to take up.

“I was privileged to have been involved in the previous Rugby League World Cup with the New Zealand squad, so to now have the opportunity to be the head coach of a developing nation such as Lebanon is something that I’m really excited about,” Cleary said.

“I’m looking forward to working with the Lebanon team and the Rugby League World Cup tournament is a great chance to showcase the great talent that the nation has to offer.”

It will be interesting to see whether the appointment will entice eligible NRL players, including our own Josh Mansour.

It’s been too long to remember but two betting agencies, TAB and SportsBet, have Penrith joint favourites to win the 2017 NRL Premiership at $8.00 with the likes of Melbourne and North Queensland.

Draws for SG Ball and Harold Matthews have been released along with the newly formed Tarsha Gale Cup (under 18’s) which together will

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be played as a triple-header each week.

Round One kicks off on Saturday Feb 11 when Penrith takes on Wests in both SG Ball and Harold Matts at Hillier Oval while the women take on Wests Tigers.

As reported last edition, both Broncos halfback, Ben Hunt and Newcastle Knights prop Korbin Sims both finalised their futures.

Hunt confirmed he will head south in 2018 to take up a massive five-year deal plus one-year option to play for St George-Illawarra while Sims took a reported pay cut to immediately head north to Brisbane.

The moves pave the way for the Knights to step up their interest in former Panther, Chris Grevsmuhl, who has reportedly now attracted interest from former club, North Queensland.

The future of Bradford Bulls took a dramatic twist, with the new owners sensationally parting ways with former Panthers lower-grades coaching staffer, Rohan Smith and replacing him with Geoff Toovey.

The official statement said that the new owners and Smith agreed to part ways but the swiftness of Toovey’s appointment just days later suggest that Smith’s days were numbered regardless of whether they were on the same page or not.

Smith’s treatment is more appalling when you consider the coach was in limbo, having not been paid wages since November, despite working hard to keeping his staff together during the difficult administration period.

And finally congratulations to Tyrone Peachey and Kelly, who welcomed into the world baby daughter, Penelope, last Wednesday.

See you at a game. #PantherPride

31 Nepean News 2 February 2017 Issue 193

penrith panthers

sport

Thursday, 2 February 2017

Tofaeono signs for Midland College

By Noel Rowsell

PENRITH Panthers Youth League centre Ella Tofaeono (Oakhurst) enjoyed an extraordinary year in 2016, winning a premiership title with her Youth League Women’s team and taking out both the Best Defensive Player award and selection into the All-Star Five for that competition.

Those awards were fitting recognition for Tofaeono, who was second in the Overall Point-Scoring Top Ten and first in two-point scoring during the outstanding season.

Tofaeono subsequently won the Karen Dalton Junior Metro Female Player of the Year award, followed by selection in the NSW Under 20 Women’s team.

The state selection was however nullified when Tofaeono ruptured her ACL, before undergoing surgery at the start of 2017.

Her recovery is currently on track and has been boosted by a scholarship offer from Midlands College in the United States for the 2017/18 NCAA season.

Penrith Panthers Youth League centre Ella Tofaeono in action during the 2016 Youth League season.

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

Tofaeono will head to the States in August but will not be able to train or play until either December / January.

Her Junior before senior

plan is to attend the College for two seasons, hopefully moving on to a college for the next two

seasons, then back to Australia for the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) competition.

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