Nepeannews 2march2017

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Thursday, 2 March 2017

ISSUE 195

GET YOUR GLOSSY 2017 PANTHERS TEAM POSTER INSIDE THIS EDITION

One-Day Champions NRL Favourtism

2017 - YEAR OF THE PANTHERS? Penrith Cricket Club claims a dramatic last-ball 1 run victory to end fifteen year first grade title drought while premiership expectations among Panther fans are the highest they have been since 2004.

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Coffee with a cop LOCAL police from St Marys and supported by Penrith Highway Patrol hosted this year’s Coffee With a Cop event at the Fusion Cafe at St Marys last Thursday.

Many friendly local community members including the Deputy Mayor of Penrith, Tricia Hitchen (a former Police Chief Inspector) wandered into the cafe as part of the annual New South Wales Police Force’s ‘Coffee With a Cop’ event where anyone was given the chance to visit the cafe, enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee on the cops and have a casual chat with a police officer about any issues in their local area.

Inspector Branko Kubecka from St Marys Local Area Command said the event was great for community engagement.

“The event was a great chance to connect with the community and have a chat about anything which was raised. Many friendly people wandered into the cafe and enjoyed good coffee from the friendly staff at the Fusion cafe where many people realised the our police

officers were very approachable and happy to help with good advice about crime prevention or just to simply have a chat,” Inspector Kubecka said.

Due to the welcoming response from the local community, St Marys Police will plan to host more future events in the local area which will be promoted in the local media and the St Marys Facebook site at www.facebook.com/stmaryslac

THE MIRACLE PRAYER

Lord Jesus, I come before you, just as I am. I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In your name I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever. I invite you into my life Jesus, I accept you as my Lord, God and Saviour. Heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, soul and spirit.

Come Lord Jesus, cover me with your precious blood, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I love you Lord Jesus. I praise you Jesus. I thank you Jesus. I shall follow you every day of my life. Amen. RDS.

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NOVENA

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 March 2017 Issue 195

From the Editor’s Desk 203 BANKS DRIVE, ST CLAIR OFFICE: (02) 9834 5579 Editor: Sales Manager: Journalist: Journalist: Sports Journalist: Sports Journalist: Graphic Design: Photographer: Photographer: Printer: Letters to the Editor: Web:

Kerrie Davies 0422 067 644 Korena Hale 0403 045 880 Garion Thain 0430 424 101 Keegan Thomson 0421 382 560 Conner Lowe 0404 419 346 Stewart Moses 0417 680 533 Stacey Fortescue 0420 319 893 Tom Carey 0425 803 180 Kennedi Geyer 0452 455 844 Pegasus Print Group, Blacktown nepeannews@aol.com www.wsnewsgroup.com

Nepean News is not tossed onto your front lawn. Collect your crisp copy FREE from local newsagents, service stations, libraries, Council and shopping centres.

Call 9834 5579 to find out your nearest outlet.

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by Kerrie Davies I CONSIDER myself a somewhat intelligent person and someone who would not easily be fooled or scammed. But last week I did temporarily get entrapped in a scammer’s web and, luckily, realisation came just before too much damage was done.

So I’d like to share the experience to warn others not to fall for the same.

Long story cut short, our email system was down following the changing of website hosts recently. I needed help to restore our emails and was told that as our emails were run by gmail, I needed to contact Google email support. Asking if I could be provided with a number for google support, the answer was a negative.

So, I googled Google Mail Support, and called the number on the first result that came up.

I must say scammers have become very sophisticated these days, as the number connected to a genuine sounding voice recording, telling me to dial 1 for accounts, 2 for support - etc.

After being patched through to support, I began explaining the problem to the “technician” on the other end. His Indian accent didn’t sound off any alarm bells, as that accent is pretty common these days when calling any telco or call centre.

Little did I know I was actually plugging in to India.

The helpful sounding voice sympathised with the problem, and said he’d be sending me an email with a downloadable file to fix the problem. I obeyed and downloaded it.

Next thing I knew, without asking any permission, he had remotely taken over my laptop. I watched in horror as the cursor began opening files without me operating it, and only then did I smell a supersized rat. I covered the mouthpiece (still trying to be polite for some reason!) and asked my husband Greg to google the number I’d called to see if there were any scam alerts. Sure enough, an abundance of reports sprang up - it was a scam based in India where the basic idea is to shut down the ability of your computer and then ask for money to load the program that will restore it.

I closed down the laptop mid-sentence and went straight into panic mode. How violating it feels!

And how stupid I felt, I was well aware of the “broken computer” scam, but it hadn’t even crossed my mind that I could actually become prey and be the one to call the scammer - I assumed they always called you. All they need to do to receive a windfall of clients is list their number on google under the brand name you are looking for.

I quickly called Dean Hamstead from The Byte Foundry, and like a Knight in shining armour he came to my immediate rescue.

He told me to get off the phone, call my bank, and anything else of importance and change passwords immediately until he could get to me.

He arrived promptly and sorted the problem, and thankfully I was not compromised - apart from the inconvenience and cost of now having to have my laptop reformatted to get the scamming S.O.B the hell out of my laptop.

So I thought I should share the story: it seems not even googling google is safe these days.

If you google something, its best to go to the website offering the number and check they are legit before calling.

The lovely lady from the fraud department of my bank said I was the fourth call that day with the same problem. Unfortunately the other three callers had handed amounts ranging from $400 to $700 to the friendly Indian “technician”.

I also recommend that you write down Dean’s number in case you ever fall victim to these scumbags. His professional solving of the problem was swift, affordable and no-nonsense.

He can be contacted on 0404 860 774.

Have you ever been scammed? If so I’d like to hear about it so we can spread the word of warning. It is the only protection we have against these mongrels who continuously reinvent their approaches to get their grubby hands on other people’s money. kerrie@nepeannews.com.au

SOLD BY

Sport and rec club receives funding

9834 1044 NEPEAN DISTRICT

Stuart Ayres

MP

Member for Penrith

STUART Ayres MP, Member for Penrith joined Andrew Gardner, CEO of Emu Sports Club and Ross Butcher, Club Captain last week to announce the success of their application for funding under the 2016 Community Building Partnership Program.

“It was my pleasure to recommend Emu Sports Club/Leonay Golf Course for a grant of $25,000 which will be used for installing hard surface paths on the golf course,” said Stuart Ayres.

Leonay Golf Course is located at the foot of the Blue Mountains where the local terrain has many sloping areas. Due to the course not being flat, people who may have a disability or seniors with

mobility issues find is difficult to play the course.

By installing hard surface paths to the needed areas, it will improve accessibility of the course Mr Gardner said the current paths are either dirt or uneven and are a possible hazard to both social and competition golfers.

The upgraded paths will provide safe access for all users and will enhance their golfing experience.

“While the NSW Government is getting on with the job of delivering major infrastructure projects, we understand the importance of local community infrastructure projects which enhance local facilities,” added Stuart Ayres.

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Local students create masterpiece for Mount Druitt Hospital ABORIGINAL students from Mount Druitt’s Chifley College in collaboration with Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) and Triple A (Adolescent Asthma Action) program will unveil an Aboriginal mural, entitled Smoking is not our Culture, at Mount Druitt Hospital tomorrow, as part of the schools’ Walking into Good Health project.

The concept was inspired by the students’ and the school’s Aboriginal education officers desire to encourage people to butt-out, and to communicate the dangers of smoking to the Aboriginal community.

The eye-catching mural will be unveiled and permanently on display at Mount Druitt Hospital.

The design features a profile of the human body with emphasis on the lungs with the message “Don’t let your future go up in smoke”.

WSLHD Primary Health Care Education and Research Unit (PERU) director and Triple A Asthma school program founder Associate Professor Smita Shah said the students were passionate about the project.

“The hospital is the ideal location because that is where most of their friends and family members go if they need medical care,” she said.

Whacked with a bat POLICE are appealing for public assistance after a man was seriously assaulted on Queen Street St Marys on Tuesday morning.

About 4am (Tuesday 28 February 2017), police were called to Queen Street, near the intersection of Phillip Street, at St Marys after reports a man had been assaulted.

On arrival, they found a man had been hit a number of times with a blunt object, possibly a bat.

Police were told three men left the scene in a grey Range Rover. The man, aged in his late thirties, remains in hospital with serious facial injuries.

A crime scene was established and inquiries are continuing.

Man’s body located “The Triple A Asthma school program is a free, internationally acclaimed peer education program that improves asthma self-management and smoking resilience in young people.”

Chifley College principal Janet Harding said the students wanted to contribute to the health and wellbeing of their community.

“The message we want to promote is good health in good hands. This program is the work of our students who are doing this

to promote the important message about the dangers of smoking throughout the school community and beyond,” she said.

For more information on the Triple A Asthma school program, contact the WSLHD Primary Health Care Education and Research Unit on 9845 6505 or visit: https://www.asthmaaustralia. org.au/vic/education-and-training/ i-work-in-an-education-setting/ school/school-programs/triple-aschool-program

A MAN’S body has been located near a road at Bringelly.

About 4pm last Wednesday (22 February), emergency services were called to a clump of trees at Carrington Road, after a man’s body had been located.

Although no formal announcement has been made, Police say the body is believed to be that of a 39-year-old man reported missing to police on Saturday 18 February 2017, after he failed to return home.

Police will investigate the man’s death and prepare a report for the information of the Coroner.

The death is not being treated as suspicious.

$48 million investment in protecting state’s paramedics STUART Ayres MP, Member for Penrith joined Superintendent Ross Chivers at Penrith Ambulance Station to announce that the NSW Government will spend $48 million to provide an enhanced insurance scheme with a minimum of five years’ income protection for on duty claims, and a specialised health program for NSW Ambulance paramedics.

The funding will ensure the state’s frontline health providers can get the support they need to stay healthy and are supported to get back to work if they are injured.

“Our paramedics provide an invaluable service to the community and work tirelessly to help keep us safe and healthy,” Stuart Ayres said.

“It is important that we do everything we can to help them stay safe and healthy too.

“They work in difficult and dangerous circumstances and need appropriate support if they are injured at work.”

Superintendent Ross Chivers, Zone Manager Nepean Blue Mountains, said the $48m protection package was a substantial investment which will ensure NSW Ambulance can continue to develop and grow its complement of staff wellbeing and mental health support programs and initiatives.

“Paramedics face a unique set of challenges in their day-to-day work which places them at higher risk of suffering physical injury or mental

health setbacks, which is why as an organisation NSW Ambulance remains so keenly focussed on supporting our staff when they need it most,” Supt Chivers said.

“The announcement is a clear indication of the value the State Government places on the vital work carried out by NSW Ambulance staff, and shows a strong commitment to supporting our workforce when they

need it most.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the reforms would provide more than just income protection.

“In addition, our new wellbeing program will further help prevent mental and physical injuries and support paramedics to return to work,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The $48 million investment includes:

• A $30 million health and wellbeing program which will include a dedicated psychologist, physiotherapist, occupational physician and a Paramedic Safety Champion who will act to ensure paramedics safe and well; • Increased income protection for paramedics injured at work to at least five years.

NSW Ambulance staff will vote on the proposal in coming weeks.

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GETTING TO KNOW....

Aaron Duke Penrith City Councillor with Conner Lowe

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

What was your first paid job?

Working at a fruit shop in Luddenham, ‘David’s Stall’ when I was 14.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Netflix binge!

What is your biggest fear/phobia and why?

My biggest fear is snakes.

What is your worst habit?

Biting my nails Best advice you have ever been given?

Sometimes you have to eat sand and smile about it If you only had $50 left in the bank, how would you spend it?

Food, of course Favourite holiday destination and why?

Japan. I went on exchange when I was 15 and fell in love with Japanese culture (and food). Can’t wait to go back!

Do you have a favourite sporting team?

The Hockeyroos! (and the Panthers, obviously) Name one reason that you love western Sydney?

The people. Honest, salt of the earth and no pretentiousness.

In three words, describe your perfect Sunday?

Beach, friends, food!

Artistic talent showcased at Nepean CAMILLE Gillyboeuf has taken the top prize at the TAFE Western Sydney Institute (WSI) Annual Student Art Award for her series of monoprints and painted works titled ‘The extraordinary of everyday’.

TAFE WSI’s Nepean Art and Design Centre (NADC) Annual Student Art Award showcases outstanding student artwork and took place last week at NADC’s Trapezium Gallery, Kingswood.

Ms Gillyboeuf recently completed an Advanced Diploma in Visual Arts, and was among eight other students invited to exhibit a series of artworks in the annual prize. She now plans to study a Bachelor of Visual Arts through TAFE WSI, delivered in partnership with Federation University.

“My work was trying to capture the ordinary and show its beauty,” Ms Gillyboeuf said.

“I was inspired by artists such as Edward Hopper, who was a pioneer of American realism.

“Incorporating glazing technique, I tried to experiment with light and dark to draw attention to the detail and draw out the beauty that exists in everyday settings.”

Dr Lee-Anne Hall, Director Penrith Regional Gallery and the Lewers Bequest judged the award and noted the strong works on display across a number of different art

forms, making her decision all the more difficult.

“I was impressed by the strong works on display across different media. Judging across a series of pieces gives a better sense of what the artist is trying to achieve, and what they have explored through a number of ideas,” Dr Hall said.

Dr Hall said Camille’s artwork captured the imagination, particularly her painting ‘Dans l’atelier’.

“It was so mysterious. The great use of paint in capturing the mood and light of the studio setting draw the attention of viewers, while the mystery meant it would continue to resonate long after,” Dr Hall said.

“I encourage all the artists whose work was displayed to keep being brave.”

To see more images from the day visit: www.facebook.com/wsi.nadc

Secretdebate

CUTS TO PENALTY RATES - A NECESSARY EVIL OR JUST PLAIN EVIL?

He Says.................................. ..................She Says Let me say that I don’t believe in cutting wages for anyone, especially when the philosophy behind it is totally flawed.

Have a look at the arguments for: 1. It will make business more competitive Competitive with who, if every hospitality business has the same wage liability then they are already competitive?

2. It will provide more jobs On what basis? Employers employ people to assist in running the business. Cheaper wages won’t encourage more employment than necessary to run the show. The next step in that argument is to reduce everyone’s wages. Theoretically if we all took a 10% pay cut we could find jobs for another 10% of people and wipe out unemployment. Does any one really believe that or would it simply mean employers make more profits?

3. More businesses will trade on Sundays Business will trade Sunday if they can make money out of it. If a business relies on a reduction of wages of say $100 for the day, then they have bigger problems, no one these days can trade for 10-12 hours on a $100 margin.That’s not taking into account the surcharge that applies for these days. Will that be reduced, not likely?

4. It will boost the economy Let’s say there are 30,000 people working in hospitality that will lose $30 per week.

That’s 30,000 times $30 or $900,000 per week.

That is about $50 million per year they can no longer spend. How does that equate to economic benefit?

This whole wage reduction argument is based on ideology not facts.

It is a sham and let’s be honest it is just the thin end of the wedge, so look out all.

The next step is to pull wages back to be competitive with cheap East Asian labour. I am sure that landlords and banks would be more than happy to reduce rents and loans to account for any reduction in wages in order to help Australia’s economy, I am also sure that pigs can fly.

WIN!

A REALLY important ingedient to having a robust economy is in stimulating the growth of small buiness.

Most small businesses don’t take off immediately. It takes time and money to grow them, and growth means jobs.

If we don’t have attractive conditions for people to take the leap of faith and try their hand at creating a business, we will have less people willing to take the many risks one has to take to enter into what is often an unknown territory to them.

And if we don’t encourage the risk-takers, we rob ourselves of the much-needed jobs that they will ultimately provide.

As our population rises, jobs in private enterprise are paramount to making it all work. What other options are there, we all work for the government?

On top of that, like it or not we’ve moved into more of a 24/7 cycle. Many retailers are now open seven days a week and I challenge anyone to say that it isn’t convenient.

And it actually suits a lot of people to work weekends, why should they receive pay at double and a half times anyone else? The argument that kids get ripped off is silly.

They go to school, if there weren’t jobs available outside of studying hours they wouldn’t be able to work at all.

The luxury times of snagging a job paying a packet for working on the days that nodoby else does are gone. Times have changed, there’s no such thing as non-work days in many industries of today.

Imagine me taking the progressive line! You read it right here, it is time to move with the times on this one.

Who do you agree with? Send your vote to nepeannews@aol.com for a chance to win a table for 4 at the Major Oak Theatre Restaurant including dinner and show.

Embracing life and raising cancer awareness at festival

Left – Robyn Yates, CEO and Founder, Cancer Wellness Support Right: Fran Nicholson , Oncology Massage Therapist

THE Gratitude ™ Community is a purpose driven business who believes there is more to business than profit itself, a bigger picture and wants to create a difference by being the change they want to see in the world. They have teamed up with Cancer Wellness Support in their second Embrace Life - Blue Mountains festival was held last weekend at the Fairmont Resort, Leura.

Attended by over 750 visitors on

Sunday, the Embrace Life Festival Blue Mountains was a great success for the local health and wellbeing community.

Visitors were entertained by local performers, participated in yoga and Qigong classes and attended health and wellbeing workshops all within the backdrop of the beautiful Fairmont Resort, Leura. Kids were also kept entertained by the Family Circus and their own meditation and yoga classes.

The major sponsor of the festival this year was the Blue Mountains Regional Business and over 65, mostly local, business participated in the event.

Once again the charity partner for the festival was Cancer Wellness Support (formerly known as Blue Mountains & Penrith Valley Cancer Help). Now in its 12th year, Cancer Wellness Support is a not-for-profit organisation that has been helping people in our community with cancer by providing subsidised therapies and who believe in a holistic approach to managing a cancer diagnosis with a focus on nutrition, mind, body and spirit.

“The Embrace Festival provides the perfect opportunity to share the range of services on offer for people with cancer, through Cancer Wellness Support Blue Mountains & Penrith Valley. These therapies & groups assist with side effects related to cancer treatments and support on the road to recovery. “says Founder and CEO, Robyn Yates OAM. For further information on Embrace Life Festivals and Gratitude Community visit www. gratitudeonline.com.au information regarding services provided by Cancer Wellness Support contact head office Katoomba on (02) 4782 4866.

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Coffee with a cop PENRITH residents were given a rare opportunity to have a coffee with a cop last week in Skipton’s Arcade.

Penrith LAC reported that the “Coffee with a Cop” event was a great success and said some good conversations were had between the local community and local Police.

They also wished to give a special thanks to Gai Hawthorn from Penrith CBD Corporation for the lovely cake and to Vanessa from Skipton’s Cafe.

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Draft flood studies Chair of the NBMHD

By Garion Thain

THE Draft Little Creek and College, Orth and Werrington Creeks Overland Flow Flood studies have been completed and will be on public exhibition from 23 February – 30 March. These are the latest studies to be completed and put on public exhibition as part of Council’s ongoing flood management plan.

The Little Creek catchment covers the suburbs of Colyton, Oxley Park, St Marys and North St Marys. The College, Orth and Werrington Creeks catchment covers the suburbs of Werrington, Werrington County, Cambridge Park, Kingswood and Caddens.

Penrith Mayor Councillor John Thain said that adequate preparation and consultation is essential to ensure the community is safe and resilient in the event of a natural disaster.

“It’s important that our communities stay safe and are well-equipped to deal a flood emergency, should one arise,” Councillor Thain said.

“Penrith is in an area dominated by rivers and waterways, along with wide floodplains, so flood is an important issue that we need to be prepared for.”

“These studies map overland flood behaviour, which allows us to develop more effective plans and management practices. Consulting with the community to get their feedback on past issues and areas of concern is also key to ensuring our plans are as robust and effective as possible”, he said.

All members of the community are invited to view the draft studies on the “Have your say” page at penrithcity.nsw.gov.au or in person at Penrith Civic Centre, Penrith City Library, Council’s St Marys Office or St Marys Library.

Council is encouraging the community to submit feedback on the draft, as this feedback is invaluable in helping us plan for and manage flood risk in the future.

Submissions close on Thursday 30 March.

LATE last year, I interviewed Captain The Honourable Peter Collins AM, RFD, QC, RANR twice for his feature in Legends of the Nepean, once in the Penrith CBD and again at his residence in Werrington for a comprehensive talk on his thoughts about Penrith’s future, respecting the heritage of our city and his home at Werrington House, as well as health and Nepean Hospital.

As New South Wales’ Health Minister from 1988 - 1991, Mr Collins has a great breadth of experience and ideas in the sector, and being an issue he’s passionate about he was graciously open about the subject for Legends.

Recently in January, I had the privilege of meeting with Mr Collins in Penrith again to talk about the health sector. Mr Collins was recently appointed to the Chair of the Nepean Blue Mountains Health District, which sees him directly involved in the wellbeing of residents of Penrith and the lower mountains and into Lithgow and Portland.

Mr Collins proved himself not only knowledgeable but genuinely insightful and in-touch in Legends, so we began by following up his

argument in Legends that Nepean Hospital, which became a teaching hospital under his tenure as Health Minister, needed more funding and attention from the state government.

At the time he was talking to Penrith MP Stuart Ayers about the issue.

Following the interview, in late November the then Premier Mike Baird announced a $550 million injection into the critically strained Hospital. Mr Collins says the hospital, sitting at the foot of Penrith city where the Great Western Highway meets the Northern Road, deserves the funding and could be a leading modern hospital.

“I personally raised the state of the hospital with [Mr Baird] and the treasurer,” said Mr Collins.

“Stuart Ayers frequently kept in touch with me – they promised they would deliver.”

Mr Collins said people in developed countries expect their critical services to be a part of the city fabric.

“We’ve got a four-year window to get Nepean Hospital to the best it can be.”

At the time of the interview, Mr Collins was meeting the medical staff council the following day. He explained that the job of chair requires him to advocate on behalf of the local

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Peter Collins’ vision for Nepean Hospital

Captain The Honourable Peter Collins AM, RFD, QC, RANR is Chair of the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District effective January 1.

Mr Collins met to discuss his vision for the future of Nepean Hospital

community.

“As chair, the expectation will be that I can track community expectations.”

Doubling of capability, Mr Collins explained, is a metric he would like to follow, as opposed to “necessarily doubling bed numbers.”

“We don’t have our own research institute. It’s something we want to see up and going – to maximise these opportunities.”

“Nepean Hospital deserves to look like a teaching hospital.”

Vacant and currently empty private land in close proximity to the hospital

could theoretically be bought and repurposed. Mr Collins said that in the best case scenario, the hospital could benefit from on-site accommodation, which it is currently lacking in the vicinity.

However, Mr Collins’ main focus is assisting the hospital maintain a self-

sustaining medical community.

“I have a real interest in functionality.

This coming upgrade needs to be properly planned, properly thought out – there has to be a logic,” he said.

Mr Collins noted that the whole city is on the cusp of change, and as noted in his previous interview, this growth is already beginning. Mr Collins and Penrith City Council see eye-to-eye on the subject of Penrith needing to benefit from this period of growth.

Aside from the hospital, Mr Collins says that there are many aspects that deserve to be celebrated, but don’t outwardly look as successful as they are.

“Just after Nepean Hospital – down the road, you have Penrith High, a consistent top-20 performer.”

Mr Collins says it and other landmarks, such as the state records in Kingswood, deserve to make a statement about themselves.

“We really need to stake claim to the excellence that is at these places,” he said.

“These are key facilities down the great Western Highway.”

With funding, guidance and appropriate planning to make use of these new funds, hopefully Nepean Hospital will be screaming excellence very soon.

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Penrith has some really, really Good Guys!

By Kerrie Davies

MEATLOAF once belted out a tune that became a household expression; two out of three aint bad. But if those numbers mean pretty good going, then five out of six is incredible!

Proving that they really are the Good Guys, The Good Guys Penrith has contributed to Australia’s number one electrical retailer being awarded the prestigious Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Award for 2016 - the fifth time in the last six years.

“Although there have been some major changes in our business over the last twelve months, the one thing that has always remained the same in our store is our unwavering commitment to providing our customers with the best service possible,” The Good Guys Penrith Store Executive Manager, Shane Macey said.

“At The Good Guys Penrith we want our customers to have the best shopping experience possible every time they visit our store.

“We pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best range of appliances at the most competitive prices and focus on being knowledgeable, friendly, approachable and helpful to ensure our customers are always satisfied,” Shane said.

The Good Guys was announced as the winner of the Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Award for Furniture/Electrical Store of the Year 2016, based on Customer Satisfaction ratings collected from Roy Morgan’s Single Source survey of approximately 50,000 Australian consumers annually. Results were

The Good Guys Chief Retail Officer, Cory Hedin, receives Customer Excellence Award from Roy Morgan CEO, Michelle Levin

analysed over the course of 12 months to identify those Australian businesses that consistently satisfy a higher proportion of their customers than their rivals.

The Good Guys received the title of ‘Furniture/ Electrical Store of the Year 2016’ after dominating the category over the past 12 months.

“We put our customers at the centre of everything we do, and try and identify their needs and delight

them with remarkable service at all stages of their shopping journey,” Shane said.

“While we focus a lot on our customer service, we also know that price still plays a huge role in customer satisfaction which is why we’ll beat any of our major competitors’ advertised prices. Plus our customers are protected against competitor price drops even after they have made their purchase thanks to our 30 Day Price Guarantee. This way our customers can always trust they get the best price when they buy from us.“ “I am so proud of the team here at The Good Guys Penrith who have helped make The Good Guys the best electrical retailer in the country,” Shane said.

Michele Levine, CEO of Roy Morgan Research, remarked, “Although The Good Guys make it look easy, walking away with the Furniture/Electrical Store of the Year Award for the fifth time in six years, this is an especially competitive category of the Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards, with some impressive and much-loved contenders.

“But by remaining dedicated and attentive to their customers’ needs, rather than resting on the laurels of their excellent reputation, The Good Guys has once again given their sector a masterclass in customer satisfaction. Congratulations from all of us at Roy Morgan!” Michele said.

The 2017 Roy Morgan Award adds to the growing customer service accolades for The Good Guys, who recently won the Canstar Blue customer satisfaction award for a sixth year in a row and is the only brand to win every year since the Canstar Blue awards began.

ATTENTION MALES

By Keegan Thomson

CALLING all men who’re in desperate need of social environment!

The Nepean Men’s Shed is ready to launch with their official opening on Saturday March 4.

The Nepean Men’s Shed is a place set up to provide a social environment for all men aged 18 and up.

Michael Siegle, the President of the Nepean Men’s Shed, said it is a great environment for friendships to flourish.

“We are here to provide a local, informal space where men from the community can spend time,” Mr Siegle said.

“It provides a facility for men to meet and spend time together. It also allows men to have a place where we can share our skills with one and other.

“We accept men 18 years and over, and we aim to get men social after their retirement,” he said.

After his retirement, Mr Siegle said he struggled to find ways to fill his time. He said this is a regular occurrence for men who retire.

“When you retire and you finish on a Friday by the following Monday you’ll think, what do I do now?

“The Men’s Shed is here to help fill

the gap. We’re here to foster men’s health and wellbeing in an open social environment,” he said.

Just like the old proverb goes,

men and women come from two completely different planets, and according to Mr Siegle, men need a different type of retirement.

“Women naturally will have their friends after they retire, but in my experience, men mainly have their friends through their work.

“When you retire you’ll lose that so something like the Men’s Shed will give people a different environment to socialise and make friends,” he said.

The rules are pretty loose in the Shed, no smoking, no drinking alcohol and no gambling, but there is a wealth of other activities on offer across the 900 square metre facility.

“We don’t just build things, we have a full library, board games, jigsaws, table tennis, we have some computers as well,” Mr Siegle said.

One of the most famous activities that the Men’s Shed undertakes is the community outreach and support.

All year round the Men’s Shed will help build and pitch in things for community events and those who’re most in need.

“Last year we made some furniture for the REAL festival, down on the river, we’ll build billy carts for kids and we’ve even sell our wooden toys at local markets,” Mr Siegle said.

The Nepean Men’s Shed is open on Monday and Wednesday from 9 am to 2 pm at 18 Simeon Road, Orchard Hills. They’re always looking for more members to join in and be part of the Shed.

Connecting aged Australians

By Keegan Thomson

IN an attempt to bring aged Australians together with local services, Emma Husar, the Federal Member for Lindsay and the Shadow Minister for Ageing and Mental Health, Julie Collins, held an open form for seniors living in western Sydney.

Hosting some 20 local aged care services and providers, Ms Husar was joined by more than 60 local seniors to discuss their issues and talk about what matters most to them.

“I’m pleased I could bring all these people together to discuss the particular issues facing our older Australians.

“I’ve spoken with dozens of people this afternoon, and the most common issues being raised with me are our local health services and the recent cuts to pensions,” she said.

Ms Husar was elected off the back of the Labor Party’s ‘mediscare’ campaign and has lobbied both the state and federal government for boosts in health spending.

“It’s really important that we make sure our local health services are well equipped to assist people as they get

Julie Collins MP (left) and Emma Husar MP (middle) at the aged forum.

older. That’s why I’m fighting to keep Medicare and why I’m fighting to get more money for our local hospital,” she said.

Some of the exhibitors at the forum included the Salvation Army, Zonta Club, the University of the Third Age, aged care services and a number of women’s charities.

One of the most prevalent issues raised at the forum was age discrimination and the lack of infrastructure around securing jobs for older Australians.

Bob Maynard, a western Sydney local, was fired from his job when he was in his early 60s. After that he struggled to get another full time job.

“When you’re of a more matured age your chances of getting a job diminish,” he said.

Age discrimination often isn’t the offical reason why older Australians aren’t hired for job, said Mr Maynard.

Instead there are other ways to get around the age question.

“You can never actually know because they’ll never say, ‘you’re not getting this job because of your age’.

“You just can’t prove it.

“They’ll officially call it something different and will often say you’re too senior for the role,” he said.

According to Mr Maynard older Australians will generally do a better job than young people because they

have their lives already organised.

“I always believe that more mature aged people are not taking as much time off to go travelling or to get pregnant and start families, so they have more work ethics.

“If the government makes people stay in the workforce until they’re 70 there will be a lot of people struggling because they’ll lose their jobs and they’ll not be able to find more work,” he said.

Shadow Minister for Ageing and Mental Health, Julie Collins said even with all these struggles facing aged Australians there is a need for people to have control of their lives.

“It’s really important that people do have that individual power and control over how they live their lives.

“What we want to see is Australians living longer and healthier lives and contributing in the ways that they want to continue to contribute to society,” Ms Collins said.

Across Australia around 14 per cent of the population is currently over 65, and within the next 30 years 25 per cent of the population will be over 65.

The population of aged Australians in western Sydney is closer to 20 per cent.

13 Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

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Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

Fighting youth unemployment

By Keegan Thomson

THERE is constantly a debate about how to get school leavers into the workforce and out of unemployment, but so far there hasn’t seemed to be any finalised bi-partisan policy.

Ian Palmer is the CEO of Schools Industry Partnership, an organisation that is fighting to get more students into placements so they can gain more experience. The end game is helping to reduce youth unemployment by creating a more skilful youth workforce.

I sat down with Mr Palmer to have a chat about Schools Industry Partnership.

Q: What is Schools Industry Partnership?

A: Schools Industry Partnership was founded by schools and employers 22 years ago to help match up the VET placements. We do around 6,500 placements a year, so it keeps us chomping.

The region is growing, the population is expanding, there is more pressure on businesses and workplaces, and so how are we going to keep this working in the future? We’ve done studies and we’ve found unemployed youth want more experience. Employers are also asking everyone for more experience. So we’re helping by working with the community to find and give students that experience.

Q: What is VET and why is it important for some students?

A: VET in schools hasn’t been around for long, it is about 20 years old. Previously school was largely

Ian Palmer fights youth unemployment. Photo: Supplied.

filled with academic subjects, but industries have really started to demand that young people have a lot of experience when they hit the workforce. VET courses are about getting people practical, employable skills.

As part of the VET course the NSW Education Standards Authority requires each student to undertake two one-week work placements so students can prove and demonstrate their classroom skills in a real workplace setting.

Q: At the moment what are the prospects like for a young person trying to get a job?

A: It is increasingly harder for a young person to get a start out of university. The data shows that it is becoming increasingly hard for a young person to gain full time employment. More and more people are struggling to get a job out of school, university and tafe. Youth Unemployment is at record levels.

Now as a community we need to ask ourselves what are we going to do about it?

Q: What’s some of the feedback from industry about the placements?

A: The vast majority of those placements are in popular industries with around 89 per cent of students saying they receive useful training. 82 per cent of teachers say their students come back from placements are are ready to learn more. Around one-quarter of the students get offered some form of employment after their placements, which is really good news for both the students and the employees.

Q: How can we curb youth unemployment?

A: One of the best things we can do is to give students the opportunity to have some experience and to get a head start. Workplace is great value for all involved. The students are volunteers, the employers offer us volunteer time. It gives students confidence, skills and vital proof on their resume that they can do the job.

Q: Do many workplaces across western Sydney offer up placements?

A: It is never easy. The sad truth is most employees don’t host students, it is the minority of businesses and workplaces that do the heavy lifting and offer up placements. We’re always trying to get more people involved, more businesses and more feedback from workplaces. When we get more involved and we have the community working together then we should be able to combat these rising levels of youth unemployment and we can make a better community.

If you’re a business interested in hosting a student call Schools Industry Partnership on 4725 0300 for more information.

Pay what you want at The Creative Fringe PENRITH’S most unique and innovative coworking venue, The Creative Fringe is going to be trialing a truly radical idea. “Pay what you want” for a desk in the month of March, is an initiative that the progressive team at The Creative Fringe have come up with to help small business owners afford to hire a desk in their inspiring space.

“Business is tough and we have seen so many amazing business owners come and go over the almost three years that we have been open,” commented Community Manager Rienna Kroh.

“Most of them leave as they have struggled to find the extra funds in their budget to pay for a desk, despite their increase in productivity and their love of the space and people they’ve met.”

The Creative Fringe team has been utilising their out of the box thinking abilities to come up with an innovative idea that has never been seen in Penrith before. The initiative will be trialed throughout the month of March where business owners will be able to head into The Creative Fringe, hire a desk, have access to NBN wifi, use the meeting rooms, breakout areas, free tea and coffee, not to mention connecting and collaborating with others in the space, all for a ‘pay what you want’ price.

Social enterprise businesses have been successfully using this system to affect change in their relevant industries. ThankYou brand published a booked called Chapter 1 that has no recommended retail price yet all profits for the book go to funding the future of the brand which distributes funds to life-changing food, water and health and sanitation programs around the world. The idea is that people pay what they want for the book knowing their hard earned money will go towards changing the world of poverty. To date nearly 95,000 books have been bought raising more than $1.7 million dollars.

Co-workers at The Creative Fringe connecting over morning tea.

Food chain store Lentil as Anything’s main function is to provide food without borders - without borders of cash value, race or socioeconomic status.

At their not-for-profit vegetarian restaurants, guests contribute what they feel their meal and experience is worth, according to their own financial ability.

“The Creative Fringe is more than a co-working space. It’s a safe place for business owners to come and be inspired, were they can collect with our community and grow their businesses”, said founder and CEO Debbie O’Connor. “We have watched

great friendships and lucrative collaborations come out of our space - it’s what naturally happens when you bring progressive, like-minded people together.”

This concept will be trialed for the month of March. If the Penrith business community embraces it, The Creative Fringe will continue to use this model for all hot desk hiring in the future.

To book your desk call 1300 722 896 or to find out more information about The Creative Fringe head to www.thecreativefringe.com.au

NOVA takes out Disability Industry Innovation Award ON Thursday 23 February, NOVA’s Martin Wren was honoured to win the award for ‘Leadership in Employment Inclusion’ in conjunction with Jigsaw (Fighting Chance Australia) at the 2017 Disability Industry Innovation Awards held at the Hilton Sydney as part of the NDS NSW State Conference.

There we over 200 people in attendance.

Martin is the CEO of NOVA Employment, the local not-forprofit organisation that helps job seekers with disability find awardwage work in open employment.

“While the award has my name on it, it represents the most dedicated team in town. It’s their efforts that are truly being recognized. ‘Leadership in employment inclusion’ appropriately describes the initiative, can-do attitude and plain hard work that NOVA staff have demonstrated over the past year,” Martin said.

Since 2015, the numbers of people NOVA has placed into work has more than doubled. More and more employers are approaching NOVA

because they’ve either seen or heard from their friends and peers that people with a disability constitute a valuable resource that they can call upon to supplement and develop their teams.

NOVA’s secret?

• Job matching of employee skills and interests with employer needs.

• Effective and ongoing postplacement support that can be drawn upon at any time.

• Passion and drive to improve the lives of people with a disability.

“Martin, CEO of NOVA Employment, continues to champion employment as a means promoting inclusion of people with disabilities. The list of Martin’s campaigning is lengthy and broad in scope: major television and radio campaigns, billboards, bus skins, direct mailing, and story sharing via unique distribution methods.”

Minister John Ajaka said.

Alleged child assault A MAN will face court charged over the alleged procurement and indecent assault of his young neighbour in Hebersham.

Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse Squad commenced an investigation following reports a young boy had been indecently assaulted by a neighbourhood friend of the family.

Following extensive investigations, a 68-year-old man was arrested at a home in Hebersham, about 10.45am on Monday.

He was charged with indecent assault person under 16 years, and procure child under 14 years for unlawful sexual activity.

Police will allege the man had been procuring the child for a number of years, and recently indecently assaulted him during a visit to the family’s home.

He was refused bail and to appear at Mt Druitt Local Court.

The Child Abuse Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate crimes against children, including sexual assault, physical abuse and serious cases of neglect.

Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw. crimestoppers.com.au/. Reports can also be made to the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111.

What to do when you lose your passport

By Keegan Thomson

YOUR passport is pretty much the most important thing you’ll travel with, and the single worst thing that can happen to you when you’re travelling overseas is that your passport goes missing or, in my case, is inadvertently destroyed.

I accidentally destroyed my passport whilst doing a load of washing in America, all of the pages disintegrated. This meant I didn’t have any passport for about three weeks as I travelled.

Take it from me, don’t let the destruction or disappearance of your passport cast shade on your trip. From time to time bad things happen, but when it does, these tips will help you stay cool, calm and collected.

Make copies If you suffer from spates of bad luck, or you’re simply hopelessly clumsy, make sure you’ve made plenty of photocopies of your documents before you leave. Carry some copies of your passport and visas in case something happens. If you’re tech savvy then upload a copy of this info to a safe online cloud or simply email yourself a copy.

Contact the embassy ASAP The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has lists of Australian embassies and consulates overseas. For most embassies you’ll need to make a booking, so make sure you’ve arranged your travel plans around getting to an embassy.

Of course, it is disappointing if you need to change your plans, but what also sucks is the

My passport after it went through the wash.

Photo: Keegan Thomson

potential punishments for not having a passport.

Some countries will issues fines but others have more intense punishments including gaol time.

Report your lost passport When you lose your passport there will be fees depending on if your passport was stolen, lost or destroyed. If some nasty character stole your passport or you managed to accidentally leave it on a train, plane or automobile, you’ll need to report

it quick smart. The last thing you want is someone claiming to be you as they wander around carrying your passport with their photo in it.

Get a new passport Sorry for pointing out the bleeding obvious, but if you’re overseas and you find yourself without a passport, you’ll have to get yourself a new one. An Australian emergency passport is what you’ll need.

It will cost some dollars and will usually take a week to process. Of course, the fees and processing times can change depending on your location.

To get an emergency passport, you’ll need to be in an embassy or a consulate, and you’ll need some government-issued ID like an driver’s licence. If you’ve gone and destroyed your passport, hold on to whatever is left of it, otherwise you might end up paying for the stolen or lost fee.

The emergency passports have limitations on them and you need to know what these mean for your travels. The best place to get this information would be the Australian embassy.

Check your visas Visas are restrictive and sometimes expensive, but they’re necessary for travelling. Your visas are attached to your passport, so if your passport is KIA, you need to find out your visa status.

Visas can be tricky and they can really put a dampener on your trip, so make a photocopy, and make sure you visit an Australian Embassy or contact DFAT as soon as you lose your visa.

This information is for Australians who’s lost their passport overseas. This information might not be accurate for any other nationality.

15 Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

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Legends of the Nepean

By Greg Martin

HAD a tough day at the coal-face?

Well, I have the perfect remedy to pick you up.

And no, it isn’t two fingers of scotch or a thirst-quenching schooner of the amber ale.

Your writer discovered the perfect remedy after his own hard day at the coal-face one day last week.

Yes, journalists sometimes do work up a sweat finding, researching and writing stories!

(Tell that to my fine colleague and editor next time you see her out and about).

Where were we?

Oh yes, the perfect pick-me-up!

Late one afternoon I had arranged to meet the subject of this edition’s Legend of the Nepean article at her residence in Edinglassie Village over in Emu Plains.

But after a long slog in the field, interviewing an octogenarian wasn’t high on my list of needs.

(My mate ‘The Duff’ thinks an octogenarian is half man-half octopus!)

I was thinking: “I’d kill to be sitting on the deck at home quaffing a

six-pack of beer” when Jean Stephens OAM opened the door to my knock.

May I introduce you to the perfect remedy!

“Welcome Greg,” Jean said with that beaming smile which would melt the heart of a parking cop.

That smile. The obvious warmth of her welcome.

Jean made you feel like the burdens of the world were lifted from your shoulders.

And that was before having a chat and learning about her remarkable life!

Apart from her extended family – she has four children, 11 grandchildren and five great grandchildren - Jean has three abiding passions – the church, history and the Red Cross.

All three have benefited greatly by her involvement throughout the greater part of her long life.

Her contributions to those three passions have endeared her generations of folk within our community.

Sitting down at the dining table in her tiny flat, we were surrounded by photographs, awards and other mementos of her tireless contribution to the residents of the Nepean.

Jean has always been the ilk of person to put her hand up when

something needed to be done.

Despite her many years of service to “my three passions” Jean has by no means hoisted the white flag to put her feet up and reminisce about her life.

“I have always firmly believed that if you don’t use it, you lose it,” Jean laughed.

“And that means body and mind!

“I need a walker to get about these days but thankfully I can still drive so I am able to get out and about and keep doing the things I enjoy.”

As to the mind, Jean is always exercising the grey matter.

Sitting at that dining table doing crosswords – there’s half a dozen crossword books spread around the table – and word puzzles – anything to keep those connections sparking.

The Australian Red Cross organisation, in which Jean has dedicated most of her life to, commenced in 1914, just nine days after the start of World War 1 – one of the very first branches was established at Penrith.

The Mission of the Australian Red Cross is: “To be a leading humanitarian organisation in Australia, improving the lives of vulnerable people through services delivered and promotion of

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humanitarian laws and values.”

The Australian Red Cross supports and runs a number of projects and raises awareness about the current issues or problems which may affect them.

Projects which are either run by or assisted by the Australian Red Cross are blood services, first aid projects, disaster and emergency services and education services.

And I’m sure you learned readers are aware that the Red Cross is paid to maintain Australia’s blood and organ donation services.

Jean’s involvement with the Red Cross began in 1953 when she had her first posting as a teacher to a school in Peakhurst.

“On the first day of term, the headmistress gathered the staff together and rattled off various extracurricular tasks to each of us,” Jean recalled.

“She pointed at me and said: ‘Jean you will have the Junior Red Cross’ – I just nodded and wondered what that was all about.

“I quickly learned and soon enough

I learned to love it.

“My roles with the school’s Junior Red Cross unit were to teach them – and myself – first aid, home nursing, crafts and how to raise funds.”

Thus began Jean’s long and fruitful involvement with the Red Cross.

Now let’s quickly get to know a bit more about Jean.

Raised at Peat’s Ridge, Jean was educated at the local primary school, Gosford High and then Newcastle Teacher’s College from where she graduated in 1953 and being posted to Peakhurst.

Several years later, Jean found herself in Vanuatu teaching at a mission school and that’s where she met the love of her life, Roy, a local who owned a cattle and coconut plantation.

The couple married in 1959 and remained in Vanuatu before selling up in 1968 and moving to Cambridge Park with their four children.

Roy’s many and varied skills enabled him to earn a living as a handyman whilst Jean kept at the teaching caper until retiring in 1993.

17

Sadly, Roy passed away in 1988 – a bitter-sweet year for Jean.

“Losing my Roy was shattering but ’88 was also the year I was awarded my Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to the community,” Jean said.

The year before, Jean graduated as a mature age student with a BA from Macquarie University.

“Life was so good but Roy’s sudden death really knocked the stuffing out of me but I was able to go on thanks to the love and support of my family and friends and my involvement with various community activities,” she said.

And Jean goes on and on and on.

For that, those of us in the Nepean will all be forever thankful!

Jean Stephens was nominated as a Legend of the Nepean by Greg Davies.

If you know a local legend, send us a nomination at nepeannews@aol.com

Let Jean Stephens brighten your day.

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Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

Socialising puppies WE have been seeing lots of new puppies lately and we thought it would be appropriate to discuss socialisation for your new puppy. Socialisation is the process where puppies develop positive relationships with other living things. The most important time for socialisation is during the first 3-4 months of life. The experiences your puppy has during this time have a major effect on developing personality and how well they get along with people and other animals. It is important that we provide frequent, positive social experiences during these months to prevent antisocial behavior, fear and aggression. Even after 4 months of age, continued exposure to a variety of people and other animals is important in maintaining good social skills.

Puppies need to meet as many new

people as possible in a wide variety of situations. This being said, it is important not to overwhelm them or have a negative experience. Start with calm introductions to one or two people at a time. If your puppy handles this well then increase the number of people, noise level and activity level.

It is a good idea to have new people to give your puppy a small treat as this will teach the puppy that new and

strange people, with an outstretched hand are a positive thing. Once a puppy has learnt the sit command, have each new friend ask your puppy to sit before giving a treat. This also teaches a proper greeting and makes the puppy less likely to jump on people.

It is important that a young pup has opportunities to learn about children; they often act and behave differently to adults and dogs often see them as

a different species. People running, riding bikes, roller skating and riding scooters seem very different to young puppies. So learning that these things are not scary is important.

Take your puppy to visit friend’s homes to interact with their pets and family. Ideal friends to visit are those with calm pets and calm children. Sometimes people are told to keep their puppy home until all of the immunisations are complete.

This is important to discuss with your veterinarian as risks do exist.

However there are some less risky places to socialise your pet such as friend’s houses with vaccinated pets.

At different stages of the vaccination protocol more outings are allowed. The risk of puppies developing behaviour problems from lack of socialisation is more common than diseases in the general population.

For more information about puppy socialisation classes, please contact us on 4731 3055.

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

Phone 47 313 055

A day in the life of... A mental health nurse

By Keegan Thomson

HOSPITALS are busy bee hives of activity with people coming in and out each day, with different doctors and nurses running different wards, operating different roles and moving about in different circles. One of the busiest batch of bees in the hive is the mental health staff who’re buzzing around chasing up different consults across the hospital whilst maintaining their own separate ward.

Tristan Chapman is a mental health nurse who treats people with severe mental illness and works clinically in a number of hospitals across western Sydney.

“My role is about bringing mental health care, treatment and support to the wards of the hospital,” Nurse Chapman said.

“We can go anywhere in the hospital to give treatment to anyone. It could be ICU, it could be cancer care, it could be drug and alcohol.

“Sometimes it might be that someone is suffering from the signs of a mental health issue and their medical team wants some psychiatry input into the care and treatment of a patient,” he said.

Working across the hospital means the types of patients and the illnesses, different patients are suffering from, will change depending on where on the campus he will be. This means Nurse Chapman needs to be able to adjust his clinical mind frame depending on the patient.

“It could be someone suffering from any type of mental illness,” he said. “Anything from depression, anxiety to psychosis.”

One factor to consider, when assisting and treating mental health patients is different patients respond differently to their time in the hospital, Nurse Chapman said.

“When the patients come in they might be suffering from an illness and something in the hospital has exacerbated it.

“Patients can be dealing with a lot of things when they’re in the hospital. This is a new environment and there is a lot of loud noises, lights and people, so it can trigger different reactions,” he said.

From the beginning of his medical training, Nurse Chapman knew he always wanted to be involved in mental health in the local health level.

Frustratingly he said mental health is a specialty that new doctors and nurse don’t often consider.

“A lot of students have this set idea about what kind of medicine they want to work in, and unfortunately they quite often write off working in mental health,” he said.

“It is a specialty that still has a lot of stigma around it.

“People bring their own points of views into this job, and those views are mainly from the media and from movies, and those view points are all about straight jackets and people locked up in rooms,” he said.

Nurse Chapman dismissed the idea that it takes a special kind of personality to work in mental health.

“People say it takes a special type of person to work in mental health, but I say it takes a special type of person to work in any profession,” he said.

“I see people working with children and I instantly know I could never work with children.”

I AM impressed that many people have advised me that they have grasped my G-spot very well, meaning I have avid fans and regular readers of my column. I am always very proud when people ask how my G-spot is going? There will be a cult following and T-shirt very soon, I can see it now.

Well today kids I am going to enlighten you with some helpful hints and insight about events. Yep, hold on to ya knickers this is going to be more exciting than being poked in the left eye with a blunt stick, I promise.

After working at many an event over my 26 years in security, nothing excites me more than working amongst sweaty crowds, bumping into 50,000 people crammed in like sardines on a 40 degree day, screaming babies and that special person that just wants to be the serial bonehead all day, just to make the life of a security officer, just a little more memorable (Sigh).

The bag check bonehead - This is the person at an event that decides that they want to hold up everyone on the entire planet because they don’t want to present their bag to security. The queues build and then they proceed to argue, and wonder why they get refused entry and thrown out. They go into the foetal position and cry like a baby on the way out.

The abusive bag check boneheadthe person who abuses every security officer because they can’t read 75 signs that say BAG CHECK AREA - PRESENT

With Gina Field, Nepean Regional Security

BAGS. They then flare up like a ruptured eagle on heat, and flap their arms whilst talking, it’s impressive - no seriously it is - I look forward to it every event. NOT! The, “I can get my alcohol through the bag check” bonehead - Gotta love these - These are the wonderful people that think that sticking a slab (carton of beer) under a new born baby is perfectly acceptable, and wonder why we call them unfit for parenting when we find it. I love the wine bladder down the pants trick, now that’s a good one. It’s a dead giveaway because I have never seen a normal bloke built like that in the front area. Ahhhh yes and the camel pack full of grog, that’s a good one..sigh.. next. Then it’s the confi scation stage of the found grog, OMG that’s like asking for an amputation of a limb. They scream, cry, find God, throw themselves around, yep it all happens in the bag check area.

Lost children - It is amazing how many lost children there are at events, and then when you ask the parent “What were they wearing” the answer is “Umm I dunno”. So let me get this straight we have 20,000 people here, we dunno what ya kid looks like and we dunno what they are wearing - fantastic!

So here’s my suggestion, take a photo of the child in the morning, grab a hospital-type wrist band and write your phone number on the child’s band. Yay! You also have the “I want my children lost” type parent, yep you have that right, we look after the child that is “allegedly” lost whilst they are

drinking in the bar. You would be surprised how many parents do this. I suggest the uppercut with a Bruce Lee high kick.

Oh, it’s also a good idea, to tell your child what your name actually is, Mummy does not help us much over the PA, we will have 50,000 women running towards the radio control area.

The losing power visit - These are (What I call) the people who almost sprinted into the event, however all of a sudden (allegedly) have lost all movement in both legs and arms at he end of the event when they see the security or fi rst-aid golf carts zipping around. They have every (alleged) disability under the sun and no energy to walk back to their cars at the end of the day. However, yes and I say however, its like Jimmy Bakker (The evangelist) has hit their foreheads in the car park and the divine miracle has occurred once driven back in the security cart.

(Amazing!)

So there you have it folks, no eagles were injured during the writing of this article (Tick), Confiscation of alcohol does not mean that you get it back, no matter how hard you cry and suck your thumb in the foetal position, gurgling like a baby (Tick) If you are going to have a fake injury to get a lift back to the carpark ensure that you actually carry it through until you are in the car (Tick) and remembering how many kids you have taken to the event is always a good look, getting home minus one is not pretty (Tick).

19 Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

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nepeanhistory

Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

Warragamba Dam

I

n April 1886, members of the Water Conservation Commission visited Penrith to gather evidence for a dam on the Warragamba River. Before they arrived, the Commission Engineer inspected various points and interviewed several people on the subject, but because of the limited time available valuable information from residents was overlooked. When the members of the Commission arrived a few days later they were taken up the Nepean River in a steam launch where they expressed delight at the scenery and by the large natural reservoir between the gorge expressing their opinions regarding the approaching visit of the Victorian Water Commission and making sure that they did not miss this opportunity of witnessing such delightful scenery. The Commission took evidence at Penrith Court House where they received valuable information from local witnesses regarding the heights of the various floods and the result of the recent droughts and the estimated value of a proper system of irrigation for farm lands. The Engineer reading with regards to the Nepean and Warragamba Rivers said that the Warragamba Scheme was not only intended to supply Sydney with water but also to provide for the irrigation of a large extent of land in the county of Cumberland. An earlier proposal was discussed to construct a dam in the Warragamba River near its junction with the Nepean, where a 170 foot high dam composed chiefly of boulders, but rendered watertight by a vertical wall of masonry running along its centre, showed that it would be necessary to provide a dam 214 feet high instead of 170 feet with the cost of the waste weir alone being over £1¼ million sterling and with the added risk of a construction of a dam of this height the expense of carrying the supplies across the Nepean was sufficient to condemn the scheme, but a variation was discussed regarding supply to the low lands along the valley of the Nepean that could be more easily obtained by not damming the Warragamba. Levels taken found that the summer level of the Warragamba near its junction with the Nepean was 45 feet above Sydney’s highwater mark and at the valley of the Nepean near Penrith was a width of two and a half miles and beyond it had a steady fall in the direction of the river and it was evident that a dam of moderate height in the Nepean River would render it possible to irrigate the low-lying lands by gravitation down to about three miles from Penrith that flowed within steep and rocky banks where only a short dam would be required if a suitable site could be found at the place where the rocky banks disappeared and a supply of water could be directed into an open cutting where the necessity for tunnelling would be avoided. Another method discussed for providing a supply of water for irrigation as well as for domestic and stock purposes along the valley of the Nepean was by pumping direct from the river and delivering the water at such height that would enable it to flow over the plains by gravitation. The information collected for the Lower Nepean Scheme for the supply of Sydney threw some light on this project but it was admitted that there was such extensive natural storage on the Nepean that no dam was required in connection with this scheme. Several other arguments regarding the damming of the rivers was discussed and to finish off the Engineer said as the commissioners had seen these rivers and are able to appreciate the importance of the supply carried by them it was needless to point out the

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necessity of having a gauge in the Nepean at the Penrith bridge. In January 1889 at Penrith Temperance Hall a speech by T H F Griffith regarding irrigation in front of about 70 attendees including Mayor Riley touched on his proposal that a large dam be built across the Nepean or the Warragamba that would be found most suitable to store up as much of the water as possible because without such saving it would pass uselessly into the sea. He did point out that he was not sufficiently acquainted with the levels of rivers above Penrith to know whether a dam could be built without too much expense but he was afraid that pumping would have to be resorted to in order to raise the water into our main canal. By July 1889 everything was shelved after Penrith Council received two letters from the Harbour & Rivers Branch of the Department of Public Works opposing the dam going ahead but it turns out that one of the letter writers went on to be elected one of the Presidents’ of the newly named “Metropolitan Water, Sewerage & Drainage Board”. In August 1902, the Minister for Works submitted his “Penrith Scheme” proposal regarding his two temporary schemes for supplementing the Prospect water supply. He moved the motion for the immediate carrying out of the scheme. An assurance was given that these schemes were the most expeditious that could be devised after the most searching inquiry and from Penrith to Prospect it would only cost £15,000 outside the pipes. The motion was agreed to by 41 votes to 9. A report put forward in 1907 by T W Pridham, Chief Engineer about the damming of the Warragamba with more mentions regarding earlier proposals put forward in the 1880’s and

by October 1907 a meeting of ratepayers in the Protestant Hall at St Marys attended by the Mayor and a few of the Councillors another scheme was put forward that could serve St Marys and surrounding districts thought to be as well, if not better, than any of those previously mentioned and would see the revival of the old Mulgoa Irrigation Scheme as the machinery for the work was already erected and ready and with a smaller cost than those already mentioned with a sufficient supply for the town of St Marys and for irrigation purposes. It was proposed that this scheme should not be lost from sight by the St Marys’ people when campaigning for their water supply and that the Government should be asked to consider the advisability of completing the work that was started some years ago. In March, 1909 the Warragamba-Nepean Water Conservation & Irrigation Association (WNWC&IA) was formed and in June a public meeting was held at the Parramatta Town Hall to support the scheme. In August 1911, the Minister for Public Works Hon. J Griffith along with James Angus, Rev Hessel Hall, Duncan McDonald, Hon Sydney Smith, Andrew Thompson and 80 guests inspected the site of the dam, enjoying a firstclass banquet in two motor launches. In February 1914, a problem with water in the district caused Penrith Council to construct a large reservoir at a higher altitude. There was talk of the Warragamba Irrigation Scheme and the people of Kingswood made a water application to Mr Jones of Werrington who had a private supply. The dam was officially opened on the 14th October, 1960 – 74 years later at a cost of £35½ million.

Sources: Sydney Water Board Journal 75th Anniversary, Nepean Times, Opening Ceremony souvenir + photo of the Dam beginning to take shape over the gorge.

Lyn Forde – Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc

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By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

SEPTEMBER 17, 2016. Deep within the walls of Canberra Stadium, the sinking reality that Penrith’s thrilling hunt for premiership glory was over, was beginning to set in, as Penrith’s last post-game press conference for 2016 was underway.

In amongst the disappointment of losing 2212 and being eliminated from the finals, Panthers skipper Matt Moylan still managed to find plenty of positives; positives that have fuelled the hopes and dreams of many a Panther fan over the summer months.

“I think we definitely developed from the start of the year. A lot of the guys matured from the start of the season and I think that’s a good thing to take into next season,” Moylan said.

“We’re heading in the right direction. The players coming through, everyone’s confident.

“We’ve had some good experiences and we’ve got good experience coming to the club next year as well.

“It’s a step forward but we’re going to have work hard in the off-season and use this as motivation to

get back to the finals.”

The playing roster is certainly starting to mature now. Watene-Zelezniak, Peachey, Yeo, Cartwright have all reached the 50 NRL game milestone. A milestone in the sense that the likes of Phil Gould say that you haven’t proven yourself as a firstgrader until you have played at least 50 games.

Blake, Campbell-Gillard and possibly Latu are all set to break into the “fifty plus” club at some point this year.

Then there is the talent that is coming through.

Fisher-Harris, Martin, both Kiwi internationals in their rookie year, plus Nathan Cleary already has enough superlatives and famous-dad comparisons to last a lifetime.

Plus the emergence of Edwards and Leota, who emerged on the first grade scene in 2016, are set to press their claims, with both being amongst the best in pre-season training, nines football and trials.

Some experience has left the club over the past twelve months; Soward, Taylor, Segeyaro and Latimore.

But there’s plenty of experience coming in too to compliment the likes of Merrin, Moylan, Whare, Mansour and Wallace, with Tamou, Rein and

Browne all key signings.

The return of Whare and Hiku from long-term injuries are almost like signings too, further bolstering that depth.

168 days after those words from the Panther skipper and in just two sleeps time, our 2017 campaign kicks off with two consecutive day-time games away to St George-Illawarra (Kogarah) and Wests Tigers (Campbelltown).

Penrith may have flown underneath the radar in 2016 but they enter 2017 as the joint premiership favourites alongside their nemesis from the South, Melbourne.

The media can’t get enough of the Mountain Men and can’t stop talking up the premiership chances.

And the fans have spent the summer soaking this up and then some as the wave of expectation continues to roll in for the Panthers.

In bringing you this 2017 season preview, Nepean News has spoken to many a Panther to get their perspective on what lies ahead this season.

So sit back, strap yourself and enjoy what should be a spectacular ride through the 2017 NRL season where hopefully our journey happily terminates at last stop ANZ Stadium on that first weekend in October.

2017 PANTHERS SEASON PREVIEW

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2017 panthers season preview

Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

PANTHERS RL CEO, Brian Fletcher says fans have every right to be excited about the upcoming season, adding that the team by enlarge barring a few injuries, is ready and raring to go for what promises to be one the most exciting seasons in recent memory.

“I think everyone is just keen to get started now. All the hype been around for about a month now and all the players are ready to go,” Fletcher said.

“You only got to see by the turnout here tonight at Westfields the amount of people that has turned up.

“They’ve all got a positive feeling and the players won’t let them down I can assure you.”

Fletcher says the much-hyped Phil Gould fiveyear plan might have pushed over into a sixth year but adds that the extra year will be worth it in the long run given the side is poised to challenge for the premiership not just this year but in years to come, given the number of locally developed

very well,” Fletcher explained.

“Gus said we can’t win a comp unless we start to breed them.

“He said that will take five years, well we’ve done that and we go through the team there now there’s 30 top players averaging 23.5 years in age.

“It’s not unrealistic to think that we might win three comps in six years because everything is in place.”

With all the excitement about the team’s prospects, Fletcher hopes it transpires to bums on seats in 2017 and with a strong start and with a favourable draw Credit: 77 Media (Parramatta not at home aside), the club can average over 15,000 at home in 2017.

“Our last game we played Manly who were players now finding or set to find their way into the running second last and we got 15,000 people here NRL squad.

“I think it was always Gus’ five-year plan, but because we had won six out of seven,” Fletcher said.

“Now if we can kick the year off and start winning we’ve probably added about a year to make it six but it’s all there now, we have no excuses and the a few games I would be disappointed if we didn’t coaches and the players are confident they can go get at least 15,000 to every game.”

between them.

PANTHERS legend and current deputy But the premiership-winning halfback chairman, Greg Alexander believes that says the fact they haven’t played isn’t he hasn’t seen this much hype about the issue, rather pinpointing that their the team’s chances of winning the individual form will be the key to the premiership, since 1991, the year his side Panthers chances in 2017. won Penrith’s maiden title.

“I’m not concerned about the fact they Alexander says plenty must go right haven’t played together. The way halves this year for Penrith to win it but adds play these days it’s not so much their they are definitely a contender. combination rather it’s the individual “Not for a while. It’s one of the few form of each player,” Alexander said. times in our club’s history where there’s “The fact that Nathan was in terrific been this level of expectation,” the former from in his rookie season has led to halfback said. plenty of expectations on him to “It’s the equal of any apart from 1991 continue that form. after losing the 1990 grand final.

“But he looks like the sort of character “There’s plenty of people who think we that can handle whatever’s thrown at can win the comp but there’s a lot that Can such an inexperienced halves pairing of Nathan Cleary and Te Maire Martin him. needs to happen and you need to take (pictured) win a title for Penrith in 2017? Credit 77 Media.

“Te Maire is a bit of a forgotten one into account all the variables that need to in all this but he will be crucial to our happen to win a competition. we can fil just about any hole that there is. chances this year and from what I saw of “I think they are one of a few sides that The big question that most are asking about him last year he looks like he can handle it. can win the comp.

“The halves are so important that a lot hinges “The strength of the Penrith side is the depth of the Panthers’ credentials centres around the inexperienced halves pairing of Nathan Cleary and on Nathan playing at least as well as last year and the overall squad.

“The list that Gus has been able to put together Te Maire Martin, who have yet to play a NRL game Te Maire quickly developing into a player that can gives them great flexibility to cover most positions, together and have just 21 NRL games experience make an impact.”

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A LOT has happened in Anthony Griffin’s twelve months as the NRL coach of the Panthers.

A new captain, the odd season-ending injury, the moving on of senior players like Elijah Taylor, James Segeyaro and Jamie Soward and of course that finals appearance that now has every Panther fan asking for more in 2017.

But while Griffin is more settled in the role twelve months on, he is still far from satisfied from where the team is at, not that he is surprised by that either.

“It’s different. This time last year I didn’t really know any of the players well,” Griffin said.

“The trials were purely a getting to know you time and seeing what we had.

“But now it’s a little bit more structured in terms of what we’re doing.

“I’m happy we’re getting ourselves into some sort of shape.

“But approaching Round One I’m not overly

happy but you never are at this time of year.”

While Penrith are heavily favoured to commence the season with a win over St George-Illawarra, Griffin is giving plenty of respect to his opponents despite their inconsistent start to the season in the trials.

And he has good reason to be cautious about Penrith’s chances this Saturday given the Dragons defeated the Panthers early last season as well. One gets the feeling Griffin will be simply happy to get the two points this Saturday afternoon at Kogarah.

“St George at Kogarah are very hard to beat and I’m sure they’ve had a big off-season too with some new people there,” Griffin declared.

“It (trial form) doesn’t really matter anymore.

The early rounds of the season is all about getting in there and trying to kick and scratch and find a couple of points every week.”

After enjoying a relatively injury-free pre-season,

HE’S been touted as the missing piece in Penrith’s premiership puzzle.

A premiership-winning prop with the North Queensland Cowboys with 170 NRL games to his name and a swag of NSW and Australian test jerseys to boot.

Tamou could have picked any team in Sydney to join but the prized recruit freely admits he only had eyes for Penrith.

“Whilst it was all about coming back down to NSW, it wasn’t just any team I would join,” Tamou declared.

“It was Penrith and if it wasn’t Penrith I would have stayed at the Cowboys.

“Penrith have a great side, a great culture.

“I knew a few of the boys going through rep footy and growing up playing footy against them and it was just too enticing to pass down.

“Obviously doing so well last year, has me more excited to see what we can do this year.”

The move south didn’t go without its disappointments with Tamou missing out on the

Four Nations tournament.

Despite missing selection, Tamou is hoping to emulate Trent Merrin, who went through a similar moment in his career before moving to Penrith last season.

“Absolutely, he did so well to get back,” Tamou said.

“Obviously at the start of the year his name was kind of forgotten there but he fought his way into that side and did so well which gives me hope having seen Mez go through all that.”

There was a silver lining for Tamou. He recently married his long-time partner Brittney, and ensured the big move went smoothly and managed to get in a full pre-season which Tamou admits was different to what he was used to in Townsville.

“Obviously disappointing to miss out but it would have been hard to fly off and leave my wife with the kids with all the moving and that,” Tamou admits.

“Plus it’s given me a full pre-season which is going to be helpful for my year ahead.

TWELVE months ago it was a bitter sweet time in the footballing life of Matt Moylan.

The surprise elevation to skipper of the NRL side was more than tempered by a delayed start to the season brought about a back injury suffered in the trials, just as Moylan was working his way back from a season-ending ankle injury suffered in 2015.

But what a difference the next twelve months made with a State of Origin and Australian debut, and leading a young Panthers side into the second week of the NRL finals series.

Not only are experts and fans alike excited by his team’s possibilities in 2017 but Moylan is the early favourite to win the Dally M Player of the Year award.

Moylan though isn’t buying into the pre-season accolades and is under no illusion that it is his responsibility to ensure his players don’t get swept into all the media and fan-generated hype.

“That sort of external stuff is always going to be there but we’ve just got to not take any notice of it,” Moylan said.

“We know all the stuff we need to be looking at

and track that internally inside the club.”

But Moylan admits that the somewhat unexpected success of the Panthers in going deep into the finals, means that the bar needs to be raised by his players in 2017, although he stops short of declaring his team can win the premiership.

“I think so. It’s obviously good to playing finals and that’s a goal this year to get out and be playing finals and play some good footy in the finals,” Moylan stated.

“To do that we need to start the year off well and build our season off the back of that.

“But the way the squad has come together, there hasn’t been too much turnover and we’ve got some real experienced players that have joined the club that’s only going to add to our strength.”

Moylan is excited by the development of the fringe players as they push for first grade spots and nominates two players fans should particularly keep an eye on in 2017.

“There’s a few guys (to watch). I think a guy like Moses Leota who got a taste of first grade last year

23 Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

2017 panthers season preview

Credit: 77 Media

Griffin laments that his side will have to make the trek to Kogarah minus Sam McKendry and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (both knee).

“It’s just unfortunate (these injuries), but that’s rugby league, sometimes that’s what happens,” Griffin explained.

“Everyone’s fit and well one day and the next day you have a couple of injuries but that’s the game and that’s the challenge at this level.”

Credit: 77 Media

“It’s been a different type of pre-season, with a different side.

“There’s been a lot more run put into us this year which is good to get the kilometres in the legs.

“I’ll be working very hard to hopefully get back into that mix and get back into those rep teams.

“But first things first I need to stay injury-free and hopefully be playing good footy and everything else will come after that.”

Credit: 77 Media

and we saw that in the Nines how well he went making the team of the tournament,” Moylan said.

“Also a guy like Dylan Edwards has been training the house down in the off-season.

“He played some good footy last year and also did well in the Nines and I’m looking forward to seeing him go when he gets a chance.”

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2017 panthers season preview

Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

IN Penrith’s lower coaching ranks, it’s a case of what’s old is new again with the mid-2013 coaching structure of Garth Brennan (Intrust Super Premiership (ISP)) and David Tangata-Toa (Holden Cup (NYC)) back for 2017.

As part of the coaching merry-go-round at Penrith, 2016 NRL assistant coach, Brennan replaces Steve Georgallis (Bulldogs ISP) while former ISP assistant coach Tangata-Toa takes over from two-time Holden Cup coach of the year, Cameron Ciraldo, who has been elevated to become Anthony Griffin’s NRL assistant coach.

For Brennan, who is on a year-by-year arrangement with Phil Gould in what is his sixth season at the club, the move back to the role where he won a title back in 2014, represents an opportunity to have control of a side and develop as many of the successful players coming out of the Holden Cup and prepare them for the rigours of the NRL. “Gus wanted me to bring through a really good crop of young kids coming thorough out of the last two years of 20s and obviously with the top 25 increasing to 30 next year, we need to develop some more kids into full time NRL players,” Brennan explained.

“The way the salary cap is these days you can’t go and fill those spots buying players so you’ve got to develop them.”

Whilst Brennan has enjoyed considerable success as a coach at both NYC and ISP levels, winning competitions although nice, is not as important as developing players.

“I’m not making any predictions we are going to win the comp but hopefully we’ll make the eight,”

Intrust Super Premiership coach Garth Brennan (left).

Holden Cup coach David Tangata-Toa (right). Credit 77 Media.

Brennan declared.

“I’m more concerned about developing these kids and getting ready for the next step.

“For this crop of kids I hope we do have a few who will progress but it is going to take a lot of work for them.

“I noticed how raw they are in our trials. A few of them struggled with the physicality in defence.

“They’re good kids but it going to take some time for them to get used to it.”

For Tangata-Toa, the Holden Cup coaching role represents his first senior head-coaching appointment in Australia, having being parachuted into the role temporarily back in 2013.

But the new Holden Cup coach says his time under Brennan and Georgallis as ISP assistant coach has allowed him to come back into the role as a better coach and is also excited by the prospect of taking on a new-look Holden Cup squad that features just

Would like to wish the Penrith Panthers all the best in the 2017 season

five players from last year’s grand final side.

“I’m definitely more experienced, a little bit older and a little bit wiser,” Tangata-Toa said.

“I’m definitely more confident in my ability as a coach and this time next year I’ll be an even better coach than I am now.

“The big difference for me this time in the role is being able to plan a pre-season, plan a squad and so on which has been really enjoyable.”

Having a new-look squad comprised mainly of players from the National Championship-winning SG Ball team, Tangata-Toa says it’s important to have simplistic goals for now.

“To be tough to beat. That’s sort of been our motto all pre-season. Making sure that we don’t lose games,” Tangata-Toa said.

“Teams will have to beat us and we obviously want to start the season strong so they’re the two areas that I’m looking for out of the boys at the moment.”

Go the mighty Panthers, Penrith is behind you

Stuart Ayres MP

Member for Penrith

www.wsnewsgroup.com

Phone: 4722 8660 Email: penrith@parliament.nsw.gov.au Shop 23, Tattersalls Centre, 510-534 High Street, Penrith

HE’S a TV actor.

He has a travel show.

He even been on stage, rocking it up as the late Stevie Wright.

But to Panther fans, he is Scott McRae, the loveable ground announcer that Panther fans adore and the opposition and often some sections of the media loath.

Just as Penrith celebrated fifty seasons last year, McRae has a celebration of his own in 2017 with this season representing the 20th of a career that was almost ended a few years ago.

McRae admits he didn’t think he would make it to the milestone but having seen off some interesting challenges, the popular GA now has his sights set on 25 years.

“A few years ago when they wanted me to move on I didn’t but that’s’ all in jest of course,” McRae said.

“I didn’t really think it would be a 20-year journey but I’ve definitely enjoyed all of it and who knows I might get 25 years up.

McRae says the secret to his longevity in the role comes back to being passionate about the team and the fans.

“It’s a combination of I love what I do and I’m passionate about what I do,” McRae declares.

“The first couple of years, I was still a Manly fan because that’s where I grew up and so it was tough the first few seasons.

“But I can’t do anything unless I’m passionate about it so I ditched Manly and really took on the love of Penrith, the people and the players.”

“While a number of the players that have gone

27 Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

2017 panthers season preview

Credit 77 Media

through the place have become life-long friends, it’s the fans that makes the place what it is.”

McRae is doubly excited that his 20th year could just coincide with another Penrith premiership, admitting the playing style of the current squad is amongst the most exciting he has seen in his time in the role.

“I think it is exciting times. We’ve had a couple of new boys come in this year and I think the mixture of young exciting guys that could possibly do anything and a few of the older heads, I think it’s a great combination that is starting to gel with the coach’s style,” McRae said.

“I love the fact that they are playing an expansive game instead of using the same sort of block plays and second man runs which was boring as hell.

“It’s almost like going back to how footy was played in the late eighties, where you played what was in front of you, it’s more exciting.

“I would love to see a few more halfbacks do a chip and chase, bring it back. I might even do one pre-game.”

With so much at stake, McRae is hoping that the fans can turn out in force at home this year and make Pepper Stadium a difficult place for opposing teams to visit.

“If we all go together in just pumps the boys on,” McRae said.

“I don’t know if people realise how much that sort of support pumps up the boys.

“When the place is buzzing they love it, the team fire up to new levels.”

GOOD LUCK PANTHERS FOR 2017

2.5Kw 3.5Kw 5Kw 7Kw 8Kw

$1730 $1960 $2360 $2750 $3190

2.5Kw 3.5Kw 5Kw 7Kw 8Kw

$1720 $1820 $2210 $2540 $2850

28

2017 panthers season preview

Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

WITH STEW MOSES

@THERIFFMARN

MCKENDRY’S SEASON IN THE BALANCE AFTER REINJURING KNEE A potentially second successive back-end of last year heading into the season-ending knee injury to Kiwi finals and their support again tonight, international prop Sam McKendry it’s definitely noticed by the playing has soured an otherwise strong group.” performance by an Tyrone Peacheyinspired Penrith in defeating local A recent media story came out rivals Parramatta, 18-6 in the Battle trumpeting that Parramatta are the of the West trial at Pepper Stadium. biggest NRL club in Western Sydney.

In a cruel twist of fate, McKendry However as Brian Fletcher points out, who had tweeted earlier during that tune changed quickly when CEO the day how much he looking Bernie Gurr and Chairman Max Donnelly forward to his first game back since paid the Academy a recent visit. rupturing the ACL in his left knee in “We had the Parramatta CEO Burnie last year’s Round 17 clash against Gurr and the Chairman Max Donnelly the Tigers, had only been on the out here and they couldn’t believe the field for a matter of minutes, when Sam McKendry’s first game back from injury ended cruelly a few minutes later facilities we’ve got and the conditions of partially re-tearing the ACL in the same knee. Credit: 77 Media. an attempted tackle late in the first the players they were in,” Fletcher said. half all went wrong for the prop “Bernie did admit to me after we had forward. lunch that “we were the top but now we’re not”.

Post-match scans revealed some good news in Both Trent Merrin and James Fisher-Harris “When they saw the academy they realised their that the prop had only partially torn the ACL with were side-lined for the Eels trial but both players facilities are light years behind us.” the knee’s structure still sound and will be given have been named to play in the Round One clash every chance in rehab over the next six-eight against St-George-Illawarra, while Sitaleki Akauola Brian Fletcher also confirmed a Daily Telegraph weeks before a call is made on McKendry’s season. who came from the field (concussion) will also be report that suggested Penrith lost $6-8 million After the game, a somewhat sombre Panthers available for Round One. dollars in 2016, was way off the mark, with the coach Anthony Griffin, who having already lost Group in fact reporting a loss of $1.8 million Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to a MCL knee injury that Two players, who over six months later will still dollars which includes a one-off $2.7 million will keep him side-lined until Round Two-Three, be on the side-lines come Round One, courtesy loss for discontinued operations. Continued was at least pleased that Dean Whare and Peta of their hefty suspensions stemming from a operations actually showed an improved result Hiku got through their second game back from nasty incident in a Holden Cup match against of $1.8 million pre-tax ($0.9 million profit after injury unscathed and all but confirmed the pair will the Wests Tigers, are Jarome Luai and Jack tax). play in Round One. Hetherington, with the pair not even being able “It’s terrible (for Sam) but that’s the game we’re to play in the trials.

All the pre-season speculation surrounding the in,” Griffin lamented. composition of the seventeen-man squad for the “Everyone’s fit and well one day then next day Penrith are set to enter the season as joint opening NRL clash against St George-Illawarra is you’ve got a couple of injuries but that’s rugby premiership-favourites with Melbourne to take over after coach Anthony Griffin named a 21-man league.” out this year’s NRL premiership, the first time since squad in accordance with new NRL guidelines. “(But) I was really happy with how Dean and Peta 2004 that the Panthers have started the season as The changes now allow clubs to name a 21-man went tonight. premiership favourites. squad on Tuesday before being trimmed to 19 a day “After last week, I think tonight they both looked before the match and the final 17 to be announced a little bit more comfortable and a little bit stronger The Panthers have curtailed or toned down a hour before kick-off. Players from outside the 21 and they’ve both got through the game really well many of their pre-season functions with no civic originally cannot be named to play unless under (especially) Peta, who has had the worse one (knee reception with the Penrith City Council and a exceptional circumstances approved by the NRL. injury). low-key daytime season launch held last week.

The squad in numeric order is as follows: “He blew his whole knee out. MCL, PCL and ACL But the players were out in force recently Matt Moylan, Dean Whare, Waqa Blake, Tyrone and he’s comes back well.” at Westfields Penrith Plaza and the response Peachey, Peta Hiku, Te Maire Martin, Nathan Cleary, “Losing Dallin and having Josh on the side-lines, from fans was overwhelming, with club officials James Tamou, Peter Wallace, Reagan Campbellobviously we need both those guys.” saying it was one of the largest turnouts in recent Gillard, Isaah Yeo, Bryce Cartwright, Trent Merrin, memory and was appreciated by the skipper, James Fisher-Harris, Leilani Latu, Tim Browne, Moses In better news for Sam McKendry, his wife Matt Moylan.

Leota, Sitaleki Akauola, Dylan Edwards, Mitch Rein, Kirsten took to Instagram to announce the pair “It’s good to have all the fans down here,” Sione Katoa. are expecting their second child later this year. Moylan declared.

Congratulations from all at Nepean News.

“The fans’ support we felt that a lot at the See you at a game. #PantherPride

Local Leading

Ladies

Celebrating the Nepean region’s female success stories on International Women’s Day

EMMA HUSAR

Federal Member for Lindsay Emma Husar is the Federal Member for Lindsay. She is a single mother of three children, and is proudly raising her family in Penrith.

Emma is passionate about making sure people in Western Sydney get a fair go.

As a mother of a child with special needs, Emma is keenly aware of the difficulties facing local families trying to access government services. She has lived in Penrith her entire life and loves the community she represents.

An area of personal significance for Emma is the issue of domestic violence. Emma’s recent address to the Federal

Parliament reinforced that the issue of domestic violence was firmly on the doorstep of the Nation’s capital. Emma’s own experience with domestic violence has shaped her approach and her commitment to addressing what is a national problem. Emma is working closely with local services including West Connect and is looking to establish additional services in Penrith to support domestic violence victims.

Emma will continue to fight for a fair go for people in Western Sydney – including the NDIS, proper funding for Nepean Hospital, Gonski funding for local schools and encouraging meaningful jobs growth in our local community.

PRUE CAR MP

Shadow Minister Prue Car was elected as the Member for Londonderry in March 2015. Prue grew up in Penrith and prior to her election to Parliament she served eight years on Penrith City Council. During her time on Council, Prue was a passionate advocate for a number of local issues including leading Penrith Council’s opposition to the transfer of radioactive waste from Hunters Hill.

Prue was appointed to the NSW Shadow Cabinet in March this year, where she currently serves as Shadow Minister for Skills and Shadow Assistant Minister for Education. In this role, Prue has been leading the NSW Opposition’s campaign to save TAFE and fighting cuts to schools right across the state.

Local Leading

Celebrating the Nepean region’s female

CR TRICIA HITCHEN

Deputy Mayor Penrith Council A Penrith local, Tricia is a highly decorated former NSW Police Chief Inspector. Tricia spent all of her Police Service working in the outer western suburbs giving her a unique understanding of the difficulties faced by many families in this area. After retiring from the Police Force through injury Tricia continued her public service when she was elected to Penrith City Council in 2012 and again in 2016. Married with three children, Tricia and her husband Trevor run a family owned removals and storage business, which has operated in the Penrith area for over 60 years.

A founding member of the Aussies for Orphans charity, Tricia has served on the Board of a number of local organisations including the Nepean Medical Research Foundation, Ripples, CBD Corp and the St Marys Town Centre Board.

The mother of a special needs child, Tricia is a strong advocate for disabilities, accessibility and equity and was recently successful in her campaign to have Council open an Adult Change Room in the Penrith CBD, with one in St Marys on its way. Tricia was elected Deputy Mayor in September 2016.

TANYA DAVIES

Member b ffor M Mulgoa l THE MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH, MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND MINISTER FOR AGEING Tanya Davies says being a Member of Parliament is an incredible honour. “It is a position whereby I can influence positive change, where I can speak up for people who have no voice, where I can work hard to improve the lives of others. I never set out in the beginning of my career to be in politics. I have always been in roles where I supported other people. Whether that was in education or as a personal assistant – my efforts were always aimed at helping others, I remained in the background” “I moved into politics because I was frustrated that the then NSW Labor Party were not delivering the standard of lifestyle and services we needed

in western Sydney. I was motivated to be the person to make that change because I witnessed people suffering without these important services and facilities. Over the 6 years I have been the Member for Mulgoa I have achieved many things to make life better for others. I’m proud to have successfully campaigned for the closure of the St Marys Methadone Clinic, to have secured $3.0m to rebuild St Clair High School, $576.0m to redevelop Nepean Hospital and billions being invested to address the local infrastructure backlog. Being the Member for Mulgoa provides an incredible opportunity to improve the lives of the people of western Sydney.”

GINA FIELD

Nepean Regional Security Gina Field is the Managing Director of Nepean Regional Security and the President of the Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce. She is also a Nepean News columnist, and her monthly G Spot column has become one of the most read pages in our publication. Readers adore Gina’s “no BS” take on life and she has developed quite a fan base.

Starting her own company as a home-based business in 1998, NRS is now one of the most awarded security companies in the state.

Gina has featured in magazines, TV commercials, and business radio channels and on a TV program called “Business Sense.”

Being hailed as a business tycoon by the Daily Telegraph for her business success, Gina has provided security for blockbuster movies and celebrities such as Hugh Jackman and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Recently being awarded the Bronze (3rd in the world) as Executive of

the Year in the International Business Awards, Gina put Penrith on the world stage. She is also the President of the Chamber of Commerce.

She was chosen to be a spokesperson for small business in the “Too Big to ignore’ campaign and was awarded a certificate of achievement by the Prime Minister of Australia at Parliament house.

Gina was a recipient in the 2014 Australia Day awards for her contribution to small business and her own business success.

Gina and her company have won 18 industry awards to date and she is an exceptional representation of a female succeeding in a male dominated industry.

An outstanding local leading lady, we are a very lucky region to have her. Gina has also been announced as a finalist in the Women of the Year awards 2017, with the result due next week. Good luck Gina!

GAI HAWTHORN

Penrith CBD Corporation One leading local lady who has managed to make an impressive mark in just five years is Penrith CBD Corporation’s Gai Hawthorn.

Anyone who has called in at the CBD headquarters in High Street will agree that it is simply amazing that such an enormous amount of work gets pumped out of her tiny office.

Gai has managed to turn community focus on celebrating all that is Penrith with her vibrant events, competitions and festivals. Inside her mind is a treasure trove of ideas and like a chameleon, she ensures Penrith continuously reinvents itself and is never left static.

Not only has Gai talked the talk, but she has walked the walk - and earned the trust of business owners around her and is a godsend to Penrith Council and local media (especially here at Nepean News!)

“I love working with Penrith businesses and the wider

community; we do a great job of all pulling together and joining forces for a positive outcome,” Gai said in typical humble form, trying to share the credit.

“The greatest joy is seeing the kid’s faces and how much everyone is enjoying themselves at the events we put on.”

There are many qualities in which Gai possesses that have contributed to her success but one of the most important is that she has passion for Penrith running through her veins and always, always gives her best.

“I also have the best husband in the world and a great board helping me,” Gai said.

And why wouldn’t they? When it comes to backing a winner Gai is an odds-on favourite and a much loved part of the Penrith community.

Ladies

success stories on International Women’s Day

HELEN KOSTRUBIEC & JADE FLETCHER

Explorers Conveyancing Helen Kostrubiec and Jade Fletcher met several years ago working together at a local law firm, and seven years ago decided to combine their experience to form Explorers Conveyancing.

When asked what it was that had guided them so easily to success, they believe it is a combination of their dedication to helping people with their most important asset, their ability to overcome challenging transactions and their people skills.

“I think clients like coming here because we talk their language - unlike some solicitors or conveyancers who forget that the clients aren’t used to the legal jargon,” Helen said.

“Yes, we explain things in terms that are easy to understand, and we’ve made so many good friends out of clients over the years,” Jade added.

Helen and Jade are both licenced conveyancers and their knowledge of the property conveyance process is immense.

While sitting in their office based on Explorers Way, St Clair the home

office was a hive of activity.

We conducted the interview between a phone that constantly rang and clients popping in to say hi. These very talented girls took it all in their stride, showing that juggling several projects at once is something they do with ease! And the thing that stuck out the most is that they absolutely love their work. They work incredibly well together, they bounce ideas off each other constantly and most of all, smile and laugh through their day.

If you are buying, selling or transferring property ownership, give Jade and Helen a call on 9670 1161. They are a breath of fresh air and I believe you’ll thank me for making the recommendation!

Chances are you will be sorry to say cheerio when the transaction is completed, but like many others in their massive client base, you’ll probably want to call past and say hi long after their service to you is completed. In fact, I didn’t want to wrap up the interview. Great girls!

DR LYNN MATHISON, DR NICOLE MCMILLAN & KELLIE TICKNER

Coreen Ave Vetinary Clinic Coreen Ave Veterinary clinic is operated under the partnership of Dr Lynn Mathison, Dr Nicole McMillan & Kellie Tickner.

This multi-award winning business is a purpose built veterinary clinic established in 1996, and located in Penrith NSW. The aim of the practice is to provide high quality medical and surgical facilities for pets in the Penrith and surrounding suburbs.

The motto ‘Quality Loving Care’ – The Coreen Ave Vet team believes that every pet should have the opportunity to be loved, cared for and recognised as a priority. They understand that every pet entering the practice is an integral part of a family unit and aim to

deliver the same attention and love as they receive at home, acting as an extension of their own families. The staff understands that going above and beyond is what gives our Clinic heart. This philosophy embodies the core of their service.

Whether it is working with individual clients or within the larger community, all members of the Coreen Avenue Veterinary Clinic team place the welfare of animals and their owners at the forefront of every action.

They pride themselves on being active community participants and their multiple community projects allow staff to assist the people and pets of Penrith in genuine need.

LINDA KEMP

Complete Recruitment Solutions Anybody who has met Linda Kemp from Complete Recruitment Solutions would know how exceptional this local leading lady is.

She’s a breath of clear fresh air when present at any event, is always happy and smiling and she knows a thing or twenty about recruiting, which is the profession she’s been in for close on 45 years.

Born in England, Linda left the Mother Country in 1979 bound for our sandy shores. And those who’ve had the pleasure of dealing with her would agree, England’s loss was Australia’s gain.

A fellow of the RSCA, Linda has been a major sponsor and supporter of numerous events, charities and business organisations including Women With Altitude, Penrith Valley

Chamber of Commerce, Queen of Hearts and NADO just to name a few.

Following the opening of Complete Recruitment Solutions in 2006, the business Linda created has seen massive growth and has become one of our region’s largest recruiters - employing around 150 people in casual work each week and twelve permanent staff.

And Linda’s efforts have been recognised many times over; she and CRS have been the recipients of many state and national awards.

Recently CRS celebrated their tenth birthday milestone, signaling a decade of immense contribution Linda and her company have made to our local community.

ANN WILLMINGTON

Vintage FM and d champion h i ffor b brain i cancer awareness Every now and then you come across someone who is so truly inspirational that they touch your heart in a way that makes you feel proud to be part of the human race.

Ann Willmington from Vintage FM is one such person.

Ann was diagnosed with a brain tumour eight years ago that very nearly claimed her life. Given just a ten per cent chance of survival, Ann underwent a six-hour operation to have it removed - and defied the odds.

Without paying too much thought to needing recovery time, Ann threw herself into raising funds for Music for Life - because she felt motivated to help find a cure so that little children didn’t have to go through the ordeal that did.

Four years later at a yearly check up, Dr Charlie Teo delivered the unfortunate news that another brain tumour

had grown. Ann underwent surgery to remove the tumour from her brain, but this time it was cancer so it needed to be followed up with radiation and chemotherapy.

You’d think trying to cope with the greatest challenge of her life would pin her down, but the most important thing Ann has in mind is raising funds for Music for Life at the anual event she has been holding every year.

The Ann Willmingtons of the world are a treasured gift to our community. Please help this amazing and courageous lady realise her dream of helping those, including small children, who are diagnosed with brain tumours. If you can contribute towards raising awareness or can donate any items for this year’s event in October, you can contact Ann on 47 31 1876.

Local Leading

Ladies

Celebrating the Nepean region’s female success stories on International Women’s Day

DEBBIE O’CONNER

White River Design You know how the harder we work the luckier we get?

Debbie O’Connor is one of the lucky ones.

Her big-picture, forward-thinking and progressive approach to graphic design has not only taken the industry to new levels, but also catapulted hundreds of businesses into the marketplace with stand-out brands that are brimming with personality.

How? She thinks differently. A simple Google search will tell you all you need to know – she’s passionate about educating small business owners that their logo is not their brand. So passionate, in fact, that she’s led her multi award-winning design studio White River Design (WRD) to focus on developing an online branding course to share the love. But more on that in a minute.

Debbie works with clients all over the world. She’s a successful

author and co-host of the 12-part televisions series Build My Brand.

And she’s driven by a passion for small business. So much so, in fact, that she developed the online Brand Magic Masterclass for those unable to afford a business consultation. Brand Magic Masterclass ensures that individuals and small business owners have access to the information, tools and techniques they need to understand the essentials of building a stand-out brand in the marketplace.

On the side she runs both WRD and Penrith’s inspired co-working space, The Creative Fringe.

After all, it’s about standing out, not fitting in. As Debbie so eloquently puts it, “We create kelpies; we don’t create sheep,” www.whiteriverdesign.com www.brandmagicmasterclass.com

ANDREA TURNER-BOYS

Possibility Professor Women with Altitude Andrea Turner-Boys, founder of Women with Altitude believes that we need a strong and compassionate network around us as we move through life, career and small business.

“We need mentors and role models and supporters around us to help us stay on track. To bounce ideas when required and to listen when we are in struggle.

Our aim is to provide that at Women with Altitude, with warmth and inclusion.

Women with Altitude is the largest Women’s networking in Western Sydney and runs the Altitude Awards annually to shine a spotlight on extraordinary women. Andrea records a weekly podcast on local radio, women on top, and leads a team of members to run Altitude Networking Groups in Penrith, Katoomba, Springwood, Hawkesbury, Hills, Inner west and Macarthur regions.

Womenwithaltitude.com.au

JOH DICKENS Kingswood d Fl Florist, i t C Creative ti B Balloons, Penrith Florist and St Marys Florist Growing up in Penrith and helping out at her parents’ fruit shop, Joh Dickens studied floristry and completed a diploma in business. In 1988 she bought Kingswood Florist in1988.

Since then Joh’s smart business acumen, attention to detail and her commitment to customers has resulted in massive growth, and her business now incorporates Creative Balloons, Penrith Florist and most recently St Marys Florist.

When asked what ingredients have ensured her success, Joh said commitment to the customers they have and the desire and ability to network 24/7 to create a recognisable brand of their own have been major components.

“Our business has grown and we are truly passionate about our products, our services and ensuring that our customers expectations are always exceeded,” Joh said.

“In addition to the reputation that we have developed for floral art, we are recognised as being the only company in western Sydney that specialises in balloon and flower combination decorating.

“We believe in continuous improvement. We’ve taken steps to ensure that Kingswood Florist keeps up to date with new trends and maintains its fresh approach while staying abreast of modern designs, in addition to the more traditional

preferences of some of our clients.

“We are continually participating in workshops and international designer classes and we work tirelessly in the business and general community.”

Joh and her business have also got behind many local causes, sponsored and supported many foundations and donated time to help out at charity events. The Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, Luke Priddis Ball and the Queen of Hearts Foundation are among the local fundraising and awareness events that have been helped out.

“Over the last 29 years my company has become an integral part of many local and wider reaching business network groups ,in particular I am on the board of the Penrith Valley Chamber and have been since 2014 - and now as secretary,” Joh said.

The business is also the face of the new marketing of the Telstra NBN, their image in on their advertising material.

They’ve also been awarded the longest serving business in the local business awards after 25 years of operation, and won Florist of the Year in 2016.

“I love being a part of the Penrith community and business hub, continuing to serve and look after our many clients,” Joh said.

KERRIE DAVIES KORENA HALE STACEY FORTESCUE Ok, so it would look incredibly wanky if we wrote here that the girls who produce your Nepean News publication are fabulous specimens of the female breed - because you know that it’s us writing it!

But we are pretty proud of what we manage to pull together every fortnight - so we thought we’d throw our melons in here too. From left to right we are: Editor Kerrie Davies, Sales Manager Korena Hale (middle) and Graphic Artist Stacey Fortescue.

We are all ex employees from another paper that went into receivership - but we rose from the ashes

like a beautiful flock of phoenix and here we are, and here we’ll stay!

We aren’t the most girly-girls in town - we love to sink a beer or two after each deadline and when we aren’t working on the paper we get together at every opportunity. We basically work and play together and somehow never get sick of the sight of each other so it all works out pretty damn well.

Of course we couldn’t do it without the boys Keegan, Conner, Garion, Stewy and Bart - but hey this is our golden moment not theirs!

Celebrate Seniors Week at The Joan and Penrith Regional Gallery!

Alexandre Da Costa

and present three diverse exhibitions, in the traditions of modernism, abstraction, and landscape. Opening on Saturday 4 March are Visions of Utopia, Hill End: Seven Decades and Rochelle Summerfield: A Wayfarer on the Nepean.

Love home grown theatre, we’ve got you covered as Black Birds produced

by The Joan’s own Q Theatre opens 30 March. Listed as one of the hottest tickets over 2017 in Sydney by SMH –

SUDOKU: MEDIUM

WHY celebrate for one week when you can celebrate throughout March at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre and Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest. If you haven’t been to The Joan or the Gallery for a while, maybe now is the time see what is on during March.

Fancy an art class or a new exhibition? Then enjoy the works on show at Penrith Regional Gallery as present they open the Autumn Suite

SOLUTION: 16th February

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

Black Birds

get in early! Black Birds - A personal story shared through music, movement and spoken work by Emele Ugavule and Ayessha Ash. If music and a good pun is your thing Morning Melodies, should have you singing and laughing as ”things are never as they seem” when Andrew O’ Keefe features in Gilbert and Sullivan.

A classical preference, Penrith Symphony Orchestra will have you enchanted as they perform pieces of

Hill End Gallery exhibition

early and fully developed romanticism of nineteenth century music.

Mendelssohn and Bruckner, 11 March, 8pm.

Fine music - Then authentic rock star of the violin, Alexandre Da Costa will have you enthralled as he plays with heroism, magic and fire in his concert Violin Extreme, the first performance in the Richard Bonynge Fine Music Series – the summit of musical brilliance – on 25 March at 7.30pm.

33 Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

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

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

34 Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

Digger Revell and Vicky O’keefe together in concert “ROCK and ROLL.... The Best Years of Our Lives..!“ VICKY O’KEEFE: Vicky O’Keefe, daughter of legendary Johnny O’Keefe, presents a unique tribute to her father which leaves her audience mesmerised, joyous and tearful after an emotional trip down memory lane.

Vicky presents a moving duet with her dad on the big screen akin to Nat and Natalie King Cole. This was due to public demand, modern technology and a yearning to perform with her father after losing him at a very young age and never fulfilling the dream and plan of singing on stage together. She incorporated this with a tribute CD -”I’m Counting on You” which she launched at the Casinos nationally.

Vicky started playing the piano when she was five and picked up a guitar shortly after. Her mother also played the piano and both parents encouraged music in the family. Coming from such a musical background it was a natural progression to also sing and write songs followed by regular live performances at school concerts.

After losing her Dad at seventeen, Vicky threw herself into her music becoming a prolific songwriter and formed her first original rock band VOKROK touring the east coast of Australia in the early 80’s when the

pub scene was booming. She scored a publishing contract with Warners Music and a record deal with RCA records. Her first international support tour was with the legendary Rick Nelson (Garden Party) followed by Suzie Quatro and America. She also opened for Aussie rockers Midnight Oil, Goanna and Dragon to name a few. These performances led to regular television appearances on high rating music and variety shows.

Vicky relocated to Melbourne in the mid 80’s after disbanding and worked in the nightclubs with her brother Peter adapting a more jazzy style. They also collaborated in song writing creating a moving ballad for their father - ‘Keep the Candle Burning’. This song has

b become a highlight in Vicky’s live pperformances.

Vicky’s soulful voice and emotional pperformances have matured and sshe has developed as an artist and ssongwriter with a wonderful legacy aand a catalogue of over 200 original ssongs. Vicky loves to connect with her aaudience, ‘’Keep the Candle Burning’ ffor father and follow her dreams to pplay music.

DIGGER REVELL: Digger is oone of our Originals, a Pioneer of Australian RnR. Digger hit our music scene with a bang in 1959 as “DIGGER REVELL and the DENVERMEN.”.. and today, five decades later, is still captivating Australian audiences.

Digger has starred in over 60 National television appearances, including SIX O’ CLOCK ROCK, BANDSTAND, SING SING SING, THE JOHNNY O’KEEFE SHOW, SYDNEY STADIUM, etc.

Three No. 1 Hit Records and Fifteen hits in our Top Ten. Digger completed more tours of war torn VIETNAM than any other artist in the world... He still receives fan mail and appreciation letters from both American ex servicemen as well as

our Aussie diggers.

He has performed throughout S.E. Asia, Japan, UK, Europe, RnR cruises.

His planned 3 month tour of USA was so incredibly well received, Digger and his band stayed for 2 1/2 years, wowing American audiences.

Digger regularly performs in theatres and concert halls with the ABC’s MACCA... “ Australia All Over “.

Today, Digger continues to perform to capacity houses, reliving those incredible “60’s”. His famous AL JOLSON Tribute has audiences on their feet !

Don’t miss this fantastic show playing at Panthers World of Entertainment, details in the ad below!

Rock and Roll.....

The Best Years of Our Lives!

DIGGER REVELL.... An Original... A Pioneer.

Still captivating audiences all over the land for 5 decades!

Digger presents all of his Top 40 Hits of the 60’s.... Rockabilly... RnR... Country... Ballads, and his incredible Al JOLSON Tribute that has audiences on their feet, demanding more! Over 60 National Television appearances.

VICKY O’KEEFE.... The daughter of our KING of AUSTRALIAN ROCK and ROLL JOHNNY O’KEEFE! Vicky delivers a moving Tribute to her father which leaves audiences totally mesmerised, joyous, tearful and emotional in a marvellous trip down memory lane!

Not a dry eye as Vicky sings together at last with her loving Dad, on the big screen.

VICK KY and d DIG GGER crreate e an unfo orgetta able music call ex xpe erie ence.

Perrforrme ed witth so ome of Austra alia a’s s ve ery best musicia ans s.

They are playing at Panthers World of Entertainment on the 12th March at 4pm.

This is a FREE CONCERT for Panthers members, and visitors tickets can be purchased, all welcome.

Tickets should be booked now to avoid disappointment.

36 Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

E N T E R T A I N M E N T Heavens Above Another spin on the turn table with Reverend Ross Hutchison

Why is it so?

That’s a question as old as time A couple of questions I need your reflections and comments on please.

When something strikes my “funny bone” I laugh.

Please explain - what makes my body vibrate and my voice cackle with joy? What mechanism in my body triggers this and commands me to act this way? I know it’s in my DNA , but why this sensation? I certainly love to laugh and I surely love being the cause of laughter in others. I know it has a “therapeutic benefit” also, It gives a positive healing massage to our insides.

But where does it come from and what energy or force instructs our bodies to act this way?

Isn’t it an incredible experience when a whole gathering of people laugh together?

I can feel a huge bought of laughter coming right now..look out!

Would you care to join me?

Here we go! Let her rip!

Fantastic!

(But please explain how we do it) Yet another simple miracle of life we take for granted?

Your Mate Rossco 2017 Penrith’s Citizen Of The Year, 2017 Australian Of The Year Nomination

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Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

By Keegan Thomson

THE tragic rise and fall of Amy Winehouse played out on our screens and in our tabloids but the truest version of events comes in the form of her autobiographical album, Back to Black.

Released in 2006, only five years before Amy’s untimely death due to substance abuse, Back to Black is a wide reaching and emotional album tracking her history of addiction and violent relationships.

With heavy rhythm & blues elements, Rehab, the first track off the album, tells one of the most personal and immediate messages on the LP. “They tried to make me go to rehab I said, no, no, no.” By 2006, Amy’s struggles with substance abuse was well known, so this song stands as a defiance against her critics as well as a tragic foreboding of what was to come. Throughout the song she fights with herself, and with the bottle that eventually claims her life, “I don’t ever want to drink again I just, oh, I just need a friend.”

The title track from the album puts the audience centre stage in the battleground of a broken down relationship. Amy sings with hurt yet strong and frank lyrics as she walks away from a cheating boyfriend without any

closure rewarded. “We only said goodbye with words, I died a hundred times, you go back to her and I go back to, I go back to black,” she cries defiantly.

Throughout Amy’s career she never led on that she was a saint, nor was she afraid of a little self deprecation.

You Know I’m No Good offers up the most honest track of the record.

Laying the track bare on a thick R&B beat over a jazzy horn quartet, Amy doesn’t let it hide. She wants the world to know what she thinks of herself. “I cheated myself, like I knew I would, I told ya I was troubled, You know that I’m no good.”

In retrospect the most important element of the album is Amy’s constant semi-conscious calls for help. Lyrically you can hear the sounds of her calling out and pleading, but the music is often too loud and the party is almost too inviting.

Even though Amy Winehouse only left Earth with two records to her name, she impacted the music industry like no other artist has since. Singers like Adele, Florence Welsh, Lana Del Rey and Bruno Mars wouldn’t have had the level ground to launch their careers on if it weren’t for Amy Winehouse and her new style of R&B jazz fusion.

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Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

Cheerleaders take on USA

By Conner Lowe

THE Liberty Allstars cheerleading club have just returned from competition in the United States. The cheerleaders competed at the “Duel in the Desert” in Palm Springs were they were able to achieve some outstanding results.

The club took two teams to compete in the USA. Team Glitter which is filled of athletes eight years old and younger and they were able to place 4th out of 13 teams. Team Platinum which is the senior team consisting of athletes 10-18 years old were able to finish 3rd out of 13 teams.

Amandah Blok, owner of the Liberty Allstars cheerleading club praised the efforts of everyone who was involved in the competition and the efforts of the cheerleaders.

“The athletes were exceptional in the competition, they were competing against coaches that we idolise and with only 4 weeks of preparation for both teams to place is incredible.

“There were teams competing who had practiced their routine for months or even the whole year with some excellent coaches, so this is an amazing result for everyone who is involved,” she said.

The Liberty Allstars have only been running for 15 months and in that time have produced some outstanding results in all competitions they have entered. The club have coaches who have experience in coaching and as a cheerleader and with years of experience behind them they are able to help the athletes to place at every

Photo: Kennedi Geyer

competition they have entered.

Amandah spoke about the amazing achievements the club have already achieved in such a short period of time and how fun it is for the athletes.

“In our first year at nationals we entered six teams and came home with three teams placing 1st, two teams placing 2nd and one team placing 4th. These results were incredible and It was an amazing experience

for everyone who was involved,” she said.

“It’s fun for the athletes we get to travel, going to places like Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane and Shoalhaven.

The competition season gives the kids a chance to travel around and compete at different venues against different teams,” she continued.

The cheerleading club were the first club to own a sprung floor in the

district and have recently installed a second sprung floor for tumbling. The sprung floors are of the highest quality and installed for the safety of all the cheerleaders.

The Liberty Allstars are still taking enrolments for competitive and recreational teams. To enrol you can visit their website www.libertyallstars. com.au or call Amandah directly on 0430 011 526.

Penrith basketballers selected for NSW

By Conner Lowe

BASKETBALL New South Wales has announced the 2017 U18 Metro State Teams, which will contest the national championships in Townsville, QLD from the 8th to 15th April, 2017.

The Penrith Basketball Association has four players chosen in the Metro Women’s team and one player chosen in the Metro Men’s team.

The successful players are Chloe Bloom, Binta Salawu, Tatiana Beaumont and Meg Jefferson (women) and Lachlan Charlton (men), with Jasper Rentoy also named as a reserve.

Lachlan Charlton spoke about his weekly training for basketball and time spent playing the sport.

“I’ve been playing basketball for eight years so I started playing when I was very young. I currently play locally for Nepean Basketball and I also play reps for Penrith Basketball.

I currently train four to five days a week and play once a week. I’m also involved with my school basketball team as well,” he said.

Meg Jefferson talked about her past experiences playing for the state team and the trial process involved for selection.

“Last year at the national championships we won a silver medal and that was amazing. We have five

trials, two are open and then the selectors start to cut players, but the state coaches are always watching the rep games and helping the selectors pick the teams,” she said.

Lachlan and Meg both spoke about their emotions when selected for the NSW women and men U18’s team and what they are looking forward to the most about the national championships.

“In the first year that I was selected I was the captain, so it’s a massive relief to be selected again and represent my state because not too many people get that opportunity. I’m most looking forward to playing against the other states and showing them what I’m capable of and also what the team can do,” Lachlan said.

“When I won the silver medal at my last championships, that was the best feeling ever, so being selected again makes me feel ecstatic and super happy to have the same opportunity to represent NSW. “I’m looking forward to being able to play against the best players and to see how you rank against the rest of Australia. The atmosphere is also really good at these tournaments,” Meg said.

The Penrith Basketball Association are extremely proud of the number of players that have been selected this year and in the girl’s program have the largest representation of all the Metropolitan Associations.

MG ON THE MARK WITH MARK GEYER

PANTHERS HEADING FOR MORE GLORY IN 2017

Panthers heading for more glory in 2017

OK here we go!! The NRL is back baby, and boy isn’t this ex Panther one happy chappy.

Even more giddy for the fact I think the mighty mountain men are in for one hell of a season. Not only will there be jockeying for playing positions given the depth that now abundantly exists, there’s also that carrot dangling to finish higher than the 5th spot they finished 2016 on.

A quick peruse of the 2017 suggests the Panthers starting 17 will be one very impressive outfit. Just look for yourself. There’s Moylan, Hiku and Whare (welcome back boys) Peachey, Blake, Martin, Cleary, Watene-Zelezniak, and injured Mansour all hoping to fill jerseys 1-7. Then there’s the forwards depth.

Merrin, Cartwright, Latu, Gillard, Yeo, Wallace, Fisher-Harris, Leota, and new recruits Tamou, Rein and big Tim Browne to throw into the mix.

Boy! Nice headache for coach Griffin to have picking a starting forward pack out of that lot.

There’s also young guns breathing down the neck of their more favoured colleagues which creates a fantastic playing environment.

NSW Cup coach Garth Brennan, who himself will one day be a first grade coach, has the job of nurturing the next brigade of Panther, a job he more than excels at. With that its time for some fearless

Only one of these men will be smiling come October

predictions. Let’s see where I think every club will finish as we dive head first into one of the most eagerly anticipated seasons I can remember. I’ll start from the bottom and work my way up.

16th - Knights. Still in a rebuilding phase that won’t see them enjoy any real success for another season or two.

15th - Dragons. You get the feeling things have to go horribly bad before they can come good for the Dragons. 15th is probably that point.

14th - Tigers. The uncertainty surrounding their four best players will affect them, as will the daily saga of their coaches plight.

13th - Manly. Although they have two of my favourite players in the comp, the Trbojevic brothers, you need more than that to win footy games.

12th - Eels. Don’t know why I have them so lowly ranked, just can’t get excited about their 2017 chances.

11th - Bulldogs. Again, very much like the Eels, but I think the Dogs inability to score points will ultimately hurt them.

10th - Broncos. Think they’ll miss Corey Parker more than any club will miss an individual player.

No top 8 this year for Wayne’s men.

9th - Rabbitohs. Although this is an improvement

from last year I still think they’re an outside back short.

8th - Warriors. I think the Warriors will limp into the 8, after that anythings possible.

7th - Titans. Look for their halves and prop Ryan James to steer them into semi action. Oh, and a bloke called Hayne.

6th - Roosters. Based on last years standings (15th) I have the Roosters as my big improvers for this season.

5th - Canberra. Along with Penrith my favourite team to watch last year. And how goods the Viking Clap??

4th - Sharks. Will be interesting to see how they cope now being the hunted instead of the hunters.

3rd - Cowboys. Any team with J Thurston in it has to be considered for glory.

2nd - Panthers. Yep that’s right, take away my ex player badge I think the Panthers will make this seasons grand final.

1st - Melbourne. And the team the Panthers will play is the juggernaut known as the Melbourne Storm!!

There you go, what do you think? Hope I’m right.

Go the Panthers. See you at the game...

MG (random Westie) OAM

41 Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

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Sports Scenes

(With Thanks to 77 Media)

Where else could the cameras of 77 Media be than capturing all the emotion of Penrith’s incredible one-day final victory.

A remarkable Man of the Match performance from Michael Castle. Even more remarkable was his comeback from injury.

Back to a heroes’ welcome just moments after securing victory.

The Skipper has a KISS moment collecting his second one-day title.

Singing P for Penrith with plenty of gusto in a jam-packed Penrith change room.

Pat Cummins may look cool calm and collected but says the final was one nerve-racking experience.

Everything that is great about this club in one photo.

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CASTLE PAYS HOMAGE; CUMMINS’ NERVE-RACKING EXPERIENCE AND WILL HALSE RETIRE? was a big factor behind Penrith’s stunning Penrith’s latest cricketing hero, Michael victory.

Castle was still pinching himself after the Having dropped Ryan Hackney for game. all-rounder Mick Castle was one of his The all-rounder who came to the club from toughest decisions but the right one given the Parramatta at the start of the season, has only circumstances says Halse. not long returned from a four-month layoff “It’s never easy making decisions about and still considers himself fortunate to have teams but at the end of the day you’ve got to been picked in the final, let alone win the go with your gut instinct and if it comes off prestigious Michael Bevan Medal, awarded then great but if doesn’t then you’ve got to to the player adjudged to be the man of the wear it,” Halse declared. match in the final.

“We might have been short one specialist “Unbelievable. Four months ago when I batsman but Castle gave us some options ruptured a disc in my back I didn’t think I with the ball. would be even be playing again this year let Luke Hodges’ (pictured) reputation for taking the big wickets continued “And Mickey was brilliant. He got us back alone bowling again,” Castle said. snaring danger-man Josh Clarke in the final. Credit 77 Media. into the game and allowed Pat an opportunity “To be here and play in a final after not to do what he does best.” being part of the quarter and the semi and Another gutsy call was to hold Pat Cummins back, contribute well and help us win the game is just unreal.” the scoreboard yelling at every ball, cheering Castle credits the work put in by two former Panther us on and seeing how much it meant to them it even when it started to appear that the fast bowler players – chiropractor Kevin Ivins and fitness guru made every wicket so passionate and I was wouldn’t have many runs to play with in the closing overs.

Kevin Chevell for his remarkable recovery in being stoked.”

“I thought we were up against it but I did know I able to bowl again this season, after initially thinking Whilst plenty questioned skipper Matt Halse’s he would only be able to play this season as a batsman. decision to hold back his star bowler until the had a guy called Pat Cummins up my sleeve so I “I’ve been working closely with Kevin Ivins and death as Hawkesbury reached 1/139 chasing 182 thought if we could get an opening we would be half a also Kevin Chevell at his gym and I’ve been doing for victory, it turned out to be the right decision chance,”Halse admitted.

“We talked about (bringing Pat back briefly) but we lots of rehab to try and get back on the park,” Castle according to Cummins. confirmed.

“I knew Halsey was going to bowl me at the still pretty confident we could get it done if we could get to the last over.

“Thankfully the body’s got back on track at the right death,” Cummins said.

“He does it for a living and he is one of the best onetime and I’ve been able to contribute a great Panther “We knew it was going to go down to the wire in day bowlers in the world. victory. any event.

“I thought if we could get this innings deep and Castle explained he was told by Halse during the “The hardest time to bat here is the last few overs week that he was in the side, as the Penrith skipper so we knew if we took advantage of the conditions, let him bowl the last four that would give us our best searched for answers on how to reignite a top-order get a few wickets or restrict the runs, it would work chance.”

And the rest is history as Penrith, known for their that had failed in previous two one-day outings. out.”

“I was actually told at training during the week so to The win more than made up for the initial ability to pull wins from seemingly impossible get that confidence from the skipper (Matt Halse) was disappointment of not being picked to play for NSW positions, secured what is quite possibly the greatest great,” Castle declared. in their Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania in win in their history, a point not lost on the skipper.

“I can’t remember a better win today to be honest “And it was good to get a few runs (38) in our Wollongong, as Cummins got the opportunity to innings too which gave me a bit of confidence going win a second title with brother and wicket-keeper and that’s saying something I have played in some good ones,” Halse conceded. into my bowling.”

Tim Cummins.

“Last ball and the way we went about it with the “During the week I was really hopeful of making Pat Cummins has played in some big games both a comeback and play in the Shield game but it group of guys that we have here it was very special.”

The win also increased speculation on the playing here and overseas in all forms of the game. didn’t pan out so I was initially pretty disappointed future of Halse but the skipper himself refused to But the Penrith quick, who only just Wednesday with that,” Cummins admitted. night completed his international duties for the “But knowing I was going to be playing a full confirm whether this Saturday’s second day of play at summer in the T20 series against Sri Lanka in weekend of cricket and to be able to play the one- Howell Oval against Mosman, could be his last at his Adelaide, says he found the one-day final a nerve- day final in front of a really good, passionate home home ground.

“Not a good time to ask me. I’m not sure what part racking experience. ground crowd was a decent substitute.”

“It is right up there, I haven’t even played in a “(To win with Tim) its’ pretty cool isn’t it? We of my body needs to be iced first,” Halse joked.

“We’ll see at the end of the year. I love playing with first grade final before so to play in one is great,” won the PG’s together seven or eight years ago so the boys, I love playing for the club but I can’t go on Cummins said. to win a first grade title is pretty cool.

“I remember coming down and watching a few “I’m not sure if there are too many brothers that forever.

“But what I have told them is that I’m really proud growing up but it’s pretty nerve-racking because can say that they have done that”. to be their captain and I’ll be forever grateful for what it’s not just facing the crowd that you see, it’s every single person in the crowd you know and you’ve Captain Matt Halse may not have had a huge influence they provided.” played against. with the bat or or ball in the final, but a series of crucial #LoveTheCats “But seeing the fifty boys over on the fence under calls made leading up to and during the final itself

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Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

COACH’S CORNER NRL SEASON PREVIEW

The 2017 NRL season kicks off tonight with the Sharks commencing their premiership defence at home against the Broncos. Fans are all feeling hopeful and optimistic about the chances of their team and are eager to see whether the changes in tactics and player personnel will lead to an improvement or a regression on the premiership ladder come seasons end.

Broncos The Broncos fell short of a Top 4 finish last season due to a mid-season slump which saw them win only 2 of 9 matches which ultimately cost them a realistic chance of winning the premiership. I cannot see them having a similar drop in form for such a long period this season and I like them to finish in the Top 4 and potentially win the Minor Premiership. The obvious question marks surround the impact Corey Parker’s departure will have on the team along with Ben Hunt signing a huge deal with the Dragons for 2018. Solid squad, excellent coach along with a favourable draw and schedule puts them in a great position to succeed.

Raiders The Raiders surprised most last season with a Top 4 finish on the back of some unknown Englishman and new recruits. The form of Josh Hodgson and Joey Leilua was key and it will need to be a similar story this season. I believe Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer have a heap of improvement left in them both individually and as a combination and if they can fire consistently and injuries are kind the Raiders can win the premiership. Jack Wighton needs to mature into the elite level fullback he has been touted as for so long. Watch out for Nick Cotric who is a player of the future. The Raiders forward pack are monstrous and will compete with any team who wants to take them on in the middle of the field.

Bulldogs One of the most difficult teams to get a read on as we head into the new season. Des Hasler will need at least a Top 8 finish in order to keep his job. They have no star recruits but they did not lose a great deal of personnel in the offseason. I can see another mid table finish for the Bulldogs and can’t see them winning the competition. They have a real identity crisis in that they want to play a style which does not suit their roster. Their physical and potentially dominant forward pack is asked to pass the ball to their playmakers in a lateral style which is now looking severely outdated.

Sharks History tells us teams do not win back to back premierships in a competition which is becoming

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closer with each year that passes. Couple this with the fact the Sharks have lost Ben Barba and Michael Ennis who were both key members of their success last season. Is the motivation and drive still as it was prior to winning the clubs first premiership? A lot of experts are predicting them to miss the Top 8. I am not going to go that far as they still have an excellent forward pack, bench and halves pairing. Their success will ultimately depend on how Valentine Holmes slots into the fullback position and also whether they can find an effective and stable replacement for Michael Ennis at hooker.

Titans Were the overachievers last season and have recruited intelligently with Kevin Proctor a nice addition to the influx of players who moved to the club last season. I get the feeling the Titans will need to start the season well to ensure they attract crowds and do not place themselves under late season pressure to win a heap of games in order to make the Top 8. The return of Kane Elgey who missed all of last season is a huge plus and the spine of Hayne, Elgey, Taylor and Peats looks dangerous. My concerns lay in the squad depth and consistency of performance. The Titans made the Top 8 last season however it is important to remember that was only possible with the Eels dropping out with their salary cap penalty. Look to be a team who will battle it out in the middle of the table.

Sea Eagles One of the predictions I nailed in 2016 was the struggles of the Sea Eagles and although I can see them improving in 2017 I still do not think they will finish in the Top 8. The Trbojevic brothers now look to be the leaders and identity of the team which is a huge positive as the club moves on from some ageing club legends. Trent Barrett has done a good job flipping this squad so quickly, however I have question marks over some of their recruits in Uate, Sironen, Hastings and Wright who all struggled at their previous club.

There will be two main elements which determine the success of the Sea Eagles this season in whether they can avoid key injuries as their depth worries me and finally whether Daly Cherry-Evans can live up to his price tag and win some games on his own back to lift Manly out of the doldrums.

Storm One of the easiest teams to predict as they are ultra-consistent. Craig Bellamy is the best coach in the game and the Storm with Cronk, Smith and Slater returning from injury look to be a premiership threat

yet again. Their forward pack and outside backs are solid and their bench is young and constantly improving. Have the motivation of a heart breaking Grand Final loss last season to the Sharks and their premiership window looks to be closing. My only concerns surround whether Billy Slater’s shoulder can hold up for the entire season, if it doesn’t how the Storm then fill the five eighth position with no Blake Green after his move to the Sea Eagles will be key. Cameron Munster played a heap of football at five eighth as a junior but having spent so much time in the outside backs during the last few seasons it will be interesting to see whether he can effectively transition back into a play makers role.

Knights Are in the middle of a Panthers like rebuild and Nathan Brown is doing a good job with limited personnel and resources. I don’t think they will be the easy beats they proved to be last season with only the one win, but I still think they will struggle to miss the wooden spoon. Recruitment and improving their young players with more NRL experience this season will be the key to whether they can set themselves up to climb the table in 2018.

Cowboys Possess in my opinion both the best forward and best half in the game in Jason Taumalolo and Johnathan Thurston. The Cowboys ran out of gas last season in their quest to defend their premiership which often proves the case for the majority of defending premiers. Had some injury struggles and blooded some very good young juniors which will be better for that experience heading into this season.

I have them winning the competition providing they stay relatively healthy and play up to their potential.

Eels Experienced another year from hell with salary cap and off field dramas in 2016. Had to release some key players to become cap compliant which hurt both their chances to be successful this season and also dented team morale. Brad Arthur is a tremendous coach and motivator who will get the best from this squad. But I do not see them making the Top 8 with some unknown quantities in key positions in Bevan French at fullback and Clint Gutherson at five eighth having their first full seasons in these key roles. The Eels have some players who look to have moved past their best football in key positions in Issac De Gois and Tim Mannah and they look to be a team who will battle around the middle of the table.

To be continued next edition...

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Strengthen your weakness with Scott Lewis THE topic of Health and Fitness doesn’t always pertain to just health fitness goals, it’s a wider spectrum that should implement positive changes throughout your whole life, in doing so making it one that is more productive and a better one at that.

Have you really asked yourself, How much are you REALLY getting done during an average day?

Everyone says they want a great body, they want to make more money, they want an awesome social life and they want more free time.

But what are you actually doing about it? How much time and effort are you TRULY putting forward throughout the day that is moving you closer to those goals?

A lot of people out there think they’re working hard, but if they sat down and honestly scrutinized their day from hour to hour, they’d be shocked to see how much time they actually spend ‘idle’ and not really doing anything of substance at all.

This could include things like watching TV or playing video games, uselessly browsing social media,

staring at their phone or taking more time in the morning, at night or in between activities than is really unnecessary, or even just sitting around imagining about the things they desire rather than actually doing something about it.

There’s of course nothing wrong with relaxing and having downtime What would be the point if all you ever did was work non-stop?

A big part of the reason why you have certain goals in the first place is so that you can sit back and enjoy the results later on.

But if you truly want to excel in multiple areas and create that “ideal” life you imagine for yourself, don’t let anyone tell you that it isn’t going to take a LOT of work and a LOT of hours consistently put in over weeks, months and years on end, because it is most certainly is!

There’s no way to sugar coat it, if you aren’t managing your time properly each day and putting in those concentrated hours on a consistent basis, you’ll either progress at a fraction of the speed you’re truly capable of, or you’ll never reach your goals at all.

If you truly sit down and review your day from start to finish, you’ll

probably be blown away at how much more productive you really could be.

The thing is, you already have less available time for this than you think.

When you take into account all of the little things you have to do every single day just to keep yourself alive and on track, you’ll quickly see how fast they add up, basic things like eating, showering, getting dressed, going to the bathroom, brushing your teeth, time spent in transit between places, time spent with family and friends coupled with the fact that a third or fourth of our day is already spent sleeping.

In terms of available time to work at your goals, it’s already less than you imagine without even taking into account all of the other potential distractions previously mentioned above.

Surely there are plenty of people reading this that legitimately are working extremely hard each day to get what they’re after, but I know for sure that the majority of people out there just aren’t doing enough. Period.

Most people just straight up need to DO MORE if they want to reach those goals they have in mind.

Sit down, examine your day honestly, and ask yourself how much

47 Nepean News 2 March 2017 Issue 195

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you’re actually getting done and how much more you could be doing if you just made the time for it.

My guess is that you’ll probably be very surprised at what you discover, and that if you choose to do something about it, it will be a most important stride in accelerating your daily productivity and overall success.

Follow ‘Wild Panther Fitness’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (@ wildpantherfit.) For any enquiries: info@wildpantherfitness.com.au Until next time “STRENGTHEN YOUR WEAKNESS!”

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Thursday, 2 March 2017

Back from the Dead as Penrith win one-day title

By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

THEY say a cat has nine lives. But out Penrith way, someone’s lost count on how many lives the Black Cats from the Penrith Cricket Club must have, after they brutally snatched victory from Hawkesbury, with a last-ball 1 run win in the reduced yet pulsating 35 overs a side one-day final at Howell Oval.

It was a final that nearly didn’t get off the ground at all after overnight rain and grey skies had caused problems with the bowler run-ups at the northern end of the ground, with umpires concerned for player safety.

But once skies cleared, play was allowed to get under way at 2pm in front of one of the largest crowds seen at Howell Oval for a grade cricket game with both outer-Western Sydney clubs having plenty of support.

Hawkesbury, through the spin bowling exploits of Arjun Nair (1/21) and Abdul Kkerkhah (3/33) and

The moment Penrith sealed victory in arguably the greatest Sydney Grade Cricket one-day final of them all. Credit 77 Media.

supported by the medium-pace of skipper Jay Dyball (3/41) pegged the home side back to a gettable 9/181 after John Di Bartolo (30), Ryan Gibson (30) and Michael Castle (topscore with 38) got Penrith off to a flyer.

As has been the case throughout their finals campaign, Hawkesbury’s “big three” Jordan Gauci (82), Josh Clarke (25) and Dale McKay (31) had the visitors well primed to chase

down their third consecutive target and claim their maiden title when they reached 1/139, needing just 53 to win.

But Hawkesbury suffered a dramatic Indian-like collapse of 7/17 with former Parramatta all-rounder, Michael Castle and a fired-up Pat Cummins, who was determined to make up for two uncharacteristic dropped catches earlier in the innings, doing all the damage.

Castle, who having suffered a bulging disc injury that has side-lined him for the best part of the season, was originally meant to come back and play out the season as a batsman, came into the side at the expense of 17 year-old opener Ryan Hackney to give Halse a seventh bowling option.

The all-rounder finished with the figures of 5/20 from 5 overs including three wickets in one over, while Cummins was a little more expensive, taking 3/35 from 7 overs but bowled with plenty of venom in those closing overs.

Despite the collapse, there was one final twist when Hawkesbury’s tail found their resolve such to the point that by the final over, they needed just five runs to win off Cummins’ last over.

But the Delhi Daredevils recruit had the last laugh restricting the Hawks to just two runs off the first five balls before an attempted game-tying run ended in agony when Gibson’s throw from the deep enabled the run-out to be effected and end the home side’s fifteen year title drought.

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