Nepeannews 31august2017

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Thursday, 31 August 2017

ISSUE 208

Your Local Knockdown Rebuild Specialist

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Spring

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With Spring almost here - Time to think of Summer

localnews Programmes Children’s Church (Primary) Enthuse (Young Adults) Wednesday Fellowship • Monthly Healing & Revival

By Keegan Thomson

INDEPENDENT Councillor Marcus Cornish has put forward a bold new plan that might ease electricity prices across western Sydney.

On Monday night Cr Cornish requested an urgent report back to Council regarding the possibility of Penrith City Council being set up as a power retail supplier of electricity to the rate payers of Penrith and the locals of western Sydney.

Councillor Cornish’s concept is to buy electricity in bulk and sell it to consumers at cost.

He said the idea isn’t his originally but it has been proven to work in other areas in the past.

“I’m not claiming this as a new idea but I’m claiming is as a good idea,” Cr Cornish said.

“In the 70s and 80s the entity that was Prospect County Council ran a similar program and it kept the power prices low across the region.

“One of the main reasons power is so expensive is that there are too few retailers in the market. Another power retailer would be of major financial benefit to the people of Penrith and the Greater West,” he said.

According to Cr Cornish, the people of Sydney pay more for power than people in England or America, but he says his plan for a Penrith power network would bring in new jobs to the region and would benefit nearly 2 million people in the short term.

Putting the ernest on local politicians, the

Worship and Communion Sunday 9:30am

Contact: (02) 9673 1009

www.newhorizonschurch.org.au

proudly independent Cr Cornish said the current Labor-Liberal reign of politics needs to start thinking about the hip pocket of the electorate above political squabbling.

“Things work in cycles and currently our Labor-Liberal political cycle is going nowhere fast to help the hip pocket of the people of western Sydney,” Cr Cornish said.

“It is time for the cycle to end and for politics to come back into focusing on people rather than profits.

“This would be helping Penrith Council’s constituency because we would be taking with one hand and delivering with the other. It is an opportunity to give back and support the people of Penrith,” he said.

Giving Hope Today Sunday Worship 10:00 AM Boy’s and Girl’s SAGALA (Similar to Scouts) 6:00 PM Monday Women’s Meeting 10:30 AM Thursday Street Dreams (Dance Group) 4:00 PM Thursday Kid’s Club 4:00 PM Friday (Dedications, Wedding or Funerals by appointment) 48 Luttrell St Glenmore Park P: 02 47331133 W: www.salvos.org.au/penrith E: salvospenrith@gmail.com

Prue Car MP Member for Londonderry

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

Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

Cornish: Penrith power

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4 Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

From the Editor’s Desk 203 Banks Drive, St Clair Office: (02) 9834 5579 Editor: General Manager: Sales: Journalist: Journalist: Sports Journalist: Sports Journalist: Graphic Design: Photographer: Printer: Letters to the Editor: Web:

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by Kerrie Davies When I was a kid I was fortunate enough to live across the road from a lookout point. Cars would pull up all weekend and people would climb out with their cameras and binoculars to observe the spectacular ocean scenery with views that stretched from Clovelly to North Bondi.

But the beautiful landscape was marred by a single tree on the grassy stretch - because it was home to one very evil-minded character.. a magpie!

At the risk of revealing the dark side of my personality, I will confess that Sunday afternoon entertainment for me often consisted of sitting perched at the window watching and laughing as unsuspecting sightseers stepped out of their cars, eyes transfixed on the view oblivious to the swoop that was about to take place.

I now seek to pay penance for my cruel and evil favourite childhood pastime, by warning people that this is the season to be on high alert when passing trees. Magpies, usually males, will indiscriminately peck the heads of unsuspecting passersby showing no remorse whatsoever for the traumatic episode in which they create!

Be aware. Be very aware.

I hope I have made amends for my evil past and hopefully save at least one person from being the victim of an aggressive magpie - and perhaps save them from being primetime entertainment for some crazy kid with nothing better to do watching on, like I did!

Your thoughts? kerrie@nepeannews.com.au

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Future of Penrith takes shape 9834 1044

By Keegan Thomson

PENRITH could soon get a 34 story apartment building just outside the CBD. During August’s Ordinary Council Meeting, Councillors voted to endorse a reimagining of the Union Road car park site, which would include a new 1631 decked car park and six new residential buildings ranging from 17 stories to 34 stories.

Currently the tallest building is the taxation department building that stands at 11 stories above ground, with these new buildings standing high above anything else in the west.

Council said these new buildings will include a public plaza, retail shops, a child care centre and landscaped communal spaces.

Economically the buildings will be a boost for the local area, bringing in an estimated $700 million worth of benefit to Penrith, including up to 500 new local jobs each year, including construction, retail and associated local services.

The development is being undertaken by Frasers, the same company that pulled off the gravity defying Central Park building in Chippendale.

Penrith Mayor John Thain welcomed the endorsement of Frasers as the preferred proponent but said this was the first step in a lengthy and rigorous process.

“Following negotiations, Frasers will have

NEPEAN DISTRICT

Stuart Ayres

MP

Member for Penrith

planning and development application processes to work through and Council will be calling for community feedback when this occurs,” Cr Thain said.

“We are working hand-in-hand with the community towards a vision of our City that provides access and opportunity to jobs, affordable housing, green spaces and diverse lifestyle options.

“We want to ensure that tomorrow’s generations will look back on Penrith as a flourishing city which seized the positive opportunities of the day,” he said.

Authorised by Emma Husar MP. 331 High Street Penrith 2750

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

Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

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MP flips burgers at Maccas

By Keegan Thomson

FEDERAL MP for Lindsay Emma Husar has gone back to her roots to flip a few burgers and to learn about how local workers are being trained at the McDonald’s restaurant on High Street, Penrith.

Ms Husar started her working life at the humble Macca’s on High Street when she was just 14 and nine months old, the legal age for employment in Australia.

Sitting in the Party Room,  Emma Husar with the Macca’s team. Photo: Keegan Thomson Ms Husar reminisced about her time working for the “All the steps in the training are logistical and Golden Arches. She said her skills as a burger flipping checkout chick have helped her build her systematic,” the MP said.

“It teaches you to order and priorities things.” office as the Federal MP in Penrith.

One of her favourite aspects of working at “The skills learned here probably don’t help me on the floor during question time but certainly do Macca’s was her title as “Party Hostess” a position in terms of organising my office and the amount of she proudly held while working at a number of McDonald’s across the region. constituent inquiries that we get,” Ms Husar said.

Ian Garton, Owner of the McDonald’s on High “The skills that anyone who works here picks up Street, invited the MP back to the fast food store for can be transferred to any job.”

She said the training in which she went through their McHappy Day celebrations which will be held on October 14, 2017. has helped her become an avid multitasker.

No cemetery for Mulgoa

By Keegan Thomson

COMMUNITY representatives from the Mulgoa Valley and Wallacia Village welcomed Council’s decision to go ahead with plans to lock out any cemetery from the Mulgoa Valley and Wallacia Village.

Around 30 people protested the proposed development from Rookwood Cemetery of an area of land in Mulgoa and Wallacia that would see parts of the historic Fernhill Estate and Wallacia Golf Course turned into a crematorium and cemetery.

After hearing from three different members of the community, all of whom where opposed to the development, Council voted to change the law so that cemeteries and crematoriums would not be allowed to be built within the Mulgoa Valley and Wallacia Village.

Both Councillors Bratusa and Fowler argued that the region’s historical and environmental heritage was too important to lose.

James Broadbent, a local historian, addressed Council and called the Mulgoa Valley a “rare and significant place”.

Lisa Harrold, an opponent of the development, spoke to Council in favour of keeping the historical value of Fernhill Estate alive.

“The colonial landscape is worth more than the house itself,” Ms Harrold said.

“I can’t imagine sitting and having a coffee in the village while a funeral procession moves through,” she added.

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Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

Founder of Queen of Hearts Foundation resigns

By Keegan Thomson

THE FOUNDER and CEO of the Queen of Hearts Community Foundation, Michele Ellery, has resigned from her position as head of one the region’s highly respected charity organisations.

She announced her surprise resignation on Friday via a statement on Facebook and through an email sent from the Queen of Hearts Community foundation.

“I am proud of all I have achieved since inception in August 2014,” Ms Ellery said in her statement.

The Queen of Hearts was set up three years ago by Ms Ellery who has since dedicated her time to helping the victims and survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence.

In her statement Ms Ellery thanked everyone who has been with the charity since the beginning including her two children “who volunteered at the 25 barbecues in the first year” and the Penrith Council who “were able to provide and believed in my vision”.

She made special mention to those who are mentors, volunteers and ambassadors to the Queen of Hearts.

“The Foundation’s dedicated ambassadors who are amazing business men and women striving to make

Penrith and the community a safer place. They are our army of protectors who inspire, mentor me and advocate for those that need an extra hug,” she said.

“A world without volunteers would be a little darker and I’m so appreciative you stayed for the crazy ride.”

In 2016 Queen of Hearts formed a partnership with Western Sydney University to deliver the ‘yell and tell show’. Ms Ellery was a champion of this program that was aimed at curbing assault rates of children under the age of 10.

Finishing off her statement Ms Ellery thanked her family for supporting her in her endeavours.

“To my beautiful family, we have shared and endured so much and if I could be a half of what you are as individuals, I would be a very lucky girl,” she said.

“I wished I could have done so much more.”

Ms Ellery’s facebook post was flooded with comments from people thanking her for her dedication, with many encouraging her to take a break and reconsider her resignation.

Stuart Ayres MP wished her well in the future.

“Chel you are leaving one mighty big hole to fill in Penrith’s heart. A committed person improving the lives of those in our community,” he said.

Paulette Adams said Ms Ellery was a beautiful soul with open arms.

“You’ve done an amazing job, a voice that fought hard to be heard and never gave up the fight. A light in someone’s darkness,” Paulette said.

Deputy Mayor Tricia Hitchen encouraged Ms Ellery to take a break and reconsider.

“Chel, you have achieved so much and I’m guessing at great personal expense. Take a break but please come back,” Cr Hitchen said.

On Tuesday Ms Ellery sent a statement saying that she wanted to withdraw her resignation but it was not being accepted by the current chairperson.

“I withdrew my resignation but have been told by current chair, that it will currently stand. My vision was never to leave my life’s work undone and may have acted hastily, but felt this indicated my vote of no confidence,” she said.

It is clear that Ms Ellery intends to keep up her work as a local charity pioneer but currently the future of her Queen of Hearts Community Foundation seems to be up in the air.

Dealing with doggy dementia

Dementia in dogs, or Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), is sadly a fact of life for many ageing dogs. After bringing us many years of love and joy, our dogs inevitably start to slow down and show their age. CCD is a degenerative neurological condition in dogs which is similar to dementia in humans. It results in a gradual and progressive loss of brain function. Unfortunatly this disease is very common and at least 25% of dogs older than 10 years of age show one of the signs associated with brain ageing. By 15 years of age, more than 60% of dogs are affected by CCD. However, there are treatment options that can help your ageing dog.

The first indication that signals there is something wrong with your dog is generally a change in it’s behaviour. These behavioural changes can be due to behavioural problems or medical problems such as heart disease, pain & arthritis, incontinence, sensory problems (blindness or deafness), endocrine disease (eg diabetes), brain disease (eg cancer) or metabolic disease (eg renal failure). There are also some medications such as steroids and medicine for incontinence than can cause worsening of signs associated with CCD. It is essential that animals are examined by a vetrinarian to rule out medical

problems before a diagnosis of doggy dementia is made.

So what are the signs of CCD? Most of the signs of a decline in brain function relate to your pets behaviour. You may find that your animal becomes disorientated or confused, house training and other learned behaviours may be lost – for example, you may find your dog forgets where the food/water bowls are or starts to soil in the house. Interactions with family members and sleep patterns may change so you may find that your dog wakes up and paces through the night. Some animals may become anxious, agitated or irritable and some dogs will even develop aggression.

What can we do about CCD? It is important that we rule out concurrent medical problems that can be contributing to your pets behaviour. This will involve a thorough examination to determine any sources of pain, checking the eyes & ears to make sure there are no sensory problems and could

also involve blood testing to check for underlying diseases.

Adjusting the environment is also important in making older animals comfortable; you may need to leave a dim light on for toilet trips, section of unsafe areas of the house or leave soft music on when you are out.

There are several medical options that are available to help dogs with poor brain function.

Some of these medications work by increasing dopamine in the brain which helps save dying brain cells. Other medications will aim to increase blood flow to the brain which will help your dog become more alert and slow down the progression of CCD. There are also medications to help your pet have a restful nights sleep if they often wake through the night and vocalise/pace.

A good & balanced diet is also essential for elderly animals with poor brain function. There are commercial diets available that specifically target brain disease – an example of this is the Hill’s B/D Diet. These diets have optimum levels of antioxidants and nutrients to promote brain function. Another benefit of these diets is that they have omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids which are great for old arthritic animals.

Combining medications, behavioural enrichement and providing an optimum diet is most likely to slow down & even reverse age associate cognitive decline. If you have any questions about your pets behaviour, please contact us on 4731 3055.

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

Phone 47 313 055

NDIS Open Day at Ripples Hydrotherapy Centre

By Conner Lowe

Ripples Leisure and Hydrotherapy Centres is an accredited NDIS Provider for their Exercise Physiology and Dietitian services as well as their Learn to Swim program. On Thursday 7th September between 12.30pm-2.30pm Ripples is hosting an exclusive NDIS Open Day at Ripples Hydrotherapy Centre.

The free Open Day is an amazing opportunity for the Ripples specialist team to showcase their unique facilities, programs and services and how they can assist NDIS funded clients with their health, wellbeing and assisting them to develop important life skills.

Ripples Hydrotherapy Centre is the only public Hydrotherapy pool in the Western Sydney area. Hydrotherapy is a form of treatment conducted in a heated pool of between 32°C to 34°C to regain or maintain physical wellbeing. The complex includes treatment rooms, rehab room, multipurpose room and recovery area. They have five onsite ESSA accredited Exercise Physiologists that can help clients with the following: • Increase strength, mobility and

function • Increase flexibility and joint range • Decrease risk of mental health outcomes • Fine and gross motor skill development • Balance and coordination

• Decrease risk of co-morbidities such as Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity • Dual tasking • Skill acquisition In addition, Ripples also runs an award-winning swim school with

dedicated Access and Inclusion qualified instructors to deliver their Special Needs learn to swim program.

Ripples special needs swimming classes cater for students with mild to severe disabilities of all ages and swimming abilities. They offer private tuition, small group based classes as well as integration pathways into our mainstream program. Recently there has been some significant changes made by NDIS to funded swimming classes and we can assist clients through the new approval process.

The Ripples Open Day is an informal day open to all with helpful staff available to answer all your questions as well as interactive workshops, games, demonstrations and a complimentary afternoon tea.

Schedule of events • 12:30PM: Ring Toss Game • 12:45PM: Basketball Tournament • 1:00PM: Design your own yogurt (Dietitian) • 1:30PM: Learn to Swim Demo • 2:00PM: Obstacle Course For more information about the Ripples NDIS Open Day or Ripples NDIS funded programs and services please contact Ripples Hydrotherapy Centre on 9833 3075 or visit us in person at Creek Road, St Marys.

9 Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

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Home invasion Police are investigating after a home invasion left two men injured.

Just before 1am on Sunday 27 August, two men believed to be in their late 30s, were inside a unit on McNaughton Street, Jamisontown, when two males forced entry into the premises.

The unknown males, believed to be armed with knives, threatened both men, before assaulting them.

Both occupants of the home ran from the house and contacted police.

The pair where treated by NSW Ambulance Paramedics for lacerations to their face and head, with one of the men being taken to Nepean Hospital.

Police have been told the unknown males took a set of keys before stealing a blue Citroen C3, with registration plates AOW 24U. Officers attached to Penrith Local Area Command established a crime scene and commenced and investigation.

Inquiries are continuing, and are appealing to the public to contact police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if the vehicle is sighted, or if anyone has any information.

The 42nd St Marys Spring Festival

By Conner Lowe

Clear your diary the annual St Marys Spring Festival is just around the corner and is an event definitely not to be missed. The Spring Festival welcomes everyone from across Western Sydney and around the area to come down and enjoy a day out with friends and family.

The St Marys Spring Festival is the major annual community event held in the CBD of St Marys, and attracts a crowd of approximately 20,00-30,000 people each year.

Celebrate the beginning of Spring and bring the family down to Queen St, St Marys. The Festival has run for over 40 years and this year’s Festival is sure to be just as fun and exciting.

There will be stalls, food, children’s entertainment, a grand parade and more. The event has always been a huge success and only gets better every year so it’s not to be missed.

The Chairman of St Marys Town Centre, Alex Karavas is looking forward to sharing the event with the community.

“The St Marys Spring Festival has a very large local and regional community appeal,” he said.

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“It offers an immensely diverse and enjoyable landscape for all attending.

From entertainment, displays, stalls and a wide range of food, the St Marys Spring Festival a must-see premier event. I can’t wait!”

The St Marys Spring Festival is a free event and has something for all ages to enjoy. The Festival is on Saturday 2nd September from 9am3pm.

This free family event is proudly bought to you by St Marys Town Centre Ltd, Penrith City Council, Vintage 87.6 FM, St Marys Leagues Club, St Marys Village and the St Marys Band Club.

To apply for a stall please download the application form and read it at: http://stmarystowncentre.com.au/ event/st-marys-spring-festival Complete it and return it to St Marys Town Centre. If you are successful in your application, then you will receive an email containing more information.

They are also looking for talented locals who are interested in performing at the event. If you are interested, please email vanessa@ vanessacampbell.com.au and tell her a bit about your performance history and what you would like to offer to perform at St Marys.

localnews

By Noel Rowsell

Leonay Golf Club is continuing to work hard for charity, hosting two major events in August and September.

The first event was the annual Col Roffe Charity Ambrose event, which raises funds for the fight against Prostate Cancer.

Mrs Vi Roffe provided the Leonay Golf Committee permission to use the Ambrose event named in honour of her late husband and club stalwart Col - and it has become a popular annual event.

Members rose to the occasion on the day, dressing in their best blue outfits, with the judges unable to split two pairs in the vote for Best Dressed.

Chris Blakeley and Ian Barnes wore the most outlandish outfits, whilst Steve Mallard and Steve Malesevic stunned the judges with their harlequin outfits.

The Ambrose event attracted a full field of players, including members of Glenmore Heritage Valley, Dunheved, Windsor, Penrith, Wentworth Falls, Dunedoo and Coolah Golf Clubs.

As a result of the competition and the raffle held on the day, the Club was able to donate a healthy $5,050.00 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Leonay’s Lady Members take over the fundraising efforts on Wednesday 20th September, hosting the 8th Annual Breast Cancer Charity Day for the Breast Cancer Foundation.

All players are encouraged to dress in their best pink outfits and there is sure to be strong competition

Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

Leonay Golf Club working hard for charity

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 Steve Mallard and Steve Malesevic (harlequins) and Chris Blakeley and Ian Barnes jointly won the best-dressed award at the Col Roffe Prostate Cancer Founday day. Photos supplied.

between the sexes to decide the best-dressed award.

Golfers wishing to play in the Breast Cancer day should contact either Club Captain Julie Sutcliffe

(grantandjulies@bigpond.com) or Hon. Secretary Pam Savage (pamsav1@iprimus.com.au) to organise an entry.

Hix Group is celebrating its 25th Year in business and is continuing to grow We currently have a number of roles available, to join our Penrith Based business, with a range of government, commercial, construction & domestic clients throughout the Sydney Metropolitan area

– 2nd or 3rd Year ELECTRICAL TRADES Apprentices & new apprentices for 2017 –ADMINISTRATIVE Plumbing and Electrical SUPPORT Looking for a great team and a structured This is a new & unique role, in our Penrith Office, for an experienced electrician with maintenance experience BUT who is now seeking to work in an administrative role, within our Electrical division.

Perhaps you are now unable to or don’t want to continue to perform the physically challenging parts of a trades role or simply prefer to work in the office rather than on the tools.

You will be responsible for prep & checking of invoices, quotes & documentation for jobs, assisting the managers with progress & handling of scheduled works & other admin duties related to progress of works.

In addition to your trades background you will have computer skills, strong communication skills & attention to detail & accuracy.

training program to complete your trade and move into a permanent role?

LICENSED ELECTRICIANS – MAINTENANCE We are adding to our team of qualified maintenance electricians, and are seeking licensed tradespeople with experience in domestic & commercial works, fault finding, stove & hot water repairs & all general electrical repairs & installs.

Works will be across Government, Council, commercial, industrial & domestic sites and will include repairs ,maintenance installation, testing & inspection and fitout works.

You will be an efficient & customer based tradesperson who values the service Hix Group provides to clients & you will be willing & able to train and develop our apprentices who are also a valuable part of our company’s growth.

FIRE SERVICES TECHNICIAN We are seeking an EXPERIENCED Fire Services Technician to join our PENRITH BASED team to carry out all aspects of Essential Fire Services testing , inspection, maintenance and repairs & fault finding with a particular focus on Fire Panels and EWIS systems.

We provide services for a range of clients including Local Councils, Strata Clients, commercial and industrial.

The successful applicant will be an energetic “people person” who is well organised and can communicate effectively with clients and staff alike & is comfortable recording all job information using Smartphone/Electronic Tablet, via our Job Management system.

MUST have a sound knowledge of and experience in the above areas and a clear understanding & willingness to follow the relevant Australian Standards & Building Codes relating to the Industry and all aspects of Work Health and Safety.

FPAS Training an advantage.

You will be meticulous with quality, well presented, willing to use our electronic job management system & keen to embrace our Hix Group Culture of Team work, Pride & Responsibility. Send your resume now to HR@hix.com.au (Applications will be treated in strict confidence) Enquiries to: Justin Walker, Senior Manager, Electrical Services – Phone: 4721 7500

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Legends of the Nepean

By Keegan Thomson

WANDERING around Al Palmer’s sprawling set of workshops, at Al Palmer Repairs in Penrith, it is easy to see how passionate this man is about his cars.

Hidden away in his workshops are a few classics, old Toyotas Al has lovingly restored, two racing cars Al raced with and a few quirky Japanese units he collected on his numerous trips

to the Land of the Rising Sun. Al Palmer first and foremost is a petrol head with a heart made of gold.

Opening his mechanics workshop in 1974, he started to work with the local community through a number of charities. Through his business, Al Palmer Repairs, he has been able to help out a slew of charities including the local Rotary Club, the Variety Club, Panthers football team, Police footy club, Cranebrook hockey team and the great Doctor Charlie Teo’s charity.

$45,000

“We’ve helped all the charities that you can think about in Penrith and we’ve been doing it for donkey’s years,” Al said proudly.

“We do it because we can and because it is the right thing to do,” he added.

One of the pinnacles of Al’s socially conscious, community minded work is his passion for mobility and accessibility cars. For years the team at Al Palmer Repairs have been retrofitting and selling mobility cars to people who are wheelchair bound or disabled.

He said he was inspired to get involved in the mobility vehicle industry after he received a special request from one of his customers.

“We had a customer who came into our shop. She was a young teenage girl and she was in a wheelchair, she couldn’t walk, but her mental skills and brain were perfect,” Al said.

“She had got herself a job that was in the city so she needed a car to get around. I knew her mum and dad so we arranged to have a car specially fixed up for her so that we could teach her to drive and get going again.

“I’m happy we could help her out. I arranged the vehicle, kept it maintained

$45,000

and serviced, we did what we could,” he said.

After that, through his business, he started importing second hand mobility vehicles from Japan.

“Roughly ten years ago we started importing the wheelchair vehicles.

We’re able to offer a cheaper option for people to become more reliable.

Helping people out, it is something we’re very interested in,” he said.

With Al’s family history it isn’t hard to see why he ended up becoming a mechanic.

His father was a truck driver who would fix and service his own trucks. It was this love for grease, oil and motors that spawned Al’s love affair with mechanics.

“Ever since I was driving my father’s truck, at a young age, I was interested in mechanics,” he said.

“My dad and my uncle use to service the taxis around the St Marys and Penrith area at night when they were the old 1940 model cars, and I thought that was great.”

Starting his career with a Toyota dealership in Blacktown, Al progressed up the ranks until he was transferred to the Toyota head office in Sydney. Here he was given an office job, something

$25,000

Al Palmer he didn’t like much at all.

“They put a collar and tie on me and I then started training other guys,” he said.

“I wasn’t working on cars, and as a mechanic you want to be working on cars, so I didn’t like that much.

“I moped around for a little bit and I decided to leave, so I worked for my uncle and then, with not much in the bank, I started up my own shop in a little shared factory in St Marys.”

In the 1990s he moved into the premises he is currently working in, at Robertson Place in Jamisontown, and he has been growing his business ever since.

Something that goes hand in hand with his career as a mechanic is Al’s second life as a racing car driver.

He has raced in New South Wales Formula 3 State Championships across a number of years at tracks like Eastern Creek, the old Oran Park circuit and Winton. In 2015 he even came second in the overall championship rankings.

Al said there are a number of skills you need to get your head around as a racing car driver.

“You’ve got to have basically little or no fear,” he said with a grin.

“Some people have that naturally,

some find it easy to let go, but to begin with that is hard sometimes.

“After a while I was able to force myself to get up to speeds quickly and often much quicker than a number of other racers.”

Al was sidelined 12 months ago because of a very serious health event.

Last year he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

After having a few headaches across a number of days he decided to get it checked out. Within a matter of days of

the doctors finding the tumour, Al had been scheduled in for surgery.

Luckily Al was able to be scheduled in with a long term charity partner of his, the brain surgeon Doctor Charlie Teo, who performed keyhole surgery to remove the tumour.

“I didn’t have many side effects after the surgery but the medication throws you about a bit,” Al said.

“The treatment went on for a year, there is lots of drugs and you end up not eating much because the medication

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changes your palate and food no longer tastes the same.

“I’m over that, thankfully, but in a few months I’ll be tested again and they’ll make a decision as to what medication I can take.”

Sadly it seems Al’s racing career is over due to his medical treatments but he is still very passionate about cars of all sizes.

Recently Al decided to sell off one of his racing cars, he still has two left, and out of some sheer coincidence the son of the car’s former owner bought it off him.

“He came and told me who he was so we decided to do it up in the old colours of the car,” Al said.

“When it was delivered the former owner of the car was over the moon with the job that we’d done for him.”

After spending a morning with Al, it is clear that in Al’s life there are two constants: Cars and charity. That is why he is a true legend.

Al Palmer was nominated as a Legend of the Nepean by Jan Harrison.

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

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Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

✓ Region divided on same sex marriage debate

By Keegan Thomson

PENRITH COUNCIL is divided on the issue of marriage equality with a split between the more conservative factions of the Council who want to keep the traditional meaning of marriage and those who want to embrace a more progressive version of the union.

Prue Car MP

✗

Penrith Councillors who support marriage equality: Cr John Thain Cr Aaron Duke Cr Greg Davies Cr Karen McKeown Cr Todd Carney Cr Ben Price Cr Kath Presdee Cr Tricia Hitchen Penrith Councillors who support traditional marriage: Cr Josh Hoole Cr Mark Davies Cr Kevin Crameri Cr Marcus Cornish Penrith Councillors who didn’t disclose: Cr Bernard Brastusa Cr Ross Fowler Cr Jim Aitken.had not responded by the time we went to press.

Tanya Davies MP

✓

Cr Greg Davies

Where do the State and Federal politicians sit on the issue?

Reaching out to the local State and Federal Government MPs we received a fairly progressive response to the marriage equality debate.

✗

Cr Josh Hoole

Federal MP for Lindsay, Emma Husar, said she’s waving her rainbow flag for the yes campaign because that is what her constituents are asking of her even though she says the postal plebiscite is a waste of money.

“The feedback from Lindsay residents overwhelmingly supports marriage equality,” Ms Husar said.

“My office will be joining the yes campaign.

“I don’t support the plebiscite mechanism, I don’t like it and I don’t agree with it. This is not a constitutional change – there is no public opinion poll required. This is a move to appease the far-right extremists of the Liberal party who still want us to live on the other side of 1950,” she said.

MP for Mulgoa and the Minister for Mental Health, Women, and Ageing, Tanya Davies has put herself strongly in the no camp.

“I stand for maintaining and upholding that marriage is between a man and a woman,” Mrs Davies said.

“While my view is strongly informed by my personal faith, I accept that every person, man or woman, has the freedom to love who they want to love. I call on our Australian community to engage respectfully as our Federal Parliament reflects on this important issue,” she said.

State MP for Penrith and the Minister for Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres reissued a statement from his inaugural speech in parliament.

“Let me start with individual freedom and our judgements of others, and most particularly not judging people on their race, creed, religion, age, gender or sexuality,” Mr Ayres said.

“We are all New South Welshmen, we are all Australians, and we are all human beings created by the God to which we pray. The diversity of this nation is woven into the fabric of our past, our present and our future.

I believe that utilising that diversity, not fighting it, is the way forward.

“I have great respect for the fundamental significance of individual freedom and for a just and humane society, and in a nation such as Australia, where we have a proud history of men and women fighting for those rights and freedoms, it seems worse than counterintuitive to me to approach life in any other way,” he said.

Labor MP for Londonderry, Prue Car said she will proudly be voting yes in the upcoming plebiscite.

“It has been my long held view that we need to end the discrimination faced by same sex couples by legalising marriage equality,” Ms Car said.

“Whilst I believe that the plebiscite is a complete waste of time and money, I would encourage everyone to participate and have your voice heard,” she said.

The postal ballots for the plebiscite should hit your mailbox over the next few weeks.

Have you decided which way you’re going to vote?

Council catch up with Keegan Thomson AFTER the 2016 local government area elections (LGA) there were a few new faces to Council and there was one familiar face returning after a stint away from Council. That familiar face returning to the Penrith Council Chambers was Councillor Kath Presdee.

Serving Council originally between 2008 and 2012, Cr Presdee is back and she’s coming in with a new list of things she’d like to see changed in Penrith, with local jobs sitting at the top of her list.

“I’d like to see more jobs in the LGA; particularly covering a range of skills,” Cr Presdee said.

“It shouldn’t just be construction related and retail oriented or to just host warehouse facilities - although these are important. I’d like to see us make the most of our relationships with Western Sydney University and Nepean Hospital; and the new developments from Sydney University and the Sydney Science Park,” she said.

In returning to Council, Cr Presdee is bringing a little 21st century technology into the Council Chambers.

During meetings Cr Presdee tweets about all the exciting happenings of the monthly Council proceedings on her twitter channel (@ClrKath_PCC).

“It is just something that I enjoy

and hopefully the constituents enjoy reading it,” Cr Presdee said.

“I wont tweet anything that is confidential and I’m careful not to say anything incriminating but it highlights some of the little things that don’t get as much recognition as other things do.”

When she’s not live tweeting the Council meetings, Cr Presdee works for the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union. She says that despite the falling memberships of unions across the country workers in Penrith would benefit from joining their relevant union.

“Most of the working conditions we enjoy were fought for and won by unions - either directly from their bosses or through campaigns for new

laws,” Cr Presdee said.

“Union negotiated enterprise agreements deliver higher wage increases than ones not negotiated by unions. Importantly, however, unions can intervene when there’s a problem at work and try and resolve those issues.”

Working in Granville and living in Werrington Downs, Cr Presdee uses public transport to get around. Like many others in the region she will spend hours a week stuck on public transport that has delays, cancelled services and disrupted travel.

She’s keen to see the plight come to an end and says the best way Council can help ease the commuter burden is to lobby the government for more local job development.

“The best way is for getting more jobs in Penrith - something I’m very keen on doing - and lobbying state and federal governments to keep the jobs that they have in the local area as well, for example defence jobs, various state agencies.”

During Penrith Council’s latest Policy in Review meeting, held earlier this month, Cr Presdee was one of the most vocal opponents of the State Government’s planned changes to DA laws.

She has again spoken out against the “short-sighted” changes, saying the elected Councillors hold more accountability than any staff member of Council or the State Government.

“Penrith Council isn’t perfect, but we are accountable to the community and that isn’t just limited to the ballot box,” Cr Presdee said.

“With respect, Council staff are not directly accountable. The proposed planning panels are not either.

While there will be a member of the community on the panel, they are one voice out of four; three of whom will not necessarily have any knowledge of the local area,” she said.

If you have any issues or topics you’d like raised with the local Councillors feel free to email me keegan@nepeannews.com.au or send me a tweet @keeganthomson93.

Aussies flying the flag abroad

By Ben Cranney

When you meet an Aussie overseas, there’s almost an assumed kinship. ‘Oh, you’re Australian? Me too! We’re best mates now!’ You make plans to meet up every second weekend once you’re back home, despite living further apart than Paris to Istanbul.

Or, you meet them and think ‘bloody hell, do we have to pretend to be friends just ‘cos we flew here from the same continent?’

Sometimes, you won’t have heard the accent for a while, and you’ll think ‘geez, no, do we...no we don’t sound like that, surely?’ And then you open your mouth.

Other times, you’ll even turn it up a bit. In Tennessee, I was roped into giving a lesson to seven year old know-it-alls about Australian wildlife. With a

strong accent, everything immediately became more legit. ‘Y’all have crocodiles the size of a bus?’ ‘Ken oath we do.’ Another time I was put on BBQ duty in London, just because I was Australian. Everyone wanted to hear my accent, which was just as well, because they then didn’t pay attention to my poor barbecuing skills. Just to be safe, I cooked things slowly so that a few drinks went by and what was an average sausage became the best meal ever.

Sometimes people push us into our Australian stereotypes. A Canadian fellow fell in step with us at the full moon party in Thailand. ‘Where are you from?’ he asked. ‘Australia’ I said. ‘Oh, Australians.

F@&$. Bastard, f@&$, f@&$, f@&$.’ As I started to explain that we don’t all speak like that, an Aussie bloke jogged past yelling ‘oi, ya bastards, f@&$en wait up!’

Maybe the circumstances mean you’ll claim things that we’d like to be Australian. At a Kiwi Aussie wedding, we played ‘which country is better’. Clearly, it’s Australia, because we have Pharlap, pavlova, Sam Neil and Brad Thorn.

Other times, you’ll try and hide your Australianness. While enjoying a drink (the only Foster’s I’ve ever had) in one of the city squares in Seville, Spain, a fellow in a singlet, thongs and boardies walked up to bar and leant over to order a drink. And threw up all over the bar. ‘If anyone asks’ my wife said, ‘we’re British.’

Or when the Australian couple in a rug market in Northern Mexico shouted in very slow English to the local lady who spoke English as a second language better than most Australians do as a first. ‘If anyone asks, we’re Kiwi’.

15 Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

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nepeanhistory

Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

A Captain’s Daughter

C

aptain John Brabyn was born in Cornwall in 1759, the younger of two sons who lived on a small farm with his widowed mother.

John joined the army in 1778 and in May 1795 he was given a Commission to join the New South Wales Corps with an Officer ranking of Ensign.

He was in command of the military guard on the “Marquis Cornwallis” and was accompanied on the voyage by his wife Mary, his son John Frederick and daughter Jennyfer (Jennifer) Ann but they did not join the vessel until early in July when he took charge of the guard at the Cove of Cork. On the voyage out, there was an attempt by the Irish convicts aided by their guards to take over the ship. No convict was killed outright but several were badly wounded and seven later died of their wounds. The ship arrived at Port Jackson in 1796 after a passage of 186 days.

There had been 11 deaths among her prisoners including the seven men who had died from gunshot wounds. After the completion of an inquiry into the affair, John and his family were posted to Norfolk Island. The Brabyn family sailed in the “Supply” after spending about six weeks in Port Jackson, but barely a week after their arrival there his wife Mary died in April and is buried there. He was granted a lease of 19 acres on the island in October that he cultivated with some success. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1800 and after almost five years the family returned to Sydney. In 1801 John was one of the four officers who examined John Macarthur’s pistols before his duel with William Patterson and despite John’s part in this affair he was granted 200 acres by Governor King. In 1802, he married Sarah Dennison the widow of a free settler who had died on the voyage out from England. The marriage performed by Reverend Samuel Marsden. The next year he was stationed at Parramatta where he bought more land and in 1804 he won praise from Governor King for helping to quell the Irish convict uprising at Vinegar Hill. He took a few prisoners and some weaponry including muskets, pistols, ammunition, swords, pikes and pitch forks. After his return to Sydney John played an important part in the events leading up to the deposition of Governor Bligh in 1808. He was a member of the court whose actions at the trial of John Macarthur precipitated the Governor’s arrest by the military. By continuing to side with Macarthur after the rebellion John incensed Major Johnston, but when an Officer was needed at Port Dalrymple it was John, whose promotion to Captain in 1809, was sent there to take charge but by 1810 he was replaced and returned to Sydney. He was permitted to sail in the “Admiral Gambier” in 1811 to join the newly formed New South Wales Veteran Company in England and returned to Sydney on the “Guildford” in 1812 in command of the Company.

In 1816, he expressed his wish to become a free settler and Governor Macquarie granted his wife Sarah 500 acres at Evan and John also became an industrious farmer on a 300-acre farm that he owned at

Windsor raising cattle. This farm was the result of two grants - one in 1801 by Governor King and another grant by Colonel Patterson in 1802. In 1819, he was granted 1,200 acres at Prospect but found the soil was too sterile for cultivation and sold it. He was forced to sell land, together with the grant made to his wife to improve his farm after he spent £2,000 pounds on it. The Captain died at “York Lodge” in George Street at Windsor in 1835 and is buried at St Matthew’s churchyard at Windsor. So, enough of the Captain, and now for daughter Elizabeth Howard Brabyn by his second wife. Elizabeth was born in 1805 at the army barracks at Parramatta. In 1806, she was baptised in St John’s Church at Parramatta

by Reverend Samuel Marsden. Elizabeth was married at the age of 22 to Charles Simeon Marsden the son of Reverend Marsden in 1828 at St Matthews Church at Windsor. The marriage performed by her future father-in-law, Reverend Samuel Marsden.

After her marriage, Elizabeth moved with Charles to her fatherin-law’s property at “Mamre” at St Marys. A two-storey Georgian farmhouse with verandas on three sides. It was built in the 1830’s and constructed of sandstone and later stuccoed, with shuttered windows, timber verandas with a hipped and bell cast roof and sandstone flagging. The building (still standing) is rectangular with a central stair hall and eleven rooms and with a kitchen and a single storey wing on the southern side. Although the original windows have been replaced the house is still virtually intact. Later when Samuel died, the property was willed to her husband Charles. All went well for a number of years, but Charles fell into bankruptcy in the 1840’s, however, in 1845 Elizabeth’s mother who was living with them at the time, purchased the property “Shrivenham” at Luddenham, putting it in trust to Elizabeth and beyond the reach of her son-in-law. Because of Charles’ problems, Elizabeth’s circumstances remained poorly for the rest of her life. In old age she became deaf and died at the age of 75 years at “Shrivenham” in 1881. Elizabeth and Charles had daughters - Martha Brabyn Shadlow, who died at Badgery’s Creek in 1913. She was born at “Mamre” in 1836 and married George Shadlow in 1855 at “Shrivenham” and passed away aged 77 years. Another daughter Elizabeth was born in 1832 and married Charles Shadlow in 1855 and died in 1882. There is also a son Arthur John Claudius Marsden who survived for only three weeks in November 1848 and we find them all sleeping in our roadside churchyard at St Mary Magdalene Anglican Church at St Marys. Their father Charles Simeon Marsden was born in 1803 and died at “Mamre” in 1868 aged 65 and is buried in the Marsden vault at St John’s Cemetery, Parramatta.

Sources: The 1788-1820 Association’s Pioneer Register, second edition - volume I. Sydney, N.S.W, Department of Justice & Attorney General, NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages (online), Parramatta pioneer register v/2 settlement to 1920, Australian Royalty Website, Nepean Times, The King’s Candle website Lyn Forde – Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc

Three sides of love and death: a Chamber Orchestra like no other The cream of Australia’s culturally diverse musicians unite to present the Three Sides of Love and Death, the Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra’s symphony of musical and spiritual collaboration. led by Richard Petkovic and featuring Asim Gorashi (Sudan), Shohrat Tursun (East Turkistan), Yaw Derkyi (Ghana), Bukhu Gamburged (Mongolia) and Mustafa Karami (Iran), the 11-piece orchestra is assembled from musicians from diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds creating new Australian music.

Three Sides of Love and Death traverses the sacred and cultural traditions of the world and brings them together, to explore the universal themes of unconditional love and rites of passage through the culturally diverse stories and sacred music practices of the Chamber Orchestra musicians.

The songs performed capture each member’s perspective on love, death and the in-between, taking audiences on a transformative journey in one of the most unique music experiences to come out of Sydney.

With music performed in diverse languages, from ancient traditions to contemporary sacred pop fusions, this ensemble showcases an array of diverse talent. It includes traditions

from Aboriginal Australia, Mongolia, East Turkistan, Vietnam, China, Mexico (and more), this is a sacred Symphony for everybody!

“Our music showcases the future of Australian music by combining our many cultures into music that touches the spirit,” says Richard Petkovic, Music Director of the Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra.

The premiere performance of Three Sides of Love and Death opened the 2014 Sydney Sacred Music Festival to a sold-out audience. The power of this ensemble is its unique combination of cultures, faiths and traditions; virtuoso musicianship, innovative compositions and – most importantly – its ability to

uplift audiences.

The band members are extraordinary: • Nicholas Ng (China) - Urhu (Chinese violin), explores Chinese traditions and music; • Yaw Derkyi - (Ghana) explores Ghanaian animist rituals and percussion; • Shohrat Tursun - (East Turkistan) is a recognised master in 1,000 year old song cycles using voice and Dutar; • Bukhu Ganburged – (Mongolia) showcases the ancient art of throat singing and horse fiddle; • Victor Vales - (Mexico) shares the sacred sound of the baroque harp; • Ngoc Tuan Hoang – (Vietnam) plays classical guitar and is a master of

the Vietnamese chanting tradition; • Gambirra Illume – an Indigenous Australian vocalist and creator of ceremony; • Maria Mitar (Croatia) – Vocals; • Jonathan Nanlohy – (Indonesia/ Aust) Double Bass; • Seyed Salar Hosseini (Iran)- Violin; and • Richard Petkovic – (Bankstown)– Music director and cross cultural music facilitator - harmonium and guitar.

If you’re a Joan High Street Subscriber you can purchase single tickets to this show at a 20% discount, and there are also special group prices.

Kids can come along for just $15.

Remember, a “Sunday well spent brings a week of content” so tap into the laid-back Sunday vibe, ignite your senses and head to The Joan for an afternoon that will set the tone for the rest of the week!

Tickets: Adult $45/Concession $40/ Child $15 Groups of four or more Adult $40/Concession $35 High Street Season Subscribers: Adult $36 / Concession $32 To book call The Joan’s Box Office on 4723-7600 or online at www. thejoan.com.au.

The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre is located at 597 High Street, Penrith. Nearby parking and public transport is available.

17 Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

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18 Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

Prada’s Priscillas drags up Penrith

By Kerrie Davies

DAHHHLINGS! Rip out the party dresses, the fake lashes and the bling, because Prada’s Priscillas plays at Panthers Penrith on September 30.

The all-male revue pays a special tribute to Australian entertainer, Carlotta and internationally renowned, Les Girls.

Flanked by gorgeous men, lead singer Prada Clutch and her ‘girls’, take you on a journey from where it all began with Les Girls in the 60’s, across the Aussie outback with Priscilla Queen of the Desert in the 90’s and into 2017 with a celebration of today’s music icons.

Prada’s Priscillas is headlined by the charismatic Prada Clutch; one of Australia’s most in-demand livesinging drag queens. Prada has featured in stage shows across Australia, from Sydney, to the Gold Coast, to Alice Springs, as well as in New Zealand.

She draws her inspiration from the likes of Dusty Springfield, Patti LaBelle, Bette Midler and Cher.

“It is a spectacular production; so big, fabulous and exciting,” Prada said.

“It’s a journey through the history of drag; through the Les Girls days, to Priscilla to the current and beyond.”

The show runs for 90 minutes, with two 45 minute halves. Be sure to pack your dancing shoes because audiences across the state who have seen the show have found it impossible to stay in their chairs once the music starts pumping out.

Prada was studying musical theatre during the Priscilla hype. She dressed in drag for her birthday and ended up making a career out of it.

Many people told her that it wasn’t a career-making option; but Prada isn’t one to resist a challenge.

“They said ‘don’t rely on it as a career, work comes and goes, just have fun.’ I was definitely having fun, but I also love a challenge, especially

when told I can’t do something!”

Prada said.

Prada said she has “lived off drag” for nine years now. As well as the touring show, she also runs Dom’s Drag Bingo on the first Thursday of every month at Panthers.

“The show has been amazing, but I can’t take all the credit,” Prada said.

“Creative Director Monique Kelly has been outstanding. Add to that a visit to our opening show from Carlotta herself, who gave a resounding endorsement, and I couldn’t be more pleased at all the support.”

The Creative Director Prada speaks highly of is one of Australia’s original Les Girls, Monique Kelly. Monique

was a member of Les Girls from 1973 to 1997. She has a keen eye for detail and a photographic memory of how it was done in her day, making her an asset to the show. She’s the pot of gold from the Golden Mile, says Prada.

The show features a cast of seven, choreographed by Stephen Clarke.

Stephen has been Dancing and Choreographing professionally since 1985. Stephen’s experience extends to working with Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Cyndi Lauper and Diana Ross.

The ninety-minute show features some of Priscilla Queen of the Desert’s greatest hits including: • I Love the Night Life • Go West • Shake Your Groove Thing • Finally • I Will Survive -plus a few surprise hits from some of today’s music icons and divas that have inspired drag performances around the world.

Jam-packed with dazzling feathers, wigs, head-pieces and costumes, you will not forget this glittering drag spectacular.

Avoid disappointment and don’t take too long to book - this sell-out show has been packed to the rafters at every venue they’ve played at. Get your tickets at www.PradasPriscillas. com.

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Roll up, roll up the circus is in town

By Kerrie Davies

Stardust Circus is Australia’s largest animal circus. Their animals have been trained with the reward method and are treated as part of this large family.

Stardust circus is operated by Janice and Lindsay Lennon, along with five brothers and sisters from the West circus family. Along with their partners and children, these people are the core of the circus. The family have been in the circus industry all their lives and are proudly bringing up the next generation of performers within this supportive family structure.

The circus has performing animals including African lions, mischievous monkeys, five magnificent liberty horses as well as miniature trick ponies.

You will also witness a large flying trapeze troupe, a spectacular 10 person Hungarian trained Teeter Board (springboard) act, dynamic aerialists high above your head, acrobatic comedy and, of course, crazy clowns. From New York they have a sensational flying trapeze

Photo: Darin Basile - www.daflye.net

artist who has just joined the circus and presents unbelievable tricks high in the air.

The circus travels on 22 motor vehicles including semi trailers, 14 trucks and many 4WDs – all towing caravans and equipment trailers.

Stardust Circus travels to outback towns and communities as well as showing in all major cities in Australia.

Janice Lennon said audiences need not feel concerned for the welfare of the animals.

“We love our animals. They are part of our family and integral to our identity as a circus. Their safety and comfort is of the utmost importance to us and we are dedicated to their care from birth, throughout their performing years and into retirement,” Mrs Lennon said.

“Our animal enclosures are set up in full view of the public. Every day, many people visit the circus just to see our animals from outside our security fencing.

“We are occasionally inspected by the RSPCA and have always been found to comply and exceed all regulations. Each of our animals receive the very best in veterinary care and every member of our circus treats them with love and respect.”

Fri 8th September to Sun 17th September showtimes Fri 8th Sept Sat 9th Sept Sun 10th Sept

7pm 2pm & 5pm 11am & 2pm

Wed 13th Sept Thur 14th Sept Fri 15th Sept Sat 16th Sept Sun 17th Sept

7pm NO SHOW 7pm 2pm & 5pm 11am & 2pm

0418 247 287

19 Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

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Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

Property Central opens in Mulgoa PROPERTY Central Penrith has just moved into Mulgoa and with it comes a very unique and exciting style of business.

Paul Wallace, Director of Property Central Penrith and Mulgoa, said the new office in Mulgoa will expand the brand’s reach and will help Property Central better serve the people of Greater Penrith.

“We thought it was a good place to expand. Our business has been growing for the last ten years and it made good sense to move into Mulgoa because it is a growing area,” Mr Wallace said.

“It is a growing area and a growing market.”

The Penrith branch of Property Central was named agency of the year for 2017 and it is something that Mr Wallace wants to chase for the freshly established Mulgoa office.

The team have launched in Mulgoa because they’re keen to capitalise on all the growth that will come from the Western Sydney Airport and the Business and Technology Park.

Mr Wallace said that clients of the Mulgoa office would be pleased to know that the staff who work there are people who know the area. He said the Agents based in Mulgoa are true locals who know their way around town.

“We are a big brand and we’ve got some dynamic methods of sale. The agents know their local market,” Mr Wallace said.

“They’re good honest people who will give great service and understand what it is to be a local.”

Having two offices based in the Greater Penrith region, Mr Wallace said Property Central can now best serve the communities and villages of Mulgoa, Wallacia, Silverdale and Warragamba.

He added that anyone looking to sell or buy can always trust in the team at Property Central Penrith and Mulgoa.  Paul Wallace, Director of Property Central Penrith & Mulgoa. Photo: Supplied.

ALWAYS BE FINANCIALLY PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE TROUBLE AHEAD With Steve Beard Select Mortgage Broker

The Australian and local economies have been quite smooth over the past 5 or so years. On the positive side, unemployment has been reducing very slowly and there was a slight increase in hours worked and average take home wages recently after a few years of stagnate wages growth. Anyone owning a property in Sydney feels rich as the values have risen around 70% over the last 5 years as well.

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

On the international scene, we are seeing more and more negative events with terrorism, crazy actions of the North Korean dictator and the daily crazy antics and reactions from Mr Trump, the so called leader of the “free world”.

In Europe, you also have the major changes to come out of the UK leaving the European Union which have not commenced yet.

In Sydney, the average property is now over a crazy 10 times the average household annual income. The bigger problem though is that the average household is spending 44 percent of their income to service their home

loan. If interest rates were to increase by 1 percent then they would have to spend 55% of their income to service the same home loan.

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

On the back of these higher living costs, overall consumer confidence has been declining now for many years and is why traditional shop front retailers are doing it tough. People who have high incomes and good equity in their properties are still confident when it comes to buying property to live in or as investments because they know there is strong demand to live in Sydney and Melbourne and to a lesser extent, Brisbane and Hobart currently.

My experience and the various articles I read lead me to think that we are due for a bit of an economic correction and that it would be a good time to consolidate your financial situation.

The chart below details the percentage of home loans that are in arrears by more than 90 days. NSW has the lowest percentage but that could easily rise in a short time frame. If people lose their jobs, or their hours and incomes reduce, or they get a major illness or have unexpected babies etc etc etc, they may quickly find themselves in financial stress.

If too many people get into financial stress and confidence in the economy and property decreases, then you can

Mortgage Arrears Rates Balance-weighted share of securitised loans; 90+ days in arrears

Sources: ABS; RBA; Securitisation System

find you have more sellers than buyers all of a sudden and prices may decline.

We haven’t had this situation in Sydney for more than 5 years so history tells us the wheels of the cycle are due to change any time now.

I was born in 1962 so I have lived through some tougher times of high unemployment and higher home loan interest rates that climbed up to 18 percent. If you were born after 1980, you probably haven’t seen hard economic times.

My advice is to always be ready for harder times that may come around the corner. Don’t rely on credit cards to live, have a buffer of extra repayments

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in your home loan and a buffer of cash put aside for rainy days.

Those who chose to live from week to week on the edge are the first ones to fall of the cliff if there is a correction or cliff that suddenly appears.

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

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Celebrity ROUND 26

COWBOYS EELS ROOSTERS SEA EAGLES BRONCOS RABBITOHS TITANS PANTHERS August 31 7.50pm

September 1 7.50pm

September 2 3.00pm

September 2 5.30pm

STORM RAIDERS

KNIGHTS SHARKS

September 2 7.30pm

September 3 2.00pm

DRAGONS WESTS TIGERS BULLDOGS WARRIORS September 3 4.00pm

September 3 6.30pm

SCORE

Sharon Mudiman - First National Glenmore Park - 0413 757 998

232 Greg Taylor - Stanton & Taylor - 0418 235 333

242 Lauren Fitzpatrick - Penrith Valley Prestige Cleaning - 0415 166 306

218 Mark Fitzpatrick - Penrith Valley Pest Control - 0430 220 263

250 Toby Hughes - Sinclair Hyundai - 4720 1111

216 Daniel Galea - Adenbrook Homes - 9622 4091

240 Vic Shipley - Powersmart Electrical - 0415 982 093

224 Tricia Hitchen - Deputy Mayor - 0417 365 313

240 John Thain - Penrith City Mayor - 0411 427 812

218 Jeff WatsonBenard - Club Bratusa President, St Marys Band Club - 9623 1211 Councillor

250 Aaron Tyres- -Venue @printManager, Pioneer Tavern - 4736 4466 Iris Russell

212

TIPSTERS ROUND 26

COWBOYS EELS ROOSTERS SEA EAGLES BRONCOS RABBITOHS TITANS PANTHERS August 31 7.50pm

September 1 7.50pm

September 2 3.00pm

September 2 5.30pm

STORM RAIDERS

KNIGHTS SHARKS

September 2 7.30pm

September 3 2.00pm

DRAGONS WESTS TIGERS BULLDOGS WARRIORS September 3 4.00pm

September 3 6.30pm

SCORE

Mark Geyer - Nepean News columnist

226 Drew Clegg - BOQ - 0427 998 111

224 David Seager - Seager Financial Services - 0411 107 776

200 Prue Car - Memberfor Londonderry - 9833 1122

202 Victor Glanville - Vic’s Maxi Transport - 4732 2195

236 Peter Zaccazan - Zac Homes - 1300 350 793

236 Alex McKenzie - Future Financial Services - 0414 330 651

236 Paul Wallace - Property Central - 0412 272 407

240 Jim Hill - Nepean Solar - 0425 281 626

232 Steve Beard - Select Mortgage - 0403 166 207

222 Aaron Tyers - @print - 4731 5055 Nicole Keene - Blink Property - 1300 629 610

214

26

sport

Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

Coach’s Corner Managing conflict

Continued from last issue...

This is in no way meant to paint all parents as crazy and emotional people who are head hunting every coach! In my now 10 years coaching I have had to deal with only three challenging situations with parents. And on all three occasions I was able to work with the parents and talk through the issue by sharing our thoughts, opinions and concerns and come to a solution which was in the best interest of the player.

Do not block parents out and isolate yourself because a line of effective communication is vital, however it just needs to be structured the right way to ensure it is not a distraction or is abused.

In the end parents and coaches want the same thing. The difference is a coach has to balance the ambitions and desires of an entire team, not just one individual.

Club politics and internal conflict is also something which you may encounter as a coach. How do I go about minimising the effect this has on my ability to coach and get the best out of the team? Before agreeing to terms or signing on in any capacity with a club to coach I ensure I have the following: – A clear understanding of my role and job description. What am I expected to do? What are my responsibilities? Who am I accountable to?

In a professional capacity this will often come in the form of a contract, within junior clubs I would still encourage you to get something in writing to know what the club expects of you in order to best understand your responsibilities. Make sure you clarify this before accepting any position. If I know what is expected of me then I can go about ensuring that I am doing the best possible job in order to meet those expectations.

– An understanding of what aspects to which I have control as a coach. Do I select the final team?

Do I control or have input on the players the club recruits? Do I get to appoint my coaching staff? Do I set training times and venues? Get all the information in order to make the best decision.

– Minimise the impact any politics or internal conflict will have on my role by ensuring I am clear when taking on any position that I am there to coach.

“Coaches coach, players play and administrators administrate. Do not blur the lines”. There is no better way to summarise how to best avoid conflict and politics within a Rugby League club.

– If you do find yourself in a situation where you have concerns over your ability to perform your job without interference then I would suggest not taking on the role under those conflicting circumstances. If you are committed to the position and you encounter problems it is imperative that you minimise the effect this has on your ability to coach the football team on a day to day basis and attempt to solve the internal issues through direct and honest communication with the individual(s) who are creating the internal problems.

These guidelines are not a guaranteed solution to avoiding politics or internal conflict within a Rugby League club. However if you are transparent, honest and direct when negotiating the terms of your role description and understand the expectations the club has of you that will then place you in the best possible position to achieve success within that particular organisation.

Conflict within a coaching staff in my experience is very rare. This is mainly due to the fact I would rather work with a small staff that I can trust and rely on, rather than a having a large staff who are

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

underutilised or who are unreliable. Discontent within a coaching staff has the potential to occur if coaches are unprepared or are not clear in the expectations they have of their coaching staff. The most difficult role in coaching is the undefined role. And having walked in those shoes on a few occasions it can definitely become disheartening and counterproductive very quickly for a staff member who is not clear on what their role or responsibility is and who finds themselves underutilised or made to feel undervalued. Remember all of or the majority of your coaching staff is made up of volunteers who have made the commitment based on a passion for the game or a loyalty to you or a player within the team, do not abuse that in any way shape or form as volunteers are the life blood of Rugby League.

Make sure as the head coach that you are clear with your staff and that they are given specific defined roles well before training for the new season commences.

Be open in your dialogue with the members of your coaching staff and in your meetings / conversations identify their strengths and weaknesses. Discuss and assist your coaching staff to improve their weaknesses and utilise their strengths to best help the team. This will allow you to best utilise your staff effectively to ensure they are engaged and are contributing to the best of their ability. This responsibility is solely that of the head coach, it is counterproductive to appoint staff who you are not going to utilise regardless of how successful they are in their chosen field.

Overall it is vital that coaches are effective communicators in order to best avoid conflict within all aspects of the game. Honesty and transparency will ensure you maintain strong relationships and integrity with the players, parents, club personnel, staff and fellow coaches.

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Sports Scenes

(With Thanks to 77 Media)

Last Sunday the cameras of 77 Media were on hand to capture all the tension between two sides who had plenty at stake as the weather gods ensured Penrith’s last home game would be a wet and wild affair.

Penrith’s last home game of the season attracted their biggest crowd since 2014 - almost 19,000.

Even Penrith’s Old Boys turned up en-masse.

Penrith were on top for varying stages of the game....

With Reagan Campbell-Gillard one of Penrith’s best once more, up against cousin Tariq Sims......

But cousin Tariq had the last laugh stealing the win from Penrith’s grasps.

At least one little Panther was happy despite the loss.

We won’t be relying on results: Yeo

By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

Penrith back-rower Isaah Yeo remains confident the Panthers can bounce back and make the finals in their own right with a win over Manly this Saturday night.

Penrith have the wood on Manly in recent seasons having won seven of their past eight games overall and three of their last five at Lottoland (Brookvale Oval for the purists) including the last two games.

The Panthers will go into the clash knowing they could be the first team since Canberra (1999 – 31 points) to miss out on the top eight despite reaching 30 competition points, should they lose to Manly and the Cowboys and Dragons also win their games.

A North Queensland loss with their inferior for and against on the other hand, could allow the Panthers to qualify for the finals, even with a loss to Manly.

But despite North Queensland playing Brisbane at home two nights earlier and the Dragons playing the Bulldogs less than 24 hours later, Yeo says he won’t be too fussed about watching the games, instead preferring that he and his team mates concentrate on winning the game instead of focusing on other results.

“Not really (fussed on watching those games). If we win we make those semis, simple as that,” Yeo told Nepean News.

“We don’t want to be relying on results too much and sleeping on it.

“If we don’t win then we’re relying on them, but if we put ourselves into a good position by preparing well despite a short turnaround then I think we can look forward to the challenge.”

 Yeo says a win not other results will determine Penrith’s finals fate. Credit 77 Media.

The Dragons’ loss was hard to fathom given the Panthers were coming off arguably one of their best wins of the season in defeating Canberra away the previous Sunday.

But Yeo says that despite expecting the Dragons to put in a similar effort to Canberra given they too were playing for their season following Manly’s miracle golden point win over the hapless Warriors in Auckland, the team despite its effort was let down by poor discipline and ball security.

“Obviously we knew they (the Dragons) were going to come out firing but we knew the same thing with the Raiders last week too and were able to match that,” Yeo conceded.

“I can’t really fault our physical effort but it was our ill-discipline and lack of ball security that put us on the back foot.

“There were a few times we had them pinned down but we kept letting them out too easy with penalties.

“We had only about 45% of the ball and to still be in it, to come down to a one in a million try from Tariq Sims, he strips the ball and runs 40-50 metres, it was a once in a season kind of thing, very unlucky.”

Yeo did admit that the loss of Dylan Edwards at halftime did unsettle the side but is confident the team will be better equipped to deal with the fullback’s absence for this week’s

clash with Manly.

“Not ideal, it sort of pushed our structure out a little bit,” Yeo declared.

“Waqa Blake’s been going really well in the right centre position and he got moved to the wing and I had to go to the centres.

“It probably took a little bit out of our attack and Dylan at fullback has been tremendous for us since he came into grade in the middle of the year so that’s two attacking losses (now).

“But I think we’ve got the players to get over the line against Manly.

“We were right in it until five minutes to go when they kept repeating set after set after set which cruelled us a little bit.”

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27 Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

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28

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Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

Panthers’ latest centurion puts unfinished business aside for do-or-die clash

By Stewart Moses @TheRiffMarn

Panthers winger Josh Mansour, has come a long way since joining the club in 2012, unwanted by South Sydney despite a having a successful year in the Holden Cup. The popular winger has overcome several injury setbacks to represent both his state and country.

One of those injury setbacks came late last year whilst achieving the highest honour in the game – representing the Kangaroos and Mansour admits he has unfinished business in regards to regaining that Kangaroos jersey for this year’s World Cup. But in the week leading into his 100th NRL game, Mansour equally says he can’t afford to let that get the better of him as Penrith prepares for their biggest game of the season against Manly.

“Personally I feel like I have unfinished business (re: the Kangaroos),” Mansour responded.

“I had my tour ended last year which was a disappointment for myself.

“It’s a privilege to wear that jersey, the ultimate honour in rugby league and personally I want to be back in that side.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to get that jersey back provided I keep my form up here and keep playing good footy first and foremost.

“Obviously it has been a disrupted year for myself but I’m confident in my own ability and hopefully my form in the back-end of the season leads to higher honours.

“But in saying that I’m not really thinking about that right now, it is outside noise and I don’t want it to distract me out on the footy park.

Mansour’s 100 NRL game achievement reflects

 Josh Mansour says he has unfinished business after injury curtailed his Four Nations campaign with the Kangaroos.

Credit: 77 Media.

just how young and work in progress this Panthers side really is given that only prop Sam McKendry has played more games for Penrith from within the current roster.

The 27-year old winger says he is humbled just to have the opportunity to play this many games in the NRL. “It’s always a privilege to put on a NRL jersey every game,” Mansour said.

“It reminds you how hard it is and how much you’ve got to work to play at this level.

“It’s very humbling, playing 100 games for this club especially is a privilege.”

The loss to St George-Illawarra threatens to derail Penrith’s late season push for a finals spot that saw them win seven games straight and eleven of their last thirteen.

In fact just to make the finals, Penrith will need to overcome a notorious record for missing the finals when needing a win in the last round, having only won in 1985 a final round game in order to qualify (and via a midweek playoff against Manly too), whilst failing to do so in 1984, 1988 (including a mid-week playoff) and 2009.

But Mansour says the key to preparing for such a clash is to treat it as a normal game as much as possible.

“We just want to take it as a normal game, obviously Manly are going to come out firing at their last home game at Lottoland so we have just got to regroup and have a good week at training,” Mansour replied.

“We did have a good run but we just can’t get comfortable with ourselves and other than that we just need to keep our heads up high.

“Obviously we know what areas of our game we have to fix up and hopefully we can fix that in a relatively short period of time.

“End of the day we need to win football matches and that’s what matters.”

CROSSWORD ACROSS 6 Bedchamber (7) 7 Not behind (5) 9 Not new (4) 10 One-sided (10) 11 Criterion (8) 13 Choosing (6) 15 Location (4) 17 Without advance

preparation (5) 18 Spouse (4) 19 Small talk (6) 20 Mild rebuke (8) 23 Taking money out

of an account (10) 26 A slow-witted person

(archaic) (4) 27 Breed (5) 28 Fully ripe (7)

DOWN 1 Remarkable things or people (10) 2 Monetary unit of Slovakia (6) 3 Wild African sheep (4) 4 Burial tunnel (8) 5 Expunge (4) 6 Stupefy with infatuation (5) 8 Trawl net (7) 12 Painful grief (5) 14 Senseless behavior (10) 16 Piano keys (slang) (7) 17 Evident (8) 21 Plane drivers (6) 22 Flogged (5) 24 Cure (4) 25 Uterus (4)

solution 17/8/17

Repeat Sets with Stew Moses

@TheRiffMarn

FINALS SPOT STILL A LOTTERY BUT WIN AND THE PANTHERS ARE IN After 25 Rounds, sixth-placed Penrith are still to secure a spot in this year’s top eight despite having reached 30 points courtesy of a come from behind win in Canberra that was somewhat undone last Sunday by a two point loss at home to the Josh Dugan-less Dragons.

Having had their faint hopes for a top-four finish extinguished, the Panthers now face the daunting task of going to Lottoland (Brookvale) this Saturday night without Dylan Edwards (knee) and most likely Matt Moylan (hamstring).

A win will secure at least sixth spot and a “home” elimination final in Sydney in week one of the finals (possibly fifth if Cronulla somehow lose in Newcastle) against either North Queensland, Manly or Cronulla.

There is a remote chance that Penrith could finish seventh and travel to Townsville for week one of the finals should the Cowboys defeat Brisbane and overcome Penrith’s for and against advantage.

But lose and the Panthers’ equation to playing finals footy gets murky with four teams fighting over three finals spots.

If the Panthers lose to the Sea Eagles AND: 1) Cowboys (NQ) defeat Broncos (BRI) and Dragons (STI) defeat Bulldogs (CBY), Penrith will finish 9th.

2) NQ win and STI lose, Penrith will finish 8th.

3) NQ and STI both lose, Penrith will finish 7th.

4) NQ lose, Penrith will finish 8th (provided for and against isn’t a factor).

The Panthers’ current predicament came after the 16-14 loss to the Dragons in their last home game of the season, having led twice before Tariq Sims came up with arguably the play of the season to steal the ball off replacement fullback Dallin WateneZelezniak and race over 40 metres to score.

Nathan Cleary, had a rare day to forget, missing six tackles and making three errors, including two missed tackles that led to tries to Paul Vaughan and Matthew Dufty.

While once again the 50/50 calls from two more of Penrith’s least favourite referees Ben Cummins and Gerard Sutton favoured the opposition, Penrith’s eleven errors and 48 missed tackles was what mattered according to coach Anthony Griffin.

“Obviously it was a big game with a big prize at the end there,” Griffin lamented.

“I couldn’t have been any happier with their

“The penalty count and the weight of possession was against us in that second half.

“As a football team, obviously we had a chance to win it today in our own right and we had to win it again and that’s hard to do.

“We put ourselves in that position but to be able to win it again, that’s probably the take home point for me.”

 Tyrone Peachey has declared that Penrith are better team than Manly. Credit 77 Media.

endeavour and we had the game in our grasps a few times there.

“Even when we were behind on the scoreboard, it felt like we were in control of the game with the actual cycle and the grind of the game.

“A couple of times we did get the scoreboard the way we wanted it.

“But we gave it up with errors and gave our field position up.

“A couple of big plays, obviously the strip against the run of play (also didn’t help).

“We had our opportunities to take momentum in the game at times but we let those go today unfortunately.

“We were just a little bit our own worst enemies at vital times and we paid a price for it.”

A week earlier Penrith got off to a strong start that quickly evaporated in the wake of the 50/50 calls from the referees during the second half, before some late-game heroics from rookie Tyrone May enabled the Panthers to reclaim the two competition points with a 26-22 win.

It was easily Penrith’s best win in their winning run given they made the most of their completions and defended well enough to concede just two tries despite the plethora of possession and territorial advantage Canberra enjoyed for much of the second half, according to Griffin.

“Obviously one of our best efforts under the circumstances,” Griffin declared.

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Penrith finished in third place after recording back-to-back wins over North Sydney (24-16) and Wentworthville (44-14) and will take on the New Zealand Warriors in the qualifying final this Sunday at UOW Kogarah Oval, in a replay of last year’s elimination final.

The winner will advance to the preliminary final in a fortnight’s time while the loser plays the winner of the North Sydney and Newcastle elimination final.

David Tangata-Toa’s Holden Cup side continues to splutter its’ way towards what is hoped to be a top four spot, defeating bottom eight side, Canberra 48-28 before succumbing 40-10 to the St George-Illawarra.

The Panthers who have yet to defeat a top eight side since Brisbane back in Round Nine, could finish as low as fifth should they lose to another top-eight side in Manly this Saturday afternoon.

Already missing the likes of Billy Burns, Brian Too and Tom Skinner to injury and Jarome Luai, Liam Martin to the ISP side, the Panthers will now have to make do without Wayde Egan this week after he took an early guilty plea to a Grade Two Dangerous Contact charge.

In NRL team news, Dean Whare has been named at fullback ahead of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak for this week’s clash with Manly. Matt Moylan (hamstring) has also been named in the 21-man squad.

The 21-man squad is as follows in numeric order: Whare, Mansour, Peachey, Blake, D WateneZelezniak, May, Cleary, Tamou, Wallace (C), Campbell-Gillard, Harawira-Naera, Yeo, FisherHarris.

Interchange: Katoa, B Cartwright, Browne, Merrin, Leota, Kikau, Moylan, J Cartwright Hopefully Brisbane can do Penrith a favour with a big win in Townsville this Thursday so that Penrith’s path to the finals gets just that little bit easier!

See you at the game. #PantherPride

29 Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

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Nepean News 31 August 2017 Issue 208

GOLDEN POINTS with Stew Moses

@TheRiffMarn

DYLAN EDWARDS THE LATEST TO FALL VICTIM TO PENRITH’S “SPINAL CURSE” Dylan Edwards’ knee injury continues an injury steak to have hindered Penrith’s “spine” throughout 2017.

Since Peter Wallace went down with a groin injury in Round 11 versus Newcastle, the Panthers have only been able to play their first choice spine – Edwards, Matt Moylan, Nathan Cleary and Wallace just twice since, in Rounds 20 and 23, a telling factor considering their attack has at times looked clunky.

The latest setback, which is expected to keep the rookie of the year contender out for at least three weeks, when coupled with Matt Moylan’s new hamstring injury (despite being named in this week’s 21-man squad), means Griffin may have to rely on either Dean Whare, who hasn’t played fullback at the NRL level in over four years or Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to fill the spot.

coming to an end, the club will retain the venue’s naming rights and will be known as Panthers Stadium from January 1, 2018.

The decision is seen as a major investment as the Panthers Group looks to leverage its’ brand off the exposure received through its participation in the NRL. Trent Merrin took the place of stand-in skipper Peter Wallace missed last Sunday’s post-game presser for one very simple reason – a nasty cut lip was suffered by the hooker in the closing stages of the game.  Double jeopardy with Penrith now without the services of Dylan Edwards and Matt Moylan for this Saturday’s do-or-die clash with Manly. Credit: 77 Media.

While the NRL and the RLPA have yet to agree on the 2018 $9.4 salary cap currently agreed to by the clubs, Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher has confirmed that the current playing roster can be accommodated into the cap.

“We’ve got no problems with the salary cap,” Fletcher replied.

“But while we can meet the requirements with the players we’ve (already) got, there will always be players who come and go too.”

members, knowing that when they are going to go to the football, the team will be a 70-85% chance of winning the game.

“It’s been over two decades since it was that strong.”

It appears one of those players who could be going for 2018 however is Mitch Rein, with confirmation the Intrust Super Premiership Hooker of the Year has been given permission to negotiate elsewhere.

Tim Grant’s decision to take up an option to remain with the Wests Tigers ends for now recent speculation the former Panther prop was looking to come home.

Fletcher also confirmed that the Panthers board has unanimously agreed to extend coach Anthony Griffin’s contract out to the end of 2020 with the deal set to be finalised shortly.

“Griffin’s a great coach, he’s got the right beliefs, the right culture for these young players and along with football consultant Phil Gould there’s no dramas at all,” Fletcher responded.

“He’s a long term coach for us and the board is unanimous in that way going forward and we’ll extend him for a couple of years.

“We’ll keep going with the process of developing young players and with Phil and Hook they’re the men at the top.

“It’s a wonderful future coming up for the

Unsigned Panther Sitaleki Akauola has agreed to a two year deal with English Super League club, Warrington Wolves, joining another former Panther in Peta Hiku.

Last Sunday, Penrith drew its biggest crowd in over three years, 18,848.

But the sight of a significant portion of those in attendance leaving the game at halftime due to lack of shelter from the elements, reinforces the point that while smaller suburban grounds are still the preferred choice of rugby league fans, they are equally entitled to adequate facilities too.

Many are asking when current NSW sports minister and the Member for Penrith, Stuart Ayres will put the concept of an “Outer Western Sydney Stadium” back on the agenda.

Meanwhile Panthers have announced that with Pepper Money’s three year naming rights deal

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Anthony Griffin, who coached his 150th NRL game a day after his 51st birthday last Sunday will coach his 50th game for Penrith this Saturday.

It might have been a mixed fortnight on the field for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak but it’s been a great fortnight off it for the Kiwi international, recently celebrating his 21st birthday and the birth of his first child, Orlando. Congratulations to Dallin and wife Purdy.

Everyone by now knows that Nathan Cleary broke Graeme Eadie’s record to become the youngest player to score 200 points in a season during the Canberra match.

But what isn’t perhaps as well known is that Penrith Holden Cup half, Dean Blore just hours earlier brought up 200 points for the season as well.

That doesn’t happen every day at the one club!

Also congratulations to this year’s top point scorer in the ISP competition, Darren Nicholls, who was very unlucky not to have been chosen as ISP halfback of the year.

Sticking with ISP and congratulations are also in order for team manager, Charlie Vella who recently brought up his 300th game of service to the club in Penrith’s win over North Sydney.

Vella, who since 2006 has served the likes of Adam Przybyla, Guy Missio, Steve Georgallis and Garth Brennan, nominates Matt Moylan is the best player he has seen come through this level and ranks the 2014 NSW Cup Premiership win as the obvious highlight of a stellar career to date.

See you at the game. #PantherPride

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With sports fans across the country on pause to watch the boxing last weekend, MG took the opportunity to throw mate Mark Warren into the ring again to write this week’s column.

#MAYMAC #SocialMediaPhenomenom #PPVEXTRAVAGANZA #FromTheRanch #TheRiff There was a new generation of fight game enthusiasts: a captured the imagination of mainstream sports fans. I like boxing, young fan-base who follow the game via their phones, twitter, I watch the big fights -never missed Fenech or Tszyu - but it’s insta and youtube. Mayweather and McGregor had them at hard not to be disillusioned with some of the red hot affairs that are hello. dished up for us to pay for the privilege to watch. I love UFC and I spent the morning at St Marys Stadium watching the when it’s on in Australia later this year I’ll be there as we (the riff yearlings go around in the Under 16s first division Penrith crew) were in Melbourne for Ronda Rousey’s first taste of defeat in JRL Grand Final with real talent on show - but respectfully the front of the biggest UFC crowd in history. Dana White is a genius.’ action was on the phones on the sidelines frantically making Many boxing fans were and still are disillusioned with this calls. Was there enough ice for the esky? Local Bbq chicken fight but numbers talk and bulldust walks a combined 400 million stocks an all-time low. Coleslaw and bread rolls a premium at reasons to dance.

Coles Southlands. All eyes on the clock, not the scoreboard.

Ding Ding it’s on, and for the first time I see Mayweather walking The time had come, Mayweather McGregor. But did it answer forward, hands high in boxing terms shelling up, walking forward any questions or just raise more? In the leadup more twists and there is no doubt about the business plan. Drain McGregor, then turns than a Ray Donavan episode. A circus. And we all paid drown him in the deep end. The strategy was spot on. Forty-one one way or another. years old, hadn’t fought in over two years with no knock outs since Source: Facebook Your guest columnist totally outnumbered. A boxing tragic, 2011. Mayweather explained “It was all part of the plan, let him sat surrounded like a scene from Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven. Names like shoot away then take him out in the stretch.” For the record, even diehard Ninety Five - yep that’s his name, Raff, Tommy, Spook, Charlie, Dylan, Jake, UFC fanatics like the ones I sat with at The Ranch cannot and will not find a Jman, Vman, Meags, MG, Loges, Monnie, Boo and a guy called Manny. No fight where Money Mayweather just walked up hands held high. It was perfect guys, not that Manny - although this kid is fast, very fast! All bar the writer, strategy. Great business. totally obsessed with this social media phenomenon, an Irish Rock Star called To McGregor’s credit, he was there to fight, and fight he did. It was not for Connor McGregor. The Vegas sunset is always eerily beautiful, this one was the boxing purist, but how do you not be cautious of a young gun who believes. extra eerie, Vegas was in lockdown. The time had almost come. Almost.

Mayweather was both cautious and perhaps, part curious. Connor landed a Into Floyd’s dressing room rarefied space. Floyd was ah um….ah….getting a couple of good shots and surprised greatly. head massage to the tunes of Elton John’s part time lover. Wow. Geyer believes the opening rounds were McGregor’s. That’s debatable. That’s McGregor enters the stadium strutting like a peacock, dripping in designer the beauty of the fight game - square ring or octagon. MG’s opinion: ‘I watched apparel, and looked on... no doubt! There can be no doubt, the Irishman believes the fight again this morning and Connor won the first three rounds.” I’m not his own hype at this level stepping in with Floyd Money Mayweather, arguably arguing. Refer to previously mentioned rear-naked choke. Still recovering. the best defensive boxer of all time certainly the best of his era. His record 49 Many boxing pundits believe Mayweather carried Mcgregor. I’m not sure and 0 and 15 world titles in five different weight divisions, it’s a good thing the that’s a dangerous game in a high stakes affair where boxing’s reputation, as Irishman has this incredible self-belief as Mayweather eyeballs the legendry tarnished as it can be, was now under the bright lights like never before. For the Rocky Marciano’s 50 and 0 professional record and I’m not sure how I feel record, prior to the stoppage in round ten one judge had it 89 81, another 89 82 about that. and another 87 83 - all in favour of Mayweather.

Your regular columnist loves UFC. In fact, he put me in a rear-naked choke No one can deny McGregor has the heart of the size of Jeff Horn. No while trying to load up a fresh crusty bread roll with chook and slaw. I tapped Doubt. BUT he’s now included Jeff’s name in the mix for his next foray out, he’s still very strong at close quarters. Understatement. into boxing. Here’s a tip. Write it down. Jeff doesn’t have the experience Geyer is on the money - pardon the pun -when he claims that UFC has taken to carry anyone. He’s an animal when the bell goes, he’s a young gun and boxing’s frailties, thrown in some cutting-edge production and captured a Connor would be torn apart. Hashtag stay away! Mark My Words! massive PPV market and Connor McGregor cashed in deluxe. “McGregor has #Peoplepaytogotothecircus #Moneywellspent #Agoodshow

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