Nepean News 7 June 2024

Don’t delay!

COUNCIL’S Supporting Sustainable Choices Scheme ends soon.

Penrith households have until 30 June to apply for a financial rebate for purchasing a range of reusable items.

Eligible applicants can claim 50% of the purchase price, capped at $100 for reuseable sanitary and baby items, and $50 for rechargeable household batteries per household.

Claiming is easy and secure through Rebately’s online application platform. Simply upload your proof of address, purchase receipt, and nominated account details to receive your financial rebate.

By opting for reusable items, you’re helping to combat single-use problem waste. It’s good for you, and the environment. Working together for a sustainable future has never been so simple.

For more information and to apply visit, penrith.city/sustainablechoices

For purchases made from 1 January 2023. T&Cs apply.

*This project is a NSW Environment Protection Authority initiative funded by the waste levy.

95B STATION ST, PENRITH

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LOCAL NEWS

Investing in roads to ensure Airport takes off

BY KERRIE DAVIES

THE NSW Government says the 202425 NSW Budget will help open Western Sydney to the world, with more than $1 billion for roads connecting people and communities with the new International Airport and Bradfield City Centre.

In a statement the Minns Government said connecting Western Sydney International Airport, which is due to open in 2026, to communities is a key priority of the State Labor Government, and that this commitment builds on recently announced funding for the same roads by the Australian Government. Elizabeth Drive, which will take travellers directly to the new airport and connect major arteries of Mamre and Northen Roads, will see the state contribute $400 million for a longawaited upgrade into a four-lane divided road.

An additional $500 million will allow the next stage of construction to begin on Mamre Road between Erskine Park and Kemps Creek.

Mamre Road, a key freight route and zone for commercial development, will be widened with extra lanes to meet future growth, providing upgraded and new intersections and a new shared path for cyclists and pedestrians.

This Budget investment takes total Federal-State funding of Mamre Road to $1 billion.

The 2024-25 NSW Budget provides $115 million for Mulgoa Road to see a separated four-lane dual carriageway between Glenmore Park and Jeanette Street.

Planning and construction will be staged and sequenced to ensure the road network meets growth and travel demand, the government states.

“Western Sydney is the fastestgrowing region in the country, with a population expected to grow from two million to three million people over the next two decades,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car.

“The 2024-25 NSW Budget guarantees these critical roads advance by matching federal funding.

“This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build better communities for NSW. To ensure we’re building infrastructure which produces stronger, well-connected communities.

“A plan to build a better NSW.

“The NSW Labor Government is committed to building better roads in Western Sydney, supporting the city’s new international gateway.

“The Liberals talked a big game about Western Sydney, but when it came to providing for our community, they simply did not deliver, and road projects stalled.

“By investing with the Australian Government, these roadways will service the new Western Sydney International Airport and the surrounding community.”

Minister for Roads John Graham said this is an investment in jobs in Western Sydney.

“Today we make it clear through dollars and determination that the necessary road infrastructure will match the once in a generation, city-shaping, opportunity that is the Western Sydney International Airport.” Minister Graham said.

“Along with our partners in the Australian Government, we have identified where we need to invest, what we need to plan and we will deliver in a staged and methodical way that is appropriate for a fastgrowing region attracting people, commercial development and a large freight network.”

Liberal MP for Badgerys Creek, Tanya Davies released her own statement criticising the NSW Labor Government for what she said was “extraordinary delays in committing funding to ensure the connectivity of the road network surrounding the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.”

“My community and I have been loud and persistent in our demands for the appropriate infrastructure to meet the opportunities of the Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis.

“Only now does Labor see fit to announce funding, let alone complete the projects,” Mrs Davies said.

Mrs Davies questioned the timing of the announcement and suggested the community was paying the price for Labor’s “political games.”

“For Labor to delay the timing of the funding for crucial projects at convenient points in the electoral cycles has disastrous effects for the community. These projects should be well underway and past the point of funding announcements, media releases and photo opportunities.

“I’ll continue to be vocal and hold Labor to account to make up their lost ground and that we have these projects completed in time, with no compromise on quality,” concluded Mrs Davies.

Council receives funding boost for St Marys

PENRITH City Council has received $400,000 from the NSW Government to help create a more vibrant and thriving St Marys Town Centre.

The Community Improvement District (CID) Pilot Program funding will be used to deliver a suite of initiatives which were identified in the recently endorsed St Marys Town Centre Place Plan.

The Place Plan outlines actions over the next five years to enhance the Town Centre and was developed following extensive community engagement and planning.

Lighting and streetscape improvements, signage, programs to help prepare local businesses for future growth, and more events that celebrate local culture, will be funded through the grant.

A marketing campaign will also be implemented to encourage investment in St Marys, and to attract more people into the Town Centre to enjoy all that it has to offer.

Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said these initiatives will help to grow and strengthen the local economy.

“These improvements and programs will complement other significant projects in the area, like St Marys Central Park and the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport rail line, to establish St Marys as a strategic centre in Western Sydney,” Cr Carney said.

“We will collaborate closely with the St Marys Town Centre Corporation, local businesses, community members, and other organisations to deliver these initiatives.

“Council thanks the NSW Government for

recognising the importance of investing in St Marys and the benefits this funding will bring to our community.”

Minister for Western Sydney and Member for Londonderry Prue Car said she was delighted to see the plan to improve the town centre at St Marys.

“It is fantastic to see our local area set for revitalisation, particularly as work continues on the rail connection to Western Sydney Airport.

“Our community of St Marys has so much on offer – I cannot wait to see the new installations, lighting and other enhancements this initiative will bring.”

Find out more about the St Marys Town Centre Place Plan at: yoursaypenrith.com.au/stmarys

During these challenging times the TOTS collective strength shines brightest

PROUDLY in its 8th year, The Creative Fringe successfully completes the 1st round of the TOTS blanket challenge (Think Outside The Square Blanket Challenge) with their handover this week to all the charities.

This heart warming initiative continues to gain momentum each year and has brought the best out of the community, inspiring them to knit or crochet 20cm x 20cm squares that were then transformed into beautifully crafted blankets.

The Creative Fringe has proudly handed over the first batch of completed blankets, totalling 260. These magnificent blankets, created with love and dedication, have been generously donated to local charitable organisations, including Platform Youth Services, Penrith Community Kitchens, WestCare Services, The Haven Women’s Shelter Penrith, Link Wentworth - Together Homes and Cancer wellness Support.

Thanks to this extraordinary effort and the ongoing support of the charity partners working on the ground, ensure a significant number of Penrith’s rough sleepers, domestic violence survivors, mental health sufferers, elderly individuals, those people going through cancer treatments and members of the disadvantaged community have found solace in the embrace of love.

The generosity from the community has been overwhelming. The Creative Fringe continues to receive donations not just from the local Penrith area but from all across the country, some coming as far as Central Queensland and Victoria.

There are so many incredible stories, from volunteers young and old - children in schools learning to knit so they can be a part of this and aged care facilities are volunteering their sewing groups to help us reach the targets. Those in cancer remission, undergoing treatment, therapy, police officers and lawyers who knit their way through their Netflix series, everyday members of the community

who just want to give of their time, along with many disability groups that are now participating as a way to give back to our local community in need.

The TOTS challenge is now half way through its mission - In fact they have the ambitious goal of reaching their target of 650 blankets. It’s not too late to get involved. They are calling out to each and every one of you to keep knitting, crocheting, and sewing as they head toward their biggest goal ever for their final handover to charities on August 1st, 2024.

In support of the TOTS Blanket

Challenge, the Creative Fringe runs free Community Sewing Bee’s both day and evening classes which is a great way to bring together community, to find connection and purpose for a greater cause.

With special thanks this year to The Bunker - Café Bar Restaurant which has come on board to be the TOTS 2024 sponsor. The Creative Fringe is so grateful for their support in supplying delicious grazing boxes for our volunteers who attend these sewing bees to create these beautiful blankets for the community.

For further information about the TOTS Challenge or to schedule media interviews, please contact Barb Howard, Community Manager at The Creative Fringe.

We invite you to join us in celebrating the power of community, compassion, and a warm blanket.

Debbie O’Conner.

Gai Hawthorn.

The Creative Fringe and Charity Organisations.

Andrew Paech westcare.

Barb Howard and Meghan Winckle.

A garden to connect, reflect and heal

ASANCTUARY for communities has been unveiled at Nepean Hospital with the opening of the relocated Reconciliation Garden providing a space for healing and reflection.

The Garden symbolises Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District’s commitment to cultural connection.

Opened officially by Chief Executive, Lee Gregory, along with respected Aboriginal leaders from across our District, Clarke Scott, Joy Chapman, Stephen Ainsworth and the Director for Aboriginal Health, Rachel Scobie, the Reconciliation Garden is a welcoming and nurturing space for all who visit.

Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Chief Executive, Lee Gergory says this garden will be considered a safe haven for all.

“This garden is testament to resilience and cultural acknowledgement, emerging as a beautiful safe haven, a sanctuary for reflection and connection,” says Lee.

Art pieces featured in the garden had been created by current and former Aboriginal staff of Nepean Hospital and were relocated to this site due to the expansion of the new mental health building.

Plaques, rocks and plants have been dedicated to members of the Stolen Generations and to former esteemed staff who showed commitment to Aboriginal Health in the spirit of reconciliation.

A Wollemi Pine, an important Dharug plant, takes pride in the centre of the Garden and acts as a reminder of our resilience and strength.

Director for Aboriginal Health, Rachel Scobie

says reflecting on reconciliation is important and identifies the garden as a space to do that.

“Reconciliation is something I ask our colleagues across the District to action and commit to, now more than ever. It is really important for me to ensure Aboriginal people have safe and welcoming spaces for reconnection, healing and reflection,” says Rachel.

The Nepean Hospital Reconciliation Garden is located adjacent to the entrance to Building E. Staff, visitors, consumers, patients, and their families are all welcome to visit the garden.

The Reconciliation Garden was opened as part of Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District National Sorry Day commemoration on 27 May 2024.

Western Sydney TAFE NSW alum goes full circle

TAFE NSW is supporting Western Sydney’s hospitality scene thrive, investing in the next generation of chefs through their indemand apprenticeships.

With demand for chefs expected to increase by 14 per cent over the next five years in Sydney’s Outer West and Blue Mountains, TAFE NSW is delivering a pipeline of skilled workers to bolster the regions growing dining and bar scene.

According to research, many Western Sydney suburbs have seen double-digit annual growth in spending on dining and bars, making it a burgeoning hospitality industry and ideal training ground for apprentices.

TAFE NSW is supporting the region’s industry growth through hands on training and industry connections, connecting students with top tier apprenticeships.

TAFE NSW alum, and owner of three thriving Western Sydney hospitality venues, Rod Parberry uses his establishments as training ground for TAFE NSW commercial cookery apprentices.

Rod studied Commercial Cookery at TAFE NSW Kingswood and now runs three successful venues around Penrith: Mr Watkins, Elton Chong, and Harry Hartog’s Cafe.

Rod credits TAFE NSW with equipping him with the skills and confidence to build a career in hospitality, after completing his Certificate III in Commercial Cookery at TAFE NSW Kingswood.

“I changed careers from project management at 27 years old. Coming home from a long day at work and cooking was what made me happy, so I knew I had to pursue it. Studying at TAFE NSW opened

up that career to me, and I have never looked back,” said Rod.

Going from learning the ropes as an apprentice, to now running three successful establishments in Western Sydney, Rod wants to give back to the industry by giving TAFE NSW apprentices a place to learn the trade.

“I want to provide apprentices with training and career pathways. I know TAFE NSW is the best way to develop your knowledge and hands-on skills, so I look for students with a genuine passion for the kitchen.”

Rod currently employees three TAFE NSW Commercial Cookery apprentices at his venue

Innovation Roof Restoration

Mr Watkins and has employed 10 TAFE NSW apprentices since the venue first opened six years ago.

With over 160,000 small businesses currently operating throughout Western Sydney, including hospitality venues, hiring apprentices can give small businesses a leg up.

“Hiring apprentices from TAFE NSW means they already have all the foundational skills and know their way around a kitchen. It’s a win-win situation: the business owners get high quality apprentices who can hit the ground running, and the apprentices get valuable workplace training,” said Rod.

Andrew McLennan is a studying his Certificate III in Commercial Cookery and completing his apprenticeship at Mr Watkins.

“It’s inspiring to see someone who was once a student like me now run successful venues and keep them local in Western Sydney,” said Andrew.

“Between my study and my apprenticeship, I know I am getting the best possible training. I am excited to see where my career takes me,” said Andrew.

Allan Clarke, TAFE NSW Head Teacher Tourism and Hospitality in Western Sydney, is proud to see TAFE NSW students achieving success.

“Having former TAFE NSW students go on to mentor the next generation is very inspiring,” said Allan.

“We seek to equip our students with the training and industry guidance to succeed in this competitive industry. Studying Commercial Cookery with TAFE NSW is the first step towards building a dynamic and lasting career, like we have seen with Rod.”

Showcasing baking talents at The Royce Retirement Village

BY KERRIE DAVIES

THE Royce Retirement Village was abuzz with excitement recently as residents showcased their baking skills at the highly anticipated Biggest Morning Tea event. The highlight of the event was a blind taste testing session conducted by Ross Dobson from Café Ross, who expertly sampled an array of delectable baked goods to determine the best morning tea treats of 2024.

The coveted title of Best Morning Tea Baked Good was awarded to Francesca Lustri for her exquisite Green Choko Cake. This unique creation, made from a 100-year-old recipe originating from Calabria, Italy, was a sentimental favourite. Francesca learned the recipe from her mother during her childhood, making the victory even more special.

The runner-up position was claimed by Pamela Chamberlain, whose lamingtons received high praise for their rich chocolate flavor that was indulgent without being overly sweet.

In the week leading up to the event, The Royce held a raffle, with the winner being announced during the Biggest Morning Tea.

Generosity flowed throughout the event, with donations from the morning tea raising over $795. In a

heartwarming gesture, The Royce matched this amount, bringing the total to an impressive $1,600. These funds will support vital causes, reflecting the community’s spirit of giving and solidarity.

The Biggest Morning Tea at Royce Retirement Village was not only a celebration of culinary talent but also a testament to the strong bonds and charitable spirit within the community. Residents and guests alike enjoyed a delightful morning filled with delicious treats, shared stories, and a collective effort to make a positive impact.

Photos: Nicole Celeban

Riding across Australia to End Polio Now

PHIL and Joyce Ogden are both Rotarians, aged in their 70’s, and have just completed yet another amazing ultra-distance bike ride for the ‘End Polio Now’ campaign.

The seemingly ageless couple rode 3,000kms from Perth to Adelaide in 2022, and have now ridden a further 3,000kms this year, from Adelaide to Sydney (via Melbourne).

Both rides undertaken to promote, highlight and fund-raise for the Rotary ‘End Polio Now’ campaign.

Incredibly, this year’s ride was selfsupported (no back-up vehicle) and totally self-funded, with the couple paying all their own expenses along the way.

During their ride, Phil and Joyce visited as many Rotary clubs as possible along the route to make presentations and to solicit club donations, following the same pattern they used on the Perth to Adelaide ride in 2022, when they raised about $38,000 for the cause.

The couple’s itinerary brought them to the Penrith Bowling Club on Thursday May 29th, where they spoke to members of the Rotary Clubs of Penrith Valley, Penrith and Nepean, along with Past District Governor District 8 and Coordinator of End Polio Now, Murray Verso.

There is a great belief in the community that Polio has been conquered but recent events on our doorstep in Indonesia have shown that Rotary and the general public cannot afford to take our

eyes off the ball, and unrelenting immunisation pressure must be maintained.

To assist in this fund-raising effort, the strategy is to solicit small, almost inconsequential amounts from a large number of people, via social media, with the slogan to ‘Hit Polio for Six’.

This campaigns requests a $6 donation, via the Rotary donation portal and, significantly, any money Rotary raises for this cause is matched $2 for $1 by the Gates Foundation.

The link to the Raise for Rotary page, which is a very safe way to donate, is https://raise.rotary.org/ joyce+phil/challenge

The Rotary Clubs of Penrith Valley ($2,000) and Nepean ($1,000) also made donations to the campaign at Thursday night’s meeting.

Understanding emergency department triage

ACROSS Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District our emergency departments (ED) operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for people who need urgent medical attention.

Our highly trained staff provide life-saving and critical care using a triage system for patients presenting to an ED. The triage system allocates a category based on the time in which a patient needs treatment.

When you arrive in an ED a triage nurse will assess your condition and allocate the priority of your care into one of five triage categories: resuscitation, emergency, urgent, semiurgent or non-urgent.

Triage category 1: Resuscitation

People who need treatment immediately as they are critically ill and have an immediately lifethreatening condition. These patients would probably be suffering from a critical injury or cardiac arrest.

Triage category 2: Emergency

People who have an imminently life-threatening condition. Patients with serious chest pains, difficulty in breathing or severe fractures are

included in this category.

Triage category 3: Urgent

People who have a potentially lifethreatening condition. Patients in this category are suffering from severe illness, bleeding heavily from cuts, have major fractures or are severely dehydrated.

Triage category 4: Semi-Urgent

People who have a potentially serious condition. Patients in this category have less severe symptoms or injuries, such as a foreign body in the eye, sprained ankle, migraine or earache.

Triage category 5: Non-Urgent

People who have a less urgent condition. People in this category have minor illnesses or symptoms that may have been present for more than a week, such as rashes or minor aches and pains.

Nepean Hospital’s Director of Emergency, Dr Cindy Hastings says the triage system is in place to help us care for the most seriously unwell patients first.

“We are a caring team and will always tend to people who present to our ED but we must prioritise

our patients using the triage system to ensure the best possible health outcomes for everyone,” says Cindy.

“During busy times, people with less urgent conditions will experience longer wait times when there are large numbers of seriously unwell patients being prioritised for emergency care.”

Emergency Departments are there for people who are in urgent need of lifesaving care.

If you have a non-life threatening illness or injury (triage category 4 or 5) such as a cough, nausea, sprain or minor cut there are health care alternatives available for you to consider.

The below options may help you decide:

• speak to your general practitioner (GP) or pharmacist

• go to the Penrith Medicare Urgent Care Clinic

• seek after-hours care at Doctor Closed

• call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free, fast, expert advice 24/7

• visit Healthdirect online

Please remember if you or someone you are with is in immediate danger, call 000 (triple zero).

BY NOEL ROWSELL

Joyce Ogden, Phil Ogden, Jean Vranich (Penrith Valley).

Photos: Noel Rowsell

PDG Murray Verso, Joh Dickens (Penrith), Joyce Ogden, Phil Ogden, Jean Vranich (Penrith Valley), Kerry Haviland (Nepean). Joyce Ogden, Phil Ogden, Kerry Haviland (Nepean).

Ogdens - Tandem.

Simple idea recognised for saving so many lives

BY KERRIE DAVIES

CONGRATULATIONS

to

Penrith Men’s Walk and Talk for being announced the overall winner of the Outstanding Project Stronger Communities category at the ZEST Awards 2024.

“Congratulations to Kevin and Andrew (two of the members, pictured) on this fabulous initiative that has literally saved lives!” said Penrith MP Karen McKeown OAM.

Penrith Men’s Walk and Talk started out as a simple idea; five local men starting up a group who’d meet up each week to do the River Walk. Walk and talk. And any other bloke who wanted to join in was more than welcome.

A couple of facebook messages were posted and the idea started to grow legs. Penrith Men’s Walk and Talk was born.

That was over five years ago, and little did those fellas - Kevin Canning, Paul Wallace, Alan Harding, Jamie Large and Billy Beggs - know at the time, that their simple idea was about to become a local phenomenon.

The group, that began with 19 walkers showing up, has now massively blown out, with some walking events attracting over 100!

The five guys then became six, with local charity champion Andrew Paech becoming part of the initiative and helping with some resources from WestCare.

The local men who started the group have different careers and family situations, but they all share the same goal, and that is to get blokes out to the river and walking and talking.

Kevin Canning said two realisations came to light that eventuated in the seed being planted.

The first was that Paul noticed a few of their mates going through some struggles and that communication opportunities with them were difficult to find.

The second was that as an adult and family man, Kevin realised he missed

the mateship he’d had with other blokes his whole life, such as while playing in sporting teams.

With those understandings in mind, the hashtag of #menshealth Physical-Mental-Social and the idea of reconnecting with mates with the physical health benefits from a little exercise at the same time, really took off.

Alan Harding, who tragically lost his teenage son Troy to suicide, said the benefits of simply shooting the breeze

while clocking up 6.4 kilometres was a win-win all round.

“It is a great opportunity to de-stress, socialise and get some exercise,” Alan said. “You honestly don’t realise you have walked over six kilometres because you are too busy talking and listening.”

Andrew Paech said the Men’s Walk and Talk was one of the most significant initiatives for mental health that he has seen over his many years with WestCare.

“It’s a significant movement and it is happening right here in Penrith,” Andrew said. “Nationally we lose six men a day to suicide. This is a great opportunity to engage and confront the issue. The momentum is huge.”

Billy Beggs, who is the group’s Counsellor works at LikeMind, which addresses mental health issues.

“Sometimes men have a fear of talking about their issues. It is important for men to share and have an outlet. The men’s group provides that,” he said.

“Several people have said that the group has saved them.”

Jamie Large added that many blokes had communicated to him that the walk was now a regular entry on their calendar.

“The messages that come through, saying how much they look forward to it every week, tells us that we are really making a difference,” Jamie said.

If you’re a bloke and you’re keen to join in the weekly walk (sorry ladies, this is not for us - but there IS a Penrith Women’s Walk and Talk who are looking for more members) the Penrith Men’s Walk and Talk meets every Thursday at the Coffee Club at 5pm for a 6pm walk.

Join their Facebook or Instagram pages to get all the up-to-date information.

The Great River Walk is 6.4kms long and takes approximately one hour and fifteen minutes to complete.

With a motto of “Never Walk Alone” you just know the group would do great things each and every week.

On their facebook page is an extremely powerful sentence that sums up the importance of mateship and open communication.

“We would 100 per cent rather walk with you for as long as it takes and listen to the sh*t you’re going through than sit there for fifteen minutes listening to your eulogy.

“Remember that you’re never alone.”

NASHOs Anniversary Memorial Service

BY NOEL ROWSELL

PENRITH National Serviceman’s Association ANSA Inc (NASHOs) held its 18th Anniversary Memorial Service and Tribute Laying Ceremony on 28th May at Victoria Park, St Marys, with a parade commencing at 11.00am. The purpose of this service is in remembrance of all people who served as National Servicemen between 1951 to 1972, and all Penrith National Servicemen are remembered, both living and deceased. Penrith City ANSA Inc received its charter and flag on the 7th April 2002, with the current membership at 54.

Flight Lieutenant Michael Bros and the 323 Australian Air Force Cadet Unit provided the Catafalque Party and Guard of Honour, assisted by the local Army Cadet Unit.

The President of Penrith NASHOs Mr Roy Young opened the service, Mr Harry May, Secretary of Penrith City ANSA, said the National Serviceman‘s Prayer of Remembrance.

Local Federal MP Melissa McIntosh, State MP Prue Car and Penrith City Mayor Todd Carney all

gave addresses, followed by a piper from Penrith RSL Pipes and Drums.

Following the laying of wreaths, Mr May recited the National Serviceman’s Ode and Tyler Watson played the Last Post and Reveille.

“The day would not have a success without the acknowledgement of the following,” said Publicity Officer Maureen Gildart.

“Penrith City Council for the excellent job of maintaining the grounds and our Memorial, the Lions Club of Emu Plans for their support with the BBQ, Ropes Crossing Girl Guides Association, Tyler Watson, our Piper from Penrith RSL Pipes & Drums, Melissa McIntosh MP, Graham Larkham, the committee of Penrith NASHOs Association and all the people in attendance who made the day a success.

“Next years Service will be on 25th May, 2025. We are looking for new members and I encourage all people who served, either as National Servicemen or are a family member of a National Serviceman, and have either served or are serving (aged 18 years or older).

“We meet on the third Sunday of the month, except for September’s meeting which is on the fourth Sunday.”

Cranebrook Bush Food Trail opens

BY NOEL ROWSELL

WORKS along the Great West Walk at Cranebrook are now complete, with Penrith City Council’s collaboration with Nepean Community and Neighbourhood Services and local Aboriginal organisation MuruMittigar, concluding with an educational bush food trail.

The creation of the bush food trail enhances existing planting along the section of the walk, adjacent to Ariel Crescent in Cranebrook, whilst offering a glimpse into the foods traditionally sourced from the land by Aboriginal peoples, along with educational signage.

Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said that it was important that Council work closely with local Indigenous organisations to create an educational experience for the bush food trail.

“We wanted the bush food trail to provide insight into the knowledge of Aboriginal peoples — specifically the Dhurag Language Group — and how they’ve thrived in Cranebrook for over 50,000 years,” Cr Carney said.

“The signage provides information about the plants and their significance and use to Aboriginal communities in our region.”

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Executive Director Resilience and Urban Sustainability Steve Hartley said “The Great West Walk project has seen 140 trees planted along the bush food trail, providing more shaded areas and adding to the City’s growing tree canopy.

“Tree planting projects like this actively help reduce local temperatures

and provide much needed shade for surrounding residents.”

The trees planted were grown by Council’s Nursery, with other plants installed along the trail were grown in Muru-Mittigar’s nursery.

Plants include the Bunya Pine (Aracucaria bidwilli) which was used at gatherings that held cultural significance to local communities, Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) that were harvested and ground into a

nutritious flour, Spiny-head Mat-rush (Lomandra longifolia) were turned into various items such as baskets, bags and mats, and Sandpaper Fig (Ficus coronata) that was used as natural sandpaper to smooth and shape wooden tools and utensils.

The project aims to plant more than 28,000 trees across Western Sydney.

The bush food trail is part of the Great West Walk, which stretches from Parramatta to the Blue

Mountains. Find out more about the walking trail at greatwestwalk.com.

au

To learn more about the Greening the West Walk, visit www.planning. nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/ urban-greening/greening-thegreat-west-walk

The ‘Greening the Great West Walk’ project is co-funded between Penrith City Council and the NSW Government.

Photo: Noel Rowsell

Photo supplied by Maureen Gildart

Lower Mountains Air Conditioning honored in Diamond Dealer Awards

BY KERRIE DAVIES

LOWER MOUNTAINS AIR

CONDITIONING , based in Emu Plains, has been recognised for their outstanding performance with a prestigious award for sales excellence at the Mitsubishi Electric Australia Diamond Dealer awards this past weekend. The company has earned the distinction of being one of the top eight ‘Diamond Dealers’ in New South Wales.

Anthea Strathdee, owner of Lower Mountains Air Conditioning, expressed her delight at receiving the accolade. “We are thrilled to announce that we are one of the top 8 ‘Diamond Dealers’ in NSW! This recognition is a true testament to the hard work, dedication, and talent of our staff, both past and present,” she said.

In July, Anthea and her husband, Andrew, will celebrate a decade since they took over the business.

Reflecting on this milestone, Anthea emphasised the importance of her team.

small and local, family business,” she added.

Lower Mountains Air Conditioning remains committed to giving back to the community that has supported them over the years.

“We love what we do, and giving back to our community is what we want to continue. Support local, small business!” Anthea concluded.

“We are incredibly proud of their loyalty, contributions, and commitment to our business. Some of our staff members have been with us from the very beginning, and this award belongs to each member of our team,” Anthea said.

“We are grateful for their continued efforts.”

Anthea also acknowledged the vital role of their families and the local community.

“This achievement is also thanks to our families for their support and encouragement, and the wonderful community of The Blue Mountains and Penrith area for supporting a

This accolade underscores Lower Mountains Air Conditioning’s dedication to excellence and community values, reinforcing their reputation as a trusted local business. Congratulations team!

Anthea and Andrew with the executive staff from Mitsubishi Electric, HVAC Sales Executive - NSW Central, HVAC Sales Manager – NSW Central, General Manager - LEG National Sales and General Manager - Business Development, Operations & Customer Support.

All top Mitsubishi Electric “Daimond Dealers” in NSW - LMAC being one of those top 8 dealers.

Empowering Communities One Suburb at a Time: A Road Trip with RSPCA Outreach Team

BY KELLIE TICKNER, ORCHARD HILLS VETERINARY HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR

FOR many, pets are more than just animals; they are family, offering unconditional love and companionship. The joy of seeing a wagging tail or a purring cat can brighten even the darkest of days. However, not all pet owners have the means to provide the care their furry friends need. Recognising this gap, Orchard Hills Vet Hospital, in collaboration with the RSPCA Outreach Team, embarked on a mission to change communities, one suburb at a time.

The initiative was born out of a desire to make a tangible difference in Penrith and wider communities. With a focus on addressing the urgent need for accessible pet care, successful vaccination programs were launched aimed at reducing the incidence of Parvovirus. These Healthy Pet Days have been particularly beneficial for pension and health care cardholders, allowing them to access essential animal health care services for free. But we knew we could do more.

With a vision to expand our reach and impact, Orchard Hills nurses Kellie, Blake and Sarah, set out on a road trip with RSPCA to rural regions, including Tenterfield, Glen Inness and Tamworth, to assist local communities. Our strategic approach is rooted in the belief that animal welfare is intrinsically linked to human welfare. For pet owners to provide the best care, they need to be socially connected, healthy, and informed. This community-minded, human-centered approach, championed by the teams at Orchard Hills Vet and RSPCA Outreach, aims to create sustainable change and reduce the spread of Parvovirus across the state.

Tenterfield: A Community United

Our journey began in Tenterfield, where a collaborative effort involving RSPCA NSW, Tenterfield Vet, Mobile Vet Team, Orchard Hills Vet, Vets Beyond Borders, Tenterfield Council, and ARC came together. Emily, a local community service provider, played a crucial role in identifying clients in need, arranging appointments, and transporting them and their pets to and from the event. Her

and Orchard Hills Vet Hospital

dedication exemplified the spirit of local community support.

The event’s success was bolstered by the local knowledge and expertise of the local veterinarian, Dr Luke, who will continue to follow up with pet owners. We also used the opportunity to take expressions of interest for desexing vouchers, further making pet care more affordable.

Glen Innes: Making a Difference

Our second day took us to Glen Innes, where

we provided free health checks and administered vaccinations to protect pets from Parvovirus and also implanted microchips to ensure pets could be returned to their owners if they ever wandered off. Once again, ARC and the Petbarn Foundation’s donation of free food and parasite preventatives was a significant contribution to the day’s success.

Tamworth: A Collaborative Triumph

By the time we reached Tamworth, our team was well-prepared, thanks to the experiences in Tenterfield and Glen Innes. The event, held at Coledale, an area identified as a high-risk region for Parvovirus. Pet owners in Tamworth were overjoyed at the opportunity to access these free services, with many expressing their gratitude for the food and care provided. One of the youngest visitors of the day was intrigued by how the microchip scanner functioned. Our nurse, Blake, demonstrated the scanning process on his boxer dog, Chase, and then assisted him in loading his box with free food and treats to take home.

The collaborative effort in Tamworth was a resounding success, reinforcing the importance of community and teamwork in addressing pet care needs.

Overall Impact

The road trip was a tremendous success, with the following results:

• Dogs vaccinated: 153

• Dogs microchipped: 41

• Cats health checked: 48

• Cats microchipped: 22

• Desexing bookings: 99

This initiative has demonstrated that by working together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of pets and their owners. The road trip was a testament to the power of community, collaboration, and compassion. We look forward to continuing our mission to change communities, one suburb at a time.

Legends of the Nepean CHARLIE BOYTER OAM

BY NOEL ROWSELL

CHARLEY

Boyter OAM is an awardwinning Country Music performer and has been entertaining audiences for almost 60 years.

Originally from Windsor, Charley was one of Australia’s infamous ‘Stolen Generation’, being removed from his Aboriginal family as a youngster, along with his brother and three sisters, and spending the rest of his childhood growing up in foster homes.

Describing himself as a troublesome child, Charley was moved to variety of foster homes, before joining the Horne family at the age of 8, where he would live until the age of 19.

Ada and Norman Horne also had four children of their own, providing Charley with replacement siblings during his childhood.

He began playing around with a guitar at the age of 15, jamming along with other pickers at a Church of Christ camp at Lake Illawarra. As his guitar playing improved, Charley started performing for church groups, playing and singing traditional Country and Bluegrass Gospel music.

Charley bought his first guitar and started performing with good friend Bruce Ohara, with the combo becoming known as ‘Country Sound’. The group expanded to include Rick Anderson, Colleen Trenwith (deceased), Paul Trenwith, Sue Chapman and Alan James (deceased).

The band released three albums, 12” records and cassettes.

Country Sound became more well known and started performing around Australia on a regular schedule, and were one of the first gospel bands

to perform and record in the Sydney Opera House, supporting such international artists as Paul Stookey, Barry McGuire, Don Burroughs and George Golla.

The band was also approached to record some shows for Christian Television that were televised nationally and it was during this period of time Australian legend Slim Dusty AO MBE saw and heard Charley’s guitar playing and offered him a job with his show.

Charley joined Slim’s Travelling Country Band in 1975 as a Ballad Guitarist and Vocalist, touring most of Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Charley recorded on a huge number of Slim’s albums, causing Slim to remark “Charley has played on more of my albums than any other guitarist”. The partnership with the Slim Dusty Show lasted from 19752001.

Charley recorded albums with many other great artists, such as Glenn Jones, Smokey Dawson, Jimmy Little, Col Hardy, Lee Kernaghan and family, and many more. He also performed in the USA at the Bell Witch Opry in Adams Tennessee. Other performances were with his good friend Ken Withington, the “Yodelling Pastor”. These shows were all in California and included Chino - China Lake Marine base - and Walnut, with the Stanley Bros.

Charley also supported international acts such as Andrae Crouch, Evie Tornquist, Tom T Hall and Michael T Wall from Canada. Charley is now a multi-award winning artist and his unique acoustic guitar sound can be heard on some Aussie Classics such as ‘Walk a Country Mile’, ‘Country Revival’, ‘Duncan’ and ‘Leave him in the Longyard’.

Chronologically, Charley began his musical career in the late 1960’s. In 1975, he joined the Slim Dusty ‘Travelling Country Band’.

The Stolen 5 - Charley, Sue-Ann, Sharon, Patricia, Doug. Family

Charley Boyter OAM.

In the 1980’s Charley travelled both in Australia and overseas with Slim and the Travelling Country Band, whilst also performing in his own band, ‘The Aussie Country Band & Bushfire’.

In 1986, Charley accompanied Slim Dusty and Joy McKean to the Solomon Islands, flown there and back by the RAAF in a Hercules C130.

Charley began his solo recording career in the 1990’s and was inducted into the prestigious ‘Hands of Fame’ in Tamworth. He also toured the US and was a member of Australia’s most famous bush ballad guitar picking touring trio, ‘The Legends of Guitar’ with Barry Thornton & Lindsay Butler.

In 1993, Charley was inducted into the ‘Hands of Fame’ at Tamworth;

in 2001 he won the ‘Kempsey Cedar Hat’ award for Services to Australian Country Music and, in 2011, Charley was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for Services to the Performing Arts as an Entertainer. Also in 2011, Charley was inducted into the National Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame (USA). He was then awarded the Kempsey Living Legend award in 2012 and was also inducted into the NTCMA Pioneer Music Museum in Anita, Iowa, USA.

In 2020, he was awarded the Dusty Boots, Richard Holmes award for Services to Country Music.

Also in the 2000’s, Charley began recording at Kross Kut Records and was nominated for a Gold Guitar for his duet with Alisha Smith, ‘Tanami Track’. His album ‘Play Charley’ won ‘Album of the Year’ from the NZ/

Tasmania awards, Australian Country Recording awards, the NSW Gold Medallion, Gidgee Coals Awards and NTCMA and USA Rural Roots award. Charley also toured again in the USA and Europe.

Charley has also devoted much of his life to Aboriginal Cultural Education and worked in Community Services for 20 years at the Parramatta Correctional Centre and Brush Farm Academy, teaching Aboriginal Cultural Awareness and working as a Careers Officer. He served in uniform for 13 years, then 7 years at Head Office.

Charley lives in Penrith with his wife Sandra, whom he met at his local Church of Christ and later married at the Uniting Church in Bathurst. They have two children, Allan and Sharon, and three grand-children.

Charlie Boyter OAM was nominated as a Legend of the Nepean by Tony Adamski.

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

Charley’s amazing story was still to get even more remarkable, with the popular television show ‘Find My Family’ managing to reunite him with all 4 of his siblings, after 55 years apart. The reunion of Charley, Beverly (now Sue-Ann), Douglas, Sharon and Patricia made for a heart-warming episode but more significantly, gave the five adults the opportunity to bond and reestablish their family connection.

Charley Boyter OAM and Dame Marie Roslyn Bashir AD CVO FTSE

Charley & Sandra - early days.

Slim Dusty AO MBE and Charley Boyter OAM.

BOQ Customer Appreciation Day at Hawkesbury RC

ORCHARD HILLS VETERINARY

HOSPITAL

49 Wentworth Road, Orchard Hills

Decoding your cat’s body language

BY KELLIE TICKNER, ORCHARD HILLS VETERINARY HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR

DECODING your cat’s body language is a fascinating and essential skill for every cat owner. Our feline friends use a unique blend of body movements and vocalisations to express their feelings and needs. By learning to interpret these signals, you can better understand and fulfill your cat’s desires and ensure their well-being.

When deciphering cat body language, it’s crucial to consider the context. Pay attention to the environment and what might be affecting your cat’s emotions. For instance, a cat cornered by a person might feel scared or threatened, while

a seemingly upset cat with no apparent cause might be experiencing pain or illness. Each cat is unique, and their signals can vary slightly based on their personality and past experiences.

Tail Signals: The tail is one of the most expressive parts of a cat’s body. A high, upright tail often signals that your cat is feeling confident and friendly. If the tail is quivering, it’s a sign of excitement or greeting. Conversely, a low or tucked tail can indicate fear or submission. A puffed-up tail typically means the cat is startled or feels threatened, while a swishing or twitching tail often signals irritation or agitation.

Ear Positions: Ears are another clear indicator of a cat’s emotions. Forward-facing ears suggest curiosity and attentiveness, while ears that are flattened against the head may indicate fear, aggression, or extreme annoyance. Ears that rotate backward and sideways, often referred to as “airplane ears,” can signal that your cat is feeling threatened or ready to defend itself.

Eye Movements: Cats’ eyes convey

a lot about their emotional state. Slow blinking is a sign of trust and affection; it’s a cat’s way of showing that they feel safe and comfortable around you. Direct, unblinking stares, however, can be a sign of dominance or aggression. Dilated pupils can indicate excitement or fear, depending on the context, whilst constricted pupils may signal anger or intense focus.

Body Posture: A relaxed cat will lie on its side or back, with its belly exposed, indicating trust and contentment. A cat that crouches low to the ground with tense muscles is likely scared or preparing to defend itself. Arching the back, combined with fur standing on end, is a defensive posture intended to make the cat appear larger and more threatening to potential dangers.

mean anything from a greeting to a demand for food or attention. Hissing, growling, or yowling are clear signs of distress, fear, or aggression.

Vocalisations: Cats also use a variety of sounds to communicate. A gentle purr often signifies contentment, though cats may also purr when they are in pain or anxious as a selfsoothing mechanism. Meowing is typically directed at humans and can

By paying close attention to these non-verbal cues, you can enhance your communication with your cat, ensuring they feel understood and secure. This deeper understanding can help prevent misunderstandings and create a more harmonious relationship between you and your feline companion.

For assistance with your pets, please phone our friendly team at Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital on (02) 4736 2027.

Looking for adoptive parents and forever home

Fof Hawkesbury

Animal

the

for the

and

care

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

For any inquires related to these animals at Hawkesbury Pound, please contact them directly on (02) 4560 4644.

IS NIKO THE PERECT FIT FOR YOUR HOME

Niko is a sweet boy, he can be shy when first meeting you but he warms up very quickly. Niko loves to run and enjoys nothing more than his time in the exercise yard off leash and free to do as he likes. Niko can sit when he is asked to, he does trot well beside you while on lead and he has a nice nature.

If you can offer Niko the home he deserves filled with love, care and fun then please come and meet him anytime during open hours.

Cost: $99 Age: 1 Year, 6 Months and 4 Weeks

Type: Dog Breed: Staffy Cross Mixed Sex: Male

YOU GIVE OLIVIA A FOREVER HOME

Olivia is a sweet, friendly girl that came to the Shelter with kittens in tow. All her babies have found their homes and now it’s mumma’s turn.

Olivia enjoys affection and will always have a head bump for you. She is a quiet, calm cat and will make a wonderful companion for someone who wants a sweet natured girl.

To meet Olivia please visit anytime during open hours..

Cost: $99 Age: 4 Years and 4 Weeks

Type: Cat Breed: Domestic short hair Sex: Female

MEET GERTRUDE

Gertrude is a striking torti lady with a nice nature. She can be a little shy when first meeting new people, but she warms up quickly when you show her some affection. Gertrude would prefer a quieter lifestyle where she can relax and enjoy the days as they go by. If you have the time and space to let Gertrude settle into your home, then please come and meet her anytime during open hours.

Cost: $99 Age: 3 Years and 1 Week

Type: Cat Breed: Domestic shorthair Sex: Female

RIENDS

Companion

Shelter seek

“extras”

dogs

cats in

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

post online

This week in pictures

Local reader Natalie Grima entered our Facebook competition to win tickets to the Good Old Days Of Rock N Roll. She won and sent her parents to the gig. They had a fabulous time!

Following a 2-0 win in front of a record crowd, the Matildas are off to Paris.

Lindsay MP Melissa McIntosh and Penrith CBD Corporation CEO Gai Hawthorn at the Biggest Morning Tea

Clarissa Regan with two donated pieces to the Empty Bowls initiative being run by the Blue Mountains Clay Collective. Contact Linda Kemp if you’d like to get involved on 0430 477 301.

Team ❤

In recognition of Reconciliation Week, Penrith MP Karen McKeown said it was an honour to attend the Koolyangarra Aboriginal Family Centre Fun Day, as they hosted The Good Service Mob.

Not to be missed - Mayoral Charity Fundraiser

GET ready for the gala event of the year! Penrith’s Mayoral Charity Fundraiser is set to dazzle at St Marys Leagues Club on Friday, 21 June 2024. It’s time to don your glad rags and get dolled up for an unforgettable evening. Tickets are selling fast at just $110 per person, including a sumptuous three-course meal, beverages, and top-tier local entertainment.

The night promises a fantastic DJ, mesmerizing circus acts, and a special performance by PAWS Dance Studio of “The Greatest Showman.” With so much fun in store, this is an event you won’t want to miss. Hosted by the charismatic Andrew Daddo, the ball will raise vital funds for the Penrith Community Kitchen.

This local charity is crucial to our community, feeding the homeless and vulnerable five days a week and supporting local schools with breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. Your attendance and contributions will help sustain their invaluable services. Don’t delay—book your tickets now before they sell out! Join us for a night of glamour, entertainment, and charity, and make a meaningful difference in our community.

OUT N ABOUT

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

The Tap Pack mixes slick humour, highenergy entertainment and world-class tap dance, featuring songs ranging from Frank Sinatra to Beyoncé. They sing, they dance, they joke and they bring a new, invigorating energy to a timeless style!

Get your tickets now! https://penrith. panthers.com.au/event/the-tap-pack/

Bruce McGarrity from the St Marys RSL subBranch is one of many volunteers who packs care packages for ADF personnel deployed overseas.

“I do the overseas packing when I can as when I was in the Army and I went bush in Australia it was a joy to see the sallyman with drinks, lollies and biscuits,” Bruce said.

“I hope it gives the overseas men and women of the ADF as much joy as I got. I hope they all know how thankful we are of the job that they are doing for us today.”

BY ROLAND MELOSI

Happy 10th birthday to the team at Screaming Beans Penrith!

Penrith District Netball’s first All Abilities Come & Try Session was a fantastic success!

Death of Percy Fulton

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

PERCY Claude Fulton passed away at the Nepean Cottage Hospital after a short illness of about three weeks in November 1912. He was the fifth son of William Charles (snr) & Annie Butler Chisholm. Percy was born in Penrith in February 1872. His father William was born at Castlereagh in November 1832 and married Annie at Sofala in July 1860. He was an Alderman of Penrith Council but had to retire owing to an affection of the eyes. He died in 1902 aged 69. His funeral was the largest seen in the district for many years, with friends coming from every part of the district, as well as from the metropolis and suburbs. His remains were encased in a polished cedar silver-mounted coffin and buried at St Stephens Anglican Church, Penrith. He was the son of John Walker Fulton & Elizabeth Cartwright and the grandson of Reverend Henry James Fulton and Ann Walker. His father John was born on Norfolk Island in 1803 and died in 1850 at Castlereagh. His mother Elizabeth was born in 1804 in Cheshire, England and died at Castlereagh in 1890. The family were enterprising storekeepers carrying on a large business in Penrith and elsewhere. Percy’s brother William (Jnr) had a store in High Street in 1878 that was next to where his father William’s (snr) store at Cumberland House. Next door to him was Peter Smeaton’s boot and shoe store then Mr A Laing’s baker’s shop. Percy was a watchmaker and jeweller by trade and for years carried on that business successfully occupying part of the Emporium building. In August 1895 an advertisement in the Nepean Times read “Percy Fulton, Watchmaker and Jeweller, High Street, Penrith. (Next Door To Post-Office.) Watches, Clocks, Jewellery Etc., Repaired. Also, a Good Stock of Jewellery Always on Hand”. He also turned his attention to other matters. Percy had a great love of sport and at one time was considered a good cricketer, and his kindly disposition and sympathy towards others won him

hosts of friends. When the news of his death at the early age of 40 years became known, extensive regret was felt and sympathy with his death was faithfully forwarded from all quarters far and near. Percy remained unmarried and leaves to mourn his loss is a mother and five siblings, William, Edgar, Clarrie (Penrith), Ernest (Wellington) and Austin (Carroll) about 20 miles out of Gundagai and one sister Mrs Steel (Sydney). Over five hundred persons in all, relatives and friends out of respect for the historic family of Fulton attended the funeral on Sunday afternoon last. Among the immense following familiar faces were recognised from the outlying districts of Luddenham, Mulgoa, Castlereagh, Emu and other parts and nearly all the prominent men of Penrith and St Marys. The cortege left the residence of Mrs Fulton (snr) in High Street a little after 4 o’clock. First the hearse with its dead occupant almost hidden with wreaths, then the mourning coaches carrying the mourners followed by hundreds of sympathising friends mentioned. As they neared the old church on the hill, the solemn tolling of its bell was the only sound that broke the silence crossing the overhead bridge and turning into the straight road to the cemetery, the funeral procession with its whole length crept on silently until the hearse reached the entrance into the Penrith General Cemetery at Kingswood NSW. The coffin containing the body of Percy was borne to the grave by his three brothers, Edgar, Ernest and Clarrie and his nephew W Dickenson. Mrs John Price and Son were trusted with the arrangement of the funeral. Photo of grave courtesy of Find a Grave website.

Sources- Nepean Times Advertisement 24th August 1895, 16 November 1912, 8th August 1836, Australian Royalty online, Ancestry.

 Photo of grave courtesy of Find a Grave website.

Federal Budget breakdown

IF I had to summarise the budget in a word, it would be ‘OK’. These are the key points.

The federal budget will provide cost of living relief through tax cuts on 1 July, lower power bills, higher welfare payments, and relief for small businesses. In short, the government is trying to fix the things they messed up in the first place through an overaccommodative, then over-restrictive monetary policy and an enormous immigration intake. Having said that, it’s way better than the alternative.

How it affects investors largely depends on whether the budget is inflationary or deflationary and how it affects interest rates. Of course, the Labor government will do its best to secure a rate cut before the election to give them the best chance of getting re-elected.

Let’s look at these one at a time.

On the cost-of-living front, there’s a $300 energy bill subsidy and a $325 rebate for small businesses. Although small, it does help a little, given that energy prices have increased about 30 percent over the past year. More importantly, they should reduce the energy inflation rate by half a percentage point.

There are also some cuts to HECS debts (around $3bn based on the 2023 indexation). The exact amount is yet to be determined, but it is based on a formula that includes how much accommodation each university provides to students.

MORTGAGE FINANCE

“BATTERIES are way to expensive”, “I’ll wait until they’re cheaper”.

These are a couple of common responses that I hear when discussing batteries with clients.

As I pointed out in previous articles, the shift in how we use electricity, how we now get charged exorbitant

The cost of PBS medicines (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) has also been frozen. The copayment amount that must be contributed to the cost of PBS subsidised medicines will be frozen at $7.70 for pensioners and concession card holders until the end of 2029 and at $31.60 for all other Medicare card holders until the end of 2025.

Next, stage three tax cuts take place starting on the 1st of July. Any form of tax relief is welcome, and it does go some way towards fixing the rising cost of living. The change is likely minimal for property investors – it spreads some of the tax returns you would have received at the end of the year throughout your weekly salary. All of which helps to manage your cashflows.

under $20k for a further 12 months until June 30, 2025.

On the social security and aged care front, deeming rates will stay frozen for the remainder of the financial year. These assess income from financial investments likely to benefit age pensioners and other income support recipients.

Rent support will increase On September 20th, the maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 percent (in addition to the usual half-yearly indexation). This will benefit the elderly and those requiring some government assistance.

Overall, the budget is likely neutral regarding its effect on inflation and unlikely to affect the RBA’s decisions.

Regarding the inflation outlook, it was interesting that the treasury expects inflation to fall much faster than the RBA, with headline inflation expected to return to 2.75 percent by the middle of next year. This is likely because of the subsidies on rent and energy inflation. Overall, our view on the interest rate situation hasn’t changed, and we still expect interest rates to fall in the second half of the year.

Small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10m will also get tax relief through an instant asset write-off extension This will allow an immediate write-off for eligible assets

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

This information is of a general nature, and you need to take all your own circumstances into consideration before making any commitments.

Jim’s Gems

rates for buying and how the retailers give us a pittance for our excess Solar during the day, but what can we do about it?

If you have Solar installed and see the F.I.T (feed in tariff) credit on your electricity bill, that is not an indication of what your Solar has generated, but rather what your Solar System has generated, and you have not used.

Think of it as excess Solar or wasted energy.

You pay for a Solar System, get the benefit of cheap power during the day, sell the excess at 5-cents and they then sell it back to you at night at 40-cents!

So, you think about a battery system, but you hear they’re all too dear.

Well let me tell you, there are several affordable options around,

good quality, reliable, all with long warranties. These can be installed for under $10k and you can even set them up with wholesale electricity retailers, like Amber for instance and earn up to $17.00/kWhr at certain times when the wholesale electricity price spikes and recharging your battery from the grid when prices are very low, even negative at times!

There are many other benefits to having a battery such as grid outage protection and keeping those necessary appliances such as fridges and lights powered when the grid fails. With payback periods reduced to well below the warranty periods and power prices continuing to rise in the future, now might be just the time to revisit a look into battery storage for your home.

Untill next time, think about how storage may work for you.

If you have a question about your system or a question in general regarding Solar or Solar battery storage and you would like to learn more, please email me info@ nepeansolar.com.au or call our office on 0247 600809.

WITH STEVE BEARD Select Mortgage Broker

Local golfers contest NSW and National Mid-Amateur Championships

BY NOEL ROWSELL

COLIN Mitchell (The Links Shell Cove GC) and Victorian Sue Wooster (The National GC) have been crowned the 2024 Srixon Mid-Amateur Champions, after a thrilling final round at Wollongong GC.

Mitchell triumphed in a nail-biter, winning by one shot at the end of regulation play, whilst the highlycredentialed Wooster claimed the women’s Crown in a playoff over Gemma Dooley (NSW GC).

In a historic turn of events, the National MidAmateur title was held in conjunction with the SRIXON NSW Mid-Amateur Championship for the first time. This meant a double triumph for both Mitchell and Wooster, who were crowned the SRIXON NSW Mid-Amateur Champions and the Australian Mid-Amateur Champions for 2024.

220 golfers teed off in the event (186 men, 36 women) with Western Sydney golfers numbering 20 in total (19 men, 1 woman).

The tournament featured a 36-hole cut, with 7 of the western Sydney players (6 men, 1 woman) qualifying for the third and final round. Suzanne Fairhurst (Stonecutters Ridge GC) was the highest placed of the group, finishing in 5th spot in the Women’s division at +21.

Daniel Ayre (Richmond GC) led the local Men’s contingent,finishing in a tie for 35th place at +12, Dale Hughes (Penrith GC) 37th at +13, Dean

Neill (Penrith GC) tied 41st at +16, David Bishop (Glenmore Heritage Valley GC) tied 53rd at +19, Jeremy White (Twin Creeks G&CC) tied 53rd at +19 and Dillyn Burazin (Dunheved GC) tied 68th at +23.

The SRIXON NSW Mid-Amateur Championship

was open to amateurs 30 years of age and over, as at the first day of play, with a GA handicap of 12.4 and under for men, or 20.4 for women. Played over 26-28th May at both Wollongong and The Links Shell Cove golf clubs, the event was stroke play over three rounds of 18-holes.

Golf Update across the District

MASTER PENNANT: Stonecutters Ridge GC had yet another powerful win, in Round 3 of the 2024 Master Pennant competition, crushing Cromer 7-1 at Stonecutters.

Dunheved hosted Liverpool for a 5-3 win, Springwood hosted Manly for a 4-4 tie, Twin Creeks hosted Oatlands for a 5-3 win, Glenmore Heritage Valley was away to Lynwood and fell 5-3, Richmond hosted Leonay for a 5.5-2.5 win and Wallacia was away to Kareela and fell 5.5-2.5.

Penrith’s away clash with Ryde-Parramatta was washed out, leaving the result as a tie.

JNJG: Eighteen junior golfers from western Sydney golf clubs are registered for the 2024 JNJG Macarthur Junior Masters, which will take place on 9-10 June at Camden and Campbelltown golf courses. Those players are: Annoushka Maikap, Jack Gillett,

Savannah Webb, Marie-Claire Domingo and Sean Sammons (Stonecutters Ridge), Jessica Fog, Riley Cleminson, Riley Stasiuk and Nicole Son (Penrith), Fletcher Birks, Jake Thompson and Noah Kozminski (Leonay), Luke Carruthers and Kaiden Shuttleworth (Dunheved), Farmaan Dhillon (Glenmore Heritage Valley) and Nolan Zheng (Twin Creeks). Other local players include Chayse Thorpe (Concord) and Darcy Mackay (The Australian).

WSRVGA: Springwood CC hosted the Western Sydney Region Veteran Golfers Association (WSRVGA) Inter-Club event on 31st May, making full use of the home course advantage to win the Teams event (Peter Filmer 44, Preggy Naicker 43, Jon Brownsell 36 and Chris Shorey 36) with 159 points, ahead of Dunheved, Glenmore Heritage Valley and Richmond, all on 154.

Bill Morris and Geoff Payne (Glenmore Heritage Valley) won the Men’s 2BBB with 51 points, ahead

of Eddie Chambers and Barry Rockcliffe (Dunheved) on 49. Barbara and Keith Stradlee (Glenmore Heritage Valley) won the Medley event on 47, ahead Juanita Robb and Dorothy Wilmington (Glenmore Heritage Valley) 44 c/b.

In the Men’s Singles competitions, A Grade was taken out by Peter Filmer (Springwood) with 44 points, ahead of Paul Gibbs (Dunheved) 40. B Grade was won by Bill Morris (Glenmore Heritage Valley) with 44 points, ahead of Preggy Naicker (Springwood) with 43. In C Grade, Eddie Chamber (Dunheved) won with 45, ahead of Bob Sproule (Leonay) with 39.

Richmond finished 1-2 in the ladies competition, with Margaret Powell (40) edging out Leonie Manczak (38).

The next event on the WSRVGA Inter-Club calendar is set down for Penrith GC on Tuesday 23 July.

Registrations Now Open for UAA Indigenous Talent Identification Day

THE Western Sydney Academy of Sport (WSAS) is excited to announce that registrations are now open for the annual UAA Indigenous Talent Identification Day. This event is specifically designed for aspiring young Indigenous athletes, aged 13 to 17 years, who reside within the Academy’s geographic region.

Set to take place on 27 August 2024 at the Western Sydney University Kingswood Campus, the Talent ID Day offers a unique opportunity for young indigenous athletes to engage in a variety of enjoyable and purposeful sports activities and fitness tests. These activities, which include sports-specific activities, individual athlete assessments, education sessions, coaching sessions and

skill-specific sessions, will be conducted under the supervision of Academy coaches and State Sporting Organisation talent ID staff.

Date: 27 August 2024 Time: 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM Location: Western Sydney University Kingswood Campus Cost: Free of charge - bring your passion and determination to excel. All registered athletes will receive a lunch pack and an Indigenous Academy shirt. To register for the WSAS / UAA Indigenous Talent ID Day, please visit: www.wsas.com. au/nominations/itid/

For further information please contact: Denise Gaston – Marketing, Events, and Communication Coordinator Tel: 0428 473 970 or email: denise@wsas.com.au

BY NOEL ROWSELL

Dale Hughes (Penrith) and Dean Neill (Penrith). Photos courtesy of David Tease / Golf NSW

Photo supplied by Denise Gaston (WSAS)

Inaugural John Farragher open triples held at Glenbrook Panthers

BY MARTIN BOWERMAN

AN idea that grew became a reality on Sunday the 2nd of June when Glenbrook Bowling Club conducted its first John Farragher Open Triples event. The brainchild of bowls coordinator John Leadbitter, and with great support from the bowls committee and generous sponsorship from Panthers, the event attracted 96 bowlers (men and ladies) from clubs as far afield as Gilgandra and Trangie.

John Farragher, the former Panthers prop of the 1970’s was kind enough to put his name to the event to help with promotion and attended on the day with his great mate Royce Simmons. After the bowls was done the pair kept the crowd entertained with some good yarns of days gone by and some positive reflections on the modern game. John’s connection with our sister club Gilgandra made the day that bit more special. Even the weather Gods played their part on the day with everyone getting through 36 ends in albeit overcast and cool conditions.

The format was for 32 triples teams to prenominate and then in a random draw play 4 games of 9 ends against different teams throughout the day, with play commencing at 9am and finishing around 4pm. A lovely roast was provided after game 2 for lunch. In the end the very strong Glenbrook combination of Mick Devine, Jon McDaid and

Bob Coleman took out first prize, winning all their games with a +41 margin. Very commendably the second placed team of Bernie Keating and Sean Leavey included a former Glenbrook junior Sophie Payne, who is improving all the time. They too won all their games with a +28 margin.

Well done to all involved and a special thanks to Kathy Borich, the manager of the Glenbrook Panthers Club for her support. It was a wonderful sight with two packed greens and this event will undoubtedly become a recurring feature of our calendar.

R) Former Panthers Gary Harvey, John Farragher and Royce Simmons.

The Winners, Mick Devine, John Farragher, Bob Coleman and Jon McDaid

Jess Fox opens 2024 World Cup Season with Gold

BY NOEL ROWSELL

REIGNING World Cup Women’s Canoe (WC1) and Kayak (WK1) champion Jessica Fox OAM has experienced the highs and lows of her sport on the weekend, in the opening World Cup event of the season in Augsburg (GER), over 30 May - 2 June.

Jessica had a disappointing WK1 final on Friday, where she initially missed a gate, before going back to pass correctly, ultimately finishing the Final in 9th position.

She then put in a scratchy semi-final in the Women’s Canoe (WC1), which saw her only just scrape into the Final.

All of that was enough to inspire the World and Olympic champion, who overcame an early gate touch to then put in a perfect run take gold in the Final, by more than eight seconds from her nearest competitor.

“I’m just so relieved to finally put down a good run,” Jess said.

“It’s been a tough weekend, it’s been wet and harsh, I’ve been trying to manage the nerves that come with the first World Cup of the season, but now I’m thrilled to be back on the podium, and to be on the top step.

“It was a tough course, Augsburg is always challenging, so I just really had to keep it together.”

Spain’s Nuria Vilarrubla picked up the silver, with Andorra’s Monica Doria taking the bronze.

Australian Tristan Carter made the Final of the Men’s Canoe (MC1), finishing in a highly creditable 6th spot, just 5.85 seconds behind the winner, Ziga Lin Hocevar (Slovakia).

Many of the Australian squad will now head to

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games will feature the Olympic debut of Men’s and Women’s Kayak Cross to the Canoe Slalom competition and three quota places per gender will be awarded during the ICF Kayak Cross Global Qualification competition.

The rest of the field in Paris will be formed by athletes who competed in the canoe singles and kayak singles events, within the limit of two athletes per NOC per event.

Since its debut at the Games at Munich 1972,

Canoe Slalom has always included four events at the Games. Up until Rio 2016, those events were Men’s Canoe Singles (MC1), Men’s Kayak Singles (MK1), Women’s Kayak Singles (WK1) and Men’s Canoe Doubles (MC2), until the latter was substituted for Women’s Canoe Singles (WC1) at Tokyo 2020.

Only four World titles per gender have ever been awarded in the Kayak Cross event. Australian Jessica Fox OAM and Great Britain’s Joseph Clarke MBE are the only multiple gold medallists in the history of the event and will be among the favourites in Vaires-sur-Marne for the Paris 2024 competition.

Panthers lose four from four in NBL1 East Round 9 action

THE Penrith Panthers senior Men’s and Women’s basketball teams have lost all four games of a home and away double-header Round 9 of the 2024 NBL1 East Basketball competition.

Both teams fell to the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence on Saturday night, at the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre (women 7868, men 96-70).

Both Penrith teams then travelled to Castle Hill to face the Hills District Hornets on Sunday, with the Panthers women falling 91-74 and the Panthers men losing a nail-biter, in overtime, 112-109.

Penrith trailed all night on Saturday in the women’s game, with the visitors leading 23-20, 43-37 and 6054 at the first three breaks in play. Penrith clawed back to within 3 points early in the fourth quarter, before the visitors skipped away for a 10-point win.

Tahlia Tupaea led all scorers with 24 points and 9 boards for the Panthers, ahead of Mia Heide 19 points, 18 assists, 5 steals, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot. Monique Bobongie (22 points, 9 boards) and Sienna Harvey

(21 points, 12 boards) were the best for the visitors.

The Penrith men put up a great contest with the young Centre of Excellence team, leading 22-21 at the first break, trailing 43-40 at half time and trailing 68-60 at the end of the third term. Chaos reigned for the Panthers in the final term, as the visitors blasted through the period 2810 to record a 26 point victory.

Ben Kearins and Zeke Evans both scored 11 for the Panthers, ahead of Joshua Kalwy and Jack McWilliams with 10 apiece. Four players hit double figures for the visitors, led by Kye Savage 15, Oscar Goodman 14

and Jacob Furphy 14.

Sunday’s road trip was an opportunity for both Penrith teams to get back into the winner’s circle but it was not to be. Penrith led the women’s game 21-19 at the first break but allowed the Hornets to grab a significant margin in the second term to trail 46-36 at half time. The final two quarters were both tight but the Hornets made full use of the points buffer, running out winners by 16 points.

Tahlia Tupaea again led all scorers in the game with a 36 points, 5 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal performance, ahead of Chloe Williams 14 points and Mia

Heide with 11 points, 12 boards, 1 steal, 2 assists, 3 blocked shots. Former Panther Meg Jefferson led the Hornets with 20 points.

The men’s game was a roller coaster from start to finish, with the home team leading 32-23 at the first break, then trailing 54-48 after a huge second quarter effort from the Panthers.

Penrith continued to lead at the final break in play (79-65), before the Hornets steamed home to win the term 32-18 and draw level at 97-97 at full time.

The home team maintained that momentum to set up a winning margin in extra time, then withstood a late burst from the Panthers for a narrow 3-point win.

Ishmael Sanders (39 points) and Christopher Bryant (28 points) were both huge for the Hornets, whilst Ben Kearins led the Panthers with 21 points, ahead of Atien Acuel 19, Caleb Fetui-Fa’amoe 16, Brodie Schwarzer 14, Joshua Kalwy 13 and Ryan Peterson 10.

Both Penrith teams have another double-header Round 10 this weekend, meeting the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on Saturday night (women 5.30pm, men 7.30pm) and the Maitland Mustangs on Sunday (women 1pm, men 3pm).

Prague this weekend (7-9 June) for the ICF Kayak Cross Global Qualification competition.

Jess Fox OAM and Tristan Carter in action in Augsburg. Photos supplied by Paddle Australia

BY NOEL ROWSELL

Josh Kalwy and Ben Kearins in action on Saturday night. Photos by Noel Rowsell

LILLYPILLY ESTATE WINES

Lillypilly

Winemaker

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10.

PANTHERS GETTING TO KNOW

ON THE PENRITH

HALF YEARLY ANALYSIS MARK

WITH MARK GEYER

THE first state of origin game usually signals the halfway mark of the season proper (I know right, how quick has this year gone?) as the teams and players start to sort themselves out.

But this year is different, there is legitimately up to 10 teams who could still walk away with the trophy aloft come early October, it’s that hard to predict a weekly winner let alone the eventual champions.

So as we sit at the halfway point of our season let’s have a look at the players and teams that have shone and those that have not in our half yearly deep dive NRL analysis.

Best player?

Dylan Edwards. Although going through his own turmoil at the minute after having to surrender the Blue origin jersey he fought so hard to obtain, Edwards has gone next level this season as he continually churns out astonishing numbers from the fullback position.

Best team?

There’s been a few to speak of including the overachieving Dolphins, but I can’t go past Craig Bellamy’s Melbourne Storm. Sitting in first position on the competition table the Storm have a freakish way of finding a win when it is least expected.

Considering the players they’ve had on the side-line this year their performances have been spectacular.

Most improved player?

Until his recent injury I would have said the Roosters’ Connor Watson who was on the verge of an origin jumper.

But I’ve gone with the player in the number 5 jersey in the State of Origin opener, Zac Lomax. His season has gone from strength to strength playing in a position he apparently hates playing, which is wing! Consequently he moved from the Dragons to the Eels to play centre, yet is a State of Origin winger. Confused? Me too, but what I do know is that his game play in 2024 has been fantastic.

Most Improved team?

Again the Dolphins are prominent but I have to go with the Bulldogs, who also have the mid-season “buy of the year” in Stephen Crichton. The Dogs’ defence was always going to be their focal point with coach Cameron Ciraldo earning the title of ‘Minister of Defence’ whilst at Penrith, but there’s no secret that the ex-Panthers in the Bulldog roster have given them fresh hope in a season that’s wide open.

Most disappointing team?

The Rabbitohs. I had Souths finishing in this season’s top 4 but they’re an age away. With big names misfiring and a coach already sacked it has been the season from hell for the very proud club. Wayne Bennett’s imminent arrival will see them back to where they should be next year you get the feeling.

Best Rookie?

Canberra’s Ethan Strange. Has played just about every minute of every game this year after being

catapulted into the starting five-eighth position at the start of the season and hasn’t looked back. The kid is tough, athletic, and dogged, and he’s only 19! He will most definitely play state of origin one day.

Biggest issue in our game?

The bunker’s continual head scratcher decisions is obvious but I think the hip drop rule is also a divisive one. There have been many an occasion when it would seem a hip drop has occurred only to be waved play on. Yet on other occasions it seems like a player has no alternative but to tackle around the legs from behind only to be penalised with a hip drop tackle… Oh, did I also mention the stupid “6 to go” ruling…. I could be here for days!

See you at the game, your Panthers need you this Sunday against Manly. Don’t forget, if you’re looking for a new car contact my great mate at Sinclair Hyundai, Toby Hughes.

MG (random Westie) OAM

 Half Yearly Awards have been given out! (L-R) Dylan Edwards, Stephen Crichton, Harry Grant and Ethan Strange.