Nepean News 8th November 2018

free Thursday, 8 November 2018

ISSUE 239

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Lest we forget

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we will pause to Remember. Lest we forget.

Carolyn’s Guide to Retirement Living in Western Sydney Meet Carolyn, an expert with years of experience in the retirement living sector. Here she continues her column sharing insights and answers to the frequently asked questions people have about living in a retirement village.

Is location important?

The location of your future retirement village is an important factor when you decide to move. You should consider what amenities are in the area, if there are hospitals, specialists, transport etc. Even if you don’t need them now you may in the future. Moving to an area that you’re familiar with takes away a lot of the stress of moving. You can stay connected to the community you know and love, and this includes staying not only near your family and friends, it may also mean staying close to your local doctor, community groups and shopping centres.

Are you looking to stay local? A brand new over 55’s village is coming to Jordan Springs. Perfectly located across the road from Jordan Springs Marketplace, and with a bus stop right out the front, you couldn’t be more connected. Call Carolyn on 0430 189 447. You can be amongst the first to register for VIP updates on the new village, or visit jordanspringsretirement.com

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3 Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

Centenary of Armistice

By KeRRIE DAVIES

T

his Sunday marks the Centenary of the First World War Armistice, when, after four brutal years of warfare, a peace settlement was reached.

Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies is encouraging the community to pay their respects to Australia’s servicemen and servicewomen and observe a minute’s silence at 11am this Sunday, 11 November, marking 100 years since the Armistice.

“At 11am on 11 November 1918, fighting was suspended and there were huge celebrations across the world. This Sunday, 11 November 2018, our community will come together again to reflect on the events which shaped our history,” Tanya Davies said.

The First World War remains Australia’s most devastating war resulting in 60,000 deaths and 156,000 wounded, gassed or captured.

The city of Penrith, St Marys, Blaxland/ Glenbrook RSL sub-branches are hosting a Remembrance service on Sunday 11 November at Club Paceway.

The service will commence at 8:00am with the Freedom of the City and conclude at 3:00pm.

Visit https://www.centenaryofanzac.nsw.gov. au/whats-on/ for more information on the service and other local events.

In recognition of the anniversary and the

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completion of the Anzac Memorial Centenary Extension, the NSW Government’s official Remembrance Day Service will be held at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney.

At the conclusion of the service, all attendees are invited to explore the enhanced Memorial, in particular the new Hall of Service which displays 1701 samples of soil taken from around NSW where people enlisted for the First World War. NSW Veterans Affairs Minister David Elliott said that this year, our nation would pause and remember all those who died in the Great War, Second World War and in all conflicts since.

“This Sunday I encourage everyone, no matter where you are, to take a minute to pause and commemorate brave servicemen and servicewomen from every country who lost their lives in war and armed conflicts,” Mr Elliott said.

Prue Car MP Member for Londonderry

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

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From the Editor’s Desk

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

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

Kerrie Davies 0422 067 644 Bart Bassett 0412 955 745 Larry Davis 0432 062 643 Dianne Bonello 0418 813 319 Conner Lowe 0404 419 346 Stewart Moses 0417 680 533 Stacey Fortescue 0420 319 893 Hilary Nathan Media 0402 841 434 Pegasus Print Group, Blacktown nepeannews@aol.com www.wsnewsgroup.com

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

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STAY WITH VALUE SUITES PENRITH New 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and studio suites available.

By KeRRIE DAVIES

I

F you cast your eyes around, you won’t have to look far to find a safety barrier, warning sign or rule in place aimed at protecting people. And often it is protecting them against their own stupidity!

Just about every possible danger to a human being has been dealt with by minimising the chances of being exposed to it.

And furthermore, we expect it. “Wouldn’t you think that area would be fenced off better”, or “where’s the sign telling us that this is dangerous?” We are a generation that is not only protected to the hilt, but we are quite precious about any potential exposure to danger without the appropriate warnings.

There is a point to my ramblings above - I want you to contrast today’s expectations with those who sacrificed their lives in the name of our country.

 Nearly 9,000 Australian soldiers lost their lives in Gallipoli

With little or no notice they said a quick farewell to their families, their friends and their life as they knew it and set off for the completely unknown.

There were no instruction manuals telling them what to expect; there were no step-by-step guides on how to minimise their exposure to danger and there were certainly no barriers placed between themselves and death.

There were no warning signs notifying them what the chances of survival were. These days even poker machines are obliged to warn you of the chances of losing your spare coins - yet our diggers were not warned they could well lose their lives.

This year 11 November marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War (1914–18). Each year on this day Australians observe one minute’s silence at 11am, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.

Lest We Forget those who fought through bloody battles to ensure future generations have the freedom and lifestyle we now enjoy.

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new pedestrian and cycling bridge is now complete, allowing communities across Western Sydney to enjoy safer walking, jogging and cycling across the Nepean River.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Western Sydney and Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres joined thousands of local residents to officially open the Yandhai Nepean Crossing.

“This new bridge is world class and it is very exciting to see it come to life and improve connections for pedestrians and cyclists,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The Yandhai Nepean Crossing will be an essential link between the beautiful Nepean and Blue Mountains regions.

“Both the design and name of the bridge has been based on community feedback and I know it will be an asset for the region for years to come.”

Mr Ayres said this bridge delivers on the Governments commitment to provide a safe pedestrian crossing of the Nepean River, something the Penrith community has been requesting for many years.

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Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

A new connection

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Member for Penrith

of people who came out today confirm that,” Mr Ayres said.

“With Penrith’s newest landmark now open the community across Western Sydney can enjoy the Nepean River like never before.

“This crossing offers unprecedented access for people of all abilities to enjoy views to the south of the river, not seen since the late 1800’s.”

More than 850 people worked to deliver the structure with around 700 tonnes of steel used, 25 metre truss segments delivered from Tomago to form the bridge trusses and 10,000 litres of paint used to coat the new structure.

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he Bespoke Realty Group of Glenmore Park, Jamisontown and Penrith, is supporting the Lions Club of Emu Plains at Christmas, for the second year in a row, by purchasing Lions Xmas cakes, with the proceeds going to local charities and community projects.

Sharon Mudiman, Director of Bespoke, said, “We love to support the Lions Club at Emu Plains and our clients just lovedthese cakes last Christmas.”

‘Cake master’ David Kitley of Emu Plains Lions, says he never tires of delivering cakes at Xmas as it’s a bit like Santa, putting a smile on faces. David also said that the purchase of cakes by supporters like Bespoke, allowed the Lions Club to donate cakes to local charities; like the Salvation Army, Nepean Food Services and the Penrith Community Kitchen.

Emu Plains Lions are selling

Who Am I?

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

Realty group supports Lions

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? ???

I hold St Marys and Penrith close to my heart Being sociable and social are things I strive high for

their cakes and puddings for $13 each, and you can order on4735 4991 or kitleyhouse@optusnet.com. au 0417234295, 042710061 or at jimdevine@bigpond.com They will be available at the Lennox Village on

Saturday 24 November and also when the Club sell their freshly cut Xmas trees for $35.00 from 7:00-11:30am on Saturday 8th December at Lions Park, Great Western Highway near the Melrose Hall at Emu Plains.

I spend a lot of time laboring for the community Since this photo I have decreased the hair on my head but increased the hair on my chin Result on page 34

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Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

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Council awarded for environmental excellence

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ountain View Reserve at Cranebrook has been recognised twice for environmental excellence by winning the Integrated Stormwater Design Category at the 2018 Stormwater NSW Awards and then taking out the Coastal and Waterways Protection Category at the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW 2018 Sustainable Cities Awards.

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM said the dual awards for the project showed Council’s commitment to the environment and sound sustainability practices.

“It is wonderful that the Mountain View project has won these awards, however that is not the sole aim when we embark on these projects,” Cr Fowler said.

“The initial focus of this project was on stormwater treatment because the site is immediately upstream of the Penrith Lakes system, as well as to improve the condition of a regionally significant natural wetland.

“As a result of the works over the last four years this project has

Stormwater runoff from the surrounding urban area is treated through a swale, a raingarden and a constructed wetland, and the natural wetland on site is now more resilient and home to many more birds, reptiles and frogs. Sugar gliders have also been found in the bushland on the site.

“The presence of these animals demonstrates the great work that has been undertaken across the whole reserve to help restore its natural areas in what is a great outcome for our City.” significantly improved the quality of water flowing into Penrith Lakes and ultimately the Nepean River, and restored the natural wetland through revegetation,” Cr Fowler said.

The project has resulted in complimentary works at the reserve including restoration of the adjacent Cumberland Plain Woodland as well as walking paths, a viewing platform, a bird hide and informative signs and sculptures.

Trick or Treating in St Marys Breaks Record

W

ho said Australians don’t celebrate Halloween?

St Marys Town Centre proved that Aussie families are willing to dress up and join in the fun of celebrating Halloween when they held the St Marys Trick or Treat Trail late last month.

“This is the eighth year that we have run this event,” said Alex Karavas, Chairman of St Marys Town Centre.

“And it just gets bigger and bigger every year.

We had a record-breaking level of attendance this year with 1936 children undertaking the St Marys Trick or Treat Trail. It was a jump of nearly 700 children more than last year.

“It was fantastic to see so many people of all ages dress up and parade along the street in their amazing costumes. Business owners saw a lot of new faces coming through their doors. It’s great to see this kind of community support, not to mention people attending this event from outside of the area.”

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aring for someone approaching the end of their life can be a uniquely rewarding experience. Palliative care volunteers offer companionship and practical help to people living with a life limiting illness, their carers and families. Ordinary men and women can give the extraordinary gift of their time and compassion during a period when it is most valuable.

The Nepean Hawkesbury Palliative Care Volunteer Service is coordinated through the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District.

Our volunteers are patient, flexible and nonjudgmental, understanding and accepting of other people’s beliefs and values.

Volunteer carer Lyn (pictured right with Colyton locals Bob and Maureen) says, “It’s a privilege to be let into the family and each experience is unique. I hope to make the journey a little easier for the client and their families.”

Sadly, Maureen passed away early this year.

The Nepean Hawkesbury Palliative Care Volunteer Service is inviting enquiries from people interested in supporting someone at endof-life in their own home or in Nepean Hospital.

There is also opportunity to become a Volunteer Biographer, capturing someone’s reflection of their life and sharing their story in a written memoir.

Volunteers only need to commit up to four hours of their time each week. Clearance checks, training and ongoing support are provided.

Contact the Volunteer Coordinator on (02) 4734 3993 for more information.

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

Give a little time for someone who is out of time

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Nepean Hawkesbury Palliative Care Volunteer Service Carolyn Wilkinson, Volunteer Coordinator P: (02) 4734 3993 M: 0401 715 851 E: Carolyn.Wilkinson@health.nsw.gov.au

What you ‘Cane Do’ 64% of people who use white canes have been grabbed or handled by a member of the public even though they didn’t ask for help, according to a new national client survey by Guide Dogs Australia.

A similar number of people who use white canes (67%) also reported that people talk to their sighted companions instead of them directly when out in the community.

Guide Dogs Australia’s Cane Do community awareness campaign aims to remind members of the community what they ‘cane do’ to help people with a white cane navigate public spaces in a safe and independent way.

Ask the person using a white cane if they would like assistance and if so, how?

If you see a person with a white cane, be aware and give them space to navigate.

Don’t be offended if a person with a white cane declines your offer to help. They may simply be confidently travelling independently or concentrating.

Alert the person with a white cane if they are in any immediate danger.

Report all hazards in public spaces to your local council.

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

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local news

A fiery battle, but thankfully no fatalities

By KeRRIE DAVIES

L

AST Thursday was a very busy day for locally-based Australian Snake Catchers, with the warmer weather resulting in 12 call-outs in one day.

One of the calls, which was to Mamre Road, saw Sean Cade having to remove a very angry snake.

“This fellow was rightly very upset as it had an encounter with a Jack Russell next to a Day Care Centre on Mamre Rd.” Sean said.

“Both animals thankfully lived through the ordeal. The snake was found under a Basketball Hoop and decided to Envenomate that also.”

If you are confronted with a snake, give Sean or Freya Cade a call, do not attempt to remove the snake as many are highly venomous.

“The size of the snake has zero bearing on the potency of the venom,” Sean said.

Russell is doing well after the ordeal

Do not try this yourself!

Call the experts

“Venom is venom and only the volume will differ.

“If you see a snake stay calm, keep the kids and pets away, keep an eye on where the snake goes if possible and call a professional.”

The Cades offer this advice for first aid following a snake bite: “Pressure and Immobilisation is the current method used. Keep the patient calm and still, call 000, apply a compression bandage starting at the end of the limb ( fingers or toes ).

“Wrap pressure should be that of a sprained ankle, wrap over clothing, long sleeves etc, remove jewelry if possible.

“Get help to the patient - not the other way around - as movement of any kind will increase the chance of the venom moving around the system.

Australian Snake Catchers operate 24/7 and can be contacted on 0410 761 575.

Primary school students get top firefighting tips

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enrith school students learnt top safety tips from firefighters this week as part of an ongoing statewide campaign to educate children on fire dangers.

Each year Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) visit more than 2700 preschools, daycare centres and primary schools to deliver their fire safety PreEd and FireEd programs.

More than 80 students at Penrith South Public School were the latest to complete the program on Friday.

Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant said over the last decade firies have delivered the program to almost a million young children across the state.

“Our firefighters do so much more than battle blazes each day; prevention and education also play a significant role in their ongoing work to protect the community,” Mr Grant said.

“We know children can often unknowingly put themselves in harm’s way when it comes to potential fires or other hazards, as they simply don’t understand the risks involved.

“So that’s what this program is all about – making sure children learn about the real dangers of fire and, most importantly, what to do in the unfortunate event of a fire starting in their home.”

Penrith FRNSW Station Officer Clifford Van Eck said the program includes simple educational games and messages about safe and unsafe fires, including the age-old ‘Get Down Low and Go, Go, Go’ fire response.

“Nobody is in a better position to deliver fire safety lessons than firefighters, as we deal with the tragedy and loss associated with fires on a regular basis,” Mr Van Eck said.

“Children are naturally fascinated with fire, so it’s vital fire education is started at an early age, as it helps build a life-long awareness of safety, prevention and preparedness.

“The behaviours that children learn as part of this program could very well save their lives and those of

their families in the event of fire.”

NSW primary schools can contact their local fire station to book a visit from FRNSW. Learn more about the programs via https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/ page.php?id=9189

Sleepless weekend for Penrith dad following dream $2.8 mil Lotto win

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he excitement of discovering he had just won more than $2.8 million in the weekend’s Saturday Lotto draw at the end of last month was too much for one Penrith dad, who admitted he hadn’t slept a wink since checking his entry.

The thrilled winner held one of the seven division one winning entries across Australia in Saturday Lotto draw 3889 on 27 October. Each entry takes home the division one prize of $2,857,142.86.

Speaking to a NSW Lotteries official to confirm his win, the happy dad confessed he had had trouble believing he had actually won division one.

“I haven’t slept since I checked my ticket,” he laughed.

“I checked it on Saturday night. I had a look and I couldn’t believe it. I was shaking.

“Since then, I keep checking the ticket every half an hour. I would try to go to sleep, wake up and check it again. I don’t know if I’m dreaming. You know how you dream that you’ve won? I just needed to make sure it was real.”

The man shared he had been marking his entry with the same numbers for many years.

“I guess these are now my lucky numbers,” he said.

“With this prize I know I’m definitely going to buy a house. We’re currently renting.

“I’m going to keep working, but maybe travel a

bit as well. I can’t stop working – I’m a workaholic.

“But I can also invest a bit of money for my kids’ future.

“If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up!”

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Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

Alan Jones officially opens the Luddenham Raceway

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By KeRRIE DAVIES

I

T was a beautiful sunny day in L u d d e n h a m when over 200 people gathered for the official opening of the Luddenham Raceway.

There were Councillors and Mayors from Penrith and Blacktown and some very well-known faces including Ian Luff and Alan Jones.

Luddenham Raceway is more than an impressive place to fulfill the need for speed. It’s also a place where the speed is taken from the roads and placed in a much safer environment.

There were also very moving speeches from Chief Inspector Phillip Brooks and Jarrad Ingram.

Jarrad suffered a brain injury during a crash at high speed. He was an incredibly moving speaker. He took responsibility for his actions and is clearly determined to prevent others from making the same mistakes.

Jarrad gave a very frank summary of the difficulties he faces day in day out and the rehabilitation process involved following his injuries.

You could have heard a pin drop as he revealed his very raw and emotional recount of what one

mistake has shaped his life into.

Alan Jones and Ian Luff spoke at the launch and thoroughly entertained the guests before unveiling the official plaque.

Guests were then treated to a lap or two around the track in some very cool rides.

Luddenham Raceway is Sydney’s newest Motorsport Park, with 1.4km of fast sweeping corners, undulating twisting sections, heart stopping elevation changes, spacious undercover areas, a powered pit area,

For all your car service requirements

a fully equipped reception area, live timing, grandstands and spectator views, all conveniently located at Luddenham.

Luddenham Raceway also offers Go Karting and Paintball services and if you are struggling to pick between the two they are offering combo deals so you don’t miss out on an action packed day.

Open seven days a week, they are located at 821-849 Luddenham Rd, Luddenham and can be contacted on 9834 2366.

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Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

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Labor launches its local state candidates for 2019

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ABOR party members and supporters have got together for two weekends in a row to launch their candidates for the state seats of Penrith and Mugoa.

Opposition Leader Luke Foley was also in attendance to support his candidates.

Current Penrith Councillor and former Mayor Karen McKewown will be the Labor Candidate to take on Penrith’s sitting member Stuart Ayres. Mr Ayres currently holds the seat by a margin of 6.2 percent.

Todd Carney is also a current Councillor at Penrith Council and he will be taking on Mulgoa’s sitting member Tanya Davies, who holds that seat by a margin of 9.7 per cent.

In the Londonderry electorate the current Labor member, Prue Car holds her seat by an 8.8 per cent margin.

The state election will be held on March 23, 2019.

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By KeRRIE DAVIES

H

E is one of the most friendly, helpful and genuine people you’re ever likely to meet and now he’s been rightly recognised with a state government award.

Minister for Ageing and Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies made a surprise visit to “The Train” outside the St Marys RSL Club to congratulate and present Sam Vecchio of St Clair with the 2018 NSW Mulgoa Grandparent of the Year award.

The NSW Grandparent of the Year award recognises the important work seniors do in strengthening their local community.

“Grandparents and seniors give so much back to our communities. They play an integral role in NSW families and it is important that we take the time to thank them for their invaluable contributions,” Tanya Davies said.

“Sam Vecchio is a truly inspiring grandparent; he is loved by everyone who meets him.”

“It is an honour to recognise all the work Sam does by presenting him with the 2018 NSW Mulgoa Grandparent of the year award.”

“Sam is a strong example of a life lived in service to others, he has helped raised his grandson Lachlan and is now teaching him to drive, he regularly volunteers with the St Marys RSL sub-branch and the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia.”

“He is a role model volunteer in his local community displaying unwavering dedication and personal

sacrifice to support his grandchildren, fellow ex-servicemen and community.”

Sam has been a member of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, St Mary’s Outpost SubBranch Inc. for a number of years and was elected to their committee as Secretary in 2013.

Sam manages a team of volunteers and administers the daily operation

of “The Train”, an antique restored train carriage which functions as an office and gathering place providing administrative, welfare and pension support to local exservicemen.

Sam is an excellent organiser and during his time as Secretary improved the way the Association supports its client and membership base of around 260 ex-servicemen.

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

Lovable Sam receives Top Pop award

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McHappy Day 2018 Saturday 17 November

Cnr Forrester and Boronia Roads, St Marys North

REMEMBRANCE DAY ~ 11 NOVEMBER 2018

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

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› Important Message St Marys RSL sub-Branch would like to advise those who usually attend services at the “train” that they will NOT be holding its usual annual Remembrance Day Service for this year only, as they have put all their efforts in with neighbouring RSL sub-Branches to conduct a spectacular, Regionwide Commemorative event at the Penrith Paceway on Sunday 11thNovember.

All who usually attend this Service at St Marys are encouraged to travel to Penrith Paceway instead and to enjoy a huge family day there.

A free but limited minibus service will be available between 7.30am till 10am from St Marys RSL Club to travel to the Paceway, with several return trips in the afternoon; this will be on a first come basis.

An incredible loss of Australian lives

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y 1918, the First World War had been in progress for over three years, and thousands of Australians had already been killed or wounded. Possibly every Australian town had experienced a loss of one or more of their community.

In March 1918 the German army launched its final offensive of the war. The Germans initially met with great success, advancing 64 kilometres past the region of the 1916 Somme battles, before the offensive lost momentum. Between April and November the stalemate of the preceding years began to give way, as the allies A machine gun position established by the 54th Battalion during the morning of the attack through Peronne, combined infantry, 2 September 1918. The photo shows the morning after the battle. artillery, tanks, and aircraft more effectively, demonstrated contributed to Australian successes at withdrew from the front for rest and in the Australian capture of Hamel spur Mont St Quentin and Péronne and to refitting; they were preparing to return on 4 July 1918. The allied offensive, the capture of the Hindenburg Line. In when Germany surrendered on 11 beginning on 8 August at Amiens, also early October the Australian divisions November.

ON REMEMBRANCE DAY WE PAUSE TO REFLECT ON THE SACRIFICE OF THOSE WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY, AS WELL AS THOSE CURRENTLY DOING SO.

COUNCILLOR

john thain

This year I will be remembering the centenary of Armistice and paying homage to both my Granfathers who were on the Western Front.

While they made it back we honour those who didn’t.

Lest We Forget.

LEST WE FORGET.

Prue Car MP Member for Londonderry

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

John Thain: 0411 427 812 john.thain@penrithcity

By Keegan Thomson

IN REMEMBERING all those who’ve sacrificed everything in all theatres of war we mustn’t forget the neglected POWs and those who suffered under oppression and tyranny whilst their brothers in arms fought on the open seas and in the skies.

Between October of 1942 and October of 1943 around 13,000 Australian prisoners of war joined a workforce of nearly 60,000 Allied POWs to build, in unimaginable conditions, the Thai-Burma Railroad.

Along with the POWs the Japanese forces enslaved some 200,000 Burmese, Javanese, Malays, Tamils and Chinese workers who were known as Romusha. Many of the Romusha workers were coerced into working on the railroad with the offer of housing, good pay and easy work.

Japanese forces used brutal tactics and employed harsh penalties to build the 415 kilometre long railroad, which ran from Bangkok in Thailand to Rangoon in Burma.

The treatment of the POWs was inhumane and barbaric with diseases like cholera, dysentery, malaria and tropical ulcers ravaging the camps and labourers. Starvation and malnutrition were also prevalent across the railroad with many dying of treatable diseases and exhaustion.

One of the most bloody segments of the build

was at Hellfire Pass on the Thai-Burma boarder.

The construction of the railroad at Hellfire Pass was the largest rock cutting along the railroad taking 6 weeks to build with POWs working 18 hours a day.

Some Allied prisoners of war were beaten to death

by Japanese forces at Hellfire Pass.

The most infamous section of the railroad is bridge 277 or more commonly known as the bridge over River Kawi. Originally named the Mae Klong River, the bridge depicted in the film, The Bridge on the River Kwai, was nothing like the original bridge the POWs built. In fact the bridge was much smaller and was destroyed a number of times during Allied bombardment of the region during the war. Today a concrete bridge stands in place of the original wooden bridge. It is unknown how many prisoners perished during the construction of the bridge.

During the 12 month campaign to build the

railroad many POWs risked life and limb to record the horrid conditions and the decaying lives of the men. Artists used brushes made of human hair to paint scenes with plant juices and blood used for paint. During some of the hardest months of construction moral was lifted across the camps though songs and music.

Within the Australian forces was a surgeon from Victoria, Colonel Ernest Edward “Weary” Dunlop. After serving in the European theatre of the Second World War, Colonel Dunlop was moved to the Pacific where he was captured in Java. He was sent to the railroad where he took charge and restored morale to dying and disenfranchised. One POWs said he was “a lighthouse of sanity in a universe of madness and suffering.” It has been said that the Australian casualties on the railroad were significantly reduced because of Colonel Dunlop’s medical interventions.

When the Allied forces eventually drove the Japanese from Thailand they came across some of the worst treated POWs across the Pacific theatre.

Many of the men were skin and bone, stick thin, with a great number of ailments and trauma to their minds and bodies.

All up around 3000 Australian POWs died in the construction of the now mainly defunct railroad, with around 150,000 of the Romusha workers dying along side. In total around 13,000 Allied POWs died on the railroad, yet those numbers aren’t official due to the lack or up to date records.

15 Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

REMEMBRANCE DAY ~ 11 NOVEMBER 2018 Remembering the Thai-Burma railroad

“On this Remembrance Day in commemoration of the Centenary of Armistice we pay tribute to those past and present who served our Country and sacrificed their lives with courage and conviction.”

Tanya Davies Member for Mulgoa

TRICIA HITCHEN Councillor Penrith City Council Phone 0417 365 313

“ We will remember them, today & every day.”

Ross Fowler OAM MAYOR 0419 738 484

REMEMBRANCE DAY ~ 11 NOVEMBER 2018

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

16

Local schools prepare for Remembrance Day with mail-out

L

iberal Senator for Western Sydney, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, is pleased to announce that schools in the Lindsay electorate will soon be receiving their annual educational kits in preparation for Remembrance Day, this year marking the centenary of the First World War Armistice.

Every year, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs produce an educational pack that is used in schools right throughout the country to promote the observance of Remembrance Day. “Educating young people on the origins and significance of Remembrance Day, including observing a minute’s silence at 11 am, is vitally important,” Senator Payne said.

“The 2018 Remembrance Day posters feature four portraits of men and women who served during the Gallipoli campaign. The portraits were created by combining one hundred portraits of men and women who have served in the three services of the ADF over the past century.

“I encourage all schools, students and communities to get involved in Remembrance Day commemorations, marking the centenary of the First World War Armistice, to remember all those who have suffered or died for our nation in wars, conflicts and

peacekeeping operations Century of Service.”

over

a

Schools will begin to receive the educational kit in September, with

resources available to download on The Anzac Portal.

REMEMBRANCE DAY ~ 11 NOVEMBER 2018

By KeRRIE DAVIES

WHEN I was a child, Bob really was my uncle.

Robert Stanley Stuart was a WW2 Veteran having served overseas in the Royal Australian Navy. He had many war-time stories to tell and he didn’t mind sharing them - especially after a few beers.

While most of the family would drift off to bed, I would sit for hours on end - transfixed in a world where food was rationed, canons and bayonets ruled and a postcard from Australia was the most treasured gift one could behold.

Every year we’d go on holiday to Shoal Bay in Port Stephens and Uncle Bob would run the holiday apartment like it was the HMAS Sydney; we’d be woken each morning at dawn to the call “Fishing detail, fall out!”

Our holiday activities would be organised in a timetable- like fashion down to the minute.

And every year we’d embark on the hike up to the top of Tomaree Hill. The historic Fort Tomaree played an important role in the defence of Port Stephens during WW2, including Tomaree Head that was solidly armed with gun emplacements.

During the walk I would hear more about WW2, the friendships formed, the politics at the time and the propaganda around the encouragement to enlist. I’d also hear about those who weren’t fortunate enough to return home.

It was more valuable to me and more detailed

On Remembrance Day we honour and commemorate the courage and sacrifice of those who have fought to defend our country and our values.

We particularly remember those who have died and their families.

This year we pay a special tribute on the Centenary of Armistice.

LEST WE FORGET

THE SOLDIER ON THE PLINTH

By Tomas Hamilton I stand upon my lonely plinth, my eyes a stony gaze ‘Tis here I greet the morning sun, or watch its dying rays My descendants all stroll past me, with hardly an upward glance For I am but a victim, who played wars’ game of chance We came ashore at Anzac Cove, a nation’s funeral pyre My comrades fell around me, in both dust and mire Our family read of valiant deeds, but they weren’t told the truth For the reaper stood upon those slopes and claimed our flower of youth The generals rolled their dice of death, from an island safe off shore Till finally they closed the page, on this chapter of the war We’d been right through the gates of hell, but that just seemed a stunt For what was yet to greet us, on the western front

 My Uncle Bob (left) and his mate during WW2.

than anything I learned about this chapter in history at school.

Uncle Bob has since passed on, but his stories will remain with me forever, and I’ve shared them with my own kids.

It’s really important that these first-hand accounts don’t get lost in time, buried and never to be retold. If you have a connection to someone who served this great nation, take the time to listen to anything they’re willing to share.

And pass it on.

While the historical detail and facts will always be available for future generations, the actual experiences of our veterans will not - unless we pass them on.

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

And Bob’s your uncle

17

We spent three years along the Somme, all we had left was our pride Till at Villiers Bretonneux, we turned the fatal tide Pressing through the maelstrom, we prayed for some release And after four years of this misery, the Germans sued for peace The world we knew went wild with joy, there was dancing in the street For we set free the nations, that had only known defeat Their shackles swiftly cast aside, upon the blood soaked loam While all our thoughts quickly turned, to the folks we left back home The church bells tolled both loud and long and the wine it all flowed free But deep down in our troubled souls, lay a sorrow, you could not see And the poppies of Remembrance, became the symbol of this day As we hoped for a better life, in the peace that now held sway Amongst all our rejoicing, we pondered at the cost As bells and cheers can’t bring back, the sixty thousand lost Now Christmas dinner, will see an empty chair For the missing loved ones, of those who still wait there So may history proudly judge, our noble sacrifice But the tears of grief will still flow, for those who paid the price As I wonder each November, looking through my granite mask Did my comrades die in vain, well, I can only ask

On the 11th of November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. Today we pause to remember the men and women of our armed forces who have died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.

We remember those who have returned home with broken limbs, minds and spirits.

And we remember those who continue to serve our country.

We are now and forever in your debt.

Lest we forget.

Mark Tyndall

Independent Candidate for Lindsay

Ph: 1300 MARK 4L [6275 45] Mail: PO Box 1806, Penrith NSW 2751 independent@marktyndall.com.au | www.marktyndall.com.au

REMEMBRANCE DAY ~ 11 NOVEMBER 2018

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

18

Jamison High School student to tour wwii battlegrounds

S

tuart Ayres MP, Member for Penrith joined history students at Jamison High School to announce that the school has been selected via a ballot to participate in the 2019 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship.

A lucky student from Jamison High school will take part in a once in a lifetime tour of key WWI and WWII battlegrounds as part of the 2019 program.

Stuart Ayres said it was a sensational opportunity for Jamison High School to select a student to represent the community and gain a better understanding of the military service and the causes of war.

“The successful student will have a remarkable educational opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Australian servicemen and women and enhance their understanding of a legacy that has shaped Australia’s military story.”

“I encourage Jamison High School students in Year 9 and 10 with a keen interest in history to apply,” Stuart Ayres said. “I look forward to meeting the schools chosen student when successful applicants are announced in 2019.”

Students interested in attending the tour will submit a piece of work on the topic Australians at War, which

Principal, Glyn Trethewy, Students - Sara, Emily, Nicholas, Clarese, Madison & Teacher - Shayna Smith

will be judged by a panel selected by the school. Essays, poems or short stories, video presentations and musical compositions are just some of the formats applications can be submitted in.

The 2019 tour will travel to historic sites and battlegrounds in Germany,

France and Belgium. They will deepen their understanding of the causes of war and commemorate the service of Australians in both the First and Second World Wars.

Minister for Veterans Affairs, Mr David Elliott said educating younger generations on those who answered

the call for service was imperative as NSW marks the Centenary of Service.

“This is a unique opportunity and one that offers students insight into Australia’s involvement in two of the most devastating conflicts we have ever seen,” Mr Elliott said.

20

Legends of the Nepean

Betty Audrey Asser

By Noel Rowsell

B

etty Audrey Asser passed away in September this year, at the ripe old age of 94.

The loving wife of Desmond (deceased); mother to seven children (Desley, Paul, Glenn, Judy, Tim, Shelley and Brett); mother-in-law to Rick, Robyn, Helen, Glenn, Carolyn, Peter and Leigh; grandmother to sixteen grandchildren and great-grandmother to six great-grandchildren.

Born in the Women’s Hospital in Paddington in 1923, Betty first lived in Coogee, followed by Campsie, Sans Souci and Brighton-Le-Sands, before her family settled into Glenbrook on the lower Blue Mountains.

Betty attended Glenbrook PS, then Penrith HS, leaving in 1940 to begin a Secretarial Course at Stott Business College, Parramatta and working in Sydney.

Betty married husband Desmond (a member of the RAAF) in 1952 at St Peters Anglican Church in Townsville, Queensland.

The first two children were born in Townsville, whilst the remaining five were born in the Altona Community Hospital, Victoria.

Desmond was posted back to Glenbrook in the late 1960’s and Betty lived there until her death this year.

Daughter Judy said “Mum (Betty) was the oldest living resident in Glenbrook”.

“Mum was totally devoted to her household duties until Dad passed away in 1993”.

“After his (Dad’s) death, Mum joined many organisations and was a devoted parishioner at St Peters, Glenbrook and then subsequently at St Davids, Blaxland” said Judy.

“She (Betty) was a volunteer in the early years at the Glenbrook PS canteen, a volunteer at the Glenbrook/

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Betty Audrey Asser was nominated as a Legend of the Nepean

by Gai Hawthorn.

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

on where they were taken and what they had visited”.

“Mum had only just returned from a wonderful ten days at Moss Vale in July” said Judy.

“Mum always attended the Anzac Service in Glenbrook and looked forward to seeing everyone at the service each year”.

“Betty was a wealth of knowledge, looking forward to her crosswords in the Telegraph each morning and also in other magazines”.

She (Betty) always read the Golf results in the Sports Section and was so excited when she saw the name of her son, grandson, relative or a friend’s name as the winner”.

“Mum entered many competitions in ‘That’s Life’ and other magazines and won many prizes over the years.:”.

“She couldn’t quite crack the ‘Lotto’ though and eventually stopped buying tickets”.

“We used to ring her (Betty) to ask a geography or history question or how to spell difficult words”.

“She always knew the answer and if not, got out her trusty Webster dictionary”.

“Not a small one either - the biggest dictionary we had ever seen”.

“Mum loved untangling gold and silver necklaces, ear-rings and fishing lines – it was a challenge”.

Lapstone Rural Fire Brigade, a muchloved member of the Glenbrook Historical Society, a loyal member of the War Widows and Legacy and a dear friend to everyone at her Thursday Friendship Club at Church”.

“She (Betty) loved her yearly trips with the War Widows to their holiday cottage in Moss Vale and would always fill us (the seven children) in

21

“She would sit there for such a long time untangling the links in a necklace and would get it back to it’s rightful owner all untangled – she wouldn’t let it beat her”.

Betty never gave up on life, taking her first motorcycle ride on a Harley Davidson for her 80th birthday, getting a tattoo of a Southern Corroboree Frog on her shoulder at 88 and also trying to learn the ukulele.

Remarkably healthy for most of her life, Betty had a double knee replacement at 75 and said the replacements added a few inches to her height.

Referring to herself as Mrs Perfect, Betty remained in good health until she turned 90, then her health began to go downhill.

Judy said “The last four years were a bit of a struggle for Mum but she battled on and continued to live on her own in her house in Glenbrook all this time, with daily visits or phone calls from her family”.

“There is so much more I could tell you about our wonderful mother, Nanna and Big-Nanna but we will keep those memories close to our hearts”.

“We all loved you so much and feel truly blessed to have had you in our lives for so long – may you rest in peace” said Judy.

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Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

22

local news

Heat stroke in pets

A

s the weather heats up, the risk of heat stroke in pets rises. Heat stroke is a syndrome that occurs when an animal’s body temperature exceeds 40 degrees – this can cause problems with blood clotting and organ function. Heat stroke can result in shock, internal bleeding, organ failure and eventual death.

Cats and dogs are very different to humans because they cannot sweat from their skin. In humans, air circulating past sweaty skin cools the blood internally, so a person can still function on a 45 degree day. Dogs and cats only sweat through their foot pads, and with their bodies covered in fur, they cannot easily cool down. Animals will pant, to try and cool their internal body temperature but this is not very effective in extreme weather conditions.

Dog breeds with short noses have a reduced ability to cool themselves with panting. Small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs are also very susceptible to heat stroke, especially if kept in outdoor enclosures.

As with children, DO NOT leave pets in cars, even briefly, especially in the warmer months.

The internal temperature of a car can rapidly reach extreme temperatures greater than 50 degrees.

Exercise naturally heats a dog and they cannot cool well when the ambient temperature is warm.

Never let a dog do strenuous exercise when the temperature is above 25 degrees. It is sensible to only exercise dogs early in the morning, or in the cool of evening during warmer months.

If extreme temperatures are predicted, then

providing areas of shade or the cool of under the house will help. When temperatures greater than 40 degrees are predicted, leaving pets indoors with air conditioning is the best option. If this is not possible, then you can provide a child’s wading pool or plastic shell (left in a shady area) with only a few centimeters of water for dogs to lie in. Freezing water filled plastic bottles and placing them at the bottom of pet beds can also help cool down resting pets. Dogs will often enjoy drinking water from a large ice block as it melts over the day. This can be done by freezing water in a 4 litre ice cream container. For rabbits and guinea pigs provide multiple watering devices – preferably dripper bottles so they do not get knocked over or dirty.

If you think your dog has heat stroke immediate veterinary attention is vital. Treatment includes safely cooling the patient, supporting with IV fluids and antibiotics. Additional treatment like plasma transfusions and support of organ function may be required. Some animals will die despite treatment.

As with most things prevention is better than cure.

If you have any questions about preventing heat stroke please call the clinic on 4731 3055.

Greencross Vets | Phone 47 313 055 Units 2 & 3/117 Coreen Ave, Penrith NSW 2750

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Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

24

local news

Aus first: wearable device to improve youth mental health

I

n an Australian first, an innovative new program will be piloted in Western Sydney to test how wearable e-health devices can improve the lives of young people with severe mental illness.

If proven successful, new technology developed by the unwired Project could revolutionise the care for young people living with severe mental health disorders across Australia.

The initiative is aiming to address the alarming mental health statistics for young people in Australia, where suicide is the leading cause of death for 15-24-year olds.

“The unWired Project has the potential to transform lives,” Associate Prof Beth Kotze, Executive Director Mental Health Services for Western Sydney Local Health District said.

“It is going to connect with young people’s love of devices and technology to bring us to the frontier of mental health monitoring and treatment.”

Clinicians and researchers from Western Sydney Local Health District will manage the unWired Project across its three-year lifespan with significant financial support from The Balnaves Foundation.

Personal wearable e-health devices, just like a FitBit, will measure the participant’s activity and give them valuable feedback on their level of stress.

With the young person’s consent, data will be sent back to the wearer and their treating clinician via a purposebuilt app. This early warning will give the young person the possibility to manage their stress and its impact on their illness and, if necessary, give clinicians an opportunity to intervene early with support before things potentially deteriorate.

Twenty young people will take part in the pilot study early next year and it is then expected to go to a full randomised controlled trial involving 80 participants.

At this stage, all trial participants will be patients of the Prevention

Early Intervention and Recovery Service – the WSLHD Youth Mental Health Service based in Parramatta.

Associate Prof Kotze says the unWired Project is a great example of what strong public and private partnerships can do.

“The Balnaves Foundation has made this project possible and we are very optimistic it can improve the lives of young people in Western Sydney who are living with mental illness,” Prof Kotze said.

“One in seven young Australians experience a mental health condition and evidence suggests half of all adult mental health conditions emerge by the time an individual is 14.”

Neil Balnaves AO, founder of The Balnaves Foundation said the organisation hoped the technology will prevent youth suicide.

“We hope that this device can

prevent young people from getting to the point where they feel like suicide is their only option,” Neil said.

“The Balnaves Foundation is keen to improve the lives of young people with severe mental illness. Using technology and focusing on early intervention is a proactive step in the right direction. It is exciting to think that young people may be able to use tools like these to take greater control of their mental health.”

The unWired Project launches in a period of heightened awareness of how profound mental health issues are in NSW. In this year’s State Budget the NSW Government committed $2.1 billion for mental health services and infrastructure.

Key initiatives in the recurrent mental health Budget include: $100 million per annum over four years to support the reform of mental

health care underway in NSW. The investment will strengthen early intervention and specialist community mental health teams, enhance psychosocial supports, and transition long-stay patients into the community $39.4 million to deliver an additional 1400 mental health admissions in addition to the 37,500 currently provided. $42 million for additional community-based mental health services and supports.

In addition, the NSW Government announced a $700 million Statewide Mental Health Infrastructure Program to transform existing facilities.

If you or someone you know needs crisis support call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. For local mental health services phone the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.

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Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

26

local news

Local talent on display

O

n the weekend of the 28th and 29th of October, the Nepean/Blue Mountains branch of the U3A hosted its annual Art Exhibition.

The event was given a champagne opening by Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler on the Friday evening who was joined by U3A president Denise Challis and the organisers and judges of the event.

The event is a great chance for students to display their work and have the opportunity to win prizes kindly supplied by the event sponsor Jordan Springs Retirement Living.

The exhibition this year featured photography, various mediums of painting, quilting and mixed media.

Many members proudly brought their families along to see their art works displayed.

U3A Nepean/Blue Mountains offers the chance for all those over 50 to take part in courses that include Art, Craft , lifestyle, language and wellness programmes.

U3A Nepean/Blue Mountains has classes at different locations all over the region with a dedicated facility in Castlereagh Street, Penrith.

You are welcome to call on 4722 3405 to find out more!

Walk against violence

P

enrith Council is proud to support White Ribbon Day to help bring an end to violence against women in our community. Join them and show your support at this free community event on Sunday,November 25, 9am – 11:30am at the Weir Reserve.

The walk starts at Weir Reserve and is 3.5km to Tench Reserve, Nepean River, Penrith. Speeches and White Ribbon Oath reading takes place before the walk starts at Weir Reserve.

After the walk, stay for the free

breakfast BBQ courtesy of Outback Steakhouse and live music at Tench Reserve. Don’t forget your sunscreen, hat, comfortable walking shoes and water bottle.

Free shuttle bus back to Weir Reserve from 10.30am. White Ribbon merchandise will be available for purchase with all proceeds going to the White Ribbon Foundation.

For more information contact Erin on 4732 8028 or go to penrithcity. nsw.gov.au

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Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

28

ENTERTAINMENT

Mike’s Pantry

with Mike Creed

Lemon Tart Ingredients: Shortcut pastry dough • 2C plain flour, plus extra for dusting • 1/2t salt • 2T confectioners’ sugar • 9T unsalted butter, chilled and diced • 2 large egg yolks • 2T ice water • 1 egg, beaten Lemon Filling • 6 extra-large eggs • 2-1/3C granulated sugar • Finely grated zest and strained lemon juice of 4 juicy unwaxed lemons • 1-1/4 sticks unsalted butter, melted sour cream or crème fraîche, to serve Method: For shortcut pastry dough 1. Sift the flour, salt and confectioners’ sugar together in a bowl, then crumble in the butter using your fingertips.

2. Mix the egg yolks with the ice water and then add to the dry ingredients, mixing lightly with a knife. If the dough is still too dry, add a little more water, sprinkling it over the flour mixture one tablespoon at a time.

3. Roll out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead with your hands until smooth.

4. Form the dough into a ball, cover in plastic

wrap, and let chill for at least 30 minutes before rolling out.

5. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Allow dough to return to room temperature before rolling out onto a lightly floured surface. Press dough into tart pan.

6. Pre-bake pie crust by covering the dough in the pan with aluminium foil and then covering the foil with beans or pie weights. Set pan on a baking sheet and bake in the centre of the oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the foil and the baking beans or pie weights, and return pan to the oven for another 5 to 7 minutes. To prevent the filling from making the pastry soggy, brush pre-baked crust with beaten egg, then return pan to the oven for 5 to 10 minutes, until the crust is set and shiny.

For lemon filling: 1. Turn oven down to 150°C. To make the lemon filling, put the eggs, sugar, lemon zest and juice and butter into a food processor and blend until smooth.

2. Set the baked pie crust on a baking sheet and pour in the filling. Bake in the oven for about 1 hour (it may need a little longer, depending on your oven), until just set. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before serving.

3. Serve at room temperature with a spoonful of sour cream or crème fraîche, if using.

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ENTERTAINMENT

I

F you love a good schnitty you’ll be thrilled to hear that St Marys is home to an eatery dedicated to the schnitzel lover, aptly named Harry’s Schnitzel Joint.

Owned and operated by local business partners James and Jason, Harry’s Schnitzel Joint is situated inside St Marys Village Centre in the food court area.

A schnitzel lovers’ paradise awaits to tantalise your taste-buds and there’s plenty of other tempting choices on the menu for those looking for a schnitzel alternative.

“We aim to provide our customers with the best schnitzel experience on the planet,” said James, and one glance over the menu proves just that.

From chicken schnitzel wraps, schnitzel burgers, beef burgers,

southern fried chicken to piping hot chips served with chicken or plain salt, chicken and chips in a tub or plate with gravy to parmy and chips, you’ll be asking for “One schnitzel please Harry” before you know it.

For the chip lovers there is an abundance of choice when it comes to dipping sauces, with peri peri mayo, hot chilli, aioli, and mayo available, just to name a few.

“We also have the kids covered with a ‘Small But Famous Wrap’ or schnuggets and chips including a juice, and don’t forget the old school milkshakes and thickshakes,” said Jason.

Mmmm, feeling hungry? Head to St Marys Village Centre today and say “One Schnitzel Please Harry!”

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

One schnitzel please Harry!

29

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Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

30

ENTERTAINMENT

Expressions of Interest Now Open for Q Indie Season

Q

Theatre is proud to present Q Indie, a new season dedicated to the production and showcasing of independent theatre makers and their work. Welcoming submissions from all artists, Q Indie is accepting expressions of interest from theatre, comedy, dance, movement, performance art, visual art and interdisciplinary artists. Applications are open now and will close on Friday 16 November.

The offer includes one week season in The Joan’s Allan Mullins Studio in addition to one week of rehearsal space, 70% of box income, use of standard rigs, online hosting, ticketing infrastructure; and Marketing, Technical and Front of House support.

As part of Q Indie, Q Theatre is programming two independent seasons: Mini Gras and New West in February and September respectively. Mini Gras is an opportunity for artists from our LGBTIQ*+ community to submit theatrical works for a week long season to coincide with Sydney Mardi Gras festivities in March. New West is an open call for works from artists living or working in the Greater West region to submit theatrical works for a week long season in collaboration with Sydney Fringe Festival in September.

Along with a work that is ready for production development, applicants will need members of a Production Team to assist with the development of the work. This would include Cast, Lighting designer, Special Effects designer, Production designer/s and a Stage Manager – whatever the work requires.

The offer to create new, progressive and socially conscious work; while offering early career and established artists a space to train, grow and develop underpins the work of Q Theatre, and Q Indie is no exception. Applications are open now, to secure your spot in Western Sydney’s newest and most progressive artist development program head to https://form.jotform.co/82261130820848

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ENTERTAINMENT

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

32

Take the quiz: How optimistic are you?

1. You buy a lotto ticket for the first time in 10 years. Once you have it in your hand you: a) Immediately begin planning what you’ll do with your millions complete with visuals of your oceanfront mansion and a shiny Merc in the driveway. b) Fantasise for a few minutes about how you’d divvy up your windfall then get back to the real world. c) Feel annoyed with yourself that you wasted the money on a pipedream. d) Buy it and then forget it. What will be will be.

2. You see a dream job advertised, but you’re a little under-qualified for it. You: a) Start setting a goal to improve your skills so that one day the dream job will be yours. b) Go for it – if you don’t get it at least you’ll feel proud for giving it a shot c) Assume it is as good as yours if you want it – what kind of tin-shed operation are they anyway if they refuse YOU? d) Dismiss it entirely knowing you’ll never be in that league

3. You plan a picnic day at the beach, and as you prepare to leave, an almighty thunderstorm erupts.

You: a) Stomp around the house, throwing everything out of the packed bags, declaring you just knew this would happen. b) Shrug your shoulders and plan another day – you can’t control the weather. c) Pack raincoats and umbrellas and head to the beach anyway - if there’s sheltered areas you’ll make the best of it. d) Assume it’s a ten minute storm and drive off in your swimmers because nothing is going to foil your plans.

c) Act like you didn’t notice, whatever it was about doesn’t matter – your best friend is always on your team no matter what. d) Storm out in a huff – obviously the friendship was not what you thought it was!

5. And finally, the glass is: a) Half empty. b) Half full. c) Depends – if it was full and then you drank half, it is half empty. If you only poured half a glass, it is half full. d) A silly thing to ponder because everyone knows to just say full so that they sound optimistic.

4. As you walk into a room unexpectedly, your best friend says your name and then immediately ceases speaking. You can hear a pin drop in the room and everyone is exchanging uncomfortable glances.

You: a) Assume they are planning your surprise milestone birthday party – in seven years time. b) Laugh and say “Okay, come clean, what about me?”

Now add up your score: Q1 a) 10 b) 6 c) 2 d) 4 Q2 a) 5 b) 7 c) 10 d) 2 Q3 a) 3 b) 5 c) 7 d) 10 Q4 a) 10 b) 5 c) 8 d) 1 Q5 a) 4 b) 10 c) 6 d) 2

Over 40: Wow, you are the eternal optimist! I can almost see you skipping down the street whistling your favourite tune. Just be careful that any danger signs don’t get blocked by all those rainbows and butterflies in your world.

16 -39: You have a happy and balanced outlook on life- you have the ability to always look on the bright side without being delusional. You probably handle disappointments and stress very well also.

Under 15: Grab a dictionary and look up the word pessimist and don’t be surprised if there’s a picture of your head in the definition. Try to let a little sunshine in your life now and then - it’s exhausting always being a victim.

Secret debate

Schoolie week - trash or treasure?

He Says........................... .........................She Says Schoolies week, what on earth possesses normal, intelligent, loving parents to agree to throw their hard earned cash at their kids as some sort of reward for finishing an exam that tells them how successful or unsuccessful they have been in getting the education that we worked hard to pay for?

Now I might have some sympathy for an 18 year old who has achieved great results after their HSC and actually did some work during their school tuition, but what’s with the School Certificate celebration requirement for 16 year olds? Most 16 year olds have trouble remembering it is bloody garbage night.

Six kids with individual IQ’s of 100 would be lucky to achieve a combined score of 120 when put together.

Schooling is tough, our kids have to spend at least four hours per day learning and only get 12 weeks a year holidays with pupil free days etc. Wow how do they survive?

That equates to about 800 hours a year of schooling compared with the average Joe or Josephine’s working year of about 1900 slave hours a year.

WIN!

Tell the lazy little buggers to go and get a holiday job and earn some cash so they can send their parents on an all expenses paid holiday as reward for what we have done for them.

On a more serious note, why on earth is a school only six hours a day attendance?

It may be ok for young kids in primary school but surely these hours should be increased to at least 7-8 hours a day in High School. We should be getting them ready for the working life ahead of them instead of pandering to some out-of-touch educator who has been cocooned in a school environment their whole life, who says it’s hard to concentrate for longer than six hours.

If that’s the case then let’s reduce the working hours to six a day for everyone.

Enjoy your break kids, because the real world is rapidly approaching.

I say let them have their week of fun before the harsh realities of life set in - the last hoorah, so to speak.

Let’s face it - those of us like me who were put on this earth before the schoolies legend was born don’t like it because we’re just plain jealous!

Where was the week of boozin fun away from the ever-watchful parental eye when we finished school?

The best we had to look forward to was an awkward school formal, where we spent the entire year obsessing over who would or wouldn’t ask us to be their date.

And we females didn’t get to get doled up to the nines in a wedding-style flurry of makeup, spray tans and tiaras either - the chosen dress was often vetoed by our fun-spoiling parents who wanted us in pretty pink frills that revealed as little skin as possible.

Imagine the fun of having almost your entire grade running amok on a sun-drenched holiday with you - not to mention the absence of teachers or parents to plan the activities!

It is the literally the best age of your life; with school behind you and the world at your feet, you’re finally old enough to participate in anything and everything and what’s best is you look the best you’re ever likely to look while doing it.

The memories gained from schoolies week will last with the younger generations forever. When life deals the blows that ultimately hit us all at one time or another, they’ll always have fond memories of dreamy days where life was wild and carefree for a one-week window.

And maybe, just maybe, it will serve to motivate them that having a good job and being sensible with their hardearned cash will serve up more holidays in the future, albeit more mature ones with different types of fun to be had.

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

• Evening Private Parties • Fundraising • Indoor Playground Cafe • Themed Party Packages • Vacation Care OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Monday to Saturday 9:30am - 5:00pm Sunday 10:00am - 5:00pm General Admission: 1 – 2 Years $11.90, 3 – 11 Years $14.90 School Day: 1 – 11 Years $11.90 Birthday Parties: From $225.00 Private Venue Hire: From $850

1 Rowood Road, Prospect (02) 9636 9828

www.chipmunks.com.au/indoor-playgrounds/ sydney/prospect/

ENTERTAINMENT

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

34

WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU: HARD

Moods & Emotions AMUSED ANNOYED ANTSY ANXIOUS CARING CONTEMPT CONTENT CONTRITE DELIGHT DESPAIR

DISLIKE DOUBT EMPATHY ENVY EUPHORIA GLUM GREED GROUCHY GUILT HATRED

HORROR INFATUATED JOYOUS LEERY PRIDE RAGE SAD SATISFIED SERENITY SHAME

SHOCK SULKY SULLEN TERRIFIED TRANQUIL UNCERTAIN UNHAPPY WARY

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

CROSS

WORD

ACROSS 1 Gorgeous (9) 6 The air above us (5) 9 Perfect or symmetrical (7) 10 Make rough (7) 11 Peeled (7) 12 Uncultured (7) 13 Assortment (9) 15 Cowboy sport (5) 16 Permeate (5) 19 Steep cliff (9) 22 A very large cactus (7) 23 Boldly resistant (7) 25 Strange or rare

objects (7) 26 Hens (7) 27 Pale yellowish hair

color (5) 28 Egg-shaped

vegetables (9)

Who Am I? from page 7 I am Councillor John Thain

solution 25/10/18

DOWN 1 Foundation (5) 2 One who does not

believe in God (7) 3 A city in Ontario

Canada (7) 4 Placed in folders (5) 5 Profitable (9) 6 Splash or sprinkle (7) 7 Alternatively (7) 8 A sedimentary rock (9) 13 A woman priest (9) 14 Perverse (9) 17 Mountainous wild

sheep (7) 18 Extreme gluttony (7) 20 Heathen (7) 21 From Italy (7) 23 Locate and correct

programming errors (5) 24 Examinations (5)

ENTERTAINMENT Jewellery - make your gold and silver jewellery sparkle by cleaning with a small amount of toothpaste on a toothbrush, rinse under water.

Microwave Ovens - Place damp paper towels in your microwave and turn it on high for 10 seconds.

This makes your microwave easy to clean.

Sick Smell - When travelling with a baby take some bicarb soda with you in a small zip lock bag.

Should your baby be sick, simply sprinkle clothes with the soda. Brush off when dry and odour will have disappeared.

Itchy woollens - add 2 tablespoons of vinegar in final rinse when washing to make woollens less itchy.

Cooking pasta - to prevent pasta from boiling over and sticking together, add some butter or oil and salt. Always add the pasta to the water after it has boiled, not before.

Fried onions - for a beautiful flavour and crisp brown colour, soak your onion rings in milk for 15 minutes before frying.

Too Salty - If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it’s still cooking, drop in a peeled potato. It absorbs the excess salt for an instant “fix me up.”

Juiciest Lemons - To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.

Lipstick stains - rub a little petroleum jelly on the stain and wash as normal.

New bath towels - more absorbent by soaking them in a bucket of water with two handfuls of Epsom salts for 24hrs Sharpen sewing needles - by stitching through a piece of sandpaper.

Soiled Shirt Collars - Take a small paintbrush and brush hair shampoo onto soiled shirt collars.

Shampoo is designed to dissolve body oils.

Fleas - fleas hate mint. Placing mint under pet mattress, mats & carpets helps keep the fleas away.

Replace often.

Paint smells from a newly decorated room by leaving an onion cut in half in the room.

Stop doors squeaking by either dripping some olive oil onto the hinges, sprinkling with talcum powder or rubbing with dry soap. Grease stains - On work wear try sprinkling talcum powder on the stain, repeat until all grease is absorbed, then launder as normal.

Identify your luggage with something unique.

If you’re suitcase is a common design and colour, decorate it with a large sticker or piece of brightly coloured ribbon tied around the handle.

Hardened paint on paintbrushes - can be softened by placing in a container of hot vinegar for 30 minutes.

Pets - Give your pets a dry shampoo with bicarb soda. Rub it well into their coats to remove odours and leave a great shine.

Yellowed clothing - soak in water to which a packet of Epsom salts has been added.

Natural Inspect Repellent - for a non-toxic insect repellent (safe for kids and sensitive skins) mix a small portion of Dettol with baby oil. Don’t mix a lot as a little goes a long way.

Tired eyes - Use some cold cucumber slices on your eyes at the end of the night to relieve tired eyes. An oldie and a goodie.

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

Ha nd y hin ts

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36

NEPEAN HISTORY

T

he man who built the Log Cabin at Penrith was a hotelier, racecourse and newspaper owner, who was born in 1858 at Bishopsgate in London, the eldest of the twelve children of James Smith, master brass finisher, later gasfitter and ironmonger, and his wife Jane, née Ware. James had a London School Board education and at the age of 12 worked for a year in his father’s shop then became a pawnbroker’s roustabout and stationer’s assistant before signing on, under an assumed name, as cabin-boy on a steamer to Naples, Italy.

He worked on Peninsular & Oriental liners and was third cook in the “Christian McAusland” that reached Port Chalmers, New Zealand in 1874. After working as a steward in hotels he prospered as a hotel licensee in Wellington. He married Ellen McKenzie the illiterate daughter of a farmer at Auckland in 1882. In 1886 he went alone to England where he gambled away his savings. This wakeup call saw him never to gamble again. Returning to Wellington he was founding Secretary of the Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union. About 1890 he came to Sydney where he produced illuminated copperplate funeral descriptions. In 1892 he managed the Grand Central Coffee Palace Hotel in Clarence Street for four years. He divorced his wife and later married Nellie Eloise Parker in 1893 at St David’s Church in Surry Hills. She was NZ born and her family were experienced hoteliers. In 1896, he was now known as Joynton Smith and laid the foundation of his fortune when he leased the run-down Imperial Arcade Hotel at £12 per week and renamed it Arcadia situated between Pitt and Castlereagh streets, turning it into a good residential hotel and by 1924 had purchased the entire arcade for £147,500. He later owned the Hotel Astra in Bondi and the Carlton in the city. In 1901 he was made justice of the peace. Seeing the tourist potential of the Blue Mountains where he had established the first electric-light plant, he bought the Imperial Hotel at Mount Victoria and leased the Hydro Majestic at Medlow Bath and bought the Carrington Hotel and two theatres at Katoomba. He was a dominant investor in the area and in the automobile age he built the Log Cabin at Penrith that was a tea shop on route to the mountains. He loved motor cars, owning many including a Pierce Arrow, Bentley, Cadillac, Rolls-Royce and Lasalle and invested in a company selling them. Joynton always saw himself as a sportsman and was adept at making money from sport.

He was a dog fancier and owned and drove trotters. In 1901 he leased Brighton racecourse at Rockdale and had success with the ponies and in 1903 he leased Forest Lodge at the ‘swamp end of Glebe’, which he renovated and renamed Epping later sub-letting the course to the NSW Trotting Club. In 1911 he took up his option to buy it for £1,200 and immediately sold it to the trotting club for £18,000 where it became Harold Park in 1929. He was chairman of the Australian Trotting and Victoria Park Racing clubs. In 1908 he opened Victoria Park racecourse at Zetland on land he had reclaimed and the first course in Australia to cater for ladies providing retiring rooms. It was a showplace for horse and pony racing and trotting and the most modern with the best facilities. It closed down in 1944. In August 1909 he financed football matches between the (Rugby Union) Wallaby team and the (Rugby League) Kangaroos with proceeds going to his favourite charity the

Royal South Sydney Hospital that founded in 1910 and he was a director until his death. President of the NSW Rugby League in 1910-28, and patron in 1929-43. He was appointed a member of the Legislative Council from 1912 to 1934. In 1916-18 he was an independent Alderman of Sydney Municipal Council for Bligh Ward and supported by Labour and in December 1917 he was elected Lord Mayor. He was patriotic, tireless and innovative in raising war loans.

He was appointed K.B.E. in 1920 and next year visited London in triumph. Defeated in municipal elections in December 1918 he resolved to launch a newspaper to present his views. With Robert Packer as manager and Claude McKay as editor he published Smith’s Weekly from March 1919. Employing popular artists and writers it found a large and appreciative readership with its jaunty style. Smith’s Newspapers Ltd published the Daily Guardian from 1923 and the Sunday Guardian from 1929. In 1930-39 he was proprietor of the Referee and Arrow. He sold the two Guardians to Sir Hugh Denison in 1930 but remained Chairman of Smith’s Newspapers until June 1939, when he leased the paper to National Press Ltd. In the 1930s he sold most of his property (his arcade fetched £600,000) but retained the Carrington and a leasehold on the Arcadia Hotel. Entrepreneurial skill and ambition enabled him to prosper in Sydney through his concentration on the pastimes of the people. He enjoyed his wealth and knighthood and was generous with time and money for community causes such as the South Sydney Hospital. He wrote (ghosted) his autobiography My Life Story in 1929.

He was a practical joker and sang comic Cockney songs and played the concertina. He smoked cigars but rarely drank alcohol. He enjoyed boxing, kept fit with a masseur and sauna and was a good billiards player.

Having lost his right eye in early life, he sported a glass one and pincenez or monocle. He was moustached and slicked back his steel-grey hair with Pears soap and Bay Rum. Not a churchgoer, he was attracted to the supernatural. In 1907 he bought the former residence of Charles Moore who was Sydney Mayor in 1867. Hastings House was in Baden Street, Coogee, About 1916 his second marriage ended in separation and his wife went to England. He died at his residence in 1943 and was cremated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium the following day. He was survived by his third wife Gladys Mary Woods and a daughter and a son.

His estate valued at £326,000 was the subject of a long and expensive litigation. Joynton Avenue in Zetland NSW and Joynton Smith Drive in Canberra were named for him. Photo courtesy of City of Sydney Archives.

Sources: Blaikie, G. (1967) Remember Smith’s Weekly, Angus & Robertson, London Smith, Joynton (Sir) (1927) My life story, Cornstalk Publishing, Sydney - C. McKay, This is the Life (Syd, 1961) - G. Blaikie, Remember Smith’s Weekly (Syd, 1966) - R. B. Walker, Yesterday’s News (Syd, 1980) - J. J. J. Smith diary (State Library of New South Wales) - C. Cunneen – Australian Dictionary of Biography 1988. Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

Sir James John Joynton Smith (1858-1943)

2018 NSW OPEN

S

ports fans in greater western Sydney are in for a treat with some of the biggest stars in Australasian Golf set to tee off on Thursday when The AVJennings NSW Open Golf Championship gets underway at Twin Creeks Golf and Country Club.

Queenslander Daniel Nisbet, who played so well at Twin Creeks last year, returns as the current leader of the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit. The reigning New Zealand Open Champion will be continuing his quest to take out the Order of Merit title, which carries with it not only entry into World Golf Championship events but entry into the final stage of the European Tour School and Web.com tour school in 2019.

Anthony Quayle is also in town and intent on taking out his first Australasian tour title. The 24-yearold qualified for the Japanese Tour this year, and was runner-up to the Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar at the Fiji International back in early August.

2018 Oates Victorian Open Champion Simon Hawkes is also set to star. Besides his Victorian Open

triumph in February, the Tasmanian also recorded top-10 finishes in both the New Zealand and Western Australian PGA Championships.

Newcastle’s James Nitties, currently third on the Order of Merit], will be looking to win his home State Open for the very first time. The

36-year-old came within a whisker of a life-changing win earlier this year at the ISPS World Super 6 in Perth, only to lose to Thai superstar Kiradech Apibanrat in the final.

Fellow Newcastle product Callan O’Reilly will also be looking to add an NSW Open title to his resume. The

28-year-old who turned professional in 2014 after a stellar amateur career is currently seventh on the Order of Merit.

Former NSW and Australian Amateur representative Harrison Endycott, currently 9th on the order of merit, made his professional debut at this NSW Open last year. He will return to Twin Creeks ready to contend for the title after an impressive rookie year on the PGA Latinoamerica tour.

Another rookie who his already building an impressive resume overseas is New Zealand’s Nick Voke.

The 24-year-old, who graduated from the University of Iowa just last year, recorded three wins on the PGA Tour of China this year to secure full playing rights on the web.com tour for 2019.

Making his professional debut this year will be the Dylan Perry from the Hunter Valley. After an impressive amateur career which saw the 24-year-old make the final of the British Amateur in 2017, Perry will be looking to be as competitive as possible before he attempts to qualify for the 2019 Japanese Tour at next month’s final qualifying.

Other names of note include the evergreen Matt Millar from Canberra, Victorian David McKenzie, who has impressed many this year on the US Champions Tour, and a host of other tournament winners including Travis Smyth, Aaron Pike, Daniel Fox, and Michael Sim.

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

NSW Open about to tee off from Twin Creeks

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Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

38

SPORT

Clubs set to benefit from world T20 Tournament funding

L

ocal cricket clubs and grounds across the Penrith regions are set to benefit from improved facilities and programs, as part of the $1.96 million NSW ICC World T20 Cricket Legacy Fund.

Member for Penrith and Sport Minister Stuart Ayres said the $6 million NSW ICC World T20 Cricket Legacy Fund is especially designed to ensure clubs and players at the grassroots level benefit from the 14 matches to be held NSW for the ICC World T20 2020 tournaments.

“This fund has been established to inspire the next generation of cricketers by improving the quality and quantity of community facilities and

will help attract world class cricket matches right across NSW. “Right here in our local area we are seeing clubs benefit from infrastructure upgrades that will allow for more playing time which helps participation growth,” Mr Ayres said.

Local clubs benefiting from the program include: • $82 700 for Penrith District Cricket Club to upgrade Rance Oval • $17 500 for Faulconbridge Cricket Club to install new cricket nets at Tom Hunter Park, Faulconbridge • $15 000 for Penrith City Council to install a new concrete synthetic grass wicket at Village Oval,

Jordan Springs Cricket NSW Chief Executive Officer Andrew Jones said that the NSW ICC World T20 Cricket Legacy Fund will deliver significant benefits for local clubs and councils, helping to maximise the expected growth in participation resulting from hosting the tournament in Australia.

“With more girls and boys, women and men, of all ages playing cricket across NSW than ever, the fund will both support the growth of the sport in local communities and leave a lifelong legacy for one of the biggest sporting events this decade.”

For more information on the ICC World T20 2020, sign up at icc-cricket.com/worldt20

Stonecutters Ridge developing players of the future

By Noel Rowsell

S

teve Gannon, PGA Golf Operations Manager at Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club (SRGC), is understandably proud of the junior members at the western Sydney Golf Club, who have had an amazing 2018.

Stonecutters has some extraordinary membership numbers in the junior ranks, at a moment in time when many Golf clubs are having difficulty attracting senior members, let alone juniors.

Thirty-one junior members and eighty cadet members speaks of a very healthy development program and the list of achievements this year certainly accentuates the quality of the coaching.

Cameron Rios-Ceballos won the Jack Newton Junior Golf (JNJG) Fayde Match-Play competition, Ryan Cadle won the 13 years Nett JNJG State Championship, Allana Assgby won the 10-Years Illawarra Masters and Kade Webber was runner-up in 13 years Peter O’Malley Masters.

Gannon said “The SRGC junior program is structured on the ability of the player and not the age”. “There are two main facets to the program: Cadets - Beginner golfers structured into four groups (based on playing ability) and they progress into the next stage after reaching the required ability level”.

The structure is: 1) Three holes - introduction to golf, shorter golf course, specific cadet rules (after 10 shots take the ball to the front of the

SRGC Junior members Ryan Cadle, Briana Mapanao and Maddy Hagarty in action - photos courtesy of Noel Rowsell (www.photoexcellence.com.au)

green and proceed to putt it in the hole, 2 attempts out of bunkers then drop out and continue, no more than 4 putts Seven holes - play a shorter version of the golf course from specific Cadet tees (same rules as 3 holes) 3) Ten Holes - Play is from the social tees of the day, still playing the Cadet rules.

Pro Shop Group - Play the course from the daily competition tees, standard golf rules for 18 holes. This group is designed to prepare Cadets for the move into Junior Golf.

Juniors - The next level is Juniors, with the same playing rights as a full seven-day member.

The players are able to represent the club in Encourage Shield, Junior Pennants and Eric Apperly Shield Pennant competitions.

There is also a scholarship program available for juniors who show potential and dedication to their golf this scholarship provides professional tuition and support at major JNJG events.

“The biggest successes from the

program include Douglas RiosCeballos qualifying for the NSW Open by winning the Club Championship in 2015” said Gannon.

“We (SRGC) have also had a number of our juniors caddy in the NSW Open over the years, including Josh Wickens for the past three years, Kade Webber the last two years and Alex Payne in 2016.

Other successes from junior members Maddy Hagerty and Brielle Mapanao, who were members of the successful Ladies Pennant Metropolitan Division 2 Title 2018”.

Our Eric Apperly team won their division in both 2017 and 2018, whilst our Encourage Shield team were runners-up in 2017.

Gannon said “I think it is worth mentioning that the (SRGC) junior program has grown since the clubs inception, with the Cadet program growing from 25 players to 80 players over four years.”

“We have seen the promotion of twenty-three Cadets into junior members over this time-frame”.

The (SRGC) junior program has recently been nominated by JNJG in the Golf NSW awards as a finalist for the Junior Program of the Year but was upstaged by Roseville GC for the award.

Other key successes for the program: - Introduction of the Junior Scholarship program, to assist the development of junior golfers - Re-introduction of the Junior Match Play major trophy - Introduction of the annual Stonecutters Ridge Junior Classic, with fields of 45 – 60 juniors from up to twenty-five clubs from as far away as Western Australia.

- Implementation of the Junior Tri Series major trophy (Stableford event played over three rounds) - Implementation of the weekly “Money Pin” as a fund raising avenue to junior golf (Money Pin being a nearest to the pin competition held during the Saturday members competition round) - Re-introduction of the annual junior trip to Bathurst to complete in the JNJG Peter O’Malley Masters.

SPORT

L

iberal Senator for Western Sydney, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, announced the successful completion of upgrades to key sporting facilities in Lindsay following over $1 million in funding being provided for the projects by the Liberal-National Government.

The funding was delivered under the Australian Government’s Community Development Grant Program, a landmark scheme designed to support the upgrading of key infrastructure projects to promote economic growth and enhance liveability.

Funding for the four separate projects delivered the following upgrades: • $600,000 for the construction of three netball courts at Jamison Park Netball Complex, which included new floodlights, a new footpath and the construction of 60 car spaces.

• $270,000 for a 20-metre rowing dock extension at Weir Reserve, which included a landscaping redesign of the pontoon precinct, and the installation of new mooring poles.

• $120,000 for the upgrade to the canteen at Ched Towns Rugby League Fields, including the installation of two 25-metre light poles with new LED lighting.

• $82,845 for the installation of an irrigation system and the resurfacing of Patterson Oval, which included the installation of a 23,000-litre water tank and pumping equipment to the new sub-surface irrigation system.

Liberal Senator for Western Sydney, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, who officially marked the completion of the projects at Jamison Park, said the Liberal-National Government had made a significant investment in grassroots sport in Penrith.

“As the Liberal Senator for Western Sydney, but also as a local resident, I know that the Penrith region is home to some of the most passionate and talented sports people in New South Wales,” Senator Payne said.

“The completion of these upgrades means that local sporting teams and athletes have the modern facilities they need to get active, keep healthy and have fun.

Mayor of Penrith, Cr Ross Fowler OAM, thanked the Federal Government for their Community Development Grants saying the new facilities will strengthen local sporting organisations, boost membership and promote links with local schools.

“Council is committed to making Penrith a healthy and safe city by providing residents with quality sporting and recreation facilities like Ched Towns and Patterson Oval and Jamison Park and the Weir Reserve rowing dock,” Cr Fowler said.

“The upgrades to each will enhance usage bringing significant economic benefits to the region through increased sporting events, elite competitions and community

activities that will increase visitation to Penrith and Western Sydney.”

President of the Nepean District Netball Association, Joy Gillett OAM, said the upgraded netball facilities at Jamison Park Netball Complex had help attract more players to Penrith for large netball competitions.

“The new courts and lighting has enabled Penrith Netball to expand our competitions, particularly with State wide competitions, which we will be involved again in 2019 and hosting another Junior State championship,” Ms Gillett said.

“We will double the number of players, since we last hosted in 2017, with the additional courts. The extra court lighting has enabled more training courts for weeknights plus a larger night competition in 2018, an increase of 10 teams or about 100 players over last year.

“Security was a big problem at the netball courts and the additional lighting has made our netball courts safer for everyone.”

Captain of the Nepean Rowing Club, Daniel Waddell, said the upgrades to the Weir Reserve rowing docks had enhanced the Club’s use of the facility.

“Nepean Rowing Club is very pleased with the recent extension of the pontoon,” Mr Waddell said.

“This will be most beneficial for events held on the river, not only for rowing, but for all water sports that utilise the river.

“Everyday training usage has already benefited with the increase in space allowing rowers in particular to enter and exit the water far quicker than they did before the extension.”

Secretary of the Glenmore Park Brumbies J.R.L.F.C., Mark Wildman, welcomed the Liberal-National Government’s funding support.

“On a behalf of Glenmore Park Brumbies, we would like to thank the federal government and Penrith City Council for helping our club receive much needed upgrades to our canteen facilities and playing field lighting,” Mr Wildman said.

“Our old canteen was over 20 years old and was no longer able to meet our needs. Now that it has been upgraded, it will help us make more money to keep our club running for years to come. And make for a much cleaner and friendlier environment for our volunteers to work out of.

“The lighting has made a massive difference for our 43 teams that use the fields. Compared to the old lights, the new ones are much brighter and turn night into day making it a safer and more enjoyable experience at training for our 700+ players and

coaching staff.”

“We will continue to work with our local members to help improve our facilities even more in the near future.

Without the support and funding from government bodies, clubs like ours simply couldn’t operate.”

Grant Kean, President of the Penrith Junior Cricket Association, thanked the Liberal-National Government for the funding and said the upgrades to Patterson Oval had help increase the capacity of cricket clubs to field teams in inclement weather.

“The ongoing investment from government continues to ensure our local cricketers have access to the infrastructure that enables them to play the sport they love during summer,” Mr Kean said.

“Upgrades to Patterson Oval again provides an example of this by improving the playing surface, particularly in adverse weather conditions, and giving us availability to a ground that may not have been possible previously.”

The Liberal- National Government invested $1.07 million across the four projects, with Penrith City Council contributing $127,227 across two projects, the Jamison Park Netball Courts and the Ched Towns Rugby League Fields Upgrade.

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

Key sport facility upgrades: signed, sealed, delivered

39

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

40

SPORT

BEHIND THE STUMPS

with Stew Moses @TheRiffMarn

Top Cats remain unbeaten after resounding win over hapless St George A near perfect day one’s play at Howell Oval in Penrith’s two-day clash against St George, has paved the way for a massive 179-run win over winless St George, that maintains an unbeaten run that stretches to nine in total since the back end of the 2017/18 season.

Having won the toss, Penrith didn’t hesitate to bat first but were quickly 2/30 with both Ryans – Hackney (who since scored 94 mid-week in a Futures League game for NSW against SA) and Gibson back in the pavilion.

But it was all Penrith from there on with the middle order combining to amass 5/420 declared.

Cameron Weir led the way with his highest ever grade score (180) and was ably supported by Brent Williams (90), John Di Bartolo (66) and Tyran Liddiard (54 not out).

Ryan Smith’s declaration paid instant dividend on a battered and bruised St George outfit with the match virtually out of the visitors’ grasps by stumps, having been reduced to 5/20.

Smith told Nepean News after the game that day one of the game was one of his most satisfying days as a cricketer.

“It still seems like a dream to get 5/420 last week.

Cameron Weir, Brent Williams, John Di Bartolo and Tyran Liddiard batted fantastically,” Smith exclaimed.

“Then to have a crack at them and to get one or two wickets would have been great.

“But to walk off the day with them 5/20 was an absolute dream.

“We threw everything at them and we wanted to be out there just a little more than they did, which showed on the scoreboard at the end of the day.”

Whilst former Black Cat, Matt Hopkins (110 not out) and parachuted NSW Blues batsmen, Kurtis Patterson (56), did their best to rescue the situation, the Dragons were eventually dismissed for 241, with Ryan Smith leading the way with the ball (5/72).

Smith said he wasn’t surprised St George would make Penrith work hard for the win given there were some handy bats to come and that the wicket wouldn’t offer much assistance to the bowlers in the hot conditions.

“We knew that they still had some good bats up their sleeve. Last week they lost one guy through a broken finger, Hopkins did a side-strain and was unable to bat which meant he was down the order,” Smith admitted.

“The wicket was flat and we knew that we were in for a bit of a tight tussle.

“But we bowled to our plans, backed ourselves and stayed positive which really helped us.”

The Black Cats also had to make do with just ten men on the field on day two, after Brent Williams was suspended, having been witnessed banging the team sign with his bat after his dismissal on day one.

Smith acknowledged the loss of Williams was a

Weir (4/19) was well supported by Josh Lalor (3/21), whose last ball wicket left Parramatta stranded on 8/126.

Despite losses in 2s and 3s, the Black Cats moved back up to third spot on the club championship.

2s: Penrith (8th): 310 (H Railz 53, L Masters 51) def.

by St George 8/311 (A Hazard 4/40, H Railz 2/48) 3s: Penrith (18th): 141 (L Coad 41) and 2/86 def. by St George 211 4s: Penrith (7th): 8/225 (N Thornton 73) def. St George 134 (E Heath 3/32) 5s: Penrith (3rd): 7/248 def. St George 244 (D Dent 5/46, R Qurbani 3/38)

Penrith’s equal leading wicket taker in 2018/19, Luke Hodges was at his economical best in last Sunday’s T20 win. Credit: Michael Gibson

factor in having to wait patiently to take the final five wickets on day two.

“It was tough with ten guys. Brent’s obviously a big focal part of the team when we are out in the middle,” Smith replied.

“He gets the guys up and about and gives that little bit more energy in the field and it was certainly noticed, him not being there today.

“But while the umpires called it as they saw it, we saw it as fairly tough decision to make, having to miss a week for that incident.”

The Panthers now hit the road over the next three Saturdays with a one-day game versus Gordon at Chatswood Oval followed by a two-day game against Eastern Suburbs at Waverley Oval.

The Summer Panthers’ unbeaten run continued the next day with a thrilling one-run win over Parramatta in the opening round of the Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup played at Old Kings Oval.

Losing the toss and sent into bat, the Black Cats started strongly through Gibson (50) and Di Bartolo (24), putting on 50 for the opening wicket before Parramatta fought back strongly to restrict Penrith to 7/127.

Despite two early wickets to Josh Lalor, Parramatta were in the box seat to win, needing just 42 runs in eight overs with eight wickets in hand.

But Trent Weir’s introduction, changed the game on its head with three wickets falling in the spinner’s opening over and Parramatta never really recovered from therein.

Convincing wins by the PG’s side over Bankstown and Sydney University in the Poidevin-Gray T20 double header last Sunday week at Howell Oval, has catapulted the defending champions up to 2nd position, with Tyran Liddiard, Henry Railz, Ryan Fletcher and Adam Burton among Penrith’s best.

The Black Cats now play two of their last three fixtures (albeit in the 50 overs format) versus Northern District (Mark Taylor Oval) and University of NSW (Alan Phillips Oval) over the next fortnight –.

Speaking of Railz, the allrounder, who was named in Penrith’s 13-man squad for last Sunday’s Kingsgrove T20 Cup opener against Parramatta, was controversially restricted to bowl just 12 overs last Saturday against St George by his ACT / NSW Country U19s team, which was pivotal to the outcome of the game, considering Brenton Loudon (dislocated shoulder) was forced from the field.

Penrith’s Lady Cats have moved up to fourth spot after defeating Bankstown by 5 wickets last Sunday at Howell Oval, with skipper Mikayla Hinkley proving to be the difference with both bat (89 not out) and ball (3/29).

The competition now reverts to the T20 format until February with the Lady Cats set to play away against Northern Districts, Campbelltown-Camden and Parramatta over the coming fortnight.

Which Penrith Panther NRL player recently was at Howell Oval watching his first live game of cricket?

Which Penrith batsmen still managed to lose his wicket in time to see Winx win the Cox Plate? Hint: he is also referred to as one of darts’ most enduring scores. #LTC

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By CONNER LOWE

T

he Penrith Valley Sports Foundation has awarded Thomas and Noah Moncrieff from Windsor the Senior and Junior Sport Star Award respectively for the month of October for their amazing development and skill in Ice Hockey.

The two boys, Thomas and Noah have been playing Ice Hockey for 11 years for the Flyers Ice Hockey Club, Penrith.

Noah has represented NSW at several tournaments. He has represented Australia in Quebec, Canada and Minnesota, USA. He helps coach the up and coming young players through the Flyers club.

Thomas has represented NSW, he has represented Australia in Quebec, Canada; Newcastle, Australia; Novi Sad, Serbia. He has played for the East Coast Super League and Australian Ice Hockey League. He lived in Sweden for 5 months in 2017 and played for

local teams.

Thomas and Noah spoke about how it felt to be nominated for the award and their greatest so far in Ice Hockey.

“Very honoured to be recognised for my achievements, it’s good to see people noticing my sport,” Thomas said.

“Living, training and playing in Sweden. Playing for NSW six times, representing Australia in Serbia at the Under 18’s National Tournament.”

“I feel very happy that I am being recognised for my achievements and hard work because not a lot of people in Australia play Ice Hockey and it’s good to be able to make people aware of the fact it is getting more popular,” Noah said.

“My greatest achievements are representing NSW four times, playing for Australia in Quebec and Minnesota.”

This year Noah represented NSW at the De Fris Tournament in Canberra.

While Thomas represented NSW at the Sid Tange Tournament (16/17/18-yearolds) and received ‘Player of the Month’ for the East Coast Super

PVSF Sky Encouragement Award

By CONNER LOWE

T

he Penrith Valley Sports Foundation has awarded Aaliyah Vehikite from St Clair the Sky Encouragement Award for the month of October for her amazing contribution in all sports.

Still only 8-years-old, Aaliyah plays and enjoys participating in all sports. Aaliyah have been involved in little athletics for five years, soccer for four years, oz tag for two years, just started touch and fits swimming into her busy schedule as well.

Aaliyah spoke about how she felt to be nominated for the award and what

she loves most about sport.

“I feel so happy and proud to win this award,” she said.

“I love playing sport because you get to do all different types of things, meet new friends and stay healthy.”

This year Aaliyah represented her school, Mamre Anglican school at the Zone Athletics Competition.

She placed first in all her events and progressed to the CSSA (Christian Schools Sports Association) State Carnival, in which she came first in 200m and third in 100m and received the 8-year-old CSSA State Age Champion.

Aaliyah spoke about her greatest

Thomas Moncrieff

Noah Moncrieff.

League. Thomas played his second season for the Sydney Bears Australian Ice Hockey League team and will also be representing NSW in the Browns Tournament.

Thomas and Noah spoke about what they love about the sport and their future endeavours for Ice Hockey.

“It’s a very physical sport, I get to keep fit while doing something that I love. There’s a good camaraderie and team spirit,” Thomas said.

“In the future I hope to play for Australia in the Men’s team and to go back overseas to improve my hockey skills even more.”

“I love the intensity and the competition in Ice Hockey,” Noah said.

“In summer I train twice a week and play two games. In winter I train three times, more if I’m preparing for a tournament, and play up to four games a weekend during the season.

“In the future I want to play hockey in other countries and would love to one day be an NHL player.”

We would like to congratulate Thomas and Noah on their award from Penrith Valley Sports Foundation and to continue striding for success in Ice Hockey for the future.

achievement thus far and her future sporting hopes.

“This year I represented my school in the CSSA athletics carnival and was awarded the 8-year-old Girls State Age Champion,” she said.

“I have also been selected in the Penrith U/10’s girls representative touch football team.

“I participate in athletics once a week and compete at different competitions on most weekends. I also train and play touch football, oz tag and soccer four times a week.

“I want to represent Australia in the Olympics three times and win gold.”

Aaliyah is determined, focused and most importantly shows great sportsmanship, she has given medals

that she has won to her competitors when they haven’t received a medal.

We would like to congratulate Aaliyah on her award from Penrith Valley Sports Foundation and to continue her incredible dedication in all sports.

Coach’s Corner J

The Influence of Junior Coaches on Young Athletes

unior coaches need to be involved for the right reasons, as they have a responsibility to ensure the young men and women they are coaching are having fun, have equal opportunity and are learning as much as possible. As a coach it should never be about you or your agendas and ambitions. It needs to be about the players. This is also a vital message in which parents need to commit to follow.

In order to build a positive culture within your team environment it is vital that you are transparent and honest with the parents of the players you are coaching.

Coaches need to ensure they put the development of each individual player at the forefront of their coaching focus. Coaches cannot allow themselves to be influenced or dictated to by parents. Coaches have a responsibility to make decisions that are best for the team as a collective. Not to make decisions which will appease parents who can often only be looking through the eyes of their own children.

As coaches we need to constantly ask ourselves:

Photos by Mark Bradford

How can I improve as a coach? What are my coaching goals? What is my coaching philosophy? We should not be coaching with the aim of turning players into robots who follow our every instruction. Teach your players to experiment, think, make decisions and be creative. The values we carry as coaches have a major impact on the ability of our players to learn and develop.

Implement team rules, structures and processes early and make sure all parents are aware of them. Organise a meeting with the parents once your team numbers are finalised. This will give you an opportunity to meet and greet them all, but also ensures you have the opportunity to clearly communicate the way you want the parent / coach relationship to work, expectations and rules, season plans and your coaching philosophy.

Simplicity is often the greatest complexity in coaching and teaching. Keep things as simple as possible. Junior sport is not professional sport, so don’t treat it as such. From my experience within

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

both junior and senior Rugby League representative systems the skills which often make or break players at the professional level are the fundamentals which they should have learnt and refined at the junior level. Too often coaches tend to focus on a player’s strengths and will gloss over or fail to challenge their weaknesses.

Don’t be the one to ignore deficiencies, be the one to fix them, it is our job. Ensure you are coaching holistically by teaching the basic fundamental skills of your sport correctly to build a solid foundation.

The focus at the junior level needs to shift back to ensuring all players learn the simple fundamentals of their sport whilst having fun. The greater the level of skill in each player, the greater the chance the player will experience success. Success in obtaining skills builds a players confidence and enjoyment within their chosen sport. As a junior coach if you have the ability to create skilful, confident players who love the game you have done your job.

Proudly sponsored by Penrith Party Hire (02) 4731 1313

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

Brothers win award from PVSF

41

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

42

SPORT › Leonay Hosts Successful Breast Cancer Institute Fund-Raiser

Richmond on track

By Noel Rowsell

R

Action from the Breast Cancer Charity Golf Day at Leonay GC. Photos by Noel Rowsell (www.photoexcellence.com.au)

By Noel Rowsell

Leonay GC hosted it’s 9th Annual Breast Cancer Charity Day on 31st October, with a strong field teeing up in excellent sunny conditions.

Once again, the Ladies did a tremendous job in both the organisation of the event and their outfits, whilst the Men also turned up gloriously resplendent in varying shades of pink.

The event was a Four-Person Olympic Scramble, with all proceeds on the day going to the Breast Cancer Institute of Australia.

Leonay GC Ladies captain Julie Sutcliffe said “We had 96 starters, which was a great effort”.

“The winners on the day were the team of Wendy Wilkinson, Kathy Zuliani, Don Holland and Peter Mc Farlane, who finished with a nett score of 53 1/4”.

Sutcliffe said “Monies raised were $5,331.60 “.

“A big thank you to our major sponsor Wideline Windows and Doors, also to Toohey’s and the men’s committee for their donation”.

ichmond GC has seemingly taken a stranglehold on the ‘Club of the Year’ title in the Western Sydney Region Veteran Golfers Association (WSRVGA) Inter-Club competition, finishing at the head of the field again in the October event to move twenty points clear of second placed Wallacia GC. Playing on their home course, Gary Tuckwell, Denis Jacobson, Leonie Manczak and Brian Holland shot the day’s best group total of 150 points, which may have lifted Richmond to an almost unassailable position with just one One of the playing groups at the WSRVGA Interround left to play this year.

Club event at Richmond. Photo by Jim Lyons The race to the ‘Player of the Year’ titles in both the men’s and 2BBB: Division One: David Anderson women’s divisions still however appears to be a real contest, with only four points & Graham Anderson (Wallacia) 47; Paul separating the top six female players and Evans & Brian Holland (Richmond) six points separating the top five male 46; Division Two: Leonie Manczak & Gabrielle O’Dempsey (Richmond) 46; players.

Gabrielle O’Dempsey (Richmond) Russell Cruikshanck & Brian Calvert leads the women’s division with 103 (Penrith) 43.

MEN: Division One: Robert Jensen points on a countback, ahead of Judy Loader (Stonecutters) 103, Diane (Penrith) 38, Graham Anderson (Wallacia) Bowen (Dunheved) 102, Elaine Lovett 36; Division Two: Dennis Jacobsen (Richmond) 101, Elaine Williams (Richmond) 38 c/b, Keith Patterson (Dunheved) 100 and Julie Edwards (Dunheved) 38 c/b; Division Three: Fred Croyston (Stonecutters Ridge) 37 c/b, (Glenmore) 99.

Jim Lyons (Richmond) continues to Robert Sproule (Leonay) 37 c/b.

WOMEN: Division One: Elaine hold his challengers at bay in the men’s division on 115 points, ahead of Noel Lovatt (Glenmore) 38, Jan Mackie Byles (Richmond) 111, Graham Anderson (Richmond) 34 ; Division Two: Leonie (Wallacia) 110, John Ross (Glenmore) Manczay (Richmond) 38, Diane Bowen (Dunheved) 33.

109 and Colin Cheyne (Richmond) 109.

The final event of the year will be held The winners on the day in the 2BBB and Individual competitions are as at Glenmore Heritage Valley Golf Club on 7th November. follows.

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PENRITH PANTHERS

SPORT

Martin agreed and suggested that he was too worried about getting his own game right @TheRiffMarn without needing to buy into whatever the rest of the playing group really felt about his Dad t’s the family reunion as coach. that has had rugby league “I didn’t find it hard (to maintain a strong tongues wagging for some relationship with the playing group). Whether time now. players thought “Dad, geez he’s the coach being You know the story about a coach “who was an arsehole,” they never said that to me”, Martin once too tired to coach Penrith” three years added. back only to “get off the bus” two years earlier “I was more concerned and focused on my than expected by the Wests Tigers so that he own role in the team. I didn’t worry about all can return and finally coach his son? that sort of stuff like ‘what are they going to For a long time, it had been regarded and think about me because I’m the coach’s son’? even willed upon by some that Nathan and “My father is a very hard but fair person.

Ivan would re-unite at the Tigers.

There certainly was no favouritism.

But the Panthers had other ideas and never “But I was a fairly consistent footballer. made a secret of their desire to bring Ivan back Never brilliant by any means but never gave into the fold, ever since Anthony Griffin was him too much to complain about either. sensationally sacked just four weeks out from “In football like in any mode of employment, the finals. there is always someone bagging the coach Just weeks after exiting those finals, the behind his back anyway so I don’t think it will first part of that puzzle was completed when be a problem for Nathan and Ivan at Penrith.

Nathan re-committed to a long-term deal at However it was an ironic twist of fate that Penrith last month.

Penrith fans will be hoping Nathan and Ivan will follow in John and Martin Lang’s footsteps and deliver a premiership. Credit: NRL Photos. saw Martin again coached by his Dad again The second piece of the puzzle was officially from 2002 to 2004. completed last week when the Wests Tigers, “Ivan’s a pretty calm sort of a guy, certainly calmer The original plan was a fresh start under then having secured Michael Maguire as their new Panthers coach Royce Simmons given that John’s coach, granted Ivan an early release to take up the than me.

“They both seem to be pretty similar sort of contract was not renewed by the Sharks after 2001 five-year deal at Penrith, in what is the longest and the characters. Resolute, unflappable sort of guys. and seemingly had no other club to coach at. most expensive coaching deal in the club’s history.

“I can’t see a downside for it to be honest.”

“I was finishing at the Sharks and he signed for NRL Immortal Andrew Johns recently questioned Martin conceded he felt that in the back of his mind Penrith,” John declared. why would any father / son that coached / played in that from 1996 when he made his NRL debut until he “Royce was keen to sign him and Martin was very the NRL, want this to happen.

But the last father-son combination to have worked made his State of Origin debut for Queensland under keen to play.

“To be perfectly honest I was quite looking forward together in the NRL, coach John Lang and his son, Wayne Bennett in 1998, that some felt his position in Martin, strongly believes that the coming together of the NRL was only because of his Dad, but added that to kicking back and just going out to Penrith to watch Martin play a few games where I wasn’t involved?

Ivan and Nathan at Penrith can be nothing but good Nathan’s situation is different.

“It will be a little bit different to my situation. I “Then things changed. Royce was sacked and I for all concerned.

After all, the 2003 premiership-winning coach of made my debut at the end of 1996 under my father came in. But Martin was already established before the Panthers, coached his Martin throughout his entire so there would have been a lot of scrutiny at the time I even got there.

“Martin lived at Penrith while I continued to live at NRL career that spanned nine-seasons and 176 NRL which I ignored I might add,” Martin said.

“I didn’t read papers but I would have thought Cronulla when I coached there at Penrith. appearances for Cronulla and Penrith.

“I never actually asked him at the time (how he Both are better credentialled than anyone else in the there would have been those who said he is only there felt about moving there) but I remember a bloke did game when it comes to understanding why Ivan and because of his father. “(When things might not have been going well as a say to him “how will you go playing under Royce Nathan have come together at Penrith.

“If Nathan wants to play under Ivan and his father player) I carried that view around (that I’m there only Simmons?”

“He said “I like coaches who like me!”” wants to coach his son then I think it can only be a because of my dad) for a couple of years.

“But when Wayne Bennett picked me for the State Martin can see why outsiders looking in would positive. I’m happy for them. I think it is good for the club for Ivan to be going back there,” Martin declared. of Origin team and I made my Origin debut, that was view the Ivan Cleary move back to Penrith as nothing “I don’t think it will be a big challenge for Nathan when I was hoping people would accept the fact that more than a means for the Panthers to retain his son, Nathan. being coached by Ivan and it certainly won’t make someone else wanted me in their team.

“It was never really a big issue for me. I was able “From the outside looking in 100 percent (it looks life at Penrith any harder with his father there. He will to block it out. like the club is hiring Ivan to keep Nathan),” Martin just go about his own business.

“I never did a lot of media interviews anyway so I responded.

“Nathan’s a current Origin player and has already “But Nathan Cleary is one of the finest young proven himself and is still going to improve further so wasn’t too bothered by it.

John adds that when he arrived to coach the players in the game and any club is going to do there certainly won’t be any of that innuendo around Cronulla Sharks in 1994, he didn’t see his son coming whatever they can to keep him. the place that I would have copped.”

“Although I thought it was a little bit embarrassing Having advised Ivan years earlier about this into the NRL side anytime soon.

But while it did catch him a little by surprise when for the club in the way they dealt with Anthony scenario, John said it would be easier to coach a son who in Nathan’s case is a key play maker for the team he handed his son a NRL debut in 1996, it was never Griffin, I think it is a smart move moving forward really an issue for either coach/dad or player/son. signing Ivan. than trying to shut him down.

“In my situation it was sort of a bit different in that “It guarantees the commitment of Nathan over an “I’ve been asked this a few times in fact Ivan asked me a few years ago. It is probably not ideal but it’s when I went to coach at the Sharks, Martin was 18”, extended period.”

However John believes that there is more to the better than coaching against Nathan I think,” John John said.

“It never crossed my mind that he’d be a first move for Ivan than just simply coaching his son, told the Nepean News.

“If I was Ivan I definitely would want to be grade footballer. It might have crossed his mind but it given the circumstances in which he left the club in certainly didn’t cross mine.

2015. coaching him rather than against him.

“He came up through the grades. He won the player “I don’t think Ivan would be going to Penrith only “Particularly where Nathan is sort of going to be one of the main play makers in his team and if you of the year in the Under 21s and then won player of because of Nathan,” John’s replied.

“He was obviously disappointed when he left are coaching against him you are sort of plotting to the year in the second grade under Stuart Raper.

“Then he started getting a bit of time off the bench and Phil Gould felt that he needed a break and Ivan bring him undone. in first grade so it sort of happened organically. disagreed but who was right? Who knows?

“I don’t think it would be a great feeling.

“I think it was a generally accepted that he had to “But nobody ever said that weren’t happy with him “I have never met Nathan but he seems to be a dedicated and a completely professional footballer be there when he got there so I didn’t find it that hard. as a coach.

“On the other hand, Nathan was one of those kids “Ivan is a professional coach. It will be business with everything that he does so it’s not like Ivan’s who wasn’t an if but rather a when sort of player.” as usual.” likely to have to pull him into line.

By STEWART MOSES

I

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

John, Martin Lang say Cleary reunion good for Penrith

43 43

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

44

SPORT

PENRITH PANTHERS

Friday night delights for prime-time Panthers

By STEWART MOSES

T

@TheRiffMarn

he recently released 2019 NRL draw has thrown up a shock of sorts with the Penrith Panthers not playing a single game on Saturday at Panthers Stadium for the first time since the 1997 Super League season.

Despite Penrith being listed to play its lone Saturday home game in March against the Melbourne Storm, Saturday evening in Bathurst, there are plenty of positives for the club to be excited about the 2019 NRL draw including: • Seven of eleven home games at Panthers Stadium involve Sydneybased teams. Only Canterbury does not travel to Penrith in 2019.

• Four Friday prime time home games against Sydney teams – Wests Tigers, South Sydney, St George-Illawarra and Cronulla.

• Four Sunday prime time games including two Sydney teams – Parramatta and Sydney Roosters.

• Penrith again to open season at home on a Sunday afternoon against Parramatta.

• Just eleven games versus top eight opposition – six at home, five away.

• No five-day turnarounds (one of just two clubs).

• No away game in Melbourne.

• Only regional opposition playing against Penrith at home on a Friday 6pm timeslot.

• Manly to play Penrith at home on a Thursday night.

• A second game to play in the country – vs. Canberra in Wagga Wagga.

• Two away games at Western Sydney Stadium – Parramatta and Canterbury.

Panthers RL CEO Brian Fletcher says the club is overall very happy with the 2019 draw.

“Happy as Larry. We’ve got no problems with the draw,” Fletcher told Nepean News.

“We’ve got no five-day turnarounds which is excellent.

“Only have to play Melbourne the once and the first time in six years we don’t have to play them in Melbourne. We’ve got our turn this year in Bathurst.”

One of the key wins for Penrith according to Fletcher is the amount of free-to-air (FTA) games Penrith will feature in, which is a win for both fans and especially sponsors, given the club is set to feature on at least 12 games of FTA television.

“It’s an enormous bonus for us and helps to keep our sponsors here long term,” Fletcher declared.

“We are second to the Broncos with our number of free-to-air games and we have just signed on a very large shorts sponsor in Keno (who replace Host Plus).

“They are thrilled with the exposure they are going to get.”

Fletcher says it’s hard to be critical of the draw not providing the Panthers to be able to play home games in Penrith on a Saturday but adds that the number of games being played on a Friday night in a prime-time slot against quality Sydney-based opposition, will suit the fan base.

“You can’t have everything. From the club’s point of view, Friday night or Saturday night is preferable,” Fletcher responded.

“But I would rather more late games on Friday nights rather than Saturday afternoons.

“Saturdays are all day sports for children, which makes it hard for people to be able to come to the football say up to 5-6pm at night.”

The draw does throw up it’s fair share of challenges as well for Penrith including: • Three games to be played on a Thursday night and five games to be played both home and away on the Friday 6pm timeslot.

• No Brisbane, one of the major regional team drawcards, playing at Penrith (again).

• Game away to Wests Tigers to be played at Suncorp Stadium on a Friday 6pm timeslot as part of NRL’s inaugural Magic Round concept.

• Games away to all regional teams apart from Melbourne.

• Four of its last six games of the season away including back-to-back games in Queensland – Brisbane and North Queensland.

But despite these tough aspects to the draw, Fletcher says the roster is such that it shouldn’t matter who, when or where the Panthers play in 2019.

“We’ve got to get to a stage with our football side where it shouldn’t be worrying them in terms of who we play,” Fletcher replied.

“We’ve got to be good enough against anyone, anywhere, any time.

“But I am confident we will be, with the side and the coaching that we have now got.”

Another opening home game sellout is on the cards in 2019.

Credit: 77 Media.

PANTHERS 2019

SEASON DRAW Round 1 v Eels Sun 17 March, 4.05pm @ Panthers Stadium Round 2 v Knights Sat 23 March, 5.30pm @ McDonald Jones Stadium Round 3 v Storm Sat 30 March, 7.35pm @ Carrington Park, Bathurst Round 4 v Wests Tigers Fri 5 April, 7.55pm @ Panthers Stadium Round 5 v Titans Fri 12 April, 6.00pm @ CBUS Super Stadium Round 6 v Sharks Thu 18 April, 7.50pm @ Shark Park Round 7 v Rabbitohs Fri 26 April, 7.55pm @ Panthers Stadium Round 8 v Raiders Sat 4 May, 3.00pm @ McDonald’s Park, Wagga Wagga Round 9 v Wests Tigers Fri 10 May, 6.00pm @ Suncorp Stadium Round 10 v Warriors Fri 17 May, 6.00pm @ Panthers Stadium Round 11 v Eels Thu 23 May, 7.50pm @ Western Sydney Stadium Round 12 v Sea Eagles Thu 30 May, 7.50pm @ Panthers Stadium Round 13 v Roosters Sun 9 June, 4.05pm @ Panthers Stadium Round 14 v Rabbitohs Sat 15 June, 5.30pm @ ANZ Stadium Round 15 v Warriors Sun 30 June, 2.00pm @ Mt Smart Stadium Round 16 BYE Round 17 v Titans Fri 12 July, 6.00pm @ Panthers Stadium Round 18 v Dragons Fri 19 July, 7.55pm @ Panthers Stadium Round 19 v Raiders Sun 28 July, 4.05pm @ Panthers Stadium Round 20 v Bulldogs Sat 3 August, 5.30pm @ Western Sydney Stadium Round 21 v Sharks Fri 9 August, 7.55pm @ Panthers Stadium Round 22 v Broncos Fri 16 August, 7.55pm @ Suncorp Stadium Round 23 v Cowboys Fri 23 August, 6.00pm @ 1300 SMILES Stadium Round 24 v Roosters Sat 31 August, 7.35pm @ TBC Round 25 v Knights Sun 8 September, 4.05pm @ Panthers Stadium

PENRITH PANTHERS

SPORT

with Stew Moses

@TheRiffMarn

IT’S OFFICIAL – CLEARY AND SON OPENS FOR PANTHERS PREMIERSHIP BUSINESS Finally after months of speculation, the deal to not only get Ivan Cleary back to Penrith, but for the 2019 season, is done and dusted, with the club confirming the five-year deal that will see Ivan, become just the second coach to take charge of the Panthers more than once, commit to Penrith until the end of the 2023 season.

The 47-year-old returns to Panthers under plenty of pressure to finally prove his mettle and deliver the club’s first premiership since 2003, when ironically another father and son combined to help the Panthers win the competition for just the second time in the club’s history.

Ivan Cleary’s winning record on paper is not flattering.

Cleary has won 139 NRL games from 295 games played, at a winning percentage of just 47.1%, including just 44 wins from 98 games in his first stint at the Panthers, with a preliminary final in 2014, his club highlight.

But five of his 12 years of NRL coaching would have been spent purely focused on rebuilding rosters from scratch which can curtail one’s win / loss record in the short run.

For the first time in his coaching career, Cleary finally gets to get a roster (one he still significantly familiar with) that is ready to deliver premiership success, not half-baked finals campaigns.

Ivan says he returns to Penrith looking to complete some unfinished business from when he was last employed at the club.

“I am honoured to be back as head coach of Panthers and very much look forward to being part of the future journey,” Cleary said.

“Personally I had a feeling of unfinished business with a club and a community that my family and I enjoy a strong connection with, from grassroots through to NRL players, staff and management.

Panthers Group CEO Brian Fletcher said the Panthers Board is confident Cleary will help the club achieve its full potential on and off the field.

“The Panthers Board is delighted with the appointment of Ivan Cleary as head coach for the next five years,” Fletcher said.

“The talent and depth in our playing squad means our club is well-placed to push for a premiership and we believe Ivan is the coach to take us there.”

Fletcher is adamant that any form of compensation to be provided to the Wests Tigers, was between Ivan and his former club, when

Ivan Cleary in his 1st season as Penrith coach in 2012.

Seven years on and he’s back but can he deliver on some unfinished business? Credit: NRL Photos.

contacted by Nepean News.

“Not by the club. That was between Ivan and the Wests Tigers, nothing to do with us,” Fletcher responded.

Meanwhile, Cameron Ciraldo and Peter Wallace will be Cleary’s assistant coaches in 2019, with preseason training officially commencing on Monday 12 November.

For the first time, NRL clubs have had to fill and confirm at least 24 of their top 30 rosters for 2019 last week.

For the time being Trent Merrin, who is contracted to Penrith until 2020, is one of 29 players named in Penrith’s top 30.

But it appears Merrin’s time at the club is coming to an end after likes of Phil Gould and Greg Alexander confirmed a significantly attractive four-year deal from English Super League club, Leeds Rhinos, is on the table for the former Australian and NSW prop to accept.

Despite rumours of South Sydney under incoming coach Wayne Bennett was interested in signing Merrin, Leeds remain favourites to secure his services.

But the deal certainly appears to be club’s doing, not Trent’s with Wayne Bennett confirming to News Limited, that Merrin contacted him for advice and told his former mentor at the Dragons that Penrith were looking to move him on and is reluctant to take up the deal.

A key reason for the club’s eagerness to move Merrin on, is due to salary cap pressures created by

OFFER ENDS 30 NOVEMBER 2018

Offer ends 30/11/2018. See in Store for Terms and Conditions.

extensive contract upgrades to a significant portion of the roster that take effect post 2019.

Nathan Cleary, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Viliame Kikau, Dylan Edwards, Waqa Blake, Moses Leota, Tyrone May and Isaah Yeo have all been significantly upgraded in recent years.

As from Nov 1, James Fisher-Harris, who like many before him, is due a major contract upgrade and is able to talk to other clubs.

But Fletcher says he is confident a deal will be reached with the Kiwi international forward, which will mean the club will have the bulk of its roster under contract for at least another four years.

“We’ve nearly got them all for at least four years now. These kids are aged between 21-24 and basically they’ve all signed except Fisher-Harris who will get done shortly,” Fletcher replied.

“It’s a credit to Phil (Gould), the way he controls the cap and secures the signatures of all these young, hopefully future stars.

“They don’t want to go anywhere else and they can see that we have got a great future and a real chance of winning a comp here.”

One player who was under contract for 2019 but whose name was absent from its top 30 list is Sam McKendry.

It was originally hoped that McKendry, would accept an offer to medically retire.

But it is understood that the former Kiwi international forward, is understood to be still considering his options given his preference to come back from a third ACL knee reconstruction in as many years.

Regardless of the final outcome, it’s very unlikely that McKendry will be a Panther in 2019, according to the Panthers RL CEO. “Sam’s not in our football cap but we do have to still pay him,” Fletcher confirmed.

“If he did recover, he won’t be playing at the club next year.”

Panther Dallin Watene-Zelezniak might still be smarting over two tight losses to England over the past fortnight 18-16 and 20-14, but his form in the international arena in 2018 is such, that the current Kiwi skipper is among a shortlist of four candidates to take out this year’s RLIF International Golden Boot award, to be announced this Wednesday at a gala RLIF dinner in Leeds. #PantherPride

Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

GOLDEN POINTS

45 45

PENRITH PANTHERS

with MARK GEYER

Come to the flicks with me on Sunday

H

ow often is it that a movie comes out and its made by a bloke from Penrith?

A movie that was predominantly filmed around Penrith and the Blue Mountains? Not bloody often!

In light of that I’m hoping you’ll join me in getting a Penrith home crowd together at Penrith Cinemas for the home-town screening.

I’ll be hosting a special oneoff screening of Book Week this Sunday 11 November at 4.30pm.

Following the movie I’ll be interviewing Heath Davis, the filmmaker from Glenmore Park who has put Penrith on the movie making map.

See you there!

And another thing...

After just witnessing the manic happenings of the coaching merry go round, as soon as November 1 hit the ‘player pandemic’ shuffling hit with the same velocity.

Before we look at who might go where, it’s time, in fact I urge the NRL to bring a stop to the absurdity.

If the coach swapping wasn’t enough we now have a situation where up to 30 players are negotiating to play at a different club they’re playing at currently - not next year but the year after!

I’d like to see a mandate brought in where a player CANNOT start to negotiate with another club until the day after the grand final the year their contract expires.

So as an example Luke Brooks, who’s contract with the Tigers ends next year can’t even discuss moving clubs until the day after next year’s Grand Final.

 The ‘player pandemic’ is in full swing

To say that doesn’t give players enough time to relocate is BS. In November 1997 when I was at the Western Reds we were told that the club was folding. Within 3 weeks all 40 players on the books had found, and had settled at new clubs. Of course it can be done.

Unfortunately the only loyalty in the game today is from the fans.

I mentioned Brooks, the Roosters are chasing him- shock horror. Dave Klemmer looks like heading to Newcastle. Dylan Napa has the Bulldogs

hunting him, Shaun Johnson has been linked to at least 3 clubs, Val Holmes looks set to become a Cowboy, and that’s only a few of the big names being tossed up.

The competition is over but the ‘silly season’ is well and truly upon us. Strap yourself in as the pandemic hits full throttle.

See you at the game.

MG (random Westie) OAM

47 47 Nepean News 8 November 2018 Issue 239

MG on the mark

SPORT

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