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local news

The Royce sees phenomenal program results

By KeRRIE DAVIES

R

ecently it was Dementia Week, so we chatted to the staff at The Royce about the condition. Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia.

Be Nguyen, CEO of Greenhill Aged Care, is also a Nursing Consultant who works closely with the residents at The Royce. Her role includes overseeing the clinical needs of the 47 diagnosed residents in the dementia ward.

Ms Nguyen uses a range of programs designed to help with the challenges presented in managing the care of those with dementia.

“The main challenges with diagnosed residents are behavioural concerns, such as wandering, and keeping residents engaged in activity for a better quality of life,” Ms Nguyen said.

“We’ve had some great success with the programs we’ve been able to provide at The Royce.”

A program that has finally arrived a few weeks ago, following delays due to lockdown, is the Tovertafel game console; an interactive game for dementia residents.

Ms Nguyen said when she first heard about the product she did a few reference checks and found the feedback was extremely good, so the purchase was made.

“The Tovertafel has given us some wonderful results, particularly in our residents who are in advanced stages of dementia,” she said.

The typical social activities that appeal to seniors, such as bingo or happy hour can be quite a challenge for dementia residents with a shorter attention span.

“We assess the residents on their social interests, and the time of the day that they’re routinely becoming restless,” Ms Nguyen said. “This occurs in the afternoon for many, as they’re thinking it is time to head home from work or school.”

Ms Nguyen explained that the Tovertafel works in a similar way to the Wii game - it projects images to a surface allowing the residents and carers to play and interact. Some examples of the interaction include gathering leaves, catching fish and throwing a ball for a dog to fetch.

“The progress has been phenomenal,” Ms Nguyen said, “Rather than just sitting and not engaging, we are seeing their faces light up and some big smiles.

“The residents who would routinely become agitated at certain times are much calmer and settled, and we have less wandering as well. There’s a lot of laughter, it is giving them a purpose

to their day.”

Ms Nguyen’s own mother has dementia, and that coupled with the fact that she speaks limited English is quite testing.

“Mum has been at the facility for a while. Once we proceeded with playing with the leaves on the game, her demeanour changed; she’s smiling and she’s laughing. She tends to sit in a corner, but put Tovertafel on and she’s laughing like she’s 12 years old again.”

Those in the earlier stages of dementia are benefiting from the program as well.

“There’s a happy birthday game that is quite a favourite in the mornings. It is basically a deconstructed cake, and you have to construct it layer by layer.

Once it is erected the happy birthday song plays and fireworks go off. It is a tune they all remember so they all clap and sing along.

“Residents with dementia are in their own reality; they might think they’re back at school for instance.

Validating their reality is part of the management,” Ms Nguyen said, explaining that there’s no benefit in telling them no, or that they’re really 84 not 14.

“As many of our residents with dementia are female, they’ve been home-makers. They are focussed on preparing dinner or getting the housework done. Part of the program is to help them re-focus their attention.”

The staff at The Royce regularly engage with Dementia Services Australia, and there are other parts to the program such as robot dogs and cats. These life-like companions were introduced during lockdown when the usual access to pet therapy became difficult.

“The robot pets also aid in managing resident’s agitation, and stimulates more engagement. They keep them with them and they become a great benefit, much like a security blanket.”

Ms Nguyen explained that dementia is very hard on the relatives and spouses.

“No recognition on the face of someone very close to you is extremely difficult. We like to reassure the family of our residents that their loved one is well cared for. We send photos to the family of them laughing and interacting and it alleviates their concerns.

“I’ve been working in aged care for 31 years and the technology of today is a wonderful thing to see.

The quality of life that it provides is exceptional. At the end of the day, that’s what is really important,” Ms Nguyen said.

Who gets dementia?

Most people with dementia are older, but it is important to remember that not all older people get dementia.

It is not a normal part of ageing.

Dementia can happen to anybody, but it is more common after the age of 65 years. People in their 40s and 50s can also have dementia.

What causes dementia?

There are many different forms of dementia and each has its own causes.

The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia, Dementia with Lewy bodies, Fronto Temporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD), Huntington’s disease, Alcohol related dementia (Korsakoff’s syndrome) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Is it dementia?

There are a number of conditions that produce symptoms similar to dementia. These include some

vitamin and hormone deficiencies, depression, medication clashes or overmedication, infections and brain tumours.

It is essential that a medical diagnosis is obtained at an early stage when symptoms first appear, to ensure that a person who has a treatable condition is diagnosed and treated correctly.

If the symptoms are caused by dementia, an early diagnosis will mean early access to support, information, and medication should it be available.

Can dementia be inherited?

This will depend on the cause of the dementia, so it is important to have a firm medical diagnosis.

If you are concerned about the risk of inheriting dementia, consult your doctor or contact Dementia Australia to speak to a counsellor.

Most cases of dementia are not inherited.

What are the early signs of dementia?

The early signs of dementia are very subtle and vague and may not be immediately obvious. Some common symptoms may include: • Progressive and frequent memory loss • Confusion • Personality change • Apathy and withdrawal • Loss of ability to perform everyday tasks.

What can be done to help?

At present there is no prevention or cure for most forms of dementia.

However, some medications have been found to reduce some symptoms. Support is vital for people with dementia. The help of families, friends and carers can make a positive difference to managing the condition.

local news

P

enrith City Council will light up the Civic Centre in support of Pink Up Penrith.

The building is set to be awash with pink through October to serve as a reminder for residents that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown OAM said Council proudly backs the great work of Pink Up Penrith, a campaign that has funded three McGrath Breast Cancer Nurses for Nepean Hospital through the The Civic Centre will light up in pink in support of Pink Up Penrith.

McGrath Foundation.

“Research shows 1 in 7 women are diagnosed Hawthorn, said with the community’s support the with breast cancer and it is estimated that 55 people initiative has raised $138,719.10 to date. are being diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia “It’s important that we donate locally so that those every day – these figures show just how important donations stay local and go to Nepean Hospital. it is that we have adequate care available,” Cr We know it is a tough year, but every $5 makes a McKeown said. difference in someone’s lives as we put the money “Council is thrilled to take part in Pink Up Penrith together,” Ms Hawthorn said. by lighting up our Civic Centre a shade of pink to “With clinics closed because of COVID-19 no raise awareness in our City, to help those affected as one has been getting breast checks so self-awareness well as their families. is really important this month – when you see your “We know that when we work together, this girlfriends or your mum, make sure you remind community can achieve great things.” them to check their breasts,” she said.

Now in its fourth year, the Pink Up Penrith Council’s Civic Centre will be lit up pink every campaign is seeing people decorate their homes and night, from tonight, for October. other belongings pink.

For more information about Pink Up Penrith or to Pink Up Penrith Ambassador and President, Gai donate visit www.pinkuppenrith.com.au.

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By KeRRIE DAVIES

Farewell Gladys, hello new leadership

I

n what came as an enormous shock to most of us, last week Gladys Berejiklian announced her resignation as NSW Premier and also from Parliament.

It was hard to comprehend that the Premier we’ve had for five years, who has steered us through one catastrophe after another would be gone.

But gone she is, her departure far swifter than our brains could absorb the news.

The daily date we had with Gladys at 11am was replaced in an instant with a feeling that the safe pair of hands had been taken away from us.

I’m not going to comment on ICAC and their ability to ruin the reputations of some who weren’t even found guilty (not in this column anyway, but check back next week) but we all know their investigation that apparently just had to happen in the middle of a pandemic was the reason behind Gladys calling it a day on her political career.

There’s not much idle time in politics, and though there was a massive wave of Gladys-grief our state must be run, so a new leadership was determined very quickly.

The new Premier Dominic Perrottett was announced, and our own Penrith MP Stuart Ayres his Deputy.

There is no doubt they’ve got some big shoes to fill. They’ve only had the reigns for five minutes but already criticism has been chewed up, spat out or savoured.

The keyboard warriors have been out in force on social media bemoaning the exit of a female leader for “the boys club” and Perrottet’s Catholicism and conservative views.

But whether the sledging comes from the grief of losing Gladys or those who were never going to vote Liberal anyway, we do ourselves no favours passing judgement before the performance has begun.

We are still in the grip of a pandemic. We are now poking our heads out after three months of lockdown, there’ll be work to do and damage to survey.

Let’s save our judgement for when there’s something to judge.

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Stuart Ayres MP Member for Penrith

T

he Morrison Government will continue to secure Australia’s economic recovery by expanding support to help apprentices finish their training, protecting the skills pipeline delivered under the government’s successful Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program.

The $3.9 billion Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program will extend support into the second and third year of an eligible Australian Apprenticeship through the $716 million Completing Apprenticeship Commencements program.

Under the new changes from October 2021, eligible employers will receive a 10 per cent wage subsidy in the second year of an eligible apprenticeship, and five per cent in the third year. The Morrison Government’s investment is expected to continue to support the 270,000 anticipated commencements under the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program from October 2020 to March 2022.

Federal Member for Lindsay said the Morrison Government was protecting the pipeline of apprentices today so they became the skilled workforce of tomorrow through the Completing Apprenticeship Commencements program.

‘This will give employers the confidence to retain an apprentice in their second and third years of training right through to completion,’ Ms McIntosh said.

‘There’s nowhere this matters more than in Western Sydney. I want to see our manufacturing

industry create and sustain more local jobs. By putting our full support behind apprentices, we’re helping drive these industries forward into the future.

‘Securing the skilled workforce of tomorrow through the Completing Apprenticeship Commencements program is in addition to a record $6.4 billion investment in skills this financial year, including a $500 million expansion of the JobTrainer Fund, which recently hit more than 230,000 course enrolments.’

Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert, said the new Completing Apprenticeship Commencements program will help maintain a pipeline of skilled workers right across the economy with 348,200 Australians training as at June 2021, 30 per cent more than the previous 12 months.

‘The Morrison Government has supported a generation of Australian apprentices in the face of the biggest shock to our economy since World War Two,’ Minister Robert said.

‘While other countries shed their apprentice workforces, our highly successful Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement program saw new apprenticeships increase 141.5 per cent year on year.’

For further information on how to apply for the program, including information on eligibility, visit www.dese.gov.au/boosting-apprenticeshipcommencements or contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.

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Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

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Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

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local news

Nsw on the road to reopening N

SW will take its first steps towards reopening as the State passes the 70 per cent double vaccination target.

With the first vaccination milestone being reached, the NSW Government is also easing a number of restrictions as part of the Reopening NSW roadmap, which will allow fully vaccinated adults to enjoy more freedoms from next Monday, October 11.

The changes to the 70 per cent roadmap will allow up to 10 visitors (not counting children 12 and under) to a home (previously five), lift the cap on outdoor gatherings to 30 people (previously 20), and increase the cap for weddings and funerals to 100 people (previously 50).

Indoor pools will also be re-opened for swimming lessons, squad training, lap swimming, and rehab activities.

On the Monday after the State clears the 80 per cent double vaccination hurdle further restrictions will be relaxed, with people able to have up to 20 visitors (excluding children 12 and under) to a home (previously 10), and up to 50 people will be allowed to gather outdoors (previously 20).

Up to 3,000 people will be allowed to attend controlled and ticketed outdoor events (previously 500), nightclubs will be permitted to reopen for seated drinking only (no dancing), and masks will no longer be required in office buildings. All roadmap freedoms at 70 and 80 per cent will continue to be for fully vaccinated people only.

All school students will also now return to on site learning with a range of COVID-safe measures in place by October 25, with the second and third stages of the return to school plan now combined. Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 12 students will still return

to face-to-face learning on October 18, with all other years now returning one week later on October 25.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the common-sense changes would help life return to normal as soon as possible.

“Vaccinations are the key to life returning to normal and the changes today will help family and friends reconnect, get kids back to school and get businesses back up and running sooner,” Mr Perrottet said.

“NSW is putting in the hard yards and it’s important people continue to turn out in droves to be vaccinated.”

Deputy Premier Paul Toole said workers in regional areas who have received one vaccination dose will be

permitted to return to their workplace from October 11 and will be given a grace period until November 1 to receive their second dose.

Regional areas are those outside Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast.

“This move ensures we get businesses in the regions re-open and local economies buzzing again.

It’s about ensuring we make this a roadmap that works for everyone,” Mr Toole said.

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said these changes would help get more people back into work, especially in Western Sydney.

“We’re on the road back to normal and most importantly reaching these vaccination targets means people can reunite with family and friends, celebrate key moments in their lives and businesses can open their doors and get back to work in a safe way,” Mr Ayres said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said NSW residents 12-years-old and over have led the charge to get vaccinated and ensure NSW is among the safest places in the world.

“Getting to 70 per cent double dose is a badge of honour for every fully vaccinated NSW citizen to wear proudly but we can do so much more and 90 per cent is within our grasp,” Mr Hazzard said.

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said schools were ready to welcome students back.

“The return remains safe and sensible with enough time for schools to prepare for a faster return of students over two weeks instead of three,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Principals have received detailed guidance and checklists of everything required to ensure COVID-safe settings in their school. Parents and carers will also receive a detailed guide today and more specific information from their school in the coming days.”

If you are not booked in for a COVID-19 vaccine, please book an appointment as soon possible.

Note also that as the stay-at-home orders will be lifted next Monday and replaced by the roadmap settings, the list of Local Government Areas of concern will cease to exist.

For the latest information visit the COVID-19 pages on www.nsw.gov.au

local news

P

remier Dominic Perrottet has announced a new NSW Cabinet team to continue the Government’s work to keep people safe, open up the economy and secure a strong recovery.

Mr Perrottet said minimal changes had been made to Cabinet, to ensure stability and continuity for the people of NSW as the state rapidly approaches it’s reopening targets.

“Despite the challenges of recent days, our Government has not stopped working for the people of NSW, and the Ministry sworn in will hit the ground running.”

“Our undivided focus is getting the people of NSW back on their feet, getting kids back in school, people in jobs and businesses open, so we can reclaim the freedoms we have all had to sacrifice for so long.”

A small number of necessary changes in Ministerial portfolios include the appointment of Paul Toole as Deputy Premier; Matt Kean as Treasurer and Minister for Energy and the Environment; and Rob Stokes as Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Minister for Transport and Roads.

“This is a team with the energy and experience to lead our state out of lockdowns to a safe, strong, successful recovery, and then get back to building a better future for NSW, Mr Perrottet said.”

The new Cabinet was sworn in at Government House this week.

NSW Cabinet Ministers The Honourable Dominic Francis Perrottet MP Premier The Honourable Paul Lawrence Toole MP Deputy Premier Minister for Regional New South Wales Minister for Regional Transport and Roads The Honourable Stuart Laurence Ayres MP Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Minister for Trade and Industry The Honourable Bronwyn Taylor MLC Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women The Honourable Matthew John Kean MP Treasurer Minister for Energy and Environment The Honourable Donald Thomas Harwin MLC Special Minister of State, Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations, Aboriginal Affairs, and the Arts Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council The Honourable Mark Raymond Speakman SC MP Attorney General Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly The Honourable Damien Francis Tudehope MLC Minister for Finance and Small Business Leader of the House in the Legislative Council The Honourable Bradley Ronald Hazzard MP Minister for Health and Medical Research The Honourable Robert Gordon Stokes MP Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Minister for Transport and Roads The Honourable Victor Michael Dominello MP Minister for Customer Service Minister for Digital

Dominic Perrottet

Stuart Ayres

The Honourable Sarah Mitchell MLC Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning The Honourable David Andrew Elliott MP Minister for Police and Emergency Services The Honourable Melinda Jane Pavey MP Minister for Water, Property and Housing The Honourable Adam John Marshall MP Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales The Honourable Anthony John Roberts MP Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections The Honourable Shelley Elizabeth Hancock MP Minister for Local Government The Honourable Kevin John Anderson MP Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation The Honourable Dr Geoffrey Lee MP Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education The Honourable Natalie Peta Ward MLC Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans The Honourable Alister Andrew Henskens SC MP Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services

Series of free workshops a show of support for local businesses

L

ocal businesses in Penrith and St Marys have the chance to take part in a series of online workshops, designed to give them tips and guidance on how to recover and rebuild from the pandemic that has gripped our City.

These free, virtual sessions are being offered as a partnership program between Penrith City Council, Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce, Penrith CBD Corporation, and the St Marys Town Centre Corporation.

Council’s coordinated COVID-19 response has seen the Mayor and Council staff meet with the region’s key business partners on a weekly basis to identify and respond to challenges and concerns, and discuss hopes for the future.

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown OAM said the business workshops are there to assist employers and their staff as they prepare to reopen to the community when restrictions ease.

“Council and all of the organisations involved in this partnership really want to show our unwavering support for the local businesses, and the strong people behind them who have faced their toughest setbacks over the past 18 months,” Cr McKeown said.

“During Council’s ongoing local level engagement, which involved surveying our City’s businesses, core themes emerged which have influenced the topics set to be discussed across a range of workshops that will be held in the coming weeks.

“From increased financial pressure to change fatigue, we are gathering realtime feedback and are aware of the lasting impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our City.

“Our local businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, so it is crucial that we help them on

their recovery journey, and we hope they take this opportunity to help them grow and regain confidence.”

The series of learning sessions will run for 45 minutes and are designed to be interactive. The first session will explore ways that Service NSW can help local business, such as applying for grants and other forms of assistance.

Another session will be hosted by locals Aaron Zarb and Matt Gamble, who created The Mastered Mindset podcast. They will deliver a high energy, impactful presentation based on the fundamental habits of gratitude, positivity and presence.

To book your place for the first workshop, and read about the topics for each session, visit penrith. city/events.

Gai Hawthorn, CEO of Penrith CBD Corporation said: “These workshops are about having the opportunity to learn and engage more, to be prepared for the strength of reopening and staying complaint.”

“In the first instance of reopening as we lead

up to Christmas, many residents will be happy to shop locally so being prepared, understanding your customers’ needs, re-evaluating and reiterating your business model - whether that’s continuing with ‘click and collect’ or re-opening doors – needs to happen now.”

Kate Rafton, President of Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce said: “The workshops cover a range of topics to assist businesses in the road to recovery. We feel it will be of great benefit to our members and the wider business community.”

“The topics focusing on recovery strategies for businesses will be very topical, especially as the easing will be taking place from 11 October under the current roadmap.”

Martin Coote, Chair of St Marys Town Centre said: “Small businesses everywhere have taken a major hit with this lockdown and St Marys Town Centre is no exception. For many of our retailers, the cost has been more than simply financial. People are understandably very drained from the lack of certainty and having to keep going week after week. However, there has been renewed hope with talk of reopening.”

“What’s clear is businesses want to do their part to protect their customers and themselves, because they want their doors to stay open more than anything.

Right now, our businesses need the backing of their community – shop local is the best support anyone can give.”

“As businesses get back to work, these workshops are a great opportunity for business owners and their teams to learn valuable skills and information. They’ll be a great way to reinvigorate your business brain!”

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Nsw Ministry to deliver safe, strong recovery

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Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

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local news

Just what we needed: Panther’s brilliant win

By KeRRIE DAVIES

T

he last three months have been like nothing we’ve ever experienced in our lifetime. Locked down, unable to see friends and family, many work hours cut, jobs lost, businesses at risk, challenging mental health issues and a pandemic sweeping across our state.

It has been difficult a time for even the most optimistic and carefree. Short fuses and arguing on social media have become a new norm for so many.

Last weekend the mighty Penny Panthers gave us a temporary reprieve from all that, and brought us all together, even though we couldn’t be together.

There weren’t many people out and about, but you could feel the vibe in the town in the lead up to the game.

And although for at least 80 minutes we were all on the edge of our seats, the hope, the exhilaration and all the fanfare that came with it was a muchneeded distraction.

And what a win! It had all the excitement and drama you’d expect of a grand final and it gave us all goosebumps when our boys prevailed.

To hear our local suburbs and footy clubs named on national TV, and see

the sheer joy on the faces of our boys that we have come to know and love was one of those rare moments you

only get to experience once in a blue moon if you’re lucky.

Panthers, thank you for delivering

absolute brilliance; the people of Penrith are so very proud of you!

local news

B

lue Mountains local Jozsef Kleiner landed his dream role assessing cybersecurity risks with the NSW Government after completing a Statement of Attainment in CCNA Cybersecurity Operations at TAFE NSW Campbelltown.

Mr Kleiner says after 17-years in the IT industry, he was looking to progress his career and recognised further study in cybersecurity would put him in a strong position moving forward.

“My studies at TAFE NSW helped me to learn new skills and keep me current in a fast-changing industry,” Mr Kleiner said.

“The course content was really in-depth and practical, preparing me with the skills and experience I needed to be successful in my new role.”

“Working in cybersecurity means each day is different. I get to do what I love, thinking creatively to solve new challenges,” said Mr Kleiner.

“There is also a real sense of achievement; knowing the work I do helps protect our communities from cybercrime.”

With a cybercrime reported every 10 minutes in Australia, TAFE NSW is training the next generation of cybersecurity specialists with the skills to safeguard the virtual community against cyber-attacks.

TAFE NSW Information and Technology Team Leader Gihan

Ebaid says there’s no better time to upskill. The industry is predicting an additional 17,000 cybersecurity professionals will be needed to ensure Australia’s digital security by 2026.

“Our courses at TAFE NSW are skilling students to meet the high demand for skilled cybersecurity

specialists across a wide range of roles, including cybersecurity engineers, analysts, and technicians,” said Dr Ebaid.

“TAFE NSW is preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow. We offer courses for anyone looking to upskill their current qualifications or fast track into a new career.”

Mr Kleiner says any previous experience in the IT industry can help you progress a career in cybersecurity.

“Everything is relevant to cybersecurity. My previous studies at TAFE NSW and skills as a networker and systems administrator have given me great insight and helped me to solve challenges in my role,” Mr Kleiner.

“If you’re thinking about the next steps in your career and enjoy being creative and problem solving, there are so many opportunities waiting for you in cybersecurity.”

For more information on cyber security courses, visit www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601.

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Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

Tafe nsw graduate lands dream job fighting cybercrime

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local news

S

tuart Ayres MP, Member for Penrith announced new funding is available in Penrith for organisations providing critical grassroots support to the community in response to the pandemic.

Four organisations in Penrith were successful in the first round of the Empowering and Supporting Local Communities grants program, sharing in $90,000 of support funding.

Stuart Ayres said Penrith organisations were providing significant support to the community during the pandemic and called on other local grassroots organisations to apply for round two.

“I encourage all eligible local organisations to apply for the second round of funding supporting grassroots responses and solutions to help vulnerable people and multicultural communities across NSW,” Stuart Ayres said.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the incredible work happening across our community in response to the current outbreak with our local organisations leading the charge,” Stuart Ayres said.

“Eligible community organisations can apply for funding of up to $30,000 for much needed projects, sharing in $3.6 million to provide immediate

and essential services.”

Penrith recipients under the first round included: • Penrith Community Kitchen, $20,000 • PCYC Penrith $16,500 • DV West $30,000 • Platform Youth Services $23,500 Minister for Multiculturalism Natalie Ward said the NSW Government has responded urgently to support those in need during the pandemic.

“The first round of the program has been finalised and will deliver more than $3.4 million to 194 grassroots community organisations across the

state,” Mrs Ward said.

“This latest round builds on the initial funding and will support communities big and small across our metropolitan, rural and regional areas with grants of up to $30,000.

“These projects will include programs providing food and essential products, services to help those experiencing domestic and family violence and seniors facing social isolation, alongside wellbeing checks and community activities such as youth groups.”

Attorney General and Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Mark Speakman

said communities across NSW have stepped up like never before to support and care for each other, and to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These grants will help ensure critical support for some of our most vulnerable, including women and children impacted by domestic and family violence and other hardships during the pandemic, thanks to the many dedicated frontline services working across the state,” Mr Speakman said.

Grants are now open for the Empowering and Supporting Local Communities program. Applications can be submitted until 11am on Monday,11 October 2021.

For more information visit: www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au/grants/

Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

Grants now available for vulnerable communities in Penrith

11

Ground breaking covid-19 antibody treatment delivered at Mt Druitt Hospital Mount Druitt Hospital is one of the locations delivering a new monoclonal antibody treatment, Sotrovimab, for people with COVID-19, who are at the greatest risk of severe illness.

The STOPS – or Sotrovimab Treatment in an Outpatient Setting – clinic is for COVID-19 patients being managed in the community by Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD).

A key international trial of this monoclonal antibody treatment has shown a reduction in hospitalisation in adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, who are at risk of developing severe COVID-19.

Sotrovimab was provisionally approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in August this year. NSW Health has worked with the

Commonwealth to access some supply of this ground-breaking drug for NSW patients.

WSLHD chief executive Graeme Loy said the STOPS clinic offers western Sydney a new way of treating COVID-19 for the most vulnerable in the community.

“Western Sydney has taken up COVID-19 vaccination in record numbers and similar to how vaccination reduces hospitalisation and death, this treatment for our vulnerable COVID positive patients helps us prevent hospitalisation and illness progression,” said Mr Loy. “I’m proud of how the team at Mount Druitt Hospital responded so quickly to get the STOPS clinic established to deliver this vital treatment to community members with COVID.”

51-year-old Catherine Dennis was the first patient to receive the new, potentially-lifesaving treatment at the STOPS clinic in Mount Druitt Hospital.

“When I was diagnosed (with COVID-19), I was scared I was going to die. I no longer have this fear,” the Mount Druitt resident whose family has also been diagnosed with COVID said.

“I have diabetes and heart problems and I am also an Aboriginal woman. I was at risk of ending up in hospital but now that I’ve had this treatment, I’m feeling uplifted.”

Acting deputy director of nursing at Mount Druitt Hospital Kirsty Wallis said the clinic is vital for keeping atrisk COVID patients off ventilators and out of our hospitals.

“The Mount Druitt community has

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a high Aboriginal population and also a high percentage of people with extra risk factors,” Ms Wallis said.

To be eligible for the Sotrovimab treatment, patients must have had a positive COVID-19 test within the last 5 days, be aged over 55, have one or more risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, or moderate-to-severe asthma and are being managed in the community.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with COVID aged 35 or older are also eligible.

COVID-19 patients are triaged by nurses based on clinical need after their diagnosis.

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Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

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local news

World-first advance in melanoma detection

P

otentially deadly skin cancers will be detected and treated faster thanks to a worldfirst 3D imaging system now available in the Westmead Health Precinct.

Westmead Hospital is home to one of 15 of the state-of-the-art machines in Australia, which undertakes full body mapping in 3D – allowing researchers to investigate and track moles and skin spots over time.

The new 3D scanner could be a “game changer” for early skin cancer diagnosis and intervention, according to Westmead Hospital Department of Dermatolog head, Professor Pablo Fernández-Peñas.

“We will have, in just one photo, the whole body scan. So we will be able to get a baseline photo of every patient, and then we can follow these people along the years and see if any lesion changes or grows and looks like it’s going to grow into a melanoma,” Professor Fernández-Peñas said.

“Then as soon as it starts to change we can remove it.”

Australia has the world’s highest rates of melanoma – a serious form of skin cancer that kills 1,300 Australians every year.

It is the most common cancer affecting 15-39 year olds and is highly treatable if detected early.

centre of excellence in diagnostic imaging of early melanoma.

Learn more and register your interest now at www.acrf.com.au.

The Westmead Health Precinct is one of the largest health, education, research, innovation and training precincts in Australia, featuring four major hospitals, four world-leading medical research institutes, two university campuses and the largest research intensive pathology service in NSW.

The Westmead Hospital dermatology team.

(Note: this image was taken before masks were required in hospital)

Professor Fernández-Peñas said the technology will be more comprehensive than the current method of documenting every spot with a handheld camera.

The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) is now searching for an initial 15,000 people to take part in the Australian Centre of Excellence in Melanoma Imaging and Diagnosis (ACEMID) initiative.

The scans will be part of a database that will help develop an algorithm, so cancer can be detected sooner using artificial intelligence.

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Professor Fernández-Peñas encouraged people in western Sydney to register their interest now – and get vaccinated for COVID-19.

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ACRF ACEMID brings together three leading Australian universities in skin research: The University of Queensland, The University of Sydney, and Monash University in Victoria.

Together, they are creating a 3D total body skin imaging network, which will form an interconnected

Westmead Hospital dermatology department head Professor Pablo Fernández-Peñas.

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

I

n 1928 William Freame was an avid historian who organised history walks to interesting places. He wrote about a very interesting walk from Doonside to St Marys commenting that Doonside was the first railway station west of Blacktown on the Great Western Line. The tour left the train at Doonside and walked directly south, the first place seen was “Hill End”, a comfortable old home belonging to the Crawford family (Robert James Crawford 1799-1848) who was one of the best of the pioneer families. Walking on to Prospect they came to St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church and Cemetery that was built by pioneers of Prospect with funds collected from 1837. In August 1838 tenders were called for the construction of the Church. The contract was won by James Atkinson of Mulgoa who was building three other churches at the same time - St Peter’s at Richmond, St Mary Magdalene at St Marys and St Thomas at Mulgoa. His contract was with the Trustees, William Lawson, Robert Crawford and Nelson Simmons Lawson. The original contract sum for the building was £1,250, half of which was by private subscription and half by the Colonial Treasury. Henry Robertson was thought to have been the architect for the building, although it is highly possible that William Lawson who was a trained surveyor was designer of the church and was buried there in June 1850. The Church was completed in 1841 in an area known for Aboriginal occupation and favourable camping locations along the Eastern and Prospect Creek catchments. The area was settled

by Europeans by 1789 and the arrival of those first settlers prompted the first organised Aboriginal resistance to the spread of settlement in that area which started a violent frontier conflict that Pemulwuy and his Bidjigal clan played a central role. The Church was added to the NSW State Heritage Register in April 1999 and in 1975 the site leased to Blacktown City Council. Walking across the paddocks William reached Bungarribee (Bung meaning the ‘creek’ and garribee meaning cockatoo).

The traditional owners of Bungarribee estate were the Warrawarry group of the Darug people. William described seeing a delightful old mansion with memories of the past, but sadly he said that it appeared doomed to ruin, but there remained sufficient old grandeur to enable him to realise the old romance that still lingered around it. He doubted that there was another old colonial home around, with a greater fragrance of lavender and old lace and if those old walls erected over 100 years ago could only speak, they would tell many a pretty story of generous festivities when scarlet coated officers made love to dainty young ladies from Parramatta and Sydney. Standing in the circular parlour (for the ballroom had disappeared), he could visualise many a bright and happy scene. All the ground floor rooms opened onto stone flagged verandas that were originally draped with trailing roses and multi-flowered creepers. On two sides was an old-world garden with carriage drives flanked by hedges and one side there was a little lawn in the middle that stood a sundial that lingered the perfume of roses and wisteria and at the rear of the little lawn the remains of the brick wall that separated the garden from the domestic quarters and the farm. In the middle was the great iron gate with its big bolt, reminiscent of the days when skilled blacksmiths were even more necessary then. He was talking about John Campbell who came free with his family on the “Lusitania” and was granted land in the area where he immediately began building a homestead suited to his status as a former officer and colonial gentleman. Between 1822-1824 he consolidated his landholdings and named the estate “Bungarribee”. John’s temporary residence was enlarged in 1825 and incorporated into his grand new home. The main portion of the house was circular with one room on the

ground floor and one above, both a full circle in shape making all windows, doors and mantelpieces curved. The difficulty of properly carrying out such accurate work with the labour available was a challenge but it was done and stood for over 100 years, a testimony to the skill involved, but the problems encountered during  Photo of William courtesy the construction of the estate were of Holroyd Council website considerable. In 1824 approximately one year after beginning work on Bungarribee he was in debt to his creditors who included Simon Levey and John Macarthur. William then left Bungarribee and continued to walk across paddocks until they reached the Western Road, where an easy walk took them to Eastern Creek, one of the oldest roadside villages in the State. Irish born Captain William Minchin was granted 1000 acres that he named Minchinbury. He was the first landowner who sailed to Australia as an Ensign of the NSW Corps on the female convict transport “Lady Shore”, the only convict ship to mutiny. After being set adrift as a castaway by the mutineers they reached Brazil and William made his way back to England where he was promptly reassigned back to NSW. He was in fact on duty as guard of Government House when William Bligh was arrested in the Rum Rebellion, but William was not prosecuted for his part in the rebellion and was given the job of taking reports of the rebellion back to England. Later he rejoined his regiment and served in Canada until he retired in 1817. When he returned as a free settler aboard the “Isabella” in 1818 William and his wife established the farm where his wife grew grapes from cuttings in a section of the farm that in later years was known for its Minchinbury Wine & vineyard. William Freame continued on to the next village of Colyton where in the coaching days it possessed four little public houses.

The last to close its doors was Wainwright’s where William remembers much the same as it was when the bullock teams pulled up in front of it.

The bar with its sanded floor and high-backed seats against the wall, and William thought travellers of 90 years ago (1838) were heavier drinkers than those of today because on average there was a pub a mile between Parramatta and Penrith and all the old roadside inns supplied good hearty meals, generally at a shilling a head and when William started his history walks some of the old-time roadside inns provided him with many a dinner. William remembered generous as to quantity but rather poor in variety being generally of cold corned beef with carrots and cabbage, pickles and roley-poley jam pudding. Both Eastern Creek and Colyton had among their earlier residents many good old colonists who were typically old-fashioned sons of the soil, honest, simple minded with all the characteristics of the British countrymen; some of them even retained their smocks. It was then onto St Marys where they caught the train home. Closely identified with the family of Governor King whose widow Anna Josepha King resided with their son Rear Admiral Phillip Parker King at his home “Dunheved”. William said that St Marys “possesses a picturesque past which in part is recalled by St Mary Magdalene, the old church and historic churchyard”. He died aged 65 in 1933.

Sources: NSW State Heritage Register, National Library of Australia, James Broadbent Historic Houses Trust of NSW, Cumberland Argus and Fruit growers Advocate, Wikipedia, trove, William Freame (History Page 25/5/2020).

13 Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

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Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

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PENRITH PANTHERS PREMIERS 2021

PANTHERS FANS

What a great win, what a great team!

WE’VE DONE IT - NRL PREMIERS The boys never wavered, never surrendered, and brought home the win!

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Ph: 9833 1122 | 154 Queen Street, St Marys londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au Authorised by Prue Car MP. Funded using parliamentary entitlements.

Penrith Panthers 2021 champions

PENRITH PANTHERS PREMIERS 2021

17 Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

Stat Attack: Panthers v Rabbitohs

By Panthers Media

The Panthers claimed the club’s third premiership with a thrilling 14-12 victory over the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium.

Dylan Edwards and Brian To’o got the Panthers on the front foot while Clive Churchill Medallist Nathan Cleary terrorised the Rabbitohs back three with a pin-point kicking performance throughout the game.

See the stats that mattered below, thanks to Alpha Catering Equipment.

MOST TACKLE BREAKS Brian To’o: 6 Stephen Crichton: 4 Nathan Cleary: 3

MOST TACKLES Apisai Koroisau: 51 Kurt Capewell: 40 Isaah Yeo: 36 Viliame Kikau: 32 Liam Martin: 27 Jarome Luai: 26 Moses Leota: 26 Scott Sorensen: 23 James Fisher-Harris: 22 MOST METRES Brian To’o: 238m (29 runs) Dylan Edwards: 230m (24 runs) Stephen Crichton: 207m (17 runs) Isaah Yeo: 168m (19 runs) James Fisher-Harris: 117m (13 runs) Nathan Cleary: 111m (22 runs) Matt Burton: 104m (15 runs)

MOST LINE BREAKS Brian To’o: 1 Matt Burton: 1 TRIES Matt Burton: 1 Stephen Crichton: 1 TRY ASSISTS Jarome Luai: 1

POST CONTACT METRES Brian To’o: 81 Isaah Yeo: 62 Stephen Crichton: 56 Dylan Edwards: 51 Matt Burton: 42 Stats Possession Completion Rate Run Metres Post Contact Metres Tackles Tackle Breaks Line Breaks Kicking Metres

MOST OFFLOADS Nathan Cleary: 2 Brian To’o: 1 Kurt Capewell: 1 Moses Leota: 1 Scott Sorensen: 1

GOALS Nathan Cleary: 3 from 3 Panthers 53% 83% 1,800 591 356 23 2 837

Rabbitohs 47% 74% 1,509 445 373 59 4 712

Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

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21 Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

Bravery of busted Panthers finally revealed

By Dan Walsh, NRL.com Reporter

Heads, shoulders, knees and toes.

Y

ou name it, a Penrith player has busted or broken it over the past month or more – their 17 seemingly held together by strapping tape each game day, and far less for the rest of the week.

Their 42-40 finals aggregate across four gruelling post-season games was already on the podium for the tightest premiership run of the past 50 years.

Only Melbourne’s negative 72-90 differential from 1999 (thanks to a week one Dragons thumping that was overturned on grand final day), and Manly’s 45-45 tally from 1976 have seen a title secured by smaller finals margins.

And only with the ProvanSummons trophy safely in Penrith’s keeping is the true extent of their injury turmoil starting to emerge.

Dylan Edwards in a moonboot for the traditional team walk on grand final morning?

He has actually lived in it for sixand-a-half days a week for at least a month, the fullback’s broken foot only emerging from its protective case on game days throughout September.

The number of training sessions he and fellow backfield dynamo Brian To’o (syndesmosis) actually completed throughout the finals series can be counted on one hand.

One leg was effectively all James

Fisher-Harris had from the second minute of the preliminary final epic against Melbourne, ongoing bone bruising in his knee limiting both movement and minutes.

Fellow prop Moses Leota’s lateseason calf tear never fully healed, instead pinging again to rule him out of weeks one and three of the finals, the softly-spoken star unable to complete a field session over the past month.

All four sat out Penrith’s grand final captain’s run, joining Tevita Pangai jnr (month-long MCL strain in his knee) as spectators.

A few weeks earlier Scott Sorensen was in such pain from a dislocated wrist he had finished two painkilling green whistles before leaving CBus Super Stadium and then waiting a day for a corrective operation, yet there he was running down Jahrome Hughes three weeks later.

Teammate Kurt Capewell has at least been able to train and play in recent times with a broken finger.

If the Broncos-bound back-rower needs surgery it will be minor, likely operations for To’o and Fisher-Harris less so.

Nathan Cleary meanwhile goes under the knife in coming days after sounding South Sydney’s demise by a thousand kicks on Sunday night.

The shoulder he first dislocated in Origin II has been in a similar state

to the Rabbitohs gallant defence at Suncorp Stadium, hanging on for dear life.

“To do what he’s done, with one arm… I can’t even explain what he’s gone through and the fact that his one arm is just hanging off his body,” Penrith great, board member and NSW selector Greg Alexander said after full-time on Fox Sports.

“It’s just strapped together. To do what he did tonight ... the kicking game of Nathan was superb. “... The tendon was torn 80 per cent so it was just hanging. They tried cortisone (injections) to try and sort of shock it into some scar tissue, to strengthen it a little bit, but I don’t think much of it worked.

“He just strapped it up and got on with it.”

Penrith’s finals run has been much the same. Each triumph was predicted to be their last given the toll they took.

Each thrilling win proved their making. Equally so, the week one loss to the Rabbitohs and the soundbites swapped by Ivan Cleary and Wayne Bennett before and after.

For all the focus on blockers and kick chasers, followed by an underwhelming Panthers performance a month ago, the difference was stark in the decider.

Cleary punted long and often, with little kick-pressure applied – a vicious

cycle pinning Souths at their end as their defence increasingly fatigued.

Penrith’s own weekly turbulence meanwhile only served to strengthen their resolve, to the point Ivan Cleary saw it as part of his team’s 2021 “identity”.

Co-captain Isaah Yeo went further.

Each finals game with assorted ailments and injuries took them one step closer to the final game, even if it was hobbled.

“Pretty much since the Origin period we’ve been backs against the wall a little bit - never had the same team on the park two weeks in a row,” Yeo said.

“I was always looking at it as a positive that we were just going to be so battle-hardened if we were to get to that point.

“Obviously we’ve had some really close games.

“Parramatta, everyone wrote us off against [the] Storm just because of how much juice it took out of us, then that same thing followed on.

“Obviously some players weren’t training but that’s happened for the last month as well. We just felt like we were so ready to do it and it’s two years in the making.

“We weren’t ready to do it last year. Things certainly didn’t go as smoothly as it did the previous year this year, but we were ready for the big moment.”

Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

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PENRITH PANTHERS PREMIERS 2021

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PINK UP PENRITH

A message from Jane McGrath J ane McGrath is the late wife of Australian cricketing great, Glenn McGrath and the co-founder of the McGrath Foundation. Her public experience with breast cancer and the impact of her own breast care nurse set her commitment and the mission for the Foundation: to ensure that every family experiencing breast cancer would have access to a breast care nurse no matter where they lived – for free. Every year in January, we celebrate Jane McGrath Day at the Pink Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

“I was just 31 when first diagnosed with breast cancer.

Glenn and I were inspired to create the McGrath Foundation after my initial recovery, to help support other Australian women touched by breast cancer.

It wasn’t until I was rediagnosed, that I was fortunate enough to have access to a breast care nurse for the first time.

It was like having someone hold my hand through one of the worst nightmares of my life.

My breast care nurse allowed me to be Jane McGrath – the friend, the mother and the wife – not just the breast cancer patient. She was someone who could provide both Glenn and I with informed, sensible answers to the

many questions we had during the often complicated and confusing treatment process.

Through my experience with breast cancer, the mission for the McGrath Foundation became clear: to raise money to place breast care nurses in communities across Australia, as well as increase breast awareness in young people, particularly young women.

Breast cancer doesn’t care how old you are, where you live, whether you’re a career woman or a mother. Breast cancer is a disease that currently affects one in eight Australian women of all ages and backgrounds. Please help the McGrath Foundation support people across Australia.

Together, we can make a difference.”

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Nepean News 8 October 2021 Issue 313OWDIG

26

SPORT

Paddle Australia begin high performance talent search

By Noel Rowsell

F

ollowing a highly successful 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, along with the announcement of Brisbane being the host city of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Paddle Australia (PA) is embarking on a new, ambitious and exciting high-performance and pathway strategy.

As a result, there is an opportunity to join a successful National Sporting Organisation (NSO), entering a period of growth with renewed strategic priorities to deliver PA’s principal performance objective of “Consistent medal-winning Olympic and Paralympic performances with athletes who inspire the nation and promote excellence.”

As PA work towards the vision that inspires a high performance team, to strive for future success, it now has key leadership, coaching and performance support positions available within the organisation, to take it to the next level. These positions provide an exciting opportunity to lead, oversee and work together across various

Extreme Slalom action from the Penrith Whitewater Stadium earlier this year. Photos by Noel Rowsell

disciplines within PA and include the following: OVERALL: National Performance Director CANOE SPRINT / PARACANOE / KAYAK: General Manager

Performance Canoe & Para-canoe, National Centre of Excellence Men’s Sprint Kayak Coach, National Centre of Excellence Assistant Sprint Kayak Coach, Sprint Kayak Scholarship Coach

CANOE SLALOM: National Performance Pathways Lead, National Senior Coach PERFORMANCE SUPPORT: Senior Performance Scientist, Senior Performance Specialist.