Federal Member for McMahon
&
St Clair Erskine Park
Phone (02) 9604 0710
chris.bowen.mp@aph.gov.au DECEMBER 2019
News
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Christmas countdown
Ph: 9834 2966 Em: mulgoa@parliament.nsw.gov.au
ISSUE 46
Welcome to December, the countdown until the big man arrives has begun!
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Community groups invited to apply for grants
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ocal organisations can now apply for funding to support local community projects under the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Grants program, Member for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies MP has said. Mrs Davies said $12.5 million is available in 2019/20 for new or upgraded facilities across sport and recreation, arts and culture, disaster readiness and community infrastructure. “This is a great chance for local organisations to seek funding for a project to provide long-term tangible benefits to the community,” Tanya Davies MP said. “Infrastructure Grants can fund construction, alteration, renovation, completion and fit-out of buildings and community infrastructure. “Types of projects funded include new or upgraded sports grounds, museums, theatres, homeless shelters and evacuation centres.” Mrs Davies said the program has been expanded to cover projects that build community connections by supporting youth, mental health and domestic
Todd CARNEY East Ward Councillor
violence services, as well droughtaffected communities. “These projects are all about creating resilient, healthy and connected communities, promoting participation in sport, recreation and arts, and boosting social inclusion and disaster resilience,” Tanya Davies MP said. Since 2013, the NSW Government has funded over 350 community projects worth $82 million under Infrastructure Grants. The grants are made possible by the Clubgrants Category 3 Fund which re-invests profits from registered clubs’ gaming machines into community projects. Funding is available for infrastructure projects in three key areas: • Arts & Culture • Disaster Readiness & Community Infrastructure • Sport & Recreation Applications for the second round of funding for 2019/20 are open until Monday 16 December. To find out more information or to apply, please visit responsiblegambling.nsw.gov.au
Greg DAVIES East Ward Councillor
Phone 0417 762 219 todd.carney@penrith.city
Phone 0419 177 259
Penrith City Council
Penrith City Council
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East Ward Councillor
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From the Editor’s Desk
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is proudly brought to you by the Nepean News team. To contact the team call: Office:
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Kerrie Davies 0422 067 644
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W A
s hen quickI as was a wink, a kid here I waswe fortunate are at the enough tail end to oflive 2019. across Astheper road usual fromthe a lookout year has point. beenCars an would assortment pull up of good all weekend news, wonderful and peoplenews wouldand climb the out not with so good theirnews. binoculars and cameras to observe the spectacular with views thatthat stretched We hopeocean that scenery the positive things have to North Bondi. happened in your life this year have far out weighed
theBut negatives. the beautiful landscape was marred by a single tree on the grassy stretch - because it was to Some things to keep in mind, if I may, as home we head one very evil-minded character.. a magpie! towards the silly season.
Printer: Pegasus Print Group, Blacktown Letters to the editor: stclairnews@aol.com Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StClairCommunityNews 203 Banks Drive, St Clair
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by Kerrie Davies
AU16525 Lic. No. 127921C
At risk asof much revealing a dark when side the of my Staythe inside as possible air personality, I confess that Sunday afternoon is thick with smoke, particularly if you have entertainment for me consisted perched respiratory problems. If you’re of in sitting an outer street at the window watching and laughing as sightseers that is vulnerable to bush fire, make sure you have a stepped out ofthat their eyes transfixed on the view, plan in place thecars, whole family is aware of and is oblivious to the swoop that was about to take place. ready to enact at very short notice.
IBenow seek to pay extra careful andpenance vigilantfor on my our cruel roads.and evil favourite childhood pastime, by warning people that there have some crashes thisRecently is the season to be been on high alerthorrific when passing that have cost usually local people theirindiscriminately lives. Several trees. Magpies, males, will families towards Christmas grieving the peck the now headshead of unsuspecting passersby showing lossremorse of a loved one. no whatsoever for the traumatic episode they create! While many of us will be busy with family, keep in Be mind some don’t have that and find the aware. Bepeople very aware. festive season a particular lonely one. If you know I hope like I have my phone wickedcall ways someone thatmade reachamends out - a for simple on by coming clean about my heinous childhood trait Christmas morning could brighten a lonely person’s and day. hopefully save at least one person from being the victim of an aggressive magpie - and perhaps We’d to from take this opportunity thank all of also savelike them being primetimetoentertainment our some contributors, andbetter readers for your for kooky kidadvertisers with nothing to do! support throughout the year, we wish you a very YourChristmas thoughts? Kerrie@nepeannews.com.au Merry and a Happy New Year and we will see you in 2020!
Saints sharing the dignity this Christmas
E
ach year St Marys Rugby League Club partner with a community organisation or charity to help those less fortunate at Christmas time. This year, the Club has chosen to support the amazing work of “Share the Dignity” and their “It’s in the Bag” Christmas Campaign. Why this charity? Over 85,000 women across Australia will find themselves homeless this Christmas. Many have fled from domestic violence or experienced extreme poverty, and like many women, will put the needs of others ahead of their own, especially at Christmas time. How can you help? The Club is asking Members and visitors to St Marys Rugby League Club to help by donating a good condition, pre-loved handbag (one you would happily give to a friend) and fill it with life’s every-day necessities. 7 essential items need to be included in the handbag – toothpaste,
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toothbrush, soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and sanitary items. In addition to the ‘essentials’ items, why not add a couple of things that would make a woman feel special, like a new lipstick or purse and then include a thoughtful note or Christmas card to show that someone cares. The bags will be collected from Saints on 6th December and delivered in time for Christmas to homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters within our region that have registered with the Share the Dignity. If you can’t get there by the 6th you can drop them at your nearest Bunnings up until 12th December. Find out more by heading to the what’s on page on the website at stmarysleagues.com.au Find out more about Share the Dignity at sharethedignity.com.au
“At this special time of remembering the birth of Jesus, may His message bring you and your family hope and joy at Christmas and into the New Year�
New service at Nepean
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By KeRRIE DAVIES
P
lanning and design has begun for a new child and adolescent mental health facility at Nepean Hospital to meet the health needs of young people in who experience mental illness. Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the 10-bed unit at Nepean Hospital is being codesigned with young people and carers to create a patient-centred service. “Having young people and their families help design the new unit ensures that we create a service that supports them and gives them the best chance for a bright and healthy future,” Mrs Taylor said. “The first co-design meeting with young people and carers takes place today, allowing the people who will benefit the most from this new service to have the chance to meaningfully contribute to the project.” The new facility is part of the $700 million State Wide Mental Health Infrastructure Program to support the delivery of mental health care reform in NSW. Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres said having
Consumers and carers meet for the first co-design focus group session for the new child and adolescent mental health facility.
the unit based at Nepean showed the NSW Government’s commitment to the people of western Sydney. “I’m thrilled that the new Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit at Nepean Hospital is one of the first significant projects announced as part of the Infrastructure Program. “The new facility at Nepean Hospital will allow our highly skilled and dedicated mental health workforce to provide care and better support for young people and their families who are struggling with mental illnesses,” Mr Ayres said.
Taking orders now for Christmas
• GOURMET CHICKEN • BURGERS • FRESHLY MADE SALADS • HOT FOOD • COLD DRINKS • CATERING MELVILLE ROAD, ST CLAIR • 9834 3516
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Water, water not everywhere By GREG DAVIES
M
ake sure there’s some to drink (with apologies to Coleridge) With the advent of very little rain over the past few years and dams at record lows, Sydney Water is moving to stage 2 water restrictions from 10th December. Dam levels are currently close to 46 per cent and continue to drop each week. More than 85 per cent of Sydney’s water is supplied by captured rainfall. Because of the current drought, dam levels have reached the lowest levels seen since the millennium drought. The restrictions include-: ✓ You can only use a watering can or bucket to water your garden before 10 am and after 4 pm. ✓ You can only use drip irrigation or smart watering systems for a maximum of 15 mins a day before 10 am and after 4 pm. ✓ You can only top up an existing pool or spa, using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering can or bucket for a maximum of 15 minutes a day. You can only do this to replace water lost through evaporation, not to replace water deliberately removed from the pool or spa. ✓ You can only wash your vehicles with a bucket and sponge. ✓ You need a permit to fill new or renovated pools and spas that hold more than 500 L. Water restrictions target outdoor water use, but there are some indoor water uses that are subject to restrictions, such as filling indoor swimming pools and water features, and operating car wash businesses in shopping centre car parks. Businesses who use outdoor water will need to apply for an exemption. If a business received a permit under the previous level of restrictions, they’ll need to contact Sydney Water to confirm it’s still valid.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said we would usually expect to have Level 2 water restrictions come into effect when dam levels reach 40 per cent. “Given the rapid rate of decline of our dam levels we have decided to enact the next level of restrictions sooner than planned,” Ms Berejiklian said. “We’re experiencing one of the most severe droughts on record and we expect introducing Level 2 restrictions to save 78.5 gigalitres of water per year.” Fines of $220 will apply for residents and $550 for businesses who don’t follow the restrictions. The restrictions apply to everyone in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. This includes all residents and businesses. Whilst the restrictions can be a bit of a burden for many, the necessity is clear for all, every litre saved is insurance for the future. Sydney Water will be out in force checking that people are not in breach of the restricted activity with substantial fines for people caught in breach. For further information check out the following link: https://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/water-theenvironment/what-we-re-doing/water-restrictions/ level-2-water-restrictions/index.htm
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Extra bin collections and services over Christmas
enrith City Council is providing additional waste services such as extra bin collections, a recycling drop off week and a Christmas tree recycling day this Christmas to assist households with any extra waste they may have from the festive period. Council will provide two weeks of extra bin collections from Wednesday 25 December 2019 to Tuesday 7 January 2020, including public holidays, where residents can place all three bins at the kerbside for collection each week. Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM said that Penrith residents continue to be champions in resource recovery, but Council understands some extra waste is inevitable during the holiday period. “We are providing two weeks of additional collections, similar to services provided in past years, to cater for the increase in household waste and recycling around the Christmas and New Year holiday period,” Cr Fowler said. “Our residents do an excellent job of recycling and reducing waste all year, and we know they do what they can at this time of year, too.
“To make sure all extra bins are emptied, the truck drivers are starting early and working late in the evening, so please leave your bins at the kerbside until they are emptied,” Cr Fowler said. Extra recycling drop off days A recycling drop off point for residents to easily remove household recyclables will be available at Jamison Park from 3pm until 6pm every weekday from Friday 27 December 2019 through to Friday 3 January 2020, excluding public holidays. Council will be accepting all normal household recyclables, including glass bottles and jars, milk and juice cartons, paper and cardboard, plastic bottles and containers, and steel and aluminum cans. Special Christmas tree drop off day A special Christmas tree drop off day on Saturday 11 January will be held at Jamison Park from 10am until 2pm where real trees can be turned into compost to be used to care for local parks and gardens. For more information, or to speak to someone about extra bin collections, please contact the Waste Services Team on 4732 7777 or visit penrith.city/ bincalendars
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SUDOKU: easy Solutions October Easy
Medium
INSTRUCTIONS Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9 with no duplicates
CROSSWORD ACROSS 6 Fails to remember (7) 7 Female organ (5) 9 Not false (4) 10 An unavoidable event (10) 11 Decapitated (8) 13 Relating to the iris of the eye (6) 15 Largest continent (4) 17 Malicious setting of fires (5) 18 Falls behind (4) 19 Prey (6) 20 At an indefinite time (8) 23 Warrantied (10) 26 Scarce (4) 27 Moral principle (5) 28 Type of glasses (7)
DOWN 1 Immaterial (10) 2 Refused (6) 3 Anglo-Saxon slave (4) 4 A province or territory (8) 5 An Indonesian island (4) 6 Strength (5) 8 Sharp high-pitched dog cries (7) 12 Amounts of medicine (5) 14 Inability to read (10) 16 Smudge (7) 17 Reference books (8) 21 Change (6) 22 Wall painting (5) 24 A tributary of the Rhine River (4) 25 Decreases (4)
Solution: October
What great talent we have in our local schools
By CHRIS MILLER
L
ast month St Marys Rotary Club Inc. coordinated, sponsored and hosted this year’s Public Speaking Competition in partnership with schools in the St Clair & Erskine Park Learning Community. This well-attended event and dinner was held at Twin Creeks Golf Club. The Rotary Partnership with High and Public Schools Public Speaking Competition involved two high schools and five primary schools split into two groups, however the topic being the same for both groups. Finalists were selected by the individual schools. Teachers, Principals and the Director of Education were very supportive and encouraged this prestigious event. The standard of competitors was very high and everyone concerned deserved praise. The partnership between St Marys Rotary Club and the participating schools was well-received by school executive staff who formed part of the organising committee. Phil Martin headed the committee on behalf of St Marys Rotary Club. The competitions were split into two sections: High Schools: - Erskine Park High School represented by Erin Galang and Samantha Lim - St Clair High School represented by Delson Ombina and Calinda Surenne - Banks Public School represented by Amelia Caruso - Blackwell Public School represented by Troy Hackenberg - Clairgate Public School represented by Matthew Wilson - James Erskine Public School represented by Nadia Chandra
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- St Clair Public School represented by Tayla Russell The evening was hosted by New Generation Director Phil Martin from St Marys Rotary with representatives Faith Gravina and Marc Maayo from St Clair HS as MCs for the evening. Judges were Daryl Butler (Principal of Colyton HS), Karen McSpeerin (Director Educational Leadership – Eastern Creek District) and John McGann (Past President of St Marys Rotary Club). Each student was given a choice of topics: Has technology made life better or worse? or Is volunteering still important? One student from each of the Primary Schools were given three minutes each and two students from each of the High Schools were given five minutes each on their chosen topic. It was a very difficult task to select the winners and runners up as the standard was very high with all students very animated and passionate about their chosen subject. The winners and Runners Up: High Schools: Winner from Erskine Park High School – Erin Galang Runner Up from St Clair High School – Calinda Surenne Primary Schools: Winner from Clairgate Public School – Matthew Wilson Second from St Clair Public School – Tayla Russell Third from Blackwell Public School - Troy Hackenberg Congratulations to all concerned showing what a great future we have in Australia with students possessing such a high standard of education.
Star performers from Banks Public School
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C
heck out these amazing stars from Banks Public School, Owen, Hollie and Abhinav have been performing at the Schools Spectacular! Owen, from Year 3, Hollie from Year 5 and Abhinav for Year 2 displayed their wonderful talent in the DArts section of the show. They have spent a couple of months practicing and it has paid off, they did a fabulous job. Some students from the school travelled to Qudos Bank Arena to watch and support the performance to Listen To Your Heart.
The school sends a huge thank you to Mrs Dunn and Mrs Grisedale for all their effort in making the event happen.
Dogs, Cats, the Sun and colour By Dr Richard Miller
T
he Sun causes two major problems to Dogs and Cats: 1. Heat, and 2. Cancer. 1. Heat is a problem mainly for dark coloured or black individuals, especially if they have short coats. Black absorbs heat whereas white reflects it. Short coats allow the Sun’s rays and therefore heat to get closer to the skin which then has a greater heating affect on the body. Short hair is also the reason why dogs who have their coats clipped are also more prone to heat stress. A long coat insulates from the cold, but it also insulates them from the heat and provides shade to the skin from the sun. Dogs don’t sweat so they can’t lose heat through the skin, they can only lose heat by evaporating water from the tongue when panting. 2. Certain types of skin cancer are a problem Mamre ROAd
Veterinary Surgery Serving the local community
mainly for light coloured or white individuals. Neither dogs nor cats tan, they simply keep getting sunburnt every time they are exposed to sunlight. Chronic sunburn often leads to skin cancers. These are usually seen on parts of the body without hair shading the skin. Common places are noses, tips of ears, eyelids and on the skin of the belly. These cancers often start as nonhealing ulcers with scabs that come and go. Early treatment is important to avoid major surgery if they progress. If you find your dog hot, apply cold…e.g. cold bath or cover with towels soaked in cold water, then contact vet asap. If you find scabby lesions on your dog or cat in the places listed above, seek vet advice asap. I, together with all the staff at Mamre Road Vets, would like to wish everyone and their pets, a safe and merry Christmas and happy New Year.
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