St Clair & Erskine Park News October 2018

Federal Member for McMahon Phone (02) 9604 0710

chris.bowen.mp@aph.gov.au OCTOBER 2018

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St Clair Erskine Park

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Ph: 9834 2966 Em: mulgoa@parliament.nsw.gov.au

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ISSUE 36

our doctor t Now you can ng do your shoppi ck lu ur yo y tr and at your local supermarket!

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New local leadership

By KeRRIE DAVIES

P

ENRITH Councillors voted for their leadership team last month, with Liberal Councillor Ross Fowler elected as Mayor and Labor Councillor Greg Davies as Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Fowler will represent our region as Mayor for the next two years and Cr Davies will be Deputy for one.

A long-term local resident, Cr Fowler is in his seventh consecutive term on Council after first being elected in 1991. He served as Mayor in 1995-1996 before being elected Mayor on 23 September 2013 and again for a third term on 22 September 2014. Cr Fowler holds qualifications in Accounting (Bachelor of Commerce), is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a registered Company Auditor and Tax Agent and is the Principal of a Chartered

Accountancy firm in Penrith.

Cr Fowler was instrumental in securing the Whitewater venue for Penrith in the lead-up to the 2000 Olympics, and has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company which operates the facility since its incorporation in 1999. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mutual Management Services Limited and also an executive member of the Boards of Ripples, Penrith Performing and Visual Arts Ltd and the Children’s Services Cooperative Ltd. He also represents Council on the Audit Committee and Regional Strategic Alliance.

St Clair resident Cr Greg Davies will be Deputy Mayor for the next 12 months.

Cr Davies has been instrumental in getting the park honouring Dr Torrance and has pushed for many other amenities in the St Clair and Erskine Park areas.

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Greg DAVIES Deputy Mayor

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East Ward Councillor

Phone 0417 365 313

Todd CARNEY East Ward Councillor

Phone 0419 177 259

Phone 0417 762 219 todd.carney@penrith.city

Penrith City Council

Penrith City Council

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St Clair Erskine Park

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by Kerrie Davies

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HE St Clair community, which I am part of, suffered a great loss when family doctor, Dr Elizabeth Torrance, or “Dr T” as she was affectionately known, lost her life to brain cancer.

Dr T was a brilliant and shining gem in the world of medicine; and she could have written the tutorial on bedside manner, as she touched the heart of every patient who went to visit her.

I was lucky enough to be one of those patients, as were my three children. Not only did she give sound medical advice, but she followed up with love and concern for every patient she saw.

In our changing world full of medical centres, where few get to really know their family doctor, Dr T was the exception to the rule.

Her patient books were full to capacity, and the surgery rooms packed to the rafters on any given day, with those who felt that indeed Dr T was well worth the wait.

And not only did Dr T remember every patient’s name, she remembered what they did for work, the names of their kids, and basically any information they’d ever shared with her.

She was certainly one in a trillion.

Local residents Melissa Dykes Dunlop, Debbie Brown Meier and Dr Torrance’s nieces Natasha and Miriam floated an idea some time ago that a local park be named in honour of Dr T. That dream has now become a reality, and Mayor John Thain opened the Elizabeth Torrance Park on the corner of Feather and McIntyre Streets St Clair last week.

St Clair residents will now have a place in which to visit and reflect on the wonderful doctor, mentor and friend who played a major part in many of our lives.

RIP beautiful Dr Elizabeth Torrance, we hope you knew how loved and adored you were by an entire community.

Stay connected with like minded people

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By BART BASSETT

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f you are retired and you want to stay connected with people and enjoy a variety of activities then consider joining the St Marys Branch of the Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association of NSW (CPSA).

The CPSA is the peak organisation of pensioners, superannuants and older people in NSW. Its broad aim is to promote the living standards, rights and well being of this large and growing section of our community.

The St Marys Branch has been in existence since 1933 and has several members with over 30 years of service.

David Brown is the President of the St Marys Branch and he is encouraging new members to join.

“We are a friendly group who want community members over 50 to come and meet us and join in the activities,” David said.

The members meet socially every fortnight on a Thursday and weekly on a Thursday they have bingo from 10.30am. They also have indoor

bowls, supplying all equipment, every Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am.

“As well as the activities onsite we also provide bus trips every Monday all day so there is something interesting going on every week for our members,” David said.

The St Marys Branch of the CPSA meet at the Senior Citizen Centre located at Building 4, 29 Swanston Street, St Marys.

For further details you can contact David on 02 9623 8116.

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Fusion Café supports R U OK Day

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hursday 13 September was national R U OK Day and local youth and community organisation, Fusion Western Sydney showed its support by running an event in the Fusion Café to raise awareness of how we can better check in with those around us and support those who may be struggling.

The day began with a free bbq (courtesy of St Marys Shopping Village and Bakers Delight) and lots of fun activities to raise awareness of R U OK Day and the role we can all play in checking in with those around us.

Deputy Mayor of Penrith Councillor Tricia Hitchen and Welfare Co-Ordinator of the Penrith Panthers showed their support of the day by encouraging all of us to step out and play a role in keeping each other safe.

Judy Tweeddale from Fusion said, “It was great to see so many from the community come along to show their support and chat to those around them.”

“There was a real feeling of positivity and a sense that people wanted to make a difference.” “Highlights of the day included local rapper xGRiiPZ perform his newly written rap for R U OK Day and seeing people take the time to sit with a coffee and write an R U OK postcard to someone they hadn’t seen for a while and show they care”.

The day ended with a fundraiser Trivia Night for R U OK in the Fusion Café with local Queen Street St Marys businesses gathering together to show

their support of this important issue.

Suicide prevention is an enormously complex and sensitive challenge. Funds raised will further the work of R U OK with at-risk communities by developing resources and collaborations to enhance community wellbeing and help more people ask R U OK? And start a conversation that could change a life.

Fusion is a national youth and community notfor-profit that has been around for sixty years with a vision to see transformed communities where young people and families thrive. Fusion Western Sydney provides preventative and resilience building programs for vulnerable and at risk young people both in local high schools as chaplains and wellbeing workers, and in after school programmes and skills based training programmes including Fusion Coffee and Fusion Radio.

The Fusion Café is a social enterprise supporting the work of Fusion Western Sydney with vulnerable young people and families in western Sydney. For more information about Fusion Western Sydney go to www.fusionwesternsydney.org.au and R U OK go to www.ruok.org.au

Breaking ground on Western Sydney Airport

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onstruction on Western Sydney Airport has begun and the Prime Minister says it will boost jobs, create much-needed infrastructure and strengthen the economy.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Western Sydney Airport will provide a gateway to the world, not just for people but for job-producing freight as well.

“For half a century Sydneysiders have talked about a second airport. By tomorrow, bulldozers will be moving and work on the Western Sydney Airport will be underway,” the Prime Minister said.

“This airport will remove the handbrake from the Western Sydney economy.”

“This is job generating infrastructure. Most times when infrastructure is built, there is job creation in the short-term and then it tails off when the project is completed. But with this project, job creation will accelerate when the airport is completed.”

The Prime Minister said the Government had achieved all the approvals over the last four years and congratulated Western Sydney Airport Company, which it established to make the airport at Badgerys Creek a reality.

Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Senator Mathias Cormann said the Government’s investment of up to $5.3 billion in equity in Western Sydney Airport will have long-term economic returns.

“The airport will be at the centre of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, which will be a global hub of innovation for sectors including defence and aerospace, freight and logistics, agribusiness, pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

“We have already seen

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industry leaders Qantas and Virgin commit to being at the airport from the day of opening and significant investment from the defence and science sectors committed.”

Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population, Alan Tudge, said the project is not just about building an airport, but about bringing jobs, education, industry and innovation together to create a prosperous and sustainable future for the people of Western Sydney.

“Western Sydney Airport is all about boosting jobs, busting congestion and bringing opportunities to the region,” Mr Tudge said.

Around 11,000 jobs will be created during the construction phase and around 28,000 within five years of opening.

“The airport is already driving further investment in the region, including billions of dollars of Commonwealth and NSW Government investment in road and rail connections, including the M12 motorway and North-South Rail Link,” he said.

“The rail link is part of the historic Western Sydney City Deal, a 20-year agreement that will make the region around the airport a better place to live, with better transport, education, liveability and job creation.”

“Through the City Deal, all levels of government are working together to deliver a modern and vibrant Western Parkland City, an employment-generating Aerotropolis, and congestion-busting road and rail infrastructure, all of which will enhance liveability for people in Western Sydney.”

Western Sydney Airport will cater for up to 10 million passengers when it opens, but a gradual expansion to two runways means it will eventually cater for up to 82 million passengers, the size of London Heathrow and JFK in New York.

Initial earthworks are due to be completed by the end of 2019. Western Sydney Airport has called for expressions of interest for the first of three major earthworks and airside civil works packages, which is expected to be awarded in mid-2019.

St Marys Band Club jump aboard ‘Pink Up Your Town’

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By CONNER LOWE

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he St Marys Band Club has jumped aboard the ‘Pink Up Your Town’ initiative by taking part in the ‘Pink Up St Marys’ initiative throughout October.

The “Bandy” as most people know it, has been involved with multiple events to help raise funds for charity. The initiatives the St Marys Band Club will be holding are: • A Pink Up Morning Tea on Wednesday 10th October (tickets $25) • A Pink Glitter Kids Disco on Saturday 6th October (Gold coin donation) • A Go Pink Trivia Night ($10 per team) • 2 x Go Pink Bingo Days • Pink beverages across the Club, a pink shelf at the café and Chef’s Special chicken breast at Family Table • Club decorations including giant pink bows, staff in pink t-shirts and donation boxes throughout All the proceeds will be donated to the McGrath Foundation.

The St Marys Band Club CEO, Marlene Shipley spoke about how the Club wants to help and make a contribution to the community.

“St Marys Band Club is a proud member of the St Marys community and is honoured to support a cause so close to the hearts of so many,” she said.

“Through our various events and initiatives within the Club throughout the month of October, we look forward to making as significant a contribution as possible to the great work done by the “Pink Up Your Town” committee and the McGrath Foundation.”

The McGrath Breast Care Nurses help individuals (and their families) experiencing breast

cancer by providing physical, psychological and emotional support. The McGrath Foundation funds 120 McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities right across Australia, mostly in regional and rural areas where such treatment may be hard to find.

The McGrath Foundation has supported more than 64,000 families since 2005, however their mission is to reach out and help every family going through breast cancer.

St Mary Band Club have also made over $96,000 in donations to various community groups, initiatives and projects in 2018. The Bandy loves to help the community in any way possible and raise funds for those in need. Get around to the St Marys Band Club and help them raise money for the McGrath Foundation.

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Hay fever in dogs

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By Dr Richard Miller

S

pring is the season of the itch for a lot of dogs.

Inhalant Allergy, aka ‘Hay Fever’ or ‘Summer Itch’, is an extremely common problem amongst our dogs, especially Terrier types, eg Staffy’s, also in cats, but much rarer. Any dog, any breed and any age may develop it and it’s caused by airborne allergens, most commonly pollens, hence it’s seasonal and fluctuating pattern.

Itching is the main symptom. Affected dogs may rub their face, scratch, rub or lick their bellies, get itchy eyes or ears or both, and lick and chew their feet which occurs in most. Lesions may be nonexistent, or there may be a red rash on the belly, hairloss around feet and on flanks and there may be Mamre ROAd

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ear infections and runny eyes as well.

This is an inherited condition, most cases develop between 1 and 3 years old, with a range of 6 months to 7 years old, but we have seen them as young as 4 months old and it can appear in dogs older than 7 years.

It has become far and away the most common skin problem we see in dogs, surpassing Flea Allergic Dermatitis many years ago. Nowadays there are several safe and effective treatments to give dogs relief from the discomfort and irritation caused by this chronic and recurring condition.

A few dogs lick their feet as a compulsion, but this is rare. In most, it’s because they are itchy. If your dog develops any of these symptoms, it may be worth a visit to the vet to investigate whether it is ‘Hay Fever’ or not.

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The G SpoT

s it just me or have we become too over sensitive and easily offended? We are offended at being offended so we don’t offend someone to be then tainted as an offensive offender.

I don’t know if anyone has watched the movie Braveheart with Mel Gibson in a skirt, but posting a personal opinion on social media is like Mel taking on the entire enemy holding his skirt up and swinging a single sword trying to take as many down as he can. He dies by the way..... but, he tried at least, ya gotta give him that.

I now type up this column and delete line after line because I think, oooh too harsh can’t leave that, oops the environmentalist will get upset with that line (delete), the feminists will hate this line (delete), The millennials won’t understand (because they don’t look up from their phones anyway) -delete, the mums, the unemployed, the religions, the cultures, the bogans, the ferals, the drunks and the list goes on and on delete, delete, delete. Sigh.

So all we end up with is a two-lined column full of crap, pretty much like this one. Hopefully I haven’t offended someone so far? I will probably get a private message saying Mel was in a kilt not a skirt, but we get the gist, right?

A monthly column that used to flow for me like water off a leaf, is now as disjointed as the current Government and the Government wanting power.

Opps, Can I say that?

So I then turn to the newspaper for some ideas or creative juices of what to write for the column and find that unless you are a vegan-loving, greens leftie or have a chain saw to get the knife out of our premier’s back, there’s not much of interest on the news front, oh and I forgot the part about the NSW Police not knowing where 200 sexual predators are located.

But besides that, news is rather slow. No Creative juices there.

So you are probably wondering what this all has to do with security? Not much really, I could talk about the DefQon event, however that is a taboo subject as well and my opinions on that will probably see my house burnt to the ground with the

13 With Gina Field, Nepean Regional Security

swastika spray painted on the Council strip out the front.

What I will say is, don’t necessarily believe everything you read in the media, just saying. Some of it was so beefed up that the farmers were asking for the cows back. Oh, and no I am not knocking farmers, it’s a joke.... settle! Put the pitch fork away.

So perhaps I could speak about the beauty and the magnificent splendour of alarm systems? (Crickets) how fantastic and great they are? (Crickets) and that you really should have one installed in your home or business (Crickets).

It amazes me ya know, people spend all this money on houses and cars and all of this luxury crap and then say can you please sharpen your pencil on the price of an alarm, like go figure, wanting French champagne on a beer budget. We are not quoting on wiring up the Taj Mahal Palace however it’s a good idea that if you have a nice house and stuff, get something that is going to at least protect the asset. Don’t even get me started on the buy off the shelf and install yourself stuff. But I guess if people are silly enough, then knock yourself out with that.

That’s my opinion anyway, as Braveheart would say. Then when the house is broken into or burnt down and the insurer says “oh did you have a licensed installer and back to base alarm monitoring” the self-installer slash home owner happily says “No” and then frantically looks at section 21.1.b.c.a.2 page 176 of the insurance policy in a font of 6 where it says “Licensed alarm installer only” or VOID. So who’s sharpening the pencil now?

Hang on, just let me do a quick read of this column first to make sure all of the minority groups are okay with this so far, give me a few minutes.

Might have to delete a few lines.

I’m baaack, seems okay, maybe a few words here and there, but I will take the hit on that.

Well so there you have it, a column pretty much about nothing, zip, zilch, zero, it has as much grunt and grit as a Datsun 120Y going uphill with the air-con on, Sorry to all the Datsun owners and the Datsun club of NSW for the mention, hope you forgive my lack of empathy.

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

Solutions: September

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Young cow (6) 4 Soaked up (8) 10 Gorgeous (9) 11 Excursion (5) 12 A moon of Saturn (5) 13 Proponents (9) 14 Harmful (7) 16 Genus of the dogfish (4) 19 Frozen (4) 21 Rendezvous (7) 24 Large breed of dog (9) 25 Color of grass (5) 26 Not sooner (5) 27 A loose high-necked blouse (9) 28 Bars temporarily (8) 29 Elevated open grasslands (6)

DOWN 1 Customary (8) 2 Idle (8) 3 Consumed (5) 5 Country in South America (7) 6 Goal (9) 7 Reward (6) 8 Hate (6) 9 Obliterate (6) 15 Secretariat was one (9) 17 Slandered (8) 18 Government administrative units (8) 20 Sedated (7) 21 Current (6) 22 Expands abnormally (6) 23 Dishes (6) 25 Actor Clark _____ (5)

Solution: September

State government supporting local sport

M

ember for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies MP visited Colyton-St Clair Little Athletics Centre and Penrith City Softball Association to announce Community Building Partnership grants for both sporting clubs.

The Colyton-St Clair Little Athletics Centre received a $13,655 grant for new long jump pits at Saunders Oval in St Clair.

The $13,655 grant provided the funding to upgrade and repair the western field long jump pit, as well as replacing and lengthening the concrete surface of the northern run up to 20m. The grant also saw the replacement of the synthetic surface of the southern run by up to 27m.

Tanya Davies also visited the Penrith City Softball Association to announce a $4,000 grant for the sporting club to host the Panther Paws Under 11 Softball Tournament.

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“Our sporting clubs are the lifeblood of our community,” Tanya Davies said.

“It is vital that as a Government we support every sporting club to ensure they can continue to provide the community with a range of invaluable skills.”

“Participation in sport contributes to health and wellbeing of individuals and communities and that is why the NSW Government is committed to supporting our local clubs to maintain and grow participation.”

“Between the Community Building Partnerships Fund, the new Greater Sydney Sports Facility Fund, the Local Sport Grant program and many more, we are committed to upgrading and providing new infrastructure for sporting clubs across the community,” Tanya Davies said.

“I encourage all sporting clubs to contact me to discuss the needs for your sporting club.”