Western News 10 November 2023

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Western News 10 November 2023 Issue 200

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NEWS

Western NEWS

Busways’ Movember promoting men’s health

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HIS Movember, Busways is raising awareness for men’s health by hosting a Busways pop-up barbershop, supporting an employee fundraising motorcycle ride and placing moustaches on all 1350 buses in its fleet.

The annual Movember charity movement aims to advance research and support programs that help men to live happier, healthier and longer lives.

On Monday, employees at the bus depot got a little pampered at a popup Busways Moustachery. Award winning Willoughby barber, Billy Papas from Bill’s Barber Shop gave a shave, a beard cut or a trim to help them prepare ‘just right’ to ‘grow a mo’.

“I have been a barber for a very long time, and being able to trim mo’s for such a good cause and for a great company like Busways, means a lot to me,” said Mr Papas.

“Movember is a great way to get everyone talking about men’s health and getting vital health checks,” said Chris Wolf, Chief Operations Officer.

“That’s so important in our male dominated industry where some of our employees find talking about men’s health uncomfortable.”

In Western Sydney, Busways is supporting employees in a social motorcycle club who are joining

together for a fundraising ride from Sydney to Melbourne on the first weekend in November.

“We join together to enjoy social motorcycle riding and we do all sorts of charity and fun events, it’s like one big happy family,” says Harinder Singh from Busways Penrith and promoter for Singhs Social Motorcycle Club.

“Movember means a lot to us – on our Mo’s Bro’s Ride we’ll have fun whilst raising funds to help with Movember programs to improve men’s health,” Singh said. Asked if he’d be growing a mo also, he smiled and said ‘Of course!”

For further information on men’s health resources to donate, or learn

more about how you can help, visit au.movember.com.

Apply today and join the Busways team!

Busways is actively recruiting drivers across New South Wales and encourages anyone who loves driving

and is seeking a stable career serving their community to apply.

To apply and or learn more about our current opportunities visit busdriver. au, or email driving@busways.com. au or call the driver recruitment team on (02) 9497 1800.

Western Sydney University Solar Car team first in Australia

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ESTERN Sydney University’s Solar Car team with their studentdesigned car, UNLIMITED 5.0, has placed 9th in the world, and an impressive 1st in Australia in their class, in the world’s most prestigious solar car challenge.

They were also the only Australian team to complete the Darwin to Adelaide journey in full.

Successfully traversing 3,000km of rugged outback terrain, the team completed the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in 46 hours, 32 minutes and 6 seconds, crossing the finish line just after 2pm on Friday, 27 October.

They competed for the fifth time in the Challenger Class, which is

the most competitive class requiring teams to produce a high-quality single-seat car built for sustained endurance and energy efficiency.

Team Manager, Brad Nadalini, said he was incredibly proud of the team’s performance and thanked all of the team’s families, supporters and partners.

“Our spirit and determination were really on show throughout the challenge and brought us home. This year’s solar car, UNLIMITED 5.0, had one of the most ambitious and innovative designs – and this was reflected in our performance this year,” he said.

With support from the School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney

University’s solar car team this year delivered their most cutting-edge vehicle layout to date.

UNLIMITED 5.0 features a threewheeled design, with aluminium suspension and a carbon fibre chassis manufactured entirely in-house by the student team. The car’s top speed is 130km/h and took two years to design, engineer and manufacture. It can travel 400km using the same amount of energy a Tesla needs to travel 26km.

Team Mechanical Engineer, Nina Walters, who is in her second year of studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at the University, said the car performed exceptionally well overcoming a few minor challenges early on to finish strong.

“It’s a brutal and dynamic competition but we were really proud of how UNLIMITED 5.0 performed and of how much ground we were able

to make up – the result really cements the car as world-class,” she said.

The Western Sydney University Solar Car team wishes to acknowledge the support from its sponsors for 2023. These include Phoenix Contact, Abergeldie, Australian Racing Drivers Club, Bridgestone, Revolution Software Services, and many more.

The Solar Car team is made up of 25 students from the fields of engineering, communications, business, IT, computer, and science.

They manage every aspect of the production and design of the vehicle, as well as sponsorship, marketing and the administrative elements of their involvement in international competitions.

To learn more about the team, please visit the Solar Car website at https:// solarcar.scem.westernsydney.edu. au.

Western NEWS

NEWS 3

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IGH school students in Western Sydney can now gain specialist skills to prepare them for rewarding careers, as part of a pilot initiative that for the first time will see TAFE NSW teachers deliver sought-after courses from a purposebuilt facility at a public high school.

Seven Hills High School’s newlycompleted Vocational Innovation Centre is equipped with four general learning spaces and specialist workspaces where students will learn about electrotechnology, logistics, plumbing and clinical health.

The project is being officially opened

by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car and Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan on Thursday following its completion in week 3 of Term 4.

The new facility will provide students from Seven Hills and six other local high schools the opportunity to develop vocational skills, building pathways to apprenticeships, traineeships, and trade qualifications, as well as tertiary education at TAFE NSW or university.

The purpose-built facility and vocational courses will allow students to receive industry-standard training onsite and develop the skills required to pursue careers in Community

Vocational educational space

Drainage (pre-plumbing course) roughin learning area

and Health Services, Construction (Electrotechnology and Plumbing), and Transport, Logistics and Warehousing.

Students will also have the opportunity to incorporate relevant complementary vocational courses in areas like business, financial and retail services, digital media and information technology into their studies.

With industry engagement a core feature of the initiative, the courses delivered at the school are informed by demand for employment in Western Sydney and further skills will be added in future.

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We celebrate, value, and include people of all backgrounds, genders, sexualities, cultures, bodies and abilities.

Courses being delivered at the centre are for students in Year 11 and 12, and all count towards the HSC as well as related VET qualifications.

Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said: “This is an exciting moment for students from Western Sydney who will be able to take advantage of state-of-the-art learning and training facilities to skill themselves for the jobs that local employers are looking to fill.

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to providing school students with increased opportunities for vocational learning, to ensure every student finishes school ready to succeed in their chosen pathway.

“This includes enhancing access to high-quality VET courses in schools, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, and HSC pathways.

“The sky is the limit for our local

students, and I can’t wait to see how they make use of this new Vocational Innovation Centre to achieve their goals.”

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said: “Our future economy needs hundreds of thousands of skilled workers in high demand careers.

There are great opportunities for the students who use this facility.

“Cutting-edge resources and courses will be delivered in school by excellent TAFE teachers and school VET teachers. High school students will access opportunities that pave the way to a great future for the student and a better skilled workforce.

“The NSW Government is focused on improving access to vocational education for school students and empowering our students to acquire vital skills and knowledge to thrive in their academic journeys and beyond.”

Western News 10 November 2023 Issue 200

New vocational education and training facility opens

Western News 10 November 2023 Issue 200

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Western NEWS Editor: Kerrie Davies 0422 067 644 General Manager: Bart Bassett 0412 955 745 Sales: Bart Bassett 0412 955 745 Sales: Malama Psarianos 0416 203 777 Sports Journalist: Noel Rowsell 0424 007 202 Graphic Design: Stacey Fortescue 0420 319 893 Printer: Pegasus Print Group, Blacktown Letters to the Editor: nepeannews@aol.com Web: www.wsnewsgroup.com

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BY KERRIE DAVIES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It was more valuable to me and more detailed than anything I had learned about this chapter in history at school.

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

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

And pass it on.

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

Lest We Forget

Western NEWS

NEWS 5

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USTRALIAN Red Cross Lifeblood is uniting with global men’s health charity Movember this month to inspire millions of men across the country to donate blood or plasma.

Women outnumber men as blood and plasma donors in Australia despite the fact men are more likely to be eligible to donate and make a successful donation.

To even the score, artist Travis Garone, who co-founded the Movember charity back in 2003 to help save men’s lives, has designed a limited-edition bandage that will be rolled onto the arms of blood and plasma donors throughout the month of November.

With Lifeblood research finding wearing blood donation bandages signals positive traits such as health and generosity, it’s hoped the bandage, which Garone has named Brothers in Arms, will spark important conversations and encourage men to donate.

“The moustache in November has always been a walking, talking billboard, a catalyst for conversation, and so the idea behind the Brothers in

Western News 10 November 2023 Issue 200

Lifeblood and Movember join forces for men’s health Arms bandage is that it will work in the same way,” Garone said..

“Men care about their health, and they do talk about it, but the volume is too low. By drawing attention to men’s health through the bandage, hopefully we can encourage more guys to have a conversation and donate blood, whether that’s by themselves or with their mates. That is the ultimate outcome.

“There is a simplicity to growing a moustache, and there is a simplicity to donating blood. It’s a very simple act, and simple acts will change the world.”

The Movember bandage is part of Lifeblood’s 2023 True Colours campaign. The campaign sees Lifeblood partner with Australian artists and designers to create limitededition bandages to help boost blood donations whilst ensuring donors look and feel great whilst donating.

The Movember bandages will be available at Lifeblood donor centres nationwide from 1 November whilst stocks last.

To book a donation, call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au, or download the free Donate Blood app.

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REMEMBRANCE DAY ~ 11 NOVEMBER 2023 Western News 10 November 2023 Issue 200

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THE POPPY BASKET

BY TOMAS HAMILTON

It sits there forlornly, upon an office chair , In expectation, of the poppies we will wear A simple closing tribute, tinged with much regret Lord binyons’ closing statement “lest we forget”

We Will Remember Them.

Lest We Forget.

Seventy-five years, a lifetime for some But it took a wretched tumour, for him to succumb No more his raucous laughter, will echo across the bar Now just a memory, so near and yet so far We know it won’t be long, before we gather here again The legacy of the soldier, the bayonet and the pen We are all victims, of mankinds’ tragic folly Remembering the days, when times were not so jolly The marching boots are silent, a bugler’s mute tribute The travesty of it all, is never in dispute It seemed like only yesterday , when they marched off to war Did they ever realise, what they were fighting for?

Soon it will be time, for us to leave the scene Reminiscing the past and how things might have been We each lay a poppy, upon a polished casket Simple final words, then refill the basket

An unidentified cinematographer capturing the last shots to be fired before the armistice on 11 November 1918.

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N 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. With their armies retreating and close to collapse, German leaders signed an Armistice, bringing to an end the First World War. As a mark of respect to those who have died and suffered, Australians are encouraged to pause at 11am to observe one minute’s silence and remember those who died or suffered for Australia’s cause in all wars and armed conflicts.

Local RSL clubs’ sub-Branches will hold Remembrance Services across western Sydney at 11am (some will commence up to half an hour before so it is best to check) on the 11th November.

Lest We Forget.

REMEMBRANCE DAY ~ 11 NOVEMBER 2023

BY TONY FRYER

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EMEMBRANCE DAY is certainly a time when we reflect on the sacrifices that, over the years, many in our Military have incurred in (or as a result of) conflict whilst serving our unique Nation, Australia.

But let’s not forget all those in the families of these women and men … the sacrifices they have had to make; the instant or incremental changes to their lives that they have had to cope with.

In the St Marys and wider district, such impact on families is not uncommon. There are many Veterans in our area who have suffered and, in many cases, continue to suffer from the injuries or traumas they have incurred and witnessed during their time in Service.

Remembrance Day is an appropriate time to call out to all Veterans in or around our area in St Marys, to remind them of the significant support that is accessible locally … we are fortunate to have two ex-Service Organisations (ESO) – the Outpost Veterans Support Centre and the St Marys RSL subBranch. Both ESO’s work together to offer assistance to Veterans and their families; and it’s not compulsory

to ‘join’ either, in order to access the services on offer (although it is far easier to keep in touch if you do join).

Between both ESO’s …

• Any Veteran, who is thinking about sending a claim to DVA for an injury, illness or mental condition that they feel is a result of their military Service, can speak to a qualified and experienced advocate and receive the best of advice; • A comprehensive range of noncompetitive activities for Veterans (and some for partners or family) – this Veterans Wellbeing Program

provides the opportunity for camaraderie and mateship for likeminded – check out the activities on the RSL sub-Branch website (stmrslsub.com.au/Programs) or phone Leanne on 9833 4700; • Veterans (and families) who may be experiencing financial difficulty can seek temporary relief; • There are multiple opportunities for a simple chat with like-minded Veterans – e.g. RSL sub-Branch meetings (check the website stmrslsub.com.au) or over coffee at the ‘train’.

So, this Remembrance Day, if you are a Veteran (full time service and ARes; women and men; all age; exservice and still serving) then now is the time to REMEMBER to contact one of these ESO’s to find out what might be useful/helpful for you.

For the St Marys RSL sub-Branch, visit our website (stmrslsub.com. au) to check out what’s on offer and what we do, or contact the Honorary Secretary, Tony on 0414 557 692.

The sub-Branch office is kindly hosted by the St Marys Diggers Club (107 Mamre Rd, St Marys). Phone Tony to arrange to come to the next sub-Branch meeting to see what goes on.

For the Veterans Support Centre, located in the ‘train’ in the grounds of the St Marys Diggers Club, contact the office manager Leanne on 9833 4700 or simply call in Monday to Friday (generally between 9.00am and 2.00pm).

All in the community are very welcome to join us on Saturday morning for our 10.40am Remembrance Day Commemorative Service at our Guns War Memorial in the grounds of St Marys Diggers Club. While there, take a stroll around the ‘train’ facilities and speak to a member of the RSL sub-Branch.

Western News 10 November 2023 Issue 200

Remembrance Day and Just Remembering 9

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2023

LEST WE FORGET.

We remember and honour those brave men and women who have served our country proudly in the past and continue to do the same today.

STEPHEN BALI MP MEMBER FOR BLACKTOWN PHONE: 9671 5222 SHOP 3063, WESTPOINT SHOPPING CENTRE, BLACKTOWN EMAIL: BLACKTOWN@PARLIAMENT.NSW.GOV.AU Authorised by Stephen Bali MP. Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements November 2023.

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Western NEWS

NEWS

Canoe Classic supporting Arrow BMT Foundation

Ritika Saxena, Prof. Ed Stanley, Chris Murray (Arrow Chair) Prof. Andrew Elefanty, Dr Elizabeth Ng, Richelle Koller (Arrow CEO)

BY NOEL ROWSELL

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RROW, the Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation, is the major beneficiary of fundraising from the 2023 Hawkesbury Canoe Classic.

Arrow offers support to bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients and those who care for them for over 35 years. Bone marrow and stem cell transplants are used to treat blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and also other blood diseases, including MS and anaemia Bone marrow transplants typically require lengthy hospital admissions, with many patients needing to relocate from regional areas to bigger centres to be close to their treating hospital.

Even when discharged from hospital, patients need

to remain close to their treating hospital, often for many months for frequent visits to their specialists and also in case they need to be re-admitted, which is unfortunately a common occurrence.

Many BMT patients and/or their carers are unable to work for many months, and often this can be 18 months or more. As well as supporting patients and their families financially, Arrow also offers scholarships for nurses and PhD candidates in the field of bone marrow transplants.

Arrow does not receive government funding, so it relies on the generosity of supporters like the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic (HCC) to continue their work in the community.

The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic has been a strong supporter of Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation for 30 years now, raising almost $4.5M over that period of time. (2023 is the 30th year that

Ritika Saxena in the Lab

Arrow has been named the major beneficiary from the event).

The funds raised through the efforts of the HCC, their volunteers, paddlers and land crews fund Arrrow’s PhD Scholarships.

Arrow’s currently funded PhD candidate is Ritika Saxena, who is a PhD candidate at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, through the University of Melbourne.

You can read about her research on Arrow’s blog https://arrow.org.au/groundbreaking-researchinto-the-generation-of-hscs/ and it is worth the read to hear about the amazing progress being made in stem cell research.

The next PhD Candidate, also funded by HCC, was due to be announced at the 2023 BLOOD Conference https://www.blood2023.com in Melbourne this week.

Investigating the impact of screen-related addiction

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HE Minns Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to tackle screenrelated addiction in young people with a new research fund established to investigate the impact of problematic screen use on children’s development and learning.

Delivering an election commitment to establish a screen-related addiction research fund, the NSW Government has pledged $2.5 million to support new research into the impacts of problematic screen use.

The NSW Government’s Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE) will oversee the fund, with the grants awarded through a competitive process.

Research findings will deliver a comprehensive database of knowledge on how screen use affects young people and students at school, which can be used to inform stronger government policy.

Funding of up to $500,000 will be available to successful applications for tender grants, and up to $200,000 will be offered to successful recipients of partnership grants.

Partnership grants will be offered where research into problematic screen-use is already underway, after applications are competitively assessed. Open tender grants will be offered to projects with novel screen-related research proposals.

Issues that may be looked at include: • What are the key sources of problematic screen time for young people in NSW? • What impact is screen use having on the

learning, wellbeing and behaviour of children?

• Strategies to counter the negative impacts of problematic screen use • Whether today’s students are impacted by screens in the same ways as other generations • And the impact on teaching as a result of changing digital technologies The grants will be advertised in two rounds with the first beginning in late 2023.

Applicants will be asked to deliver their research by 2026.

This announcement comes after the Minns Labor Government successfully banned mobile phones for students in all NSW public schools from the beginning of Term 4, after consultation with teachers, students and parents.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said everyone knows young people love their devices – be it mobile phones, gaming devices or their computers.

“Many parents are worried about screen time and how it might be affecting their children and how they learn, but the impacts of devices on children are largely unknown,” Mr Minns said.

“Investing in this research fund will help create a growing body of knowledge on this issue to inform our government policies, but it will also help inform parents in NSW.” Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car spoke about the importance of investing in research.

“Students spend a lot of their time on devices – so it is important that we find out how this new reality is impacting children and their development,” Ms Car said.

“Many parents I speak with are worried about the impact screen time is having on their children, and it is important we help to provide parents all the facts they need to make informed decisions.

“Investing in research is vital, so the Government can form evidence-based policies that we know will have a positive impact on our students, teachers and larger school cohort moving into the future.”

Western NEWS

WESTERN HISTORY 11

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

HE Penrith District Coroner Arthur Judges J.P. held an inquest at Penrith Court House concerning the death of William Victor Breeze. William was born at Jamisontown on 14th February 1878 and was 45 years of age. He was the son of John Mathew Breeze and Catherine Harvey (deceased) of Penrith. He died as the result of a burning accident. Sergeant Osborne said that at 5 pm he went to a paddock, belonging to Mrs Lack’s residence at the rear of Thornton Hall and saw lying on the ground, covered up with blankets, a man who he recognised as William Victor Breeze. His body was frightfully burnt about his head, body and legs and he was in great pain. He asked him how he managed to get his clothes alight, and he replied that owing to his disability he was trying to light a cigarette when a spark dropped onto his clothes and he was unable to put the fire out and he ran about and was unable to get through the fence. Mr T Barrett and others came to his aid, Mr J W Elliott procured a stretcher and he was then taken to Penrith District Hospital where he died a few hours later. The Sergeant said that he examined the ground in the vicinity of where he saw William lying and within a radius of ten yards he saw a portion of William’s clothing still burning. He said for about three months he had known William to be a sober and highly respected man but very infirmed. He said that when he arrived on the scene, Mrs Lack was present attending to William and doing her utmost to relieve his suffering and she remained there until William’s removal to the hospital. The next witness was Mary Lack who said she was at home at 5 pm and that there was a paddock that is scrubby land about 200 yards distant at the rear of the premises and she noticed smoke as if coming from a fire, and going to investigate she found William Breeze in a partly sitting position leaning against the barbed wire fence and every bit of clothing was burnt off him except his collar and a small portion of his singlet. She said that she removed the burning clothing from him and hurried back to her house to ring the police and doctor and returned to William with a pillow and a sheet to put over him and she remained there until William was moved to the hospital and said that there was nobody in the vicinity when she first saw him burning. William’s wife Stella May Breeze said that she was a railway gate keeper at King Street in Penrith and at one time been in charge of the railway gates and post office at Mullengudgery on the main western line between Nevertire and Nyngan where they had the tragic misfortune of having their home burnt down and a son dying in hospital as a result of injuries received in the fire. William’s comrades on the line from Bourke to Sydney magnanimously came to his assistance by collecting £200 to enable him to restart his home. William was very active in the community before his health failed him and was a prominent member of the Manchester Unity I.O.O.F, later initiated into the order on the 9th February 1897 at the age of 18 years. He was elected Secretary of the Loyal Alexander Lodge Penrith on the 2nd February 1903 and

 Photo of the grave courtesy of Ancestry website.

retained that position until 18th July 1906. He was highly esteemed in the Lodge, the railway service and the community generally. He was employed for many years on the railway as a foreman fitter and for some time living in Dubbo where he came down with a paralytic stroke and became a cripple and was altogether helpless except that he could walk about slowly. On the afternoon of the 8th he went for his customary walk to Mr Bett’s resident at the rear of Belmore Park which he did two or three times a week.

She said that he left at about 2 pm and was in his usual condition and she did not see him again until she saw him in the hospital about 1 pm when he told her he had left Mr Bett’s place to return home at 4 pm and on his way he tried to light a cigarette when his clothes caught fire and he tried to take his coat off but failed.

William was insured with A.M.P for £100, but he had no property.

Dr Higgins said that he was summoned to attend to William in the paddock at the rear of Mrs Lack’s residence, and a hasty superficial examination revealed a general scorching of William’s trunk and extremities, and he was also suffering acutely from shock and in great agony and he suggested his removal to the District Hospital and prescribed remedies to relieve the pain that William suffered and saying that his condition was absolutely hopeless. A verdict of accidental death was returned. His funeral was well attended by members of the Loyal Alexander Lodge Penrith. He is buried at Penrith General Cemetery in Kingswood. Photo of the grave courtesy of Ancestry website.

Sources: Nepean Times- Saturday 24 June 1923, page 4, Saturday 30 June 1923, NSW Australian Registers of Coroner’s Inquest 1821-1937, NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages.

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Western News 10 November 2023 Issue 200

Death by Fire – William Victor Breeze

Western News 10 November 2023 Issue 200

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REAL ESTATE

ALEX SONCINI

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Western NEWS

Unlocking Opportunities for Better Interest Rates

HE Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been on a path of increasing interest rates, having done so 12 times since May 2022.

Whilst these rate hikes have posed challenges for borrowers, there’s another factor that might be amplifying the financial strain for some – misplaced loyalty to their current mortgage lender.

Home Loan Interest Rates: Loyalty Can Come at a Higher Cost!

It’s a startling reality that many loyal homeowners often find themselves burdened with higher interest rates on their home loans. This loyalty to your mortgage lender can lead to unexpected consequences when it comes to your home loan interest rates. Studies have shown that a significant number of borrowers continue to pay higher rates compared to new customers.

Whilst many homeowners believe they should receive the same rates and deals, the reality is that they often pay as much as an additional 0.41 percentage points, as per data from the Reserve Bank of Australia. It’s important to be aware of these disparities to make informed decisions about your home loan.

Remaining loyal to a lender with higher rates can accumulate substantial additional costs over time.

Even seemingly minor rate differences can translate

into significant financial burdens. For example, a modest increase of just 0.25 percent can result in thousands of extra dollars paid over the life of a loan. Understanding these long-term impacts is essential for making wise choices that optimise your financial situation and lead to substantial savings.

The Potential RBA Rate Decision As we navigate these financial challenges, it’s important to keep an eye on the Reserve Bank of Australia. The RBA plays a pivotal role in influencing interest rates across the country To ensure that your loyalty is rewarded, and you secure more favourable interest rates, consider the following strategies: • Regularly Review Your Home Loan: It’s essential to periodically assess your home loan and compare it with offerings from other lenders. This empowers you to identify potential opportunities for better interest rates and improved loan terms.

• Negotiate with Your Current Lender: Don’t hesitate to engage in open discussions with your existing lender. Share your research and express your desire for a more competitive rate. Lenders value long-term customers, and they may be willing to adjust your interest rate to retain your business.

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• Explore Refinancing Options: Refinancing your home loan with a new lender can provide access to lower interest rates. However, make sure to carefully evaluate the associated costs, including fees and charges, to determine if it aligns with your financial goals.

Loyalty to banks and mortgage lenders may come at a high cost, particularly in a changing interest rate environment influenced by the RBA. By understanding the potential impact of loyalty and exploring strategies to maximise your home loan benefits, you can make informed decisions that optimise your finances and help you achieve your financial goals.

To further explore opportunities to enhance your financial well-being, you can reach out to Alex from Wealthwiz today at 0419 600 177 or via email at alex.soncini@wealthwiz.com.au.

Unlock the financial potential that awaits you and secure a brighter financial future.

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SPORT

Matt Galea wins NACSC Open Water Event

BY NOEL ROWSELL

C

ONGRATULATIONS to the Nepean Aquatic Centre Swim Squad (NACSQ) team members and Nepean Aquatic Centre (NAC) staff who participated in Saturdays NACSC Open Water event at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.

Up against participants from all over NSW, NAC lifeguard Matt Galea won the 5km event and took home the prize money.

Congratulations.

Staff members including Sam, Lachie, Julian, Thomas, Luke, Kayla and Lucas, plus lots of squad members, took to the water, some for the first time in an Open Water setting, and did NACSQ very proud.

Special mention to Julian Falzon, who achieved his Open Water National time at this event, after achieving his state time in Queensland earlier this month.

Julian has swum with the club since he was 6 months old and is now working at NAC as a Junior Lifeguard.

Matt Galea (centre back) and NACSQ team members following the event.

Photo courtesy of Lee Woods

Congratulations also to Sam Stoneham and Thomas Lawson, who also achieved their Open Water State Qualifying Time 2 weeks ago at the QLD Open Water state meet. Sam has swum with the squad since preschool, and both boys also work with the club as Junior Lifeguards and/or Learn To Swim Instructors.

Congratulations also to Lucas (Swim Instructor, Lifeguard, Admin and Reception), Kayla (Reception), Luke (Jnr Lifeguard and LTS) and Lachlan (Jnr Lifeguard and Learn To Swim instructor) who also participated in the event and have also swum with the club for many years.

Well done to all the team, and to everyone who swam in the Open Water events, plus NAC Head Coach Jackie Barck, all the NACSC committee members, club members, parents, technical officials, volunteers and sponsors who made this community sporting event such a resound success yet again.

Western NEWS

SPORT 13

BY NOEL ROWSELL

T

HE annual Hawkesbury Canoe Classic was held over 28th- 29th October, with a total of 150 competitors in this year’s event.

The event is organised by the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Association Inc., a small charitable organisation run entirely by volunteers whose purpose is to organise the annual Hawkesbury Canoe Classic and in so doing, raise funds for medicallybased charities.

In 1977, members of the NSW Outward Bound Ex-Students Association organised a canoe race along the river they had paddled during their course.

Apart from the challenge, the 111 km race was going to help the community by raising money for medical research. That first race attracted 250 paddlers and raised $8,500. At its peak, the race has attracted more than 500 paddlers and annually raises more than $250,000.

The primary recipient of funds raised by paddlers in this year’s Hawkesbury Classic Paddle is the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation. (See their story on Page 10 in today’s issue).

Over the years records have been set and broken time and again. The fastest time outright stands at 7 hours, 11 minutes and 7 seconds, set in 1985 by Garry Byrne, Grant Hughes, Cameron Tunbridge and Brett Worth in a K4. The fastest woman in the history of the race is Naomi Johnson in 9 hours, 28 minutes and although being just off that record mark, also won again this year.

John Harmer is the only paddler from the original 250 starters in 1977 who have completed every race (44 races). He is followed by Wayde Hawkins with 34, whilst John’s son Steve Harmer and Brian Lyon both have 33.

The race is held each year on the last full weekend in October but had not been held for the past three years due to Covid and floods. The weather at this time of year is generally more stable, with reasonably long daylight hours.

Whilst there was a higher percentage of men competing this year, there were 32 women competitors, including an all-women OC6 (Outrigger canoe) crew calling themselves ‘Fossils Afloat’. All of the crew are over the age of 50 and their boat is called ‘Blue Fins’. Another crew was an all-women 4-paddler canoe, containing trans-Tasman rower Sally Redpath.

There were 10 classes in the event, including the ‘Brooklyn or Bust’ categories for paddlers not wanting to be competitive but just wanting to get to the finish line.

‘Fossils Afloat’ 6-woman crew begin their journey. Photo: Noel Rowsell

Trans-Tasman paddler Richard Barnes entered the race in a double kayak but was left on his own following his partner’s late withdrawal. However, not only did Richard complete the race but he flew out of Sydney on Sunday bound for another event in Mexico. He has also just been announced as Australian Geographic’s ‘Explorer of the Year’.

The Top 10 finishers were: Brendan Trewartha / Peter Manley (Lane Cove), David Lowe / Richard Fox (Penrith), Gregory Smith / Stephen Monger (Brisbane Waters), Gary Reed (Cronulla Sutherland), Mark Murray (Fitzroy), Mick Carroll (Brisbane Waters), James Stuart / John Denyer (Sutherland Shire), Naomi Johnson (Lane Cove), Richard Yates / Tony D’Andreti (Lane Cove), Brent Gordon / Tim Binns (Lane Cove).

Fantastic support was provided to the event

by Marine Rescue NSW, NSW State Emergency Service, WICEN (a unit of the VRA), Physiotherapist Nick Stepkovitch and First Aider Rex Willard and their teams handling physio and First Aid support for the event.

In addition to these groups, support is provided by a number of paddling clubs, Scouts groups and the Nepean/Blue Mountains Prostate Support Group.

The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic has raised almost $4.5 million for medical research and for the past 25 years, the major beneficiary of funds raised by paddlers in the event has been Arrow, The Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation.

Race Coordinator Kent Heazlett said “After a three year hiatus caused by two years of COVID restrictions, and then last year’s disastrous Hawkesbury floods, the Hawkesbury Classic Paddle came back with a vengeance.

“A magic night on the river, with a full moon and great paddling conditions was just the tonic the event needed to reinvigorate this iconic event.

“Macquarie Park, Windsor was a hive of activity on Saturday afternoon, as paddlers, their land crews and volunteers readied themselves for the big night ahead.

“One hundred and fifty paddlers, in a range of paddle craft, faced the starter in the three “starts” 4.00pm, 4.15pm and 4.30pm.

“The event was conducted under an Aquatic Licence granted by Transport for NSW (Maritime), which gave the paddlers exclusive use of the river from Windsor to Sackville from 3.00pm to sunset on Saturday.

“The event has huge volunteer support from organisations such as the NSW SES, Marine Rescue NSW, WICEN / VRA and a number of community groups. Over 300 volunteers, on land and on water, were involved with the event, most giving up their entire weekend to support the paddlers in this charity fundraiser event.

“The first of nineteen Safety Checkpoints that paddlers came across was located at Cattai National Park and was crewed by volunteers from Windsor Paddlesports Club. Of the nineteen safety checkpoints, ten were land-based at locations kindly provided by the generous land-owners along the Hawkesbury River, and the other nine were on boats provided by Marine Rescue NSW (Hawkesbury) and NSW SES. The SES also provided safety boats for ‘search and rescue’ and on each of the car ferry crossings, to ensure paddler safety when crossing the cables. On average, a Safety Checkpoint was located every 5.8km.

“The event is a number of events rolled into one.

There are the very experienced paddlers who race down the “track”, with the first craft reaching the finish line at Mooney Mooney in an elapsed time of 8 hours 35 minutes, and then the ‘weekend warriors’ who take on the huge physical and mental challenge simply wanting to finish the event. The last of the craft to complete the full 111km course was a group of four women in an old Canadian canoe, who were out on the course for 18 hrs 37 mins.

“The introduction of GPS trackers to the event this year added a further layer of safety to the event, allowing safety officials to be able to ‘see’ where each craft was, and also provided land crew with the ability to track their paddlers on their phones. It also allowed friends and relatives across the world to remotely be part of the event.

“This year’s event raised in excess of $55,000 for charity, with the primary beneficiary being the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation.”

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. A method of painting using emulsions (7) 5. Photograph (7) 9. Tongue-in-cheek (9) 10. Assuredness (5) 11. Bon vivant (7) 12. Aerial (7) 13. Astonishment (9) 15. A thin coagulable body fluid (5) 17. Stalks (5) 19. Waterproofed canvas (9) 22. Unvarying (7) 25. Forsake (7)

26. Loamy deposit (5) 27. Draw (9) 28. Demolish (7) 29. Low-pitched (7) DOWN 1. A crisp smooth lustrous fabric (7) 2. Plot (9) 3. Squeeze out (7) 4. Compensation for a wrong (9) 5. Noodles (5) 6. Uppercase (7) 7. Labor association (5) 8. Kind of facial hair (7) 14. A bad-tempered woman (9)

solution 27/10/23

16. An extravagantly theatrical play (9) 17. Run-down (7) 18. A financial supporter (7) 20. Not professional (7) 21. Convent (7) 23. Concepts (5) 24. Sentimental (5)

Western News 10 November 2023 Issue 200

44th Annual Hawkesbury Canoe Classic

Western News 10 November 2023 Issue 200

14

Western NEWS

SPORT

Shannons Speed Series lights up Sydney Motorsport Park

James Lodge #139 and Blake Tracey #195

Alex Gordner

James Moffatt #34 and Nash Morris #67

Action from Friday night at SMSP. Photos by Noel Rowsell

BY NOEL ROWSELL

T

HE longawaited Kumho TCR World Tour double-header kicked off on Friday 3rd-Saturday 4th November, with the Shannon’s Speed Series competitors united for ‘Race Sydney’ at Sydney Motorsport Park.

A record 25 competitors took to the track when both TCR World Tour and Supercheap Auto TCR Australia entered the pointy-end of their respective 2023 campaigns, with ‘Race Sydney’ the first of two international rounds for the year.

The TCR field was made up of 10 international drivers, from 10 different countries, all serious contenders for this year’s title race.

The exciting category had a slightly modified format for ‘Race Sydney’, with both of its qualifying sessions on Friday, setting the field for race one under lights, before rounding out the weekend with two more races on Saturday.

Will Brown #9

Supporting the TCR races were Series X3 NSW (Excels), the Workhorse Radical Cup Australia and the National Trans-Am Series The action from Friday night during daylight hours and later under lights is summarised as follows.

Excel: James Lodge converted his pole position into a race win in an eight-lap affair in Race 1 on Friday afternoon, ahead of Toby Waghorn and Blake Tracey. 16-year-old Tracey took victory in Race 2, in an alltime classic Excel’s race, outlasting

Waghorn and Longmore in an epic battle over the final lap.

Workhorse Radical Cup Australia: Just one race on Friday, with Alex Gardner converting pole position into a race win under the lights, holding off Elliott Schutte and Cooper Cutts. Peter Paddon and reigning series winner, Chris Perini rounded out the top five.

National Trans-Am Series: James Moffat took victory in a lights-to-flag performance, extending his series lead over teammate Lochie Dalton, who

finished third behind Nash Morris in 2nd place.

Kumho TCR World Tour and Supercheap Auto TCR Australia: The first of three TCR races for the weekend certainly didn’t disappoint, with Australian Will Brown making history with a superb race win in a chaotic affair. Brown excelled in the changing conditions, with a safety car and red flag intervention not enough to take away his victory, crossing the line a mammoth seven and a half seconds ahead of Mikel Azcona (Spain) and Ma Qing Hua (China), with the latter promoted to a podium place at the expense of a five-second penalty handed to Yann Ehrlacher (France) post-race.

Full race statistics from both Friday and Saturday are available at http:// racing.natsoft.com.au/results/#2 Full reports from Practice, Qualifying and Racing on both Friday and Saturday, in all categories, can be found at www.speedseries.com.au/ categorynews/

New face at the helm of It Happens

BY NOEL ROWSELL

T

HE 2023 CYCA Sydney Harbour Women’s Keelboat Series has seen a change of crew on Penrith-owned racing yacht ‘It Happens’, with former helms Kathy Veel and Bridget Canham both racing in this year’s series on their own yacht ‘Currawong’.

Exciting young sailor Bridget Conrad has answered the call and subsequently guided the boat to a 3rd place in 1st Division in Race 1.

Unfortunately, Bridget had previous sailing commitments for Race 2 and Race 3 of the series but ‘It Happens’ co-owners Craig Young and David Chesters are confident their new recruit will be back at the helm for the remainder of the series, which includes Race 4 on 18th February and 24th March, 2024.

Bridget began her love affair with sailing after meeting Olympic gold medallist Tom Slingsby, following his win in London.

Bridget started in small boats such as Sabots, Optis and Flying Ants, before transitioning in highperformance boats.

New ‘It Happens’ helm Bridget Conrad in action in various classes. Photos supplied

During her Optimist career, she became the NSW Female State Champion and went on to compete in Canada (x2), Italy (Lake Garda), NZL x2 (Nationals and for the Australian Optimist Girls Team event) and her final event, the North American Championships in Mexico (2018, Australian Optimist Sailing Team event).

After moving into the 420 class as a skipper for just over 2 years, Bridget and her crew were the Australian Female National Champions 2 years in a row, qualifying for the World Championships in Portugal (2019) and France (2020), and the Youth

Worlds in Brazil (2020) and Oman (2021).

More recently, Bridget participated in the SailGP Inspire in December 2021 which was one of her favourite sailing experiences to date.

In February 2023, as a part of the Inspire Careers Program, Bridget spent 5 days as part of the Denmark shore team. This was an amazing experience as she got to spend a week amongst professional sailors.

Over the past year, Bridget has given many different classes a try, including the 16 ft skiff, 49erFX, Elliot 7, RS21, ILCA6, NS14 and Nacra17.

The lack of crew in the 470 has led

her down the foiling pathway with the Waszp. She has now competed in the 2021 SailGP Inspire, the 2022 Waszp Nationals and 2023 NSW States. She has also recently taken part in the Nastro Rosa Tour, which involves 8 Waszp regattas around the coast of Italy/Slovenia in July 2023.

“This was an amazing experience, as it has been 3 years since I last was able to compete internationally and was my first International Waszp event,” Bridget said. “I am currently sailing the Waszp leading up to the 2023 Waszp Worlds and Nacra 17 leading up to the European circuit next year.”

Western NEWS

SPORT 15

BY NOEL ROWSELL

W

INDSOR Polo Club h o s t e d the first weekend of action in the JK Mackay Memorial Trophy 16-goal and NSWPA 8-goal tournament on Friday 3rd November, with Sunday’s planned matches cancelled due to heavy rainfall in the district.

NSW Polo reports ‘It was a great first day, playing some high-goal polo, with 8 teams playing in the JK Mackay Memorial Trophy and NSWPA Tournaments.

Sunday’s cancelled matches were due to be played on Wednesday 8th November, with Sunday 12th November being the day to catch the finals in both grades.

Further details on the games for both 10th and 12th November can be found on the Windsor Polo Club or the NSW Polo Association websites.

The results from Friday 3rd November were: 8 Goal: Cutcliffe defeated Willfin 10 goals to 9, Bannaby Angus defeated Killarney 9 goals to 5.

16 Goal: Ellerston Red defeated Garangula 10 goals to 4, White Deer Park defeated Trioka 8 goals to 6.

Western News 10 November 2023 Issue 200

Windsor Polo Club hosts JK Mackay Memorial Tournament

8-goal action between Bannaby Angus (Blue) and Killarney (White). Photos by Noel Rowsell

2024 SEASON COMMENCES FOR MEN IN FEBRUARY & WOMEN IN MARCH LANDEN STADIUM 5 QUINN AVE, SEVEN HILLS ADULTS $15, UNDER 16 FREE.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND SHOW UP YOUR TOWN, YOUR TEAM.

Western NEWS Friday, 10 November 2023

SPORT

Mere seconds costly at Phillip Island

BY NOEL ROWSELL

13-YEAR-OLD Elijah Andrew (Marayong) had a mixed round at Phillip Island, in the penultimate round of the 2023 bLU cRU Oceania Blue Series. “ I had a blast with the @oceania_junior_cup crew over the last two weekends, coming off my best race finish in 6th place, and placed 9th overall for the MotoGP round.

“Then, in last weekend’s ASBK round, I had a great start, getting P3 in practice, with a PB lap time. Unfortunately, qualifying didn’t go so well, as I lost the group and any chance of slip streaming, qualifying back in 18th place.

“In Race 1, I got up to P16, and then P14 in Race 2. Race 3 had to be the closest OJC race ever with the top 15 riders finishing within 0.341 seconds.

“I worked my way from 18th to 8th place by turn 10 on the last lap, then gave it my all coming out of turn 12 and I got into the lead as we hit the straight, but ran out of legs and the pack passed me over the finish line and I finished in 12th place, just 0.267 seconds behind the winner.

“I had a blast racing in the lead pack and continue to learn a lot about race craft. Looking forward to our final 2023 round at The Bend in 4 weeks. You can follow me at #18 @ ElijahAndrewRacing.”

Elijah Andrew (#18) in action during the ASBK round at Phillip Island. Photo supplied

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