Westernnews 15july2016

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Labor’s clean sweep of western Sydney

30.6% KUMAR, Mohit

69.4% HUSIC, Ed

Two candidate preferred for Chifley

By Keegan Thomson

ACROSS western Sydney there was an ALP white-wash on election night with the ‘Labor Machine’ rolling out and winning the electorates of Chifley, Greenway, Macquarie and Lindsay.

The results in Chifley weren’t at all surprising with Labor and incumbent MP Ed Husic holding the seat whilst gaining some ground.

In the 2013 election Mr Husic won just over 60 per cent of the two party preferred vote but in the 2016 election he has taken out nearly 70 per cent of the two party preferred voted, holding the swing on 8.5 per cent.

Mr Husic went to facebook to thank his supporters.

43.33% KEANE, Yvonne

56.67% ROWLAND, Michelle

Two candidate preferred for Greenway

“Thank you #Chifley for the chance to represent you once again - and thanks to all those sensational members and volunteers who worked so hard to help the Australian Labor Party,” he wrote.

Meanwhile in Greenway the upset that was predicted didn’t take place with Labor MP Michelle Rowland holding off the Liberal opposition, Yvonne Keane.

Pollsters and bookies were tipping Yvonne Keane to win the seat of Greenway for the Coalition however on election day it was Ms Rowland who took home the goods, winning the seat with a majority of 57 per cent.

On facebook Ms Rowland has thanked the efforts of the campaign volunteers across her electorate.

“Thank you also to the hundreds of volunteers and

supporters in Greenway and the tens of thousands across the country who underpinned the result on Saturday. I am so grateful for your dedication and hard work. On behalf of the Labor Party, thank you,” she wrote.

One of the biggest shocks across western Sydney was the Labor win and massive swing in Macquarie, the seat that encompasses the Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains.

Susan Templeman, who has contested the last three elections, took down long time former sitting member, Louise Markus on a 8.9 per cent swing towards her.

In Penrith the marginal seat of Lindsay experienced a swing towards Labor with the seat falling to ALP candidate Emma Husar, who won the electorate on a swing of 4.1 per cent.

Prue Car MP Member for Londonderry

Ph: 9833 1122 12/82 Victoria St Werrington Mail: PO Box 4001 Werrington NSW 2747 londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au

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From the Editor’s Desk

by Kerrie Davies FINALLY, after an extremely long campaign period followed by a painfully long vote count, we have a result, a government and a Prime Minister.

I can almost hear the boo-yeahs that it is finally over.

However, don’t get too comfortable thinking electioneering will be shelved for a while, because the Local Government elections are just around the corner (in September) and if PM Turnbull sticks to his word we’ll have a plebiscite on marriage equality before the end of the year.

The Turnbull Government will reign until at least 2019, and although technically it is a win for the Liberals, one could safely assume that the double dissolution call was not a very politically smart one.

What must have started as a goal to grab a slam-dunk mandate and a more cohesive senate has resulted in a razor-slim margin of power and a mixed bag in the senate.

The government now runs a parliament that faces a temporary collapse in power every time a member dares to chuck a sickie. They also face the unenviable decision on whether to lose one member to the speaker’s chair or risk planting a member who isn’t part of the Coalition in it.

In the senate we’ve got some new faces - and they come with pocketfuls of viewpoints - and regardless of whether you or I agree with them, enough voters did to give them a voice and we should all respect that - even the mainstream media.

My wishlist for this term of government comes down to three things.

1) A government stable enough to last a term without a knifing incident 2) An end to the ridiculous waste of tax-payers money that is called Question Time. No fair-dinkum questions get asked and there are no fairdinkum answers in that space - it’s just a cat fight.

3) All elected members of both houses get the right to have their say without the media deciding who and what we hear.

And, yes in (3) I’m talking about Pauline Hanson. Love her or hate her, she was elected by the people and if the people don’t like her, they’ll punt her next election.. Accept that and let her speak. kerrie@nepeannews.com.au

6 key points for introducing a new baby to your pet

Nepean

Veterinary REPORT

with Dr Antony Karolis and the team at WellPet Vets phone 1300 WELLPET

Senior Veterinarian and CEO WellPets Vets Mountains, Nepean and St Clair

WellPet Vets would like to congratulate Dr. Jessie on the birth of her little baby girl Rebekah! As we celebrate this wonderful news with you, we take this opportunity to share some helpful tips on how to best introduce a new baby to your pet(s). Here are 6 key points to help you prepare your pet for your new family member…

• Start getting the pet used to a new, realistic schedule that will occur when there is a baby in the house. This may include restricted access to parts of the house, becoming accustomed to the presence of baby gates, a different exercise schedule etc.

• Start walking them with a stroller and if needed obtain additional training if they are difficult to manage, this is best practiced prior to baby arriving.

• Allow your pet to explore the baby’s environment and belongings but do not allow them to take any toys/clothing or claim an area in the room as their new resting place.

If you haven’t already taught your pet to relinquish items to you then now is the time to get started, and to train or reinforce basic sit, stay, come, leave, stop.

• Once the baby is born, have the person looking after your pet bring items with the child’s smell on them home and disperse them around the

house (out of reach) prior to bringing the baby home from hospital.

• Once you arrive home, have someone hold the baby while you greet the pet you have been apart from.

Give them time to calm down, have the person sit on the couch with the baby, have the pet on a leash and allow them to gently approach and sniff the child. Excited behavior should be redirect back to you and the pet told to sit and relax before allowing them to

approach once calmer. A gentle lick to the child is ok, but excited or overzealous licking should be stopped, with a gentle verbal command, in case of accidental injury from excitement.

• Never leave a baby unsupervised with an animal.

Baby gates are great to separate the animals from the baby while still allowing them to be inside and involved with the family.

Alternatively, tethering on a harness to something stable that cannot move or tip over can be done. This may be useful while you are present, in the early stages of introduction.

Any accident can be potentially fatal to a small baby. It is recommended that children up to 8 years old never be left alone with a pet. Children are typically loud, fast, unpredictable and need to be taught acceptable behavior around pets to prevent them hurting or scaring the pet and provoking the animal to defend itself.

For further guidance consider referring to a book called “Tell your dog you’re pregnant!” by Dr. Lewis Kirkham. If you have any further questions or would like help with introducing your new baby to your pet then we can help. Please call our friendly team on 1300 WELLPET for advice, behavioral consultations are available.

localnews local THE Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali has started a change.org petition, seeking a curfew for Badgerys Creek airport.

“Noise from aircraft is a significant issue.

“Government reports including the Environmental Impact Statement clearly state planes will be flying over significant residential areas of western Sydney at around 2,000 to 4,000 feet,” Mayor Bali said.

“Whether someone is for or against the airport, surely we all agree those living under the proposed flight paths need the internationally-accepted standards of protection?

“If one class of people (those living under Sydney and Adelaide airport flight paths) deserve curfew protection, then so do those living under the likely effects of Badgerys Creek.

“We all believe in equality and that’s all we are asking for: that the same operating conditions be applied.

“The people of western Sydney are not second class citizens and they do not deserve second class treatment.

It’s all about equity and a fair go for the west!

“Blacktown City Council has a long track record of fighting to ensure Western Sydney is neither a dumping ground nor an abused populace.

“Yet, unless we unite and take action we are staring this in the face yet again.

“The current plan is for a 24/7 domestic, international and commercial airport at Badgery’s Creek that will eventually handle up to 82 million passengers a year*.

“By comparison, the curfew-protected Sydney Airport is currently handling 39 million a year.

“Once again, the people of western Sydney are feeling disenfranchised and trodden upon.

“Make your voice heard. Sign the petition and send a clear message that western Sydney will no longer tolerate being sold short.” * Western Sydney Airport EIS Full Link: https://www.change.org/p/ federal-minister-for-infrastructure-andregional-development-a-curfew-for-badgeryscreek-airport

Wanted woman

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Blacktown starts curfew petition

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POLICE from Richmond Local Area Command are appealing for information into the whereabouts of a woman wanted on outstanding warrants.

Mihayla Hogan, 23, is wanted by virtue of three outstanding warrants for alleged drug offences.

Ms Hogan is described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 165cm to 175cm tall, medium build, with very short dark brown hair, and brown eyes.

Anyone who sees Ms Hogan or knows of her current whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https:// nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via the Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Police Dog Unit devastated at the loss of PD Chuck

By Kerrie Davies

THE NSW Police Dog Unit has paid tribute to Police Dog, ‘Chuck’, who sadly passed away last week.

PD Chuck was the loyal companion, partner, and best friend to Acting Sergeant Luke Warburton, whom many may remember was shot at Nepean Hospital at the beginning of the year.

Born on Sunday 10 August 2008, PD Chuck was bred by the NSW Police Dog Unit. He commenced training on a general duties basis and was partnered with his handler, A/Sgt Luke Warburton.

PD Chuck, together with A/Sgt Warburton, has been involved in hundreds of jobs throughout his career, including the arrest of one of Australia’s most wanted in March 2012 and being at the front line of the Hyde Park Riots in September 2012.

He was a keen and driven police dog who was responsible for tracking and apprehending many offenders throughout his life PD Chuck’s status as a crime-fighting hero led to him to receive the honour of presenting the game ball at a 2012 State of Origin game in Sydney, where he became very attached to the ball and almost prevented the kick-off.

PD Chuck, along with A/Sgt Warburton’s family and colleagues, has also been a driving force in the officer’s recovery following the shooting early this year.

Between Sunday 3 July and Monday 4 July 2016, PD Chuck passed away from what is

believed to be natural causes.

PD Chuck’s legacy continues, through the three litters he fathered for the NSW Police Dog Unit.

Superintendent Dean Smith, Commander of the NSW Dog Unit, said it was a sad time for the unit.

“Chuck’s death is a loss to the Dog Unit, not only from his contribution to helping fight crime, but the joy he brought to his handler, Acting Sergeant Warburton, and the officers involved in his training and development throughout the years,” Superintendent Smith said.

When A/Sgt Warburton was recovering in Nepean Hspital following the gunshot wound, Chuck was taken for a visit and was so excited to see his handler he wanted to jump up on the bed with him.

“My fondest memory will be of Chuck visiting me in hospital after I was shot in January. Chuck was so excited to see me – and me him.

“Whenever I went to work and had Chuck out with me I knew he always had my back and we could take on any job.

“PD Chuck was a true police dog. He loved nothing more than seeing me walk to the backyard in my overalls as he knew he was going to work to do his favourite thing and chase bad guys.”

Chuck was a fearsome and intimidating Police Dog, but he was also a much loved family dog to the Warburton family.

Chuck will be missed by not only the Dog Unit but the whole of the NSW Community that he worked hard to protect.

Sleep rough for those doing it tough!

By Kerrie Davies

NOW in its fourth year, SLEEP IN YOUR CAR returns to St Marys on Friday 5 August 2016, at St Marys Railway Station and Veness Place Carpark, Station Street.

Hosted by Fusion Western Sydney and Platform Youth Services as part of National Homelessness Prevention Week, SLEEP IN YOUR CAR is about sleeping rough to raise awareness and funds to support the over 105,000 people without a safe place to sleep each night.

Many people have an image of homelessness that is of older people sleeping rough on the streets. SLEEP IN YOUR CAR aims to raise public awareness about youth homelessness and its causes. The event also aims to celebrate the resilience of young people and to convey a message that young people experiencing homelessness are homeless, but not helpless! With good support and accommodation young people can move forward and live their lives productively.

Kim Horan from Aussie mortgage brokers based in the heart of St Marys was one of the first people to support the event in 2016 and has registered to SLEEP IN YOUR CAR. Kim is calling on other local businesses to

give up their bed for the night and donate to SLEEP IN YOUR CAR. “I think it’s important to get involved in local initiatives such as this. It’s hard not to get overwhelmed with the needs out there in the community but for me, actually participating makes me feel part of the solution. I decided to get involved with SLEEP IN YOUR CAR rather than just turn off from the issue of homelessness.”

Local people of all ages and backgrounds are invited to get involved, by registering to SLEEP IN YOUR CAR, coming along to the Friday evening event from 6pm or sponsoring someone who is

sleeping out. On the night there’ll be interactive activities to focus on some of the causes of homelessness and the impact on individuals, families and communities.

A range of service providers and organisations will be there to talk about what they are doing to support those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. St Marys Rotary are getting right behind the event by running a Coat and Blanket Drive leading up to the night and providing a BBQ dinner and breakfast in the morning for those who stay.

“From the beginning the local business people of St Marys have really got behind this initiative”, shares

event organizer, Judy Tweeddale of Fusion. “Some are now into their fourth year of sleeping out including a team from The Professionals Real Estate St Marys and have shown a deep commitment to making a difference in their own community. We’re keen for others to join them, so that together we can ensure that this often hidden issue is brought into the light.”

Funds raised from SLEEP IN YOUR CAR 2016 will go towards the much needed ongoing support and work of Fusion Western Sydney and Platform Youth Services in the community.

Fusion is a not-for-profit youth and community organisation based in St Marys with a deep, ongoing commitment to developing resilience in young people and families focusing on early intervention and prevention.

Platform Youth Services, a notfor-profit organisation, is a leading provider of services for homeless young people or those “at risk” of being homeless in the Nepean, Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury. Both organisations care for vulnerable young people, their families and community.

For more information go to http:// sleepinyourcar.com.au or call Fusion Western Sydney on 8805 5900.

THIS IS AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE EVENT.

Greyhound ban felt across western Sydney

By Keegan Thomson

R I C H M O N D Greyhound Racing Club has been left reeling after the Baird government’s shock decision to completely abolish sport as of July 1, 2017.

Brad Adam, the CEO of Richmond Race Club said the significance of the ban will be felt far and wide across the whole community.

“The impact of the ban on greyhound racing in the area will have a massive hit both financially and socially to our community,” Mr Adam said.

“The club directly employs 30 staff member and then there is all the second and third tier employees touched by the club. Things like the clubs providers, the local butchers and greengrocers.

“As a monetary value, it would be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars that would be directly lost from local businesses and industry,” he said.

Earlier this month Premier Mike Baird announced a total ban on greyhound racing across the state as of July 1 next year after the findings

Brad Adam, CEO of Richmond Race Club, feels let down by the Premier. Photo: Kennedi Geyer

of a 16 month long inquest into animal abuse within the industry were made public.

The Australian Veterinary Association has supported the ban but have warned about the possible ramifications on the greyhounds.

“As the Premier noted, the phasing out of the industry will affect many people and communities that rely on this industry and we want to be sure that transition arrangements will support their needs as well as the greyhounds,” President of the

Australian Veterinary Association, Dr Robert Johnson said.

“We would encourage any other state or territory considering such an action to consult with the AVA so we can help to develop an effective plan that supports greyhounds during the transition,” Dr Johnson said.

But Mr Adam said the state government has left the industry and livelihoods off hundreds of families across the state in the dark, and if further bans were considered it may lead to further economic strife.

“The state government hasn’t made anything fully clear. I’ve got trainers here who’ve spent up to $200,000 in upgrading their properties after new regulations came in last year. They’ve just left trainers now wondering what their financial future looks like,” Mr Adam said.

Even if the government offers up remuneration packages to trainers there is doubt within the industry that any form of compensation will simply not be enough.

“There is no way the government could make a remuneration package for someone who has spent many hundreds of thousands of dollars in training dogs, in updating their properties, particularly when some of these trainers have 20, 30 or even 40 dogs,” Mr Adam warned.

In New South Wales alone there is in excess of 10,000 people directly and indirectly employed by businesses involved in greyhound racing, with over $1.1 billion wagered on NSW greyhounds between 2014 and 2015.

There has been no word as yet of what kind of financial help will be offered to greyhound racers and the industry as whole, but with so many affected across the state it is a certain that not all involved will recover as quickly as others.

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Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

MAYORAL MESSAGE

Getting to know ...

Bart Bassett

General Manager, Western Sydney News Group with Jarrod McGrouther

1. What was your first paid job?

Cleaning taxis for family business 2. What is your guilty pleasure?

Red Wine 3. What is your biggest fear/phobia and why?

Don’t like snakes 4. What is your worst habit?

Apologise too often when not necessary 5. Best advice you’ve even been given?

Look after your cents and the dollars will look after themselves 6. If you only had $50 left in the bank, how would you spend it?

Good bottle of Red Wine 7. Favourite holiday destination and why?

China. The culture and Great Wall of China was breathtaking.

8. Do you have a favourite sporting team?

Wanderers 9. Name one reason that you love western Sydney People are down to earth 10. In three words, describe your perfect Sunday Sunny, late breakfast

with Cr Stephen Bali Community Forums a success BLACKTOWN City Council’s decision to go “on the road” and bring issues to the community has had a positive response.

The four forums we have staged have all been well attended and the change.org petition calling for a curfew for Badgerys Creek Airport is gathering signatures at the rate of 100 a day.

It is essential the voice of western Sydney is heard loud and clear. The change.org petition is an ideal way to show just how many people don’t want to have to endure thousands of flights, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Encourage your friends, your contacts, your workmates and your social media friends to join the campaign. Together we can make a difference and we need to stop western Sydney from becoming the dumping ground for poorly thought out projects that have the potential to inflict pollution and discomfort on us all.

We will be staging four more forums in the coming month. Full details are available at yoursay. blacktown.nsw.gov.au or by contacting Blacktown City Council on 9839 6000.

Doonside street party The 34th Doonside Festival is on next Saturday (July 23), from 9am to 3pm at the corner of Cross Street and Hillend Road.

There are many free activities are on offer - with performances by local talent, over 100 food and craft stalls, WWII vehicles and the usual highlights.

The Festival will also include free rides, lucky door prizes, a Karaoke competition, and Emergency Services displays.

The Arnotts biscuit truck will also be on display.

Please note there will be road closures in place throughout the day.

For more information, contact Blacktown City Council’s Community Events Team on 9839 6000 or alternatively link via social media on the Doonside Festival Facebook Event Page.

I’m looking forward to celebrating our vibrant community with you!

Facebook: Stephen Bali, Mayor of Blacktown City

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National breakthrough launched at local hospitals

By Kerrie Davies

WESTERN Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) is leading the fight against the scourge of diabetes in the region by rolling out routine screening for the disease at two of its busy hospitals.

In a national first, staff in emergency departments (ED) at Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals are now running tests to identify people who have diabetes or are at risk of developing the disease, in an attempt to reveal the thousands of hidden diabetes sufferers in the community.

Patients who present to the ED for other conditions and require a blood test are now being routinely screened for diabetes as part of their overall medical assessment.

If the patient tests positive for diabetes, they (and their GP) are sent a letter, notifying them of the diagnosis and encouraging them to speak to their doctor for advice and treatment.

The letter also asks GPs to follow-up with their patients.

The testing roll-out follows a recent successful diabetes screening pilot at Blacktown Hospital.

The six-week project, conducted in the ED, resulted in a 32 per cent

increase in the number of known people with diabetes while the number of pre-diabetes sufferers rose by 27 per cent.

WSLHD chief executive Danny O’Connor said identifying the iceberg of diabetic illness would greatly assist healthcare providers.

“This screening process helps to prevent the public and private sectors from being ambushed by the growing hidden generation of people with diabetes,” he said.

“In western Sydney, 15 per cent of

people are likely to have diabetes and have not been diagnosed while more than half the region’s population is overweight and at risk of developing type-2 diabetes.”

Mr O’Connor said early detection was also vital in improving health outcomes and quality of life for people with diabetes.

“Patients are given important education on how to manage the disease and appropriate medical treatment early on,” he said.

Nola Roche, from Mount Druitt,

recently discovered she had diabetes during a routine screen at Blacktown Hospital.

The 40-year-old had a family history of diabetes but had no idea she had also developed type 2 diabetes.

“I think the routine testing is a good idea; I would never have found out I had type 2 diabetes otherwise,” she said.

Mr O’Connor, who has been vocal in the need to better manage diabetes across western Sydney, said urgent action was required to combat the disease.

“If the screening reveals a similar surge in the number of known people with diabetes, it will dial up an already hot debate about diabetes management and health planning in western Sydney,” he said.

“We already know more than half of western Sydney’s population is overweight and at risk of developing type 2 diabetes; we have a moral obligation to assess the extent to which diabetes is hiding in our community.

“This diabetes testing initiative is a step in the right direction.”

Anyone who suspects they may be at risk of diabetes and does not require urgent medical attention at an ED is urged to visit their local GP for advice and testing.

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Best aquatic and recreation facility centre in Australia!

BLACKTOWN Leisure Centre Stanhope has been recognised as the best aquatic and recreation facility centre in Australia, taking out the AH Pierce Memorial Facility of the Year award at the 2016 Aquatic & Recreation Institute (ARI) Awards of Excellence.

The award recognises aquatic facilities that have demonstrated best practice in the operation of their business.

Some of the key areas recognised by the award include community engagement through unique and innovative programming, high quality facilities and the implementation of leading customer service practices to meet the needs of the growing community.

Council’s seasonal facility, Mt Druitt Swimming Centre, was also recognised as a finalist for the same award category.

Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope is the flagship leisure & aquatic facility for Blacktown City and continues to be a place for health, leisure, fun and fitness.

Within the last year the Centre has launched the new Aqua Learn to Swim program, which saw a record 4,508 students enrolled in in Term 1, 2016. The Centre also achieved another important milestone with the

Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope Centre Manager, Brett Andrews, Blacktown City Mayor, Councillor Stephen Bali, Blacktown City Council General Manager, Kerry Robinson and Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope staff with the AH Pierce Memorial Facility of the Year award.

11 millionth visitor walking through its doors on 28 May 2015.

The Centre also launched a key focus program, Young at Heart, in December 2015. The program, aimed at people over the age of 50, was launched following grant funding through the Aquatic & Recreation Institute.

Mayor of Blacktown City,

Councillor Stephen Bali was delighted at being honoured within the industry as ‘Facility of the Year’ for 2016.

“Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope really is an example of an exceptional leisure & aquatic venue that continues to grow with the community.

The community has continued to play an important role in making the Centre what it is today and are at the

heart of everything we do,” said Cr Bali.

“The past year has been exceptional for the Centre and, moving forward, completion of the 16-court Blacktown Tennis Centre Stanhope and two new multi-sport courts will once again reinforce our commitment to offering the best in facilities, services and programs.

Minchinbury 9625 8500 Blacktown 9622 1284

Funding boost for Muru Mittigar

By Keegan Thomson

THE state government has announced a much needed funding injection for the Muru Mittigar Aboriginal cultural centre.

Announced by NSW state government, Muru Mittigar will receive a $25,000 funding boost to help create equality in the workforce.

Peter Chia, the CEO of Muru Mittigar said the funding was very good news.

“This means good things. We will take this money and use it to help empower women in the workplace, particularly Aboriginal women,” he said.

According to Mr Chia, Muru Mittigar’s workforce is made up of 40 per cent women, who work in a number of team management, front end and back end jobs.

He said the key to having such a female strong workforce is to be flexible and to offer employment that complements home life.

“We try to create flexible work arrangements for all our employees,” he said. “A lot of our workers are single mums and we have some mature age women that want

Scenes from Sorry Day at Muru Mittigar. Photo: Supplied

to reengage with the workforce, so by being flexible we are making it possible for women to stay active in the workforce.”

Mr Chia also said the funding would go towards helping Aboriginal people better understand their own Indigenous culture, something which he want Muru Mittigar to expand on.

“There is always a willingness for Aboriginal people to learn about their culture. It is always assumed

Aboriginal people know lots about their culture but this money will help create our capacity to help that,” Mr Chia said.

Western Sydney has an unemployment rate of 6.2 per cent, which is above the state average, though with this new funding more part time, casual and full time jobs will be created across the two Muru Mittigar sites at Rouse Hill and Penrith.

Man charged with murder – Schofields A MAN has been charged by detectives investigating the fatal stabbing of a man at Schofields at the weekend.

Shortly after 11.30pm (Saturday 2 July 2016), emergency services were called to Meadow Road, Schofields, where they found a 48-year-old man suffering a number of stab wounds.

He was treated at the scene by Ambulance Paramedics before being taken to Westmead Hospital; however, he died a short time later.

Strike Force Woodbell was formed to investigate the man’s death, and comprises detectives from Quakers Hill Local Area Command and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.

Shortly before 3pm today (Wednesday 6 July 2016), a 27-year-old man was arrested at a home in Riverstone.

He was taken to Riverstone Police Station where he was charged with one count of murder.

He was refused bail and will appear in Blacktown Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 7 July 2016).

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Legends of the West

By Garion Thain

AN easy rule one could apply to almost every human being is that we are the sum of our

experiences. For some, that might define our personality, others their lifestyle. For Jeff Muir, a sense of “justice” has propelled him on his self-professed life’s mission, that being in part to guide people towards being facilitators of their own success.

For what has amounted to over 30 years, Mr Muir has trained young people and career professionals alike with life skills that improve communication, assertiveness, and importantly skills relevant to finding and keeping jobs that aren’t taught in conventional secondary education classrooms. By teaching these experiences in classrooms and “reversing the negative experiences” last received in them, Mr Muir conveys practical life skills to his students, and has them teach them back.

Growing up as one of the truest definitions of a Westie in Perth, and now mentoring in Western Sydney, including Mount Druitt, Mr Muir’s stories and lessons more than qualify him as this edition’s Legend of the West.

Before going back to 1983 to observe the starting point of Jeff Muir’s mentoring, it’s actually

important to go back even further, to when Mr Muir indicated his sense of fairness for kids came from. Mr Muir attended (against his will, he was quick to mention) the Hale boarding school in Perth, where he was relentlessly bullied and beaten for wearing leg braces, “like Forrest Gump,” Mr Muir said. Feeling let down by the teaching faculty who he feels didn’t qualify him for the working world, and fed up by the politics of private school hierarchy, Mr Muir was left feeling bitter from the experience.

By 1983, Mr Muir was working on a property and operating a horseriding business. Around this time, he started receiving a hefty amount of business from the Hawke government, which was sending disadvantaged and unemployed youth to go horse-riding and work on the property for one week at a time. Mr Muir noted at first he was sceptical.

“I thought it was a waste of money at first,” he said.

“It was good for my horse-riding business, but I didn’t know what good it would do.”

He changed his tune, however, when he talked to one 16-year-old girl who didn’t want to go home at

the end of the week. Realising that she was a full time carer of her mother and siblings at home, the week on the property had been a respite, a place where she received three meals a day in a warm and safe environment.

Later, back in Perth, another girl ran up to Mr Muir in the street and said after working around the horses and trails, she got her first job.

“The ride changed her life,” Mr Muir reflected.

Mr Muir said he realised that a lot of kids don’t have role models to guide them, or influences to convince them they can chase a goal despite coming from a low socio-economic environment.

“Academia is one type of smart,” Mr Muir said, “but you don’t have to be strictly academic to succeed by any means.”

Mr Muir said he himself struggled in school due to Dyslexia, and understands that a lot of young people have to take different paths to fulfilling careers.

As we talked this week, Mr Muir mentioned he had been driving around country NSW selling blankets with a mate who had imported too many.

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JEFF MUIR the time they’d reached Queanbeyan, they’d practically sold them all. Mr Muir said in short, you can’t be afraid to ask for things, going out and doing the hard yards, instead of relying for opportunities by only using your CV, like the schooling system promotes.

“As an employer – you would impress me if you turned up on time, stayed even five minutes longer than you’re supposed to and didn’t play on your friggin’ phone.”

“Conviction is important, just keep your agreements,” he said.

Mr Muir currently runs an education program called That’s Easy Learning, but is still personally mentoring four young people. He elaborated on how important it is for the people one’s teaching to be able to teach back. One of the methods he uses is showing students one of his successful animated YouTube videos, such as ‘Are you too nice?’ Then he has the students teach the lessons back, because you “Don’t learn anything unless you teach it.”

The students have ranged from 12-year-old children to business executives. Mr Muir is proud to say he has enjoyed positive feedback from all.

13

“That’s easy learning!” Jeff Muir has been invested in mentoring young people and career professionals for over 30 years.

Now working all around Sydney and mentoring young people in Mount Druitt, Mr Muir also has an office in Emu Plains.

“I’ll be doing this until I die,” he said proudly.

His closing comment? His mission – that he hopes his corporate clients will go on to sponsor his program.

For more information on Jeff and his training program, visit http:// www.thatseasylearning.com/

Jeff Muir nominated as a Legend of the West by Kerrie Davies.

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

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14

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Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

Grab a grant MR Kevin Conolly MP, Member for Riverstone, today urged community organisations in the Riverstone electorate to take advantage of the 2016 Community Building Partnerships Grants Program offered by the NSW Government.

This grants program is designed to fund the building and improvement of local community facilities.

“Much of the work done in our community organisations is on a voluntary basis so every dollar counts. These grants provide some assistance to help organisations to continue this valuable work across our local communities,” Mr Conolly said.

The latest round of grants under the Community Building Partnership Program are now open and community organisations are encouraged to submit their applications before the closing date of 5pm, Friday, 22 July 2016.

To apply visit www. communitybuildingpartnership. nsw.gov.au

WestWords announces fellowship winners

By Keegan Thomson

INDEPENDENT and local writing organisation, WestWords has announced the winners of the 2016 emerging writers fellowship.

In all WestWords received more than 20 applications for their fellowship though only three winners were chosen.

Michael Campbell, the Executive Director of WestWords, said he was taken back by the varied themes of all the applications.

“This year we were pleased to see an increase in the number of applicants and we were really impressed by the diverse nature of the cultures, writing styles and forms from the entrants, all indicating a vibrant writing culture in western Sydney,” Mr Campbell said.

“The stories and narratives of western Sydney are unique and show a different kind of future for the region,” he said.

The fellowship aims to help emerging writers from western Sydney furthering their careers by awarding funds and a mentorships from notable Australian writers.

One of the winners of the 2016 fellowship is 22 year old Eda

Gunaydin, a Blacktown local of Turkish decent, who wrote a short story about a strong woman working in a kebab shop for her application.

Her short story Meat is about a Turkish woman working in a kebab shop in Australia and the different levels of challenges she faces daily.

She based the story off the lives of those around her.

“It has a lot to do with class mobility, racialised class mobility and genderised class labour,” Ms Gunaydian said.

“I set the story in a kebab shop because I known a lot of people who work in kebab shops across western Sydney and it seems kabab shops

are a really big part of the Australian economy,” she joked.

Ms Gunaydian, whose parents migrated to Australia in the 1980s, said the fellowship money would be put towards an anthology of short stories she’s writing, about the Turkish diaspora and immigrant life in Australia.

“What I pitched to WestWords is a batch of short stories, probably 10 to 12, and written 2 already. The stories will be anthologies about the Turkish diaspora and it will all draw on my experiences with my friends and family,” she said.

The two other winners of the fellowship are Joseph Michael Chenatte and Tamar Chnorhokian.

This year’s St Marys Spring Festival cancelled

By Kerrie Davies

OVER the past 40 years the annual St Marys Spring Festival has evolved from a small gathering to a street festival attracting well over 20,000 people to the St Marys CBD. The Spring Festival is an important celebration of St Marys and the pride of the local community.

But St Marys Town Centre Manager, Paulette Adams has announced that there will be no festival this year.

“It is with great disappointment and sadness that St Marys Town Centre Management have made the decision to cancel the event for 2016,” Paulette said.

“This decision was not made lightly and many factors were taken into consideration, and alternatives examined.”

The cancellation of this year’s event is due to the safety risks involved with the current streetscape works. These works when completed will result in a renewed and refreshed Queen Street.

“The St Marys Town Centre Corporation believe that the first and foremost priority is the safety of the community at all of our events, and with a risk assessment carried out we feel that the risks associated with the streetscape works are far too high to

St Marys Town Centre Manager, Paulette Adams in Queen St, St Marys. Photo: Kennedi Geyer

go ahead with the Festival this year,” Paulette said.

The Corporation continue to work with Council and Hargraves Urban to minimise disruption to the community and businesses during the construction works and our primary focus has been to maintain the promotion of the St Marys Town Centre as a great place for all of the community with free events and community celebrations.

“As the Town Centre Manager I

feel disappointed as the Festival is one of our largest annual events and I understand that our businesses, stall holders, suppliers and community will be disappointed with this outcome, however with thousands of people attending, the safety of everyone on the day is of the highest priority and we don’t want to risk serious injury,” Paulette added.

“The Festival takes many hundreds of hours to organise with planning

stages commencing from January onwards, and we would like to let everyone involved know that the Festival, and Queen Street will be back in 2017 bigger and better than before.

“We believe that everyone who has participated and volunteered their time at past Festivals will continue to support us for next year’s Festival, and we look forward to seeing everyone then.”

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with Linda Kemp

Sourcing the best person for your company OKAY…so you’ve completed the hardest part.

You’ve written an awesome job description, you know the reason for the position, you’ve identified the duties and responsibilities and you have a clear idea of the type of person who will fit in well. Now the big question is… how do we find that person?

There are many ways to do this, some companies will choose one way while others will use a combination. Here are some of the most popular ways of sourcing candidates and the benefits of each.

Word of mouth/referrals from friends or colleagues– Benefits: It’s free, can have fast results, can be good to have someone who’s been recommended – Downside is that is if it doesn’t work out it can affect relationships Major newspapers such as Sydney Morning Herald and/or The Daily Telegraph Benefits: Large readership, especially on the main ‘Positions Vacant’ days – Downside, more expensive per line than local papers and readership is very wide geographically Local papers Benefits: Much cheaper per line than the major newspapers so you can fit more into the ad plus the readership is local - Downside, papers only come out once or twice a week, if it’s urgent you’ll have to wait for response Job boards such as SEEK, Career One, My Career, Google Benefits: There are many free job boards, but major boards average $100+ per ad,

wording is unlimited so you get a lot for your buck. No waiting for publications to come out, response can be immediate – Downside, ease of application means people apply who haven’t read the ad thoroughly, and don’t have the skills, experience or residency - which can increase the time taken screening replies For specialist roles … Specialist industry magazines or trade publications Benefits: Respondents are likely to be experienced and/or interested in the role and the industry - Downside, published periodically so there may be a waiting time before you get replies Australian Government JobActive networks Benefits: It’s free and in some cases, the government pay a wage subsidy if you hire an eligible jobseeker – Downside, applicants may not have recent experience, as jobactive services are generally only available to the unemployed receiving income support Professional recruitment consultancy that is an RCSA member Benefits: With most reputable recruitment consultants you’ll only need to interview a shortlist of 2-3 candidates who’ve been screened, interviewed, skills assessed and thoroughly reference checked. There’s normally a free replacement guarantee – Downside, there’s a fee for service So now you just need to decide which of these is for you……….happy seeking ………… in the next issue we’ll cover off on preparing and running the interview

Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

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Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

It’s not all puppy dogs and rainbows... with TP MAINTAINING enthusiasm in your chosen profession is a challenge and the Early Childhood sector is no exception. I’m sure there are many people in the wider community who believe that workers in the childcare industry have a fairly simple job of caring for other peoples’ children.

And as long as those children are safe, fed and entertained then they’ve done their job. I’m not saying that this view of childcare is necessarily either good or bad – but it’s certainly very simplistic.

In recent years a lot has been done to professionalise the early childhood sector. This has been achieved through creating national regulations and frameworks. Even the subtle change from the use of the word “carer” to “educator” has caused an important shift in the mindset of the industry.

One thing is true. If you think that the childcare educator just turns up to “care” for children, then you’re mistaken – they aren’t glorified babysitters. They’re part of an industry which is trying to be taken more seriously. Even if some services aren’t interested in keeping up with the crowd, the regulations and frameworks ensure that this happens.

We have systems that check and rate

the quality of a service; regulations that ensure the safety of our children; and a learning framework that guides educators on outcomes for learning.

Now this all sounds great (and it is) but ironically, it creates an enormous amount of work, which at times can be overwhelming. You can almost hear the collective groan when the industry has to implement new systems. It seems as though the sector

just get the hang of one system when another is thrust upon it.

Good services find the right balance between what requirements they need to meet and retaining a child focused approach to the young minds in their charge. They also take the time to reignite, reinvigorate and reinvent what they do. This not only keeps it fresh for the educators, but this energy flows through to what the children

experience. The result is high quality care and education for our children.

Keeping the passion for what we do at work on a daily basis seems a lofty idea. It’s important to take charge and ensure that we work towards continual improvement and engage in thought provoking professional development.

It’s not all puppy dogs and rainbows but educating our next generation is most certainly a worthy pursuit.

Opinion: Three strikes against small business

By Bart Bassett

IT seems in NSW big business is looked after and small business, well, small business you had better watch your back, because your industry could be next for the chopping block.

If you are a Packer wanting a casino and you want your development approvals to be fast-tracked then no problem; the red carpet is laid out and the Premier’s door is open. However if you are a small business operator in a business sector that the Premier does not support, you are doomed.

Firstly we had the lock-out laws in Sydney where a populist position was taken to address anti social behavior on the street. Instead of more police on the street in the identified areas, the simple solution was taken - which meant small business operators were ruined overnight and conveniently at no additional cost to the government and no change for the Casino precinct.

Then we had the taxi industry ripped apart by allowing ride-sharing businesses like Uber to force their way in and the pathetic compensation package offered to the taxi plate owners. I am particularly concerned for the family businesses where only one or two plates are involved – often with their home mortgaged to support the taxi plate purchase. How was the paltry compensation package offered by the government ever going to

make up for the massive reduction in the value of the taxi plate? It never was!

Most recently we had the third strike against small business, the Premier executed the greyhound industry. Whether you like, dislike or don’t have an opinion on greyhound racing, the greyhound industry is not full of bad operators. It had some bad operators, which needed cleaning out and new regulations and compliance put in place. If you shut the industry down in NSW you don’t achieve improvement to the industry or the welfare of greyhounds as it continues to operate in other states and gambling will continue on greyhound racing in NSW, so what has actually

been achieved? What has been achieved is the Premier looks tough and he has wiped out jobs for many people and destroyed many small businesses involved in the greyhound industry, but the left leaning media of Fairfax and the ABC get their way and the Premier continues to receive favorable treatment no matter what he does by those one-eyed media outlets.

When you think of greyhound racing in Sydney, western Sydney is where the majority of the industry is located. The Liberal Party has just lost seats in western Sydney to Labor in the Federal election after many years of hard work by many Liberals.

They built goodwill amongst the community in showing that the Liberal

Party cared about infrastructure, services and small business and that the Liberals did not take the western Sydney voter for granted. In the last two years that goodwill has been completely trashed, allowing a feeling to permeate the community that the Liberal leadership at both a State and Federal level only cared about the big end of town.

The decision to execute a predominantly working-class sport like greyhound racing has further entrenched the feeling that the Baird/ Turnbull Liberal leadership are out of touch and don’t really care about the average mum and dad in western Sydney - they are only good at paying them lip service.

Dry July hits western Sydney

By Keegan Thomson

DOCTORS and Nurses at Blacktown Hospital’s new Cancer and Haematology Centre are encouraging the western Sydney community to join them in their bid to go alcohol-free for the month of July to raise money for patients.

Clinicians, nurses and executive staff across the hospital have given up the grog for Dry July, in the hope of raising nearly $70,000 for cancer patients.

Money raised from the staff Dry July will go towards resources for the Cancer and Haematology Centre, which opened in April as part of Stage 1 of Blacktown Hospital’s expansion project.

Last year’s inaugural Blacktown Hospital Dry July campaign raised nearly $40,000 for the centre, which funded art projects, purchased tables and iPads for education and entertainment and helped launch a music therapy pilot program at Mount Druitt Hospital’s palliative care unit.

Andrew Thorne, 22, a western Sydney local who is undertaking Dry July for the second time in two years, but this time he has committed to a three month long sober up.

“This is my second year of doing it, last year I did it and raised money for a sick family member, but this year I’m doing a long one for my own self health,” Mr Throne said.

Last year Mr Throne raised nearly $1500 for the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, a charity he is backing again.

Nurses celebrate Dry July.

“I’ve upped myself to three months so that I can push myself,” he said. “Honestly I’ve felt a lot better.

I’m already 6 weeks dry and I’ve noticed a bit of improvement particularly in my health and my energy levels.”

Though with such a prominent drinking culture in our country, Mr Throne said he’s found it hard sometimes.

“It has been difficult in social scenarios when you’re the only one not drinking, but ultimately I’ve been saving a whole heap of money,” he said.

You can donate to the Blacktown Hopsital’s Dry July Campaign at https://www.dryjuly.com/ beneficiaries/blacktowncancerandhaematologycentre Or you can donate to Andre Throne’s Dry July campaign for the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse https:// www.dryjuly.com/users/andrew-thorne

17 Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

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Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

Navigating New York City

By Ben Cranney

IF you can’t experience it in New York City, you probably can’t experience it anywhere. At least, this was my impression. Our first experience, after the bumper to bumper traffic, was at our first accommodation in Chelsea, Manhattan. It was a big old building on a street of red brick and outdoor fire escapes that made us feel like we were in a NYC movie. The place had some interesting qualities, including nude sunbathing on the rooftop so that guests could enjoy more than one view. It was snowing, so we declined.

Our second accommodation was

a share house in Williamsburg.

Advertised as Brooklyn, we didn’t realise that this area had a reputation as the murder capital of NYC until we got there. Thankfully, this didn’t fit with our experience, with everyone quite friendly.

We started sightseeing by climbing to the top of the beacon of NYC, the Statue of Liberty. The view from the top is amazing, and to look down on the gigantic tablet that Lady Liberty holds was very special. Book your tickets well in advance, as you can’t get them on the day. This would be very frustrating if you turned up after navigating one of NYC’s great cultural

pastimes, the security queue. They are incredibly security conscious, and there was something ironic about passing strict government controls to visit a symbol of freedom. This level of security was typical, so factor in extra time for the sights.

The people make NYC, and with up to 800 languages spoken, there are plenty of them, but something well worth doing is aimless wondering on a Sunday morning. The city was so empty, it may as well have been ours.

We enjoyed the same experience in Central Park, sharing it with only a few squirrels as my wife danced down the pathways before going back

to people watching with a walk down Madison Avenue, followed by a hot dog from a street vendor.

There is plenty else to do, from waving a novelty hand at a Nicks game, or enjoying a play on Broadway, where we laughed till it hurt at the Book of Mormon and tried not to hum along to the Phantom of the Opera. Hang with hipsters at the Brooklyn night markets, and then walk the Brooklyn Bridge and find the spot where my wife tells me that Miranda and Steve met and made up.

Or, with so many possibilities, create your own adventure.

The Unintentional Medium By Suzi Samuel Here to Help I AM often asked why people feel the need to come for readings, I have to say usually by those who think that what I do is some sort of voodoo. I’m sure I don’t come across as the sort of woman who sacrifices live chickens on the back verandah or casts spells over a foul smelling cauldron, but people do get some strange ideas about those of us who work with the spirit world. Also the thought of me cavorting stark naked in the morning dew at my age and weight is not a pretty one.

But to get back to the original question. Apart from those with what I call the Princess Diana syndrome, batting from one medium to another until they get the answer they want, most people who consult a psychic have problems to a lesser or greater degree and need help, and that is what a good clairvoyant is there for. How does this work? As I said in an earlier column, the word clairvoyant means seeing clearly and having a complete stranger pinpoint your current situation does help clarify matters greatly.

When I do a reading, I ask my clients to say nothing except yes

or no at first so I know I am on the right track. Another question I get is “What’s the point of telling folk what has already happened to them? They know that anyway!” Well, the point is that is if I tell them things that have happened, it means I am tuned in to the future. It is a bit like a weather forecast - you can take advantage of

a good period or be prepared to deal with difficulties ahead.

I have this bad habit of saying to some poor sobbing client, “What you must do is ...”

“It’s easy for you to say that,” they reply, sniveling into an ever-growing mound of soggy Kleenex. “You’re not going through it!”

And they are right, I’m not. What I should be saying is, “What you will be helped to do by spirit is ...” because other forces come into play during a reading. We are opening our hearts and souls to our guides and loved ones.

The spirit world is there to help providing we let it. I am not saying it is omnipotent but they sure can fix quite a bit for us. However, we have to invite them in. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, but you have to give them a bit of a hand.

Many years ago, I was telling my friend Belinda how worried I was about money. “Ask the spirits” she said, “But don’t hunch over. Open your arms wide so they can reach you.”

So, I took her advice. I stood on my balcony, threw back my head, opened my arms to the Universe and cried, “Please let me win the Lotto this evening.” Well they came through. I won $10. Not quite what I had in mind, but as they said, I hadn’t specified the amount. Somehow, spirit always has the last word!

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E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

Lord Almighty, feel the temperature rising!

By Keegan Thomson

MAX Pellicano was born in Monte Carlo, raised in New York and was educated in California, and today he performs under a very famous name, Elvis Presley.

Elvis to the Max is the name of Max Pellicano’s stage show tribute to the King of Rock ’n’ Roll and it will be coming to the Rooty Hill RSL on August 12 before heading off on a national tour.

On the phone from Detroit, Michigan Mr Pellicano said he works hard to ensure he can be as true to character as possible.

“I see myself almost as a method actor,” he said. “It takes me about an hour to get into character. I’ll start talking like him, singing like him. I try to become him as he would be himself. I think, what was he thinking, what was he doing?”

Max said.

Elvis to the Max has been touring Australia for the last 25 years and his new production called The King In Concert will feature music from three of the King’s best know concerts.

“I’ll be doing performances from some of his greatest concerts. We’ll do the show in three stages, Elvis on tour, That’s the Way it is, and Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite,” he said.

“It is going to be a real live concert show, people will be dancing,” Mr Pellicano promised.

Reflecting on his personal favourite song from the extensive Elvis catalogue, Mr Pellicano said his favourite Elvis song was Burning Love.

“When I was studying, I was working my way through uni with a rock band, and Burning Love was always on the radio at the time. When we’d play everyone kept requesting that we play Burning Love, so that was the first Elvis song I performed live on stage,” he said.

The King in Concert tour will also be a special performance for Max Pellicano because it will be

his 25th anniversary of touring around Australia, something which Max said he very much enjoys.

“I’ve come to Australia so many times, for me, it feels like my second home,” he said.

Tickets are available for The King in Concert show on August 12 at the Rooty Hill RSL through www.rootyhillrsl.com.au/elvis-to-the-max-2016.

Hurry they’re sure to sell out!

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Rehearse (8) 5 Relating to the iris of the eye (6) 9 Attacks (8) 10 Be against (6) 12 Draws through a straw (5) 13 Blimps (9) 14 Dried grape (6) 16 Cigar (7) 19 Seeing (7) 21 A style of architecture (6) 23 Pasta (9) 25 A mendicant preacher (5) 26 Stableboy (6) 27 Thoroughly soak (8) 28 Faery (6) 29 Hated (8)

solution 1/7/16

DOWN 1 Kudos (6) 2 Companion (9) 3 Guided journeys (5) 4 A native member of a state (7) 6 Be a delegate for (9) 7 Hindu loincloth (5) 8 Distilled wood tar (8) 11 Heroic (4) 15 Most meager (9) 17 Not reproductions (9) 18 Eludings (8) 20 Fence door (4) 21 A contorted facial expression (7) 22 Pal (6) 24 Plays a role (5) 25 An unpleasant woman (5)

Clear the schedule, the Doonside Festival is here

By Jarrod McGrouther

THE annual Doonside Village Festival is back in 2016, with the event only one weekend away. Following the success of last years event, this years festival is set to be a great day out for the family.

There are plenty of attractions and activities for people of all ages, with the event being held next Saturday, July 23, at the corner of Cross Street and

Hill End Road, Doonside, from 9:00am until 3:00pm.

For those with a sweet tooth, the Arnotts bakery van will be onsite, preparing free tiny teddies. There will also be food and craft stalls, and free lucky door prizes.

For the kids, or those more actively minded, there will be AFL demonstrations, a car display, karaoke, free rides as well as emergency services displays (including police, fire and SES).

Additional entertainment will come in the form of a featherdale wildlife park display, mighty woof

demonstrations and a visit from Rooby Roo. As always the main stage will be full of local talent throughout the day.

Come and join in for an exciting family day at this year’s Doonside Village Festival, with great company, great food and fun! You won’t be disappointed.

Please note that there will be road closures in place throughout the day. For more information on these and for any further enquiries, please contact Blacktown City Council’s Community Events Team on (02) 9839 6000.

21 Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

SUDOKU: MEDIUM

WORD SEARCH

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

22

WEATHER SOLUTION: 1st July

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

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24 Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

Robin Hood Inn/Hotel Blacktown

Early Photo of Robin Hood Inn

L

Early example of Tooth’s bottled beer

OCAL talk suggests that the ‘Robin Hood Inn’ ceased to exist on the eve of receiving Heritage Listing. In a shock move, the demolishers moved in overnight and took down the entire building in 1985. People familiar with the Robin Hood Inn could not believe their eyes. The building, which replaced the old Royal Hotel, had stood on the site, opposite Blacktown Station, for fifty-eight years.

The building was the work of well-known architect Cyril Christian Ruwald (1895-1959), who designed hotels for Tooth & Co. during the 1930s and 1940s. Ruwald designed the ‘Bull and Bush’ hotel, located at Baulkham Hills, along the same lines as the ‘Robin Hood.’ It is clear that Ruwald’s time spent abroad heavily influence the English style design of both buildings and is reminiscent of what has been termed Inter-War Old English style architecture.

In October 1936, Ruwald signed over the contract for the erection of the ‘Robin Hood’ to the building firm Hutcheson Bros, who were located at Hunter Street, Sydney. A newspaper announcement of the time stated the contractors were rebuilding a ‘residential hotel at Blacktown to be called the ‘Robin Hood Inn.’ The Construction and Real Estate Journal announced that it was pleasing to see hotels (like the Bull and Bush Inn and Robin Hood Inn) of such high quality erected in country centres of New South Wales.

Newspapers in July 1937 also revealed that quite a fanfare surrounded the official opening performed by the president of Blacktown Shire Council, Councillor A.L. Francis. He congratulated Mrs Ada Green on the enterprise that realised a building, which was a great credit to the district, and one that marked a ‘definite step in the progress of Blacktown.’

Councillor Francis added that Mrs Green and her family, who conducted the former Royal Hotel for a decade, had many friends in the district.

Responding, on behalf of his mother, Eric Green said the building design would provide an atmosphere of rest and comfort commonly found in European hotels.

Sunken gardens graced the entrance to the inn, while the foyer contained arched doorways leading into a private bar furnished with sumptuous leather chairs. Tiles adorned the floor of the public bar that had a ‘rubber inlaid counter.’ The colour scheme for these rooms, and the

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private lounges and dining room on the ground floor, was ‘brown, fawn and green.’

A carpeted stairway led to an upper storey containing nine bedrooms with toilet facilities. The colour scheme on the second floor was a ‘pleasing shade of brown’ with cream coloured tiles in the toilets. Guests had the advantage of running hot and cold water in every room as well as the use of ‘delightful sun balconies.’ The cellar featured the latest lowpressure gas system for delivering beer to the bar, a refrigerating plant, as well as ‘the only revolving bottle washer of its kind in the State.’

During the 1950s, the Robin Hood Inn was the centre of controversy when the establishment was ‘black banned’ by a resident group called the Liquor Reform League. The ban was imposed because the League did not agree with Saturday trading hours or the distribution of bottle beer (by ticket) imposed by the licensee. The latter was common in other hotels at the time and created a black market in bottled beer.

According to the Tribune newspaper, the situation improved at the hotel after the licensee and the resident group reached an agreement. The former agreed to having a minimum of six barrels of beer for Saturday mornings (instead of just three or four); to issue new bottle tickets to requalified patrons; to improve washing of glasses and the number of staff on taps. He also agreed to call for tenders for the beer garden and toilet in accordance with the Licensing Court instructions. The last point of the agreement stated that drinkers involved in the ban were not to receive unfair treatment.

Stories abound about the unpleasant nature of the 6 o’clock swill, a situation created after Australia introduced early closing in hotels as part of its austerity measures during the First World War. It was no different at the Robin Hood Inn. A common sight saw workers leap off the train at Blacktown and rush over to the hotel for a quick beer or two before re-boarding the train. Early closing ended in New South Wales in 1955.

Over the years, newspapers reported instances of illegal gambling on the premises, fines for the serving of liquor out of hours and fines given to desperate men who tried to pass themselves off as travellers. However, the once grand hotel still lives on in the memory of Blacktown residents.

Supplied by Blacktown & District Historical Society

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PROPERTY SALES AND LEASING, NOW OPEN IN MARSDEN PARK 9835 3355 | www.bennettproperty.com.au

INVESTORS BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF WITH LIBERAL VICTORY

By Matthew Bennett, Bennett Property Group

MALCOLM Turnbull will form a government after a knife-edge election that took a week to declare a victor.

Although the general public was obviously undecided in who should lead the country in the coming years, the property industry was supportive of the status quo. A key Labor Party policy was to abolish negative gearing and increase capital gains tax. This would have knee-capped the property industry.

The Turnbull Government went to the election with an unchanged negative gearing policy, arguing that any changes to this tax benefit and capital gains tax would see rents rise

and the value of homes fall. Chief Economist of www.realestate.com.au Nerida Conisbee says the re-election of the Turnbull Government is good news.

“This result will be well received by many people investing in residential housing, particularly those that take advantage of the incentive to invest,” Conisbee says. “Australia relies heavily on private investors for rental housing. Any changes may have led to fewer private investors and a potential shortage of rental housing. This shortage in supply would have led to increased rental costs”.

Although housing affordability is a definite concern for first home buyers, the tradition of home ownership in this country means the majority of Australian private wealth sits in the

family home. When the property market is weakened, so is the value of the main family asset.

A lot of Western Sydney residents bought their first property as an investment whilst they lived at home.

Negative gearing and the rise in values gave them a chance to get started. This made their eventual home ownership so much more achievable. As they got older and worked hard to pay off the family home, there has been an incentive to purchase an investment property and start preparing for a selffunded retirement. This has been vital in keeping this country’s economy buoyant. Without this historic level of investment, the long term forecasts of aged care government support would be terrifying.

Current and future Governments

need to remember that we need to foster a future population that works hard to look after themselves rather than one relying on aged-pensions and other government handouts. Our country is healthy when property is healthy.

After all that, sometimes groups definitely need our support and we are proud to continue our ongoing financial support of the Colo Cougars. Colo has been one of Western Sydney’s best breeding grounds of soccer superstars.

We are proud to once again be their main sponsor this year and are excited to see young talent such as this Under 18 team wearing the Bennett logo. Go Cougars!

For comprehensive property advice, call the Bennett Brothers on 9835 3355.

5 things to remember at tax time ONE of the most important parts of successful financial planning and wealth management is making sure your taxes are in order. According to the Australian Taxation Authority (ATO), approximately 300,000 people filed their first tax return in 2015, which means there are many Australians that might have something to learn.

Whether you’re calculating your first home loan or already manage an asset portfolio, here are five things you should always remember as you lodge your paperwork.

1) Check that it’s necessary While most people will file a tax return this financial year, you might not actually have to. If you earned income or received benefits, or generated any kind of money that was taxed, then it’s likely that you will need to go through the process.

But if you feel like you perhaps might be omitted from lodging a return, the ATO has a tool that helps you work it out.

2) Find out what you can claim from work If you have a lot of costs that pertain to your work, you might be able to claim some of these back as tax deductions!

According to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s MoneySmart website, they have to at least be in the three following categories: • Money you spent yourself for work that was not paid back by the employer, • Spending that was relevant to your work, • Catalogued and backed up with evidence.

While not every cost associated with your job will be deductible, there might be some that are. The ATO is another good resource for finding out more about this.

3) Remember your deadlines Don’t feel rushed, keep calm and prepare your paperwork!

While the end of the financial year

is coming up fast, you actually have until the 31st of October to lodge the tax return. So don’t feel rushed about getting your paperwork together! Take your time, make sure everything is in order, and then lodge it before the closing date.

The MoneySmart site points out that you can actually lodge after this date if you are using a tax agent, but you have to have organised the process with the agent before the 31st October.

4) Check up on your rental property If you have taken out a home loan to invest in real estate, there are a lot of relevant deductions you can make.

However, the ATO is paying close attention to investment properties this year, and it had a few choice pieces of advice for people in this position: • Make sure the property was rented out or available for rent for the period over which you are making deductions, • Back up your claims with records, • Account for times the property was used for private purposes,

@wealthwiz

• Make sure claims on freshly bought homes are accurate.

Managing investment property is a great wealth management tactic - just make sure to do it right!

5) Take it online One of the best things about the advent of the internet is the ability to do almost anything from anywhere, and tax has become a part of this. With the ATO’s new MyTax system, people can file their return and assess their finances from the comfort of their own computer - or tablet, or even iPhone.

You have to set up and link your account, but once that is done you can sort out your tax at a leisurely pace without the paper trail or phone calls you used to have to make.

Tax time does not have to be demanding, there are more enjoyable things we’d prefer to be doing.

Unfortunately it’s just one of those things that has to be done. If you want some help in sorting out your finances, don’t hesitate to give Wealthwiz a call.

Call Alex Soncini on 0419 600 177.

#wealthwizau

WealthWiz Wealth Management Suite 3, 47-51 Richmond Rd, Blacktown Call 8004 6655 | www.wealthwiz.com.au

25 Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

realestate real

MARSDEN PARK

EXCITING NEW LAND RELEASE

“MARSDEN FOREST” • A superb new selection of vacant building lots • Level lots with all services • House and Land packages available • Very close to the M7 and Sydney Business Park • Expected completion date in 2018 • Surrounded by future parklands

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Matthew Bennett/Ken Chua - 9835 3355

KURRAJONG (02) 4573 1228 80 Old Bells Line of Road RICHMOND (02) 4578 1234 239 Windsor Street MARSDEN PARK (02) 9835 3355 Cnr Richmond Road & South Street www.bennettproperty.com.au

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• 3-bedroom brick veneer home with fenced backyard • Open-plan layout, separate family/lounge rooms • Updated kitchen with Caesarstone, stainless steel appliances • Main bathroom with corner spa, large fitted laundry • Covered entertaining areas and outdoor spa • Double carport and drive-through tandem garage • Colorbond shed with power

• Heritage-listed cottage with four bedrooms and two fireplaces • Character details throughout and restored period features • Generous separate lounge/dining rooms plus study • High 10.5-foot ceilings, wide 6-inch tallow wood floors • Large country-style kitchen with walk-in pantry • NBN Internet, split system air conditioning, internal laundry • Fully fenced yard, undercover deck, lawns and irrigated gardens • 2 off-road car spaces, 1100-litre (approx.) tank for irrigation

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• In a high position with uninterrupted rural outlook • Very spacious, two storey family home • Rumpus Room with rural outlook. Living and dining area • 4 large bedrooms with robes, ensuite and walk-in robe • Superb merbau timber covered entertaining deck • Fenced and established yard with inground poo • Two car garaging with internal access

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Michael Bennett - 4578 1234

Details:

Rhonda Schellnack - 4578 1234

KURRAJONG (02) 4573 1228 80 Old Bells Line of Road RICHMOND (02) 4578 1234 239 Windsor Street MARSDEN PARK (02) 9835 3355 Cnr Richmond Road & South Street www.bennettproperty.com.au

Storm in build-up mode for playoffs

By Noel Rowsell

THE fourth-placed Blacktown Storm Division One Youth League Men’s team has a great opportunity to consolidate a berth in the upcoming playoff series of the 2016 Waratah Youth League competition this week, taking on two lowly-ranked opponents in Round 18 action.

The Storm face the ninth-placed Penrith Panthers at 7.30pm on Thursday night and the Northern Suburbs Bears at 5.30pm on Saturday - both games to be played at the Kevin Betts Stadium, Mt Druitt.

Despite sitting in the top six, the Storm are not necessarily in great form, finding it difficult to play four solid quarters in recent games.

That factor was in evidence in Round 16 against the tenth-placed Moss Vale Magic, when the Storm led 21-16 in the first quarter, before trailing 31-34 at the half time break.

The Storm would eventually win the game 8175 but head coach Greg Radford needs to keep his players totally focussed for the remainder of the season, as any lapses in the playoffs could have dire consequences.

Junior Madut led the Storm with 20 points, ahead of Diing Mawein 18, Simeon Murray 16 and Rhyss

29 Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

sport

Makuach Maluach in action for the Storm earlier this season. Photo courtesy of Noel Rowsell (www.photoexcellence.com.au)

Limguangco 10.

The Storm enjoyed a bye in Round 17, with

several players in Werribee, Victoria to compete in the annual Sudanese National Classic.

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July 15 7.50pm

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July 24 2.00pm

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July 25 7.00pm

SCORE

Clr Stephen Bali Mayor - Blacktown City Council

175 Matthew Bennett - Bennett Property

181 Tony - Choices Blacktown

171 Paul Maher - Loxley on Bellbird

163 Troy - Urban City Consulting

145 Michelle Faint - Kidz Zoo

123 Kimberley Talbot - CEO Richmond Club

171 Barry Locock - Turtle Landscape Supplies

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Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

MY WORDS WITH MARK GEYER

IT’S ALL ABOUT THOSE DEFINING MOMENTS

Ben Barba - too good

Madness in Macquarie

Town Beach Port Macquarie

THERE are defining moments in a rugby league season that either catapult or puncture.

The Penrith Panthers have had lots of highs this season, the debuts of a handful of rookies being amongst the tip. But conversely there have been three games in particular this year that the mighty Mountain Men may look back and rue as we round the bend and make that final run for September (finals) action.

Round 4 away against the Dragons is one, going down 14-12 in the 77th minute to a Dugan try and Widdop goal. Round 11 is another going down at home to the Gold Coast Titans after leading by 10 points with only 8 minutes remaining on the clock. But tries to Ash Taylor and Anthony Don plus a goal to Taylor saw the Titans come from nowhere to snatch victory.

Defining.

And finally ‘THAT GAME’ that may just have ended any hope of a real tilt at the top 4 was the one last Sunday against the high flying Sharks. With 5 of their players out through origin selection the boys from the Shire looked ripe for picking, only problem was nobody told them. In a masterclass they handed Anthony Griffins men one of their bigger losses of the year. How? Panthers had more ball and completed more sets than their counterparts, they even had the penalties go their way 10-6. Both teams made and missed close to the same amount of tackles, Penrith even off-loaded the ball 14 times compared to the undermanned Cronulla 14-9. I think if we judge this game on the stats it dished up two stand out that went against the Panthers. Both teams had almost the exact same runs in the game ( 172-169) but it’s the metres made that is cause for concern. Of their 172 runs Penrith made 1412 metres. The Sharks on the other hand ran 1578 with their 169 efforts. Quick calculations sees an average

24 HOURS

Just couldn’t escape the jaws of the Sharks

of just over a metre each player ran the ball. Doesn’t seem much but stretch it out over 80 minutes and it’s profound.

The other stat way against the Panthers was their kicking game, or lack there of. Both teams kicked the ball 17 times in the game. Penrith made 365 metres with their kicking game the Sharks a whopping 525, nearly 200 metres more.

That’s a lot of starting sets of your own line. But hey, that’s the statistical side of the game. Anyone who has played or watched footy know that games are won on effort and desire alone,not stats. This Sunday against our arch rivals the Eels is the perfect chance to atone on what was a game to forget for Panther fans last Sunday.

And another thing...

Lots has happened in the last two weeks since I last wrote for this fine publication. For a start I was on a two week holiday where we spent the first week in Port Macquarie and the second catching up on some taped tv.

Meanwhile a lot has occurred in that space so let’s try and quickly catch up. England is on its Pat Malone. We don’t know as a nation if we should vote for Martha or Arthur hence we are continually confused when it comes to Australian politics. Oscar Pistorius gets 6 years for taking a beautiful soul’s life.

The Hayne Plane has been grounded in going any further in the Fiji Olympic union 7’s team hinting at a return to his beloved Eels. And everyone’s second team the Cronulla Sharks have won 13 games straight!! Try predicting any of that 6 months ago....

Take care and I’ll see ya at the game.

MG (random Westie) OAM

0415 982 093

sport

By Chris Wayland

THE Western Sydney Wanderers maintained their position at the top of the PS4 NPL2 ladder when they defeated Macarthur Rams 4-0.

The dominant victory was set-up in the first half when a double to Jordan Morfitis as well as strikes to Cameron Devlin and Kyle Cimenti meant the second half was simply a formality.

With Sydney FC only one point behind the Red & Black, the Wanderers could not afford a slip-up and they got off to the perfect start when Devlin slotted one from outside the box in only the fifth minute.

It was a strike to be proud of and the lead was doubled midway through the half when Morfitis got his first of the afternoon with a curling shot from the outside of the area.

Momentum was certainly going the way of the Wanderers and they put the match beyond reach shortly afterwards when Morfitis scored his second to make it 3-0!

Just when it looked like it couldn’t get any worse for the Rams, Cimenti

tapped-in a Morfitis cross after the winger was fed by a nice Tariq Maia run.

4-0 at half time and the match was as good as over.

Wanderers’ keeper Matt Symes was forced into action early in the second half, making a terrific save, and Cimenti almost got his second with a snap shot on the turn but that was all the action in the second stanza.

A very solid win that keeps the Red & Black one point ahead of Sydney FC on the NPL2 ladder.

This Saturday the Wanderers take on Bankstown Berries at the Crest Athletic Centre with kick-off at 7pm.

Western Sydney Wanderers 4 (Jordan Morfitis x2, Cameron Devlin, Kyle Cimenti) Macarthur Rams 0

BASEBALL NSW is very proud to announce that eight players from NSW have been selected for the upcoming U15 Australian World Cup team.

Local talent in Liam McCallum (Winston Hills), Hayden Lyberopoulos (Castle Hill) and Caleb Shepherd (Rouse Hill), will be joined by Daniel Bannon (Cronulla), Jo Stevens (Ryde), Blake Cavill (Cronulla), Ethan Stacy (Cronulla), and Thomas Horne (Cronulla) are part of a twenty-strong team that will travel to Japan to take on the world.

Managing the 2016 Australian U15’s World Cup team will be Andrew Kyle, who is excited by the upcoming tournament.

“The 15U team has made a really positive start,” Kyle said.

Western News 15 July 2016 Issue 14

Top of the table Talented teens

31

“We expect to compete and if we catch the ball cleanly and attack the strike zone we will give ourselves a chance to do that. That’s the beauty about baseball; if you take care of those things you will always give yourself a chance to be successful.

“We have a tough task ahead of us facing three of the top seven nations in our pool. It is a fantastic opportunity for these young athletes who will have a chance to take on the best teams in the world, including host nation Japan in the opening game.”

The U15 World Cup in Iwaki, Japan will take place from the July 29 to August 7. For information regarding the U15 World Cup, please visit the tournament homepage at http://www. wbsc.org/tournaments/2016-u15baseball-world-cup/

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Friday, 15 July 2016

The hulking prop adding sting to the Eels late surge

By Jarrod McGrouther

IN a season where the Parramatta Eels have copped a hammering from every angle, we decided to give the fans a deserved break this week to focus on a positive story out of the club. The story comes in the way of a hulking talent, rife with potential and a renewed love of the game.

Standing at 6”4’ and weighing in at 117kg, Rory O’Brien is doing great things for his new club, just seven games into his NRL career.

The 27-year-old prop forward is an imposing figure on and off the field, and his size and skill is providing much needed punch off the Parramatta bench.

Western News spoke with O’Brien earlier in the week, and he touched on the importance of the 2016 pre-season and getting his body right, which has seen him rewarded for his hard work and dedication.

“This year with Parramatta I’ve worked really hard in the pre-season

just to drop some weight and get my body ready to play NRL. I’ve done the hard work and now I’m trying to cement a spot in first grade.”

Having made his debut at 25, which is quite old in the NRL these days, O’Brien said having blokes like Danny Wicks at the club has helped him immensely. Wicks, who recently played his 100th game at the age of 30 after his own off field mishaps, is an example that hard work and perseverance can go a long way to success.

Back in 2009, O’Brien surrendered opportunities with the Dragons and Bulldogs before walking away from the game altogether. Reflecting on that time, O’Brien openly admitted to not having the commitment to become a first grade player, but the Eels are glad he’s chosen to return to the game later in his twenties.

Quizzed on his role in the side, O’Brien explained he was just happy to be out of the field, playing the game he was built for. “(At Parramatta) we don’t want to

use too many interchanges in the first half, so if that means I have to come on in the second half and try to bring energy and lift the boys, then that’s my job, I don’t mind.”

Statistically, O’Brien is doing a solid job too. At the moment he is averaging 28 minutes a game with 14 tackles. Each of his runs is stinging and at the moment he is holding his spot in the side.

O’Brien has now played four games in 2016 for the club, with hopes of signing on for another year in the coming months.

“I’m in talks with Parramatta to resign for next year, I’m in the middle of that and hopefully we can get that done very soon.”

And who knows, in 2017 O’Brien could be lacing up his boots to play alongside prodigal son Jarryd Hayne, who is rumoured to be on his way back home. Parramatta are still a chance of making the finals this year, with the side required to win every game on the race home. It all starts with the local derby this weekend in Penrith, with tickets still available.

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