Western News 16 August 2019

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Friday, 16 August 2019

ISSUE 91

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The new Emergency Department at Blacktown Hospital is now open bringing world class care and a new focus on customer service see page 7 for full story.

Western News 16 August 2019 Issue 91

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A Veteran’s Tears

By Tomas Hamilton

I recall the day I met him, when I went to read my poem About the Anzac spirit, at the district veterans home He was sitting in the corner, medals on his chest But from his haunting memories. He would never rest

He beckoned me to join him and I sat beside his chair In tones he spoke so softly, his eyes a vacant stare He said “I’m grateful for your visit and the way you make words rhyme Having listened to your story, it’s time to tell you mine I was barely nineteen years of age, when I donned my jungle greens I never had a second thought, it was all part of my genes Pop served on the Western Front, Dad Kokoda Track I had no inhibitions, ‘cause they all made it back I found myself at Nui Dat, boarding choppers at first light If I practiced all I’d learned, I thought that I’d be right But all the courses I had done, didn’t seem to count Trudging through the paddy fields and the casualties began to mount After twelve months they sent me home and I saw how life had changed

As if everything I valued, had all been rearranged Friends had turned against me, for going to that war So I embarked on the Vung Tau Ferry and went off for a second tour Tet should have seen a ceasefire, but that was just a con In villages and cities the firefights still dragged on We were from many units, fulfilling our own role We wore different coloured lanyards, but we only had one goal The enemy fell upon us and all that I can say These were no peasant farmers, the were regular NVA They nearly over ran us, at Coral and Balmoral And when we finally drove them off, there was no victors’ laurel

I came home in the dead of night and they sent me on my way I wished I had of joined my mates, laying buried in the clay I drifted as a homeless drunk, no one shed a tear Until the Salvos dried me out and I found myself in here” A nurse observed this tortured soul as he began to cry And said “I think that he has had enough, it is time to say goodbye So thank you for your visit and for listening to what he said” And she wheeled him quietly sobbing, to the sanctuary of his bed

St Marys Outpost & St Marys RSL Sub-Branch

VIETNAM VETERANS DAY All in the local community are warmly invited to join with members of the St Marys Outpost and St Marys RSL Sub-Branch in a service to commemorate Vietnam Veterans Day.

Sunday 18th August, 5pm St Marys RSL Auditorium Special Guest Speaker ~ Retired Major General Jim Molan ALL WELCOME

Western News

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ew research shows the cellular foot soldiers your body deploys to fight the flu can turn against you and quickly transform a mild bout of influenza into a severe infection that can kill even the fittest person.

The international study led by Nepean Hospital and published in Nature Communications has for the first time revealed a possible explanation why otherwise healthy people sometimes die from the flu.

Lead author and intensive care specialist at Nepean Hospital, Associate Professor Benjamin Tang says key immune cells drive an ‘overreaction’ in some patients’ immune systems which damages their lungs.

“We found the immune system becomes disorganised in patients with severe flu infection. Neutrophils, a specific type of immune cell which should be attacking the virus, started to attack healthy lung tissue and produce massive inflammation.

“This causes breathing difficulty, dangerously dropping blood oxygen levels and sadly, in some cases, causing respiratory failure and death,” says Associate Professor Tang, who performed his research in both Nepean Hospital and the Westmead Institute for Medical Research.

Scientists have long known that the

Associate Benjamin Tang with Dr Maryam Shojaei (left) and Sally Teoh (right) who are also members of the research team

immune system can attack the body but previously this was mostly seen in people with autoimmune disease.

“This is the first time we’ve been able to show the immune system turning against the body in otherwise healthy people who are infected with the flu,” says Associate Professor Tang.

In the 2009 global flu pandemic, Associate Professor Tang and his colleagues in the Nepean Hospital

intensive care unit were treating patients infected with swine flu.

“Healthy people in the prime of their lives were ending up in our intensive care unit with the flu. It didn’t make sense and it inspired us to look deeper.

To look for the mechanism that triggers mild flu to suddenly become severe and potentially deadly,” says Associate Professor Tang.

The Nepean Hospital team reached out to doctors and scientists around

Australia, Germany, Canada, the Czech Republic and the USA to build a cross-disciplinary collaboration of physicians, geneticists and scientists.

From 2009 to 2016, the researchers collected blood and airway samples from 720 patients across 20 hospitals in Australia, Canada and Germany to help map out the activity of hundreds of immune pathways in each patient.

To help zero in on the triggers for the infection turning from mild to severe, the study authors also accounted for the patient’s age, pre-existing health conditions, the strain of influenza and duration of symptoms.

“In the clinical setting, measuring neutrophil-related abnormal changes may improve our ability to identify which patients are at risk of progressing from mild to severe influenza,” says Associate Professor Tang.

“The discovery also identifies a new pathway for potential treatments to be developed to tame the immune system, reduce the collateral damage caused by the body’s defences against the flu virus and save lives.”

Associate Professor Tang also leads a team at Nepean Hospital who have patented a world-leading blood test which can identify which patients are at risk of developing life-threatening complications while infected with influenza.

Western News 16 August 2019 Issue 91

When good cells turn bad: How the flu can turn deadly

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Prue Car MP Member for Londonderry

Ph: 9833 1122 154 Queen Street, St Marys londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au

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From the Editor’s Desk

By KeRRIE DAVIES

S

ocial media has of course brought many positives to our society. Aside from being able to catch up on what is happening in the lives of friends and family we don’t see everyday, it keeps us informed on so many levels. Instant news, raising awareness of an array of topics and it’s a great share tool when a message needs to get out quickly, such as when looking for a missing person.

But there is such a dark, dark side to it also, that is really disappointing and quite frankly, scary. People can be so utterly cruel to others on social media.

For the most part I imagine the most nasty people on facebook don’t ridicule everyone they come across face to face, so why is it that when they have a phone in their their hand they feel it is a licence to horrendously bully and insult people with the words they type?

The treatment of the struggling farmers recently who tried to sell a “rare ooshie” toy makes me embarrassed and really worried about the future of this country. Sure, the price they asked was ridiculous for a collectible toy, but what ever happened to the old lovable Aussie attitude of laughing something off?

I remember years ago when Aussies were putting bags of Bondi sand on Ebay and Americans were buying it at insane prices. We used to have an attitude of “oh well, if people are silly enough to buy it, good luck to those selling it.”

Messages of luck to the farmers aforementioned were replaced with people telling them to commit suicide, die of thirst or choke on the toy. This new-wave attitude towards others is sickening.

Everything we put on social media immediately exposes us to ridicule. Gone are the days where you could state a political opinion, for instance, without getting smashed from pillar to post from everyone who doesn’t agree. Sensible debate has been replaced with stalking, intimidating and crucifying anyone who happens to state an opinion.

I fear what’s ahead of us, because I don’t see any way of it ever becoming under control.

What are your thoughts? I’d like to hear them. kerrie@nepeannews.com.au

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Western News 16 August 2019 Issue 91

Blooming marvellous!

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lacktown Hospital’s new Atrium and Main Reception opened recently.

Congratulations to their front desk team who have done an outstanding job supporting the change.

Remember if you’re looking for A21 Emergency, use the lifts or stairs near the palm court and follow the signs.

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Climb and slide on the new equipment

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uakers Hill and Riverstone residents are enjoying their chance to slide, climb and swing with their new and improved parks.

The $128,000 upgrade in Quakers Hill Park, Walker Street, includes new equipment as well as a new walking path to the park, and rubber and mulch soft fall.

The $128,000 upgrade in Ridgeview Park, Oleander Crescent, Riverstone, was completed with the help of

$10,000 from Federal Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowland through the Stronger Communities Grant Program.

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said the playgrounds are vital for our community.

“The playgrounds contribute to the positive lifestyle of a community and are valuable spaces for children to learn and play,” Mayor Bali said.

The design for Quakers Hill Park was completed with consultation with

Hambledon Public School students, members of the Quakers Hill Park Committee and the community.

“It is great to see the community being involved in projects such as this,” Mayor Bali said.

“There is so much to do at each park with a climbing ladder, a bridge balance piece and climbing bars at Quakers Hill Park and a sphere climbing structure,

rope spinner and a four person group rocker at Ridgeview Park.”

Ms Rowland said: “Having access to local facilities like these is what makes our community such a great place to live. I am proud to have contributed funds to this project”.

“I look forward to seeing our community enjoy this fantastic community asset”.

Sydney’s Lockout laws: are they working?

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he Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR) has updated their evaluation of the Lockout laws on assaults in Sydney for an extended follow up period.

“Over the five years following the Lockout reforms we find non-domestic assaults decreased 53% in the Kings Cross precinct and decreased 4% in the CBD Entertainment precinct,” the Bureau said in a statement.

However, over the same period assaults increased in various displacement sites. Nondomestic assaults rose 18% in a ring of suburbs neighbouring the Lockout zone. Among a group of four alternative nightspots accessible from the city (Newtown, Double Bay,

Bondi Beach and Coogee) nondomestic assaults increased by 30%.

Despite this, BOCSAR estimates the reforms delivered an overall reduction in non-domestic assaults over 5 years, with an estimated net benefit of 395 fewer non-domestic assault incidents (1350 fewer assaults in the Lockout precincts versus 955 additional assaults in the displacement sites).

Commenting on the findings, acting executive director of BOCSAR, Jackie Fitzgerald said that while the Lockout reforms have reduced assaults, their benefit is diminishing over time. “The effect of the reforms in Kings Cross is still strong. However the positive impact in the CBD has fallen over the longer term.”

Community engagement – have your say

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lacktown City Council is inviting residents and businesses to have their say on the best way for Council to communicate and engage with the community.

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said: “Council is transforming Blacktown into a diverse, dynamic and progressive ‘City of Excellence’ and it is vital that we have the best policies and strategies in place to engage the community in this exciting journey.

“It is also of vital importance that the community can have a say in the

planning and development approval process.

“Council currently engages with the community in a number of ways including newsletters, community forums, Council’s website, social media and local advertising.

“Council is determined to make sure our engagement and communications with the community is of the highest standard,” Mayor Bali said.

Blacktown City Council has developed a new set of Community Engagement policies and plans and is inviting feedback from residents,

community groups and local businesses.

Council is inviting public comment on the following documents: • Draft Community Engagement Policy – Council will engage with local communities and key stakeholders to understand their needs and aspirations and to ensure Council’s plans, programs and services reflect these effectively.

• Draft Community Engagement Strategy - an outline of Council’s community engagement standards, principles and processes that ensure

engagement is inclusive, considered and effective.

• Draft Community Participation Plan for planning and development - includes information about how and when Council engages with the community on planning and development related issues.

These documents are on public display until 22 August 2019. Copies are available at the Blacktown Civic Centre, all Council libraries or on Council’s website: https://www. blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Have-your-say/ Have-your-say

Western News

COVER STORY

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lacktown Hospital staff are celebrating the relocation of its emergency department (ED) to a brand new home, and the first patients to experience the new service have given it a big tick of approval.

The ED, part of the NSW Government’s $700 million Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals’ expansion project, has taken five years of careful planning and a complete design rethink to become one of the most advanced in the state.

First patient Tabbetha Senior, walked in the new department unaware that she had made history.

“I’ve never been to hospital before but I’ve had a good impression walking into this facility,” Tabbetha said.

“As soon as I walked in I got a wheelchair which was great. It’s overwhelming being in hospital but great to know I was being looked after, everything was on point.

“I’m being treated for two fractures in my leg – I’m hoping the doctors give me a moon boot instead of surgery.

“For people like myself, who have had an accident and requiring treatment … to be treated like that with dignity – I think that’s great.”

Acute medicine nurse manager Camille Dooley said patients will notice the difference in the new ED as soon they walk through the door.

First patient Tabbetha Senior makes history as the first patient to be treated at Blacktown Hospital’s new emergency department.

“Staff told us they wanted a mobile approach to triage, to be with their patients and have a different level of interaction and relationship from the start of their journey,” Camille said.

“I hope we’ve been able deliver an environment in which patients, their families and loved ones feel safe and comfortable to seek help.”

The new ED includes a spacious new waiting area and reception, facilities for resuscitation, acute care, urgent care, and short stay, bedside imaging, and a separate entry with drop-off at the door and dedicated parking.

A dedicated unit for patients with mental health emergencies is also located in the same zone.

Nurse unit manager Erica Wilde was on duty as the first ambulance arrived into the new ambulance bay.

“It’s always nice to have new equipment and have an environment which supports staff to show off their skills, but at the end of the day what we all want is to provide the best care to patients, and this unit allows us to do that,” Erica said.

For the director of emergency medicine, Associate Professor Reza

Ali, it’s the start of a transition to the hospital of the future.

“We will be providing the best possible service, but taking it up a notch with the new facilities and space to expand in the future,” he said.

With services set to transfer in a matter of days, Reza was also keen to remind people about the role of their local emergency department, especially with the winter peak now in full swing.

“Emergency departments are for patients who are critically ill, or who can’t be managed by a GP or an outpatient clinic,” Reza said.

“I can’t reiterate strongly enough that emergency departments are for emergencies, but if you are not sure what to do please call 000 and they can guide your through the process.”

The new vehicle entry for the new ED is off Marcel Crescent. Drop-off, entry and parking area are signposted – just follow the directions.

For a map to Blacktown Hospital ED visit www.bit.ly/ BlacktownEmergency For more information about our local hospital emergency departments, and alternatives to emergency departments, please visit www. wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/BlacktownMount-Druitt-Hospital/EmergencyDepartments/Emergency-Departments

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Blacktown Hospital welcomes emergency department of the future

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Kellyville couple to retire and travel the world

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Kellyville couple are

planning to retire early and travel the world endlessly after discovering they won the First Prize in Sunday’s Set for Life draw.

The New South Wales players held the only First Prize winning entry in Set for Life draw 1466, taking home $20,000 a month for 20 years.

The couple are the fiftieth First Prize winners since the game began in August 2015 and will fulfil their dream of becoming nomads.

While initial attempts to contact the registered players were unsuccessful, this afternoon a NSW Lotteries official finally got in touch with the pair to break the news.

“Thank you so much,” the winning woman laughed.

“We’ve been out all day, so we had no idea. I saw your email but I just thought we won a few thousand dollars, I never in a million years thought we won First Prize.

“We are feeling very excited. It’s surreal!

“It’s a big shock! We are a bit overwhelmed.

You never expect to be the person on the end of this call.

“You bet we will be celebrating all week! Tonight we will go out for a fancy dinner and break the news to the kids.”

When asked how they planned to enjoy their prize, the keen holidaymakers said it would completely change their life.

“It’s really come at the perfect time,” the woman said.

“It means we don’t need to worry about money and can just do all the things we have wanted to do.

“We’ll share it with our kids. We want to look after them first.

“There will be lots and lots of holidays. We love to travel! We will be traveling all the time and exploring new places.

“We want to go on a big trip to Europe next. We’d love to see France and Italy.

“This speeds up our retirement too! We want to retire now and just spend our days enjoying time with our family or travelling.”

The pair, who wish to remain anonymous, purchased their winning 2-SET entry at Kellyville Plaza Newsagency, Shop 21, 90 Wrights Road, Kellyville.

Kellyville Plaza Newsagency manager Vijay Sarma said he was thrilled to have sold the fiftieth Set for Life First Prize winning entry.

“We were excited to hear that one of our customers won First Prize in Set for Life,” he said.

“I think it is such a great prize because it’s paid on a monthly basis.

“We will be sharing the great news with all our customers by putting up balloons and posters and celebrating this amazing win.

“Hopefully our lucky store brings more major prize wins to our customers.

“We would like to congratulate our winners and wish them good luck and happiness in their future.

“We have sold three major prizes in the last six years and we can’t wait to sell more!”

The winning numbers in Set for Life draw 1466 were 4, 21, 2, 20, 30, 33, 6, 34, while the bonus numbers were 1 and 22.

Across the country, the New South Wales winner held the only First Prize winning entry in Set for Life draw 1466 on Sunday 11 August 2019.

Opinion: legalising abortion is a backward step

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iverstone MP Kevin Conolly has opposed what he calls the “euphemistically-titled” Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill. He released a statement on why he did so: “Removing the last vestiges of legal protection for unborn children in NSW is not a health care reform. It is a step backwards to a less-enlightened, less-civilised society which places only selective value on human life.

The Bill is built on the ugly premise that while an unborn child who is ”wanted” by his or her parents is a human being, an unborn child who is not “wanted” is not a human being. This is unscientific and ethically unsustainable.

Scientific and medical advances of the last 50 years have allowed us to see inside the womb with greater clarity than ever before via

ultrasound; to identify the individual DNA of the unique human being in the womb; and to operate “in utero” to correct developmental defects to allow a baby the best start in life.

All of these developments confirm and corroborate that the unborn child is a human being. The pro-life case has only been strengthened by the medical and scientific advances of the modern era, not weakened.

Logically the onus is on those who would legalise the termination of the life of an unborn child to prove that the child is not a human being. Of course, that is not possible.

It is the pro-abortion argument which is archaic and unscientific.

Obviously, the human being most affected by a termination is the one whose life is being terminated. If human rights mean anything at all, they must start with the right of a human being not to be killed.”

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ederal Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland MP is encouraging local community organisations to submit expressions of interest to share in $150,000 local grant funding.

Grants from $2,500 to $20,000 are available and are required to be matched in monetary terms or in-kind by applicants. Grants will be awarded to successful groups to fund equipment and/or infrastructure which will benefit the local area.

Through previous funding rounds, Michelle Rowland MP has delivered a number of local projects, including:

• New picnic tables at Civic Park, Pendle Hill.

• Additional seating at Alwyn Lindfield Reserve, Glenwood.

• Playground upgrades at Ridgeview Park, Riverstone.

• A community garden at Blacktown Women’s and Girls’ Health Centre.

• An outdoor amphitheatre at Vardys Road Public School, Kings Langley.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for local organisations to identify improvements to facilities and programs enjoyed by our community”, Ms Rowland said.

Local organisations are now

invited to submit preliminary proposals.

Expressions of interest for this grant round can be made by emailing Michelle.Rowland.MP@ aph.gov.au or by mail to PO Box 686, Seven Hills 1730 by COB on 13 September 2019 in order to meet the application timeframe.

Inclusion of supporting documentation, including project outline, plans, pricing lists and designs would be appreciated and will assist the assessment process.

For more information or to confirm eligibility, visit: https:// www.business.gov.au/Assistance/ Stronger-Communities-Programme.

Appeal for dash-cam vision Police investigating a serious crash in Greystanes in June are appealing for public assistance as inquiries continue.

About 10.30pm on Saturday 8 June 2019, a green coloured Honda Civic was travelling along the Great Western Highway, near Beresford Road, when it left the roadway and struck a power pole.

The 20-year-old male provisional P1 driver and his three passengers – two aged 22 and the third aged 18

– were trapped for a significant amount of time. Once freed, they were all hospitalised with varying injuries; all men have since been released.

Officers from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit are investigating all circumstances surrounding the crash and are appealing for anyone who may be able to assist with their investigation to come forward.

They would like to speak with anyone who saw the Honda Civic travelling through either Wentworthville

or Greystanes prior to the crash, particularly those who may have dash-cam vision that could be of assistance to the ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information or dash-cam vision relating to this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers. com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.

The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

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Stronger communities programme now open

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Western News

UNESCO heritage in central Cuba

Over Trinidad

By BEN CRANNEY

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n Trinidad, Cuba, we smoked our first cigars. I was with two girls who were more interested in the Insta shots than the experience.

There was lots of pretending to smoke with dainty inhales. I don’t smoke, so I had no problem with this, until the girls realised that if you don’t smoke the cigar properly, it goes out. Which means that there are no wisps of smokes, or ash to tap for the perfect photo. The problem was, they still didn’t want to actually smoke them. So, in a very short amount of time, I smoked two more cigars than I’d smoked in my life. I was very sick. And I don’t think they posted anything.

Thankfully, Trinidad is near some amazing beaches that are perfect for cleaning your lungs out. We hired a fellow and his 1960s convertible to visit one on the Ancon Peninsula. It

was near empty, apart from the guys walking up and down selling pizza.

There’s no surf, and apart from the horizon, the blue sea is endless.

On the same day, we visited the ruins of a plantation at Valle de los Ingenios, where we learnt of horrific slavery conditions, and the incredible strength of the enslaved women, who were forced to work until they gave birth, and then forced to return to work almost immediately. We visited another plantation, Manaca Iznaga, with its seven story tower, built to watch for escaping slaves.

Now days, Manaca Iznaga has a little market of beautiful handcrafts, and we bought some little hand sewn booties for our daughter, even though she was still four and half years away at that stage.

Trinidad itself is a beautiful place, with a UN heritage listing. The streets are framed by brightly coloured houses. Donkeys and horses pull

Trinidad’s streets

carts across the cobbled stones. White lampposts lead you up to the town square, where the House of Music, la Casa de la Musica, plays Caribbean beats into the night. When it finishes, the party continues at La Cueva, the nightclub in a cave where circus performers get the crowd to do stupid things like lifting a picnic table with their teeth. They got me out the front

to have a go. I was impressed that I got it up without losing a tooth. No one else was though, because no one clapped, and I realised that one of the performers had helped me. He must have known I needed my teeth for Instagram.

Next time: Mad Max and the Land Down Under.

The Unintentional Medium By Suzi Samuel It’s a Dog’s Life

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few weeks ago, I went to visit a good friend of mine who had the most gorgeous little dog. I rang the doorbell and heard the usual welcoming and distinctive bark. When my friend opened the door, she was alone and so I assumed the dog was in the garden. “Where’s Lupe?” I asked. My friend’s eyes filled with tears.

“She died a few days ago,” she replied sadly.

“But….. I just heard her barking,” I stammered. “I know,” said my friend. “She is still here.”

I am often asked what happens to animals when they die. I truly believe that the soul is not just the prerogative of humans, something that is borne out by the merest glimpse into the world of animal behaviour, and so when we carry this concept forward, does it not then follow that the soul of an animal will behave in more or less the same way as that of a human, that is a many-faceted spirit that can stay with us or be reincarnated - or even both.

Before I get too carried away with philosophical discussion about the composition of the soul, let me just give you a couple of examples when animals have come back to me in one way or another. When my daughter was little she got a cat, not just an ordinary cat but a great big black bruiser of a cat who rejoiced in the unlikely name of Gregoire. Not our choice but he had lived with a French family for the first year of his life, sharing his bed with a rabbit behind the fridge in a rather posh part of London.

When Gregs arrived, he did not speak English and only responded to French. He did acclimatise as he

got older, but the odd thing was that when he got old and sick, he was very comforted to hear the language of his kittenhood. We did mourn him when he died, but thirty years on, that pussycat is still around. I first noticed his presence when I was going through a rather difficult time. Whenever things got rough, I would catch a glimpse of something black and cat-sized out of the corner of my eye. Just a flash and then it was gone. I put this down to stress, lunacy, whatever, but one day my daughter said to me, “Don’t think I’ve gone mad, Mummy, but every time I’m sad or worried, I see Gregoire.” I didn’t think her mad at all, and I am convinced that big old cat does pop in to comfort us, even to this day.

Another example of this was my Bassett Hound, Barnaby. We lived in a house with open-tread

wooden stairs and every morning we had the same scenario. My husband would put his clothes on the bed while he had his shower and without fail, Barnaby would creep in and pinch a sock. I would be woken out of my early morning stupour to hear John cursing and the dog legging it downstairs, claws clattering and then thumping as he lost his grip and skidded to a crumpled heap, hitting each stair on his way down. The scene did vary slightly when I found him being chased by a furious three-yearold, whacking him with a half-chewed favourite toy.

Just after we moved house, poor Barnaby died and we got our first Golden Retriever. I was out walking him one day when I met the lovely lady who had bought our old house. “Hello dear,” she said. “I see you have a gorgeous new dog. We still have Barnaby.” Well, I didn’t quite know what to say to this, especially as all things spiritual were a closed book to me at the time. It turned out that every morning they would hear claws clattering on the stairs, followed by a succession of thumps and then a yelp. He had gone back to the home he grew up in.

I am still mourning the loss of my beautiful Golden Retriever but in my heart I know he is still with me. So to any of you in a similar situation, I would say that although it is incredibly sad, be comforted by the fact that pets do stay with you, just as much as people do. Welcome them home albeit in a different form.

The Unintentional Medium is available online or from any good book store.

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By CONNER LOWE

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blast from the past will be

on show at the St Mary’s Spring Festival this year with a 1928 and 1929 Model A Pheaton rolling with the parade.

The vehicles are owned by Col Bootle and Bernie Learson. The cars are original Model A Pheatons with their bodies unrestored but still running perfectly almost a century on from their release.

These two vehicles will be part of a number of different vehicles from the Model A Ford Club of NSW on display at the St Marys Spring Festival and they will be participating in the parade down Queen Street with passengers from the St Marys Historical Society dressed in period costume.

Robert Brown, President of Model A Ford Club of NSW spoke about how many years they have been at the festival and where the cars will be displayed throughout the day.

“This will be our third year being involved with the St Marys Spring Festival,” he said.

“The vehicles will be displayed in the car park opposite Coachman’s

Col Bootle, Lyn Forde, Alex Karavas, Sue Fryer, Bernie Learson. Photo: Noel Rowsell.

Park. Members of the public are welcome to go and see the vintage cars and have their photo taken standing beside the cars.”

The St Marys Spring Festival is a community event that showcases the CBD and local businesses and performers. Mark the date in your

diary and prepare to be part of the fun and excitement.

The St Marys Spring Festival is the major annual community event held in the CBD of St Marys, and attracts a crowd of approximately 20,000 30,000 people each year.

The Festival will be on the 7th

September from 9am-3pm and is free for families to attend and attracts people from all over the region. The grand parade will be held at 12:30pm.

If you want to see these vintage cars on display make sure to get down to the St Marys Spring Festival for a great day out and relive some history.

Rocker rides buggy to help people get around

G

uitarist, novelist and businessman Christopher Maxwell somehow finds time in his busy schedule to volunteer at Westmead Hospital.

The talented musician has travelled hundreds of kilometres in the hospital over the years, driving patients, visitors and staff to and from their destinations in the buggy transport service.

Heavily influenced by well-known superstar artists like Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison, Chris is passionate about playing guitar among other creative pursuits.

“I’m working with a percussionist friend to produce an album, which we hope to have recorded in a studio and uploaded to YouTube for people to enjoy,” he said.

“I also run a lawn mowing business, and I’m in the middle of writing a novel about the trials and tribulations of my school years.”

The Parramatta local says he encourages more people to volunteer at Westmead.

“The hospital is always looking for volunteers to assist with the buggy transport, fundraising and helping within the wards”, Chris said.

“I enjoy working here and helping people. It makes me feel like I’ve achieved something wonderful driving people around as well as getting to speak with them about their day.”

The buggies were introduced to Westmead Hospital in 2017 to assist people with mobility difficulties to access the various wards, clinics and services within the hospital.

They run from designated stations throughout the hospital, located at

the main entrance, dental building, private consulting rooms, and within various hospital blocks.

Passengers are encouraged to request this service by using the black phones at each station at the hospital.

Two buggy drivers are rostered on during business hours and they operate between 8am – 4pm on week days.

For further information about volunteering at Westmead Hospital call 8890 6454.

Western News 16 August 2019 Issue 91

Vintage cars ready to roll at St Marys Spring Festival

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Western News 16 August 2019 Issue 91

12

WESTERN HISTORY

A Remarkable Woman

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

D

eborah Frances Levey (known as Frances) was born in November 1831 at Penrith to Barnett Levey, a Jewish watchmaker, theatre director (owner of the “Theatre Royal”) and his wife Sarah Emma, née Wilson. Both parents came free to the colony. In June 1825 at St John’s Church at Parramatta, they were married by Special Licence. Sarah was the daughter of Mrs Josephson of Pitt Street in Sydney.

From 1825 to 1835 Barnett was granted a total of 1,280 acres. These grants covered a large portion of what is now Glenbrook. He built a house on this estate calling it “Mount Zion”, known today as the site of the Pilgrim’s Inn at Blaxland. In around 1830, “Ralph Rashleigh”, a convict named James Tucker, wrote a book including names of the early convicts at Emu Plains who sowed the seeds of the drama in Australia. At that time free people in Sydney were denied the pleasure of the drama because Governor Darling refused to grant Barnett a licence to conduct plays in the Royal Hotel so he built a theatre, but as late as 1831 no licence could be squeezed out of the Governor. When the journalists of Sydney heard of the theatre at Emu Plains there was a violent outburst. Soon the clamour became so loud that the stage was set for the opening of drama in Sydney. Newspapermen of the time recognised that the convicts of Emu Plains were the pioneers of the Australian drama.

Barnett died in 1837 and was buried in the old Devonshire Street Cemetery. His widow Sarah did not receive any benefit from her husband’s estate but managed to educate her children. A sister of Frances named Emma, married Dr George Thomas Clarke of “Hill View” Penrith in 1847. In November 1873 after her mother died, Frances changed her surname to Levvy. When George Clarke died in 1874, Emma and Frances moved to Newtown in Sydney. Later, Frances lived at Woollahra until she purchased “Yulah Cottage” at Waverley. In January 1884 she became involved with the cause that was to shape and fill the rest of her life. Frances and Emma help found Australia’s first “Bands of Mercy” (BOM) to teach children kindness to animals. The BOM in Australia was the result of a movement that began in England for the purpose of preventing cruelty by helping members to study the nature and habits of animals and showing the affection and devotion that animals were capable of, and by gathering children together for pleasant recitations and songs illustrating mercy and benevolence and to train them into the practice of kindness. BOM’s were often formed in schools with the permission of the Minister for Public Instruction and the local schoolteachers who sought to initiate the values of kindness and care towards those of the animal kingdom. In December 1886, she was Honorary Secretary of a women’s branch of the “Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” (RSPCA) that she also helped found. Initially, the women’s branch of the RSPCA did not use the prefix ‘Royal’ in its title but did so shortly after its formation when it sought, and believed, it was granted affiliation with the parent body in Britain. In 1896 a question was raised as to the right of the Committee to use the prefix ‘Royal’ and its use was discontinued.

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Her greatest capacity was for writing, and her major achievement was her editorship of the “Bands of Mercy and Humane Journal of NSW”. Each month from July 1887 until August 1923 she presented a publication for both children and adults. Her belief in woman’s superior innate morality led her to resist an amalgamation with the “Animals’ Protection Society of New South Wales” in 1902, a decision that may also have been influenced by the humiliating public rejection of her society by the RSPCA and the APS in 1896, following the conviction of one of her inspectors for extortion. After the rejection by the British RSPCA her organization became the “Women’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” (WSPCA). Her magazine reported the activities of the Bands and the (WSPCA) on behalf of animals, such as deputations for a lethal chamber where stray dogs could be destroyed painlessly, for fixed stops for horse-drawn buses, free water for horse troughs, the provision of sand to prevent slipping on wet roads, and a horse ambulance. Submitted articles were subjected to her energetic editorial comment and she wrote many of the poems and stories herself. Full of passionate concern for animals and reflecting her deeply held religious convictions, the magazine was a rare record of a moderate animal protectionist’s personal philosophy and life. Frances was aiming to make children more alert and to stop stone-throwing at old people and stop men from being cruel to the dumb animals they owned. By 1897 she claimed 446 Bands with membership numbering 26,000. Permitted to establish Bands within NSW public schools she was paid £50 a year by the Department of Public Instruction. Each year she visited up to sixty schools, organizing and judging an essay competition that saw hundreds of entries. She also engaged in voluminous correspondence with leaders of Bands outside Sydney. While the WSPCA consisted only of women, there was a male Honorary Secretary who was also the paid secretary of the APS. His membership was obviously at the invitation of the women and was presumably because the WSPCA saw the need for his knowledge and experience as well as being their direct link to the APS and its activities, and the male APS was involved in the investigation and prosecution of those who showed cruelty to animals, but the WSPCA had a different function. It was not a ladies Committee of the male APS but was independent from it and primarily concerned with educating children about animals so they would not engage in cruel behaviour towards them. Frances also belonged to the “Girls’ Friendly Society” and the “Church of England Temperance Society”. She donated money to the “London Society”, an organization for promoting Christianity among Jews.

Sadly, in her later years she went blind, bedridden and almost deaf but she continued her magazine. She died in November 1924 at Waverley and is buried in the Anglican cemetery at Randwick. She asked in her will to be buried with an oil painting of her beloved sister Emma. Photo shows Queen Victoria 1897 Band of Mercy Medal.

Sources: H. Radi (ed), 200 Australian Women, Band of Mercy and Humane Journal of NSW online, RSPCA Journal, Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, Jennifer MacCulloch – “Levvy Frances Deborah (1831–1924)” & “Creatures of Culture: The Animal Protection and Preservation Movements in Sydney”, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University website, Colonialgivers.com website, Sydney Gazette & NSW Adviser, Nepean Times, The Monitor, Family Search Mormon website, loststory.net/australianwomen/frances-levvy.

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Western News

ENTERTAINMENT

SUDOKU: MEDIUM

Western News 16 August 2019 Issue 91

SUDOKU: EASY

13

SOLUTIONS: 2 August

INSTRUCTIONS

EASY

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

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Soonest (8) 5 Bordering (6) 9 Amassed (8) 10 Attack (6) 12 Type of chisel (5) 13 Imagine (9) 14 A moon of Mars (6) 16 Speech (7) 19 Deactivate (7) 21 Says “Hello” (6) 23 Overburdens (9) 25 Made a mistake (5) 26 Graduates (6) 27 Ludicrous (8) 28 Pass by (time) (6) 29 Commingle (8)

down 1 Betroth (6) 2 Enhances photographs (9) 3 A valley in France (5) 4 Veers (7) 6 Fundamentally different (9) 7 Pertaining to modern day Persia (5) 8 Three-masted sailing ships (8) 11 City in Norway (4) 15 Mutterings (9) 17 Communicates (9) 18 Lawyer (8) 20 An unfledged hawk (4) 21 Nazi secret police (7) 22 Breed of penguin (6) 24 Mediterranean herbs (5) 25 Surpass (5)

solution 2/8/19

Western News 16 August 2019 Issue 91

14

REAL ESTATE

Western News

Buy Now Pay Later

Alex Soncini

A

The importance of doing your research in a growing lender marketplace

dramatic increase in the number of lenders has

highlighted the need for greater research and consideration, or ‘due diligence’, when searching and applying for a loan.

The act of purchasing a property, commonly requiring the production of significant personal information, coupled with the commitment of large sums of money, can be stressful.

And now, with a wide variety of new lenders entering the marketplace, confidently choosing a lender you are comfortable with can feel downright overwhelming.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help you make the right choice and reduce your risk of misfortune.

Trust your gut and be wary of behaviour or hints that may suggest something isn’t quite right Your first step should be to speak to a mortgage broker who is a member of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA). Alex Soncini from Wealthwiz is a certified full member of the MFAA. The MFAA maintains high ethical standards for its brokers and ensures its members meet industry-leading educational criteria – they are the best educated brokers in Australia. MFAA member mortgage brokers will are able to educate you on the variety of reputable lenders available to you.

There are also a number of government operated organisations and websites that provide tools and opportunities to help you to conduct

due diligence checks.

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) is an independent authority that supervises deposit-taking banking institutions, so you can check the APRA site to see if a potential bank is licensed and adhering to APRA’s requirements.

There are lenders out there who are reputable, but aren’t deposit taking institutions or banks, and therefore don’t need to be licensed and supervised by APRA. There are generally two types – private lenders or mortgage managers/ white-label lenders. Private lenders are able to provide you credit and operate as a lender because they lend their own private money and they aren’t deposit taking organisations (that is, you can’t deposit and save money with them).

Mortgage managers and white-label lenders, on the other hand, offer credit and loans, such as mortgages, but do so on behalf of other financial institutions such as banks. Again, they don’t take deposits.

Whilst private lenders and mortgage managers/white-label lenders don’t need to be licensed by APRA, they do need to be licensed by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and require an Australian Credit Licence (ACL) if they engage in lending regulated by the National Credit Code, which includes making loans to buy residential property.

If you find that a potential home lender is not licensed by APRA, this should not be a concern provided that they hold an Australian Credit Licence

and this can be confirmed via ASIC’s online search tool.

Also, all Australian companies must be registered with ASIC. Helpfully, the ASIC website has several registers that you can search for free, including the Organisations and Business Names register, which indexes Australian corporate and registered business names. It also includes some incorporated associations.

If the business is not a company (such as a sole trader, a joint venture or a partnership), it will need to be registered on ASIC’s Business Names Register.

Lenders that engage in home lending (as well as many other types of lending such as some short-term or ‘payday’ lending) must be a member of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), which provides access to a dispute resolution process if

things do go bad.

They must also provide an Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) service.

Check the lender’s website and call and ask their representatives. If the entity you are considering dealing with is not an AFCA member, the MFAA recommends you seek appropriate legal and/or financial advice or steer clear of that particular entity, as AFCA membership is a statutory requirement for such lenders.

Finally, it is always advisable to deal only with a business that has publicly listed contact details. Be sure to call the number provided, to confirm its legitimacy and consult with your broker If there is anything you are unsure about, contact your local MFAA accredited broker. The first step towards finding business finance is calling Alex from Wealthwiz on 0419 600 177.

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Western News

SPORT

By CONNER LOWE

M

t Druitt Town Rangers have narrowly missed out on a place in the National Premier Leagues NSW Mens finals series despite a brilliant 2-1 upset win against APIA Leichhardt at Popondetta Park on Sunday.

With finals football on the line in a must win match Mt Druitt Town were exceptional from kick-off to full-time.

It didn’t take long for Rangers to take the lead inside the opening ten minutes. A pass from Fabricio Fernandez found Toufic Alameddine in the box and his clinical diagonal finish was too much for goalkeeper Ivan Necevski to handle giving Mt Druitt the lead.

Mt Druitt Town continued to apply pressure and were unlucky on multiple occasions not to double their lead with a Fernandez free-kick causing trouble inside the APIA Leichardt box and a Gould header cleared off the line half way through the first stanza.

It was APIA who pounced on the very next play as they raced up field to equalise much to the dismay of the home support.

Corey Biczo played a delightful ball from the right across to an unmarked Chris Payne who had no trouble slotting home as Mt Druitt’s defence were left waiting for an offside call which would never arrive.

Mt Druitt continued to apply the pressure and Mirjan Pavlovic almost provided a second with a great shot from the left but Necevski made a wonderful save anticipating a galloping Fernandez.

Both sides ended the first half with chances, however both were unable to capitalise to put their sides up at half-time.

It was Mt Druitt though that regained the lead in the 57th minute with a delightful goal when Cooper Coskerie fed the ball to Pavlovic who made no mistake from close range and chipped an outcoming Necevski.

Mt Druitt pushed for a third and came close in the 76th minute when a brilliant cross by John Roberts on the right found Fernandez in the middle, but his great diving header was very well saved by Necevski who managed to turn the ball around the

post for a corner.

In the 83rd minute Fernandez had the ball in the back of the net, but the offside flag was raised and Mt Druitt didn’t get their third despite the celebrations from the home supporters until they realised that the goal wouldn’t stand.

Mt Druitt desperately clung onto win in the final seconds but as news filtered in from other results the victory proved to be a bittersweet end to the season.

Pennants Golf in full swing

By Noel Rowsell

T

hree annual Pennant Golf series commenced in August, with the cream of NSW male players over 65 competing in the Super Seniors, whilst the T.L. Warren (B Grade) and W. Gibson (C Grade) competitions feature equally enthusiastic but perhaps not as richly talented players.

Super Seniors Pennants features 58 Clubs broken up into 9 divisions (5 from the Sydney

Metropolitan Area and 4 from the Central Coast, Hunter, Newcastle and mid-North Coast districts respectively.

The draws feature a Central Venue for each round, with each Club in the division alternately hosting a round through the season.

The full list of Clubs can be viewed at w w w. d o c s . w i x s t a t i c . c o m / u g d / e 4 3 9 c f _ dc2e6adba9f04e9b83657031177d63c7.pdf The respective draws can be found at: www.superseniorpennant.com/draws Division 4 features Twin Creeks CC, Stonecutters

Ridge GC, Penrith GC, Wallacia CC, Glenmore Heritage Valley GC, Springwood CC and Richmond GC, with the first round hosted at Glenmore and the second at Wallacia.

Key players in Division 4 include: Denis Dale (Twin Creeks), Laurie Cupples (Glenmore Heritage Valley), Dave Limbach (Springwood), Colin Neil (Penrith).

Stonecutters Ridge is also competing in Section 7 of the Warren & Gibson Pennants, which is played on a home and away basis, along with Fox Hills GC (S9) and Cumberland CC (S6).

Western News 16 August 2019 Issue 91

Rangers marginally miss out on finals

15

Western News Friday, 16 August 2019

SPORT

Blacktown draw against relegated Hakoah Sydney City East

By CONNER LOWE

B

l a c k to w n City concede a late equaliser to wrap up their regular season with a 1-1 draw with Hakoah Sydney City East at Hensley Athletic field and now look forward to week one of finals.

Blacktown City keeper Prendergast had a shocking start to the match, mistiming a back pass. Lucky for the keeper Harry Jones couldn’t convert inside the box and Blacktown could build in attack.

Adam Berry was dangerous for Blacktown, traversing across the front third of the pitch. The former Central Coast Mariners midfielder found plenty of action in the right channels and crossed into James Demetriou who should have made it 1-0.

Hakoah only netted 11 times during the entire NPL NSW Men’s season.

Their lack of firepower in front of goal was evident with hardly any attacking fluidity.

The only player providing some sort of resemblance of a spark for Hakoah

was Robert Ezekiel. The winger got past his man and worked the half yard to create some half chances for Sydney City East.

Despite his flurry of touches and successful dribbles, Blacktown couldn’t manage to grab a goal in the first half and the two sides couldn’t be separated heading into the break.

Hakoah started the second half rather lively but still chances were rare, and it wasn’t long before Blacktown City were back on top and Daniel Collins almost connected with a header from Adam Berry’s set piece.

Ryan Norval, just like so many times this season, kept Hakoah from going down, pulling off a double save

against Joey Gibbs. The piercing shot saw Norval dive down to deny to his right before Gibbs’ point blank follow up sunk right into the keepers’ gloves.

James Demetriou’s headers were off the par, getting another chance from a Berry delivery but losing power in the shot, sending the ball into the ground and wide.

With 15 minutes to play, Daniel Collins put his body on the line as desperation set in for Sydney City East. Nelson Roberts broke free in the box, but Collins’ big frame denied him his name in lights.

Blacktown City FC finally broke through on 81 minutes. Jackson Bandiera got passed his man and squared it up for the substitute Bangura who slid the ball under Norval.

It wasn’t all glory for Blacktown, who had three points snatched away from them. Oli Green latched onto Swadling’s cross and headed into the back of the net to salvage a point for Hakoah.

Blacktown will progress to week one of the finals and come up against APIA Leichardt Tigers.