Western News 18 January 2019

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Friday, 18 January 2019

ISSUE 76

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Happy Australia Day to all our readers and advertisers!

Western News 18 January 2019 Issue 76

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Western News

Motorcycle Club ride for Fusion Youth

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ydney West Riders will kick off 2019 on Sunday 20 January with an annual charity ride to support local youth and community organisation Fusion Western Sydney.

Fusion is a national youth and community not-for-profit that has been around for sixty years with a vision is to see transformed communities where young people and families thrive. Fusion Western Sydney based in St Marys provides preventative and resilience building programs for vulnerable and at risk young people.

Each week Fusion chaplains, youth workers and wellbeing officers work with hundreds of young people both in local high schools and in after school programmes such as Cobham Juvenile Justice Centre, Bidwill Youth Outreach and Willmot Outreach and through skills based training programmes including Fusion Coffee and Fusion Radio.

Sydney West Riders is a friendly, social motorcycle community for learners through to fully licenced riders of all ages who enjoy weekly Wednesday night rides and a range of other events. The vision of the Club community is to unite riders and deliver an ultimate riding experience.

Riders really look forward to the start

of the year fundraising ride as an opportunity to combine their desire, as a community, to support organisations who support young people with their enjoyment and passion for motorcycle riding.

Sydney West Riders were also recently selected as one of the ride day providers at one of Penrith’s newest motorsport circuit, Luddenham Raceway. This initiative is to inspire street riders to track riding and to encourage motorcyclists to unleash their riding ambitions in a safe environment other than on the streets.

At their most recent event on 28th of

December, a portion of their profits were donated to the upcoming charity ride for Fusion.

“In the past we have raised funds for youth organisations such as Youth off the Streets, White Lion, Inspire180 and Kids Under Cover. Many issues faced by adults today tend to escalate from experiences as a young person. Early intervention will enable a potential adulthood of endless possibilities”.

Kevin Lam (Co-Founder of Sydney West Riders) Over 80 riders are expected to participate in the ride on Sunday 20 January which will start at 7 am in the

carpark of Cabramatta Hungry Jacks with breakfast hosted by Fusion. The riders will then commence their journey to Kangaroo Valley via Royal National Park and Macquarie Pass at roughly 8:30am. All riders are welcome to join this Start of Year Ride for Fusion.

If you’d like to support Sydney West Riders with their fundraising ride for Fusion Western Sydney donate to: Sydney West Riders, BSB 062 692, Account 3222 1525.

For more information about Fusion go to www.fusionwesternsydney. org.au and about the event, go to www.sydneywestriders.com.au

Happy Australia Day from the McDonald’s Teams at Rouse Hill Town Centre, Rouse Hill, Kellyville, Kellyville North and Dural

All Stores Open Australia Day

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ith temperatures set to soar across NSW this week, the State Emergency Operations Controller is urging residents to monitor weather reports and follow health and safety advice.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Jeff Loy said advice from the Bureau of Meteorology indicates temperatures are expected to increase over the coming days and into the weekend to above 40 degrees in some areas.

“As the weather heats up, I cannot stress strongly enough to motorists that it’s not only an offence for children or pets to be left unattended in a vehicle, it can be deadly.”

“It can be just as dangerous to leave the elderly and disabled members of the community in cars during days of extreme heat,” Deputy Commissioner Loy said.

If you see pets, children or vulnerable people located in a car, phone Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Deputy Commissioner Loy said one of the other main concerns is that the school holidays are only halfway through and there are thousands of tourists, campers, and other holidaymakers in unfamiliar environments.

“We are urging everyone to take extra care, especially when swimming; whether at the beach, pools or in rivers.

“Every year thousands of people require rescuing from the surf, some needlessly drown,” Deputy Commissioner Loy said.

Everyone needs to take care in hot weather, but some people are at higher risk of heat illness, especially if they are older, live alone or are sociallyisolated. Remember to;

• Stay well-hydrated • Avoid alcohol and hot or sugary drinks • Limit your physical activity • Try to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day • Wear light, loose-fitting clothing made from natural fibres like cotton • Regularly check your forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology on radio, TV, internet or App • Get advice from your doctor about whether your medication and/or your medical conditions may affect what you should do if it gets extremely hot • Make sure you know who you are going to call (who may need help, and who could provide help to you if needed); make a list of telephone numbers and

Western News 18 January 2019 Issue 76

Heatwave Sub Plan activated as temperatures set to soar

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make sure they are current.

If you can, it’s a good idea to spend some time in an air-conditioned building. For more information please refer to the Beat the Heat website: http://www. health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/pages/ default.aspx Livestock and pet owners are also being urged to ensure adequate clean water and shaded areas are always available. Additionally, animals should never be left in confined, unventilated areas.

Members of the public should also regularly visit the Rural Fire Service website at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au for updated bush fire warnings and information. For updated weather forecasts and warnings visit www. bom.gov.au.

Prue Car MP Member for Londonderry

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

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Be a bogan, at least for one day WELL it is nearly here, one of my favourite days of the year; Australia Day the day we get to celebrate everything Australian - fire up the barbie, sink a few coldies and tell a few porkies with our mates.

Aussie slang is one of the major things that makes us unique - other countries could never emulate the language we’ve managed to create over the decades nor begin to fully understand it!

But as singer John Williamson once famously sang, “Hey true blue, don’t say you’re gone. Say you’ve knocked off for a smoko, and you’ll be back later on,” I sincerely hope we never lose our Australianism.

I fear that the old dinki-di sense of humour and our she’ll be right mate attitude shows signs at times of slowly slipping away - and that would be an absolute tragedy.

What happened to that attitude? We all possessed it at one stage. We laughed our way through life, rolling with the punches. Nowadays, to put it bluntly, there’s too many sooks around. Whingeing, bitching and moaning about everyone and everything, instead of just holding their head up and getting on with life.

Someone said to me the other day that they hate the “bogans” that come out on Australia Day. “What’s bogan about them?” I ventured. “Oh you know, they wear the flag as a cape and draw the Southern Cross on themselves and sing Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oy Oy Oy,” was the reply.

And that my Aussie friends is exactly what I’m talking about. How did cloaking yourself in our national flag on our national day, drawing the stars that symbolise the best location on earth and singing a chant that went viral and is known across the world as ours become so offensive?

This Australia day let your inner bogan break free! It’s there somewhere, hidden under all the political correctness you’ve allowed to pile on top of it.

Happy Australia Day! Your thoughts? kerrie@nepeannews.com.au

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rom having breakfast with koalas to celebrating local heroes and rocking out to live music, Blacktown City Council has Australia Day celebrations covered.

Blacktown’s Australia Day begins with ‘Wake Up with the Wildlife’ at Featherdale Wildlife Park, before continuing with a special citizenship ceremony and the announcement of the City’s Citizens of the Year.

The day concludes with a free Australia Day concert at The Rooty Hill, climaxing in Western Sydney’s largest fireworks display.

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said more than 50,000 people are expected to attend Council’s Australia Day events.

“Our Australia Day activities are hugely popular – and no wonder,” Mayor Bali said.

“We have a range of fun, family friendly and exciting events for people of all ages.

“I encourage everyone to join us on 26 January and celebrate our pride in being Australian and living in this great nation.”

At Featherdale Wildlife Park, the very popular ‘Wake Up With The Wildlife’ kick starts the entertainment program.

From 7.00 am, families and children

will have the unique opportunity to have breakfast with the fabulous collection of Australian animals at Featherdale.

Bowman Hall in Blacktown will be the scene for a special Australia Day

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Citizenship Ceremony from 10.30 am. Residents from many of the more than 180 nationalities represented in our city will become Australian citizens.

Following the ceremony, Mayor

Bali will announce Blacktown City’s Australia Day Award winners.

Celebrations continue from 3.30 pm with the free Australia Day Concert on The Rooty Hill.

There will also be free amusement rides, Australiana demonstrations (including sheep shearing and whip cracking), as well as live music performances from artists including Ted Mulry Gang, The Screaming Jets and Boys Light Up. The concert will come to a close with a spectacular fireworks display from 9.15 pm.

“I encourage families and friends to head down early to The Rooty Hill for our family-friendly, alcohol-free annual Australia Day celebrations,” Mayor Bali said.

“The event also features a fireworks extravaganza which never disappoints.”

For more information on Blacktown City’s Australia Day celebrations and/ or changed traffic conditions, visit www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au or phone 9839 6000.

The spectacular fireworks display will close the celebration for Australia Day. Events will kick off with the Wake up with the Wildlife Breakfast at Featherdale Wildlife Park.

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Celebrate Australia Day in Blacktown

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Local playgrounds set for upgrades Blacktown City Council is upgrading seven playgrounds across the City as part of an $893,000 improvement project.

The playgrounds are: • Katrina Park, Seven Hills • Snowy Reserve, Seven Hills • Wyanda Reserve, Dhurruk • Ridgeview Park, Riverstone • Chopin Reserve, Seven Hills • Luke Park, Mount Druitt • Quakers Park, Quakers Hill Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said: “These seven playgrounds will provide valuable places for children of varying ages and abilities to play and learn”.

“Blacktown City recognises their

Luke Park, Mount Druitt

Snowy Reserve, Seven Hills

importance by allocating funding to build new and improved play spaces for our community.

“Construction work on the playgrounds is expected to begin in the coming months.”

A total of 167 responses were received from members of the public during the community consultation.

“I thank everyone who had their say as part of the community consultation and worked with Council to ensure

we designed the best play spaces possible,” Mayor Bali said.

Feedback was also received from the Touched by Olivia Foundation to ensure all playgrounds are inclusive.

› 12 New police officers Local communities will see 12 new officers on the beat and responding to emergencies, following the police attestation from the Goulburn Police Academy.

The new probationary constables from Class 335 have begun duties at Blacktown, Quakers Hill and Mt Druitt Police Area Commands, where they will embark on their new policing career.

Member for Riverstone, Kevin Conolly congratulates the new recruits on attesting from the academy after more than eight months of training and university education.

“Becoming a sworn police officer is a tremendous honour. The mere presence of a blue uniform puts our minds at ease, however, it also comes with enormous challenges,” said Mr Conolly.

“As a community, we turn to the police in our worst hour and expect them to stand in harm’s way to prevent and disrupt criminal activity.

“I commend our newest officers on making the decision to put the community’s safety above their own, and joining one of the proudest organisations in the State.”

› NSW Government’s $100 creative kids vouchers go live As parents begin planning for the year ahead, they can now access Creative Kids vouchers, providing them with $100 for every schoolage child to help cover the cost of enrolment for creative and cultural learning activities.

Parents can use one voucher for every school-age child per year to help meet the cost of structured creative and cultural activities, such as music lessons, languages, coding, drama and theatre, photography and graphic design.

Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello said the

NSW Government’s Creative Kids program builds on the success of the Active Kids program, which is back this year, helping to reduce the cost of registration for sport and organised physical activity.

“The start of the school year is just around the corner and we are encouraging parents to get in early by jumping on the Service NSW website to register for their Creative Kids vouchers,” Mr Dominello said.

“Involvement in creative and cultural learning activities is critical to a child’s growth and development but the enrolment costs all add to the

family budget and can be prohibitive.

“The NSW Government recognises that cost of living is a major issue for families and because of our strong budget position, we are proud to be providing this extra assistance for children to participate in these valuable creative and cultural programs.

“This program compliments the hugely popular Active Kids voucher and for a family with two children, Creative and Active Kids combined will save you $400 a year.”

There are still thousands of providers out there which could be eligible to be part of the Creative

Kids program throughout 2019. The Government is calling on them to register with Service NSW so that parents can claim their vouchers with them.

Creative Kids is one of a raft of NSW Government initiatives helping to ease cost of living pressure for households. Others include cheaper Green Slips and refunds, free car registration for regular toll users and the FuelCheck app. Further information on how to register as a provider and the program is at www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/ creative-kids

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AUSTRALIA DAY FEATURE

By Keegan Thomson

O

They were criminals and their overseers from across the British Isles,” Prof Best said.

“Within the UK there are very marked accent differences and in Australia these accents came together.

“Here people were thrown together with all different accents and vocabularies and told to work productively together. To do this they needed to communicate. When people come together in that way they start developing a similar lingo overtime so they can community effectively,” she said.

Prof Best says there is evidence to show the Australian love affair with shortening words into colloquial abbreviations comes from the first convict settlers.

“This tradition has some connection to secret word play that convicts would have used to cover up criminal activities and talk to one and other in code,” Prof Best said.

“The tendency to make Australian abbreviations, like calling an electrician a sparky, comes from these

Prue Car MP “

Member for Londonderry

Our diverse community comes together as one to celebrate the love we all share for this great nation on Australia Day Ph: 9833 1122 154 Queen Street, St Marys londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au

“

NE element of the Australian story that is often overlooked is the linguistic history of the Australian accent. It is a harsh accent with lots of hard sounds and unique abbreviated colloquialisms, but where did it come from?

The story is cemented into us from the fourth grade of school: The First Fleet of lawbreaking convicts from across the English Isles made their way into Sydney Harbour to start up the new colony of New South Wales.

From the second the cons set foot on Australian shores they started chatting. They probably spoke about the rough ride over, the crappy food, the rats they had to share their beds with and most important the weather. You had convicts from Scotland talking to thieves from London’s East End and petty criminals from the highlands of Wales. They all started mixing their accents, words and phrases from the get go.

Professor Catherine T. Best is the Chair in Psycholinguistic Research and Director of Research at the MARCS at Western Sydney University. She has studied accents and the difficulties of learning a second language. Her research has helped her better understand the linguistic history of the Australian accent.

Prof Best says there are many elements to what made the contemporary Australian accent what it is today and they all date back to the First Fleet.

“The first English speaking people to come to Australia came from all over the United Kingdom.

abbreviation codes and cockney rhyming slang.”

Before British settlers came to Australia there were hundreds of Aboriginal tribes living across the continent. Their history, language and culture has had many impacts in the way the Australian accent has developed.

“There were many tribes of Indigenous people who worked with the English settlers in many productive ways. As a result everyone tried to learn each other’s languages,” Prof Best said.

“By sharing the terminology and subtle changes of the pronunciation of some words the changes to an in-between pronunciation that is mixed between a British English and an Indigenous accent.”

The subtle language elements that the Indigenous people contributed to the Australian accent is similar to that of Australia’s new wave immigrants.

Listen in and you can hear the three main Australian accents spoken across the country. A broad accent, spoken by someone like actor Paul Hogan, an educated accent, spoken by the previous Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and a more general accent that is spoken in major cities.

These three main accents also have subtle changes that can also be heard across state lines and in different regions.

“Informally there is a ‘Westie’ accent,” Prof Best said.

“It isn’t a broad Australian accent but it has features that distinguish it from the general Australian accent spoken in, say, Gosford,” she said.

It is difficult to figure out where the Australian language is going but if we listen in extra hard we might be able to hear the changes.

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Where did the Aussie accent come from?

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AUSTRALIA DAY FEATURE Good ole-fashioned

Aussie lingo With Australia Day coming up let’s have a bit of a gander at some old Aussie slang sayings that only true blue Aussies would understand!

Old slang.. all but forgotten!

› As flash as a rat with a gold tooth › It beats a poke in the eye with a blunt stick › Ya bloody scallywag! › He’s cactus › He’s got a head like a beaten favourite › How ya going Cobber? › Ken oath! › Bangs like a dunny door in a hurricane › On the blower › Hum dinger › She’s got a kangaroo loose in the top paddock › Stone the flamin crows › You pong! › He was grinning like a shot fox › She’s the duck’s guts › Amber fluid › He’s as fat as a butcher’s dog › Feeling as crook as Rookwood › Where’s me doovalacky? › Grouse! › She’s up at a sparrow’s fart › He’s come a gutzer › Within a coo-ee › That’s about as rare as rocking horse poo › Big-noting yourself › Bonzer bloke › Off like a brides nightie › Barrack for your team › Strewth › She’s done the Harold Holt › London to a brick › Hoo-roo › She shot through like a Bondi tram › He’s lower than a snake’s bum › She can talk under water with a mouthful of marbles Q: What is the difference between an Australian wedding and an › I’m so hungry I could I could eat a horse and chase its rider Australian funeral? › I’m busier than a one legged bloke in an ar$e-kicking competition › She could eat a toffee apple through a tennis racquet A: One less drunk at the funeral - (applied to buck teethed women)

› My throat feels like the scrapings from the Cockie’s cage › She’s got a face like five miles of unmade road › As popular as a pork chop in Jerusalem. › As much use as an ashtray on a motorbike › He’s as reliable as a two bob watch › His language was so bad, he’d make a warfie blush › Fits like a bum in a bucket › She’s as thick as two short planks › He’s so fat you’d need a cut lunch to get around him

Q: Why do kangaroos hate rainy days?

A: Because their children play inside.

Q: What did the necktie say to the Akubra Hat? A: “You go on a head mate, I’ll just hang around.”

I was recently turned down on my application for an Australian green card, on account of my criminal record. Bit bloody ironic is it not?

Creative On this day we reflect upon what it means to be Australian and celebrate the rights, freedoms and liberties with which we are richly blessed and which we should never take for granted. Have a great Australia Day!

Kevin

Conolly

MP

State Member for Riverstone Phone: (02) 8883 3499 Fax: (02) 8883 3355 Mail: P.O. Box 65, Stanhope Gardens NSW 2768 Email: riverstone@parliament.nsw.gov.au

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ith 23 coastal drowning deaths over the holiday season, it’s vital that you Stop, Look and Plan how to stay safe in the water.

Swim between the flags When you see red and yellow flags on a beach, it indicates that there is currently a lifesaving service operating on that beach.

The lifeguards have chosen a section of the beach that is best for swimming and they will closely supervise this area.

Lifeguards pay more attention to the area between the red and yellow flags than any other part of the beach.

Western News 18 January 2019 Issue 76

Keeping our kids safe during the swim season

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TOP 5 TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE AT THE BEACH Swim between the flags Read the safety signs Ask a lifeguard for safety advice Swim with a friend If you need help, stay calm and attract attention Beachsafe.org.au provides expert advice about flags and signs, waves, rip currents, marine animals, surf skills and more.

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Western News 18 January 2019 Issue 76

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Tennessee, Music City

By BEN CRANNEY

Y

ou don’t have to enjoy country music to have fun in Nashville, Tennessee, even if it is the country music capital of the world. But if you do, you’ll love visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame, going for the Country Music Festival, joining the audience at the USA’s oldest running radio broadcast at the Grand Ole Opry, or dancing in the honky tonk bars. You might even start with a meal at The Row, the bar that inspired the lyrics for the Garth Brooks’ song Friends in Low Places.

But if you don’t enjoy country music, still go. Nashville is full of exceptionally talented musicians trying to make a name for themselves through all sorts of musical styles.

I’d gamble that everyone would find something they enjoyed. And then I’d use my winnings to test the talent of some of the performers. At the Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar, two guys on pianos were better than Spotify at playing requests. The highest tip got the next song, hence using my winnings, and they covered everything from Elton John to Eminem and Lady Gaga.

Another bar had Bon Jovi’s twin entertaining the crowd with perfect renditions of 80s rock anthems

while he danced across the bar with a six foot mic stand. This was the first place we visited, and I naively thought it couldn’t get better. The bluegrass band at the next stop proved me wrong, and they were still topped by the pianomen. And this was all on a weeknight. I can only imagine the talent during the prime weekend slots, or at the festivals.

If music isn’t a reason for you to

visit, there are plenty of other options.

You can tour the Jack Daniels distillery on a day trip, although you might not want to stay longer given it’s in a dry county. You can spend a few days on the hiking trails of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where you might even chance upon a bear. And you can learn about the American Civil War, the importance of the Battle of Nashville, and the strategic

role Nashville played thanks to its spot on the Cumberland River.

But if music is why you would go, perhaps start with our own country music capital and the Tamworth Country Music Festival. It’s on until the 27th of January. Who knows?

Maybe you’ll even come up with your own Low Places brilliance.

Next time: dealing with heat waves in a city 1000s of years old.

The Unintentional Medium By Suzi Samuel Life as it should be Well, here we are in 2019. Where did last year go? I swear sometimes that God presses the fast forward button as it doesn’t seem two minutes since I was wishing you all a happy 2018!

A few months ago, I went to see a lovely lady in Kurrajong who is a terrific naturopath but also a numerologist. It turns out that my number is 9 and that I was coming to the end of a nine year period.

She told me that I would get an idea in October of what was ahead but I would not really be able to start anything until the beginning of this year and then things would take off like a rocket. She was quite right in that I, like so many of you, was blocked last year and yes, I did get an inkling in October of what might lie in store.

I have just come back from a wonderful week in New Zealand. This was the first time we had actually been out of the country since we left the UK, and as we were coming in to land in Sydney yesterday, I suddenly realised that it was nine years to the day since I came to live in Australia. The spirit world - and my husband - had set me on the path for an excellent adventure and it struck me that - and forgive me for sounding a little like Captain Cook - perhaps a second landing at the exact moment of the nine year cycle presaged the start of another adventure.

I also have a theory about New Year’s Eve. I think it sets the pattern for the whole year ahead.

At the end of the 80’s I was going through a rather difficult time both personally and financially. On NYE 1989/90 I was invited by dear friends to a dinner. I was driving, thank God only a short distance, so I was very abstemious during dinner having only one small glass of wine thereby causing great consternation among my hosts as to the state of my well-being. However, come midnight things changed with a vengeance. I accepted a small glass of champagne and as I carefully sipped, I had the sudden and very clear realisation that 1990 was going to be my year. Well, that did it. The champagne flowed and at about 3am I happily flowed out to the car. They say God looks after

fools and drunks. I don’t know which one I was that evening but he certainly looked after me. I was so pickled that I got home, leant against the fridge and happily slid to the kitchen floor. It had been a great party and I was right. That year my finances improved out of all recognition and I met the man I would live with for a few years.

Well this year started the same way. Not the drunkenness I hasten to add although there was a bit of merriment, but a wonderful dinner with lovely friends. Another super party a couple of days later and then across the ditch to Auckland to meet my beautiful step-daughter after nineteen years and a week of total luxury in a super hotel. As we were waiting for the taxi to take us back to the airport, I was quaffing a final glass of Prosecco and I remembered a lovely toast that my daughter and I always make when we are feasting on prawns and pink fizz at Circular Quay - “To Life as it should be.”

My year got off to a great start and with a little help from my spirit friends I hope it will continue that way. I do wish you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful 2019. I hope your New Year’s Eve was amazing and pointed the way forward for you.

Whatever it is you wish for, just let me say that I hope that your life will be as it should be.

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

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estern Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) emergency departments have continued to provide timely patient care despite a busy holiday season.

WSLHD emergency departments at Auburn, Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Westmead hospitals treated more than 6,500 patients requiring emergency care from 21 December 2018 to 1 January 2019, representing a 1.6 per cent increase compared to last year’s holiday period.

Blacktown Hospital treated almost 2,000 emergency department patients with nearly seven more ambulance arrivals per day over the holiday season, recording the highest increase in presentations at WSLHD hospitals (6.63 per cent).

One day alone, Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals experienced some of the highest emergency presentations across the metropolitan system (322 patients) – an increase of 74 people requiring emergency care at these facilities compared to last year.

Westmead Hospital’s emergency department director Dr Matthew Vukasovic said his team treated 2,752 patients over the holiday period.

“Christmas day was particularly busy compared to last year. Westmead Hospital had a 13 per cent increase in overall presentations,” Dr Vukasovic said.

“Our emergency departments have done a magnificent job to manage the busy Christmas, New Year and holiday period.”

Western Sydney emergency

departments improved emergency care in 2018 despite the highest growth in patient presentations across NSW. An initiative known as Project Red at Blacktown and Westmead hospitals has revolutionised the way patients are treated by analysing and changing areas that have previously slowed treatment down.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealed last month that NSW is the only jurisdiction to meet the target benchmark for all triage categories.

NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce said NSW leads with the shortest median waiting time for patients starting clinical care in the emergency department at just 15 minutes, compared to 46 minutes in the ACT. “Not only are we leading the country in many emergency department

performance measures but we have improved our performance for the people of NSW,” said Ms Pearce.

To reduce unnecessary burdens on busy emergency departments, people are reminded that where the matter is not of a serious or life-threatening nature, they should see their GP or medical centre.

For any advice or concerns, the public should remember that Healthdirect (1800 022 222) is always able to assist with medical advice at any time of the day or night.

In the case of a health emergency, people should call Triple Zero (000).

Everyone is encouraged to take simple measures and precautions to ensure a happy and healthy holiday season, by: • Moderating the consumption of alcohol during gatherings and celebrations;

• Visiting their GP before going away and ensuring they have an adequate supply of prescription medications; • Taking additional care on the roads and when participating in outdoor recreational activities; • Keeping a close eye on elderly relatives with impaired mobility in unfamiliar surroundings; • Maintaining regular contact with the socially isolated; • Taking precautions on very hot days, such as maintaining hydration, minimising physical activity, wearing light clothing, avoiding alcohol, and staying indoors between 11am and 5pm, ideally in air conditioning, and • Supervising and keeping a watchful eye on children, particularly around water.

Westmead and Blacktown hospitals are home to extensive infrastructure investment. The $1 billion NSW Government Westmead Hospital project is the biggest in the state and the $750 million Blacktown Hospital project will be complete this year.

In 2018-19 the NSW Government is investing a record $22.9 billion in health, representing a $1.1 billion increase over the 2017-18 Budget, including $19.2 billion towards improving services in hospitals in NSW this year.

An investment of $759 million dollars for acute patient services will fund an additional 40,000 emergency department attendances in addition to 2.9 million already provided, and 3,200 elective surgeries in addition to the 225,500 already provided.

Young motorist collides with a tree during holiday period

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27-year-old male driver was airlifted by CareFlight to Westmead Hospital in a stable condition after the car he was driving collided with a tree in Berkshire Park earlier this month.

CareFlight’s rapid response helicopter, with critical care paramedic and doctor, was tasked just after 3pm to attend the crash scene about 300400 metres from the Richmond Road

and St Marys Road intersection, in Sydney’s western suburb of Berkshire Park. They landed opposite the crash scene just six minutes later.

According to first responders on the scene, the driver’s car left the road and collided with a tree. He was initially unconscious and trapped in his car. State Emergency Services, NSW Fire and Rescue and Rural Fire Service were able to extricate

the driver so NSW Ambulance and CareFlight’s medical team could assess and stabilise the driver at the scene before transferring him to the helicopter for the flight to Westmead Hospital.

He was in a stable condition.

CareFlight is an Australian charity with the mission to save lives, speed recovery and serve the community.

Established in 1986, CareFlight

provides the highest standard of care to our patients. Our doctors, paramedics and nurses are specially trained to care for seriously injured people who need emergency treatment at the scene of an accident. We also look after seriously ill people who need to be moved between hospitals for specialist care. CareFlight medical teams use helicopters, turbo-prop and jet aircraft and road vehicles.

Western News 18 January 2019 Issue 76

Emergency departments perform well despite busy period

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Western News 18 January 2019 Issue 76

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WESTERN HISTORY

A famous early Australian circus

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

lfred Percival and Lilian Ethel Bullen were circus proprietors and husband and wife. “Perc” was born in 1896 at Kiama NSW, the son of Alfred Weston Bullen and his wife Alice, née Thomas from NZ. Ambitious to drive a Rolls-Royce motorcar and to own a first-class circus, with his savings he bought a pony to give rides to local children, along with a few pairs of roller-skates for hire.

He began travelling around country shows with a performing sheep and pony. In August 1917 at Holy Trinity Church at Dawes Point he married Lilian Ethel Croan, a vaudeville dancer. She was born in May 1894 at Botany, the daughter of George Croan a labourer and his wife Emily Eleanor née Wythes.. Beginning with a merry-go-round, Perc, Lil and his brother Albert improvised a travelling circus-carnival. They bought an elephant and added a shooting gallery, performing horses, monkeys and dogs and a small sideshow. Perc billed as ‘Captain Alfredo’, introduced his one performing lion. By 1922 the family had made enough money to organize their own circus. They travelled over dirt roads from one country town to the next in bumpy horse-drawn wagons. Their three sons Stafford, Kenneth and Gregory were born between 1925 and 1930 and followed the custom of travelling circus people. In the early 1930s the “Bullen Bros Circus” travelled mostly in Qld with a show that included its own brass band and a menagerie. Perc the ringmaster, also juggled and trained the ‘big cats’. Lilian played the cornet, juggled, worked monkeys, dogs and horses, and with three young girls, appeared in a dancing troupe called “The Four Marzellas”. When she retired from the ring Lil took over the administration and worked hard to ensure her family’s success. She was described having a “colourful and forceful” personality, if somewhat temperamental and she proudly flaunted her diamond rings and was known as ‘Tiger Lil”.

In the mid-1930s the show drifted to WA where the family settled for a time before returning to Queensland. With the introduction of fuelrationing during World War II they rested their circus at Yeppoon outside Rockhampton and found thousands of American servicemen camped nearby. With only canvas sidewalls, Perc and his young family entertained the troops several times a day with Stafford walking the tightrope. Business became so profitable that Lil had more girls working for her than she had when the circus was on the road. The family built one of Australia’s most exciting circuses of the post-war era. Its extensive menagerie included 13 elephants and in the late 1940s, Perc worked 4 lions, 2 tigers, 2 leopards, 2 Himalayan bears and a collie dog - all in the same cage. He treated the animals well and was never attacked. His white Rolls-Royce led the procession of long, brightly-decorated caravans from town to town. As a special attraction, he presented a Bentley used by Queen Elizabeth II during the 1954 royal visit, his “publicity stunt” caused a public outcry. By 1955 the two-ringed circus had 26 acts of international class, its own mobile power plant, three diesel lighting plants, a schoolteacher, 56 vehicles and caravans, along with 80 permanent staff who called him ‘Pop’. Bullen’s Circus was a family affair, the boys and their wives took leading parts, and conducted their wild-animal and trapeze acts with zest and polish. After 1933 new assets had been acquired from the profits and put in Lil’s name.

Her personality helped the circus, whether she charmed local officials or forcefully reprimanded errant circus-hands. In 1957 Bullen’s Circus Pty Ltd was registered in Qld with Lil as governing director. Although the circus was a joint enterprise, differences of opinion between its members occasionally reached the courts and made headlines. ‘Tiger Lil’ was

divorced from Perc by the time she died of cancer in January 1965 in King George V hospital at Camperdown and is buried at Rookwood. She left over $170,000 to the Cancer Council of NSW. Perc rose early each morning to paint or decorate several caravans by mid-afternoon, all the while impeccably attired in his suit and tie. He wore a diamond tie-pin and a diamond ring that never left his hand and he also had goldcapped teeth. Loving nothing more than to lead a circus parade of his, he sat in top-hat and tails astride his favourite horse. At St Nicholas of Myra’s Catholic Church in Penrith in January 1969, he married Daisy Ruth Wood, née Usher a widow. Faced with the increasing popularity of television, Bullen’s Circus gave its final performance in May that year at Parramatta. His sons established lion safari-parks and Perc happily retired to the family estate at Wallacia. He died in August 1974 at Penrith and is buried at Pinegrove. His son Stafford Bullen, born in 1925, was the person behind the establishment of the African Lion Safari. In the early 1960s he became increasingly conscious of the threat of television and realised that if the business was to survive, it must diversify.

In 1968, he opened the African Lion Safari near Warragamba Dam and for the opening, a promotional single from “The Token’s” The Lion Sleeps Tonight was recorded by a band using the name ‘The Love machine”. The safari had a drivethrough area full of wild animals such as lions, lionesses and tigers and was popular in its early years, attracting up to 200,000 visitors a year.

There was also a dolphinarium and a drive-through exotic animal area and miniature safari railway and he opened another Safari park at Beenleigh in Qld, with another at Wanneroo with the local television station TVW7 participating as a partner in the venture. It was not uncommon for lions to approach cars driving ‘on safari’ through the park to bite off bits of motor vehicles and often park attendants had to go and retrieve the parts.

A feature at the venture was the 7 elephants that had performed during the travelling circus days. In Wallacia the main attraction was a circus and a drive-through animal petting zoo and you drove around with your windows down feeding the wildlife. Of course, the animals weren’t scared of people or cars and the screams of joy from children was often replaced with screams of terror as donkeys stuck their heads through windows snapping at anything resembling a carrot and slobbering everywhere. Stafford was chairman and managing director of six animal parks in Australia and another in Auckland. By 1977 he was breeding animals for export.

At Casa Bullen, the palatial home they built next to the Bullen’s Animal World, lion and tiger cubs, as well as the occasional elephant, could often be found in the back garden. The family continued to maintain a private menagerie at Wallacia, hiring out animals for use in commercials as well as continuing to breed lions and tigers. The Safari park closed in 1991. In August 1995 several lionesses escaped from the park and terrorised the nearby townships of Warragamba and Silverdale and one killed a dog and was shot. A bear also escaped and was shot by residents. In 2001, just months before he died, Stafford was on the road again with some elephants for Lennon Brothers Circus. His funeral was a genuine celebration, with circus colleagues recalling a flamboyant character who lived life to the full.

Sources: Pocket OZ website, G. Greaves, The Circus Comes to Town (Syd, 1980), Outdoor Showman, Dec 1955, Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne), 5 Apr 1961, 11 May, 24 July, 19 Nov 1963, 16 June 1966, Sydney Morning Herald, 10, 11 Apr 1963, 12 Aug 1974, Sunday Telegraph (Sydney), 18 Aug 1974, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 13, (MUP), 1993.

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Western News

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13

Self-employed – How to get into your own home?

he way we work here in Australia has really changed over the last 20 years. More people are working for themselves, self-employed, doing more than one job or working different sorts of hours.

Many self-employed borrowers come up against the challenge of not being able to simply present payslips and tax returns to back up their loan applications. But this need not stop you buying your dream home.

Many lenders offer loans for selfemployed borrowers who can’t hand over payslips and employment records. This means that, rather than the usual documentation, you prove your ability to service a loan using bank statements, declarations from your accountant and financial records.

Of course, as with any mortgage application, you must still prove that

your income outstrips your spending and you can service the loan. Getting this right is more than presenting a lender with a few quick sums on the back of a napkin; it can take a solid six to 12 months of preparation.

Here are some quick tips: • reduce debt: pay down credit cards and personal loans, and be sure to lower the credit limits as they are paid down, as lenders assess the total credit available to you as a potential debt level, not just the amount you owe; • cancel credit cards that you don’t need (this will affect credit scoring); • speak to a credit adviser about how the structure of your business and your taxable income will impact your ability to borrow; • do your taxes when you should, and always pay your tax assessments on time;

• save: saving a deposit is obviously important, and showing your ability to live within your means while saving is too. This is key to serviceability – you want to show at least a sixmonth history of high income and low expenses; and • go to an MFAA Approved Credit Adviser, rather than a bank. Credit advisers have access to specialist lenders that assess applications on a case-by-case basis and tailor their products to self-employed borrowers and contractors, while bank lenders do not.

Loans to the self-employed do differ from standard loans in a few ways, apart from the application process. Lenders offset the extra risk they are taking when lending to a selfemployed borrower or contractor by charging slightly higher interest rates and placing some extra rules on loan-

@wealthwiz

to-value ratios (LVR) and insurance requirements.

Generally, you can expect an interest rate for such a loan to be one to two percentage points higher than for a full-documentation loan.

Most lenders will also insist on an LVR of no more than 80 per cent – meaning that under no circumstances will they lend more than 80 per cent of the property value, as assessed by the lender.

In cases where the loan amount is for more than 60 per cent of the property’s value, some lenders also require self-employed borrowers to pay for lenders’ mortgage insurance.

At Wealthwiz, we want to help you get into your own home sooner, contact Alex on 0419 600 177 for advice who can help you navigate the loan market for self-employed borrowers.

Western News 18 January 2019 Issue 76

Alex Soncini

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Western News 18 January 2019 Issue 76

Western News

WORDSEARCH

SUDOKU: EASY

ENTERTAINMENT

14

instructions

MAJOR WORLD VOLCANOES MAZAMA ETNA VESUVIUS TAMBORA KRAKATAU PELEE

PARICUTIN KATMAI LLIAMNA HEKLA KILIMANJARO FUJI

AWU UNZEN ARARAT SURTSEY RUAPEHU

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9 with no duplicates SOLUTIONS: 20 December

EASY

HARD

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Humbleness (8) 5 Monkey-bread tree (6) 9 Insolvent (8) 10 Discarded food (6) 12 The official language

of Iceland (9) 13 Community (5) 14 Kill (4) 16 Take one’s clothes off (7) 19 Give a title to

someone (7) 21 Singlet (4) 24 King or Empress (5) 25 Sentries (9) 27 Frank (6) 28 Cathedral (8) 29 Gets pleasure from

causing pain (6) 30 Resembling a tree in

form (8)

solution 21/12/18

down 1 A composite (6) 2 Fixed (6) 3 Insect stage (5) 4 Lukewarmly (7) 6 Honors (9) 7 Grow on trees (8) 8 Unwarranted (8) 11 Beige (4) 15 Freedoms (9) 17 Withdraws (8) 18 Sloped (8) 20 Nature of being (4) 21 Having a superior position (7) 22 American neighbor (6) 23 Land surrounded by water (6) 26 A poem by Homer (5)

Western News

with MARK GEYER

Gee it’s a great time of year!

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 Hi there Terrigal

great big happy New Year to all of our Nepean News readers. I hope your Christmas period was spent with those that you love most around. As for the ‘Geyer Gang” well we did what we do most years, head up to Terrigal before Christmas, then get back for the onslaught.

But gee it’s a great time of year.

Christmas Day was spent at our house with my family coming down from the coast to help celebrate, then Boxing Day as per usual as well is spent with my wife’s family at our house.

Two massive days of total gluttony. Presents, food, drinks, and ham. Ham on toast, ham with our lunch, ham with our dinner, toasted ham on the bbq, fried ham in the pan!

And were you like our family every time something out of the ordinary was about to happen?

Like a glass of champagne at 10am, or another glass of wine after dinner, or another spin through one of the plentiful fast food outlets, or a piece of chocolate around brekky time, our usual retort was “ah stuff

 Shredding this summer on my surf mat

it, it’s Christmas!” I can feel lots of you nodding in agreement.

Once it got to New Year’s Eve I think I was in bed at 10:30pm. I’m getting old. We celebrated another milestone in the Geyer household hold with our 4th child turning 18. Happy birthday Mav. Now we are in readiness for another massive day on the Aussie calendar- Australia Day!!

We usually spend it at our great friends the Perri’s (ever have a sore tooth buzz them) which has become a bit of a family tradition.

I know Australia Day has been discussed and debated about over the past half a dozen years in particular, and you know what, whichever way we choose to go with the day, I’ll be happy. I understand the plight of the indigenous but I also feel as a nation there has to be a national day of celebration.

But that’s way above my pay grade. Being awarded an OAM on Australia Day a few years back is one of my life highlights.

Whichever way you choose to spend the day stop

 My best friend in Penrith - my pool

for a second and remember just how lucky we are to live in the country we live in and just how many others have sacrificed their lives for ours to be better.

And another thing...

Can you believe there’s just over 50 days until the NRL kicks off again for season 2019? It feels like a week or two ago the Roosters were lifting the silverware after taking down the Storm.

As I peruse the individual teams for this up-coming season I’m excited. Legitimately a dozen teams can win the competition. Which is a great thing. I just want to see some footy and put behind this wretched off-season of off-field dramas we’ve had since the competition finished in late September. I’m tipping a big year for the Panthers (shock horror) and can’t wait till the 14th of March until we hear a ref’s whistle kick off another titanic year of rugby league.

See you at the game.

MG (random Westie) OAM

15 Western News 18 January 2019 Issue 76

MG on the mark

SPORT

Western News Friday, 18 January 2019

SPORT

Active kids saving parents money and tackling childhood obesity

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he NSW Government’s Active Kids program is now open for 2019 after an enormously successful first year, which saw families save more than $54 million in children’s sport, fitness and recreation activities.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said 540,000 of the $100 vouchers were redeemed in 2018 making sport more accessible for families and helping to reduce childhood obesity.

“We have made it a priority to reduce childhood overweight and obesity rates in NSW and now with Active Kids we have almost half of all school-enrolled kids enjoying the benefits of exercise,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“It is clear the first year of the program has been a huge success and I want to see even more families take advantage of the vouchers and enroll their children in sport in 2019.

“The Active Kids program is just one of the ways the NSW Government is easing cost of living pressures on families. We also have our $100 Creative Kids vouchers, cheaper Green Slips, free and half priced car rego for toll road users.”

Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said

parents can register for the Active Kids program again in 2019 by registering online to receive their $100 voucher to go towards membership expenses and fees.

“Active kids are happy and healthy

kids and this program means that every child in the State has the opportunity to be fit and active,” Mr Ayres said.

Active Kids supports the Premier’s Priority to reduce overweight and obesity rates of children by five per

cent over ten years.

There are 9600 approved Active Kids providers across NSW. For more information and a list of approved providers, visit: www.sport.nsw.gov. au/activekids