Western News 22 November 2019

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Friday, 22 November 2019

ISSUE 98

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Lids4Kids

Go to page 7 to read about how Hambledon Public School has turned plastic tops into a very positive medical outcome.

Western News 22 November 2019 Issue 98

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Sydney Zoo unveils Australia’s largest Reptile and Nocturnal House

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ydney Zoo, the first new major zoo to be opened in Sydney for more than 100 years, has today unveiled the largest Reptile and Nocturnal House in Australia.

With the zoo on track to open later this year, the house will be home to over 20 species of nocturnals including the endangered spotted-tailed quoll and ghost bats. In addition, Sydney Zoo is pleased to welcome over 40 species of reptiles, including the world’s top two most venomous snakes, the inland taipan and eastern brown snake and Australia’s largest monitor lizard, the perentie.

This building is one of Australia’s first green roof habitats, which is landscaped with an extensive collection of native grasses to blend in with the natural landscape of the zoo. The unique green

roof will also provide a stable climatic atmosphere for the animals and provide environmentally sustainable surroundings for staff and guests.

Sydney Zoo Managing Director, Jake Burgess says this is one of the precincts he’s most proud of at Sydney Zoo.

“The collection of reptilia and nocturnals at Sydney Zoo sets an unprecedented benchmark for zoos in Sydney and Australia. From the unique exterior to the interior of each animal’s exhibit, where we tailored the surrounding to the natural habitat of each species, we’ve gone to great lengths to ensure an outstanding experience for all guests.”

“We’re also proud to unveil this house as one of Australia’s first green roof habitats, where we’ve created an environmentally sustainable building allowing us to make a mark as a significant horticultural park and research centre as well as a world class zoo,” Mr Burgess concluded.

For more information please visit: www.sydneyzoo.com

Labor supports Doonside train station lift petitions

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ver 80 local residents attended NSW Parliament to hear the debate on delivering lifts at Doonside train station as a result of almost 11,000 people signing a petition.

The petition was presented to the NSW Parliament by Blacktown Labor MP Stephen Bali, who was joined by the NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay to thank Doonside locals for their advocacy.

Ms McKay thanked Doonside locals for standing up for their community, saying it was great to see the public gallery full of so many passionate community members.

Despite being a busy train station that carries more than 25,000 passengers a week Doonside keeps missing out, while stations that carry as few as 900 passengers a day or are in seats held by the Liberals get lifts.

The Labor Leader, Jodi McKay agreed with Doonside locals, saying the Liberals should get on with it and install lifts at Doonside station.

“Elderly people, the mobility impaired, those with young children or strollers who live in Doonside are being forced to take long bus rides and pay for taxis to other train stations, or they’re just giving up altogether.”

“The Liberals have been teasing Doonside, and talking about installing lifts for almost a decade now. Why won’t the Liberals just get it done?”

Liberal Government representatives

spoke in the debate outlining that in the past 9 years that 470 projects and 58 station upgrades have been completed at a cost of $2 billion.

Local Labor MP Stephen Bali said, “How can the locals take any comfort from the fact that Doonside was designed in 2011 and to be constructed in 2012 and this Government has taken away funding and reallocated to

other stations.”

“The Department ranked Doonside as the 14th station most in need for the upgraded but the Government has upgraded 58 other stations.”

Mr Bali said: “The people of Doonside have suffered long enough and are fed up with excuses. It is a no-brainer, the evidence is clear. The Liberals need to stop playing politics

with people’s lives and start investing where the need is.”

“Currently the railway line splits the community into two sides, with the north side hosting the senior citizens centre, community centre, shopping centre, medical and dental facilities, postal services, while the south side has the public school. This neglect is just making life harder for local families.”

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lacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM joined Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Senator for NSW, and the Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland MP last Monday, for the official opening of the Rouse Road Bridge at Rouse Hill.

The Rouse Road Bridge is a new 64-metre long steel and concrete two-lane bridge over Second Ponds Creek, Rouse Hill.

The bridge replaces a narrow, flood-prone, often dangerous causeway, and is a vital traffic link between Windsor Road, Rouse Hill Anglican College and Tallawong Metro Station.

The $22 million project includes a roundabout and approach roads between Terry Road and Worcester Road.

The project was jointly funded by Blacktown City Council and the Australian Government (under the Australian Government’s Bridges Renewal Program).

Mayor Bleasdale was joined by Senator Payne, Michelle Rowland MP, Councillor Moninder Singh and students from the Rouse Hill Anglican College in unveiling a plaque marking the opening of the bridge.

“The new bridge will bring welcome relief to the local residents, businesses and particularly the students of Rouse Hill Anglican College, who have long endured inconvenience and safety issues around the causeway during heavy rain,” Senator Payne said.

Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale said the opening of the Rouse Road Bridge solved a number of significant problems and that the bridge was a

Western News 22 November 2019 Issue 98

Rouse Bridge built through funding partnership

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Rouse Hill Anglican College Principal Mr Peter Fowler (left), Senator Marise Payne, Michelle Rowland MP, Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM, Councillor Moninder Singh join students at the opening of the Rouse Road Bridge.

major access point for the Tallawong Metro station and Rouse Hill Anglican College.

“This area is experiencing rapid growth and the old causeway was an enormous traffic bottleneck and a serious safety concern for pedestrians and motorists alike during times of heavy rain,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

“Blacktown City Council had the bridge planned

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for some time, but needed to wait for available funding. The Australian Government grant enabled the work to be fast-tracked.”

The $22 million project included construction of the bridge and necessary acquisition and purchasing of adjoining lands and was jointly funded, with the Australian Government contributing $3.5 million and the Blacktown City Council contributing $18.5 million.

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

W

ell here we are at the business end of the year already, with just under five weeks until Christmas.

It is a beautiful time of year of course, the weather is warmer and you’re thinking about time off work or time with family.

But what is it about this time of year that also brings people’s craziest ideas out? Just when I think I’ve heard it all and there’s nothing left to roll my eyes at, out trots the movement from “new age” style parents who say that allowing your child to believe in Santa Clause will traumatise them because you’re lying to them.

Kids will be forever scarred by the conspiracy that you as a parent created and left them out of, they say.

What absolute garbage!

Personally I find it traumatising that there are parents out there who want to drop the Santa bomb and spoil the magic of Christmas for their children.

And what’s more, these “informed” children will no doubt roll up to school and share their discovery with the children of those parents who were happy to allow their kids to enjoy a childhood full of imagination.

If you are raising a child that you think will be traumatised by the magical aspect to Christmas, then I’m sorry to say that I think you’re in for much bigger problems down the track.

A child who is able to become a “victim” at a young age over a fairy tale that is filled with fun and excitement will not be very well-equipped when life doles out actual problems.

If a child feels agonised by the eventual revelation and sees it as a personal deception by its parents as they head toward high school age as these loonies suggest, perhaps a good life lesson for said child would be to take them to a cancer ward in a children’s hospital, or show them pictures of children who are starving in under-developed countries; and teach them what actual traumatic situations are, and what actual victims look like.

Western society is getting sillier and sillier by the day.

As we head towards December I wish you and your family all the excitement that goes with this magical month, and with only a couple of weeks until Santa Clause makes his appearance, make sure you have your Christmas list ready!

Your thoughts? kerrie@nepeannews.com.au

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Western News 22 November 2019 Issue 98

Take a walk on the green side

Blacktown City Council’s Bushcare groups (above) generally meet once a month and take part in a number of activities including removing weeds (above right).

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lacktown City Council is expanding its popular Bushcare program and is planning to establish four new Bushcare groups.

Blacktown City Council Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM, said all that is required is a passion to learn about the preservation of the city’s natural environment.

“Bushcare groups are the perfect opportunity for residents to head outdoors and play an important role in taking care of our bushland,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

“You don’t need any training, all you need is a passion to go outside and learn about our local environment.

“Our Bushcare groups take part in numerous activities including bush regeneration, weed removal, tree planting and habitat restoration.”

All Bushcare groups in Blacktown City are supported by Council through the provision of bush regeneration

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training, supervision, plants, tools, technical advice and information on grants and other special projects.

Expressions of interest are being sought for the development of Bushcare groups at: • Peridot Park, Aquamarine Street, Quakers Hill • Faulkland Crescent Reserve, Faulkland Crescent, Kings Park • RAAF Memorial Park, Belmore Avenue, Mt Druitt • Peel Reserve, Alkoomie Street, The Ponds Volunteers generally work for 3 hours, one weekend a month.

If you would like to participate contact Natural Areas Team on 9839 6000 or email ourenvironment@ blacktown.nsw.gov.au by 13 December 2019.

For more information about the 12 existing Bushcare groups visit blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Community/ Sustainable-living/Bushcare /

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Contest shines light on Diwali

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The winning home in Bungarribee, Blacktown.

he Sadhu family from the Blacktown suburb of Bungarribee, has been announced as the winner of Blacktown’s 2019 Diwali Lights Competition for the second year running.

In announcing the winner, Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale, OAM, said, “Blacktown is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Australia and is home to more

than 83,000 people of Indian descent.

“This competition is a celebration of light and life and it is impressive to see the team work and the meaningful traditions behind all the light displays.”

The competition was organised by Blacktown City Council in association with Indian Link Media Group to celebrate the annual Diwali Festival.

The ancient Hindu festival of Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, with observers around

Councillor Moninder Singh with the competition winners, the Sadhu family.

the world lighting lamps and candles in and around homes and temples.

“The competition continues to grow in popularity each year and it’s exciting to see so many families celebrating their culture and decorating their homes,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

In second place was the Kaukar family from Schofields followed by the Upadhyay family from The Ponds in third place. Best Rangoli was awarded to Sarita Kadukar in

Schofields.

Best Street was won by Ward Street, Schofields, which had 7 decorated entries. The Ward Street road sign will now proudly display the words; ‘Best Street Diwali lights competition 2019’.

Cash prizes were also awarded to the winners, $800 for first place, $600 for the runner up and $400 for third place. Each ward winner was also awarded $100.

Suicide prevention project speaks to the heart of Pacific Islanders

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ental health first aid is going out to the local Pacific Island community after a spate of teenage emergency presentations to hospitals in Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD).

The district’s Perinatal, Child and Youth Mental Health Services (PCYMHS) team noticed the trend and teamed up with Multicultural Health, WentWest and the Ministry of Health to tackle the issue.

PCYMHS clinical director Dr Ash Padhi said the idea was to develop a “triangle of care” with family, the community and health professionals all supporting adolescents and youth.

“We realised it was a cultural norm for families to try to deal with it alone and many young people did not seek help until they reached a crisis point,” Ash said.

“We needed to not only educate young people but also involve the families and the community, to ensure people had access to the right health care at the right time.”

WSLHD Multicultural Health program officer Dora Onesemo said the project started with going to the community and understanding current

Multicultural Health program officer Dora Onesemo, Safe Start coordinator Katrina Shade, PCYMHS operations manager Sumithira Joseph and clinical director Dr Ash Padhi.

attitudes toward mental health.

“Religion is a massive part of Pacific Island culture, so while we were trying to help young people it was important for us to think about how we could involve churches, pastors and community elders in this education,” Dora said.

“One of the key messages for us to get across is that physical, mental and spiritual health are all important and all connected.”

The team started by running a mental health education day with headspace for students at Plumpton High School, which was particularly affected by a rise in teen mental health issues.

They also worked with teachers and school psychologists to develop a clear process for helping teenagers who reported feeling unsafe.

PCYMHS operations manager Sumithira Joseph said the work helped alleviate teachers’ anxiety.

“The teachers all wanted to help but they didn’t know where to start. Now they know what to do and how best to help the students,” Sumithira said.

The team has continued to deliver mental health education sessions with churches, sport clubs, community organisations and elders.

A Pacific Mental Health core group that WSLHD is part of also trained four Pacific Islander community members in Mental Health First Aid so they can continue to teach people how to manage common mental health issues including depression and anxiety.

Upcoming projects for the team include educating pregnant women about issues including stress, social isolation and postnatal depression, always with a focus on going out into the community rather than waiting for people to come to them.

WSLHD Mental Health is also continuing to work on the unWired Project with support from The Balnaves Foundation.

The innovative concept involves using wearable, wireless health devices to monitor young people’s stress levels and increase the opportunities for early intervention.

Woman charged over involvement in $1.5 million fraud – The Ponds A woman has been charged over her role in alleged fraud offences totalling over a $1.5 million.

In May 2019, detectives from Quakers Hill Police Area Command commenced an investigation into a 44-year-old man who had been employed at a marketing services company for the past ten years.

It’s alleged the man made 1,474 personal related transactions using company credit cards, with the

transactions totalling $1,242,766.

The man was subsequently charged with 63 fraud offences, and remains before the court.

Following further inquiries, last Wednesday police attended a home at The Ponds and arrested a 49-year-old woman, who is the wife of the 44-yearold man.

She was charged with obtain money by deception

and dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.

Police allege the woman was fraudulently paid about $376,000 by her husband from 2009 to 2016.

This brings the total amount allegedly fraudulently obtained by the couple to over $1.5 million.

She was conditionally bailed to appear at Blacktown Local Court on Monday 25 November 2019.

Western News

COVER STORY

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ids4Kids is a 100% volunteer charity committed to rescuing every single lid from landfill. Lids are being collected and transported to Victorian children’s charity ‘Envision Hands’ where they are shredded into plastic filament and used to create 3D-printed hand and arm mobility aids for kids with disability Lids4Kids started as a small grassroots community initiative by stay-at-home dad, Tim Miller, in the ACT. He and his kids put out a small bucket near their local Aranda Street library to collect drink lids from locals who were also recycling their plastic bottles (in the same manner as Sydney’s Return & Earn scheme).

Lids4Kids started with the purpose of donating lids to Envision for mobility aids, but we have gotten such overwhelming support from across Australia that we will be able to branch out and support other sustainability projects and purposes in the future.

These may include partnerships with other plastics recyclers and charities such as ‘Blaze Aid’ to create replacement fence posts for Aussie farmers/families affected by bushfires.

Hambledon Public School teacher, Sharon Goodfellow started collecting with her own 2 sons, Henry and Darcy, and volunteered to take on the role of Lids4Kids Blacktown Coordinator for Sydney West. This role involves collaborating with other local volunteers to collect, wash, count and box up loads of lids, as well as encouraging local businesses, cafes, schools and early childhood centres to jump on board. We already have some local cafes, daycare centres and Rural Fire Brigades collecting!

Students at Hambledon were encouraged to help spread the word and collect lids with their own

Saher Sethi (6H)​

families, neighbours, and after-school groups. The Lids4Kids initiative was promoted on the school’s Facebook page and before long the single bucket near the canteen was too small for all the lids being collected and donated by kids and their families. Staff members are jumping on board too - some of their family members have also set up collection buckets/ boxes at their workplace as well!

Hambledon volunteered to be a Lids4Kids collection point for the local Quakers Hill and

Blacktown community who can also drop off their clean lids from milk, water and soft drink bottles.

Groups of student’s volunteers help sort and count lids at recess and lunch outside on the picnic tables, or in the library when it’s hot - the success has been overwhelming!

“Since we started collecting only 2 months ago, Hambledon has collected over 46,000 lids - and we’re aiming to reach our goal of 50,000 by the end of the term!” said Sharon Goodfellow.

“I was grabbing a coffee at Soul Origin in Stanhope Shopping Village and saw 6-7 used milk lids just laying near the coffee machine ready to be binned. I asked if they would like to start collecting for us, and they jumped on board straight away! I now pick up a bagful whenever I grab a coffee or go shopping there.

Lids are so small that most people probably never give them a second thought.”

“But when you start to get 10,000...20,000, it gets exciting and you start to see just how much of a difference we can make. It’s wonderful when a student comes up to you at school and proudly hands you a little bag of lids they collected from milk bottles at home that week - and they’re genuinely keen to learn more about what the lids are used for and it gets them thinking about where a lot of our waste actually ends up if it wasn’t being recycled. A lot of our kindergarten students are able to tell you how the lids can be used to make awesome things that really help other kids just like them, rather than just being thrown out and buried at the tip.”

Lids4Kids is a sustainability activity that anyone can contribute to, from toddlers and preschoolers to school students, community groups, and the elderly.

Western News 22 November 2019 Issue 98

Lids4Kids at Hambledon Public School

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‘There aren’t words for it’: What it’s like having a baby at 26 weeks

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eptember 16 was just like any Monday for Cowra school teacher Lucy Beckett. There was no warning that the next day she would be urgently flown to Westmead Hospital, her world turned upsidedown.

Two weeks later Lucy gave birth to her son Leo at just 26 weeks – three months shy of his due date and about one-third the weight of a full-term baby.

“It was a traumatic experience.

The first few days was just a lot of doctors and a lot of information and paperwork,” Lucy said.

“There aren’t words for it. It was very frightening to not know if he would survive.”

Though he weighed barely more than one kilogram, Lucy and her husband Dean were able to hold Leo when he was just one week old thanks to the emphasis on kangaroo care at Westmead Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Kangaroo care is a special and safe way to hold your baby against your skin, like a joey in a kangaroo pouch.

The benefits for practising kangaroo care regularly include stabilising the baby’s heartrate and breathing, better sleeping, improved weight gain, and earlier breastfeeding. Evidence also shows it can lead to earlier discharge from hospital For parents it helps reduce their stress and anxiety, improves bonding, and also helps mums to produce breastmilk.

Ahead of World Prematurity Day (November 17), NICU hosted an afternoon tea on Friday to officially launch the long-awaited kangaroo care

Dean and Lucy Beckett demonstrate kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact) with their son Leo.

guidelines NICU nurse Hannah Skelton developed the policy over the past three years to ensure all staff had access to information that was backed by research and empowered them to make the best decision in each unique situation.

Over the next fortnight the NICU staff will have the opportunity to take part in education workshops involving simulation, where they learn the skills to be effective in facilitating kangaroo care for premature babies in hospital.

“We know kangaroo care is beneficial but you need to assess how suitable it is each day. So the aim of these guidelines is really to equip staff, answers their

fears and concerns, and ensure they’re making decisions backed by evidence in order to guide the parents,” Hannah said.

“I love facilitating and witnessing the first cuddle between a mother and her premature child. It’s very emotionally rewarding. That’s why we’re all here; to provide good care for parents and bubs.”

Lucy said it was very important for her to be able to cuddle Leo as soon as possible.

She’s now able to hold him every day for hours at a time, and hopeful he will soon be able to breathe independently and be transferred to Orange Base Hospital.

“We’ve been here for two months and I’m missing home terribly. The magnificent social worker found accommodation for me and has helped me get financial support, but I’d like to be closer to home,” Lucy.

“But the beautiful doctors and nurses here have been fantastic with Leo.”

Lucy went in early labour when Leo was at just 24 weeks gestation. He was born 15 days later.

Get tested – let’s eliminate HIV transmission

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f you’ve never been tested for HIV or haven’t had a test for more than a year, Western Sydney Local Health District is encouraging you to get one done.

Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre director Professor David Lewis said this HIV Awareness Week (23 - 30 November) in the lead up to World AIDS Day (1 December) is a good opportunity to take a test.

“HIV testing is simple and confidential. There are now a variety of HIV tests available including free tests,” David said.

“You can get tested at your local GP or sexual health service. Or, if you want to test yourself at home, the Dried Blood Spot testing kit can be delivered to you and results are sent back by text, email or phone.”

“People at risk of HIV, particularly men who have sex with men, can now use a combination of prevention methods to reduce their risk including taking HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and using condoms, which are available for free.”

NSW has made significant progress towards the goal of virtually eliminating HIV transmission by 2020, with a 13 per cent drop in the number of new diagnoses in NSW between January to September 2019 compared to the previous five-year average.

NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant said this reduction is due to more people seeking early testing and treatment and taking steps to prevent HIV transmission including the use of PrEP. “A late HIV diagnosis can be life-threatening and increases the chances of passing on HIV to sexual partners. Early diagnosis means you can receive

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treatment, live a long, healthy life and prevent transmission to others,” Dr Chant said.

Between January to September 2019, 159 men who had sex with men were diagnosed with HIV in NSW. Of these men, 45 per cent had not had a test in the past 12 months and 18 per cent had never had an HIV test.

“With almost 40 per cent of these men diagnosed with HIV in the late stage of infection, we are urging those at risk to get a test,” Dr Chant said.

The NSW Government has committed $22.4 million in 2019-20 to strengthen testing, treatment and prevention with 47 state-funded Sexual Health Clinics also making testing easily accessible.

For information on HIV testing, visit www. health.nsw.gov.au/hiv-test or call NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 (Free-call).

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o you have a driver’s licence and enjoy driving and meeting new people? This could be something for you!

Volunteers are needed to work as Mount Druitt Hospital Patient Transport drivers or assistants for one day or more each week.

Opportunities are also available for administrative roles who work in the office taking calls from patients and coordinating the drivers for their routes.

Mount Druitt Hospital volunteer driver Dianne Robinson enjoys the early morning starts getting on the road and helping people travel from one destination to another.

“At first this job was a challenge but now I really love it,” Dianne said.

“My friends think I’m mad driving a 12-seater bus daily in and out of the busy traffic. It really doesn’t worry me.

“I encourage people who have some spare time to join us because you will feel like you’re giving something back to the community and you never know when you’re older you may be in a situation where you need someone to pick you up and take them to the doctors,” said Dianne.

The Patient Transport Service carts people in the mornings and returns them home by 1.30pm each weekday.

On average, 12 people travel to and from appointments each day. The service has four buses which travel as far as Westmead, Parramatta, Doonside and Mount Druitt driving people to their medical appointments which can include public

or private dental, x-ray and radiation oncology appointments. https://youtu.be/_31De160vA0

Patient Transport Volunteer driver of 11 years Dennis Huet wants more assistants on the buses to help the drivers assist patients on and off the bus.

“We need people who can be our off-siders who can open and close the doors and buckle up the patients in their seats,” Dennis said.

“It’s a great opportunity to have some fun and make a big difference in people’s days.”

The Patient Transport Volunteer Service started in 1984 providing free patient and carer transport to and from medical appointments within the Western Sydney Local Health District boundaries.

For enquiries about the Patient Transport Service or interested in being a driver or escort call 9881 1671.

Blacktown man eyes global travel with Lotto win

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retired Blacktown man is reaching for his suitcase and passport after making the shocking realisation he won division one in the Saturday Lotto draw.

The Western Sydney man held one of the five division one winning entries across Australia in Saturday Lotto draw 3997 on 9 November 2019. Each entry won a division one prize of $797,869.82.

Speaking to a NSW Lotteries official, the man recounted how he realised he was a division one winner.

“I discovered this yesterday morning. As a routine, I check my tickets over breakfast on a Sunday morning,” he shared.

“I checked my ticket using the app and saw all the numbers there, and thought ‘that’s it!’. I’ve kept the ticket in a safe place since then.

“It’s just money, mate, but it’s a nice bit of money,” he laughed.

“I’ve been playing for more than a year now and winning lots of little prizes along the way - $10, $20 – but

this one is the big one!”

Having spent the hours since contemplating his prize, the winner vowed he would use his division one win wisely.

“It helps a lot,” he said.

“I will use it to pay off the mortgage

and also invest some for the future.

“We also like to travel a bit, so this will certainly help us carry on with that.

“I’m sure we’ll head out to dinner tonight to celebrate too.”

The winner, who wishes to remain

anonymous, purchased his winning entry at BK Newswest, Shop 3059 Westpoint, 17 Patrick Street, Blacktown.

BK Newswest manager Ghassan Eid said he was jubilant to hear one of his customers had a winning weekend.

“It’s been a while since we last sold a division one winning ticket at this store, more than three or four years. It was high time we had another win!” he said.

“We were really excited to see we had sold the winning ticket for Saturday night’s draw. We’ve been sure to let all our customers know when they come in to check their tickets.

“It’s great this winner knows they’ve won as they were unregistered and sometimes people take a while to discover the news.”

In the 12 months to 30 June 2019, Monday & Wednesday Lotto and Saturday Lotto created 193 millionaires across Australia.

Investigations continue after man’s body found in South Wentworthville home Investigations continue into the death of a man at a home in Wentworthville.

About 5pm on Sunday 17 November, paramedics were called to a home on Alto Street, South Wentworthville, after reports a man was unresponsive.

Officers from Cumberland Police Area Command were alerted and found a 53-year-old man with what

is believed to be with a stab wound to his chest.

A crime scene was established, and a knife was taken for forensic examination.

Detectives have established Strike Force Rofe to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.

As inquiries continue, anyone with information to assist investigators is urged to come forward.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Anyone with information about 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.

Western News 22 November 2019 Issue 98

Selfless acts travel a long way D

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Critters in the desert

Breakfast view

Exploring the gardens

By BEN CRANNEY

‘It definitely wasn’t a scorpion’ the guide said. ‘It was, it definitely was’.

She was so convinced that a scorpion had just run under her bed, that her boyfriend asked if they could move tents. They did, although the boyfriend and guide maintained it wasn’t a scorpion.

We’d just travelled an hour by camel into the desert sand dunes near Merzouga, south east Morocco. It was a short ride, but if you’ve ever been on a camel, you’ll know they are experts at making you feel uncomfortable.

Sore tailbones, pelvises and thighs explained why our guide, Mustafa, walked. So a restful, scorpionfree sleep was high on the agenda,

particularly at the back end of a 48 degree day.

Despite the heat, it was near perfect weather. The sandstorm we’d driven through, which had threatened to swallow the road, had died. Mustafa still taught us to tie our ‘desert passports’, the deep blue cotton headscarves that would help keep the sand out if it blew up and the sun off when it was burning, but I think this was more because he thought we’d enjoy the lesson. The heat was disappearing too, as the sun disappeared behind the dunes. We watched it set from the top of one of them, our toes in the sand (and a watchful eye for scorpions). A handful of camel caravans walked the ridgelines, and a few more were hidden by the dunes, but it felt like it was just

Into the dunes

us. It was easy to see why Mustafa wanted to roam the deserts as his grandfather did. The borders between countries stopped him from doing that, so he tried to be content with leading tourists on camelback, but he didn’t seem confident that it would ever be enough.

To get here, you can get a ‘tour’ from Marrakesh. It’s more of a taxi ride. You can do it in two days, but three or four mean you’ll see a bit more instead of catching glimpses out the window.

You might stop at one of the Wadis, a

seasonal stream cut through the rock.

Or a garden oasis, so beautiful just for being green, where the temperature drops thanks to the trees. And maybe to a mudstone village built, where you’ll get haggling for carpets you didn’t know you wanted.

When it was time to get back on the camels, someone asked ‘Was it a scorpion?’ ‘Mmmm’ came the response from one of the guides and the boyfriend, with tiny little nods.

Next time: pizza, pasta, cheese and salami

The Unintentional Medium By Suzi Samuel Lest We Forget

L

ast Monday, I had the honour to lay a wreath on behalf of Hawkesbury Torch Bearers for Legacy on Remembrance Day. The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The day in 1918 when the guns fell quiet marking the end of the First World War, the War to end all Wars, the War that robbed the World of a whole generation of young men, and the Armistice was signed in a railway carriage in Compiegne.

Sadly, we have seen many wars since then. I grew up in post WW2 London, a city like many others battle scarred by bomb sites gaping like blind eyes in suburban streets bearing testimony to the hardships endured by others. But for some reason it is the Great War that truly affects me and with which I seem to have an overwhelming affinity.

When I was at school, I obviously knew the historical facts about the conflict but, like all my generation, didn’t give it much thought. Swinging London and the Beatles were much more interesting.

However, at an Assembly for Remembrance Day, our Head Mistress read out that amazing poem For the Fallen, the last verse of which gives us our Ode. When she got to the verse, “They went with songs to battle, They were young, straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow, They were staunch to the end against all odds uncounted, They fell with their faces to the foe”, I fainted. Now I am not the fainting type having always been a bit robust for a fit of the vapours, but I came to in Matron’s office in floods of tears.

The next time it happened, I was visiting my mother’s best friend in Belgium and we visited the Menin Gate and the graveyards around Ypres. Miles of simple white stones reaching as far as the eye could see marking the final resting place of those whose remains had actually been found, those steady and aglow young men who had rushed from all corners to defend their country and their homes. We went to a trench which had been preserved as a museum and it happened again. It must have been one of my early psychic experiences because I was there. I could hear the guns booming, I could smell the indescribable odour of men, of smoke, of decay and of death. I could feel the rain, the cold and the mud. When I came to, I found it impossible to explain what had happened but the memory stays with me to this day.

Before we came to Australia to live, we used to travel frequently through Northern France, through the peaceful and extremely fertile farmlands of the Somme and it was almost impossible to realise the mayhem and tragedy that had scarred this beautiful land. But the memory does linger on. A couple of years ago some friends of mine were going on a trip to the Western Front and the man asked me if I could get in touch with his three uncles who had given their lives in 1918. I wasn’t quite sure if I would be able to do this, but I sat done with my spirit writing and voila!

There they were. They had died in different areas of combat, but happily had managed to find each other again in the hereafter. I was able to give my friend some extra information to prove it was his uncles I had tuned into and to let him know they were fine.

But why do I have this feeling of loss and desolation? I sometimes feel memories of that time and of a lost love. What I do know is that when the service started last Monday, I felt a very strong presence with me who stayed with me throughout the service and especially during the wreath laying.

A lost lover or the combined energies of all those eager young men who shall not be wearied by age or condemned by years? And does it matter as long as they did not die in vain.

We will remember them.

Lest we forget.

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

Western News

local news

O

ften referred to as the ‘silent disease’, many people are unaware they are at risk, or living with type 2 diabetes.

Residents have benefited from more than 100,000 pro-active diabetes tests conducted at Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals as part of a Western Sydney Diabetes initiative.

Dr Tien-Ming Hng, head, Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology at Blacktown Hospital, said pro-active testing is done for people who come to emergency departments.

“People who require a blood test also have an HbA1c test to check for diabetes,” said Dr Hng. An HbA1c blood test is used to diagnose and manage diabetes. A result equal to or above 6.5 percent signals the possibility of diabetes.

Dr Hng said results from the testing revealed nearly half (48 per cent) of people tested had high blood sugar levels.

“Of the 100,000 tests conducted, 30.5 percent, or 30,533 tests, revealed a result consistent with pre-diabetes, and 17.4 per cent, or 17,435 tests, revealed a result consistent with diabetes (type 1 or type 2),” said Dr Hng.

Twenty-eight-year-old Mahmoud Elashwal from Schofields, is one such resident who has benefited from the proactive testing.

He got more than he bargained for when he presented at Blacktown Hospital’s emergency department, receiving a double diagnosis.

“I came to the hospital after I had a car accident,” said Mr Elashwal.

But he wasn’t prepared for what he heard next.

“I was shocked when the doctors told me I had pre-diabetes,” he said.

“I didn’t know much about diabetes before this and I wasn’t expecting to hear that I had diabetes.”

Processing the information, Mr Elashwal realised this news may have been a blessing in disguise.

Once discharged, Mr Elashwal walked out of hospital with a new lease on life.

He realised he had to do something to change his life if he wanted to beat his chance of getting type 2 diabetes.

“Over the last few weeks I changed what I eat and I now walk one hour every day,” said Mr Elashwal.

“I have now lost eight kilograms and I’m determined to improve my health so I don’t get diabetes.

“I’m thankful for the doctors who

tested me for diabetes, because now I can get on top of it and improve my life.”

Professor Glen Maberly, head of Western Sydney Diabetes, said we knew the diabetes problem in western Sydney was serious, but the proactive detection program revealed it’s much worse than first thought.

“The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in western Sydney is growing at about 0.5 per cent each year, with 22 percent of patients in our hospitals identified as having diabetes,” said Prof Maberly.

Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition in which a person becomes resistant to insulin or their pancreas is no longer able to produce enough insulin to counteract the food eaten.

The signs and symptoms are gradual and often people can be living with the condition for years without knowing it. Late diagnosis of diabetes results in a greater chance of developing diabetes-related complications such as kidney disease, heart disease and blindness.

“The good news is that it’s possible to beat type 2 diabetes by making changes to your diet and lifestyle,” said Prof Maberly.

“Early detection and a sustained weight loss of 2-4 kg are key to boosting your chance of beating diabetes.

“Daily exercise and a healthy diet low in processed foods, low in fat and sugar and full of fresh fruits and vegetables, will help prevent type 2 diabetes.”

To find out more about WSD, or to download the WSD Healthy Living Options booklet, visit https://www. westernsydneydiabetes.com.au/ .

WSLHD invests approximately $2 million annually on tackling obesity, and $1.5 million for the WSD initiative.

In 2019-20, the NSW Ministry of Health has allocated $36.6 million towards reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Diabetes debate heats up as temperatures rises

W

estern Sydney can be up to ten degrees hotter than other parts of Sydney, presenting a unique health challenge for people wanting to make healthy lifestyle changes.

Amid World Diabetes Day, the Western Sydney Diabetes (WSD) Alliance shared this new insight into their fight against the diabetes epidemic.

Western Sydney was described by experts at a recent diabetes alliance forum as a ‘heat island’ significantly impacting the health of local residents.

Co-promoted by WSD, the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) and the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, the event was an opportunity for researchers, clinicians, members of government and the private sector to discuss ideas for tackling the local diabetes epidemic.

The higher average temperature makes exercise and activity challenging, particularly during the summer months when the heat becomes trapped and lingers late into the evening.

Tips to beat the heat and continue exercising during the warmer months?

Supercharge your day. Early morning is the best time to exercise outdoors, so set your alarm earlier and be inspired knowing the activity will help you feel energised and alert!

Keep hydrated. Ditch the sugary sports drinks and make sure you

Diabetes Alliance members Thomas Astell-Burt (University of Wollongong), Xiaoqi Feng (University of NSW) , Matthew O’Connor (Blacktown City Council), Prof Glen Maberly (Western Sydney Diabetes), Alex O’Mara (Department of Planning and Environment), Janine Dawson (Western Sydney Diabetes), Dr Sebastian Pfautsh (Western Sydney University), Ian Corless (Diabetes NSW & ACT)

have water handy for any activity, especially in warmer weather.

Dive in. Swimming is a great way to improve your heart health, lung health and muscle strength, all the while staying cool.

Stay sun-safe. Arm yourself with a cap, wrap-around sunnies and sunscreen to keep the rays away.

WSD director, Professor Glen Maberly, said creating liveable cities is key to improving the health of our community and in beating type 2 diabetes.

“Approximately 72,000 people in Western Sydney are affected by diabetes, costing an estimated $1.16 billion in healthcare expenditure each year,” Prof Maberly said.

“Routine testing for diabetes at the Emergency Departments at Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals revealed that Western Sydney is a

diabetes hotspot and people who live here are twice as likely to have, or be at risk of, diabetes, than people living in the northern or beachside suburbs.

“The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be prevented. By losing 2-4 kilograms, it is possible to beat type 2 diabetes, but we need to ensure our urban environment is built in such a way that it promotes healthy lifestyles.”

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue executive director Adam Leto said being physically active can take more effort in Western Sydney compared with other parts of Sydney, so the region needs greener, welldesigned public spaces to enable people to get active including better protection of our water assets.

“Increasing the levels of physical activity through our parklands, rivers, bike lanes and active travel options

can only help reduce obesity if people use them. For this to occur, a wholeof-community approach to placemaking is required,” Mr Leto said.

“It’s especially important that younger Australians feel encouraged and enabled to embrace an active lifestyle, as childhood behaviour generally evolves into lifetime habits.”

Prof Maberly said the health system is not the only player when it comes to beating type 2 diabetes.

“More than 120 partners have joined forces at the WSD Alliance and are working collaboratively on joint initiatives aimed at addressing the social, economic and environmental challenges in the west,” Prof Maberly said.

“Tackling the diabetes epidemic requires a whole-of-community approach as the health system alone can’t fix the problem.

“We have harnessed the power and passion of our WSD Alliance members through a new custom-built online platform that will enable our partners to connect with each-other, share ideas and progress important initiatives together.

“Launched at the WSD Alliance forum, we hope the WSD Alliance Hub will enable more connectivity among our members so we can continue to beat diabetes together.”

To find out more about Western Sydney Diabetes please visit https:// www.westernsydneydiabetes.com.au/

Western News 22 November 2019 Issue 98

Risk of diabetes is rising for people in western Sydney

11

Western News 22 November 2019 Issue 98

12

westernhistory

A true Pioneering Son

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

F

rancis (Frank) Stuart was born in May 1844 at Penrith, the son of Robert Stuart, Estate Manager to Sir John Jamieson at Regentville. Frank’s mother was Elizabeth, (née Matthews). In 1857 at the age of thirteen, Frank became an apprentice to a Sydney draper but later returned to Penrith to work for a Mr Coulter who was a storekeeper at Penrith. In 1866 at the age of twentytwo he eloped with his employer’s daughter Matilda and they were married in Sydney that year and sailed to Melbourne. Frank joined the fashionable Collins Street store of Alston & Brown. He was later employed by Dixon Bros who were warehousemen in Flinders Lane, staying there until in 1871 at the age of twenty-seven, he started a company making work clothing. In 1884 he joined McIvor & Lincoln who made waterproof clothing, and on the death of the senior partner he took over, with the firm now called Lincoln Stuart & Co. that was registered as a limited company in February 1889. When Lincoln retired, Frank was the sole proprietor. It became a prosperous business and among its early successes was a contract in 1885 to supply uniforms within seventeen days for the hastily raised NSW Sudan contingent. Later, one of his soft goods firms named L. Stevenson & Sons was also in Flinders Lane, he worked there around fifteen years.

This firm made hats that became known as “Stuart Hats”. Frank was always looking for new opportunities and recognising possibilities in the rubber industry he joined with Barnet Glass & Sons Co to manufacture waterproof clothing. He became a director of the company that was later taken over by Dunlop. Frank was also President of the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures in 1885 and Chairman of the Clothing and Manufacturers’ Association in 1887. In April 1889 he was elected an MLA for East Melbourne in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

When the Munro ministry was formed in November 1890, Frank was appointed Minister without Portfolio, along with (Sir) Simon Fraser and (Sir) Alexander Peacock. He resigned from the ministry in April 1891 but remained a private member. Although a protectionist, he argued persistently for the duty-free import of goods that could not be sourced locally. When he contested East Melbourne in 1894 the Argus described him as an advocate of tariff reform, while the protectionist Age denounced him for having stood on the Liberal ticket to become ‘a mere Tory tool - a political prostitute of the worst sort. No Liberal can tolerate his return to the House with anything but loathing’. Frank was a vigorous and longstanding advocate of inter-colonial free trade, campaigning for Federation particularly through the Australian Natives’ Association. In June 1904 he was elected as one of the inaugural members for Melbourne North Province in the Victorian Legislative Council. His parliamentary energies were concentrated on the improvement of education, public health and military training. He denounced dependence on London’s money market, politically motivated railway development and French imperialism in the New Hebrides, and he opposed plural voting, property qualification, income tax and female suffrage. He resigned in May 1907 to have more time for business. Frank had speculated in real estate, registering 51 land titles in 1870-90, mostly in Hawthorn and the Gippsland Lakes. He had retired from these ventures before the land boom reached its peak but reduced his fortune by re-entering the market. In 1891-1910 he had

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acquired 14 titles, and by guaranteeing colleagues who emerged bankrupt. Deciding in 1910 that ‘land and shares is not our business’, he liquidated all except for two country properties to finance an imaginative walkway from Collins Street to the Flinders Street railway station that was being engineered by (Sir) John Monash. He held a commission in the Victorian militia. He achieved acclaim as an oarsman, cyclist and marksman and he was Founding Captain of the Victoria Golf Club and a pioneer motorist who drove in the 1905 Sydney to Melbourne Dunlop Reliability Trial in a Swift motorcar 10-12 hp (horsepower). The Swift Motor Co made Swift Cars in Coventry in England from 1900 to 1931. During the early 1900’s Swift entered their cars in reliability trials and won many gold medals. Swift made their first prototype singlecylinder car using an Motor Manufacturing Company engine. In 1901 the car was put into production. It had a tubular chassis, a single cylinder de Dion engine and a two-speed back axle. In 1902 the Swift Motor Co was formed. The company produced one, two, three and fourcylinder cars, first using proprietary engines. By 1904 the first Swift-engine car was the twin-cylinder 7 hp and later 10 hp. This was shortly joined by the four-cylinder 12-14 hp that continued in a bewildering number of guises until the First World War. Motorsport has always been an integral part of Dunlop’s heritage and success in Australia. It was during February 21-25th in 1905 that Frank participated in this trial. Henry Barton James, an employee with Dunlop, conducted the Dunlop Reliability Motor Contest, a trial from Sydney to Melbourne over 572 miles. This was the first major motorsport event in Australia and only the fourth such event in the world. This trial was over all classes of road and attracted twenty-three cars of which seventeen finished. Frank was an ardent Australian nationalist and proud of being country-born.

He was a voracious reader and founded the Melbourne Beefsteak Club.

Although he was an enthusiastic subject of Queen Victoria, he criticized Imperial strategy in the Pacific and declared that Switzerland had shown that republicanism was ‘the right form of government’. He was said to be a stalwart man of average height, with a clean-shaven square-set face and jaunty air. He died of a cerebral haemorrhage in October 1910 on the “Otranto” returning from a world tour and was buried at sea off Aden. His family continued to use “Nyerimilang” that was situated west of Lakes Entrance in Victoria. Frank had acquired the property in 1891 that was first owned by Alexander Murray. Frank built a holiday home as a base for fishing and shooting at the Gippsland Lakes. During the early 1930s, his son Frank Jnr extended the house and developed the surrounding gardens and lived in style complete with housemaids and a gardener. When Frank Jnr died in 1936 his widow gave the property to the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland for use as a Boys’ Training Farm. Later in 1976 it was purchased by the Victorian Government. A display and a collection of reference material featuring the history of “Nyerimilang” and the natural resources and history of the Gippsland Lakes can be seen in the homestead in the library. The grounds around the homestead is now called Nyerimilang Heritage Park. Photo courtesy of the Australian National Archives.

Sources: Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, Orbost & District Historical Society Inc. of Victoria, Aussie Towns website, Francis Stuart- Merchant in Marvellous Melbourne: Frank Stuart (2002), Dunlop website, Sydney Morning Herald 1905, Swift Motor Co website.

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Western News

INSTRUCTIONS

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

SUDOKU: MEDIUM

13 Western News 22 November 2019 Issue 98

SUDOKU: EASY

ENTERTAINMENT

SOLUTIONS: 8 November EASY

MEDIUM

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Hunting guide (7) 5 Jobs (7) 9 Rehearsed (9) 10 Forest god (5) 11 They decide what goes in a magazine (7) 12 Teach (7) 13 Well-kept (9) 15 Speed competitions (5) 17 Head of a city (5) 19 Nightstick (9) 22 Invigorate (7) 25 Bringing two people together (7) 26 Silk-cotton tree (5) 27 Lacking in refinement (9) 28 Pushes forcefully (7) 29 Braids (7)

solution 8/11/19

down 1 Dinners (7) 2 Inaptitude (9) 3 Things done (7) 4 Without ceasing (9) 5 Mooch (5) 6 Savior (7) 7 Additional (5) 8 Roads (7) 14 Things needed to accomplish

a task (9) 16 Elements (9) 17 South African mongoose-like

animal (7) 18 Rescinds (7) 20 Pertaining to the most populous

country (7) 21 Cancels (7) 23 Outcast (5) 24 At the ends of fingers (5)

Western News 22 November 2019 Issue 98

14

REAL ESTATE

Alex Soncini

B

Western News

Things first-home buyers need to know

efore you decide to purchase your first property there are a number of things to consider, including your current personal circumstances and financial status.

1. Think about why you want to buy a home Do you want to live in it or will it be an investment property? This can help determine the kind of loan you apply for and home you buy, depending on your short and long-term plans.

2. Research potential properties and loans Knowing the market is crucial, so do some research on the areas you are targeting, check out auction clearance rates and recent sales, as well as price trends in the area. Once you are aware of what you are looking for and the approximate price, the next step is saving a deposit.

While some lenders will offer loans if you have saved less than the usual 20 per cent deposit being

able to show a record of good saving habits will aid in getting your loan approved.

Then, when you talk to Wealthwiz about applying for pre-approval on the right type of loan, ask for their help to work out what you can afford in terms of repayments.

3. Factor in other costs involved Depending on the property, there can be a number of additional costs, so ask your finance broker what other payments you will face. This can include, but isn’t limited to, stamp duty, loan establishment fees, legal and conveyance services, utilities, property insurance, maintenance and lenders mortgage insurance.

4. Think about your future Just because your current situation allows you to get a home loan, that doesn’t automatically guarantee that you will still be able to service it in

@wealthwiz

five years’ time. Is there a possibility your role at work will change? Are you considering going back to study and reducing your working hours?

5. Get professional help With so many things to consider, getting professional help is highly recommended. There are many experts in the industry and it is in your best interest to use them for tasks such as property checks, pest checks and any other legal queries.

Going it alone can prove costly. Avoid nasty surprises down the track by getting the right people to do the appropriate checks for you from the beginning.

Find an MFAA Approved Finance Broker for the best expert advice about buying your first home.

Contact Alex from Wealthwiz on 0419 600 177 for advice and who can help you navigate the loan market for first-home buyers.

#wealthwizau

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Western News

SPORT

By CONNER LOWE

S

ydney Thunder has confirmed Chris Green’s six-year commitment to the club which will tie him to western Sydney’s KFC Big Bash League team until the end of BBL|13.

The deal not only acknowledges Green’s talent as an inspiring player, but it also recognises the traits that make him a tremendous ambassador for the club.

Green spoke of a number of reasons for his decision to want to be a one-team player including Thunder’s commitment to its community and charitable causes and the loyalty the club have shown him since debuting.

“Thunder was the first team that backed me when I was playing grade cricket, so to lock in my future with the club is really exciting,” he said.

“It’s not often you have security, so for me to get that with a club that I love, I’m really excited and very grateful for this opportunity to continue to represent Thunder into the future.”

The 26-year-old has played 41 games for Thunder since joining the club in BBL|04; taking 30 wickets at an economy of 7.00 and scoring 321 runs at an average of 18.88.

The off-spinning all-rounder has also established himself as one of world cricket’s most in-demand T20 specialists.

While he’s currently representing the Northern Warriors in Abu Dhabi’s T10 League, he’s made his mark in the Pakistan [T20] Super League, Canada’s GT20 tournament, England’s Vitality Blast and the Caribbean Premier League.

“Thunder put me on the map and provided a

platform for me to showcase my skills and contribute to the team’s success and as a result, that’s let me travel the world playing the sport I love,” said Green.

“Within the Thunder set-up, I’ve had opportunities to learn from some of the best in the business.

“I was very fortunate to get to play and win a trophy alongside my idol Jacques Kallis in BBL|04 and BBL|05.

“I still work closely with Mike Hussey as one of my mentors from a leadership and cricket point of view. He’s been an amazing help to me with my development and we’re constantly in touch.

“I’m very fortunate to have had access to high quality players, people and leaders who have helped me grow into the player, person and leader I am today.”

Green pinpointed Thunder’s commitment to community engagement as another reason behind his desire to remain at the club.

“The reason why I love playing for Thunder so much is that we give back to our community,” he said.

“We are very fortunate as cricketers to be doing what we love, and I really think it’s important to give back to others who might not be as fortunate.

The opportunity to make a difference in the community is a big reason behind why I wanted to stay at Thunder for a long time and hopefully be a one-club player for the remainder of my Big Bash career.”

Sydney Thunder is set to open its ninth KFC Big Bash League campaign against the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on 17 December, before playing its first game in Sydney on 2 January.

Tickets are now on sale at sydneythunder.com.au/ tickets.

Dunheved youngsters enjoy Pennant success

By Noel Rowsell

D

unheved Golf Club’s young Golf NSW Encourage Shield Pennant team has enjoyed a fabulous season, in spite of losing their quarter final against Richmond GC 4-2 on Sunday.

Dunheved’s results for the season included a 5-1 win over Lane Cove GC; a 3-3 draw with Pennant Hills GC; a 3-3 draw with North Ryde GC; a 5-1 win over Ryde-Parramatta GC and finally a 3-3 draw with Muirfield GC to finish in first position in Division One and qualify for the playoffs.

Dunheved GM Tracie Taylor said “it was very exciting for us (the Club) to win our Division, as most of the kids are very new to Golf.”

Dunheved were then matched up with Richmond GC on Sunday at Lakeside GC, Camden in an elimination quarter final but fell 4-2 to end their season.

The full Dunheved squad is Declan Mingramm, Mathew Vukelic, Nate Barnes, Jack Grieve, Connor Hamilton, Noah Tofaeono, Aaron Barlow, Andrew Crumpton (manager).

(L-R): Andrew Crumpton (Golf Shop Manager), Declan Mingramm (FJ bucket hat), Mathew Vukelic (no cap), Nate Barnes (front - white cap), Jack Grieve, Connor Hamilton (srixon cap), Noah Tofaeono. Photo supplied by Dunheved GC.

Western News 22 November 2019 Issue 98

Chris Green signs longest deal in Thunder history

15

Western News Friday, 22 November 2019

SPORT

Wanderers off to flying start in the W-League

By CONNER LOWE

A

long range free kick from new recruit Kyra CooneyCross has helped secure the Wanderers a last gasp 2-1 win over Adelaide United in the opening game of the Westfield W-League at Marconi Stadium.

Coming on for her debut for the club as a substitute early in the second half, the young Matilda fired in a long-range effort on 92 minutes that eluded everyone in the box before sneaking into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

The Victorian only joined the club earlier this month, signing from Melbourne Victory.

In what was an entertaining game, the Wanderers had to come from a goal down after falling behind to a Mary Fowler penalty in the 37th minute.

However, Dean Heffernan’s side showed plenty of resilience to level up just before half time through US international Kristen Hamilton.

Hamilton was on the spot at the far post to head home a superb cross from the right from Alix Roberts.

Hamilton showed some outstanding touches during the game, exciting the fans with her skill and exceptional speed.

Her compatriot and teammate Abby Smith was

also in great form, producing three or four stunning saves.

Despite missing two key signings in Lynn Williams (USA) and Denise O’Sullivan (Republic of Ireland), the Wanderers produced some quality football at times against an Adelaide side that gave them a hard-fought contest for the entire 80 minutes.

The Wanderers started the game strongly, dominating the first 20 minutes with some slick football.

They should have been rewarded just six minutes

into the game when Cortnee Vine found herself on the end of a superb cross. Her header hit the base of the left post and the ball fell to Erica Halloway but her effort was cleared off the line.

The Red and Black then peppered the visitor’s goal with a series of long range efforts but to no avail.

United provided a scare on 16 minutes when Isobel Hodgson broke down the right flank, surged into the box and fired off a solid shot that was well saved by keeper Abby Smith.

Smith was again called into action in the 27th minute, coming off her line and getting down low to deny Fowler from point-blank range.

However, Smith could do nothing to prevent United going ahead on 37 minutes with Fowler converting from the spot after she had been fouled in the area.

Western Sydney refused to be rattled and found themselves on level terms just a minute before half time following some great work down the left side

by Roberts.

Roberts took the ball to the line before sending an outstanding cross to the far post where Hamilton made no mistake, nodding home from close range.

The Wanderers had the better of the second half as they searched desperately for a winner, but had to wait until Cooney-Cross’s 92nd minute effort.