Western News 29 October 2021 by Nepean News

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Many children and adults love Halloween giving a reason to dress up and decorate the house. Last year the pandemic spoilt the celebration, so this year with visitor numbers to homes increased, celebrate and enjoy the excuse to party!

Happy Halloween!

Western News 29 October 2021 Issue 147

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Proof of vaccination: all you need to know

ervices Australia has shared with us some important information that will help our readers to get proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations as restrictions in NSW ease for those who are fully vaccinated. Across the state more than 5.4 million people over the age of 16 have received 2 doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine and over 4.7 million fully vaccinated people in NSW have accessed their COVID-19 digital certificate. Services Australia encourages those who are yet to get a copy of their digital certificate to get proof now. They say it’s a simple process and they’re here to help people understand the options available to them. The digital certificate is one of two documents people can use to show their COVID-19 vaccination status: 1. COVID-19 digital certificate • Once you’re fully vaccinated, you can access this online through myGov or the Express Plus Medicare app. • Only shows your COVID-19 vaccinations • Can be added to the ServiceNSW app • Can be added to Apple Wallet and Google Pay • Can be saved offline in the Express Plus Medicare app.

1. Immunisation history statement • Available online through myGov or the Express Plus Medicare app, no matter how many doses you’ve had • Shows other vaccinations, like flu shots • Can be saved offline in the Express Plus Medicare app. There are also hard copy options available.

People who don’t have access to a smart phone or device can print a copy of either of these documents as proof of their vaccinations. People who don’t have access to online services can ask their vaccination provider or Services Australia for a printed copy. They can contact Services Australia by calling 1800 653 809.

Those who aren’t eligible for Medicare can access proof through myGov using the Individual Healthcare Identifier service. Services Australia General Manager Hank Jongen said getting proof of your vaccination online is a quick and simple process. “Once you’ve signed into myGov, select the ‘Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination’ quick link and follow the prompts,” Mr Jongen said. “Once you’ve linked Medicare to myGov, I recommend you download the Express Plus Medicare app on your smartphone. That way you’ll have proof of your vaccination in the palm of your hand whenever you need it. “Both the COVID-19 digital certificate and immunisation history statement can be used to provide proof of your COVID-19 vaccinations. You can show this to your employer if you need to prove you’ve been vaccinated to work. “People who are unable to access our online services can get a printed copy of their certificate by asking their vaccination provider to print it for them or by contacting us and we can post a copy to them. If they require urgent proof, they can also visit our Service Centres and our team will print a copy for them.”

Kings Langley grandmother’s lottery legacy scores $1 million By KeRRIE DAVIES

w e n t y- f i v e years after her husband passed away, a Kings Langley grandmother has woken up as a newly-minted millionaire from using his favourite numbers on her Lotto entry. The local resident held one of the three division one winning entries nationally in Monday & Wednesday Lotto draw 4123 and took home $1 million. So far in 2021, there have been 18 division one winning entries in the Western Sydney & Blue Mountains region, collectively taking home $30 million. Confirming her life-changing win with an official from The Lott this week, the retiree explained the windfall was sentimental. “Oh my! I’m so overwhelmed. I thought it was all a dream,” she cried. “Since my husband passed away, I’ve been playing his numbers ever since. He’d always purchase an entry into Monday & Wednesday Lotto. I thought I’d keep the numbers going. “It would be 25 years next month since he passed. He must be looking down on me this morning. “My son and I checked the numbers last night after dinner. We couldn’t believe it. We didn’t know if it was

true. We were up until 12.30 last night, pacing up and down. “I didn’t think it was real. I just rang my son a few minutes ago and told him that ‘I haven’t received a phone call yet, and I don’t think it’s real’. “After discovering the news, I only had a couple of hours of sleep last night. It was a very sleepless night! “When I was younger, I used to send money to mum and dad in Victoria for our family lottery. A win has been a long-time coming!” When asked how she planned to enjoy her million-dollar fortune, the loving grandmother said it would be equally shared between her son and herself.

“The prize will go towards my son and I. I’ve always wanted to help my son and set him up. He’s my main priority,” she shared. “Funny story! Just last night, my son said we should buy two televisions. I said to him, ‘we have good enough televisions; we don’t need another one!’. “However, in terms of my half of the prize, I’d like to put it towards investing in more shares. “We’re a big fan of cruises! Once cruises are back, we will book a cruise out of Sydney to Perth.” Her winning marked 18-game entry was purchased at Kings Langley

Newsagency, Shop 4, Kings Langley Shopping Centre, Cnr James Cook Dr & Ravenhill Street, Kings Langley. Kings Langley Newsagency owner Peter Hong said the news had brought excitement to the whole team. “It’s beautiful news! We’re all very excited. Very happy for the regular customer,” he revealed. “Since I’ve owned the outlet, we’ve been waiting a whole seven years to sell a division one winning entry. It’s been a while, but the first of many more! “A big congratulations to the winner. We hope the win can help them in some way.” The winning numbers in Monday & Wednesday Lotto draw 4123 on Wednesday 20 October 2021 were 14, 43, 41, 9, 21, 31, while the supplementary numbers were 3 and 22.

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The NSW Training Awards are conducted annually by Training Services NSW, within the NSW Department of Education, to recognise outstanding achievement in the vocational education and training sector.

The Awards honour and reward the achievements of students, trainers/teachers, registered training organisations and both large and medium employers. Three local men have featured in this year’s awards, as set out below.

2021 NSW Apprentice of the Year

2021 NSW VET in Schools Student of the Year

Troy Harris (Schofields) Qualification: Certificate III in Plumbing Trained by: TAFE NSW Employed by: A P Bathrooms (Finished apprenticeship 2020) Region: Western Sydney & Blue Mountains Region After working many desk jobs, Troy yearned for a hands-on career. With a growing family, he also sought job security. Coming from a family of tradespeople, plumbing was in his blood. At TAFE NSW, Troy enjoyed exploring different aspects of the trade, engaging in class discussions about new techniques, and gaining practical insights from his skilful trainers. At work, Troy went from assistant to head plumber. He attributes his success to the knowledgeable tradespeople he worked alongside. Having been diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, Troy is thankful for the various learning approaches offered by VET. He adopted a hands-on, visual approach and engaged in class discussions to gain understanding. “My next goal is to go for my Cert 4 in Plumbing, get licensed and then get as much experience as possible so I can become a TAFE teacher,: said Troy. “I love plumbing and I am passionate about people learning new skills that will gain someone a qualification and a great job with so many possibilities. Being able to learn from professionals at TAFE gave me the confidence to try new things and learn new skills that I now use daily and I would love to give back to that by teaching others.”

Ethan Zammit (Acacia Gardens) Region: Western Sydney and Blue Mountains Region Qualification: Certificate III in Live Production and Services Trained by: Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta School: St Mark’s Catholic College VET has opened up a world of professional entertainment opportunities for Ethan. Ethan maintains a calm professional demeanour as he juggles competing events. He manages audiovisual budgets, equipment maintenance, and the set up and pack down of functions, concerts and expos. He loves operating sound and lighting for plays and drama/music exams. The Parish of St John XXIII recognised Ethan’s expertise and talent by appointing him AV Coordinator. He’s the first young adult to fill the role. During COVID-19, Ethan devised innovative ways to run events and broadcast the parish’s mass via live stream. Ethan volunteers for the Sovereign Order of Malta Australia, providing Parramatta’s homeless with clothing and hygiene products. “My plans in the future while uncertain may be somewhere in either Live Production like in theatre or at concerts, or in commercial installs like at conference centres or schools,” said Ethan. “My role at St John XXIII is a volunteer role, its part time usually on Sundays during our live streamed mass, or due the week when I work on the computer in the parish office.”

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Western News 29 October 2021 Issue 147

NSW Apprentice of the Year Awards

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Western News 29 October 2021 Issue 147

Office: (02) 9834 5579 Editor: Kerrie Davies 0422 067 644 General Manager: Bart Bassett 0412 955 745 Sales: Bart Bassett 0412 955 745 Sales: Malama Psarianos 0416 203 777 Sports Journalist: Noel Rowsell 0424 007 202 Graphic Design: Stacey Fortescue 0420 319 893 Printer: Pegasus Print Group, Blacktown Letters to the Editor: nepeannews@aol.com Web: www.wsnewsgroup.com

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Level 1, Suite 101C, 130 Main Street, Blacktown PO Box 8525, Blacktown NSW 2148 (02) 9671 4780 Michelle.Rowland.MP@aph.gov.au MRowlandMP www.michellerowland.com.au Authorised by Michelle Rowland MP, Australian Labor Party, Suite 101C, Level 1, 130 Main Street, Blacktown NSW 2148

From the Editor’s Desk By KeRRIE DAVIES

f you had a crystal ball four months ago and claimed we were about to embark on a very lengthy lockdown with permits and curfews and throw in a change of premier, people would have laughed at you. I don’t think many of us predicted back in June that we were about to get caught in the grip of the pandemic that would see all non-essential businesses closed down until October. As everything is now reopening to the fully vaccinated, let’s support our local retail, restaurants, pubs, clubs and services who’ve done it incredibly tough for many months. The local businesses who had to close their doors still had overheads to pay. Rents and mortgages were still payable, as were rates, insurances, wages or wage top-ups and the list goes on and on. All with zero income. So now that they can finally open back up and welcome business, many are very much in the red from keeping their business afloat without any cash flow. Superannuation funds have been drawn on, loans taken out and savings accounts demolished. This is not just a re-opening phase for most, it is a re-build. They’ve never needed our support more than they do now. So let’s do everything we can to help our own in our local LGA! - Eat from LOCAL restaurants - Catch up at LOCAL coffee shops, pubs and clubs - Buy your Christmas presents from LOCAL retailers If we all make an effort to support our own before looking outside the LGA we will help our local businesses re-build so much quicker. They are the backbone of a successful region, and its our patronage that will make the difference for them. We are an amazing community; let’s face it we lead the way in most things we do, lets show the rest of the state how good we are at getting our local economy back on its feet too!

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ominations are now open for local council elections, Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock is urging women keen to make a difference in their community to prepare for their place on the ballot. Mrs Hancock said from Monday 25 October 2021, candidates will be able to submit their nominations for the upcoming Local Government elections, held on Saturday 4 December 2021. “My advice to any woman considering a role with their local council is just to go for it,” Mrs Hancock said. “The participation of women in public life is essential for the development and advancement of women, and the time has come for women to close the gender-gap on local councils. “As a former councillor, who proudly served 17 years on Shoalhaven City Council, I understand all too well the issues female councillors, and potential councillors face. The NSW Government provided $167,500 in funding for a series of workshops for women considering pursuing a place on their local council. Women for Election Australia (WFEA) held seven face-to-face workshops with a total of 105 attendees

Western News 29 October 2021 Issue 147

Women encouraged to “go for it”

and three online training sessions for 90 participants. In addition, the Australian Local Government Women’s Association also held more than 30 face-to-face workshops, attended by more than 250 women. Mrs Hancock said that 66 per cent of attendees were more likely to run for council as a result of participating in the workshops, while 98 per cent found them useful. “It is my hope, we can begin to dismantle entrenched barriers, stereotypes and assumptions that impede women’s ability to play a central role in public life,” Mrs Hancock said. “Local councils are the level of government closest to the community and can make a huge difference to residents and their families. “We need women from all walks of life to put their hand up for election to help ensure local councils are representative of the communities they serve.” Candidates will have from Monday 25 October 2021 until noon on Wednesday 3 November 2021 to complete their nomination forms. For more information on how to nominate for the Local Government elections, visit www.elections.nsw.gov.au.

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Western News 29 October 2021 Issue 147

REMEMBRANCE DAY ~ 11 NOVEMBER 2021 We honour our brave Aussie Diggers who have sacrificed so much in the past and those serving our country today Lest We Forget

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 www.kevinconollymp.com.au Authorised by Kevin Conolly MP. Funded using parliamentary entitlements.

Remembrance Day 2021: Lest We Forget

n 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. With their armies retreating and close to collapse, German leaders signed an Armistice, bringing to an end the First World War. From the summer of 1918, the five divisions of the Australian Corps had been at the forefront of the allied advance to victory. Beginning with their stunning success at the battle of Hamel in July, they helped to turn the tide of the war at Amiens in August, followed by the capture of Mont St Quentin and Pèronne, and the breaching of German defences at the Hindenburg Line in September. By early October the exhausted Australians were withdrawn from battle. They had achieved a fighting reputation out of proportion to their numbers, but victory had come at a heavy cost. They suffered almost

48,000 casualties during 1918, including more than 12,000 dead. In the four years of the war more than 330,000 Australians had served overseas, and more than 60,000 of them had died. The social effects of these losses cast a long shadow over the postwar decades. Each year on this day we observe one minute’s silence at 11am, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.

Prue Car MP “ Member for Londonderry

On Remembrance Day we pause to reflect on the sacrifice of those who put their lives on the line to serve our country, as well as those currently doing so. Lest we forget.

“

Ph: 9833 1122 154 Queen Street, St Marys londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au Authorised by Prue Car MP. Funded using parliamentary entitlements.

REMEMBRANCE DAY ~ 11 NOVEMBER 2021

Western News 29 October 2021 Issue 147

The French Connection - WO William Hamilton MID

omas Hamilton is renowned in Australia as a poet, duly recognised for his recognition of Australian and other Allied Forces Servicemen during and post-conflict, plus during peacetime. It therefore came as little surprise that he spoke proudly of his grandfather WO William Hamilton M.I.D.’s involvement in WW1. William’s mother died whilst his father was serving in India. As a result, William was sent to a British Army orphanage, where they trained drummers and buglers. He enlisted in the British Army as a young boy and was listed to go to the Boer War. He was sent back to England, due to the appalling numbers of boy musicians who had already died in that conflict. As a result, William deserted and joined the 11th Hussars, a Cavalry unit, with which he served during the duration of WW1. During the Battle of the Somme, William was a Dispatch Rider and had just ridden from the front lines when he came across a group of French soldiers, who had lost contact with their unit during the multiple changes

The military life of WO William Hamilton MID . Photos supplied by Tomas Hamilton

of trench positions which had occurred during the savage fighting. William guided the French soldiers safely back to their unit at the front and as a result of his actions, was awarded an M.I.D. and the highly prestigious French medal, the #Croix de Guerre. #The Croix de Guerre (French Cross of War) is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with

Remembrance Day 2021

Lest We Forget.

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

Stephen Bali MP Member for Blacktown Phone: 9671 5222 Shop 3063, Westpoint Shopping Centre, Blacktown Email: blacktown@parliament.nsw.gov.au Authorised by Stephen Bali MP. Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements.

various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during WWl, again in World War ll and in other conflicts. The Croix de Guerre was also commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France. The Croix de Guerre may be awarded either as an individual award, or as a unit award, to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. The medal is awarded to those who have been ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’, meaning a

heroic deed or deeds were performed, meriting a citation from an individual’s headquarters unit. The unit award of the Croix de Guerre with palm was issued to military units whose members performed heroic deeds in combat and were subsequently recognised by headquarters.

Western News 29 October 2021 Issue 147

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Council leads the way in trial to beat the heat

lacktown City Council is leading the way in reducing urban heat after taking part in the trial of an innovative coating on local roads - the first trial of its kind among NSW councils. Council was proud to partner with Western Sydney University (WSU), City of Parramatta Council and Campbelltown City Council to investigate the effects of CoolSeal coating in reducing surface heat on roads and carparks. The light grey-coloured coating was trialled on five streets in Ropes Crossing last year, with heat monitoring conducted by WSU over summer. Recently-released results from the trial show that unshaded pavements coated in CoolSeal were between 6 and 11°C cooler than uncoated pavements. Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said the revolutionary trial was a positive step in Council exploring measures to combat the issue of rising urban heat. “In recent years, we have seen the catastrophic consequences of rising temperatures on our environment and therefore Council is committed to reducing heat stress in Blacktown City,” Mayor Bleasdale said. “Urban development and climate change are accelerating this issue, with climate modelling for our region

Blacktown City Council trialled the innovative CoolSeal coating on five streets in Ropes Crossing.

predicting an increase of up to 10 days over 35°C over the coming years. “Studies have found that increasing heat is the largest risk to local populations and economies across our region. “Blacktown City and Western Sydney consistently record higher summer temperatures than the average for metropolitan Sydney, so it is crucial we look at ways to reduce the urban heat impact and improve quality of life

in our City. “Council is a leading force in the fight against climate change, and our participation in this trial shows our commitment to cool road solutions.” The trial found that the product was especially effective in reducing the surface temperatures of unshaded surfaces on hot days. The effect on ambient temperatures is yet to be determined due to the limited size of the trial areas.

Council is also exploring additional measures to reduce the temperature of road surfaces, including: the use of light-coloured aggregate in road surfacing, the use of clear asphalt binder in place of black binder and the use of concrete pavements. Blacktown City roads included in the trial were Mortlock Avenue, O’Donoghue Street, Burnet Court, Bartlett Avenue and Kobe Street – all in the suburb of Ropes Crossing.

Western Sydney’s first paediatric clinical nurse consultant retires after three decades of caring

estern Sydney Local Health District’s (WSLHD) first paediatric clinical nurse consultant (CNC) based at Mount Druitt Hospital, Nicola McKay, is retiring after a career of 30 years. Over half of Nicola’s career has been providing care to western Sydney, having first joined Westmead Hospital in 2001 as a CNC working in clinical trials within the oncology department. She later joined the paediatric team at Mount Druitt Hospital in 2006 and when the COVID-19 pandemic began, Nicola became the COVID nursing lead for paediatrics at Mount Druitt Hospital. “Being the paediatric COVID nursing lead has been one of the many highlights of my career. I’ve been able to help children and their families during this deadly pandemic and I hope it’s helped pave the way for a safer future,” Nicola said. “Last year we didn’t have any children in the ward with COVID-19. This year, we have treated eight children between the ages of two months to 14 years. Thankfully, these kids did not require oxygen support or transfer to the Intensive Care Unit.”

Nicola McKay after she won the WSLHD Nursing & Midwifery Award for Excellence in Research. Photo taken before mask requirements in hospitals.

The veteran nurse started her career in the mid-90s, working in the surgical, ears, nose and throat, infectious diseases, and oncology departments at the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network. In 2006, Nicola moved to the Children’s Ward at Mount Druitt Hospital as the District’s first paediatric CNC, where she has remained until her retirement. “My passion has always been

working with children and caring for kids with cancer,” Nicola said. “Caring for children is rewarding, especially the partnership that forms between our service, the family and the child. The paediatric teams I’ve worked with have been a great bunch of inspirational people. “I’ll miss the connectedness of the Mount Druitt Hospital paediatric team who I’ve worked with for more than 15 years.”

The married mother-of-two has a self-confessed passion for governance and safety and was the chair of Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals’ Policy & Procedure committee for more than 10 years. “The role as chair enabled me to understand the core business of our hospitals and not just paediatrics. I met and worked with some fantastic teams,” she said. Nicola is saying farewell to western Sydney and packing her bags to relocate to Tasmania. Ned Katrib, general manager of Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals, commended Nicola for her dedication and commitment to caring for our communities. “Nicola’s been an inspiration to many and respected member of staff who provided care for our young patients,” Ned said. “I thank Nicola for her dedication, commitment, sharing her knowledge and experience with her colleagues and enhancing clinical practice.” Nicola left Western Sydney Local Health District on Friday 8 October, and we wish her all the best in retirement. Mount Druitt Hospital will miss you Nicola!

Western WESTERN HISTORY News

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

n January 1884 James Richard Woodland known as “Japonica” wrote in the Nepean Times saying how he longed to see the old faces and their kindly looks again. He had revisited St Marys his hometown where he noticed that considerable changes had taken place over the last few years and quite a number of dear old friends who were familiar to him from childhood had gone up Church Hill (St Mary Magdalene cemetery) including the old familiar names of Sherringham, Paskin, Behan, Andrews and Kendall. He mentioned that the old hands were rapidly passing away and that strangers were rapidly filling their places. On this visit he said that the place seemed excessively dull, that the old tannery full of life a few years ago was now idle and the tanning trade was dull indeed. At one time there were no less than twelve tanneries both large and small in full swing. Those were lively times indeed. Curriers at that time could easily earn £5 a week and spend it too in twenty-four hours. Byrnes’ pub had a blind musician who sang pathetic songs nightly “to enliven the billiard players” and he remembered that because the man who sang was not very polite, singing one tune that citizen Dowling was always morally indignant while that song was being sung and would call to all his sons from the street and lock them up in the bakehouse until the song was over. Citizen Dowling was born too late to be a “Saint” but James thought he was. Citizen Dowling was the “boss” grocer in those days and generously sold quarter sardines to the carriers at a bob (shilling) a tin. James said that speaking of carriers reminded him that in olden times it was no normal thing to see around thirty or forty bullock teams on Victoria Square (Victoria Park) and in flood times he saw over a hundred and the Square was a “bully old spot” in those days and the battlefield where groggy men from the pub opposite went for each other in anger. He said that Ashton’s Circus visited the place annually at that time and stayed for several nights. He thought the Square had greatly improved and the South Creek people should be proud of it with its pretty white fence fringed with shrubs, its mowed lawn and its pavilion, but it looked somewhat different to when Sir Maurice O’Connell opened it to the public. The locality had greatly improved in buildings too since his last visit. The Protestant Hall made a fine assembly room and greatly needed reflecting the great credit upon the Order. The Presbyterian Church a neat and substantial building, but to James seemed wrongly situated. He said that Churches and schools should not be built on the principal thoroughfares saying small towns required all their front streets for business places. He thought the white ants must have eaten the Wesleyan Chapel completely as he could see nothing of it, however at one time it had quite a lively time when Messrs Gardiner, Hockey and the Giles Brothers sang in it. James said he attended Sunday School there at one time and got a prize from the Reverend for repeating, without a mistake, the 82nd chapter of Exodus. However, he thought it was very nice to recall those memories, but he was not much on the Book of Exodus anymore. He noticed the new Post and Telegraph Office built cottagelike and back from the Western Road and said that this may be the best position for it to occupy or else he supposed the authorities would not have put it there in the first place, but he didn’t know whether the people of St Marys admired the position, but he was sure that he didn’t!. Perhaps the architect or surveyor who fixed it anticipated of big things there, and left room for an additional frontage when the occasion may require it or having a view that they left ample room for the proper alignment of the street to be made. At any rate he thought that after thirty-nine years of

 St Marys Post Office courtesy of National Archives

dull life and eight changes of residence the post office at St Marys was now like his friend and school-mate John Burgess, “settled in life”. He said that it may be of interest to the young people of St Marys that the Post Office was first opened by his father William Woodland in 1844 and the building first used was a long terrace of three rooms opposite Victoria Square where he kept the Post Office in one of the rooms for thirteen years and then poor old School Master Lincoln of happy memory took charge of the office in the old red schoolhouse and occupied it until his death in 1868. Then John McLaughlin kept it for a short time in the cottage occupied by Johnny Stevens. It then moved one door east into W Newel’s hands who removed it to Church Hill where he built a new office and opened a general store close beside the Church of England burying ground and his sign outside as large as the church door read as follows “W Newell, Auctioneer and Commission Agent”. To James’ knowledge Newell was the only Auctioneer and Commission Agent who opened that business in St Marys that was in 1865 but he didn’t think it was a paying speck (business) unless he may have done a clandestine trade with the Anglican ghosts and it was a wonder the ghost of Captain Gidley King R.N., didn’t leave the family vault and slay him. Mr Newell’s stay was only of a brief duration as he like many others caught the gold fever and “sought fresh fields and pastures new”. The Post Office then transferred to the lowlands near Hackett’s bridge and kept this time by William Draper, Tailor and Outfitter. He also kept a fruit stall under the veranda and James particularly remembered this because he frequently borrowed choice fruit whenever he went for letters, and he always went for letters when he wanted choice fruit. James said that Mr Webb of the Waterloo Stores followed Mr Draper as Postmaster and kept it for about thirteen years then it was shifted back to the old spot first opened by his father. James said that this was a brief history where in the early days the Postmaster’s lot was a miserable affair. His father had the magnificent salary of £8 per annum and he held a very undesirable position. The times for opening and closing of the mails was very irregular. The mail coaches scarcely ever ran to time and the result was that country Postmasters were called for duty at all sorts of hours. James was born in 1849 and became a tanner who owned the “Federal Tannery” in Botany. He died in 1906 at the age of 57 and is buried at St Mary Magdalene cemetery, St Marys. Source: Nepean Times, Trove, BDM website, History Page May 2017.

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Western News 29 October 2021 Issue 147

SOUTH CREEK REVISITED

ENTERTAINMENT

Western News 29 October 2021 Issue 147

Western Sydney winners of Youth Voices COVID-19 Video Competition announced

oung people from across western Sydney have used the Youth Voices COVID-19 Video Competition to grab the attention of their friends, schools and communities and tackle the pandemic. Prize winners from western Sydney, along with winners from around the state, were announced on Monday 18 October in an online ceremony attended by over 110 people. Students were invited to submit a short video entry addressing one of three topic areas including COVID-19 vaccination, looking after your wellbeing during the pandemic or tackling COVID-19 misinformation, with 84 entries – including 54 entries from western Sydney – being received. First place in the western Sydney competition, a $500 prize, went to Bridie O’Kelly, year 12 student at Richard Johnson Anglican College Oakhurst, with her entry A COVID Acronym. “I’d like to thank the Prevention, Education and Research Unit (PERU) for recognising the need for innovative strategies to spread health and wellbeing information. Thank you for empowering the youth of Sydney to have a voice during the pandemic,” the year 12 student said. Second place (a $300 prize) went to Thomas Sahlieh, a year 11 student at Kellyville High School, with Looking After Your Wellbeing and third place (a $200 prize) to Sonya Clarke, a year 7 student at William Clarke College Kellyville, with Get the Jab.

Prizes for the winning entries were generously donated by the Australian Medical Association NSW, and the Blacktown and Hills Medical Practitioners Associations respectively. “I know the doctors and nurses of our hospitals

value this support. Health is not just about sick people coming through the door – we also need to help the community to be able to improve their health, so it’s really important for events like this to occur,” Graeme Loy, chief executive of Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD), said of the competition. Blacktown Girls High School were awarded $2,000 towards a water refill station for being the western Sydney school with the highest number of entries. Twelve other entries were awarded prizes for outstanding achievements across categories including critical thinking, creativity, courage, care and video concept. The 2021 Youth Voices COVID-19 Video Competition for high school students aged 12 to 18 was organised by WSLHD’s PERU in partnership with the School of Population Health UNSW. “Adolescents are more connected to media and social media than any other age group and often find it hard to make sense of the COVID-19 messages that they’re exposed to, which is why we wanted to raise youth voices with this competition,” said Professor Smita Shah, Director of PERU. “I thank every single young person for raising their voice and the effort that went into their entries and PERU’s Kym Rizzo Liu who coordinated the competition.” All winning entries of the Youth Voices COVID-19 Video Competition – including the winning entries from outside of western Sydney – can be viewed on the PERU YouTube channel here.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 8 Tab (4) 9 Melodies (5) 10 Eager (4) 11 A brightly printed fabric (6) 12 Uses (8) 13 Something that causes you to remember (8) 15 Has faith in someone (6) 17 Sedated (7) 19 Earthquakes (7) 22 Dross or rubbish (archaic) (6) 24 Located farthest back (8) 26 A unit of planes (8) 28 Deserving (6) 30 Hawaiian island (4) 31 An abrasive board (5) 32 Otherwise (4) down 1 Wealthy (4) 2 Walking stealthily (8) 3 Astounded (6)

solution 15/10/21

4 5 6 7 14 16 18 20 21 23 25 27 29

The mouth of a river (7) Scribe (archaic) (8) An Australian stork (6) Employ (4) Our planet (5) Rubber wheels (5) One who compels (8) Remembrances (8) Silk-screened or litho’d, for example (7) 7th planet (6) Forever (6) Wharf (4) Outer membranous covering (4)

Western News

How to buy property without a 20% deposit

ith Australian house prices at record highs, when you consider that a small flat in Sydney could set you back $800,000 at the moment, saving a 20% deposit to buy that flat – $160,000 – can seem an insurmountable task. However, having little or no deposit doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get a home loan to buy a home. There are low deposit home loan options where you can buy a house with as little as 5% of the purchase price. That means, if you’re buying a home worth $800,000, a lender will expect you to contribute at least $40,000 towards the cost of the purchase price. You will also need to pay for any stamp duty and other upfront costs that may apply, as well as for the cost of lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), which usually applies to loans of more than 80% of a property’s value. If you don’t have the 5% of the value saved, you may some options available. Low deposit home loans may be an option worth considering for some home buyers, but there are potential pitfalls to be aware of and due to the corona virus pandemic, it may be more difficult for some buyers to get a low deposit home loan. Read on to find out what options there might be, and which one may suit you best. Lenders mortgage insurance. Lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) may be an added expense, but it offers buyers the opportunity to dive into the property market earlier, without saving up an entire 20 per cent of the property’s purchase price as a deposit. LMI protects the bank or lender, should a home loan go into default, guaranteeing that the lender will get its money back if the property needs to be sold and there is a shortfall in repaying the loan. While a 20% deposit generally provides a good buffer against any drops in property value over the life of a loan, LMI can also provide the same protection, meaning borrowers can purchase property with a smaller deposit. For the borrower, it may seem LMI it is just another expense to cover. But insurance can mean that some buyers will be able to enter the property market with, for example, only a five per cent deposit saved. In the example above, a $800,000 property, this brings the deposit down from $160,000 to just $40,000.

The insurance premium is generally a one-off payment, but you may be able to roll it into the loan amount so that you are paying for it month-by-month along with your mortgage. How A Guarantor Can Help. If you don’t have a substantial deposit for a home loan, there are still a number of ways to obtain credit. These are known as family pledges and there are two types available to borrowers: service guarantees and security guarantees. Service guarantees are less common that security guarantees, and they involve a family member guaranteeing all the repayments on a loan, as well as being named on the property title. A drawback of this approach is that it usually means first home buyers are not entitled to any government grants. Security guarantee is a more popular option. Borrowers who have a limited deposit often use this approach. In this situation, a relative or friend (usually a borrower’s parent or parents) is prepared to use the equity in his or her own home to guarantee the deposit of the borrower. For example, for a total loan amount of $800,000, in a security guarantor situation the borrower/s would take on the debt of 80 per cent of the value of their loan, which would be $640,000, in their own name/s. The loan for the balance, $160,000, is then guaranteed in the names of the guarantor/s and borrower/s, limiting the guarantor’s liability while providing security for the lender, meaning that lender’s mortgage insurance is not necessary. It works well when borrowers don’t have a substantial deposit, but their parents own their own home. It’s a great option as long as the parents are comfortable with their child’s ability to pay back the loan.” First Home Owners Grant (FHOG). To encourage home ownership, State and Territory governments provide first home owner schemes that provide first home buyers with incentives to get onto the property ladder. For instance, in NSW the State government will provide first home buyers who buy a newly built home and land package worth $750,000 or less with $10,000 towards the purchase price, as well as generous stamp duty concessions. In Victoria, first home buyers buying newly built homes valued up to $750,000 are eligible for a $10,000 grant and this

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increases to $20,000 for new homes built in regional Victoria. Many lenders will be happy to count these government payments towards any deposit. Having a reduced amount of stamp duty to pay means you should also need less money up front. A financial gift. The high cost of property today means many parents and other close relatives are happy to help their children enter the property market through a one-off financial gift. Many first home buyers now have help from their parents when it comes to saving for a deposit with more than 30% getting help this way. Many lenders will count the cost of this gift towards your deposit amount, although they may also want to see that you also have a history of regular savings. Using the equity in your own home. Not all buyers looking to buy with no deposit are first home buyers. You may already own your own home and now you’re looking to buy an investment property. In this instance, a lender may give you the option of using the equity in your home to cover the deposit of the place you’re purchasing. To take advantage of this, you’ll usually need to have enough equity in your home to cover a 20% deposit on both places, unless you also take out lenders mortgage insurance. Applying for a loan. When applying for a home loan, it’s always worth remembering that your deposit is only one aspect of your finances that a lender will consider. They will also want to be sure that you have a good chance of being able to service the loan through its term. That means your credit history, credit score, salary, employment details and ongoing income and expenses are just as important as ever, no matter how you secure your loan. Some lenders providing low deposit home loans may charge higher interest rates and fees. The loan application process can be lengthy and difficult with the need for additional finance and credit information. Speak to Alex from Wealthwiz who is an MFAA-accredited finance broker and can help you investigate your options and working out whether to buy now or save extra deposit is a decision that meets your financial needs and options.

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

Confidence guaranteed as we get back to work The NSW Government has committed to provide a Summer Holiday Stock Guarantee for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and will expand the Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate for all eligible small businesses. Small and medium business owners will be able to open with confidence thanks to a suite of support measures from the NSW Government, as part of the Economic Recovery Strategy. Under the SME Summer Holiday Stock Guarantee, eligible businesses with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million will be able to apply for a grant of up to $20,000 to compensate for loss of perishable stock, or claim $10,000 for reduced capacity to sell non-perishable items if a local lockdown occurs and they are impacted.

The expanded Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate will be eligible for use until 30 June 2022. Premier Dominic Perrottet said these measures were key to giving businesses the confidence to open up and plan for the future, which will help reboot our economy. “Now that we’ve reached the 70 per cent double vaccination target, it’s wonderful to see businesses reopening their doors and welcoming back customers,” Mr Perrottet said. “These measures will give businesses and workers confidence to purchase stock and invest for the future knowing their doors will remain open as we get our economy firing again.” Treasurer Matt Kean said the Stock Guarantee of up to $20,000 would be available if non-essential

SMEs were forced to shut their doors between 1 December 2021 to 31 January 2022 due to public health orders. “It’s devastating for businesses and their employees when they have to shut due to COVID but the grants will make it easier for businesses to manage their stock with confidence,” Mr Kean said. “We want businesses to have the confidence to get out and spend and invest in their business ahead of the busy Christmas trading period. “We expect the summer will be a bumper time for businesses as the people of NSW emerge from lockdown and look to support their local, and we want business owners to know we have their back.” More information on the rebate and Summer Holiday Stock Guarantee will be available shortly.

13 Western News 29 October 2021 Issue 147

Alex Soncini

REAL ESTATE

Western News 29 October 2021 Issue 147

Western News

SPORT

75% capacity confirmed for Sydney Derby

estern Sydney Wanderers FC and CommBank Stadium have welcomed the NSW Government’s decision to have 75%, or 22,500, capacity for the upcoming Sydney Derby on Saturday 20 November 2021. The blockbuster fixture will open the Wanderers ISUZU Ute A-League season with tickets set to go on sale to the general public on Ticketek at the end of the week. The match will be part of a festival of football at CommBank Stadium in the month of November with the CommBank Matildas also having matches in the run-up to the start of the domestic competition. In line with the current NSW Government Health Orders, only those who live in the Greater Sydney Area (which includes Blue Mountains, Central

Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour) are eligible to attend. It is also compulsory for all adult ticket holders (aged 16+) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Tickets for the Sydney Derby will go on sale to MyWanderers Account Holders and away club members on Wednesday 27 October at 12:00pm AEDT. General public tickets will go on sale on Friday 29 October at 12:00pm AEDT. Western Sydney Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas welcomed the change in restrictions. “The Sydney Derby is the biggest match in the calendar and we are delighted to have the capacity to host our members, corporate partners and fans at CommBank Stadium,” said Tsatsimas.

“We are counting down the days to get back to our home and are excited to see a sea of Red & Black in the stands.” CommBank Stadium CEO Daryl Kerry said the Stadium team was thrilled to be welcoming back the Wanderers faithful for the first time since May. “Bringing events back to NSW is an important part of the State Government’s Roadmap to Recovery and it will be good to again have a sea of red and black inside the Stadium,” Mr Kerry said. “The Stadium team is looking forward to getting back to doing what we do best: hosting events and delivering an unparalleled event experience for the fans and the players while ensuring everyone remains safe at all times.”

Richmond hosts Australian PGA Seniors

2020 Runner-up Peter Lonard hits his approach shot to the 18th green. Photos by Noel Rowsell

2020 Australian PGA Seniors Championship winner Andre Stolz By Noel Rowsell

ichmond GC will host the R. M. Williams Australian PGA Seniors Championship from 25th-27th November, with the star-studded field featuring some of the all-time greats in Australian golf history. The event is part of the SParms Australian Legends Tour and has been

held at Richmond for the past four years (8 years in total). Richmond Club Operations Manager Craig Hodge has advised the Richmond course is also now the confirmed venue for the next 3 years. The tournament offers a lucrative prize purse and is a drawcard for both Australian and international senior players, although Covid restrictions will affect final starters. 2020 winner Andrew Stolz is

expected back to defend his title but 2019 champion Peter Senior will once again not be able to make the trip, due to Covid travel restrictions between NSW and Queensland. There are several other past winners queuing up to regain this year’s coveted trophy, including Mike Harwood, David McKenzie and Darryl Purchase, whilst Paul Gow will be making his debut on the Seniors circuit. The event is expected to attract strong crowd numbers and Mr Hodge advised the event will be Covidregulated, with only double-vaxxed spectators allowed on course. An anticipated 50-80 volunteers will be on hand prior to the event, helping the green-keeping team present the

course in perfect condition, with 1520 volunteers also working during the event assisting with live scores, spotting balls on blind holes, etc. There are also two Senior leadup events earlier in the month, with the Fidelity Capital Group Charity Legends Pro-Am at Springwood CC and the ICF Blackheath Legends ProAm at Blackheath GC being held on 18th and 19th November respectively. The majority of players entered for Richmond are expected to also play in both lead-up events. The current player entries and other tournament details for all 3 tournaments can be found at: Schedule - PGA of Australia | Official Golf News, Live Scores & Results

Western News

SPORT

By Bob Turner

s the saying goes “We Are Back” and building to make 2022 one of the best for Blacktown City FC. To start it all off, through the support of Lily Homes CEO, Vince Camera, we have signed a historic agreement to take over full operational control of our home stadium. During the lockdown, the new Board of Blacktown City FC developed a strategic Infrastructure plan to create a sustainable and selfsufficient model for future growth and security that will also lead to fill our stadium on a regular basis and provide an atmosphere to rival any professional sporting code. Full operational control of our stadium, regarded as one of the best football facilities in Sydney, provides an opportunity to build our own competitions, partnerships and brand through the security of a solid home! We will be rebranding the complex known as Lily’s Football Centre to ‘Blacktown City Sports Centre’ with the opportunity to seek Naming Rights of Lily Homes Stadium. This control, and future development of the adjoining Ashley Brown Reserve with the support of Blacktown Council, will provide financial stability through ground hire, our licensed café, training, competitions and ability to improve spectator experiences. Hot on the heels of this significant signing is the upcoming FFA Cup game against A League powerhouse Central Coast Mariners scheduled for the 13th of November. This game was scheduled for play last July but the lockdown put the game on hold. In unison with the Mariners, the game will be taken to Mudgee where a sellout crowd of 4,000 and television through FFA TV partner Ten will see a significant audience for a game that both teams will be taking very seriously. The Senior Men for Blacktown City FC commenced training on

Thursday, the 14th of October with the majority of the 2021 team intact and ready to pick up where they left off after leading the NPL 1 competition, the Number One Men’s division for Football NSW. Blacktown City Head of Football, Mark Crittenden, is excited at what the first few trainings have unveiled with an intensity that provides plenty of confidence for the coming season. Coach Crittenden said, “I have been exceptionally pleased at the level of fitness the players are in and the new players have shown we will not skip a beat from our League leading performance before lockdown closed the 2021 season”. Those new players include former Blacktown City striker, Mitchell Mallia, who returns to Blacktown after a few seasons with Marconi. Also joining the squad for 2022 are Jordan Smylie from the Central Coast Mariners and Jake Trew from the West Sydney Wanderers. Jordan and Jake are both 21 and ready to enthusiastically play major minutes for Blacktown. Mitchell is rejuvenated to be back at Blacktown and has already demonstrated both his talent and leadership that will be vital for the coming season. Jordan, in particular, will be highly motivated for his inaugural game

with Blacktown City FC as it will be against his old club the Central Coast Mariners in the final 32 of the 2021 FFA Cup. It will be an afternoon game with a five o’clock start time and will be televised by FFA media partner Network Ten on Ten Play. Blacktown and Central Coast last played in 2017 in another FFA Cup clash with Blacktown coming out on top. Coach Crittenden is excited at the potential of this all important game. “The first few trainings have shown we should be physically ready and motivation to play the Mariners will only heighten the commitment for a highly competitive game”, said Coach Crittenden. “I said recently when we re-signed the majority of the 2021 team, it will not only give us a head start when we get back to playing, but the hunger for the players to maintain the form that led them to the top of the competition will be great”, he added. The new Board of Blacktown City has ambitious plans to represent the city of Blacktown at the highest level and one of the main goals is to quickly build its women’s programme to match the historical and proven ability of developing talent through the Men’s programme. Our commitment to build a solid women’s programme is high on the

priority list for the new Board of Blacktown City. With the Women’s World Cup looming in 2023 and the increasing awareness and credibility of the Matildas, Blacktown City is working to attract top talent eager to follow the proven formula demonstrated over the years through the Men’s programme. Our newly appointed Head of Women’s Football, David O’Keefe, has a history with Blacktown City and a proven record in development which is why Our Head of Football made the recommendation for this all important role. The Senior Women commenced trials this week under the guidance of Coach O’Keefe. He has been quietly putting together a solid group that will be young but set the foundations for the main goal to play in the NSW NPL1 Women’s competition in the next few years. The Blacktown City FC Board will be guiding the Women’s programme to coincide with the Men and take advantage of the long history of Blacktown City, with every intention to maximise the Blacktown City name and brand to quickly build the Women’s programme. My days as the Head Coach of the Sydney Kings, where the Kings and Sydney Flames worked together with regular double headers at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, provides a very similar blue print to build both programmes togethe. We have one of the best home venues in the state to showcase both teams and we intend to take full advantage of that opportunity. Blacktown City FC has all the necessary ingredients of venue, competition status, credibility, coaching and a 68 year history of success on the field in place to achieve its goal of becoming the Number One sports team for the city of Blacktown. Adding a solid Women’s programme will only accelerate that objective to build the biggest and best sporting organisation for Blacktown. Go Blacktown City!

Western News 29 October 2021 Issue 147

Blacktown City is Back – Here We Go!

see you in season 2022

Western News

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Friday, 29 October 2021

Lander Toyota Ladies Day at Hawkesbury Races By Noel Rowsell

ander Toyota Ladies Day, the most fashionable event of the Hawkesbury Racing calendar, is back on Thursday 4th November. Ladies Day is the highlight of Spring Racing in the Hawkesbury and is the most popular day with both racing aficionados and fashionistas, all flocking track-side to both see and be seen. $405,000 in prize money will be on offer for winning connections throughout the eight-race programme, including the running of the $150,000 Listed Ladies Day Cup, which is run over 1600m. There will also be plenty of live entertainment and fabulous prizes on offer for Fashions on the Field, so gather your family and friends, dress to impress and enjoy the thrill and excitement of being track-side at Hawkesbury Race Club, Racecourse Road, Clarendon on the day - gates open at 11am. All patrons must be double-vaxxed to attend. For more Information and tickets: www.hawkesburyraceclub.com.au or call (02) 4577 2263.

Action on the track and on the field at the Hawkesbury Races Gold Cup Day in May. Photos by Noel Rowsell

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