Western Weekender November 21 2024

Noemie and Jessica Fox have capped off an incredible year with an honour dreams are made of. Troy Dodds reports on Page 70

Info sessions criticised

“Not

Residents of The Vines community in Orchard Hills are sharing their disdain for the State Government’s plan to rezone the area.

Labor has publicly released its rezoning proposal for Orchard Hills Stage 1, which shows parts of The Vines estate being slated for rezoning.

As reported last week, properties would be compulsorily acquired as part of the government’s plan, in a major blow to long-term residents.

The proposal will see part of The Vines being rezoned into R4 high-density residential and R3 medium-density residential.

The Vines resident Douglas Meaney is opposing the rezoning as he believes it has not been done equitably.

“On my block of land, they have decided they want to take 68 per cent of the land back and they want to leave me with the rest of the land.

The 68 per cent of the land is to be turned into a park, fair enough,” Meaney said.

“However, the bit of land they’ve left me with is nine metres wide by 96 metres long down one boundary fence. When I spoke to the planners about this… they returned to me

and said ‘Yes, you get to keep that piece of land’ and my response was ‘Well, what can I do with that?’ The response was ‘You can sell it to a developer’. All I could think of was what can you do with a piece of land that is nine metres wide and 96

metres long?

“ …So, in fact I am in a very unenviable position of having 68 per cent of my land resumed, I accept that, but then being stuck with them leaving me with this piece of land that I can’t do anything with, no developer will want to buy and the only response they could give was you can sell that to a developer.

“From my point of view, I consider I’m being treated completely inequitably compared to everybody else but no doubt everyone else will have a story similar to mine in some ways.”

Meaney attended one of the scheduled community information sessions which he said weren’t what he expected.

“I looked at all the maps and attended the meetings that were held to give us some information,” Meaney said.

“It was very interesting the way they did it in that they said there were going to be a number of meetings held and there was no person

standing up there and talking to us. It was simply a lot of maps around the room.”

Another Vines resident, Mark George, said the information sessions also weren’t what he was hoping for.

“The community info session was pretty much just a reflection of the proposal,” George said.

“So, if you hadn’t read the proposal then that was what the info sessions was for.

“I had read much of the proposal, so I went there with questions that I wanted people to answer, and they were questions that were lingering on the tongues of all the people I had spoken to.

“We were sort of disappointed in one area, but we got some good information particularly from the rezoning ladies… but they were just an info session. They weren’t really designed for debate which those people aren’t the ones we should be debating, it should be their bosses.”

A spokesperson for the Depart-

ment of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure said the information sessions were designed that way for attendees to speak individually with representatives.

“The information sessions are designed to give the community the opportunity to ask questions and talk with representatives from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) about what the draft plans will mean for them,” the spokesperson said.

“The information session registration page states there will be no formal presentation included.

“Three information sessions have been facilitated by the Department with more than 500 bookable places available.

“Limits are placed on the number of people who can attend these sessions to ensure everyone gets a chance to speak one-on-one with a Department representative.

“Capacity has been increased for the final drop-in session on 26 November.”

George said the argument from parts of The Vines estate is that the community they have built is being destroyed.

“The argument is about breaking up a community of people, a fairly close-knit community and a settled community where people have worked hard and built their homes,” George said.

“Most of us have been here 25, 30 years and that might seem like a long time for some people but for people who have bought their home and settled in their home, the great Australian dream, you don’t get to say you can have your great Australian dream for 30 years and then we are going to come along and ask you to move on and find somewhere else to live.”

The Weekender understands that there are also residents in The Vines community who are for the rezoning proposal.

More information on the draft rezoning package can be found on the NSW Planning Portal: https:// www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ orchard-hills-draft-rezoning.

Th Vines community is set to be rezoned. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Parts of The Vines community gathered to discuss the rezoning.

EMILY CHATE

Trains brought to a stop

Sydney held hostage by stalemate as transport chaos looms across busy weekend

Australia’s biggest city will be thrown into chaos from tomorrow with the train network to come to a halt as a dispute between the State Government and unions escalates.

Premier Chris Minns had yesterday finally intervened in the crisis after his Transport Minister Jo Haylen was unable to avoid the planned action by rail workers.

But at the time of going to print, there was still no resolution to the crisis – leaving workers and students stranded tomorrow, and those travelling to weekend concerts and sporting events scrambling to find alternate plans.

All services across Sydney, as well as intercity services, will come to a complete stop from 4.15am on Friday until 6am Sunday.

Replacement services like buses and ferries are expected to be run for the over one million train users each day but compounding

the issue, the Sydney Metro from Chatswood to Sydenham will be undergoing essential maintenance that has been confirmed to be going ahead.

The train network was originally to be shut down from today, but services will now run before they stop on Friday morning.

That is some reprieve for thousands attending the Pearl Jam concert at Sydney Olympic Park tonight, but little comfort for those attending on Saturday or fans heading to the Sydney Derby between Sydney FC and the Wanderers.

“Sydney Trains met with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) for a second time at 5.30pm last night, and the union has agreed to run a regular train service on Thursday, including the planned 86 additional special event services to Olympic Park for the Pearl Jam concert,” a statement released by Transport for NSW on Wednesday said.

“At this stage the RTBU has not agreed to lift their industrial action they have planned for

Friday through to Sunday, which means the notified bans in place by the union will bring the heavy rail network to a shutdown on Friday, Saturday and through until Sunday morning this weekend.”

The industrial action comes after Sydney Trains and the RTBU failed to reach an agreement on the union’s demand to run a 24-hour train service and receive a 32 per cent pay rise over four years.

The State Government has tabled an offer for rail workers that includes a wage increase of 9.5 per cent over three years, which the union has rejected.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen apologised to commuters.

“We’ve got to be very clear here that the actions are still in place for Friday and Saturday causing potential massive disruption to our network and meaning that people can’t get where they need to go,” Haylen said.

“The only way to keep our network running and to make sure people can get where they need to go is for the union to withdraw their industrial actions that are currently in place for Friday and Saturday and that remains our ask of the unions.”

Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said a train timeta-

ble will be prepared as normal and hopes that is how the service will operate.

“We are planning a normal timetable on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a normal rail timetable across Sydney and that is what we hope will operate,” Longland said.

“If these bans remain in place the RTBU are saying that their members will not operate services on Friday or Saturday and into Sunday morning. That is not just train drivers, that’s people that work at stations... that’s people that keep the network running. So very significant consequences if these bans aren’t lifted for the operation of not only passenger services but also freight services around the rail network.

“We have put a proposal forward to continue to operate a 24-hour network through the weekend from Strathfield through the city to Hornsby that is still on the table, we are still able to operate that service should the RTBU accept that and remove these bans.”

RTBU NSW Secretary Toby Warnes said the blame of the shutdown lies entirely on the State Government’s refusal to meet the union’s demands.

“We are incredibly disappointed,” Warnes said.

“We anticipated a smoother bargain this round considering the one we had last time. I think that we have given the Labor government a real opportunity to come to the table and negotiate on proper wages and conditions.

“The reason we planned 24-hour public transport is we didn’t want to inconvenience commuters in Sydney, and it is really disappointing that the Labor Government has chosen instead to shut the network down seemingly just to make a point.”

Warnes said that if the government meets their demands the planned industrial action will not go ahead.

“We say that the government are the ones using the commuters as a bargaining chip,” Warnes said.

“It is only two or three extra services every hour between 1am and 4am that the government needs to do in order to avert any sort of industrial action taking place this weekend.”

Negotiations will continue in a bid to stop what will become one of the biggest rail disruptions in the state’s history.

Keep up-to-date on what’s happening with the rail dispute online at www.westernweekender. com.au.

NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen.

Trains will not be running on Friday and Saturday. Photo: Melinda Jane

EMILY CHATE

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From The Editor’s Desk

Troy Dodds

Silver bullet solution doesn’t exist

There is no question that something has to be done about the dangers of social media when it comes to our kids, but it will ultimately be parents, not the Federal Government, who will need to be on the front foot when it comes to change.

Last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia would move towards implementing a social media ban for all children under the age of 16.

“Social media is doing harm to our kids and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese said.

He is not wrong.

We’ve all heard the tragic stories of youth suicide linked to social media, and we all know that bullying – once confined to school hours – is now a 24/7 concern.

But while final details of any legislation is yet to be developed, we all must accept there will be holes in this plan.

Trying to develop water tight rules in this space is like trying to stop a torrential downpour with one of those umbrellas from a fancy cocktail.

The first holes emerged when it was suggested that Snapchat, a popular messaging service, could avoid the ban because it was not technically a social media site.

That has since been denied, which poses an interesting conundrum.

Messaging is available in all sorts of different forms. Presumably the government knows this, though it will likely always be a couple of steps behind the kids.

If there is a game, an app or a platform where instant messaging is available, you can rest assured kids will find it.

Which means the government is likely to face a barrage of balls it must juggle when it comes to what is and what isn’t banned.

As a side note, Snapchat must obviously be considered in any ban. Anyone who knows how that service works knows that if you don’t ban Snapchat, the anti-bullying intention of these laws are almost pointless.

The next hole emerged when it became apparent that even YouTube could be banned for under 16s under the new laws.

That will obviously need to be sorted out, especially given the millions of hours of age-appropriate content that children watch

Sunday Services are held at 10:00 am. On the1st and 3rd Sunday of the month the Service is a hybrid service so you can join in person at WOTSO or by phone or video conference. The Sunday Services for the remainder of the month are only available by phone or video conference. Our Wednesday Service at 7pm is only available by phone or video conference You can find details on our webpage cspenrith.com.au our Facebook page search Christian Science Penrith or phone Sue on 0410 53 9713

on the platform – from toddlers all the way to teenagers.

With the odd exception, YouTube generally offers a safe place for kids; especially if they have specific children’s accounts and of course are supervised.

The Government will need to ensure its new legislation does not sweep up services like that in the midst of its good intentions. Which is where parents come in.

The only way these rules possibly work is if parents are completely on board.

Because let’s not forget this: Facebook has always had an age limit, with users under 13 not allowed on its platform.

“The plan as it stands has no penalties in place for parents, or for children who manage to sign up despite being under 16”

TikTok has the same age restriction, as does Instagram, with the latter recently rolling out additional changes for younger users.

Despite all these rules existing, plenty of kids under 13 are on the platforms. The system is easily beatable.

While the Federal Government’s legislation will likely impose hefty fines on social media companies that allow the rules to be flouted, even that will raise questions.

The plan as it stands has no penalties in place for parents, or for children who manage to sign up despite being under 16.

So in other words, the actual person breaking the law has no ramifications, while the social media service that has been gamed by said child will face significant fines.

Now it’s likely those fines will relate to specific technology being introduced in regards to age verification, and not fines for individual breaches; which would be almost impossible to prove and would surely be defeated by the logical legal argument that the end user lied on sign-up.

And so how does the government expect social media companies to police it?

Does it expect passports and identification documents to be required to sign up for a social media account, which certainly seems over the top?

All of this will be answered in the time to come but what’s clear is that this not going to be a simple process.

Of course, that does not mean the government shouldn’t be pushing for this.

It’s clear something needs to be done to stop the tragic results of online bullying, much of which is done via social media.

But will not be the silver bullet, and as much as some bullying moved from the playground to the dark world of social media, it will simply move somewhere else, one would expect.

Which is again, why it comes down to parents.

I speak to principals and teachers all the time who tell me now more than ever, parents are blame shifting.

It’s the school’s fault their child is a bully, or more commonly, there is a failure to accept their child might be the problem.

Principals and teachers tell me that parents more than kids are often the core reason bullying issues aren’t fixed, or at least fixed as swiftly as they could be.

And with discipline in both schools and households perhaps not what it once was, we’re seeing a shift in how bullying is handled.

The government has received a lot of publicity for its proposed ban this past week or two.

It deserves credit for not putting its head in the sand and for at least trying to fix some of the issues confronting our kids.

But it has opened up a Pandora’s box, and I’m not sure we’ll reach the conclusion we’re all hoping to find.

troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au

@troydodds

Scams a major worry for seniors

EMILY CHATE

Local seniors have revealed they are afraid of getting scammed, but new laws are set to be introduced that will give greater protection.

Last month, seniors gathered at a forum in Leonay with Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman and Assistant Minister for Social Services, Ageing and Women Kate Thwaites where they shared that scams were a big thing they were afraid of.

“People at the seniors’ forum told us they felt embarrassed and foolish at being conned by scammers,” Templeman said.

“We need to remove the stigma from it because these are clever international criminals who are deliberately setting out to use social media platforms and other ways of communicating to rip people off.”

To combat the rise in scams the Federal Government is introducing new laws to protect people from scammers that will impose tough fines on banks, telecommuni cation companies and social media platforms if they fail to prevent, disrupt or detect scams.

The new legislation will establish a Scams Prevention Framework once passed in Parlia ment.

The Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will be given new powers

to direct businesses to take specific steps to keep their customers safe from scammers and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) will have power to resolve consumer claims over scams in these sectors.

“The new laws provide beefed up consumer and small business protection against the most common methods of scam activity by covering telecommunication providers, banks and digital platform services relating to social media, paid search engine advertising and direct messaging,” Templeman said.

“If those big providers do not meet their new obligations to prevent, disrupt and detect scams and providing redress for customers who lose money, they face tough fines and penalties of up to $50 million per incident.

“It builds on the other initiatives we’ve brought in including the National Anti-Scam Centre, the Sender ID registry and the powers of the ACCC to take down dodgy websites.

“Everyone should be on their guard for scammers. Victims are not confined to older

“This whole Bill is a scam because it claims to support people who have been scammed but is designed to make it almost impossible

Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman and Assistant Minister for Social Services,

LAW and ORDER

Police Snapshot Legal Matters

St Clair: Man caught after attempting to rob two places in 30 minutes

A man has been arrested after attempting two robberies in the space of half an hour.

At 4.55pm on Sunday, November 17 a woman withdrew a large amount of money from an ATM at a shopping centre in St Clair. Unbeknown to the woman, a 32-year-old St Clair man watched her make the withdrawal.

The woman opened her car and got into the driver’s seat. The man knocked on the woman’s passenger side window and opened the car door. The man sat in the passenger seat next to the woman and demanded the money from her.

The man grabbed hold of the victim’s arm and threatened to shoot her if she did not give him the money. The man attempted to grab the money from the woman, but she kept a hold of her money, exited the car and ran away while screaming for help.

The woman requested assistance from a nearby taxi driver who refused to help her, so the woman ran to a nearby restaurant where staff assisted her, and police were called. The man left the scene in a taxi.

At 5.07pm on the same day the same man entered a nearby petrol station in St Clair with his face partially covered. The man approached the counter, told the staff member he had a gun and demanded money from the till.

Fearing for his safety, the staff member gave the man $130 in notes. The man snatched the money from the staff member’s hand and exited the service station.

Police attended a short time later and after an investigation the man was identified. Police attended the man’s house the following day where they placed the man under arrest and conveyed him to Penrith Police Station. The man was bail refused and is due to appear in Penrith Local Court on Friday, December 6.

St Marys: Man fronts court after calling police on himself

A man possessing knives in public has called police on himself.

At 10.45pm on Friday, November 15 a 19-year-old St Marys man called triple zero from a payphone on Pages Road, St Marys. The man told triple zero operators that he was in a nearby park scaring people with the two knives he was carrying.

Minutes later police attended the location and observed the man at the payphone.

Police searched the man and found no

knives. The man told police that he threw the knives away prior to police arriving at the scene.

The man took police to where he had thrown the knives, and they were seized by police. The man made a full admission to police about possessing the knives in a public place.

The man was arrested and charged and appeared in Penrith Local Court on Wednesday, November 20.

Penrith: Train station attack leads to woman getting arrested

A random late night attack at a train station has seen a woman arrested.

At 10pm on Saturday, November 16 a 33-year-old Katoomba woman was highly intoxicated in the bus bay area at Penrith train station. The woman approached a man and began yelling and swearing at him. The 33-year-old woman then grabbed a woman by her shirt, yelled at her and spat in her face.

The 33-year-old again approached the man where she spat in his face, tried to grab his phone from his hands and then punched him in the face.

A security guard working nearby saw the incident and restrained the 33-year-old, but she managed to break free momentarily to kick the other woman in the leg.

Security again restrained the 33-year-old and police were contacted. On police arrival, the 33-year-old was arrested and charged.

The woman will appear in Penrith Local Court on Tuesday, January 21.

Penrith: Drug affected man tries to break into multiple stores

A drug affected man has been caught trying to break into multiple stores.

At 12.43am on Monday, November 18 a 35-year-old Leumeah man was inside a major shopping centre in Penrith where he pulled the locked door off the hinges of a coffee shop. The man entered the coffee shop and then exited moments later.

The man attempted to open the locked doors of a restaurant within the shopping centre. Security arrived at the restaurant where they saw the front was broken and the man inside. Upon seeing security, the man fled the scene running towards Penrith train station where he attempted to jump the fence into the rail corridor.

The man was conveyed to Nepean Hospital for a health assessment. The man was charged and will front court at a later date.

SELLING A BUSINESS? HINTS AND TIPS with Daniel McKinnon

If you are thinking about selling your business, it’s a good idea to start to get your head around the things that will need to be addressed in your sale contract before you start shopping your business around to prospective buyers.

There are some obvious ones, like a list of what assets are included in the sale. If you are selling a business that includes lots of tangible assets like plant and equipment, motor vehicles, specific machinery and things like that it’s good to make a list, including serial numbers and/or any other identifying features so they can be listed in the contract. If the main asset of your business is goodwill and things like digital assets, you should start to think about what the purchaser might want in order to make sure they can continue to run your business successfully. This can include things like all of the contact numbers that you have used in your business (including any mobile number that you might have used for both business and personal purposes). This could also include not only the main email addresses used by clients/ customers to contact your business, but other email addresses that might be listed on directories or used by important people in your business to conduct their work.

Most people who buy a business want the business’ website and/or domain name. This is very common in the Internet age. What is becoming more and more prevalent is the inclusion of social media handles/access for social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram if a business has a social media presence.

Sometimes business owners use things like mobile phone numbers, email addresses and things like social media accounts for both business and personal purposes.

You need to have a think about which of these “assets” you might be willing to let go, which ones you might want to keep (and if you want to keep any, whether or not this is likely to be a dealbreaker for the purchaser).

If the sale of your business is going to include a significant amount of stock or inventory, you need to make clear to any potential purchasers whether or not they are required to purchase your stock/inventory in addition to the purchase price for the business and if so, clearly define in your contract how the value of the stock/inventory is to be determined. For example, is a physical stock take going to be necessary, how long will it take, and accordingly what should your contract say about how and when the stock take is completed?

Sometimes a buyer and seller will get together to conduct a stocktake together in the days leading up to settlement. This enables the full purchase price including any sum of money for stock/inventory to be paid by the buyer to the seller on the settlement date.

An alternative approach is to include provisions in your contract for a stocktake to be conducted on the day of settlement and payment by the buyer to the seller for any stock/inventory to be made within a designated period of time after settlement.

Thinking about the logistics of how your business will actually be transferred to a buyer is just as important as thinking about things like price and the timing of your business sale.

If you’d like to speak to a solicitor for some advice about the process feel free to give us a call today and we will talk you through it over the phone or arrange a meeting to discuss matters in person.

FISHING TRIP ENDS IN TRAGEDY

Police divers have found the body of man who disappeared on Saturday in the Nepean River at Mulgoa.

A search had been underway at Nortons Basin at Mulgoa since a 68-year-old man jumped into the river to retrieve his fishing rod about 11am Saturday.

His body was found on Sunday morning. It was initially reported that the man had chosen to go for a swim, but police have now confirmed he had dropped his rod into the water.

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

Administration

Civic Centre, 601 High Street.

Queen Street Centre, 207-209 Queen Street.

Contact Centre Open 8.30am-4pm. Mon-Fri. 4732 7777

PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751 council@penrith.city Council’s services are accessible via the online portal at my.penrith.city

Services

Waste Services 4732 7777

Illegal Dumping

Contact the EPA hotline on 131 555 and ask for the RID Squad (Regional Illegal Dumping Squad).

Freecall 1800 022 182

Meeting Dates

2 December 2024 – 7pm (Policy Review Committee Meeting)

9 December 2024 – 7pm (Ordinary Meeting) Online via penrith.city

penrith.city.council

penrithcouncil

penrithcitycouncil

penrithcitycouncil

penrith.city visitpenrith.com.au

Council Briefs

● Penrith City Libraries’ inaugural Write Out West: Western Sydney Libraries and Literature Festival is nine days of literary fun suitable for all ages!

From Wednesday 27 November to Thursday 5 December, join in the fun with author talks, panel discussions, poetry readings, writing workshops, historical walks, children’s events, and much, much more.

Find out more at penrith.city/library

● Penrith City Council is inviting the community to share their feedback on key plans and projects which will shape the future of the St Marys Town Centre.

The Draft St Marys Town Centre Master Plan is the next step in Council’s planning pathway to guide development of the Town Centre over the next 20 years. It maps out how Council will achieve its long-term vision for St Marys across key areas like infrastructure, housing, employment, open space and transport.

St Marys Central Park Project is an integral part of Council and the community’s shared vision for a vibrant and modern St Marys Town Centre. Key features of the design concept include an entertainment area, new children’s playspace including water play, lawn area, trees, pathways, and lighting. The community can also choose their three favourite names for the park.

Have your say at yoursaypenrith.com.au/stmarys

Complete the online survey to go into the draw for a chance to win one of 5 $200 Eftpos gift cards. Terms and conditions apply. Community consultation will close at 11.59pm on Saturday 30 November 2024.

● Upgrades to the Jamison Park Netball Courts are underway! The large bank of 23 courts will be resurfaced, improving the playing conditions by providing a quality surface that reduces water pooling, allowing players to return to the court sooner.

Drainage around the courts will be enhanced with upgrades to surrounding swales to better direct rainfall into the stormwater system.

The work is expected to take several weeks and is intended to be ready for the new netball season in early 2025. This project is being co-funded by the Australian Government through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and Penrith City Council.

For more information go to penrith.city/sports-upgrades

● Join us as we raise awareness about gender-based violence as part of 16 Days of Action and its impacts in our community. From Monday 25 November to Tuesday 10 December 2024 we’re raising awareness, with the Walk Against Violence at the Nepean River on Sunday 8 December. The event will start at 9am at the Blue Tree on Nepean Avenue.

Find out more at penrith.city/16days

Public Notices

Section 38B Roads Act 1993 –

Proposed Road Closing

In pursuance of the provisions of the Roads Act 1993, notice is hereby given that Penrith City Council proposes to close the council public road listed in Schedule 1.

Schedule 1

Willmington Road, Luddenham (formally The Northern Road) known as State Main Road Number 155. The location of the of road proposed to be closed adjoins 121 Willmington Road.

Upon closure of the road, council intends to sell the land to an adjoining landowner.

All affected parties are hereby invited to make submissions concerning the proposal. Submissions must be received in writing addressed to the General Manager, Penrith City Council to PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751 or council@penrith.city, within 28 of the date of this notice.

For all enquiries: Please contact Laura Gray, Development Manager on 4732 7777 or laura.gray@penrith.city

How locals are working hard to protect river’s fish habitat Planning consent granted for Penrith Stadium redevelopment

The fishing club encourages everyone to improve their local area and take part in next month’s initiative.

The Nepean River’s fish habitat is being protected by Penrith City Council, Bass Sydney Fishing Club, and proactive locals.

The groups will meet at Emu Green Reserve on Saturday, December 7 to plant trees and shrubs along the riverbank, providing food and shelter for fish.

The initiative started in 2011 as a major Riparian Restoration project to improve vegetation in the highly degraded area.

“Since then, we have probably had well over 50 volunteers at the site at different times,” Bass Sydney Fishing Club member Alan Izzard said.

“At the moment we have clocked up well in excess of 2,100 volunteer work hours and will crack the 2,200 mark in the future.”

Public Notices (cont.)

“The new riverbank regeneration project proposed on December 7 at Alma Crescent, Emu Heights, will be an opportunity for locals to come along, plant some native species, enjoy a barbeque, and even cast a lure or two for an Australian native bass,” Izzard concluded.

The upcoming event starts at 8.30am and goes to 12pm, and everyone involved is encouraged to bring sun protection, water and fishing gear.

The event is free but bookings are essential at https://events.humanitix.com/plantingfor-a-healthy-river?c=wo.

Have you got an environmental story you’d love to share? Email Alison.Hall@ westernweekender.com.au or call our newsroom on 4722 2998.

Public Meeting – Penrith Local Planning Panel

The Penrith Local Planning Panel will meet to determine the following:

• DA24/0315

194 Bennett Road, St Clair

Demolition of existing structures and construction of a single storey child care facility for 37 x children with basement car parking and associated works

• DA23/1109

90–98 Glenmore Ridge Drive, Glenmore Park

Construction of 24-hour McDonald’s Restaurant including dual lane drive-through facility and associated works

When: Wednesday 27 November 2024 commencing at 2pm

Where: The Penrith Local Planning Panel public meeting will be conducted in a hybrid environment with opportunity to attend the meeting in person or to connect online via zoom.

To attend the meeting or for an opportunity to address the Panel, please register via the Online Form at Penrith Council’s website yoursaypenrith.com.au/lppregister-speak by 4pm on Monday 25 November 2024. For any person intending to access the meeting remotely, a meeting invitation with log in details will be provided to those who have registered via the online form 28–48 hours before the scheduled meeting date. Any person joining the online meeting are informed that the meeting will be audio recorded, and a copy of that recording will be made publicly available following the meeting.

Relevant documents will be available on Penrith Council’s website penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/buildingdevelopment/development/local-planning-panel

The Penrith Stadium redevelopment has been officially granted planning consent, clearing the path for a contract to be awarded and work to start.

Redevelopment of the venue is expected to be complete at the end of 2026.

“I am pleased that our community will soon see work begin on the new and improved Penrith Stadium,” Minister for Western Sydney and Londonderry MP Prue Car said.

“Upgrading Penrith Stadium will also create hundreds of local jobs in our community, creating opportunities close to home.”

But Labor’s announcement regarding the planning consent included a bizarre shot at the former Coalition Government, which first promised the project.

Sports Minister Steve Kamper said: “The former Government sat on their hands and promised a stadium for five years. The Minns Labor Government has delivered planning approval in 18 months.”

That comment would have

raised eyebrows within the Coalition, which had plans to build a much bigger venue in Penrith on the site of the Penrith Showground.

It was widely known that Labor was less than enthused about the redevelopment, but agreed to commit to the promised $309 million when it won last year’s election. New artist’s impressions of the stadium were also released last weekend, sparking plenty of discussion on social media.

The stadium’s anchor tenant, the Penrith Panthers, will play away from home for two years.

For further assistance: Please contact the Panel localpanel@penrith.city

Development Consent/s Determined

Pursuant to Section 4.59 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the schedule below lists applications recently determined by Penrith City Council.

Approved Development Applications

• Todd Anthony Beedle

DA24/0539

Lot 3306 DP 812738, 17 Luttrell Street, Glenmore Park Use of existing dwelling house and secondary dwelling as permanent group home

• Byron Bourke

DA24/0727 Lot 26 DP 244753, 73 Russell Street, Emu Plains Alterations and additions to the existing dwelling

• George Nehme

DA24/0220

Lot 51 DP 241749, 60–75 Park River Close, Mulgoa

Demolition of existing dwelling and construction of a 2-storey dwelling, inground swimming pool, OSSM and tree removal

Refused Development Application

• Juanting Zeng

DA24/0279

Lot 1 DP 630887, 12 Raschke Street, Cambridge Demolition of existing structures and construction of a 2-storey co-living development containing 12 rooms for 24 lodgers, with 3 car parking spaces

new landscaping, parking for motorbikes and bicycles, and associated civil works

Integrated Development

Penrith City Council have received a Development Application in respect of the subject property. The consent authority for the Development Application is Penrith City Council.

• Mirvac Homes (NSW) Pty Ltd

DA24/0861

Lot 18 DP 244610, 147–159 Chain-O-Ponds Road, Mulgoa

Torrens title subdivision x 2 lots

The proposal is Integrated Development. The application seeks concurrent approval from the NSW Rural Fire Service.

The Development Application referred to in this notice and supporting documentation accompanying the subject application may be inspected at the locations

in the period from Monday 18 November to Sunday 1 December 2024.

Any person may, during the exhibition period, make a submission in writing to Penrith City Council, in relation to the development application. Where a submission is made by way of an objection, the grounds of objection

is to include Council’s reference number DA24/0861.

For any queries relating to the proposal:

Please contact Jacqueline Klincke on 4732 8391.

Viewing of Development Applications

The above development application/s may be viewed on Council’s DA Tracker via penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/ DATracker

Department will be able to assist with your enquiries.

Disclosure of Political Donations or Gifts

By law, reportable political donations or gifts must be disclosed by anyone lodging a planning application to Council. Call 4732 7649 or visit penrithcity.nsw.gov.au

Local residents working alongside the Nepean River. Photo: Penrith City Council.

A new artist’s impression of Penrith Stadium.

TROY DODDS

ALLY HALL

cupboard prize

In a groundbreaking partnership, Fernwood Fitness and AstonRX are tackling the often-overlooked health issue of muscle loss in women.

As part of this collaboration, every new Fernwood Fitness member will gain exclusive access to AstonRX’s online program for six months. The program focuses on improving metabolic and gut function to help manage health and weight effectively.

Fernwood Fitness, Australia’s leading women-only gym, is renowned for creating a supportive environment for women.

It offers specialised resistance training programs designed to enhance muscle mass and strength, helping women counteract the effects of sarcopenia and improve bone density.

AstonRX (run by Donna Aston, pictured), a cutting-edge metabolic health platform, will complement Fernwood’s strength training

paceway winners lucky

Members of the Penrith Paceway in Penrith have the chance to win great prizes thanks to a special promotion involving the club and your favourite newspaper, The Western Weekender Club members can pick up a free specially numbered

bumper sticker from the Paceway or the Weekender office, and our spotters will be out and about in the community.

Three spotted bumper sticker numbers will be printed each week, with winners needing to report to the Pace-

Tell us exactly where this week’s featured I Spy image is located in Penrith and you could win! Email ispy@westernweekender.com.au with your answer for your chance to win two movie tickets. Our winner will be notified by email. Entries close each Wednesday at 5pm.

LAST WEEK’S ANSWER

The four flags, which include the national, state and Aboroginal flags, are located outside the Penrith City Council building in Penrith.

programs with personalised insights and strategies to optimise metabolism and support muscle health.

Using advanced technology and data analysis, AstonRX will help women tailor their nutritional plans to meet their specific metabolic needs, enhancing the effectiveness of their exercise and dietary efforts. Visit https://www.fernwoodfitness. com.au for more information.

The Weekender has two full year’s membership at Fernwood Fitness (either Penrith or Parramatta) to give away. For your chance to win one, send an email to competitions@westernweekender.com. au with ‘Fernwood’ in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your contact details. Entries close Friday, November 28 and the winners will be notified by email. Terms and conditions are available at www. westernweekender.com.au or Weekender reception.

way to verify their bumper sticker number and collect their prize. Look

It’s around that time of year where people forget how to drive, especially around the Penrith CBD and in car parks. The joy of Christmas drivers has arrived!

Go up, up and away on the ultimate holiday with the Bluey 3-in-1 Transforming Plane Playset!

This incredible playset easily transforms from a plane into a resort and a boat. It comes with two exclusive figures – Pilot Bluey and Holiday Bingo and 15 play pieces so you can play out the best vacation ever!

Open up the plane to reveal a huge playset with two levels and plenty of areas to explore, like a hotel lobby, hotel room, bathroom and a beach. The whole playset comes to life with over 25 sounds and phrases from the show, and includes an “Aussie Passport” and sticker sheet to decorate with.

The Bluey 3-in-1 Transforming Plane Playset is perfect for all your child’s Bluey figures to share!

Children will love to recreate some of the most memorable moments from the ‘Bluey’ TV show with this cool toy.

The Weekender has one Bluey prize pack to give away. For your chance to win one, send an email to competitions@ westernweekender.com.au with ‘Bluey’ in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your contact details. Entries close Friday, November 28 and the winner will be notified by email. Terms and conditions are available at www. westernweekender.com.au or Weekender reception.

Full Dose Coffee Bar in Cambridge Park has received the green light to expand its business model.

Last week, Penrith City Council approved the café’s Development Application (DA) to introduce outdoor seating for customers.

“The proposed development is for change of use as a café with outdoor seating,” the Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) attached to the DA said.

“The café will involve no cooking (i.e. no frying, baking and grilling), and only sell foods such as pre-packaged cakes, muffins, pastries, toasted sandwiches (using only sandwich press), hot/cold drinks (coffee, milkshakes, smoothies, juices and the like).”

The café is looking to introduce the outdoor customer seating to boost traffic and to assist in bringing more customers to the area.

“The majority of the café’s business is takeaway but does provide approximately 10 internal seats for customers who have some leisure time,” the SEE said.

“The café also seeks to include [an] outdoor seating area, which will further activate the public domains through pedestrian traffic and customer activities.”

The café, located on busy Oxford Street, will now work to implement the approved outdoor seating.

of degrees Costs must reduce

“Action on all fronts” needed to bring down cost

Western Sydney University (WSU) is calling for more action to address the overall cost of tertiary degrees after the Federal Government announced a reduction in student debt.

Earlier this month, the Federal Government announced it would cut 20 per cent of all student loan debts by June 1 next year, which would lead to a reduction of $16 billion in student debt for three million Australians.

For a student with the average HELP debt of $27,600 they will see around $5,520 deducted from their outstanding HELP loans next year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the proposed cuts will make access to the education system more affordable.

“I will always fight for every young Australian to have access to a good education. My government will make sure our education system is fairer and affordable for every Australian

and we won’t delay unwinding the damage caused by the former Coalition Government,” Albanese said.

“This will help everyone with a student debt right now, whilst we work hard to deliver a better deal for every student in the years ahead.”

Responding to the Government’s planned changes to the minimum payment threshold under the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) and plans to reduce student debt by 20 per cent, WSU’s Vice-Chancellor,

Distinguished Professor George Williams said the university is calling for more action to deal with the overall cost of degrees.

“These are extremely welcome steps, but we urge the Federal Government to go further to fix our broken higher education system. We continue to call for immediate action to deal with the root of the debt spiral problem,” Williams said.

“Reducing student debt and other changes to HELP will significantly ease financial pressure on our students, not only

helping them and their families but also benefiting our western Sydney community, which is at the epicentre of the cost-of-living crisis. But the system for setting student fees in the first place is broken and deeply unfair. The changes do nothing for new university students facing inflated fees.”

Williams said the changes they are calling for need to be made in order to provide equitable access for everyone wanting to pursue higher education.

“To ensure the doors to opportunity are open for all students and the nation tackles intergenerational inequality, we continue to call for a common-sense and fair approach to the initial cost of university degrees,” he said. Williams’ call for action comes after the cost of university arts degrees have risen significantly.

A three-year arts degree now costs $50,000 and is “actively discouraging some students from considering or staying at university”, Williams said.

“We need action on all fronts: student loan repayments and the overall cost of degrees,” he said.

WSU Vice Chancellor, George Williams.

Full Dose Coffee Bar.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Photo: Megan Dunn.

EMILY CHATE

Special part of Penrith’s history receives much-needed

The first Wesleyan Chapel in Australia was built in Castlereagh by John Lees in 1817, and when that got too small, another one was built in 1819, and as the congregation grew further, a third and final chapel was built in 1847.

Now, Castlereagh Chapel has been refurbished thanks to a heritage grant from Penrith City Council, as well as generous donations from Nepean Archaeology and descendants with connections to the church.

“We recently did a fundraiser, and we went out to all the descendants of John Lees, and the other people who are buried in the cemetery with descendants out here, and we asked them for donations to help fix up the church and the cemetery,” Centre Manager Michael McKertich said.

The refurbishment took a lot of elbow grease, and heritage-listed items like the pulpit, plaques on the wall, and box seating had to be treated with care.

“We managed to get the church painted, we had holes in the roof that had to be fixed, there was water damage, there were buckets in the pews when it rained – it was a really big job,” McKertich explained.

Now, he hopes to see more local residents travel to the end of Old Castlereagh Road to

discover a piece of history, starting with John Lees and the land grant he was bestowed by Governor Philip Gidley King upon leaving the Rum Corp.

“Castlereagh was basically the breadbasket of the early settlement, all the lands out here were farmlands, and he had a 90-acre land grant,” McKertich said.

“He one day had a conversion to Christianity and decided to build the first Wesleyan Methodist Church in Australia out here.”

Not only is the site’s history relevant to

Penrith, but also statewide as Castlereagh was one of Governor Lachlan Macquarie’s ‘Five Macquarie Towns’.

“Just the other day I was talking to a couple of history teachers from Blacktown, and I was telling them about Castlereagh and how it’s quite a unique heritage site and we’ve had archaeological digs out here, and they were just blown away, they had no idea,” McKertich said.

“There’s so much early settler history here, from First Fleet onwards, and people don’t

realise. We’re happy for people to come visit, it’s right on your doorstep.”

The site now runs as a conference and retreat centre, and Penrith Uniting visits the church on the first and fourth Sunday of every month to provide services.

Pay the chapel a visit to put yourself in the shoes of an 19th-century churchgoer, see the artefacts found during the archaeological dig, hear the bell tower chime every 15 minutes, and see if you can find one of your ancestors in the cemetery.

The Chapel at Castlereagh has been restorted. Photo: Melinda Jane. Michael McKertich and Natasha Chaumont. Photo: Melinda Jane.

ALLY HALL

CELEBR AT E EVAN THEATRE SHOWS

Toni Childs

Shania Twain Xmas

Two Strong Hearts

The real power of friendship emerges as Christmas season approaches

As the end of the year approaches, along with an overseas trip, I’m going through a phase I like to think of as ‘friend management’. In my professional life, the calendar is filling fast with work catchups.

Christmas with extended family awaits in London, around platefuls of roast turkey and baked ham.

This leaves just a narrow window of opportunity to check back in with friends: that unique and precious group of people we’ve chosen to share our time on the planet with. Not because we’re forced by genealogy or the fact we share a physical office space.

No, when you are in your 40s, genuine friendships have to exist for a reason that transcends circumstance.

There must be a genuine connection, a meeting of the minds, interests in common, an ability to laugh and be honest with each other. The relationship must work, more or less equally, for both sides.

Most of all, I have learned the need for suppleness, forgiveness and a willingness to simply keep going – both when our friends disappoint us or we let them down through our own inevitable self-absorption.

This year, scanning the state of my friendships, it is alarming to feel that I have been

anything other than a bad friend.

Possibly, for quite a while. Struggles with aging parents are a growing theme. In one case, the father of a good mate of mine had a stroke earlier in the year. This bloke used to talk the leg off a chair. Some time ago, I remember him cracking bawdy jokes through a buck’s event that began on a golf course and ended in a club.

Now in his late 70s, the requirement to find satisfactory professional care for him outside the home has stressed the entire family. I feel I’ve not been there for them – checking in only very occasionally by text.

Another old friend separated from her husband. But only recently did she feel able to disclose what was an intensely sad and difficult situation, with kids caught in the crossfire.

Meanwhile, someone else has abruptly announced that she and her partner are chucking in Sydney and relocating to another part of Australia. They must have gone through a complex process of soul-searching. If so, I was unaware of it.

Most jarring of all was the friend, aged 40, suddenly diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening condition.

We normally make aborted attempts to ring each other, with missed calls unreturned

for weeks or months. It’s just never a good time to go through the work of maintaining a friendship when you’re living in different states.

This time, she told me about her situation over text. Shocked, I dropped what I was doing and voice breaking, rang back straight away.

“The rhythm of friendship changes as we age”

The rhythm of friendship changes as we age, requiring a sense of realism and long-term perspective that keeps expectations in check. Back at school, we saw friends every day. At university, contact might have been intermittent when sharing a class. Commencing our working lives, new circles and relationships competed for our attention. Some old friends faded away.

New ones took their place.

As bereavements, major surgeries, relationship breakdowns, professional burnouts, aborted PhDs and struggles with IVF have come and gone, there is no set playbook for how to maintain contact. Some people choose to deal with setbacks and tragedies privately. Others retreat to a trusted friendship core, or take refuge in family.

It’s impossible to be there as much as you’d like. Sometimes, all you can do is keep an outstretched hand and be there when they are ready to re-engage.

In the next fortnight, I’m trying to make up for lost time by arranging coffee or lunch with those I need to see. I’ll go for a gym session or run along the beach with my mate who’s caring for his aging Dad. And I’m flying across the country to see my friend who is unwell but hopefully soon on the mend.

True friendships replenish our spirit and nourish our soul.

Sometimes all it takes is a simple hug and a chat, or a shared activity that reconnects us both with why we became friends in the first place.

Other times, it’s a simple check-in on WhatsApp. You do what you can.

That’s been my experience. My resolution for the next year is to be there more for my friends as well.

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IYENGAR YOGA IN SYDNEY’S WEST

“Beacons of inspiration”

Three local students recognised for incredible efforts of community service

Three local students have had their community service efforts recognised by receiving a special award.

Travis Campbell and Liam Drebber from Nepean Christian School and Alexa Player from St Marys Senior High School were presented with Youth Community Service Awards for exceptional service or engagement within their local community, or to Australia from the Governor of New South Wales Margaret Beazley.

The students were three of 26 students honoured by the Governor at Government House in October where they received the award as well as a trophy and certificate of commendation from the Governor.

Convenor of the Awards, Dr Frank Kelleher, congratulated the three students, saying they are exemplary role models in their communities.

“Travis, Liam and Alexa are three of 26 high school students recognised… to have selflessly volunteered their time to a wide range of organisations and for many very worthy causes while busily

preparing for their Higher School Certificates,” Kelleher said.

“Travis, Liam and Alexa have contributed beyond the norm and their actions have inspired their fellow students. They are beacons of inspiration for others to follow.

“Travis, Liam and Alexa did not seek recognition for their actions, but we honour them with the high-

est recognition available to NSW high school students.”

Travis was recognised for his work taking in babies in need of care with his family which saw them start the company Kassie’s Cases.

“Their first foster baby – Kassie – had only one nappy, a serving of

this was a typical case, and after consultation with his parents and other key stakeholders, began an initiative he called ‘Kassie’s Cases’,” his award citation read.

“He engaged community members to donate appropriate items, that could be assembled and distributed through appropriate channels to other babies in emergency foster

care. Donations from school and church communities soon enabled 120 cases to be assembled for distribution through Domestic Violence Shelters, the Department of Community and Justice, and even the bail system.” Liam was recognised for his help

“He engaged with the local Mulgoa Landcare representatives and embarked on a program of plant identification to map out the current vegetation and plan site restoration to its native state,” his award citation read.

“He recruited a team of volunteers to work alongside Landcare personnel in replacing exotic species with

convenance species identified from historical records.

“Liam has publicised his work widely within the local community, generating interest in restoration of similarly degraded Cumberland Woodland areas in the district, inspired by the first recorded sight-

Alexa was recognised for her hard work in both the Girl Guides and the NSW Rural Fire Service.

“Beginning as a Youth Member of Girl Guides in 2017, her service in voluntary activities including virtual attendance at an international conference focused on Equity, Nature and Climate leadership training earned her the Queens Guide Award in 2023,” her award citation read.

“Alexa is now Chairperson of Ettamogah Luna Senior Guides, Blacktown. She then extended her community service focus by joining the Orchard Hills RFS Brigade as a cadet in 2020.

“She then qualified as a Bush Firefighter, joined the Senior Brigade and became involved with the Girls Fire and Rescue Camp, a collaboration with NSW Fire and Rescue Services, to encourage girls to become involved in firefighting. In 2022 she was an Outer Western Sydney Young Nominee for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award.”

The Award was initiated by the Dr John Lincoln in 1992 and was convened by him until his death in

Alexa Player with NSW Governor Margaret Beazley.

Travis Campbell with NSW Governor Margaret Beazley.

Liam Drebber with NSW Governor Margaret Beazley.

Action at Paceway

Thousands to attend bull riding event in Penrith on Saturday

Forget Santa – Australia’s elite cowboys are coming to town.

On Saturday, November 23, Penrith Paceway will be home to the adrenaline-fuelled Xtreme Bulls event, showcasing pro bull riding and bareback broncs that will have hearts pounding.

Gates will open at 3pm, junior and rookie bull-riders will kickstart the action at 5pm, and the main event with the big guns will start at 7pm.

Xtreme Bulls Australia CEO Simon Cresswell said this is their fourth year coming to Penrith, and they normally see crowds of over 6,000 people.

“It’s run as a full professional outfit,” Cresswell said.

“We have the big screens, big sound systems, and of course we get the best guys from the country coming to these events.”

One of the standouts will be returning champ and internationally-recognised Tumut cowboy Dylan Weir, who is currently leading the 2024

Xtreme Bulls Tour and will be taking his talents to Texas next year. Before then though, he has a date in Penrith.

Rodeo Association Bull Riding Champion,” Cresswell told the Weekender

“He’s also broken the record for the amount of money won in one season.”

We’ll see if Weir can go backto-back as judges watch the competitors try to stay atop their bull or bronc for eight seconds before issuing a score out of 100.

“They like to see who’s more in control – not loose, or out of control, or just hanging in there,” Cresswell explained.

“We’ve never had 100 points in Australia – that’s nearly impossible.

“A really big score in our sport in Australia would be around 90 to 92 points.”

In addition to watching the toughest sport on dirt, attendees at the Penrith event can keep themselves entertained with food, a full bar, merchandise, show rides, and half-time entertainment in the arena.

Penrith to host major conference

Penrith has been named as host city of the 2025 Local Government NSW Annual Conference, to be held in November next year.

The Western Sydney Conference Centre will host the major event.

Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said it would be an honour to welcome delegates to the City of Penrith for the conference in 2025.

“With Western Sydney International Airport and the metro railway opening in just two years, the City of Penrith is at the heart of one of Australia’s fastest growing regions,” he said. “It is an incredibly exciting time for our city and the scale of the transformation is like nothing we’ve seen before.”

The 2024 Local Government NSW Annual Conference has just wrapped up in Tamworth.

PERFECT CHANCE TO SHOP LOCAL

Penrith City Council has confirmed its popular Penrith Producers event will be held again on Friday, December 6 at Triangle Park in the CBD.

From 5pm to 9pm, the area around High Street and Riley Street will be transformed into a hub of delicious food and drink and artisan market stalls, and free activities and entertainment for families and friends.

“He’s the 2023 Xtreme Bulls Tour champion and he’s just been freshly crowned the 2024 Australian Professional

Tickets start at $26 for children and go up to $40 for adults. You can purchase your ticket at www.123tix.com.au.

Santa will also be roaming around with one of his elves from 5.30pm-7.30pm to say hello to the kids.

The event showcases talented local makers, artists and producers and has been running for the past six years.

Cowboy Troy Wilkinson.

ALLY HALL

Viral frozen yoghurt brand now in Penrith

Yo-Chi has opened its first western Sydney store this week after responding to high social media demand.

The new frozen yoghurt store officially opened on Tuesday, November 19 at Westfield Penrith and is the fourth new NSW location this year.

After going viral on social media, Yo-Chi’s COO Brooke Rodger said they were happy to meet western Sydney’s demand for a nearby store.

“We are beyond excited to finally be opening our doors in western Sydney,” Rodger said.

“The Penrith opening is a direct response to the area’s demand for Yo-Chi’s special offering, and we are so thrilled that western Sydney is welcoming us into their neighbourhoods.”

The new location will open with the brand’s signature frozen yoghurt flavours including salted butterscotch, vanilla, chocolate and mango, as well as fan-favourite acai and a rotation of seasonal flavours to be released throughout the year.

According to Rodger, bringing

the brand to western Sydney was a no-brainer, but they just needed to find the right location.

“For a while now we’ve been getting requests from customers via our socials to open venues in western Sydney, so we’ve been looking out for great locations,” Rodger said.

“We’re happy people won’t need to travel so far to get their Yo-Chi fix now!

“Penrith has some great food brands and we’ve noticed a lot of young families in the area, so when this site came up at Westfield Penrith, it felt like a really good fit.”

Rodger said Yo-Chi is proud to provide an individualised dessert where anyone can get their perfect treat.

“Yo-Chi is all about bringing people together for delicious frozen yogurt in spaces that are inclusive and represent an infinite flow of good energy,” Rodger said.

“Since we started in Melbourne in 2012, we’ve become Australia’s fastest-growing frozen yogurt and acai brand, where customers are encouraged to create what makes them happy via our famous toppings bar.

“At our core, we believe in spreading good Chi – positive energy – in everything we do, from our frozen yogurt and toppings to the way we design our venues. We’re also proud to be a family-owned Aussie business, with over 30 venues across the country and our tubs now in 800 Coles stores.

Following the opening of the new Penrith store, a flagship store in Barangaroo is planned to be launched in early December.

This year Yo-Chi has opened 13 new locations with another five set to be launched before the end of the year with more being planned for western Sydney.

“Penrith will be our ninth Sydney venue and our 39th nationally,” Rodger said.

“We’re still on the lookout for new sites around western Sydney, so we’re hoping this is just the beginning for our Yo-Chi fans in the west.” The new store is open now on Riley Street.

DEAR WEEKENDER

NEWS@WESTERNWEEKENDER.COM.AU SUITE 2, 42-44 ABEL STREET, JAMISONTOWN 2750

Thanks to kind person at shopping centre

A very big thank you to the very kind lady who handed in a black handbag to Coles which was inadvertently left in a trolley on Saturday, November 16. I lost my husband just three months ago on August 16 and my head has been all over the place since then, especially since Thursday 21/11 would have been our 60 years wedding anniversary. I can’t thank you enough for your honesty and kindness and you have restored my faith in people by handing my bag into Coles Security as it contained everything. I don’t know your name but you are a wonderful person to have done this for me.

M BROUWER, PENRITH

Column on the money

Could Troy Dodds have got it more right than his column last week, which continues to be compulsory reading (Editor’s Desk, Weekender November 14). The left lives in an echo chamber, surrounding themselves with people who agree with them and unwilling to engage in legitimate debate. At least that is my experience. The right (and I’m not talking about the far right here) are at least understanding of the other side of the argument, even if they don’t agree with it. And many conservative people support things like gay marriage etc.

TONY CLIFF, CRANEBROOK

Trump will fix America

The election of Donald Trump is good news. He will clean up many of the problems that have engulfed America in recent years and will call it as he sees it. The left don’t

want to admit it but they need someone like Trump in the States to get things back on track, so they can keep pretending to be the greatest country on Earth.

MELISSA QUINN, VIA EMAIL

Troubling habit

When it comes to all the issues in the world, this one is relatively small. And yet, I must raise it: why do people reverse into car spots? The other day, I witnessed someone at the local shops reverse into a spot they easily could have driven straight in to. They held up the line of cars behind them while they took three or four goes to finally get it right. I often shake my head as I watch people desperately trying to reverse into spots while I park normally, get out of my car and am well on my way into the shops while they are still mucking about. I understand the slightly easier exit – but is it really worth it?

Can someone explain it to me?

ALAN KEANIE, VIA EMAIL

A family in need

Something has to be done to allow them to stay in this property (Save our home, Weekender November 14). The insurance company needs to come to the party. This family is doing it tough and this is absolutely devastating after all they have been through. It will have to be a pretty hefty pay out too for what they’ve been through which won’t bring his wife back or change what has happened but it would want to set them both up for life and then some.

LAUREN RUSSELL, VIA FACEBOOK

The Western Weekender reserves the right to edit letters for the sake of accuracy and space. For more information, see our public notices section.

Workers Sienna and Ashleigh at the new Yo-Chi store. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Plenty to cheer about

Local duo heading to Korea for major international cheerleading competition

ALLY HALL

From the home of the Penrith Panthers to the world stage,

a Glenmore Park athlete has been invited to Seoul, Korea, for the International Cheer Union (ICU) World Cup.

Pantherette Brianna Thurling will be competing in pom alongside her duo partner Isabelle Louise.

Pom is a form of dance that involves cheerleading motions like sharp arms and synchronised movements, with the addition of pom-poms held in the hands throughout the routine.

“This is our second ever year of actually doing pom, so we wanted to do a duo ourselves to see how it would go given it’s quite new to us,” Thurling explained.

“We got contacted by the Australian Cheer Union saying they would like to put us forward to represent Australia at the ICU World Cup.

“It took us a little bit to actually click that we were really going to represent Australia after only two years of doing a certain style of dance, that was something that we didn’t think would be possible.”

The duo is based out of ROAR Talent in Richmond, and they said growing up in western Sydney has influenced their cheer careers.

“There’s New South Wales competitions and there’s numerous studios within Penrith, and then there’s more studios in Sydney as well,” Thurling said.

“I think being exposed to that has made us want to push more because we’ve seen how good the talent is where we’re from, so we know we need to push to be better.”

Both dancers are teachers by day, so it’s no surprise they had some wisdom to impart on the younger generation.

“Don’t give up,” Louise said.

“Believe in yourself because you can do great things, and once you put your mind to it and actually work towards it, that’s when great opportunities like this come.”

Thurling expanded on Louise’s advice.

“Allow yourself to expand what you want to work in and expand your knowledge of dance as well, because we didn’t even know pom existed until two to three years ago… and here we are now,” she said.

Brianna Thurling and Isabelle Louise. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Glenmore Park locals keen for online buys

Glenmore Park has been identified as one of NSW’s top shopping suburbs ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Upcoming sales events like Black Friday (Friday, November 29) and Cyber Monday (Monday, December 2) along with last week’s Click Frenzy (November 11-15), are quickly approaching and new CouriersPlease data has forecast Glenmore Park locals to be big spenders during the sale events.

The company is predicting that NSW shoppers will make up for more than a third of online spending during the sale period this year.

Last year, NSW shoppers accounted for 37 per cent of parcel deliveries during this period.

CouriersPlease is estimating that capital city CBDs, major regional centres and fast-growing suburbs with plenty of residential development will create demand for online spending and diverse demographics will again dominate each state and territory’s top five suburbs for this year’s events.

In NSW, Sydney topped the list for parcel deliveries during last year’s sales events, the other top-spending suburbs included Mosman, and Castle Hill, Glenmore Park and Blacktown with their large and growing populations.

CouriersPlease CEO Richard Thame said that parcel delivery volumes have steadily increased during this annual trio of sales despite the ongoing cost-of-living concerns.

“We are forecasting a growth in Click Frenzy and Black Friday parcel delivery volumes this year,” Thames said.

“My optimism comes from Australian consumers’ resilience and continued demand for value amid economic challenges. They are price savvy and driven to seek out deals that combat ongoing inflation and cost-of-living pressures.

“Shoppers who make their purchases early in the sales, especially with high-demand items, are likely to avoid disappointment. Many retailers will offer deals leading up to the main sales dates, so take advantage of early access offers to ensure timely delivery.

“For retailers, planning ahead is key. Make sure your delivery options are clear and set realistic expectations for delivery times. With parcel volumes increasing during this period, offering customers flexible delivery options, such as parcel collection points or to an alternative address, can improve their online shopping experience and reduce the pressure on deliveries during these busy weeks.”

Last year, Victoria made up for 29 per cent of parcel deliveries, Queensland made up for 20 per cent, South Australia made up for seven per cent, while Western Australia received 5.74 per cent of all parcel deliveries from CouriersPlease, and Tasmania and the Northern Territory had less than one per cent.

Despite the ongoing cost-ofliving crisis, last October’s Click Frenzy event recorded a 28 per cent year over year increase in sales on its first day while this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are forecast to attract 5.5 per cent year on year increase in spending over the four days, to the tune of $6.7 billion.

Uniform Logo Licence

Tenders are called for Marayong South Public School for the licence of the Uniform Logo for the school year commencing December/Januar y 2025 and for a term of FIVE ( 5) years.

Annual school enrolments will be approximately 256. General enquiries and requests for a Tender Information Package should be referred to:

Attention: Principal marayongs-p.school@det .nsw.edu.au 02 9622 4216

Tenders must be sent electronically and noted in the subject line “Confidential - School Uniform Tender ” and sent to:

Principal marayongs-p.school@det .nsw.edu.au

Tenders close at 3pm on 7 December 2024

Mandator y Criteria: All employees must hold a current working with children check.

Glenmore Park locals love their online shopping, according to recent data.

Career calling: Demand set to grow for interior designers

ALLY HALL

Interior design is a fast-growing industry, and TAFE NSW Nepean Interior Design graduate Jodi Archer is making waves in the profession.

The Studio Leader in Aviation Design for Woods Bagot recommends more people explore the career path as the industry calls for more than 3,400 additional designers in New South Wales by 2032.

“I do see there’s a real industry demand and need for interior designers, and I can only think that’s got to do with this new world we’re navigating coming out of COVID and picking back up – re-looking with fresh eyes towards the future and how we want to move forward,” Archer explained.

The Mulgoa-raised designer has put her personal touch on Sydney Airport, Hobart Airport, and Sydney Metro, basing designs on a past phobia of airports.

“I think about when I was younger and the challenges that I felt in trying to find somewhere that felt comfortable and relaxing in public

spaces,” Archer recounted.

“That was where my journey really started in wanting to create spaces that lots of different people actually wanted to be in.”

Archer is currently working on Western Sydney International (WSI)

Airport, and is humanising the space to benefit travellers from all walks of life.

“You’ve got a lot of people in one space, all from different cultures, all there for different reasons, but ultimately, everybody can be quite

similar in the way that they all want to find comfort – so I guess the challenge is, what does comfort mean for each of those individuals?” Archer questioned.

“Every decision that we made –whether it was something as simple

as the colour of a

to finding the

chairs – we considered every type of passenger in all those decisions.”

For

tile to ceiling height

right

locals wanting to embrace their creative side, now is the time to consider a career in interior design.

An impression of the interior at Western Sydney International Airport. Jodi Archer.

103 not out: Special birthday milestone for ‘stubborn’ George

George Davis turned 100-years-old in his Emu Plains home in 2021, and on Tuesday, November 19, he celebrated his 103rd birthday at The Royce Retirement Village.

Family, friends and residents celebrated the achievement with live music, finger food, and cheesecake.

His son, David Davis, credits his father’s long life to stubbornness and independence.

“He’s very stubborn, he won’t give in, he’ll probably live to be 110,” David said.

“I think he’ll probably outlive me, it’s just incredible.”

The former British Army soldier was born in London in 1921 and settled in St Marys with his family in 1965.

He retired on the Central Coast before moving closer to his children after losing his wife.

“Dad was last in Emu Plains and lived in a house on his own there and it just got a little bit too hard for him on his own, so he’s come here,” David explained.

“He’s been here for about four or five months now and he’s settled in quite well.”

Over the sound of chatter and the strum of the acoustic guitar, George said his favourite memory was his marriage, and that he still has his letter from the late Queen Elizabeth.

“It’s hanging on my door!” he said.

Incredible life stories shared as part of seniors initiative

Seniors have shared stories that ‘made them’ in the milestone 10th edition of Seniors’ Stories – marking 1,000 short stories published since 2013.

This year’s theme ‘What Made Me’ has produced stories of hardship, resilience, life-changing moments, and generational life lessons in the 260-page book, featuring stories from some 100 seniors.

The NSW Government introduced the Senior’s Stories competition in 2013

as a way of recognising and valuing the experiences of NSW seniors, as well as showcasing their talent.

One story this year, written by 62-year-old Cassandra French, tells of her formative childhood years growing up on an island where she shares snippets of how it was key to “developing her sense of self”.

Seniors’ Stories Volume 10 will be available at all local libraries across NSW by the end of November, or can be downloaded as a PDF or audiobook from www.

seniorscard.nsw.gov.au

“The stories in this book celebrate the insights and experiences of seniors in NSW and recognise the ongoing value of those contributions,” Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said.

“This year, we saw one of the highest submission rates, with over 500 short stories shared with our judging panel for the milestone 10th edition of Senior’s Stories

“Congratulations to all our authors who submitted and to those who feature in the book.”

Mayor’s News

The weekly views of Penrith’s Mayor

Write Out West

Penrith City Libraries is proud to present the very first Write Out West: Western Sydney Libraries and Literature Festival, designed to celebrate literature in the West from Wednesday, November 27 to Thursday, December 5 2024.

From author events to panel discussions, workshops, history walks, Story Times for children, and shows and workshops at The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, the Write Out West Festival is packed with various programs suitable for all ages.

Write Out West is coordinated by Penrith City Libraries in collaboration with Camden, Fairfield and Hawkesbury Libraries, and is a celebration of libraries and literature in the West. It focuses on celebrating the rich literary landscape we have in our area, local history and culture and will take participants on a deep dive into Penrith’s rich past.

When Penrith City Libraries asked the

Penrith community what they wanted to see more of when developing their 20232028 Library Strategy, we had an enthusiastic response for more programs and activities held in Penrith, which inspired our Library team to develop the festival’s program with our neighbouring councils.

The literary festival is a great opportunity to discover something new — whether it be a new author or poet — and stretch creative muscles in writing workshops and puppet making for kids.

The festival is an evolution of Penrith City Libraries’ inclusive and varied event program, which continues to develop and evolve thanks to the community’s enthusiastic feedback and participation.

Don’t miss out! There’s something for everybody at the festival. Check out the large event program at penrith.city/events.

CR TODD CARNEY Mayor of Penrith

LISTEN TO WEEKENDER PODCASTS

Expand your readership of The Western Weekender by listening to one of our podcasts.

We produce the Penrith Panthers podcast, ‘Tension’s Running High,’ plus the ‘On The Record’ interview podcast.

These insightful podcasts are available free of charge.

Search Western Weekender wherever you listen to podcasts including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, iHeart and Podcast Addict.

George Davis.

Photo: Melinda Jane. George Davis and family. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Seniors who contributed to the Seniors’ Stories project this year.

ALLY HALL

New menu places CHU on top of must-try list in the west

Dubbed the master of Chinese-Western cuisine by SBS Food, China Doll Head Chef Frank Shek has outdone himself at West HQ’s CHU Restaurant by China Doll.

The new menu was launched in October and is a modern take on traditional dishes from China, Japan and South-East Asia.

The menu features dishes including Scotch fillet with charred lemon and shiitake salt, Chinese roast duck, steamed prawn and cabbage rolls, Shandong sesame chicken, mango pancakes, and more.

“Our goal when revising the menu for CHU was to capture pan-Asian cuisine’s essence while adding our signature flair,” Shek said.

“We wanted a visit to CHU not being about just a meal –instead we wanted a visit to be a journey through Asia’s most celebrated culinary traditions.”

The menu is complemented by the restaurant’s setting, which gives a nod to 1940s Shanghai with its elegant red and gold accents and striking Buddha statue at the entrance.

“CHU Restaurant by China Doll is more than just a

dining destination – it’s a cultural experience,” West HQ CEO, Richard Errington said.

“The new menu reflects our commitment to bringing a world-class dining experience to greater Sydney, showcasing the best pan-Asian cuisine in an environment that’s both sophisticated and welcoming.”

The impressive restaurant has racked up plenty of awards, including the 2022 and 2023 Wine List of the

Year Award, 2023 Asian Restaurant of the Year, and the 2023 and 2024 Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat Award.

The dining experience shines a light on western Sydney’s up-and-coming food scene and fits right in at West HQ.

You can try CHU’s new menu with a $49 Thursday Tasting Banquet.

Book online at www. churestaurant.com.au.

The writer dined as a guest of CHU Restaurant.

ALLY HALL

CHU Restaurant by China Doll is turning heads in western Sydney.

Some of the delicious food on offer at CHU Restaurant by China Doll.

Lunch at CHU Restaurant by China Doll.

Δ Tis the season at Starbucks: It may still only be November, but the silly season has already begun with a slew of festive-themed treats now available from eateries around Australia – including at Starbucks. Fan-favourite Peppermint Mocha has returned, along with Toffee Crunch and Gingerbread, available as a Frappuccino, Latte or Iced Latte. The Salted Pretzel Cocoa is the newest addition to Starbucks’ Christmas drink range and promises to be both salty and sweet.

Δ Griddle goes bottomless: Griddle restaurant in Penrith has introduced a bottomless brunch. Starting last weekend, the concept is available Saturday and Sunday afternoons and includes five courses and a bottomless drinks package.

Δ Now that’s Twisted: : In an unexpected twist, Twisties has announced it will bring fans the ultimate taste of luxury with its latest flavour launch: Twisties Caviar, offering the

chance to win a packet via an exclusive social giveaway. The limited edition Twisties Caviar combines the iconic Twistie crunch that Australia has come to know and love, with the sophisticated caviar flavour, elevating snack time to a luxurious experience for Aussie Twisties connoisseurs around the country. For those who want to indulge in a packet of Twisties Caviar, Twisties is giving away over 30 packs per day of the limited-edition flavour via a giveaway on Twisties’ Instagram and Facebook channels. Head over to Twisties Australia page or @twisties_aus to be one of the first to try.

Δ Broaster re-opens: Fried chicken favourite Broaster Chicken (pictured above) has returned to Penrith after a brief closure. It’s located next to the NK Arcade on High Street.

Δ Luxury gift: If you’re looking for a luxury gift to give a loved one this Christmas, it’s hard to go past The Efficacy Cream by emerging luxury skincare brand, AIJAN, which combines a proprietary blend of clinically proven native extracts to nourish, revitalise, and protect skin at every age. Clinically proven to support skin over the age of 35, The Efficacy Cream also strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier, enhances elasticity, smooths fine lines, evens pigmentation, and delivers targeted protection against environmental pollutants and free radical damage. Visit www.aijan.com.au for details.

Δ Got some Source? We want to hear about new products, store openings, closings, specials, gift ideas and more! Email news@ westernweekender.com.au.

Mark Garner was a Penrith sprinter and competed at State, National and International levels.

Born in 1969, he represented Australia at the 1988 and 1992 Olym-

pic Games and at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. Mark is a life member of the Nepean Athletics Club. At the 1988 Olympics, he finished 6th in the 4 x 400m, and in 1992 finished 28th in the 400m.

He is pictured here (second from left) with teammates at the Auckland Commonwealth Games in 1990. The action shot is from the 1980s. (Photos thanks to Penrith Library)

Marsden Park Care Community recently celebrated one year of bringing high quality residential aged care to Sydney’s growing north-west.

Brad Bunting, Mayor of Blacktown City, was on hand to help residents, their families and Marsden Park Care Community team members celebrate in style.

Resident June was proud to unveil the plaque that marked the milestone before residents and guests enjoyed a delicious high tea.

In just a year, Marsden Park Care Community has become a muchloved part of the local community, with connections with local high schools and Windsor RSL counting among the highlights. Fittingly, the celebration included music by students from Richmond High School and a string quartet.

Located just a few minutes from Elara Village Shopping Centre, Marsden Park Care Community is a kind, caring and welcoming environment, designed to meet the unique needs and choices of people as they age, with the compassionate care of registered nurses on duty 24/7. The team takes the time to understand the big and the little

details about how their residents like to live, so they can enjoy their day, their way.

Every bedroom opens onto a garden, balcony or terrace, and there’s so much to do. A beautiful central courtyard features gardens, potting areas, a putting green and shaded outdoor BBQ area. The spacious rooftop terrace has an alfresco dining area with BBQ, and a bowling green.

There are five resident kitchens and five multimedia rooms throughout the Care Community, along with a sports bar with pool table and lots of well-placed nooks for relaxing or socialising.

Residents enjoy nutritious, tasty meals created by the in-house chefs, and staying active with state-ofthe-art wellness centres that bring a holistic approach to wellbeing, rehabilitation and restorative care. There’s also a dedicated Memory Care Neighbourhood to support the individual needs of residents living with dementia.

Marsden Park Care Community is a family-oriented environment, designed to nurture a sense of community, and they encourage and support residents to keep the connections they’ve built.

BUSINESS

WITH NATHAN TODD

WESTERN

SYDNEY BUSINESS CENTRE • 4721 5011

Is it time to flip the camera to increase engagement across your socials?

One of the hardest things to overcome when it comes to social media, is being able to talk on camera and be comfortable in doing so. Most wouldn’t feel comfortable at first (this is normal), but it can be crucial to growing your brand. Using yourself on camera in social media videos offers several key benefits, both for personal branding and engagement. Here are some of the primary advantages:

1. Authenticity and relatability: When viewers see you on camera, it humanises your content. They can connect with you on a personal level, which builds trust and a stronger connection. People are more likely to engage with someone they feel they know and relate to. This is one of the great advantages to social media marketing, you can get to know someone before actually meeting them!

2. Builds personal brand: Being on camera allows you to showcase your personality, values and expertise. This helps you establish a unique identity and strengthens your personal brand, making you memorable to your audience.

3. Engagement and interaction: Videos with faces tend to attract more attention and engagement than those without. Viewers are more likely to comment, share, and interact with content that includes a personal touch. This allows you to interact with your audience and find out what they want to see. Remem-

ber, platforms like Instagram and TikTok prioritise videos with higher engagement, which gives you a better chance of growing online.

4. Improved communication: It’s easier to communicate your personality and intent when your audience can see you speaking, compared to just reading text or looking at static images. Let them get to know you and your story behind the business.

5. Increased trust and credibility: People tend to trust those they can see and hear. When you put yourself on camera, it can boost your credibility and make people more likely to follow, share, or purchase from you.

6. Emotional connection: Videos that feature you can evoke emotions through tone, facial expressions, and personal storytelling. This emotional connection can be powerful, leading to stronger loyalty and a deeper connection with your audience.

But creating content with you on camera is easier said than done right? Make sure you find a place that’s comfortable for you to create the content. Don’t try and be someone you’re not!

Whether you’re sharing educational content, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or personal stories, being visible and authentic can significantly impact your social media success.

WEB SITE

You

C addens

C addens News (C addens Corner)

Woolworths

C ambridge Gardens

Coles

McDonald's

Overlander Hotel

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Mother Earth Nurser y Plus Pharmacy

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Lennox Centre Newsagency

McDonald's

Penrith Regional Galler y Woolworths Lennox Village

7/ 11 Emu Plains (Gre at Western Highway)

7/ 11 Emu Plains (Old Bathurst Rd)

Emu Height s

Super Save Compounding Chemis t

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Ashcroft’s Iga

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G lenmore Park

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Medi Advice Pharmacy

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Abcoe

Atmosphere Fitness Signature Gym

B att Street Take Away

Grey Gums Hotel

Har vey Norman

New On York Takeaway

Parrabey Gourmet Kitchen

(Penrith Homemaker)

Patt y’s Place

S alt C afé (Penrith Homemaker)

S hell Ser vice Station

The Coffee Club Nepean River

Three Sugars C afé

We stern Weekender

York Takeaway

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7/ 11 Jamisontow n

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Brooks Tavern

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B arista Bar Coff ee Shop

(Nepean Private Hospital)

Countr y Brewer

Hallani’s

Kingswood Hotel

Kingswood Newsagency

Kingswood Smash Repairs

Kingswood Sports Club

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Volunteers Desk Nepean Hospital

7/ 11 Kingswood

Leonay

Emu Sports Club

Grow C afé (formerly Willow Tree C afé)

Llandilo

IGA

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Londonderr y Liquor Store

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Au stralia Pos t IGA Luddenham

Minchinbur y McDonald's

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The Bunker

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Boronia House (Retirement Community)

MFC Food Stores

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Morris C are & Advice Pharmacy

Penrith

Aldi

Astina

Atmosphere Gym

Au stralian Arms

Brisket Boys

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C altex Coreen Avenue

Coles Penrith (Nepean Village)

Coles ( We stfield Penrith)

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High Street Pies

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Joan Sutherland Arts Centre

Liquor Stax Pe achtree

McDonald's High Street

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Mercure Hotel

Museum Of Fire

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Sittano s Restaurant

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We stfield

World Gym

7/ 11 Henr y Street

Regentville

7/ 11 Regentville

Ropes Crossing

Coles

Ropes Crossing Newsagency

Silverdale

Mobil Ser vice Station

The Chemist Shop

S outh Penrith

Budget Ser vice Station

Fish Fish

Friendly Grocer

Grose’s Pharmacy

Southlands Newsagency

Borec Road Takeaway (Valley C afé)

Lemongrove Community Health Centre

South Penrith Neighbourhood Centre

Woolworths

St Clair Blue C attle Dog Hotel

Foodworks

St Clair Librar y

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7/ 11 St Clair

St Mar ys Andrew ’s Corner Store

Ampol Foodar y Astley Pharmacy

C assand ra’s On Queen

Cr ystal C afé

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Jayam Supermarket

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McDonald's St Mar ys South Monfar ville Corner Store

TONI’S READY TO LOVE YOU

Feel the love on Thursday, December 5 as Emmy winner and three-time Grammy nominated artist Toni Childs hits the stage at EVAN Theatre with ‘Toni Childs in Concert – A Retrospective’.

The musician rose to fame in 1988 with her first album, ‘Union’, and will be celebrating her life’s musical works with Penrith in a special two-hour performance.

She describes the upcoming show as a chocolate box of memories.

“When you open up a chocolate box, you always have your favourites and then there’s new guys you don’t really know,” she said.

“The evening starts with all the fan favourites in the first hour and then the second hour is new music from three productions that I’m rolling out this decade, and I’ll end the evening with three singles that I’ll be dropping next year.”

New music from albums ‘It’s All a Beautiful Noise’ and ‘Citizens of the Planet’ has been described as uplifting, positive, and just the right medicine.

“I realise I have a superpower, and that superpower is loving people up,” Childs said.

“I love life and I’m so grateful to be alive and to be in this world – and we have such a magnificent world – and it’s hard for me to see when we’re feeling we can be divided.”

Over the years, the California-born singer’s music has stemmed from navigating her feel-

ings – whether that’s singing through pain or celebrating joy.

“I think coming to the age and stage of my life now, I’m having a more compassionate eye for our struggles as human beings,” Childs said.

“Sometimes we stay when we should leave, sometimes we don’t have our own back, and I feel like I’ve navigated all those waters, and I’m singing my way to freedom.”

By sharing her emotions and attitudes through music, Childs said she’s been able to communicate with people all over the world.

“I’m singing these songs, but it’s really a conversation with everybody in the audience,” Childs explained.

“It’s like we’re having a conversation through time and each song is its own little universe.”

During the interview with the Weekender, Childs asked what life would be without music.

I told her life would be quiet, but she had a better answer.

“It’s a way of being able to process, to celebrate, to dance, to cry – music is a way for us to find the words,” she said.

“If people are feeling like they need a reset and they need to get into that lovespace with their lives, come and get loved up, because I’m definitely here to love ya.”

Get loved up and celebrate the musical works of Toni Childs at the EVAN Theatre at Panthers on Thursday, December 5, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost $75, and you can book online at www.penrith.panthers.com. au.

ALLY HALL

WesternSydney GigGuid e

IF YOU HAVE A GIG OR EVENT YOU Would LIKE TO PROMOTE PLEASE CONTACT AMANDA at AMANDA.COSKERIE@WESTERNWEEKENDER.COM.AU

Wicked Wednesday Girls Night Out

From 6pm

Vince SorrentiI’m offended

Doors open 7:30pm.

Hoyts Cinemas, Penrith fri 22

Tickets from $59.90 St Marys Band Club

Extreme bUlls

Gates open 3pm.

Tickets from $40

Penrith Paceway wed 20

Vibe saturdaysArabian Boys vs Girls night

From 9pm

Albion Hotel, Parramatta

Christmas ham & Hampers Raffle

Tickets on sale 5:30pm, Drawn 7pm Penrith rsl

Thirsty Merc

From 8pm. Tickets from $56 Ettamogah Hotel

Creedence Clearwater Collective

Doors open 7:30pm Tickets from $69

Evan Theatre, Penrith

Cinco by Westside Latin

Collector HOtel

1pm - 3pm

Bottomless brunch

Tickets from $40

CHechos

Riverside walk, volunteer cleanup morning

9am - 12pm

Register on website Wisteria Garden, Parramatta Park

Scan

THINGS TO DO

Collector’s unite in Penrith

Indulge in Dungeons and Dragons, cosplay, live wrestling, Pokémon tournaments, food trucks, and more than 350 trading tables at Collector Con Penrith. On Sunday, November 24, at the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre from 9.30am to 2.30pm, collectors can peruse the hall and find their favourite collectables. Purchase your ticket at www.collectorcon.com.au.

BARGAIN BUYS

Op Shop at Kingswood Thursdays and Fridays, 9am to 3.30pm. Kingswood Anglican Church, corner of Bringelly Road and Second Avenue, Kingswood. Morning tea every Friday morning.

BUSINESS

Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce

For more information about membership and upcoming events, visit www.penrithchamber.org.au.

Penrith CBD Corporation

Regular meetings and networking for Penrith CBD businesses. Visit www. penrithcbdcorp.com.au.

CLASSES AND FUN

Free weekly Tai Chi & Qiqong

Saturdays 4.30pm, WSU Kingswood Campus. Outside the Food Hub. Guan 0422 120 738.

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Jordan Springs Probus Club

Fourth Tuesday of the month at 10am, Jordan Springs Hub. 0414 766 763.

Nepean Riverlands Probus Club

Meets on the second Wednesday of the month at Nepean Rowing Club

High Street Wander

As part of the Write Out West Festival, the Penrith Library Research Services Team will host a history walk along High Street. The walk will be held on November 28 at 9.30am starting at St Stephens Church, and attendees will learn the history of the area and its buildings. Tickets cost $5 and you can book online at www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au.

from 10am. New members are always welcome.

Kingswood-Caddens Probus Club

Meets on the last Monday of the month at Kingswood Sports Club at 10.30am.

Probus Club of Nepean

First Wednesday of the month at Emu Sports Club, Leonay from 10.30am. Visitors and new members welcome. Contact Faye on 0417 267 866 for more information.

South Creek Probus Club

Meets on the third Wednesday of the month at St Marys D&B Club, Great Western Highway at 10.30am. New members always welcome. Email southcreekprobusclub@gmail.com for more information.

Penrith Lions Club

Second and fourth Monday of the month. Penrith Bowling Club. 4736 1546 for more information.

Nepean Valley RSL Day Club

Meets every Friday from 10am-2pm at Penrith Senior Citizens Centre. Volunteers needed. 0407 014 542.

Penrith Hospital Auxiliary

An over-50s group is calling for more people from the Blue Mountains all the way to Parramatta to join the New Pioneers Social Club. The singles group (not to be confused with a dating group) holds events every Saturday so no one is alone. Catch-ups range from bbqs at members’ homes to dining at local restaurants. Contact Barbara on 0417 226 387. New Pioneers Social Club

Craft stall at Nepean Hospital on the first Tuesday of each month from 9am2pm. Volunteers needed. Call Helen on 4572 5244.

Penrith NASHOS

Monthly meeting on the third Sunday of the month at Penrith RSL. Call 0448 983 399 for details.

Nepean Evening VIEW Club

Meets the third Monday of the month at Panthers from 7pm, with dinner and interesting speakers. Call 0411 306 150.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Nepean Food Services

Delivered meals available to purchase for those over 65 or with a disability. Call 4733 7200 for details or visit www.nepeanfoodservices.org.au.

MUSEUMS

Penrith Museum of Printing Sundays from 10am. Penrith Paceway. 0415 625 573 for more information.

Nepean Naval Museum

Open Sundays 11am-3pm. 40-42

Bruce Neale Drive. 0411 138 700 for more details.

Arms of Australia Inn

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10am-1pm, 4735 4394. 127 Gardenia Avenue, Emu Plains.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Penrith Stroke Recovery Group

Third Thursday of the month at 10am, Panthers. 1300 650 594.

Penrith Carer Support Group

First Thursday of the month. Headspace. 8880 8160.

Penrith Men’s Walk and Talk Thursdays from 5.30pm. Meet at Coffee Club Nepean River.

Penrith Women’s Health Centre Domestic violence support services. 4721 2499.

Penrith Autism Community Network Carers support group. Meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6.30pm at Maze Cafe, Penrith RSL. Phillip on 0420 209 015 for more details.

Prostate Cancer Support Group Meets third Monday of the month at Emu Sports Club from 6.30pm. Call 1300 13 38 78 for more information.

CrystalFest CHRISTMAS

Hubertus Club

205Adams Rd,Luddenham 30th Nov& 1stDec

MUSIC OF OUR LIVES ON STAGE AT PANTHERS

SAT10-6

SUN10-4

x$50Mystery Ticket Gift Vouchers

Cr ystal and Jeweller y lovers save the date for this one!!!

This is the last show for the year& we are going out with a bang!!

We are putting on a Christmas Cr ystal show you just can’t miss There will be Cr ystals, Specimens, C ar vings, Cr ystal Jeweller y, Tibetan Singing Bowls, Clothing, Tarot Products, Incense, Lava Lamps, Wellness Products, Readers, Reiki, Healers, Face Painting and so much more!!!! It’s the per fect place for all your Christmas shopping needs and finding that per fect piece (or pieces) for yourself

When: 30th Nov / 1st Dec

Time: Sat 10-6 & Sun 10-4

Entr y $5, under 18 free

The pioneers of swamp rock and country rock, Creedence Clearwater Revival, will be celebrated at the EVAN Theatre, Panthers on Saturday, November 23.

The original band was hugely popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s but could never quite reach Number One on the Billboard chart.

The band holds the record for the most Number Two hits without ever reaching the top spot.

Where: The Huber tus Club, 205 Adams Rd, Luddenham

Cover band Creedence Clearwater Collective will capture their iconic sound in a performance that will feature the band’s hit songs, as well as songs they wrote for others.

It’ll bring to the stage a six-piece band, including a vocalist that emulates John Fogerty’s distinct sound and a guest saxophonist.

If you enjoyed ‘Bad Moon Rising’ from ‘Blade’, ‘Fortunate Son’ from ‘Forrest Gump’, or ‘Run Through the Jungle’ from ‘Tropic Thunder’, you’re bound to enjoy all the hits recreated live on stage.

Head to Panthers Penrith at 7.30pm for an 8pm show on Saturday, November 23 and purchase your tickets at www.penrith. panthers.com.au.

ALLY HALL

SHOWCASING YOUNG TALENT

instruments in 2018, which brings us to the orchestra we see today.

The Penrith Youth Orchestra will present their final concert for the year in partnership with Omega Ensemble at The Joan on Sunday, November 24, at 3pm.

The climactic musical experience is a big achievement for young musicians in the Youth Orchestra, who have built their ensemble skills with guidance from Penrith Symphony Orchestra.

This initiative started when the Australian Chamber Orchestra created the Penrith String Ensemble in 2015 to foster skills in young musicians.

The ensemble added brass and percussion

This weekend’s performance will combine classical masterpieces with the captivating work of Australian composer Elena KatsChernin.

The full program includes the work of Kats-Chernin, J.S. Bach, Rimsky-Korsakov, Dvorak, and Tchaikovsky.

The Richard Bonynge Ensemble will make an appearance, joining Omega Ensemble for a new version of Kats-Chernin’s ‘Ornamental Air’, commissioned by Omega Ensemble and Penrith Performing and Visual Arts.

Tickets range from $20 to $25, and you can book tickets at www.thejoan.com.au to experience an afternoon of exceptional music.

ALLY HALL

At the movies...

Sitting at a cool two hours and 28 minutes, Ridley Scott's ‘Gladiator 2’ is a quality sequel to the classic 2000 movie starring Russell Crowe.

The story is set two decades after the events of the first movie.

It follows Lucius (Paul Mescal), who is captured by the Roman Army led by General Acacius (Pedro Pascal) as they forcefully occupy the land of his small town, Numidia on the Northern African coast.

Lucius is later traded as a slave and bought by Macrinus (Denzel Washington) who makes him fight in the Colosseum as a gladiator, which is being run under the rule of twin emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caraculla (Fred Hechinger).

Lucius hopes to bring down the rule of the Emperors and restore Rome to its former

glory all while seeking revenge.

The story is good, but it does at points feel incredibly derivative of the original, which would be fine if it was being marketed as a remake not a sequel.

The moments where the movie is trying to pay homage to the original film feel a bit cheap and, in the end, take away the emotional impact from a big reveal that should have really brought the story home.

Despite being quite a long movie, the plot, in my opinion, needed more work to really flesh out the world and the character's motivations.

All the characters seem to be surface level in their pursuits throughout the movie like General Acacius being quick to change to fight against the empire he has served loyally for many years for no clear reason.

It felt too convenient for the story and lacked a depth of reasoning behind the decision.

Despite this, the story did hit all the important points it needed to in order to deliver a well-rounded narrative.

The action sequences were a massive standout and deserve to be seen on the big screen.

From brutal fights showcasing hand to hand combat to Lucius fighting apes and a charging rhino, there is some massive fight scenes, all of which I think were very well executed.

It is an explosive movie that I think nailed

the action moments, making the overall movie better.

The acting was another standout for me.

All the main actors worked hard to deliver incredible and believable performances.

Standouts for me were Mescal's portrayal of Lucius' deep and quiet rage and Quinn's terrifying performance of Emperor Geta who played into the craziness enough without it being a caricature of what a crazy emperor might be.

Overall, I think it is a fun and entertaining flick that delivers an electric action movie that should be seen at theatres.

– Emily Chate

See these movies at... PENRITH

COUNTRY CORNER

Bell drops new music

Fresh off supporting Kane Brown at his Qudos Bank Arena show this week, Kaylee Bell has released a brand new single, ‘Cowboy Up’.

While the song carries a powerful message, ‘Cowboy Up’ is also a fun and spirited song, delivering a vibrant arrangement that makes it impossible not to sing along.

The lyrics cut deep, delivering a no-nonsense ultimatum with the phrase “cowboy up” serving as a rallying call for women to demand respect and accountability in their relationships. With its infectious energy, the track is poised to become a fan favourite, combining Bell’s gift for storytelling with an irresistible lively sound.

It’s out now on all streaming services.

Brown hits home run

Country Corner was at Qudos Bank Arena on Tuesday night to see American country

superstar Kane Brown rock the arena. It was a terrific concert, and Brown certainly has a huge fan base in Australia.

The ‘Thank God’ singer has been posting some Sydney highlights on his social media too, including a twilight harbour cruise on Monday night.

Strait’s huge honour

Country music legend George Strait will finally be recognised with a CMA Lifetime Achievement Award at the CMA Awards in Nashville today.

He will join the likes of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Charley Pride and Alan Jackson as country acts who have received the honour.

You’ll be able to watch Strait receive the honour by watching the CMA Awards live on Stan from Midday today.

It’ll be available to stream in the Stan library after the live broadcast

Ê Channel Seven were the latest major network to hold their Upfronts last week, with a stack of new and returning shows headed our way. ‘Australian Idol’, ‘The Voice’, ‘Farmer Wants a Wife’, ‘My Kitchen Rules’, ‘Better Homes & Gardens’, ‘The 1% Club’ and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ are all returning next year along with a third season of popular drama ‘RFDS’. Also coming back are ‘Home and Away’, ‘The Chase’, ‘The Great Outdoors’, ‘Border Security’, ‘Highway Patrol’ and ‘Sunrise’ while ‘The Morning Show’ will be extended to 12pm weekdays. New shows to look out for are dating series ‘Stranded on Honeymoon Island’, Chris Brown will take celebrities jet-vetting on ‘Once in a Lifetime’, and new stand-up comedy series ‘Jim Jefferies & Friends’ will entertain viewers. One of my favourites ‘First Dates’ also returns after several years absence. Seven has also teased three new music docos: ‘Working Class Man’, ‘Cold Chisel Live: 50th Anniversary Tour’ and ‘Live It Up: The Mental As Anything Story’. A sporting documentary on the Sydney Swans titled ‘Full Sweat’ is also on the schedule. Sounds like a big year awaits us!

Ê Not expected to come back in 2025 is Chris Brown’s great renovation series ‘Dream Home’, ‘SAS Australia’ with Ant Middleton (despite strong rumours), and reality series ‘Made In Bondi’. I’m hearing all three are still in the mix for returns at some point in the future though.

Ê Huge news over at Paramount+, with the second season of ‘NCIS: Sydney’ to premiere on Friday, January 31. Having only just found their feet, the second season sees NCIS: Sydney team square off against a much more powerful adversary. The investigation into Rankin reveals a looming destructive chaos that threatens the stability of the region. The cases are bigger, locations more exotic, the stakes much higher. With everything on the line, will NCIS: Sydney triumph against all odds – or be torn apart at their very core?

Ê Stan has acquired the exclusive Australian rights to the 67th Grammy Awards, broadcasting live from Los Angeles on February 3. Broadcasting live from the

Crypto.com Arena, nominees for the awards include Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Post Malone, Kendrick Lamar, Charlie XCX, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. Alongside the broadcast of the 67th Grammy Awards, Stan will also be the exclusive home of a dedicated special ‘Grammys Greats: The Most Memorable Moments’.

Ê HBO Original documentary ‘Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary’ is coming to Foxtel on Saturday, November 30. The upcoming doco chronicles the emergence and popularity of the West Coast, soft rock pop culture epitomised by musical artists such as Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan and Toto. Retroactively dubbed “Yacht Rock” in 2005 by a parody website series, the easy listening, relaxing sounds of the late 1970s and early 1980s, which were beloved by many, came to be gently mocked and even dismissed by rock lovers and critics, but have since reclaimed their legitimate place in music history and are celebrated in this groove-infused film.

22 November

Friday

TV Guide: November 22–28

Your guide to the week’s television viewing

6:00 News Breakfast 9:00 ABC News 10:00 Planet America 10:30 I Was Actually There (PG) 11:00 Fake Or Fortune? 12:00 ABC News 1:00 Shetland (M l,v) 2:00 Plum (M) 3:00 A Bite To Eat With Alice 3:30 Long Lost Family (PG) 4:15 Grand Designs NZ (PG) 5:00 Antiques Roadshow 6:00 A Bite To Eat With Alice 6:30 Hard Quiz (PG) 7:00 ABC News 7:30 Gardening Australia 8:30 Shetland (M l) 9:30 Fisk (PG) 10:00 Question Everything 10:30 Hard Quiz (PG) 6:00 Sunrise 9:00 The Morning Show (PG) 11:30 Seven Morning News 12:00 Beach Cops (PG) 12:30 Cricket: Pre-Game 1:20 Cricket: Australia v India: Test 1: Day 1 *Live* 3:20 The Lunch Break 4:00 Cricket: Australia v India: Test 1: Day 1 *Live* 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Cricket: Australia v India: Test 1: Day 1 *Live* 9:00 Cricket: WBBL: Brisbane v Melbourne Stars *Live* 11:30 The Front Bar (M) 1:00 GetOn Extra (PG) 1:30 Taken (M) 2:00 Home Shopping 6:00 Today 9:00 Today Extra 11:30 NINE News Morning 12:00 Movie: “Christmas By Chance” (PG) (’20) Stars: Winny Clarke 2:00 Pointless (PG) 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) 4:00 NINE News Afternoon 5:00 Tipping Point Australia (PG) 6:00 NINE News 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) 7:30 David Attenborough’s Planet Earth III (PG) 8:40 Movie: “US

Cricket: Australia v India: Test 1: Day 1 *Live* 7:00 Pawn Stars (PG) 8:00 Cricket: WBBL: Brisbane v Melbourne Stars *Live*

3:00 Modern Family (PG) 3:45 Bondi Vet (PG) 4:45 Australia’s Got Talent (PG) 6:00 Movie: “Spider-Man: Into The SpiderVerse” (PG) (’18) Stars: Shameik Moore 8:30 Movie: “Phenomenon” (PG) (’96) Stars: John Travolta

4:05 The Mysterious Cities Of Gold (PG) 4:35 Motown Magic 5:00 Our Stories 5:30 NITV News: Nula 6:00 Bamay 6:40 Brazil Untamed 7:30 Movie: “Satellite Boy” (PG) (’12) Stars: David Gulpilil 9:05 Movie: “Big Momma’s House” (PG) (’00)

6:00 Home Shopping 8:00 What’s Up Down Under 8:30 Diagnosis Murder (PG) 10:30 JAG (PG) 12:30 NCIS (PG) 2:30 Jake And The Fatman (PG) 3:30 Diagnosis Murder (PG) 5:30 JAG (PG) 7:30 NCIS (M) 10:20 FBI (M) 11:15 48 Hours (M) 1:30 The King Of Queens (PG) 2:00 Becker (PG) 2:30 Frasier (PG) 3:30 Rules Of Engagement (PG) 4:00 Farm To Fork 4:30 The King Of Queens (PG) 5:00 Becker (PG) 5:30 Frasier (PG) 6:30

ABC World News Tonight With David Muir 4:55 PBS News Hour 5:55 Adam Eats The 80s (PG) 6:15 The Curse Of Oak Island (PG) 7:05 Jeopardy! 7:30 NITV News Update 7:35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (M l,s)

(PG) 7:30 Friends (PG)

2:30 Bewitched 3:00 The Golden Girls (PG) 3:30 The Nanny (PG) 4:30 The Addams Family 5:00 Bewitched 5:30 I Dream Of Jeannie 6:00 The Golden Girls (PG) 6:30

6:00 Seven News 7:00 Cricket: Australia v India: Test 1: Day 2 *Live* 9:00 Movie: “65” (PG) (’23) Stars: Adam Driver 11:00 Movie: “Tears Of The Sun” (M l,v) (’03) Stars: Bruce Willis 1:30 Taken (M) 6:00 Getaway (PG) 6:30 A Current Affair (PG) 7:00 Weekend Today 10:00 Today Extra Saturday 12:00 Golf: Australian PGA 2024: Day 3 *Live* 5:00 NINE News First At Five 5:30 Getaway (PG) 6:00 NINE News Saturday 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) 7:30 Movie: “The Wizard Of Oz” (G) (’39) Stars: Judy Garland 9:35 Movie: “Hairspray” (PG) (’07) Stars: John Travolta 12:00 Movie: “The Sun Is Also A Star” (M l) (’19) Stars: Yara Shahidi 1:30 Getaway (PG) 10:00 The Weekly Kick Off 10:30 Shark Tank (PG) 11:30 Dessert Masters (PG) 12:30 Buy To Build 1:00 Silvia’s Italian Masterclass 1:30 The Dog Down Under (PG) 2:00 Pat Callinan’s 4x4 Adventures 3:00 What’s Up Down Under 4:00 My Market Kitchen 4:30 Cook With Luke 5:00 10 News First 6:30 Bondi Rescue (PG) 7:00 Movie: “Moana” (PG) (’16) Stars: Auli’i Cravalho 9:00 The Cheap Seats (PG) 10:00 Ambulance Australia (PG) 5:00

Saturday

12:00 Seven’s Horse Racing *Live* 5:30 RSPCA Animal Rescue 6:00 Taste Of Australia With Hayden Quinn (PG) 6:30 Bondi Vet (PG) 7:30 The Yorkshire Vet (PG) 8:30 Escape To The Country 11:30 The Yorkshire Vet (PG)

5:00 Counting Cars (PG) 6:00 Tea Break 6:20 Cricket: Australia v India: Test 1: Day 1 *Live* 7:00 AFLW: Second Preliminary Final: Brisbane Lions v Adelaide Crows *Live* 9:30 Movie: “Miami Vice” (MA15+) (’06) Stars: Colin Farrell

1:10 Australia’s Cheapest Weddings (PG) 2:25 Australia’s Got Talent (PG) 3:40 Dancing With The Stars (PG) 5:25 Movie: “Spies In Disguise” (M) (’19) Stars: Rachel Brosnahan 7:30 Movie: “The Bounty Hunter” (M l,s,v) (’10)

4:30 Great Lakes Wild (PG) 5:00 Jimmy Shu’s Taste Of The Territory 6:00 Kutcha’s Carpool Koorioke 6:20 NITV News Update 6:30 The Other Side (PG) 7:30 Deadly Funny 2022 (M I) 8:35 Movie: “Child’s Play” (PG) (’72) Stars: James Mason

Lorraine’s Fast, Fresh And Easy Food 6:00 Taste Of Australia In Vietnam 6:30 View From River Cottage 7:30 Hugh’s Fish Fight 8:30 Rick Stein’s India 9:40 Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown 10:30 River Cottage Australia

4:30 Football: Isuzu Ute A-League: Men’s: Round 5: Brisbane Roar v Adelaide United *Live* 7:00 Football Tonight 7:35 Football: Isuzu Ute A-League: Men’s: Round 5: Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers *Live* 10:00 NCIS (M)

4:10 BBC News At Ten 4:40 ABC World News Tonight With David Muir 5:05 PBS News Hour 6:05 The Future With Hannah Fry (PG) 6:35 The Secret Genius Of Modern Life (PG) 7:35 Impossible Engineering (PG) 8:30 Great Australian Concerts

6:00 rage (PG) 7:00 Weekend Breakfast 9:00 Insiders 10:00 Offsiders 10:30 The World This Week 11:00 Compass (PG) 11:30 Songs Of Praise 12:00 ABC News 12:30 Landline 1:30 Gardening Australia 2:45 Nigella’s Christmas Kitchen 3:15 Long Lost Family (PG) 4:00 Restoration Australia 5:00 Antiques Roadshow 6:00 Grand Designs Australia (PG) 7:00 ABC News 7:30 Spicks And Specks (PG) 8:00 Fisk (M l) 8:30 Plum (M) 9:30 I Was Actually There 6:00 NBC Today 7:00 Weekend Sunrise 10:00 Cricket: WBBL: Melbourne Stars v Adelaide *Live* 1:00 Cricket: Pre-Game 1:20 Cricket: Australia v India: Test 1: Day 3 *Live* 3:20 The Lunch Break 4:00 Cricket: Australia v India: Test 1: Day 3 *Live* 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Cricket: Australia v India: Test 1: Day 3 *Live* 9:00 Cricket: WBBL: Brisbane v Sydney Sixers *Live* 11:15 Crime Investigation Australia - Most Infamous (M v) 12:30 Patrick Melrose - Bad News (MA15+) 6:00 Hello SA (PG) 6:30 A Current Affair (PG) 7:00 Weekend Today 10:00 Cross Court 10:30 Fishing Australia 11:00 Drive TV 11:30 Helloworld 12:00 Golf: Australian PGA 2024: Day 4 *Live* 5:00 NINE News First At Five 5:30 RBT (PG) 6:00 NINE News Sunday 7:00 60 Minutes (PG) 8:00 A Remarkable Place To Die (M) 10:00

My Kitchen Rules (PG) 5:30 Gold Coast Ocean Rescue (PG) 6:30 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly (PG) 7:30 Law & Order: Criminal Intent (M) 8:30 Law & Order: SVU (M s,v) 10:30 Law & Order (M s,v)

Palaces 8:25 The Jury -

12:25 Impractical Jokers (MA15+) 12:50 Dessert Masters (PG) 2:00 Frasier (PG) 3:00 The King Of Queens (PG) 3:30 Becker (PG) 4:00 Frasier (PG) 5:00 Shark Tank (PG) 6:00

4:00 Surfing Australia TV 4:30 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders (PG) 5:30 Movie: “Short Circuit” (PG) (’86) Stars: Fisher Stevens 7:30 Movie: “Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban” (PG) (’04) Stars: Emma Watson

12:50 Movie: “Golden Ivory” (PG) (’54) Stars: John Bentley 2:40 Movie: “Comanche” (PG) (’56) Stars: Henry Brandon 4:30 Movie: “The Hallelujah Trail” (PG) (’65) Stars: Lee Remick 7:30 Movie: “The Vow” (PG) (’12) Stars: Rachel McAdams

3:15 AFL 2022: NTFL Women’s Under 18s 4:20 Movie: “The Wrecking Crew!” (PG) (’08) Stars: Brian Wilson 6:10 NITV News Update 6:20 Wild Mexico (PG) 7:30 Great Lakes Wild (PG) 8:30 Movie: “Gulpilil: One Red Blood” (M d) (’02) 12:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) 12:30 Diagnosis Murder (PG) 1:30 JAG (PG) 2:30 Camper Deals 3:00 What’s Up Down Under (PG) 4:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) 5:00 I Fish 5:30 Diagnosis Murder (PG) 6:30 JAG (PG) 7:30 NCIS (M) 10:20 CSI: Vegas (M v) 10:00 Frasier (PG) 11:00 Family Feud (PG) 1:00 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) 3:00 Becker (PG) 3:30 Frasier (PG) 4:20 Dessert Masters (PG) 5:30 Movie: “Moana” (PG) (’16) Stars: Auli’i Cravalho 7:30 The Big Bang Theory (PG)

Bourdain: Parts Unknown 10:30 River Cottage Australia 11:30 Gordon Ramsay Uncharted (M) 1:25 In The Spirit

4:30 PBS Washington Week With The Atlantic 4:55 Lee Lin Chin’s Fashionista 5:10 Shane Smith Has Questions (PG) 6:05 Big Zuu’s 12 Dishes In 12 Hours 6:40 Mysteries From Above (PG) 7:35 Abandoned Engineering (M)

3:30 Movie: “Getting Even With Dad” (PG) (’94) Stars: Macaulay Culkin 5:30 Movie: “Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London” (PG) (’04) Stars: Frankie Muniz 7:30 Movie: “Gladiator” (M v) (’00) Stars: Russell Crowe 2:40 Movie: “Invitation To A Gunfighter” (PG) (’64) Stars: Yul Brynner 4:20 Movie: “Sitting Bull” (PG) (’54) Stars: Dale Robertson 6:30 M*A*S*H (PG) 8:30 Movie: “The Day Of The Jackal” (PG) (’73) Stars: Edward Fox 11:30 Chicago Med (M)

Classifications: (G) General, (PG) Parental Guidance, (M) Mature Audiences, (MA15+) Mature Audience Over 15 Years Consumer Advice: (d) drug references, (s) sexual references or sex scenes (h) horror, (l) language, (mp) medical procedures, (n) nudity, (v) violence

Get Macca’s® delivered.

5:00 Peppa Pig 5:35 Peter Rabbit 6:05 Kangaroo Beach 6:25 The Adventures Of Paddington 7:05 Andy And The Band 7:35 Little Lunch 3:10 ABC News Afternoons 4:00 Afternoon Briefing 5:00 ABC News With Joe O’Brien 6:00 ABC News Hour 7:00 ABC National News 7:30 7:30 6:10 Car S.O.S (PG) 7:00 My Family (PG) 7:30 Would I Lie To You? (PG) 8:30 Penn And Teller: Fool

Matlock (PG) 8:30 NCIS (M)

The King Of Queens (PG) 5:00 Becker (PG) 5:30 Frasier (PG) 6:30 Neighbours (PG) 7:00 Friends (PG) 8:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG)

5:00 Peppa Pig 5:35 Peter Rabbit 6:05 Kangaroo Beach 6:25 The Adventures Of Paddington 7:05 Andy And The Band 7:35 Little Lunch

3:10 ABC News Afternoons 4:00 Afternoon Briefing 5:00 ABC News With Joe O’Brien 6:00

7:00

News

News 7:30 7:30 6:10 Car S.O.S (PG) 7:00 My Family (PG) 7:30 Would

NCIS (M) 2:30 Jake And The Fatman (PG) 3:30 Diagnosis Murder (PG) 5:30 JAG (PG) 7:30 NCIS (M) 9:25 FBI (M)

The King Of Queens (PG) 5:00 Becker (PG) 5:30 Frasier (PG) 6:30 Neighbours (PG) 7:00 Friends (PG) 8:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG)

(G) (’49) Stars: Edith Evans 5:30 Yorkshire Auction House 6:30 Antiques Roadshow 7:30 New Tricks (PG) 12:00 ABC News 12:30 National Press Club

(M

12:00 Movie: “The Christmas High Note” (AKA ‘Christmas In The Key Of Hark’) (PG) (’22) Stars: Jamie Luner 2:00 Pointless (PG) 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) 4:00 NINE News Afternoon 5:00 Tipping Point Australia (PG) 6:00 NINE News 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) 7:30 Taronga - Who’s Who In The Zoo (PG) 8:30 Listing Melbourne (M)

12:00 Farm To Fork 12:30 Family Feud (PG) 1:00 10 News First: Lunchtime 2:00 Wheel Of Fortune 2:30 Lingo (PG) 3:30 10 News First: Afternoon 4:00 Neighbours (PG) 4:30 The Bold & The Beautiful (PG) 5:00 10

4:00 RSPCA Animal Rescue (PG) 4:30 Better Homes And Gardens 5:30 Escape To The Country 6:30 Bargain Hunt 7:30 Heartbeat (PG) 5:00 American Restoration (PG) 5:30 American Pickers (PG) 6:30 Pawn Stars (PG) 7:00 Cricket: WBBL: Finals: Teams TBA *Live* 4:00 Glee (PG) 5:00 Modern Family (PG) 6:30 Bondi Vet (PG) 7:30 First Dates UK (PG) 8:35 Movie: “Bad Teacher” (M l,n,s) (’11) Stars: Cameron Diaz 4:35 Motown Magic 5:00 Our Stories 5:30 Te Ao With Moana 6:00 Bamay 6:40 Brazil Untamed 7:30 Philly D.A: Breaking The Law (M) 10:30 JAG (PG) 12:30 NCIS (PG) 2:30 Jake And The Fatman (PG) 3:30 Diagnosis Murder (PG) 5:30 JAG (PG) 7:30 NCIS (M) 8:30 FBI (M) 4:30 The King Of Queens (PG) 5:00 Becker (PG) 5:30 Frasier (PG) 6:30 Neighbours (PG) 7:00 Friends (PG) 8:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG)

5:00 Peppa Pig 5:35 Peter Rabbit 6:05

6:30 The Nanny (PG) 7:30 Seinfeld (PG) 8:30 Love Island Australia (M)

3:30 Movie: “Swallows And Amazons” (G) (’74) 5:30 Yorkshire Auction House 6:30 Antiques Roadshow 7:30 As Time Goes By (PG)

THE ROBOT VACUUM SET TO CHANGE

Dreame Technology, a pioneer of innovative home appliances, has announced the ultimate robotic vacuum of the year, the X40 Ultra.

With unique side brush extends and MopExtend RoboSwing technology, and industry-leading suction capabilities, a fully automated cleaning station, an anti-tangle brush, and intelligent mapping technology, maintaining a sparkling clean home has never been more effortless, eliminating the need to get your hands dirty.

The X40 Ultra sets a new standard for clean living, with revolutionary features including the world’s premier bionic robotic arm technology, an autonomous self-cleaning base station, intelligent algorithm-driven path planning, and unparalleled obstacle recognition capabilities. Keeping a home clean can be demanding, the X40 Ultra can be your ultimate cleaning companion.

“Our latest innovation, the X40 Ultra, represents one of our most advanced robotic vacuum cleaners that has been developed after extensive research into the

“IT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH INTO THE NEEDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS”

needs of our consumers. Our customers want a robotic vacuum that effectively cleans corners and edges, requires minimal post-cleaning maintenance, and utilises intelligent technology to accurately navigate their homes with ease,” said Mike Eagle, Regional Manager (ANZ) at Dreame Technology.

The X40 Ultra introduces a new innovation, extendable SideReach. These brushes lift

and extend during simultaneous sweeping and mopping, ensuring comprehensive coverage of your home’s tightest corners and narrowest crevices. They effectively clean the undersides of curved furniture and reach right angle corners with 100 per cent efficiency.

The side brush can lift up to 10mm and extend to reach wall corners and curved furniture legs with fewer missed spots. Utilising

Dreame’s MopExtend RoboSwing technology, X40 Ultra eliminates hidden debris under low-profile furniture with a 4cm mop extension.

The X40 Ultra features an all-inone, self-cleaning base station where it can remove its oscillating mop pads, wash and dry them, refill its water tank, empty the bin, and reattach the clean mop pads when needed.

The X40 Ultra automatically

empties its internal dustbin into the base station when it’s docked and its 3.2-litre dust bag requires emptying only once every 75 days. And, with Auto Washboard Cleaning, the upgraded duo-scraper allows simultaneous scrubbing of the washboard and mop, ensuring both stay consistently clean. The scraper eliminates the need for users to disassemble and clean them separately. When clean-up is complete, the rotary mops are blow-dried for two hours with warm air to help prevent mildew formation and any unpleasant odour. Also, the base station’s intelligent cleaning solution system delivers the perfect waterto-solution ratio for spotless cleaning the next time.

For more information on this incredible piece of cleaning tech, visit www.dreametech.com.

THE BEST OF COASTAL AND COUNTRY LIVING

What’s so great about this property?

Escape the city and embrace the serene lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of! This charming three-bedroom home in Kendall offers a perfect retreat with modern upgrades, sun-filled living spaces, and a private outdoor oasis. But it’s more than just a home – it’s an investment in your future, with DA-approved duplex and subdivision potential ready to unlock financial rewards. Who does this property suit?

This is the ultimate haven for sea-changers and tree-changers seeking a peaceful, nature-filled lifestyle without sacrificing convenience. It’s also a dream opportunity for savvy investors

looking to build wealth through rental income or future development. Whether you’re craving a slower pace or chasing financial growth, this property ticks every box.

Tell us about the suburb this property is in?

Nestled in the heart of Kendall, this idyllic town offers the perfect blend of tranquility and convenience. Surrounded by lush greenery and just a 10-minute drive to pristine beaches, Kendall provides a much-needed escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Yet, you’re only 30 minutes from the vibrant hub of Port Macquarie. Live where others vacation – experience the best of coastal and country living.

Creating a beautiful home that can handle a busy family has never been easier

The Genero luxury vinyl collection is stylish, durable and easy to maintain.

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6 Mount Close, Cranebrook

Ma rian’s Mana is a pre stig iou s maste r-plan ne d pre ci nct offer i ng prem iu m land lots and a rchite ct ural ly des ig ne d res idence s i n one of South-West S yd ney’s faste st-g rowi ng com mu nities.

PR ICES START FROM $554, 50 0

FE AT URES MANICURED GARDENS AND GREEN SPAC ES , ALL MAIN TA INED UNDER A CO MMUNIT Y TITLE SCHEME

WELL PO SITIONED NE AR THE RA PI DLY EX PA NDING OR AN PA RK TO WN CENTRE

Located near Oran Park ’s most popular amenities and shopping precinct, Marian’s Mana invites you to enjoy an addres s that blends nature with urban conveniences. It ’s a place you’ll want to call ho me.

impression

POOL SAFETY PUT IN FOCUS

As summer fast approaches, Penrith City Council is reminding residents to make sure their pools, especially inflatable pools, are properly fenced off.

Penrith Mayor Todd Carney says that as fun as

people to please take the time to check that their pool is safe and complies with the law – especially if there is no barrier to stop children from going for an unsupervised swim,” Carney said.

“Active supervision by an adult is the best protection

and one of our qualified Compliance Officers will plan a visit to assess the pool and assist with certification.”

the pool is, it can also be a dangerous place which is why it is so important to do the right thing when it comes to pool compliance.

“Many residents will look to beat the heat and cool off by their pool but we urge

against drowning but, a pool barrier is another layer of protection if supervision is interrupted.

“If residents need help with their swimming pool barrier, we encourage people to contact Council

Portable and inflatable pools are a cheap way to keep cool but can also be a source of tragedy as they have the same drowning risk as permanent pools. It is important that home pools, including portable and inflatable pools that hold 30cm of water or more, are properly fenced with a self-closing and self-latching gate.

Council can issue on the spot fines for $550 if it is found that the gate of a pool has been propped open or there is an unfenced portable or inflatable pool.

Enjoy the serenity of a close-knit community, just 10 minutes from stunning beaches and 30 minutes to Port Macquarie And the best part is, that it is highly a ordable as it is in the $725000 price range Contact us as we have only one of this gem available at the moment!

A PLACE TO CALL HOME: GLENMORE PARK BEAUTY

What is so great about this property?

728sqm of land, perfect for the modern family to enjoy all year round. This home was built by Beachwood Homes in 1992, designed to impress inside-and-out, with its stunning atmosphere and spacious design. Located in the blue-ribbon suburb Glenmore Park, this home is not to be missed!

– Ducted air conditioning

with timber floorboards throughout.

– Three living areas include formal lounge, dining and a huge, tiled sunroom/mediaroom/games room which is enclosed and Council approved.

– Fifth bed or study, ideal for those working from home.

– Master bed with ensuite and mirrored robes, 2 x beds with garden views.

– Main bathroom with separate bathtub and shower.

– Internal laundry with access to sunroom and internal access from garage.

– Double lock-up garage with drive through access to the rear carport.

– Beautiful, manicured gardens all around the property with solar panels (8 x panels, 2kW) to roof.

– Fully renovated kitchen in

2018, huge island bench, dishwasher, electric cooktop, oven and ample storage.

Who does this property suit?

Growing families.

Tell us about the suburb the property is in?

Blue-ribbon highly sought after suburb of Glenmore Park. Shops, schools, parks and fields all close by with more to come in the future.

Morton Real Estate

David Lipman • 0409 663 535 david.lipman@morton.com.au

MEET THE AGENT

With an experienced career spanning over 14 years, Josh’s unwavering commitment to excellence has made him a trusted name in the industry. His positive presence, exceptional negotiation skills, keen market insights, and unwavering dedication to client satisfaction have earned him the respect and admiration of colleagues and clients alike.

Not only has Josh excelled in the realm of real estate sales, but he has also successfully ventured into property development and is owner & Founder of BBT Finance a first class mortgage broking business. His involvement in various development projects has showcased his keen eye for potential and his ability to transform properties into thriving assets.

Joshua Martin| Property Central 048 234 457 | joshua.martin@propertycentral.com.au

MEET THE AGENT

0

Looking for expert real estate services in Western Sydney?

Urban Real Estate proudly offers 11 conveniently located offices across the region, providing unmatched local knowledge and dedicated support for buyers, sellers, and investors. Whether you’re looking for your dream home or seeking the perfect investment opportunity, our experienced team is here to guide you every step of the way. With in- depth understanding of the Western Sydney market and a commitment to personalized service, we’re your trusted partner for all your real estate needs. Visit us at one of our local offices today! UrbanRealEstate.com.au | 02 9672 6055

MEET THE AGENT

In 2015 I started with Morton as a Property Manager and in 2019 I developed into the role of Property Consultant, servicing the Penrith local government area.

I enjoy working in Real Estate as it allows me to meet and work with a broad range of interesting people, establishing and maintaining long term relationships. I pride myself on being thorough and service driven to ensure I understand my clients’ needs to deliver the best result.

A people person, I’m able to speak a f words in 12 languages, which helps me build rapport with clients. Technology and apps lik WeChat, KakaoTalk and WhatsApp are just some of the ways I have learnt to connect with people to deliver 6-star service.

#1 Agent in Penrith for the last 4 years on Realestate.com.au, Gold Member Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce, Back to Back Winner Penrith Local Business Awards 2023 & 2024.

MEET THE AGENT

I have been in the real estate industry now for over 12 months and I am looking forward to a long career I bring energy and enthusiasm to my clients and I work tirelessly to solve their commercial real estate challenges. I am involved in the sales and leasing department and I am guided by highly successful mentors within the team

If you need a young and enthusiastic agent that is prepared to roll up the sleeves and do the work necessary to get you a result then please contact me so that we can connect and start work.

Mitch Reardon | InFocus Commercial Real Estate 0401 313 160| mitch@infocus.sydney

MEET THE AGENTS

Darrel and Nikkole, the powerhouse duo behind Higgins + Co Property Solutions, have been reshaping the real estate landscape for over two decades. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering exceptional service, they have consistently exceeded expectations.

Their impressive track record speaks for itself, with record-breaking sales and a loyal client base that keeps

coming back.

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned investor, Darrel and Nikkole are dedicated to providing personalised guidance and support, ensuring a smooth and successful real estate journey.

Darrel Higgins & Nikkole Dixon | Higgins + Co Property Solutions 0416 039 815 Darrel Higgins | 0416 093 811 Nikkole Dixon

MEET THE AGENTS

With eight offices across Regentville, Wallacia, Penrith Sales, Penrith Property Management, Jordan Springs, Emu Plains, and Lennox Village – Emu Plains, our team at Aitken RE has you covered!

We have top selling Agents at every location and a team of dedicated Property Managers with expert market knowledge that are focused on

Aitken Real Estate Penrith: 4732 5055

MEET THE AGENT

Jocelyn Marrian and @realty combine personalised service with cutting-edge technology to make your property journey seamless. Powered by a sophisticated digital platform and bespoke marketing strategies, @realty delivers exceptional resultsby connecting buyers and sellers in innovative ways.

Jocelyn is backed by a large team at head office who focus on marketing, legal,

financial and all that’s needed to help Jocelyn focus on getting you the results you are looking for.

Jocelyn’s expertise, paired with @realty’s forward-thinking approach, ensures every step is tailored to you, making life-changing decisions easier and more rewarding.

Jocelyn Marrian | @realty 0405 164 446 | jocelynmarrian@atrealty.com.au

MEET THE AGENT

Recently purchasing the business in 2023, it’s been a rollercoaster ride, as I’m now wearing different hats as both a manager and owner, looking after sales as well as people.

Our Penrith RE/MAX office has won numerous awards, including RATEMYAGENT’s Agency of The Year for Penrith in 2023 and Cambridge Park in 2023 and 2024, and yours truly is the Agent of the Year for Penrith and Cambridge Park for 2023.

I am thankful to have my family, a good team and a good network around me. I am grateful that through this job I can make a difference and help someone achieve their property goals. The joy of my clients when they have successfully bought or sold a property drives my passion even further

Gizzelle Powell | Remax Lifestyle Marketing 0428 934 618 | gizzelle.powell@remax.com.au

MEET THE AGENT

With a strong foundation in Sydney’s property market, Charlene Camilleri leads Nala Homes with a commitment to excellence, transparency, and client satisfaction. Nala Homes offers a comprehensive suite of property services, from buying and selling to leasing and expert property management.

Charlene’s unique approach combines hands-on market knowledge with an

Charlene Camilleri | Nala Homes

unwavering dedication to personalised service, ensuring that each client’s property journey is seamless and rewarding. Known for her attention to detail and proactive approach, Charlene is passionate about helping clients achieve their real estate goals while maximising the value and potential of every property

You can reach Charlene on 0468 344 230 to discuss any of your real estate needs

MEET THE AGENT

Jacob Bennett brings a fresh perspective to the real estate industry through his unique combination of skills and experiences. With a background in hotel management, he understands the importance of personalised service and creating memorable experiences for his clients.

In addition to his expertise in sales, Jacob’s understanding of customer service enables him to create a

seamless and enjoyable experience for his clients. He goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service, ensuring that every transaction is handled with professionalism, integrity, and care.

With Jacob Bennett as your trusted real estate agent, you can expect unparalleled dedication, a customercentric approach, and the assurance that you are in capable hands.

Jacob Bennett | Bennett Property 0487 487 775 | jacob@bennettproperty.com.au

MEET THE AGENT

Josh is a top-performing real estate agent, with 13 years of experience who focuses on exceptional service and commitment to his clients.

Josh has sold approximately $74 million dollars worth of property in the last 12 months around the Nepean Region and has been awarded Alan White Elite Status (Top 3% in the Ray White Group)

and #1 Rising Star Across the Ray White Network at this years Annual awar

You can reach Josh any time on 0410 504 918 for any advice on your real estate needs.

Joshua Cassells | Ray White Diamantidis Group 0410 504 918 | joshua.cassells@raywhite.com.au

MEET THE TEAM

Maximise Your Investment with LJ Hooker Penrith’s Award-Winning Property Management Team

At LJ Hooker Penrith, our dedicated and experienced property management team is committed to providing exceptional service and maximising returns for our clients. With over 50 years of combined experience, we offer expert guidance and meticulous care, ensuring your property is in the best hands.

We leverage advanced technology to monitor rental payments, conduct routine inspections, and keep you informed every step of the way. Our team focuses on prompt responses, thorough communication, and innovative solutions ensure a seamless property management experience.

Call us today to find out how we can help maximise your return on investment!

LJ Hooker Penrith 4732 2322 | penrith@ljhooker.com.au

The Experts

BIG SALES: HOW TO SHOP SMART AND SAVE BIG

Between Friday, November 29 and Monday, December 2, one of the most significant sales periods of the year occurs. It is known as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This is a perfect time to snag a bargain for Christmas. Many vendors offer deep discounts and specials throughout the whole weekend. The best deals are released on Friday and again on Monday. It is becoming common for early release specials from mid-November as a teaser to the sales period. There is no need to wait until these dates; many companies are already releasing heavily discounted prices ahead of them.

item. Don’t just rush in and buy!

• Read the terms and conditions of the sale, such as delivery fees, return policies and warranty information.

• Check for any bonus offers, such as gift cards.

• Set a budget and stick to it. Don’t buy things you don’t need or can’t afford.

• Use a secure payment method and avoid sharing your personal or financial details with unknown sellers.

A good way to verify if the advertised price is great is to use a website like camelcamelcamel. com. This website contains a price tracking history of items sold on Amazon over several years. Enter the item you are looking to purchase and see its price history. This is a great way to verify you are getting a deal.

BUNIONS EXPLAINED

Abunion (hallux valgus) is a bony bump that develops at the base of the big toe, where it meets the first metatarsal bone. This condition arises when the big toe begins to shift toward the smaller toes, causing the joint to protrude outward. Over time, the misalignment can lead to a visible deformity and pain.

Several factors contribute to the development of bunions:

1. Genetics: In many cases, bunions are hereditary. If your family has a history of bunions, you’re more likely to develop them due to inherited foot structures (such as flat feet or abnormal bone shapes).

2. Footwear: Wearing shoes that are too tight, narrow, or have high heels places excessive pressure on the big toe joint, leading to misalignment and bunion formation over time.

3. Foot mechanics and structure: Conditions such as flat feet, excessive pronation, or low arches can increase the risk of developing bunions, as these foot structures put additional strain on the toe joint.

4. Arthritis: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can contribute to bunion formation due to inflammation and weakening of the joints.

5. Injury or trauma: Foot injuries that alter the alignment of the bones in the foot may also lead to bunion formation. There are a number of treatment options available listed below:

1. Non-surgical treatment

• Footwear modification: Wearing shoes with a wide toe box, low heels, and proper arch support can reduce pressure on the bunion.

• Padding and orthotics: Using bunion pads or custom orthotics can

Over 50 per cent of Australians are estimated to purchase Christmas gifts during this sales period. Why wouldn’t you benefit from between 50-80 per cent off at the following stores: Amazon, eBay, Big W, Myer, The Good Guys, Kogan, David Jones, JB HiFi, BCF, Target, Tumu, Koala, Rebel, The Iconic, Nike and Chemist Warehouse. Research the items you want to buy well in advance

to identify a bargain and move quickly. You need to be smart and savvy to avoid scams and overspending. Here are some tips to help you get the best deals:

• Use Camelcamelcamel and compare prices across different retailers and websites to find the lowest offer.

• Check the product reviews and ratings to ensure the quality and reliability of the

HEALTH

The Experts

BLAKE COSSOR

One Point Health 4732 5188

help realign the foot and reduce friction or pain.

• Medications: Over-thecounter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications.

• Ice application: Applying ice to the bunion area can reduce swelling and inflammation.

• Exercises: Toe stretches and strengthening exercises may improve foot alignment.

2. Surgical treatment

• If conservative measures fail, surgery may be considered to realign the bones, remove the bony bump, and correct the deformity. Various surgical techniques are available depending on the severity of the bunion.

• Subscribe to newsletters and follow the social media accounts of your favourite retailers to get notified of their latest deals and promotions.

• Use websites that track deals and offer coupons and cashback rewards, such as OzBargain.

• Also, be suspicious of links posted on social media or in SMS or emails with deals that are too good to be true, as this is a period when scammers are also hard at work. DAVID NORRIS Nortec IT 9894 9514

Water safety is a critical issue all year round, but with the weather now really heating up, it’s time to talk about water safety myths. Water safety misconceptions can lead to dangerous behaviours and a false sense of security, so it’s important to debunk these myths before summer is upon us.

Myth 1: Drowning is loud and obvious

Despite what we see on TV, drowning in reality is usually silent and swift. People who are struggling in the water often cannot scream for help because they are focused on trying to stay afloat. They may not have the energy to make noise, and they often struggle silently while attempting to breathe or grab onto something for support. It’s important to stay vigilant and watch for signs like a swimmer’s head being low in the water, flailing arms, or a lack of forward motion, even if the person doesn’t seem to be panicking.

Myth 2: Swimmers can’t drown if they can swim

Often people believe that strong swimmers are immune to drowning, but that is far from the truth, especially if they are caught off guard by unexpected circumstances such as strong currents, fatigue, or a medical emergency. Swimming in open water, such

as oceans or rivers, is particularly risky because factors like changing tides, waves, and rip currents can quickly overwhelm even skilled and experienced swimmers. In addition, dehydration, hypothermia, and exhaustion can all contribute to drowning, regardless of swimming ability.

Myth 3: If someone is conscious after a near drowning incident, they’re fine

Another dangerous misconception is that if a person is conscious after a near-drowning incident, they have not been harmed. However, water inhalation can cause delayed symptoms. A person may feel fine initially but may later experience symptoms of secondary drowning or dry drowning, which occurs when water enters the lungs and causes respiratory distress. These conditions can develop several hours after the incident and may lead to difficulty breathing, chest pain, or even loss of consciousness.

Anyone who has inhaled water,

even if they seem fine, should be monitored closely and seek medical attention.

Myth 4: Life jackets are only for non-swimmers

While life jackets are often associated with people who cannot swim, they are just as crucial for skilled swimmers, especially in open water. Life jackets provide an additional layer of safety in case of sudden fatigue or unexpected accidents. Wearing a life jacket is particularly important in fast moving water or when boating or fishing, as accidents can happen quickly and without warning. Even strong swimmers can become disoriented or exhausted, and a life jacket can be the difference between drowning or not.

By educating ourselves and others about water safety, we can work together to reduce drowning incidents in our community and keep everyone safer in and around the water.

EXPLAINER: INTESTINAL WORMS IN PETS

Intestinal worms in pets pose significant health risks to both pets and humans, making regular deworming a crucial preventive measure. Dogs and cats can contract worms through contaminated environments, ingestion, or even through their mother’s milk. Here’s an overview of the primary types of intestinal worms, their risks, symptoms, and how to prevent infestations.

Hookworms

Hookworms are among the most dangerous intestinal parasites in pets. These small worms latch onto the pet’s intestinal walls, sucking blood and leading to symptoms like black, tar-like faeces, diarrhea (often with blood), dehydration, anaemia, and weakness. Severe cases, particularly in puppies, can lead to death. Pets contract hookworms through ingestion of larvae or eggs from the environment, skin penetration, or mother’s milk. In humans, hookworm

larvae can penetrate the skin, causing intense itching – hence gloves are recommended when handling pet waste.

Roundworms

Roundworms are highly common, especially in puppies, as they can be passed from mother to offspring during pregnancy. Adult roundworms are long, white, and visible in dog droppings. Pets contract roundworms by ingesting eggs found in contaminated soil, droppings, or infected prey. Symptoms include a pot-bellied appearance, diarrhea, vomiting (sometimes containing whole worms), and coughing. In humans, accidental ingestion of roundworm eggs can cause Visceral Larva Migrans (VLM), where migrating larvae may damage organs like the liver and eyes.

Whipworms

Pets contract whipworms by ingesting whipworm eggs from the environment. Whipworms

mature in the lower intestine, where they can survive up to a year, making reinfection common. Symptoms are often subtle and chronic, including weight loss, abdominal pain, and diarrhea with occasional blood.

Flea tapeworms

The flea tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum, uses fleas as an intermediate host. Pets can become infected by ingesting fleas carrying the tapeworm larvae. Although not typically dangerous, tapeworms can cause irritation, evident by scooting or dragging the hindquarters. Tapeworm segments, resembling rice grains, may be visible around the pet’s anus.

Hydatid tapeworms

Hydatid tapeworms, especially concerning in rural areas, can transfer to humans, causing serious illness. Pets typically contract hydatid tapeworms by eating raw meat or offal from infected livestock, while humans are exposed

through contaminated dog faeces. Hydatid cysts can form in human organs, posing severe health risks.

Worming treatments from veterinarians are effective for eliminating most worms. For puppies, regular deworming is essential, starting every two weeks from two-weeks-old and then monthly until six months. Adult pets should be wormed every three months, with additional treatment for tapeworms as needed. Some pet owners opt for combination medications that prevent both heartworm and some intestinal worms, though these may not cover tapeworms. Prevention tips:

• Wash hands after handling pets or cleaning waste.

• Remove pet waste from yards and clean kennels regularly.

• Avoid allowing pets to lick faces.

• Keep fleas under control.

• Avoid feeding pets raw meat or offal.

HOROSCOPES

Relax & Unwind

AQUARIUS

JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 19 JOANNE

MADELINE MOORE

Boho Astro

bohoastro.com

@JoMadelineMoore

© Joanne Madeline Moore 2024

Are you feeling confused Aquarius? Have you been questioning your goals in life? Or does it seem as if you’ve got the worries of the world on your shoulders? Take a step back and view things from a wider perspective. Doing good deeds will leave you with a warm inner glow, so think up some dynamic ways you can help those who are less fortunate. As Yoko Ono (a fellow Aquarian) observes, “Helping yourself is connected with helping others.”

TAURUS

TO MAY 21

The New Moon heralds the rebirth of an important relationship of the romantic, platonic or business variety. But remember Mercury turns retrograde on Tuesday (until December 15-16) so financial partnerships, tax matters and deep, dark secrets must be handled with extra tact and care. Double-check everything twice Taurus! On the weekend, someone tells you something in the strictest of confidence, but are they telling the truth – and can they be trusted?

LEO

JULY 23 TO AUGUST 23

This week a long-cherished dream may need to be re-imagined and reworked so that it better suits your current situation. Rather than seeing it as a disappointing setback, clever Cats will perceive it as an exciting new challenge. With Mars in Leo, you’re impatient to communicate about a wide range of topics, as you share creative ideas with family and friends. But, with Mercury turning retrograde, avoid spilling secrets or saying something that’s inappropriate.

SCORPIO

OCTOBER 24 TO NOVEMBER 22

Scorpios can have trouble trusting other people at the best of times and this week, retrograde Mercury and the New Moon stir up your self-esteem zone. So a confidence could be broken, a loved one could let you down or an old resentment could resurface. If you don’t feel comfortable asking someone for help then don’t. Your motto is from birthday great, writer Louisa May Alcott, “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my

PISCES

FEBRUARY 20 TO MARCH 20

This week – with Mercury turning retrograde and a New Moon – it’s time to do things with an ‘re’ in front of it. Revise, rehearse, review, remember, return, recover, reconnect. Especially in areas involving career, work colleagues, clients and customers, plus professional goals and dreams. Energy, confidence, enthusiasm and motivation will take you far, Pisces. Be inspired by birthday great Bruce Lee, “To hell with circumstances … I create opportunities.”

GEMINI

22 TO JUNE 21

Mercury (your patron planet) starts reversing through your relationship zone on Tuesday, so do your best to surround yourself with dependable, sensible, unflappable people. And make sure you double-check all texts (before you press send) and all appointment times (before you leave home). Sunday’s New Moon is a good time to reset boundaries and expectations in a romantic, platonic or business relationship. Keep flexible because things are constantly changing!

VIRGO

AUGUST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 23

Mercury (your boss planet) is in retrograde mode from Tuesday until December 15-16, so resist the urge to over-analyse, over-worry, over-stress and over-react. By all means think things through, but avoid getting caught up in an endless, obsessive loop. As birthday great Bruce Lee observed, “If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.” Sunday promises a fresh start as you relax and have fun with family and friends.

SAGITTARIUS

NOVEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 21

Retrograde Mercury and the fiery New Moon both activate your sign, so you’re ready to sparkle and shine. But avoid overcommitting and promising more than you can deliver. It’s time to shake off the shackles of other people’s expectations and instead, be the real, authentic you. Your mantra is from birthday great Bruce Lee, “Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.”

MARCH 21 TO APRIL 20

Mars (your power planet) and the fiery New Moon encourage you to focus on friendships, plus your hopes and dreams for the future. The more ambitious your aspirations, the better! You’re not in the mood for superficial encounters with others, preferring deep and meaningful conversations with loved ones. But Mercury is in retrograde mode (from Tuesday until December 15-16) so smart Rams will try to be prudent, patient and persistent.

Clever Crabs – it’s a good week to revise your diet and/or rejig your fitness routine, as retrograde Mercury and the New Moon activate your health and wellbeing zone. It’s important you choose nutritious food and regular exercise that you enjoy, so you can maintain healthy habits into the future. It’s also a suitable week to refine your life direction and follow your guiding star. Be inspired by birthday great Mark Twain, “Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Perfectionist-prone Librans love things to run efficiently and smoothly but (courtesy of Mercury turning retrograde) there’s disruptive energy about this week. So drop the carefully planned schedule and just take things as they come. Some possible scenarios? A relationship with a lover, relative, colleague or neighbour could veer off in a confusing direction. Or something you say, text or post on social media could receive a disappointing response.

CAPRICORN

DECEMBER 22 TO JANUARY 20

On Tuesday, Mercury turns retrograde (until December 15-16). Mercury is the planet of clear thinking, communication (talking, texting and writing), transport, travel, commuting, commerce, computers, media and the Internet. So – when it’s retrograde – it’s not a good time to do the following things: sign contracts; start a job or business; buy a phone, computer, car or home; launch a website; install new software; go on a business trip or embark on a holiday.

7. Cram (for exam)

8. Cost of living index (1,1,1)

9. British vehicle, ... Martin

10. Cheat

Kiosks

23. Familiar with (4,2)

25. Fragrances

26. Gets steeper

29. Military pageants

32. Club’s yearly meeting (1,1,1)

35. Beachside

37. Horse-like animals

38. Contempt

40. Savoury jelly

41. Inuit snow shelter

42. Long-limbed (colt)

43. Cut (timber)

44. Jellied meat loaf

47. Comprehended

51. Nanny (2,4)

52. Revered tomes

53. Hired guns (3,3)

54. Not singular

58. Voiced publicly

59. Failure

61. Originated

63. Nimble

64. Breathe

65. Go by (of time)

66. Invitation holder

68. Coral isle

71. Pakistani cricketer, ... Khan

72. Missile fi n

74. Wheat spikes

76. Attempts

78. Bite persistently

80. Dance, ... de deux

83. Irish activists, Provisional ... (1,1,1)

many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org

If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more

Word Search

Find all the words listed hidden in the grid of letters. They can be found in straight lines up, down, forwards, backwards or even diagonally.

Theme: SNAKES

ANTIVENOM

BROAD HEAD

CAMOUFLAGE

COMMON

CONSTRICTOR

DANGEROUS

DISTINCTIVE

GRASSLANDS

LENGTH

MARKINGS

PREDATOR

RAINFORESTS

REPTILES

TERRITORY

TREES

VENOM

WOODLANDS

Last week’s solution

Trivia Quiz

Test your knowledge about John Farnham in our special trivia quiz this week...

1. In which band did John Farnham replace Glenn Shorrock as lead singer from 1982 to 1985?

2. In what year did John Farnham release his iconic song, ‘You’re The Voice’?

3. John Farnham married his wife back in 1973. What is her first name?

5. John Farnham appeared in The Main Event concert alongside Olivia Newton-John and which other performer?

6. Which AFL club is John Farnham a fanatical supporter of in Melbourne?

4. Which 1968 song followed John Farnham through his entire career, and became a song he didn’t like performing?

Warlow

North Melbourne

compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’ are formed.

Follow the picture clues, fill in the grid and the arrowed column will reveal a key word related to this scene. m i n i s u d o k u

ALFAKODO

Fill in 1 to 6, in each row across and down, and in each rectangle.

Letters A to Z have a number value Some are shown in the right hand cells Create remaining values using clues in centre cells

Letters A to Z have a number value, some are shown in the right hand cells. Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.

A M×M N A-G B V-F 4 O G+F

C U+G P A+A

D G-U Q B+L E K+W R J-G F S-I S C+K G G×D 7 T E-H H K+N 10 U M×N 6 I V÷B V I×B 20 J L+C W B+H K F-K X Z+U L N+A Y H+F M F-C 3 Z S-N

Find ten words beginning with ‘c’ from these jumbled letters.

Look who’s playing hide and seek! Can you help Clancy the Croc find his friend?

WORD PLAY: Nachos.

PIC PUZZLE: 3 and 6 MINI-SUDOKU:

Arrowed Column = OMELETTE

Special word: Con means a confidence trick. ACROSTIC PUZZLE: 1. fork, 2. timer, 3. oven, 4. plate, 5. shell, 6. tap, 7. cat, 8. knife.

HIDDEN WORDS : Clown, cow, con, clone, can, cone, cane, coal, clan and clean.

4. The wrestler’s top knot (part of his hair style) is smaller. 5. The N in training is backwards.

3. A cherry is missing from one of the muffins.

2. The wrestler’s tongue is missing.

1. There is an extra drop of sauce dribbling from the hamburger.

ALFAKODO: PUZZLE PLAY: SPOT THE DIFFERENCE:

“A new level”: LandCruiser SUV delivers huge improvements across the

range Prado range set to impress

Toyota has launched its new-generation LandCruiser Prado SUV delivering comprehensive improvements in driveability, off-road capability, safety, technology and functionality, all wrapped in a bold, stylish redesign that will appeal to urban families and off-road adventurers alike.

The all-new LandCruiser Prado is built on a stronger and stiffer TNGA-F architecture, shared with its larger LandCruiser 300 Series sibling, and introduces Toyota’s latest on and off-road driver assistance, multimedia and active safety technologies, and new 48-volt assisted V-Active technology powertrain mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission.

In developing the new model, Toyota went back to its origins to seek inspiration from the qualities that have made the LandCruiser such an iconic nameplate and delivered on the essence of that history with the all-new LandCruiser Prado, evident in its design, its agility and serious off-road capability, and practical functionality.

Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said the distinctive new styling, improved driveability and off-road capability, and advanced technology of the new model

would make the LandCruiser Prado more appealing than ever to Australian customers.

“Australians love the LandCruiser Prado for its family-friendly amenity, supreme off-road ability and the durability and reliability that makes it worthy of the LandCruiser name-

plate,” he said.

“The all-new model takes everything that customers love about the LandCruiser Prado to a new level, along with a stylish new design, enhanced technology and greater comfort and driveability.

“With its outstanding practicality and superb on and off-road performance, the all-new LandCruiser Prado is the perfect SUV for the weekday urban commute and extended adventures beyond the tarmac.”

The new LandCruiser Prado is offered in a choice of five grades – GX, GXL, VX, and top-of-the-range Kakadu, along with the off-road-focused Altitude, with all featuring the new V-Active powertrain and eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Toyota Warranty Advantage provides each new LandCruiser Prado customer with five years and unlimited kilometres of warranty coverage.

Toyota Australia offers five years of cappedprice servicing for the LandCruiser Prado at $390 per service for the first 10 services, over intervals of six months or 10,000km – whichever comes first.

A total of eight exterior colours are available across the LandCruiser Prado range. VX and Kakadu buyers can choose from Eclipse Black metallic, Dusty Bronze metallic and Frosted White pearl, while GX and GXL add three solid colours – Glacier White, Ebony and Midnight Alloy.

The Altitude is also available with the new Ningaloo Blue and Tanami Taupe solid colours, which are paired with a retro-inspired light grey roof.

For more details, visit www.toyota.com.au or visit your local dealer.

NATHAN TAYLOR

2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado Range, (L-R) Altitude, VX, GX, Kakadu and GXL.

BASKETBALL STAR SIGNS NEW DEAL

Story continued from » p.72

On the back of this, she changed her international allegiance and made her New Zealand Tall Ferns debut at the 2023 Asia Cup in Sydney, under the coaching of Molloy – who was a big factor in her returning to the harbour city.

“Guy and I have a really good relationship and I enjoyed playing for him in the limited time we were together,” Tupaea said.

“I feel my style of play suits the way Guy likes his team to play, not to mention I feel as though I have his full support whenever I step on the court – allowing me to play to my strengths.

“He’s had a positive impact on my career and I’m looking forward to building our relationship once I arrive in Sydney next month.”

Finals collapse put in the past as Giants draw is revealed Redemption awaits

With the off-season from hell now behind them, the GWS Giants can finally start looking forward to season 2025.

A slate of blockbuster home games at Engie Stadium, as well as two Sydney Derbies and three intriguing matches in Canberra headline the Giants’ 2025 AFL fixture.

As revealed by the league last week, the Giants will kick-start their 2025 campaign with a blockbuster fixture as they host Collingwood at Engie Stadium on Sunday, March 9 as part of Opening Round.

The second season of the Opening Round concept, all eyes will be on Engie Stadium as GWS look to ruffle the Magpies’ feathers and start the season off in winning fashion.

After a pair of away trips against the Demons at the MCG and the Hawks in Tassie across Rounds 1 and 2, the Giants will return home in Round 4 for an exciting afternoon clash with Harley

Reid and the West Coast Eagles on Sunday, April 6. In Round 5 the Giants will flock to South Australia with the rest of the footy world for a Gather Round clash with the Saints at Norwood Oval on Sunday, April 13. In Round 7 the Giants will head to the nation’s capital for the first of three times where one of the fiercest rivalries of the modern era will add another chapter as they host the Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval on Saturday, April 26.

Another one of the spiciest rivalries in football will resume in Round 8 when GWS and the Swans face off in Sydney Derby 30 at the SCG on Sunday, May 4.

The Giants will look to keep Engie Stadium a fortress across the middle part of the 2025 season, with the Orange Tsunami hosting the Dockers in Round 10, the Tigers in Round 12, and the Gold Coast Suns in Round 15.

Adam Kingsley’s men will look to continue their finals push with

two blockbuster home games in the latter part of the season, with the Giants welcoming last year’s preliminary finalist Geelong to Engie Stadium in Round 18 before hosting the Swans for a mouthwatering Derby XXXI at Engie Stadium in Round 20.

GWS also have three huge home games at Manuka Oval across the 2025 season, with the Round 7 clash with the Bulldogs followed by an electrifying clash with Power in Round 13 and an entertaining battle with the Kangaroos in Round 22.

The Giants will look to close out the home and away season in style when they host the Saints in Round 24 at Engie Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park.

While the full fixture for the first 15 rounds has been revealed, only the matchups and locations for the final nine rounds have been confirmed as part of the AFL’s rolling fixture.

Last season the Giants finished in the all-important top four but went out in straight sets despite leading both their Finals matches late against the Swans and eventual Premiers Brisbane.

Pendragons Abreast: supports the wellbeing of breast cancer survivors through the sport of dragon boating.

At Pendragons Abreast we encourage fitness, wellness, fun and camaraderie. We empower individuals and educate on the benefits of an active lifestyle after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Our inclusive team consists of breast cancer survivors and supporters of various ages, from a variety of backgrounds and athletic abilities.

Pendragons Abreast Penrith was formed in 2004 and we are also members of the Pendragons Dragon Boat Club, Penrith.

We race and train at the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) Penrith Lakes and Nepean River at The Nepean Rowing Club Penrith. With opportunities to participate in regattas, travel and race against other breast cancer survivor teams.

Want to know more?

Find us on Facebook: Dragons Abreast Penrith Or contact our Membership coordinator 0407 278 384

Take a look at Dragons Abreast Australia website: www.dragonsabreast.com.au

Pendragons Dragon Boat Club: pendragons.online

Come and try and have a chat over a coffee & morning tea.

Contact the membership coordinator for dates & times: 0 0407 278 384

Giants fans celebrate victory in season 2024.

Tahlia Tupaea in action in New Zealand.

NATHAN TAYLOR

Giants plan for huge year

Super Netball schedule revealed for next season

Giants Netball’s year of redemption will begin on Sunday, April 6 at Ken Rosewall Arena.

The much-anticipated fixture for the 2025 Super Netball arrived last week, with the Giants to begin their campaign with a home clash against the Queensland Firebirds at 2pm.

The Round 1 match-up will not just be about elite netball, with the clash to be a celebration of the broader netball community as the Giants bring fans together to kickoff the season with a sense of unity and excitement.

The Giants will hit the road for Rounds 2 and 3 as they take on both Melbourne sides in a pair of back-toback Sunday games, up against the highly touted Vixens at John Cain Arena on Sunday, April 13 at 4pm before returning the following week to take on the Mavericks on Sunday, April 20 at 2pm.

In Round 4 the Giants return home for a blockbuster Saturday afternoon clash with the reining back-to-back premiers Adelaide, with the sides to face-off on Satur-

day, May 3 at Ken Rosewall Arena. A trip to the Sunshine Coast is up next for the Giants in Round 5, with an electric meeting with the Lightning scheduled for Sunday, May 11 at UniSC Arena.

The Giants will play a trio of monster home games across rounds 6-8, kick-started by what is sure to be a spicy Derby against the Swifts on Sunday, May 18 at 2pm.

Next up, the game will celebrate week one of First Nations Round in Round 7 on a Saturday night against the Fever.

The final match of the epic threegame home stand is sure to be a cracking contest as the Giants host last year’s Grand Finalists, the Vixens, on Sunday, June 1 at 3.30pm.

In Round 9 the Giants will pack their bags and head to the City of Churches as they take on the Thunderbirds for a second time at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday, June 8 at 3.30pm.

The Giants will return home to Sydney for the following two rounds, with a rematch against the Lightning at Ken Rosewall Arena on Sunday, June 15 at 4pm before bragging rights go up for grabs once more in a Derby against the

Swifts on Sunday, June 22 at 2pm. In Round 12 the Giants head north to take on the Firebirds at Nissan Arena in Brisbane on Sunday, June 29 as the race for finals heats up.

Up next is the biggest road trip of the season as the Giants head west to take on the Fever at RAC Arena in Perth on Sunday, July 6 at 2pm. The fixture is sure to be a special one as the league celebrates week two of First Nations Round.

The Giants will close out their regular season in Round 14 with a thrilling match-up against the Mavericks on Saturday, July 12 at 5pm.

Giants Executive General Manager Tim Underwood said the 2025 fixture is one for all Giants Netball fans to look forward to.

“As we ramp up pre-season preparations it’s exciting to have the fixture in front of us and we can’t wait for what we see as a really big 2025 season for the Giants,” he said.

“We always receive fantastic support from our passionate Giants members and we can’t wait to see that continue as we turn Ken Rosewall Arena orange across the entire 2025 season.”

BUSINESS

ADVICE & TR AINING

We know that as a small busines you just want to be producti ve and not have to worr y about all that “business s tu ”.

But that “business stu ” is so impor tant to your success. That’s where the Western Sydney Business Centre can help. We h av e be en helping small businesses for years with things like Business Planning and Marketing, Pric ing and Sales , Business Resilience and more. Choose a One on One adviso ry sessions with a professional, independent business advisor who will come to you. Or sit in on one of our many tailored webinars or workshops.

Get started to day, call 4721 50 11.

The Western Sydney Business Centre has The

We stern Sydney Business Centre has been delivering business advice as a not for profit organisation for over 36 years winning multiple national business advice awards as both a Centre and as individual advisors. We are consistently being placed in the top 3 busines s advice centres in NSW. We complete over 6,500 hours o f business advice e ver y year wsbusiness.com.au

NATHAN TAYLOR

Giants Netball fans cheering on their team.

School shocks with win

Orchard

Hills Public School stuns with medal-winning

taekwondo performance

Orchard Hills Public School

didn’t have a taekwondo team until earlier this year, now they are the best primary school in the state in the sport.

The school, located on Kingswood Road in Orchard Hills, sent 16 male and female competitors from Years 2-6 to the Taekwondo All-Schools Championship, held at St Ignatius College in North Sydney.

Orchard Hills were on fire throughout the single-day round robin tournament, taking home five gold medals and six silver medals along with the title of Junior All Schools Champions for most points in the junior division.

School Principal Daniel McMahon said Orchard Hills Public only began their taekwondo journey earlier this year.

“Our school did taekwondo lessons for a term via the sporting and schools grant, and a lot of our kids showed an interest in it,” he told the Weekender

“One of our parents, Master Mirna, is a taekwondo instructor and she was running the sessions at the

school and discovered that some of the kids were pretty good.

“She suggested we take part in the upcoming Taekwondo All-Schools Championship where you enter all your competitors to compete for points and medals.”

Is Don, is good: Double win for Fox sisters

realise what this means?’ It’s massive and a huge honour,” Jessica said.

Penrith Olympic champions

Jessica and Noemie Fox have capped off an incredible year by winning one of the most prestigious awards in Australian sport.

The local pair were named joint winners of The Don Award at Monday night’s Sport Australia Hall of Fame Inductions & Awards Gala Dinner in Melbourne.

The Don Award, introduced in 1998 and named for the Sport Australia Hall of Fame’s inaugural Inductee, Sir Donald Bradman AC, honours an Australian athlete or team whose achievements and example over the past 12 months have most inspired the nation.

The fabulous Foxes became the first Australian siblings to claim individual Olympic golds, with Jess prevailing in the K1 and C1 slalom events at the Paris Games and Noemie then adding to the remarkable family tally with success on debut in a new event, the kayak cross.

Their three combined Medals at the Paris Games was the talk of the Olympics.

“It’s so special and I know when I received the call, and then when I called [Noemie] afterwards, I said, ‘Do you

Noemie said it was a tremendous honour to cap off an incredible year –highlighted by her first Olympic Gold Medal.

“It’s still really hard to find the right words to think of my name next to all those previous award winners that are not only icons of Australian history, but also just sporting heroes for us growing up – especially Ian Thorpe, Cathy Freeman around that Sydney 2000 Olympics,” she said.

“For me, I just can’t think that my name is going to be on that same page with them. It’s an amazing, amazing feeling and recognition.’’

SAHOF Selection Committee chair and legendary broadcaster Bruce McAvaney said it’s always difficult to isolate the most inspiring sporting performance in any year but even more so in an Olympic and Paralympic year.

“But whichever way we looked at it, the Fox sisters – and indeed the entire family – were the most remarkable,” he said.

“Jess, already a legend, confirmed her greatness in Paris and for Noemie to compete against her and then join her as a gold medallist at the same games is what Hollywood script writers dream about.”

by surprise watching the action in front of him.

“I went there on the day, and I was watching the kids fight and I turned

to the instructor Master Mirna and said, ‘Is it normal that they keep winning?’,” McMahon recalled.

“At our school the rules are no hands on each other and no fighting, but when you see these kids get onto the mats and just go to town on these other kids, you’re like ‘wow… they are actually pretty good!’.

“To see them go to this whole different level, I was taken by surprise.

“They were really proud of themselves and so was I.”

Despite being a smaller school in the area, Orchard Hills Public has enjoyed a strong year on the sporting paddock with their tennis, basketball, netball and now taekwondo teams all performing beyond expectations.

McMahon is keen to foster the kids’ sporting aspirations.

“I always say, if we’ve got kids interested in something and there’s a way that they can participate by some sort of tournament, we’ll give it a crack,” McMahon said.

“This is the first time a public school had won the Taekwondo All-Schools Championship in years, and we’re looking forward to going back next year to retain our title.”

The Taekwondo All-Schools Championship was broken down into weight and height divisions, with Orchard Hills students competing against kids from primary schools – public and private – from all over New South Wales.

McMahon, who attended with fellow teachers and taekwondo trainers Mr Madrajat and Mr Storek, said he was taken

NATHAN TAYLOR

Orchard Hills Public School celebrate winning the Taekwondo All-Schools Championship recently.

Noemie and Jessica Fox with their father Richard at the event on Monday night.

TROY DODDS

RUGBY LEAGUE: Panthers star Dylan Edwards and new recruit Blaize Talagi have both undergone shoulder surgery following the completion of their respective international games for Australia and Samoa. Less than 48 hours after Edwards helped the Kangaroos win the Pacific Championships Final over Tonga, the fullback underwent shoulder surgery for an impingement issue that has caused him pain on and off for the past two seasons. According to reports, Edwards had the same Latarjet procedure that teammate Nathan Cleary underwent earlier this month, performed by the same surgeon. The operation involved a bone graft being attached to the front of the shoulder joint to help with stability. Recovery time from the Latarjet procedure is 14-16 weeks. The Panthers face Cronulla in Las Vegas to open the 2025 season on Sunday, March 2. Meanwhile, former Parramatta Eels rookie Blaize Talagi also underwent the Latarjet procedure after aggravating his shoulder in the opening Samoa Test against England. Halves Jack Cole, Brad Schnieder and Danie Laurie are all expected to be in the frame to play five-eighth for Penrith if Talagi or Cleary are not fit for the Vegas clash against the Sharks.

CRICKET: Penrith have defeated Manly Warringah in Round 6 of the Belvidere Cup. Playing in a Two-Day Match at Howell Oval, Manly Warringah won the toss and elected to bowl. Penrith were dismissed for 201 in their first innings, with Tyran Liddiard scoring an impressive 63 runs. When Manly Warringah hit the crease, they were easily dismissed by the home side for 103, with Penrith bowler Liam Doddrell taking a mighty 5/38. There was enough time on day two last Saturday for Penrith to play a second innings, posting 3/55. Penrith will aim for back-to-back wins when they travel south to Sutherland Oval this weekend to play Sutherland.

CRICKET: Penrith continue to struggle as the season rolls on, losing to Northern District in Round 7 of the NSW Premier Cricket Women’s first grade competition. Playing in a T20 Match at Mark Taylor Oval, Penrith won the toss and elected to bat. The visitors posted a disappointing 9/67 after 20 overs. Opener Keira Jobson led Penrith with just 14. When Northern District hit the crease later that day, it took them just 13 overs to reach Penrith’s target, finishing on 2/70. Penrith, who sit in seventh position on the ladder, will take on Parramatta in a One Day Match this Sunday morning.

CRICKET: Round 5 of the Nepean District Cricket Association (NDCA) competition took place last weekend, with Panthers Cricket Club continuing their winning ways with a 57-run victory over the Werrington Roos. In fourth grade, Panthers batted first and with steady scores from their top order, reached 5/170 after 40 overs. Panthers then backed their bowlers to close out the match, dismissing Werrington for 113 in 33 overs.

FOOTBALL: Following last week’s maiden victory of the season, the Western Sydney Wanderers will look to keep their winning run alive when they face Sydney FC for the second time this season. This Saturday night’s match at Allianz Stadium will be part of the A-Leagues United Round, with teams from both the A-League Men and A-League Women taking part in a special round across the city. Unite Round was introduced for the 2023/24 season as part of a partnership between the Australian

Professional Leagues and Destination NSW, seeing the A-Leagues stage the first full men’s and women’s round in a single city of any Australian sporting code. Netstrata Jubilee Stadium will stage the six A-League Unite Round fixtures, while the men’s action will all take place at Allianz Stadium.

FOOTBALL: The Western Sydney Wanderers have suffered their second straight loss, losing a close one to Sydney FC 1-0 in Round 3 of the A-League Women’s competition. It was the defending champions’ first win of the season and it happened in front of more than 3000 fans at Leichhardt Oval. Ante Juric’s side capitalised on a late chance and found the back of the net via Caley Tallon-Henniker in the 86th minute. The Wanderers will return to the pitch this Friday night when they play the Brisbane Roar at Kogarah Oval as part of United Round.

AFLW: GWS Giants midfielder Rebecca Beeson has capped off her brilliant debut season as skipper by taking out her second Gabrielle Trainor Medal in a thrilling count at Crown Sydney last Thursday night. Battling it out

with last year’s club champion and 2023 AFLW Rising Star winner Zarlie Goldsworthy for the entire count, Beeson held a slight lead going into the final game of the season where her best-on-ground performance against the Power was enough to crown her the 2024 Gabrielle Trainor Medallist. Having won the award back in 2019, Beeson becomes just the second Giant to win multiple Gabrielle Trainor Medals alongside Alyce Parker who has won the award four times. Beeson also won the player-voted Jacinda Barclay Fearless Award, an award that is voted upon after each game to recognise a teammate that lives the team’s values and plays in a selfless and fearless fashion. The star midfielder won the club champion award with 41 votes, polling top votes in four of the Giants’ 11 games following an extremely consistent season from the new skipper. Young gun Kaitlyn Srhoj was rewarded for her brilliant debut season, not only taking home the Rising Star Award but also the fan-voted Members Choice Award for her impressive maiden campaign. Meanwhile exciting young forward Georgia Garnett took home the Coaches Award. The Mark of the Year went to Izzy Huntington for her courageous mark against Melbourne in Round 6, while the Goal of the Year went to Irish star Eilish O’Dowd for kicking the fastest-ever opening goal in AFLW history with her very first kick in her AFLW debut in Round 1 against the Western Bulldogs. Giants Academy young gun Amelie Prosser-Shaw won the club’s Academy Player of the Year, while the Giants Community Award went to Cambridge McCormick and Tarni Evans for their work with the Giants Foundation on the Three-GIANT Peaks Walk.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL:

Following last week’s bye round, the Nepean Ducks will return to the field this weekend to play the UTS Gators in both the Men’s and Colts Gridiron NSW competitions. Meanwhile, Nepean’s bave women’s team will battle the UC Stars this Saturday morning over at Neptune Park.

GET IN TOUCH: To make a submission to ‘Sports Shorts’, email Nathan@westernweekender.com.au. You can also private message the team on Facebook or @ wwpenrith on X.

Liam Doddrell. Photo: Barry Clarence.

Giants captain Rebecca Beeson.

Blaize Talagi could miss time next year due to recent shoulder surgery. Photo: NRL Photos.

SPORT

TAHLIA LIGHTS FLAME

Penrith basketballer

Tahlia Tupaea is returning to the WNBL, signing with the Sydney Flames for the upcoming season.

The 27-year-old, who is currently playing with Northern Kahu in the New Zealand women’s league, will become the 11th and final rostered player on Guy Malloy’s team and will officially join the club at the end of December.

The local junior said she’s excited to return to her first professional club, one which she debuted at in 2012 as a 15-year-old.

“It’s an exciting, full circle moment for me for sure, as the Flames is where my professional basketball journey first started,” Tupaea said.

“Not to mention, it allows me to get back into the WNBL, which is a competition that has given me so much.

“Sydney is home to me and I can’t wait to get back there, in that Flames jersey, and play

in front of friends and family.”

The NSW junior spent eight seasons with the Flames, from 2012-2020, while also attending Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Canberra.

During this time, the guard won a WNBL title with the Flames in 2017 and was also drafted with the 36th pick by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2017 WNBA Draft.

At international level, Tupaea represented Australia at the 2013 FIBA Oceania U16 Championship and FIBA U19 World Championship, the 2014 FIBA Oceania U18 Championship and 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship, and the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship.

After her time in Sydney, Tupaea spent two seasons with the UC Capitals before stepping away from the sport.

Upon her return, she dominated the Waratah and NBL1 East competitions for Bankstown and Penrith.

NATHAN TAYLOR

Tahlia Tupaea. Photo: Kahu Basketball.