weekender the western Friday, February 23, 2018 • FREE
www.westernweekender.com.au
INSIDE St Clair woman takes on the world Page 17
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT
HOOLEY DOOLEY! Shock dual by-election in Penrith. Pages 3, 4, 5
Joshua Hoole and Ben Price have resigned
REALITY TV MASTERS Page 26
CARL’S BUZZING Page 18
EMUS ON LAST LEGS? Page 64
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
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Double trouble as two Councillors resign just 18 months into first term EMILY NEWTON
hey were elected just 18 months ago but Councillors Joshua Hoole and Ben Price have now called it quits, forcing a shock dual by-election. Personal circumstances are behind the resignations of the little-known Penrith Councillors. “Penrith City Council can confirm Joshua Hoole and Ben Price have resigned as Councillors with Penrith City Council,” Council said in a statement on Monday. “Joshua Hoole was elected in South Ward and Ben Price in East Ward at the September 2016 local government election, and both are currently in their first term. “Council respects that personal circumstances can change from time to time, and acknowledges the significant responsibility expected from individuals in their role as an elected community representative. “Under the Local Government Act 1993, the resignation of a Councillor results in a by-election. Council is in the process of coordinating a by-election in South and East Wards and will confirm further details shortly.” Cr Price, a Labor Councillor, said it was a “privilege and honour” to serve East Ward and his resignation follows changes to his
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Councillors Joshua Hoole (left) and Ben Price (right) say personal circumstances are behind their decisions to resign as Councillors, forcing two by-elections employment that require his family to relocate to Queensland. “Accordingly, it was unsustainable for me to continue to represent Penrith as a Councillor and I have tendered my resignation to Council effective immediately,” he said.
“I have spent my life living and working in western Sydney and I never expected to leave it. “I will always look back with fondness at my time in the western suburbs of Sydney and will follow Penrith City with keen interest.”
While calls to Cr Hoole’s phone went to voicemail when the Weekender tried to approach him for comment across numerous days, he released a statement on his Facebook page. “I have taken the step of officially resigning from my position of Councillor with Penrith City Council,” Cr Hoole said. “I have been incredibly privileged by the opportunity that was afforded to me by the people of Penrith to serve the community that I love and am passionate about. “I believe Penrith is an incredible city with so much potential. Our city’s future is, indeed, a bright one.” His statement said “personal circumstances” meant he was no longer able to fulfil the responsibilities required of a Councillor. The Liberal representative entered Council on Mark Davies’ ticket. “I have been unable to give everything and to properly and holistically meet the wants, needs, desires and aspirations of our community,” his statement continued. “I am conscious that this will cause inconvenience – and that is precisely why I have not made this decision lightly or without regard to the consequences.” Penrith will face two by-elections to fill the vacancies created by Cr Hoole and Cr Price in the coming weeks.
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
Hoole, Price call it quits
Exclusive stockist in Penrith WW31707
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
Editor’s Desk
Troy Dodds
the gospel to everyone, everywhere
troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au
Mixed bag of topics to discuss
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Lessons learned in resignations If there’s one thing Penrith residents love more than sex (see our story on page 19 for context!) it’s an election. And just when you thought 2018 was going to be free of election day sausage sizzles at the local school hall, two Councillors spoil the quiet. Liberal Councillor Josh Hoole and Labor Councillor Ben Price have both called it quits, forcing Council into an expensive by-election in South and East Wards. Personal circumstances are behind both decisions but it goes to show that being a Councillor is a big commitment that should not be taken for granted. It’s easy to sit back and throw grenades at our Councillors but truth is it’s a tough gig where pleasing everybody is impossible. Both Mr Hoole and Mr Price landed their spot on Council as a result of being on a ticket led by another Councillor. That’s just how the system works, but it proves it’s hardly ideal and that’s showcased by the fact that both Mr Hoole and Mr Price were reasonably quiet voices on Council. A chance now exists for two fresh faces to come into the fold. It’ll be an intriguing contest as Council elections struggle for the public’s attention at the best of times, let alone when it’s a by-election many casual observers won’t connect with. Given the current political climate both statewide and nationally, it wouldn’t surprise me if independent candidates were the big potential winners at both by-elections. But for any one candidate to get strong cut-through, the messaging will have to be very, very impressive.
Index
“John Howard stopped the guns, Tony Abbott stopped the boats and Malcolm Turnbull has stopped the bonking”
Bonking ban is bonkers John Howard stopped the guns, Tony Abbott stopped the boats and Malcolm Turnbull has stopped the bonking. The Prime Minister couldn’t help himself, could he? Just when the Barnaby Joyce story was most likely going to end its run of front pages late last week, he reignited the story with a ban on Ministers having sex with their staff. Regardless of the intent behind his change to the Ministerial Code of Conduct, the whole thing is just a bit, well, bonkers, isn’t it? Affairs by their nature are secretive, conducted behind closed doors. Rumours may swirl but very few such dalliances become public knowledge. And that will continue. A Minister may run the risk of being turfed out of Cabinet but if you think those late night red wines at a rented
News..............................................1-32 History ............................................33 Business........................................34
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Romance, Drama, in the immortal music of G&S
Issue 1341
We need to get serious on drugs Another week, another record drug bust. More than 300kg of ‘ice’ was seized by the Australian Federal Police this week in South Australia, the largest in that state’s history. It’s a big story for a few hours, maybe even a day, then it disappears away from the headlines. These stories are so common now they barely cause a ripple in the news cycle. There’s been arrests, and those behind this importation may well spend the rest of their lives in jail. Big price. But the real story is the people who were planning to use the drug. These risky importations wouldn’t be happening if there wasn’t demand on the streets for drugs of all types. We need to get more serious when it comes to drugs in this country. The slap on the wrist, second and third chance mentality needs to stop. Only when we strike the fear of God into drug users over the consequences will we start to make some progress.
Entertainment .................35-46 Your Life .................................47-52 Business Directory.......53-55
the western weekender The Yeomen of the Guard
Canberra apartment are a thing of the past, think again. Relationships – short and long term – at work are as old as time itself. Heck, I even met my wife at work! And while some may argue that Ministers of the Crown should be held to some higher degree of scrutiny, being handed a chastity belt when you’re sworn in seems a bit over the top. I’d rather focus on the extraordinary amount of unnecessary travel and expenses our Ministers ring up, rather than who they’re rooting in the copy room.
Auto..................................................56 Sport ........................................57-64
Advertising: sales@westernweekender.com.au Editorial: news@westernweekender.com.au Distribution/delivery queries: distribution@westernweekender.com.au Published by: Western Sydney Publishing Group Editor: Troy Dodds | troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au @troydodds Journalists: Nathan Taylor | @natetaylor87 Emily Newton | @emmerleener Lauren Suttie | @laurensuttie2 Alena Higgins | @alenazhiggins Photographers: Melinda Jane If you have a story suggestion or news tip, email news@westernweekender.com.au Sales Director: Chris Pennisi | chris.pennisi@westernweekender.com.au Sales Executives: Ali Elali, Andrew Harris, Linda Miller, Daniel Vella, Sergio Carrasco, Chantelle Lang, Tracey Machut To receive a copy of our media kit and advertising prices, email sales@westernweekender.com.au
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The Council by-election explained as first candidates raise their hands EMILY NEWTON
or the first time since 1989, local residents are headed to the polls for a Penrith City Council by-election. The by-election follows the surprising resignation of two Councillors, both just 18 months into their first term, forcing residents in East Ward and South Ward to vote in the coming weeks. While major parties look at their best contestants to put up for the vacant spots, Independent Sue Day has confirmed she has “every intention� to run in the upcoming by-election in South Ward. After narrowly missing out on a seat in South Ward to the resigned Councillor Joshua Hoole, Ms Day is urging locals to vote for local matters, not party policies. “I came sixth last time, I was just unsuccessful which was a bit disappointing,� she told the Weekender. “This is the sad part about major parties even at a local level is that they blur the line between local and state issues. The major parties have to follow the party line. “We want better parking, we want better transport, we don’t want it sold off to developers.� Since the announcement of the resignation, Ms Day has been inundated with
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the western weekender Âť Friday, February 23, 2018
Are you going to the polls?
Locals in South Ward and East Ward will head to the polls. No date for the by-elections has been announced yet messages of support and encouragement, and slammed ‘career politicians’ who use a seat on Council as a stepping stone to State or Federal politics. “I love Penrith, I am an advocate for Penrith, I want the best services,� she said. “It’s disappointing that they’ve lost sight of what Penrith is, which is a great place to live and raise a family. The only people that lose out are the ratepayers. “I hope the by-elections give voters the power to vote based on local issues.�
This is the first time there has been a Council by-election in Penrith since 1989, when Rodney Field was replaced by Diane Beamer. Locals in Glenmore Park, Orchard Hills, Mulgoa, South Penrith, Jamisontown, Leonay, Regentville, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek and Wallacia will be headed to voting booths to determine a new South Ward Councillor. The East Ward by-election will see residents from Kingswood, Caddens,
Wisdom
Claremont Meadows, St Marys, Colyton, St Clair, Erskine Park, Oxley Park and Kemps Creek bound for the polls. Some suburbs rest across the borders of wards, and residents should confirm what ward they belong to before voting with more information expected to come from Council surrounding by-election dates soon. If you will be running in the local by-election, contact Emily at emily@ westernweekender.com.au.
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
Council’s General Manager to retire after 10 years in role EMILY NEWTON
fter a decade leading the area through immense growth as Penrith City Council’s General Manager, Alan Stoneham will be stepping down at the end of June. Penrith Council has confirmed that Mr Stoneham will not be seeking a renewal of his contract, which expires on June 30 this year. Penrith Mayor John Thain wished Mr Stoneham all the best in his future, and thanked him for his amazing service to the Penrith community. “He thinks it’s time to retire and on behalf of Council we wish him all the best,” Cr Thain said. “He has been an incredible General Manager, and the right one for our time. “He has really led our Council. He has pushed us to the forefront, and he is incredibly well respected in the local government world.” Mr Stoneham has been Penrith’s General Manager since 2008, replacing former General Manager Alan Travers, having served as Deputy General Manager for five years before that. Before beginning his 10 years as General Manager, Mr Stoneham held an extensive background in local government with more than 30 years of experience in planning and long-term strategy development.
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Alan Stoneham is calling it a day Cr Thain said he looks forward to seeing what the future holds as Penrith City Council moves to its next chapter. “You work with someone for 18 years, and you know them pretty well,” Cr Thain said. “Whatever happens next I am sure we will have a plethora of people that will apply for the job. “Now we’ve just got to ensure we find someone of the same calibre as him.”
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Cemetery boss says 18 hole golf courses not needed due to time constraints EMILY NEWTON
hile many Wallacia residents remain skeptical about proposed cemetery developments to the Wallacia Golf Course, a community session held on Tuesday night helped to clear up some misconceptions around the development. By 7pm, the community consultation session had already seen about 40 people walk through with different questions, many of which were directed to Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria CEO Peter O’Meara. “We’ve put to bed some of the myths,” Mr O’Meara said. “What we’re trying to do is build a quality facility here in Wallacia. We don’t want it to just be a golf club, we want it to be a club for the whole community. “The style of the landscape will complement the surrounds of the area. It’s not like the style of Rookwood, but something that children and families can enjoy too. “We’re trying to reframe the imagery of what a cemetery is.” Mr O’Meara said one of the biggest myths was whether you could smell or see anything burning from the crematorium. As the crematorium is proposed to be
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CEO for Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria Peter O’Meara (left) speaking with concerned locals on Tuesday night. Photo: Melinda Jane located underground, and uses advanced filtration techniques, residents will not smell or see any smoke. The evening was attended by many locals upset with the development who remained respectful as they had a chance to ask their questions.
“We don’t want Wallacia to become a cemetery village,” one resident said. But not everyone was against the development, with local mum Rosa Macinante believing the development will provide protection for Wallacia, instead of waiting for potential sub-division.
“The [airport] development down the road is happening whether we like it or not,” she said. “The type of people here now are families, a lot of them don’t go to the golf course.” The development is set to include landscaping and areas for public use, like dog walking and jogging. “My kids can’t ride their bikes around here, if we want to go for a ride, we have to drive somewhere else,” she said. “Having this is a part of Wallacia that I can access.” A large criticism the development faces is the reduction of the Wallacia Golf Course from 18 holes to a nine to 13 hole course after five years, to operate for the next 70 years. It is understood the current golf club has been struggling financially. With multiple 18 hole golf courses a short drive away from Wallacia, Mr O’Meara believes they can provide a higher quality service on a smaller course, arguing the next generation of golfers can’t afford the time to spend a whole day on the green, and opt for shorter courses. A second community information and feedback session will be held this Saturday, February 24 from 10am to 1pm at Wallacia Progress Hall, 40 Greendale Road, Wallacia.
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
Killing off cemetery myths
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
Hair-raising fire guts shop Electrical fault believed to be the cause of early morning blaze in Emu Plains EMILY NEWTON
n early morning fire has completely engulfed a hair salon in Emu Plains, causing damage to surrounding businesses. A spokesperson for Fire and Rescue NSW said crews were called to the fire on the Great Western Highway at Emu Plains just before 2.30am on Wednesday, February 21. “Firefighters arrived to find a shop totally engulfed in fire. Crews quickly protected neighbouring properties and knocked down the blaze, containing the fire to the building of origin,” the spokesperson said. “Firefighters conducted salvage and overhaul of the shop before handing over the site to police. “Seven fire trucks attended the fire, including crews from Penrith, Regentville, Glenbrook, Cranebrook and St Marys fire stations. The last of these crews finished up at the scene just after 4am.” K&Co. Hair has seen significant damage to the building, forcing it to close the salon, postponing this week’s appointments until further notice. “As far as we know there has been an electrical fire, causing the salon to be inoperable,” K&Co. Hair said on Facebook.
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The fire destroyed the hair salon and caused damage to the florist next door. Photo: Melinda Jane “We will be sure to keep you all updated and we deeply apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.” The serious fire also caused damage to Garlands Floral Designers, destroying the
DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS The following Development Applications have been received by Council: s JS Architects
DA18/0060
20 Sydney Street, St Marys Demolition of existing structures and construction of 5 x 2-storey town houses including associated drainage and landscaping works and strata subdivision x 5 lots Contact: Jake Bentley on 4732 8087 Closing Date: 9 March 2018 s Volkan Demirkoparan
DA17/0426
3 Blackbird Glen, Erskine Park Secondary dwelling and soil remediation works Contact: Clare Aslanis on 4732 8195 Closing Date: 26 March 2018
DEVELOPMENT CONSENT/S DETERMINED Pursuant to Section 101 of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act, the schedule below lists applications recently determined by Penrith City Council.
glass out the front and warping the shop door. That hasn’t stopped the determined business, who confirmed to the Weekender that they were open with market
Details of these determinations are available for public inspection free of charge during Council’s normal business hours at the Civic Centre, 601 High Street, Penrith.
Approved Development Application s Prestige Developments Group (NSW) Pty Ltd
DA16/1156
Lots 3–5 DP 225579 (Nos. 47–51) Preston Street, Jamisontown Demolition of existing structures and construction of 6-storey residential flat building containing 46 apartments and 2 levels of basement car parking
INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT
The Development Application referred to in this notice and supporting documentation accompanying the subject application may be inspected at the locations listed below at any time during ordinary office hours, in the period from 23 February 2018 to 23 March 2018. 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 are to be specified in the submission. The submission is to include Council’s reference number DA18/0089. For any queries relating to the proposal, please contact Jane Hetherington on 4732 8078. Viewing of Development Applications
Penrith City Council has received a Development Application in respect of the subject property. The consent authority for the development application is Penrith City Council. s Cityscape Planning & Projects
fresh flowers as usual, just without the use of their landline. For any Garlands Floral Designers enquiries, give Sharon a call on 0418 353 900.
DA18/0089
Lot 1 DP 1181666 (No. 259) West Wilchard Road, Castlereagh Earthworks The proposal is an Integrated Development. The application seeks approval from the Department of Water and Energy – Water Management Act 2000.
The above development application/s may be viewed on Council’s DA Tracker via penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/ DATracker. Alternatively, the applications can be viewed during Council’s normal business hours at the Civic Centre, 601 High Street, Penrith. Officers of Council’s Development Services Department will be able to assist with your enquiries. Disclosure of Political Donations or Gifts Development Applications are displayed at the Penrith Civic Centre. 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
penrithcity.nsw.gov.au
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the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
PENRITH
NEWS
STAY COOL THIS SUMMER… penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/BeatTheHeat
CONTACT US ADMINISTRATION Penrith Office Civic Centre, 601 High Street. Opening Hours: 8.30am–4pm. Mon–Fri. St Marys Office Queen Street Centre, 207–209 Queen Street. Opening Hours: 9am–8pm. Mon–Thur. 9am–5.30pm. Fri. 9am–5pm. Sat. 10am–5pm. Sun. Switchboard Open: 8.30am–5pm. Mon–Fri. P: 4732 7777 F: 4732 7958 Write to: PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751. E: council@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au
SERVICES Waste Hotline: Freecall 1800 734 735
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
COUNCIL BRIEFS ● Why wait until Spring to have a good clean out around the house? Autumn is the perfect time to get cleaning, especially with Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday, 4 March 2018. To help you get in the ‘clean up’ spirit, Council’s Waste Services are holding free events in March to help you get rid of your problematic waste. Our first event is on Sunday, 4 March 2018 being Council’s Electronic Waste Drop-Off Day. You can bring your unwanted electrical items to Jamison Park between 9am–3.30pm and Council staff will recycle the items for you, for free.
Novated Design & Construct Services Reference EOI 1718-01 Penrith City Council is seeking to establish a panel of interested and capable parties, who can manage a novated team of designers and to construct either of the two concepts: Concept 1 – Multi-Deck Car Park Only; or Concept 2 – Integrated Multi-Deck Car Park & Multi-Story Commercial Office Building. Pre-Tender Briefing: 9am Wednesday, 7 March 2018 followed by a site meeting. Visit penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/Our-Council/Tenders/ to register and download tender documents free of charge. Alternatively a hard copy is available for a non-refundable fee of $75 (inc GST) by arrangement. For queries please contact Allyce Langton on 4732 7657 or Procurement@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au
Find out more about Council’s clean up events on our website penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/events ● Come to Jamison Park on Saturday, 3 March 2018 from
All submissions should be lodged on the forms provided in accordance with the lodgement instructions contained in the documents no later than 11am Wednesday, 21 March 2018 (‘the Closing Date’). EOIs received after this date will not be considered.
Illegal Dumping: Contact the EPA hotline on 131 555 and ask for the RID Squad (Regional Illegal Dumping Squad).
9am–12pm for Council’s free Microchipping Day to get your
Graffiti Hotline: Freecall 1800 022 182
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Construction of North Street Carpark and Roundabout
MEETING DATES
of age or before being sold or given away (whichever
Reference 17/18-23
Council Meetings
happens first).
26 February 2018 – 7pm (Ordinary Meeting)
For more information about the free Microchipping Day
Penrith City Council is seeking Tenders from suitably experienced contractors, for the remediation of land, the construction of North Street Carpark and to upgrade the intersection of Henry Street and Doonmore Street to a roundabout.
12 March 2018 – 7pm (Policy Review Committee)
free pet microchip and speak to officers from Council’s animal services department. Microchipping your dog or cat helps keep them safe and
call 4732 7543. ● Applications are now open for Penrith Council’s annual Student Exchange Ambassador Program with Fujieda City,
penrithcity.nsw.gov.au visitpenrith.com.au
Japan. The Ambassador Program gives young people (15–19 years) who live or attend school in Penrith, the opportunity to experience Japanese culture and the Japanese way of life through a reciprocal exchange
Pre-Tender Briefing: 9am Wednesday, 7 March 2018 followed by a site meeting. Visit penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/Our-Council/Tenders/ to register and download tender documents free of charge. Alternatively a hard copy is available for a non-refundable fee of $75 (inc GST) by arrangement. For queries please contact Allyce Langton on 4732 7657 or Procurement@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au
program. Students are invited to attend an information session about the program at 7pm on Wednesday, 21 March 2018 at the Penrith Civic Centre, 601 High Street, Penrith. For more information visit www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au
TENDER
All submissions should be lodged on the forms provided in accordance with the lodgement instructions contained in the documents no later than 11am Wednesday, 21 March 2018 (‘the Closing Date’). Tenders received after this date will not be considered.
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
PAGE TEN my Penrith
JOKE of the WEEK
Q: What do you call a round, green vegetable that breaks out of prison? A: An escapea
prize cupboard
F
Dick Moroff
ormidable country artist Jess Holland has recorded what is arguably the album that will define her career. Her third long-player – the sassy titled ‘Miss Demeanour’ – has been a labour of love to bring to fruition and the proverbial ‘blood, sweat and tears’ behind the release is evident in the finished product. It stands firm as an album that showcases a songwriter who knows themselves, has had a lot of opportunity for introspection and has funnelled this into inspiration, and is confident in their musical direction. ‘Miss Demeanour’ is the album that marks a turning point in Jess Holland’s career. It is sassy, full of honesty, heartache, introspection and what life is all about. Jess Holland’s new long-player ‘Miss Demeanour’ was independently released in January and officially launched at the 2018 Tamworth Country Music Festival. The Weekender has five copies of Jess Holland’s new album to give away. For your chance to win one, email competitions@westernweekender.com.au with ‘Jess’ in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your name and contact details. Entries close Thursday, March 1. Authorised under NSW Permit No LTPM/18/02771. Terms and conditions at www.westernweekender.com.au.
Penrith FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IN PENRITH? Penrith RSL FAVOURITE PLACE TO HAVE A COFFEE IN PENRITH? The Coffee Club FAVOURITE PLACE TO HAVE A DRINK IN PENRITH? Panthers Penrith FIRST PLACE YOU’D TAKE A VISITOR IN PENRITH? The river WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT PENRITH? The country town feel and the fact it’s got everything you want recreation wise WHAT IS PENRITH’S BEST KEPT SECRET? The variety in entertainment options
Macquarie Media is officially reviewing its Talking Lifestyle brand, perhaps on the verge of admitting defeat. Hopefully 2UE can return to its news/talk format that served it well for so many years.
We hear a family was forced to throw out packets of chips at Panthers Stadium last Saturday because they were too commercial and weren’t allowed into the ground. Talk about over-doing it!
Dose of Dorin
TAKE A NUMBER
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If you’ve dropped your phone on your face while scrolling in bed, you’re not alone. 40 per cent of people surveyed by Finder have experienced some kind of mobile phone mishap, proving our beloved devices can be a hazard to our health. In fact, the top phone fail is dropping it on your face while in bed, with more than one in five people (21 per cent) admitting to this potentially painful blunder in the last five years. A further 14 per cent have pocket dialled someone they shouldn’t have. Three per cent have damaged their phone while taking a selfie.
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the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
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Rail report makes several recommendations but there’s no quick fix to problems TROY DODDS
Sydney Trains and Transport for NSW Review into the rail network’s ability to recover from major incidents has recommended eight points of action, but admitted the system remains vulnerable to the legacy of hampered and tangled infrastructure. The Review was ordered by NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance after the rail network all but collapsed under the pressure of multiple incidents on January 8 and 9. “While network incidents and triple lightning strikes were the catalysts for the disruptions, the network was vulnerable because of two underlying issues,” Transport Secretary, Rodd Staples said. “Our rail network is complex and tangled, which means when things go wrong, flow-on effects can be crippling. “There were also underlying crew availability problems, caused by a number of factors, which meant we weren’t able to recover quickly by getting enough drivers where we needed them.” Sydney Trains Chief Executive Howard Collins said that delays experienced by customers should not have been so severe. “While the timetable has proven it
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Sydney’s train network remains vulnerable to more meltdowns like last month meets reliability targets during normal operation and routine incidents, when we have significant incidents our resources become stretched too quickly,” he said.
But Mr Collins defended the controversial implementation of the timetable last November. “With unprecedented growth in train
patronage meaning we need to carry more and more people every year, this is the timetable that Sydney needs,” he said. The new timetable is a stinker for Penrith residents who face longer journey times to the city. The removal of Redfern as a stop on Blue Mountains Line express services has also resulted in plenty of criticism. Actions recommended by the review include potential removal of a select number of non-peak services from the new timetable; accelerating recruitment of new drivers; working with unions to help simplify changeovers for crew and bringing in an independent rail expert to find ways to improve systems. Rail, Tram and Bus Union Secretary Alex Claassens said the report confirmed what the Union already knew. “We saw just how vulnerable our railway is on January 8 and 9 and today, the Government’s own report proves us right,” he said. “The operation of the new timetable depends on our train crew undertaking an unsustainable amount of overtime. After months of extraordinary pressure, the train crew have told us they’ve had enough.” The full report can be downloaded from our website at www.westernweekender. com.au.
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
“Tangled and complex”
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
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Police Snapshot COMPILED BY EMILY NEWTON
Emu Heights: Police investigate shooting that injured man
Police are appealing for information after a man was injured during a shooting at Emu Heights last weekend. At 4.35am on Saturday, February 17, police were called to a home in Hillcrest Road following reports of a shooting. Police from Nepean PAC found a man in his 30s, who had suffered a minor gunshot wound to his leg. The man was treated at the scene by Ambulance paramedics and transported to Nepean Hospital in a stable condition. Police established a crime scene and determined that three houses had been struck and officers recovered several bullet casings which will be forensically examined. A white 2017 VW Passat was recovered at Bringelly Road near Orth Street in Kingswood, possibly linked to the shooting. If any witnesses saw people interacting with the vehicle on Saturday from the early morning to about lunchtime, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Werrington: Man stole items from charity bins
A man driving without registration has been caught with stolen charity items in his vehicle. At 11.40pm on Saturday, February 17 a man was driving along Dunheved Road at Werrington. Police spoke to the driver, a 39-year-old man from Werrington, who was unable to produce his licence. Checks against the man revealed that the vehicle he was driving was unregistered. During a conversation with police, it was noticed that the man had items that were allegedly stolen from charity bins in his car. He was charged for driving unregistered and uninsured, and will face Penrith Local Court on Monday, March 12.
St Marys: Woman charged after police find illegal weapon A 23-year-old Cranebrook woman has
been caught with knuckle dusters after a police search. On Saturday, February 17 at about 5pm, police were at Henry Avenue, St Marys when they spoke to the woman. She was searched, and in her handbag police found the knuckle dusters and an amount of cannabis. She was charged with ‘Possess prohibited weapon’ and ‘Possess prohibited drug’ to appear in Penrith Local Court at a later date.
Colyton: Missing woman found in bushland at Minchinbury
A woman who was reported missing from Colyton last week has been located safe over the weekend. The 54-year-old woman was reported missing by relatives on Wednesday, February 14. An extensive search operation commenced involving local officers, the Police Rescue Squad, POLAIR and State Emergency Service personnel. The woman was located semi-conscious in dense bushland near Ropes Creek at Minchinbury about 10.45am on Saturday, February 17. She was given first-aid and taken by NSW Ambulance paramedics to Nepean Hospital where she remains in a stable condition. Police would also like to thank the public for their assistance.
Orchard Hills: Garage was housing a secret
In a garage at a house on Lansdowne Road, Orchard Hills police have discovered a small hydroponic set up. Police attended the house at 12.45pm on Monday, February 12 and searched the house and garage. A 33-year-old South Penrith man was arrested, and a further search located some ammunition. The man was charged with ‘Cultivate prohibited drug’ and ‘Possess ammunition’. He will face Penrith Local Court on Tuesday, March 6.
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Why can’t Turnbull sack Barnaby Joyce? The media has been overrun with the Barnaby Joyce saga in recent weeks. The controversy centres around revelations that Mr Joyce left his wife for Vikki Campion, a staffer 20 years his junior, who is now pregnant with his illegitimate love-child. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull originally came out publicly lambasting the media for dragging Mr Joyce’s private life in the public arena however the revelation that Mr Joyce may have called in political favours to give his pregnant mistress a high paying job with a political colleague has once again sent the Turnbull government into a freefall. Despite the obvious choice, getting rid of the gaffe-prone Deputy Prime Minister, legally, Turnbull cannot sack him. This is a result of Australia’s complex and convoluted legal and parliamentary systems. Put simply, the Liberal Party, a group typically made up of conservative individualists, have for the longest time been joined at the hip with the Nationals, made up of conservative countryfolk, operating under the banner of “the Coalition”. Despite the long-standing love-in however, they are distinct, separate political parties that operate independently of each other. So, despite holding the highest political office in the land, Liberal Prime Minister Turnbull cannot depose his deputy – that is up to the National Party if they wish to do so. This is as a result of the agreement that the Coalition operates under, the cornerstone of which is that the leader of the National Party is by default the
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Deputy Prime Minister. The Liberals get the benefit of leveraging the seats won by the Nationals at federal elections, and the Nationals get an element of control in return riding side-saddle to the PM. The rationale that forms the basis of the long-standing union is that the principles and policies of the Libs and the Nats have historically been largely in-sync. There are rumbles that the National Party are still considering sacking Barnaby Joyce as their leader however importantly this would simply be a PR exercise. Legally, Joyce cannot be sacked as a member of parliament unless evidence emerges of serious wrongdoing or ineligibility, for example, if the alleged nepotism turns out to be true. Even then, this whole saga is likely to simply be yet another storm in a teacup as the PM is a toothless tiger when in comes the leadership on the National Party. It is a disturbing state of affairs when you peel back the band-aid and see that in many ways, our Commander in Chief has no power over his deputy. No doubt however, the thirst to retain power will keep this dysfunctional couple in bed together – and I don’t mean Barnaby and Vikki.
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
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the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
St Clair local has worldly ambition EMILY NEWTON
t just 22, St Clair resident Leonie Nahhas is a future world leader to watch. Having recently completed a prestigious New Colombo Plan Scholarship awarded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to study psychology in Singapore, Ms Nahhas has her sights set on transforming the education system. “I was always interested in the human mind and understanding other people in the process,” she said. “Having gone through my own struggle with mental illness in the past, I wanted to understand it better.” The Plan gave Ms Nahhas opportunities to work on community development projects like mentoring, LifeSkills Training and assisting with a mental health program for cerebral palsy caregivers in Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, The Philippines and Indonesia. Having participated in projects targeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Quality Education and Good Health and Wellbeing, Ms Nahhas is looking at how she can make a difference with the next generation by infusing
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her psychology skills with her education experience. “I’m really interested in positive education,” she said. “How to get people from surviving to thriving, it’s about strengthening students through identifying their passions to enhance their wellbeing and happiness.” During her time overseas with the program, Ms Nahhas witnessed first hand the importance of building strong bonds between nations and cultures, deeper than economic ties. “Actually going out there in the field and meeting with partners in there, and locals, gives us a deeper understanding of the cultural traditions and customs to allow for a deeper connection,” she said. “Connecting with embassies and getting invited to speak at foreign events were amazing experiences where I got to understand Australia’s role.” With many world experiences already under her belt while in her early 20s, Ms Nahhas said she was constantly reaching out to others for support and guidance. “Having those mentors along the way kept me at ease and reassured me that everything was going to be OK, and everyone has a different path, and that there’s might be different to mine,” she said.
St Clair local Leonie Nahhas delivering a speech at the High Commission in Singapore
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17
Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
Penrith’s ‘Bee Man’ goes viral as locals call for help Carl Skinner has the Internet buzzing with amazing pictures of bee rescues EMILY NEWTON
W
ithout the humble little bee, it would only take three years before humans would begin to
perish. That’s what Carl ‘The Bee Man’ Skinner wants us to understand as he spreads his message to ‘save the bees’. “I’m a qualified horticulturist by trade, I’ve been doing that for about 15 years,” he said. “As times progress, I’ve noticed we’re putting a lot more plants in the ground that aren’t reproducing by themselves. “Clients are spending a lot of money to replace plants, but why? And the answer is bees. Without pollination nothing grows.” For this reason, about three years ago Mr Skinner took his skills and applied them to rescuing and rehoming bees. He is currently taking care of over 20 hives at two different locations in the local area. “Inside of a beehive, there is roughly 35,000 to 45,000 bees,” he said. “Within three years of bees not being on the planet, we would start perishing because everything revolves around the little bee. “If no pollination happens, cows can’t eat and we won’t have any meat. There’ll be no fruit or vegetables, even Australian native trees flower and need pollination.” Mr Skinner is quickly becoming a well known icon in Penrith, with his interesting and bizarre bee rescues that have seen him go viral online. “The Penrith area is growing rapidly,
Carl Skinner is building a reputation for rescuing bees that have landed in sticky situations. Photo: Melinda Jane we’re knocking down a lot of natural habitats,” he said. “A lot of the bees are recently looking for alternative places to live, hence why I’m getting call outs to walls, people’s roofs, barbecues. “If they’ve got nowhere native they can live, they’ve got to find somewhere.
“Prior to me starting this, people would give pest control a call, and they would go out there and eliminate whole colonies,” he said. “Instead of calling pest control, give me a call and I will come out and rescue those bees. If they sting you, they die, and the last thing they want to do is die.”
After rescuing the bees, Mr Skinner also sells their fresh, pure honey for locals to enjoy. Keep up to date with The Bee Man’s rescues online at www.facebook.com/ penrithbeeman. Do you have a unique job? Tell us about it: news@westernweekender.com.au.
Take the pledge and cut phone use The extraordinary amount of time we’re spending on our devices LAUREN SUTTIE
here’s a lot a person could do in 38 days. They could go on a holiday, learn a new language or write a short novel. Yet a recent survey conducted by Huawei and Decibel Research found that Australians are spending that amount of time in front of their smartphone screens. The nationwide survey showed that the average Australian spends 2.5 hours per day on their smartphones, an equivalent of 38 days a year. Tapas Senepati, founder of not-for-profit organisation MoodOff, said it was a wakeup call seven years ago that lead him to make a change in his life. “I was texting while driving just for a moment and I had a small accident and then I realised this is becoming a real issue,” he said.
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Relieving Principal of St Clair High School Sally Smithard with students
Acknowledging that smartphone addiction was becoming a bigger issue within society, Mr Senepati started MoodOff Day, an annual event that asks people, particularly young Australians, to take a pledge and turn off their smartphones. St Clair High School recently tightened up their phone policy, but Relieving Principal Sally Smithard said banning students from using their devices wasn’t the right answer to curbing phone use. “We don’t want to ban them altogether because we don’t think that works. If your employer banned that from your work place you would have a reaction, so for us it’s more about how we can use it to support teaching and learning,” she said. “We have implemented a program called Stymie where kids can make anonymous online notifications about bullying.” For more information about MoodOff Day on February 25 and to take the pledge, visit www.moodoffday.org.
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
275OHHH... How Penrith is proving to be one of the romance capitals of Australia LAUREN SUTTIE
ho needs ‘Sex and the City’ when you’ve got sex in the Riff? Penrith has recently been given the title of the most steamiest and sexiest place in the country – well, when it comes to books at least. New research released by the romance book publisher Mills and Boon has revealed that 11,000 of its books were sold in Penrith last year, making it the suburb with the most sales Australia-wide. Local Penrith romance author, Cathryn Hein, said the appeal of escaping the mundane routine of everyday life was what drew women to this world of fiction. “The thing with romance novels is that these stories are for women, written mostly by women, that explore women’s strength and issues,” she said. “Our lives are so busy and we’ve got so many distractions and this is just something that women can read for themselves and have that little moment of feeling good and escaping.” It comes as no surprise then that the most popular genre of books sold last year
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in Penrith was the Modern genre, a genre of stories that whisk readers away to their ultimate fantasies. And while it is easy to assume that each of their books contain sexual storylines, Mills and Boon publisher Kita Kemp said that a lot of their novels still keep to the more traditional, softer love story. While Ms Hein’s novels fit into the rural romance genre, she does admit that some of her characters still have a sexier side, but believes that’s the best thing about romance fiction as it caters to all women’s wants. “The degree of sex does vary in my books, most of the time the door is closed but certain characters lend themselves to leaving the door open,” she said. “There are genres within romance to suit every taste out there and readers who read them know they will feel good at the end of them.” With the Fifty Shades epidemic bringing this genre into the spotlight, Ms Kemp believes it has also enabled readers to stop ‘hiding in the closet’ when reading a steamy book. “It has definitely brought romance to the forefront having the Fifty Shades phenom-
Penrith romance writer, Cathryn Hein. Photo: Melinda Jane enon, but obviously Mills and Boon have been around for so long and we’ve had a steady stream of readers for decades that it just makes it more acceptable,” she said. The latest research was released as part of Mills and Boon’s newest DARE collec-
tion, one that Ms Kemp said is the book publisher’s steamiest to date. “DARE is probably the hottest series we’ve had for a long time and that reflects modern women of today wanting what they want and taking charge,” she said.
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
No more revolving door High hopes for new rehabilitation units that aim to cut rates of re-offending new rehabilitation unit in Berkshire Park has been built to help reduce re-offending rates in NSW by targeting female inmates and their reintegration into society. The purpose built unit at Dillwynia Correctional Centre is one of 10 High Intensity Program Units (HIPU) planned for seven correctional centres across the state, which aim to get the lives of inmates back on track. Services and Programs Officer at Dillwynia Correctional Centre’s HIPU, Sandra Narayan, said the plan for the units had come as a result of community concern about local re-offending rates. “This is an initiative put out by Corrective Services in response to that community concern and we believe it is going to be effective,” she said. “Some ladies and men have had some challenging experiences in their lives and so it can be difficult, but we are trying to remove the normal barriers faced.” The unique 40-place unit focuses on delivering treatment, education and programs to female inmates, which cover topics such as addiction, aggression and domestic abuse.
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Sandra Narayan from Dillwynia Correctional Centre. Photo: Melinda Jane
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• Special Needs Learn to Swim classes
Lunches are appreciated
• Aquarobics including Aquanatal • Public Swimming • Swim Coaching and Competitive Swimming • Birthday Parties • Speedo Swim Shop
Come and get Fit with us in Feb!
This sort of stuff should be part of the test to get your licence, somehow three point turns and reverse parking are more important than tyre condition and pressures etc (Young drivers urged to check it, Weekender February 16). LINDSAY MATTHEWS, VIA FACEBOOK
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I’m in two minds over all the free breakfasts and lunches (Lunch packed with care, Weekender February 16). I would buy any child food if they needed it and there are so many children sent to school hungry with no food for the day. School is often the safe happy place BUT by doing all these free meals we are letting the parents off the hook! We should (someone should) be making the parents accountable and responsible for caring properly for their own children. I don’t have a solution but I think we are creating a bigger problem. CHERYL MCFARLANE, VIA FACEBOOK
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Minister for Corrections, David Elliott, said the HIPU’s were part of a four-year strategy that demonstrated the NSW Government’s commitment to reducing recidivism. “This program targets inmates on short sentences who often have limited or no access to rehabilitation while in custody,” he said. “It is based on a set of behaviour change programs and strategies that has shown to be the most effective in reducing a person’s chance of re-offending and increasing their ability to reintegrate successfully into the community.” While it is still early days for the program, with the first group starting just four weeks ago at the Dillwynia Centre, Ms Narayan said the response shown by those participating had so far been very impressive. Ms Narayan added that the biggest benefit of the unit was that it acted as a one-stop-shop where female inmates had the opportunity to build relationships with outside local support services. “The inmates sometimes have poor ability to build rapport when there are a lot of service providers,” she said. “When you’ve got very selective people, rapport can be built very quickly and with that change can happen.”
LAUREN SUTTIE
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As a teacher of these students that receive these lunches, I know how important they are to the families when they don’t have money to buy their large families a lot of food. Having these sandwiches and fruit allows these students an
opportunity to eat throughout the day. Thank you all so much for your effort. NICOLE ROCK, VIA FACEBOOK
Barnaby should survive On the Richter Scale of Australian political “crises”, this one wouldn’t even upset a shelf of crockery, but for the media and his opponents rocking the shelf in an effort to create bigger aftershocks seems to be what’s happening here (Editor’s Desk, Weekender February 16). I hope he survives, because as far as I am aware, he hasn’t committed any crime. Nor is he the first Australian Deputy PM or PM to be found wanting in certain moral areas. As for the world at large... even Israel’s PM could face criminal charges for bribery and corruption, according to yesterday’s news. He has no intention of resigning. ROB WEAVER, VIA FACEBOOK
Keep it in your pants! For me the big concern with Barnaby Joyce is that the Deputy Prime Minister of our country wasn’t smart enough to either use protection, or to keep it in his pants in the first place! It does not really show a measured person, which you would expect the Deputy Prime Minister to be. SARAH SMITH, VIA EMAIL
The Western Weekender reserves the right to edit letters for the sake of accuracy and space. For more information, see our public notices section.
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
Relief on the way as Council announces more parking LOCAL NEEDS MET BY LOCAL PEOPLE
Community Connection NEPEAN
HOME
START
A new car park will be built at Soper Place in the Penrith CBD. Photo: Melinda Jane n additional 800 car spots are set for Penrith, with plans well underway to support the city’s local business workers, shoppers and commuters. Plans are underway for the development of two new car parks near Penrith’s CBD, bringing the total number of parking spaces across these two sites to more than 1100 spaces. The new car parks will be located at Soper Place and North Street. Penrith Mayor John Thain said the new car parks are a win for the area.
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“While these car parks will provide additional space, parking across the city remains a complex issue,” he said. Design plans for the new multi-deck car park at Soper Place are currently being sought by Council, with tender submissions from interested parties due by the end of February. Construction of an additional longterm temporary car park at North Street, between Evan Street and Doonmore Street, will deliver around 230 unrestricted car parking spaces by the end of this year.
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Jason Kennedy and Samantha Bills 18 with Steve ‘Commando’ Willis from former Channel Ten reality series ‘The Biggest Loser’, jumping on a bike and taking part. Having battled depression himself after leaving the armed services, the cause is close to his heart with colleagues from his army unit having previously taken their own lives. For more information, email Jason Kennedy at penrith@blackdogride.com. au.
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veryone knows someone who has been visited by the black dog – depression. That’s why local motorcyclist Jason Kennedy is one of hundreds taking part in the annual Black Dog Ride 1 Dayer next month. Mr Kennedy sees the ride as a great way to get people talking about mental health without fear of stigma. “My partner has suffered depression and I lost a very close friend to suicide a few years ago,” he said. “One in five people in Australia suffer depression, but only 50 per cent of them do something to get help.” Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians under the age of 45, with eight Australians tragically taking their lives every day. This year’s Penrith 1 Dayer is expected to be huge, with plenty of first time riders taking part. “This year, the funds raised will go to Penrith Headspace and we’re concentrating on youth because we’ve seen a rise in youth suicides,” Mr Kennedy said. “There’s over 200 registered already, and we’re expecting in excess of 600 motorcycles, so we could see 700 people on the ride.” Big crowds are expected to join riders at Penrith Panthers on Sunday, March
MTV Bathroom Centre
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
Tackling the ‘black dog’ one motorcycle at a time
FREE EVENT
DROP OFF DAY Grab your old, broken and unwanted electrical items and bring them down to Jamison Park to be recycled for free.
Sunday 4 March | 9am - 3.30pm Jamison Park penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/events
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
Two hours to shop or face fines EMILY NEWTON
ocal shoppers at Lennox Village were confused to see their car park now has two-hour timed parking. Councillor Karen McKeown was among the shocked locals struggling to understand why the centre, which almost always has parking spots available, has introduced a time limit. “All we know is that these new signs went up on the doors [on Monday], and each of the shops got small signs to put on their counters that say ‘two hour parking for your convenience’,” she said. “I don’t know who that is convenient to, it’s certainly not to the shoppers.” A spokesperson from Lennox Village said the timed parking was to ensure customers have access to convenient car parking whenever they visit. “We have introduced timed parking in response to feedback from our customers and retailers who have told us the car park at Lennox Village has become congested by commuters using the bus terminal, who leave their vehicles at the centre all day,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said signs were installed this week with warning notices
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to be issued to drivers “for the next month, at least.” Cr McKeown finds it hard to believe many, if any, people park their car to then catch a bus elsewhere for the whole day. “If it happens I would say it would be a minute handful of people who would do that,” she said. “It’s crazy, we’re in a largely residential area, it’s ideally placed for local people to come and shop. I can’t see why they would be trying to drive people out in under two hours.” Emu Plains resident for 30 years, Julie Plimmer, said she’s never seen the car park full, excluding the Christmas period. “Two hours, what’s that about? It was my hairdresser who alerted me to the time limit,” she said. “To have a cut and highlights put through, you will sit there for an hour and a half at least. “If we’ve got to look at putting a time limit on, why are we not doing something like three hours?” When asked why Lennox Village has two hour and not three hour parking like Nepean Village, which is managed by the same company, the spokesperson did not provide an answer. Secure Parking is managing the changes.
Karen McKeown and Julie Plimmer are perplexed by the Lennox Village parking limit
Local Business Awards has a new home The highly respected Penrith Local Business Awards has a new media home, with the Western Weekender on board as the concept’s new media partner. The Weekender is also a media partner for the St Marys / Mt Druitt Local Business Awards. Both 2018 events will be held later this year. “We are happy to partner with the Local
Business Awards, which has a long and successful history here in Penrith and St Marys,” said Weekender Sales Director, Chris Pennisi. “We are looking forward to working with nominees, finalists and winners to help boost their profile in the local area. “As the area’s leading local newspaper, it is a natural fit for us to partner with the Local Business Awards.”
Roads and Maritime Services
Night Work and Ramp Closures M4 at The Northern Road, South Penrith from Friday 23 February 2018 Roads and Maritime Services is building a new bridge over the M4 Motorway at the Northern Road, South Penrith as part of The Northern Road upgrade between Glenmore Parkway, Glenmore Park and Jamison Road, South Penrith. Work includes installing temporary barriers, building temporary access roads and concrete platforms, earthwork, building retaining walls, transporting equipment, clearing vegetation, installing or changing signage and line marking. During this work, the M4 on and off ramps at The Northern Road will be closed between 10pm and 8am on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 February 2018 - westbound on-ramp to the M4 Motorway and eastbound off-ramp to The Northern Road. Detours during The Northern Road ramp closures will be in place re-directing people to the Kent Road and Mulgoa Road M4 Motorway ramps. Please visit the Roads and Maritime website to view the detour maps.
This closure will be carried out at night when traffic volumes are lower to minimise impact on traffic and safety of the travelling public. Thank you for your patience during this important work.
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For more information please call our delivery partner Lendlease on 1800 870 665 or email tnr.community@lendlease.com or visit rms.nsw.gov.au/wsip
BLZ136138
Detours and closures may affect travel times, please keep to speed limits and follow the direction of detour signs and traffic controllers.
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Mayor’s News The weekly views of Penrith’s Mayor
New Jordan Springs Community Hub I am thrilled to announce that in March we will be opening a brand new, high quality community facility at Jordan Springs. The Jordan Springs Community Hub is the first of its kind in Penrith and offers the local community a fantastic new venue. It has been built using sustainable materials including specialised wood and solar panels, which make it comfortable to use all year round and helps reduce the building’s running costs. The Hub is designed to be a multifunctional space that can be easily used by the community for group meetings and activities, and special events like birthday parties. But we also want to make sure it’s a good neighbour to those who live nearby, so we’ve put strict rules in place to manage events and use of the facility. Neighbourhood Centres and Hubs have a long tradition of providing a meeting place for neighbours to build
their community, and I’m excited to continue that tradition with the new Hub at Jordan Springs. Council’s Neighbourhood Facilities team will manage the new Hub, and volunteers from U3A Nepean Blue Mountains Inc. will help keep the Hub open during the week for people to use. Volunteers are such an important part of activating community spaces like this and bringing them to life, so it’s wonderful to know that we’ve got a lot of enthusiastic volunteers involved already. Council’s Facilities team will be holding open house sessions during March to introduce the community to the state of the art facility, enjoy some delicious refreshments and share the vision for the hub and how the community can make use of its unique design and stunning spaces. Find out more about Council’s Neighbourhood Centres on our website.
CR JOHN THAIN Mayor of Penrith
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: Keep up to date with all the local breaking news, sport and more by ‘liking’ us on Facebook. Visit www.facebook.com/ westernweekender.
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
Shade sails are a very hot topic EMILY NEWTON
enrith has experienced a summer of record breaking heat, and while many adults can find comfort in an air conditioned workplace, local kids are desperately avoiding playtime under the scorching sun. Following an influx of announcements from politicians and corporations providing funds for shade sails, the Weekender asked the NSW Department of Education what measures were in place for students to combat the heat. “The Department of Education does not provide shade-cloth structures over playground equipment,” a spokesperson said. “Schools can use their funding or fundraising to install shade-cloth structures. “COLAs (Covered Outdoor Learning Areas) are installed by the department. These can be nominated by school principals for inclusion in future capital works programs against competing priorities.” While the department has design standards that recommend sustainable and cost effective approaches to improving thermal comfort in schools, these measures are included in the construction of schools, leaving plenty of established
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local schools with limited suitable shade for the hot weather, forcing students to seek solace with indoor play. Limitations exist around air conditioning too as Penrith experiences rapidly rising temperatures. “The department has an Air Cooling Policy that is designed with equity in mind, ensuring that schools with the greatest need for air conditioning are prioritised,” the spokesperson said. “The policy aims to cool all habitable spaces in schools located in areas that have a mean maximum January temperature of 33 degrees Celsius or higher.” According to the Bureau of Meteorology, in January the monthly mean maximum temperature in Penrith was 34.8 degrees, the highest on record. In 2017, it was also high at 33.9 degrees, a significant difference to 10 years ago in 2008 when the monthly mean maximum temperature in the local area for January was 29.1 degrees. “Schools with a mean maximum January temperature between 30 and 33 degrees Celsius are eligible to apply for air cooling for permanent spaces,” the spokesperson said. “Funding applications for these types of projects are assessed and prioritised
Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres recently presented the Rotary Club of the Lower Blue Mountains a grant of $16,335 to go towards shade sails at the old Glenbrook Public School. Below: Londonderry MP Prue Car presents a cheque to Council for a shade sail against competing projects across all NSW public schools.” In the past few weeks, Member for Londonderry Prue Car, Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres and waste management company SUEZ have all donated money towards building shade sails in the local area. The Department suggests that parents can help kids who might be feeling the heat by sending children to school with a water bottle, ensuring a hat is packed and applying sunscreen before school.
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
Masters of the kitchen Ropes Crossing foodie keen to help crush western Sydney stigma EMILY NEWTON
opes Crossing’s very own Pat Senteleky is making western Sydney proud as she battles it out on Channel Seven’s hit cooking series ‘My Kitchen Rules’. At 61, Ms Senteleky has been a fan of the reality series since it first aired, with her appearance a tick off her bucket list. “I’ve been saying it for a long time, I always wanted to go on this show, I love it,” she told the Weekender. “Every year I kept putting it off and forgetting about it, and I finally did it. I was so excited to get through, it’s just a great achievement.” Taking the heat from the kitchen to the dining table, Ms Senteleky appears on the show alongside her daughter, Louisa. “I had to twist her arm a little bit, she was a little bit reluctant,” she said. “I said to her it’s going to be fantastic, it will be the best thing ever, and it was, it was great.” While she enjoys cooking, there was something else that encouraged Ms Senteleky to take part in the show dubbed ‘MKR’. “I have a greater passion for eating,” she laughed.
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Ropes Crossing resident Pat Senteleky and her daughter Louisa Senteleky on Channel Seven’s ‘My Kitchen Rules’
“I do love cooking, especially when you’ve got your ingredients all organised and ready. “When you have everything at your fingertips, it’s a great achievement to be able to put a beautiful meal on the table.” She hopes that being on ‘My Kitchen Rules’ will reduce the stigma she thinks people attach to being from the western suburbs of Sydney. “They sort of say that we’re not connoisseurs, but we are, we like creating great meals just as much as anyone from the east, north or south,” Ms Senteleky said. “The fact I got on the show, I think I’m doing them proud. Win, lose, fail or succeed, that doesn’t mater, I got through representing the west.” Enjoying every moment of her journey, Ms Senteleky says the feedback she’s received from her daughter’s friends is that she is “adorable”. “What you see on TV is exactly what I am, Peter Pan syndrome, I never grew up,” she laughed. “I’ve taken it as a great, fun ride, I’ve been places I had never been before, and I met wonderful people.” The mother and daughter duo lit up the stove tops on Wednesday, February 21. ‘My Kitchen Rules’ airs Sunday through to Thursday on Channel Seven.
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Western Sydney University to proudly march in Mardi Gras EMILY NEWTON
elebrating the love, more than 70 students, staff and alumni of Western Sydney University (WSU) will participate in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade next weekend. One proud student participating in the parade on Saturday, March 3, is Penrith’s Rowena Bellingham, who identifies as bisexual. “I am marching for LGBTIQ people, I’m marching for them and for myself,” she said. “I want to show that it’s an important part of pride, western Sydney loves everyone no matter what their status is.” This is Ms Bellingham’s second year participating in Mardi Gras, describing last year as “a lot of fun”. “I am one of the dancers this year, last year I was a marcher,” she said. “Mardi Gras is a good way to let everything go, you don’t have to hide behind anyone and you can just be yourself.” And she speaks from personal experience. “Last year I told someone about marching in the Mardi Gras, and I actually got laughed at,” she said. “This year I am taking part because I am who I am, and if you don’t like it, tough.”
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Rowena Bellingham is proudly taking part in the Mardi Gras. Photo: Melinda Jane Ms Bellingham no longer has contact with the person who laughed at her. Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras began as a protest in 1978 and, over the past 40 years, has evolved into a powerful celebration of our diverse and resilient lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer communities. This will be the fourth year WSU has marched at Mardi Gras, with this year’s float theme of ‘Love Unlimited’. Ms Bellingham, who is also the Queer
Officer for WSU’s Hawkesbury Campus, is letting students know that support is available. Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover said WSU is strongly committed to the equality of its LGBTIQ students and staff. “As a vibrant and diverse intellectual community, Western Sydney University is proud to promote a culture that is inclusive of sexual and gender diversity,” he said.
SATURDAY
Festival gets REAL boost Penrith’s REAL Festival will benefit from NSW Government funding under the 2018 Flagship Event Fund, aimed at attracting more visitors to experience regional NSW. Penrith MP Stuart Ayres said the Fund, managed by the State’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, provides grants to support marketing activities that drive overnight visitation. “I am delighted that Penrith City Council will receive $20,000 under the 2018 Flagship Event Fund for the REAL Festival to be held in November this year,” Mr Ayres said. “We look forward to welcoming many more visitors to Penrith as a result of this exciting event, helping to further position our region as a must-see destination in NSW.” Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said Penrith’s REAL Festival was one of 35 events and festivals across regional NSW that will receive grants through the 2018 Flagship Event Fund.
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
A celebration of diversity
Penrith Deputy Mayor Tricia Hitchen joined Stuart Ayres at the River this week
17TH MARCH
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
Hot meals and a chat Penrith Community Kitchen has been serving locals for two decades LAUREN SUTTIE
t has been 20 years since the Penrith Community Kitchen became a registered charity. Since then local volunteers have provided a safe place for hundreds of homeless and underprivileged individuals to come and have a hot meal and a chat. One of the current coordinators at the Community Kitchen, Cathy Craig, has been volunteering with the project for the past 25 years, starting back when it was just a soup kitchen. “My children had finished school and had moved on, so I decided to look for some volunteer work,” she said. “I saw an ad in the local paper for volunteers in a local soup kitchen, so off I went.” Ms Craig, who coordinates the kitchen three days each week, said the best memories over the years came from seeing people get their lives back on track. “There was one gentleman who came in for about two and a half months and he came one day and gave me a fruit bowl as a way of trying to give back to the kitchen and I said ‘No please keep it’,” she said. “Then about four or five months later he came back in again and thanked me for all we had done.
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Volunteers at Penrith Community Kitchen on Wednesday. Photo: Melinda Jane “They are the memories that you sort of think about the most, the people who found it so difficult to walk in and they’ve overcome their hardships and they’re just so grateful that they were able to get that help through their hard time.” To mark the special anniversary, the Kitchen will be holding a morning tea
next Wednesday, February 28, where they will celebrate the incredible efforts of the volunteers and Board members who have enabled the charity to continue operating for all those years. Board member of the Kitchen and CEO of Penrith CBD Corporation, Gai Hawthorn said that it was an achievement that
everyone should be proud of in the Penrith community given how much it relies on volunteers. “It’s only a bunch of volunteers with a very small Board, so the fact they have continuously fed up to 800 people every day for 20 years, they should be amazed,” she said.
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114th running of ‘The Country Show’ proves tradition thrives in Luddenham he community of Luddenham came out in force last weekend for the 114th Luddenham Show. The wet shows of the past few years were replaced by heat and drought-like conditions for this year’s show. Despite this large numbers of very high quality livestock took home the prestigious ribbons and trophies. Record entries in the arts and crafts section saw the pavilion filled to overflowing with everything from pre-schoolers’ finger paintings to beautiful handcrafted saddles, crocheted rugs and woodwork to home cooking, scrapbooking, photography and even homebrew getting a run. ‘The Country Show’ held on to its traditions with events such as sheepdog trials, wood chopping, antique sulky racing and a bull ride whilst bringing in new attractions to sideshow alley and talent quests. The featured attraction, the amazing HLS trick riding travelled all the way down from Queensland especially to entertain at the show and had young and old alike on the edge of their seats at the plucky stunts aboard their galloping steads.
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the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
Huge crowds flock to Luddenham Show
One of the real highlights was the ever-popular demolition derby, which had the crowd on its feet roaring and cheering
Away from the arena two full days of stage entertainment was headlined by The Cool on Saturday night. Having toured as Diesel’s support act this band definitely added a bit of rock to the proceedings. “The committee would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended over the weekend as well as those who entered any of the classes and sections of competition,” a spokesperson for the show said. “Also huge thanks must go to the supports and many volunteers who loaned a hand not just over the weekend but in the weeks leading up to the show.” One of the real highlights was the everpopular demolition derby, which had the crowd on their feet. The last vehicle left standing represented Luddenham Public School, which brought a huge roar from the local crowd watching on.
Locals absolutely loved the Luddenham Show last weekend
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
“Our Family Caring For Your Family”
Supremacy Funerals is family owned and operated by Sisters Donna Hildon and Belinda Erich. Our family has been conducting funerals and serving families of the Blue Mountains and Penrith area for three generations. Our Mother, Yvonne Meehan, owned and operated Lady of Grace Funerals in Emu Plains for twelve years before her retirement in 2013. Belinda, Donna and their families now operate at Supremacy Funerals located in the heart of Penrith, in a traditional funeral parlour with a unique in-house chapel, seating over 200 people. Our Chapel is fully air conditioned with large digital TV screens, ideal for photo story presentations. Our Chapel is non-denominational and can be used for religious or non-religious burial or cremation services. Our purpose-built funeral home also has its own mortuary, so your loved one will remain with us in our care, until the day of the funeral. Supremacy has many comfortable family rooms and offices, however, all funeral arrangements can be made in the comfort of your own home.
Donna and Belinda understand the financial stress of organising a funeral, at Supremacy, we do not require deposits and send the account out after the funeral, to allow the family to focus on making their last goodbye as special as it can be without the worry of payment. Considering a Pre-paid funeral? Talk to us about your pre-paid funeral options, pay today's funeral prices with no extra cost in the future, protect your family and loved ones from the emotional and financial stress. We have payment plans available and your money is secured safely in a trust, furthermore, your investment is not deemed an asset so it can help maximise your pension entitlements. Talk to us first before considering funeral insurance. For Superior Funeral Care at Affordable Prices Call 4721 2020 Or visit or Website or Facebook Page for more images and information www.supremacyfunerals.com.au email: Info@supremacyfunerals.com.au
Open 7 Days 24 Hours Belinda Erich | Donna Hildon 44 Station Street Penrith 30
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the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
More jobs for the west as Fujitsu makes a big move
Overwhelming result for local HeartKids fundraiser LAUREN SUTTIE
he’s the local mum who set out to raise a few thousand dollars for the charity supporting her daughter’s journey living with congenital heart disease. And thanks to the generosity of the local community, Jodie Heterick and her family exceeded all expectations, raising over $13,500 for HeartKids. “I think within the first hour we sort of made what I was expecting the whole day, so I knew it was going to be a pretty incredible day,” said Ms Heterick, who was profiled in the Weekender earlier this month. Despite temperatures hitting over 40 degrees, the community came out in full force to donate as well as share their own heart stories at the fundraiser last Wednesday. “It was emotional for me because sometimes you feel really alone in this journey and then to see that there are others and we can support each other as well was really nice to see,” Ms Heterick said. CEO of HeartKids, Mark Brooke, said that it was the effort by people like Ms Heterick that enabled the charity to continue helping those in need. “It is only through community donations and fundraising initiatives by our HeartKids community that we are able to continue to deliver the vital support
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Ray Waterhouse, Priscilla Waterhouse, Philip Perham, Mark Taylor, and Andrew Noble at the sod turning EMILY NEWTON
ujitsu General Australia’s new national headquarters is headed for Eastern Creek in a 5-star Green Star energy rated building. The start of construction was celebrated on February 15, with the new 11,093sqm building set to provide additional space to encourage business growth and increase employment opportunities in the region. Philip Perham of Fujistu General said it will improve operational and distribution
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efficiencies across the national Fujitsu General network. “The development will provide space and resource for Fujitsu General’s continued growth in the air conditioning market,” he said. “The new office design will include a Fujitsu General showroom, on-site gymnasium, auditorium and outside green areas, which will encourage innovation, development and strengthen our ‘people first’ culture.” Construction is due for completion in December.
Jodie Heterick with daughter Reeve services to families affected by congenital heart disease,” he said. Ms Heterick said that she was so thankful for those who helped or donated. “I can’t thank you all enough for the generosity of the people in the local area,” she said. “Whether it was the people that read the newspaper and came down to meet Reeve or the big businesses donating what they could to help such a special organisation, it just goes to show that when everyone pulls together this is the outcome,” she said.
SEE Foundation – Providing DisAbility support with a difference! SEE Foundation is a small disability provider in the Activity hub of Penrith, we are NDIS registered and provide a completely inclusive and unique approach to supporting people with All Abilities. This approach is based on the premise that disability support is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution resulting in supports and activities that change with each person’s ongoing changing needs and interests. We believe that everyone has the right to live their very best life and we are here to help you achieve that with: DAY PROGRAM: We have vacancies now activities or that ballet or drama class you in our specialised and unique day program have been wanting to take. where there is no overcrowding, no SATURDAY GROUP: Join our fun filled understaffing and no admin charges. Just Saturday program aimed at socialisation, high quality unique service tailored to your money and travel skills whilst enjoying fun needs. activities like Bowling, Painting, Cooking, ACCESS TO COMMUNITY, SOCIAL & Swimming, Horse Riding, Mini Golf and RECREATION ACTIVITIES: We can assist more. you engage in the community by connecting The time is now to experience the difference and supporting you to undertake leisure that comes with a provider that has that and sporting activities, health and wellness small community and family feel . . . So if you are yet to use your NDIS plan or ready to change your supports call SEE Foundation now phone 4721 1966. Also visit our Website for our full range of services and supports at
www.seefoundation.com.au WW32451
SEE FOUNDATION | UNIT 3, 69 YORK ROAD, JAMISONTOWN | 4721 1966 (Entrance off Batt street (inside the Abcoe Centre) with easy access to the fun of Bowling, Flip Out, Jamison Park and more . . .
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Friday, February 23, 2018 ÂŤ the western weekender
CLEAR the shelters 23 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 25 February 2018
Help us Clear the Shelters this weekend by taking home a new furry family member from just $29* Whether it be a dog, cat or pocket pet, take home a new furry friend and give an animal their loving forever home. Animals usually priced at $30 or less will be available for free. RSPCA NSW wants to ensure every animal is rehomed with the perfect family, so standard adoption procedures will still apply. * Please contact your local RSPCA shelter for more information. Range of animals available and adoption fee will vary across locations.
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Nurse who did the Penrith region proud Dale Drinkwater looks at the incredible life of Adelaide Maude Kellett, a Penrith local who played a significant role in the first World War...
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enrith was at the heart of many strong women who played an integral part in World War I by aiding the wounded on the ground and on the sea. In 1914, 35-year-old Adelaide Maude Kellett left her family and friends in Penrith and joined the Australian Army Nursing Service voluntarily, and by September that year had joined the Australian Imperial Forces as a Sister. One month later, Sister Kellett was chosen to go abroad with the First Expedition Force and head to an “unknown destination” serving in a role she believed she was fortunate to have. In her own accounts, Kellett described the fleet of 44 ships she travelled with as a grand sight, as they arranged in three straight lines and were supported by four battleships. Kellett experienced days of calm on the ship, where she would treat patients that suffered pneumonia and appendicitis just as comfortably as she would in an operation room on land. However, she said at night nurses struggled to work with a precautionary “lights out” rule that was in place across the ships. In November, one of the accompanying battleships, the HMAS Sydney was called out to fight the Imperial German Navy’s SMS Emden that aimed to raid the Cocos Islands. Kellett described excitement in the air as ships signalled to each other updates on the battle, and with the sound of “God Save the King”, they knew the Emden was defeated. This battle took patients’ lives that the nurses couldn’t save, and Kellett witnessed her first sea burial which she said was “much more impressive” than
burying on land. Full lights were allowed on the ships now the Emden was destroyed, making it easier for nurses to work on patients who had suffered through an epidemic of
Ptomaine poisoning as they crossed the Indian Ocean. It was not until their fleet reached Aden, Yemen, in December 1914, that the nurses had any idea where they were going and
were excited to hear they were to disembark at Alexandria, Egypt. Sister Kellet was in charge of the operating theatre at the No. 2 Australian General Hospital that was set up at Mena House in Cairo until September 1915, and then was appointed to the Gascon, a hospital ship that transported wounded soldiers from Gallipoli, Turkey, to Lemnos, Greece. Kellett said the view of ANZAC Cove from the ship’s deck was “indeed a most picturesque of sight and one could hardly realise what a deadly inferno it was, until the guns began to talk”. She said as one of the night Sisters, her patients arrived in barges around 6pm and she would treat them into the darkness. “My cases were all walkers and were accommodated on the deck, thus I had a good view of that night’s military operations,” she wrote. Kellett’s naivety and innocence as a nurse led her to see beauty in the star shell projectiles that would soar across the sky, as they would burst and float mid-air in greens and reds and white – not realising until later that they were war signals. She feared the firing and said she was relieved to see so few wounded when the barges arrived the next morning. “The poor boys, no matter what their wound of illness was, felt, once they reached the ship, their troubles were ended,” she wrote. “Their gratitude for the little you would do for them was simply wonderful, and their great patience was an object lesson to us all.” In 1916, The Nepean Times updated the community on Kellett’s achievements and extended a congratulations to her for being awarded the Royal Red Cross. “[The award to Ms Kellett is] extremely pleasing to the public of Penrith, as Matron Kellett is a native of the town, and in her girlhood attended the Penrith Superior Public School,” it reported. It took two months of travel for Kellett to return from service, arriving in Sydney in October 1919. She continued her nursing career as Matron of Sydney Hospital until 1944. Kellett died in April 1945, and her name is on Penrith’s St Stephen’s Anglican Church memorial.
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
TURNING BACK TIME
W E’l l M a k e it
HAPPEN LOCAL SAFE RELIABLE PROFESSIONAL
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CALL PHIL:
0413 577 817
www.dixonscranes.com.au
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
BUSINESS Releasing the talent within your business
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Apps that will help manage your social media accounts
Phil Voysey // OneGroup Leadership
Emma Gosper // Western Sydney Business Centre
0457 999 987 | onegroupleadership.com.au
4721 5011 | info@wsbusiness.com.au
ave you worked in organisations where structures, systems and organisational culture conspired to thwart initiative, creativity and engagement, lowering performance? I’ve worked in a few. So how do you ensure this doesn’t happen in your organisation? What can you do to release the talent from within your organisation? First it is necessary to align your values with those of your colleagues. Where do they intersect? Where is the shared purpose? Your objective might be to achieve maximum productivity and performance, while your colleagues may want maximum job satisfaction and reward. How do you reconcile diverging values and create an organisation where the values of all colleagues are aligned? The challenge then becomes to create shared vision. If you think of your business as a journey you need to invite people to get on the bus and become more engaged. Engaged employees become stakeholders with greater emotional
investment and accountability in your organisation and are more likely to put in discretionary effort after hours or on a weekend. Some colleagues may be happy just to be on the bus, but many will want to grab hold of the steering wheel. Why would you want to stop them? Releasing talent is about empowering colleagues to participate in setting direction. It is about giving them more autonomy to act and take on responsibility, developing their competence and creating relationships based on trust. As a leader, it is also about embracing humility as strength not weakness. Humble leaders work to drive out fear, banish blame and practise forgiveness. They encourage colleagues to challenge themselves, conventional wisdom and the status quo. What can you do tomorrow to more effectively release the talent from within your organisation? What kind of structures have you put in place in your business? Tell us: news@westernweekender.com.au.
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ith millions of apps available for instant download on the app store to help you manage your business in a more efficient way, this week we are going to cover a portion of useful apps that you can utilise in accordance with your social media strategy to save time and save money, all from your mobile phone or tablet. Standard Socials: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat – the list goes on. Having these available at your fingertips whilst you’re on the go will encourage you to utilise them for in the moment posting, especially Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook (particularly their live functions) to keep your audience engaged in real time. Hootsuite: A free app that enables you to share and schedule posts from your Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts, all from the one platform. A huge time saver. Facebook Pages Manager: This free platform helps page admins keep up with activity on multiple Facebook pages all in one place. Post, respond to comments and messages, and view your latest
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insights across all the different pages you manage. You also have the option to get push notifications. Facetune: One of the most popular photo editing apps available, Facetune allows you to professionally edit your photos with an endless amount of options including lighting, colour, retouching, you can even change an entire background. This can save you time and money by sourcing and editing your own images for your social posts, eliminating the requirement for hiring a professional to do so. Over: This is my favourite app to use in conjunction with social media. Over is an amazing platform which allows you to supercharge your photos and create images to use across your platforms. With access to Unsplash and Pixabay, you can utilise stock photos for free, add text (with over 280 fonts to choose from), easily select a size utilising their templates for different platforms – this app can go as far as your creativity and imagination. There is a free version available, and a paid version which will give you unlimited access.
WHY.. WHAT.. HOW..
Local Business Advisors are ready to assist you with Starting or Running Your Business Two Fully Subsidised & Confidential Appointments Small Business Workshops & Training Offices across Western Sydney & the Blue Mountains Mobile Advisors Available to visit you at your home or business WW28413
02 4721 5011 W W W . W S B U S I N E S S . C O M . A U 34
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
ENTERTAINMENT PENRITH’S BIGGEST AND BEST LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
Leith’s new direction
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e’s no stranger to stages here out west, having played numerous sold out shows over the years, but for Damien Leith, the Blue Mountains are more than just another stop on the road. “One of my favourite memories is in the Blue Mountains, it was the first place my wife took me to on one of my first weekends in Australia because it was one of her favourite spots,” he said. “I remember that she had an old Jeep that didn’t have a roof, it was one of those ones where if you left it out anywhere it would get saturated. “We had the roof off the whole way hoping it wouldn’t rain and we went to the Three Sisters.” Bringing his intimate tour ‘An Evening With Damien Leith’ to the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub next month, Leith will be taking local fans on a trip down memory lane. “I love the feeling being up close and personal,” he said. “I’ll share stories, tell some jokes, take requests and what I’m most excited about, I’ll also get to share some new work.” Next month will also mark a new CD
release for Leith, but unlike his previous works, the target audience is a little younger than usual. Due out in March, ‘The Damien Leith Storytime’ CD and app started as a chance for Leith to record his original stories for his own kids to listen to while he was away on tour. “I was inspired years and years ago to record the stories on my phone while I was telling the kids and I would make them up on the spot. It turns out I had over 100 stories on my phone,” he said. “The whole idea of the app is that there’s not much on it, you don’t look at lots and lots of pictures or anything like that, the whole idea is that kids unwind, sit back and just listen.” And just when you thought that the singer, songwriter, playwright, author and now app developer couldn’t add any more strings to his bow, Leith has pushed his creative boundaries by adding actor to his long line of talents. “I’m actually in a movie this year called ‘The Target’ and it comes out on September 2,” he said. “There’s a bit of acting there and I’ve also helped score the music for it as well, so maybe that’s a new area for me.” Damien Leith will perform at the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub on Saturday, March 17 at 8pm. Tickets start at $47 and can be purchased by calling 4723 5050 or by visiting www. bluemountainstheatreandhub.com.au.
we create. you celebrate. custom designed event styling floristry | stationery wildbluestudio.com.au WW31657
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
New music will be worth the long wait LAUREN SUTTIE
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ollowing the recent success of his Australian ‘Midnight in Motion’ tour, award-winning blues and soul artist Shaun Kirk has announced a one-off show at the Metropole Guesthouse in Katoomba. The intimate show will see Kirk launch his new single ‘Howlin’ at the Moon’, the first release since a three-year hiatus. Describing his break as a ‘quarter life crisis’, the 29-year-old spent his time away from the spotlight soul searching and honing his skills as a writer and musician inside his home studio on the outskirts of Melbourne.
Prevailing with a fresh new sound and groove to carry him into the next phase of his ever evolving career, Kirk is back better than ever. Moving beyond the blues influences that have previously characterised his works, ‘Howlin’ at the Moon’ is sure to get everyone’s feet tapping. Having only picked up a guitar at the age of 16, there’s no denying that Kirk’s career has come a long way in a short amount of time. See Shaun Kirk live at the Metropole Guesthouse in Katoomba on Sunday, March 4 at 6pm. Tickets start at $21.50 and can be purchased by calling 4782 5544 or by visiting www.fusionboutique.com.au.
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
Travel back to the 20s and enjoy a vintage weekend LAUREN SUTTIE
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he 1920s were a time of great social and cultural change. With the rapid shifts in music, art and fashion as well as the introduction of film, automobiles and aeroplanes, the 1920s became known as the golden age across countries around the world. And now locals will be able to take a step back in time as the annual Roaring 20s Festival comes to the Blue Mountains. Reviving its most mischievous traditions, the Hydro Majestic Hotel will play host to a day-long vintage revelry on Saturday, February 24. Kicking off at 11am with a community Charleston for Charity dance, it’s the perfect excuse to don your best flapper inspired attire. After dancing up
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Let us tell you a Secret
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e prepared for a sonic adventure when the Sydney Art Quartet make their debut appearance at The Joan this Saturday. Exploring texture in sound and silence, the worldwide premiere of ‘Secrets Through a Soundglass’ will see the Sydney Art Quartet present five new works in its playful style, deftly sidestepping cliché and orthodoxy. Written for violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano by acclaimed composers Felicity Wilcox, Christina Green, Peggy Polias, Catherine Golden and Dan Thorpe, ‘Secrets Through a Sound-
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a storm, locals are invited to indulge their taste buds with a long lunch with a showcase of decadent regional food and wines on the menu. To end the day, the grand hotel will hold a Gangster Casino Night in support of Katoomba Hospital. Be quick! It’s on tomorrow! For more information on prices or to book any of the Roaring 20s Festival events, visit www.hydromajestic.com. au or phone 4782 6885.
glass’ takes its cues from experimental music of the 20th and 21st centuries, as researched by Sean Botha at Western Sydney University. Each piece in ‘Secrets Through a Soundglass’ focuses on the shape of natural sound, as well as silence and quiet spaces. These come to life, as imagined by the composers, filled with expectation and emotion, bringing audience members along for the unique ride. See ‘Secrets Through a Soundglass’ at The Joan in Penrith this Saturday, February 24 at 7.30pm. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased online at www.thejoan.com.au or by calling 4723 7600.
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the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
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Australia’s very own John Blunt is acknowledged as the most recognised Freddie Mercury tribute artist in the world today. He was even chosen to play Freddie in the 2016 docu-drama, seen by over 9 million worldwide. Come and see his group and have the closest experience to seeing the real deal!
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HEATH FRANKLIN’S CHOPPER: BOGAN JESUS
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A nostalgic and mystical breathtaking journey back to the homeland of Ireland where Irish eyes are smiling. Unlike any other Irish show you have ever seen, you will be singing and laughing in your seats from start to finish. Don’t delay, get your tickets today!
CELTIC BEAT TICKETS $20 | 8PM
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A concert featuring tributes to the legendary artists who graced the studios of the famed Memphis-based record company Sun Records. Come along and listen to the great hits by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and more!
THE SUN RECORDS ALL STARS TICKETS $47.65 | 8PM
PANTHERS.COM.AU
1300 PANTHERS TRIBUTE SHOW W
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
what's on AND where HEADING OUT Friday, February 23 Lisa Finn Powell – Hotel Blue Free entry, 6.30pm 4782 6922 Club Brashes – St Marys RSL Free entry, 8pm 9623 6555 Pool – Wallacia Hotel Free entry, 7pm 4773 8888 All Star Duo – Penrith Panthers Free entry, 9.30pm 1300 PANTHERS Mary’s Karaoke and DJ – Jamison Hotel Free entry, 8pm 4577 3050 The Frocks – St Marys Leagues Free entry, 9pm 9677 7777 Faith I Branko – Blue Mountains Theatre From $30, 8pm 4723 5050 The Usual Suspects – Penrith Gaels Club Free entry, 8pm 4722 8180 Josh McIvor – High Street Social Free entry, 7pm 4789 0187 Karaoke – Penrith Hotel Free entry, 9pm 4721 2060 Coolio – Rooty Hill RSL From $29, 9pm 9677 4916
Saturday, February 24 Piccolo Bear – Hotel Blue Free entry, 6.30pm 4782 6922 Secrets Through A Soundglass – The Joan From $20, 7.30pm 4723 7611 Coverpalooza – Hawkesbury Hotel Free entry, 8pm 4577 3050 Buddy’s Back – Rooty Hill RSL $30, 8pm 9677 4916 La Petite – Penrith Panthers Free entry, 8.30pm 1300 PANTHERS Di Bird Red Red Hot and Blue – Penrith RSL Free entry, 2pm 4728 5200 Old School Band – St Marys Leagues Free entry, 9pm 9677 7777 The Best Disco in Town Evan Theatre 1300 PANTHERS Saturday, February 24, 7.30pm, from $11.95
Turner’s Turn Blue Mountains Theatre 4723 5050 Saturday, February 24, 8pm, from $45
Friday, March 2 Karaoke – Penrith Hotel Free entry, 9pm 4721 2060 Jazz Hourigan – High Street Social Free entry, 4789 0187 The Vampires – The Mechanic’s Institute From $25, 8pm 0411 954 826 The Necks – Blue Mountains Theatre $38, 8pm 4723 5050 Mary’s Karaoke and DJ – Hawkesbury Hotel Free entry, 8pm 4577 3050 The Frocks – Penrith RSL Free entry, 9pm 4728 5200 Josh McGivor – Australian Arms Hotel Free entry, 8pm 4731 3881
Saturday, March 3
Matchbox Band – Blacktown Workers Free entry, 8.30pm 9830 0600 Rose Carleo – Penrith Panthers Free entry, 5.30pm 1300 PANTHERS The Rocking Mustangs – St Marys RSL Free entry, 8pm 9623 6555 AWF Wrestling – PCYC Penrith From $30, 6.30pm www.awfwrestling.com.au Hits and Pieces – St Marys Band Club Free entry, 8pm 9623 1211 Urban Stone – Blacktown Sports Club Free entry, 8pm 8822 2444 Soundbird – Penrith RSL Free entry, 9pm 4728 5200
The Enchanted Flute – Blue Mountains Theatre From $15, 7.30pm 4723 5050 Johnny Cash The Concert Revisits Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison – The Joan From $60, 8pm 4723 7600 Travellin’ Still – Rooty Hill RSL $25, 8pm 9823 2560 Alan Solomon Jazz – Penrith RSL Free entry, 2pm 4728 5200 Crossroad – Sportsman Hotel Blacktown Free entry, 6pm 9622 0411 Battered and Bluesed – Australian Arms Hotel Manpower Australia Evan Theatre 1300 PANTHERS Saturday, March 3, 7pm, $37.45
Dismonds and Rubys John Lees Centre • trybooking.com/275547 Saturday, March 3, 7pm, from $20
Free entry, 8pm 4731 3881 Soundproofed, 80’s Rewind – Jamison Hotel Free entry, 9pm 4721 5764 Sydney Hotshots – St Marys Band Club From $22, 8pm 96231211 Rock City Saints – Penrith RSL Free entry, 9pm 4728 5200 DJ Senseless – High Street Social Free entry, 9pm 4789 0187 Heroes From Heaven – Blacktown Workers From $10, 8pm 9830 0600
Sunday, March 4 Shaun Kirk – Metropole Guesthouse From $21.50, 6pm 4782 5544 Blake Tailor – Rooty Hill RSL Free entry, 1pm 9677 4916 Cool River – Penrith RSL Free entry, 2pm 4728 5200 Hayley Marshall – Jamison Hotel Free entry, 1pm 4728 5200
Sunday, February 25 Ebony and Ivory – Penrith Panthers Free entry, 2pm 1300 PANTHERS Venus 2 – St Marys Leagues Free entry, 1pm 9677 7777 Blue Mountains Ukulele Band – Rowing Club Free entry, 2pm 4731 2255 Blackwater – Penrith Gaels Club Free entry, 5pm 4722 8180 Cyclone Rose – Hawkesbury Hotel Free entry, 3pm 4577 3050 DJ Gav – High Street Social Free entry, 1pm 4789 0187 Take Two Duo – Blacktown Sports Club Free entry, 1pm 8822 2444 Dwayne Elix – Penrith RSL
OF THE WEEK
1 Town Terrace, Glenmore Park
LOOK, LISTEN and REVIEW with
Your guide to LOCAL BUSINESS Visit mylocalreview.com.au
Playing the music YOU grew up with Download our app or stream live at
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Your One Stop Shopping Experience Now with Coles, Aldi & Star Car Wash!
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Free entry, 2pm 4728 5200
vintagefm.com.au
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Nepean Evening VIEW Club 3rd Monday of each month 4735 4982 Leonay Probus Club Third Friday of the month 4735 5157 Penrith Showground Markets Every Wednesday 8.30am Penrith Paceway • 4721 0509 Emu Craft Market Second Saturday of the month • Nepean High School
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
Lung Support Group Second Wednesday of each month • 4735 1542 W.S. Melanoma Support Group • 1st Monday of each month • 0431 142 911 Prostate Cancer Support Monthly meetings at St Stephen’s • 1300 133 878 Penrith Harmony Barbershop Chorus • Mondays at 7pm 4735 2637
Have a Coolio night out in Paradise Catch one of the biggest rappers from the 90’s as he takes over Rooty Hill RSL this Friday night. Breaking into the rap scene with his smash hit single ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’, Coolio went on to sell over six million copies, even taking home a Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1996. Back in Sydney for one night only, this is one show you don’t want to miss! Tickets start at $29 and can be purchased by calling 9677 4916 or by visiting www.rootyhillrsl.com.au.
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Emu Plains Lions Club New members always needed • 4735 5120 Glenmore Park Probus Club Third Wednesday of the month • 9673 2580 Penrith Men’s Shed New members welcome Wednesdays • 0439 646 942 Penrith Rotary Club New members welcome Mondays • 0407 077 143
Have one last summer splash
Go back to the 50s at The Joan
Beat the heat this weekend by splashing, sliding and squirting your way through the mini water park at Penrith Ripples.
Morning Melodies is back next Wednesday at The Joan with the best of 50s Rock ‘n’ Roll. Be sure to book by calling 4723 7600.
Queen of Hearts Domestic violence support 1300 856 737
Black Panther - 134 min (M Action violence) Thurs, Sun, Mon, Tues: 10:00AM, 12:50PM, 1:40PM, 3:40PM, 4:40PM, 6:30PM, 7:30PM, 8:30PM, 9:20PM. Fri, Sat: 10:00AM, 12:50PM, 1:40PM, 3:40PM, 4:40PM, 6:30PM, 7:30PM, 8:30PM, 9:20PM, 10:20PM. Wed: 10:30AM, 12:50PM, 1:40PM, 3:40PM, 4:40PM, 6:30PM, 7:30PM, 8:30PM, 9:20PM
PENRITH
Fifty Shades Freed - 105 min (MA15+ Strong sex scenes) Thurs, Mon, Tues, Wed: 11:00AM, 12:50PM, 3:20PM, 7:20PM, 9:00PM. Fri: 11:00AM, 12:50PM, 3:20PM, 7:20PM, 9:20PM. Sat: 11:00AM, 3:20PM, 7:20PM, 9:20PM. Sun: 11:00AM, 3:20PM, 7:20PM, 9:30PM
SESSIONS VALID 22 FEBRUARY TO 28 FEBRUARY WW29582
Session times are subject to change without notice, visit www.hoyts.com.au to check session times or book tickets
Greatest Showman Sing-A-Long, The - 105 min (PG Mild themes) Fri: 6:30PM. Sat: 4:00PM, 6:30PM. Sun: 2:30PM
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
Nathan
Taylor TV NEWS
Ê Penrith Panthers legend Ryan Girdler has been announced as a permanent member of the new-look ‘The Footy Show’. The 2003 NRL Premiership winner will join the panel alongside host Erin Molan and Andrew Johns. Beau Ryan and Darryl Brohman will also play a part this season with their regular segments. Girdler said: “I’m really excited to be joining ‘The Footy Show’ and for me the timing feels right. I can’t wait to talk footy with some of the greatest minds in the game on Nine’s commentary team every Thursday night in what is shaping up to be a huge NRL season”. ‘The Footy Show’ will return on Thursday, March 8. Ê Foxtel has announced new drama series ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ will premiere on Sunday, May 6 at 8.30pm on Showcase. The six-part series, a reimagining Joan Lindsay’s iconic novel, stars acclaimed British actress Natalie Dormer along with Australian rising stars including Lily Sullivan, Samara Weaving, Madeleine Madden and Ruby Rees. Ê
Dave Hughes’ new panel show ‘Hughesy, We Have A Problem’ has been greenlit for more episodes by Channel Ten. This show isn’t too bad and is probably very cheap to make, so I’m not surprised Ten is pushing forward with more content.
Ê Everyone’s favourite TV family will begin life at their new home next week. Yes, that’s right, ‘The Simpsons’ is returning to Aussie screens via 7Mate on Wednesday, February 28 at 9pm. Season 29 will air on Seven after the network swooped on the series following Ten’s breakdown in negotiations with Fox.
THE FOOTY SHOW MARCH 8 CHANNEL NINE
Ê A brand new season of ‘Grand Designs’ with Kevin McCloud begins at 7.40pm on Sunday, February 25 on the ABC. Coming this series is an innovative Tardis-like, space-saving home squeezed into a tiny corner of East London, a unique horseshoe-shaped retro courtyard house on the ancient grounds of an abbey in Hertfordshire, and a giant groundbreaking shed-inspired barn. The first episode will kick off with an ambitious upside-down, New Zealand-inspired hill house clinging to a steep slope. Ê ‘Love Island Australia’, hosted by Sophie Monk, is on the hunt for sexy young singles to be part of its new series.
To be filmed in Spain, producers are looking for singles aged between 18 and 35 to be part of the show. To apply, visit go.mycastingnet.com/Apply/Show/ LoveIsland.
Ê Producers WTFN are looking for a Sydney-based family needing help to renovate their own home. Applicants must be aged over 18, based in Sydney, own or be the mortgagee of their home, and will not be able to work their normal job for a week during the July 2018 shoot period. To apply, visit familyreno.castasugar.com. Ê
The Logies will be held on July 1.
Why celebrate Oktoberfest once a year when you can do it all year round with authentic German cuisine and true European beers on tap
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Penrith Mayor John Thain addresses the crowd at the event, held at Council
Above:
Greg Mitchell from HR Success and Peter Mehl from J Wyndham Prince
Ann Willmington (right) from Vintage FM with another guest
Daniel Chadban from Get Pronto and Michelle Locke from WSBC
Penrith Councillor Karen McKeown and Brendan McKeown from Click Media
Dean Bouzianis from SCEC Group chats with Darren Latty from PRDnationwide
Graham Fitzpatrick from WSBC and Tamara VanAntwerpen from LPF
the western weekender Âť Friday, February 23, 2018
Social Scene
Business representatives from the local area networked at the Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce meeting last week
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
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crossword ACROSS 1. Bangkok native 4. Book users 8. Philosopher, ... Marx 11. Interest 13. Up to (that time) 15. Fragment 17. Member of religious order 18. Canadian rocker, Bryan ... 20. Therapeutic water tub 21. Film star, Henry ... 24. Inclinations 27. US counterterrorism group (1,1,1) 28. Impromptu (2-3) 30. Wonderland character 31. Pongs 33. Says 34. Country walkers 35. In current condition (2,2) 36. Abate 39. Followed 42. Components 44. Knockout drink, Mickey ... 45. Drizzles 46. Santa’s bag 48. Voracity 49. Oddity 50. Sector 52. Actor, ... Spacey 54. Sweat droplet 55. Cobs or pens 56. Footpath stones 57. Dentist’s mouth covering 60. Chinese island, ... Kong 62. Motorless plane 65. Chortle 67. Nonconformist 69. Strung along (3,2) 70. Cliff projection 72. Variety 73. Other way, vice ... 75. Concur 77. Tennis hotshot 79. Greek fruit 81. Fled 82. Quick-cooking noodles 84. Mosaic maker 85. Together, en ... 86. Clasp 87. Enamours 88. Military force
DOWN 1. Kitchen sink fittings 2. Leading 3. International Olympic Committee (1,1,1) 4. Actress, Meg ... 5. Chronicles 6. Castrated man 7. Warbled 8. Young goat 9. Alas and ...! 10. Painting, Mona ... 12. Suit 14. Electroshock weapon 16. Tablet computers 19. Thin fogs 22. Secure 23. Bleaker 25. Holds royal office 26. Constructs (building) 29. Sturdier 32. Compass direction (1,1,1) 35. Word jumble 37. Demanded 38. Summoning up (feelings) 40. Chilean mountains 41. Valleys 42. Undo (trousers) 43. More protected 44. Shows terror 47. Collapsed (of economy) 51. Sometimes, once in ... (1,5) 52. Genuflects 53. Identifying 54. Dog breed 58. Fourth month 59. Soviet Union intelligence agency (1,1,1) 61. Sister’s daughter 63. Even 64. Stood on hind legs 65. Australian lizard 66. Sleazy grins 68. Goes out 71. Pluckier 72. Nocturnal insect 74. Underdone (steak) 76. Smashes into 78. Covet 80. Distinguished visitor (1,1,1) 83. White ... sheet (2,1)
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Sudoku Fill in all squares so each row, column and each of the nine 3 x 3 squares contain all digits from one to nine.
Last week’s Sudoku solution
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the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
Custom design, production, printing and digital solutions
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: ICE WORDS ADVICE CHOICE COWARDICE CREVICE DEVICE JUSTICE LATTICE NOVICE PRACTICE PRECIPICE PREJUDICE REJOICE SACRIFICE SERVICE SLUICE THRICE TWICE VOICE Last week’s Word Search solution
Test your knowledge about classic TV shows in our special trivia quiz!
Pension discount & government endorsed 7 days same day service Call your local specialist
1. Who starred as Richie Cunningham in ‘Happy Days’? 2. Ricky Nelson, who died in a plane crash in the 1980s, starred in which recordbreaking family comedy? 3. What number secret agent
was Maxwell Smart in the spy comedy ‘Get Smart’? 4. Who was the middle daughter on ‘The Brady Bunch’? 5. In what year did the longrunning series ‘MASH’ first premiere?
ANSWERS 1. Ron Howard 2. Ozzie and Harriet 3. 86 4. Jan 5. 1972
Trivia Quiz
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
LOCAL NEEDS MET BY LOCAL PEOPLE
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life
PENRITH’S MOST RESPECTED LINE-UP OF LIFESTYLE EXPERTS
ARIES
MARCH 21 TO APRIL 20
your horoscopes
Aries are such independent folk. You pride yourself on being able to do just about everything yourself. But that’s not always such a good idea. This week’s Full Moon urges you to be passionate and practical, as you learn to take on less and delegate more. You’ll find the secret to being successful at the moment is working creatively and collaboratively with others. Influential people are waiting to help and inspire you.
TAURUS
APRIL 21 TO MAY 21
Bulls can sometimes blunder around being insensitive. But you’ll need to be extra sensitive to the needs of children, teenagers or your peer group. Otherwise the Full Moon could trigger a misunderstanding or an emotional meltdown. So aim to be a calm and steadying Taurean tower of strength. Thursday’s Venus/ Jupiter connection brings good fortune in the form of a close friend or a dream date.
GEMINI
MAY 22 TO JUNE 21
Joanne Madeline Moore Daily posts at www.bohoastro.com twitter @JoMadelineMoore Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2018
The Full Moon falls in your domestic zone, so get your house in order and tackle jobs with extra gusto. But, if you spread gossip or jump to conclusions, then you’ll end up in hot water. And avoid taking short cuts. A slap-dash attitude will only mean you have to do things twice. With a more methodical approach, you can accomplish tasks and still have time to play. Thursday is great for professional projects, workplace relations.
CANCER
JUNE 22 TO JULY 22
Many Crabs will be in cranky and hyper-sensitive mode, as the Full Moon stirs up chaos in your communication zone. So be super selective about whom you mix with, as you’re liable to misread signals and then overreact. You’re also keen to communicate via social media as you publish, post, text or tweet. But be careful you’re not sending out half-baked messages with ambiguous meanings.
LEO
JULY 23 TO AUGUST 23
Lions love to live in the lap of luxury but avoid the temptation to blow the budget with some binge shopping. The Full Moon fires up your finance zones, and encourages your tendency to be hasty with cash and careless with credit. Venus and Jupiter also inflate your extravagant streak, while nebulous Neptune confuses your understanding of your current financial situation. But big impulse buys now will lead to major money pain later.
VIRGO
AUGUST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 23
On Thursday night the Full Moon fires up your sign. And then disruptive Mars squares your ruler Mercury. Which will rattle your composure, crank up your critical side, and amplify the plethora of problems you’re facing. But don’t waste your time with endless complaining and ‘woe-is-me’ behaviour. As Elizabeth Taylor said: “Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together”.
LIBRA
SEPTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 23
Your mental and physical health require some focused attention. So spend quiet quality time on your own this week, as the Full Moon illuminates your solitude zone. Activities like reading, meditation, contemplation, yoga and walking around in beautiful nature would all suit your needs. And shine a bright spotlight on your physical wellbeing as you give your daily diet and fitness routine some serious tweaking.
SCORPIO
OCTOBER 24 TO NOVEMBER 22
Family and friends will demand your attention but the Full Moon urges you to take some time out for yourself. If you indulge in your special Scorpio interests and passions, then you’ll have more to offer those around you. Don’t be too safe and sensible though. With Jupiter jumping through your star sign, you should definitely strive to be much more adventurous!
SAGITTARIUS
NOVEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 21
The professional pressure is on, and family members will also demand plenty of your precious time. But if you promise more than you can realistically deliver, then everyone will just end up being disappointed. So how on earth will you keep all the plates spinning and get everything done? Enthusiasm and persuasion are the keys. If you can convince others to come on board, then you’ll accomplish tasks in half the time.
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
your
CAPRICORN
DECEMBER 22 TO JANUARY 20
Good fortune comes via social networking, in person and/or online. But are you brooding on the past, and kicking yourself for romantic or career opportunities you’ve missed? It’s time to learn from your mistakes, as you transform your present world and then move on to a bright future. As Johnny Cash said: “Close the door on the past. You don’t forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on them”.
AQUARIUS
JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 19
Money matters loom large as the Full Moon fires up your finance zones. Plus Venus and Jupiter send a confidence boost your way, especially involving your career, public reputation or inner selfesteem. So be on the look-out for a lucky opportunity when it comes along. If you blink or hesitate or procrastinate, then you could miss the boat. When it comes to fulfilling your goals and dreams, fortune definitely favours the bold and brave.
PISCES
FEBRUARY 20 TO MARCH 20
With the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Neptune all meandering through your sign, you’re the quintessential Piscean at the moment. Which can be positive and negative. It’s a terrific time to express your creative, compassionate and spiritual sides. But if you spend too much time in fantasy land, you could miss early warning signals about a relationship problem you need to address.
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
your
look
Taking a natural approach to your beauty and lifestyle Interest in natural products is on the rise in the local area...
Alyce Madden For the latest trends follow @westfieldpenrith on Instagram
As clean non-toxic living becomes more mainstream, it was only a matter of time that healthy beauty products would flood the market with their toxin-free goodness. So many alternatives to everyday toiletries now exist and with all the rumours circulating around that active ingredients could be doing more harm than good, why take any chances? Research has usually lead this debate to being inconclusive but the thought of small things like swiping on deodorant every day under our arms since high school and the reports of breast cancer on the rise – could there possibly be a link? An interesting product to try out is crystal deodorant, it has been around for a while and it’s not just for the vegan, peace-loving hipsters. Crystal deodorant is an entirely natural deodorant made from mineral salt and no harmful chemicals. How does it work? Wet the crystal with water and swipe on underarms or the bottom of your feet, an invisible salt film sits on the skin, it doesn’t work as an antiperspirant as you still sweat but the odour forming microbes are definitely kept at bay.
Teeth whitening is a multi-billion dollar industry as everyone appreciates a pearly white smile. Harsh chemical whitening can leave teeth sensitive and sore and you may end up with white teeth but also erosion along the gum line and potential absorption of active ingredients having been used directly in the mouth. The popular alternative used today is activated charcoal, a tub of pitch black charcoal powder that you dip a wet toothbrush into and brush directly onto teeth. As scary as this sounds it actually works with results seen by the end of the week
YOU KNOW THE YOU KNOW THE
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when used daily. Just make sure to brush afterwards with a favourite natural toothpaste. At Chemist Warehouse at Penrith Westfield, find the White Glo Activated Charcoal powder. If you are a big fan of hand sanitizer, look out for organic versions that are essential oil-based. I love Dr Bronner’s Organic Hand Sanitiser in Lavender. It’s safe for use on your little one’s hands and calming and soothing with a lasting lavender scent relaxing the mind, body and soul.
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How parents and caregivers can lead by their actions We all aim to set the best possible example for our kids in all aspects of our lives, and water safety should be no different...
Julie Fletcher Nepean Swim and Fitness julie@nepeanswim.com.au nepeanaquaticcentre.com.au and on Facebook
One of the very best parts of my job is to visit day care centres, pre-schools and primary schools to talk about water safety. Many children of this age learn well through fun and play, so we teach about safety with stories, songs, movement, CPR practice and our mascot, Paddles the Platypus! It is so important that children learn about water safety as soon as possible, through both education and early swimming lessons. Education should start very early, at home, with parents consistently talking to children about the rules – never go near the pool without an adult, never climb the pool fence, shut the gate, let an adult know if another child goes near the pool alone, swim between the flags at the beach, reach to rescue, be careful in the bath etc. We can also educate by being a good role model – stay with children as they bath and explain why you are doing so. Put the mobile phone down when supervising children in the pool or at the
beach or river. Stop texting and checking your social media and focus on what you should be doing! Get in the pool and show them how much fun can be had swimming together. Be sun smart and put sunscreen on yourself too. Empty eskies, buckets and baths after use and tell children why it is important to do so. If you don’t know how to swim, or have a fear of the water, be sure not to hand that down to your children – it is never too late to learn! Swim Australia recommends starting swimming lessons from six months, but you can and should practice early water familiarisation before this. Fear of the water is acquired, so make
sure baby has regular baths and showers from newborn, and becomes comfortable with the sensation of water being trickled and then poured over their head. Your six-month-old will then accept the water more readily, and with less fear, when starting lessons. Overall, always make it fun to promote retention of the water safety messages covered. There are some great swim safety education resources available through the Kids Alive, Do The 5 website, including books, songs cartoons etc. As mentioned, we provide Water Safety Visits (using many of the Kids Alive Resources) to pre-schools and childcare centres. If you would like us to come and visit your child’s centre, just contact me via email or phone! The visits are free of charge within the Penrith LGA. We also provide intensive learn to swim lessons for both primary and high school groups within school hours by arrangement, with a water safety theory component for children who are unable to participate in the water (based upon Royal Life Saving Australia’s teaching resources). There are lots of options, so let’s help our children by teaching them how to stay safer around the water! Have a great weekend and I’ll see you again next week!
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Biscuit was abandonded by her first owners and after being at the shelter for over a month she found a home but was sadly returned as she escaped the yard. Biscuit needs a home with someone that is home a lot and that has a secure yard. Biscuit is a very sweet, friendly girl that does like other dogs and at 7.5 years old she needs a loving retirement home that she has been able to find so far.
How handsome is this man! He is 4 years old and has come into the shelter as a stray. He is microchipped but he hasn’t been collected by his owners. This guy will make a great running partner or companion for a family that has a large backyard that likes to play soccer etc. If you can give him a home please contact the shelter.
How sad for this little man that he has ended up at the shelter at 11 years of age with no family coming to reclaim him. He is a happy, gorgeous little dog that would like to find a new family that can care for him during his remaining years and give him the care and love he needs. Look at that beautiful face, can you see him sleeping on your bed every night?
For 7 weeks this boy has called the shelter home after coming in as a stray and never being collected by his owners or adopted. We are hoping to change that and get him the home of his dreams where he can run, play and do everything a dog in a loving home is supposed to do. If you have another dog at home please come bring them in for a meet and greet, he is ready for his new home now!
This stunning tabby girl is ready to meet her new family. She has completed her impound time and is waiting for someone to choose her. At just 12 months old she has her whole life ahead of her. She has beautiful markings to complement her shy but very sweet personality. Please come and meet her!
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
your swim safety
PCC 70 MALE 3 YRS AVAILABLE NOW $125.40 With a lovely silver tabby and white coat and a friendly personality this boy will make a nice companion for a family. He has been around the block a few times by the look of him and it’s quite possible he has just been left outside to do as he pleases. He will be desexed before being adopted and this will help him settle into the new home he craves and deserves.
We always recommend bringing your own dogs to the shelter to meet any of the shelter dogs.
The shelter is in need of toys, blankets (not doonas or pillows though), treats and coats for large dogs. Please contact the shelter if you can help.
Our contact details are:
twitter.com/HawkesburyPdVol fohcas.com
Shelters contact details are:
Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter 10 Mulgrave Road, Mulgrave NSW 2756 ph: 02 4560 4644 companionanimal@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au WW32173
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
your
Microchipping your cat or dog can avoid fines and heartache
pets
Forgetting to microchip your pet can have serious consequences...
Nicole McMillan Practice owner of Coreen Avenue Veterinary Clinic and the Western Sydney Cat Hospital
We have a large number of stray animals brought into our clinic, especially after storms. If pets are microchipped and the owner details are up-to-date, we can normally reunite pets and owners very quickly. A scanner is used to find the microchip number, and the number is used to search the register for the owner’s contact details. Microchipping and registration with Council has been a legal requirement for cats and dogs for many years. Unfortunately, we still see several pets either with no microchip or incorrect contact details so we are unable to find the owner. If a stray animal comes to a veterinary clinic without a microchip or the contact details are incorrect, we are legally not allowed to hold the animal and they must be sent to the local Council animal shelter. There the rangers can continue to investigate who the legal owner is. Before the pet is released it must be microchipped and fines will apply. Microchipping is a relatively quick and cheap procedure. Once the animal is microchipped the owner details are recorded on the register. The government has developed an online microchip register. Once the animal is microchipped you
can create a profile and log onto the register. You can check your details and if you move or your contact details change, you can update them. The more information you put on the register the more likely you will be reunited with your pet if they go missing. We recommend adding work, home and mobile numbers, emails and nominate at least one secondary contact. So why aren’t all dogs and cats microchipped? Legally all dogs and cats should be microchipped by the person that breeds them. Breeders, pet shops and rescue organisations will routinely microchip dogs and cats before they are sold. We recommend ensuring this has been done before you finalise your
purchase. People who are not registered breeders may not realise they are required to microchip animals before they sell or give them away. As soon as a new owner takes on an animal without a microchip it is then their responsibility to get the microchip done by 12 weeks of age. How can the details be incorrect? When an animal is sold, or given away it is the responsibility of the original owner to update the details. This is often simply forgotten or people assume the new owner will do this. Years can go by and people may not have any contact with the original owner. There is a form available to change the ownership details but now it can also be done online. The original owner must “release” the pet and the new owner can then “claim” them. If you cannot get in contact with the previous owner, contact Council, they will often request a statutory declaration explaining where you obtained your pet from, how long you have had them and why you cannot get in contact with the original owner. Although it is not a legal requirement to have other species microchipped more people are microchipping other pets like ferrets, rabbits and large birds. The register can be found at www.petrigistry.nsw.gov.au. If you need any further information on microchipping please contact the clinic.
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eather Fraser, winemaker responsible for Yalumba’s 2017 Y Series Viognier, has been ideally mentored for the task. Her boss, Louisa Rose, the company’s chief winemaker, is undoubtedly Australia’s most experienced hand with this often-difficult white variety. Especially since creating the Yalumba white flagship, The Virgilius Viogner, Rose’s name has become virtually synonymous with the variety in this country. Fraser, who had graduated in chemistry and marine biology before being bitten by the winemaking bug, has obviously learned well. I must admit to not being the world’s greatest viognier fan. Too often, I simply find the variety’s hallmark perfumes just too overwhelming. But this wine I found both complex and intriguing, delivering a range of flavours and not at all dominated by any simple perfume. The winemaker’s notes mention orange blossom, ginger, fresh pineapple, honeysuckle and dried figs. I can’t disagree with any of those descriptors, neither with the food-matching suggestion of harissa chicken. At $15, this is a great introduction to viognier, which in the Rhone Valley and Australia is also sometimes blended in small amounts with shiraz to create an alluring dry red, but that’s a completely different story. WINE OF THE WEEK Shaw Vineyard Estate 2015 Winemaker’s Selection Cabernet Sauvignon ($15): I must admit that I usually prefer young shiraz to young cabernet, but I do like the cassis and blackberry flavours shown by this wine. Drink with roast lamb.
JOHN ROZENTALS
health
Planning to run? How to start slowly and set realistic goals Running has become a hugely popular way to keep fit and healthy, but without the right plan it can also be dangerous and risky...
Shannon Jennings OnePointHealth 4732 5188 onepointhealth.com.au
Running is great! You can chuck on a pair of shoes, walk out your front door and go! No expensive memberships, no eyes staring at you when you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, and no hassle. But if you haven’t been a consistent runner before, simply deciding to start running with no plan of action may not be the smartest decision. I am not saying you should not start running if you have no experience. But I would like to give you some things to consider before starting on your running journey. Start with intervals The biggest problem we see is people starting with a volume of training that is too big. The best way to start is with small intervals of running and walking; For example, start with a 30 second walk and 30 second run and repeat that 10 times. Then slowly increase the intervals as you’re able. Only change one variable at a time
your education
Rob Ollis
Master Coaching Penrith 4722 3072
The Australian education system has great appeal for international students. Here’s why... Previously we discussed the role of selective high schools and noted the proportion of students with Asian ethnicity in those schools. Asians in general place a higher value on education than the average Australian family. Australian universities are ranked far higher internationally than our schools and this has created a situation of international students studying in Australia. International student numbers in Australia grew by 15 per cent year-onyear in the first quarter of 2017. Overall, 30 per cent of the international students were from China. This growth in international students has created a curious dilemma whereby the rapid expansion of international student mobility, according to Robertson et. al. (2011), that has led to a global auction which has produced a surplus of quality graduates and heralded a decreasing gap between graduate salaries and non-graduate wages. At the same time remuneration to executives and managers has increased 20 fold over the past 15 years in Australia.
International students substantially fund Australian universities; these same students will compete with Australian graduates for employment in Australia after graduation. Asian students are disproportionately represented in selective schools in NSW and similarly over represented in tuition centres; the two are not unrelated. Again there are benefits and costs to Australia. Firstly, many international graduates decide to stay and work in Australia, in our health system and other professions, after having paid their own university education at inflated prices. Thus they bring benefit to their profession and profit to our university system. On the downside, critics argue that these graduates are taking Australian jobs and university positions. Universities argue that no Australian is denied university placement to accommodate an international student. Also Australian graduates compete on a better than equal footing when seeking graduate employment. Asian students are strengthening our schooling system and adding to increased professionalism of the Australian workforce. They are able to do this because of a greater dedication to education and because of the poor performance of the Australian school system.
When changing your running program to be more challenging, only change one variable at a time. Variables include distance, time, frequency, inclines, trails and speed. Changing too many variables at once can overload the body and lead to injury. Set realistic goals Do not set a goal of completing a marathon if you have never even done a 5km fun run. Setting goals that are too big, results in a rapid increase in training, which can lead to excessive stresses being placed on the body and potential injury. Start small and be realistic.
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
your
Wear the right shoes I cannot stress the importance of investing in a good shoe before starting your running journey. But what is a good shoe? This is different for everyone. Talking to a specialist footwear professional or podiatrist is the best place to start for advice. Have rest days Let your body recover properly and give your body time to adapt. I recommend not running consecutive days when initially starting out. Try adding in some low impact activity in between running days like swimming or cycling.
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
your
money
Preparing a strategy for income after retirement Setting up the most efficient financial system after we retire is a priority for many locals...
Alex McKenzie Principal Financial Planner Future Financial Services futurefinancialservices.com.au
Receiving regular and reliable income in retirement is the most important goal for our clients as they exit the workforce. Financial planners also aim to make this income stream as tax and Centrelink efficient as possible, this is often through the superannuation system. Within the superannuation system, once we move to pension phase there are two main income streams, allocated pensions and annuities. Each has different strengths and weaknesses and performs a different role in providing income in retirement. Allocated pensions (or account-based pensions) are by far the most common income source in retirement. An allocated pension allows you to invest in a wide range of investment options that you select. You are able to choose the level of income you receive and are able to take out lump sums as required. The value of the fund will go up and down in line with the investment returns and withdrawals. Simply, if you take more money out than the fund returns, the value will decrease. Once the funds run out, then the account is closed and you will no longer
receive an income. The value of the fund is assessable for Centrelink assets tests and deeming rates apply for the income test. The income received and earnings are tax-free as long as the client is over 60. Allocated pensions are flexible but not overly Centrelink friendly, the client bares the investment and longevity risk. Annuities work differently; they are considered more conservative and are less flexible. They are also more Centrelink efficient. Annuities involve investing your money for a set period (or lifetime) with the level of income provided being determined up front and paid at regular intervals (usually monthly). The interest rate is established up front and the annuity provider bares the risk. With term annuities you nominate a
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payment period ranging from one year to 15 years. You also nominate how much of your funds you would like returned to you at the end of the period. There are usually options to nominate if you would like your payment to be inflation adjusted. A lifetime annuity pays you for the rest of your life. There are options to have the payment continue to your partner if you pre-decease them. Once you (and potentially your partner) die, the payment ceases. Modern annuities offer some flexibility around this with guaranteed payment periods and options to access your cash for a period of time. Using a combination of both of these income streams often provides well rounded income strategy for retirement.
Once when Jesus was with His disciples in a boat on Lake Galilee, a huge storm blew up. Even though a number of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen, often having experienced strong wind and waves, this storm was so furious, threatening to swamp their boat that the disciples were terrified. During the chaos, Mark tells us in the Bible how Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat. His disciples, perhaps frustrated that Jesus wasn’t doing anything to help, woke Jesus, saying to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” This is an important question to ask of Jesus. Don’t you care? Maybe they were hoping Jesus could help row or work the sails or at least do something to stop the boat from sinking. They certainly didn’t expect what was about to happen! The Bible tells us how Jesus stood up and commanded the wind, “Quiet!” and said to the waves, “Be still”. “Then the wind died down, and it was
completely calm”. The disciples, frightened by the storm, now having seen this, were even more afraid of the man who was able to stop the storm. In this great chaos Jesus brought great calm! The disciples, in their fear, asked one of the most thought provoking questions of all time, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” This too is a good question. Who is this man who has authority over the wind and waves? The disciples would soon understand, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, exactly who He is – God himself come into our world to care for people, to take away fear, and where there is chaos to bring peace and calm for those who would have faith in him.
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
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New chance to play footy p.60
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
Sport
RUGBY LEAGUE
Jessica Fox in action in last weekend
Jessica shines again NATHAN TAYLOR
L
eonay local Jessica Fox has proven she is still the best slalom paddler in the country after winning back to back gold medals at last weekend’s Canoe Slalom Australian Open. Held at Penrith Whitewater Stadium, the two-time Olympic medallist was crowned champion in the K1 event before backing it up with another gold medal in the C1 the following day. In the women’s K1, the reigning world champion had a convincing win with a clean 103.77 seconds run, defeat-
On Sunday, Fox was at it again with another strong performance in the women’s C1 final. Fox won the event in 106.81 seconds, 12.1 seconds ahead of her 20-year-old sister, Noemie Fox, in second place. “My sister was in the lead as I was going, so I knew I had to put down a good run and I’m happy with how I went,” Jess Fox said. “The results mean that I’m selected onto the team for the World Cup and the World Championships in both the C1 and the K1.” Fellow Penrith local Rosalyn Lawrence finished the C1 final in seventh place while Alison Borrows came eighth.
ing Germany’s Ricarda Funk by 3.47 seconds. “It wasn’t the best run but it was a solid run and I kept it together top to bottom, so I was happy to cross the line in first place,” Fox said. “It’s early in the season but it’s nice to get a win under the belt and Ricarda is a fantastic athlete. She was one of the best last year and I’m sure she will be fired up again this year. “This is the biggest race that we’ve ever had here in Penrith with lots of international athletes and it feels like a World Cup. It’s fantastic to have that atmosphere and deal with that pressure in the final on the home course.”
Hundreds of paddling fans joined a record number of 16 countries competing at Penrith Whitewater Stadium over the weekend, with 269 starters battling it out. It was the second international canoe slalom event of the year for Australian paddlers following the Canoe Slalom Oceania Championships in New Zealand back in January. Australian Slalom Team selections for the 2018 World Cup and World Championship season will be confirmed next week, with the 2018 season to culminate at the Canoe Slalom World Championships in Rio in September, where the paddling world’s eyes will be focused.
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
58
RUGBY LEAGUE
Young Panthers on show Melinda Jane captured the action of Penrith’s trial win over the Roosters
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
RUGBY LEAGUE
New halves combination makes noteworthy debut NATHAN TAYLOR
t may have only lasted 23 minutes but already you can tell the James Maloney and Nathan Cleary combination is going to be a real winner for the Penrith Panthers. The talented pair combined for the first time last weekend during Penrith’s 30-18 win over a severely understrength Sydney Roosters side at Panthers Stadium. While neither player crossed the line in their short stints, they did each have a hand in two of Penrith’s six tries. Speaking with the Weekender, Cleary said it was a solid start to what everyone hopes will be a premiership-winning partnership. “Obviously we didn’t get much time together but I thought the time we had on the field felt pretty calm and it felt like we knew what we were doing,” he said. “I think the execution will come as we go and hopefully we can build on that. It felt good to be out there with him.” While Penrith fans were certainly pumped to see Cleary and Maloney combine for the first time, the same can be said for the duo in question, who were also just as excited.
I
“I was excited to play with Jimmy. He’s a bit older than me and I’ve been looking up to him for years,” Cleary admitted. “To be playing with him now, it’s pretty exciting and pretty cool for me.” Maloney agreed without question. “I really enjoyed playing with Nath,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing where this combination can go and how we can build throughout the year. I always thought he was a tremendous young talent and a really good kid.” After playing with four NRL clubs previously, Maloney said it wasn’t too unusual running out in Panthers colours for the first time last Saturday. “Not really… I’ve changed clubs a few times, it just is what it is now,” he said. “I thought it was a good trial, I only played 20 minutes or so – it was pretty low key, to blow some cobwebs out. “We’ll get a better idea and a better chance to put some things together this weekend against the Bulldogs.” Coach Anthony Griffin has named a strong side for this Saturday night’s final trial against Canterbury at Belmore Oval. Skipper Peter Wallace will return as will Waqa Blake, Corey Harawira-Naera, Josh Mansour and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
Nathan Cleary in action last weekend. Photo: Melinda Jane
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
RUGBY LEAGUE
Playing with your M8s Unique program gives local youngsters a new chance to play rugby league NATHAN TAYLOR
he New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) has launched another block of free Recreational Rugby League competitions in the Penrith District to encourage children to play and stay in the game. The Recreational Rugby League Program features a range of competitions for children as young as 10, making rugby league fun, safe and family time friendly. Although the competition’s first week has already passed, children can register at any time and play as many of the three games remaining for free. The four week competition provides a fun and hassle-free opportunity for players to participate in a fast-paced and friendly rugby league format. The M8s competition offered is an eighta-side format, with each team playing two 20 minute games per week on a modified field. “We’re very excited about the programs and the further opportunities for our participants to compete in different formats of the game that will hopefully
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Youngsters are being given the chance to try a unique version of rugby league keep them involved and enjoying their footy for longer,” NSWRL General Manager of Football, Barrie-Jon Mather said. “Recreational Rugby League is not designed to replace the traditional 13-aside game, rather to supplement those
competitions and increase the number of people playing our game.” Games take place every Tuesday afternoon at 5.30pm at Waite Reserve. Non-junior league players are welcome and insurance is provided.
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WW30528
Club kicks goals Striking a friendship: Community becomes a huge focus NATHAN TAYLOR
n what will certainly boost registration numbers well into the future, the Ropes Crossing Strikers have announced a key partnership with Ropes Crossing Public School. The partnership sees a multi-facet approach which will help get all students active, plus reduce the cost of sport for the school’s sports teams and talented sports people. Last week, a handful of the club’s Premier League players and coaches attended the school to run football clinics. The clinics were aimed to promote an active lifestyle for all children and teach students the basic skills of football and promote teamwork. “We ran the clinics on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday last week and they went really well,” Ropes Crossing Strikers Treasurer, Adam Hartas said. “The feedback we received from the kids, teachers and school principal was really positive. We even received some great comments from parents on our Facebook page.”
I
The Ropes Crossing Strikers are a very community-minded club In addition to the school clinics, the Strikers also made a $1000 donation towards the cost of PSSA sports buses and introduced a $500 Scholarship program that the school can distribute to talented sports people within the school. All of these initiatives are seen as important steps towards promoting an active lifestyle and increasing participation numbers at the club.
“We plan to go back and run some more clinics later in the year and early next year, to keep tapping into that resource,” Hartas said. “Ropes Crossing is very communityminded suburb. We try and give back as much as we can.” The Ropes Crossing Strikers are still accepting registrations for the upcoming season. See www.ropescrossingfc.com.
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
FOOTBALL
Emus play role in rugby’s expansion Story continued from » p. 64 “We have had to meet some conditions going forward; those conditions are confidential with the Sydney Rugby Union.” For decades, the Emus have underperformed on a regular basis. Results in the past have often been too embarrassing for the club to publish, and they have had four head coaches in the last four years. When asked if Penrith’s future beyond the 2018 season would be based on performances from this year, Hook denied that was one of the conditions. “While those conditions are confidential, that won’t be the case,” he confirmed. Hook also revealed the club was in the middle of implementing a strategic development plan for greater western Sydney, to help develop the game from the grassroots level. “It’s not just about Penrith, it’s about the development of rugby in greater western Sydney,” he said. “We are working very closely with the governing body to develop this strategic plan for rugby in greater western Sydney.” In the meantime, the Emus are still on the hunt for more players to fill the seven teams they will be fielding when competition begins this coming May.
SEE Foundation – Providing DisAbility support with a difference! SEE Foundation is a small disability provider in the Activity hub of Penrith, we are NDIS registered and provide a completely inclusive and unique approach to supporting people with All Abilities. This approach is based on the premise that disability support is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution resulting in supports and activities that change with each person’s ongoing changing needs and interests. We believe that everyone has the right to live their very best life and we are here to help you achieve that with: DAY PROGRAM: We have vacancies now activities or that ballet or drama class you in our specialised and unique day program have been wanting to take. where there is no overcrowding, no SATURDAY GROUP: Join our fun filled understaffing and no admin charges. Just Saturday program aimed at socialisation, high quality unique service tailored to your money and travel skills whilst enjoying fun needs. activities like Bowling, Painting, Cooking, ACCESS TO COMMUNITY, SOCIAL & Swimming, Horse Riding, Mini Golf and RECREATION ACTIVITIES: We can assist more. you engage in the community by connecting The time is now to experience the difference and supporting you to undertake leisure that comes with a provider that has that and sporting activities, health and wellness small community and family feel . . . So if you are yet to use your NDIS plan or ready to change your supports call SEE Foundation now phone 4721 1966. Also visit our Website for our full range of services and supports at
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Friday, February 23, 2018 « the western weekender
SOFTBALL
Local trio proud to wear green and gold in 2018 NATHAN TAYLOR
hree softballers from Penrith City Softball Association will swap out their club colours for the famous green and gold after they were each selected to represent their country. Jacob Donaldson and Jarred Garland will represent the Australian U19 Men’s team at the Junior Men’s Softball World Championships in Canada this July, while fellow local Taylah Tsitsikronis will be a member of the Aussie Spirit team at the Women’s Softball World Championships in Japan. While it’s Tsitsikronis’ fifth time representing the national side, it’ll be first time lucky for Donaldson and Garland. Speaking with the Weekender, Donaldson said making the team was one of the greatest achievements of his life. “I was initially selected in a 30-man squad before they cut the team to 17. The CEO of Softball Australia called me and said ‘congratulations, you’ve made the actual team’,” the 18-year-old recalled. “Finding out I would be representing Australia in Canada was probably one of the best moments I’ve ever had. It’s something I’ve been dreaming about since I was 13-years-old.”
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Teammate Jarred Garland agreed, admitting he was in his car when he found out the good news. “It was the best feeling ever, it’s always been a dream of mine to make an Aussie team ever since I represented NSW,” the 17-year-old said. “My family was also excited. Dad didn’t believe it at first and Mum was crying. “I owe a lot to the Penrith City Softball Association; this place has been my life and they have done a lot for us.” While making an Aussie team is nothing new for the experienced Tsitsikronis, the 23-year-old still feels those jitters when she’s on the brink of making the team. Tsitsikronis recalled just how close she was to thinking she had missed out on an Aussie berth. “I was selected last Friday but I was so nervous awaiting the news,” she said “The time frame selectors were meant to call me was between 11am and 12pm, and I got a call at 11.59am. “I was in a shop with my mum when a private number called me. I reckon I was the last player to find out.” Tsitsikronis’ team will be under immense pressure when competition gets underway in early August, with a spot in the 2020 Olympic Games on the line.
Jacob Donaldson, Jarred Garland and Taylah Tsitsikronis. Photo: Melinda Jane
Around the grounds CRICKET: Penrith have continued their late season charge, defeating Western Suburbs in Round 13 of the NSW Premier Cricket competition. Playing in a two-day match at Howell Oval, Penrith posted 9/269 on day one before declaring. Young gun Ryan Hackney top scored with 59. When Western Suburbs hit the crease on day two, they fell way short of Penrith’s total – dismissed for 218. 17-year-old Trent Weir, who made his first grade debut, was best with the ball for Penrith taking 5/58. Penrith will look to continue their hot winning streak when they battle North Sydney at North Sydney Oval this weekend.
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BASEBALL: The Penrith Panthers first grade side have enjoyed a mixed weekend against Ryde in Round 18 of the NSW State Baseball League competition. In the mid-week game last Wednesday night, Penrith smashed the Hawks 11-4 while last Sunday they were on the end of a thrashing themselves, losing 14-4. Penrith finished the 2017/18 season in second last place with eight wins and 21 losses to their name. Macarthur were crowned Minor Premiers. AFLW: The GWS Giants have won their first game of the season, defeating Collingwood 48-35 last Sunday afternoon in Melbourne. The 13-point win keeps the Giants’ season alive while Collingwood are almost certainly out of Finals contention
with their third straight defeat. GWS will look for back to back wins when they host the Adelaide Crows in Blacktown this weekend. RUGBY LEAGUE: Round 2 of the NSWRL Junior Representative season took place last weekend with excellent results for Penrith’s SG Ball and Harold Matthews teams. In the SG Ball competition, Penrith hammered Canberra 40-14, while in the Harold Matthews competition, the Panthers belted the Raiders 38-12. The news was also positive in the Tarsha Gale Cup, with Penrith defeating the Raiders 44-32 to notch up their first win of the year. This Saturday, Penrith will take on Parramatta in all three grades at St Marys Leagues Stadium. GOLF: Young Leonay golf prodigy Wil Arnold (Penrith Golf Club) has won the prestigious Leonay Open by two shots, shooting a one-over par scratch score of 68. Arnold first came to light as a future talent in 2015 when he headed to the US to play College Golf and was the lowhandicapper in this year’s field on an impressive -1 handicap. Leonay Major Pennants squad members Ian Barnes and Dave Moore had a tight finish for second place, with both shooting 70 but Barnes took the higher position on a countback. Leonay C2 Grade member Hugh Renny shot the best nett score of the day, relishing his 27 handicap to finish well clear of the field with a red-hot score of 59.
the western weekender » Friday, February 23, 2018
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Friday, February 23, 2018
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enrith Emus President Jim Hook has hit back at reports the local rugby club is battling for its immediate survival. Last weekend it was reported that the Emus had three months to prove they were worthy of a place in the Shute Shield competition or risk being kicked out. Sporting News reported Penrith had to lift their game in a number of key areas to avoid being dumped from Sydney’s top rugby competition. It’s understood the main criteria demands Penrith needs to adhere by include fielding four grade and three Colts sides each weekend, and ensuring coaching staff are properly accredited. Speaking with the Weekender, Emus President Jim Hook confirmed the club will be playing in the Shute Shield competition this upcoming season. “The Penrith Rugby Club are in the Shute Shield competition in 2018… we will definitely be there,” he said. Story continues on » p. 61
Penrith Emus boss Jim Hook on Wednesday. Photo: Melinda Jane
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