Western Weekender January 31

Page 1

BUSINESS

SENIORS

I’M GOING NOWHERE

PENRITH’S TOP EXPERTS

STARTS ON PAGE 37

story on page 72

HOT TIPS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

DEDICATED TO OLDER LOCALS

GOULD RE-SIGNS WITH PENRITH

JANUARY 31 2014 ISSUE 1138

PROUDLY INDEPENDENT CIRCULATION: 59,400

THE HEARTBEAT OF PENRITH

TRAFFIC RELIEF Work on the Leonay Parade intersection with the M4 Motorway is set to begin in the next few weeks after approval for the upgrade was granted by the State Government. The $2 million project is tipped to reduce delays and alleviate safety concerns at one of the Penrith region’s most known traffic trouble spots. Some locals, however, have expressed concerns.

PAGE 6

ROBBO’S PLAN St Marys resident Harold Hunt is an inspiration to many, and was honoured on Australia Day. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Worthy recognition

Exclusive with the Opposition Leader

PAGE 7

St Marys man turned his demons into positive lessons

H

CASSANDRA O CONNOR

e started life as a stockman and shearer but Harold Hunt has now become one of the country’s leading alcoholism experts – and he speaks with experience. The St Marys resident was this week awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to Indigenous communities in NSW, but the reach of his work has been far and wide. “I grew up in far western NSW and stopped school as soon as I knew how to read, write and do maths because I was going to be a stockman and those were

the only basic skills you needed,” he said. However, alcohol became a problem for him and in the late 1960’s he sought rehabilitation. It was a tough road but there was a silver lining to his alcoholism. “In the 1970’s the government started a program where they got half a dozen of us former alcoholics and trained us up to be counsellors,” he said. “Th is became my goal, to help advise on alcoholism issues.” From 1974 to 1976 Mr Hunt served as an alcoholism counsellor at Redfern House Community Health Centre, followed by other counselling appointments. He later became a Member of the Aboriginal Advisory Council and taught at various NSW

universities about Aboriginal history, alcoholism and cross cultural communication. Most recently, he is working with university experts to develop a 12 step treatment of alcoholism for rehabilitation workers. “Th is will be my best achievement but we are having trouble getting the project off the ground,” he said. Mr Hunt said he hopes to continue working on alcoholism related issues for many more years to come, provided there are ears willing to listen. “If someone gave me a team, all these issues with alcohol and talk of rising prices, we could fi x. An alcoholic will buy alcohol no matter what the price, you need to help them realise there is a problem.”

GIRLS FIRE UP

Teacher by day, fire fighter by night PAGE 18

PH:1300 882 770 I 45 York Rd, Penrith. 2745 www.jadcohomes.com.au I info@jadcohomes.com.au

WW5413

Lic No. 102962C

ph: 4721 1500 f: 4721 1577 www.rositanokitchens.com.au WW4148


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.