Western Weekender July 31 2020 by Western Sydney Publishing Group

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INSIDE Special Education Week Feature Pages 41-49

PENRITH’S NINJA WARRIOR

23-year-old Jessica Russell to take on the epic challenge of Mount Midoriyama this Sunday EMILY FESZCZUK

enrith local Jessica Russell has taken on the world’s toughest obstacle course on the new season of ‘Australian Ninja Warrior’. The 23-year-old will be showing off her skills when her episode airs on Channel Nine this Sunday night. Inspired by her boyfriend Travis Edwards, who competed on the first season of the smash hit show, Ms Russell said she finally decided to give it a go herself. “My partner, Travis, was so passionate and confident about ‘Ninja Warrior’ that I wanted to feel the same kind of happiness that he had experienced while doing it,” she told the Weekender. “Never in a million years did I think I would get on and I doubted myself a lot, but Travis always supported me and ‘Ninja Warrior’ saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.” With 2019 being a big year of growth for Ms Russell, she said stepping up to the challenge of ‘Ninja Warrior’ was the next step in her journey. “I dropped out of school and moved out at 14, so leading up to the show I managed to get my

Certificate I and II in IT, and Certificate III in Community Services and in Business Administration, all within seven months,” she said. Ms Russell admits she didn’t think she had what it took to compete on the high energy Channel Nine show, but she proved herself wrong. “I didn’t think I was cut out for it, but I ended up jumping into training about seven weeks before, either at a ninja gym or rock climbing once or twice a week,” she said. With all of Australia having to wait to see if Ms Russell has what it takes to go far in the competition, she said the experience has completely changed her life. “‘Ninja Warrior’ has given me a new outlook on life and myself, it has given me goals to strive for in the gym, it has got me out of my comfort zone, and has given me a group of friends who have become family,” she said. “I was so scared to do my run, there was not one moment of calmness just 100 per cent fear. But it gives people an opportunity to grow and show who you are no matter what walk of life you come from, which is so entertaining to watch.” ‘Australian Ninja Warrior’ airs on Sunday night on Channel Nine.

Want more TV news? Read Chatter on the Box! Nathan Taylor has all the latest on page 52

Jessica Russell will appear on ‘Australian Ninja Warrior’. Photo: Megan Dunn.

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Police no longer believe toddler was sexually assaulted at Penrith play centre TROY DODDS & NICOLA BARTON

n Monday police said they had “concerning evidence” that a two- year- old girl had been sexually assaulted at a Penrith play centre, but the story has taken a bizarre and dramatic twist. Late on Wednesday, after trawling through CCTV footage from the Lollipop’s Playland on Mulgoa Road, Police indicated they no longer believed the toddler had been assaulted at the centre. It was a strange turn of events after police had called a media conference on Monday, sparking shock across the community at the thought of the sickening attack. Detectives were called in after the toddler was located in a distressed state in a storeroom, some 20 minutes after going missing at the play centre. Injuries were discovered and she was taken to Westmead Hospital, while the centre was closed and police launched a major investigation. But it is now understood police believe the girl’s injuries may have been innocently acquired. “Investigations by the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad are continuing following reports that a two-year- old girl

Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec addresses the media. Photo: Megan Dunn. was sexually assaulted at a play centre in Penrith on Sunday 26 July 2020,” Police said in their statement on Wednesday night. “Following a review of CCTV footage and a forensic examination of the location, there is no evidence at this time to confirm initial reports that a sexual offence has occurred within the play centre. Inquiries are continuing.” It is understood that the CCTV foot-

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age shows the two- year- old entering a storeroom but indicates no other person entering the storeroom until she is found. Commander of the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad, Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec, said on Monday that obtaining information from the girl was difficult. “She can’t tell us a lot due to her tender age,” he said. But he added: “The injuries are sufficient for us to be very concerned.”

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

Assault claim a false alarm

Lollipop’s co- owner Vanessa Foreman told The Daily Telegraph they did everything they could to assist police. “We’re a tight team and we have all been affected by this,” she said. “We just listened to what police had to say, we wanted to get to the bottom of these allegations, and we did everything we could. Police told us they couldn’t have gotten this far without that.” NSW Police’s updated statement on Wednesday vindicates the centre after they were subject to threatening comments online in the wake of the initial reports. Customers of the centre, which re-opened on Tuesday, dropped off flowers and chocolates this week to show support for the centre, which is owned by two sisters.

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Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

the western weekender PO BOX 7105 South Penrith NSW 2750 P (02) 4722 2998 • F (02) 4731 6255 www.westernweekender.com.au www.facebook.com/westernweekender www.twitter.com/wwpenrith westernweekender Issue 1462

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Advertising: sales@westernweekender.com.au Editorial: news@westernweekender.com.au Distribution/delivery queries: distribution@westernweekender.com.au Published by: Western Sydney Publishing Group Managing Editor: Troy Dodds | troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au @troydodds Weekender Newsroom: Deputy Editor: Nathan Taylor | @natetaylor87 Journalist: Alena Higgins | @alenazhiggins Journalist: Nicola Barton | @nicolabarton123 Journalist: Emily Feszczuk | @emilyfeszczuk Photographer: Megan Dunn 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: Andrew Harris, Linda Miller, Kate Shaw, Jay Lowe To receive a copy of our media kit and advertising prices, email sales@westernweekender.com.au Production: Ian Beard, Claire Catacouzinos, Kacey Wilson

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Editor’s Desk

Troy Dodds troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au

@troydodds

Our media must do better L

ike clockwork, the phone would ring at 9.15am on Mondays. It was 2001 and I was a rookie rugby league journalist given the task of answering that phone each week. On the other end was a bloke convinced that the NRL was rigged – every score pre-determined, every storyline scripted and every player, coach and administrator “in on it”. He had hundreds and hundreds of pages of “evidence” and said he “lived in fear” given what he knew. There was, quite obviously, nothing to this guy’s claims. Reporting on them would have been irresponsible, dangerous and unethical given they had absolutely no basis or foundation in fact. I was thinking about that bloke the other day and came to the realisation that if he’d made those phone calls in 2020 his story would probably get a run somewhere. Such is the state of the mainstream Australian media, where a large chunk of responsibility has been thrown out the window in recent years and clickbait has replaced sensible reporting. In decades past journalists and in particular their editors wouldn’t have given the time of day to some crazy bloke with a sandwich board and tin foil hat sprouting his conspiracy theories on the side of the road. Today, he’d have a chance of being the lead story on The Daily Mail. And so we get to this week, where ‘Bunnings Karen’ has dominated the news headlines. Every media organisation ran with it, and the bastions of good taste, ‘A Current Affair’, even tracked her down.

It all makes for good television, great talk topics for radio and superb clickbait for online publications desperate for clicks and relevance. But responsible reporting, not so much. News organisations would potentially argue that they simply report the goingson of the day, and that a minority of anti- maskers out there are part of the COVID- 19 news cycle. That justification is how they sleep at night. Other organisations may argue that they’re simply delivering what their audience wants. Ratings and clicks are transparent these days, and editors and news directors know what works. Both arguments, disturbingly, have some merit. But is giving these people, like ‘Bunnings Karen’, so much air time really providing anyone with anything valuable, or is it simply inflaming the situation to dangerous levels? Plenty of these people the mainstream media now highlights are desperately seeking their 15 minutes of fame, or more seriously, have some issues that need to be addressed by a professional. Rather than take the responsible approach, the media welcomes them with open arms. In the past they would have given them a phone number for a support service. These days they hit the record button. It just doesn’t sit right with me. Then again, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. In a far less serious case that proves just how far down the toilet some of our once respected media organisations have gone, both Channel 7 and News.com.au ran a story this week about a “special

News..............................................1-22 Support St Marys...........23-28 Extra Time.........................29-40

Index

checkout” at Woolworths that would “change the way you shop”. The story is about a confectionery free checkout, a concept that has existed at Woolies for years and has extensive signage in store. How multiple journalists wrote that yarn and how multiple editors approved it is utterly dumbfounding. Perhaps more concerning is that people are going to university for three or four years to come out and write this crap. All of this is a problem, and one without a solution at present. Media organisations have seen budgets destroyed in recent years, and many would argue that as a result, the days of quality journalism with extensive research and fact checking are in the past. Yet in an age of fake news and social media, quality writing and research has never been more important. As audiences, we have a choice. We can excitedly await and click on the next big supermarket revelation – perhaps a trained journalist will discover Coles has a 12 items or less line and tap out 300 words on it. Or we can stop embracing the stupidity and force mainstream media organisations to re-think their strategies and the types of stories they write. We can accept the current trend, or demand better. Sadly, an entire generation of writers is going to legitimately believe that trawling Facebook for a supermarket hack equates to journalism. They’re going to accept carefully written statements as the norm, not push back for answers. And they’re just going to report two differing opinions, not research to discover who’s actually telling the truth. As consumers, we’re the ones who suffer.

Education Week..............41-49 Entertainment...................51-56 Weekender Living........57-59

Business................................60-61 Business Directory......62-64 Sport........................................65-68

COVID-19 testing myths, busted. There are a lot of myths out there about COVID-19 testing. Here’s the truth. > > > >

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If you have a symptom, don’t delay, get tested and self-isolate.

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Job shortage: Fears that reduced JobSeeker payments will send many to the wall health issues are impacting her job search due to the extreme competitiveness. “It gives me great anxiety to think that I may struggle without successfully securing work,” she said. “Many families will be pushed to their absolute limit.” From August 4, mutual obligation requirements will gradually return. All job seekers must accept any offer of paid work, with consequences for those who refuse employment without a reasonable excuse. Job seekers must also undertake appointments with an employment service provider. Phase two of the mutual obligations will occur from the end of September, where people will be required to undertake a higher rate of job search. Means testing will also be reintroduced. “If there is a job to be taken and a job that is being offered, then it is an obligation, a mutual obligation, for those who are on JobSeeker to take those jobs where they’re on offer,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said when announcing the revised scheme. “We will make further decisions about JobSeeker closer to the end of the year or potentially even in the Budget.” For more information, visit jobsearch. gov.au/compliance.

NICOLA BARTON

Nicole Bowers continues to search for work. Photo: Megan Dunn.

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ingswood resident Nicole Bowers is one of almost a million Australians who suddenly found themselves without work as a result of COVID-19. The 46- year- old said her family would have been “financially crippled” if it weren’t for the lifeline JobSeeker Scheme. However, with payment cuts to commence from September, Ms Bowers, like many other Australians, is on a desperate hunt for work. After applying for 109 jobs and only hearing back from four, she said she’s starting to realise just how competitive and challenging this feat will be. “My anxiety is through the roof, knowing I have a month to find a job,” she said. “As a single parent who has always worked I am petrified for our future.” The JobSeeker supplement of $550 per fortnight is available until September 24. After this, the supplement will fall to $250 per fortnight, meaning people will receive $815 a fortnight. The revised JobSeeker scheme will enable people to earn $300 a fortnight before facing a reduced payment, which equates to 60 cents for each dollar over. Ms Bowers said she fears her age and

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

Families face tough road

Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

If sick, get tested No Penrith restaurant, club or business has been impacted by a spate of Coronavirus outbreaks in New South Wales, but locals are being urged to stay on high alert. Scores of businesses across the State have been impacted by fresh clusters, some being forced to close due to an infected staff member or customer attending the premises. It has sent hundreds of potential contacts into isolation and put them on higher alert for any symptoms. While no Penrith business is on NSW Health’s radar at the moment, locals are still being urged to be vigiliant. Anyone who feels unwell or develops symptoms associated with COVID- 19 should get tested, and remain isolated while waiting for results.

Labor wants clarity NSW Labor wants the State Government to outline what measures have been put in place to avoid another devastating outbreak at an aged care home. It follows the outbreak at Newmarch House in Caddens, which saw 19 residents pass away and dozens of cases identified. “We know COVID- 19 is particularly dangerous to older people,” said Shadow Health Minister Ryan Park. “As we see the number of cases here and south of the border continue to grow, the NSW Government must explain what measures it’s put in place to keep seniors safe from the virus.” Newmarch House no longer has any active cases of the virus.

Vacant land to get new life New plan for industrial units to address supply shortage ALENA HIGGINS

acant land next to Penrith Homemaker Centre is set to be subdivided to make way for new industrial lots. Levadetes Property Group (Levadetes) has recently lodged a Development Application (DA) to subdivide the 2.5 hectare site, officially known as 121- 133 Blaikie Road, Jamisontown, into 15 allotments with associated parking. The provision of a new 13- metre wide public road is also proposed that would intersect the site and service half of the future lots and also connect Blaikie Road and Pattys Place. It is understood the proposal will allow for a mixture of business, warehouse and specialised retail uses, and will feature 122 on-site car parking spaces. There will be no unacceptable traffic implications on the road network capacity, off- street parking or loading and access requirements, according to the accompanying Traffic Assessment and Parking Report, which finds no road improvements or intersection upgrades are required as a result of the subdivision. “In order to minimise the number of driveways and retain as much on- street parking as possible, adjoining lots will share driveways and internal circulation

Vacant land in Jamisontown will become new industrial units. areas, accessed via separate entry and exit driveways located off either Blaikie Road, Pattys Place or the new internal road,” it states. “Importantly, all commercial vehicles will have the ability to enter and exit each lot in a forward direction at all times.” According to the DA, the proposal aims to support small businesses by providing smaller allotments ranging in size from 1,000sqm to 1,081sqm, which are currently in short supply in the local area. The layout will be in keeping with the existing character of the area, particularly to the north and east, and will in no

way adversely affect surrounding land uses, the DA states. The subject site, which has a 128-metre frontage to Blaikie Road and a 190-metre frontage to Pattys Place, is currently zoned B5 Business Development and has some flooding and bushfire constraints. The industrial subdivision, internal road construction and civil works are estimated to cost $1.625 million. Levadetes did not respond to the Weekender’s request for comment and it is not known if it will subsequently construct all or any of the buildings once the subdivision is approved.

Man suffers serious injuries in fall at construction site

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TROY DODDS

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man suffered suspected spinal injuries and fractures to his limbs after a fall at a construction site in Penrith on Wednesday morning. The incident happened at a work site within the Panthers Leagues Club precinct. The 35-year-old man fell approximately three metres from scaffolding, landing on concrete. “CareFlight’s Rapid Response Helicopter was tasked by NSW Ambulance at

8.45am and landed in the construction site’s car park 15 minutes later,” a CareFlight spokesperson said. “Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW Ambulance emergency personnel were on scene working to extricate the patient from the third storey via a crane. “When the man was safely retrieved, CareFlight’s specialist doctor and NSW Ambulance critical care paramedic performed a trauma assessment and conducted an ultrasound on the worker.” The man was taken by road ambulance to Westmead Hospital where he was undergoing treatment.

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

Delays continue despite new lights NICOLA BARTON

Melissa Robins. Photo: Megan Dunn.

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ong anticipated traffic lights on The Northern Road at the Glenmore Parkway and Wentworth Road intersection are experiencing teething problems, according to some residents. Locals called for the lights after construction of the road saw a temporary roundabout put in place, which many deemed dangerous. Now, the roundabout has been removed and replaced with traffic lights, although some are reporting backed-up congestion of a morning, calling for light sequence tweaking to improve traffic flow. Glenmore Park resident Melissa Robins said it has a flow-on effect on traffic during peak hour times. “Aside from looking clean and fresh and certainly less dangerous than the temporary roundabout, I think there are just things that aren’t quite right about it yet, leading to more blocked up traffic,” she said. “Most people are patient, we understand work is happening, but all we are being patient for is another 20,000 houses in the suburb.” The issue lies between the three sets of

lights from Bradley Street to the M4 exit on The Northern Road, causing congestion which makes it difficult for cars to enter from the Glenmore Parkway, Garswood Road and Wentworth Road. This subsequently blocks up adjoining streets such as Glengarry Drive and St Andrews Road. Whilst gridlock of a morning is nothing new for Glenmore Park, residents were hopeful that the new lights would be a step towards improving the flow. “We need to better fix the Glenmore Parkway and Bradley Street to be wider for longer, it would be great to have a residents committee to meet with those in charge of local roads,” Ms Robins said. The upgraded intersection also includes new dedicated turning bays, road surface, line marking and additional signage. A Transport for NSW (TfNSW) spokesperson said the traffic signal phasing is currently set to ensure the safety of road users and workers while work continues on The Northern Road upgrade. “Final traffic signal phasing will be implemented towards the end of the year,” the spokesperson said. “TfNSW continues to monitor traffic movements in the area and will make appropriate changes as required in the interim for the benefit of all road users.”

Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

Eating into their income Frustrated Uber Eats drivers say they’ll continue protests over new fare system NICOLA BARTON

ber Eats drivers switched off their engines last Friday afternoon in protest of a new fare system which some are calling “modern slavery”. Penrith drivers said they were furious with the changes, which they claim bites into up to 50 per cent of their weekly income. Driver Sahil Makkar said it was a kick in the teeth as many who have lost work due to COVID-19 rely on their Uber Eats income to live. “We drive and deliver to people in the height of the pandemic, we put ourselves at risk going to the malls and getting the food and what for? $10 an hour on average?” he said. “We are upset and frustrated and we feel betrayed by Uber, especially when they do this during this time when so many have lost their jobs or are struggling to find work.” Mr Makkar said prior to the changes, if he were to deliver an order form Mad Mex in Penrith to Glenmore Park, the driver was getting around $18, but now the driver is lucky to get $12. “They sent us mail telling us there is a change in the fare structure asking us to

Angry Uber Eats drivers say their pay has been cut during the pandemic. Photo: Megan Dunn. sign and it said if you don’t sign you can’t accept more orders or drive with Uber,” he said. “A lot of the drivers don’t have the legal education to understand, so they just say ‘OK’ and sign without reading or understanding what was about to come.” Mr Makkar also claimed that if he was tipped $5 prior to the changes he would get

the full amount, however he says he now only gets $3.80 of that $5. Uber denied this claim and said drivers still get 100 per cent of their tips. “Uber Eats shares the community’s gratitude towards the tens of thousands of delivery partners who are using the platform for flexible earning opportunities and who are continuing to support restau-

rants in Penrith and across the country as well as eaters at this challenging time,” an Uber spokesperson said. “One of Uber’s community guidelines is to treat everyone with respect, and while we absolutely respect individual partners and their right to voice their concerns – we would encourage them to do so through the available support channels.”

Masterplan for Gipps Street project gets tick of approval ALENA HIGGINS

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laremont Meadows’ long-awaited sporting and recreational precinct is edging closer to reality after Councillors adopted the updated Masterplan on Monday night. Floodlit sports fields, multiple hard courts, cricket practice facilities, a skate park, water play and an off- leash dog park are just some of the amenities local residents will welcome when the $15 million Gipps Street project is finally built. The updated Masterplan, which was rubber stamped following community consultation in May and June, also features children’s play and nature play areas, BBQ facilities, a pump track for bike riders, an outdoor health and fitness gym, canteen amenities plus change rooms and toilets. Walking loops and exploration trails as well as the potential for a future South Creek trail and connection to St Marys have also been included, as has an additional 125 car parking spaces bringing the total number to 400. “It’s a long time coming and I really wish to see it come to fruition,” Councillor Kevin Crameri said during Monday night’s Ordinary Council Meeting. Mayor Ross Fowler thanked all the Council officers involved in bringing the project to reality. “There’s been a lot of work done on it

by a number of people over a number of years, and this is probably one of the final steps to getting something there that the community can use,” Cr Fowler said. In December 2007, Penrith Council adopted a masterplan for the future development of the Gipps Street site as well as a precinct plan to guide future use of the adjoining South Creek recreational corridor. However it was unable to implement the original masterplan due to site contamination issues which required significant remediation. In 2019, Council completed all remediation works at the site and an environmental impacts validation report was approved by the Environment Protection Authority. Council acknowledged another key risk of the project is the impacts of any future South Creek Corridor transport infrastructure. “Whilst planning is still underway within the relevant State Government agencies, they have been consulted regarding these plans and will be kept abreast of this development as it progresses,” a report prepared for Councillors states. Detailed designs for the recreational precinct are expected to be completed by July 2021 with construction set to commence in January 2022. The site is then expected to be opened to the public in July 2023.

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

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The movies are back! After closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hoyts cinemas are now back open and showing a terrific mix of new movies as well as old classics. Without question the biggest new movie about to hit the screen is ‘Unhinged’, the new thriller from Russell Crowe. This intense 90- minute movie will have you on the edge of your seat. If you’re feeling a little nostalgic, don’t miss all three ‘Back to the Future’ movies, which are returning to the big screen from this week. You can also check out other classics such as ‘Jackie Brown’ and ‘Pretty Woman’ in the coming weeks. Hoyts is looking after

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Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

PAGE TEN

In the middle of a health pandemic and with NSW Parliament closed to the public for obvious reasons, Greens MP Jenny Leong thought it was all good to whisk illegal protestor Paddy Gibson into Parliament House on Tuesday. What a disgrace.

my Penrith

your health, with special COVID-19 measures in place to ensure a safe night out at the movies. Visit www.hoyts.com.au for session times and film details. The Weekender has two double passes to Hoyts to give away. For your chance to win one, send an email to competitions@westernweekender.com.au with ‘Hoyts’ in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your contact details. Entries close Friday, August 14 and all winners will be notified by email. Authorised under NSW Permit No LTPM/20/05506. Terms and conditions are available at www.westernweekender. com.au or Weekender reception.

lucky paceway winners Members of the Penrith Paceway have the chance to win great prizes thanks to a special promotion involving the club and The Western Weekender. Club members can pick up a free specially numbered bumper sticker from the Paceway, and our spotters will be out and about in the community.

Three spotted bumper sticker numbers will be printed each week, with winners needing to report to the Paceway to verify their bumper sticker number and collect their prize. Look out for new winners on this page every single week! This week’s lucky winners are: 0536, 0537, 0720.

Dose of Dorin Anna Simms Penrith

FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IN PENRITH? Happy Inn. FAVOURITE PLACE TO HAVE A COFFEE IN PENRITH? Mr Watkins. FAVOURITE PLACE TO HAVE A DRINK IN PENRITH? The Pioneer Tavern or Penrith Recreational Bowling Club. FIRST PLACE YOU WOULD TAKE A VISITOR TO PENRITH? The Lookout at Mulgoa. I have taken many friends there that didn’t know about it! WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT PENRITH? We have everything here: clubs, the river, the best local businesses that support each other. Friends and family that have stayed in the area. Plus the best football team. WHAT IS PENRITH’S BEST KEPT SECRET? My salon, The Colour Blue Hairdressing.

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the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

Flu cases decline during pandemic I

f one good thing has come from the pandemic, Western Sydney University viral infection expert Professor Sheree Smith says it’s an increase of personal hygiene. The impact has in fact been so monumental that it has seen the number of cases and deaths caused by influenza drop dramatically. According to the ABC, from January to June last year there were 430 influenza related deaths in Australia. This year there have been 36. Locally, in the same period, there were 321 confirmed notifications of influenza across the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, considerably lower than the 2,479 notifications for the same period last year. Professor Smith said this has been an important wake up call and that it is critical we continue these hygiene habits into the future. “As the COVID-19 hand washing, social distancing and not attending work when sick promotion came into effect we’ve seen a dramatic drop in numbers of proven influenza and due to COVID-19 screening

we’ve actually had more people tested for influenza also,” she said. “It’s a message that has been pushed for decades but we had become very complacent. “It’s interesting that our work as influenza researchers has struggled to get grants but now all of a sudden after COVID-19, it’s more of an area of interest.” Professor Smith said it was also a testament to the influx of flu vaccinations undertaken this year. As of July 22, a record three million doses have been delivered to immunisation providers in NSW compared to 2.5 million doses for the whole of the 2019 flu season. Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Acting Director Public Health George Truman agreed that social distancing measures, better hand hygiene and high levels of vaccination during the COVID- 19 pandemic are the reasons behind the drop in flu cases. “Having a yearly flu vaccination, following good cough etiquette and maintaining hand hygiene are still some of the best ways to stop the spread of the flu,” he said. More people working from home and less people on public transport has also lessened the risk of the flu being picked up in the community.

Free influenza vaccinations are available under the National Immunisation Program for people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, Aboriginal people and those with at-risk medical conditions. The free NSW funded vaccine is also available to all children aged six months to under five years. The NSW Government is investing approx i mately $140 million in the 2020-21 Immunisation Program budget, including Com monwea lth and state vaccines. Got a story to share? Call our news team on 4722 2998.

Cases of the flu this year have fallen dramatically.

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NICOLA BARTON

Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

New roundabout planned Council says traffic studies, accident numbers prompted need for improvements ALENA HIGGINS

otorists travelling along York Road, Jamisontown, can expect to see some changes in the coming months, with a roundabout and pedestrian refuges planned for the Preston Street intersection. Penrith Council said construction of the roundabout is due to commence towards the end of the year “subject to utility adjustments”. “The need for a roundabout is based on traffic studies and a review of accidents at the intersection,” a Council spokesman said. “The proposed roundabout will improve traffic and pedestrian safety and amenity at the intersection, which also provides access to Jamison Park.” Council said the new roundabout would not cause adverse traffic impacts. “Penrith City Council funding has been allocated for investigation and detailed design of converting the Woodriff Street/ York Road and Jamison Road roundabout to traffic signals and the Jamison Road and Station Street roundabout to traffic signals,” the Council spokesman said. “It is intended that the ‘shovel ready’ design be submitted for the fourth round

A new roundabout is set to be constructed at the York Road / Preston Street intersection. Photo: Megan Dunn. of funding in the Local Roads Package – Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan. “Improved lane configuration of the proposed traffic signals show there is no impact on the York Road and Preston Street roundabout.” Meanwhile, plans for a roundabout at Station and Reserve streets, Penrith, have been put on ice after Councillor Marcus Cornish questioned the need and requested to see the designs.

“I don’t know how big it is, if it’s going to be a big one or a little flat one or what, but I can see that being a major problem just on the traffic in that area,” he said. Cr Cornish, who sits on the Local Traffic Committee, said he didn’t think people had enough time to “digest” the impact of the roundabout given is was raised as a General Business item. He also expressed concerns about the limitations of conducting Committee

meetings via electronic correspondence, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Not having meetings can be pretty dangerous in my view,” he said. “I ask that any future traffic meetings are at least Zoom meetings so we can discuss these things.” The Station and Reserve street roundabout was identified as a recommended project under the 2020- 21 Major and Urgent Traffic Facilities Program.

Controversial Nepean Ave plan sparks Council debate ALENA HIGGINS

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uilding a cantilever bridge or new walkway beside Peach Tree Creek are some of the ideas being floated in a bid to improve pedestrian safety along a key stretch of the Great River Walk. As reported by the Weekender last week, Nepean Avenue, Penrith, has experienced a pedestrian boom in recent years in response to the soaring popularity of the bridge- to- bridge precinct, especially during COVID-19. But with no footpaths on either side of the street, pedestrians and young cyclists are forced to travel hundreds of metres on the road, prompting Penrith Council to apply for emergency funding to implement temporary traffic barriers and speed cushions. During Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Monday night, Councillor Tricia Hitchen questioned how long the red and yellow bollards would stay in place, and suggested rather than implementing this “really, quick ugly fix”, Council needed to seriously consider a permanent solution. “Is this temporary for six weeks, six months or six years?” she asked, “because we haven’t found a solution in six years. “Nepean Avenue is one of the prettiest streets in Penrith and we’re going to turn it into the ugliest street in Penrith.”

She said the area is only going to get busier once the new Log Cabin is built and urged Council to take a closer look at the planning for Nepean, Memorial and Ladbury avenues before the pub opens. Councillor Marcus Cornish asked that his idea some years ago for a walkway to be constructed beside Peach Tree Creek, which runs between Ladbury Avenue and Panthers, be put back on the drawing board. “I do believe rather than drifting around the edges we should be looking at a whole different design as Councillor Hitchen said, and I think if the pathway went along Peach Tree Creek it would not affect where the people will end up and it will be a much more pleasant walk,” he said. Councillor Mark Davies recalled seeing plans for the Peach Tree Creek walkway at the time, but said it “all just disappeared and died off”. “Someone needs to do a bit of homework and resurrect some of the old designs,” he said. Cr Hitchen suggested Council use some of its $10 million open space funding to build a cantilever bridge at the back of Nepean Avenue. Council was due to meet with residents protesting the bollards this week and a briefing will be held on Monday night where longer term options will be discussed. What should happen on Nepean Avenue? Tweet us @wwpenrith.

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

Life starts at Thornton Park

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Your time to discover, explore and enjoy what makes you happy. Imagine no longer having to devote time to maintaining a family home, mowing lawns or worrying about home practicalities. With all that taken care of, you have complete peace of mind and are free to focus on what really matters. Retirement living offers so many benefits, particularly access to a great range of onsite features and conveniences that you wouldn’t find in a conventional apartment complex or house. You’ll discover beautifully designed, shared spaces and a great range of activities, services and amenities onsite. If you ever need any help or have a question, the full time concierge is there to help. These stylish, contemporary apartments start from only $495,000. If you’ve ever thought about retirement living, don’t hesitate to contact us for an information pack and to book your obligation-free tour. It just might be the best thing you ever do.

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1800 860 502 thorntonpark.com.au

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Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

Safe and permanent home “Most rewarding thing we’ve ever done”: Adoptions rise in New South Wales NICOLA BARTON

SW has had a record-breaking 162 adoptions from out- of-home care over the past year. Erskine Park couple Adam and Felicity Moreau were one of these after officially signing the papers to adopt their son, Christian, in March. The pair have fostered the now threeyear- old through Barnardos Australia for just shy of two years and said the whole process has been life changing and well worth the wait. “We knew we wanted to be here for him forever, so not much changed when we signed the paper,” Ms Moreau said. “It’s not easy and it’s not quick but there’s reasons for that and Barnardos have a great program and made us well-educated about what the steps were throughout the process. “The end result is the most rewarding thing we’ve ever done.” The pair filed for adoption just before Christmas last year, which was granted in March. Ms Moreau said maintaining a strong relationship with his birth parents is important. “We have to be proactive in maintaining

Felicity and Adam Moreau with their son Christian. Photo: Megan Dunn. contact with his birth family because it is so important for his own identity moving

forward. Our main focus for us throughout the process was to foster and develop

a relationship with his birth family and we are very lucky to have a good relationship with them,” she said. Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the State Government is working hard to reduce the number of children and young people entering out-of-home care. “Every child deserves the security of a safe and loving home where they can grow, thrive and reach their full potential,” he said. “Our first priority is to support vulnerable families to stay safely together through early intervention and preservation strategies but, sadly, this isn’t always possible. “The work our government is doing from preservation and restoration through to adoption and guardianship is having a profound impact on the lives of children, young people and families.” Mr Ward said the work is in line with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s priority to double the number of children in safe and permanent homes by 2023 for children in, or at risk of entering, out-of-home care. Over the past five years, more than 600 adoptions have taken place across the State.

Milla’s a milestone baby IVF clinic in Kingswood celebrates its first birth nine months after opening EMILY FESZCZUK

ine months in the making, the Monash IVF Fertility Clinic is celebrating the first baby born from the new Penrith full service clinic. Monash has had consulting rooms in Penrith for several years but only opened a lab in the area last October. Melissa and Dave Wiseman from Cranebrook used the clinic to help conceive their daughter Milla. Not being able to ovulate naturally, Ms Wiseman said they were referred to the clinic from her gynaecologist. “We had been trying for years naturally so we needed that little bit of help, so we started trying different procedures with Dr Peter Benny, who was amazing,” she said. “They try to make the whole process as natural as possible and are very personalised to your body and don’t just jump to expensive $10,000 procedures.” The only fertility lab in greater western Sydney, Mr Wiseman said the location in Kingswood made the whole process a lot easier. “Working full- time but wanting to go support Mel multiple times a week for blood tests and monitoring

could add a strain, but having it 10 minutes away from home meant I could easily be there,” he said. “Being a smaller centre, everyone gets to know you as well so you feel comfortable to ask questions, and the doctors and nurses are great with communication throughout the whole process.” Ms Wiseman said the clinic was there for them every step of the way until the birth of baby Milla. “They teach you about your body, have a financial person to give you options to make it affordable, and Dr Benny even prolonged his retirement to be there with us until the end,” she said. “I ended up having a great pregnancy and a natural birth with no drugs that gave us a perfectly healthy baby, which was such a big achievement for us.” Mr Wiseman said anyone who is struggling to conceive should seek help. “People think it is a shameful thing to say there might be something wrong with my body or to admit you can’t have a baby naturally, but they should get a referral to a fertility specialist,” he said. “They have so much knowledge to help.”

Dave and Melissa Wiseman with baby Milla. Photo: Megan Dunn.

the western weekender Â» Friday, July 31, 2020

WW41535

From The Courts: Your Complete Legal Wrap COMPILED BY ALENA HIGGINS. OUR COURT REPORTING IS SPONSORED BY LOCAL LAW FIRM COMPLETE LEGAL & CONVEYANCING.

Man failed to intervene when woman was being assaulted

A man who allegedly watched on as a deaf and mute female was choked and sexually assaulted has been granted bail. Steven Hayden Gawne, 39, faced Penrith Local Court via video link last Thursday charged with ‘conceal serious indictable offence’. His lawyer noted his client was not involved in the main offending and was simply at the premises. He said Gawne had accommodation in Goulburn placing him “a long way away from the area”. The court heard there was a struggle over a mobile phone and the woman was strangled to the verge of unconsciousness before a subsequent sexual assault ensued. Police allege Gawne and another witness observed the physical assault but failed to intervene or assist the complainant. Gawne’s lawyer noted the accused’s limited history, and said his time on remand if bail refused would likely exceed any sentence of imprisonment he might receive if ultimately convicted. Magistrate Janine Lacy granted him strict bail with a condition that he reside at the Goulburn address, not contact the complainant, any prosecution witnesses or the co-accused. He must also abide by a curfew and his parents must stump up a $5,000 surety. His matter was adjourned to August 14.

Man with history of violence sent disgusting texts to ex

A man with a history of violence has been refused bail after allegedly harassing his ex-partner in order to see their son. Nathan James Hiscocks faced Penrith Local Court via video link charged with breaching an AVO. The court heard the 36-year-old’s record did not assist him, with previous warrants issued for his arrest and previous convictions for domestic-related violence.

“He really is a man devoted to his son and he just wants to see him,” his lawyer said. The court heard the man sent the complainant dozens of text messages as well as phone calls where he allegedly called her a f**king dog, c**t and bastard. Despite his lawyer offering up strict bail conditions, Magistrate Brian van Zuylen took into account Hiscock’s lengthy record and other allegations of violence against his mother’s partner and denied his release. “Taken altogether they are serious offending,” he said. His matter was adjourned to next month.

Driving ban suspended after man busted behind the wheel

A suspended driver busted behind the wheel while heading to the shops has extended his time off the road. Keegan Dean Hogan faced Penrith Local Court after he was caught driving without a valid license during an RBT stop at North St Marys. The court heard the 21-year-old had gone to get groceries for his ill father, who was self isolating at home, when he was detected. Magistrate Jennifer Giles reminded Hogan it wasn’t up to him to decide when he could and couldn’t drive. “It’s literally like having your legs cut off... and that’s why we do it,” she said of driving suspensions. “You didn’t obey your first suspension, you need to do better.” He was convicted, fined $300 and banned for an extra three months.

Man denies serious assault on cousin; released on bail

An Orchard Hills man who allegedly assaulted his cousin has been released on bail. The man faced Penrith Local Court earlier this month charged with ‘assault occasioning actual bodily harm’.

His lawyer told the court the facts were “very much an issue” and his client had instructed him the injuries to the 23-yearold complainant didn’t come from him. He said the father-of-three denies the allegations and was a hardworking member of the community. The court heard the man admitted to pushing and smacking the man, who was staying with him at the time, to wake him up from his sleep. The prosecution noted the accused was on three good behaviour bonds, one for a domestic violence common assault at the time. Magistrate Brian van Zuylen was persuaded to grant bail with a condition that he not consume drugs or alcohol. A brief of evidence was ordered and the matter was adjourned to August 26.

Woman granted bail with conditions after assault

A woman has been granted bail after a domestic dispute. The 32-year-old faced Penrith Local Court via video link and pleaded guilty to damaging an air conditioner and to the elements of one count of ‘common assault’. She was bailed to a Colyton address and ordered to comply with an AVO as well as enrol and participate in the Magistrate’s Early Referral Into Treatment program. She is due to face Penrith Local Court again on August 27.

Man found with MDMA tablet fronts court; avoids conviction

A man has dodged a criminal conviction despite pleading guilty to drug possession. The first time offender fronted Penrith Local Court earlier this month after he and a number of co-offenders were busted by police patrolling a well known Kingswood drug hot spot in the early morning of March 29. His lawyer argued for a non-conviction noting the 19-year-old was found with a single tablet of MDMA.

Magistrate Brian van Zuylen noted the man was strip searched for other drugs, asking “that would have been humiliating...was it worth it?”. “Even given your age, you should have known better,” he scolded. He warned the man that a criminal conviction could ruin his career and travel prospects before extending him leniency. He was handed a nine-month good behaviour bond without conviction.

Man pleads guilty to offences, but has matter dismissed

A man caught driving illegally has had the matter dismissed after he regained his licence. The man fronted Penrith Local Court and pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified under the fines act and using an unregistered and uninsured car. His lawyer said the man was going through a very difficult financial period at the time and had failed to pay his fines. He said the security guard needed his licence and was not using the car for recreational purposes, but was trying to maintain his employment and was driving to work when he was caught. Magistrate Brian van Zuylen noted the man was warned on March 31. “You didn’t take that as a hint, you ignored it,” he scolded. However he took into account the offender had since fixed up his payment plan and now had a valid licence. “Don’t get the fines in the first place – just obey the road rules – it’s not that hard,” he parted. The matter was proved but dismissed with no further penalty. More court and police news If you’re looking for news as it happens, make sure you follow The Western Weekender online. Visit our website at www. westernweekender.com.au or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ westernweekender. You’ll also find us on Twitter @wwpenrith.

WW39709

Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

L AW a n d O R D E R

L E G A L & C O N V E YA N C I N G

LegalMatters

Police Snapshot COMPILED BY NICOLA BARTON

Penrith: Man charged after tirade at licensed premises

A man has been charged after he swore at staff and assaulted a security officer when being asked to leave a licensed premises. About 1.55pm on Saturday, July 25 a 53-year-old Penrith man attended a licensed premises in a shopping centre on Station Street, Penrith. Staff immediately approached the man who was alleged to be under the influence of alcohol. He was informed that he would not be served and was asked to leave. The man refused to leave and became argumentative and confrontational with staff. When staff asked the man to leave again he began making racial slurs towards one of the staff members. He left the premises but re-entered a short time later, continuing his verbal abuse towards staff. The man was eventually escorted out of the store by security. A short time later the man approached a security guard from behind and punched him in the back. Police attended and the man was arrested. CCTV was seized and examined, which captured the incident in its entirety. The man was charged with ‘excluded person fail to leave premises when required’, ‘excluded person re-enter/attempt to re-enter premises’, ‘behave in offensive manner in/near public place/ school’ and common assault. He is to appear in Penrith Local Court on Monday, August 17.

Cambridge Park: Man arrested after damaging shop doors

A man has been charged after smashing the front glass doors of a supermarket in Cambridge Park. About 8.35pm on Saturday, July 25 police were called to a supermarket on Boomerang Place, Cambridge Gardens. Staff allege that a 30-year-old Queens-

land man attended the supermarket whilst under the influence of alcohol and pushed over several signs and display items. When the man made his way to the exit he kicked the glass automatic door, causing a small amount of damage, however he returned to kick the door again which caused it to smash. Police arrested the man in a nearby fast food restaurant car park. He was charged with ‘destroy or damage property’ to appear in Penrith Local Court on Saturday, August 15.

South Penrith: Naked man arrested after assaulting cop

A man under the influence of ice has been charged after running around the streets of South Penrith naked and enraged. About 5am on Sunday, July 26, a 29-year-old Fairfield man was in the vicinity of Kilkenny Road, South Penrith. Prior to this time, it is alleged the man consumed an unknown amount of crystal methamphetamine, known as ‘ice’. Whilst in the street, he removed all his clothing and began running around naked. This behaviour caught the attention of a nearby resident, who asked him to move on from the area. The man then became aggressive and refused to leave. Police were contacted. Police attended and located the man who was seen to be collecting his clothing. Police requested an ambulance, and whilst waiting for it the man became increasingly agitated. It is alleged the man moved his hands towards one of the officers’ tasers, and as a result he was wrestled to the ground. The man struck an officer to the face before he was forcibly handcuffed. He was arrested and charged with ‘assault police officer in execution of duty’ and ‘resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty’.

with Daniel McKinnon Complete Legal & Conveyancing • 4704 9991 • Suite 11, 354 High Street Penrith

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

COMPLETE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Big win for home buyers The stamp duty exemption for first home buyers who build new homes is to be expanded to include new constructions with a value of up to $800,000. First home buyers of either established properties or new homes were exempt from paying stamp duty prior to the O’Farrell Liberal State Government overturning the policy a number of years ago. Fast forward a couple of years and Premier Gladys Berejiklian reintroduced stamp duty exemptions for first home buyers purchasing properties with a value up to $650,000, with a concession on stamp duty for properties valued between $650,000 and $1,000,000. The one hundred per cent exemption will now extend to new home constructions up to a value of $800,000 and is slated to last for a period of 12 months commencing August 1 2020. The initiative is one of many being implemented by the State Government to ward off the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. This policy is aimed at boosting construction, and when coupled with the Federal Government’s Construction Grant Scheme, should see more confidence in the sector. Government modelling suggests that the expansion of the policy will mean that an additional 6,000 first home buyers will have the benefit of a stamp duty exemption. The changes will apply only to newly built homes and vacant land, with the stamp duty threshold on vacant land rising from $250,000 to $400,000, and concessions phasing out at $500,000. The State Government will continue

to offer the $10,000 First Home Owners Grant, which is available to persons buying a new first home or constructing a house on vacant land with a value of no more than $750,000. This appears to be the sweet spot with people constructing homes of this price point having access to a stamp duty exemption and the First Home Owners Grant. To be eligible for a stamp duty exemption, a purchaser must be buying their first home in Australia, be an Australian citizen, and be at least 18-years-old. As is set out above, the value of the property can be no more than $800,000. The purchaser must also move into the property within 12 months of settlement and live there for at least six continuous months thereafter. The same eligibility requirements apply for the First Home Owners Grant, except to be eligible for the grant the property value cap is $750,000, and a new home is defined as vacant land or a home in which no one has lived before. If you are buying a property with another person who has had an interest in real estate before, this will affect your eligibility. If you have questions about what grants are in place do not hesitate to give us a call for an obligation free chat over the phone. We can also put you in touch with a mortgage broker who can tell you how the grants and exemptions will affect your borrowing capacity. It’s important to get advice from experts so you can get the best possible result.

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Friday, July 31, 2020 ÂŤ the western weekender

Thank You from weekender the western

During times of difficulty, coming together and supporting each other is our greatest asset. The Western Weekender would like to thank the following businesses who continued to support us during the COVID-19 pandemic. These advertisers help ensure the Weekender can continue to deliver important news and information to our community. Check back next week to see more of our valued advertisers!

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the western weekender Âť Friday, July 31, 2020

If you are interested in becoming one of our valued advertisers, please contact us at sales@westernweekender.com.au or call us on 4722 2998

Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

App that could save a life New mental health initiative for businesses and individuals launches in Penrith NICOLA BARTON

new mental health app that promotes checking in with family, friends and colleagues was officially launched at the Sydney International Regatta Centre last Friday. Founder of the ‘iyarn’ app, Lockie Cooke, is a former professional athlete and competed at the Regatta Centre for many years before suffering a career- ending injury. During this time, Mr Cooke was exposed to some mental health challenges of his own and also lost a person to suicide. It was then he knew he wanted to create something to better promote mental health awareness and stimulate important conversations around the country. “A lot of things changed for me after that and really made me realise I need to be there for my loved ones,” Mr Cooke told the Weekender. “When leaving the funeral of a friend who had taken their life, my friends and I made a pact to check in with each other more. “This was great to say but the reality was we really didn’t know how to, so I really started thinking about how we can create safe spaces to do that.”

Over the past four years, Mr Cooke has been working alongside tech specialists to create iyarn. The app is a customisable tool that can be used by corporate businesses or for personal use. Users are able to allocate values that are important to them or the business and give personal ratings as to how they feel about them at any given time. This provides data to map users’ journeys and allows them to view others to check in on their friend, family member or colleague. It also enables users or businesses to see what areas are lacking and create conversations as to how they can improve that. “It’s a social enterprise, with the vision to have corporations pay for the app to check in with their staff, which then allows it free to the public,” Mr Cooke said. “Imagine teaming up with a council, this app would really allow them to get a pulse check of the health of all their constituents.” The app has been trialled with Paddle Australia’s Olympic Team over the past four months as well as Swimming Western Australia. “We are offering a solution to people to connect socially while physically distancing,” Mr Cooke said. For more information, visit iyarn.com.

Founder of iyarn, Lockie Cooke. Photo: Megan Dunn.

Mayor’s News The weekly views of Penrith’s Mayor

AmandaLittle Amanda Do youLittle need a Will?

2019 Professional Business Woman of the Year – Lindsay FINALIST WINNER WINNER 2018 Professional Services 2020 Australianchanges Have there been recent in your life? 2019 Local Business 2019 Local Business Award Winner – Penrith Business Person ofSmall the Year Person of the Year 2019 Professional Services Champions Award Penrith City Australia Finalist – Penrith Australia

Do you need a Will?

Penrith’s new Waste Spot Sustainable waste management is one of Penrith City Council’s biggest priorities when it comes to providing our community with a high-quality and easy to use waste management service. Over the years, we have pioneered best practice in Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) initiatives which have contributed to Penrith leading the way when it comes to sustainable waste management. Council takes great pride in providing a service that is easy to access and provides the solutions to our community’s queries or problems. With that in mind, it brings me great pleasure to share with you a new online support service specifically designed to continue making waste management easier for all those living in the Penrith Local Government Area. The Waste Spot is a dedicated online portal that offers 24/7 accessibility to help manage any of your waste related needs, questions or suggestions.

Have there been recent changes in your life? “Let us help you plan for the future” • Are you an Executor of an estate and don’t know where to start? • Probate forms confusing? • No Will and you need to apply for Letters of Administration? • We also offer Estate Administration including applying for Probate, Letters of Administration, calling in and disbursement of assets to beneﬁciaries. • We offer ﬁxed price Estate Administration.

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It is our hope that by incorporating this digital alternative to the existing telephone customer support service, residents will have even more direct contact to help ensure fast responses and efficient resolutions. With this new round the clock option, you can let Council know of your needs at a time convenient to you. In the click of a mouse, arrange a bulky waste collection, take care of a spill, or raise a request. Providing feedback or making general waste enquiries is now easier than ever. This new digital service will work alongside previously existing contact methods and will help make life easier for those who prefer to access services online. Innovative services like this are nothing short of what Penrith deserves and this is just the first step. To explore The Waste Spot, head to penrith.city/thewastespot.

CR ROSS FOWLER OAM 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, July 31, 2020

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, S E B I V NEW … K O O L NEW

A SPECIAL FEATURE St Marys is a vibrant, exciting part of our community with plenty of hidden gems. Today, the Weekender presents a special ‘Support St Marys’ feature, encouraging you to rediscover what St Marys has to offer. From unique small shops to clubs, restaurants and major retailers, St

Marys is a surprise packet in our region worth exploring. Why not do something different over the next week and head to St Marys. Whether it’s buying that unique gift for someone special, grabbing a meal or just doing some window shopping, there’s something in St Marys waiting for everyone!

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

SUPPORT ST MARYS

Time to check out the If you’ve been looking for a great local venue to enjoy, step outside into the Ironbark Terrace at St Marys Rugby League Club for a whole new experience! You’ll be met with a brand-new level of comfort and style, awash with greenery suspended from the ultra-cool wrought iron wheels scattered across the high timber ceilings and gorgeous hanging pot plants at every turn. New high tables are perfect for sharing a drink or pizza, or if it’s more your style, chill out on one of the colourful, deep cushion sofas - just the ticket for a lazy afternoon or a much needed night out with friends & family and if you’re a footy fan all games are shown live on the mega TV wall.

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The awesome staff at the Ironbark Terrace make the experience even better, passionately inventing new cocktails to add to the extensive and decidedly delicious cocktail list – and with cocktails from just $13, why wouldn’t you want to indulge?! If it’s dinner you’re after, or a casual weekend lunch, the Ironbark Pizzeria serves up the true taste of Italy with a range of ÕÌ Ü>ÌiÀ }] >ÕÌ i Ì V Ü ` wÀi` ÌÀ>` Ì > > ` } ÕÀ iÌ pizzas. Paired with a cool craft beer or sneaky wine and you’re set. If your Thursday’s have been a little ho-hum for the last few months, Ironbark’s interactive Trivia is back! It’s free to play every Thursday night from 7pm with prizes and vouches to be won, and $10 cocktail specials!

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Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

More jobs for Western Sydney Paciﬁc National and ACFS Ports Logistics thank the people and businesses of Western Sydney for their ongoing support to establish St Marys Freight Hub

St Marys Freight Hub will:

9 Create 60 jobs in Western Sydney during construction

9 Create 170 additional full time jobs in Western Sydney

9 Take 70,000 to 80,000 container trucks off Sydney roads each year (incl. M4 Motorway)

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the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

Get some of the freshest fish in town from St Marys fish Market Seafood & Takeaway!

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Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

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the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

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Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

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Nathan Cleary. Photo: NRL Images.

NADENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PRIDE Star centre on his Indigenous heritage

PAGE 30

MASKED PANTHER Two big names set to sign new deals with Penrith within weeks

PAGE 32

ISAAH YEO POSTER Add to your collection of gloss posters!

PAGES 34-35

WARREN SMITH Fox League commentator writes exclusively for Extra Time

PAGE 37

LEADING THE WAY CLEARY, CHERRY-EVANS IN HUGE BATTLE THIS WEEKEND MATCH PREVIEW: PAGE 31

Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

feature

IN-FORM NADEN SHOWS HIS PRIDE NATHAN TAYLOR

anthers centre Brent Naden will be full of pride and emotion this Saturday night when he plays in his first ever NRL Indigenous Round. Not only will the 24-year-old be donning Penrith’s newest Indigenous jersey that he helped create, but he’ll also be wearing specially designed boots hand painted by his Uncle in Dubbo. An artistic tribute to the people, geography, flora and fauna of the Darug Nation, Penrith’s 2020 Indigenous jersey will include not one but four totems. The lower back of the jersey will feature the Darug possum totem, while three more totems (Wiradjuri goanna, Kamilaroi snake and Bundjalung/Yaegl turtle) will appear on the upper back of the jersey, in recognition of the club’s three Indigenous players. “It’s special to be able to play in Indig-

enous Round,” Naden told Extra Time. “Not only do I get to represent my own family but the Panthers jersey has the other boys’ totems on it as well, so I get to play for their families and where they’re from too, which is pretty special.” The competition- leading Panthers will be aiming for seven straight wins tomorrow night when they face the in- form Manly Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval. Naden will be pushing to keep the club’s winning streak alive as he, personally, is yet to experience a loss this season. He didn’t feature in Penrith’s draw with the Knights in Round 3 or their defeat against the Eels in Round 5. Naden said he was dropped earlier this season on performance as well as putting on some extra kilos during isolation. “It’s not easy getting dropped but that’s part of rugby league – you’ve got to take the good with the bad,” he admitted. Since the Wellington Cowboys junior returned to the paddock against Souths in Round 7, he hasn’t skipped a beat – cross-

Penrith centre Brent Naden is in strong form of late. Photo: NRL Images. ing the line twice and even catching the eye of Immortal Andrew Johns. Naden said it’s hard for players outside the top 17 to impress coach Ivan Cleary when there’s no reserve grade competition to work their way back into form. “It’s tough for a lot of the boys because you can’t prove to the coach you’re ready for NRL again, so we do these opposed sessions where we just go hard out and they’re like our game days,” he said. “I have to thank Cameron Ciraldo (assistant coach) and Craig Catterick (rehab

coordinator) for getting me fit again, they really put time into me to get me back into shape – I really take my hat off to them.” While Trent Barrett has been getting much of the praise publicly for his work at Penrith, Naden said Ciraldo has done wonders for him both physically and mentally. “Ciro has been there for me working on the physical side of things as well as my mental side, by following up for a chat or phone call and that helps out so much. I can’t thank him enough,” he said.

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Liam Martin in action against the Titans. Photo: NRL Images.

the final word

v TROY DODDS

fter getting through their first ‘smash and grab’ road trip of the season to Queensland last weekend, the Panthers now base themselves back in New South Wales for the next five weeks as they try to defend their lead at the top of the competition. The next fortnight provides Penrith’s biggest test since a string of tough games against the Eels, Storm and Rabbitohs back in June. This weekend they face a rejuvenated Manly while the following week it’s Ricky Stuart’s gritty Raiders. One game at a time, they say. Penrith survived a match that had ‘danger game’ written all over it against the Titans last weekend. It was far from a memorable win but one that would have pleased coach Ivan Cleary given the long list of first graders he had sitting on the sideline. The Panthers appear to have hopefully hit the peak of the injury surge and will now start getting players back each week,

FOX LEAGUE KAYO 2GB 873 ABC 702

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, July 31, 2020

match preview

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 | 7.35PM | LOTTOLAND | REFEREE: GERARD SUTTON starting with Viliame Kikau this weekend who missed the Gold Coast trip due to a calf problem. In his absence we saw both Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo stand up – two of the most under- rated players in the competition who rip and tear for Penrith every weekend. A run of injuries is never desired but almost certainly guaranteed at some point of the season. In this reduced competition, with no representative breaks and potentially 22 straight weeks of football should you make it to the big dance, having the opportunity to rest players, or allow them to recover from niggly injuries they may have otherwise persisted with in other seasons, is all part of the extra team management required by coaches at the moment. This Saturday night’s game will be a huge test for Penrith. Kikau may be back but a host of important and experienced first graders like

Dylan Edwards and Dean Whare remain on the sideline. Manly seems to have rediscovered their groove after a horror loss to the Dragons three weeks ago, posting impressive wins over Parramatta and the Cowboys in recent weeks. They’re defending extremely well, but it’s the form reversal of halfback Daly Cherry- Evans that has everyone talking and sets up one hell of a battle with Nathan Cleary on Saturday. Cleary has been one of the form halfbacks of the competition this year, his game management going up a level. Cherry- Evans has him for experience, but Cleary has never worried about the number of games played. His cool, calm demeanour is his greatest asset – rarely is he overawed by an occasion. The five- eighth battle will also be great – Jarome Luai was superb last weekend while Cade Cust has been in great form for the Sea Eagles.

PANTHERS

One thing that will need to improve on Saturday is Penrith’s short kicking game. Both Cleary and Luai can be a little trigger happy at times, looking for a miracle try on the third or fourth play when it’s not really on and building pressure by getting to the last tackle would be a better option. It resulted in Jamal Fogarty’s try for the Titans last weekend and needs to be looked at. If the Sea Eagles win it will come off the back of their impressive forward pack, with the likes of Curtis Sironen and Jake Trbojevic particularly dangerous. Manly are playing some impressive football at the moment, but Penrith just keep winning. The run will stop at some point, but there is so much to be said for youth, confidence and enthusiasm. This should be the match of the round – I’m predicting an absolute thriller with a late Cleary field goal potentially the deciding play. Tip: Penrith by 1.

SEA EAGLES

1 Caleb Aekins

10 James Fisher-Harris

1 Brendan Elliot

2 Josh Mansour

11 Viliame Kikau

2 Jorge Taufua

11 Joel Thompson

3 Brent Naden

12 Liam Martin

3 Brad Parker

12 Curtis Sironen

4 Stephen Crichton

13 Isaah Yeo

4 Moses Suli

13 Jake Trbojevic

5 Malakai Watene-Zelezniak

14 Tyrone May

5 Reuben Garrick

14 Lachlan Croker

6 Jarome Luai

15 Spencer Leniu

6 Cade Cust

15 Corey Waddell

7 Nathan Cleary

16 Moses Leota

7 Daly Cherry-Evans

16 Sean Keppie

10 Martin Taupau

8 James Tamou (c)

17 Billy Burns

8 Addin Fonua-Blake

17 Taniela Paseka

9 Mitch Kenny

18 Apisai Koroisau 19 Matt Burton

9 Danny Levi

18 Haumole Olakau’atu

Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

panther rumblings

WITH THE MASKED PANTHER

JOIN THE MASKED BRIGADE !

I was way ahead of the trend but now all of you can be ‘Masked Panthers’ too, with the club releasing a new face mask this week. The mask is available on preorder from the Penrith Panthers website and will set Members back $17.99 and non-members $19.99. Let’s hope none of us end up needing the mask – but what a great piece of merchandise to have to recognise the crazy year 2020 has been. Personally I’ve been wearing masks for years – wouldn’t leave the house without one!

Brent Naden wearing Penrith’s new Indigenous jersey.

The Panthers will wear the 2020 Indigenous Jersey against Manly this Saturday night at Lottoland. How good does Brent Naden look in this year’s version? The NRL’s 2020 Indigenous Round will adopt the theme ‘Pass Back. Move Forward.’ to highlight the importance of understanding and appreciating Indigenous history and culture in order to build a better future.

Talk that Phil Gould could join the NRL as a consultant has surely raised a few eyebrows at the Panthers. Penrith officials know all too well the good that Gould can do for an organisation, but they also know that it can be a rocky and unpredictable roller coaster ride at times. There’s a number of officials who would prefer Gould not get the NRL gig.

Meantime, Gould said on ‘100% Footy’ on Monday night that suggestions working with the NRL and for Channel Nine would be a conflict of interest were “laughable”. The fact Gus can’t see the issue should sound warning bells at the NRL and for Peter V’landys.

Not surprisingly, Trent Barrett has stepped down from Penrith’s recruitment committee in the wake of his signing with the Bulldogs next season.

Bryce Cartwright is set to return to Sydney next year and walk out on the Gold Coast Titans. I’m hearing there’s little appetite from NRL clubs for his services. He could end up playing for a second tier team next season.

ANZ Stadium is in talks with the NRL about hosting this year’s Grand Final, which was originally scheduled for the SCG. ANZ also wants to host State of Origin in November.

NRL Head of Football Graham Annesley has confirmed that Anthony Don’s try for the Titans against the Panthers last Sunday should not have been awarded. Dale Copley bobbled the ball at the end

of the previous play, meaning a knock-on should have been ruled.

Expect Stephen Crichton and Liam Martin to re-sign within weeks.

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Charlie Staines. Photo: NRL Images. the Cowboys, and was busy as a beaver against the Titans last Sunday when asked to fill in at lock. What caught my eye last week... Jared Waerea - Hargreaves snubbing Warriors/Panthers prop Jack Hetherington when he went to shake his hand after the game last Saturday. It showed poor sportsmanship by the big man and I’m sure if he had his time over, he would reciprocate with a friendly handshake. What game I’m looking forward to...

Jack Hetherington. Photo: NRL Images. The Storm and the Knights this Sunday is going to be a bottler. Newcastle really rattled Melbourne’s cage the last time they played in Round 5 and the final scoreline of 26-12 in favour of the Storm really didn’t show the closeness of the contest. My tips for the week... Rabbitohs, Tigers, Sharks, Roosters, Raiders, Panthers, Eels, Storm. The final word... Panthers supporters expecting departing Gold Coast Titan Bryce Cartwright to

Tyrone May. Photo: NRL Images. be welcomed back at Penrith are in for a rude shock. While Cartwright might have played his best footy while at the foot of the Mountains, simply put, there is no cap space for him in this new Panthers outfit. Penrith are hard at work trying to sign both Stephen Crichton and Liam Martin to long-term contracts as well as fit a rejuvenated captain James Tamou under the cap somehow. Unless there is some sort of miracle, the prodigal son won’t be back in black next season.

Part of the local community

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hile it’s obvious that the Panthers will not win the 2020 premiership if either Nathan Cleary, Viliame Kikau or Api Koroisau are ruled out for the season, what’s less obvious is the three players I believe can help this superstar trio win enough games to get to the big dance. They are Jack Hetherington, Charlie Staines and Tyrone May. Hetherington’s stint at the Warriors has shown everyone that ‘Jack is back’ and playing the same type of aggressive footy that he was in 2018. Last weekend his ‘run- in’ with Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea- Hargraves and the fact he didn’t take a backward step, is exactly the type of player Penrith need in the run home to the Finals. Hetherington is on- loan until Round 15 and it would be great to bring the big fella back into the fold after that. Staines on the other hand is the perfect fit if another player in the backline goes down with injury. He offers speed and the ability to play in multiple positions, including fullback. His four-try debut was only a glimpse of what the kid has been doing in the lower grades over the last couple of years. Finally, Tyrone May has already shown what a versatile player he is by coming off the interchange bench and making an impact every time he’s taken the field. He put Stephen Crichton over for a try against

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, July 31, 2020

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, July 31, 2020

Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

nrl ladder & fixtures CLUB

+/-

PTS

Panthers

262

158

104

Storm

283

136

147

Eels

254

134

120

Roosters

306

146

160

Raiders

206

165

Knights

219

178

Sharks

284

248

Sea Eagles

179

193

-14

W. Tigers

261

203

10 Rabbitohs

218

192

Dragons

208

222

-14

12 Cowboys

217

299

-82

13 Warriors

137

278

-141

14 Titans

142

309

-167

15 Broncos

142

337

-195

16 Bulldogs

134

254

-120

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Friday, July 31 6.00pm SCG

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Saturday, August 1 3.00pm SCG

Saturday, August 1 5.30pm QLD Country Bank Stadium

Saturday, August 1 7.35pm Lottoland

Sunday, August 2 2.00pm ANZ Stadium

Sunday, August 2 4.05pm Sunshine Coast Stadium

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Extra Time Issue Number 2020-017 PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au WRITERS Nathan Taylor, Peter Lang, Warren Smith, Clinton Maynard SALES DIRECTOR Chris Pennisi / 4722 2998 chris.pennisi@westernweekender.com.au

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uzz words come and go quickly in rugby league. For a while there you couldn’t mention the word ‘defence’ without adding the qualifier that defence was all about ‘attitude’. When it came to attack, every team could only perform at their optimum with the ball if they had the right ‘shape’. Of course, you were no chance of attacking with the right shape unless you had your ‘structure’ in place. And right now it’s almost impossible to hear a coach talk for five minutes without hearing him mention that the most important quality he’s looking for in his team is ‘resilience’. How this team or that team will win more than their fair share of games if the players have the resilience to overcome the hurdles they’ll face during the 80 minutes on game day. Last week was all about resilience for the Panthers well before they arrived on the Gold Coast via jet on Sunday afternoon. Their hurdles had come in the week leading up to the game when they knew they’d be heading north without Viliame Kikau, Api Koroisau, Dylan Edwards and Dean Whare. With that sort of firepower missing, the clash against the Titans was one of those games that in the past could have very

Mitch Kenny has impressed since debuting last year. Photo: NRL Images. easily gotten away from the Panthers, and coach Ivan Cleary knew as much when he offered the thought before the game that it would be “a challenge for our systems and culture”.

There’s a few more of those buzz words – system and culture. But if we’re focussing for the moment on resilience, it helps to have rock- solid replacements to call on. Back- up players

Clinton Maynard

such as hooker Mitch Kenny, who has looked more than capable of being a regular dummy-half since getting his first opportunity midway through last season. You can throw back- up fullback Caleb Aekins into the same category as Kenny – players who are ready to be starters but are content, for the moment, to wait for their chance should injuries hit. Resilience can be easier to come by when you have players of that calibre who can slot seamlessly into the ‘structures’ that have helped Ivan Cleary steer the Panthers to the top of the ladder. It’s yet another reason why it feels as though the stars are aligning for Penrith in this interrupted then shortened season – they have the depth to cope with injuries to key players, and that’s before you even consider that they have Jack Hetherington still on loan to the Warriors for another month, gaining valuable game time and experience – and more than holding his own – against the likes of Roosters front row firebrand Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. This Penrith outfit is talented and the talent runs deep. Something special is in the works. They have the resilience to overcome the hurdles placed in their way, but they also have the ability to be the original buzz word – they have the chance to be ‘great’. See you on Fox League this weekend.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, July 31, 2020

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FIFITA SIGNING A HUGE GAMBLE shows the right buy can change the fortunes of a club. Younger readers would find this hard to believe, but in the early 1990s the Roosters were a basketcase. They were rarely contenders for the semi-finals and at one point a merger with the Dragons was on the agenda. Two men changed the Roosters: Phil Gould and Brad Fittler. The Roosters benefited from the Super League war, landing the signature of Freddy from the Panthers, he changed the culture of the club and they became winners. The Cowboys signing Johnathan Thurston will go down as probably the best recruitment decision in the game’s history. He was a fringe player with Canterbury and his path to a starting spot was blocked by Brent Sherwin. He led the Cowboys to their first Premiership in 2015. In more recent times, Kalyn Ponga’s signing to Newcastle, wooden spooners at the time, was an important piece in helping the Knights attract other quality players. However, in all of these cases, none suddenly became the game’s highest paid player at the age of 20. It’s a massive risk for the Titans, especially given Fifita isn’t a spine player, but one they probably have to take. It’ll be interesting how it pans out.

So, the Titans came to play. We have proven again there is no ‘i’ in team. Well done young Panthers. – Phil

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n a standard NRL season each club plays 24 games over 25 rounds with a bye. Let’s say an explosive backrow forward plays 60 of the 80 minutes. That means when David Fifita plays for the Gold Coast Titans on a three-year $3.5 million contract, he’ll be paid $777 per minute of football! More than $46,000 per game. Admittedly this is a very crude way of measuring a player’s value. The best way to measure a player’s value is their ability to change the fortunes of a club on and off the field, and only history can judge that. The Titans have been anchored to the bottom of the table for years, so they need a ‘game changer’. They’ve tried in the past and got it wrong. Jarryd Hayne was paid a motza and brought so much excitement to his first game that Fox Sports even had a dedicated ‘Hayne camera’ that a viewer could select. Bryce Cartwright was once touted as a future Origin star but the move to the Titans has only shown he can’t tackle. Tyrone Peachey could’ve been anything when he was at the Panthers and Shannon Boyd played for Australia before he joined the club, and then there’s Ash Taylor. The Titans will be desperately hoping Fifita can buck the trend and history

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the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

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Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

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ingswood High School continues to provide a strong focus on delivering high quality learning experiences for all students that is based on high expectations, engaging educational programs and a strong wellbeing platform. The school is located in the traditional country of the Dharrug people and predominantly draws its students from the suburbs of Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Orchard Hills, Kingswood, Penrith and Penrith South. The school occupies spacious grounds with specialised facilities, including a state- of- the- art Trade Training Centre, student managed café, after school Homework Centre, fully equipped gym, a diverse Primary Industry Farm and the Kingswood Recording Studio. Their new 1500 seat hall and auditorium will allow them to showcase their students’ high level of accomplishment. The school is committed to developing socially responsible, self- disciplined, motivated, lifelong learners in a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment. They focus on giving young people a voice, the opportunity to be active learners and developing strong character qualities that will enable them to succeed, thrive and contribute positively throughout life.

Kingswood High School provides innovative teaching and learning that inspires an aspirational culture for all students through nurturing a cohesive learning environment to develop students’ ability to learn, adapt, explore, question and become responsible citizens. Connect, APPly, Inspire is the key technology framework utilised to create innovative and future focused learning experiences to prepare students with the skills to succeed in their chosen career. They value strong community engagement to complement the existing partnerships across the Kingswood Learning Community and Penrith Education Alliance networks to maximise learning and support successful educational pathways for all. Call 4736 1201.

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the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

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Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

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Friday, July 31, 2020 Â« the western weekender

Creative and Performing Arts

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ORCHARD HILLS PUBLIC SCHOOL

Enrolling Now K-6 CONNECT, SUCCEED AND THRIVE

Orchard Hills Public School is located near the Caddensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; development and prides itself on creating a supportive and proactive relationship with the local community. Our mission statement is to promote a positive school where every student is known, valued and cared for in a safe and inclusive environment with high expectations in teacher and learning. Community engagement at Orchard Hills Public School recognises the integral role parents and families play as partners in their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education. Orchard Hills Public Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teachers develop tailored learning programs to ensure every student has the ability to achieve their maximum potential in all aspects of their schooling. Our highly dedicated and expert staff go above and beyond to develop and design innovative learning programs to provide all students with the capabilities to become a lifelong learner.

We also offer before and after school services onsite!

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Please contact the office to arrange a tour of the school with the principal

79-101 Kingswood Rd, Orchard Hills | Ph: 4736 1108 | Principal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mr Daniel McMahon

the western weekender Â» Friday, July 31, 2020

To Serve Christ

EXPLORE Kindergarten

OPEN MORNING & TOUR Saturday 22 August Register Now www.penrith.nsw.edu.au

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Registration essential

Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

weekender the western

BONANZA

We're giving you the chance to win some fantastic prizes just by supporting some of our amazing local stores. Simply visit any of the below places, spend the nominated amount in store, submit your entry and you'll be in with a chance of winning some amazing prizes. All entries from participating stores will go into the draw, with the winners to be announced in the 14th August edition of the Western Weekender. Authorised under NSW Permit No LTPM/20/05506. Terms and conditions available at www.westernweekender.com.au or from Western Weekender’s office.

BUSINESSES

PARTICIPATING

HOW TO

Support Local

Daniel’s Kitchen

IGA & The Bottle-O Silverdale

Spend $15 in our café to enter the draw

Spend $50 in store to enter the draw

Shop 3 542 High St, Penrith 4789 0827 facebook.com/danielskitchenpenrith

Shop 3 & 4, 2320 Silverdale Rd, Silverdale 4774 1986 | iga.com.au

Cincotta Chemist

Spend $25 in store to go in the draw 473 High St, Penrith | 4721 2555 cincottachemist.com.au/penrith

St Marys Fish Market St Marys Fish Market

Love Beans

Sip ‘N’ Dip

365 High St, Penrith 8379 8200 | lovebeans.com.au indulge@lovebeans.com.au

Book two night stay to go into the draw

Spend $50 in store to enter the draw

Panthers Pl, Penrith |4721 7700 Mercurepenrith.com.au

60 Queen Street, St Marys 8630 2186

67 Queen Street, St Marys 9833 1000 st-marys-fish-market-seafoodmarket.business.site/

COUNTRY BREWER

St Marys Fish & Chips

Café Fred

V & CO HAIR BEAUTY BAR

Spend $50 in store to enter the draw

Spend $15 in store to enter the draw

Spend $20 in our café to enter the draw

Spend $50 in our salon to enter the draw

218 GW Highway, Kingswood 4731 5444 countrybrewer.com.au

St Marys Village Shopping Centre (next to Woolworths) 9833 4551

7/354 High Street, Penrith 4708 1248 cafefred.com.au

Level 1/407 High Street, Penrith 0404 493 333 _vandcohairbeautybar_

PRIZES

7 Captain Cook Long Lunch vouchers 2× Adults

Rashays Voucher Valued at $100

Valued at $100

11 Hoyts 4× Vouchers Valued at $80

Valued at $240

8 Al Aseel Voucher

Valued at $150

2× Merlin Annual Pass

Valued at $300

Valued at $400

6 Valued at $230

4 Flower Power Gift Voucher

Q-Station Hotel Stay

Valued at $470

Dingo Den Sanctuary Exp. 2× Adult, 2× Children

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Mini Kindifarm Party

Spend $30 in store to enter the draw

Mercure Penrith

Spend $10 in store to enter the draw

Flower Power Gift Voucher Valued at $100

12 Pizza Hut Voucher Valued at $50

Hoyts 2× Vouchers Valued at $40

PENRITH’S BIGGEST AND BEST LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

Chris deﬁes his critics

S EMILY FESZCZUK

ydney singer Chris Sebastian is enjoying his success after he was crowned the winner of the ninth season of ‘The Voice’ last week. The powerhouse vocalist has just released ‘The Complete Collection’, which is a compilation of the songs from his performances on the show. A part of judge Kelly Rowland’s team, Chris was one of the favourites through the show, giving Kelly a second win in the ratings- topping series. While it was Chris’ dream to take out the coveted title, he said he wasn’t sure he could edge out teen Siala Robson, Johnny Manuel and Stellar Perry in what was one of the closest voting results in the history of the singing competition. “My intention from the start was to make it to the final four but walking in on day one and listening to everyone warming up, I realised it was not going to be easy,” Chris told the Weekender. “I was so grateful with how it all worked out because it could have easily been a different final four and people would be happy as all of the artists were crazy talented.” While some people who were upset with the result have accused the signing

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

contest of being ‘rigged’ as his brother Guy Sebastian was one of the judges, Chris said he is taking it all in his stride. “There is a misconception that I was hanging out with Guy all the time and he was helping me, but the reality is I only saw him for the parts I filmed with him – same as everyone else,” he said. “I knew I was going to get backlash for doing the show, but I have a four-monthold daughter now and tried to release music independently, so if this was my chance to get to the next place in my career and provide for my family I was going to do it.” Winning the grand prize of $100,000 and a recording contract with EMI Australia, Chris said he is excited to dive into recording his new album. “I am stoked with ‘The Complete Collection’ as that is technically my first official release with a major record label, and it has ‘Bed For 2’ which is my grand finalist original song that is not like the traditional power ballad winner’s single,” he said. “I wanted something people would listen to at the gym or party, and the rest of the record will be strategic like that because I want to create some cool tracks that are true to myself.” Chris Sebastian’s ‘The Complete Collection’ is available to stream now or preorder his signed CD, out August 7 at www.emimusicaus.lnk.to/TheVoiceWinner .

Unhinged (MA15) Thurs: 11:30AM, 1:40PM, 4:10PM, 6:00PM, 7:00PM, 8:00PM. Fri: 11:30AM, 1:40PM, 4:10PM, 6:30PM, 7:15PM, 9:00PM. Sat: 12:00PM, 2:30PM, 4:20PM, 6:30PM, 7:15PM, 9:00PM. Sun: 12:00PM, 2:30PM, 4:20PM, 7:00PM, 8:00PM.

PENRITH

Mon, Tues, Wed: 11:30AM, 1:40PM, 4:10PM, 7:00PM, 8:00PM.

Bloodshot (M) Thurs, Mon, Tues, Wed: 11:50AM, 2:30PM, 4:30PM, 7:10PM.

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Where’d You Go, Bernadette (M) WW38935

Session times are subject to change without notice, visit www.hoyts.com.au to check session times or book tickets

Daily except Fri, Sat: 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 7:20PM. Fri, Sat: 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:00PM, 8:30PM.

Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

Ê After a sensational season of ‘MasterChef Australia’, Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen are returning as the official judges for ‘Junior MasterChef’. Filming is already underway on the cooking series, which hasn’t been seen on our screens since way back in 2010. ‘Junior MasterChef’ will air on 10 later this year. Ê Still on ‘MasterChef’, and popular contestant Reynold Poernomo is in discussions with 10 for his very own series. Reynold confirmed he was “in talks” with the network on ‘The Project’ last week. Reynold is famous for his incredible dessert creations, so I can see this being an instant hit if it gets the green light.

Nathan Taylor

Ê The new season of ‘Gogglebox Australia’ is right around the corner, with some favourites set to return. It will premiere on LifeStyle first on Wednesday, August 26 at 7.30pm before airing on 10 the following night on Thursday, August 27 at 8.30pm.

TV NEWS

Ê Disappointing news for fans of ‘The Crown’ with season five pushed back until 2022. Filming on season five won’t

JUNIOR MASTERCHEF, 10

AUGUST 17

LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, BINGE

begin until June next year, meaning no new episodes will screen in 2021. Fortunately, season four of ‘The Crown’ will still premiere later this year on Netflix.

Ê If you’re a champ at Unreal Mini Golf in Jamisontown then you should apply for upcoming Channel Seven series ‘Holey Moley’. Producers are currently looking for Aussies both young and old to take a swing on the most outrageous golf course ever built. Filming will begin in September, but you better apply fast because casting closes tomorrow, August 1. To apply, visit eurekacasting.com.au. Ê ‘Perry Mason’ has been renewed for a second season. The FOX Showcase series is based on Erle Stanley Gardner’s novels and features John Lithgow, Tatiana Maslany, Chris Chalk, Shea Whigham, Juliet Rylance and Robert Patrick. Ê

Rubik’s Cube documentary ‘The

Speed Cubers’ dropped on Netflix this week. Set within the quirky, competitive world of speedcubing, this is the story of the rivalry/friendship between the two best rubiks cubers in the world – Max Park and Feliks Zemdegs.

Ê New E! series ‘10 Things You Didn’t Know’ will highlight a celebrity and count down the 10 most unique, unbelievable and surprising facts you don’t know about them. Premiering on Wednesday, August 12 at 7.30pm, the series will profile Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, Lady Gaga and Keanu Reeves. Ê New HBO supernatural drama ‘Lovecraft Country’ will begin streaming on Binge on Monday, August 17. The Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams produced series is about a young African American who travels across the United States in the segregated 1950s in search of his missing father. The trailer for this looks epic!

EAT WITH US Ph: 0416 914 562 W: gojirestaurant.com.au Takeaway, Delivery & Dine In

COFFEE SPECIALISTS Ph: 8379 8200 W: lovebeans.com.au Download the Love Beans App Takeaway & Delivery 52

PIZZA & KEBABS

Ph: 4720 5652 W: osso.com.au Pick up & Delivery available Dine In

Ph: 4732 1767 W: pantherspizza.com.au Takeaway, Delivery & Dine In

STEAKHOUSE

MODERN AUSTRALIAN FAVOURITES

Ph: Penrith 4721 4288 Ph: St Marys 9833 7788 W: hogsbreath.com.au

Ph: 13000 13000 W: rashays.com Rashays Penrith 120 Mulgoa Road

Takeaway, Delivery & Dine In

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STEAK & RIBS

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MONDAY-FRIDAY

Roast of the Day with Roast Veggies & Gravy Pan-Fried Fish of the Day, Chips & Salad Bangers & Mash with Peas & Gravy Chicken Schnitzel, Chips & Salad Thai Chicken Salad

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

KINGSWOOD SPORTS CLUB E V I F Y A THE FRID

WHERE KIDS CAN EAT FREE THIS WEEK!

4. Henry Sports Club (Henry Lawson Avenue, Werrington County) If you are after a start of the week treat, kids eat free every Sunday and Monday at Henry Sports Club. A member- only offer with the purchase of any full priced meal, kids can choose between a mini steak, chicken nuggets, a burger, or fish and chips. With a brand new playground, it will be a hit for all. 3. St Marys Rugby League Club (Cnr Forrester & Boronia Road, St Marys)

2. The Coffee Club Nepean River (Tench Avenue, Penrith) Coffee Club have free meals from its kids’ club menu every weeknight from 5pm with a main meal purchase. The mini’s have a lot of choice from mini pizza fritters to nachos or even rainbow pancakes for something sweet. Plus, they get a free babycino or juice to wash it down making it a real winner. 1. Panthers Penrith (Mulgoa Road, Penrith) Panthers gives you plenty of excuses to not cook dinner as a free kids meal is available with each adult meal purchase from the Grill Menu at Kelly’s Brassiere. From Monday to Thursday they can get meals like a small roast of the day or bangers and mash for both lunch and dinner. Panarotti’s Pizza Pasta Restaurant also let kids eat free on Wacky Wednesday with a paying adult along with play areas and activity sheets to keep the little ones well fed and entertained.

Kingswood Sports Club | 4737 4600 2 Santley Crescent, Kingswood | kingswoodsports.com.au

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5. Rashays (Mulgoa Road, Penrith) While this is a member-only offer and for kids under the age of 10, kids can get a free meal from the Little Rascals menu with every paying adult on Sundays. Flynn’s fish, Sam’s schnitzel or Billy’s Bolognese will all go down a treat. With a big space and friendly environment, Rashays is a great spot for family dinner.

Enjoy a main meal from the Ironbark Terrace and Pizzeria and receive a free kids pizza, pasta or risotto on Thursdays. Whether they pick the chicken and mushroom risotto, BBQ meat lovers pizza or the napolitana pasta, the fussiest of eaters will be happy.

PLAYING MORE OF THE MUSIC YOU GREW UP WITH

The Black Door Gallery, Penrith’s only Indigenous Art Gallery, also offers a full custom framing service! Lifetime guarantee and same day framing available.

4721 4255 | BLACKDOORGALLERY.COM.AU WW39865

Enjoying a meal out with the family is great but it is even more delicious when you can save some money at the same time. There are a few places around Penrith that are currently running kids eat free offers which we have listed below for you to take advantage of...

Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

Crossword and Word Search brought to you by acarrecycling.com.au | 9421 0811 or 9421 0816

Crossword ACROSS 1. Colorado’s neighbour 4. Music school 8. Jakarta is there 11. Festival, ... Gras 13. French heroine, Joan ... (2,3) 15. Famous Texas fort 17. Tiny muscular contraction 18. Social media bully 20. The L of LA 21. Unfashionable 24. Belittle 27. Outlaw, Rob ... 28. Ghostly 30. Materialised 31. Rotates 33. Insanity 34. Get away 35. Quickly (1,1,1,1) 36. Fluctuate 39. Climaxed 42. Serving lass 44. Calf meat 45. Outmoded 46. Mediocre journalist 48. Mustard & ... 49. Bird claw 50. Object 52. Undersized 54. Pinnacle 55. Lettuce meal 56. Simmer with rage 57. Stew, ... bucco 60. Back section 62. Delicate 65. Unicellular organism 67. Fashion house, Calvin ... 69. Malaysian noodle dish 70. Nuzzled 72. ..., what, where, when, how 73. Scarcer 75. Insinuating (remark) 77. Brazilian metropolis 79. Incidental comment 81. Formerly named 82. Perch 84. Bumps 85. Asked (question) 86. Flexible pipe 87. Tranquillises 88. Lions’ homes

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Last week’s solution

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Last week’s Sudoku solution

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AͳCAR RECYCLING

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.

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ANTELOPE ANTENNA ANTIQUE BRILLIANT CANTEEN CHANT CONSTANT CURRANT DEFIANT DESCANT DISMANTLE ELEPHANT ENCHANT GIANT INSTANT PANTHER PANTS PREGNANT RADIANT RELIANT TENANT

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

Crossword and Word Search brought to you by

Last week’s Word Search solution

Test your knowledge about 1990s movies in this week’s special trivia quiz!

1. In ‘The Matrix’, what animal does Neo see twice when he experiences deja vu? 2. What did Sandy Frink invent in ‘Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion’? 3. What’s John Connor’s dog’s name in ‘Terminator 2’?

4. What mode of transport is Dennis Hopper’s character on when he dies in ‘Speed’? 5. What is the name of Cassandra’s band in ‘Wayne’s World’? 6. Which movie won the most awards, including Best Picture, at the 1996 Oscars?

ANSWERS 1. Cat 2. Rubber for shoes 3. Max 4. Train 5. Crucial Taunt 6. ‘Braveheart’

Trivia Quiz

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Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

At the movies... No love for shaky horror flick FOLLOW ME ++ 1 hour, 32 minutes EMILY FESZCZUK

A modern - day horror movie, ‘Follow Me’, directed by Will Wernick, seems to miss the mark. Social media personality Cole Turner travels to Moscow with his girlfriend Erin and friends to capture content for the 10th anniversary of his video channel. Entering an escape room where the lines between real life and the game are blurred, the group must survive to escape. While the film had great Russian scenery and themes with the location

complete with guns and gangsters, it was a slow start to introduce you to the main storyline. Once it ramps up to full pace you can’t help but predict the major twist at the end early on. The characters are meant to be over the top American influencers, but the acting can be hard to watch as they lack the skills to draw you in. With it being a little dull in places the gore and thrills will give you a good jump scare here and there but won’t have you on the edge of your seat. An underdone version of the ‘Saw’ franchise, this one probably should have skipped the cinemas.

See this movie at...

PENRITH

www.hoyts.com.au

WW41579

PENRITH’S MOST RESPECTED LINE-UP OF LIFESTYLE EXPERTS

HOROSCOPES LEO BROUGHT TO YOU BY BOHO ASTRO

JULY 23 TO AUGUST 23

AQUARIUS

PISCES

JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 19

FEBRUARY 20 TO MARCH 20

This week’s stars could make you much more stubborn and reckless than usual. So proceed carefully with all forms of communication, especially social media. Otherwise you could provoke a negative response from a cranky ex, a hidden enemy or a known frenemy! It’s time to forgive and forget; let go and move on. As Martha Stewart said: “Without an open mind, you can never be a great success”.

ARIES

On Monday night you’ll feel compelled to connect with your inner world or help someone in need, as the Full Moon fires up your spiritual and humanitarian zone. With the Sun and Mercury visiting your job zone, dynamic and decisive action is required at work. But don’t waste your numerous talents with constant daydreaming that leads nowhere. Promising opportunities will pass you by.

MARCH 21 TO APRIL 20

Are you procrastinating about which project to pursue? A bored and unengaged Ram is a recipe for trouble. With the Full Moon activating your aspirations zone, focus intently on your goals for the future. However – with your ruler Mars racing through your sign – too much haste could land you in hot water. So do your best to get the balance right between thinking things through and taking action.

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

APRIL 21 TO MAY 21

MAY 22 TO JUNE 21

JUNE 22 TO JULY 22

The focus is on Home Sweet Home as the Sun, Mercury and Venus visit your domestic and neighbourhood zones. So it’s a good week to patch up problems with a relative, spruce up your living space or make improvements in your local community. The Full Moon also urges you to display your true capabilities, as you discover your individual groove and assert your independence at work.

Courtesy of the COVID crisis, times are tough, travel is limited and many places around the world are still in lockdown. This week the Full Moon encourages you to explore and experiment as you study, travel locally or venture into brave new personal territory. It’s also important to capitalise on your current international contacts. With careful nurturing, who knows where they will lead in the future?

Expect a tempestuous week, as Monday night’s Full Moon magnifies your mood swings and the Mars-Jupiter square cranks up your crabby side. Pace yourself and try to keep things in perspective! On Friday, Venus shifts into your sign. As Lucille Ball said: “Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world”.

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

SEPTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 23

OCTOBER 24 TO NOVEMBER 22

NOVEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 21

You have ambitious professional plans and goals for the future but sometimes you hold yourself back for fear of looking foolish. This week’s stars encourage you to be confident and proactive as you reach for the stars! You’re in the mood to fix something around the house or repair a relationship with a stressed relative. A family member could also turn to you for some insightful words of wisdom.

This week the Sun and Mercury move through Leo, so your dynamic nature is on display for all to see. But the Mars-Jupiter square turbo-charges your tendency to overdo things. So there’s a predilection to promise the Moon and then under-deliver or blow your budget with a spontaneous spending spree. Clever Cats will reign in extravagance with a healthy dollop of discipline.

VIRGO

LIBRA Monday night’s Full Moon stimulates your peer group and aspirations zones. So make sure you surround yourself with family and close friends who encourage your talents and support your dreams. Then Venus (your power planet) visits your career zone from August 7 to September 6, which will help you approach professional tasks with more diplomacy and creativity.

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

WEEKENDER LIVING

AUGUST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 23

Prepare for a colourful and chaotic week! Mercury (your patron planet) moves through fiery Leo, from Wednesday until August 20. So creative ideas and persuasive arguments will keep your mercurial mind well stimulated. But the Mars-Jupiter square looks rather disruptive, as it takes your usual routine and turns it upside down. Plus avoid the tendency to criticise yourself and others.

CAPRICORN

You could blow your budget with a spontaneous spending spree. Or commit yourself to an ambitious project that you really don’t have the time or enthusiasm for. Short-term big talk is no good if it doesn’t translate into long-term action. Patience is the key. As Barack Obama said: “If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”

DECEMBER 22 TO JANUARY 20

This week it’s all about money honey, as the Full Moon stirs up trouble and you need to find a fast and innovative solution to a cash flow problem. If you’re a clever Capricorn, then you’ll pal up with a financially astute person who helps you find ways to develop a second stream of income. The more proactive, creative and collaborative you are, the more positive your financial future will be!

Salads and Sides owner Sharyn Sargeant believes in the power of healthy and wholesome food. She wants to remove the hassle and trouble of food preparation for small and large events. That’s why Sharyn has created an array of beautiful options – so you can focus on what your occasion is supposed to be about – being with family, making memories, and enjoying good, delicious food! A get together should not be stressful or hard and Salads and Sides makes it easy and aﬀordable. You can order as little as a single salad or grazing box/platter through to catering for large gatherings (or wholesale options).

Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

HEALTHY LIVING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

ONE POINT HEALTH

K AITLIN HARMS • PODIATRIST

How podiatrists assess your diabetic foot risk P

odiatrists assess your neurovascular status as part of determining your overall diabetic foot risk status. This in turn helps us to guide regular treatment intervals if required, or to provide advice if it is deemed safe for you to continue to manage your own feet at home. In order to assess someone’s neurovascular status, we look at two things: neurological assessment and vascular status. High, uncontrolled blood glucose levels are known to cause peripheral neuropathy – nerve damage in the peripheries such as the feet or hands, as well as damage to vascular walls. Over time this can lead to the development of foot ulcers that have difficulty in healing due to the reduced blood flow. Our role as podiatrists is to determine and manage an individual’s risk status to assist in preventing these issues from happening.

As part of the neurological assessment we use both a 10g monofilament and a 128Hz tuning fork to look at what is known as ‘protective sensation’. Reduced protective sensation in the feet increases the risk of development of ulcers due to a reduction in feeling, and therefore someone can step on something sharp and not know about it. For the vascular assessment we palpate pedal pulses and assess them on an ultrasound known as a doppler. The waveform and sound shown on the doppler helps us to determine the quality of the blood flow in the feet. At a minimum it is recommended that you have an annual diabetes assessment with your podiatrist to assess and monitor your risk status. Over time your risk status may change and it is important to be aware of these changes to best reduce your risk of diabetesrelated foot complications.

DO YOU HAVE A GREAT BUSINESS IDEA?

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GREENCROSS COREEN AVENUE

DR ERIN SHORT • VET

How to identify and manage arthritis pain in your pets D egenerative joint disease, otherwise known as arthritis is inflammation of the joints. When arthritis occurs, the cartilage lining of the joint wears down, resulting in inflammation, swelling and pain. The cartilage lining can wear down because of disease, poor structure or development (e.g. hip dysplasia), unusual gait, conformation or excessive weight gain. Symptoms of arthritis: • Stiffness or slowness when getting up or down, or after resting. • Difficulty going up or down stairs or for cats unwillingness to jump. • Reduction in activity or a reluctance to exercise. • Dragging back legs, worn toenails or reluctance to groom in cats. • Often the pain with arthritis is worse after resting, vigorous exercise or cold weather. Talk to your local Greencross Vets to find out if your pet has arthritis. Arthritis cannot be cured. The key to controlling the pain associated with arthritis is managing the inflammation within the joints. The added benefit to

this is that with proper management, progression can be slowed. To manage the inflammation within the joints Greencross Vets focus on a multipoint plan: • Weight control. Weight control is extremely important when managing the symptoms and minimising the progression of arthritis. Excess weight will put additional pressure on already affected joints. • Gentle and appropriate exercise. Walking and swimming are the best forms of exercise for dogs with arthritis. The duration of exercise depends on the individual pet. • Omega-3 rich diet. Omega 3 fatty acids help block the inflammation around joints that causes pain. They also suppress the activity of an enzyme that causes cartilage damage, thus slowing the progression of arthritis. • Joint cartilage protective medications. There are many veterinary products that increase joint fluid production and increase blood supply to joint surfaces. The use of pentosan polysulphate has been proven to slow the progression

of arthritis and help control the pain associated with the disease. • Neutraceuticals such as Green Lipped Mussel have also shown good results in assisting dogs with arthritis. These products contain chondroitin and or glucosamine which are the ‘building blocks’ of cartilage. Supplying inflamed joints with these ‘building blocks’ allows for constant production of healthy joint cartilage which in turn assists the joints to reduce inflammation and thus reduce pain. • Prescription Joint Diet. There are many prescription joint diets for both dogs and cats that have been shown to assist in alleviating the discomfort and improving the workings of diseased joints. Some of these diets also combine joint support with weight loss. •Anti inflammatory medications. These can also be used to help control the pain associated with arthritis and are often used at the forefront of arthritic patients. They are best used to control acute pain and as an adjunct for management of chronic pain.

If you suspect your pet may be suffering from joint stiffness or pain, call Greencross Vets Coreen Ave on 4731 3055 about starting an arthritis management program that best suits your pets’ needs.

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

PET HEALTH

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

MONEY MATTERS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

FUTURE FINANCIAL SERVICES ALEX MCKENZIE • ADVISOR

inancial planning involves the balancing of a number of priorities, making trade-offs and compromises, much like life. Often in order to gain something, we have to give something. The art of financial planning is finding the appropriate mid-point for the individual by identifying what is most important to them. When it comes to investing money, there is the risk/reward trade off. In simple terms growth assets such as shares and property have far more potential for growth than defensive assets such as cash and bonds. However growth assets are also far more volatile and offer much less certainty in regards to returns. Each individual will be comfortable with a different level of risk, and has a different requirement for growth; we need to find the right balance. Arguably the biggest balancing act we face in financial planning is weighing up meeting goals for our current lifestyle versus preparing for the future. Achiev-

Coreen Avenue

Puppy Preschool & NEW

Adolescent classes available

4-week block with small class sizes With COVID restrictions beginning to lift, we are excited the school is back in session for our puppies and adolescent dogs. The classes are currently smaller in numbers, socially distanced and also take into consideration your puppy’s age, size and breed.

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Balancing the needs of today with tomorrow

ing long- term goals such as buying a house or having a comfortable retirement usually come as a result of making compromises to ongoing lifestyle or foregoing short term goals. Unfortunately many people don’t adequately prepare for the future and are unable to achieve their long-term goals. This may be conscious choice to live for the now, and allocate their income and assets to having a wonderfully rich life and they are prepared to live more frugally in the future. This is a perfectly reasonable trade off. Others just don’t consider the future and are maybe a little wasteful in the now. This can be problematic. Others do the opposite, and are ultraconcerned about setting up their future. These people are very diligent in ensuring that they are putting money away for their long- term goals and wealth creation. This is wise, however there is always a risk of over committing, it is becoming more common for people to acquire far more wealth than they will need in retirement. There are so many more of these tradeoffs. The key to a successful financial plan is making sure that you select strategies that prioritise what is most important to you. If you want more clarity and a better plan, talk to a financial advisor.

Unit 2 & 3/117 Coreen Avenue, Penrith 4731 3055 | www.greencrossvet.com.au

Friday, July 31, 2020 ÂŤ the western weekender

Enjoy the confidence of getting the best possible result on your tax return. Make the switch today.

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Experimenting with different Ad types There are many different Ad campaigns available to you, take advantage of these! When you initially start running a few Ads, this is a time where you need to experiment and find out what type of campaigns reconcile with your target audience. It will also help you find out information regarding your business. Analyse the different Ads you run and see what is working and what isn’t. If you run an Ad campaign to your website and have a good click through rate (CTR) but you have no sales from it, maybe you need to examine your website and how it can be more user friendly. Abandoning Ads after one failed campaign For a small business just starting up, losing money is always a tough thing. You must have a budget set that is aimed towards Facebook/Instagram Ads. It is very rare to run the perfect Ad campaign straight away, it will take a bit of time and money to get your Ad to a standard of where it needs to be.

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Common mistakes when running social media ads here is no doubting the impact that Facebook can have on your business. But bear in mind that this can be in a both positive and negative way. The way you spend your money on Facebook/Instagram Ads is very important and you don’t want to be throwing money down the drain. There are plenty of mistakes people make when putting together an ad campaign, but this could all be fixed by making a few minor adjustments. Target Audience A simple error that can be made is running an ad campaign but opting not to have a targeted audience. Without a targeted audience your ad could be shown to people who have zero interest in the goods/services you have to offer. You must identify your target market beforehand and make sure the only people that will be viewing your ad have an interest in what you do. You want people ‘liking’ your page that may turn into potential customers, so you then could market to them through organic posting.

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

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w w w. S e r v i c e To d a y. c o m . a u

Wife of Colin (dec). Loving mother of Kim (dec) and Lee, mother-in-law of her husband Ray. Grandmother of their four children. Great grandmother of six. Marcia spent the first 78 years of her life in Penrith and Orchard Hills. Moving to Toukley in 2001 after the death of her husband and son. Along with her husband she donated land at Orchard Hills for the Nepean Rescue Squad. Marcia attended Penrith Primary School then Penrith High. During the war she worked in the Munitions Factory at Dunheved near St Marys. Marcia loved her horses and was an avid rider in her younger days. She enjoyed reading, the companionship of the family dogs and the love and company of her family. Marcia was laid to rest at Pinegrove Memorial Park.

Forever in our thoughts and hearts

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1. The proposal consists of the removal of (3) three existing antennas and the installation of (3) three 5G panel antennas measuring 827mm (h) x 415mm(w) and (3) three panel antennas 2533mm(h) x 350mm(w) on new and existing mounts on the rooftop of the Shopping Centre. Ancillary works include the replacement of (3) three Tower Mast Ampliﬁers, and the installation of (3) three Junction Boxes, (3) three Remote Radio Units cabling and electrical equipment 2. Telstra regards the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”) based on the description above 3. In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2018 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to: Emily Wardlaw on behalf of Telstra, 0422 685 472, consultation@acquirecomm.com.au by Friday 14 August 2020. Further information can also be obtained from www.rfnsa.com.au/2745010 WW41549

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the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

SPORT

NETBALL

Last minute shake-up for Giants p.66

Softballer reaches for the sky NATHAN TAYLOR

WW41573

Local softballer Payten Feeney is a star on the rise.

very time Payten Feeney steps onto the softball field she always has a big smile on her face. Whether she’s throwing a ball with her sisters or leading her team to an important win, the 11- year- old loves everything about her chosen sport. Payten has played in Penrith City Softball Association (PCSA) representative teams for the past three years, and has developed and grown into a gun softball player with a rising bullet beside her name. The Wallacia resident has been at the softball grounds ever since she was a little girl, following in the footsteps of her older sisters Bree and Zoe. Last November, at Blacktown International Sports Park, Payten was part of Penrith City’s U12 representative team that finished third at the U12 Girls State Championships. She enjoyed a fabulous tournament, playing third base and in the outfield. In January, Payten was a member of the U12 Blue Jays softball team competing at the Australia Day Carnival in Canberra. Her side went through the entire competition undefeated. Earlier this year, Payten was selected in the PSSA Penrith School Zone team and was ready to trial for the Sydney West

representative team before COVID-19 hit. Fortunately, Payten’s softball isolation only lasted until late June when she was chosen to be a part of Penrith City’s U14 Girls representative for the upcoming softball season. Payten has enjoyed an amazing 12 months developing as a junior softball player and, as a result, is the latest recipient of the Penrith Valley Sports Foundation Reach for the Sky Encouragement Award. While Payten is a very talented and promising young player, she’s also a handy netballer with the Penrith District Netball Association. Payten Feeney may still only be in primary school, but it’s clear by her recent achievements that she has a very bright sporting future ahead. Nominated by Jo Beach, Vice President of Representative Affairs at PCSA, Payten’s Reach for the Sky Encouragement Award is thanks to sponsors St Marys Leagues Club. If you or someone you know has achieved in their chosen sport, send in your nomination to Penrith Valley Sports Foundation. There are three categories to be nominated in: Reach for the Sky, Junior Sports Star and Senior Sports Star. Nomination forms are available at www. pvsf.org.au.

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Friday, July 31, 2020 « the western weekender

Coach happy with season’s first game Story continued from » p. 68 “For the first 25 minutes of the game we hung in with them and it was just a three- point game five minutes before half-time. “To me, this was a fantastic result and a huge confidence boost for the girls that they can match it with one of the best teams in the comp.” According to Stewart, it could take her side several weeks to gel and form combinations due to the fact it was a disrupted pre- season. She said players were not allowed to do any contact training and game simulation until the last few weeks. “When you’re establishing a new line-up, you need that lead-in time to prepare before a new competition starts, and we didn’t really get that,” she said. “I’m pleased with what the girls are doing and the mission for us is to keep building each week and improve on the little things.” Just a few players remain from last year’s squad, with Stewart recruiting a host of new faces. While she picked up talent from around NSW, she also helped bring home two netballers playing in the UK in Kim Commane and Sam May. Commane is the current captain of UK Super League team Bath, while May spent four seasons with the Swifts before moving to play abroad.

NETBALL

Giants good to go Delayed Super Netball season gets underway this weekend NATHAN TAYLOR

fter a drama- filled pre- season coupled with so much uncertainty surrounding the health pandemic, the 2020 Super Netball season will officially begin this weekend, but not without some last minute alterations to the schedule. Giants Netball were due to take on West Coast Fever at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday before shifting to Queensland for the rest of the season. But the Queensland Government’s shock decision to close the border to greater Sydney residents from Saturday forced the Giants to relocate north immediately on Thursday. Instead of playing the Fever, the Giants will now play the NSW Swifts in their season opener at Nissan Arena in Brisbane on Sunday. The Swifts also relocated to Queensland on Thursday. Netball NSW CEO Carolyn Campbell said she was hopeful the Giants would return to Sydney to play home matches later this year.

The 2020 Giants Netball team. Photo: Narelle Sprangher. “We are firstly very disappointed for our Giants and Swifts members who were really looking forward to seeing both our teams at their new home of Ken Rosewall Arena this weekend,” she said. “I know that the players from both clubs love the connection they have with netball fans across the state and not getting the opportunity to play in Sydney this weekend will be a big blow for them too. “I would like to thank our players,

coaches and club staff for their continued commitment, innovation, flexibility and willingness to get things done.” Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald said she was thrilled and relieved to be getting the season underway regardless of the challenges. “I am so excited and truly grateful to just be playing this season,” she said. “It’s obviously disappointing not to be able to play a full season at home in front of all our members.”

Around the grounds

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BASKETBALL: The Penrith Panthers had a mixed weekend of results in Round 3 of the Waratah 1 Youth Men competition. On Saturday, Penrith suffered their first loss of the season, going down to the Sydney Comets 102-86. Kevin Achampong, Daniel Goldrick and Joel Klein led the way for the Panthers with 11 points each. On Sunday, the Panthers managed to bounce back in a big way, defeating the Bankstown Bruins 87-64. Joshua Kalwy was huge for Penrith, scoring 23 points. This Saturday night the third-placed Panthers will take on the last-placed Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. AFL: The Penrith Rams have won back to back games to start the season, overcoming last year’s Premiers Southern Power 49-38 in Round 2 of the AFL Sydney Platinum Division competition. Tom McNamara top scored for the Rams, booting two goals in the narrow victory. The Rams will push to remain undefeated when they return home this Saturday afternoon to battle the Randwick City Saints at Greygums Oval. Meanwhile, the Penrith Ramettes scored their first win of the season, defeating the East Coast Eagles 27-24 in Round 2 of the AFL Sydney Women’s Division 1 competition. Kate Walker kicked two goals for the Ramettes in the tight win. This Saturday morning Penrith will look for back to back victories when they face Randwick City at Greygums Oval. AFL: The GWS Giants have finally

inflicted revenge for last year’s heavy Grand Final defeat, downing the Richmond Tigers 62-50 in Round 8 of the AFL. Giants superstar Toby Greene was immense for the home side, booting five goals and recording 18 disposals in the 12-point win. After last year’s embarrassing 89-point loss to the Tigers, this is exactly what the Giants needed to kick-start their average season. The 12th-placed Giants will aim for back to back wins this Sunday afternoon when they travel north to Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast to play the 10th-placed Suns. RUGBY UNION: Penrith’s first Shute Shield game in over two years didn’t go exactly as planned last Saturday afternoon with first-placed Northern Suburbs winning 53-3 in Round 2 of the competition. Fly half Netane Masima provided the only points for the Emus via a penalty goal in the first half. Meanwhile, Penrith’s second grade team fared a little bit better against Northern Suburbs, going down 43-12. Penrith’s Colts team, however, were trounced 86-10 by the men from the north. All three teams will play their first home games of the year this Saturday at Nepean Rugby Park. Kick-off in the Shute Shield is at 3pm. To make a submission to Around The Grounds, email Nathan.Taylor@ westernweekender.com.au. You can also private message us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/westernweekender or Tweet us @wwpenrith.

FOOTBALL

History maker: Hamilton Late goal keeps Western named W-League’s best Sydney in race for Finals

Kristen Hamilton was crowned the W-League’s best player. Photo: Megan Dunn.

NATHAN TAYLOR

or the first time in history, a Wanderers player has taken out the W-League’s biggest individual accolade, the Julie Dolan Medal. Western Sydney striker Kristen Hamilton was crowned W- League Player of the Year at the Dolan Warren Awards last week following an outstanding debut season in the Red & Black. Hamilton joined the Wanderers from the North Carolina Courage and made an immediate impact, toppling records in

the club’s pursuit to make history with their first ever Finals appearance. The 28- year- old American went on to make more history by becoming the first Wanderer to win the W- League Golden Boot, sharing the top billing with seven goals to her name. Hamilton said the Julie Dolan Medal came as a surprise and was a testament to the team and culture around her. “It was actually very unexpected and pretty cool to get the phone call, but the (award) is just a testament to the team, the players I was surrounded with, and the coaching staff,” she said.

the western weekender » Friday, July 31, 2020

FOOTBALL

Wanderers captain Mitch Duke on Monday night. Photo: Mark Kolbe.

NATHAN TAYLOR

triker Simon Cox has spared his side utter embarrassment, scoring in the dying stages to help the Western Sydney Wanderers snatch a 1-1 draw with wooden spooners Central Coast on Monday night. The Wanderers’ Finals hopes appeared to take a major blow early in the second half when Milan Duric had the Mariners in front. But 33-year- old Cox used all his experience and determination to head in an

equaliser two minutes before injury time, to secure his side a much-needed point. “The way that we finished the game was strong, it was determined, it was positive and I see it as gaining a point [not losing two points],” Wanderers coach Jean- Paul de Marigny said after the match. “It was our first game back in four months and the good thing for me was the willingness not to lose the game.” The Wanderers remain in ninth spot, four points behind sixth-placed Adelaide but with a game in hand. Tonight, they’ll they face the Wellington Phoenix at Bankwest Stadium at 7.30pm.

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t’s been regarded by many as the “longest pre- season in netball history”, but the Panthers Netball Opens team finally hit the court last week for the first game of the 2020 Netball NSW Premier League season. Despite fighting hard for much of the first half, the new- look Panthers ultimately went down to last year’s runners-up, Central Coast, 68-37. Sporting a fresh new side and a brand new coach in Nerida Stewart, Panthers Netball are hoping for a much better season in 2020 after winning just one game the whole of last season. While last week’s result against the Heart doesn’t look good on paper, it was the effort the Panthers put in against one of the league’s most successful teams that impressed coach Stewart the most. “It was obviously a daunting experience to play the Opens champions from two years ago and last year’s silver medallists first up, but overall I was pleased with the girls’ performance,” Stewart told the Weekender.

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Story continues on » p. 66

Life starts at Thornton Park

New Panthers recruit Kim Commane.

Sam May will make an impact at Panthers.

“Safety, security and socialising – there’s nothing more I need.”

Margaret moved to Thornton Park to be closer to her family – but she wasn’t expecting her neighbours to become like family as well. “The moment I saw the lovely apartments at Thornton Park, I thought, yes, this is the place for me. I feel so secure here. My family come by every day and I’ve made some lovely friendships, too.” “I feel so secure here. There’s a library and a beautiful café with great coffee. There’s even a nook for the grandchildren to play in. My neighbours have become like a little family. I couldn’t be happier.” If you’ve ever thought about retirement living, don’t hesitate to contact us for an information pack and to book your obligationfree tour. It just might be the best thing you ever do.

1800 860 502 thorntonpark.com.au You may have to pay a departure fee when you leave this village. WW41353

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