Western Weekender March 26 2021 by Western Sydney Publishing Group

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INSIDE Penrith’s leading coverage of the mighty Panthers

CLEAN-UP UNDERWAY AFTER INCREDIBLE FLOOD EVENT – SEE PAGES 1-10

WATER WORLD River Road at Emu Plains on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Megan Dunn.

Tench Reserve under water.

Sandbags being filled at Jamison Park.

Nepean River peaks at highest level in 60 years The clean-up continues after one of the most extraordinary weather events our city has experienced in a generation, with the Nepean River peaking at more than 10 metres and floodwaters gushing across the region.

It was the Nepean’s highest level in Penrith since the epic 1961 flood, which caused havoc across the city. This time, Penrith escaped major catastrophe, with inconvenience trumping tragedy and the river receding quickly.

It followed an intense Sunday afternoon that saw thousands of residents in lowlying parts of Penrith and Jamisontown evacuated, dozens of roads closed and many businesses and schools forced to close their doors.

More serious conditions were experienced on Penrith’s outskirts in Londonderry and Llandilo, and by our neighbours in the Hawkesbury. Full coverage inside plus updates online at www.westernweekender.com.au.

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

PENRITH’S FLOOD EMERGENCY

River peaks at levels not • Rain eases after intense floods rattle Penrith • Homes evacuated, roads ERIN CHRISTIE

he Penrith community has narrowly avoided disaster with the receding of flood waters in the western areas of Penrith after several evacuation orders were handed down last weekend, keeping residents and local authorities on high alert for a number of days. The Nepean River at Penrith peaked at over 10 metres for the first time in 60 years, bringing back memories of the epic 1961 floods that devastated the region. But after reaching 10.03 metres on Sunday evening, it has been slowly receding in the days since. Although the worst seems to be over, Londonderry, in Penrith’s north, is still affected, with sandbags being handed out throughout the suburb on Tuesday. Residents across parts of Penrith, Jamisontown, Regentville and Agnes Banks all faced evacuation orders at the height of the emergency. Most have now returned home after being given the all clear. Several businesses and schools were also forced to close for several days.

Lindsay MP Melissa McIntosh helps fill sandbags on Tuesday. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Inmates were also removed from the area, with 35 minimum security female inmates from Emu Plains Correctional Centre, and 15 minimum security female inmates from Bolwara being moved to Dillwynia Correctional Centre. 25 female and male inmates at Amber Laurel Correctional Centre were also moved to holding cells at other Sydney correctional facilities. “The decision was made after consulting with the SES and police,” a spokeswoman from Corrective Services NSW said. The flood resulted in incredible images across the region, including at Tench Reserve where play equipment and picnic facilities were completely submerged by water on Sunday. Sporting facilities like The Kingsway at St Marys were also completely flooded, likely cancelling events for several weeks. The local road network was also significantly impacted, with Castlereagh Road closed at the railway bridge due to flooding and the Wallacia Bridge closed several times through the week. Localised flooding remains on some roads with motorists being urged to take care, even as the weather clears.

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seen since 1961 floods closed during wild weather event • SES volunteers praised for tireless work

Penrith was among the Local Government Areas declared a Natural Disaster Area by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian in the wake of the floods. Federal Member for Lindsay, Melissa McIntosh encouraged affected members of the local community to seek disaster recovery payments as she helped with sandbag unloading at Londonderry Neighbourhood Centre.

“People here just want to help, that’s what we do, we just get on with stuff and help each other out,” she said. “It’s one of the things that makes this area so great. “I’d like to thank all our brave, selfless emergency services personnel and local volunteers who have rallied to protect our community and keep us safe.” The heavy rain that battered the area

for almost a week has now cleared, with a patch of sunny weather starting on Wednesday. While the emergency in neighbouring areas such as the Hawkesbury and across the state continues, in Penrith the focus will now turn to the clean-up. Volunteers have already been out and about in the community cleaning up around the Nepean River.

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

PENRITH’S FLOOD EMERGENCY

Meantime local businesses have shown their support for the SES, offering free coffees and services to those volunteering in the community. The Panthers also offered free tickets to SES volunteers for last night’s clash between Penrith and Melbourne. Stay updated with the latest flood developments by visiting our website at www.westernweekender.com.au.

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National Collecting Institutions Touring & Outreach Program

ARTHUR BOYD, 5HpHFWHG NDQJDURR, c1976, oil on canvas. Bundanon Trust Collection. WW44322

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

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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: Emily Feszczuk | @emilyfeszczuk Journalist: Erin Christie | @erinchristie2 Photographers: Megan Dunn, Melinda Sanders 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, Jay Lowe, Chris Middleton, Angela Jevdich To receive a copy of our media kit and advertising prices, email sales@westernweekender.com.au Production: Ian Beard, Claire Catacouzinos, Kacey Wilson

Administration: Jennifer Zuleni, Megan Dunn

The Western Weekender is bound by the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council. If you believe the Standards may have been breached, you may approach the newspaper itself or contact the Council by email (info@presscouncil.org.au) or by phone ([02] 92611930). For further information see www.presscouncil.org.au.

Editor’s Desk

Troy Dodds troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au

@troydodds

Debate over: Raise the wall T

he September 13, 2019 edition of the Western Weekender carries with it an advertising wraparound with a stark message: “It has flooded in Penrith before. It will happen again”. It is a message that was repeated with further print advertising and billboards across the Penrith Local Government Area (LGA), warning that we all needed to understand our flood risk. Meantime for years now a debate has been bubbling away about raising the height of the Warragamba Dam wall, blissfully ignored by most of us, just like the flood warnings mentioned above. Penrith MP Stuart Ayres has been pushing to raise the dam wall for the best part of five years, arguing it is a key flood mitigation strategy and would make life in communities like ours safer. Standing in the Government’s way has been their political opponents, who have disagreed with plans to raise the wall, and loud campaigners who say the project would result in the flooding of parts of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Critics also like to argue that the Government wants to raise the wall to make it easier for developers to seek approval to build on flood-prone areas, which has been strongly denied. Perhaps the events of the past week will finally see people wake up. Raising the wall would have significant impacts on the environment, no doubt. It’s true that a small part, in context, of the World Heritage Area would be flooded. But major floods through the Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers put lives and livelihoods at risk – and that must be our core focus.

Index

“This time around Penrith has avoided a catastrophe. Next time we may not be so lucky”

We’ve been lucky this past week – the Nepean River peaked at just over 10 metres in Penrith but it could have been much worse. Despite the significant rain that fell on Saturday, it was actually much less than what the Bureau was forecasting. Had more fallen, the result could have been devastating for our community. This time around Penrith has avoided a catastrophe. Very little damage, short evacuations and great photo opportunities was the end result, apart from the significant clean-up effort that is now underway. Next time we may not be so lucky. Our neighbours in the Hawkesbury certainly haven’t been. If raising the wall at Warragamba Dam could contribute to saving lives when floods impact the area again, why wouldn’t we do it? Mr Ayres has confirmed this week the

News...............................................1-31 Business.................................32-33 Snips & Snaps..........................34

government is pushing ahead with its plan, as it should. An Environmental Impact Statement will be released soon, hopefully paving the way for proper planning to begin. And given the events of the past week, you would hope those so loudly opposed in the past will not stand in the way of saving lives. On another note – the last week has been very difficult in Penrith, but the community has largely come together in such impressive and heart-warming fashion. Almost as quickly as calls for help went up on social media – whether it was a truck needed for an animal evacuation or volunteers wanted to fill sandbags – they were answered. Emergency events like this are never what we want to see, but they do tend to remind us of how strong our community can be when it works together. And what about our local SES volunteers – absolute heroes. Where would we be without them? And another thing... The raindrops on Twitter would scream the joint down if Prime Minister Scott Morrison took some leave (how dare he?) but right now it’s clear that he needs a break to recharge the batteries. He is starting to drop the ball, highlighted by the bizarre direction he took his press conference in on Tuesday. I’ve got empathy for someone with the toughest gig in the country, in an extremely difficult time, who probably sleeps less than a parent with a newborn. But right now he’s doing himself a disservice. Take a break, ScoMo.

Extra Time..........................35-46 Entertainment .................47-60 Weekender Living.........61-64

Autism Feature................65-72 Business Directory........73-76 Sport ........................................77-80

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Residents forced to flee Valuables left behind after locals faced unprecedented evacuation orders EMILY FESZCZUK

Residents near the Nepean River had to evacuate before Ladbury Avenue and Memorial Avenue flooded. Photo: Megan Dunn.

Having limited time, Ms Prior said the pair took their essentials before leaving. “We knew Ladbury Avenue would probably be affected because they back onto Peachtree Creek but we were just hoping it wouldn’t get high enough to reach our place, which is quite elevated,” she said.

“I put anything of value like childhood photos up in our second storey, packed up food for our chocolate lab Milo and grabbed passports, but everything else stayed... there just wasn’t enough time.” Staying at her brother’s house in Caddens before the evacuation order was lifted, Ms

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housands of residents were forced to evacuate from their homes at the height of the flood emergency on Sunday, with fears properties were going to be inundated with water. The SES announced evacuation orders on Sunday afternoon to some residents in parts of Regentville, Jamisontown and Penrith as well as Rickabys Creek at Londonderry on Monday. Some Agnes Banks residents were also impacted. Penrith resident Jessica Prior, who lives on Nepean Avenue, said her and her partner Brad had about 20 minutes to get their things in order as the river rose rapidly. “I was on the train coming home from Sydney and Brad told me it was getting pretty bad so when he picked me up from the station, we went to look at the river and thought there was a chance of evacuation,” she told the Weekender. “We were keeping an eye on it but we honestly didn’t think it would get that bad until we got three text messages within a few minutes at 4.10pm, saying we needed to be out by 4.30pm.”

Prior said it was an anxious wait that she had never experienced before. “It was pretty intense and quite an anxious time, I have lived in Penrith my whole life and never been evacuated or seen anything like this,” she said. “We were lucky there is no major damage, but we will be keeping an eye on the weather and will be better prepared for next time.” SES Penrith Unit Flood Coordinator, Michael Faccin said while the extent of damage in Penrith is still unknown, more rural suburbs have been hit hard. “From what we have seen so far there isn’t significant damage, public assets like roads and bridges have held up pretty well but once the river drops further, we will get a full assessment,” he said. “There is a lot more flooding in the lowlying areas of Londonderry, Castlereagh, Llandilo and Berkshire Park that have impacted a lot of residents and our crews have worked non-stop trying to rescue livestock. “This is a dynamic weather system so the river may rise again, so we encourage residents to be prepared to leave their homes at short notice.”

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

PENRITH’S FLOOD EMERGENCY

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

PENRITH’S FLOOD EMERGENCY

Council waits for EIS No firm stance on Warragamba Dam wall issue, despite Councillor’s push ALENA HIGGINS

call for Penrith Council to formally support raising the Warragamba Dam wall before the release of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has ignited tensions among Councillors. Councillor Marcus Cornish was criticised for tabling the Notice of Motion during Monday night’s Ordinary Meeting after Council resolved in August 2019 that it was premature to take a stance prior to seeing the EIS. But Cr Cornish said time is of the essence to safeguard lives and property. “The current situation is a sad confirmation that the dam needs to be raised,” he said. “The dam wall being raised affects Penrith and it affects the Hawkesbury, it doesn’t affect many other areas, so this is something we need to have a position on.” Fellow Independent Kevin Crameri, who seconded the motion, said the region was in a “delicate position” and a downfall now, rather than steady rain, could spell disaster. “If we get four inches over the catchment

Councillor Marcus Cornish at Warragamba Dam. Photo: Melinda Jane.

now, we’ll have an 1861 event, that’s when you’ll find out what the problems are for not raising the wall,” he said. After questions were raised about the procedural correctness of the motion – which kicked off a string of unusual and testy ‘point of order’ interjections – it was finally put to a vote. Shortly after, Mayor Karen McKeown declared it lost, with only Councillors Cornish and Crameri voting in support. During General Business, Deputy Mayor Tricia Hitchen called for a Council briefing as soon as the EIS is released. “I myself am in favour of raising the dam wall and I know a great many of my Councillor colleagues are as well,” she said. “But until we have all the information, it’s not appropriate that this Council makes a decision. “And let’s face it, there’s no urgency in making this decision in the next month or so because it will still take a long time before the dam wall can be raised.” WaterNSW is currently preparing the Warragamba wall-raising EIS on behalf of the NSW Government. The current anticipated exhibition of the EIS is in the second half of 2021.

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the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

PENRITH’S FLOOD EMERGENCY

Ayres: Dam wall must increase EMILY FESZCZUK

inister for Western Sydney and Penrith MP Stuart Ayres will push ahead with raising the wall of Warragamba Dam after heavy rainfall led to flooding in the Nepean and Hawkesbury region this week. Mr Ayres told the Weekender that the plan is required to make the area more flood resilient after the dam spilled, causing the Nepean River to rise rapidly and forcing some residents to evacuate. “14 metres flood mitigation would have allowed us to hold almost half the dam’s worth of water back and gave us the opportunity to regulate more water coming out of the dam but right now once it is full it has to spill,” Mr Ayres said. “Penrith is lucky in the sense it has high riverbanks meaning it can be a while before it starts to impact communities but places further downstream, the lowlands in the Hawkesbury don’t have that capacity.” Former Emergency Services Minister and Chair of the Colong Foundation that is behind the ‘Give A Dam’ campaign, Bob Debus said there are other alterna-

tives to raising the dam wall that would avoid environmental impacts on the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. “It is very important to remember that it is not possible for Warragamba Dam, whatever its size, to stop the most extreme floods,” he said. “There are no silver bullet solutions, but after all lowering the reservoir level by 10 metres has a similar effect to raising the wall by 10 metres and it doesn’t cost $1.6 billion.” Environmental groups remain active in their opposition, but Mr Ayres said Environmental Impact Statements for the project will be completed by mid-year. “These groups are still trying to argue it as people are being evacuated and Nepean River is the highest we have seen it since the 1960s, but we have always been transparent about a relatively small impact to the Blue Mountains National Park,” he said. “They have this idea that raising the dam wall will allow more areas to be developed but that is just wrong as we do not allow people to build new residential properties below the one-in-100-year flood level limit and that will not change even with a reduced flood risk.”

Warragamba Dam spilled this week. Inset: Penrith MP Stuart Ayres.

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

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visitpenrith.com.au WW44342

DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION

Viewing of Development Applications

The following Crown Development Application has

The following Development Application has been

DATracker Alternatively, the applications can be

been received by Council:

received by Council:

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• NSW Land & Housing Corporation

DA21/0143

• Gwgph Pty Ltd

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

CROWN DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION

The above development application/s may be viewed RQ &RXQFLO·V '$ 7UDFNHU YLD penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/

DDA21/0144

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79 Doonmore Street, Penrith

88–90 Princess Street, Werrington

Demolition of existing structures and construction

of 2-storey boarding house including 6 boarding

of 12 x 2-storey townhouses and associated

Disclosure of Political Donations or Gifts

rooms, communal room and at-grade car parking

works

By law, reportable political donations or gifts must be

Contact: Robert Walker on 4732 7991

Contact: Pukar Pradhan on 4732 7726

disclosed by anyone lodging a planning application to

Closing Date: 12 April 2021

Council. Call 4732 7649 or visit penrithcity.nsw.gov.au

able to assist with your enquiries.

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Change the One-Way entry (road entry between

priorities along the nominated sections.

the western car park and the eastern car park) to

You are invited to make a submission and provide

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comments to Council regarding the abovementioned

allow vehicles to access/egress from the car parks

proposal. Submissions must be made in writing and

to Tench Avenue.

are to be received by Council no later than Monday,

Treatment 4:

12 April 2021.

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Written submissions can be submitted by:

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• Email: council@penrith.city and address the

in Tench Avenue to improve safety and eliminate trip hazards.

email to Mr Anthony Baradhy • Post: Mr Anthony Baradhy

The abovementioned treatments will improve

Penrith City Council

motorist safety when entering and exiting the car

PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751

penrith.city WW44343

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

PENRITH’S FLOOD EMERGENCY Penrith icon safe after flood event

Funds available

Support at hand for those impacted by flood emergency TROY DODDS

T The Nepean Belle survived the flood.

Penrith locals were concerned about the Nepean Belle being on the flooded river, but owners Chris and Carol Bennett told the Weekender that the iconic paddle wheeler is safe. “The Belle has been in our bay and Chris and the team have had to constantly pull it towards land when the water goes up and back out when it recedes, so it doesn’t get beached, but she hasn’t sustained any damage,” Ms Bennett said. “The community have been a fantastic support and we have had so many offers of help from concerned people.” - Emily Feszczuk

he Federal Government has activated Disaster Recovery Payments for anyone in the Penrith Local Government Area who has been impacted by the flood emergency. Minister for Emergency Management, David Littleproud, said the package provides assistance to those who had suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home, serious injury or who have lost a family member. “Our first concern is for the safety and needs of those directly affected, particularly those whose homes have been inundated by floodwaters,” he said. “By making these payments available to the affected residents, the Australian Government will ensure that those who have lost or sustained damage to their homes or lost their livelihoods as a result of the floods will have the additional assistance they need.” Federal Member for Lindsay, Melissa McIntosh said it was important for the Government to act quickly.

The SES has been out in force assisting locals during the floods. Photo: William Turner.

“We know how important it is to act quickly and efficiently, so we’ve jumped into action to activate support for people affected by the storms and floods,” she said. Meantime the State Government has made a Natural Disaster declaration for Penrith, which has triggered a series of funding packages to help people impacted by the floods. “We have worked quickly to declare disasters in 34 Local Government Areas.

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This assistance activates practical and immediate supports for communities, primary producers, small businesses, not-for-profits and councils,” Emergency Services Minister, David Elliott said. “We will stand side by side with our communities over coming weeks and months as we work through the significant recovery that lays ahead of us.” The quickest way to access a disaster recovery payment is to call 180 22 66 or visit Services Australia.

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the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

onely Planet celebrates decades of award winning travel photography and reveals the stories behind the images in The Perfect Shot. Discover the determination and persistence required to take the perfect travel photograph. The Perfect Shot is not just a collection of amazing travel photography. It also gives the photographers a voice, so in their own words they can tell the backstories of these incredible images. Matt Phillips, who assembled the collection for Lonely Planet, says of the photographers: “Their passion and dedication to the visual world are beyond anything I could dream of, as are their photographic skills, patience and persistence”.

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

PAGE TWELVE

Well done to the huge number of local businesses who are offering a helping hand to local SES crews, whether it be a free coffee or discounted services. It’s wonderful to see.

From snapping farmers on Madagascar’s Avenue des Baobas as they walk to the fields at sunrise to marvelling at an aerial shot of the turquoise hued Heart Reef on the Great Barrier Reef, each stunning photograph has an equally compelling story behind how it was captured. The Perfect Shot is available now in all good book stores. The Weekender has five copies of The Perfect Shot to give away. For your chance to win one, send an email to competitions@westernweekender.com.au with ‘Shot’ in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your contact details. Entries close Friday, April 9 and the winners will be notified by email. 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 or the Weekender office, and our spotters will be out and about in the community.

I SPY

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: 0222, 0511, 0809.

Dose of Dorin

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

The statue of the man holding the child’s hand is located at Red Cross Anniversary Park in Kingswood.

Connect with us online... facebook.com/westernweekender

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the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

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13 5/3/21 11:55 am

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

L AW a n d O R D E R COMPILED BY EMILY FESZCZUK

A man has been charged after a bizarre assault with a fishing rod in Kingswood. About 10pm on Tuesday, March 16, a 66-year-old man returned to his home on Stafford Street, Kingswood with his 41-year-old son. It is alleged a 48-year-old neighbour began to verbally abuse the men, so they approached him. The 48-year-old man started chasing the 41-year-old down the street before punching him several times. It is alleged after the fight was broken up, the 48-year-old returned home to retrieve a fishing rod before going to where the men and other people were. He swung the rod several times at all the people connecting with the face of the 66-year-old. The man immediately collapsed to the ground with blood coming out of his face. The 41-year-old son then chased the 48-year-old and removed the rod from him. Bystanders contacted the police who arrested and charged the 48-year-old who had returned to his home.

Oxley Park: Drugs found during search of home; charges laid

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A man has been charged after a search warrant located drugs in Oxley Park. About 7am on Thursday, March 18, police executed a search warrant at a home on the Great Western Highway, Oxley Park. A 46-year-old man was arrested when police arrived, and a search allegedly located items in relation to the manufacture of methylamines. Police had to evacuate and contact the State Crime Command Drug and Firearms Squad – Chemical Operations Team who attended and deemed the property safe. They then re-commenced the search, and it is alleged they located in excess of 45 grams of methylamphetamines, fraudulent identity documents, fireworks and a prohibited weapon. The man was charged with multiple offences and bail refused.

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Police Snapshot Kingswood: Man launches attack with fishing rod on Stafford Street

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Jamisontown: Man busted after allegedly stealing from backyards

A man has been charged after being found with goods in custody last week. About 1.45pm on Friday, March 19, police were called to Thurwood Avenue, Jamisontown in relation to a man walking through backyards in the area. When police arrived, they located a 27-year-old Blacktown man on York Road holding a child’s push bike which was described by people who contacted them. It is alleged the man’s answers constantly changed when police questioned where he got the bike from. The man was arrested, and the push bike seized before he was charged.

St Clair: Man loses finger in assault after wake turns violent

A man has been charged after he caused grievous bodily harm and resisted arrest in St Clair. About 9.30pm on Friday, March 19, a 25-year-old Doonside man and a 43-yearold St Clair man were at a wake at a house in St Clair. It is alleged both the men were affected by alcohol and the 25-year-old’s behaviour was causing problems. As a result, the 43-year-old approached the younger man who became aggressive and ended with both men wrestling before falling on the ground. It is alleged that the 25-year-old bit the older man’s left pinky finger and would not let go which resulted in the 43-yearold mans finger being removed from the first knuckle, including the whole tip and fingernail. It is then alleged the younger man also bit the man on his ear causing him to lose a small portion of his right lower earlobe and bit his right middle finger to the bone, but the finger remained intact. When police arrived, they located the 25-year-old who was arrested and became more aggressive. It is alleged the man struggled with police and headbutted an officer in the temple area before he was taken to Penrith Police Station and charged with multiple offences.

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WILL HAYNE PLANE LAND IN JAIL? Former NRL player, Jarryd Hayne, has been found guilty of sexual assault offences relating to the oral and digital rape of the victim. Hayne’s case has been interesting, albeit macabre, from a legal perspective for a number of reasons. Firstly, the first trial resulted in a hung jury. This means that the jury could not reach a verdict. Accordingly, a retrial was ordered. Had the retrial resulted in another hung jury, it is likely that the prosecution would have abandoned the case. After a second seven-day trial however, the jury took three days to convict Hayne. In addition, Hayne’s case together with the ongoing sexual assault trial of Jack de Belin, has put the NRL’s no fault standdown policy back in the spotlight. In light of a spate of violent offences committed by football players the NRL introduced a policy whereby for certain serious offences players are stood down and unable to play in the NRL pending the outcome of their trial. It is this stance that essentially put a full stop on Jarryd Hayne’s career as he was unable to continue to play in the NRL until the resolution of this matter. Ultimately, he has been found guilty of the offence and his NRL career is over. Hayne’s conviction is also a nod to the legitimacy of the NRL’s standdown policy. De Belin’s case is yet to be determined after a retrial of his own in late 2020. Hayne will almost certainly spend time behind bars for his crimes. The Judge who presided over his trial said as much after the jury delivered its verdict. Despite this, he has been granted bail on a $50,000 surety until his sentencing hearing on May 6. With serious criminal matters like these the Court will often take time to

consider what penalty it should impose and allow the prosecution and the defence the opportunity to prepare material for the Court to consider. Hayne’s legal team will be busily preparing material to try to convince the Judge that he should not go to jail and should serve some other penalty (for example, an intensive corrections order and/or community service). They are unlikely to succeed. The types of evidence the defence will likely put before the Court are character references to say that Hayne is otherwise a person of good character who contributes positively to the community. They may also argue that his offence is on the less serious scale when considered objectively because he was invited to the premises in which the assault occurred and had engaged in conversations of a sexual nature with the victim over a period of months prior to the assault. The prosecution will argue that the offences of which Hayne has been found guilty are serious in nature in light of the injuries the victim suffered, namely lacerations and heavy bleeding to her genital area. Ultimately, Hayne’s only real chance of staying out of jail may be on appeal depending on the sentence the Court hands down. It is cases like these that highlight the difficult and daunting prospect that victims face in reporting sexual assaults. The victim in Hayne’s case has not only had to relive the assault to Police, but has been subjected to two trials during which she was subjected to cross-examination over a period of nearly three years. The victim has also had to endure the vitriol of internet trolls blindly supporting Hayne because of his celebrity status with no regard for the fact that he might have actually been guilty.

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

LOCAL NEWS

Council delays plan for Henry St units ALENA HIGGINS

teps to activate the eastern end of Penrith’s CBD with two soaring towers – one 41 storeys and the other 25 storeys in height – have been delayed. On Monday night, Penrith Councillors deferred the endorsement of a Planning Proposal and Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) for 57 Henry Street, Penrith. Placed on public exhibition in 2019, the Planning Proposal seeks to amend the Penrith Local Environmental Plan 2010 to facilitate the high-rise development, which is tipped to feature about 450 residential units plus commercial and retail space. The proponent, Trio Property Group, provided Council with a VPA to deliver traffic improvements in the vicinity of the site, which sits on the corner of Henry and Evan Streets, west of the Lemongrove Bridge.

During Council’s Ordinary Meeting, Councillor John Thain sought a deferral, requesting that “we get all the information completed before it goes forward”. “I just think it’s not complete, there’s too many gaps there,” he said. Councillor Marcus Cornish also requested the documents go back before the Heritage Advisory Committee in their current form. The former Penrith Infants Department building, circa 1884, will be retained and is proposed to lie between the towers. During the meeting, a statement from concerned citizen Robert Simpson was read out criticising the lack of commercial space and claiming it would set a “dangerous precedent” for the city’s other key sites. “If all the key site developments only provided commercial floor space of 0.75:1, then Penrith will not be able to attract the large corporate or government

departments and jobs that a regional city should be aspiring for,” it read. “This proposal is essentially a residential development with minimal commercial and retail space thrown in to justify the zoning. “Council should be providing jobs and commerce for the ratepayer, not providing profits for the developer.” Meanwhile, Councillors did endorse the Planning Proposal and VPA for 39 Henry Street, which flanks the eastern side of the Lemongrove Bridge. Trifalga Property Group plans to build 445 apartments and a 100-room hotel on the former Keg restaurant site. Under the VPA, Trifalga will also deliver traffic upgrades to the already-problematic Henry and Evan Street intersection. Both projects will be subject to future separate Development Applications following completion of the Planning Proposal process.

Residential towers could be built at a site in Henry Street, Penrith.

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

LOCAL NEWS

Centre to open this year More mental health support to be available locally thanks to new facility

new mental health centre in Penrith will open by the end of the year. The Federal Government and Nepean Blue Mountains PHN (NBMPHN) this week confirmed that the centre was on track to open in December this year, following the release of the tender to identify a lead agency to establish and operate the centre. “I committed to delivering the funding for this Adult Mental Health Centre because I know the positive impact it will have on the health and wellbeing of our community here in Lindsay,” Federal Member for Lindsay, Melissa McIntosh said this week. “Mental health issues don’t discriminate, they can impact anyone at any time. We all lead busy lives and this centre will provide the opportunity for people in our community to access after-hours support and take pressure off our local emergency departments. “The release of the tender marks the beginning of the process to ensure the Centre delivers the best outcomes for local people, and I encourage people to engage with the public consultation.”

Lindsay MP Melissa McIntosh and NBMPHN CEO Lizz Reay discuss the new centre.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt congratulated the local community for taking this next step in the building process. “The Australian Government has made mental health and suicide prevention a national priority, and is working in partnership with the States and Territories to drive meaningful and lasting reform in this important area,” he said. “But this doesn’t just happen at the national level, meaningful change is driven at the local level. Melissa has worked hard for her community here in Lindsay and this Centre is a testament to her continued advocacy.” NBMPHN CEO Lizz Reay said it was exciting to move into a new phase of the project and to find a suitable partner to operate this service. “Through the challenges on 2020, we contributed at a national level to the development of a service model for the centres and are pleased that we have now been provided with the funding to start planning for the centre locally,” she said. The Request for Proposal from interested organisations closes on Friday, April 23 at 3pm.

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the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

LOCAL NEWS

Pub with a difference: Aged care facility opens new bar

Residents celebrated the opening of the Billabong Pub. Photo: Melinda Jane.

ged care facility Uniting Edinglassie Lodge celebrated St Patrick’s Day with the opening of their new on-site ‘Billabong Pub’. Featuring several signed footy jerseys on the walls, a foosball table and a lovely wooden bar, residents and community members met for a ribbon-cutting ceremony with cake and non-alcoholic drinks. The idea for the pub was formed about a year ago by Michele Andrew, a Leisure and Wellness Co-ordinator at Uniting, who pitched the idea to Belinda Bonner,

the Service Manager at Edinglassie Lodge. Ms Andrew then reached out to Bunnings, who supplied the paint and provided help with the construction of the room. However, the outsourced help had to cease as COVID-19 restrictions took hold. “We decided we couldn’t just leave it sitting idle, so the staff and residents all pitched in,” Ms Bonner said. With the dedicated help of residents John Raymond and Douglass Rennie, construction continued up until their grand opening this year. Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown attended the opening ceremony.

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

LOCAL NEWS

Faster finish promised Roads Minister says Mulgoa Road upgrade won’t take decades to complete ALENA HIGGINS

he Transport and Roads Minister has moved to reassure residents that upgrades along Mulgoa Road won’t take decades to complete. Last week, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) told the Weekender the full 6.5 kilometre upgrade of the Mulgoa Road/Castlereagh Road corridor between Glenmore Parkway, Glenmore Park and Andrews Road, Penrith “would be developed and delivered in stages over the next 20 years”, subject to funding. However, NSW Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance expects this timeline to be less. “My expectation is the already funded stages of the Muloga Road upgrade will be completed within five years and the remaining will follow shortly after,” Mr Constance said, after reaching out following last week’s story. “I appreciate the local community is keen to get the entire upgrade completed as soon as possible, and so are we.” The first leg, from Union Road to Museum Drive including the Railway

Upgrades near the Railway Bridge. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Bridge, is due to open to traffic mid-year, weather permitting. The stretch between Glenmore Parkway to Blaikie Road is the only other fullyfunded stage. “Drivers in western Sydney will reap the benefits when the first stage opens in the next few months,” Mr Constance said. “As the main access route between Penrith and the M4, it’s crucial we work as quickly as possible.” However, locals were critical of the

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two-and-a-half years it will have taken to deliver Stage 1, which began in December 2018, with one Facebook user likening it to “watching grass grow”. Another predicted it would not stop the morning and afternoon traffic jams created by the Victoria Bridge bottleneck. Jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments, the Union Road to Museum Drive upgrade involves widening lanes to three in each direction and increasing capacity at key intersections.

TfNSW is currently carrying out investigation work to help inform the detailed design of a 1.18 kilometre section of Mulgoa Road between Jeanette Street and Blaikie Road. Funding dependent, future delivery of the Mulgoa Road/Castlereagh Road corridor will involve upgrades between Jamison Road and Union Road, Museum Drive to Coreen Avenue, Coreen Avenue to Lugard Street, and Lugard Street to Andrews Road.

LOCAL NEWS

More jobs needed near new housing, says Councillor ALENA HIGGINS

here needs to be less emphasis on housing and more emphasis on jobs in western Sydney’s growth areas, according to Penrith Councillor Ross Fowler. Cr Fowler said if you fail to provide jobs near housing estates, you create “a whole lot of social problems” and said the Greater Sydney Commission needs to concentrate on the “30-minute city”. “Housing doesn’t bring jobs in the long-term – it brings jobs in the shortterm, yes – but if you don’t have jobs with housing, you then create a whole lot of social problems in relation to people who are then travelling inordinate times... between their home and their work,” Cr Fowler said. “They have less time to be able to make input into their local community in relation to being part of the social fabric of their community, participating at things such as Little Athletics or local P&C, taking their kids to and from sporting events etc.” Speaking about the Commission’s draft document Making the Western Parkland City: Initial Place-Based Infrastructure Compact, Cr Fowler said further clarification was also required on infrastructure.

“We are a developing area, there doesn’t seem to be much correlation between the PIC and the SIC and there is a whole lot of issues in relation to infrastructure – how it’s going to be divided, who’s going to pay for it, and when is it going to be put in place,” he said. “There really are a lot of issues here that need a lot more definition and a lot more work.” A Commission spokesman said the 83,000 jobs already supported in the area spanning from Greater Penrith to Glenfield would double over the next 20 years and double again by 2056. “Having a clear strategy for job creation and skills training across Greater Sydney will be crucial to ensuring more highquality jobs exist locally in the Western Parkland City, where currently 49 per cent of workers commute to other parts of Greater Sydney compared to only nine per cent of Eastern Harbour City workers,” he said. “These issues will be further considered, at a Sydney-wide level, in a forthcoming update to the Greater Sydney Region Plan as part of the government’s COVID response.” Are there enough jobs close to home? What would you like to see change? Tell us what you think by emailing news@ westernweekender.com.au or call 4722 2998.

Vaccine rush underway Local clinics inundated with calls as COVID-19 jab arrives in Penrith EMILY FESZCZUK

hase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout program started this week, as local GP clinics began delivering the first doses of vaccines to the community’s most vulnerable groups. Most local venues have started with small vaccine supplies so eligible residents are being warned to expect to wait to get the jab. Local facilities that are part of the first confirmed group include Astley Medical Centre in St Marys, Werrington County Medical Centre, Kingswood Medical and Fitness Centre, First Care Medical Centre in Cranebrook, Derby Street Family Medical Centre in Kingswood and Ropes Crossing Medical Practice. As each clinic will receive only 100 vaccinations each week, some allocations have already been exhausted and online and phone bookings are being taken in advance. The Astley Medical Centre Practice Manager said that elderly people and those with underlying medical conditions may be disappointed with the wait.

Dr Harry Pope from Our Medical Home Penrith. Photo: Melinda Jane.

“Unfortunately, most of the GP clinics are limited for now and we have had calls every five minutes so there will be a wait,” he said. “If people want to get it sooner, we are directing them to the respiratory clinic at Our Medical Home Penrith as they will

have the highest allocations of vaccines in the area.” Our Medical Home Penrith, which also has a separate COVID testing site, will be kicking off vaccinating from Monday, March 29, and is set to be the main site for vaccinations in Penrith.

Care just for you.

“We were aware of some delays in the Government’s organisation so preplanned to start a week later and we are looking at between 1,200 to 2,000 per week,” Clinical Lead GP, Dr Harry Pope said. “We have recruited 10 extra nurses just for the vaccination clinic and the GPs have accepted extra shifts to help supervise so we aim to do a maximum of 300 a day which is quite a significant number.” Dr Pope encouraged patients to check their eligibility and to be prepared for their shots. “Phase 1B includes people over 70, healthcare workers, Indigenous people over 55 but also people with immune suppressant conditions such as diabetes or those on chemotherapy so best to check if you are included,” he said. “After your first shot you then have to get a second three months later but it is also flu season so your flu vaccination can be given in between but is not to be given within two weeks of the COVID vaccine.” For more information on eligibility or to book visit www.health.gov.au or www. ou r me d ic a l home.c om .au /me d ic a lcentres/penrith.

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

LOCAL NEWS

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

LOCAL NEWS

Airport on track for 2026 opening EMILY FESZCZUK

ith half the earthworks to build Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport now complete, people are imagining what the completed vision will look like when it opens in late 2026. Since beginning in September 2018, more than 1.5 million hours have been spent on the project with 13 million cubic metres of earth moved across the 1,780 hectare site. With the major earthworks on track for completion in 2022, construction of the passenger terminal is due to begin at the end of 2021 after the winning contractor is appointed mid this year. The runway and taxiway construction are also set to start in mid-2022 with Western Sydney Airport CEO Simon Hickey saying it won’t be long before thousands of people are employed by the gamechanging project. “People are going to love catching a plane from Western Sydney International – we’re designing a modern airport from the ground up and that gives us a chance

to make sure it’s fast, easy and reliable for passengers,” Mr Hickey said. “This once-in-a-generation, nationbuilding project will be the catalyst for the transformation of western Sydney, creating economic growth and opportunity for the region.” From day one, the airport will open with a single runway capable to be a full-service airport and a second runway will be added when needed. “When Western Sydney International opens to international, domestic and aircargo flights in 2026, it will be the closest major airport for more than 2.5 million people, with capacity for 10 million passengers per year,” he said. “The airport is designed to grow in stages over decades, to eventually become the biggest gateway to Australia. “Western Sydney Airport has already signed memoranda of understanding with major airlines and freight companies including Qantas, Virgin, Australia Post, StarTrack, DHL Express, FedEx, and Qantas Freight, that are all currently collaborating on a range of design elements.” Passengers will also be able to enjoy a

The vision for Western Sydney Airport is coming together.

public plaza, retail and dining options in the terminal precinct, which will take advantage of natural sunlight and air flow to reduce energy use. The terminal will be connected to the

new M12 Motorway and Sydney Metro train service, which the airport is collaborating on with Transport for NSW to ensure passenger and freight arrival will be fast and reliable.

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the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

LOCAL NEWS

Airport sparks farm dam conundrum F

arm dams could be in the firing line amid the delivery of the Western Sydney Airport, but none that continue to be used for agriculture, the State’s planning department says. During its recent submission on the Aerotropolis Precinct Plans, Penrith Council flagged the need for further assessment of farm dams. “Further assessment should be completed to clarify information determining whether farm dams should be retained or removed,” it states. “The impact of dams on the operation of the airport needs to be considered carefully, such as attraction of wildlife and birds, that increase the chances of adverse impacts such as bird strike.” The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) estimates more than

500 dams currently exist across the Aerotropolis. However, a DPIE spokesman said those used for agricultural purposes will remain. “There is no intention for dam removal on properties that continue to be used for agricultural purposes,” he said. “Potential removal of dams is considered as part of strategic urban planning for when land is urbanised.” Given many farm dams were not designed to be located near residential developments, many will need to be re-designed or rebuilt to address dam stability, safe access, water quality, algal bloom risk, water level fluctuations and wildlife attraction. According to the DPIE, as the initial precincts develop over time, some farm dams may be removed and others kept, depending on whether they are re-designed and re-purposed to address these issues. Council also recommends the

Western Sydney Planning Partnership address the management strategy Sydney Water is currently preparing on the impacts of development in the area, including the importation of fill into the floodplain. The DPIE referred the Weekender’s questions on how removing farm dams could impact flood risks and ecological systems within the Aerotropolis to Sydney Water. However, Sydney Water said it was up to the DPIE to comment on the issue. A spokesman for the NSW Farmers Association said farm dams are critical for farming systems and an important resource for wildlife. “Farm dams are critical for farming systems for watering of livestock and irrigation of crops,” he said. “Most importantly, farm dams are a critical part of any farm drought proofing strategy and an important resource for wildlife.”

A map showing the Initial Precincts associated with the new airport.

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ALENA HIGGINS

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

LOCAL NEWS

Businesses fight back A year on from the COVID-19 lockdown, the local economy is booming EMILY FESZCZUK

hile the Penrith region is recovering from flooding, it is also in the midst of financial recovery from COVID-19. The pandemic might not be over, but one year on from most shutting their doors, local businesses seem to be doing well. CEO of Penrith CBD Corporation, Gai Hawthorn’s team have supported businesses from lockdowns until now and said while they are on track, they will always appreciate more support. “12 months ago, we really had no idea how long this would last, and everyone crashed and burned during closures but then we all re-opened and the ones that adapted quickly have done even better,” Ms Hawthorn said. “Business in the CBD is not back to 100 per cent but it is getting there, the recent easing of restrictions will help the night economy and we just encourage everyone to help Penrith through these next stages.” Opening a year ago, Pappa Charlie’s Bakehouse could have easily failed, but co-owner Albert Rahme said he can

Marie Rahme and Albert Rahme from Pappa Charlie’s Bakehouse in Penrith.

happily say the Lebanese style eatery on High Street has survived the virus. “Being a new business, it was a challenge going through a pandemic, but we had

bills we had to pay so we did everything we could to stay open and things like delivery service apps were life savers,” he told the Weekender.

“The community has showed a lot of support and love along with the Government putting in place measures so people felt safe, and I have noticed over the last week there has been a change in sales, more people are out so I think we are well on our way to a more normal life if everyone continues doing the right thing.” Despite Penrith Panthers Leagues Club and the National Rugby League team being seriously impacted by COVID-19, Panthers Group CEO Brian Fletcher said they have had an unexpectedly positive result. “We have recovered very well, we are in a good position financially and have kept most staff employed over our five clubs and are looking for more staff in Port Macquarie,” Mr Fletcher said. “Football is back, and we have a good side that is doing well at the moment, which keeps spirits high and helps our club in Penrith when they play at home. “There is also discussion of a new stadium being built in Penrith, which we should get an answer on in June, but it all looks very favourable at this stage so fingers crossed, if that happens in three years’ time the place will be magic.”

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Over the last week, Penrith has been battered by an extreme weather event resulting in floods of a magnitude not seen since 1961. Large areas of our City have were affected by flood waters, a number of homes and businesses were cut off with some inundated, and many people asked to evacuate. In the face of this disaster, our community has shown its trademark resilience and community spirit. On behalf of Council, I would like to express our concern for everyone impacted by the situation and thank them for their ongoing cooperation. I would also like to commend the Council staff who have worked tirelessly over the past few days and the SES volunteers and staff for their outstanding commitment to keep our community safe. Under the instruction of the SES, Council staff have been out on the ground during the emergency placing signage on closed roads, preparing residents for evacuations, helping with traffic control and providing the SES with 46 tonnes of sand for sandbagging. The SES has been and will continue

to be the lead agency for flooding supported by Council, other emergency services and a range of community organisations over the coming days, weeks and months as we head into what will be a massive clean-up operation. I also wish to thank the many NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers who have been on the ground and ready to provide assistance, working closely with the SES under challenging circumstances. Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden and Liverpool councils have been in touch to offer their help as we move forward, and we greatly appreciate their support. Our thoughts are with our neighbours in the Hawkesbury who are also experiencing major flooding. In line with this, our Animal Services team are currently helping Hawkesbury Council staff with the Companion Animal Shelter in Mulgrave. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in keeping our community safe and informed during this extraordinary event.

CR KAREN MCKEOWN OAM Mayor of Penrith

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the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

Y E N D Y S K C O R O T T E S NITRO ! Y A D R U T A S IS H T DRAGWAY 9 Nitro burning funny cars are set to hit Sydney Dragway this weekend as the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car show rolls into town. With fearless drivers from across Australia and New Zealand converging at Eastern Creek for the first time in almost two years, the competition will be fierce to see who can take home the coveted “Rocket” shaped trophy. New Zealander Morice McMillin, driver of “One Bad Kiwi” says that the COVID 19 Enforced break has done nothing but grow his hunger to win. “These cars are absolute animals at the best of times – zero to 100 kilometres and hour in under a second and racing to over 400 kilometres an hour at the finish line – but when you have a bunch of drivers that haven’t really raced in 12 months and you throw them in a competitive race event, you just know that it is going to be a dogfight to the end”.

“I’m just really looking forward to seeing the crowd! It has been way too long since we got to race in front of our fans and I just can’t wait to meet them at Sydney Dragway this weekend!” With the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car Series supporting round 2 of the ATURA Blacktown NSW Championship series featuring over 2 00 of Australia’s best racers, this is an event that you will not want to miss!

One of those drivers is 2 2 -year-old West Aussie Emma Begley. The quietly spoken, second generation racer is looking forward to her first competitive outing at Sydney Dragway after beginning her funny car career just before COVID 19 halted the racing calendar in early 2020.

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Kingswood’s art focus Council and the MCA combine to present special project in local suburb ERIN CHRISTIE

enrith City Council has paired with the Museum of Contemporary Art for their 2021 C3West program, called Skirts, which will take place in Kingswood from Sunday, May 30. The project is a continuation of the ‘Think Bold Kingswood Place Plan’, which was released in October of last year with the vision of articulating a community vision for the suburb. Based on consultation with over 2,000 people living and working in Kingswood, the community signalled the need to address perceptions of public safety and community cohesiveness in Kingswood, which the C3West project aims to address, focusing on women as a key affected community group. “Council partnered with the MCA to deliver a community art project to delve deeper into the issues particularly regarding safety and focusing on women as a vulnerable group,” said a Penrith City Council spokesperson. “This project creates opportunities for women’s voices to be heard and their

experiences of living and working in Kingswood incorporated into the creative development of the project and commissioned artwork.” Working with award-winning writer Felicity Castagna and artist Linda Brescia the ‘Skirts’ have compiled a manifesto incorporating their poetic observations of women’s daily experiences and desires alongside a list of actions, which will inform facets of the program. “Their stories are all a part of a larger story about women and how they are seen and unseen in their place,” Ms Castagna said. This will include artworks and activations for Kingswood’s public domain. The project has connected with over 70 women through a series of ‘take part in art’ workshops since the release of the ‘Think Bold Kingswood Place Plan’ was released. Demographically, the women range from ages 18-70, split with 80 per cent in the 40-70 age range and 20 per cent in the 18-40 age range. While some have lived in the area for decades, others are very recent residents, as fresh as a few months ago. “We’re thrilled to be partnering for the second time with the MCA for another

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

LOCAL NEWS

The women of the Skirts project in Kingswood.

C3West project,” Mayor Karen McKeown said. “Kingswood is a resilient, welcoming, open minded community and we value

this empowering creative project that will strengthen the neighbourhood.” More details will be released closer to the May 30 launch date.

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

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$5300 for charity Students and teachers raise funds to help tackle cancer ERIN CHRISTIE

rchard Hills Public School has completed its month of fundraising for the Cancer Council, raising $5300 total. Spearheaded by Taiha McDonald, a Year 1-2 teacher, students were able to bring gold coin donations to school for several smaller fundraising events across February, which is National Cancer Month in Australia. A major incentive for raising funds was Ms McDonald’s promise to shave her head for cancer in front of the entire school, which she did on Friday, February 26. “It feels so bizarre,” Ms McDonald said of her new haircut. “We had kids come up and shave pieces off, and the teachers too. “There’s some students at the school who we know have a family member who has suffered from cancer in some way … so I purposely chose some of those kids to come up, so they could feel like they were part of it.” To donate, visit www.doitforcancer.com. au/fundraisers/orchardhillspublicschool.

Taiha McDonald spearheaded a fundraising campaign at Orchard Hills Public School.

More COVID-19 restrictions eased Caps on weddings and funerals will be removed and dancing is back in pubs and nightclubs, with further COVID-19 restrictions to be eased in New South Wales from Monday. The easing of more restrictions all but takes the State back to pre-pandemic conditions, though QR codes and the 2sqm rule still applies. From Monday there will be no restrictions on singing, including in places of worship, and no cap on visitors to a private residence. Entertainment venues including stadiums and theatres can return to 100 per cent capacity, while mask use including on public transport will move from ‘mandatory’ to ‘strongly recommended’. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the easing of restrictions is a significant step forward as NSW continues its COVID-19 recovery. “With no community transmission and our quarantine and frontline workers now receiving their second vaccinations, the timing is right to further ease restrictions across the State,” Ms Berejiklian said. “As we do this, it is important we don’t let our guard down and continue to check in at venues, keep our social distance and get tested if we have even the mildest of symptoms.”

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

LOCAL NEWS

Robert and Marie Oldfield Together Until The End

Robert John Oldfield

15/8/1938 – 18/3/2021 Passed peacefully in his sleep

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Marie Therese Oldfield ( Johnson) 1/8/1939 – 11/3/2021 Passed peacefully in her sleep

The Oldfields, married f or 59 years, shared a “fierce” love. They died the same week. “Their love was unbreakable and never had to go through ‘until death do us part’ ” said their daughter Michelle Flitcroft. “They never had to do that because they were together and ever so grateful.” Robert and Marie raised six children; three boys and three girls, 22 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Robert and Marie were both battling illness and were in different wards in the Nepean Hospital. The nursing staff at the hospital were very perceptive and saw the bond Robert and Marie had – they managed to have them in the same room so they could be together holding hands. Mum passed away on Friday 11th March and dad passed away six days later – “partly I’m sure from a broken heart and couldn’t go on without her,” Michelle believes. “We feel fortunate that mum and dad were able to pass away hand in hand and we thank the hospital staff f or helping them to honour their love story.”

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

LOCAL NEWS

Recognising women New ceremony to highlight incredible role of females in the Defence Force EMILY FESZCZUK

he Western Sydney branch of the Womens Veterans Network Australia (WVNA) is highlighting the contribution of women in Defence with its inaugural ANZAC Day service. Being held on Saturday, April 24 at 10.30am in Memory Park, the ceremony will see local current and ex-serving Defence women, dignitaries and representatives from Penrith RSL Club and Penrith, St Marys, Blaxland and Glenbrook sub-Branches come together. WVNA Western Sydney Coordinator Del Gaudry told the Weekender the idea came from the local group that focuses on providing support to female veterans. “The network was formed in Townsville in 2015 for women who had served that felt isolated and had issues different to men, so this friendship group was created to meet socially, share information and support each other,” Ms Gaudry said. “We meet regularly for casual coffee catch-ups and when planning our events for the last Sunday of each month we saw that our April date fell on ANZAC Day, so

Defence Force veterans will take part in a special ceremony at Memory Park.

we decided to do our own service a few days earlier to recognise women specifically.” With the gathering being limited to 50

guests due to restrictions, Ms Gaudry said it will still be a special event that could grow and be adopted by the organisation’s other groups around the country.

“Both the Penrith club and the subBranch have been so supportive of it and have helped us make it happen, so I think it will be lovely as even though I am hoping to march on ANZAC Day, I personally often feel overshadowed at those events,” she said. “In 2018 there was the ‘By The Left’ campaign because women were sick of being told they were wearing their father’s medals on the wrong side, yet they had actually served, so we just want to show from nurses to fighter pilots that women have been in a number of ADF roles for over 100 years.” While women have gained recognition for their services, there’s still work to be done to reach equality. “Some women have done an amazing job serving but then have not been invited to some of the sub-Branches and told they can come to make cups of tea,” Ms Gaudry said. “We hope that the service will help to demonstrate that women will continue to be a part of Defence in both traditional and emerging roles, regardless of what societal stereotypes are played out in some media.”

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the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

FREE Hot Cross Buns Happy Easter!

Thursday 25 March – Sunday 4 April

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

BUSINESS KATINA BEVERIDGE WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS CENTRE • 4721 5011

Is your business taking advantage of Google My Business changes?

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re you taking advantage of the recently released Google My Business features to improve your local search presence? Every business, big and small, should have a Google My Business or GMB profile. If you’re a local business, it’s all the more crucial. Google recently rolled out new features and attributes for GMB since the Coronavirus began. If you’re running a local business, you have to know about those changes so you can get the most out of these features. Change #1: Health and Safety GMB has rolled out new attributes so users know the health standards at the businesses they want to visit. Change #2: New Attributes for Online Services During the pandemic, a lot of businesses switched to digital. Google saw the trend and released new attributes to cater to the online-only crowd: • Online Care • Online Appointment • Online Estimates • Online Classes You can take advantage of these to

promote your business to people who want to do everything online. Change #3: Call Logging This feature is still in test mode, but it’s something to look forward to. This feature will allow you to view recent customer calls made via search. So when a user clicks on the Call button on your GMB profile, Google will log the call and you can quickly get back to your customers. This will be available only on the app, though. Change #4: Messaging Google rolled out GMB messaging recently on its desktop app, though it had been available via the mobile app before. It follows the standard chat screen layout so you can see the back-and-forth communication between you and your customers. Change #5: Appointments and Quotes Now, businesses can add an appointment link under their listing to direct potential customers to their website to make an appointment. They can quickly book your services without navigating through your website. Customers can also directly request a quote or ask questions on the search results page.

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SP O N S O RED CO NTENT

EMU FLORIST • SHOP 6, LENNOX VILLAGE, 440 GREAT WESTERN HWY, EMU PLAINS • 1800 261 163

Emu Florist is here to help celebrate every big occasion in your life

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any people underestimate the contribution florists make in all of our lives. Very few industries can boast about their importance at almost every meaningful occasion during a person’s lifetime; from births, Christenings, marriages, birthdays, anniversaries and deaths, the florist is an indispensable part of life’s journey. Emu Florist – which covers a wide area from the Hills District in the north west, through to Greater Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains – has been an integral part of this journey for the past four years and have quickly become the flower provider of choice for their locality. Through their commitment to value and customer service, Emu Florist is not just a profit-driven business to their grateful customers, they’re a valuable asset to the community. Emu Florist owner Jaroon Singho has managed to develop the business substantially since launching it in 2017. Emu Florist’s success can be measured through its exponential growth, culminating in an expansion of the physical store space by three times its initial size. Jaroon took an existing business, which had been trading for 45 years, and through her business background and dedication

to transformative innovation, turned it into an impressive local fundamental. With over 1750 products available to purchase, Emu Florist is proud of their multi award-winning status. This year they’ve already been named Florist of the Year at the CorporateLivewire New South Wales Prestige Awards, while in 2019 and 2020, Emu Florist were named in the top 3 florists in Sydney via Three Best Rated. Last year they were a Finalist in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards, and they are also a two-time Local Business Awards winner back in 2017 and 2019. With the focus on the needs of its customers, Emu Florist looks set to be a vital neighbourhood mainstay that refuses to wilt with age. For your flower needs for any occasion, Emu Florist is located at Shop 6, Lennox Village, 440 Great Western Highway, Emu Plains. They are open seven days a week, including ‘til late on Thursday nights. For more information, call 1800 261 163 or visit their website emuflorist.com.au to purchase online. So, give the big chains the flick and support this great local business today!

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

“Through their commitment to value and customer service, Emu florist is a valuable asset to the community”

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

SNIPS & SNAPS CALLING ALL SKATERS!

NEW TREES PLANTED

Roller derby group the Western Sydney Rollers are having a new skater intake this Sunday, March 28 at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre in

Cambridge Park. They’re inviting people along to their training session to meet the team and get a feel for the sport before signing up.

Bookings are essential due to COVID-19, so be sure to email newmembers@ wester ns yd ne yrollers.com.au if you plan to attend.

FREE EVENT Eat, drink and enjoy some fine tunes when Penrith Producers returns to Triangle Park today (March 26). Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown OAM said she was looking forward to the chance to celebrate our local food industry at the free, outdoor, COVIDSafe event. “Penrith Producers is a great way to celebrate our fantastic producers, build networks and support local businesses, all while encouraging our community to enjoy Penrith after dark,” she said. The event takes place at Triangle Park today from 6pm-10pm. Visit Council’s website for more info or head to www. penrithproud.com.au.

NEW NAME BLUEBET TAKES NAMING RIGHTS Panthers Stadium will be known as Bluebet Stadium from this week after a commercial deal was struck between the NRL club and the betting site. “BlueBet is thrilled to be on this journey with Penrith Panthers for 2021 and beyond,” BlueBet founder Michael Sullivan said. Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher (pictured) said: “We’re excited to welcome BlueBet to the Panthers family and look forward to giving our members and fans plenty to cheer about at BlueBet Stadium.”

EGG HUNT Cadbury is set to deliver all of the feels this year, bringing a Worldwide Easter Egg Hunt down under. Designed to evoke generosity and ignite shared moments between friends and loved ones, Cadbury’s Worldwide Hunt is certain to bring the magic and spirit of Easter – particularly at a time when many parts of Australia (and the world) are facing travel restrictions. The innovative, Worldwide Hunt utilises Google Maps technology to deliver this virtual Easter hunt experience. From the world map to Street View, you’ll be able to pinpoint exactly where your egg is positioned. To learn more, visit https://worldwidehunt.cadbury.com.au.

“I want to see more women in this place, I have done many things to get more women in this place and I intend to do more.” PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON SPEAKING AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE

340 new trees have been planted in Chameleon Reserve as part of Penrith City Council’s tree planting project with the NSW Government. The trees will create a framework of shade, cooling and amenity for users of future paths in the park. Heat mapping was carried out as part of the 2015 Erskine Park Heat Assessment Report, which concluded that tree planting would have a cooling effect on the park and surrounding residences. Penrith City Council was awarded funding of $150,000 under the NSW Government’s Five Million Trees for Greater Sydney program to plant 340 new trees, as well as providing a period of 12 months watering and maintenance.

NEW PODCAST

INSPIRING STORY

Sam Arnold has represented Australia across three sporting codes and this summer was a part of the Sydney Thunder WBBL|06 championship squad. A late call up to the team – that was housed in a “hub” at Sydney Olympic Park – Sam immersed herself into the experience and was able to learn and develop her game alongside some of cricket’s greats. “That experience was insane… a once in a lifetime opportunity. It came out of nowhere… it was such an unreal experience,” Sam said. Locally, Sam is a leader at the Penrith Cricket Club, and she has witnessed, firsthand, the rapid rise of women’s cricket. With surging participation rates for young girls across the country, Sam respects how far the game has come and appreciates the opportunities now available for the next generation. Sam Arnold is the latest guest on the Weekender’s Passion and Perspective podcast, out today.

SEARCH WESTERN WEEKENDER ON SPOTIFY

AWARDS RETURN

NOMINATE A LOCAL BUSINESS The Penrith City Local Business Awards is back, and after a difficult 12 months, founder Steve Loe has called on the community to nominate its favourite businesses. The Precedent Productions Managing Director, who founded the awards more than three decades ago, said it was an opportunity for members of the community to show their support for local businesses who had been through an unprecedented year due to COVID-19.

“Nominating your favourite local businesses is an opportunity to show your appreciation and support for them,” he said. “Vote for your favourite business by heading to the Local Business Awards website www. thebusinessawards.com. au and searching for your favourite business. “As members of the community, we reap the benefits of their efforts, which can make our own lives happier and easier in many ways.”

Mr Loe said businesses could also self-nominate to show staff how much their efforts were valued. Nominations for the 2021 Penrith City Local Business Awards will open on Monday, March 29 and close on Thursday, April 29 with the winners announced at the Awards Presentation Evening, on Wednesday, August 4 at the EVAN Theatre. The Western Weekender will provide regular updates on the progress of the Awards.

Mitch Kenny. Photo: NRL Images.

JOEL CAINE The rule loophole coaches should start exploiting

PAGE 36

MASKED PANTHER BlueBet Stadium: Naming rights deal is amongst biggest in NRL history

PAGE 38

KIKAU POSTER INSIDE Get your Viliame pin-up to hang on your wall with pride

PAGES 40-41

CELEBRITY TIPSTERS Not sure who to back this weekend? Follow the picks of our local celebrities

PAGES 44-45

MITCH MATTERS KENNY TO SAVE THE DAY AFTER API INJURY PAGE 39

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time

How coaches should use the NRL’s new two-point field goal rule

joel caine I

wasn’t immediately a fan of the NRL’s new two-point field goal rule. I felt the awarding of two-points for a field goal that’s scored from past 40-metres was a gimmick, and so did NRL coaches. In the lead-up to the season, the tune from the NRL coaching fraternity was one of disinterest. Coaches league-wide were claiming that they weren’t training their kickers for the new rule and even wore that as a badge of honour. While coaches took this stance, I believe they’re missing a pretty obvious loophole with the rule. In my opinion, coaches should utilise kickers with a big boot to take advantage of the rule, although not in the reason the NRL may have initially hoped. In introducing the rule, the competition had hoped for more thrilling finishes, but I believe the kick should be attempted closer to the 40-minute mark of games. How often do we see scenarios where a team is no chance to score at half-time because they cannot get near the try line? In fact, often those teams won’t even try and expend energy in these dull moments. But why shouldn’t a team take a shot for two points in those situations? In my opinion, it is a no risk endeavour. The other team is next to no chance to return the ball 100 metres with the clock running down, and similarly, the team

Will Nathan Cleary slot over a two-point field goal this season. Photo: NRL Images.

with the ball is little chance to make it halfway down the field to score a try. Isn’t it more appealing to take a risk-free attempt at two points instead of settling for the zero they’d otherwise get? We all know coaches will eventually find a

UP TO

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way to exploit any rule the NRL introduces, and I think it’s a matter of time until we see long-range field goal attempts become a constant feature competition-wide. Coaches can be stubborn. It might go from none of them doing it to all of them

in a hurry, and don’t get me started on the short kick-off, we need to see it more. That’s another risk/reward mathematical no brainer. Listen to Joel Caine on Sydney’s SEN 1170AM.

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the final word

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 26, 2021

match preview

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Viliame Kikau scored two tries last week. Photo: NRL Images.

TROY DODDS

hile all the talk this week was about a ‘Grand Final re-match’ between Penrith and Melbourne, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary is having none of it. Last year is last year. It’s gone. He said as much at the post-match press conference after last week’s win over Canterbury, as the focus of the rugby league media shifted to the inevitable storylines of redemption and revenge. If some players want to use last October’s loss at ANZ Stadium as motivation, that’s their call. But it won’t form part of Cleary’s game plan heading into one of the most anticipated match-ups of the season so far. Penrith head into this clash at Panthers Stadium on the back of two straight wins to start the season, and have yet to concede a point – keeping both the Cowboys and Bulldogs scoreless in back-to-back weeks.

FOX LEAGUE CHANNEL 9 ABC 702 TRIPLE M

THURSDAY, MARCH 25 | 8.05PM | PANTHERS STADIUM | REFEREE: GRANT ATKINS It is proof that the brick wall-like defence the Panthers have built over the last 12 months is standing strong. In fact it has probably been Penrith’s silent weapon of this successful period given how much focus there is on the side’s attack. The reality is Penrith conceded the least points of any side in the competition last season – contributing significantly to their path to the Grand Final. The Storm of course found a way to penetrate that brick wall last October, proving that a champion team can always rise above adversity to emerge as winners. Penrith would have learned a lot from that game and from previous encounters with Melbourne over the years. A number of players this week have spoken about controlling the start of the game, something they didn’t do in the season decider. Melbourne love playing from in front – get

the points on the board and defend like hell. That’s why it’s important the Panthers dominate the first 20 minutes, potentially forcing some errors and taking the ascendancy away from Craig Bellamy’s men. Both these sides played in wet conditions last weekend, with the Panthers emerging victorious over the Bulldogs and the Storm falling just short to the Eels – both at Bankwest Stadium. Penrith came out of their game with an 87 per cent completion rate, while the Storm completed at 79 per cent. It’s only a slight difference but you have to take the little things into a game against Melbourne and Ivan Cleary should feel confident that his side will handle whatever conditions confront them at Panthers Stadium after a week of heavy rain. He should also be asking Viliame Kikau to repeat his game day preparation from

PANTHERS

last weekend – the mighty Fijian looked switched on from the moment he ran onto the field, and didn’t let anyone down – scoring two tries in what was one of his better individual performances. Whatever he had for breakfast, get him double. The loss of Apisai Koroisau is problematic for Penrith, and it’ll likely be felt more as this six week stint without him rolls on. Mitch Kenny is an admirable replacement, but he doesn’t offer the spark and energy of Koroisau. The double blow of Nathan Cleary being out means there’s an enormous amount of pressure on Jarome Luai to control the game. It’ll be interesting to see how he steps up. Both these sides are high quality machines and it’s hard to split them. But Penrith’s record at home tips me their way. Tip: Panthers by 2.

STORM

1 Dylan Edwards

10 James Fisher-Harris

1 Ryan Papenhuyzen

2 Charlie Staines

11 Viliame Kikau

2 George Jennings

10 Christian Welch 11 Tom Eisenhuth

3 Paul Momirovski

12 Kurt Capewell

3 Reimis Smith

12 Kenneath Bromwich

4 Stephen Crichton

13 Isaah Yeo (c)

4 Justin Olam

13 Nelson Asofa-Solomona

5 Brian To’o

14 Tyrone May

5 Josh Addo-Carr

14 Aaron Pene

6 Jarome Luai

15 Spencer Leniu

6 Cameron Munster

15 Tui Kamikamica

19 Matt Burton

16 Matthew Eisenhuth

7 Jahrome Hughes

16 Chris Lewis

8 Moses Leota

17 Liam Martin

8 Jesse Bromwich (c)

17 Nicho Hynes

9 Mitch Kenny

18 Scott Sorensen 20 J’maine Hopgood

9 Brandon Smith

18 Cooper Johns 19 Darryn Schonig

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time

panther rumblings

WITH THE MASKED PANTHER

MASSIVE STADIUM DEAL !

Penrith’s stadium naming rights deal with BlueBet is one of the biggest in NRL history for a suburban ground. It’s part of the reason why the club simply couldn’t resist going back on its 2017 commitment to reclaim the name under its own branding. “The significant and ongoing financial impact of COVID-19, combined with the considerable investment from BlueBet, made this a fantastic opportunity we simply couldn’t pass up,” said Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher. “We’re excited to welcome BlueBet to the Panthers family and look forward to giving our members and fans plenty to cheer about at BlueBet Stadium.” The deal is purely for naming rights and signage, fans won’t be bombarded with offers or betting incentives.

Panthers Stadium is being re-named.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary and Chairman Dave O’Neill were among those evacuated from their properties on Sunday as the flood crisis in the region escalated. There were some slight concerns over the Rugby League Academy too, though it is built at a particular elevation that protects it from most flooding events. Despite some initial thoughts that the preparations for Thursday’s game against Melbourne would be shifted from the Academy, training went ahead in wet conditions this week.

Were the Panthers deliberately avoiding talk of the Grand Final re-match this week? It was interesting to note that the club put up Mitch Kenny, Spencier Leniu, Paul Momirovski and Charlie Staines for interview at a media session on Tuesday. None of them played in the Grand Final team that went down to Melbourne last October, so any talk of retribution or revenge was largely out the window.

The Panthers did exceptionally well to keep news of Api Koroisau’s broken wrist under wraps until the day of the game against the Bulldogs last Saturday. The club had known since early last week that the 2020 buy of the year would require surgery and faced some six weeks on the sidelines. It was only on Friday that whispers started to circle that Mitch Kenny would start at hooker for Koroisau, who is a known fast healer and is hoping to be back on the park in a month.

Spotted: Penrith officials watching the Panthers v Bulldogs clash from one end of Bankwest Stadium after purchasing their own box for the game, choosing to avoid the awkwardness in the Bulldogs’ facilities given the ongoing Matt Burton drama.

Spotted: Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai and several teammates enjoying a burger at Big Daddy’s after Saturday’s win over the Bulldogs.

Spotted: Suspended centre Brent Naden watching the Panthers v Mounties NSW Cup game from the sideline in wet conditions last Saturday.

Spotted: The ground staff at Bankwest Stadium working over-time before the Pan-

thers v Bulldogs game last Saturday trying to get the line markings in place.

Getting tickets to Lottoland for next Thursday’s clash against Manly may be a tough ask for some Panthers fans. Manly say a “limited number” of tickets for the Round 4 match will be made available to Panthers Members. They were scheduled to go on sale on Thursday, with general public tickets on sale today (Friday, March 26). The game is played on the eve of the Easter break, so is a chance of attracting a decent crowd.

Heard a rumour? Spotted a Panther out and about? I can’t keep secrets but I do protect my sources. Email maskedpanther@westernweekender.com.au.

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KENNY IN AWE OF ‘MENTOR’ API NATHAN TAYLOR

ith the recent wrist injury to regular hooker Api Koroisau, Panthers fans will be seeing a lot more of fill-in dummy half Mitch Kenny in the coming weeks. While even he admits he’s not quite at the level of his injured mentor, the 23-year-old says he has come a long way since running around like a “headless chook” less than two years ago. Speaking candidly for the first time, Kenny said he was very inexperienced at the dummy half role when he made his NRL debut with the Panthers back in 2019. “I was a lock that just never got bigger, so when my U20s football finished, the club kept me on but said I’d have to play hooker,” he recalled. “So that year, when I was playing first grade and I was our number 9, I was like a ‘headless chook’. I was doing my best, but I didn’t know the position too well – I had only been playing it for six months.” With Panthers coach Ivan Cleary aware that Kenny was fairly ‘green’ at the hugely important dummy half role, he made the decision to poach the experienced and highly talented Koroisau from Manly in August of 2019.

Journalist Nathan Taylor chats with Mitch Kenny on Tuesday. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Kenny said that while he still desires to be a regular first grade hooker in the future, he is relishing every moment that he gets to learn off one of the best dummy halves in the game today.

“Despite me stringing a few games together during my rookie season, the club – and even myself – desperately needed a hooker. I needed someone to learn off and we needed an experienced number 9 here,”

the Windsor Wolves junior said from the comfort of the club’s board room this week, escaping the wild rain outside. “Api’s changed the way I’ve approached the position, the game, and he’s been really good as a mentor. He’s been massive and always been happy to help, which goes to show the type of bloke he is.” With Koroisau sidelined for up to six weeks following surgery on his injured wrist, Kenny now gets the opportunity to show the Panthers faithful everything he’s learned over the past 18 months. Last weekend, during his comeback game against the Bulldogs, Kenny showed glimpses of his predecessor when he put Viliame Kikau over for a close range try. “I didn’t think I’d get the call up this early… it’s always what you’re hoping for, the goal is to play NRL and while I’m sad for Api – because I never want it to be to the detriment of one my teammates – it is exciting for myself,” Kenny admitted. “Now I need to go out there and keep developing as a footballer and put my best foot forward to show that I’m up to playing first grade week in, week out.” Off-contract at season’s end, Kenny also revealed conversations have begun with the club on a possible extension. “I’d love to be a Panther, this is the best place for my development,” he said.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 26, 2021

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time

Premiership success requires depth – and only a select few have it

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matt russell D

epth. Every club craves it. Only some have it. Even fewer thrive on it. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Sydney Roosters. They had a contingent of unavailable players watching at Campbelltown last Sunday that looked more like a line-up of winners at awards night – Boyd Cordner, Angus Crichton, Jake Friend, Victor Radley, Sam Verrills and Adam Keighran. Then there are teenage talents Sam Walker and Joseph Suaalii biding their time in the NSW Cup. And the Roosters still put 46 on Manly and 40 on Wests Tigers. Now before you cynics roll your eyes and start looking up salary cup guidelines, think about the value the Roosters are getting out of the Morris twins, Lachlan Lam, Lindsay Collins, Freddy Lussick, Nat Butcher, Sitili Tupouniua, Isaac Liu and more. There are many reasons the Roosters sit on top of the table and depth is just one of them. But crucial. That’s why Penrith is standing firm on Canterbury-bound Matt Burton. Of course it would be nice to release him early so he can play guaranteed first grade this season, but unless the Panthers get a player swap of equal quality from the Dogs, why should they weaken their depth? As Greg Alexander told Fox League, when is footy fair? This is big business. Profes-

sional (generally!). It is not the National Rugby League Benevolent Society. Imagine Ivan Cleary’s sleep patterns knowing Burton is playing well in the NSW Cup and ready to go, compared to relying on Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai to get through the season uninjured. We saw this week just how important Burton is, given Cleary was ruled out of the clash with Melbourne. I called Penrith’s NSW Cup win last Saturday and Penrith’s depth was on full show. Burton led the way. Mitch Kenny got called up for the injured Api Koroisau and will hope to underline Penrith’s depth over the next NRL month. The same chance could come for Scott Sorensen, Robert Jennings, Billy Burns, Brent Naden, Jaeman Salmon and Lindsay Smith as the season unfolds. Canberra’s depth looks good to. Names like Caleb Aekins, Semi Valemei, Matt Frawley, Sam Williams, Emre Guler, Tom Starling and Corey Horsburgh are just some of the experienced first graders playing NSW Cup this weekend. Injuries, form and supensions test every team every season. How is yours equipped to handed 2021? And another thing... Everyone at Fox Sports is thinking of those affected by this week’s unbelievable rain event, including those in western Sydney. If our coverage of the footy this weekend

Bulldogs-bound Panthers half Matt Burton. Photo: NRL Images.

makes life a little brighter for those struggling, then it is humbling to help. I know the Panthers are very conscious of their role in that community and are looking to help. Free entry for SES workers to

the Grand Final rematch is just the start of it. Well done! Watch every game live and ad-free during play on Fox League.

Strength of Penrith’s squad on show

lang on league

with Peter Lang

believe the Panthers have the depth in 2021 to cover a variety of key positions despite worries during the pre-season that they may struggle if injuries struck. A lot was made of their relative free run of major injuries last season but it’s only round three and already Api Koroisau will be missing for at least another five weeks. However coach Ivan Cleary has assembled a strong group of players, who each know the Panthers system and are capable of covering a variety of positions without missing a beat. Their ‘next man-up’ philosophy is seamless. Koroisau’s injury paved the way for Mitch Kenny to come in and he won’t let anyone down during his stint at hooker, while the much-discussed Matt Burton is there as cover for both Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai. As for the rest of the team, if needed, there is experienced cover in all key positions. In the backs, Brent Naden and Robert Jennings are waiting for their opportunity. In the forwards, you have Scott Sorensen and Billy Burns and if you need a ‘Mr Fix-It’ then look no further than Tyrone May, who is currently in the 17-man line-up each week. May can more than capably cover a variety of positions from hooker to lock to half and even centre. This isn’t even taking into account that there are several youngsters like Izack Tago, Sunia Turuva and J’Maine Hopgood all

What caught my eye last week... I was impressed with the form of the Eels last week to defeat the Storm at Bankwest Stadium. It’s no mean feat to beat the Premiers and Parramatta really flexed their muscles in doing so. The big question is, can it last? What game I’m looking forward to... I love watching the South Sydney Rabbitohs take on their mortal enemies, the Sydney Roosters, no matter where each team is positioned on the ladder. The fact that both sides are equally strong this season, makes this encounter even more mouth-watering. My tips for the week... Panthers, Dragons, Roosters, Raiders, Broncos, Eels, Tigers, Cowboys.

Api Koroisau will miss extended time through injury.

waiting to make their first grade debuts sometime in 2021. It’s about as good as it gets, you can’t stockpile players of the calibre of your start-

ing 17 anymore. The salary cap put a stop to that, but you can have some pretty good back-up. Just like the Panthers do.

The final word... Even after two rounds, the competition looks like it’s being split into the ‘have’ and ‘have-nots’ although there is still time for the teams near the bottom to turn things around. However I can’t see Manly or Brisbane performing any major miracles and qualifying for the top eight. The Sea Eagles are running out of troops and five-eighth Kieran Foran looks like a shadow of his former self. Meanwhile, the Broncos may have some top talent in their team but still look mentally scarred from their disastrous 2020 campaign.

CLUB

+/-

PTS

Roosters

+76

Panthers

+52

Raiders

+20

Knights

+20

Eels

+12

Sharks

+12

Warriors

Rabbitohs

Storm

10 Titans

-1

Dragons

-7

12 Broncos

-20

13 Cowboys

-31

14 Bulldogs

-44

15 W. Tigers

-52

16 Sea Eagles

-56

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Thursday, March 25 8.05pm Panthers Stadium

Friday, March 26 6.00pm WIN Stadium

Friday, March 26 8.05pm Stadium Australia

Saturday, March 27 3.00pm GIO Stadium

Saturday, March 27 5.30pm Suncorp Stadium

Saturday, March 27 7.35pm Bankwest Stadium

Sunday, March 28 4.05pm McDonald Jones Stadium

Sunday, March 28 6.15pm QLD Country Bank Stadium

Face In Th e Crowd

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 26, 2021

nrl ladder & fixtures

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IS THIS YOU? ? Is this you at a recent Penrith Panthers game? If it is, you’ve won a $150 voucher from Fan+ to use on an incredible experience of your choice! To collect your prize, visit the Weekender office at 2/42-44 Abel Street, Jamisontown and ask for Nathan Taylor.

Extra Time Issue Number 2020-003 PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au CONTRIBUTORS Nathan Taylor, Peter Lang, Joel Caine, Matt Russell SALES DIRECTOR Chris Pennisi / 4722 2998 chris.pennisi@westernweekender.com.au

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PANTHERS SEA EAGLES ROOSTERS RAIDERS

BRONCOS EELS KNIGHTS TITANS

CARTERS TAX ADVISORY 4708 3088

MACQUARIE COMMERCIAL 0402 896 906

SYNERGY ACCOUNTING 4732 6555

MCDONALD’S GARTON GROUP 4721 2992

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TROY DODDS DOUGLAS ELY RICHARD EMERSON CHARBEL GEAGEA DERRY O’DONOVAN VICTOR GLANVILLE

RADIO 2GB 131 873

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COREY PHILLIPS

IRRESISTIBLE POOLS & SPAS 4776 1118

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weekender the western

LEE WATERHOUSE

COUNTRY BREWER NEPEAN 4731 5444

BRONCOS EELS KNIGHTS TITANS

CAMERON FAICO

ADENBROOK HOMES GREATER SYDNEY AND WOLLONGONG 1300 086 272

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ANTHEA STRATHDEE

NATHAN HOOKER TERRY HANSEN DANIEL GALEA DEE BARLOW KEITH WILSON BEN FORDHAM BEN CARTER LUKE BELOTTI SHANAKA DE SILVA IAN GARTON

ST MARYS PROFESSIONALS 02 9673 4422

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THE WESTERN WEEKENDER 4722 2998

YORK JEWELLERS 4721 0780

EMERSON’S ENVIROCARE 1800 600 760

KELLY + PARTNERS 4721 7433

EZRVEND 0414 254 074

VIC’S MAXI TRANSPORT 4732 2195

LEISURE POOLS 1300 SPLASH

PROPERTY CENTRAL 0410 338 040

PROPERTY CENTRAL 0434 400 225

LOWER MOUNTAINS AIR CONDITIONING 4735 6411

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STORM DRAGONS ROOSTERS RAIDERS

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BULLDOGS EELS KNIGHTS TITANS

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BULLDOGS EELS TIGERS TITANS

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PANTHERS DRAGONS ROOSTERS RAIDERS

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 26, 2021

DRUMMOND GOLF PENRITH 4721 1296

STORM DRAGONS ROOSTERS RAIDERS

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

Penrith Paceway is gearing up to showcase its Autumn Racing Calendar featuring Harness Racing at its very best, commencing with the April 1 Carnival of Cups. “Established in 1969, the Renshaw Cup, is named in honour and memory of the late Dr Maurice Renshaw who was the President of the Paceway for 21 years and was instrumental in obtaining a licence for Harness Racing at Penrith back in 1964”

This year will be the 52nd running of the Schweppes Renshaw Cup which carries group 3 prizemoney of over $30,000 and is run over the testing distance of 2525m, separating the men from the boys!”

The Carnival of Cups – “Fools

& Horses”

Schweppes Renshaw Race Night is held on the eve of Easter making it a perfect night out for the whole family but will also cater to all ages with an On-course Bookmaker, live entertainment (Fire Show, Stilt Walker, Singer), live action games of Monopoly: Penrith Edition, a visit from the Easter Bunny & loads of great prizes to be won all night - Enjoy all the action from Family Hill or from the comfort of our Club or Grandstand & don’t forget, it is free entry for all! Our chefs have conjured up multiple dining options for our guests including our new Gourmet Dinner & Dessert Hampers plus old favourites from the Bistro, 3Ps Café & Waffle It B Dessert Bar.

Join us for an unmissable night of magic, glamour and exciting, close up racing! Gourmet Dinner Hampers Serves 2 - $30.00 Serves 4 - $60.00

Gourmet Dessert Hamper Serves 2 - $15.00 Serves 4 - $30.00 *Registered Club & Bistro Open 7 Days *Trivia Tuesday *Bingo Wednesday *Members Badge Draw Friday Nights * Club Raffles Every Thursday, Friday & Sunday *Markets Every Wednesday & Harness Racing Every Thursday – Free Entry & Parking

Penrith P Paceway - 127-141 Station Street – PENRITH To reserve your Seat or book a Hamper call (02) 4721 2375

FIND US ON….. WW44365

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT MOVIES, TELEVISION, MUSIC AND MORE – PENRITH’S LEADING ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

COOKING UP AN EVOLUTION I

t’s been eight years since the ‘Red Wiggle’, Murray Cook, retired his famous skivvy, and six years since he began working with The Soul Movers, a dynamic project he fronts with fellow musician Lizzie Mack. With a funky, retro-inspired sound, and colourful music videos, The Soul Movers seem to epitomise a fun time. “It’s great fun, we have a blast,” Murray told the Weekender. “We’re called The Soul Movers but it’s not just soul. We like so many different forms

of music, so we do like to avoid labels.” Their new record, ‘Evolution’, features collaborative work between the band and a few of their biggest influences. Garth Porter, of Sherbet fame, helped write a lot of the songs, while Tony Mitchell joined them on bass. It proved to be a full-circle moment for Murray; Sherbet was the first band he ever saw live in his hometown of Orange. “I thought my 13-year-old self would have been pretty mind-blown by that,” he laughed. “Really I think Sherbet put me on the path to playing live music, because that was the first concert.”

EASTER

Cook started his career among a few different bands in the ‘80s, before returning to university to study early childhood education at Sydney’s Macquarie University. Here, he met Greg Page and Anthony Field, and together they would make up three quarters of The Wiggles. 30 years later, The Wiggles are the biggest children’s band in the world, despite changes to the line-up inspired by health issues experienced by the original four. “It’s an amazing thing, to have been around for 30 years. I haven’t been performing with The Wiggles for the last eight years, but it’s still great to be involved,” Murray said.

He has continued to involve his original band in his new project, with Greg, Anthony and Jeff Fatt appearing in music videos for The Soul Movers. “A lot of the Soul Movers fans were Wiggles fans when they were young, and so it was kind of a thrill for them to see Jeff and Greg and Anthony in the Soul Movers videos,” Murray said. The Soul Movers will remain his focus for the time being. “Leaving the Wiggles was quite hard, it took a while to settle into something, and this is just such a creative ongoing project that we all have loved doing.” ‘Evolution’ is out today, March 26.

Chocolate Raffle SUNDAY 28 MARCH H

TICKETS ON SALE 2PM, DRAWN 3PM Receive a voucher for $5 worth of rafﬂe tickets when n you make a food or beverage purchase on Sundays (until 3pm). One voucher per day per person. Members Only.

OVER

$1,5OO IN PRIZES

Seafood Raffle GIFT CARD RAFFLE THURSDAY 1 APRIL TICKETS ON SALE 6PM, DRAWN 7PM

FRIDAY 2 APRIL

TICKETS ON SALE 6PM, DRAWN 7.30PM

13 Park Road, Wallacia NSW 2745 | Ph 02 4773 8417 | www.wallaciacountryclub.com.au

WW44191

ERIN CHRISTIE

WW44011

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

Penrith Museum of Fire Open daily 9.30am-4.30pm 4731 3000 • 1 Museum Drive Nepean Potters Society Third Tuesday of the month 9630 6364

O D UST

Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce • Regular events penrithchamber.org.au

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

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

WHAT'S ON AND WHERE

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Alcoholics Anonymous Mondays at 6pm 1300 222 222 Gamblers Anonymous Mondays at 7.30pm 0433 018 484 Dementia Carers Support Group • Fortnightly meetings 4751 3033 Penrith Carer Support Group First Thursday of the month Headspace • 8880 8160 Plenty to do at Psychic Connections Fair in Penrith Love Angel’s Light are hosting a Psychic Connections Fair at Penrith Panthers on Sunday, March 28. With psychic mediums and sound healing, as well as promotion for programs on personal and spiritual development, there will be plenty to see at this event. They will also be offering presentations, stalls and much more. Contact love.angels.light@gmail.com for more information.

FOR SE NIORS

S D I K R FO

Penrith Women’s Health Centre • Monday to Friday 4721 8749 Suicide Prevention and Support Network 0402 627 696 Prostate Cancer Support Monthly meetings at St Stephen’s • 1300 133 878 JP Service in Penrith Tuesday and Thursday 7/458-470 High St • 9am-5pm

Kids get crafty at Panthers

Panthers will host a Kids Craft Day this school holidays on Wednesday, April 14. Visit www.penrith.panthers.com.au/april-school-holidays to find out more.

Morning Melodies at The Joan

Morning Melodies at The Joan will return next month, with ‘Catching a Rising Star’ playing on Wednesday, April 28. Visit www.thejoan.com. au/events for tickets.

JP Service in St Marys Wednesdays at St Marys Village • 9623 7700

CRYSTAL FESTIVALS AUSTRALIA PRESENTS

The 11th CAMDEN CRYSTAL GEMS & CRAFT FESTIVAL 26th, 27th & 28th MARCH, 2021 at AH & I HALL, ARGYLE STREET, CAMDEN

Australia’s Top Traders

$7 FLAT FEE FOR ALL VISITORS (NO CONCESSION)

UNDER 12 FREE

The biggest & best Crystal & Mineral Sale in Sydney Opening Hours: Friday 26th Saturday 27th Sunday 28th

2:00pm - 7:00pm 9:00am - 5:00pm 9:00am - 4:00pm

Late Friday night shoppin g

BUY DIRECT: NO MIDDLE MAN

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CRYSTAL EXHIBITION & SALE Jewellery Crystals Gems Rocks Gold & Silver Rings Findings Opals Beads Minerals Fossils Tumbled Stones Carved Stones Hand-Crafted Jewellery Caves Clusters Spheres Gemstone Animals Obelisks Australian & Exotic Geology and LOTS OTS MORE . . .

Phone Rob 0405 904 881 | Email crystalfestivalsaustralia@gmail.com | Facebook www.crystalfestivalsaustralia.com.au t

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

SP O N S O RED CO NTENT

WW43896

Delicious coffee and sensational meals at The Little House of Coffee Variety of Broaster Meal Packs Chicken Nuggets Crispy Tenders

DAILY SPECIALS

Hot & Spicy Wings Broaster Wings Chips Wedges & Side Dips

ituated among the ferns and flowers at Flower Power is The Little House of Coffee café, one of Penrith’s best spots for excellent coffee and food. Dedicated to serving excellent coffee, The Little House of Coffee also bakes and serves an array of beautiful cakes and sweets and offers a savoury menu as well. Currently celebrating five years in operation, you might have seen a bright balloon arch on your visits to the café this month. At the end of this rainbow, The Little House of Coffee is giving out a free regular-sized cappuccino, latte or flat white to their customers. They’ve also been offering $20 boxes of fresh

baked cakes on Wednesdays in celebration of this milestone. Owned by married couple Bunty and Paul Grech, the duo has expanded beyond the Orchard Hills café to open their own roastery in Jamisontown’s Abel Street, where they operate barista training and sell coffee beans. Whether you’re after breakfast, wraps, burgers, fries, cakes or coffee, there’s something for everyone at every meal at The Little House of Coffee. The Little House of Coffee is located inside Flower Power on The Northern Road at Orchard Hills. Contact them at littlehouseofcoffeepenrith@gmail.com, or stop by today for a coffee and snack.

Burgers: Wagyu Beef, Angus Beef, Chicken, Vegetarian & Side Dishes

WW43894

421 High St, Penrith | Ph: 4722 9199 Hours 11am to 11pm | www.broasterchickenpenrith.com.au

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

DINING OUT

390 High St, Penrith | 0451 333 131 Opening Hours: 11am to 11pm

www.burger31.com

WW43901

Y ALL DA ! ST A BREAKF

PIZZA, PIDE & KEBABS ~ DINE IN OR TAKEAWAY ~

372 High St Penrith 4731 3757 WW43914 WW43892

A: 1794-1802 The Northern Rd, Orchard Hills P: 04100 LATTE 0410 052 883 W: www.littlehouseof coffee.com.au

OPEN 7 DAYS

www.king-of-kebabs.com.au

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

PARRAMATTA’S WORLD PREMIERE ERIN CHRISTIE

FREE EVENT

iverside Theatre is excited to present the world premiere of ‘Grimm’, the Sydney Choreographic Ensemble’s debut contemporary ballet.

EAT • DRINK • MUSIC

FRIDAY 26 MARCH 2021

penrith.city #TheFestivalofPlace

WW44188

TRIANGLE PARK | 6PM - 10PM

Get to know

A modern day re-telling of the fairytales we grew up knowing and loving, audiences will be able to see their favourite stories told in ways never seen before. Following Snow White, The Frog Prince, Little Red Riding Hood and many others, who will take a path through the mysteries and dangers of youth to find joy, understanding and maturity? These old stories will be given a fresh modern twist through the work of choreographer Francesco Ventriglia, who has spent his career working across the globe. ‘Grimm’ also features design by the Oscar-winning James Acheson, featuring 3D video projection to enhance the experience. Featuring a talented crew of contemporary dancers Alex Borg, Ariella Casu, Holly Doyle, Brittany Jane Duwner and Victor Zarallo, this ensemble will make for a show not to be missed. ‘Grimm’ will play at Riverside Theatre from Wednesday, April 14, to Friday, April 16 at 8pm, and on Saturday, April 17, at 2.30pm and 8pm. Tickets begin at $34. Book at www.riversideparramatta.com.au or phone 8839 3399.

RUG GALAXY

Why should people visit Rug Galaxy? We provide the best products at affordable prices and have a huge variety which caters for anyone’s needs.

WW43201

Find out more:

Find us at Westfield Mt Druitt or ruggalaxy.com.au

TV NEWS

Ê 10 will screen their annual special ‘Easter with The Australian Women’s Weekly’ this Saturday, March 27 at 6.30pm. Presented by Sarah Harris and Barry Du Bois, the special will feature Poh Ling Yeow, Sarah Tiong, Jock Zonfrillo and Toni Pearen. Ê Everyone’s favourite music quiz show ‘Spicks & Specks’ is returning to the ABC

COMING SOON

DANCING WITH THE STARS, SEVEN

on Sunday, April 18 at 7.40pm. Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough will be joined by the likes of The Teskey Brothers, Alice Skye, G-Flip, Vika and Linda, and Missy Higgins, plus Anne Edmonds, Nazeem Hussain, Luke McGregor, and ‘Spicks’ stalwarts Dave O’Neil and Denise Scott. This will be the first time since 2004 it will be a full series of 10 episodes. Shocking news over at Foxtel with interior designer Shaynna Blaze quitting ‘Selling Houses Australia’ after 13 seasons. Blaze cited scheduling clashes.

MARCH 31 8.30PM THE LAST CRUISE, FOX SHOWCASE

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

Nathan Taylor

Ê The band is getting back together for the new series of ‘Dancing with the Stars’. Channel Seven has confirmed original hosts Daryl Somers and Sonia Kruger will be returning along with the four original judges from way back in 2004 – Helen Richey, Todd McKenney, Paul Mercurio and Mark Wilson. Meanwhile, the contestants for the upcoming ‘All Stars’ series have also been announced: Ada Nicodemou, Bec Hewitt, Erin McNaught, Fifi Box, Jamie Durie, Kyly Clarke, Luke Jacobz, Lincoln Lewis, Manu Feildel and Tom Williams will strut their stuff alongside wildcard entrants Jessica Gomes, Matty Johnson, Renee Bargh and Schapelle Corby. Filming for the pre-recorded season began last week in Sydney.

Ê While it’s not the greatest talk show in the world, ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ has been renewed for a second season. It currently airs 7.30pm weeknights on FOX Arena.

Ê Season 18 of ‘Top Chef’ will premiere on Saturday, April 3 at 2pm on FOX Arena. Filmed in Portland, a new batch of 15 talented Executive Chefs and restaurant owners, representing a cross section of kitchens and food around the USA, vie for the coveted title bringing their unique skillsets, diversity of cuisines and gamut of flavours. Ê New HBO documentary ‘The Last Cruise’, which details the Diamond Princess saga in Japan, will air on FOX Showcase on Wednesday, March 31 at 8.30pm. Through never-before-seen footage from passengers and crew, viewers will watch class divisions erupt as humanity misses its chance to contain COVID-19. Ê The final season of ‘Younger’ will begin streaming on Stan on Friday, April 16.

Enjoy the spectacular Autumn colours at Mayfield Garden 21( 2) $8675$/,$·6 0267 6,*1,),&$17 35,9$7( *$5'(1 (67$7(6 0D\ÀHOG *DUGHQ $XWXPQ )HVWLYDO 2 April to 25 April 2021 Autumn is not only one of the most spectacular times to visit 0D\ÀHOG *DUGHQ LW LV DOVR RQH of the most popular as visitors ÁRFN WR VHH WKH JDUGHQ OLWHUDOO\ H[SORGH LQ D NDOHLGRVFRSH RI colour. 7KHUH LV QR VKRUWDJH RI IDPLO\ DFWLYLWLHV 6SHQG WKH GD\ H[SORULQJ WKH IXOO KHFWDUH SULYDWH HVWDWH HQMR\ D SLFQLF DPRQJ WKH EHDXWLIXO $XWXPQDO WUHHV WDNH D URZ RQ WKH ODNH RU ÀQG \RXU ZD\ WKURXJK WKH IDPRXV 0D\ÀHOG %R[ +HGJH 0D]H <RX FDQ DOVR GLQH DW WKH UHQRZQHG 0D\ÀHOG JDUGHQ UHVWDXUDQW ERRNLQJV HVVHQWLDO

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WW44276

TV Guide: March 26 – April 1

Friday 26 March

Your guide to the week’s television viewing

Sunday 28 March

Saturday 27 March

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

Your Macca’s® favourites now delivered straight to your door.

6:00 News Breakfast [s] 9:00 ABC News [s] 10:00 Q&A [s] 11:00 Aussie Inventions That Changed The World (PG) [s] 12:00 ABC News [s] 1:00 Back Roads (PG) [s] 1:30 Outback Ringer (PG) [s] 2:00 Poldark (M v) [s] 3:00 ABC News [s] 4:10 Antiques Roadshow [s] 5:10 Grand Designs (PG) [s] 6:00 The Drum [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 Gardening Australia [s] 8:30 Vera (M v) [s] 10:00 Keeping Faith (M) [s] 11:05 ABC Late News [s] 11:20 The Vaccine [s]

6:00 Sunrise [s] 9:00 The Morning Show [s] 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “Indiscretion” (M s,v,l) (’16) Stars: Mira Sorvino 2:00 House Of Wellness [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Better Homes And Gardens [s] 8:30 Movie: “Geostorm” (M v) (’17) Stars: Gerard Butler 10:45 Movie: “Eraser” (MA15+) (’96) Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger 1:00 Home Shopping

6:00 Today [s] 9:00 Today Extra [s] 11:30 NINE’s Morning News [s] 12:00 Ellen (PG) [s] 1:00 Amazing Grace (M) [s] 2:00 Desperate Housewives (M s,d) [s] 3:00 Tipping Point [s] 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 6:00 NINE News [s] 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 7:30 NRL: South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters *Live* [s] 9:55 NRL: Golden Point [s] 10:40 Movie: “Collateral” (MA15+) (’04) Stars: Tom Cruise

7:00 Headline News [s] 8:30 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 12:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 1:00 The Living Room [s] 2:00 Entertainment Tonight [s] 2:30 Everyday Gourmet [s] 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 3:30 Farm To Fork [s] 4:00 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:00 WIN News [s] 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 The Living Room [s] 8:30 The Graham Norton Show (M l,s) [s] 9:10 Hughesy, We Have A Problem (M) [s]

5:30 Worldwatch 1:00 PBS Newshour 2:00 Destination Flavour China Bitesize 2:10 The Clinton Affair (M s) 3:00 NITV News: Nula 3:30 Great British Railway Journeys (PG) 4:05 Mythical Beasts Unearthed (PG) 5:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:00 Mastermind Australia 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Gangs Of Pompeii (M v) 8:30 The Royals In Wartime (PG) 9:25 The Blitz: Britain On Fire (PG) 10:15 Going Places With Ernie Dingo (PG)

2:30 Million Dollar Minute 3:30 Weekender 4:00 Better Homes And Gardens 5:30 Escape To The Country 6:30 Bargain Hunt 7:30 Highway Cops (PG) 8:30 Escape To The Country (PG) 9:30 Selling Houses Australia (PG)

4:00 STIHL Timbersports (PG) 4:30 American Restoration (PG) 5:00 AFL Women’s: Round 9: Adelaide v GWS *Live* 7:00 Friday Night Countdown (PG) 7:30 AFL: Round 2: Geelong v Brisbane *Live* 11:00 Armchair Experts (M)

3:50 Jabba’s School Holiday Movie Special 4 (PG) 4:15 Movie: “Teen Beach 2” (G) (’15) Stars: Ross Lynch 6:15 Movie: “Ferdinand (G) (’17) Stars: John Cena 8:30 Movie: “Red Sparrow” (M) (’18) Stars: Jennifer Lawrence

5:00 Fraggle Rock 6:00 Pete And Pio’s Kai Safari 6:30 Cooking Hawaiian Style 7:00 NITV News: Nula 7:30 Movie: “Watership Down” (PG) (’78) Stars: John Hurt 9:05 Bedtime Stories 9:15 Mabo: Life Of An Island Man (PG) 10:45 Bamay

2:00 L.A.’s Finest (M) 3:00 Diagnosis Murder (PG) 5:00 JAG (PG) 7:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) 7:30 NCIS (M) 8:30 Law & Order: SVU (M v) 10:30 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (M) 12:30 Home Shopping 2:00 Nash Bridges (PG)

1:00 Judging Amy (PG) 2:00 Medium (M) 3:00 Everybody Loves Raymond (PG) 4:00 Becker (PG) 5:00 Frasier (PG) 6:00 Friends (PG) 6:30 Neighbours (PG) 7:00 Friends (PG) 8:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG) 9:30 The Conners (PG)

2:00 Fixer To Fabulous 3:00 The Block (PG) 4:00 First Time Flippers 4:30 Flip Or Flop Fort Worth 5:00 Raising House (PG) 6:00 House Hunters International 7:00 House Hunters USA 7:30 Hidden Potential 8:30 Lake Life 9:30 Lakefront Bargain Hunt

4:55 Hank Zipzer 5:20 Lost In Oz 6:00 Spirit Riding Free (PG) 6:30 Operation Ouch! 7:00 The Legend Of The Five 8:30 Good Game Spawn Point 8:50 Fruits Basket 9:15 Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (PG) 9:40 Radiant (PG)

4:00 Afternoon Briefing 4:30 Friday Briefing 5:00 ABC News Hour 6:00 ABC Evening News 7:00 ABC National News 7:45 The Vaccine 8:00 Planet America 9:00 ABC Nightly News 9:30 Close Of Business 10:00 The World 11:00 The Drum

5:55 Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom 6:30 Kiri And Lou 7:00 Dino Dana 7:30 Spicks And Specks (PG) 8:00 Doctor Who (PG) 9:05 Michael Gow’s Away (M) 10:55 Anh’s Brush With Fame (PG) 11:25 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces

5:30 Gourmet Farmer 6:30 Come Dine With Me UK 7:30 Rick Stein’s French Odyssey 8:30 Rick Stein’s Spain 9:40 Mystery Diners 10:30 Gourmet Farmer 11:30 Ready Steady Cook UK 12:30 Come Dine With Me UK

5:35 Shortland Street (PG) 6:05 If You Are The One (PG) (In Mandarin) 7:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 7:30 NITV News Update 7:35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (PG) 8:30 Sex Trafficking In America (M) 9:30 How Sex Changed The World (M s)

4:00 Dance Moms (PG) 5:00 The Nanny (PG) 5:30 Clarence (PG) 5:45 Movie: “Marmaduke” (PG) (’10) Stars: Owen Wilson 7:30 Movie: “Kung Fu Panda 2” (PG) (’11) Stars: Jack Black 9:20 Movie: “Yes Man” (M s,l) (’08) Stars: Jim Carrey

5:20 Movie: “The Bridges At Toko-Ri” (G) (’54) 6:30 Antiques Roadshow 7:30 David Attenborough Seven Worlds, One Planet (PG) 8:40 Movie: “Apollo 13” (PG) (’95) Stars: Tom Hanks 11:05 Movie: “Don’t Breathe” (MA15+) (’16)

6:00 rage (PG) [s] 7:00 Weekend Breakfast [s] 10:00 rage (PG) [s] 11:00 rage Guest Programmer (PG) [s] 12:00 ABC News [s] 12:30 Spartacus [s] 2:25 Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds [s] 3:30 Prince, Son And Heir: Charles At 70 (PG) [s] 4:30 Landline [s] 5:00 Football: A-League: Brisbane Roar v Western United *Live* [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 Death In Paradise (PG) [s] 8:30 Call The Midwife (PG) [s] 9:30 Harrow (M v) [s] 10:25 A Very English Scandal (M d,s) [s]

6:00 Home Shopping 7:00 Weekend Sunrise [s] 10:00 The Morning Show Weekend [s] 12:00 Seven’s Horse Racing [s] 5:00 Seven News At 5 [s] 5:30 Border Security - Australia’s Front Line (PG) [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Movie: “A Dog’s Way Home” (PG) (’19) Stars: Ashley Judd 9:00 Movie: “Kong: Skull Island” (M) (’17) Stars: Tom Hiddleston 11:20 Ivan Milat Buried Secrets (M) [s] 1:30 Home Shopping

12:00 Award Winning Tasmania [s] 12:30 Destination WA (PG) [s] 1:00 My Way [s] 1:30 Explore [s] 1:45 Movie: “Three Wishes” (G) (’95) Stars: Patrick Swayze 4:00 The Pet Rescuers (PG) [s] 4:30 The Garden Gurus [s] 5:00 NINE News: First At Five [s] 5:30 Getaway (PG) [s] 6:00 NINE News Saturday [s] 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 7:30 Space Invaders (PG) [s] 8:30 Movie: “The Bourne Ultimatum” (M v) (’07) Stars: Albert Finney 10:40 Movie: “Out Of Time” (M v,l) (’03)

12:00 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 12:30 Luca’s Key Ingredient [s] 1:00 10 Minute Kitchen [s] 1:30 Buy To Build [s] 2:00 Three Blue Ducks [s] 2:30 Everyday Gourmet [s] 3:00 TBA 4:00 Freshly Picked [s] 4:30 Farm To Fork [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:00 Advancing Australia [s] 6:30 Easter With The Australian Women’s Weekly [s] 7:30 Ambulance UK (M) [s] 9:50 TBA 10:20 999: What’s Your Emergency? (M) [s] 11:20 NCIS (M v) [s] 12:20 Inside The Children’s Hospital (PG) [s]

5:30 Worldwatch 1:00 PBS Newshour 2:05 Avalanche (PG) 3:15 March Of The Penguins 4:35 Morgan Freeman - The Story Of God (PG) 5:35 The Secret History Of World War II (PG) 6:30 SBS World News 7:35 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys (M) 8:30 Movie: “The Big Short” (M l,n) (’15) Stars: Christian Bale 10:50 Movie: “A United Kingdom” (PG) (’16) Stars: David Oyelowo 12:50 Movie: “Eager Bodies” (MA15+) (’03) Stars: Laura Smet (In French)

3:00 Weekender 4:00 Creek To Coast 4:30 Sydney Weekender 5:00 Seven’s Horse Racing 5:30 The Great Outdoors (PG) 6:30 The Yorkshire Vet (PG) 8:30 Escape To The Country 11:30 The Great Outdoors (PG)

4:30 Shipping Wars (PG) 5:00 American Restoration (PG) 5:30 Megastructures (PG) 6:30 AFL Pre Game 7:00 AFL: Round 2: St Kilda v Melbourne *Live* 10:30 Movie: “Cobra” (M l) (’86) Stars: Andrew Robinson 12L15 Shipping Wars (PG)

4:45 Movie: “Grumpy Old Men” (PG) (’93) 7:00 Movie: “Charlie’s Angels” (PG) (’00) Stars: Naomi Scott 9:00 Movie: “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” (PG) (’03) Stars: Cameron Diaz 11:10 Movie: “This Is Where I Leave You” (M d,l,s) (’14)

4:55 NITV On The Road 5:55 Going Places With Ernie Dingo (PG) 6:55 Yokayi Footy 7:30 NITV News Update 7:40 Through The Wormhole 8:30 The Fall (M v) 10:10 Movie: “Boys Don’t Cry” (MA15+) (’99) Stars: Hilary Swank

2:00 Jake And The Fatman 4:00 I Fish 4:30 Mighty Machines 5:00 Escape Fishing With ET (PG) 5:30 Scorpion (M v) 7:30 NCIS (M v) 8:30 NCIS: New Orleans (M v) 10:20 FBI: Most Wanted (M) 11:20 LA’s Finest (M) 12:15 Hawaii Five-O (M v)

1:00 The Amazing Race Australia (PG) 2:10 Everybody Loves Raymond (PG) 3:30 Friends (PG) 6:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG) 10:30 Man With A Plan (PG) 12:00 Home Shopping 1:30 2 Broke Girls (M v) 4:00 Mom (M s)

2:30 Lake Life 3:30 Pool Kings (PG) 4:30 Lakefront Bargain Hunt 5:30 Hidden Potential 6:30 Lawn & Order 7:30 Making It Home With Kortney And Dave 8:30 House Hunters USA 9:30 House Hunters International 10:30 House Hunters USA

4:55 Hank Zipzer 5:20 Lost In Oz 6:00 Spirit Riding Free (PG) 6:30 Play Your Pets Right 6:55 The Zoo 7:30 Shaun The Sheep 8:00 Thunderbirds Are Go 8:35 Wishfart! 9:00 The Rubbish World Of Dave Spud 9:10 All Hail King Julien (PG)

4:00 ABC News 4:30 The Mix 5:00 ABC News 5:05 Planet America 6:00 ABC Evening News 6:30 Australian Story 7:00 ABC National News 7:30 Kurt Fearnley’s One Plus One 8:00 ABC News Tonight 8:10 Four Corners

5:55 Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom 6:30 Kiri And Lou 7:00 Catie’s Amazing Machines 7:30 Spicks And Specks (PG) 8:00 QI (M) 8:30 Live At The Apollo (M l,s) 9:15 Ross Noble Stand Up Series (M l) 9:40 Sammy J 9:45 Would I Lie To You? (PG)

5:30 Cheese Slices 6:30 Inside Heston’s World 7:30 Pacific Island Food Revolution 8:30 Ainsley Eats The Streets 9:30 The Hairy Bikers’ Mississippi Adventure 10:30 Flintoff’s Great British Road Trip (PG) 11:30 Inside Heston’s World

5:30 Basketball: NBL: Brisbane v New Zealand *Live* 7:30 Australia In Colour (PG) 8:30 The X-Files (M h,v) 9:20 Romulus (MA15+) (In Old Latin) 11:25 Dateline 11:55 Insight 12:55 Movie: “My Brother Is A Mermaid” (M) (’19)

3:55 Movie: “Meet Dave” (PG) (’08) Stars: Eddie Murphy 5:50 Movie: “Chicken Run” (G) (’00) Stars: Julia Sawalha 7:30 Movie: “The Secret Life Of Pets” (G) (’16) Stars: Kevin Hart 9:15 Movie: “Johnny English Reborn” (PG) (’11)

5:20 Movie: “The Bridges At Toko-Ri” (G) (’54) Stars: William Holden 7:30 Rugby Union: Super Rugby: NSW Waratahs v QLD Reds *Live* 10:00 Movie: “The Mechanic” (M v) (’72) Stars: Charles Bronson 12:05 Lethal Weapon (M)

12:00 ABC News [s] 12:30 Landline [s] 1:25 Landline Weather [s] 1:30 Gardening Australia [s] 2:35 Australia Remastered (PG) [s] 3:30 The Mix [s] 4:00 Football: WLeague: Round 14: Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory *Live* [s] 6:00 TBA 6:30 Compass (PG) [s] 7:00 ABC News Sunday [s] 7:40 Grand Designs NZ [s] 8:30 Harrow (M v) [s] 9:20 Silent Witness (M v) [s] 10:25 Patrick Melrose - Mother’s Milk (MA15+) [s] 11:20 Line Of Duty (M v) [s]

10:00 The Morning Show - Weekend (PG) [s] 12:00 House Of Wellness (PG) [s] 1:00 Surf Patrol [s] 1:30 Highway Patrol (PG) [s] 2:00 Movie: “Arthur” (PG) (’81) Stars: Dudley Moore 4:00 Better Homes And Gardens [s] 5:00 Seven News At 5 [s] 5:30 Sydney Weekender (PG) [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Shark Alarm: The Year of Swimming Dangerously (M) [s] 8:30 Movie: “The Martian” (M l) (’15) Stars: Matt Damon 11:30 World’s Deadliest (PG) [s]

6:00 Easy Eats [s] 7:00 Weekend Today [s] 10:00 Sports Sunday (PG) [s] 11:00 Sunday Footy Show (PG) [s] 1:00 AFL: Women’s Footy (PG) [s] 2:00 The Xtreme CollXtion (PG) [s] 2:30 Driving Test (PG) [s ] 3:00 NRL: Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers *Live* [s] 6:00 NINE News Sunday [s] 7:00 Married At First Sight (M) [s] 8:40 60 Minutes (PG) [s] 9:40 NINE News Late [s] 10:10 Australian Crime Stories (M) [s] 11:20 Forensics: The Real CSI (M v) [s]

12:00 Advancing Australia [s] 12:30 My Market Kitchen [s] 1:00 The Offroad Adventure Show [s] 2:00 Everyday Gourmet [s] 2:15 The Amazing Race Australia (M) [s] 3:30 Easter With The Australian Women’s Weekly [s] 4:30 Farm To Fork [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:00 WIN News [s] 6:30 The Sunday Project (PG) [s] 7:30 The Amazing Race Australia (M) [s] 9:00 Movie: “Second Act” (M l,s) (’18) Stars: Jennifer Lopez 11:00 The Sunday Project (PG) [s]

5:00 CGTN English News 5:15 NHK World English News 5:30 Worldwatch 1:00 Speedweek 3:00 Surf Life Saving Titles Queensland *Live* 5:00 FIFA World Cup 2022 Magazine 5:35 The Secret History Of World War II: Pearl Harbor (PG) 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 The Great Plague: Epidemic (M) 10:10 Mimi (M) 10:30 Cycling: Gent Wevelgem 2021 Men’s Race *Live* 3:30 Bad Breath With Xand Van Tulleken: Fighting For Air

2:30 The Yorkshire Vet (PG) 4:30 Escape To The Country 8:30 The Replacement (M l) 9:45 The Pembrokeshire Murders (M v,l) 10:45 Mighty Cruise Ships (PG) 11:45 Property Ladder UK (PG) 1:00 The Fine Art Auction (PG)

4:00 AFL Women’s: Round 9: GWS v Carlton *Live* 6:00 AFL: Round 2: Fremantle v GWS *Live* 9:00 Movie: “The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King” (PG) (’03) Stars: Viggo Mortensen 1:05 Last Car Garage (PG) 1:30 Blokesworld

1:15 Instant Hotel (PG) 2:45 Weird, True And Freaky (PG) 4:00 Ultimate Tag (PG) 8:30 First Dates Australia (M) 10:50 Bridezillas (M l) 11:50 Aquarius (M l) 2:00 Movie: “Son Of Kong” (G) (’33) Stars: Helen Mack

6:00 NITV News: Nula 6:30 Art + Soul 7:30 NITV News Update 7:40 Going Places With Ernie Dingo (PG) 8:40 Olympic Pride, American Prejudice (M l) 10:05 Stolen Glory: The Tale Of Porky Brooke (M l) 10:45 Naa Muru Gurung

2:00 Australia By Design (PG) 2:30 Buy To Build 3:00 Fishing Edge 4:00 Fishing Australia 5:00 I Fish 5:30 Bondi Rescue (PG) 6:00 JAG (PG) 7:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) 7:30 NCIS (M v) 9:25 NCIS: Los Angeles (M v) 10:20 48 Hours (M)

1:00 The Amazing Race Australia (PG) 2:00 Everybody Loves Raymond (PG) 3:00 Friends (PG) 6:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG) 9:00 Friends (PG) 10:30 2 Broke Girls (M s) 12:00 Home Shopping 1:30 Mom (M) 3:30 Raymond (PG)

2:30 Lawn & Order 3:30 Fixer Upper 4:30 Making It Home With Kortney And Dave 5:30 House Hunters USA 6:30 House Hunters International 7:30 Restored By The Fords 8:30 Unsellable Houses 9:30 My Lottery Dream Home

4:55 Hank Zipzer 5:20 Lost In Oz 6:00 Spirit Riding Free (PG) 6:30 Play Your Pets Right 6:50 The Zoo 7:35 Shaun The Sheep 8:05 Thunderbirds Are Go 8:35 Wishfart! 9:00 The Rubbish World Of Dave Spud 9:10 All Hail King Julien (PG)

4:00 Landline 5:00 ABC News 5:30 The World This Week 6:00 ABC Evening News 6:30 Foreign Correspondent 7:00 ABC News Sunday 7:40 Drum Beat 8:00 Insiders 9:00 ABC Nightly News 9:30 Australian Story 10:00 ABC News Weekend

6:10 Brave Bunnies 6:30 Kiri And Lou 7:00 Catie’s Amazing Machines 7:30 Spicks And Specks (PG) 8:00 Compass (PG) 8:30 Louis Theroux: Gambling In Las Vegas (M) 9:30 Pilgrimage: The Road To Rome

5:30 For The Love Of Bread 6:00 Vanishing Foods 6:30 Sourced 7:00 Asia Unplated With Diana Chan 7:30 Mary Berry’s Cooking 8:00 Michela’s Tuscan Kitchen 8:30 Inside Heston’s World 9:30 Top Of The Shop With Tom Kerridge

3:00 Basketball: NBL: Sydney Kings v Perth Wildcats *Live* 5:00 Basketball: NBL: Cairns Taipans v Adelaide 36ers *Live* 7:00 Monty Python’s Flying Circus (PG) 7:35 Abandoned Engineering (PG) 8:30 Planet Expedition (PG)

4:00 Movie: “Free Birds” (G) (’13) Stars: Woody Harrelson 5:45 Movie: “Astro Boy” (PG) (’09) Stars: Freddie Highmore 7:30 Movie: “Star Trek: Beyond” (M) (’16) Stars: Simon Pegg 10:00 Movie: “Star Trek: Nemesis” (PG) (’02) Stars: Brent Spiner

5:05 Movie: “The Vikings” (PG) (’58) Stars: Kirk Douglas 7:30 Death In Paradise (PG) 8:40 Chicago PD (MA15+) 9:40 Chicago Fire (MA15+) 10:40 Chicago Med (M mp) 11:35 Bizarre ER (M) 12:35 My Favourite Martian

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

Monday 29 March Tuesday 30 March Wednesday 31 March Thursday 1 April

12:00 Movie: “Abducted: The Carlina White Story” (M) (’12) Stars: Keke Palmer 2:00 Criminal Confessions (PG) [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Home And Away (PG) [s] 8:30 Movie: “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (M v,l,s) (’01) Stars: Renée Zellweger

12:00 Ellen (PG) [s] 1:00 Explore [s] 1:15 Married At First Sight (M) [s] 3:00 Tipping Point [s] 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 6:00 NINE News [s] 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 7:30 Married At First Sight (M) [s] 9:00 Under Investigation (PG) [s] 10:00 100% Footy (M) [s] 11:00 NINE News Late [s]

5:00 How I Met Your 6:00 American Pickers 4:00 Better Homes And Mother (PG) 6:00 (PG) 7:00 Pawn Stars Gardens 5:30 Escape Futurama (PG) 6:30 (PG) 7:30 Aussie To The Country 6:30 Bargain Hunt 7:30 Doc Martin Lobster Men (PG) 8:30 Movie: The Simpsons (PG) 7:30 “The Fugitive” (PG) (’93) Stars: Ultimate Tag (PG) 9:00 (PG) 8:30 Judge John Deed Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares Harrison Ford (M) 10:30 Autopsy USA (M) 6:00 ABC Evening 7:00 Deadly 60 On A News 7:00 ABC Mission: Pole To Pole National News 8:00 7:30 Shaun The Sheep 8:00 Thunderbirds Are Go 8:35 ABC News Tonight 8:45 The Business 9:00 ABC Nightly Wishfart! 8:55 The Rubbish News 9:30 7.30 World Of Dave Spud

12:00 ABC News [s] 1:00 Call The Midwife (M) [s] 2:00 Poldark (M v) [s] 3:00 ABC News [s] 4:10 Antiques Roadshow [s] 5:10 Grand Designs NZ (PG) [s] 6:00 The Drum [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 7.30 (PG) [s] 8:00 Anh’s Brush With Fame (PG) [s] 8:30 Exposed (PG) [s] 9:50 The Truth About Improving Your Mental Health (PG) [s]

7:00 Dino Dana 7:30 Spicks And Specks (PG) 8:00 Doctor Who (PG) 8:45 Earth’s Tropical Islands (PG) 9:45 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces

12:00 Movie: “The Wrong Woman” (M v) (’13) Stars: Danica McKellar 2:00 Criminal Confessions (M) [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Home And Away (PG) [s] 7:30 Britain’s Got Talent (PG) [s] 8:30 The Good Doctor (M) [s] 9:30 Sun, Sea And Surgery (MA15+) [s]

3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 3:30 Farm To Fork [s] 4:00 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:00 WIN News [s] 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 The Royals Revealed Elizabeth & Philip: Marriage, Duty & Love (PG) [s] 8:30 Hughesy, We Have A Problem (M) [s] 9:30 The Graham Norton Show (M)

3:05 Who Do You Think You Are? (PG) 4:10 Mythical Beasts Unearthed (PG) 5:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:00 Mastermind Australia 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Historic House Rescue (PG) 8:30 24 Hours In Emergency (M) 9:25 The Story Of The Songs (M) 10:20 SBS World News Late 10:50 Outlander (MA15+)

4:00 Becker (PG) 5:00 2:00 Hawaii Five-O 6:30 Cooking Hawaiian Frasier (PG) 6:00 (PG) 3:00 Diagnosis Style 7:00 Our Stories Friends (PG) 6:30 Murder (PG) 5:00 JAG 7:20 NITV News Update 7:30 Ralph (PG) 7:30 (PG) 7:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) Neighbours (PG) 7:00 Friends Under Skin, In Blood (PG) 7:40 7:30 NCIS (M v) 10:20 Formula (PG) 8:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG) Through The Wormhole (PG) 1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2021

5:00 Unsellable Houses 6:00 House Hunters International 7:00 House Hunters USA 8:30 Fixer Upper (PG) 9:30 Bargain Mansions

6:00 Malcolm In The Middle (M) 7:00 The Nanny (PG) 7:30 RBT (PG) 8:30 Movie: “GI Joe: The Rise Of Cobra” (M v,l) (’09) Stars: Channing Tatum

6:30 Antiques Roadshow 7:30 London Kills (M v,s,d) 8:40 The Bill (M) 10:40 Three Days To Live (M v) 11:40 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (PG)

7:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 7:30 Anthony Bourdain: 7:30 NITV News Parts Unknown 8:30 Update 7:35 8 Out Of Taste The Nation With 10 Cats Does Countdown (M) Padma Lakshmi 9:00 Tales 8:30 Taskmaster (M) 10:15 From River Cottage 9:30 Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia (M) Mystery Diners

12:00 Ellen (PG) [s] 1:00 The Garden Gurus [s] 1:30 Married At First Sight (M) [s] 3:00 Tipping Point [s] 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 6:00 NINE News [s] 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 7:30 Married At First Sight (M) [s] 9:00 Botched (M) [s] 10:00 Amazing Grace (M) [s] 11:00 NINE News Late [s]

3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 3:30 Farm To Fork [s] 4:00 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:00 WIN News [s] 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 Ambulance Australia (M) [s] 8:30 NCIS (M v) [s] 9:30 NCIS: Los Angeles (M) [s] 10:30 The Project (PG) [s] 11:30 WIN’s All Australian News [s]

2:55 Movie: “Be My Brother” (G) (’09) Stars: Gerard O’Dwyer 3:05 Who Do You Think You Are? (PG) 4:05 Invisible Cities (PG) 5:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:00 Mastermind Australia 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Great Australian Railway Journeys (PG) 8:30 Insight (M) 9:30 Dateline 10:00 The Feed

4:00 Becker (PG) 5:00 5:00 JAG (PG) 7:00 6:30 First Australians 6:00 Futurama (PG) 6:00 American Pickers 4:00 Better Homes And Frasier (PG) 6:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) 7:00 Our Stories 7:30 6:30 The Simpsons (PG) 7:00 Pawn Stars Gardens 5:30 Escape Friends (PG) 6:30 7:30 NCIS (M v) 8:30 The Point 8:30 Celtics/ (PG) 7:30 Modern (PG) 7:30 Highway To The Country 6:30 Lakers: Best Of Enemies 10:30 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Neighbours (PG) 7:00 Friends Bargain Hunt 7:30 Pie In The Patrol (PG) 8:30 Outback Opal Family (PG) 8:30 Movie: (PG) 8:00 The Big Bang (M v) 10:25 NCIS: New “National Lampoon’s Vacation” NBL 2021: Sydney Kings v Hunters (PG) 9:30 Outback Sky (PG) 8:30 Inspector Theory (PG) 9:30 Mom (M) Orleans (M v) 11:20 TBA Pilots (PG) 10:30 Mighty Rivers (PG) (’83) Stars: Chevy Chase Cairns Taipans George Gently (M v) 6:00 ABC Evening 7:00 Deadly Dinosaurs News 7:00 ABC 7:30 Shaun The Sheep National News 8:00 8:00 Thunderbirds Are Go 8:35 Wishfart! 8:55 Moka’s ABC News Tonight 8:45 The Fabulous Adventures! 9:10 All Business 9:00 ABC Nightly News 9:30 7.30 Hail King Julien (PG)

12:00 ABC News [s] 12:30 National Press Club Address [s] 1:35 Media Watch [s] 1:55 Shakespeare And Hathaway (PG) [s] 3:00 ABC News [s] 4:10 Antiques Roadshow [s] 5:10 Grand Designs (PG) [s] 6:00 The Drum [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 7.30 (PG) [s] 8:00 Hard Quiz (PG) [s] 8:30 The Weekly (PG) [s] 9:00 Fisk (PG) [s]

7:00 Dino Dana 7:30 Spicks And Specks (PG) 8:00 Doctor Who (PG) 8:45 Staged (M l) 9:05 Extras 9:40 Fisk 10:10 High Fidelity (MA15+)

12:00 Movie: “Endless Love” (M l) (’14) Stars: Gabriella Wilde 2:00 Criminal Confessions (M) [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Home And Away (PG) [s] 7:30 TBA 8:30 Ambulance: Code Red (M) [s] 9:30 Born To Kill? (M) [s] 10:30 The Latest Seven News

6:00 American Pickers 4:00 Better Homes And (PG) 7:00 Pawn Stars Gardens 5:30 Escape (PG) 7:30 The To The Country 6:30 Simpsons (PG) 9:00 Family Bargain Hunt (PG) 7:30 Frankie Drake Mysteries (M v) Guy (M) 9:30 American Dad (PG) 10:30 Family Guy (M) 8:30 A Touch Of Frost (M v)

7:00 Dino Dana 7:30 6:00 ABC Evening 7:00 Deadly Dinosaurs Spicks And Specks News 7:00 ABC 7:30 Shaun The Sheep (PG) 8:00 Doctor Who National News 7:30 To 8:00 Thunderbirds Are 8:45 Stackorama! 9:45 Go 8:35 Wishfart! 8:55 Moka’s The Stars: 100 Years Of The Fabulous Adventures! 9:10 All RAAF 8:30 ABC News Tonight Restoration Australia (PG) 10:45 Pilgrimage 8:45 The Business Hail King Julien (PG)

12:00 ABC News [s] 1:00 Hard Quiz (PG) [s] 1:30 The Weekly (PG) [s] 2:00 Shakespeare And Hathaway (PG) [s] 3:00 ABC News [s] 4:10 Antiques Roadshow [s] 5:10 Grand Designs (PG) [s] 6:00 The Drum [s] 6:55 Sammy J [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 7.30 (PG) [s] 8:00 Back Roads [s] 8:30 TBA 9:30 Kurt Fearnley’s One Plus One [s]

12:00 Movie: “The Boy Next Door” (MA15+) (’15) Stars: Jennifer Lopez 2:00 Criminal Confessions (M) [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Home And Away (PG) [s] 7:30 Mighty Trains (PG) [s] 8:30 Movie: “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (M l) (’11) Stars: Judi Dench

5:00 Bargain Mansions 6:00 House Hunters International 7:00 House Hunters USA 7:30 Farmhouse Facelift 8:30 Restoration Man (M)

6:30 Antiques Road6:00 Malcolm In The 7:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 7:30 Food Safari 8:00 show 7:30 New Tricks Middle (M) 7:00 The 7:30 NITV News Mary Berry’s Absolute (M s) 8:40 The Closer Nanny (PG) 7:30 Movie: Update 7:35 8 Out Of Favourites 8:30 Rick (M) 9:40 Rizzoli & Isles (M v) Stein’s Fruits Of The Sea 9:00 10 Cats Does Countdown (PG) “Mission Impossible II” (M v) (’00) Stars: Tom Cruise 10:00 10:40 Law And Order (M v) Luke Nguyen’s Food Trail 9:30 8:30 VICE (M) 9:30 The Movie: “16 Blocks” (M l,v) (’06) 11:40 Shades Of Blue (MA15+) Casketeers (PG) Mystery Diners

12:00 Ellen (PG) [s] 1:00 My Way [s] 1:30 Married At First Sight (M) [s] 3:00 Tipping Point [s] 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 6:00 NINE News [s] 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 7:30 Married At First Sight (M) [s] 9:00 Amazing Grace (M) [s] 10:00 New Amsterdam (M) [s] 11:00 NINE News Late [s]

6:00 Futurama (PG) 6:30 The Simpsons (PG) 7:30 Modern Family (PG) 8:30 Movie: “Dangerous Minds” (M l) (’95) Stars: Michelle Pfeiffer

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

12:00 ABC News [s] 1:00 Death In Paradise (M v) [s] 2:00 Poldark (M v) [s] 3:00 ABC News [s] 4:10 Antiques Roadshow [s] 5:10 Grand Designs NZ [s] 6:00 The Drum [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 7.30 (PG) [s] 8:00 Australian Story [s] 8:30 Four Corners [s] 9:15 Media Watch [s] 9:35 To The Stars: 100 Years Of The RAAF [s]

3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 3:30 Farm To Fork [s] 4:00 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:00 WIN News [s] 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 The Cube (PG) [s] 8:30 Bull (M) [s] 10:30 The Project (PG) [s] 11:30 WIN’s All Australian News [s] 12:30 The Late Show (PG) [s] 1:30 Home Shopping

2:30 Insight (M) 3:30 Great British Railway Journeys (PG) 4:00 Invisible Cities (PG) 5:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:00 Mastermind Australia 6:30 SBS World News 7:35 Tony Robinson Britain’s Ancient Tracks (PG) 8:30 Australia In Colour (PG) 9:30 Departure (MA15+) 10:20 SBS World News Late

5:00 Restoration Man 4:00 Becker (PG) 5:00 5:00 JAG (PG) 7:00 6:30 Cooking Hawaiian (M) 6:00 House Frasier (PG) 6:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) Style 7:00 Our Stories Hunters International Friends (PG) 6:30 7:30 NCIS (M v) 8:30 7:20 NITV News NCIS: Los Angeles (M v) 10:20 Neighbours (PG) 7:00 Friends 7:00 House Hunters USA 7:30 Update 7:30 Wellington Barnwood Builders 8:30 Home (PG) 8:00 The Big Bang NCIS (M v) 12:10 Home Paranormal (M) 8:00 Yokayi Theory (PG) 9:30 2 Broke Girls Town 9:30 Beachfront Bargain Footy 8:35 Over The Black Dot Shopping 7:30 Island Feast With Peter Kuruvita 8:00 French Food Safari 8:30 Hemsley & Hemsley: Healthy And Delicious 9:00 Rachel Khoo’s Cosmopolitan

6:30 Antiques Road7:00 The Nanny (PG) 7:05 Jeopardy! (PG) show 7:30 As Time 7:30 Paranormal 7:30 NITV News Goes By (PG) 8:50 Caught On Camera (M) Update 7:35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (PG) 8:30 Movie: “The Wolf Of Wall Midsomer Murders (M) 10:50 The Nick II (M) 11:50 Antiques Street” (MA15+) (’13) Stars: 8:30 Wellington Paranormal Roadshow Jordan Belfort (M)

12:00 Ellen (PG) [s] 1:00 Getaway [s] 1:30 Married At First Sight (M) [s] 3:00 Tipping Point [s] 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 6:00 NINE News [s] 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 7:30 NRL: Manly Sea Eagles v Penrith Panthers *Live*[s] 9:55 NRL: Knock Off [s] 10:40 NINE News Late [s] 11:10 Manifest (M) [s]

3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 3:30 Farm To Fork [s] 4:00 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 Bondi Rescue (PG) [s] 8:00 Territory Cops (PG) [s] 8:30 Gogglebox (M) [s] 9:30 Law & Order: SVU (M) [s] 10:30 This Is Us (M) [s] 11:30 WIN’s All Australian News [s]

3:00 Who Do You Think You Are? (PG) 4:05 Invisible Cities (PG) 5:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:00 Mastermind Australia 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 The World’s Busiest Stations (PG) 8:30 Michael Mosley: What’s My Diagnosis (M) 9:40 Shadowplay (M) (In English/ German) 10:40 SBS World News Late

6:00 American Pickers 4:00 Better Homes And (PG) 7:00 AFL: Round Gardens 5:30 Escape 3: Brisbane v To The Country 6:30 Bargain Hunt (PG) 7:30 Father Collingwood *Live* 10:30 Movie: “Pain & Gain” (MA15+) Brown (PG) 8:30 Murdoch (’13) Stars: Anthony Mackie Mysteries (MA15+)

5:00 Beachfront 4:00 Becker (PG) 5:00 5:00 JAG (PG) 7:00 7:00 Our Stories 7:20 6:00 Futurama (PG) Bargain Hunt 6:00 Frasier (PG) 6:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) NITV News Update 6:30 The Simpsons House Hunters InterFriends (PG) 6:30 7:30 NCIS (M v) 8:30 7:30 Going Places With (PG) 7:30 Cold Case: Ernie Dingo (PG) 8:30 Movie: Hawaii Five-O (M v) 9:30 LA’s Neighbours (PG) 7:00 Friends national 7:00 House Hunters Glued/ The Letter (M v) 9:30 USA 7:30 House Hunters Without A Trace: He Saw, She “The Express” (PG) (’08) Stars: Finest (M v,s) 10:30 NCIS: Los (PG) 8:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG) 9:30 Friends (PG) International 8:30 Fixer Upper Angeles (M v) Saw (M) 10:30 Numb3rs (M d) Rob Brown 10:45 The Point

6:00 ABC Evening 7:00 Deadly Dinosaurs News 7:00 ABC 7:30 Shaun The Sheep National News 8:00 8:00 Thunderbirds Are ABC News Tonight 8:45 The Go 8:35 Wishfart! (PG) 8:55 Moka’s Fabulous Adventures! Business 9:00 ABC Nightly 9:10 All Hail King Julien (PG) News 9:30 7.30

7:00 Dino Dana 7:30 Football: W-League: Semi Final *Replay* 9:30 Penn And Teller: Fool Us (M l) 10:15 Doctor Who (PG) 10:55 Hard Quiz (PG)

7:00 The Nanny (PG) 7:30 NITV News 7:30 Rick Stein’s Food 7:30 Young Sheldon Update 7:35 8 Out Of Heroes 8:00 Asia (PG) 8:30 Movie: 10 Cats Does CountUnplated With Diana down (PG) 8:30 The Curse Of “Transformers: Age Of Chan 8:30 Jamie’s Ultimate Veg 9:30 Mystery Diners 10:30 Oak Island (PG) 9:20 American Extinction” (M) (’14) Stars: Mark Wahlberg Runestone: A Viking Mystery The Cook And The Chef

6:30 Antiques Roadshow 7:30 Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo (PG) 8:30 Emergency (M) 9:30 Call The Midwife (M) 10:40 The Equalizer (M)

Programming information correct at time of going to press, changes are at the network’s discretion Prepared by National Typesetting Services

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

Crossword and Word Search brought to you by www.winnersbet.com.au

Crossword ACROSS 1. Monk’s hood 4. Resisted 8. Scraped (out a living) 11. Angered 13. Whitish 15. Incline 17. America (1,1,1) 18. Large sweet fruit 20. Set of tools 21. Flagpoles 24. Rental agreement 27. Irritate 28. Climb aboard (3,2) 30. Beauty, ... of Troy 31. Concluded 33. Overwhelmed, ... under 34. Concoct 35. Arizona’s neighbour 36. Police informer 39. Refrigerator compartment 42. Urged (on) 44. Experts 45. Thickened meat juices 46. Official stamp 48. Main artery 49. Levels 50. Veal shank dish, ... bucco 52. Carrion-eating animal 54. Fourth planet from sun 55. Mexican snacks 56. Goodies 57. Youngsters 60. Tehran is there 62. Inventor, Thomas ... 65. Organza or corduroy 67. Long skirts 69. Biblical king 70. Leg/foot joint 72. Nothing 73. Chases (away) 75. Rear 77. South African political party (1,1,1) 79. Room within roof 81. Label 82. Stately 84. Isolated 85. Milk coffee drink, caffe ... 86. Skulk 87. Detectives 88. Riding horse breed

DOWN 1. Wine container 2. Inscribed 3. Rim 4. ... & evens 5. Hesitated 6. Ascended (mountain) 7. Prima donna 8. Poet’s word for before 9. Singer, ... Minogue 10. Dip (biscuit) 12. Citrus tree 14. Harbingers 16. Not dark 19. Instruct 22. Positive electrodes 23. Hangover cure, hair of ... (3,3) 25. Power 26. Confiscates 29. Crew-necked tops (16) 32. Wild beast lair 35. Unscramble 37. Wheel shafts 38. Twilight actress, ... Stewart 40. Shoreline 41. Skeleton photographs (1-4) 42. Occasion 43. Overthrow, coup ... (1’4) 44. Haughty 47. Nauseous in flight 51. Stupid (behaviour) 52. Santa’s laugh (2,2,2) 53. Fleet of warships 54. Indian curry style 58. Acknowledge 59. Gender 61. Sports ground 63. Music genre 64. Snuggle 65. Left behind 66. Motionless 68. Sacrificial block 71. Pale beer 72. Fingertip covering 74. Dedicatory verses 76. Maladies 78. Members’ organisation 80. Kind 83. Expected landing time (1,1,1)

Last week’s solution

Sudoku brought to you by Winners Bet

www.winnersbet.com.au

Sudoku Fill in all squares so each row, column and each of the nine 3 x 3 squares contain all digits from one to nine.

Last week’s Sudoku solution

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

Crossword and Word Search brought to you by www.winnersbet.com.au

Word Search Find all the words listed hidden in the grid of letters. They can be found in straight lines up, down, forwards, backwards or even diagonally. Theme: NUTS ACORN BLANCHED BRAZIL NUT CANDIED CANDLENUT CHESTNUT COCONUT CRACK FILBERT FOLIC ACID HAZELNUT HICKORY MACADAMIA NUTRITIOUS NUTSHELL OIL PECAN PINE NUTS PISTACHIO RAW ROASTED SEED SMOKED SNACK WHOLE

Last week’s Word Search solution

4. ‘Twister’ starred which ‘90s leading man? 5. ‘Jurassic Park’ is based on a novel by which writer? 6. What is Woody’s horse’s name in ‘Toy Story 2’? 7. What colour pill does Neo take in ‘The Matrix’?

WW43387

Test your knowledge about 1990s movies in our special trivia quiz this week.

1. What is the name of Will Smith’s character in ‘Independence Day’? 2. Who sang the song ‘My Heart Will Go On’ from the hit movie ‘Titanic’? 3. What date is ‘Groundhog Day’?

ANSWERS 1. Steve Hiller 2. Celine Dion 3. February 2 4. Bill Paxton 5. Michael Crichton 6. Bullseye 7. Red

Trivia Quiz

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

Explore Darling Harbour Darling Harbour is Sydney’s favourite destination for leisure and entertainment with plenty of restaurants, bars, cafés, museums, theatres, shops and parks to explore and enjoy.

westernweekender.com.au/specialfeatures WW44299

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

The Gold Coast is one of Australia’s premier holiday destinations. Famous for its beaches, surf, theme parks, shopping, nightlife and hinterland, it has been attracting Australian families for many decades.

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Explore Gold Coast

westernweekender.com.au/specialfeatures

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

At the movies... Film the whole family will enjoy RAYA AND THE DRAGON ++++ 1 hour, 57 minutes ERIN CHRISTIE

Disney these days is a far cry from the boring princesses of the last 50odd years, who waited somewhat pathetically for their princes to arrive, and rescue them with a kiss. ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ continues the trend set by Elsa and Ana of ‘Frozen’ and ‘Moana’, showing the kids of this new generation that tough warrior women are here to slay. Tasked with uniting a land split five ways over a political power struggle by finding the last of a sacred species, Raya is the focused and fun hero anyone would want to follow along on a journey. She is joined by a spate of other in-

tense warriors, all fighting for their own, before the film’s overall message of trust and unity, and a dragon called Sisu, brings them together. ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ might be ambitious, but it also feels fresh and fun; one of those truly rare children’s films that the whole family might actually enjoy for once. The colours and cinematography also make for the most stunning show, filled with amazing attention to small and graphic detail making the imaginary world somehow realistic. Fantastic voice work also supports the cast of characters who are not all that cartoonish, considering they are cartoons.

PENRITH

www.hoyts.com.au

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THE PERFect UNIQUE EXPERIENCE TO ENJOY, SHARE OR GIFT

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY BOHO ASTRO - JOANNE MADELINE MOORE Daily posts at www.bohoastro.com | twitter @JoMadelineMoore | © Joanne Madeline Moore 2021

AQUARIUS

PISCES

ARIES

TAURUS

JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 19

FEBRUARY 20 TO MARCH 20

MARCH 21 TO APRIL 20

APRIL 21 TO MAY 21

Saturn is visiting your sign, which can make you feel restricted and self-conscious. Jupiter is in Aquarius as well, so you’ll also experience a strong drive for freedom and independence. It’s definitely a delicate balancing act but being the real, authentic you is still possible in the current climate of COVID rules and regulations. Your motto is from birthday great, writer and activist Maya Angelou: “If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be”.

This week Mercury and Neptune (your power planet) pair up in Pisces (on Monday and Tuesday) which increases your creativity and sensitivity. So it’s a wonderful week to express yourself as you write, sing, draw, dance, perform, paint or play music. Make sure you are inspired by birthday great, writer and civil rights activist Maya Angelou: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour and some style”.

This week the Sun, Venus and Mercury are moving through your sign. So drop the warrior woman attitude and the defensive (and sometimes aggressive) Aries posturing! It’s your time to sparkle and shine, as you show the world how charming, creative and communicative you can be. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, author and activist Maya Angelou: “The best part of life is thriving with passion and compassion, humour and style, generosity and kindness”.

The current planetary aspects help you communicate your ideas with extra passion and power, as you link up with like-minded friends and influential people at work and within your peer group outside of work. But don’t get so stirred up and side-tracked that you lose sight of the authentic Taurean within. Be inspired by singer Celine Dion (who turns 53 on March 30): “What do you need to stay grounded, in touch, in love, connected and emotionally balanced? Look within yourself”.

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

MAY 22 TO JUNE 21

JUNE 22 TO JULY 22

JULY 23 TO AUGUST 23

AUGUST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 23

Proactive Mars is charging through your sign, which provides you with the drive and passion to start steering your life in a more autonomous direction. It’s also time to stop blaming other people for the problems in your life. Put on your Big Girl (or Big Boy) pants and accept responsibility for the choices you make. Be inspired by birthday great, writer and adventurer Giacomo Casanova: “Whatever I have done in the course of my life … has been done freely; I am a free agent”.

Avoid being a lonesome Crab! This week professional projects and creative collaborations with colleagues are favoured as you spark ideas off each other and pool your talents to produce something special. The Sun, Venus and Mercury increase enthusiasm and help you reform a rickety work relationship that’s been experiencing problems. Setting positive new patterns of behaviour sees the union move to a deeper and more satisfying level. Close consultation is the key.

Are you in the process of making an important decision? A parent, teacher, mentor or close friend has some wise advice for you. Listen closely to what they say and then let your intuition be your guide. Coupled Cats – Jupiter and Saturn are transiting through your romance zone, so work hard to make the relationship even better. Single Lions – you will find your soul mate, as long as you are realistic. (Remember – the ‘perfect’ partner doesn’t exist; everyone has flaws!)

You’ve got a tremendous amount on your plate at the moment Virgo but avoid getting into super-stressed mode! Mars is in your career zone and Mercury (your boss planet) is moving through your relationship zones, which will help a close partnership or a joint venture that has been stuck on cruise control. And Mercury also links up with Neptune and Pluto (on Tuesday and Friday). So you’ll find kindness, creativity, focus and a strategic plan will take you far over the coming week.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

SEPTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 23

OCTOBER 24 TO NOVEMBER 22

NOVEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 21

DECEMBER 22 TO JANUARY 20

Mighty Mars is powering through your learning and travel zone (until Friday, April 23). So education, research, philosophical conversations and local adventures are favoured over the next few weeks. Venus and Saturn also shine a bright spotlight on the important relationships (of the romantic and platonic variety) in your life. How can they be nurtured and improved? But don’t let other people drain your energy and disrupt your Libran equilibrium. Stay strong and centred!

Be careful you don’t upset a sensitive child, teenager or friend by making an insensitive comment. Friday’s Mercury/Pluto connection encourages you to transform your life by broadening and deepening your horizons … physically, mentally and spiritually. It’s also time to expand your circle of influence and make positive changes (personally, within your neighbourhood and further afield). Stay alert so you can capitalise on any lucky opportunities that come your way.

Expect a tricky juggle this week Sagittarius. On the one hand, avoid jumping to hasty conclusions. On the other hand, don’t waste too much time weighing up the pros and cons of a given situation. The current planetary patterns discourage being impulsive AND postulating for too long. The best approach is to think things through for a couple of days, and then start turning your ideas into productive projects. So try to get the balance right between deep reflection and fiery action.

This week Saturn (your patron planet) forms positive links with Venus and the Sun. So a lucky break could come your way, especially via a business contact or a family member. But if you don’t have the experience and confidence to capitalise on this opportunity, then it will promptly pass you by. Plus proceed carefully when you’re communicating with other people (particularly online) otherwise you could find yourself slap bang in the middle of a very confusing situation.

Finding the Light that Frees us from Fear

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

HOROSCOPES

Tickets $12.50 Movie Info & Session Times

Ph: 4739 4433 Saturday 10 April 7:00pm No registration is required Join this talk on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/events/3929148250495413 To listen by phone call 0410539713 for information

Alexandre Fischer, CS Paris, France Christian Science Practitioner & Member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship

Sponsored by First Church of Christ Scientist, Penrith

Living life without fear is possible. 7KLV PLQXWH OHFWXUH H[SORUHV KRZ FODULW\ DERXW RXU RQHQHVV ZLWK *RG /RYH KHOSV XV ¿QG answers, peace, and health. The lecture will be followed by a Q&A session. WW44380

Nomadland (M) 25 March to 7 April

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (G)

Blackbird (M)

25 to March to 18 April

25 to 31 March

The Father (M) 1 to 21 April

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Online talk on Christian Science

Join Our Mailing List Direct to your email inbox: Weekly Session Times & Coming Attractions

www.glenbrookcinema.com.au

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

HEALTH WITH ERIN BURNS • ONE POINT HEALTH • 4732 5188

New program provides fun, safe and supportive exercise classes

ast week we saw how diabetes can develop and what the benefits are of exercise in management of blood sugar levels. For a refresh, diabetes can develop when the body resists the effects of insulin or cannot make enough insulin the maintain blood glucose levels in its target range, resulting in elevated levels. Exercise can assist in lowering levels through increased uptake into muscles and improving insulin sensitivity and response, along with reducing risk of complications, controlling weight, and lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. So now the question is how to exercise? OnePointHealth’s Exercise Physiologists have teamed up with Diabetes NSW & ACT to bring ‘Beat It’, a diabetes specific exercise program, into the clinic. Beat It is an eight week program which has been specially developed by Diabetes NSW & ACT to help people have fun and get active while learning practical lifestyle strategies that will help them stay healthy in the long term. Developed for people at all levels of health, weight and fitness, Beat It provides fun, safe and supportive exercise classes for people with or at risk of developing diabetes and other chronic lifestyle

diseases. The program starts with individual assessments to discuss personal goals to tailor the program to each participant. From there Beat It includes twice weekly group physical activity sessions consist-

ing of aerobic, resistance and balance exercises along with fortnightly education sessions to help participants learn how to make healthy lifestyle changes and how to implement strategies into everyday life.

Beat It is available for anybody looking to get active in a supportive environment. Sessions will be held at OnePointHealth from May 3, 2021 on Mondays and Wednesdays.

PET HEALTH WITH DR ERIN SHORT GREENCROSS COREEN AVENUE • 4731 3055

The best way to keep your pets safe during an emergency situation

Coreen Avenue

Puppy Preschool & NEW

Adolescent classes available

4-week block with small class sizes

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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With COVID restrictions beginning to lift, we are excited the school is back in session for our puppies and adolescent dogs.

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

ith our recent deluge of rain, it is important to have a safety and evacuation plan in place for your family, including your pets. Whether your pets are at home with you or need to be relocated, you need to prepare for their safety. It is important to know that pets should not be abandoned unless it is absolutely impossible to safely evacuate them. When organising your pets for evacuation, try to take as many of the following items as you can before leaving your property: • Microchip paperwork. • Current vaccination certificates. • Pet medications and information on any medical conditions. • Bowls, bedding and non-perishable food. • Ensure your pet is wearing a collar and tag and is on a lead or in a carry cage. Remember to stay calm and think clearly when putting your plan into action. Give yourself plenty of time to deal with any unforeseen problems and put your plan into place early. Animals often behave differently during emergencies — they will pick up on your stress and may panic and run. Preparation and

planning can reduce stress for you and your pets. If you are in the situation that you are unable to evacuate or have to leave your pets behind, try to remember the following advice: • Where possible bring your pets inside and confine them to a small space so you know where to locate them. Ideally a room with smaller windows and adequate air flow such as a bathroom. • Post a sign on the front door to let emergency workers know that there is a pet still inside the house. • Provide hiding places for your pets – A carry cage where the door opens at the end is the perfect option for this. • Do not tether pets up as they will be unable to flee if danger is imminent. • Ensure pets are easy to identify with a collar and tag. • Leave multiple water bowls and food bowls in the room. If you need assistance with your pets, contact your local Greencross Vet to arrange boarding or treatments. If you need assistance with an evacuation plan contact NSW Emergency Services and they can help you take the appropriate action to keep you and your pets safe.

WITH ALEX MCKENZIE • FUTURE FINANCIAL SERVICES • 4704 8585

How to ensure your investments are safe and your advisor is the real deal

he recent news surrounding Melissa Caddick allegedly stealing millions of dollars off clients reminded me of an article I wrote a few years ago that discussed how to determine whether your advisor was the real deal. It’s worth noting, like many frauds before her Melissa Caddick wasn’t a licensed financial planner at all. If an advisor is operating within the normal advice and investment protocols it is virtually impossible for them to run away with your money. This is especially the case if they are making recommendations to invest in institutional fund managers and Superannuation companies. Furthermore if structured correctly you are not impacted by the commercial risk that your financial advisor faces. If I go broke, it does not influence my clients’ investments other than having to find another advisor. So what are those protocols that clients should expect? Before providing any advice, an advisor is obligated to provide you with a Financial Services Guide (FSG). This is a document that outlines who the advisor is, who they are licensed through, what areas of advice they have expertise and areas in which they are not qualified to provide advice. There is also lots of other information

contained in this document. Every time it changes, you’ll get a new copy. At Future Financial Services we send an initial email alerting you to the FSG and include a link in every email. It is important to ensure that the advisor is licensed and is able to verify which AFSL they represent. All registered advisors are listed on ASIC. Before any investments are made, an

adviser must provide you with a Statement of Advice (SOA). The SOA provides extensive information about the strategies that are to be implemented, but also outlines the investment products. In order to proceed with any investments, the adviser needs you to sign an Authority to Proceed. The advisor is also required to provide you with a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for every investment they recom-

mend. In the past we used to provide the physical document, in more recent times we normally include electronic links in the SOA and a follow-up email. The PDS is a legal document that aligns “the rules” of the investment. It normally sets limits on the assets it can invest in, sets out the withdrawal procedures as well as many other disclosures. In almost all cases it will be necessary to complete applications for the investments. Ensure that the bank details entered in these applications are your bank details. The only place that electronic withdrawals can be made is to the bank accounts linked to the investor. This is to protect the investor and stop someone directing withdrawals out of the account. The applications will also have payment instructions to make deposits into the recommended investments. All funds for investment should go directly to the product provider. If the advisor asks you to deposit the funds to their account for distribution, this is highly unusual and a red flag. As always, the best guide is your intuition; if it doesn’t feel right, it may not be, ask questions. Furthermore, don’t be afraid to ask the question, advisors like me are not insulted, we want you to be comfortable in knowing your money is safe.

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

MONEY MATTERS

SWIM SAFETY WITH JULIE SHELDRAKE • NEPEAN AQUATIC CENTRE & EVA BORY’S SWIM SCHOOL • 4730 8900

Plenty achieved, but there’s still lots to be done in swim safety with two lanes extending to 50 metres, and a separate Learn To Swim pool heated to 31 degrees with air conditioned observation room for parents – all in a venue that is modern, energy efficient and utilises the ample natural light and ventilation available, whilst using ultra fine filtration systems and UV disinfection to ensure the water in both pools is of excellent quality at all times. However, we are well aware that our work is by no means done. Drowning remains the top cause of accidental death in under five-year-olds, representing an ongoing threat that we need to reduce and finally eradicate. This week’s floods reinforce that water is a natural entity that we need to live alongside with respect for its immense force, whether at home, in the rain, at the river or by the ocean. Please remember to check outside areas regularly this week after the heavy rain. In my final column until spring, I would like to stress the absolute importance of learning to swim, and swimming all year round, from six months of age, until all swimming milestones are reached, to make your child safer around water. Until next summer, stay safer and just keep swimming, all year round.

LEARN TO

SWIM

FOR F OR A ALL LL A AGES GES ALL YEAR ROUND

Celebrating 10 years at Nepean Aquatic Centre and 30 years at Eva Bory Swim School of teaching children to swim and be safer around water!

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his week we are celebrating two massive milestones – 10 years at Nepean Aquatic Centre and 30 years at Eva Bory’s Swim School! That’s over three decades of teaching local children to swim and be safer around the water, something we are incredibly proud of. Eva Bory’s Swim School is an iconic name in swimming, with a long and rich local history. Opened by Hungarian Olympian Eva Bory in the 1970s, generations of families have since worked and learnt swimming and water safety at the Emu Plains venue. Nepean Swim and Fitness directors Karen and Alan Bentley have a personal history at Eva Bory Swim School, with Karen learning to swim at the facility as a child in the ‘70s, and Alan swimming in squads at ‘EB’s’ from 1980 to the mid ‘90s. Karen became a swimming instructor at Eva Bory’s in 1986, with the Bentleys first managing Eva Bory’s Swim School in 1992. Nepean Aquatic Centre was conceived by Alan and Karen Bentley after recognising the need for a first class Aquatic facility in Penrith, and opened in March 2011. NAC is the newest and largest private facility of its kind in our region, featuring a six-lane 25-metre lap pool

nepeanaquaticcentre.com.au • 4730 8900 nepeana

Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

TRAVEL DARLING HARBOUR Words: Nathan Taylor | Photos: Monique Lacaze / Supplied | More Info: www.vibehotels.com

ith a big few weeks in the office upon me, I was treated to a couple of nights in Darling Harbour to recharge the batteries and have a bit of ‘me time’ before a challenging period of work ahead. Last month, I was whisked away to the top floor of the all-new Vibe Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour for two nights and boy, did it do the trick! While my wife accompanied me for part of my stay, I was able to enjoy certain aspects of my trip solo, like a workout at the hotel gym as well as a yummy breakfast at The Sussex Store located on the ground floor. Situated on bustling Sussex Street, Vibe Darling Harbour was Manhattan design chic meets Sydney style. The hotel’s 145-rooms feature playful design touches and array of perks. A mesh wardrobe (pictured), which references a Brownstone elevator, offers a New York loft feel, while semi-circular showers in each room create a sculptured corridor space that’s unique to the property. Speaking with the friendly and knowledgeable staff on site, they informed me that Vibe Darling Harbour’s development and design teams drew inspiration from the historic Sussex Street location and had incorporated international design elements for added character. Everywhere you look old and new meld together. Brickwork was chosen to fit the character of the street, and I’m told when you stand in some of the lower level rooms and look out of the enormous windows onto Sussex Street, it’s this brickwork that frames the view and ties old and new together. Vibe Darling Harbour is also home to Sydney’s newest rooftop restaurant and bar, Above 319, which offers incredible sunset views over Darling Harbour and the city’s inner west. I was even able to enjoy the same view from the comfort of the hotel’s heated rooftop pool (pictured), which was adjacent to the bar area. While Vibe Darling Harbour is one of the best CBD properties I’ve ever stayed at in recent years, I believe a hotel’s location is just as important as the comfort of the bed and softness of the pillows. Vibe Darling Harbour offers a convenient and vibrant location, right in the

heart of the CBD. The hotel is perfectly positioned to explore the very best of what Sydney has to offer, such as shopping at Pitt Street Mall, Chinatown, International Convention Centre and the downtown entertainment precinct. Vibe Darling Harbour is also a short walk to some of the best and most popular restaurants in Sydney. For lunch, my wife and I dined at the world-class Nick’s Seafood Restaurant at Cockle Bay Wharf. For years we’ve wanted to eat at this awesome open-air waterside establishment, and we were finally able to tick that off our bucket list on this trip. A landmark of the Cockle Bay promenade, Nick’s ‘sea to plate’ philosophy showcases the superb flavours of Australian seafood. My wife and I went all out and ordered the Nick’s Signature Seafood Platter (pictured), a towering feast of the ocean’s finest luxuries including whole cooked lobster, freshly shucked oysters and succulent king prawns. If you only eat one seafood platter in your lifetime, make this be it! Another superb restaurant we visited during our stay was Braza Churrascaria, an authentic Brazilian Barbeque house that serves world-renowned Australian meats. Located at the fabulous Darling Quarter precinct – less than five minutes’ walk from the hotel – Braza Churrascaria is an ‘all you can eat’ restaurant, with typical Brazilian service style known as ‘Rodizio’ where Passadores (meat carvers) rotate from table to table serving more than 20 different types of skewers. While my wife and I left the restaurant a little bit heavier than when we arrived, the atmosphere was brilliant and the Passadores had great personalities and knowledge on the food, which only added to the unique experience. Overall, my two-night stay achieved what it needed to – it helped me relax and recharge the batteries before a busy period at work and it also gave me the opportunity to be a tourist in my own city by sampling some of the best restaurants in town. For more information on Vibe Darling Harbour and their latest offers, visit vibehotels.com. For details on the restaurants I dined at, visit cocklebaywharf.com.au and darlingquarter.com.

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the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

AUTISM AWARENESS DAY SPECIAL FE AT U RE

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he 14th World Autism Awareness Day will take place on Friday, April 2, marking the beginning of Autism Awareness month, two campaigns that aim to draw attention to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its multiple effects on many around the world. The rights of persons with Autism are celebrated and recognised, and communities are encouraged to stand together, support each other and show solidarity with persons with Autism. Participants on the day will often wear something blue in support, with Autism Queensland in particular naming their annual donation campaign ‘Go Blue for Autism’. ASD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition, affecting how people communicate and interact with other people and the world around them. They make sense of the world in different ways to those without ASD, sometimes struggling with social interaction and often experiencing restricted or repetitive interests and behaviours. There are many aspects associated with ASD, but

no two people across the Autism Spectrum are the same, with numerous foundations making it clear that shared characteristics do not make up persons with Autism. If you have met one person with Autism, you have not met them all. The Spectrum of Autism means that individuals may present with a few characteristics of Autism, and some will show more than others. Persons with Autism often struggle with social-emotional reciprocity and with non-verbal communication, such as eye contact, difficulty with gestures, body language and facial expressions. This can make it difficult for them to maintain and develop friendships. They can also struggle with stereotyped or repetitive speech, an inflexibility when it comes to routines, patterns or behaviour, sensory hyper or hypoactivity, or certain fixated interests. However, they can be greatly helped by occupational therapy, speech therapy and numerous other treatments. Greater Autism awareness has meant that attitudes to the condition are growing and changing. Autism Awareness Day only further promotes the true spectrum that is ASD, as well as the spectrum of challenges faced by those who have the condition.

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

AUTISM AWARENESS DAY SP O N S O RED CO NTENT

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calm in situations of anxiety and sensory overload. A high sensitivity to both light and sound can also be common in people with Autism. There are audio and lighting visual aids available that assist in calming and soothing, including sound reducing earmuffs and night lights to use at bedtime. The Sensory Store offers a wide range of therapy tools and sensory toys that can help to support people of all ages and abilities. It is owned and operated by NADO, a registered NDIS provider located in Penrith. Visit www.sensorystore.nado.org.au.

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ach person is unique in the way in which they process and deal with stress, however for people with Autism, Asperger’s, ADHD or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) this picture can look a little different. Sensory toys and therapy products can often be useful tools in supporting people with special needs or those on the spectrum as they provide a particular sensory input that many people living with these conditions crave. There are various benefits of sensory toys and tools which focus on promoting touch, increasing concentration, reducing anxiety, supporting fine and gross motor skills and encouraging language development. For those who may struggle to focus or retain attention (particularly in a classroom or learning environment), there are sensory products available that help to promote focus and concentration. Chewable Jewellery is also an effective but discreet method that can support in these areas. Many sensory toys also provide proprioceptive input, the kind of sensory input that lets us know where our bodies are in space. Weighted toys, lap mats, blankets and sleep systems can help to provide this kind of input to people and help to

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

AUTISM AWARENESS DAY SP O N S O RED CO NTENT

Walking to make a difference: How you can help fundraising mission

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s we go to press, the team from Nepean Speech and Occupational Therapy (NSPOT) are headed down to the Snowy Mountains, in readiness for their big walk to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko! At 2,228 metres, Mt Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest point! April is Autism Awareness Month. The NSPOT team provide support to many families who have children with Autism. They are excited to be launching into Autism Awareness Month with this fundraising campaign, to help raise funds, awareness and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Approximately one in 70 people have a diagnosis of Autism. This is a 25-fold increase in the last 30 years! With this increase in prevalence, there are many

myths and stereotypes which are harmful to people who have a diagnosis of Autism. Education is vital to changing these perceptions and ultimately creating a society which is inclusive, nurturing and empowering for all. Everyday the NSPOT team work with children and their families to help them reach their goals. They are also driven to help create a society where children are empowered to be the best version of themselves in this world. The team encourage their community to never stop learning, researching and educating others in everyday conversations. The big 13km walk will occur this Saturday, March 27. Please help support Team NSPOT so that together we can make a difference. Visit www.walkforautism.org.au/fundraisers/teamnspot.

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the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

World W orl Wo Autism A uttiiis s m Au sm Awareness w ar e ne ss wa re en es Day D ay Da

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

Mamalove Connect Hub A new holistic Early intervention centre for additional needs children to have Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Psychology, Music Therapy and to take part in a "get ready for Preschool" program. The hub will also support Early Childhood Educators, Teachers and Parents who are seeking support and strategies for children in their care. Our not-for-profit hub will open in June in Jordan Springs just above Terry White Chemist in our brand new facility. To jump on the waiting list or for more information, please email Emily Constable the Practice Manager at

From left to right: Dave Faint (Builder helping us create the space from Faint Line Constructions), Scott Melville (Owner of the not for Profit), Emily Constable (Practice Manager of Mamalove Connect) and SJM (Student).

Suite 8 Watergum Drive & Lakeside Parade, Jordan Springs 0497 848 419 | mamaloveconnect@gmail.com

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mamaloveconnect@gmail.com

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

AUTISM AWARENESS DAY SP O N S O RED CO NTENT

Support and early intervention thanks to new not-for-profit hub

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

tor team are excited to be a part of the project and through early intervention can make immense positive changes to children’s lives. The early intervention, educator/parent courses and communication with teachers will result with less children with additional needs, in particular Autism being turned away from preschool or day care settings and less suspensions in kindergarten. To go on the waiting list for therapy or to enquire about a therapist position, contact the Practice Manager Emily Constable at mamaloveconnect@gmail. com.

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NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511

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Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) 1300 978 611

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he Mamalove Connect organisation that runs Cranebrook Community Preschool is launching a new not-for-profit hub in Jordan Springs to provide support and early intervention to children with additional needs. When Melanie James’ six-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder she felt lost and realised the severe price of therapy that families had to cover to help their children. She created Mamalove to help provide support through the process for not only children and their parents but also educators so they can better cater to the child’s needs. It also extended into childcare centres to assist services better cater for children with additional needs or behaviours to avoid children being suspended and asked to leave childcare. Opening in June, the centre will be a holistic hub providing therapy for parents as well as speech, occupational and music therapy for children along with psychology and counselling. All children using self or NDIS funding will receive free swimming lessons at Nepean Aquatic Centre and an iPad as a communication device. The passionate therapy and educa-

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Mount Druitt Public School

CANTEEN LICENCE Tenders are called for the licence of the school canteen for the school year commencing on 14th of June, 2021 for a term of approximately 3 years. Annual school enrolments will be approximately 550. General enquiries and requests for a Tender Information Package should be referred to:

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Letters submitted for publication are done so on the condition that The Western Weekender may edit them, without affecting the overall message or intent of the letter. The Western Weekender reserves the right to publish letters in other publications.

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David Barnett - School Administrative Manager Contact: 9625 9036 or david.barnett11@det.nsw.edu.au

WESTERN WEEKENDER LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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TENDERS

COPYRIGHT Content in this publication belongs to Western Sydney Publishing Group, publishers of The Western Weekender, or its licensors, advertisers or affiliates. All content in this publication is protected by Australian and international copyright laws. ETHICAL AND ACCURATE CONTENT The Western Weekender operates under a code covering both ethics and accuracy. If you believe either have been compromised in relation to editorial or advertising content that appears in this publication, you should initially contact the Managing Editor. WW639

POSITIONS VACANT

Tenders must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked “Confidential - School Canteen Tender” and sent to: Dianne Uthmeyer - Relieving Principal Mount Druitt Public School 51 Belmore Avenue, Mount Druitt NSW 2770

POSITION VACANT – GLAZIER Bathurst Glass & Windows is seeking an experienced Glazier to start ASAP in a full-time position. We are looking for a proactive, professional, friendly, driven team member to join our busy business based in Bathurst. The ideal candidate will have experience with installation of glass products such as shower screens, mirrors and have a general knowledge of all types of glazing.

Requests for tender visits to contact Dianne Uthmeyer on 9625 9036 All applicants must make themselves familiar with clause 2 of the tender offer in the information package. WW44175

For this position you will need: • Current Driver’s Licence • White Card • Experience in a similar role This position includes vehicle, phone and uniform provided. FOR IMMEDIATE START. If you feel you would be a perfect fit for the company, please apply now! Please forward your resume to r.small@bathurstglass.com.au or call Robbie on 0413 941975 for more information.

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Tenders close at 3pm on Thursday 1st of April, 2021

All successful candidates will have to undertake a health assessment as well as drug and alcohol screening.

POSITIONS VACANT

DESKTOP PUBLISHER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER It publishes the highly regarded Western Weekender newspaper, leading real estate magazine Western Property, the growing Parra News and a suite of one-off projects. WSPG currently has an opportunity for a Graphic Designer / Finished Artist / Desktop Publisher to join our Production team in what is essentially a hybrid role across advertising and editorial, with a primary focus on ad creation and design. This is a Maternity Leave position from April 2021 until April 2022, with the possibility of a full-time extension.

Requirements: - Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a keen eye for detail; - High proficiency using Adobe Indesign, Photoshop and Illustrator; - A good understanding of the print process; - Ability to work quickly and to tight deadlines. The successful candidate will have plenty of creative flair, who can transform rough designs into amazing marketing material. Previous experience in a similar role would be a huge advantage as would experience across both print and digital. This is a four days per week position – 30 hours MondayThursday.

Please send a cover letter and CV to troy.dodds@parranews.com.au

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Western Sydney Publishing Group (WSPG) is one of Australia’s leading independent newspaper publishers.

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

SPORT ROUGH START FOR GIANTS Saints win a thriller. Back page.

David and Glenn Willmington play cricket for Panthers Cricket Club. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Keeping it in the family NATHAN TAYLOR

“I was on 498 wickets coming into the final game and managed to get two wickets last Saturday to round out the season.” No one can be prouder of Glenn than his 42-year-old son David, who has also taken more than 540 wickets during his long-run with Panthers. Glenn said he loves sharing the field with his best mate each week as they rack up record after record. “David’s a very good bowler, he’s a lot better and more consistent than me,” he said. “Having played at a higher level, he has a lot more skill and always opens the bowling for our team. “We’re not sure what the record books

show, but it’s definitely quite an achievement to have a father and son playing for the same club and both reaching 500 wickets.” This weekend the Willmingtons will be looking to end their memorable season in this best way possible when they battle Penrith RSL for the sixth grade premiership. Glenn said he’ll still keep playing cricket even if his Panthers do win the title. “The body is good, the mind is still sharp, and the competitiveness is still there – why wouldn’t I still play?” he asked. Do you know any other great familythemed sports stories? Email Nathan. Taylor@westernweekender.com.au.

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ocal cricketers Glenn and David Willmington are living the ultimate father and son dream – and they hope it continues for a long time to come. Popular members of the Panthers Cricket Club, the pair play on the same sixth grade side and have enjoyed countless memories together over the years. A fortnight ago, during the final match of the Nepean District Cricket Association regular season, Glenn created another sporting memory for the family when he notched up his 500th career wicket for Panthers at 70-years-old.

After beginning at the club in 1980 aged 30, it took the Emu Plains retiree four decades to reach the incredible milestone – one that he’ll never forget. “It was a catch at first slip… I got the edge and my teammate Darren Powter took the catch, which was fitting because we’ve been playing cricket together for 25 years,” Glenn told the Weekender. “Entering the season I was on 494 wickets but, with the strong team we’ve got this year, I thought I might struggle to get a bowl. “However, our captain was very good and would often give me the ball when he thought I could do something for the team or when the game was put to bed.

Basketball uncertainty Penrith Basketball Association to weigh up costs of new competition NATHAN TAYLOR

enrith Basketball Association are still undecided as to whether they’ll pursue a place in next year’s new NBL1 East competition. The Waratah League, which Penrith field teams in, will be replaced by NBL1 East in 2022 after an agreement was struck between Basketball NSW and the National Basketball League. Next year NBL1 East will join NBL1 South (Victoria, Tasmania), NBL1 North (Queensland), NBL1 Central (South Australia) and NBL1 West (Western Australia) as NBL1 expands its footprint across Australia. NBL1 Chief Commercial Officer Brad Joyner said this is an exciting announcement for NBL1 and Australian basketball. “When we developed the NBL1 concept, the vision was for a national league with five conferences across Australia. In 2022 we will accomplish this goal with the establishment of NBL1 East,” he said. “We thank Basketball NSW for their hard work and support in creating this partnership which will take basketball to the next level in the state.

What does the future hold?

“Women and men in NSW can now be part of NBL1 and enjoy the profile and status they deserve with all games to be live streamed and promoted across NBL1’s digital channels.” While competing teams in NBL1 East are still to be announced, Penrith Basketball isn’t sure whether the National Program will suit all associations in the current Waratah League 1 competitions.

Penrith Basketball Manager Leonie Moore said the cost for associations to be involved in NBL1 East will heavily weigh on any decision by Penrith and most associations around Sydney. “NBL1 teams from other states have quite substantial budgets in place towards recruitment of players and coaches and operation – this is likely one of the hurdles for NSW,” she said.

“There is also an increased demand placed on associations to administer this program on Game Day such as live streaming, entertainment, staffing and statisticians. “Any decision that Penrith Basketball makes will be based on what is best for the majority of our members and how this may impact financially on our association.” While it appears Penrith Basketball’s future in NBL1 East is still up in the air, Moore confirmed that the association will still be involved in the various secondary competitions that arise. “If Penrith do not enter teams into NBL1 we would still enter both male and female teams in the next most appropriate level of competition as well as continuing to develop our talented Youth League athletes and juniors,” she said. Basketball NSW CEO Maria Nordstrom said the game has never been stronger in NSW and the establishment of NBL1 East will only see the sport go from strength to strength. “The move to NBL1 East is an exciting one for basketball in our state as it will help attract higher quality players to NSW while also showcasing the current talent we have playing in our leagues,” she said.

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Friday, March 26, 2021 « the western weekender

SPORT

Multi-sport champ Teenager competes across both rowing and netball NATHAN TAYLOR

ulti-sport champions Ellyse Perry and Gretel Tippett are inspiring a local teenager to achieve her very own sporting dreams. 14-year-old Olivia Harris is a successful athlete across many sporting disciplines, and this week is the latest recipient of the Penrith Valley Sports Foundation Junior Sports Star Award. The Glenbrook resident is currently a member of the Penrith District Netball Association, Indoor Netball NSW U14s team and the Nepean Rowing Club. Outside of the Penrith LGA, Olivia is a member of the Glenbrook Little Athletics Club – competing at State level – and the Blue Mountains Grammar School netball squad. Olivia began playing netball as a seven-year-old at Blue Mountains before switching to Penrith at age 11. In 2018, she was a part of the team that won the Netball NSW State Age Division 1 Championship – the first Penrith victory in 20 years. In 2019, Olivia won her school’s Junior Sports Person of the Year award and just

Olivia Harris is a keen rower.

The 14-year-old is a top netballer too.

last month, she competed at both the NSW Rowing Championships and a preseason netball carnival for Penrith on the same weekend. The clash of timing for these two important occasions meant Olivia had to split her time and only compete in one event at the NSW Rowing Championships. “I feel honoured and privileged to be part of two Western Sydney Academy of Sport programs – Rowing and Netball. I find it very rewarding participating and competing in both sports,” Olivia said. “I’ve been told eventually I have to make a choice, but I want to keep up with both sports for as long as possible.

“My ultimate sporting career goal is to replicate the achievements of world-class multi-sport athletes like Ellyse Perry and Gretel Tippett.” Olivia recently faced the challenge of surgery to repair a damaged ear drum, which interrupted her preparation for the NSW Rowing Championships. Despite this, she still achieved a personal best in the Women’s U16 Single Skull (1000m), posting a top 10 time, narrowly missing a place in the final. Nominated by Natalie McClelland from WSAS, Olivia’s Junior Sports Star Award is all thanks to sponsor St Marys Leagues Club.

SAINTS WIN A THRILLER Story continued from » p.80

“It’s frustrating sitting here because there were some really positive signs… I could sit here and say it’s one that got away, but it was a really good arm wrestle. I really rate St Kilda and think they’re going to be a really good team,” he said. “That game went down to the wire, I think it was a point the difference with three minutes to go and they made the moment of that last three minutes and skipped away with an eight-point win.” Unlike in previous years, the Giants are no longer premiership favourites. In fact, many experts believe they’ll struggle to just make the top eight this year after losing a lot of experience in the off-season. Cameron said he was proud of his inexperienced side but rued the missed opportunity to get a first up win on the board. “We know we have eight young lads with 15 games and under, and they are going to fluctuate up and down on fundamentals and things like that,” he said. This Sunday evening GWS will look to bounce back when they travel to WA to face Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

the western weekender » Friday, March 26, 2021

SPORT

Around the grounds CRICKET: The wet weather prevented any play for either of the Panthers Cricket Club teams competing in Nepean District Cricket Association (NDCA) Finals last weekend. With both teams finishing in the top two on the ladder, they have the luxury of moving straight through to their respective Grand Finals. Panthers’ first grade team will battle Emu Plains for the title, while the club’s sixth grade team will go up against Penrith RSL for premiership glory. AFLW: GWS have continued their good run of form to round out the season, defeating Geelong by seven points in Round 8 of the AFLW. Following the 16-9 win, the Giants are still in the mix for a coveted place in the upcoming Finals, but they’ll need a host of results to go their way making it highly unlikely they will advance. This Sunday afternoon the Giants will host Carlton at Blacktown International Sportspark in the final game of the regular season. A-LEAGUE: After dropping two on the trot in recent weeks, the Wanderers have now won three straight games and are just one victory away from top spot on the A-League ladder. Two goals to Mitch Duke on either side of half-time plus another to James Troisi helped Western Sydney cruise past Perth Glory in what was a well-deserved 3-0 win at a very wet Bankwest Stadium last Friday night. The three points take Western Sydney into outright ownership of second place in the standings, just one win off Central Coast at the top. The Wanderers will travel to

Melbourne this Friday night to face City at AAMI Park. W-LEAGUE: Adelaide United moved back into third place on the W-League table with a 3-1 win over Western Sydney last Sunday afternoon in Round 13 of the W-League. 5,159 fans packed the stands at Coopers Stadium to smash the W-League attendance record and watch their home side come from behind to seal a victory crucial to Adelaide’s chances of finishing in the top four. Olivia Price netted the lone goal for the Wanderers, who wrapped up their season in sixth position with four wins, one draw and seven losses to their name. OZTAG: In a huge blow to local players, Penrith OzTag have cancelled their Winter season semi-finals due to flooding at the Kingsway Fields in St Marys. As a result, the top two teams from each division have advanced to their respective Grand Finals next week, however they are highly unlikely to be played due to the state of the playing fields. Prize money will be split among the top two teams in each division, but bizarrely not to the other teams that also reached the semi-finals after a tough and long season. Meanwhile, Penrith Touch, who also play out of the Kingsway, cancelled their Finals Series too.

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.

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SPORT Giants fall short

Friday, March 26, 2021

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• • • • • • • • •

reater Western Sydney’s 10th season in the AFL didn’t get off to the start they would’ve hoped, going down to an undermanned St Kilda side by eight points last weekend. In diabolical conditions at Giants Stadium, momentum ebbed and flowed during the final term before the Saints edged ahead in the dying minutes to secure the 86-78 victory. Key forward Harry Himmelberg – who was asked to step up in the aftermath of Jeremy Cameron’s departure to Geelong – was on fire in the season opener, scoring three goals for the home side. However, Himmelberg’s strong game wasn’t enough for GWS with St Kilda’s leading goalkicker from last year, Dan Butler, producing the gamesealing effort with 40 seconds remaining. Butler raced in and knocked the ball loose from Callan Ward’s grasp, earning a holding-the-ball free kick. He then nailed his resultant set shot, ensuring the Saints banked their first win of the season. Although a little frustrated, Giants coach Leon Cameron was pleased with his side’s performance in what were difficult conditions.

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Harry Himmelberg kicks during training at Tom Wills Oval. Photo: GWS Giants.

Story continues on » p. 79

Life starts at Thornton Park Michael and Kerrie’s family home of 42 years became too much to maintain. They have more room now than they could have imagined. “It was a Monday when we first walked into Thornton Park and fell in love with it. By the Tuesday, we’d decided to buy. The kitchen is double the size of our old one, and we have more space here than we did in our house. The apartments are beautifully configured, and it’s so easy to get around. Our kids are very excited for us. The pressure’s been taken off them now we’re settled for the long term and it’s good knowing there’s home care and a nursing home next door should anything ever change. It’s everything we could have hoped for and more.”

“We upsized our life.” – Michael & Kerrie, Residents

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.

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