Blacktow N
TOGETHER, ALWAYS
MACKILLOP Family Services has issued an urgent call for foster carers in Blacktown and the surrounding areas to care for two under-two siblings, as it is vital that the baby and toddler sisters stay together and grow up together. Grace and Ava* require a stable, loving environment with compassionate and committed carers who can offer consistent care and nurture to enable these little children to thrive. “We are doing everything possible to make sure these two adorable little girls get the chance to live their life together and develop a beautiful bond as sisters,” said Patricia Maher, NSW Carer Recruitment and Development Manager for MacKillop. More inside.
Blacktown City
Blacktown City Seniors Festival
Blacktown City is proud to celebrate the 2026 Seniors Festival from 2-15 March with the theme Live Life in Colour.
This year’s festival recognises, honours and empowers seniors across the Blacktown City community through a program of social, recreational, cultural and educational activities.
The 2026 Seniors Festival offers a range of accessible, low-cost and free events designed to promote social inclusion and reduce isolation among older residents.
Featured activities include:
• live entertainment, concerts and morning teas/high teas
• health and wellbeing workshops (fitness, nutrition, mental health)
• technology help sessions to build digital confidence
• community expos showcasing local services
• cultural performances reflecting our diverse population.
To find out more, visit blacktown.nsw.gov.au/seniorsfestival
Festival of Colour
Celebrate and connect with your neighbours at the Festival of Colour!
This free and colourful event will feature a range of cultural activities and entertainment for all. The event will host a variety of food trucks and market stalls, community groups, cultural performances, kids rides and craft as well as the highlight of the day, the colour throw!
Date: Saturday 21 March from noon to 6 pm
Location: Quakers Hill Park, Hambledon Road, Quakers Hill.
So grab the family and come and join us for an afternoon with great company, great food and a whole lot of fun.
To find out more, visit blacktown.nsw.gov.au/colour
2026 Women’s Asian Cup
Sunday 1 March, Thursday 5 March and Sunday 8 March from 8 pm to 10 pm
Warrick Lane, Blacktown
We’re excited to be creating a live site space for everyone to come together and support the Matildas throughout the Women’s Asian Cup this March at Warrick Lane.
Bring down your friends, enjoy the local restaurants, and soak up the atmosphere as we cheer on the girls and help them make our country proud. Let’s show our support together!
Mount Druitt to Toongabbie Corridor Strategy – discussion paper
We are preparing a long-term strategic plan for areas along the T1 Western Rail Line corridor including Mount Druitt, Rooty Hill, Doonside, Blacktown, Seven Hills and Toongabbie to proactively plan for our future to ensure our communities are supported with the housing and infrastructure we need
This plan is called the Mount Druitt to Toongabbie corridor strategy.
We have developed a discussion paper which represents the first milestone in our consultation process with preliminary ideas that will help shape the future of the corridor.
We want to invite feedback, spark conversation and ensure that the strategy being developed reflects our community.
Have your say by:
• adding your ideas with our interactive online map
• completing online surveys
• engaging with our in-person sessions around your local areas
• attending community forums
• contacting us via email, phone or letter.
For more info, visit haveyoursay.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/ corridorstrategy
Successful WEXPO Civics launch
THE first WEPO event for 2026 was an outstanding success with about 100 people attending, providing positive feedback on the Engaging Better with Government workshop.
Hosted by SydWest Multicultural Services and facilitated by Shazya Khan with guest speakers Blacktown State MP, Stephen Bali; SydWest CEO Elfa Moraitakis; and, youth speaker Sudeep Velagapudi; they discussed the three tiers of government and their lived experience in working towards successful outcomes.
After the informative talks the participants were engaged in an interactive session working through the maze of issues and identifying the more appropriate tier of government that would deal with the issue.
The discussion showed how a multi-tier governments need to collaborate with community and organ-
isations to improve the outcome for society.
The participants had a deeper dive in the complex health system and how all tiers of government have their fair share of responsibilities working together with consumers and health industry.
Rotarian Keith Waller said: “Knowledge is key to find your way through the bureaucratic complexities, and we were
shown how to participate in parliamentary inquiries and council’s have your say so we can be part of the solution.”
Local accountant, Satish Kumar said: “This workshop was great way to interact with community leaders and the public on seeing how the different levels of government operate, and we can have real input into the decision making.”
Elfa Moraitakis said the session had equipped CALD community members with practical knowledge to navigate government systems, pathways to have their voices heard, and the confidence to actively shaping the decisions that affect their lives.
Sudeep Velagapudi said: “It was absolutely amazing to hear all the different experiences shared by those in attendance around their own interactions with different levels of government. Workshops like this are exactly what is needed to combat misinformation in the digital age.
Stephen Bali MP said he was pleasantly surprised by the large turn out and the thirst for knowledge. “You can be a keyboard warrior in the social media world or make positive change and engage with people in the real world,” he said.
Elfa Moraitakis – Blacktown Woman of the Year
AS part of the NSW Woman of the Year awards, Elfa Moraitakis was named Blacktown State Electorate Woman of the Year by Stephen Bali MP. Ms Moraitakis is renowned for her strong advocacy in addressing the challenges facing women as well as driving social cohesion across multicultural,
We’re urgently seeking a foster carer for twounder-two siblings in Blacktown and the surrounding areas. Can you help?
If you’ve ever thought about giving back to your community, come along to an obligation-free information session where you can learn about what’s involved in becoming a foster carer and the support available.
She started with SydWest in 2010 as a manager and was appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 10 years ago. Under Elfa’s tenure as CEO, SydWest employees have grown from 112 to almost 400. 10 years ago, Elfa spoke about her passion “to form innovative partnerships to ensure that people in western Sydney are fully engaged and continue to receive the
best and most appropriate care.” Today, her vision has achieved key milestones including multiculture community finding their voice in civics programs; innovative youth engagement programs; new partnerships expanding NDIS support programs and improving industry leading support for refugee resettlement services.
Foster carers needed for siblings Grace and Ava*
Date: Tuesday 10 March, 6.00pm
Location: MacKillop Blacktown, 1/38 Prince Street, Blacktown
How to register: No registration required For more information, get in touch with us on 1300 791 677 or fostercare@ mackillop.org.au.
A peaceful place to honour and remember
Set in Sydney’s west, Kemps Creek Memorial Park offers a beautifully landscaped and affordable resting place, thoughtfully designed to serve people of all faiths, cultures and traditions.
Choose from traditional burial and cremation options, natural bushland burials, and personalised services held in our serene outdoor pavilion.
A place where compassion, choice and respect guide every step - and where families are supported with care during life’s most important moments.
*Names changed and stock image used to protect privacy.
*Names changed and stock image used to protect privacy.
Contact our caring team today to explore your memorial options. 230–260 Western Road, Kemps Creek p: 9826 2273 e: admin@kempscreekcemetery.com.au w: kempscreekmemorialpark.com.au
www.greaterblacktownnews.com.au www.facebook.com/theblacktownnews
ISSUE 60 | March 2026
How to get The News
The Blacktown News is available at strategic locations throughout Blacktown LGA. To find a location near you visit our website.
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Contacts
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info@greaterblacktownnews.com.au
Editor Michael Walls michael@accessnews.com.au
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BLACKTOWN’S TRUSTED LOCAL MEDIA VOICE
Local news voice for Sydney’s North West
Our sister publication covers the high growth area of Sydney’s North West, bounded by Blacktown, Hills and Hawkesbury Councils, including: Kellyville Ridge, Marsden Park, Riverstone, Schfields, The Ponds, Plumpton, Stanhope, Collebee and more.
WOMEN IN SMaLL bUSINESS: cost of burnout.
SENIOrS LIVINg: The backbone of our community.
$720M RICHMOND RD UPGRADE Major work to start soon
THE Richmond Road upgrade will today reach a major milestone with the first sod turned, marking the start of major work on the project.
The $720M upgrade will ease congestion, improve safety and support future housing, development and connectivity across this growing region in Western Sydney.
Up to 89,000 vehicles use Richmond Road each day, with traffic volumes forecast to increase significantly in the years ahead as the region continues to grow.
Traffic modelling shows the upgrades are expected to cut average travel times by around 21 per cent during the morning peak and 34 per cent in the afternoon peak once complete.
The Richmond Road Upgrade includes three major projects.
$520M M7 Motorway to Townson Road upgrade:
• The M7 Motorway to Townson Road upgrade will widen Richmond Road between Colebee and Marsden Park to reduce congestion, improve safety and support future housing and development across Sydney’s North West.
• Approximately 2.2 kilometres of Richmond Road will be expanded from four lanes to six lanes, including a new concrete bridge over Bells Creek with travel lanes and a shared path for
pedestrians and cyclists.
• A new flyover bridge will be built from the M7 Motorway Rooty Hill Road North off- ramp to Richmond Road northbound, bypassing two sets of traffic lights and reducing congestion and queuing on the motorway.
$150M Elara Boulevard to Heritage Road upgrade:
• The 1.6 kilometre upgrade of Richmond Road between Elara Boulevard and Heritage Road will improve access for the growing Marsden Park community and nearby suburbs, strengthening connections to Blacktown.
• This work will widen Richmond Road from two lanes to a four-lane divided carriageway and deliver a wider central median to allow for future expansion to six lanes if required.
Both projects are equally funded by the Federal and NSW governments.
The $50M Richmond Road Corridor planning project will investigate further investment opportunities along the corridor from the M7 Motorway to The Driftway, securing the future of one of the region’s busiest and most congested arterial roadways.
The Australian Government has
committed $37 toward this planning work.
The upgrades also include a new bus priority signalised intersection, an extended shared path connecting into Marsden Park, and improved flood resilience along this busy corridor.
The contracts awarded in October last year cover the M7 Motorway to Townson Road upgrade and Elara Boulevard to Heritage Road upgrade.
The Richmond Road upgrade is part of the North West Growth Centre Area Road Network Strategy to support development in this fast-growing precinct.
These projects are part of the Australian Government’s $18B infrastructure pipeline for Western Sydney and builds on the $7.4B the NSW Government has invested in Western Sydney roads since March 2023.
Blacktown MP Stephen Bali said: “Our community has been calling for improvements to Richmond Road for years, and the Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job. These upgrades will improve access between Marsden Park and Blacktown and support the continued growth of Western Sydney.”
Riverstone MP Warren Kirby said Richmond Road is a lifeline for the rapidly growing suburbs of Riverstone and Marsden Park.
Cheaper home batteries for locals
MORE than a quarter of a million households, small businesses and community organisations have now installed a home battery under the Federal Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries program, with around half of those installing new or upgraded solar systems at the same time.
Batteries help households store the cheaper, cleaner energy they generate during the day, and use it at night. That means less reliance on peak prices, a more reliable grid and putting downward pressure on prices for everyone.
New postcode-level data shows the clean energy upgrade is being led by the outer suburbs and by rural and regional communities, not the inner-city. Around 77 per cent of uptake has occurred in these regional and outer-suburban areas such as North West Sydney.
These results reflect what households are saying right across the country; people want to cut their power bills, get more value from their solar, and take control of their energy use.
The data shows strongest uptake across family suburbs, outer metro growth areas, and towns and regions where households are already leading the way on rooftop solar.
The electorate of Greenway is ranked second in NSW, and sixth in
the country for installation of cheaper home batteries. While next door, the electorate of Mitchell is ranked first in the state and forth across Australia.
Attorney-General and Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowlandn said: “In Greenway, almost 3,000 families and local businesses have installed a cheaper home battery, helping them save money and making their homes and businesses more energy efficient.
“These results show our community
is embracing a cleaner energy future that is made from Australia’s abundant renewable resources.
“Locals in North West Sydney understand that practical, affordable clean energy isn’t a distant goal – it’s happening right now, here in our community.”
Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen said: “This is what the clean energy transformation looks like when it is working for Australians. It is
it is household-focused,
and it is being led by the suburbs and the regions.
“Cheaper Home Batteries are helping families cut
and get more value from their solar. The postcode data makes it clear, this is not an inner-city story, it is a national story.
“The Coalition want to slow down cheaper renewables and keep people stuck with higher bills. Labor is getting on with the job, cleaner, cheaper, reliable energy for every community.”
Top Suburbs in Greenway
Blacktown MP Stephen Bali, Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison.
BLACKTOWN RESIDENTS ASKED TO HELP
Keep under-two siblings together
MACKILLOP Family Services
has issued an urgent call for foster carers in Blacktown and the surrounding areas to care for two under-two siblings, as it is vital that the baby and toddler sisters stay together and grow up together.
Grace and Ava* require a stable, loving environment with compassionate and committed carers who can offer consistent care and nurture to enable these little children to thrive.
“We are doing everything possible to make sure these two adorable little girls get the chance to live their life together and develop a beautiful bond as sisters,” said Patricia Maher, NSW Carer Recruitment and Development
NManager for MacKillop.
“They are delightful and very happy in their established routine,
and we would love to see them grow up in a stable and loving home.”
Specialist training and 24/7 support are available for people willing to step into this vital role. Carers also receive a tax-free allowance to help meet the needs of the young person in their care.
“There’s a misconception that only certain people can be carers,” said Ms Maher. “But whether you’re single, partnered, from the LGBTIQA+ community, retired, or still working, if you have compassion, resilience and a willingness to learn, you can make a life-changing difference.”
MacKillop is calling on people across Blacktown and the surrounding areas to consider becoming a foster carer.
“It’s important to try to keep children connected to their local community and to maintain important relationships they have with their extended family. Keeping children connected is a priority, and to do this, agencies like MacKillop need people from the local area to provide safe, nurturing homes for children who are unable to live safely in their own homes,” added Ms Maher.
A special Foster Care Information Session will be held on Tuesday 10 March at 6.00pm in MacKillop’s Blacktown office at 1/38 Prince Street, Blacktown, close to the train station.
Prospective carers can find out more about what’s involved in foster care, or visit www.mackillop.org.au/fostercare
*Names changed to protect privacy
Shutting down illicit tobacco operators
SW Health Inspectors have now issued 105 short-term closure orders since new laws strengthening tobacco and vaping control efforts came into effect in November 2025. This milestone comes ahead of a further increase to the federal tobacco excise, driving concerns this will push more people to illicit market tobacco as the cost disparity
between illegal and legal tobacco continues to grow. Under the November 2025 laws, NSW Health supported by NSW Police make short-term closure orders of up to 90 days for premises selling illicit tobacco, illegal vaping goods, or selling tobacco without a licence. In the past 10 days, 30 more stores across Hunter New England, Murrumbidgee, Nepean Blue Mountains,
Northern Sydney, Sydney, South Eastern Sydney, South Western Sydney, Western Sydney, Illawarra Shoalhaven, and Western NSW Local Health Districts have been shut down immediately for 90 days. NSW Health inspectors seized approximately 700,000 illicit cigarettes and 3,900 illicit vapes while implementing the Closure Order at these 30 premises.
Business for sale
Expressions of interest are invited for the purchase of E a s y v i e w B l i n d s , a w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d w i n d o w
business based in Lithgow but serving the region Blue Mountains to Bathurst, Oberon to Rylstone.
The owner of the business wishes to retire but will offer training and advice to the successful purchaser.
Financial statements are available on request after the signing of a confidentiality agreement.
The existing staff are very capable and experienced in the trade.
The business is offered with its premises 52 Enfield Avenue, Lithgow, or on its own, with a lease on the property if required.
The fleet of three vehicles is offered with the sale of the business.
Easyview Blinds is offered for sale as a going concern.
This business will suit a handyman or trades person with interpersonal skills.
In the first instance please contact the owner, George Auld o n
Flying disc fun at Whalan Reserve
BRAD BUNTING
REMEMBER the fun of throwing a frisbee or disc at a park?
I had a great time trying out a new disc golf course at Whalan Reserve recently which brings back those good times.
How does it work? Players throw a frisbee or disc and try and land it in baskets installed around the course.
Council has installed an 18-basket course as a way of providing free outdoor fun for all ages.
So grab a frisbee, some friends and enjoy the course. Let me know if you get a hole in one!
Pop-up community forums roll out
Council’s Pop-up Community Forums are underway for 2026 and I am enjoying meeting many of you.
Our forums are an opportunity to share feedback with your Ward Coun-
cillors and I on what matters most to you. There is no registration, no queuing and no agenda.
Pop-up Community Forums are
Npart of our commitment to listening to you so we can guide Council to serve our community better.
For dates, venues and times,
please see Council’s website and social media.
Taking the hassle out of development applications
Have you heard about Council’s new digital planning assistant making development applications easier?
Called DAISY, the tool is designed to help you better understand planning requirements and lodge your development application efficiently.
DAISY stands for Development Application Information System and is an artificial intelligence-powered tool available on Council’s website.
It provides 24-hour access to general planning information and guidance to support people at the early stages of a development application.
It does not replace Council’s planning staff or decision-making.
I encourage you to try DAISY for your next application.
Boost for Mount Druitt home buyers
EW data reveals that 1,312 first home buyers in Mount Druitt have been given a helping hand by the NSW Government, saving an average of $21,485 off the cost of their first home. The program provides a full stamp duty exemption of $30,412 for first home buyers purchasing a property up to $800,000 and a concession for homes priced between $800,000 and $1M. It replaces the previous Liberal-National Government’s forever tax on first-home buyers, which left first-home
buyers paying an annual tax back to the Government. Across NSW, 82,174 first home buyers have saved an average of $20,475 since July 2023. Of those, 58,111 people paid no stamp duty at all, while 24,063 individuals paid a reduced amount. The scheme also works with the Albanese Labor Government’s 5% Deposit and Shared Equity schemes, making it even easier for people and families to buy their first home. Visit: https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/grants-schemes/assistance-scheme.
Authorised by Chris Bowen MP, ALP, Fairfield West
Brad Bunting is Mayor of Blacktown City.
2026 Apprenticeship / Traineeship & Jobs Expos
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& SPONSORSHIPS NOW OPEN
Connect with over 18,000 potential recruits. Last year, our expos attracted thousands of job seekers across NSW. Don’t miss your chance to tap into this massive talent pool. Scan the QR Code to register your booth today.
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Offering Exhibitors the opportunity to speak with thousands of GWS High School students and Careers Advisers as students explore career and further education options available to them through Universities, Registered Training Organisations, Apprenticeship Centre’s, Group Training Organisations, Private Colleges, Professional Associations and Employers
SCAN THE QR CODE TO REGISTER AS A SPONSOR OR EXHIBITOR
2026 BLACKTOWN LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS Time to nominate your favourite
THE time is fast approaching to show your appreciation for local businesses in the Blacktown community.
The people who kickstart your day with a smile and a coffee, the people who offer a listening ear while they do your hair and nails, the people you call when your car needs servicing or your script needs filling, and the places that offer your favourite dine-in and takeout options.
Now is your chance to recognise your favourite business, thank them for their services, and give back to your community.
Nominations for the 2026 Blacktown City Local Business Awards oipoen on February 16, 2026 and close on March 17, 2026, with winners being announced at a prestigious awards ceremony on May 19 at Blacktown Workers Club.
From the hundreds of nominations already received, it is clear that businesses in Blackltown have many loyal and happy customers who appreciate their efforts.
Managing Director of Precedent Productions and Awards Founder Steve Loe said: “The Blacktown com-
munity is always an enthusiastic supporter of the awards, which shows not only the high calibre of the businesses in this area, but the strong community spirit of those who live and work in Blacktown City.”
Mr Loe would like to thank this year’s Presenting Partner: Commonwealth Bank, Major Partners: Blacktown City Council, NOVA Employment, Blacktown Workers Club, and Westpoint, and Support Partners:
Seven Hills Plaza, Bx Networking, Greater Blacktown Business Chamber, North West Business Chamber, White Key Marketing, and Kings Langley Shopping Centre who have thrown their support behind the local business community and the Blacktown City awards program.
He also thanks the Blacktown City Media Partner, the Blacktown News, who will provide weekly updates on the Awards program and run a special
Finalists Feature and Winners Feature.
Mr Loe encourages anyone who hasn’t already nominated a business, to jump online, search for your favourite business or a business you feel deserves recognition and place your vote.
To vote for your favourite business, or for further information on the Blacktown City Local Business Awards, head to www. thebusinessawards.com.au
Last year’s winners
Message from the Mayor Councillor Brad Bunting
Blacktown City Council is proud to be a major sponsor of the Blacktown City and Mount Druitt St Marys Local Business Awards.
Blacktown is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia, with our current population of over 450,000 forecast to grow to over 600,000 residents within 20 years.
Our economy is over $26 billion and based on the trading activity of over 30,000 local businesses.
During these challenging times, we know that it is particularly important for our Council to support local businesses who are the backbone of our economy.
The Local Business Awards is an opportunity for our community to come together and acknowledge the great work our local businesses are doing in providing jobs, goods and services to support our City’s people.
I am proud to recognise that several Council businesses are regularly nominated as finalists in their award categories.
Congratulations to all winners and finalists in the Awards!
Blacktown City
blacktown.nsw.gov.au
BLACKTOWN SNAPSHOT
33,878 Registered businesses supporting
Local jobs
Transforming
Blacktown City
Stay up to date on the latest with Blacktown City’s transformational projects, funded by the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants (WSIG), by visiting blacktown.nsw.gov.au/WSIG or scanning the QR code.
Blacktown Local Business Awards 2026 Launch
Last year’s gala event.
Since opening in 2020, Ability Choice Care has grown into a trusted disability support provider in the Blacktown community, built on the belief that every person deserves choice, independence, and opportunity. Located in Westpoint Shopping Centre, our vibrant Activity Centre provides inclusive programs that support people living with disability to develop life skills, build confidence, and participate meaningfully in the community Our diverse and passionate team reflects the cultural richness of the Blacktown LGA, ensuring every participant feels understood, respected, and supported
In a short time, we have created a welcoming hub where some of the most vulnerable members of our community can connect, learn, and thrive Ability Choice Care is proud to collaborate with local organisations and businesses to create inclusive opportunities while also helping increase the community profile of Westpoint Shopping Centre. We would be honoured to be recognised in the Blacktown Local Business Awards and invite the community to vote for Ability Choice Care and visit us at Westpoint to see the difference we are making every day
cPa Support for a fairer aTO
CPA Australia supports the Tax Ombudsman’s call for fairer General Interest Charges (GIC) remission and welcomes the ATO accepting all recommendations to improve transparency, consistency and fairness. The group says reforms must include empathy and proportionality, especially for taxpayers facing genuine financial hardship. It stresses clearer guidance, better communication and more balanced decision-making, particularly since GIC became non-deductible in 2025, increasing financial pressure on individuals and small businesses.
Foster care reforms overdue
THE PSA says NSW foster care reforms are a long-overdue reset after outsourcing failures under the Permanency Support Program. The union argues fragmented responsibility harmed outcomes despite rising costs. Reforms will strengthen government oversight, reduce outsourcing, improve accountability, boost foster carer recruitment, and support Aboriginal organisations. The PSA says the changes respond to frontline concerns, restore decision-making to government, and aim to improve child protection outcomes and public confidence.
govt to review cafe red tape
THE NSW Government will review red tape affecting cafés and restaurants to simplify approvals, reduce paperwork and make compliance clearer for more than 50,000 food businesses. Led by the Productivity and Equality Commissioner, the review will examine licences, permits, reporting and inspections, aiming to cut duplication without lowering safety standards. Building on existing small business reforms, recommendations will be delivered in August 2026 to help operators focus on customers and growth.
Suspended under new laws
NSW Fair Trading has suspended agent Deepak Bangarh’s licence for 60 days over price misrepresentation and failing to pass on all offers and appointed a manager to oversee his business during ongoing investigations. In a separate case, Epping agent John Kim’s licence was cancelled and he was disqualified for five years after allegedly misappropriating about $300,000 in trust funds. NSW is also considering tougher underquoting laws and has launched a public “Name and Shame” register for disciplinary actions.
Newsbytes
real costs of extreme weather
EXTREME weather caused almost $3.5B in insured losses across 264,000 claims in 2025, according to the Insurance Council of Australia. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred was the costliest event at $1.5 billion, while severe spring hailstorms
Lockout laws finally gone
TWELVE years after Sydney’s lockout laws began, the NSW Government is removing the final major restrictions, including the 3:30am last drinks rule, to boost the night-time economy. Changes also scrap plastic cup rules and other blanket limits, while retaining key safety measures. A review found targeted regulation can maintain safety as assaults decline. The reforms aim to revive live music, support venues, and strengthen Sydney’s growing entertainment precincts and nightlife economy.
Salves urge using Moneycare
THE Salvation Army is urging Australians to use Moneycare, its free financial counselling service, as new research shows 44% will start 2026 in debt and many feel growing financial stress. De-
added $1.4B. Five major events were declared significant or catastrophic. Insurers expect costs to rise as more claims arrive and continue supporting recovery efforts, with further extreme weather already impacting Australia in early 2026.
spite delivering over 48,000 sessions last year, awareness remains low. Moneycare helps with budgeting, debt and financial planning. Survey results show widespread money pressures and discomfort discussing finances, with the Salvos encouraging people to seek support and reduce financial stress.
call for under-18 super
THE Super Members Council wants to scrap rules denying most under-18 workers super, saying 119,000 NSW teens will miss out on $98 million in 2025/26. Current laws require under-18s to work over 30 hours weekly to qualify. The council argues the rule is outdated, worsens the gender super gap, and unfairly excludes part-time workers. It says reform would boost retirement savings, simplify compliance, and has minimal impact on businesses.
Telling stories, celebrating success, inspiring all WISB is about progress. The stories that stem from the rich ecosystem of women growing in and succeeding in businesses across all sectors and all levels.
WWW.WOMNENINSMALLBUSINESS.AU
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with Michelle Rowland
NEW HOSPITAL FOR NORTH WEST SYDNEY
It’s a milestone for local health
AGE LIMITS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCESS Keeping our kids safe online
MICHELLE ROWLAND
MICHELLLE ROWLAND
CEONSTRUCTION is now officially underway on the new Rouse Hill Hospital, a major and long-awaited milestone for health care here in North West Sydney.
VERY Australian child deserves the opportunity to grow up safe, whether at home, school, or online.
Social media has become a normal part of life. While it can connect us with family and friends, educate, and entertain, it can also cause tremendous harm.
For local families, the new hospital will be a game-changer. North West Sydney is one of the fastest-growing regions not just in NSW, but in Australia.
Almost two-thirds of 14-to-17-yearold Australians have viewed extremely harmful content online, including drug abuse, suicide self-harm, and violent material.
As a parent myself, I know just how hard it can be to raise children in the digital age.
For far too long, investment in local infrastructure – particularly health services – has failed to keep pace with population growth, leaving families travelling further and waiting longer to access the care they need.
I share the concerns of so many in our community about the amount of time our children are glued to their screens, and the harmful content they could be exposed to.
That’s why the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are getting on with the job, working together to deliver the hospital our community deserves.
ing care closer to home, but by easing pressure on surrounding hospitals and emergency departments.
That’s why, from 10 December this year, social media platforms will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from creating or keeping an account.
by $120M in funding from the Albanese Government.
eSafety Commissioner: Social media age restrictions | eSafety Commissioner
committed to ensuring children have a childhood. I was proud last year, as the then Minister for Communications, to introduce legislation establishing our world-leading minimum age limits for social media.
On the back of our successful local campaigns, I promised at the election to ensure the hospital would open with both an emergency department and full maternity services.
This will give young people time to build real-world connections and digital literacy before joining global platforms.
The new Rouse Hill Hospital will be a world-class facility designed to serve our growing region. It will make a real difference, not just by provid-
The Albanese Government is
That promise is now becoming a reality, supported
Importantly, these age limits put the onus on social media platforms, not parents or young people, to take reasonable steps to ensure users are 16 years or older.
The Albanese Government is also investing more than $200 million to widen Windsor Road near the hospital site, improving traffic flow and helping ensure families, patients and staff can reach the care they need safely and without delay.
This is about protecting children, not isolating or punishing them. Under 16s will still be able to access messaging services, online gaming, professional networking and development services that are used for the primary purpose of education and health support.
The new hospital builds on
In the lead-up to these world-rst changes next month, I encourage parents to have a conversation with your children.
the Albanese Government’s record investment in local health care, including the recently opened Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at Rouse Hill Town Centre, the largest ever cut to the cost of PBS medicines, and a record boost to Medicare –delivering more bulk-billing doctors close to home. There’s more work to do, and I’ll keep working with the
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 or www.kidshelpline.com.au • Headspace: 1800 650 890 or www. eheadspace.org.au Michelle Rowland MP is the Federal Member for Greenway and Attorney-General of Australia. If you need assistance with any Federal issue, you can contact Michelle by
Michelle Rowland MP is the Federal Member for Greenway and AttorneyGeneral of Australia. If you need assistance with any Federal issue, you can contact Michelle by phone on 02 9671 4780 or by email at Michelle. Rowland.MP@aph.gov.au
Minns Government and our local Labor team to strengthen health services across North West Sydney.
Artist impressions of the new hospital.
BURNOUT OR BANK BALANCE? Cost of pushing too hard
KYLIE KING
I’M sure you can agree that burnout doesn’t happen overnight.
It creeps in slowly.
It starts with saying yes to one more client because you need the money. Or taking on one more project because you don’t want to miss the opportunity.
Or working one more night because that’s just what you do and even though you don’t have time, you’ll figure it out and keep going.
Until one day you realise, you’re exhausted… but you don’t stop or in some cases you don’t think you can stop.
Because the inbox is still full.
The clients still need you.
And the bills don’t pause just because you’re tired.
So you push through.
And I see this all the time in the ALIBI community. Strong, capable, incredible women who are carrying so much. Their business. Their family. Their clients. Their responsibilities. And somewhere in the middle of holding everything together, they stop checking in with themselves.
We tell ourselves it’s just a busy season. That it will calm down soon. That once we hit that next income goal, or finish that next project, we’ll finally rest.
But the finish line keeps moving.
What used to feel exciting starts to feel heavy. The thing you once loved starts to feel like pressure. You’re still showing up, still doing the work, but the spark
isn’t the same.
That there. That’s burnout.
And the scary part is, it often doesn’t look dramatic from the outside. Your business might still look successful. People might still be praising you. But inside, you’re tired in a way that sleep doesn’t fix.
Here’s the truth we don’t talk about enough: no bank balance is worth losing yourself over. And I know you know what I’m going to say but here is your sign to pay attention and remember:
You can always make more money. You can always rebuild momentum.
But when your health, your energy, and your wellbeing are gone, everything becomes harder.
I’ve seen women step back, take a breath, and come back stronger. Not because they pushed harder, but because they finally allowed themselves to stop.
Rest isn’t quitting. Rest is what allows you to keep going.
Because success isn’t just about building a profitable business. It’s about building a life that actually feels good to live.
Your business should support you - not consume you.
So if you’re tired, listen to that. If your body is asking for a break, don’t ignore it. Taking a day off won’t make everything fall apart. In fact, it might be the very thing that holds everything together.
At the end of the day, your business needs you well.
Not just functioning. Not just surviving. But well. Because the most valuable thing in your business was never the bank balance.
It was always you. And without you, there is no business.
Kylie King is a hypnotherapist, business and mindset mentor, and the founder of the ALIBI Awards, a national business awards program that celebrates women doing business their way. She believes every chapter of your journey deserves to be honoured. especially the ones that required the most courage. Visit: www.alibiawards.com.au
Kylie King.
Seniors Living
Supporting our older Australians
MICHELLE ROWLAND
OLDER Australians helped build the country we are proud to call home. Here in North West Sydney, our seniors are the backbone of our community – small business owners, volunteers, carers, mentors, parents and grandparents. You built our suburbs, strengthened our institutions, and continue to enrich our society and economy every day.
The Albanese Government respects the enormous contribution older Australians have made and continue to make. You deserve a retirement that is secure, dignified and fulfilling. That’s why I am proud to be part of a government focused on protecting pensions, strengthening Medicare, reforming aged care and easing cost-of-living pressures so seniors can keep more of what they’ve earned.
ISince coming to government, we have raised the full single rate of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment by almost $5,000 a year. We’ve also changed the pension Work Bonus to help older Aus-
Understanding challenges of hoarding
NSIDE Out Recovery helps individuals and communities better understand and manage the complex challenges of hoarding, clutter and related mental-health issues. Founded by experienced practitioner Debbie Graham, the organisation delivers practical workshops, community programs and professional training designed to empower people with compassionate, trauma-informed strategies. From decluttering skills sessions to special-
tralians who wish to work keep more of their pension.
For renters, we delivered the largest increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance in more than 30 years. We have also extended the assets test exemption for principal home sale proceeds to support downsizing.
When it comes to healthcare, we’ve delivered cheaper medicines, tripled the bulk- billing incentive for pensioners and strengthened access to affordable care. Locally, we have opened a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at Rouse Hill Town Centre and are getting on with the job of building the new Rouse Hill Hospital, so you can access quality healthcare close to home.
We have also delivered the biggest aged care reforms in a generation through the new Aged Care Act and the $4.3B Support at Home program, which will provide higher levels of
ised courses for support workers, Inside Out Recovery focuses on building awareness and lasting behavioural change. The service runs community programs that help participants reduce overwhelm, regain control of their living spaces and improve wellbeing. Through education, empathy and practical tools, Inside Out Recovery is helping Australians create healthier homes and stronger support networks. Visit www.insideoutrecovery.com.au
Fcare and ensure seniors can stay connected to the people and places they love.
During my time as Minister for Communications, I was proud to secure $42M in funding for the Be Connected program, which helps over-50s build digital skills and confidence in an increasingly online world.
Our seniors deserve respect and action. I will continue working to ensure older Australians are supported, valued and able to enjoy the retirement they have earned.
And as always, my office is here to help connect you with local services and support.
Rowland MP is the Federal Member for Greenway and Attorney-General of Australia. If you need assistance with any Federal issue, you can contact Michelle by phone on 02 9671 4780 or by email at Michelle.Rowland.MP@aph. gov.au
Helping to maintain dignity
OR more than three decades, Wendy’s Home Care has been helping people maintain independence and dignity in the comfort of their own homes. The family-owned service provides personalised in-home support including domestic assistance, personal care, transport, social support and respite services. With experienced and care-
fully screened carers, Wendy’s focuses on reliability, compassion and flexible care tailored to each client’s needs. Supporting seniors, people with disability and families across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, Wendy’s Home Care is committed to delivering trusted, community-based care that truly puts people first. Visit www.wendyshome.com.au
Michelle
Supporting clients living in hoarded or squalid environments requires more than practical organising skills, it calls for sensitivity, emotional intelligence, and a trauma informed approach. This masterclass blends evidence informed theory with real world practice to help you work safely, respectfully, and without retraumatising.
The Masterclass is run in conjunction with our foundational course in understanding and work with people living in cluttered environments. Please visit our website for more professional development training options
EATING THE ELEPHANT THERAPY GROUP
A FREE 7 week program for people who may experience trauma and who live in a cluttered environment and would like:
• To understand your hoarding behaviours
• Learn strategies for managing your anxiety
• Understand how to emotionally regulate and strengthen their overall wellbeing
• Increase their ability to declutter even in the midst of feeling overwhelmed
• Learn strategies to declutter
IF YOU ARE AN ORGANISATION AND WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER TO RUN THIS FREE 7 WEEK PROGRAM, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
IOR also provides counselling and specialises in hoarding behaviours, trauma, anxiety and depression. For a free confidential chat, please reach out
CONCERNING MYOPIA RATES AMONG CHILDREN Experts urge more outdoor play
AS we move into the 2026 school year, optometrists are encouraging parents to make outdoor play a priority for their children this school year with new data from Bupa Optical revealing that 27 per cent of Australian children who underwent an eye test last year were diagnosed with myopia.
Spending time outdoors has been proven to be beneficial for reducing myopia risk amongst children however outdoor play is on the decline with separate research noting that 50 per cent of kids reported not being allowed to play outside alone or with friends at various times. Additionally, a quarter of Aussie kids say they need improvement in the opportunities to play outside and hang out with friends.
Bupa Optical Optometrist Karen Makin said childhood myopia rates have been on the rise, especially in the years following the COVID pandemic, with fundamental changes to children’s lifestyles lingering well beyond lockdowns.
“We continue to see more and more parents coming in to report that their children have been having trouble in the classroom as a result of vision problems.
“While factors such as genetics play
a significant role in the development of myopia, the common thread amongst many of these new cases is more time in front of screens and less time spent playing outdoors in natural light, which improves contrast sensitivity, reduces eye fatigue, and stimulates dopamine release in the retina, which helps regulate eye growth,” Karen said.
A 2025 study from Macquarie University found secondary school students averaged around 9 hours daily on
screens, while primary students spent appriximatly 6 hours. This is despite Government recommendations that for young people aged 5–17 years, it is recommended they have no more than two hours of sedentary recreational screen time per day.
“While there is a growing trend towards more schoolwork being undertaken online or via devices, we are concerned that recreational time has followed suit, with time spent gaming,
on social media or watching entertainment on smart devices at the expense of time spent playing outside.
“While physical conditions are often easier for parents to spot, vision problems can be much harder to detect. That’s why we recommend yearly eyetests for children ahead of the school year to ensure any issues are detected and addressed early,” Karen said.
Along with special purpose glasses and contact lenses to help control myopia progression, other ways Bupa Optometrists can treat myopia include through Orthokeratology. This is a form of vision correction where hard contact lenses are worn overnight while sleeping and are fitted such that they change the shape of the cornea, resulting in clear vision when the lenses are removed in the morning, as well as keeping the progression of myopia in check.
“But we would much prefer a child didn’t get to the stage of needing vision correction and myopia management, so send your children out into the backyard to play,” added Karen.
With cost-of-living pressures affecting many families, parents can rest assured that eye tests are bulk-billed for eligible Medicare cardholders at Bupa Optical.
Money Mavern
with Sheila Cabacungan
TOUGH LOVE CONVERSATIONS EVERY Western Sydney Family Needs
From spending with intention to money dates to early-inheritance truth bombs — here’s the tough love Western Sydney families can’t afford to ignore.
SHEILA CABACUNGAN
Over the past three episodes of Money Maven, one message has come through louder than anything else: the conversations we avoid in our households are often the ones costing us the most.
This month has been all about Tough Love Conversations — the honest, practical, sometimes uncomfortable money chats that every Western Sydney family needs to start having.
Spending With Intention (Not Influence)
We began the series by stripping back the truth about how we’re spending — not just on big events like Valentine’s Day, but on the small habits that quietly drain our bank accounts.
This year, fewer Aussies bought Valentine’s gifts, but those who did spent with more intention. That shift is powerful.
The tough love here is simple: stop being loyal to bad deals. If your bank, telco, insurer or supermarket isn’t rewarding you, it’s time to switch.
Western Sydney households are
doing the heavy lifting in a cost-of-living crisis, and staying with brands that no longer offer value isn’t noble — it’s expensive.
For women, research shows carry more of the daily financial load, intentional spending is a game-changer. When women align their spending with values rather than pressure or comparison, financial confidence grows, and stress eases.
Tough Love With Your Partner
Next, we turned inward — into our relationships, where money is often the quiet tension simmering beneath the surface.
Healthy couples aren’t lucky; they’re intentional. They schedule money dates, communicate openly and share the mental and emotional load of run-
ning a household.
We talked openly about prenups and Binding Financial Agreements — not as predictions of failure, but as tools for fairness, clarity and respect.
Being “looked after” financially is not the same as being financially safe.
And for women in Western Sydney, who often experience career breaks, part-time work and carer responsibilities transparency is essential protection.
Whether you combine accounts, keep them separate or run a hybrid system, the power comes from communication — not the structure itself.
Money Truths Across Generations
Finally, we tackled the toughest conversation of all: early inheritance and what support between parents and adult children could actually look like.
It’s no secret that younger people are struggling with rent, mortgages and the rising cost of life. Parents want to help, but many are terrified of outliving their money — and with good reason.
Longer lifespans, healthcare costs and market uncertainty mean retirees need more financial security than ever before.
Tough love means this:
Parents are not a bank.
Adult children aren’t falling short for needing support — but the help must be safe, sustainable and fair for everyone.
Families need clarity, not guilt. Structure, not secrecy. Conversations, not assumptions. And women — who live longer and retire with less — need to be protected in this process, not pressured.
The Real Takeaway
Tough love isn’t harsh. It’s honest, grounded and deeply caring.
The conversations you avoid today become the crises you face tomorrow. And the families who thrive financially are the ones who talk early, talk often and talk openly.
So What Now?
To dive deeper into these topics and learn how to start these conversations at home, listen to the full Tough Love Con versations series on Money Maven
The QR Code will take you straight to the Podcast page so make the time to listen.
Follow Money Maven with Sheila on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay connected and get practical tools made for the tradies, professionals and small‑business owners of Western Sydney.
Toki Bistro and Bar, North Sydney
FOR an alternative Friday night dining experience minus the trek into the CBD, Toki Bistro and Bar in North Sydney just might be your answer.
Right in the heart of the business precinct at 100 Miller Street, it is conveniently adjacent to the new Metro and North Sydney stations, offering a sanctuary away from the work week.
The restaurant is located inside of the Northpoint Tower, revitalised in 2018, where a dynamic retail and office space during the day transforms into an elegant dining quarter once the laptops and office doors are closed for the day.
Think soft lights, flowing curtains with talented and welcoming staff, mostly European, adding authenticity to the experience.
The cocktail program rivals Sydney’s best. I enjoyed the Quiet Flame, a delicious balanced blend of Mezcal, Bourbon, and beetroot syrup. Served theatrically under soft curls of smoke, work week dramas seem far away.
/The menu is a clever example of French-Japanese fusion, marrying traditional European culinary technique with delicate flavours and impressive presentation. Our star starters were an aesthetic masterpiece: Stracciatella with onion jam and nectarines coupled with the Snow Crab toast that almost looked too good to eat!
The Murray Cod, paired with bright orange and fennel, was exceptionally tender, while the Lamb Rump with smoked macadamias offered
Wa rich, textured depth that delights your palate. Guillaume, our charismatic French waiter, politely guided us to better wine choices that didn’t disappoint.
Put Toki on your list of special
places to experience for top Sydney dining in North Sydney.
An intimate dining experience
ITH a laid-back coastal vibe enjoying views across the harbour at Rose Bay in Sydney, Rasa House is one of the coolest places to kick back and enjoy a specially curated cocktail while you leisurely choose any of their Asian inspired delights from the menu.
Rasa House has developed a strong and loyal following from ‘its locals’ as well as the more intrepid traveller with a culinary sense of adventure who pack this restaurant out 7 days a week.
Vinnay Matta, the charismatic owner of Rasa House, effortlessly engages with all his guests to ensure that their dining experience exceeds their expectations. He is adept at suggesting the right dishes for you to experience the depth and breadth of his east and southeast Asia culinary traditions. With a range of exotic foods presented to perfection, Vinnay ensures that all tastes are catered for. The absolute stand out for me was his hibachi grilled satay chicken skewers!!
Bookings: https://www.rasahouse.com.au/#bookings
Telling stories, celebrating success, inspiring all WISB is about progress. The stories that stem from the rich ecosystem of women growing in and succeeding in businesses across all sectors and all levels.
Delicious memories of the Lau Pa Sat hawker markets in Singapore immediately flooded through my head as soon as I bit into Vinnay’s version of this delicacy.
The friendly, professional service and attention to detail by the Rasa House team changed my thoughts from having “just a night out for dinner” to being fully immersed in an exotic food journey where I savoured the dietary delights from cultures embedded across Asia. Alyssa, our attentive team mem
ber with her Nebraskan accent who has since made Australia home, made sure that we paired the right wine, chosen from their extensive international wine list, with our food choices. The result was a delight to our senses.
As a restaurant that can host an intimate dinner for two through to a full family gathering, all while overlooking Sydney Harbour, it has endeared itself to me as one that I will return to so I can continue my exotic food journey with Vinnay and his team.
Toki Bistro & Bar, 100 Miller Street, North Sydney, +61 461 443 256 booking@toki. sydney
with Emma Wilson
Wine Pairing, Greek Dining in The Rocks
FOR one night only, The Rocks’ newest Greek taverna Jimmy’s Kitchen is hosting a special wine-pairing dinner bringing together traditional Greek dining and boutique Australian winemaking.
In collaboration with Small Forest Wines, the Upper Hunter label by acclaimed Japanese-born winemaker Atsuko Radcliffe, the $185pp ticketed experience will feature a four-course Greek menu paired with her small-batch wines, now newly listed at the venue.
Guests will enjoy pairings throughout the night including village-style spanakopita paired with Small Forest Verdelho 2022, Chargrilled Striploin Steak paired with Shiraz 2019 and smokey hot pita bread & fries w/ oregano & feta, alongside live Greek dancing, entertainment, and the warm, old-school hospitality Jimmy’s Kitchen has quickly become known for.
Founded in 2013, Small Forest Wines is the culmination of Radcliffe’s nearly four decades of experience across Australia, France and Japan, including her role as an International Wine Challenge judge in London -
an honour she has held annually since 2012. Today, she produces small-batch wines that express the character of the Upper Hunter and are known for being vibrant, food-friendly, and easy to drink.
VENT DETAILS:
Wednesday 11 March 2026, 6.30pm
REVIEW: ADDITION REVIEW
There’s a little bit of heart in the formula for this Aussie-set rom-com.
JACOB RICHARDSON
GRACE (Teresa Palmer) counts numbers incessantly, in an effort to hold her world together. But a chance encounter with Seamus (Joe Dempsie) leads her to take a chance on love; throwing her world upside down in the process.
Addition struggles to shake off, perhaps, the shackles of the nation in which it comes from. There are little fingerprints that tell you it’s an Aussie film; an overly complicated plot with a raft of extraneous side characters, plenty of ‘inclusion’, and perhaps a touch too much in making it look amazing.
It’s when the makeup of Addition casts off these extra little elements and focuses on what it should be - a good rom-com - that it works best.
here’s a lot of nuance and difficulty in this story, but the central conceit, of a woman with a mental illness that impedes, and ultimately implodes, her romantic life, is a strong one, and handled well. At least, up until that implosion. Teresa Palmer does an OK job in the lead, but Joe Dempsie as her erstwhile lover is far and away the standout.
And they have a good chemistry, aided by some wonderfully strong dialogue from Becca Johnstone and Toni Jordan’s script.
The problem with Addition - outside of the trappings already identified - fundamentally comes down
to the structure. Whereas one might imagine a typical structure where the romantic leads break up after some complication caused by Grace’s illness, but are brought back together again, this film tries to eschew that - to some extent - in favour of a more complex, interweaved storyline that never quite takes off.
While there is a complication, it feels incredibly rushed because of all of the disparate elements the filmmakers are trying to cram in here (including a Tesla apparition, a tragic backstory, and a niece discovering her sexuality).
When we should be rooting for Grace and Seamus to put aside their differences and get back togeth-
er, instead we’re treated to a rapid ‘fixing’ of Grace’s illness by a therapist in a deus ex machina way, a shoehorned in plot with Grace’s niece confiding her secrets in her, and a hurried makeup between the actual characters we care about. It’s too many numbers to add up to a satisfying film.
Which is a shame, because the back and forth banter, the meet cute, the challenges of their relationship and the genuine chemistry between the two actors in the lead relationship is really strong. Some of these lines are laugh out loud funny, even for the jaded critic.
But spreading it so thin, because the screentime is being used for this ‘complex’ backstory, does a disservice to what we’re actually interested in here - how do two people find a way to make their love work in the face of such adversity?
There are great ideas captured here, and the film stands strong as a slightly more complex rom-com in a country that produces very few of those, but it is made all the more bittersweet to see it stumble in the third act, when the relationship it had started to build felt so strong; until it got distracted by other plot threads.
Addition never quite adds up to the sum of its parts. With a strong central romance and a standout performance from Joe Dempsie, the film nevertheless ties itself in knots to provide complexity and nuance it doesn’t need. 3 STARS.
MARK REYNOLDS AND THE LOST SILOS A visionary of local agriculture
BY BLACKTOWN NEWS HISTORY EDITOR, LES TOD
MARK Reynolds was an early visionary in the field of agriculture. He had acquired The Fox Under The Hill inn, on the Great Western Highway at Prospect [today the site of Fox Hills Golf Club]. In 1905 he also leased, or acquired, 41 acres on the southern side of the highway abutting Prospect Reservoir, although the Emu Gravel Company retained ownership of its private railway to the quarry site. The land was also in his brother’s name, but it was Mark who resided at Fox Under the Hill and farmed the land.
The Argus had reported in 1903, two years earlier, that the Reynolds brothers had already acquired the property:
“The historic building known as The Fox Under the Hill, now owned by the well-known Reynolds Brothers, wholesale milk purveyors, has recently undergone extensive alterations, and the place has been transformed into a very attractive structure. In connection with the estate, also, large and commodious milking and hay stacking sheds have been added, the latter structure being very extensive in character and now fully stocked”.
Mark Reynolds was elected to the Prospect and Sherwood Council as an alderman in 1905 From reports in local newspapers, he took his position very seriously and was always interested in local improvements and community issues and was not frightened to speak his mind or to clash with fellow aldermen.
At The Fox property, he built a large stone silo, new dairy buildings, and reportedly had 240 acres of land, most of which was under lucerne. His farm, now known as Gueinbah, was regarded as a “model farm.” The main dairy building was so large it had a hand propelled tramway running through the centre of it to carry the milk churns, another Reynolds innovation. He was described as a man “of enterprise and industry”
Not without incidents
On 1 February 1906, he married Naomi Norman of Sans Souci at Christ Church in Sydney.
Life at Gueinbah was not without its incidents. An employee, William Erickson, aged 18, was thrown off his cart and trapped under the wheel where he lay all night. He was found in the morning and taken to Parramatta Hospital to recover from his injuries. In February 1906, a cart belonging to Mr Reynolds came into collision with a tram in Church Street, Parramatta, when the horse became frightened by the steam tram and suddenly twisted around. The tram struck the back of the cart, damaging it, and the driver was thrown off, but unhurt.
Worse was to come that same month, when two of Mr Reynold’s
Ayrshire cows were struck dead by lightning in his paddocks. Although some distance apart, they were in a parallel position and death was said to be instantaneous. It was mentioned that since he has resided at The Fox Under the Hill, he had lost three horses and five cows, and was the owner of some 90 head of cattle.
In June 1906, Mrs Reynolds attended a function at Prospect Public School and gave a special prize to Wallace Allen, for his excellent efforts as a young scholar. In December 1906, Mrs Reynolds gave birth to a son.
The name Reynolds was becoming well known in the Blacktown and Prospect districts. When Blacktown Saleyards opened on 3 May, 1907, Reynolds had part of his dairy herd of cattle for sale.
In conjuring up an image of what it looked like in those years, the little village of Prospect was growing steadily, as was traffic on the Western Road. Steam trains shunted past the Reynolds home at The Fox and through his southern paddocks on their way to the quarry. The nearby Prospect Reservoir was a popular place for picnics and outings, and it was probably an idyllic time in those pre-war years.
But Mark Reynold’s efforts were about to take a turn for the worse. In February 1908, the Herald gave a good description of the dairy but also mentions that Reynolds was having problems due to the weather and other factors:
“Mr Mark Reynolds, Gueinbah, Toongabbie, has also suffered badly with the season and a fair sized herd scattered and dairying interrupted. Seeing how matters were trending, Mr Reynolds sold the bulk of his herd when prices were good, and is now proceeding to build up again, by purchase and subsequent improvement by selection, which is a weary process. It is almost impossible to secure an even herd under such conditions inside of many years. Previously Mr Reynolds was milking 70 odd cows. The milking shed is fitted up with 33 stalls running down each side of the building, which is made of iron. A tramway runs down the centre for bringing the feed from the shed nearby, taking the milk into the dairy and running the sweepings out of the bails and stables. The milking machines are installed, although
not being used at present on account of the small number of cows being milked…. Mr Reynolds has a fine stone circular silo with a capacity of 100 tons…. There is a portable oil engine on the place for working the milking machines, pumping water, chaff cutting and other things. The place is fitted up with almost every convenience for efficient working. It is a good property.. well watered, there being dams and tanks besides a creek running through it, which stands for most seasons.”
Two months earlier, the Reynolds brothers transferred the land back to Emu Gravel. Whether the land was held by them on lease or freehold is not clear, although earlier reports indicated they had owned it. A further transfer took place on 30 March 1909 of Portion 33 and 34, on which The Fox Under the Hill inn stood. The family moved to Orange, where Mark had been offered a position as Agricultural Department Inspector.
The Silos and the Well
They then moved to Cowra, where he managed the Cowra Experimental Farm. He was highly regarded, the Cowra Free Press stating “Mr Reynolds has shown himself to be both capable and enthusiastic and it is good to know that the Department has given recognition to his merit by promoting him to a position which will give greater scope to his ability and unflagging energy… In his duties he has shown abundant energy and ability and has been of material assistance to farmers by means of his lectures and demonstrations …”
Exactly why Mark Reynolds left Prospect and Gueinbah is not known. After his many efforts to make it into a working and model farm, difficulties with the seasons may have contributed to his departure, and he may have had financial problems as well. The offer of a well-paid government position at Orange was probably too good to refuse. He became known as an expert on silos and the different types of fodder storage and frequently gave lectures in country areas or wrote for local newspapers, sometimes drawing on his experience at Prospect. He died in October 1950.
An enduring mystery is where were the large sheds and silo that Mark Reynolds had built? No trace of them appeared to remain in later years and
it is impossible to precisely state their location, although it is more than likely they were on the southern side of the Western Road, but close enough to the road for transport purposes.
An aerial photograph in 1943 shows that something had existed on the southern side of the road, directly opposite the old inn, and what appears to be the remains of two round silos and a beehive well.
There were difficulties in accessing the site, due to a high wire fence and long grass, not to mention speeding traffic. There is a large silo / water tank of some four metres in height in good condition, but the remains of the second structure were concrete rendered brick and very difficult to see and photograph. This is possibly the silo of six metres in depth that Reynolds later describes in his lectures.There is also a beehive well in very good condition.
The well was to receive excess water pumped out of the silo, which was some six metres (two thirds) underground and had a false bottom to protect the chaff from getting wet. This type of silo was a new design at the time and based on a type used elsewhere in NSW and also in Canada. In later years Mark Reynolds would lecture and write on silo construction techniques in many parts of New South Wales and refer to the silos he had built at Prospect
The entire former Gueinbah property has now been lost beneath new developments, as has The Fox itself; but there is a narrow wedge of land surviving between the Great Western Highway and the M4 Motorway which contains a dwelling erected in the 1970s and some pasture land which appears to be disused. It is on this wedge where the silos and well survived until recently. There appears to be no trace of any large dairy sheds or tramway, if indeed they were located in this area, but the land has been disturbed and it is difficult to tell without proper investigation.
These surviving structures may have been the last surviving link to Mark Reynolds and his model farm, Gueinbah, and The Fox Under the Hill inn.They were not protected by Cumberland Council’s Local Environment Plan and advice from the planner there was that they were to be the subject of further examination to ascertain their origins and ensure their future preservation.
Regrettably the two silos and the well were suddenly demolished without warning in August 2019, and for no reason. The sites were excavated, the bricks removed, and all traces of them were removed, leaving no footprints whatsoever, which is strange.
Today the area remains grassland. What could have been an important archaeological site and its historical links to The Fox Under the Hill, Mark Reynolds and Gueinbah, and early grain storage experimentation in Sydney has been completely destroyed; a great tragedy for historians and agricultural researchers alike.
a
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The phone service is free for anyone seeking support and guidance, including family members and carers.
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