Blacktown News - November 2021 edition by Community Broadcast Network (CBN)

ISSUE 8 | NOVEMBER 2021

TRUSTED LOCAL NEWS

WWW.GREATERBLACKTOWNNEWS.COM.AU

Blacktown Mayor Tony Bleasdale with NSW Labor leader Chris and with staff at Blackktown Workers Club.

BOUNCING BACK Free event open to business

THIS E EDITION DITION

SW Labor leader, Chris Minns visited Blacktown Workers Club last week to express his support for the Blacktown businesses community. The leader’s visit comes as Blacktown Workers Club gears up for a special event on November 16 called Blacktown Bouncing Back (BBB)). BBB is a collaborative project created to inform and educate teams in and around Blacktown about adaption, protection and redefining success as we progress from lockdown. “We need Western Sydney to bounce back as it is the heartbeat of New South Wales and the third largest economic zone in Australia,” Mr Minns said." MORE PAGE 3.

Blacktown beauty shines: 16 Nine years of Council what's been acheived: 23

SCAN QR code for details

Blacktown City blacktown.nsw.gov.au

Blacktown

Snapshot

403,000 population

18.81 billion regional economy

4.6%

26,141

average economic growth

registered businesses

143,259 local jobs

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM joined Deputy Mayor Julie Griffiths last week to inspect the site, located near the outdoor toddler’s pool. ‘I am delighted to see work commence on this fantastic project ahead of the summer swimming season,’ Mayor Bleasdale said. ‘There will be different water features and play zones, which have been designed to suit all ages and abilities. ‘The feature will also incorporate art designed by local Indigenous artists. I eagerly await the opening of this wonderful amenity.’ Ward 2 Councillor Julie Griffiths said the new splash pad would be a welcome addition to the facilities at Blacktown Aquatic Centre. ‘In response to requests from the community, I am pleased to see work commence on this exciting new water play area at Blacktown Pool,’ Cr Griffiths said.

New water play area

Sandstone block seating will be provided and a shade sail will provide sun

Children in Blacktown City will have a fun, new destination to cool off this summer with a new water play area breaking ground at Blacktown Aquatic Centre. Construction on the exciting project, which is part of Blacktown City Council’s $5 million Supplementary Works Program, began last month and is expected to be finalised in time for Christmas.

protection over a portion of the splash pad. The splash pad project is one of 10 exciting new sport and recreation projects across Blacktown City as part of Council’s ‘More Active, More Often, in Blacktown City’ initiative. For more information, visit blacktown.nsw.gov.au/BMAMO

SAY NO TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Knit Bomb Project 2021 Spare time on your hands?

Get involved!

Annual Financial Statements 2020/2021

Subscribe to Council’s e-newsletter

Notice is hereby given that an Extraordinary meeting of the Council will be held at 6.30 pm on Wednesday 27 October 2021 virtually and be webcast via Council’s website and Facebook page.

Blacktown!

Keep up to date with the latest news in and around

For more information visit blacktown.nsw.gov.au/knitbomb21

Council’s community e-newsletter includes news and information on: important community announcements

The business of the meeting will include the Audited Financial

Local Government Elections

Reports and Auditor’s Report for the year ended 30 June 2021.

upcoming events

Copies of Council’s Audited Financial Reports are available for inspection on our website, blacktown.nsw.gov.au.

transformational projects

The next Local Government Election will be held on

Any persons may make submissions to Council with respect to the Council’s Audited Financial Statements or the

school holiday activities

Saturday 4 December

Auditor’s Report.

community award programs

Submissions in writing must be lodged with Council by Wednesday 3 November 2021.

competitions and much more!

Submissions should quote file reference number: F20/229. Submissions may also be forwarded to Council by email at council@blacktown.nsw.gov.au.

To have your say on who will represent your ward on Blacktown City Council, make sure you’re enrolled to vote by visiting elections.nsw.gov.au

To subscribe, visit blacktown.nsw.gov.au/subscribe.

Blacktown City Council acknowledges the Darug people as the traditional owners of the land on which Blacktown City was built.

Email us: council@blacktown.nsw.gov.au

Call us: 9839 6000

Visit us: 62 Flushcombe Road, Blacktown

Mail us: PO Box 63, Blacktown 2148

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

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Support for local businesses  BUSINESS | MIKE WALLS SW Labor leader, Chris Minns visited Blacktown Workers Club last week to express his support for the Blacktown businesses community. The leader’s visit comes as Blacktown Workers Club gears up for a special, post-lockdown event on November 16 called Blacktown Bouncing Back (BBB). BBB is a local collaborative project created to inform and educate business teams in and around Blacktown about adaptation, protection, and redefining success as we emerge from lockdown. “We need Western Sydney to bounce back as it is the heartbeat of New South Wales and the third largest economic zone in Australia,” Mr Minns said. “Western Sydney stimulates jobs, economic growth and has done it tough during the COVID lock down period. “We need to all get together and really make sure Blacktown Bounces Back and this forum hosted at Blacktown Workers Club in collaboration with Greater Blacktown Business Chamber, Blacktown News, ACU and Blacktown Council.” Member for Blacktown, Stephen Bali said the way we do business and how we interact with staff and customers has all changed due to COVID. “Blacktown Bouncing Back provides an opportunity for business owners and managers to rethink how to do business in a post-COVID environment,” Mr Bali said. Key speakers from Australian Catholic University, with leading marketing and successful entrepreneurs will provide insights on the ways to improve business and rethinking old business models. The

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns visits Blacktown Workers Club.

Blacktown News is media partner for the event. Mr Minns congratulated the Blacktown Workers Club for its resilience on completing a multimillion-dollar refurbishment with work done mostly during COVID lockdown. The refurbishment includes: a new entrance, foyer, walkways, a fully refurbished Jack MacNamara Bar, The Shed Sports bar (open now), Redwood: a late-night bar and Eucalyptus: a 200-seat modern Australian restaurant. Stage two will deliver a new food area ground floor, parents’ room, kids play area and new lounge spaces including a fireplace by December 2022. Club CEO Morgan Stewart said the $15M+ refurbishment had utilised local workers and companies.

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ISSUE 8 | NOVEMBER 2021 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.

Digital edition Each edition of The Blacktown News can be viewed and downloaded in digitalf ormat at our ISSUU platform: www.issuu/communitybroadcastnetwork

Contacts Editorial michael@accessnews.com.au Admin and General info@greaterblacktownnews.com.au Editor Michael Walls michael@accessnews.com.au

Newsroom News Reporter Lawrence Machado lawrencemachado@yahoo.com Travel Editor Dallas Sherringham dallas@accessnews.com.au

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

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Return and Earn goes indoors LACKTOWN has a new and convenient location to return their eligible bottles and cans to, with the opening of a new indoor Return and Earn Centre. “Blacktown residents are already passionate recyclers, having returned more than 329 million containers since Return and Earn launched in December 2017,” said James Dorney, CEO of TOMRA Cleanaway, network operator of the scheme. “The opening of the new Blacktown Return and Earn Centre, located at 10 Third Avenue, Blacktown, replaces the reverse vending machine previously located at Dan Murphys in Blacktown. The new Return and Earn Centre provides the same recycling experience as the former site, but with more capacity and in an in-door, air conditioned environment,” Mr Dorney added. Consumers receive a 10c refund for each eligible bottle, can or carton they return or can choose to donate their refund to one of the onscreen charity partners available on the machine, including the current local donation partner ‘Blacktown Asylum Seeker Centre’.

The new Return and Earn Centre.

Mr Dorney said users of the Return and Earn Centre Blacktown have the option to print a retail cash voucher for the refund amount, redeemable at Woolworths, or they can opt for an e-voucher or direct payment into their bank account or PayPal account by downloading the MyTOMRA app before visiting. “By using this return point, in combination with your household recycling collection, we can all do our bit to reduce the millions of containers that are littered in the NSW environment each year while also being rewarded for our efforts,” he said.

The new Blacktown Return and Earn Centre is located at 10 Third Avenue, Blacktown and will be open from Monday-Saturday, 7am-7pm (closed on Sundays). The new return point is one of more than 620 return points available across NSW. More than 6.2 billion containers have been returned through Return and Earn for recycling since the scheme commenced just under four years ago. For more information on Return and Earn including checking container eligibility or the status of your nearest return point, visit: www.returnandearn.org.au.

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About Return and Earn

Graham Maughan graham@accessnews.com.au Julie Jackson julie@accessnews.com.au

The NSW Government’s highly successful Return and Earn container deposit scheme is the largest litter reduction initiative introduced in NSW, giving consumers a 10c refund for each eligible drink container returned at any of the 620 return points across NSW. Since launching in December 2017, the scheme has delivered big wins for the environment and the community with more than 6 billion drink containers returned for recycling through its network of return points and generated over $24 million in donations and fees from hosting return points for charities and community groups since its commencement nearly four years ago.

Administration Rebecca Swaleh rebecca@accessnews.com.au

Design and production Design2Pro, Words and Pixels.

Our Broadcast Partner www.netwerx.tv – NETWERX is a broadcast hub that hosts and creates videos of public interest and commercial benefit.

Support Partner The Blacktown News is the official media partner of Blacktown FC and the Greater Blacktown Chamber of Commerce.

INDEX News ......................................3 Stephen Bali ..........................7 Blacktown Bouncing Back ...12 People .................................16 Michelle Rowland ................18

Doonside Festival ................19 Council Elections .................22 Games .................................24 Breed Australia ....................26 Auto .....................................28

Travel ...................................29 Fitness .................................32 Films ....................................33 Tamil Chamber ....................38 Sport ....................................39

Local entertainment Watch locally made ﬁlms. Stay up to date on infrastructure. Watch proﬁles of regional leaders. www.netwerx.tv

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ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Support Salvos in Blacktown for Christmas HE Salvation Army is hoping to raise $20M this year across Australia as they launch their annual Christmas Appeal that supports Aussies doing it tough during the festive season. As Australians near the end of a second year that has been impacted by social and economic burden of COVID-19, the Salvos anticipate the needs of Aussies at Christmas will reach a new peak under the pressure of the pandemic. “Christmas is the busiest time of the year for The Salvos across the country, and we expect this year to be no different. While Christmas is a time of joy and celebration for many, others doing it tough in our community find it an extremely difficult period for them personally,” says Captain Louise Beamish. “The increased isolation, financial stress and mental health impacts of COVID-19 this year will only exacerbate these issues. The Salvos want to leave no one in need this Christmas, and we need the generosity of the public this year to once again partner with us in support of locals doing it really tough.” Last year during the Christmas period, The Salvation Army distributed over

64,000 hampers and vouchers worth over $1.89M to those finding it almost impossible to make ends meet and gave out over 26,000 gifts and toys to families in need of a hand. The Salvos also supported the vulnerable by providing over 130,000 meals across the country, more than 66,000 beds for those needing a place to stay and supporting over 10,000 families with accommodation during the festive season. “Anyone in need this Christmas

Salvos need your help this Christmas.

can reach out to us at Blacktown City Salvation Army by calling 02 9622 3108 and we’ll do all we can to support you. We don’t want anyone to go it alone this year, if you need food, gifts, financial support or are feeling lonely, please get in touch with us,” says Captain Beamish. “We are also in need of our local community to dig deep and provide donations to The Salvation Army to ensure that we can support our local community in need this Christmas. We are in need of New Toys and these can be dropped

off at 2 Lismore Street, Blacktown on Tuesdays between 9am-12 noon from November 2. For financial and emergency assistance, reach out to the national financial support service on 1300 371 288 (9am-5pm Monday to Friday). To leave no one in need this Christmas, please donate to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal at salvationarmy.org.au or by calling 13 SALVOS (13 72 58). Donations can also be made in person at any Salvos Store and Kmart store, or round up your instore purchase at any Myer store.

Tell us your COVID story LACKTOWN district residents will get the chance to share their pandemic story in a new ‘The Light at the end of the Tunnel’ book. Locals are invited to share their stories of living through the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a new book project in partnership with Blacktown City Libraries.

Quakers Hill storyteller Emie Roy, through ‘The Stories Untold’, will partner with Blacktown City Libraries and the Community Migrant Resource Centre to compile 50 real-life stories from Greater Sydney during the once-ina-100-year pandemic. The book will document the many lows and rare highs of the pandemic ex-

perience across cultures through words and pictures. The finished project is expected to be published in early 2022 with a book launch planned for March next year. Entries should be a maximum of 300 words and can be submitted via email at- thestoriesuntoldmedia@gmail.com For more information visit: www.thestoriesuntold.com.au/book-project

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ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Blacktown wins blood challenge LACKTOWN City Council has taken out the top spot in the Local Government Blood Challenge for the fourth year running. Council staff and the local community rolled up their sleeves and made an impressive 324 donations to the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood between July and September - the most donations made in NSW and Australia. The ‘bloody good’ effort will help save an incredible 972 lives and marks the fourth year in a row that Blacktown City has won the challenge. Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said the result was an amazing achievement, especially with the challenge taking place during Greater Sydney’s COVID-19 lockdown. “Congratulations to all Blacktown City Council staff and

residents who generously donated blood, platelets and plasma to this life-saving cause,” Mayor Bleasdale said. “Every week in Australia, some 33,000 people will need blood donations. While 1 in 3 Aussies will need blood at least once in their lifetime, only 1 in 30 will ever donate. “The challenge may be over for another year, but that shouldn’t stop us from continuing to get out there and donate - I encourage anyone who is interested to book an appointment.” Among the generous donors was Council’s own Keith Craigie, who marked his 100th donation during the challenge and has saved an outstanding 300 lives. The Mobile Blood Centre will be visiting Blacktown Kmart in early November. Visit www. donateblood.com.au to make an appointment. Bloody good effort: Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale.

New leadership good for West  POLITICS | DI BARTOK HE elevation of Dominic Perrottett to Premier of NSW with Penrith MP Stuart Ayres as deputy Liberal leader is seen as a boon for the West. Mr Perrottet was elected Premier following the resignation of Gladys Berejiklian who resigned in the face of an ICAC inquiry into alleged corruption. Jobs and Western Sydney Minister Mr Ayres, as depu-

ty leader, will bring a strong voice to government for the West. It will also shore up his vote in his marginal seat, which he holds by a slim 1.3 percent. The electoral redistribution before the 2023 State election will see that drop to 0.4 per cent, by election analyst Antony Green’s assessment. However, his elevation in government could increase that by up to two percent, according to political analyst Peter Shmigel.

Speaking to the Blacktown News, Shmigel said an incumbent, especially if in a position of power in the party, could increase his/her margin by 1 to 2 per cent. “That’s about 1000 people, so it’s significant in a marginal seat,” Shmigel, a former Liberal Party adviser, said. “If you look at election trends, about 20 per cent are stuck on Liberal, 20 per cent on Labor, leaving 60 per cent who vote for practical, not ideological reasons.” The West can expect “a lot of money” to be poured into a range of projects to bring the undecided on board.

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Blacktown City: The City of Opportunity Blacktown City is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia. By 2041, population growth will result in our region having over 615,000 residents – easily larger than Tasmania! Only by working together can we deliver the jobs, infrastructure and social services to support a vibrant and exciting City – Opportunity for All!

BLACKTOWN CITY: DEALING WITH MASSIVE POPULATION GROWTH Western Sydney continues its massive population growth with Blacktown City being the highest amongst all councils.

expected by residents to support the massive population growth. The NSW Government has announced that it wants a ‘big NSW.’

The table below compares the population growth of Western Sydney, Blacktown City Council, Northern Beaches Council and Tasmania.

Your local Labor representatives have argued that a plan and a budget is required to resource and support the population growth.

POPULATION GROWTH COMPARISONS Western Sydney 2.1m

350,046

267,484

519,050

2041

3.6m

614,189

298,667

568,617

1,544,234

264,143

31,183

49,567

Change

Schools, hospitals, roads, jobs, transport (rail or buses), sports facilities, parks, arts, police, housing, business development, social and age care workers are all currently under funded AND must be supported.

Blacktown Northern Tasmania City Beaches

2016

1 in every 6 people moving into Greater Western Sydney region will be living in Blacktown City. Based on population projections, Blacktown City will pass the State of Tasmania by 2037. The challenge faced by Federal, State and local governments is to have a coordinated plan to provide for the quality of life that is

State Government Failure to deliver road network across Blacktown Blacktown Rd Upgrade: Promised since 2014. Partly funded. Delayed completion to 2026. Richmond Road: 6 traffic lanes required from M7 to Marsden park (South Creek border). No funding. Bandon Road: from Richmond Rd to Windsor Rd. No plan and No funding. Rooty Hill Overpass: 4 lane road from Woodstock to Eastern Rds, plus 4 lane bridge. No plan & No funding.

We cannot be short changed. Sell-oﬀ of the WestConnex has recently netted the NSW Government $11 billion but only $5 billion may be allocated to Western Sydney.

Bungarribee/Flushcombe Rd traffic lights: Plan completed but no funding.

That is the equivalent of $69 per person, per year, based on 2041 population projections to fund all the infrastructure and social needs for our growing population over the next 20 years.

Blacktown Rd/Sunnyholt Rd intersection: No Plan and no funding.

So spend your $69 wisely… Blacktown City – Too Big to Ignore.

Toongabbie Overpass: No plan and no funding. Garfield Rd/Riverstone Rail line: No clear plan from Government.

We are here to help you and your family

Stephen Bali MP

Hugh McDermott MP

Prue Car MP

Edmond Atalla MP

Member for Blacktown

Member for Prospect

Member for Mt Druitt

(02) 9671 5222

(02) 9756 4766

blacktown@parliament.nsw.gov.au

prospect@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Deputy Opposition Leader Shadow Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Member for Londonderry

Shop 3063, Westpoint Shopping Centre, Flushcombe Rd, Blacktown

2/679 The Horsley Dr, Smithfield

(02) 9833 1122 londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au

(02) 9625 6770 mountdruitt@parliament.nsw.gov.au Suite 201, Westfield Shoppingtown, Carlisle Av, Mt Druitt

154 Queen St, St Marys

Authorised by Stephen Bali MP, Edmond Atalla MP, Prue Car MP and Hugh McDermott MP. Funded using parliamentary entitlements.

NOW OPEN

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

AT WORKERS BLACKTOWN ON LEVEL 1 OPEN DAILY 11AM - 9PM

WORKERS BLACKTOWN 55 CAMPBELL STREET, BLACKTOWN 2148 WORKERSCLUB.COM.AU

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO WATCH TSZYU VS INOUE AT QUDOS BANK ARENA Buy any beverage in The Shed at Workers Blacktown to enter the draw to win a double pass to watch Tszyu vs Takeshi in Worker’s Qudos Bank Arena Suite, including a food and beverage package.

Open to members only. Entries open from Monday 1st November, 11am until Monday 14th November, 9pm. Entries drawn Monday 15th November, 10am and winners contacted by phone number provided. Transport to the venue not included. Terms and conditions apply.

WATCH THE ACTION LIVE AND FREE AT WORKERS SPORTS CLUB WEDNESDAY 17TH NOVEMBER, 7pm 170 Reservoir road, blactown

LIVE ON THE BIG SCREEN

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ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Fire night: A man is captured on CCTV footage on Quakers Hill Parkway, Doonside around the same time of a suspicious fire in the Western Sydney Parklands, in August this year.

Man arrested over Doonside murder  LAW & ORDER | JADE HOBMAN OLICE arrested an 18-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman last week, as part of a crackdown on those allegedly connected to the murder of a young teen in Doonside. They join eight others, between the ages of 13 and 32, who face charges for the crime, police said. 16-year-old Jason Galleghan was found unresponsive with head and chest injuries in a home in Doonside on August 4 this year, and was taken to Westmead hospital, where he later died. Police released CCTV footage last week showing two male figures walking with hoodies, carrying items around the vicinity at the time of the alleged murder. They believe the man seen leading the way in the footage is the 18-year-old they have arrested. He was apprehended after a raid at a Kingswood unit on Tuesday last week, and was charged with conceal serious indictable offence–murder. He will appear before Blacktown Local Court in late November.

The other man has yet to be located by police. The 36-year-old woman arrested faces serious charges, including murder, and appeared at the Mount Druitt Local Court last week. Jason’s mother Rachel Galleghan said her family have been grieving the loss of her son. “It is just so utterly devastating and heartbreaking that his future has been taken away from him,” Ms Galleghan said. “We have all lost the biggest part of us that can never be replaced, and I would like to ask that the community please continue their support to fight for Jason so that justice is served.” Anyone with information is urged to contact Blacktown Police Station on (02) 9671 9199.

Man charged 26 years after sexual assault A man fronted court last Wednesday after DNA connected him to a sexual assault on a woman in Sydney’s southwest in the 1990s.

In June 1995 the woman reported to Bankstown police that she had been detained and sexually assaulted by a man, allegedly in a vehicle. Police said that despite exhaustive investigation, and forensic examinations at the time, no charges were laid. But after a DNA link to the crime was discovered in a forensic lab in March this year, police started reexaming the case, and as a result arrested a 48-year-old man in Lalor Park last week. The Villawood man faces charges including aggravated sexual assault, and appeared at the Blacktown Local Court.

Parkland fires ‘deliberately lit’ Police have released CCTV footage in the wake of suspicious fires that took hold in Doonside early last week. Emergency services were called to the Western Sydney Parkland area at Knox Road in Doonside, after reports of three separate fires. The blazes were extinguished, but not before doing damage to 1.3 hectares of bushland. Police said they are a part of a spate

of deliberately lit fires across Western Sydney in recent times, covering the areas of Dean Park, Quakers Hill, Glendenning, Kemps Creek, Horsley Park and Rooty Hill. On Thursday police issued CCTV footage showing a man around the same area and time of another fire at the Western Sydney Parklands about two months ago. The man is seen walking south on Quakers Hills Parkway in Doonside at about 250am on August 23.

Missing Baulkham Hills child found A six-year-old girl went missing for almost two hours on Saturday, October 23. Police at the Hills Area Command commenced a search after the alarm was raised, before the child was found safe and well in a neighbouring property. Police would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance. Anyone with information that may assist investigators in some of these stories is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw. crimestoppers.com.au.

HOW TO WIN THE WEST WESTERN SYDNEY MEDIA ALLIANCE OCTOBER 2021 | EDITION 126

BUSINESS | LIFESTYLE

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T I M E S

CELEBRATE Sydney Hills Local business awards feature: 16

POLITICS Why new State leadership is good for the West: 2

What it might look like to have flying cars over Parramatta CBD.

MANUFACTURING Local firm’s game changing deal with ASIA: 46

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%ඔඉඋඓග඗ඟN COVID Guide to vaccination centre across Blacktown: 19

COMMUNITY NITY rren Vale Warren Hardy, ity community warrior: 14 Special free event for you and your business: 13

PROJECT$ INSIDE

COVID LESSONS K

“

EEP saying that the risk of getting a side effect to AstraZeneca is one person sitting in a full SCG, and the risk of dying from it is one in a million - the equivalent to a lightning strike.” Vivid stats voiced by infectious disease expert Professor Tony Cunningham as he took part in a Regional Roundtable webinar of internationally

renowned experts held recently by a collaboration of Access News Australia and The Westmead Institute for Medical Research. The panel, who hail from a range of disciplines, spoke about their take on the lessons learned from COVID, and their prognosis of future trends in a post-pandemic world. See pages 4,5.

CARS OVER CBD

Cash boost for local precincts

AN you imagine cars flying above the Parramatta CBD? Parramatta Chamber of Commerce president Luke Magee can certainly see it as a possibility after the Parramatta Times discussed a report from University of NSW suggesting the concept was not far away. “I hope it can be something we can look forward to in the future. It would be good for Parramatta, with its lack of parking,” Mr Magee said. “These flying cars could work like the proposed driverless cars where you park them outside the city and they come to pick you up." More page ͢2.

G MIN COSOON

IGH growth greenfield precincts in Blacktown will benefit from a share of $139M being handed out by the State Govt this year. The cash is up for grabs for eight Western Sydney councils as applications have opened for round two of the Accelerated Infrastructure Funding (AIF). More page 4.

Key to business relationships: 7

From top left clockwise: Grange Avenue, Loftus St and Glengarrie Rd all projects for possible development under the AIF program.

Bankwest becomes CommBank Stadium: 13

Blacktown City blacktown.nsw.gov.au

Blacktown

Snapshot

403,000 population

18.81 billion regional economy

4.6%

24,990

average economic growth

registered businesses

143,259 local jobs

High impact media that reaches Australia’s fastest growth region - Greater Western Sydney, home of Australia’s new 24-hour airport. Targeted reach. Four powerful media brands in digital and print formats. Contact us today for a conversation about your success plans: graham@accessnews.com.au

www.accessnews.com.au | www.greaterblacktownnews.com.au | www.parramattatimes.com.au | www.jobswesternsydney.com.au

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

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ISSUE 8 | November 2021

FREE 2-HOUR EVENT DESIGNED FOR BLACKTOWN

Time to chart your future OIN business owners, managers and teams from throughout Blacktown City for a morning of insights, updates and networking to chart your future in an ever-changing business world. Blacktown Bouncing Back is the first event in the two-event series aimed at enriching you and your business. Our speaker line-up includes: • Business structure and protection: Katherine Hawes: Director Digital Age Lawyers. • Community Engagement and Entrepreneurship: Syed and Homoz Ahmadi, ACU Blacktown. • Maximising opportunities post lockdown: Rebecca Mihalic, Director Business Depot. • Tips for branding and social media: Chris Hekeik, Founder Mode Media. • Networking and success mindset: Dr Jim Taggart OAM. Guest MC: Trevor Oldfield, President Greater Blacktown Business Chamber. Introduction by Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali MP. Close by Blacktown Mayor, Tony Bleasdale OAM.

MP Stephen Bali.

MC Trevor Oldfield.

Mayor Tony Tony Bleasdale.

and marketing manager in the telecommunication and electronics industries for before joining academia

can’t and she quickly becomes a vital part of her client’s business, supporting them as they grow. With a reputation for her leadership and commitment to the accounting industry and various awards including ‘Thought leader of the year’ under her belt, it’s no wonder Rebecca has been described by clients as being among the top echelon of her field.

Member Investment Board for the Parramatta Diocese; (Chairman) Salvation Army Advisory Board (Business Appeal); Audit Committee Member, Hills Shire Council; Parramatta Stadium and TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute. Jim provides advice and helps others on how to network and uses the philosophy of giving to the community to gain for yourself. Jim’s vision has, and always will be, to add to the current philosophy and success of any organisation that he is involved.

Speaker bios Dr Syed Fazal-e-Hasan Before joining the Australian Catholic University, Dr Syed Fazal-e-Hasan worked as Senior Lecturer, Lecturer and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Marketing at University of New England, University of Tasmania and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) respectively. He has also worked as Quantitative Analyst for School of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations, QUT. Syed has completed many research and entrepreneurial projects using advance statistical and project management techniques, and he has contributed to 14 medium to large size projects including Devonport Digitalisation, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) and Global Entrepreneurship Monitor projects. Most of his projects are related to consumer choices and responses and are published in the Journal of Business Research, Journal of Marketing Management, Journal of Services Marketing, and Journal of Retail and Consumer Services. Syed has over 10 years undergraduate and postgraduate teaching experience in Australia and overseas

Dr Hormoz Ahmadi Dr Hormoz Ahmadi is the Head of Marketing Discipline and a Senior Lecturer in innovation and entrepreneurship at Peter Faber Business School, Australian Catholic University. His teaching interest includes New venture/Entrepreneurial firm's development, business to business marketing, sales management, international marketing, marketing management and market research. His research focuses on entrepreneurial marketing, product and brand innovation and customer-firm relationships. Over the last 10 years, he has been involved in identifying the trends and conducting research in the areas of product and brand innovation management and new technology ventures' growth. Hormoz was also an entrepreneur, sales engineer

Chris Hekeik Chris Hekeik is the founder and managing director of Modemedia. His passion was borne in 1999 with a desire to provide businesses with a holistic approach to presenting and communicating a brand in the most effective way. Chris has inspired businesses for over 25 years with his passionate and inspirational approach to being successful. He is a highly respected business owner with an endless drive to help businesses to present well and get the results they need. His enthusiasm is evident with his clients and team, being continuously empowered by the message and business acumen he shares. Modemedia is a successful brand strategy and creative agency, one that revolutionises business through its innovative and dynamic approach to branding, offering a seamless end-to-end solution.

Rebecca Mihalic Rebecca Mihalic is driven by her determination to provide business owners with the right advice and tools they need for whatever stage they are at in their business life cycle, from start up right through to retirement. She takes great pride in working closely with her clients to provide ongoing taxation, accounting, business advisory and tech advisory advice. Known as an ‘opportunity finder’, Rebecca has a knack for seeing things other people

Katherine Hawes Katherine Hawes focuses on making legal information understandable and actionable for both small business clients and individuals. Katherine focuses on commercial law with the associated family and business protection. She has primarily differentiated Digital Age Lawyers as a virtual law firm with a focus on digital and social media law, policy and compliance for small business, robotics, artificial intelligence. These form the core of our commercial law services and education. Katherine holds three master’s degrees and two post-graduate diplomas in both business and law. She is currently on track to be admitted to the New York Bar Association.

Dr Jim Taggart OAM Dr Jim Taggart OAM has over 30 years of Board level experience across the public, private (financial planning, investment, development) and community (Church, local area support and fundraising) sectors. Jim has driven change and is actively involved in the community in both executive and non-executive capacities. At Board level, some highlights include being a

WHEN: Tuesday November 16 TIME: 10am to 12 noon WHERE: Main theatre, Blacktown Workers Club ENTRY: Free upon registration at Eventbrite or Scan the QR code this page. ENQUIRIES: info@greaterblacktownnews.com.au Event sponsor – ACU Blacktown Venue partner – Blacktown Workers Club Support partner – Greater Blacktown Chamber of Commerce Support Partner – Blacktown City Council Media partner – Blacktown News

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Special 2-hour FREE event!

BLACKTOWN

KEY TOPIC - You & Your Business Join business owners, managers and teams from throughout Blacktown City for a morning of insights, updates and networking to chart your future in an ever-changing business world. Blacktown Bouncing Back is the first event in the two-event series aimed at enriching you and your business.

WHEN

TIME

ENTRY

Tuesday November 16

10am to 12 noon

Free upon registration at Eventbrite https://blacktownbounceback.eventbrite.com.au

WHERE

ENQUIRIES

Main theatre Blacktown Workers Club 55 Campbell Street, Blacktown

info@greaterblacktownnews.com.au Michael Walls 0407 783 413

Seizing Opportunities post-lockdown Rebecca Mihalic

Director BusinessDEPOT

BLACKTOWN Future Business coming in March 2022

More information on the speakers see Eventbrite page

Entrepreneurial Hope and Resilience

Business Structure and Protection

Maximise your Brand Potential

Networking and Success Mindset

Dr Hormoz Ahmadi & Dr Syed Fazal-e-Hasan

Katherine Hawes

Chris Hekeik

Dr Jim Taggart

Director Digital Age Lawyers

Founder Mode Media

OAM

ACU Blacktown

Sponsored by

Venue Partner

Support Partner

Guest MC: Trevor Oldfield, President Greater Blacktown, Business Chamber Introduction by Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali MP Close by Blacktown Mayor, Tony Bleasdale OAM

Media Partner

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ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Splash into the cool pool LACKTOWN City kids will have a fun destination to cool off this summer with a new splash pad breaking ground at Blacktown Aquatic Centre. Construction on the exciting project, which is part of Blacktown City Council’s $5m Supplementary Works Program, began last month and is expected to be finalised in time for Christmas. Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM joined Deputy Mayor Julie Griffiths recently to inspect the site, located near the outdoor toddler’s pool. “I am delighted to see work underway on this fantastic project ahead of the summer swimming season,” Mayor Bleasdale said. “There will be different water features and play zones, which have been designed to suit all ages and abilities. “The feature will also incorporate art designed by local Indigenous artists. I eagerly await the opening of this wonderful amenity.” Ward 2 Councillor Julie Griffiths said the new splash pad would be a welcome

The new cool pool.

addition to the facilities at Blacktown Aquatic Centre. “In response to requests from the community, I am pleased to see work start on this exciting new water play area at Blacktown Pool,” Cr Griffiths said. “The splash pad will provide plenty of enjoyment for toddlers and young children wanting to cool off in the summer months.

“As we know, regular physical activity is the key to better health, so I hope the finished project will encourage kids to get active and have fun at the same time.” Sandstone block seating will be provided and a shade sail will provide sun protection over a portion of the splash pad.

The splash pad project is one of 10 exciting new sport and recreation projects across Blacktown City as part of Council’s ‘More Active, More Often, in Blacktown City’ initiative. To find out more, visit: https://www.blacktown. nsw.gov.au/Sport-recreation/More-Active-MoreOften-In-Blacktown-City

Blacktown reopening ramps up HE big reopening continues in Blacktown as the region gets back to sports and fitness for fully vaccinated residents. Blacktown City Council has reopened indoor pools at Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope, as well as the Stanhope Tennis Centre and the Animal Holding Facility as further COVID-19 restrictions ease. As NSW moves through the Recovery

Reopening Roadmap, Council welcomed back lap swimmers to indoor pools at Stanhope. Learn to swim lessons have also resumed on Monday at all Council aquatic centres. And Blacktown Tennis Centre Stanhope reopened on Monday for casual hire and tennis lessons. The Animal Holding Facility at Black-

town also opened its doors on Monday after closing for non-essential services during lockdown. Squash courts and the indoor stadium at Stanhope have also reopened for casual hire. Online bookings are encouraged and square metre rules will be enforced. Bookings for lap swimming are required and will need to be made online, over the phone or in person

In accordance with the Public Health Order, unvaccinated adults, or those without a valid medical exemption, are not permitted to enter Council’s recreational facilities and public swimming pools.

For the latest COVID-19 information, visit: https:// www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Services/Health-andsafety/Response-to-Coronavirus

NOTIFICATION AND EGISTRATION OF ABORIGINAL INTERESTS Biosis is undertaking an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (ACHA) for recreational capital works at Bungarribee Park, Bungarribee, NSW, within the Blacktown Local Government Area on behalf of Greater Sydney Parklands. Biosis invites Aboriginal people who hold cultural knowledge in GHWHUPLQLQJ WKH VLJQL¿FDQFH RI $ERULJLQDO REMHFW V DQG RU SODFHV LQ the vicinity of the above area to register their interest in a process of community consultation.

COVID-19 Complimentary IR Assistance Employer access to industrial relations advice and resources on COVID-19 issues such as vaccination. Includes unlimited access to our specialist advice line; regular expert updates on IR issues; webinars; and industry sector briefings. We specialise in helping employers navigate employment issues. Go to www.aigroup.com.au/covid-19-ir-assistance/

The purpose of Aboriginal community consultation is to assist Greater Sydney Parklands in preparing an AHIP application, and to assist Heritage NSW, Department of Premier and Cabinet (Heritage NSW) LQ WKHLU FRQVLGHUDWLRQ DQG GHWHUPLQDWLRQ RI WKH DSSOLFDWLRQ 7KH SURMHFW will be undertaken in accordance with the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. 7R UHJLVWHU DQ LQWHUHVW LQ WKLV SURMHFW SOHDVH FRQWDFW Ashleigh KeeversEastman (Email: akeevers-eastman@biosis.com.au, ADDRESS: 14/17-27 Power Avenue, Alexandria, Tel: 0428 175 025). Please note that the name of each group that registers for consultation RQ WKLV SURMHFW ZLOO EH SURYLGHG WR +HULWDJH 16: DQG WKH /RFDO $ERULJLQDO /DQG &RXQFLO XQOHVV WKH JURXS VSHFL¿HV WKDW WKH\ GR QRW ZDQW WKHLU details released.

REGISTRATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE 5PM, 24 NOVEMBER 2021

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ISSUE 8 | November 2021

AmCham announces GWS Summit  BUSINESS | STAFF REPORTERS N a fresh initiative to assist business growth in Western Sydney, the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia (AmCham) will deliver its first Greater Western Sydney Summit (GWSS) in March 2022. The GWSS is a rolling day of panel discussions, workshops and information presentations which will give clarity for business owners on where to put their focus for growth. The event will be held at CommBank Stadium Parramatta and is expected to attract delegates from throughout the region and beyond. CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia, April Palmerlee said Greater Western Sydney is on the cusp of a boom in jobs, expansion and prosperity and sees enormous potential for business to flourish in the west through this un precedented development. “By 2036 over half of Sydney’s population will live west of Parramatta. To support this enormous growth Australia’s single largest planning, investment and delivery partnership between industry and government is underway to directly link Western Sydney to the world,” Ms Palmerlee said. A record $20B of public funding has been committed to create an integrated city flourishing with new industries and provide critical public infrastructure and deliver education opportunities and highskilled jobs for the future. “Opportunities for investment are ripe. The new Western Sydney Airport at

April Palmerlee.

Badgerys Creek which is being built by AmCham members like Lendlease, Bechtel, and others, will be a significant driver of activity in the area,” Ms Palmerlee said. “The United States is by far the biggest investor in Australia, and US-based multi-nationals are ideally placed to consider the prospects available in a region with such a culturally diverse, young and growing population with a highly skilled workforce.” At its core, the region around the new

Doug Grant.

international airport will operate as a 24hour global economic centre for industry, workers, residents, and visitors and offer a vibrant and thriving after-hours economy of entertainment, arts and cultural experiences and accommodation options. “AmCham Australia is pleased to be able to bring together this business focussed Summit to connect attendees with thought leaders from industry, business and government to gain the information, resources and strategies needed to invest

and succeed in a rapidly evolving city of opportunity,” Doug Grant, General Manager of AmCham said. The Western Sydney Media Alliance (WSMA) has been announced as the event’s official media partner. The Blacktown News is a member of the WSMA. The AmCham Greater Western Sydney Summit will be held at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta on March 23, 2022. Enquiries and registrations can be directed via nsw@amcham.com.au

Need help? All requests considered OVID restrictions and lockdowns have brought serious challenges for our local community. The evidence is clear that families, young people and communities living in local government areas of concern including Blacktown are experiencing increased pressure and hardship. Fusion is a not-for-profit youth and community organisation with a local Centre based in St Marys.

Along with other non-government organisations delivering services in these LGA’s, Fusion has recently received the NSW Government COVID-19 Partnership Grant to enhance delivery of services to vulnerable people in affected local communities. Fusion Covid Support will provide a range of additional short-term services to those being affected by the economic and mental health impacts of the recent extended lockdown.

These supports include: family and parenting support, advice, information and referrals, emotional and trauma support, material support and financial support for groceries, bills, personal care items and more. If you or someone you know residing in the Blacktown area and is struggling and needs additional support right now, please contact the Fusion Covid Support team at covidsupport@fusion.org.au, phone 0478 957 137 or go to westernsydney.fusion.org.

au to apply. All requests will be considered. This programme is provided by the Department of Communities and Justice COVID-19 Partnerships Funding Grants. Fusion is a national youth and community not-forprofit that has been around for 60 years with a vision is to see transformed communities where young people, families and communities thrive. For more information about Fusion Western Sydney go to www.fusionwesternsydney.org.au.

Blacktown People

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

The many faces of Blacktown Beauty, Suzzanne Salloum.

BLACKTOWN BEAUTY MAKING A GLOBAL IMPRESSION

Suzanne’s success is inspiring  PROFILE | DALLAS SHERRINGHAM UZANNE Salloum’s amazing journey is a story of hope and perseverance that will inspire a generation of young ladies in Western Sydney to succeed. “My journey has been interesting to say the least,” said Suzanne, the youngest of a family of 10 raised in Blacktown. She has amazing ‘get and go’ and has just won first runner up in the 2021 The Regency International Pageant in Las Vegas. Suzanne had hoped to attend the Pageant in person but had to limit her appearances to online presentations because of the COVID lockdown. However, all is not lost as she has already been invited to attend the 2022 awards in person in Las Vegas. “We managed to film only two hours before sudden lockdown started,” Suzanne said. “There were four sections in the total two hours pre-recorded featuring fun, fashion and formal wear and an Interview which was held via Zoom while the pageant was occurring in the U.S.A. “I watched the results live on August 1 via Zoom. To my shock in my first International event, I placed First Runner Up in the World.” Suzanne said she was the first Lebanese Australian to achieve this milestone. And this all came after being told at one time she would have to change her beautiful darker features to succeed. “I started competing in swimsuit competitions in 2006,” she revealed. “At first, some of the competitions weren’t so welcoming and I was told that ‘I didn’t have it’. “I was also told to try lightening my hair as I wasn’t commercial looking because I had darker features which had come from me having a Lebanese background. “It was such a hard thing to hear and for years I was overlooked but I didn’t allow it to stop me from fighting for a position on that stage.” Fast forward to 2021 and armed with 15 years’ experience on stage, Suzanne is now not only one of the most successful Swimsuit Models in Australia, but she has also been running her own Modeling agency for almost decade. Called Illustrious Model Management, it is one of the most highly regarded agencies in the modelling industry.

Time spent training “Having represented NSW in multiple competitions at a national level I have an absolute passion for the stage,” Suzanne said. “In that 15 year span I have competed in such coveted Swimsuit competitions as

the Face Of Origin Nationals to large scale car events like Sydney Jamboree where I am the only female model that’s placed in the top three in the model competitions 13 years straight, having won it two years in a row.” However, it hasn’t been all plain sailing for the Blacktown beauty. “Two years ago I was meant to compete in an International Swimsuit competition in Bali and bad weather left me stranded at Sydney airport unable to get another flight.” “I missed the entire Bali competition which I had spent two months training for,” she said. “Due to this simple twist of fate it’s what got me to enter my first pageant eight weeks later called National Australian Miss Program. “I had no preparation the day before deciding to re-enter as I had originally withdrawn weeks earlier due to illness. But I entered at the last minute and won the National title and Best in Photogenic out of 46 contestants in my very first pageant. “In 2020, I returned to the National Australian Miss Program Nationals where I won the Ms Australia title that qualified

“

I grew up as the youngest of 10 children and never did I ever think my dreams would turn into reality like they have.” – Suzanne Salloum. me to represent Australia in The Regency International Pageant in Las Vegas.” The rest is history. After stunning the world and herself in that Zoom hookup, she had risen to great heights after that heartbreaking advice given to her all those years ago. Apart from being named as First Runner-up in the world, Suzanne won several other accolades:

• First in Photogenic in her division and in Team Australia

• First in the Interviews in her division and equal first in Team Australia with a perfect score • The highest-ranking member of Team Australia

“I have been asked to return in 2022 to Las Vegas as Ms Lebanon Australia–Regency which I have accepted,” she said. “I grew up as the youngest of 10 children and never did I ever think my dreams would turn into reality like they have. “I’ve been on the front cover of Hot4s Magazine and featured in many other magazines “I appeared in the Original Fat Pizza TV series and now Fat Pizza Back in Business, the SBS boxing TV series On The Ropes and First Dates Australia. “Out of lockdown, my weekends are usually spent working as a ring card girl at boxing events around Sydney which is an absolute passion of mine. “I’ve worked over 100 shows in the past 10 years making me the most experienced Ring Girl in Australia and have won Australian Ring Girl Of The Year.” Her final words of advice to the young people of the West were: “Dream, believe, achieve!”

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Now that we are free, come together to support your local Blacktown business community leading up to the festive season. Your local clubs, hospitality & retail venues, professional businesses, sporting groups and community facilities are… counting on you to reignite,

reconnect and rejoice with them.

For more information visit www.supportyourlocalinblacktown.com.au

# support your local L A U N C H

E V E N T

BLACKTOWN BUSINESS CHAMBER

- BUSINESS AFTER 5 EVENT HOSTED BY BLACKTOWN CITY COUNCIL AT BOWMAN HALL, 35 CAMPBELL STREET, BLACKTOWN

THURSDAY 9 DECEMBER, 2021 5.30PM - 7.30PM Come along for a great night of networking, live entertainment and food and beverages! Registrations close on 3 December 2021 • $10 per ticket • To book now, visit www.stickytickets.com.au/jlvmt.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS

Mr. Chris Minns (MP)

Mr. Tony Bleasdale (OAM)

Opposition Leader NSW

Mayor of Blacktown City

Proudly supported by

CommenT

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

with MICHELLE ROWLAND

I am available to help with a range of Federal matters, including: • Aged Care & Pensions • Centrelink • Immigration • Medicare • National Disability Insurance Scheme • Taxation & Superannuation

There’s something about being in Western Sydney  RESILIENCE | MICHELLE ROWLAND N the film “Rocky”, there goes a saying: “It’s not about how hard you can hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward”. It is about resilience. As the NSW lockdown restrictions proceed to lift, most recently reaching 80% double-dose vaccinations, it is easy to get lost in the exciting whirlwind of freedom. And, while I did spend the first hours of Freedom Day at the Blacktown Workers Club, beer in hand, I feel it would be remiss not to reflect on these last few months of lockdown and how resilient Western Sydney has been. There’s something about being born and bred in Western Sydney that compels you to try harder than everyone else. We refuse to give up. When we were denied a mass vaccination hub in Greenway, our community decided to turn places of worship like the Ahmaddiyah Mosque and the Gurudwara Sahib in Glenwood into pop-up vaccination clinics. When we were labelled an LGA of concern, our community supported each other through online Facebook community groups and through food drives led by the legends at the Harman Foundation or Turbans 4 Australia. When we were subject to curfews and harsher regulations, small businesses like the Young Lions Cafe in Blacktown and Oregano & Oil continued to operate safely within these guidelines.

Michelle Rowland MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR GREENWAY

Level 1, Suite 101C, 130 Main Street, Blacktown PO Box 8525, Blacktown NSW 2148 (02) 9671 4780 Michelle.Rowland.MP@aph.gov.au www.michellerowland.com.au MRowlandMP Authorised by Michelle Rowland MP, Australian Labor Party, Suite 101C, Level 1, 130 Main Street, Blacktown NSW 2148

Young Lions Cafe.

“

It would be remiss not to reflect on these last few months of lockdown and how resilient Western Sydney has been.” Time and again, we were hit, but Greenway kept moving forward, and with the highest rates of first-dose vaccinations in the country. As I expressed in Parliament at our most recent sitting: thank you Greenway and Western Sydney, for your resilience, proactiveness and commitment to keeping each other safe during the toughest of times. By supporting one another, we can keep moving forward. Michelle Rowland is Shadow Minister for Communications Federal Member for Greenway. Visit: www.michellerowland.com.au

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

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Artist impressions of the Aerotropolis.

Community voices for Aerotropolis HE final planning package to unlock the potential of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis is a step closer to completion, with proposed changes to the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) now on public exhibition. The changes include large reductions to the size of the Aerotropolis’ open space network and environment and recreation zone, responding directly to community feedback and following a comprehensive review of open space needs. “Planning a new city is an incredibly complex task, and this process proves that nothing is finalised without community consultation,” Mr Stokes said. “We’ve listened to the community and the recommendations of the Independent Community Commissioner Professor Roberta Ryan, and reduced the amount of land earmarked for open space or an environment and recreation zoning. “We will still achieve our vision for a Western Parkland City under these proposed changes, while allowing landowners to continue using their property as they do now. This means fewer properties

needing to be acquired while still ensuring 95 per cent of homes in the Aerotropolis will be within five-minutes’ walk of open space.” The revised open space network will see 16 per cent of land in the initial precincts (869 hectares) acquired for parks and public spaces.

Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the vision included an exciting network of green spaces. “The future Aerotropolis won’t just be a great place to work and do business, it will also be home to some of Sydney’s best parks,” Mr Ayres said. “The feedback from the community

has created a better balanced Aerotropolis plan, that will create more jobs closer to where people live and ensure a green network of parks in the parkland city.” Under the proposed SEPP amendments, the environment and recreation zone at Wianamatta-South Creek will be reduced by a third and a rural zoning re-applied. Previously permitted land uses would also be reintroduced in the Aerotropolis and the Government will consider options for the future of Luddenham. The public exhibition includes proposed changes to the Aerotropolis SEPP; the draft Phase 2 Development Control Plan; and the Luddenham Village Discussion Paper. Submissions will be accepted from 8 October until 5 November 2021. These accompany the ‘Responding to the Issues’ report, which outlines the Government’s response to Professor Ryan’s recommendations and Precinct Plan submissions; the Open Space Needs Study and Community Guidelines on Existing Use Rights and Permissible Land Uses. For more information, visit: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/aerotropolis

2021 DOONSIDE

Christmas Market We We have have partnered partnered with with the th he Doonside Doonside Festival Festi tival Committee Committee and and Blacktown Blacktown Lions Lions Club Club to to bring bring you you the the 2021 th 2021 Doonside Doonside Christmas Chri ris istmas Market. Market.

When

SUNDAY, 12 December 2021 09:00 AM–02:00 PM Doonside CBD, 1 Hill End Rd, Doonside 2767

C Celebrate your community spirit and pick up some last-minute gifts at the Doonside Christmas Market. s The market will feature free kids rides as well as food trucks and market stalls. T

NewS

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

MAYOR AND MP TOUR CITY

Blacktown is back to business  RECOVERY | DALLS SHERRINGHAM HE sounds of the city have returned to downtown Blacktown as the city gets back to business after 15 weeks of severe lockdown. And City Mayor Tony Bleasdale has declared Blacktown “back open for business” after the Covid-19 Delta variant threw Western Sydney LGA’s into disarray. Blacktown City businesses, including shops, cafes, restaurants and gyms, reopened on Monday following more than 100 challenging days under COVID-19 stayat-home orders. Mayor Bleasdale joined the Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland for a street walk in the Blacktown CBD on Wednesday as businesses resumed trade and welcomed back customers. “Our businesses in Blacktown City

Mayor Tony Bleasdale and MP Michelle Bowland.

have been hit especially hard by COVID-19 lockdowns these past 18 months, so I am delighted to see them open their doors as we return to normal life,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

“Declared an Area of Concern, Blacktown City’s businesses and residents had to endure one of the strictest lockdowns in the country. “I was proud to see the City come together – they got vaccinated at an outstanding rate so we could get back to business and do the things we enjoy. “This week marked the beginning of our City’s reopening and while we must remain vigilant with the virus, it is a significant step in our community learning to live with COVID-19 and embark on an economic recovery.” Ms Rowland encouraged residents to support local businesses as they bounced back from lockdown.

“Now more than ever, it is vital we get behind small businesses in Blacktown City and help them thrive once again,” Ms Rowland said. “Whether that be sitting down for brunch with a friend at a cafe or doing some early Christmas shopping, there’s so much we can do to boost the local economy.” Mayor Tony Bleasdale also met with members of Greater Blacktown Business Chamber this week, including President Trevor Oldfield and Vice President Bob Turner, to listen to their questions and concerns. Blacktown City Council has embarked on a number of initiatives to assist local businesses affected by the lockdown, including waiving fees and charges for retail businesses and negotiating rent reductions for commercial tenants who lost revenue due to the lockdowns.

Free APP checks fuel prices OTORISTS are being encouraged to download the NSW Government’s free FuelCheck app and reap the rewards at the bowser, with higher petrol prices causing pain at the pump and the easing of COVID restrictions resulting in more vehicles on roads. Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said the popular app was an easy win for motorists, giving them

the real-time data to find the best deal at the pump for all fuel types across every service station in NSW. “This is a smart digital solution to make life easier for a smart state. The app has been downloaded more than 1.5 million times, with 93 per cent of drivers giving it the thumbs up,” Mr Dominello said. “With higher petrol prices and more freedom to travel, now is a great time to

download the app and find the best bargain. “There is often a more than a 20-cent gap in prices between service stations in the same suburb, which means if you fill up a 60-litre vehicle, you could save $12 by filling up at the cheaper station. Using it regularly could save you up to $500 a year.” The app allows users to save their favourite stations and features a trends page

showing the cheapest day of the week to fill up and the day’s price range. If the price at the pump doesn’t match the price on the app, drivers can report this to NSW Fair Trading.

For more information on FuelCheck and to download the app visit: https://www.fuelcheck.nsw. gov.au/app

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Blacktown's LOCAL media voice ice

Issue 4 | July 2021

THIS EDITION

Execs sleep rough to help

Grab a copy of the Blacktown News at any of these popular distribution outlets

youth: 5

Homegrown Blacktown talent. Josh Addo-Carr.

Residents hope for the return of Doonside Festival: 12

Blacktown winning war on tossers: 3 Property prices are sky rocketing: 13 LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS FEATURE: 26

BLACKTOWN FOXX

State of Origin hero eye s

LACKTOWN has produced many great sporting champions, but NRL star Josh Addo-Carr is the most famous of them all. The Blacktown-born ĝyer dubbed ‘The Foxx’ is one of the Ĝrst players picked for League rep teams including major Rugby Australia and

Keep up to date with Get your monthly community

Story page 10.

the latest news in and

ISSUE 6 | SEPTEMBER 2021

Fox Hills Golf Club

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the NSW State of Origin side. pics this year stars for premiers Melbourne Josh, who Storm every footy Ĝeld. instead of racing down the week, recently scored In 2020 he told NRL.com an astounding six of his aspirations to be an tries in the runaway win Olympian after he over the Rabbecame the NRL’s fastest bitohs. The last time that recorded player happened was at 38.5kmh, while carrying 70 years ago. But he is a ball on grass so fast, he could in a match against the have been sprinting at Cowboys. the Tokyo Olym-

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THIS EDITION

WESTPOINT backs domestic violence fight: 3 Mayor calls for local vaxx clinic: 6

Blacktown doctor Jana

Pittman competes in SAS

TV.

SAS JANA

Sub-branch answers calls for support: 10

LACKTOWN Hospital’s famous Olympian Dr Jana Pittman for a grueling survival challenge has swapped her stethoscope in the latest series of ‘SAS’ Jana’s roller coaster ride TV on the Seven Network. of triumph, defeat, failure and makes her ideal for the rigorous format of the show. success throughout her life one of the 18 celebrities The 38-year-old dual Olympian who will be subjected to is extreme physical and psychologica on the upcoming military-styl l testing e show. More page 5.

Why Blacktown is tops for property investment: 14

Blacktown City blacktow n.nsw.gov.au

Blacktown

Snapshot

395,000

18.81 billion

population

regional economy

4.6% average economic growth

24,990 registered businesses

143,259 local jobs

Never miss out. Get the digital edition 24/7 at www.greaterblacktownnews.com.au

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

NewS

Christmas at Westpoint.

Westpoint unwraps Christmas S we eagerly reconnect with loved ones and make plans to spend quality time together this festive season, Westpoint is ensuring the joy of Christmas is felt far and wide throughout the community. Unwrapping its Love from Christmas celebrations in early November, time-honoured festive traditions are set to be rekindled, while locals revel in creating some new ones of their own. From picture-perfect moments with Santa (Covid-safe of course), to community gift wrapping, extended trading hours, heart-warming carols and shop-to-win rewards, this festive season is sure to be extra merry and bright.

Kicking off the festivities, the big man in red is soon to set off on his merry way during his annual journey from the North Pole to Blacktown, ready for his highly anticipated Grand Arrival on November 13. "Families are invited to join Santa, Mrs Claus, his wonderful team of helpers, plus some familiar festive friends who will be spreading sleigh-loads of Christmas cheer and surprising shoppers with spectacular performances throughout the Centre,” said Agata Rynkiewicz, Centre Manager. Santa will then chart his course to his magical throne in Centre Court, where he’ll take residency from November13 to December 24, ready to meet local families (and their furry friends!) as part of his favourite

tradition of all–Santa Photography. This year, the annual Christmas keepsake is once again enjoying a modern makeover in line with health advice, while Pet Photos are coming to Westpoint for the first time. Sensitive Santa sessions are making a welcome return, so stay tuned for more details on how to booking via the Centre’s website, as well as how to score a bonus 6” x 8” printed photograph* for your family. “For shoppers looking to get a jump on their Christmas shopping, Westpoint will be open with extended trading hours this festive season, providing plenty of time to tick off those Christmas to-do lists. Plus, there will be major prizes up for grabs

throughout the season as a ‘thank you’ to our loyal customers,” said Ms Rynkiewicz. The joy-filled celebrations don’t end there, with Covid-safe Christmas charity gift wrapping back this year (hooray!). Westpoint has teamed up with the Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs of Blacktown to offer this popular service, not only taking the hard work out of wrapping gifts, but giving back to a deserving local community group. Be sure to keep an eye on the Centre’s website for Covid-safe updates and Christmas booking information over the coming weeks too. For more information on Westpoint’s Christmas celebrations, please visit www.westpoint.com.au

Better Foundation raises money for Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals to provide lifesaving additional services and equipment for the people of Blacktown City. Better Foundation is pleased to announce our media collaboration partnership with Blacktown News to provide monthly updates on Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals.

The Community thanks all hospital staff for their dedicated service during the COVID pandemic. Thank you! Updates on the hospital and Gala Dinner Night on Saturday 19th March 2022 can be found on Better Foundation website: https://betterfoundation.org.au/

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Only your Labor team has the plan to secure our future We need your support to:

Continue delivering quality services and facilities Committing millions to improve basic services and infrastructure across our city Bring greater investment into our city Delivering transformational, world-class sport, health and education facilities Deliver strong economic management Continuing our record of strong service delivery while keeping the budget balanced

cem e D 4 Vo ti n g is c o

n w o t k BlacCouncil City ection El ber or

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Vote 1 Labor above the line

DO NOT number any squares below the line

SCAN

THE QR CODE to see our How to Vote Card, Pre-poll and Election Day locations

Voting is compulsory Don’t risk a ﬁne Authorised by Paul Mills, Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch), 26 Pank Pde, Blacktown NSW 2148.

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

CounciL ElectionS

NINE YEARS OF BLACKTOWN CITY COUNCIL

The highs, lows and in-betweens  LOCAL GOVERNMENT | LAWRENCE MACHADO LACKTOWN Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM slammed the poor relation treatment of Blacktown Council and several other Western Sydney Councils by the NSW Government, saying it is undermining the economic progress and the community. The senior Labor councillor warned that the plan by the State Government to “grab the developers’ contributions” is fraught with danger for all the concerned councils, who are lobbying against the bill in parliament. Mayor Bleasdale said there are 22 of 34 councils on the campaign to overturn the government’s legislation to take control of developer contributions, which currently pay for vital local infrastructure in new development areas. Labor dominates the 15-member council, with 10 members, the rest being Liberals. “NSW will be bankrupt if not for the economic strength of Blacktown, with our Gross Regional Product growing by 4.6 % per annum for five years before COVID, probably the biggest in the country,” Mayor Bleasdale said. “About 10 years ago, the NSW Government told the councils they would like to cut the then Section 94 Developer Contributions from approximately $50,000 to $30,000 to make it easier for new projects to be completed and said the NSW Government would compensate us for the missing revenue. However, the government shortchanged us, and we estimate we are owed $250 million as compensation. “We have asked the government about it, but we were ignored. We will be the biggest council most affected by the legislation for growth and infrastructure. Premier Dominic Perrottet almost fell off his chair when I spoke to him about it, and he said he will look into it. “The only way forward is that they take away the draconian legislation which is in the upper house so we can come back to the table. “Basically, what the government wants do is dismantle all local government in the Blacktown area and across the board.” Mayor Bleasdale said it is very unfair the government expects rate payers to be slugged with increased fees to pay for the missing millions from the Developers Contributions. Former Blacktown Mayor, and current Blacktown state MP Stephen Bali, said Labor overturned years of bad management by the Liberal-led council and make the city vibrant. Mr Bali was mayor from 2014-2019 when he became the MP for Blacktown, proving to be a passionate advocate for the city. “The past seven years under Labor has resulted in strategic planning to position Blacktown as a city of opportunity while undertaking the important role of delivering footpaths, sporting fields and community facilities demanded of council on a day-to-day basis,” Mr Bali said. “The last nine years of Blacktown Council has ranged initially from controversies through to unity and transformation. During this period, there has been four premiers and five prime ministries but only three mayors. “Please consider your vote wisely at the upcoming council elections as Blacktown is growing and we cannot go back to the chaotic past of a coalition of Liberals, and Independents with no clear strategic direction.”

Artist impression of a future Blacktown.

Stephen Bali and Tony Bleasdale and the duo joining in community activities at the annual Blacktown Medieval Fayre.

Mr Bali criticised the role played by Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly in backing a group of so-called Independents for the council elections, saying these candidates were essentially Liberal. Blacktown City is home to more than 403,000 people and is slated to grow to 612,000 by 2041, but Mayor Bleasdale said the city lacks the infrastructure and government commitment to deal with the massive increase. Mayor Bleasdale said it is insane for the NSW Government to build a $14B tunnel for the Northern Beaches while ignoring the basic transport, housing and community needs of Blacktown and Western Sydney, which contributes heavily to the state budget. He and Mr Bali slammed plans by the government to give Western Sydney around $5 billion from the reported sale of Westconnex, saying more needs to be done to help the councils and suffering rate payers. “We are receiving investment proposals worth $2-3B as we speak but we need the infrastructure and support from the government,” he said. “The government is more interested in investing in the eastern seaboard than in Western Sydney.” Blacktown has one of the most multicultural populations in Australia with more than 185 nationalities. Mayor Bleasdale and Mr Bali said Labor’s record speaks for itself, highlighting some of their major achievements: • Reducing the infrastructure backlog Mr Bali inherited from the Len Robinson-led Liberal/Independent dominated council from $79.8m in 2014 to $51m by 2021.

• Introduced an additional $200 pensioners’ discount rate. • The Australian Catholic University campus in Blacktown. • Construction for the Warwick Lane redevelopment project. • Defibrillators at all sporting grounds plus accessible pathways to sporting fields. • Planning for Kevin Betts Stadium upgrade. • First council in Australia to have electric car recharging stations. • A high performance and health recovery centre (known as the ICTE).

• Mayor Bleasdale has championed the Dr Charlie Teo Brain and Spinal Institute for Blacktown CBD which is in the planning stage. • Identified the location and planning for the new Animal Rehoming Centre. • Warrick Lane project to speed up the renewal of Blacktown CBD with new buildings and 480+ space underground car park. • A very high rate of Covid vaccinations and strong support for residents, and businesses during Covid. • Council operations achieving a net zero by 2030 climate strategy.

“Please consider your vote wisely at the upcoming council elections as Blacktown is growing and we cannot go back to the chaotic past of a coalition of Liberals and Independents with no clear strategic direction.: Len Robinson Liberal Mayor 2012-14

Stephen Bali Labor Mayor 2014-19

Tony Bleasdale Labor Mayor since 2019

↑ council rates

Planning ICTE & ARC

COVID pandemic response

151 parks to be sold

Pensioner discounts on rates Brain & Spinal Institute and swimming planning

Closed Mt Druitt pool

Reopened Mt Druitt pool

Warrick Lane completion

$2 pensioner entry fee for swimming

Deﬁbrillators in every sportspark

Construction commenced for ICTE and ARC

Selling Council Childcare

ACU announcement

ACU opening

Closed festivals

Improved accessibility to ﬁelds

2030 Net Zero Council policy

↑ Infrastructure backlog $27m

Introduced electric car recharging stations.

↓ infrastructure backlog $31m

Crosswords/Games

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ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Solutions page 31

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Andrew Lloyd Webber hit 5. Low digits 9. "Bleah!" 12. Rev. Roberts 13. Suffer from 14. Woody herb 15. Produced 17. Campus facility 18. Awful review 19. It may be educated or wild 21. Clergy counterpart 24. Hatchery sound 26. Communal pronoun 27. "I've finished," on a radio 29. Santa's burden 33. To's partner 34. Explosion maker 36. Kicks 37. Piquancy 39. Punishment for a sailor, maybe 40. IT worker's complaint 41. Drink garnish 43. Take home, as a pet 45. Inside info 48. Angle opener 49. Heavy weight 50. Grew larger 56. Texas tea 57. Apple discard 58. Jogger's gait, perhaps 59. Paper towel measure 60. Sebaceous gland woe 61. Reasonable try

DOWN 1. Minor player 2. "What ___ friends for?" 3. Malibu hue 4. Failed as a sentry 5. Comparative word 6. Cereal crop 7. New Year's ___ 8. Bulrush relative 9. Craving 10. Dolls' accompaniers 11. Fashion lines 16. First synthetic fiber 20. Downs' opposite 21. Barn area 22. A psychic may see it 23. Attend to a pressing detail? 24. Corolla part 25. Goofs up 28. Adjective for a cad 30. Retro hairdo 31. Crescent horn 32. Like most sweaters 35. Midwest hub 38. Local mail H.Q. 42. Long stories 44. Cockpit array 45. Layover 46. Spring 47. Partner of one? 48. Elder, e.g. 51. "___ so fast!" 52. React to spilled milk? 53. Drunkard 54. Waste watchers' org. 55. One who's coming out

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Proof that families can dream big and work hard together Limasina Unga remembers the struggles. She’d wake her two children at the crack of dawn to prepare them for the long day ahead, drop them off to kui, or grandma, who would ferry the kids to school while their mother went off to university. She remembers the long journey from their home in Blacktown to Australian Catholic University’s North Sydney Campus, where she studied hard for three years to attain her nursing qualification. “I always loved nursing, and if you want something in life, you have to work hard and go through some struggles to get it,” Limasina, who graduated in 2014, said. Limasina’s son Siosaia remembers it all, too. “Just seeing my mum while she was at ACU, waking at four in the morning to make our lunch, coming back home and cooking dinner and ironing our clothes, then studying late nights, it’s been really inspirational for me,” says Siosaia, 18. While a student at Patrician Brothers’ College in Blacktown, Siosaia Unga carved a name for himself as a gifted young rugby player, earning selection in a representative squad with the New South Wales Waratahs. But when he received an offer to study exercise and sports science at ACU’s new Blacktown Campus, just a stone’s throw from his family home, he decided to put his promising football career on hold. Siosaia’s interest in human physiology first piqued when his mother was studying nursing. He recalls opening Limasina’s textbooks with intrigue. “I’d look into her books and see stuff about the human body, about the way the body moves and how it works, and it really interested me,” he said. “As soon as I got my ACU offer, I sat down with my parents and talked about it, and I told them I want to put rugby to one side for now to concentrate on my studies. “For me, it feels like a really big opportunity to study sports science, to learn more about the human body and nutrition, things that really fascinate me.”

While the decision to put his footy career on hold came as a surprise to his family, Siosaia says he has no regrets about the path he’s chosen. “Sport has so many benefits – physical, mental and social – and it’s really had a positive impact on my life,” he said. “I want to learn more so that one day I can pass on that knowledge to others, to help people to be their best through sport and exercise.” Meanwhile, for Limasina, the news that her son would follow in her footsteps to study at ACU was a proud moment. “When he said, ‘Mum, I want to concentrate on one thing, I want to focus on my education’, that made me so proud. “Education has always been number one for me, and for him to make the decision to put all of his energy towards his education, it made me so happy.” It also takes Limasina back to when she was a newly arrived migrant at just 18 years old. Her father moved the family to Australia to give them the opportunities that weren’t available in Tonga. When she started her own young family, Limasina was initially hesitant to pursue her goal of studying nursing. Her husband Joye convinced her to chase her dream, and Limasina enrolled into nursing at ACU in 2011. She now works in the community, helping people living with disability.

Caitlin is there when people need her most. Caitlin ACU graduate

CRICOS registered provider: 00004G

“I love working in a field where I can help vulnerable people and over the years, I’ve found that’s what I’m really passionate about,” she said.

Ready to explore your opportunities at ACU Blacktown? Explore the range of courses on offer at acu.edu.au/courses

Study at ACU Blacktown yourfuture.acu.edu.au

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Low-cost Western Sydney shared office space available Looking for a fresh start for your business coming out of lockdown? BREED Australia aims to help small businesses grow, and we offer a variety of office space to suit your needs. Our Quakers Hill office has ample free parking, 24/7 security, kitchen facilities, discounted meeting rooms, free business incubator programs and no lock-in contract. With prices starting from $394 per month, our business centre is close to Blacktown CBD and public transport, with quick access to M2, M4 and M7. Enquire now and get 10% off your first month’s rent and a half-price establishment fee (usually $520) if you sign up before the end of the year.

Mastering Mental Resilience Paid event ($199 or $99 using code BREED99) Date: Tuesday 16th November (9am-5pm) Masterclass Details The quality of our thoughts, feelings and actions determine the quality of our life. As we navigate through the ‘new normal’ from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to learn ways to build our resilience so that new goals and dreams can be achieved. This workshop will help you discover new ways to increase your mental resilience. To maximise your learning experience, our workshops are limited to a maximum of 10 participants. What will I learn? Understand the difference between our conscious and subconscious minds. Discover how thoughts, feelings & actions rule our lives. Learn practical ways to reduce stress & increase motivation. Master strategies to build mental resilience. Your Facilitator Emmanuel Martin CPA, General Manager of BREED Australia, is a business mentor and strategist who has helped hundreds of businesses and individuals achieve their goals over the last 25 years in a Corporate and Small Business setting.

Scan the QR code to book your ticket.

BREED Learning For Good series

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

BREED Learning For Good series Discover Emotional Intelligence

Effective Goal Setting & Goal Achievement

Paid event ($199 or $99 using code BREED99)

Date: Tuesday 30th November (9am-5pm)

Date: Friday 10th December (9am-5pm)

Masterclass Details

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict. EQ helps you build stronger relationships and can help you achieve your career, business or personal goals.

Most of us set goals, but only a few of us achieve them. This workshop will help you understand how coherence between your brain and heart holds the key to achieving your goals. You will learn latest discoveries through neuroscience that will unlock the secrets to fulfilling your hopes and dreams.

To maximise your learning experience, our workshops are limited to a maximum of 10 participants.

What will I learn?

Understand the difference and relationship between IQ and EQ.

Why goal setting and goal achievement are two separate functions.

Introduction to EQ and how it can be applied to your life.

Your life blueprint and taking stock of your current reality.

How to master Active Listening.

Introduction to a unique goal setting methodology .

Learn and use the science of building rapport to improve the quality of your life.

Discover new techniques and tactics for effective goal achievement

Introduction to Self Awareness.

Participants will be provided with a Workbook which will be used to set goals during the workshop.

How to build better relationships.

Scan the QR code to book your ticket.

Your Facilitator Emmanuel Martin CPA, General Manager of BREED Australia, is a business mentor and strategist who has helped hundreds of businesses and individuals achieve their goals over the last 25 years in a Corporate and Small Business setting.

AutO

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

New Mercedes trademarks hint at Oz launch for electric G-Class ‘EQG’ range  ELECTRIC | CALLUM HUNTER ERCEDES-BENZ has started to lay the groundwork for the 2024 introduction of its all-electric G-Class with some new trademark filings with IP Australia revealing that at least two variants have been earmarked for our market. Officially dubbed the EQG, an electric G-Class has been on the cards for months now with the 2024 global launch being confirmed by none other than Daimler AG board of management chairman Ola Kallenius back in July at Mercedes’ most recent brand strategy update. “In 2024 we will launch our full-electric G-Class … it will continue the great story of our G-series,” he said. That didn’t turn out to be an empty promise either with Mercedes-Benz unveiling the Concept EQG at IAA Mobility 2021 last month, however no concrete details like possible power outputs, range or performance were revealed. Now with these new patent applications however, a few of the widespread dots can be connected to help draw some possible conclusions about what will surely be the most capable model of the EQ portfolio. Formally submitted on August 23 the two Australia trademark applications point to the likely introduction of an EQG560 variant and a better-specced EQG580 variant, the latter of which has already been accepted and entered into its opposition period. Given the G-Class’ fabled reputation and heritage as a capable off-roader, both variants are virtually guaranteed to score all-wheel-drive, especially so given the concept car has an electric motor driving each wheel (four in total).

Little less grunt The Concept EQG also promises the electric equivalent of both high- and lowrange gearing with the whole package built around a traditional ladder frame chassis and a solid rear axle. Whether or not these off-road-friendly features are carried over to the production version remains to be seen, but Mercedes is already touting the EQG as “an uncompromising off-roader”. Delving into the variant names meanwhile gives us a rough idea as to how much power and torque the trademarked examples may possess, as well as a loose impression of their range. In the EQG580’s case, the ‘580’ nomenclature has already been stamped onto the back of an EQS. All EQS variants use the same 107.8kWh lithium ion battery, which in the top-spec EQS580, powers a dual-motor drivetrain developing a muscular 385kW/855Nm.

Outputs like that would suit the highend EQG580 down to ground in its pursuit of off-road capability and the usual Mercedes on-road manners, especially given the amount of 4x4 buyers who use their vehicles to tow. As for the EQG560, you could safely expect it to come with a little less grunt and maybe even a few standard equipment concessions, but the tradeoff should be a lower asking price – not that affordability has G-Class hallmark in recent years. In terms of range, it’s highly unlikely any of the EQG range will be able to match their limo stablemates’ figures on account of their boxy shape, but they should still be able to comfortably cover 500km on a single charge given the progress Mercedes is making with its battery tech. The local arm of Mercedes-Benz Cars was predictably coy about commenting on the trademark filings, however media relations and product communications manager Ryan Lewis did confirm that an electric G-Class would be on the radar if such a vehicle was made available. “All vehicle platforms introduced (globally) by Mercedes-Benz from 2025 will be EV-only, and Mercedes-Benz will go fully electric with its entire new vehicle fleet by

2030 where market conditions allow,” he said. “The aspirations of Mercedes-Benz Australia are aligned with the global vision, and we are working towards the same goals with excitement. “Should an all-electric G-Class become available to us, we would certainly

evaluate the possibility of a local market introduction.” For the time being then all we can do is wait and see – between now and the EQG’s introduction in 2024, Mercedes will launch the EQB compact SUV, EQE large sedan and performance-minded EQS53 AMG limo.

TraveL

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

The Gold Coast.

In love with our backyard  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM NE positive aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the seismic shift in Australians rediscovering their own country. A national survey has found NSW is a top 10 dream destination for an outdoor adventure and revealed locals want to spend time exploring their own backyard. When overseas holidays disappeared overnight and cruise ships stopped running, Aussies took to the road in record numbers. Caravan and motorhome manufacturers struggled to meet demand and good second hand caravans were at a premium. The trend has shown no signs of abating with travellers still hesitant about booking overseas trips and cruises. Caravan parks from Tweed Heads to Pambula are booked out for the school holidays. Now a Great Outdoors National Survey by Great Northern brewing has revealed 80% of NSW travellers have committed to keep up their camping and caravanning adventures even after international borders reopen. More than half said they would like to spend more time outdoors this summer. When asked where they would travel if they could choose anywhere in Australia, NSW respondents nominated holidaying at home with Northern NSW their top spot followed by Southern NSW and the NSW Central Coast. Great Northern Great Outdoor National Survey top 10 destinations were:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

their own backyard and we hope this will eventually translate to a financial lifeline for towns across NSW. “We know businesses, pubs and clubs across the state have done it tough so Great Northern Brewing Co has been working to drive tourists back to Australia’s tourism hotspots since international borders closed. “To get people motivated, we are giving away $26mn worth of BCF vouchers to help fund their passions to get out into the great outdoors. “Camping or caravanning is a great boost to the place where you pitch your tent but along the way travellers stop to buy fuel, pick up groceries, sightsee, enjoy lunch – it’s all the places along the journey, not just the destination, that benefits.” The national survey also revealed NSW respondents were not only keen to get out and about but wanted to squeeze more activity in with a third of locals wanting to go camping and fishing more often. “Almost 43% of NSW respondents spent between up to $2000 on outdoor equipment, with 22% of that expenditure on camping and fishing gear,” Mr Giles said. “Every person we get out and about, whether it’s a local or a visitor, we hope will pour dollars into the local economy.”

Cairns/Far North Qld. Whitsunday region. Sunshine Coast/Noosa region. Uluru/Alice Spring, southern Northern Territory. Kakadu Northern Territory. Gold Coast region. South Australia. Central Victoria and High Country. Northern NSW. Outback Queensland.

Ian Giles of Great Northern Brewing Co said the survey results showed the tough circumstances had inspired Australians to get out and really immerse themselves in the natural beauty Australia had to offer. “NSW has some great spots to explore – and the local pubs serve great beer,” Mr Giles said. “The Great Northern survey shows Australians have a renewed interest in

The Murray.

TraveL

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Cruising Fiji is just so easy  ONBOARD | DALLS SHERRINGHAM RUISE devotees are booking in their thousands on 2022 itineraries, hoping that Federal Government will restart cruising sometime in the New Year. Many more are flying long distance to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean to enjoy cruises on bigger ships. However, there is a cruise ship available within each in Fiji which is operated by the Australian Captain Cook Cruises. The Reef Endeavour is a smaller, friendly ship operated by the happiest crew afloat. There are several interesting itineraries available featuring romantic tropical groups like the Mamanucas and Yasawas and the northern capital of Vanua Levu, which is Savu Savu. Further east is the famed and untamed Taveuni and the old capital of Levuka which is a world heritage listed town. I enjoyed a seven-day cruise to the east and north of Fiji which took in the northern and eastern regions. I had previously cruised with Captain Cook Cruises to the Mamanucas. The cruise line runs three, four and seven day itineraries out of the modern Port Denarau perched at the end of the resort island of Denarau. The best way to enjoy a cruise is to combine a weeklong break at one of the resorts with a seven-day cruise. Captain Cook can help with attractive packages ashore.

Cuisine is just stunning Reef Endeavor is the perfect tropical paradise escape with a new island every day and relaxing evenings watching the sun go down while sipping a cleansing ale on the back deck. The cuisine on board is stunning and includes local produce and fresh seafood. You are called to dinner by a drum roll on a traditional hollow log. There is enough room on board to find a quiet place for a read and a sunbake or you can make friends with the blend of international and Australian guests.

The climax of the cruise is an outdoor barbecue and traditional Fijian songs and dancing on the top deck. Reef Endeavour has a modern walk onwalk off excursion boat and specializes in diving tours for the more adventurous. Divers have the opportunity of visiting two reefs a day under expert guidance and snorkeling opportunities are also available.

I particularly like Levuka, Savu Savu and Taveuni. We swam under an amazing waterfall in Taveuni and went to a full tribal and song concert at the local village. At Savu Savu, I hired a taxi and went for an adventure around part of the island. Cabins are roomy on board and brekky and lunch are casual. On this kind of cruise there is never a queue or a problem

getting a table like on the big ships. And you never experience rudeness from either the crew or fellow passengers on board. For me, Fiji is always calling, and I can hardly wait to go back to Denarau again. And hopefully a Captain Cook Cruise would be the perfect experience. Details on latest itineraries: www.captaincookcruisesfiji.com

Games Solutions

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

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Worth Visiting

Fernhill flourishes under new plan ESTERN Sydney’s Fernhill Estate will be open for bushwalking and picnicking from next year, under a five-year plan to progressively transform the historic 423-hectare estate into a public park-

land. Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the Fernhill Estate Foundation Plan of Management to 2026 set a path for how the estate would open up. “The NSW Government purchased Fernhill Estate in 2018 with a vision to transform this historic home into a parkland for people, and the five-year plan of management sets out how we will get on with this important job,” Mr Stokes said. “Fernhill Estate is a green jewel in Sydney’s crown. Over the next five years it will open up for bushwalking, bike riding, picnicking and events.” Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Fernhill Estate would be an iconic western Sydney parkland. “Fernhill is such a special place that has been closed to the public for over a century. Now it will become Western

Sydney’s answer to Centennial Park as one of NSW great public parks,” Mr Ayres said. “As Western Sydney grows, Fernhill will provide locals with a new open space and be a drawcard for tourists from all over.” Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies said the launch of the Fernhill Estate five-year plan of management was a milestone for the Mulgoa community. “The plan sets out how the Estate will open up in a way that manages and preserves its significant heritage and biodiversity,” Ms Davies said. “As one of Sydney’s oldest surviving estates, its preservation is important so generations to come can experience its rich history.” The Estate recently re-opened for self-guided walking tours on Sundays, which will give people a glimpse of the grounds and a taste of what’s to come over the next few years. For more information, visit: https://www.westernsydneyparklands. com.au/about-us/major-projects/fernhill-plan-of-management/

Scenes of iconic Fernhill.

FitnesS

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

How to grow muscle mass  TRAINING | ADAM SIMPSON F you have been reading my articles over the last few months, you will have noticed I have given plenty of advice and practical tips on ways to help you lose body fat. This month, I thought I would aim to help anyone who is looking to pack on some serious muscle. While many of you may think packing on muscle is something that really only young men want to do. There are plenty of benefits of increasing your muscle mass for people of any sex or age bracket. Benefits of increasing your muscle mass:

• More muscle mass, means it is easier to control body fat. • Building muscle, will help you increase / maintain bone density. • More muscle mass, means more strength. • More Muscle mass, will support your joints. • More muscle mass, means an improved self-confidence.

In addition, there are also many day to day practical reasons why it is advantageous to have more muscle mass. More muscle mass, will mean you can carry the kids that little easier, get the shopping out of the car in one trip or just simply feel confident when you are at the beach. When it comes to growing muscle, there are two crucial components that you need to get right in order for your body to start changing. 1. You MUST lift weights!! Without lifting weights it’s going to be almost impossible to grow your muscles. I would suggest you reach out to a local trainer or strength coach for some help putting together a training program, that

fits your goals and lifestyle. But if you are going to give it a crack on your own, here are some tips to help get you started. 1. You need to lift consistently – I would suggest lifting anywhere from 2 – 6 times per week depending on your specific goals and schedule. 2. Focus on the “bigger” lifts – You will want to focus on strength exercises that use a lot of muscle to be performed, multi joint exercises are best. Dead Lifts, Squats, Rows, Presses and Lunges should all be staples in your program. 3. Form over weight – Make sure you are performing each exercise correctly and safely before you try and load up with more weight than you can handle. Growing muscle mass, is not necessarily all about lifting the most weight you can do all the time. 4. Progressive overload – Over time you should gradually increase the amount of work you are doing. Eg you could increase the weight lifted, increase the reps or sets on each exercise or increase the frequency that you train each muscle group. 5. Keep things simple – You don’t need to do a tonne of crazy exercises, stick to the basics and do them well and consistently. 6. Train your legs – Your legs are one of the biggest muscle groups in your body, so make sure you train them with the same intensity that you attack your chest work outs with. The second crucial component to increasing your muscle mass is 2. You MUST eat!! Without proper nutrition your body is going to find it really difficult to grow any muscle mass. Again, I would suggest you

reach out to a nutritionist or dietician who can give you some guidance on what your body needs. But here are some tips that you can adopt into your daily habits. 1. Eat in a Calorie Surplus – If you do not eat enough calories your body will not be able to grow any extra muscle mass. If you are someone who struggles to put on weight, or you have any active job. You are simply not eating enough… If you think you eat like a horse and you are still not growing, again you are not eating enough. 2. Eat plenty of Protein – Protein is the key nutrient your body needs to grow more muscle mass. As a rough estimate I would suggest you eat 2 to 2.5 grams of protein per kg of body weight per day. Eg if you are 75kg you should eat more than 150 grams of protein per day. 100grams of chicken has approximately 30 grams of protein.

3. Eat plenty of Carbohydrates – These are the main fuel source for your body, without that fuel source you are not going to be able to train very hard. I suggest having a good balance of protein and carbohydrates at every meal that you eat. 4. “Power Smoothies” – Making a big smoothie or two up each day is a really practical way of getting in everything your body needs to grow that muscle mass. Smoothies are easy to get down when you are full and you can make them really calorie dense, so they are great if you have a really active job. Eg Protein Powder, Milk, Banana, Oats, Peanut Butter, Baby Spinach and Honey. If you have any questions on any of the above or anything related to nutrition or training, feel free to email adam@repetitionspt.com.au. I would love to hear from you and help you in any way that I can.

FilM

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

The Last Duel – 4 Stars A surprisingly nuanced take on rape culture, told with suitable bravado and violence for a medieval epic. IR Jean De Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) are thick as thieves; buddies fighting their way through medieval France as a pair of squires. But their simmering tensions boil into something more sinister, as Le Gris curries favour with Count Pierre d’Alencon (Ben Affleck). With dwindling finances, Sir Jean seems to strike a little luck himself–falling for the beautiful Marguerite (Jodie Comer) and marrying her. But the land promised as part of her dowry is given by Pierre to his buddy Le Gris, as is the captaincy due Sir Jean. When Le Gris sneaks into Sir Jean’s castle and has his way with Marguerite, it’s the last straw. Marguerite tells Sir Jean of the rape, and King Charles VI (Alex Lawther) declares that the two settle their dispute with a duel–a practice that hasn’t been performed in many years. If Sir Jean succeeds, his enemy will be declared a rapist posthumously; if Le Gris wins, his assertions that it was

consensual will hold, and not only will Sir Jean have died, but Marguerite will burn alive. Directed by Ridley Scott, The Last Duel is intriguing for the fact that it is the first screenplay by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck together since their Oscar winning debut, Good Will Hunting. They’re joined in screenplay duties by Nicole Holofcener, and that’s primarily due to the structure of this piece; told in three chapters, from three different viewpoints. The first is Damons’ Sir Jean, who gets the most screentime by far. His story does the bulk of the heavy lifting, but portrays Sir Jean as a too-trusting, but ultimately kind and good hearted man who is beloved by his wife. Then comes Le Gris’ story; where he is the good guy, constantly defending his foolhardy friend, and falling in love with his friends’ wife. He believes that while Marguerite protested, she was just being a lady and truly wanted to be with him. Finally, we here Marguerites’ story (the story Scott not-so-subtly labels as ‘the

truth’). For Marguerite, her husband is cold and occasionally vicious, and barely believes her; fighting for his honour rather than hers in this duel. For her, Le Gris’ assault is a horrid, painful, terrifying experience. The film contains all the brutal medieval action one would expect, with tremendous sets and costuming resplendent throughout. The performances are also incredible. Damon and Driver have fun playing with the multiple takes on the same scene, while also bringing a certain brutality to their roles. Affleck stands out in a role that gives him a tonne of comedic license, and he frequently cracks the cinema up. His role in particular is still a relevant commentary on how sexual assault is seen today; with men being protected by the powerful people around them, while women are shamed and forced to prove their innocence. But the standout is Comer, who brings a stark fierceness to her character's own story that breathes life into a role that, in

the first two chapters of the piece, feels pale and hollow. Her musings on the importance of truth, coupled with her realisation regarding it’s relative importance, gives her performance a really introspective and engaging tone, and her reactions during and subsequent to the duel are impossible to look away from. That being said, the film is overly long, and the first chapter drags right up until we begin to understand the triple perspective conceit. There are also a number of questionable wigs, and a wide array of accents for medieval France. Nevertheless, The Last Duel is entertaining first and foremost, compelling secondly, and ultimately a well written and performed allegory for modern rape culture. Strap yourselves in for a long, but rewarding, medieval tale from Ridley Scott.

Reviews by Jacob Richardson Creative Director | Film Focus www.filmfocusau.com

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ISSUE 8 | November 2021

Ron’s Gone Wrong – 3 Stars A genuinely funny and lovely kids film that occasionally tackles the social media behemoths with sledgehammer subtlety. IANT tech behemoth Bubble releases the B-Bot; a ‘Best Friend Out Of The Box’ robotic toy solution to childhood friendship, that seems like Instagram, TikTok, a computer, a bestie, and a speed-dating friendship selection tool all in one. Alas, young Barney (Jack Dylan Grazer) is the only kid in his class to not have one. His widowed father Graham (Ed Helms) and very Romanian grandmother Donka (Olivia Colman) stretch the limits of their budget to get him one for his birthday, but they can only afford one that fell off the truck. It’s name is Ron (Zach Galifianakis), and Barney’s initial excitement soon gives way to horror as he realises that Ron is a bit wrong; he only downloaded 5% of his programming. He can’t do anything the other B-Bots can, and only knows the A words in the dictionary.

Ron sets about learning how to be a good friend to Barney, and after some initial hesitation, Barney begins to teach him how to be a good friend. In the end though, Barney might just discover that Ron teaches him a thing or two about what friendship really is. Ron’s Gone Wrong is a beautifully animated children’s movie that looks gorgeous from front to back. It uses the pantheon of Disney films to bring relatable content into the piece, yet never loses its unique look and feel. One of the most impressive things about the film is how goddamn funny it is. Barney’s Romanian family life is a frequent winner, and so too is Rons’ fish-out-of-water aesthetic. In fact, the funniest sequence in the film occurs when Ron, hell bent on finding Barney friends, heads out to the local town centre and physically typifies all that online

terminology we take for granted; asking people if they want to be Barney’s friend, showing them a photo of him and requesting a comment or a like. The significant bouts of laughter also give way in the end to a tender and heartfelt ending. Despite the fact we’ve all heard the message before, you may nevertheless find yourself tearing up by the end. The film does have issues, however, and in particular those stem from its tackling of the social media giants. Our modern reality sees myriad problems with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok impacting our children, and indeed we see it playing out recently in the US Congress’s inquest, as well as in Zuckerberg’s rumored thinking around changing the name of his company to something less toxic-associated. The problem with Ron’s Gone Wrong is that it tackles this too head on, and without a hint of subtlety. Bubble’s CEO is even

named Marc (Justice Smith). Gone is the sly, wink and you’ll miss it references of a film like Wall-E; here, the writing is on the wall, and there’s a billion flashing signs pointing at it and telling you to look. For adult consumers, this brings a series of cringe-worthy moments that are at odds with what would be a knowing understanding in a better film. For kids, it still seems too difficult a concept to really grasp. Couple that with one ending too many, and you have a film that is very funny, and very fun, but ultimately unlikely to become a classic or staple in years to come. There’s a lot to love about Ron’s Gone Wrong, and you can’t go wrong taking your kids to the theatre to see it. Reviews by Jacob Richardson Creative Director | Film Focus www.filmfocusau.com

ISSUE 8 | November 2021

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