Parramatta Times - December 2020

LO OUR CA C L P I TY A P ’S ER

ParramattA Merry Christmas from The Times mes

Voice of Australia’s most progressive city

T I M E S

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

THIS EDITION

It all started at Parramatta Ampol makes an Epic comeback: 3

Catholic Education Bicentenary Special Feature It’s a haven for local birds: 5

WSABE winners for 2020 celebrate: 21 PROFILE: Parramatta Lord Mayor: 14 HEALTH: Community working together: 15 TRAVEL: Outback and fascinating Undara: 30 SPORT: Cricket centre of excellence: 47

COUNCIL’S $1 CBD RENT DEAL

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N a move that will cost Parramatta Council an estimated $60,000 over six months, the NSW Government has been granted a peppercorn rent of $1 to occupy office space in Macquarie St. In a heated confidential session behind closed doors, councillors were divided 7 to 7 on whether to grant the govern-

ment’s request for the peppercorn rent on vacant Parramatta Square office space to set up an information office for the planned Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (Powerhouse) Parramatta project. The casting vote of the Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer got the motion over the line.

CHURCH ST WE’RE OPEN

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Eat, drink and play at Parramatta’s foodie destination.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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Santa jolly after kidney transplant success  FROM WESTERN SYDNEY AREA HEALTH SERVICE ANTA Claus has been given a new lease on life after Mrs Claus donated a kidney to him.

The much-loved shopping centre and party Santa, aka Ian Wilson, has been attending dialysis three times a week at Blacktown Regional Dialysis Centre since April 2008.

Recently, wife Carol donated one of her kidneys to her husband in a procedure at Westmead Hospital, in time for Christmas.

Ian had no idea he had any kidney problems until a test revealed they were down to eight per cent function – a shock to him because he lives a relatively healthy lifestyle.

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“I am not a diabetic, I don’t have high cholesterol and I am reasonably fit, so I didn’t think I would be at risk. I later found out I have polycystic kidneys and that was inherited down from my grandparents,” Ian said.

“I knew I would eventually need a transplant, but there’s always someone worse off than you. If I continued my dialysis I would still have another 10 or so years in me, and I was content with that.”

Ian’s wife of nearly 40 years has been with him every step of the way, supporting him through both diagnosis and treatment.

“We started at-home dialysis treatment and I think that’s when Carol saw me struggling. She said to me, ‘Ian I’m going to donate my kidney to you’.

“I tried to tell her no because the only

operation she’s ever had was getting her tonsils out, she’s never had a single stitch in her body, but she told me that it wasn’t my decision and it was something she really wanted to do. She got all the tests and it turns out she was a match.

“It was such an obvious decision to her and in that moment I knew she loved me.”

Ian is feeling well after the transplant, but is not ready for Santa duties this year.

But he hopes that next Christmas, he will be back in the role that has given him and so many others joy over the past 14 years.

At the moment, the popular Santa is concentrating on spending time with his family. Carol and I have four kids and seven grandkids and I want to be there to see them grow up. I refuse to die before I’m dead.”

Santa, AKA Ian Wilson.

Scenes of the iconic Ampol service stations.

Ampol’s epic return to Parramatta Northmead site among firsts of 550 new outlets across NSW  ELIZABETH FRIAS USSIE iconic service station Ampol is back, this time in partnership with supermarket giant Woolworths.

Founded in post-Depression 1936 as Australian Motorists Petrol Company, and through the years and one world war popularly nicknamed Ampol, it recently came back to Western Sydney at Northmead.

The suburb is proudly claiming the first returned Ampol homebase, certainly among the firsts of the 550 rebranded Ampol Woolworths Metro that will roll out across NSW in the next two years.

Across Australia, there will be 1,900 of them flying the flag for both Ampol fuel and Woolworths’ fresh food in a revitalised world-class business model of a convenience store hatched by the two multi-

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national companies to measure up to the expectations of its customers.

The communities in upmarket Randwick in the north shore and Lane Cove West in booming northwest side of Sydney has both welcomed Ampol Woolworths Metro last month.

“Our Northmead site brings to life our drive to be world-class in everything we do and celebrate the best of our convenience offering through the Woolworths Metro format and our unparalleled experience with premium fuels through our Amplify range,” an Ampol spokeswoman told Access News.

“The Ampol Woolworths Metro format brings together the best of each brand’s offering high quality fuel, great customer service and fresh food.”

The Northmead store’s opening last month showcased everything its customers would expect from an Ampol local fuel

store with an added range of fresh foods, and pick-me-up latte, in a Woolworths Metro one can describe as “fresh food for now and food for later.”

When customers fill-up their bowsers at Northmead they won’t miss out reminiscing Ampol’s recognisable Australian heritage that faded in the petrol business circle scene in 1995 when Caltex bought it.

From retirement the iconic Aussie name resurfaced in 2013 in Singapore and two years later, Caltex converted its fuel refinery in Kurnell NSW to an import terminal after Chevron relinquished its 50 per cent stake to Caltex Australia to now become full owner.

In the annual general meeting of shareholders last May, Ampol finally got its old name back following on Caltex’s earlier announcement it was bringing the brand back to its Australian home ground.

“Our decision to bring Ampol back reflects the focus we still have today on our heritage of friendly and efficient service, high-quality Australian-made products and being part of the local community,” said Managing Director and Caltex Australia CEO, Julian Segal, in an earlier announcement of its move.

“Many of our employees and customers still have strong memories of what Ampol stood for in Australia. It’s a brand that our people, partners and customers can be proud to be part of helping to recreate and revitalise and it remains a perfect fit for the modern company we are today.”

When Ampol left the market in 1995, a litre of unleaded petrol was priced around 60 cents. That has doubled now but it still seems like yesterday with a name like that, at the bowser at least.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020 Alive 90.5 FM finalists in radio awards

How to get The Times The Parramatta Times is available throughout the Parramatta LGA at 110 strategic locations. To find a location near you visit our website.

Digital edition Each edition of The Parramatta Times can be viewed and downloaded in digital format at our ISSUU platform: www.issuu/communitybroadcastnetwork

Contacts Editorial: michael@parramattatimes.com.au Admin and General: info@parramattatimes.com.au Editor: Michael Walls michael@parramattatimes.com.au

Darryn Capes-Davis.

Newsroom News Editor: Di Bartok dibartok@yahoo.com.au News Reporter: Lawrence Machado lawrencemachado@yahoo.com News Reporter: Elizabeth Frias elizfrias@gmail.com Travel Editor: Dallas Sherringham dallas@accessnews.com.au

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

Administration Rebecca Swaleh info@parramattatimes.com.au

Design and production Design2Pro, Words and Pixels.

Support Partner The Parramata Times is the official media partner of the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce.

LOCAL Parramatta community radio station Alive 90.5 FM is a finalist in five categories for the 2020Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) Awards.

Alive 90.5 FM Chairlady Gillian Schrickker said she is delighted with this achievement.

“So proud to be Chairlady of Alive 90.5 with 5 programs and volunteers being finalistsfor the 2020 CBAA awards. This is a great day for one of the best community radio stations in Australia,” Gillian said. Reaching finalist in five categories is the best the station has achieved in a long while and comes on the back of being finalist in two categories in 2019, and the station’s Sunday Sports RoundUp program receiving an award in 2018.

Sunday Sports Round-Up is again finalist this year for the Troy Garner Excellence in Sports Programming. The categories for which Alive 90.5 FM are finalist for 2020 are: • Excellence in Technical InnovationCOVID-19 Remote Broadcasting.

• Excellence in Technical Services Darryn Capes-Davis.

• Best Online Content The Vividha Dance Series.

• Contribution to Australian MusicRadio Program Australian Spectrum Show.

• Troy Garner Excellence in Sports Sports Round-Up.

Decorated with an assortment of animal statues THROW on your khakis and get ready for a spot of wildlife watching at John Wearn Reserve in Carlingford with the newly upgraded park’s exciting safari-themed playground. The playground – which is decorated with an assortment of animal statues, including an elephant, zebra, monkey and lion – is part of a $5.2M refurbishment of the park. The Reserve upgrade also features a dog park, amenities block, carpark, skate park, fitness station, multi-use court, barbecue facilities, and picnic shelters. A stage with amphitheatre seating is in the final phase of construction.

Pop-up park at Wentworthville A POP-UP park on Dunmore Street in Wentworthville has been installed by Cumberland City Council this week as an innovative way to bring the natural world to an urban environment. The pop-up park will be trialled until February 2021 and enables Council to pilot new ideas for streets as shared spaces that support healthier, safer and more resilient communities.

The aim was to deliver an initiative that improves walkability along Dunmore Street and develop a space that can be enjoyed while mitigating the impacts of urban heat.

The pop-up park supports the vision identified in Council’s Wentworthville Public Domain Plan 2020, to establish a new linear park that supports outdoor dining, shaded seating areas, lighting features and Water Sensitive Urban Design.

INDEX

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News .................................5 Cityscapes ........................9 Geoff Lee ........................10 Law and Order ................11 Julie Owens ....................13

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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Outrage over Council’s $1 Govt rent deal But councillor says ratepayers will be better off  DI BARTOK HE office space being “given” to the State Government for a Powerhouse community consultation centre will be in better shape for future rental at the end of the six-month licence agreement, it has been revealed.

That is because, while the Government will not be paying to occupy the 177 sq m “empty shell” of a space in Macquarie St, it will pay for the fit- out and other improvements.

The space, part of Parramatta Square, has not been let since being available in the past few years because of the cost of fit-out and the fact that it has not been registered for commercial use.

That is a six-month process in itself, the Times has learned. However, a pop-up shop on a six-month licence agreement, with a month to month review, is feasible.

Amid the political debate from councillors opposed to the government’s “peppercorn rent” of the space, council administration would like to point out: • The government wants the highly visible space as an information centre for the proposed MAAS (Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences) in Parramatta, and as a place for community feedback; • It will only operate on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, planned for six months; • The space will be in a more rentable condition after the government vacates it;

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Artist impressions of the completed Parramatta Square showing prime office space which council plans to rent to the NSW Government for $1.

• The space, under the Western Sydney University building, has been vacant since being built a few years ago.

The issue exploded in the Parramatta Council chamber when councillors debated the proposal in closed session at the November meeting.

They are sore about the relocation of Willowgrove Labor, Greens and Independent councillors howled down the proposal, saying council was missing out on potential revenue it could get from a renter paying market price.

Most vocal was Independent Lorraine Wearne who sought to have the item brought into open council so ““so the public could see that council is about to give away

a prime site for a peppercorn rent”.

The closed session debate vote was split 7-7, with Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer using his casting vote to get the motion over the line.

Council officers had recommended approval, although the report was slammed for lacking detail.

Liberal Cr Steven Issa told the Times that opposition to the proposal was “a disgusting display of politics”.

“Here we have the government investing close to a billion dollars in a museum, as well as the light rail and metro, that will be good for Parramatta and they want to set up an information centre that will promote MAAS,” Cr Issa said.

“This is all about those councillors against this being sore about the relocation of Willow Grove.”

Cr Issa said the council had tried to rent

out the space at 153 Macquarie St “on at least two occasions”.

However, one of the dissenting councillors told the Times that it was “ridiculous” to presume that a tenant would not be found now that there were brighter days ahead.

“This is supposedly for six months but there’s no guarantee of that. The government could want it for the whole year, or more,” one disgruntled councillor said.

Another councillor said the NSW Government easily ran roughshod over a council controlled by the Liberal Party.

“They are treating Parramatta as a joke. First they take the pool for the stadium, then we sell them prime riverside land that council was planning to develop as a well-thought out entertainment precinct,”

Green light for Woodville Rd upgrade Volunteers at the Chanel Street small bird refuge and nesting project.

Volunteers plant seedlings and rare tree species at Gallery Gardens on Picasso Crescent.

Red-browed Finch.

Haven for rare native birds Volunteers create a safe place in a Toongabbie reserve  ELIZABETH FRIAS HAVEN for native birds to nest and forage for plant foods is underway in busy corridors at Old Toongabbie.

The species include Red-browed Finch, Blue Wrens, Grass Parrots and Spotted Pardalotes.

A group of artists volunteered to create the birds’ nesting places on Parramatta Council’s reserve land and aptly named it Gallery Gardens on Picasso Crescent, which incidentally runs along Renoir Street.

On Reynolds Park Playground at Chanel Street, existing trees are being rejuvenated with the sowing of native grass seeds on the ground and new shrubs’ plantings for birds regularly homing there.

“The recent rains had been really great. It helped us sow species of rare grasses, trees and seedlings at the Gallery Gardens,” said artist Simon Cook, of The Social Canvas.

“We’re planting shrubs and trees to provide protection, bird food and places

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for birds to rest and we know it will take years to get these plants growing densely to make it a habitat.

“But we have found that there are numerous native birds nesting around Old Toongabbie so we want to give them a safe home here.”

To carry on their bird refuge project, the artists were granted $18,000 from the Federal Community Environment Program, support from the Parramatta Council Bushcare Program and the NSW Government’s Greater Sydney Landcare Network Creating Canopies Program, and assistance to clean-up local waterways from Plastic-Free Parramatta.

The native tree seedlings are supplied by Kenthurst Undercover Nursery and Bunya Nursery.

Mr Cook said volunteers have planted hundreds of Bursaria and Melaleuca tree species and rare grass seeds scattered around eucalyptus trees and remnant native trees such as Cabbage Gums, Rough Bark Apples and Stringy Bark.

Recently, the clean-up along the banks of Toongabbie Creek that meander for about 10 kilometres from Parramat-

ta through to parts of Girraween and Blacktown has collected more than 40 kilos of litter.

“Litter from people walking along the river, from domestic households and factories are washing down the creek from road gutters so it’s a massive issue though there has been improvement but the river is not clean enough,” Mr Cook said.

The artists’ bird haven project has been getting nods from locals but due to COVID-19 restrictions on group gatherings, Mr Cook said their tree planting and creek clean-up days have been limited to 10 participants.

Volunteers must be available on Sundays to get hands-on experience with cultivating native plants that protect and provide food for native birds, weeding and planting of the original seedlings to boost bird’s habitat.

To register as a volunteer, click http://www.bit. ly/SBHchanel for Chanel Street and for Picasso Crescent http://www.bit.ly/SBHPicasso or email Simon Cook on socialcanvas@spin.net.au.

ORK to upgrade the intersection of Woodville Road, Church Street and Parramatta Road at Parramatta will start soon after receiving the green light on Australian Government stimulus funding.

Dr Geoff Lee, Member for Parramatta said the Australian Government is investing $240 M to fast-track 11 congestion hotspots around Sydney to keep traffic flowing and assist the economic recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic.

“The intersection of Woodville Road, Church Street and Parramatta Road has been identified as a congestion hot spot with more than 33,000 vehicles travelling on Woodville Road and more than 23,000vehicles using Parramatta Road every day,” Dr Lee said.

“A lot of congestion around this intersection is caused by the thousands of motorists leaving the M4 Western Motorway via the Church Street exit, and the conflicts between through and turning traffic.

“The intersection upgrade involves adding an additional right-turn lane from Woodville Road onto Parramatta Road and a dedicated right-turn bay from Woodville Road onto The Crescent.

“An additional through lane will be built from Parramatta Road onto the M4, as well as an extended left turn bay from Woodville Road onto the M4.”

Once completed, the upgrade will ease congestion, and improve traffic flow and journey times for motorists travelling along the corridor.

This work supports the recent upgrade of the M4 Church Street exit, which opened to traffic in December 2019, and the ongoing upgrade of the Great Western Highway, Church Street and Parkes Street intersection at Parramatta.

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Work is scheduled to be completed by August 2022. For more information, visit: www.nswroads.work/woodvillechurch.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

$22.8m upgrade of Epping Pool

Artist impressions of the upgraded Epping Pool.

WO new pools are at the centre of a planned $22.8M upgrade of Epping Pool, with City of Parramatta Council releasing new images of the proposed revamp.

The images feature in Council’s Epping Pool Draft Concept Plan, which is on public exhibition.

“We understand how important Epping Pool is to our community and we are work-

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ing hard to make this facility even better for generations to come,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.

“Our Epping Pool Draft Concept Plan proposes a new and improved recreational space within Dence Park. I invite the public to have their say on the draft plan and help shape the design of Epping Pool.”

Nestled in bushland, the refurbished two-storey facility will feature a new and

expanded 50-metre, eight-lane outdoor pool; a new 25-metre indoor pool; additional change rooms; a dedicated first aid room; an accessible walkway from the car park; a lift; and more outdoor green space.

The upgrade, scheduled for completion in 2023, is being co-funded by the NSW Government.

Construction of the Epping Pool facility is expected to start in 2022.

The Epping Pool Draft Concept Plan has been prepared as part of the Dence Park Masterplan, which also identifies upgrades to the Epping Creative Centre and surrounding green and open spaces.

Council invites the community to have their say on the Draft Concept Plan by visiting: https://participate.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/dencepark

Cycling, walking pathway links Parramatta to Darling Harbour HE Government has announced a feasibility study into the construction of a new continuous shared pathway, stretching from the Parramatta River to the Sydney Opera House.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said $500,000 would be funded in the 2020-21 NSW Budget to explore the best options for establishing an 80km shared cycle and pedestrian path along the foreshore of the Parramatta River and the inner harbour.

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“A pathway along Sydney’s foreshore would link the two centres of Sydney allowing more people to enjoy these jewels of our city and everything in between,” Mr Perrottet said.

“The study will explore how the shared pathway can link Sydney’s two CBDs while also enabling people to use the pathway to take shorter trips on foot or by bike to shops and services, schools, parks and public transport to create a walking and cycling spine for local communities.”

A proposed plan for a shared pathway route along Sydney’s waterfront linking the Opera House and Parramatta’s CBD was presented to the NSW Government by the McKell Institute, an independent public policy institute, last month.

Transport for NSW will investigate: • A foreshore loop in the Blackwattle and Rozelle Bay and repairing and reopening the Glebe Island Bridge to become a key walking

and cycling link to Sydney CBD; • A 10km foreshore loop around Canada Bay; • A new Connecting Canada Bay to the Homebush Bay Circuit; • Identifying missing links along the foreshore between Parramatta and Sydney.

The McKell Institute’s report estimates the project could generate between 1645 and 3145 jobs.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

CHURCH ST WE’RE OPEN Eat, drink and play at Parramatta’s foodie destination.

Scan here to find out more discoverparramatta.com

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Parramatta wins smart city award Recognition for rollout of innovative technology HE City of Parramatta has been recognised as Australia’s leading Smart City for 2020 following the rollout of a host of innovative projects and technological solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Council took out the coveted Leadership City category at the third annual Smart Cities Awards, presented by the Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand.

More than 20 Local Government Areas were in the running for the award, which recognises organisations that demonstrate world-leading liveability, workability and sustainability outcomes for their citizens from investment in technology and data solutions.

“Parramatta is not only the centre of global Sydney, but it is at the forefront of innovation in Australia and New Zealand,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.

“What an honour it is to for Council to be recognised for its commitment to creating a smarter, future-focused City. I thank the Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand for this award and our incredible staff who continue to put our community first.”

The award stemmed from four initiatives delivered by Council, all of which were finalists across two categories: • Smart Planning at Melrose Park. This project – funded by the Federal Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs Program, in partnership with PAYCE and UTS – involved the installation of a net-

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work of environmental sensors to help improve the area’s liveability in the long term and inform future planning.

• Parramatta CBD Parking Finder, which was enhanced in 2020 with real-time updates on business operating hours, services, and special offers in response to COVID-19.

• Australia’s first automated real-time flash flood warning sys-

tem, FloodSmart.

• Australia’s first interactive digital storytelling box, Storybox, in Parramatta Square, led by ESEM Projects in collaboration with ABC Content Ideas Lab. Council’s smart city vision is guided by the Smart City Advisory Committee, including chair Councillor Steven Issa and Councillor Sameer Pandey.

“Our population is on track to double

in 20 years and we need to be smart about how we manage this rapid, transformative growth,” Cr Issa said.

“Council is investing in game-changing technology to help create the best possible City for our residents, workers, students and visitors for decades to come.”

In August 2015, Parramatta became the first local government in NSW to adopt a Smart City Masterplan to better position the City to meet the challenges of the future.

Council adopts CBD tree policy Path cleared for more shady trees now and into the future  ELIZABETH FRIAS COUNCIL resolution calling for an inventory of existing number of cooling canopy trees within Parramatta CBD has been passed and will pave the way for ramping up plans for planting more.

The aim of the Parramatta Council resolution is to increase the number of canopy trees planted in the booming central business district, currently estimated to be 10% of the 40% target.

Committing to a target and time frame for the Council to prioritise increased planting of tree canopies within Parramatta CBD is a welcome move, said Councillor Sameer Pandey who proposed the motion.

“From whichever angle you look at it, trees are vital to our community and future,” said Clr Pandey. “ “It provides visual appeal, improves air quality, helps with health and well-being, helps in managing storm water, improves property values, has cooling effects, [and] controls wind speeds in the CBD.” Clr Pandey earlier proposed The Tree Canopy Initiative supported by six other councillors but the motion was rescinded

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by a vote from three councillors, including Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer, citing the Council already has a “good record” on tree planting across the suburbs.

Clr Dwyer said Council has planted more than 500,000 trees across the Parramatta council area in the past five years and every resident has been given free

trees to plant on their properties twice a year.

But Clr Dwyer admitted the Council may find difficulties increasing the number of trees planted within the CBD due to high-density businesses and vital infrastructure developments currently ongoing.

According to Clr Steven Issa, the Parramatta area has been adjudged a “standout council” by the Centre of Urban Research for achieving a balanced increase of tree canopies planted within the CBD and its suburbs.

Clr Pandey said the approved resolution will now call for a report on the number of trees standing as well as “committing to a target and timeframe to prioritise tree canopy increase in Parramatta CBD.” The resolution also included “changes in planning controls to protect replaced trees,” Clr Pandey said.

“I thank all my councillor colleagues who supported this motion.”

The Parramatta LGA is among the 30 Council areas within Greater Sydney that the NSW Government will fund with more than $8 million to plant more trees in a partnership program called Cooler Suburbs to lower heat, provide shades from trees, and enhance the look of developed town centres.

M4 is Australia’s first smart and safer motorway RIVERS are today using the State’s first smart motorway on the M4, after it was switched on for a month-long trial.

Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the $600M M4 Smart Motorway project will provide safer and more reliable trips.

“Crews have been working hard since December 2017 to build the in-

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frastructure needed for this amazing system, which will improve travel times for more than 150,000 vehicles using the M4 each day,” Mr Constance said.

“We now see overhead gantries activated between Penrith and Parramatta, with the rest of the new technology being switched on over the next month to allow drivers to get used to the changes.

“Journeys along the M4 will now look different so we really need drivers to be aware of the changed traffic conditions and are encouraging drivers to take extra care.”

Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said the new ramp signals and overhead gantries will improve traffic flow.

“This technology will ensure less

stop-start traffic and sudden braking at some of the most congested points along the motorway,” Mr Collins said.

“When the entire M4 Smart Motorway is operational, journey times along the M4 between Penrith and Parramatta are expected to be reduced by up to 15 minutes in the morning peak.”

VIDEO: www.netwerx.tv

CityscapeS

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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with Lord Mayor BOB DWYER

$10K up for grabs this Christmas UMMER in Parramatta is a fantastic time of year. There is so much to see and do and I can’t wait to see everyone enjoying the warmer weather while supporting local businesses in Sydney’s Central River City.

and more. Keep an eye on your letterbox for the latest edition.

Want more news?

Subscribe to Council’s monthly e-newsletter, ePULSE at cityofparramatta.nsw.gov. au/e-pulse

Church St, We’re Open

Good Gift Guide

 BOB DWYER

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Church St is the heart of Parramatta’s dining precinct. Its small bars, restaurants and cafes have long been the place to go for a quick bite before a footy game, a drink after a show at Riverside Theatres, or on a fun night out with family and friends.

Unfortunately, it has been a particularly tough year for these local businesses.

City of Parramatta Council is doing what it can to support and help them through this difficult period. Council has developed a range of initiatives, including a Go Local campaign, gift card program and free parking for Eat Street customers on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

We are also about to launch our ‘Church St, We’re Open’ campaign to encourage people to come and support our wonderful Church Street businesses.

With the weather warming up and public health restrictions easing, now is the perfect time to get out and visit Church Street’s incredible assortment of cafes, restaurants and bars and support our much-loved local businesses.

Upcoming celebrations There’s so much to see and do in Parramatta particularly in the summer months, no matter what your interests. Whether you want to explore our retail and dining precincts, have a picnic in Parramatta Park, learn about our history and heritage, go on

Bustling Church St.

a nature walk or cycle, immerse yourself in arts and culture, or watch a sports match, Parramatta has it all!

Throughout summer, we will also be hosting a range of events and activities. Get into the festive spirit with The Sebastian Foundation’s Carols from Parramatta, starring Guy Sebastian and friends, live in your living room on 18 December. Tickets to the online concert are free, and you can donate to The Sebastian Foundation on the night.

We will celebrate the new year with a special Summer Concert Series. Stay tuned for more details. There is plenty more to experience this summer, from seeing the world-renowned We Will Rock You at Riverside Theatres and cheering on your favourite team at Bankwest Stadium, to listening to Sydney Festival’s Symphony

Under the Stars in Parramatta Park.

To celebrate summer we are giving away a share of $10,000 in prizes, including a Summer Prize Pack with a $100 AT PARRAMATTA Gift Card to be won daily!

All you have to do is share a photo or video on Instagram or Facebook of what the ‘That Summer Feeling’ at Parramatta means to you. Tag us @atparramatta or use the hashtag #summerwhereitsat. Find out more atparramatta.com/summer

Welcome back, Parramatta Pulse Parramatta Pulse is back to keep you up to date with all the news and events in your neighbourhood. This 16-page publication is delivered to all households across our Local Government Area. Read about the latest upgrades in your area, upcoming events,

Council’s ‘Good Gift Guide’ is full of gift ideas for the whole family. Each business in the guide actively seeks to make positive impacts on a range of social, cultural, or environmental issues.

Shopping with these retailers helps support innovative and inspirational projects, both in Australia and around the world. From toys, food, homewares, clothing and accessories, eco-ware, and more, there’s something for everyone. I encourage you to browse the guide and help these businesses make a difference. Visit cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/goodgiftguide

Council Meetings Council Meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6.30pm. Due to impacts of COVID-19, the public can’t attend in person, but you can watch the meetings through the live-stream video link on Council’s website. For more information and to access the live-stream link, visit cityofparramatta.nsw. gov.au/councilmeetings Cr Bob Dwyer is Lord Mayor of City of Parramatta.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

with Geoff Lee MP

Let’s get ready for summer REPARE your bushfire survival plan, don’t drive through floodwater, swim between the flags, and make sure your home is fire safe this summer – these are some of the safety tips NSW emergency service agencies have shared ahead of the 2020 summer season.

Dr Geoff Lee, Member for Parramatta said summer is a particularly busy time of year for all emergency services and everyone is urged to put safety first. “Our community is well protected by our emergency services, but we can assist them by taking the time to get prepared,�

Dr Lee said. “Being aware and prepared is everyone’s responsibility, whether you’re at home, at work or away on holidays.�

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott joined emergency

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services leaders on Sydney Harbour to issue the timely reminder, as people begin decorating their homes for Christmas, planning holidays in regional NSW and enjoying warm days by the water. “Aussie summers are iconic, but they can also be tragic. Last year, we had a horror bushfire season. This year, we’re expecting a wet and wild summer. But bushfires and storms are not the only threats we face,â€? Mr Elliott said. “I urge you to use the start of summer as a start of a conversation with your friends and families about being prepared for seasonal hazards. Especially this year, as experts warn of a La NiĂąa summer.â€?

Find out more about the steps you can take to Get Ready for summer at https://resilience.nsw.gov. au/prepare.html

GEOFF LEE Del ivering for 11 , 3™

Geoff LEE MP

Member for Parramatta 02 9891 4722

parramatta@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Ground Floor, 60 Macquarie Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 Authorised by Geoff Lee MP, Ground Floor, 60 Macquarie Street, Parramatta NSW 2150. Funded using parliamentary entitlements.

Pop-up cycleways for Parramatta HE NSW Government has announced plans for new pop-up cycleways in Parramatta to give people more options to travel safely during the coming months.

The first pop-up cycleway will be installed along Wigram Street from the M4 cycleway to Harris Park train station, offering the local community a safe route for exercise and access to local amenities, including public transport connections.

The second pop-up cycleway will start at the Elizabeth Street footbridge then continue along Thomas Street to the Parramatta Valley cycleway near the intersection of James Ruse Drive This link will provide access to cafes, restaurants, schools and places of work, and help link the Western Sydney University with the Parramatta CBD. “In response to COVID-19, we’ve been putting in measures across our roads and public transport network to protect the people of NSW as part of our COVID Safe Transport Plan,� Member for Parramatta Dr Geoff Lee said. “As physical distancing capacity remains on our public transport network and we try to reduce congestion on our roads, we want to make it easier and safer for the people of Parramatta to jump on their bicycles for short journeys. “We are also responding to the significant increase in people riding bikes as a result ofCOVID-19 as families look to get to work, school and other services on two wheels.�

Transport for NSW is working with City of Parramatta Council to finalise plans for the new pop-up cycleways, including engagement with the community at least four weeks prior to any construction or changes to local roads. “More people than ever are cycling and walking in the City of Parramatta due to COVID-19, and the new pop-up cycleways will complement our safe and accessible network,� Cr Dwyer said.

This fantastic initiative also aligns with our broader plan to encourage people to use their bikes.

As part of the planning we are committed to working with residents and businesses to mitigate any concerns relating to their delivery,� said Dr Lee. “This includes providing the right level of local access including parking or loading zones for residents and businesses, ensuring access to properties is always available and enabling deliveries and shortterm visitors where we can. “Creating these pop-ups will also support jobs, with construction businesses and councils installing the new cycleway connections as quickly as possible,� said Dr Lee. “These are temporary measures as we manage the impact of this pandemic, however, the community will be consulted on any decision to make these cycleways a permanent fixture in the future.�

In addition to thepop-up cycleway connections, approximately $710M will be invested into walking and cycling infrastructure over the next four years.

This will bring the NSW Government’s total investment to around $1.1B, the largest commitment in the State’s history.

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For more information visit http://nswroads.work/covid-infrastructure.

Law and ordeR

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

11

Fire threatens homes at Northmead ABOUT 12.57pm on Sunday, November 29 2020, emergency services were called to Whitehaven Road Northmead as a nearby bush fire threatened to encroach on homes.

Residents in the vicinity were evacuated with one of the homes becoming engulfed in flames about 1.30pm. The fire swept through the house causing significant damage before it could be extinguished by fire crews. There were no reported injuries and investigations are continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Parramatta Police Station on 96330799, or alternatively Crime Stoppers on 1800333000

Unknown man hits man at bus stop ABOUT 3.45pm on Saturday , November 21, 2020, a 29-year-old North Parramatta man was waiting for a bus on O’Connell Street Parramatta listening to music on his headphones when he was confronted by an unknown male. The unknown male hit the man three times to the side of the face before getting on a bus and leaving the location. A report was made to police and an investigation is underway. The unknown male was described as 30 to 40 years old, Caucasian in appearance, with blonde hair cut in a mullet style, large build, about 170cm tall, and wearing dark sunglasses, a white singlet and long black pants. Anyone with information is asked to contact Parramatta Police Station on 96330799, or alternatively Crime Stoppers on 1800333000

Suspect tried to evade police STRIKE Force Raptor have charged a man with traffic-related offences after allegedly attempting to evade police at Merrylands last month. In October this year, the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor commenced a high-visibility police operation across south west Sydney to disrupt and suppress acts of violence following recent conflict and criminal

Carjacking in Rosehill carwash late at night INVESTIGATIONS have commenced after a man had his car stolen from a carwash in Rosehill overnight. Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, December 1, a man attended a carwash on James Rouse Drive, near Hassall Street, in his white Mercedes C200LS, registration number DWJ85N. As he got out of the car, he was approached by activity, including public place shootings. As part of ongoing suppression activity, officers attached to the Strike Force Raptor Highway were conducting proactive patrols at Merrylands, when they attempted to stop the driver of a blue Toyota Hilux at Irrigation Road for the purpose of a random breath test, about 12.30pm on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. It has been alleged the driver accelerated from police, reaching speeds of 80km/hr in a signposted 50km/hr zone,

two men, one armed with a knife. The men, described as Pacific Islander/Maori in appearance, threatened the owner before getting into his Mercedes and driving away. The owner was not hurt during the incident and an investigation is now underway by officers from Cumberland Police Area Command. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information regarding the whereabouts of the stolen vehicle should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

before stopping outside a nearby home. The 29-year-old man was arrested and taken to Granville Police Station, where he was charged with drive while licence application refused, Class A motor vehicle exceed speed more than 10 km/h (estimated), not give left change of direction signal with lights and park vehicle crosses space markings.

The Merrylands man was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Fairfield Local Court on Tuesday, 1 December. High-visibil-

ity operations across south west Sydney by Strike Force Raptor are continuing. Anyone with information, including relevant photos and videos, that may assist Strike Force Raptor can report it directly to investigators via the Strike Force Raptor online reporting page: https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/ Default.aspx?id=49 or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information provided to investigators will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

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NewS

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

SCAM ALERT: Authorities’ Christmas warning COVID-19 online scams on the rise and how victims can report  ELIZABETH FRIAS UTHORITIES has lifted the lid on scams triggered by COVID-19 and warned against fake online shopping websites particularly this Christmas, phishing for personal information, and superannuation or taxation fraud.

According to Scamwatch, sophisticated digital technologies are favoured tools by scammers to steal money or personal details from vulnerable people.

Since January, more than 5,000 incidences of scams netting $6M were investigated by police fraud squads.

Over 12,000 scams uncovered involved online shopping with $7M in losses, or an increase of 42 per cent this year.

COVID-19 frauds surfaced during the lockdown with initial 94 reports on bogus online sales of products and investment opportunities.

The statistics quickly climbed on multiple reports of phishing for personal information sent via email or text messages claiming to be official information on Coronavirus.

The Federal and NSW Police and Scamwatch, run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) immediately ramped up public education campaigns to deter the escalation of evolving COVID-19 crimes.

A

Difficult to determine origin of the scams “We’ve had a wide variety of scams reported to us, including fake online stores selling products claiming to be a vaccine or cure for coronavirus, and stores selling products such as face masks and not providing the goods,” said ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard in a media statement on 20 March 2020.

By April, Scamwatch noticed pet scams were going viral and by November, a staggering 2,111 various puppy breeds worth $2.1M Was lost to scammers who took advantage of people’s loneliness being in lockdown.

Fraud investigators found it difficult to determine if the spike in puppy scams were “real or scams” so they tracked down the reports since April how online sales went

Karin Lee has experienced a fake telecommunications company demand payment from her which she reported to the police.

up five times more than the 2019 puppy scams that only netted $360,000.

Scamwatch recorded the losses to fraudsters: 568 vehicles worth $808,571; 356 laptops/computers/drones/ipads – $205,496; 428 phones – $258,199; 569 pairs of shoes – $81,502; 250 types of clothes – $35,693; 204 toys – $39,498; 182 games such as Nintendo/X-Box/Jigsaw – $38,000; 110 handbags – $55,782; and 172 BBQ products – $55,782.

By July, scammers made the matters worse by impersonating the World Health Organisation, Australian government departments such as the Department of Health at Federal and State, the Department of Human Services, Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as well as businesses such as travel agencies and telecommunication companies..

From January to July this year, Scamwatch recorded 7,100 incidents of impersonating frontline government departments dealing with health and financial hardship cases of jobless Australians as businesses affected by the pandemic closed.

The cases include 67 identity theft reports impersonating the health departments and human services with $8700 lost to scammers; 443 involving the AFP with $176,000 losses; 1,070 reports involving Services Australia with $94,000 losses; 1,638

fraudulent MyGov claims with $105,000 losses; 2,016 Department of Home Affairs scams with over $99,000 losses; and 2389 ATO scams with $905,000 losses.

Initial estimate of losses is $1.2M but in reality, Scamwatch statistics are likely to go much higher as police investigations continue into the New Year.

There has been a surge in scams victimising various age groups during the annual tax reporting period from July to October such as fake text messages claiming to be from ATO or DHS or cold callers claiming they can help gain early access to superannuation of which 84 cases were recorded.

In 2019, the 45-54 age group lost over $6M to superannuation scams but COVID-19 victims were mainly younger age groups buoyed by the unemployment crisis to access their superannuation savings when the government allowed it in April.

Local resident’s warning In a statement raising the alarm on impersonators, Ms Rickard said investigations on the scam involving government departments, threats and phishing for information were “quite convincing and can lead to significant financial losses or even identity theft.”

North Parramatta resident, Karin Lee, who experienced identity theft scam has offered sage advice.

ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard.

Last October, NSW Police warned the public against transferring cash, gift cards or iTune cards online to people they do not know.

Police were investigating the case of a young woman from Western Sydney who lost $1000 to impersonators that claimed the 24-year-old owed ATO in unpaid taxes and will be arrested if she fails to pay immediately.

Phishing scammers’ tactics include sending an email or text message claiming to represent a government department and asking for sensitive personal information such as tax file number, superannuation account number, driver’s licence and Medicare card number to confirm their eligibility for government assistance if they have been exposed to COVID-19.

Scamwatch urged anyone who received these types of messages to contact the concerned government department.

Police also urge the public to share any information that can assist curb fraud and scams, stop the manufacture of false identification, create bank accounts, driver’s licences using fake details, conducting money laundering activities, and mail theft.

For more details on how to avoid being a victim of fraud or scam, click on https://Scamwatch.gov.au/ get-help or https://www.police.nsw.gov.au or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

Light Rail construction works at Westmead.

Light rail making progress at Westmead HE first tracks have been laid on the $2.4B Parramatta Light Rail, marking a major milestone for the project.

Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said the start of trackwork at Hawkesbury Road in Westmead showed significant progress had been made on the project.

“The Parramatta Light Rail is essential for future-proofing this growing precinct, one of the largest medical, education and research hubs in the southern hemisphere,” Mr Constance said “We will see ‘turn up and go’ light rail services running through here in the next few years. That will mean a tram arriving

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every 7.5 minutes in peak periods. Along with Sydney Metro West and our train and bus services, it will help to cater for an estimated population of more than 40,000 staff and 30,000 students.”

“Not only are we future proofing public transport for the area, this project is supporting 5,000 jobs as we rebuild the post-COVID economy here in NSW,” Mr Constance said.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said more than $650M would be included in the 202021 NSW Budget to deliver this first-class infrastructure project and drive job creation.

The track installed at Westmead consists of 18-metre lengths of grooved

rail weighing almost one tonne each, set in a concrete slab that covers drainage and utility services.

Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said the 48-metre track installation follows months of preparation including the relocation of underground utilities and the widening of Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, in association with the Westmead Redevelopment, one of the biggest health infrastructure projects in NSW. “The community and local businesses will ultimately benefit from the convenient public transport option at their doorstep,” Dr Lee said.

“We thank the community for its pa-

tience during the recent road closures and night works, both of which have helped to minimise disruption in this busy medical and residential precinct.”

The Parramatta Light Rail will have a number of sections where it will be free from overhead wires to seamlessly integrate with the surrounding environment.

Track will continue to be installed in sections across the alignment as areas become available.

The 12-kilometre, $2.4B Parramatta Light Rail will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia, and is expected to commence services in 2023.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

13

with Julie Owens MP

ADVERTISEMENT

Julie Owens MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR PARRAMATTA Artist impressions of Metro West.

Why Metro West needs another stop!

Merry Christmas AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

 JULIE OWENS ACK in April there was an outcry when the NSW Government released plans for the Metro West that revealed there would be no stops between Parramatta and Olympic Park.

Earlier proposals for the new rail link connecting Westmead with the Sydney CBD included a stop at Rydalmere or Camellia.

I heard from many locals who were stunned by the Government’s decision to build a “once-in-a-century” project that bypasses many of the people and businesses it’s supposed to serve.

Concerned Parramatta locals made 49 submissions on the plan and more than 1,200 have signed my petition calling for another stop west of Olympic Park.

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It didn’t seem a problem Now Transport for NSW has all but confirmed it has no intention to change its plans, despite overwhelming support for a station at Rydalmere or Camellia from residents, businesses and local Councils.

Their report responding to submissions says adding another stop to the Metro West would cause an unacceptable increase in overall travel time.

This is cold comfort for people living in suburbs spanning the 10km between Parramatta and Olympic Park – an area that’s expected to see explosive growth in residents and businesses over the next 30 years.

And it didn’t seem to be a problem when they prioritised four stops on the 16km journey

between Olympic Park and the Sydney CBD. The report also says communities between Parramatta and Olympic Park will be amply served by the Parramatta Light Rail. But the second stage of the light rail, connecting Camellia to Olympic Park, was cancelled in mid-November.

The remaining light rail – which is under construction and causing unprecedented disruption in the CBD and destruction of our streets and heritage – will be left to shuttle back and forth between Carlingford and Westmead.

Part of this route was already served by heavy rail until it was ripped up at the beginning of this year.

This means there will soon be heavy rail, metro rail AND light rail connections between Westmead and Parramatta, but no rail connections between Parramatta and growth hubs like Ermington and Melrose Park.

That’s not good enough. The Metro West is either for the people of the west, or it’s not.

I’ve written to the Minister for Transport to let him know how important this issue is to our community and I will continue to lobby the NSW Government for another stop.

The plans still need to be approved by the Department of Planning, so it’s not too late to make a difference.

If this matters to you, please write to keith.ng@planning.nsw.gov.au and let them know that Metro West needs another stop to truly serve the people and businesses of Western Sydney.

Julie Owens is Federal Member for Parramatta.

Sign up for my bulletins I share useful information in three regular email bulletins – one for small businesses, one for community groups and a general bulletin for locals. You can sign up and unsubscribe on my website at any time: julieowens.com.au/bulletins

SCAN ME

If I can be of any help please phone me on 9689 1455 or write to 1/25 Smith Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 or email: julie.owens.mp@aph.gov.au www.julieowens.com.au www.facebook.com/julie.owens.mp Authorised by Julie Owens MP, ALP, 1/25 Smith St, Parramatta.

ParramattA ProfilE

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Parramatta Lord Mayor, Bob Dwyer takes a trip down memory lane.

Boy from Dundas Valley to Lord Mayor Bob’s heart has always been in the suburbs LORD Mayor of Parramatta Bob Dwyer is proud of his City, with its dynamic development, and exciting projects such as Parramatta Square, the Powerhouse, light rail and a new swimming pool complex coming to fruition. But the Boy from Dundas Valley still has his heart in the suburbs. He takes a trip down memory lane, with Valley girl DI BARTOK OB Dwyer, as a working-class Catholic school-boy, would hurtle down the dipping hills of Dundas Valley in his billy cart, his mates in tow.

More than 50 years later, as Lord Mayor of Parramatta, he is now helping to steer his City to even greater heights, while remembering the fun-but-hard days of his youth in the early days of the Housing Commission suburb.

Having moved to Winston Hills 42 years ago, where he and his wife Jenny raised three children, Bob’s heart has always been in the suburbs, though he is excited by the ever-developing progress of Sydney’s second CBD. It was suburban concerns, fighting for facilities in his neighbourhood, that enticed Bob to run for Parramatta Council as an Independent councillor in 1993 before joining the Liberal Party in 2005.

As the son of strong Laborites, Bob had had a brief flirtation with Labor before deciding the Party was not for him.

While Bob’s father John knew his son was an Independent councillor, he would have been taken aback by Bob Dwyer, Liberal councillor.

“My father died in 2015, thinking I was still an Independent councillor. I could not tell him I had joined the Liberal Party,” Bob said with a smile, as we stood in the culde-sac where Bob grew up with his brother and sister, his automotive spare parts salesman dad and his housewife mum Shirley.

But his parents would have been proud of their eldest son, as he trod the road to success from the time he left Eastwood Marist after Fourth Form (Year 10).

“My first job was as a bank clerk for ANZ. My dad thought a lot about the security of a job with the bank,” Bob said.

It was a job Bob liked well enough even when two blokes with balaclavas stormed into the South Strathfield bank for a good, old-fashioned hold-up.

Bob, just 17, was shaken but not stirred enough to toss in the job.

He enjoyed a sharp trajectory to success with the bank, becoming marketing manager before taking a 12-month break to have a milk run around North Rocks.

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“

We didn’t have much money but we got by.

Dad drove cabs for about 15 years as well as working for Repco selling spare parts. We were happy. Everyone helped each other back then and everyone, it seemed, worked.”

– Bob Dwyer.

“When that didn’t work out, it was back to the bank which led me to handling business migration,” Bob said.

That job entailed a lot of travel to China, Hong Kong, London and South Africa, whetting Bob’s appetite to go into his own migration business.

Today it’s a business that ticks along After studying migration law by correspondence, Bob was on his way and opened his migration consultancy in Sydney’s Chinatown in 2001.

Today, it is a business that ticks along, allowing Bob plenty of time to be a councillor, and for his role as Lord Mayor, a position he has held since last September.

In a sense, the Lord Mayor of Parramatta is not far removed from that scallywag Catholic schoolboy from Dundas Valley, in that he is not afraid to call a spade a shovel, although he is not in the habit of flinging dirt.

Known for his down-to-earth manner, Bob still lapses into Valley vernacular, often having to remind himself that he is more than a councillor - he is the “bloody lord mayor”.

He is grateful for his education at St Bernadette’s at Dundas and Eastwood Marist, which stood him in good stead for his life ahead.

“We didn’t have much money but we got by. Dad drove cabs for about 15 years as well as working for Repco selling spare parts,” Bob said.

“We were happy. Everyone helped each other back then and everyone, it seemed, worked,” His childhood house has just been knocked down and a double-storey mansion going up, but much of the quiet culde-sac is how he remembers it.

“My mates and I would play cricket in the cul-de-sac and then go down the creek or race billy carts down the hill,” Bob said.

Leading the typical Valley boy life, Bob played cricket and soccer at the local club.

As we are visiting the Valley on a hot day, we both remember those uncom-

fortable days in our little, houses with no air-conditioning.

“You couldn’t get to sleep some nights until the southerly buster came through,” he said.

“We loved going to Clovelly whenever we could.”

When Bob’s parents, who had been living in Panania, were told they were off to Dundas Valley, they thought they were going to the end of the Earth.

“We hadn’t heard of Dundas - it was so far away from the beach and our family,” Bob said. “But we soon got to like it as everyone was so friendly.”

Like my Valley family, Bob’s had chooks in the backyard and gardens well-tended by proud homeowners.

It was a good life that taught Bob that if you worked hard, you could achieve a better life.

And, if you managed to enter civic life, you could help improve the lives of others.

“That’s really what it is all about. Forget the politics,” Lord Mayor and Valley boy Bob Dwyer said.

HealtH

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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New era ushers in better healthcare  FROM WESTERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT ESTERN Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network have signed an agreement to ensure they work as partners across the Precinct to deliver the best patient care.

The flagship of the more than $1B Westmead Redevelopment, the Central Acute Services Building (CASB) sits between the adult and children’s existing hospitals on Hawkesbury Road at Westmead. It features two new emergency departments – one for adults and one for children.

The 14-level building is set to open in early 2021 after completion was fasttracked by Health Infrastructure in May this year. It includes operating theatres, medical imaging, pharmacy, more than 300 patient rooms, and education, training and research facilities on every floor.

Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) chief executive Graeme Loy and Sydney Children’s Hospital Network (SCHN) chief executive Cathryn Cox met on Tuesday to sign the historic agreement and commit to principles including collaboration, openness, trust, respect, empowerment and integrity.

While each organisation will maintain total responsibility for its operations, representatives will form a steering committee to work on the joint objective of making Westmead Health Precinct a leader in health services, research, education, advocacy and innovation.

Mr Loy said he was thrilled to usher in a new era of patient care in Westmead Health Precinct.

“This is the first time we’ve brought together Western Sydney Local Health Dis-

W

“

The redevelopment The project has enabled us, and our partners, to rethink the way we deliver healthcare.”

- Cathryn Cox.

Western Sydney Local health District chief executive Graeme Loy and Sydney Children’s Hospital Network chief executive Cathryn Cox sign a partnership for the future that underline there coloration to the Westmead Precinct.

trict with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, as well as University of Sydney, to create a space of high-quality care, learning and innovation,” he said.

“I can’t wait to welcome staff, patients and students into this state-of-the-art building to not only provide the very best care, but also train the best and brightest healthcare staff now and into the future.”

Ms Cox said the formalising of its part-

nership with WSLHD was a commitment to transforming healthcare for the community across western Sydney and New South Wales.

“The redevelopment project has enabled us, and our partners, to rethink the way we deliver healthcare.

“The collaborative approach to the project will continue when the new building opens and we see the additional benefits

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CatholiC EducatioN

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

17

200 years of Catholic education Irish children don’t miss out  Education for all students 

Run by a convict and lay person  Celebrating the Catholic legacy 

Students at Australia’s first public school, in Parramatta, 1820.

It all started at Parramatta in 1820 HIS year is the bicentenary of Catholic education in Australia – and it all began in Parramatta, in a humble school in Hunter St. And, in the Parramatta diocese, that stretches across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, Catholic schools continue to flourish.

“An innovative and forward-thinking organisation, Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta continues to live out its commitment to faith, learning, equity and leadership through education,” Executive Director Greg Whitby said.

“CEDP is focused on transforming the learning of his 43 000 students and the working lives of around 5000 staff.

“As we look to the future, we’re all about creating great opportunities for children and young people in western Sydney.”

With 80 schools across the diocese, one in four local children and young people are educated in a Catholic school.

This includes opening new schools in Sydney’s thriving North West, and a planned STEM-focused school as part of the Sydney Science Park to be located in the new aerotropolis.

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At the beginning of 2020, CEDP also opened CathWest Innovation College.

This distinctly different approach to senior secondary education includes innovative pathways for students alongside trades training pathways.

With the emphasis on developing skills for success, students have access to professional mentoring, exciting industry partnerships, work placements and recognised qualifications to support this learning.

One exciting program that demonstrates CEDP’s future focus is School of Now, which connects students in Western Sydney with new learning opportunities using digital learning tools.

Established to increase students’ subject choices, the program connects classmates and experienced Stage 6 Expert Teachers at different schools.

The Western Sydney Catholic community is also working together to update the way schools share the Catholic faith with children and young people.

The Draft New Curriculum for Religious Education remains faithful to Sacred Scripture and Tradition while ensuring that the way that the learning and teaching happens is kept up-to-date.

Students today at Delany College Granville.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

CatholiC EducatioN

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CatholiC EducatioN

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Father John Therry changed everything EFORE Irish priest Father John Therry started the first Catholic school in Australia in 1820, Catholic children were not being educated according to their faith.

A former Irish convict, George Marley had been horrified that children of Irish convicts were missing out on a Catholic education and approached Fr Therry for a solution.

Fr Therry, born in Cork, had arrived in the colony in 1819.

After much agitaFather John Therry. tion from Fr Therry, authorities gave permission for a Catholic school to open.

Parramatta Marist High School began life in Hunter Street, Parramatta in 1820.

George Morley was the main teacher of the school.

The school accepted students of both genders and Christian denominations and by 1821 taught 31 students.

Children from ages 2 to 12 attended. The reasoning there was that if older children had to stay home to mind their younger siblings, they would miss out on too much school.

Morley reasoned that it was better to have the younger children there so their older siblings would not have to attend school.

Non-Catholics were accepted as Morley maintained “it was a Catholic school for all, not a school for Catholics”.

That credo has carried through, with many schools accepting children of other denominations and religions.

In 1837, the school moved to a place next to the new Catholic Church (Now St Patrick’s Cathedral) in Parramatta in 1837.

In 1872 the school came to be operated by the Marist Brothers.

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ACU’s Future Students Information Centre now open in Blacktown’s CBD

ACU welcomes the first students T is fitting that in the 200th year of Catholic education in Australia, Australian Catholic University (ACU) is set to open its newest campus: The Saint Josephine Bakhita Campus in Blacktown.

In bringing a Catholic university home to western Sydney we look back to the first Catholic school 200 years ago and look forward to new links with the vast family of nations represented in Western Sydney, those whose backgrounds are from Catholic, other churches, and other faiths.

ACU’s founding institutions have shaped education across generations.

The new campus stands at the cultural and geographical heart of the

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local community and will become integral to Blacktown City’s transformation agenda by providing access to additional opportunities for the diverse local community in higher education.

More than 54,000 higher education students live within 30 minutes of Blacktown. From February 2021, young residents of Western Sydney will no longer have to travel vast distances to study. Close ties with partners in the area mean students can learn, seek placements and find employment close to home.

Students can study around 30 courses in the faculties of Education and Arts, Health Sciences, Law and

Business, and Theology and Philosophy for undergraduate, postgraduate and pathways.

ACU is making the transition to university easier through a range of scholarships based on both merit and equity. For those not ready to go straight from school to university, there is the new Foundations studies pathways program.

Part of our strength has always been the deep and close relationships we have with the dioceses and archdiocese in which we exist. We are part of their community and they ours.

Find out more at acu.edu.au/blacktown or 1300 275 228

INDIAN MULTI CUISINE RESTAURANT DOSA HUT HARRIS PARK WINNER IN 2019 AND FINALIST IN 2020

Dosahut Harrispark 69, Wigram Street, +DUULV 3DUN, NSW Australia 2150 0450114175

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Stories of triumph, resilience and determination The following is an edited extract by Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women, Liberal Senator for New South Wales to Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence delivered on Friday, 20 November 2020 in Parramatta. been like no other year in our lifetimes.

The impacts of the health and economic crisis that is COVID-19 have been global impacts, placing great stress on the rules, institutions and relationships that contribute to the safety, prosperity and openness of Australia’s region – the Indo-Pacific.

In my role as Australia’s Foreign Minister, most of the international engagements that I would usually have in foreign capitals or in Canberra when counterparts visit from overseas have happened virtually from my offices in Parramatta – often in the middle of the night.

I take great pride in being able to tell you that the response from Australia to COVID-19 – on the economic, social and health front – has gained significant respect and admiration from all over the world.

So while our focus at home is supporting the economic recovery and strengthening our health systems, we are using our voice overseas to ensure that our values, our national interests and our perspectives are a key part of the global conversation on how the world emerges from the pandemic.

As Australia’s Minister for Women, I know that this pandemic has disproportionally impacted women and girls both here and abroad. Which is why our budget sets out an economic recovery plan to support Australian women back to work, with tailored and targeted support to help women overcome barriers and succeed.

2020

Senator Marise Payne at the 2020 WSABE gala event.

They have also been personal, impacting every household and business here in our Western Sydney community.

Earlier this year I launched my Western Sydney Economic Recovery Survey, sending it out to thousands of businesses. The survey asked technical questions about turnover, operations, staff. But it also asked what business owners were most proud of.

Among the responses was an eye hospital in Westmead. And they told me that the thing they were most proud of in 2020 was that they were ‘surviving’.

Tonight, we have pause to reflect not only on the fact that you have all survived 2020, but that you thrived.

And I cannot think of a more perfect forum than the Awards to recognise this fact. Since 1990, WSABE has been – and remains – the premier forum recognizing the achievements of businesses across Western Sydney.

I’ve done the maths. Over 500 awards have been issued since. These past recipients have stories to tell about their businesses’ journey. And taken together, their experiences also illuminate the rise of Western Sydney. Tonight, we add a new chapter. We add your stories.

Make no mistake you are important Stories of triumph. Of resilience. Of determination. Of some failures, I’m sure,

as well. But also, especially so this year, of success against the odds.

I consider the fact that I both live and work across Western Sydney as a badge of honour. And so should you. After all, we have so much to be proud of.

This is one of the most vibrant communities in the country reflecting the best of Australia’s cohesive and multicultural society. We are also the third largest economy in Australia, stretching from the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains to Parramatta and down to Wollondilly. And we are a jobs powerhouse.

Every indicator tells us that Western Sydney will be the growth epicentre of NSW, and indeed, Australia.

Providing the essential services and infrastructure that our region needs is core business for both the Morrison and Berejiklian governments. Delivering the Western Sydney Airport is a clear example of this.

But getting this right is only half the story. We know that eight out of every 10 jobs in Australia are in the private sector.

And these are predominantly created by small and family businesses. Setting up our region for success absolutely relies on a strong business community.

So make no mistake: you are part of the exceptional growth that is underpinning our region – that is forging a shared prosperity, that is vital to our economic recovery from the pandemic.

Yes, 2020 has been rough. But we have reason to hope, and we have reason to celebrate. To be a WSABE nominee in 2020 is special.

It is an acknowledgment of the sheer determination, hard work and passion that each of you, whether you are a business owner or staff member, have displayed in abundance. And for that, you can be so very, very proud.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Congratulations to all finalists, winners WSABE continues its reputation as the region’s premier business event  SCHON CONDON N behalf of the Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence (WSABE) Committee, and the organising body, The Parramatta Chamber of Commerce, we would like to congratulate all finalists and winners for our 2020 awards initiative.

As we celebrate our 30th year, the awards continue to solidify its reputation as the premier business event in the Greater Western Sydney region. We are delighted to have this opportunity to recognise and celebrate businesses of excellence.

2020 has seen the Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence expand to cover all of Greater Western Sydney and we were pleased to welcome entries from the many diverse areas across our region.

The quality of entries received was of an extraordinary level. We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the perseverance, resilience, and adaptability of participating businesses as we all try to navigate through the unprecedented climate that 2020 has presented.

WSABE received over 400 nominations from some of Greater Western Sydney’s most prosperous businesses, start-ups, exporters and promising young employees.

The variety and diversity of the entries received this year was phenomenal. This year, our judges have identified your business as a step above the rest and have deemed your achievements as worthy of recognition and celebration.

In a competitive and difficult business environment, we recognise that this is no small accomplishment. We applaud you for

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Schon Condon at the 2020 Rosehill Gardens WSABE event.

being recognised among the absolute best of Western Sydney.

We wish sincerely hope that these outstanding businesses make the best of every opportunity our program has to offer.

On behalf of the WSABE Committee, we would like to extend our gratitude to

Principal Partner – Commonwealth Bank, Major Sponsor – City of Parramatta, and Category Sponsors – AAA City Removalist, The Alternative Board, The Australian Turf Club, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, DOOLEYS Lidcombe Catholic Club, Energy Australia, GRENKE,

HomeWorld, Parra Leagues, Parramatta Light Rail, UNE Sydney and Wenty Leagues.

Schon Condon is President of the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce. Western Sydney Business Access (WSBA) is WSABE’s media partner. WSBA is a sister publication of the Parramatta Times.

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Principal Partner

Major Sponsor

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Music To You

is a premium Classical Music School offering face-to-face and online music lessons in piano, singing, cello, theory, music craft and musicianship.

Following the AMEB Curriculum ensures that our students are exam-ready; from beginners to advanced. Our studio is equipped with the latest audio-visual facilities which creates a great student-experience whether in-person, via Zoom, or through a set of professionally produced graded instructional videos.

All our new instrumental students receive a term of online theory lessons and free membership to Music To You’s Noteflight account.

Our staff hold current Working With Children Checks and our technology use follows best practices for secure and safe online learning.

As restrictions are lifted at the end of the pandemic and individual lessons return to face to face in studio, clients can be confident that Music To You staff have completed COVID-19 safety eLearning modules provided by the Australian Department of Health. p Music To You is a Covid Safe Business.

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Whether you choose to dine in, grab and go our require catering solutions the food offer is high quality, housemate and fresh daily.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Just over an hour North West of Sydney, Blueberry Hills on Comleroy is a rural retreat nestled between the foothills of the Blue Mountains and the Wollemi National Park.

Our multi-award winning boutique farm stay offers accommodation in a 4 ½ Star rated Bed and Breakfast and Self-Contained Cottages.

Soak up the majestic beauty of the surrounding rolling farmland, on a charming countryside escape.

Pick fresh blueberries in the summer months, feed the sheep and alpacas or simply relax in the outdoor hot tub as you soak up sweeping countryside views by day, and under the stars with a view of the twinkling city lights by night.

ACCOMMODATION 1 x Standard Queen room (max. occupancy 2 guests) 1 x Comfort Queen room (max. occupancy 2 guests) 1 x 1 bedroom Suite, (standard occupancy 2, max occupancy 3 guests) 2 x 1 bedroom self-contained cottages (standard occupancy 2, max occupancy 3 guests) Total bedding capacity: 12 Children under the age of 15 are not permitted Bedding configuration - each bedroom has a queen size bed Check in is at 2 pm, Check out is at 10 am INCLUSIONS Parking, private entrance and private bathroom

Air-conditioning and heating Linen,towels, toiletries, hairdryer, ironing facilities Wi-Fi Daily breakfast including freshly laid eggs and home grown produce Access to outdoor hot tub, BBQ and outdoor lounge and picnic area FREE ONSITE ACTIVITIES Blueberry picking (in summer) Feeding the sheep and alpacas NEARBY ATTRACTIONS Bushwalking, abseiling, canyoning Fruit picking, cafes, wineries and cider distilleries

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

NUTRICRAFT IS YOUR PREMIUM NON-TOXIC AUSTRALIAN COOKWARE BRAND

www.facebook.com/nutricraftcookware www.instagram.com/nutricraftcookware contactus@nutricraftcookware.com

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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• All your exclusive content hosted permanently at www.netwerx.tv

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Rapport’s mission to build a better world APPORT Leadership is a spirited team on a mission to build a better world by building better leaders.

The business empowers individuals and organisations to reach their highest potential by delivering experiential performance-based training and business coaching with passion, conviction, courage, and integrity.

They support your people and help your organisation to thrive with unique training experiences that connect, engage, educate and challenge for faster, lasting, and more meaningful results.

Say good-bye to boring workshops that seldom leave the classroom and let us help you achieve your training goals with a fresh approach.

The Rapport business coaching team is here to help you get clear on your business goals, to develop a great business plan and to help you grow as a leader and grow a team around you to take your organisation to new levels of success.

Rapport Leadership CEO Jeremy Carter has been a finalist in both the 2019 and 2020 Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence in the Outstanding Business Leader category.

Jeremy loves supporting the local community and is a two-time President of his Rotary Club of Norwest Sunrise.

He is a published author and speaker and regularly travels across Asia and Oceania to speak and train high performance teams and delivers the highly acclaimed business education programs for Blacktown City Council and also The Hills Shire Council.

With Rapport Leadership, you’re getting over 30 years of Global experience empowering leaders and teams and a dedicated local Australian team that ensures your organisation’s needs are met to the highest possible standards and with local relevance.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Spreading awareness about non-toxic cooking  IN THEIR OWN WORDS Y name is Judith Viado, and I’m passionate about spreading awareness about healthy, non-toxic cooking.

I run Nutricraft Cookware with my husband, Richard. We were inspired by our personal experience with toxic cookware—our family got sick because of metal toxicity!

We wanted to change our cookware, and decided to switch to healthier cooking.

But with all the cookware options in the market, we thought, why don’t we create our own line of safe cookware?

And so Nutricraft Cookware was born. Since then, we’ve made it our mission to tell the world about the safest and smartest cookware, and how much it impacts what we eat and how we live our lives.

Richard is the brains behind the technical aspects of all Nutricraft products.

His years of engineering experience is the secret behind the excellent quality of all

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Judith Viado.

Nutricraft products. I, on the other hand, focus on all the sales and marketing.

Nutricraft cookware is unlike anything else on the market. We’ve combined supe-

rior craftsmanship with a distinctive 7-ply induction ready multi-clad using a unique 316Ti Titanium Stainless Steel on the interior of the cookware.

We’ve created cookware that isn’t just durable, hypoallergenic, non-porous and having a virtually non-reactive cooking surface, it is also twenty times more resistant to corrosion!

Nutricraft Cookware is more than just cookware — we’re committed to lifelong education. We don’t just want to provide the world with top grade and non-toxic cookware; we also want to educate people about the importance of health and wellness —- which we believe starts in the kitchen.

Winning the Best Online/Digital Business Award at the 2020 Altitude Awards is proof that even though we are only new to the Australian community, as a business we are resilient and like our product, we can withstand the test of time.

This award also means so much to us because more businesses are becoming aware of our mission, and we hope that this will help us spread our advocacy for toxin-free cooking. www.facebook.com/nutricraftcookware

Mindworx is a story of innovation INDWOX Psychology began as the Private Practice of Dr Amanda Mullin in April 2014 in Glenhaven at the Knightsbridge Shopping Centre.

A word-of-mouth reputation grew the practice quickly, leading to the creation and opening of Mindworx Psychology in Norwest Business Park in August that year.

In September 2015 the business expanded further, opening the current Practice in Norwest Central, at Baulkham Hills.

Mindwoerx has grown to a 15 strong team of exceptional psychologists and staff committed to excellence and innovative treatment approaches.

The award-winning practice continues demand and to attract talented and experienced psychologists. Mindworx Psychology is known for a commitment to excellence, evidence-based treatments, a holistic approach, passion for the latest neuro-science and the warmth and experience of our team.

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Dr Amanda Mullin.

In 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Mindworx Psychology was honored to be nominated by clients, voted as a Finalist,

and to be judged in 2016 as the Sydney Hills District’s Most Outstanding Health Improvement Service in the Local Business Awards.

In 2016 and 2017, the Business was nominated and honored to become a finalist in the Australian Business Awards for Health Improvement. In September 2019 Mindworx was honored to be nominated and to be finalists in the Western Sydney Business Excellence awards, recognising both Innovation and commitment to Excellence in small business.

Mindwerx takes a holistic approach to mental health. The team is not just interested in the way you think. Your mind is attached to your body, and your body lives in the world, and that’s important too. Diet, exercise, relationships, habits, health conditions, previous experiences, hopes, dreams and hard times – they are all an important part of your story.

With more psychologists coming

on board, an increase in the number of specialist services, and more courses being offered, including online courses, the team looks forward to shorter wait times as we continue to provide our clients at Mindworx Psychology with gold standard assessments, evidence based treatments and modern therapies.

In 2019, due to ongoing demand, Dr Amanda launched Think Differently, making her signature corporate and school programs more accessible. And in May 2019, following requests to connect, Mindworx celebrated the launch of Mindworx Online, helping you access us from the comfort of your home.

Most recently, Dr Amanda Mullin was approached to take part in Industry Leaders, a Foxtel show celebrating innovative, outstanding leaders in business, with a focus on Healthcare in Australia. ! www.mindworxpsychology.com.au

Active the pathway to property success CTIVE Property Investing is providing a pathway to prosperity for people from all works of life with their practical property investing process.

They take the risk out of property investing by finding quality properties which fit the requirements and budgets out of each client.

Emma Allen, Director and Principal Consultant of Active Property Investing, spearheads the team of talent at the agency and is proud of API’s amazing success for clients.

Emma established API to bridge the gap between thinking about investing, to actively drive wealth creation. She combines her passion for property and enthusiasm for collaborating to streamline the process of helping average Australians to start and grow their investment property portfolio.

Emma has worked with some of the most reputable property investment companies in the industry, assisting clients from across Australia and overseas.

But it’s her personal experience of how property can accelerate wealth creation and dramatically change people’s lives that motivates her to specialise in this field.

And API’s commitment and passionate approach to assisting people to become successful won them the coveted Excellence in Customer Service Award at the 30th annual Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence Gala night.

A

“For many years we have forged partnerships that stretches across greater Sydney, and along the eastern seaboard, so we are absolutely thrilled to be acknowledged for Excellence in Customer Service in the Western Sydney region as it’s Australia’s third largest economy,” Emma said.

“What really makes the Active Property Investing service unique is our individualised approach and strict property selection framework with an absolute focus on finding you an ideal investment property for your needs,” Emma said.

“People from all walks of life invest in property, from different age groups, professions and backgrounds.

Australia’s favorite property investment vehicle “We make property investing easy and achievable for busy people. Our team of experienced researchers and consultants take the guesswork out of property investment, to optimise your investment success.

Emma said property investing was Australia’s favorite investment vehicle, providing security and peace-of-mind, not just now, but for your children’s children.

“We have built an enviable reputation for empowering everyday Australians to succeed in property investment.”

Emma said people who invest make a conscious decision to grow their wealth

The Active Property team.

and property is an investment vehicle that’s easy to understand because it’s relatable.

People from all walks of life invest in property. Different age groups, professions and backgrounds.

“Investing is about making the most of what you have,” Emma said.

Emma said this included woman preparing for their future by wise investments to young families planning for a successful future and mature investors 15 years from retirement.

“We investigate whole eastern seaboard to find a suitable property for the amount they have to invest.”

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what they have, Emma her team get great satisfaction from helping clients build a pathway for their financial future.

API simplifies the complicated, confusing and daunting process of buying a property. Investing should ever be a leap of faith; the API service model breaks this down into digestible steps, so an investor builds their knowledge and confidence.

API also is proud to give back to the community. Emma said she was particularly proud of building two schools in Cambodia and is also involved in an organisation that provide vital shelter in Third World countries. www.activepropertyinvesting.com.au

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Superb train carriage accommodation

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Inside the Lava tube is spectacular

The Outback and fascinating Undara  LEN RUTLEDGE GOES ‘DOWN THE TUBE’ LAM, bang, biff, pow! I awake to unfamiliar sounds and cautiously pull up the blind. Oh, it’s just two kangaroos having a ‘friendly’ stand-up fight just outside my window. There’s nothing unusual about that at Undara.

I’m rapidly discovering that very few things are considered unusual at Undara.

The wildlife, the vegetation, the lava tubes and the railway carriage accommodation would all be considered very different elsewhere but here they are part of the amazing Undara Experience (www.undara. com.au ).

I am in North Queensland revisiting one of the most fascinating Outback destinations easily accessible from the coastal

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cities. I first visited Undara with cattleman Gerry Collins back in the late 1980s when he had a dream to develop this unique area into a tourist attraction.

At the time he was battling the Queensland Government for approvals and was trying to save his land from compulsory acquisition.

In the end he succeeded with his dream and Queensland has a unique top quality experience for both local and international visitors. It is a wonderful destination from either Townsville or Cairns.

It takes a while to sort out the Undara Experience. The whole package consists of accommodation, meals and facilities, tours and activities. You can cherry-pick bits and pieces but you will find that more is always better because this experience is very special.

Don’t put the FREEZE on your business meetings.

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Day Delegate Package Winter bonus includes: • FREE WiFi • FREE 30 minute post event drinks in rebellion bar • FREE delicious delight on arrival To book your next event, email: functions_rydgesnorwest@evt.com or call 02 9634 9634 Rydges Norwest Sydney 1 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 T: 02 9634 9634 F: 02 9634 9660 rydges.com/norwest Terms and Conditions Apply

For accommodation, we choose the beautifully restored 100 year old railway carriages. These are set along the original Cobb & Co. coach road and are shaded by tall trees and a canopy roof. The rooms contain a very comfortable double bed, old railway seats ceiling fans, and a bathroom.

The carriages are unique, comfortable and romantic. We love them. Other options are the permanent swag tents, some of which have their own kitchen, the caravan park and campground, and self-contained air-conditioned Pioneers Huts.

After settling in we go exploring. We find the free tea and coffee that is always available and then relax in the deck chairs by the lagoon pool. This is perfect after the drive from Townsville. After recharging, we go on a self-guided bush walk.

There are nine tracks ranging from 1.5km to 12km return. We climb a nearby

$60 per person

knoll and gaze over the plateau towards some of the 164 old volcanoes in the province. There is no sign of human occupation as far as we can see.

We enquire about tours and are told about the Wildlife at Sunset trip that departs each day at around 5.30pm. Naturally we go on it.

As they emerge from the darkness We watch the sunset while enjoying sparkling wine and cheese and then are taken to the entrance of a lava tube at dusk to see pythons and tree snakes capturing a meal of micro bats as they emerge from the darkness in their thousands.

Dinner at night is at the Iron Pot Bistro.

The a-la-carte menu has beef, Georgetown sausages, chicken, fish, and vegetarian noodle stir fry dishes.

Continued on page 33

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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Scenic viewpoint of ancient volcanoes

Entry to the tube and another world

Continued from page 32 Meals are large, delicious and filling. We linger over several glasses of wine and then share a ‘chocolate volcano’ dessert. After dinner, we relax around the campfire, enjoy the brilliant starry sky then wander back through the Australian bush to our railway carriage ‘home’ for a good night’s sleep.

It’s morning. The kangaroos have woken me so I watch nature’s world through the window. There are wallabies, wallaroos, parrots, kookaburras, currawongs and magpies all happily going about the business of eating. I guess it is time for our breakfast.

We wander off into the bush along a well-defined track and soon come upon the Ringers Camp. The fire is burning, the billy tea is boiling and the freshly brewed coffee spreads its aroma throughout the camp.

Cereal, fruit, sausages, baked beans, eggs, sautéed vegetables, bacon and a variety of juices make for a great breakfast.

We toast bread over the coals of the fire and spread it with honey and jam. Why do I eat so much more when in a setting like this?

It’s 8am and we gather for the Archway Explorer tour. There are ten of us in the minibus as we drive to a lava tube.

Lava tubes are the result of volcanic lava flowing down depressions. Eventually the surface cooled and formed a crust but underneath the lava continued to flow.

The eruption eventually stopped and lava flowed out of the far end of the tubes, leaving tunnels beneath the land. Eventually holes appeared when the roof collapsed on the tubes and rainforest sprang up in these dark, moist hollows.

We enter one of these depressions and are surrounded by life. The dry savannah has given way to lush vegetation. Dozens of butterflies flit around our heads. We are in a different world. The huge entrance to a lava tube is straight ahead.

Entering the tube is a wonderful experience. We come face to face with 190,000 years of history. Timber walkways lead deep into the darkness. Our Savannah Guide gives us environmental, geological and historical information on the region.

We visit two other tubes. A long wet season has raised the water table and some tubes are part-filled with water. At one, we strip to our swimwear and bathe in the clear water. We’re told that this is a very rare experience, happening on average, once every twenty years!

While it is possible to experience the highlights of Undara by staying one night, a two-night stay is clearly better.

This gives you time to take a second tour to a different section of the tubes, explore more of the walking trails and visit some of the other attractions in the area.

Words: Len Rutledge. Pictures: Phensri and Len Rutledge

Breakfast is on the way on the campfire

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er i rem E P ’s GUID a t at TY m rra OPER a P PR

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

NEXT PLACE Sell it, List it FASTER

Dreaded tax set to be axed Goodbye stamp duty, hello new home  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM T is probably our most despised tax and has been the scourge of home buyers for generations, but the good news is stamp duty may soon be axed.

It would be replaced by a more manageable annual property tax, which means the taxman still gets his cut but it allows more people to enter the property market.

And it would make home ownership a real proposition for a whole generation of Australians already faced with the burden of saving a deposit and then having to back up with a stamp tax of around $25,000 all up for a $500,000 home.

Make no mistakes, you will still be paying the equivalent amount in your property tax which may take typically 20 years to pay off, but the “buy now, pay later” scheme will prove a winner for homebuyers tired of renting.

News that the 2020-21 NSW Budget could bring the great Australian dream of owning your own home came one step closer to reality for thousands of people this week, with a public consultation process to seek the community’s view on tax reform to reduce the upfront costs for buyers.

The community will be asked if they want the stamp duty system overhauled to allow buyers to opt out of stamp duty and instead choose a smaller annual property tax.

That is just a “we listen”, feel good publicity angle and the big tip is from inner circles is that stamp duty is gone.

And good riddance! Stamp duty is one of the biggest financial barriers to home ownership.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the current stamp duty system was centuries old and in need of an overhaul to give NSW residents a modern tax system.

“This is the single most important economic reform we can tackle to turn the Australian dream into NSW’s reality,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This is a reform proposal for NSW where more people can own their home and have more freedom to choose the right property for their family at every stage of life.

“This is a vision for every person and family in NSW – from first home buyers

I

trying to get a foot on the property ladder, to frontline workers moving to service our regional communities, and retirees who are ready to downsize.”

The consultation process will kickstart with a proposed model that would: • Give people purchasing a property the choice between paying stamp duty upfront or opting for the smaller annual property tax; • Enable people who opt-in to the system to also eliminate any land tax liability; • Ensure that the current property owners who are not buying or selling are not affected; • Replace the current stamp duty concessions provided to first home buyers with a new grant; and • The proposed model includes a property tax rate that would support and incentivise home ownership with a lower rate for owner-occupiers and higher rates for investors and commercial properties.

Turbo charge the NSW economy Mr Perrottet said the model proposed could bring tens of thousands of dollars of relief to the average home buyer and turbocharge economic growth.

“This model may inject more than $11B into the NSW economy in the first four years and boost NSW Gross State Product by 1.7% over the long term,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Reform of the inefficient stamp duty system could also create and support thousands of jobs to boost the economy and kick-start our recovery for a prosperous, post-pandemic NSW.” The reform could be set in motion in the second half of 2021 after seeking community feedback over the coming months.

The abolition of stamp duty is a necessary step according to the Housing Industry Association.

“Stamp duty is an inefficient tax, it is an unfit-for-purpose source of state government revenue and its removal should be a priority for the NSW Government,” HIA Executive Director David Bare said.

“The COVID-19 recession has highlighted all of the weaknesses of stamp duty. It

is impeding the ability of the population to shift to pursue education and employment opportunities and it is causing a decline in revenue to state governments just when they need a stable taxation base.

“Stamp duty revenue depends on two main factors – dwelling prices and the volume of transactions occuring in the market – it is subject to the whims of property market. When the property market is booming with strong price growth and large transaction volumes, stamp duty provides windfall revenues. By the same token in times of property market weakness, stamp duty revenues also fall and weigh on budget outcomes.

“In NSW, Stamp Duty rates have not been reformed since 1985, when the average house price was $70,000. “Increases in home prices cause stamp duty bills to accelerate because stamp duty rate brackets are rarely updated. This is the problem of stamp duty creep,” Mr Bare said.

To find out more and have your say on the proposed model, visit: treasury.nsw.gov.au/ property-tax-proposal

767A-769 MERRYLANDS ROAD, GREYSTANES $6,500,000 - 2 LARGE BLOCKS SIDE BY SIDE Its rare to find this sized lot in this part of Western Sydney. Vendors are committed to sell if the right offer is tabled. Sale is by way of Expression of Interest meaning that once you have done your preliminary inspections you will put your best offer forward in writing. The

site is made up of two neighboring properties with a house on each, the sale is for both and will not be split.

Zoned R2 low density. Site inspections, contact Tony Zorzo on 0414 694 338

36

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

FOR SALE

COLLAROY

KATOOMBA

Massive redevelopment opportunity. An elevated site with sweeping north easterly ocean panorama views with only minutes walk to the sands of Collaroy Beach.

• Existing improvements • Dual level brick home • Large living space opening out to a north east terrace • Kitchen, bathrooms and double sized bedrooms • Lock up garage • Only metres away to buses & minutes to schools, parks & beach • Sale price exc GST

Great Opportunity to own a Guest House & Restaurant - delightful Avonleigh.

Represents graciousness and elegance of a bygone era nestled in a large garden block ideal for a relaxing getaway, wedding and conference.

• 12 guest suites as well as family suites all with ensuites • 70 seat restaurant for guests/coach trade, located on tourist route • Large guest lounge with open log fire place, external verandah • Lovely gardens, BBQ area, ample parking for coaches & vehicles • Separate managers self contained studio • Guest House has been running for more than 20 years • Minutes stroll to Echo Point & historical attractions • Looking for new owner and operator • Sale price exc GST

$3,000,000

$2,000,000

SILVERWATER

LIDCOMBE

• This property provides a well positioned location in Silverwater, quick access to Silverwater Rd, Parramatta Rd & M4 Motorway.

• Modern warehouse with good internal clearances via one (1) roller shutter door, office fit-out with meeting room, first floor office is carpeted, air-conditioned & staff amenities.

• Roller door width 4m & height 5.10m • Warehouse minimum height 5.83m & maximum 6.67m.

• Clear span warehouse, secure complex & secure on-site basement parking for 2 cars.

• Sale price exc GST • Lease in place to 2023

Located in the Sydney Business & Technology Centre, this strata unit is 5min walk to Lidcombe station & 10min to Auburn station and only meters to M4 Motorway. Architecturally designed for importers, distributors and light manufacturers. Its location is in the centre of the Sydney metropolitan area and is ideal for cost effective distribution. Property features include: • 200 sqm with 50sqm of mezzanine • Double brick walls, Container Access • Kitchenette, shower, 2 toilets • 6.2 metre ceiling heights in warehouse as well as insulation • 3 Phase power, Skylights full length of factor • Security grills, quality landscaping • Sale price exc GST

$1,067,000

$890,000

0408 888 028 • www.peterhanzis.com.au

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

37

HistorY

38

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Sir James of Martin Place fame Parramatta boy who walked his way to fame  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM E was the son of a Parramatta horse groomer who walked and hitched a ride 20km to school every day and he ended up being a revered Premier of NSW. Sir James Martin famously did whatever it took to get an education at what would later become Sydney Grammar, including even walking and hitching the 20km from home to school because his family couldn’t afford to live nearby.

A statue honoring Sir James has finally been erected in the plaza bearing his name more than a century after his death in a fitting tribute to one of the founding fathers of modern NSW. Treasurer Dominic Perrottet unveiled the bronze statue, depicting James Martin as a boy, in honor of the former NSW Premier, Attorney-General and Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court.

“He left an indelible mark on our city, our State and our nation, all of which explains why Martin Place bears his name, but few know anything about the man one of our most well-known city locations is named after,” Mr Perrottet said.

“He believed passionately in the idea of Australia as a self-sufficient nation and he championed education for all — especially disadvantaged kids — because he knew from experience that education unlocks opportunity.

“The ‘Father of Federation’ Sir Henry Parkes named Martin Place in his honor vowing to establish a memorial to inspire Sydneysiders and today that promise has been realised.”

The campaign to install the memorial was driven by passionate Sydneysiders John and Patricia Azarias, receiving support from all sides of politics including NSW Labor Shadow Treasurer Walt Secord.

“Thanks to the efforts of John and Patricia and support on both sides of the political divide, James Martin’s story won’t be lost to history and will serve as a constant reminder of what can be achieved through hard work and determination.”

H

Our unbroken link The new statue in Martin Place is one of a pair, both crafted by sculptor Alan Somerville.

The other statue already sits in Parramatta and together, they represent the unbroken link between Parramatta and the Harbor City — east and west — at the time Greater Sydney is evolving into a global metropolis with Parramatta at its centre.

Sir James was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1820 but emigrated with his parents to Sydney at the age of one.

His father John, 24, a skilled horseman, was the respected steward of the Hyde family’s 12,000-acre estate in Ireland.

Not far from Castle Hyde stood the British army barracks at Fermoy, commanded

by General Thomas Brisbane, a great horse lover. In late 1820, Brisbane had finally been offered the post he had coveted for years – Governor of NSW. Just after getting his offer, Brisbane visited Castle Hyde. He noted with interest young John Martin’s expertise with horses.

In NSW he would need a horse groom. He offered the job to Martin, the steady, decent husband of a strong-minded, aspiring wife.

It was quite a step down socially, but John and Mary Martin now had baby James to consider. Although NSW was still a penal colony, it was a new society, a land of opportunity,and opportunities, that little James could never have in Ireland. They accepted with Mary who urging the move.

Their voyage from Cork to Port Jackson, in the convict ship John Barry, took four months, during which nearly all the 180 convicts suffered from seasickness.

He was educated at Dame’s School, Parramatta and, despite his family’s poverty, the Sydney Academy and Sydney College and left school at the age of 16 to become a reporter.

He qualified as a solicitor in 1845, and combined his legal career with employment as a newspaper editor and publisher. He married Isabella Long in 1853 and together they produced 15 children.

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In 1848 Sir James nominated as a candidate for a by-election for the electorate of Durham in the Legislative Council, but withdrew before polling day. In the general election held later in the same year he was a candidate for the electorate of Counties of Cook and Westmoreland, which he won with a margin of 16%.

The Royal Mint in Sydney He was considered an effective legislator but his ‘sharp tongue’ and ‘intemperate speeches” to the House made him few friends among his parliamentary colleagues. His most notable political achievement in his first eight years in office was to initiate the Parliamentary debate that led to the establishment of a branch of the royal mint in Sydney.

In August 1856 he was made Attorney-General of NSW in the first ministry of Charles Cowper. The appointment was controversial, as Sir James was the first holder of the office who had not been admitted as a barrister.

He had to resign his seat as a result of accepting the office, however he was re-elected unopposed. The appointment was brief, as the government was defeated in a no-confidence motion in October 1856 and he returned to the backbench.

He was admitted to the bar in 1856 and was made a Queen’s Counsel in 1857. He returned as Attorney General in the second Cowper Ministry in September 1857, and was again re-elected unopposed.

As Attorney General however, his reputation for ‘intemperate’ language continued and after a series of conflicts with fellow Ministers he resigned the office in November 1858.

In October 1863, Sir James became premier with a mandate to address rising State deficits and rural unemployment.

As Premier and Colonial Secretary he promptly introduced measures to reduce immigration and increase tariffs, but was unable to secure Parliamentary support for many of his reforms.

With limited achievements to its credit, the government suffered a substantial swing at the 1865 election and Sir James stepped down to make way for the return of Charles Cowper.

Mr Cowper was once again defeated in a no-confidence motion in December 1865, and in January 1866 Sir James became Premier for the second time as leader of a coalition government with former rival Henry Parkes His government resigned in October 1868, but he returned to the Premiership for a third and final time between December 1870 and May 1872.

After politics Sir James retired from Parliament in November 1873 and was immediately named to the vacant position of Chief Justice of NSW. He held the post for 13 years, despite considerable ill health in later life.

Sir James Martin died at home in Potts Point, Sydney on November 4, 1886 and is buried at Waverley Cemetery.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Crosswords/Games

39

Solutions page 40

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Little jerks 5. Head downtown?

10. Help in a holdup 14. Balming target 15. Beyond partner 16. Screenplay direction 17. T-bone region 18. Medical research goals 19. Every family has one 20. Illuminated 23. Holiday follower?

24. Skiier’s challenge 25. Unlike a litterbug 27. Palindromic windmill part 30. End of two state names 33. Scratch, say 36. Better copy?

38. Bahrain bread 39. Passed with ease 41. Genetic info carrier 42. Arboreal abode 43. Things to rattle 45. Fishtail, e.g.

47. Daydreamer’s limit?

48. Fit to be fare 50. Killed, as a dragon 53. Tux accessory 54. Prepare for hanging 57. Wrestling area 59. Serving as a diplomat 64. Beer selections 66. Hindu grouping 67. Tat-tat intro 68. Folk facts 69. Pagoda roofing 70. Black cat, some think 71. It may come before “we forget” 72. Failed as a sentry 73. Bird’s perch, perhaps

DOWN 1. Chaucer bit 2. They may be clicked on 3. Flu symptom 4. Grad-to-be 5. Bushwhacker’s tool 6. Go to the edge of 7. The good olde days 8. Cooking place 9. Transmit anew 10. Back on a battleship 11. Crooners, often 12. Creation location 13. “High School Musical” extra 21. Main mail drop (abbr.)

22. Disconnected, as a phone line 26. Like siblings 28. Chances in Vegas 29. Roller Derby milieus 31. Checklist item 32. Pretentiously stylish 33. Attack deterrent 34. Military sch.

35. Enrolls 37. Barbary ape’s lack 40. The red 44. Inner city concern 46. Most absurd 49. Official orders 51. Emotion of the miffed 52. Long and thin 55. Sight from Biscayne Bay 56. Gourmand 57. Shoppers’ site 58. Ubiquitous lily relative 60. Place for some polish 61. “Cast Away” setting 62. Manual component 63. A driver may change one 65. Firm or fixed

40

Games Solutions

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

TrendS

Welcome to the New World Office The five global workplace trends you need to know  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM T used to be so easy: a coat of fresh paint, new desks and chairs plus a fancy fax machine and nice sign and your office makeover was ready for work.

The staff arrived at nine and went home at five. You had the perfect office.

Not today. Welcome to the new world of office design and worker health and welfare. And welcome to a world where there are no borders and where you key staff may be based in Padstow, Perth, Pakistan or Paris.

Leading Swedish company Kinnarps. com.au provides interior workspace solutions for offices and public environments.

Recently, the company released its latest Trend Report into the future office.

It identified five important trends that will have great impact on the way we work – and play.

The report noted that ‘our world today is mashed up multifaceted, with borders and barriers becoming blurred at all levels.’

The report said: ‘Geography is no longer a factor – the issue is identifying talent and keeping it, wherever you might find it – no matter what age, gender or culture. This increasing openness and connectedness has created one vital focus area where we must concentrate our creative thinking: diversity.

Understanding our minds and bodies is now a prerequisite for understanding and building a modern work life environment.

So, what are the workplace design opportunities of the diverse decade?

I

For this report, picked the brains of a specially selected group of inspiring minds representing architecture, design, tech and innovation.

We identified five strong trends that will in many ways fundamentally change our work lives, each and every day, and discovered that smart design will be a key to creating workplaces and life spaces tailored for the diverse decade.

TREND 1: DIVERSE DESIGN How can we design workplaces to meet the needs of many?

Looking into the future, design equality and inclusive environments will be a matter of course in all workplaces. We can see three major shifts taking place.

For the first time in history, we will have four generations working side by side, meaning that their different ways of thinking and acting must be taken into consideration when designing working environments.

The struggle for equality between women and men in our professional lives is entering a new phase. Questioning the existing design status quo from a gender perspective will be a driver for creating a truly inclusive workplace environment.

Everyone has a different way of thinking to find solutions and solve problems.

A main difference is the one between the introvert and the extrovert personality, and the future workplace should cater to both.

TREND 2: OFFICE BIOLOGY How to create a sustainable and ergonomic professional environment?

Health is wealth, they say. Today, our cognitive cogs and the diversity between them, are being increasingly seen as equally important to our physical needs in the workplace. In order to build a strong employer brand for the future, companies have to offer work environments adapted to both our bodies and our minds.

Research shows that boring offices that do not work are a downright health hazard and result in more days off work sick. Our surroundings have the greatest impact on our brains. In a mindful workplace where people are in focus, there is an understanding that soft values play a vital role when it comes to well-being and that design and psychology are interlinked.

TREND 3: TECHITURE How can we use analogue and digital architecture to create the new workplace?

The interaction between technology and architecture is called Techiture, and is a main driver in the next great design shift.

Digital solutions for more seamless ways of work are already here, making those who seize these opportunities winners in the coming decade of diversity. The art of designing for workplaces adapted to human relevance, not hardware dominance, is key to the future employee environment.

TREND 4: CO-CREATION How can we collaborate without borders?

How will tomorrow’s companies work?

The days of companies trying to hide their methods of production behind closed doors are a thing of the past. Instead companies

and customers collaborate to drive the design process. The main issue for companies is to become transparent, to build trust and create a design dialogue together with employees and collaborators around the world.

Collaborating and creating together – from anywhere, at any time, in small companies as well as large corporations – is becoming simpler and smoother, and these new possibilities are impacting the design of everything from small objects to workstations and whole buildings. This will also of course change and place entirely new demands on our workplaces.

TREND 5: MICRO-MULTINATIONAL Where has the workforce gone?

Borderlessness distinguishes the modern workforce, with people constantly moving from one place to another and the task at hand being accessible through the virtual cloud across continents and countries.

This drives a change where the growth of independent workers – freelancers, the self-employed, consultants and contractors – reflects an entrepreneurial surge of startups and sole proprietorships.

In search of supportive places to work beyond home offices and Internet cafés, this brings the emergence of a new category of workspace, and design will follow suit.

The liquid work space manifests itself in for example the form of home offices, pop up-workplaces and co-working communities.

Source: Kinnarps.com.au

DirectorY

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Why businesses need DNS protection Benefits of WebrootÂŽ DNS Protection from NetCare

ď Ž TECHNOLOGY WITH DARRYL MCALLISTER NS security has become more critical because Domain Name Server requests have become a larger target for cybercriminals. While DNS is a vital function of how the internet works by connecting IP addresses to website URLs, it can also be manipulated and become a point of vulnerability.

Each time someone at your office types a website address into their browser, that initiates a DNS request so their browser lands on the right website.

What bad actors can do when that activity is left unprotected and visible includes: â&#x20AC;˘ See which sites a person has visited. â&#x20AC;˘ See which applications may be in use. â&#x20AC;˘ Use the data for targeted advertising, or worse.

The logical next step for many developers trying to create a good business solution has been to develop a way to secure that DNS request over HTTPS with encryption.

This is called DoH. But DoH has been problematic due to loss of control and visibility, causing companies to choose between being less secure, but having more visibility, or gaining security but losing visibility.

The ideal way to protect online browsing would be to ensure those DNS requests canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be intercepted by hackers who use them to breach your network AND still have the controls and visibility into all DNS activities.

D

WebrootÂŽ DNS Protection is designed to give organisations the best of both worlds so they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to choose between privacy and security. They have full control over DNS request filtering to help block malicious sites, as well as keep requests from being intercepted.

NetCare uses this tool ourselves, as part of our security-first MSP strategy.

And weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pleased to announce that effective January 1st, 2021, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be rolling out DNS protection to all our Technology Success customers as a standard inclusion.

So, exactly how does DNS protection help keep your business more secure? Here are the top 7 benefits:

#1 Protects Against Phishing Attacks In 2019, phishing URLs increased 640%.

Nowadays most phishing attacks use links instead of file attachments. Links to malicious sites often get past antivirus software and can fool users into visiting spoofed login forms or sites that infect devices with malware.

DNS filtering can protect a user even if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been fooled by a phishing email and clicked a malicious link. It acts as a control layer that receives the DNS request before the browser. It will evaluate the URL and match that against a database of known threats. If the URL is found to be malicious, the user is redirected to a warning page instead of being taken to the site.

#2 DNS Requests are Kept Private With DNS protection in place, the requests being made through browsers at your organisation are kept encrypted and secure. Hackers canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t access the DNS request data thus they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exploit it to cause harm to your network.

#3 Improves Regulatory Compliance The security and visibility controls available in WebrootÂŽ DNS Protection can make it easier for companies to comply with data privacy regulations.

#4 Off-Network Protection for Remote & Mobile Workers Many Sydney businesses are now using remote workers due to the pandemic. This adds a layer of complexity to network security.

DNS protection gives you the ability to protect your workforce whether theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the office, working from home, or traveling.

WebrootÂŽ works well with VPNs, firewalls, and other network security applications so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s able to keep your entire staff protected no matter where they are.

#5 Gain Visibility Into User Activity If users are visiting inappropriate websites while at work, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something a company needs to know about so they can address it.

DNS filtering allows logging of internet activity so companies can monitor user activity as well as block any problematic websites.

#6 Keep Browsing Safe on Any Device DNS protection works with multiple device types. So, whether someone is browsing in Safari on an iPhone or using Edge on a laptop, their DNS requests will be secure and protected.

This tool works with the following devices that access the internet via corporate Wi-Fi, LAN, or guest network: â&#x20AC;˘ Windows. â&#x20AC;˘ Linux. â&#x20AC;˘ Apple. â&#x20AC;˘ Android.

#7 No Hardware to Install You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to worry about the additional cost or hassle of having on-site equipment. You get complete protection for all DNS requests and activity, but there is no on-site hardware to install or maintain.

The DNS protection is completely cloud-based, making it simple to get started and there is no hardware maintenance or administration that you need to worry about.

Get DNS Protection via NetCare Technology Success Stay protected from phishing threats and gain more control over your browsing activities with DNS protection. As of January 1st, 2021, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re offering this important service as a standard inclusion for our Technology Success customers.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Call (02) 9114 9920 or reach out online. DARRYL MCALLISTER is CEO at Netcare. wwnetcare.net.au

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EntertainmenT

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Guy Sebatsian.

43

Human Nature.

Carols with Guy and Human Nature USTRALIAN music legends Guy Sebastian and Human Nature will lead a star-studded line-up for The Sebastian Foundation’s spectacular free online concert, Carols from Parramatta.

Hosted by Guy and Jules Sebastian on Friday, December 18 from 7pm, the streamed festivities will feature fantastic performances by Chris Sebastian, Samantha Jade, Johnny Manuel, Sam Moran, Mark Vincent, Chynna Taylor and Mark Furze.

The yuletide sing-along is presented by The Sebastian Foundation in partnership with City of Parramatta Council and supported by Disney+.

“It’s incredible to see some of the finest voices in Australia bringing much-needed Christmas cheer into homes across the country,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.

“Council is proud to support this won-

A

Jules Sebastian.

derful cause, particularly at the end of such a difficult year.”

While the concert is free, viewers are encouraged to donate to The Sebastian Foundation, a charity founded by the Sebastians in 2013 to help those who have experienced domestic violence and mental health issues.

“We can’t wait to bring together some of the finest artists in Australia for a fun evening of carols while also raising money for programs that will really make a difference to the mental health of adolescents,” Guy Sebastian said.

“We hope that everyone can join us from their homes and give a few dollars to help someone who has been doing it particularly tough this year.”

The City of Parramatta has hosted The Sebastian Foundation’s annual Christmas carols in The Crescent at Parramatta Park since 2018 but the event has moved online this year due to COVID-19.

WHAT:

The Sebastian Foundation’s Carols from Parramatta WHEN: 7pm, Friday 18 December HOW: Register and watch online at tsfcarols.tv COST: Free to stream online MORE INFO: discoverparramatta.com/carols and thesebastianfoundation.org

Ring them bells – a very Liza Xmas FTER a four-year gap, Trevor Ashley will return as Liza in a brand-new Xmas show, Ring Them Bells: A Very Liza Xmas.

In the most fun way to cap off the craziest of years, join Ms Minnelli as she stumbles her way through a fabulously festive catalogue of songs, with smatterings of mistletoe and lashings of egg nog.

From Silver Bells to White Christmas, Liza will regale you with stories from her childhood with Mama the tree, and that time she missed it completely while dancing at Studio 54.

With gorgeous new arrangements by James Simpson, join Liza and her socially distant scheven piece band, with musical director Andy Davies.

Pull on your red sequins and get ready to sit on Santa’s knee for a ridiculous and hilarious night out, perfect for your whole family, especially your drunk Aunt.

Trevor Ashley has performed Liza across the world to great acclaim, most recently in New York City off Broadway at Sony Hall.

After touring Australia with Liza (on an E),

A

he made his West End debut at the Vaudeville theatre, and then returned twice to London with Liza’s Back! (is broken).

Make the night complete and book your cabaret table for two in our socially distanced theatre. We have Food and Beverage packages available to pre-order with your ticket, $35 for double or $20 for single.

Food and Beverage packages will only be

available to order up to 24 hours prior and will not be available on the day.

Book tickets on this page for the live, in person performance at Riverside Theatres Parramatta. If you’re looking for the Digital Show click here.

Please note this performance contains smoke haze, course language and adult content and is recommended for ages 15+.

This performance has a lockout and no latecomers will be admitted past the 7:30pm starting time.

This performance is part of Riverside Theatres Digital Concert Series and will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

Audience members may appear on camera, please advise our Box Office if you do not wish to be filmed.

Reliving the Queen classics ANT to break free? The team behind the hit productions of Mamma Mia!, Jesus Christ Superstar, Shrek, Wicked, Legally Blonde and The Phantom Of The Opera, will rock Riverside Theatres in February 2021 with a brand new production of the smash hit musical, We Will Rock You. Since 2002 over 16 million theatregoers in 19 countries have been thrilled by this awe-inspiring production which is based on the songs of Queen with a book by

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Ben Elton (The Young Ones, Blackadder, Popcorn).

The musical features over 24 of Queen’s greatest hits including We Are the Champions, Radio Ga Ga, I Want To Break Free, Somebody To Love, Killer Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now, Under Pressure, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites the Dust and, of course, We Will Rock You. We Will Rock You is an hilarious, eccentric and moving story of outsiders rising up against the establishment. In a post-apocalyptic future, the world is controlled by a mighty corporation….rock music and all

musical instruments are banned. It’s up to two revolutionaries, Galileo and Scaramouche, to break free, restore individuality and bring back the power of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

FYI this production contains smoke haze and loud noises Please Note: The Friday 26 February performance will be Auslan Interpreted.

Booking link available soon. Contact Box Office for any queries. www.riversideparramatta.com.au

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

Happiest Season – 3 Stars A ‘woke’ Christmas classic.

BBY (Kristen Stewart) hasn’t liked Christmas since her parents died one Christmas past. Yet, as her girlfriend Harper (Mackenzie Davis) loves the holiday, she tries to make it special – even going so far as to buy a ring and planning to propose over the holiday break.

When Harper invites Abby to her family Christmas, Abby sees her opportunity – she’ll ask Harper’s dad for his blessing and propose Christmas morning.

When she gets there, though, she is horrified to discover that Harper isn’t out to her parents, and they don’t know about Abby.

Abby has to navigate the waters of a domineering mother (Mary Steenburgen), a mayoral candidate father (Victor Garber), an overbearing sister (Mary Holland), and another cruel one (Alison Brie).

As Harper struggles with her family’s expectation, and Abby confides her fears and concerns in her best friend John (Dan Levy), they grow further apart. Will the approaching Christmas Day push them irrevocably apart, or bring them closer together?

Directed by Clea DuVall, Happiest Season is a bastion of cultural sensitivity in this day and age, adeptly navigating the waters of political correctness to bring a new lens to the generations old tradition of Christmas movies.

It’s also a pretty funny rom-com. Dan Levy in particular strikes a hilarious tone, crushing the comedic perspective of this film and in many ways making up for a lack of that acerbic wit from the rest of the cast.

That being said, the rest of the cast is uniformly good. Stewart brings an emotional sensitivity to the role that is commendable, belying her indie bona fides in this decidedly mainstream yuletide film. Aubrey Plaza also pops up in a much different role than we have seen her before, eschewing her sarcastic demeanour for a more serious, romantic tone.

The story is fairly standard Christmas fare; a mix of romantic highs and lows, and

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Christmas-related hijinks. All of the seasonal beats are hit – from the snow covered big American house, to the street of Christmas lights, gingerbread men and eggnog.

The interesting thing is they are all done fairly well too – Happiest Season echoes the classic Christmas tropes, while also layering a modern relationship and the associated struggles on top.

Issues arise, however, when interrogating the characters on display here, because the fact is that with a cast this big, no one really gets too fleshed out.

As much as this is a subversion of the genre, the characters are fairly standard cookie-cutters. They also in some cases have little agency.

We’re asked to root for Abby and Harper’s relationship, but Abby is constantly downtrodden by Harper and her family, to the point that you want them to break up.

While DuVall does flip the script at the end, it’s a hollow win. We’ve spent so long with this couple and having Harper lie to and abuse Abby, and so little time with them as a functioning one, with so little character

work or backstory, that for it to succeed feels a little like we are being cheated.

In the end, this is a factor of the combined deeply thought out dramatic element and the heart-of-gold saccharinity of the story. We can’t have too complex an ending (it is a family Christmas movie after all), so instead we’re left with a hollow one.

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

ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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Let Him Go – 4 Stars A chemistry-laden melting pot of drama, romance and loss.

EIRGE Blackledge (Kevin Costner) and his wife Margaret (Diane Lane) grieve the loss of their only son, whose tumble off a horse left his wife Lorna (Kayli Carter) a widow with a young boy.

She marries again, to a young man named Donnie Weboy (Will Brittain), who soon spirits her and the boy away from George and Margaret and their ranch in Montana, to live with his mother Blanche (Lesley Manville) in North Dakota.

Shocked at the sudden departure, and worried about Donnie’s nature, George and Margaret road trip to North Dakota, only to have their worst fears confirmed – Donnie and the rest of the Weboy family are abusive and feared, not just by Lorna but also by the town, and they set about trying to get their grandson back.

Let Him Go is hard to pigeonhole, because it does so many things well – a tense drama, a believable romance, a treatise on dealing with grief. Without a shadow of a doubt though, everyone can agree that Let Him Go is gripping cinema.

Director Thomas Bezucha isn’t known for his dramatic work, having previously directed Monte Carlo and The Family Stone, both decidedly different fare to what’s on offer here.

But he doesn’t pull any punches with

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this movie, and his penchant for romance and melodrama blend well with the sinister and bleak tone of the movie’s more deranged elements.

There are definite tonal issues here, indeed some that will make you laugh (the hard switch from Montana countryside to the ‘evils’ of North Dakota being one where the film magic at work to create a visible difference overtakes any effective use of the sequence).

Bezucha never lets these get out of hand though, and despite the movie juggling so many tonal shifts, it never fails the balancing act.

One of the most impressive feats of Let Him Go is the chemistry of its two leads.

Costner and Lane are utterly believable as an aged couple who are deeply in tune with one another’s idiosyncrasies.

Lane’s Margaret Blackledge is a wild stallion, who will fight tooth and nail to get what she wants. Costner’s George Blackledge is a quiet, imposing, retired sheriff, who fully understands his wife’s strength and will, and supports her even in this crazy endeavour.

Together, they form a formidable team, and whether it’s the quiet looks between them in a tense situation in the Weboy’s home, or the loving ones across

a steak dinner as they reminisce on their life together, they bring a level of prestige and confidence to their performances that sucks you in.

That’s a good thing, because the dialogue in Let Him Go often borders on unbelievability and cliche. Too often can you predict what’s going to come out of the mouths of these characters; too often are you groaning at a line you’ve heard in a million movies before. For a film that is hard to pin down in terms of tone, plot and character development, it’s an immense shame that the dialogue just doesn’t stack up.

The supporting cast is an interesting choice too. Lesley Manville is great as the domineering matriarch, but her reveal is so over the top that you almost think the part was written for a bigger A-lister.

Jeffrey Donovan as another of the Weboy clan is tremendous, weird and wonderful (mimicking his impressive turns in a string of recent roles), but the rest of the Weboy clan barely make an impact – almost as if they spent all of their budget on Costner and Lane, and had to aim a bit lower for the rest.

It’s a mystifying film – a series of odd, strange choices. A mix of tones that doesn’t quite make sense. A cohort of actors of distinctly varying calibre. A plot that shocks

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It’s a mystifying film – a series of odd, strange choices. A mix of tones that doesn’t quite make sense. A cohort of actors of distinctly varying calibre. A plot that shocks and surprises, and dialogue that distinctly doesn’t.” and surprises, and dialogue that distinctly doesn’t.

Yet somehow it all works. It’s not a must-see film, nor a widespread cultural phenomenon, but it is undeniably gripping cinema.

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

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN...

From the team at JWS, Merry Christmas the very best New Year.

We look forward to working with you in 2021.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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Artist impressions of the new centre.

Govt funds Cricket Centre of excellence ONSTRUCTION has started on the Cricket NSW Centre of Excellence at Wilson Park where the State’s superstars and aspiring youth will benefit from world class facilities.

Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said the new home of cricket within the Sydney Olympic Park precinct will be the envy of all other states and territories.

“The designs for the new centre look sensational and I can’t wait to see the Cricket NSW Centre of Excellence rise out of the ground,” Mr Lee said.

“There will be training and playing facilities available to use for more than 35,000 club and community cricketers right across Sydney.

“The NSW Government’s investment of $30 million will also stimulate the local economy creating over 110 construction jobs and around 150 ongoing jobs once complete.”

The centre will include full and junior size playing ovals, more than 50 outdoor training nets, a community indoor centre and high-performance training facilities including gym and hot and cold recovery.

Cricket NSW Chief Executive Officer Lee Germon thanked the NSW Government for its support of the project.

“This development gives us the opportunity to ensure we can provide state of the

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art indoor and outdoor facilities for current and future generations of national and international players,” Mr Germon said.

“This development has been made possible thanks to the generous backing of the NSW Government, which has given wonderful support to cricket in recent years.”

NSW and Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc said the facility will provide great opportunities for local participants.

“I began playing cricket for Berala Juniors just up the road in Lidcombe. It’s fantastic that local club and community cricketers, men and women, boys and girls of all ages, will have the opportunity to train and play where their heroes train and play,” Mr Starc said.

Sydney Thunder Captain and Australian Vice-Captain Rachael Haynes said this is an exciting opportunity for generations to come.

“It will be exciting for budding cricketers to have the opportunity of training and playing alongside the best,” said Ms Haynes.

The Cricket NSW Centre of Excellence will be home to the NSW Blues and NSW Breakers squads, Sydney Thunder BBL and WBBL squads as well as the headquarters for nearly 150 Cricket NSW staff.

Construction is scheduled for completion in mid-2022.

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ISSUE 5 | December 2020

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