Population in Penrith set to increase by over 50,000
DID you know Penrith’s population is expected to increase by another 51,000 people over the next 20 years to reach 271,000 by 2041?
Our City is transforming – and Penrith Council staff say the exciting changes are already taking place!
“Council has been proactively planning to ensure we thoughtfully manage this one-in-alifetime opportunity.
“With the Federal election just weeks away, we are calling for all levels of government to work together and deliver critical infrastructure that will help realise the shared vision for this City and futureproof the Penrith Local Government Area.”
You can find out more at penrith.city/ advocacypriorities
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Increase to local paediatric palliative care funding
NEPEAN Blue Mountains Local Health District will benefit from an additional $298,666 in funding to support a range of initiatives which will enhance paediatric palliative respite and end of life care across the region.
This funding boost for Nepean Blue Mountain Local Health District is part of the NSW Government’s $2.8 million investment to enhance children’s endof-life care services, ensuring greater equity of access to both hospital and community-based services across NSW.
This forms part of the NSW Government’s commitment to increase paediatric palliative care funding to approximately $80 million over 4 years from 2023-24 to 2026-27.
The district will receive funding to create home-like and comfortable multi-functional spaces, which may serve a range of purposes, including palliative care, post-death care and to care for children with chronic and complex conditions.
“This funding will also support tailored antenatal supports for families dealing with infant and perinatal loss across Nepean Blue Mountains, including a specialised bereavement room to support these families,” said Karen McKeown OAM, Member for Penrith.
“The initiatives supported by this funding will help ensure that families
can access a range of high-quality services in a comforting environment closer to home.
“The funding will also support cosmetic upgrades to facilities, purchase specialised equipment and comfort items as well as essential repairs and maintenance to create warm, familyfriendly spaces for end-of-life care.
“Additionally, the funding will allow for additional education and training opportunities for healthcare staff to equip them with the skills needed to deliver holistic and compassionate paediatric palliative care.
“Our Penrith Community welcomes this critical funding which will boost Palliative Care Services at Nepean Hospital and ensure those families in need get the essential services and support they require during these difficult and challenging times.”
Winter solstice food vendors
ARE you a new and exciting food business, food stall and food truck and want to be part of Penrith Council’s upcoming Winter Solstice event in June 2025?
Express your interest to be part of Winter Solstice 2025 right the heart of the Penrith CBD. The long weekend event is happening from Thursday 5 June to Monday 9 June in City Park, Penrith.
They’d love to have you there!
Winter Solstice will feature an ice-skating rink, live music, delicious food, free activities for the kids and more!
If you’d like to be a part of the event, please fill out our Expression of Interest form: Food vendors: https://forms.monday.com/forms/d7bf8a508d7a5f189dfa456de73cbb01?r=apse2
Expression of interest closes Sunday 4 May, 11.59pm.
Care packages for troops deployed overseas
ONCE again, St Marys RSL sub-Branch were able to supply an enthusiastic team of ‘packers’ to assist RSL Australia in putting together 400 packs of ‘goodies’ as an Easter/ANZAC gift for our overseas deployed ADF personnel.
“Thank you to 39 OSB at Randwick (the CO, RSM, Julee and Robo in particular) for hosting and to Ian Smith from RSL Australia for organising the packaging.
“We were looked after for transport by CDC Charter with a very comfortable coach trip to and from Randwick (including the ‘compulsory’ stop at Daryl Lea on the return). The coach was specially ‘wrapped’ by CDC for this ANZAC Period - as seen in the photos.
“It was certainly an eye-catcher along the way and very well received by all at both ends of the trip.
“Coach driver Roland, being ex-service himself, was fully employed in the packing and fitted in well with the ‘troops’.
“The packing was completed in record time and 39Bn put on the usual BBQ to beat all BBQ’s - thank you. The crew are already planning for the next packing day in September.”
Hoppy Easter Celebrated at Nepean Hospital
BY KERRIE DAVIES
THIS Easter, Nepean Hospital was filled with joy as a special guest hopped by to bring smiles to the patients. The hospital welcomed a furry friend, who spread Easter cheer and brightened the spirits of those in the wards.
The occasion highlighted the dedication of the hospital staff, who remained hard at work over the long weekend to ensure the safety and health of the community. A spokesperson from Nepean Hospital expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating, “You’re all truly egg-cellent!”
In addition, the hospital extended its appreciation to CPB Contractors and Bunnings Penrith for their exceptional generosity. The two
organisations donated bundles of goodies for the children staying at the hospital, ensuring that their stay was a little brighter.
Nepean Hospital wishes everyone a safe and joyful Easter, reflecting the spirit of generosity and community during this festive season.
Nepean CrossFit 24-Hour Fundraiser for Wounded Heroes Australia
BY NOEL ROWSELL
NEPEAN
CrossFit is conducting a 24-hour national fitness fundraiser on Saturday 26th – Sunday 27th April, honouring fallen service members and supporting veterans and first responders. Teams of 6 will complete 24 hero workouts over 24 hours.
This event originated at Nepean CrossFit in 2021 and has since raised over $430,000, expanding across 7 states and into NZ. All Australian proceeds go to Wounded Heroes Australia (WHA). Learn more about the team here: https://24hoursofheroes.com.au/ about/meet-the-team/
Wounded Heroes Australia (WHA) is a national grassroots charity, providing 24/7 emergency financial aid to current and former ADF members and their families in crisis.
WHA supports those facing domestic violence, homelessness, or financial hardship, offering immediate assistance for essentials like food, fuel and emergency accommodation via their crisis line: 1300 532 112.
“We are headquartered in Queensland but provide Australiawide support and are working hard
to curb the heartbreaking high rates of Defence and Veteran suicide,” said NSW/ACT State Manager Jemma Pigott. “We are deeply committed to addressing this crisis highlighted by the Royal Commission’s Final Report, which was delivered on 9 September 2024. With an average of 3 suicides every fortnight, this toll is devastating, and at WHA, we work tirelessly to reduce it.
“Despite government-funded organisations referring veterans to our services, WHA receives no government funding for crisis relief. We rely on public and corporate donations, and community fundraising
Dr Muthukrishnan’s
Kingswood Medical Centre
to sustain our 24/7 response.
“Our crisis line has seen a significant increase in demand, with calls rising from 5 to 15 per day in 2024, driven by the cost of living, domestic violence, and mental health crises.
“In 2024, we supported 4,226 ADF veterans and families—up from 2,910 in 2023—spending an average of $7,522 per week on crisis relief. This peaked to over $10,000 during April and May and surpassed $13,200 in the final months of the year.
“Easter, Anzac Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas and every school holiday break are sadly always busy
times for our Crisis Line, as they can trigger massive trauma for veterans who are lonely, isolated or struggling to support a family.
“Our ability to provide lifesaving support is made possible by the generosity of our fundraising partners. In 2025, we hope to expand our partnerships to further support our Defence and Veteran community and help make a real difference in their lives.”
Read more here: www. woundedheroes.org.au/
WHA also ran a fundraising and awareness raising event in Westfield Penrith this week (23-24th April), where community members could enjoy a free coffee with a veteran at Nadia’s Cafe.
Attending veterans were David Trist OAM (WWII Veteran) and Edward Lopez (Navy Veteran), who was accompanied by his service dog Poppy.
“David has been instrumental in supporting our work locally and helped me connect with Westfield Penrith, and also with arranging buglers for Remembrance Day in 2024,” said Jemma.
“David also attended our activation from the Community Desk that day, which really helped boost our fundraising.”
Maggie Taouk (WHA), Jemma Pigott (WHA), David Trist OAM, Edward Lopez, Poppy
Penrith RSL celebrates Kokoda success
BY KERRIE DAVIES
CONGRATULATIONS to the Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge group led by Peta Bull who completed their 10 day treka great achievement!
A special welcome home shoutout from Penrith RSL and the City of Penrith RSL sub-Branch, who sent two of the participants - Shayla and Xandah. A big congratulations on completing the Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge.
Xandah, who is from Glenmore Park spoke to Nepean News about the challenges faced.
“The challenges I faced were mental and physical,’’ Xandah said.
“We opted in for carrying our own supplies which added approximately 13 kilos.
“Mentally it was getting used to not having things readily available as they are usually. For instance, you can’t just get water when you want it. There’s no running tap.’’
Wrapping his mind around having to wait for some things and also go without a lot of things but soldiering on anyway was a challenge that Xandah feels proud to have accomplished.
The former Glenmore Park High School student plans to now focus on his goal of starting a career in law enforcement.
Penrith RSL and the City of Penrith RSL subBranch choose two participants each year, so watch out for the Kokoda Challenge call out!
About Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge
The Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge is a peer
group leadership program established by the RSL & Services Clubs Association in 2004. The program was developed by Charlie Lynn of Adventure Kokoda.
The objectives of the Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge are to:
• Create an awareness of the campaigns in Papua New Guinea during WW11.
• Foster an understanding of the environment, the languages, and the cultures of our nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea. • Encourage a commitment to community service. • Develop adventure-based skills. • Enhance the personal development of participants. • Provide an opportunity to walk the Kokoda Trail to experience the conditions under which our Diggers fought and died for our freedom.
• Prepare participants for a future leadership role within our Australian community.
Being selected for the trek is a privileged opportunity to develop personal leadership skills based on the values our Kokoda veterans held dearly. These include personal discipline, mutual respect, trust, mateship, courage and self-sacrifice. Successful candidates should be prepared to act as a community volunteer in some way after they return.
Association CEO, Garrie Gibson, said the
leadership program provides a major contribution to the community by: • Encouraging these young leaders to help motivate their peers to take a positive role in their community and, among other things, reduce youth crime rates; • Creating a source of young leaders coming back into their ranks; and, • Encouraging participants to work with local community leaders on a range of projects. He said that for clubs the program had the potential to build stronger ties with the community and local business while increasing their relevance with young people who will be their future members and become the ‘custodians’ of the Anzac and Kokoda traditions.
The leadership program aims to create a greater awareness of the sacrifices of the diggers on the Kokoda campaign among our young people to ensure the traditions live on.
At the same time it instils in participants a commitment to community service, enhance their personal development by providing an opportunity for them to experience the same conditions under which our diggers fought and hopefully transform them for future leadership roles back in the community.
Nepean nurse follows in family footsteps
FOR Benjamin Glynn, nursing isn’t just a career—it’s in his DNA. The registered nurse at Nepean Hospital grew up hearing stories of compassion, resilience, and healing around the dinner table, thanks to his parents, both nurses themselves.
“I was inspired by the stories they would come home and share with me and my brother. From early on, I knew I wanted to give it a try,” Benjamin recalls.
Starting out as an Assistant in Nursing at Bankstown Hospital where his parents once met on the orthopaedic ward, Benjamin worked for four years before becoming a Registered Nurse.
In a full-circle moment, he too has found himself drawn to orthopaedics.
Benjamin moved to the Nepean Blue Mountains region to live with his fiancée and chose Nepean Hospital as his first preference for the new graduate program.
“It’s a big hospital with great opportunities to learn. It has really pushed me out of my comfort zone and furthered my career.”
“Calling my first clinical review really hit me. That moment reminded me why I chose this path—to be there when it matters most. It’s incredibly rewarding.”
Benjamin is one of 89 new graduate nurses to begin a career in health care at Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District this year. A second intake of 89 new graduate nurses begin in June.
Read the full story of Benjamin’s nursing journey: https://shorturl.at/ zSBbo
Benjamin Glynn, Registered Nurse at Nepean Hospital
ANZAC TRIBUTE
STREET CLOSURES
Due to the above event, we have been given permission to close off a number of streets in the Penrith CBD. The full list of street closures appears below.
Woodriff Street (between High Street and Tindale Street)
Tindale Street (between Woodriff Street and Castlereagh Street) Castlereagh Street (between Lethbridge Street and High Street)
High Street (between Woodriff Street and Lawson Street)
SPECIAL NOTE:
For more information phone the City of Penrith RSL sub-Branch on 4728 5227. ALL
ANZAC DAWN SERVICE - Memory Park official ceremony starts with the silent march from Castlereagh Street and down High Street at 4.45am and the official Ceremony commences at 5am.
Masters Car Park entrance (Woodriff Street closed & Astina building driveway closed to all in/out traffic access).
Judges Car Park entrance/exit is only via Station Street access until 7am. RSL Club parking can only be accessed by the Lethbridge Street entrance.
At our Guns War Memorial adjacent to the ‘train’ in the grounds of the St Marys Diggers Club (cnr Hall Street and Mamre Road)
This year, within the theme of ANZAC, our focus is ‘The Anniversary of the 1942 Darwin Bombing’
The Service will commence at 5.00am, preceded by several related short video clips on the large screens provided. We suggest early arrival for parking.
After the Service, veterans (with medals) and their families are welcome in the club (Mr Su’s restaurant) for breakfast. For all others, breakfast is available for purchase in the Club.
ANZAC TRIBUTE
IF ONLY WE HAD KNOWN
BY TOMAS (PADDY) HAMILTON
Sydney Heads came into view, we were finally home
So many comrades left behind, to rest ‘neath foreign loam
Yet with all the cheering, the laughter and the toasts
Our nation shared the burden, of sixty thousand ghosts
Each of us a father, a brother, or a son
Everyone a volunteer, our duty we’d not shun
A tin leg my souvenir, that came at such a price
For the soldier always loses, when the devil rolls the dice
The newspapers sang out our praise. ”Heroes of the day!”
But the nightmares and the shaking, would never go away
Though we tried to settle down, some just could not cope
A simple funeral notice, for those who gave up hope
I was soon to realise, my dreams I would forgo
A new suit and a ticket home, were all I had to show
With little time to settle down, I was back to planting crops
For a one legged farmer, it seems life never stops
We had all bravely faced, the horrors of mankind
The memories of the western front, would always haunt my mind
We were part of history, victors on the throne
We won the war to end all wars.
WELL - IF ONLY WE HAD KNOWN !
ANZAC TRIBUTE
South Ward Councillor
Reflecting on the enormous sacrifice made by our defence forces, both past and present this ANZAC Day. Lest we forget.
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The Ode Of Remembrance
The Ode of Remembrance is a poem that is commonly recited at Anzac Day services to commemorate wartime sacrifice.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
The Ode comes from For the Fallen, a poem by English poet and writer Laurence Binyon. The poem was first published in The Times on 21 September 1914. It was later published in the Winnowing Fan - Poems of the Great War. By mid-September 1914, less than seven weeks after the outbreak of war, the British Expeditionary Force in France had already suffered severe casualties. Long lists of the dead and wounded appeared in British newspapers. It was against this background that Binyon wrote For the Fallen.
The Ode is the fourth stanza of the poem. The verse, which became the League Ode, was already used in association with Anzac Day commemoration services in Australia in 1921.
pay tribute to those who fought for our country and our
With over 55 countries in the running, Gina Field and the team at Nepean Regional Security are beyond proud to say they took out gold
“Yep—little ol’ us from Penrith, up against the globe... and we brought it home!” said Gina Field.
“The awards were held in London and presented by the Dutchess of York – Sarah Ferguson.
“This award isn’t just about me—it’s a reflection of the trust you’ve placed in our team, the partnerships we’ve built, and the work we’ve done together over the years. From the kitchen bench where it all started to an international stage... what a ride!
“Thank you for being a part of our journey—this one’s for all of us, particularly women in business and for future generations of young ladies to believe in themselves.
It’s been an exciting month – First named the best in Australia at the Champion Awards last Friday and now the global awards.”
Food fight: How fat and carbs influence epilepsy risk
ANEW international study by Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District researchers has unveiled a potential link between dietary habits and the prevalence of epilepsy, suggesting that diets rich in fats and low in carbohydrates may offer a protective effect against the neurological disorder.
Examining data from 150 countries from 1990 to 2018, researchers explored the relationship between the types of food people were exposed to and how common epilepsy was in those countries.
By looking at the exposures to fat, carbohydrates and proteins and comparing it to the number of epilepsy cases modelling found that carbohydrate supply was strongly correlated with an increased epilepsy occurrence, while fat supply had the opposite association.
The study showed that a higher fat to carbohydrate ratio was linked to lower epilepsy burden, with the lowest epilepsy incidence found in environments where people were exposed to more fatty foods and fewer sugary or starchy foods.
Author of the study and Professor of Paediatrics at NBMLHD Professor Ralph Nanan says the study is the first of its kind to correlate idiopathic epilepsy disease burden with global
nutritional environments and highlights a potential beneficial role of fat in epilepsy prevention.
“Our analysis revealed a significant inverse relationship between fat supply and epilepsy rates, and a direct correlation between carbohydrate supply and increased epilepsy burden,” explains Ralph.
“These findings suggest that dietary environments emphasising fat consumption, particularly when coupled with reduced carbohydrate intake, may play a role in mitigating epilepsy risk.
Future research will focus on investigating the underlying biological mechanisms that connect dietary habits to epilepsy risk, as well as examining the impact of specific types of fats and carbohydrates. The researchers also aim to explore the optimal timing for dietary interventions to maximise their potential preventive effects.
“This study is an exciting step in understanding how diet might play a role in preventing epilepsy. While more research is needed, it offers hope that we can find new ways to reduce the number of people affected by epilepsy,” says Ralph.
Full findings from the study have been published online in journal, Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, https://onlinelibrary. wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acn3.70017
Elections and Promises
Like many, I tend to switch off during election season. Amid the constant stream of baby-kissing, hardhat photo ops, and endless promises— “vote for us and we’ll…”—it’s easy to feel like you’ve heard it all before.
Yet one promise managed to stand out recently: a new National Battery Rebate Scheme proposed by Energy Minister Chris Bowen, set to launch on July 1—that is, if the current government is re-elected.
Jim’s Gems
What’s on Offer?
The scheme would give you roughly $3,500 off the installation of a 10kWh battery system. Whether you’re looking to add storage to your existing solar array or planning a new solar-plus-storage setup, eligible battery sizes range between 5kWh and 50kWh. Note that if you already have a battery system, you can add extra storage under this program, but you won’t be able to claim the additional NSW storage rebate.
This new initiative will run under the existing Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES)—or STC program—which has been cutting costs for solar consumers since 2011.
Already Scheduled for Installation?
ORCHARD HILLS
If you have a system booked, don’t worry. The process is straightforward: complete the installation, conduct the necessary compliance tests, and then isolate the battery until July 1. Once the scheme officially goes live, you can reactivate your battery and apply for the rebate.
For those with existing battery systems, the rebate is still available, even if you can’t combine it with the NSW rebate. This makes expanding your storage capacity more affordable overall.
Stacking the Benefits
Beyond the National Battery Rebate, you can combine several incentives to maximize your savings:
• Claim the STCs for your solar panels.
• Receive the NSW PDRS battery rebate (around $1,200) at the time of installation.
• Finally, apply for the National Battery Rebate once the system is up and running.
Why It Matters
Ultimately, this initiative is designed to relieve strain on the electrical grid during peak periods and mitigate the issue of excess midday solar energy being fed back into the network. Rather than losing out on valuable energy credits, you get to use more of the power you generate—right when you need it.
It’s a smart step toward a more resilient and energy-independent future. Now, all that remains is to see if this promise makes it past the polls.
The dark side of chocolate: A danger to dogs
BY KELLIE TICKNER, ORCHARD HILLS VETERINARY HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR
BRUISER, a six-year-old French Bulldog, thought he had hit the jackpot when he got his paws on an arrangement of Kinder Surprise bunnies, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and even one filled with Smarties. Not stopping there, he devoured the foil wrappers as well, determined to consume every last morsel. But his indulgence soon turned into a nightmare—Bruiser began vomiting and had to make an emergency trip to the vet.
Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and cases like Bruiser’s are unfortunately common. The danger lies in two compounds: theobromine and caffeine. Whilst humans metabolise these substances efficiently, dogs do not, making them far more susceptible
to toxicity. Even in small amounts, chocolate ingestion can cause significant illness. Symptoms include increased heart rate, agitation, tremors, and seizures. In severe cases, it can even be fatal.
How Much Chocolate is Dangerous?
The risk depends on the type and amount of chocolate consumed. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder contain the highest levels of theobromine, making them the most toxic. Baking chocolate, semisweet varieties, and milk chocolate follow, whilst white chocolate poses the least risk due to its minimal theobromine content. Even if a dog does not ingest a toxic dose of theobromine, chocolate’s high fat and sugar content can still lead to pancreatitis, a painful and potentially life-threatening condition.
Signs of Chocolate Poisoning
The symptoms of chocolate poisoning can take several hours to appear and may last for days. They include:
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Increased thirst and excessive urination
• Restlessness, panting, and rapid heart rate
• Muscle tremors or seizures in severe cases
Another lesser-known but serious risk is liver damage. The toxins in chocolate can put strain on the liver, especially when consumed in large amounts or in dogs with pre-existing liver conditions. In Bruiser’s case, blood tests revealed elevated liver enzyme levels, indicating potential liver stress.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats
Chocolate
If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, contact your veterinarian immediately. They can assess whether the amount consumed is toxic and determine the best course of action. In cases like Bruiser’s, prompt veterinary intervention can prevent complications and improve the prognosis.
Treatment
for Chocolate Poisoning
Treatment depends on the severity of the case but may include:
• Inducing vomiting to remove the chocolate from the stomach
• Activated charcoal to limit absorption of toxins
• Intravenous fluids for hydration and toxin elimination
• Medications to control symptoms
such as tremors or irregular heart rate
• Liver support if blood tests show elevated liver enzymes
But What About Dog Treats That Look Like Chocolate?
Some dog-friendly treats contain carob, a safe chocolate substitute. However, a few specialty bakeries use small amounts of milk chocolate in dog treats. While this may be safe in minimal quantities, most veterinarians recommend avoiding chocolate altogether
Bruiser’s story is a reminder that what seems like an innocent treat can have dangerous consequences. With vigilance and quick action, chocolate toxicity can be treated—but the best approach is prevention. For more information about foods that are toxic to your pets, chat with the team at Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital on 4736 2027.
Locomotives at St Marys
By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc.
DURING 1943 the Commonwealth Department of Munitions imported four diesel-electric locomotives built by the General Electric Company from the USA for use as shunters at St Marys. These were the first diesel-electric locomotives in service in Australia and were obtained under the Lend-Lease system. After WW2 they were taken over by the New South Wales Railways where they were used in the Sydney passenger yards as the 79-class and retaining their original numbers. The NSW railways date from December 1831 when the Australian Agricultural Company officially opened Australia’s first railway located at the intersection of Brown and Church Streets in Newcastle. It was privately owned and operated to service the A Pit coal mine and was a cast-iron fish belly rail on an inclined plane as a gravitational railway. A Fish belly rail was an early form of rail for railways and made from short sections of cast iron between stone block sleepers. The first public Main Western line was built from Sydney to Parramatta Junction in Granville and opened in 1855. Much of the construction of the Main Western, Main Southern and Main North lines were completed under the supervision of John Whitton the Engineer-in-Charge who was considered the Father of the NSW railways serving between 1856 and 1899. The Main Western line was then extended from Granville to Parramatta station and Blacktown in 1860 and Penrith in 1863. In September 1901 at a regular St Marys Council meeting, those present were the Mayor Aldermen G Turner and Aldermen Bennett, Carpenter, Innes, Giles and Millen. A petition signed by some 40 people was read asking that steps be taken in conjunction with Penrith Council to ask the Railway Commissioners to provide an early morning (workmen’s) train to arrive at Redfern in time for people to start work at 8 am because at present the train was of no use to workmen. Consequently people would not reside in the district but if an earlier train was added more people would live here. The Mayor explained that he was waiting a reply from Mr Thomas Richard Smith as he had written to him asking him to see the Mayor of Penrith in reference to a deputation to the Commissioners on the 17th or 18th of September and he would represent St Marys while Penrith, Kingswood, Mt Druitt and Rooty Hill would also be represented as all these places would all be affected by the train. If they wanted workmen to reside in the district they should offer them an inducement and presently there was nothing in the way of railway conveniences. He thought a workmen’s train would benefit not only the district but the Railway Department as well. Alderman Giles pointed out the importance of urging the addition of the train before 7th October when the new timetable would come into operation, as the commissioners did not care to interfere with a timetable after it had been framed. He moved that the petition be received and Alderman Carpenter seconded. Alderman Bennett thought there was no hope of getting
the train as the extra trains that were added lately were now running nearly empty. Alderman Giles mentioned that they put them on at the wrong end of the day. Alderman Bennett said it would be well to consider whether the request was a reasonable one. He himself placed little value on petitions because signatures could be obtained for anything. In glancing at the signatures he said he could hardly find the name of one person who would use the train. The Mayor said he thought the workmen’s train would pay. Alderman Carpenter agreed with Alderman Bennett that a lot of the people who signed the petition would never use the train. The Mayor said that if they signed the petition they could be travelers on the train or they signed it to benefit the people of the district and he would sign it for that purpose. Alderman Giles explained they need not necessarily ask for an extra train if the mail train from Bathurst left a little later and it could serve as a workmen’s train for the people between Penrith and Blacktown. Alderman Millen said that at the recent deputation of tanners he asked Mr Smith to mention the matter of the mail train being used as a workmen’s train but the Commissioners would not listen to it and if we were to get anything it would have to be an extra train. He asked if the Mayor had written to the Penrith Council on the matter. The Mayor said he had only written to Mr Smith our member of the district. Alderman Millen moved that the whole matter of the deputation and petition be left in the Mayor’s hands that was seconded by Alderman Carpenter and the motion was carried. Photo of a diesel-electric locomotive courtesy of the Commonwealth Department of Munitions.
Sources - Wikipedia online, Nepean Times Saturday 14 September 1901
Surprise your special someone with romantic flowers & gifts from Kingswood Florist.
Don’t forget to add a cuddly soft toy and delicious box of chocolates to your order for the ultimate wow factor. We can deliver your flowers and gift to Kingswood, NSW or nationwide. Kingswood Florist, Creative Balloons, Penrith Florist and St Marys Florist • 4732 2182 • St Marys
Photo of a diesel-electric locomotive courtesy of the Commonwealth Department of Munitions.
Sportscraft sponsor Weekend of Polo
BY NOEL ROWSELL
“IT is by far the best time of year to be playing polo in the Hawkesbury,” said Kim McDougall of M Polo Management. “What a way to kick off the Hawkesbury League, with the Marshall family hosting everyone and the picture-perfect Autumn weather.
“After the highs of the Morton Cup, it’s great to see club polo is well and truly alive. We had 16 teams playing across 3 grades on Friday and Saturday. Thank you to this weekend’s sponsor, Sportscraft,
for the generous prizes.
“Fun fact: We had 9 teams with family / relationship combinations out there playing, with or against each other. The highlight was the 5 Dowling siblings battling it out and I’m sure bragging rights were at stake. Also, great to see Hugh Parry-Okeden out of retirement.”
K.H Marshall Cup & Hawkesbury League Week
1 Results
K.H Marshall Cup (6 Goal) - Kurri Burri (Harrison Marshall, David Marshall, Hamish Dowling, Sam Hopkinson) defeated The Pines 6-4.5.
Local riders in QLD for Round 3
THE mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance
Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul (ASBK), will make an electrifying return to Queensland Raceway next weekend (2-4 May). The 3.126km circuit, a magnet for fierce braking duels and exceptionally close racing, is hosting Round Three of the 2025 ASBK Championship.
Four classes are in action at Queensland Raceway – Pirelli Superbike (JJ Nahlous – Glenwood; Jack Favelle - Cattai), Michelin Supersport (Jake Favelle - Glenhaven), Race and Road Supersport 300 (William Hunt – Mulgoa Rise; Zachary Russo – Sackville North; Elijah Andrew – Marayong; Adam Jordan (East Kurrajong) and the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup (Adam Jordan).
Local Series rankings are Superbike - JJ Nahlous 4th, Jack Favelle 7th; Supersport - Jake Farnsworth 10th; Supersport 300 - William Hunt 24th, Zach Russo 34th; Yamaha R3 CupWilliam Hunt 9th, Zach Russo 18th, Adam Jordan 21st; Oceania Junior Cup - Adam Jordan 18th.
Queensland Raceway promotes jaw-dropping racing and the Ipswichbased venue has become a pivotal round on the ASBK calendar, with
2 Goal - Bella Polo (Peter Martin, Jessica Martin, Facundo Llamazares, Agustin Ruiz) defeated Phoenix Polo 7-1. 0 Goal - LJ Mazda Willfin (Jessica Sheppard, Lance Sheppard, Tim Garner, Ed Thirlwall, Thomas Martin) defeated Ilala Stud 8-5. Subzero - SS Polo (Scarlett Storie, Pete Bailey, Fran Townend, Monty Campbell) defeated M Polo and Killarney Orange over two days.
The Hawkesbury League continues this weekend, with Kurri Burri hosting once again, Games will be played on Saturday & Sunday and the draw will be posted on the Polo Matchmaker FB page.
of the Australian Superbike Championship
riders
For those travelling north to view
come and try’ sessions for the kids, plus loads of other off-track
There’s also free ASBK paddock access for the duration of the event.
who have made indifferent starts to the season desperate to begin making inroads.
the action, the three-day round will also include the popular ASBK Fan Zone, stunt riding shows, a Sunday pit walk, autograph sessions, ‘Mini Moto
activities.
Action from last week’s Morton Cup game between eventual champions Ellerston White and Standing Rock. Photos by Noel Rowsell
BY NOEL ROWSELL
Action from Round 2 at SMSP. Top R-L: Jake Farnsworth, William Hunt. Bottom R-L: Jack Favelle, JJ Nahlous. Photos by Noel Rowsell
Panthers head to Canberra for Double-Header Round of NBL1 East
BY NOEL ROWSELL
THE Penrith Panthers men’s and women’s teams will head south this weekend to the nation’s capital, for a double-header Round 4 of the 2025 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 East Basketball competition.
There will be three days of action for basketball fans in Canberra over the weekend, with the Canberra Nationals (women) and Gunners (men) hosting the BA Centre of Excellence teams on Friday night (ANZAC Day).
Those games should have the Centre of Excellence nicely warmed up to meet the Panthers on Saturday night, with Canberra patiently waiting to pounce on the visitors on Sunday afternoon.
The Penrith women begin Round 4 ranked 8th with a 2-2 win-loss record, whilst the CofE are 1-1, having been defeated by Manly by 15 points before crushing Bankstown by 25.
The Nationals are 1-2, having lost by 8 to Albury/Wodonga, beaten the Bulls by 29, then being crunched by 39 points against Norths.
The key players for this weekend’s women’s game are Jordan Vasquez (averaging 11.5 points / 12.75 boards) and Mia Heide (10.75 points / 11 boards) for the Panthers; Carlie McAlister (28.67 points / 16 boards), Callie Bourne (13 points) and Abbie Ketels (16 boards) for Canberra.
Penrith men begin Round 4 also ranked 8th, with a 2-2 win-loss record, whilst the CofE are 3rd at 2-0 and 2024 losing grand finalists Canberra are ranked 1st at 3-0.
The CofE Men have recorded two huge wins, defeating Manly by 28 points and Bankstown by 37. Canberra is 3-0, having beaten Albury/Wodonga by 21, Inner West by 6 and Norths by 18. Saturday night’s games are at the BA Centre of Excellence and Sunday’s games at the Belconnen
The men’s current statistics leaders are Zeke Evans (13 points / 9 boards) and Jonah Pares (12.25 points) for the Panthers; William Mayfield (20.67 points) and Glenn Morison (20.33 points) for Canberra.
The Centre of Excellence statistics have not been listed for either team.
Basketball Stadium.
Jordan Vasquez and Zeke Evans in action earlier this season. File photos by Noel Rowsell
Coby Carruthers among
Abu Dhabi Challenge Tournament
BY NOEL ROWSELL
20-YEAR-OLD Coby Carruthers (Jordan Springs / Concord GC) was among a select few amateurs invited to play in the Abu Dhabi Challenge tournament in Abu Dhabi, which is an event on the 2025 Hotel Planner Tour.
Coby shot rounds of 69 / 72 to finish at 1-under-par 141, just 2 shots away from making the 36-hole cut.
All of the amateurs ultimately missed the cut, although Coby finished as the equal 2nd-highest ranked amateur after the first 2 rounds, just 1 shot behind 30-year-old Issa Abou El Ela (Egypt).
Coby’s two rounds included 7 birdies, 23 pars, 4 bogeys and 2 double bogeys (both times on the 16th hole) in his otherwise impressive performance.
Coby Carruthers in action earlier this year. Photo courtesy of NextGEN Amateur Tour
Richmond claim WSRVGA Interclub team prize at Penrith
RICHMOND
GC (Michael Harrison, Dean Fleming, Ian Jordan, Rodney Tuckwell) has won the team prize at the Western Sydney Region Veteran Golfers Association (WSRVGA) latest Interclub event, which was held at Penrith GC on 15th April. The Richmond team amassed a combined total of 143 Stableford points to edge out Dunheved GC on a countback. Wallacia finished third on 140 points, narrowly ahead of Glenmore Heritage Valley and Stonecutters Ridge on 139 each.
Debora Moussa and Julia Smith (Penrith GC) made the most of their home course knowledge to claim the Medley 2BBB prize with an impressive 46 points ahead of Denise and Ross Chant (Wallacia) on 44 points.
Not to be outdone, the Men’s 2BBB winners also managed 46 points – achieved by Jose Donoso and Robert Lewis (Wallacia CC), ahead of Terrance Chong and Gregory Bax (Stonecutters Ridge GC) on 43.
The Men’s A Grade winner was Ian Jordan (Richmond GC) on 35 points c/b from Satya Deo (Dunheved GC) on 35.
Richmond was also successful in the Men’s B Grade, with Michael Harrison
accumulating 37 points ahead of John Mathews (Glenmore Heritage Valley GC) on 35 c/b.
The countbacks continued in the Men’s C Grade, with Dean Fleming (Richmond GC) winning on 35 c/b, ahead of Robert Lewis (Wallacia CC) 35 c/b.
Elaine Williams (Dunheved GC) won the Ladies division, hitting the best score of the day (38 points), ahead of Clea Bane (Dunheved GC), who snuck into second place with 35 points, on a countback.
The next match in the Interclub Challenge Series will be hosted by Glenmore Heritage Valley on Wednesday 7th May.
A full list of results, as well as current standings in Player of the Year and Club of the Year can be found on the WSRVGA website https:// wsvetsgolf.com/
NSW finish equal third in Australian Junior Interstate teams matches
QUEENSLAND are the 2025 Australian Junior Interstate Team’s champions, despite a final-day defeat to arch-rivals New South Wales at Brookwater Golf and Country Club.
In the most evenly-fought contest since the boys and girls championships merged in 2022, Queensland began the final day leading by half a point, knowing that a win over NSW would secure their first title.
They looked on track to do just that when they took early leads in five of their eight matches, but the three-time champions from south of the border turned the tables to win 5-3.
That opened the door for Western Australia to claim overall honours with a win over Victoria, the Victorians needing a win themselves to finish level on points with the home state.
Two halved matches and narrow wins by Elbert Kim (2&1 over Liam
Sullivan) and Jaehee Yun (2&1 over Bella Leniartek) would ultimately secure Victoria a 5-3 win over WA to join Queensland on 4.5 points for the week.
That led to a count-back to decide the overall champions, Queensland getting the nod with 32.5 individual wins to Victoria’s 29.5.
With four points and 30 matches won each, Western Australia and New South Wales finished tied in third place.
Darcy Mackay (Twin Creeks / The Australian GC) was among the best for NSW, winning 4 of his 5 matches, whilst Ti Fox (Richmond / Concord GC) won 3 of his 5 matches.
Former western Sydney junior Camilla Kim (The Australian GC) also won 4 of her 5 matches.
Many of the competitors this week from the Junior Teams will see each other again next month at the Australian Interstate Teams Matches, to be held at Melville Glades GC in Perth from May 5-7.
BY NOEL ROWSELL
Penrith’s 18th hole offers an appealing finish to a round of golf. Photo by Noel Rowsell
BY NOEL ROWSELL
Darcy Mackay and Ti Fox in action at the Australian Junior Interstate Team’s Matches. Photos supplied by Golf NSW
Panthers roar back to life on historic night
BY PANTHERS MEDIA
The Panthers stormed back to winning ways with a resounding 40-12 win over Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
ARECORD-BREAKING
Nathan Cleary led the Panthers to victory, as a 14-point haul saw him surpass Ryan Girdler as the greatest point scorer in Panthers history.
Paul Alamoti scored twice to put the Panthers ahead at half-time, with Cleary converting both to break the club’s point-scoring record.
Isaiah Papali’i and Blaize Talagi each crossed for their first try in Penrith colours to put the Panthers in a commanding position, before Dylan Edwards and Casey McLean capped off a fantastic win.
A slow Panthers start saw the Roosters open the scoring through Daniel Tupou and take a 6-0 lead, which they held for much of the first half.
Led by Cleary’s kicking and control, the Panthers fought their way back into the contest and ended up taking a 12-6 lead before half-time.
Paul Alamoti scored two nearidentical tries in the 23rd and 39th minutes, finishing off a pair of backline moves orchestrated by Cleary and Edwards.
Cleary converted both tries to reach 1,573 career points, overtaking Ryan Girdler’s record as the Panthers greatest point scorer of all time.
A penalty goal early in the second half extended the lead, before Isaiah Papali’i pounced on a Mitch Kenny grubber to score his first Penrith try and put the Panthers ahead 20-6.
The Roosters pulled one back as Robert Toia scored from a clever scrum play, but the Panthers finished with a wet sail and coasted to victory.
An improvised Isaah Yeo grubber led to young half Blaize Talagi scoring his first try for the Panthers, putting Penrith on the cusp of victory.
The Panthers best try of the night came in the 66th minute when a quick shift and silky Scott Sorensen flick pass sent Dylan Edwards over for a spectacular, and well-deserved, fourpointer.
Casey McLean capped off the Panthers night when he carved through the Roosters right edge, as Cleary ended the night with seven conversions from seven attempts.
The Panthers broke the 40-point barrier on the stroke of full-time when Paul Alamoti landed a long-range penalty goal, rounding out a sweet victory for Penrith.
The Panthers return to CommBank Stadium in ANZAC Round, facing Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday 26 April.
