Westernnews 20january2017

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Australian first for western Sydney

By Keegan Thomson

“On one ward, about 80 per cent of patients said they had been personally greeted by nursing staff each day during their FEEDBACK visit. The ward’s nursing from patients, unit manager wanted carers and their families to bring that score up to staying in some of western 100 per cent so she held Sydney’s busiest hospitals can a session with the staff now be offered and addressed to ensure they were all in real-time via a new introducing themselves Australian-first digital service. to their patients; it’s just Western Sydney Local little things like that,” she Health District is now said. running the ‘My Experience (From the left) Kay de Ridder, Wendy Cain, Alex and Jessica Evans.

“This feedback Matters’ digital survey is critical to service using cutting-edge feedback technology. The service allowing staff the survey responses, allowing them to planning and improvement; we’re also working with units and staff to assist to instantaneously analyse patient address any issues in real-time.

“It could be a simple thing like fixing them in linking in with existing quality experiences in their hospitals.

The survey, which was officially a banging door that is keeping a patient improvement structures to make launched at Westmead Hospital on awake – staff get that feedback from a changes.”

Currently Blacktown and Mount Tuesday, has already been rolled-out to patient and they can immediately go up some wards at Westmead and Auburn and fix it; feedback like that helps us Druitt Hospitals are receiving major hospitals, allowing patients to provide improve the care we provide,” she said. overhauls. The NSW government “We want to know what matters to has set aside $400 million for their feedback via hospital iPad or people so we can improve our services; redevelopment of the hospital at online.

It is expected that the survey will we are committed to learning from our Blacktown, which will include upgrades to the emergency department be rolled out to both Blacktown and patients, carers and their families.”

Ms de Ridder said Westmead and an improved cancer care centre.

Mount Druitt Hospitals across the next Hospital patients involved in The new ‘My Experience Matters’ 6 to 12 months.

WSLHD Patient and Carer preliminary use of the survey last year program will be rolled out into Experience Manager Kay de Ridder had recommended a range of measures Blacktown Hospital as apart of the redevelopments. said hospital staff immediately receive to improve services.

Surviving Suicide ‘A safe and therapeutic support group for people whose lives have been impacted by suicide’ Fortnightly FREE Support group at Hawkesbury House partnering with Western Sydney Suicide Prevention and Support Network Time 9.30am to 11.30am Hawkesbury House www.hawkesburyhouse.com 6 Christie Street Windsor The groups will meet on the following dates: 31st January 14th February 28th February 14th March 28th March 4th April 18th April 2nd May 16th May 30th May 13th June 27th June RSVP is appreciated on 02 4577 6454.

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3 Western News 20 January 2017 Issue 26

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by Keegan Thomson

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Prospect

IF you ask me what is one of the main characteristics and ethics that define what is Australia I’d have to say it would be hard work.

From the get go all our northern hemisphere convict ancestors were told to go and dig this and build that and plant this and it was all in the heat of Summer. It must have been a bit of a shock to the system coming from Mother England where a hot Summer day’s temperature would be around a balmy 26 degrees, but they got on with the job.

In the first three weeks of 2017 we’ve already seen 3 heatwaves declared across western Sydney and I can only imagine there will be at least one more heatwave declared before the end of the season.

I’m no expert on global weather but it seems like this Summer might be the hottest on record, which makes me even more impressed when I see people working hard throughout the heat and the relentless Summer conditions.

One job that constantly impresses me is the work of the humble postie. The postie needs to deliver on foot or on bike no matter if it is 40-plus-degrees with 95 per cent humidity or whether it is 18 degrees and blowing a gale with sideways rain.

Say what you want about posties because I’ll defend them black and blue!

Maybe we need a new national holiday for the posties, ‘Thank A Postie Day’ or something like that?

I’m writing this from the comfort of the air-con, which has been running since 9:30 this morning, as I watch in awe of the tradies working in the 42 degree heat across the road.

They’re working hard to make a new apartment building and even though it is Friday, it is now 43 degrees and it is nearly beer o’clock, they’re working relentlessly.

On a day like today, when the temperature is so high you can fry an egg on the pavement, I salute the tradies, the posties, the roofers, the builders, the landscapers who’re all outside working hard and putting up with this heat. In fact I’ll take my hat off to anyone who has to work outside on a day like this no matter what job you’re doing.

Keep cool and keep up the hard work Westies! Don’t forget to slip, slop, slap!

Local family appeals for justice

By Keegan Thomson

BOBBY THE BRAVE’s family, will head back to court to appeal the sentence given to Bobby’s attacker Andrew Nolan.

In December, Andrew Nolan was handed a gaol sentence of 12 years and six-months with a non-parole period of eight-years and sixmonths with time already served, meaning Mr Nolan will be eligible for parole in six-years.

The Webber family announced they’d be appealing the sentence in a post to their supporters on the Bobby the Brave facebook.

They thanked the community for its support.

“Hopefully this time we get justice for Bobby and make it known that our amazing community will not tolerate this happening anymore,” the post said.

On the day of the sentencing the Webber family said they were disappointed with the “light sentence” and said they’d be looking into the appeals process.

Nicole Galea, Bobby’s godmother, said as soon as the sentence was handed their legal team knew they’d be fighting it.

“As soon as we came out of the sentencing our legal team came up to the family and said they were going to appeal the sentence,” Ms Galea said.

“They knew right from the time the sentence was handed down that there were grounds to appeal,” she said.

In 2014 Andrew Nolan, then 30 years old,

like this shows he is a very dangerous person and it is scary to think that in six and a half years he could be walking around with other children.”

Even with the appeal process offering some hope to the Webber family, the longevity of the ongoing case is taking it’s toll on the family, particularly on Elise Webber, Bobby’s mother.

“They’re happy to be appealing but it is still dragging the ordeal on for the whole family,” Ms Galea said. “Elise was exhausted at the end of the case but this is only dragging it out for her.”

“It is hard for the family, but the Crown Prosecutor wouldn’t be appealing if there wasn’t a substantial chance of an increased sentence, so everyone is quietly confident.”

No matter what the outcome is for the appeal, it is clear the Webber family wants to keep fighting so people like Andrew Nolan aren’t let out with light sentences.

“There needs to be tougher parole conditions for people like him [Andrew Nolan] and we need tougher punishments for people who bash and assault children,” Ms Galea said.

To help with the parole process the family has set up a change.org petition. They aimed to have 5,000 signatures but reached that goal within 24-hours of it being set up. You can find the petition on our facebook page or the Bobby the brave facebook page.

The Webber family

attacked seven-month-old Bobby Webber when he was in charge of babysitting him. The assault left Bobby with debilitating, life threatening and life long injuries and brain damage.

Ms Galea says from the get-go the family always wanted to push for the maximum sentencing due to the catastrophic results of the attack.

“We’re going to be fighting for the maximum sentence of 25 years which is what grievous bodily harm can carry,” she said.

“Andrew Nolan is a dangerous person,” Ms Galea said. “He was not on drugs, he had no prior mental health issue and for him to do something

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5 Western News 20 January 2017 Issue 26

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Western News 20 January 2017 Issue 26

How could this happen?

By Keegan Thomson

SUMMER is supposed to be a time of relaxation with friends and family.

One of the best ways to spend the long, hot and humid days is relaxing in the pool or around water, however this summer has left at least 22 people dead across the state due to accidents around water.

In western Sydney there has been at least four families who’ve been left distraught due to drownings in the last four weeks.

One of the most tragic incidents was at Kellyville Ridge where two 23-month-old twins were pulled unconscious from their backyard pool just days before Christmas.

Sadly both toddlers died only a day apart from each other.

According to Royal Life Saving NSW, 280 people drowned in Australia in 2016 with 96 of those being in New South Wales’ pools, beaches and backyards.

The sharp increase in drowning incidents across the state prompted Surf Life Saving NSW to issue a holiday period warning.

Surf Life Saving NSW Lifesaving

Manager, Andy Kent, said the life saving team is prepared for a busy few days across NSW. “Hot weather and school holidays are sure to mean more people will head to the beach or other waterways to try and cool off,” said Mr Kent.

He gave a special warning for people who’re heading out on boats.

“As always we urge everyone to swim at patrolled locations and to look out for each other on the beach.

If you’re going boating or heading offshore in a kayak or other small watercraft, please wear a lifejacket,” he said.

Mr Kent admitted lifesavers across the state would be put under a lot of

pressure over the next few weeks due to the excess number of people in the water.

“This could put pressure on lifeguards who are on patrol weekdays across the state and our volunteer lifesavers as we move into the weekend.

“Lifeguards and lifesavers have been extremely busy over the last few weeks and we are urging the public to do what they can to help lessen the load by taking some responsibility for their own safety,” he said.

Of course drownings don’t only happen in open water, on rivers and in public pools, they also occur silently in the backyard pool, with one of the biggest hidden dangers coming from

small inflatable pools.

Alison Mahony, a Senior Researcher at Royal Life Saving Australia, said an unsupervised child can drown in any small amount of water.

“Some inflatable paddling pools can hold more than 30 centimetre of water, which is more than enough water to cause a child to drown,” Ms Mahony said.

“Something people don’t know is that if their pool holds more than 30 centimetres of water they may have to have it fenced off,” she said.

Blacktown council’s regulations say any pool holding more than 300 millimetres of water must be fenced off and a self locking gate must be included in the fence. These rules also include inflatable pools.

Owners of backyard swimming pools and spas are also legally required to register their swimming pool or spa on the NSW swimming pool register, this includes inflatable pools holding 30cm or more of water. Failure to register could include a $220 fine.

With more awareness and safety precautions around swimming pools we can surely manage to curb the number of drowning deaths in New South Wales.

Perfect conditions for grass fires

By Keegan Thomson

ALREADY in 2017 we’ve seen a spate of grass fires rage across western Sydney due to the ongoing hot and dry conditions, but RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons is warning the conditions are perfect for more grass fires to come.

The above average rainfall across the state last year has mixed with some of the hottest weather on record to produce near perfect conditions for grass fires, NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.

“After a wet and warm 2016, increased vegetation growth has dried out and that is now causing real concern,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.

“Grass and crop fires can be especially dangerous because they start easily and spread rapidly. They can destroy not only homes and stock, but also lives and livelihoods,” he added.

Around 80 per cent of NSW is covered in grass lands with much of the western Sydney area being made up of grass lands and bush, making this warning extra prevalent to the people of the west.

Across the last few weeks a number of large grass fires across the state and around western Sydney have burnt out over 5500 hectares of grass land, burning around $650,000 worth of crops and killing 300 heads of sheep.

RFS crews fighting a fire in Mulgoa.

Commissioner Fitzsimmons has warned of the dangerous and deceptive speeds of grass fires saying they can move much faster than bushfires.

“Grass fires can move more than three times as fast as a bushfire,” he said. “As we’ve seen, they can take hold rapidly and lead to much devastation.”

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said there are couple of steps people can take now to prepare for the increased risk in grass fire activity.

“Farmers can help protect their properties by establishing firebreaks around paddocks, homes and other valuable assets like sheds and equipment.

“We’re also asking motorists and those travelling to avoid driving through or stopping in long grass,

even if it’s just for a few minutes, as the heat from a car’s exhaust can be enough to start a fire,” he said.

People living near over grown grassy areas shouldn’t get complacent simply because they don’t live near the bush, Commissioner Fitzsimmons said. Residents living in those grass fire prone areas should also have bushfire survival plan ready to enact.

“People living in areas near crops and grass growth should have a plan for what they will do if there is a fire. Make a bush fire survival plan and discuss it with your family,” he said.

If you come across an unattended fire of any type it is important to report it to Triple Zero (000) as soon as possible.

Granville train disaster: 40 years on

By Keegan Thomson

WEDNESDAY marked 40 years since the Granville rail disaster, which claimed the lives of 83 and injured 213 others.

On January 18, 1977, a crowded Blue Mountains eight-carriage service was heading to the city around 8.10am when the train derailed at Granville and struck the steel and concrete supports of the overhead Bold Street bridge.

About 30 seconds after the derailment, the bridge collapsed onto the already torn up carriages, trapping at least two carriages underneath.

Chief Inspector Gary Raymond APM, OAM, now retired from the force, was a young member of the Police Rescue Squad which responded to the train derailment and bridge collapse in 1977.

Mr Raymond was one of several rescuers and first responders sent into the rubble to assess the situation, and he has opened up about his experience of the tragic day.

“The Police Sergeant told me to get underneath the bridge and crushed carriages and ‘tell me what I’ve got,’” he reflected.

“Ten people were alive but trapped.”

“We had to get in there and triage the injured people, work out what equipment we would need.

“One of the hazards we had was leaking liquid petroleum gas under there...train carriage cylinders which had been crushed by the bridge were leaking gas,” he said.

Back in 1977 trains from the mountains would carry gas bottles, all year round, for heating in the winter.

Mr Raymond reflected on the

tragedy of the event and said, in the moment, he couldn’t focus on the destruction of the disaster.

“We didn’t have time to look at the enormity of it, you looked at it as a rescue rather than a sad, tragic event.

“But later on...when the job finished you’d reflect on the enormous sadness,” he added.

“Like some of the people who died in there still had playing cards in their hands...some were reading, still had papers in their hands...some were

playing board games when the bridge came down, so you reflect on, I guess, the sadness of those who were on their way to work...it was school holidays,” he said.

In memory of those who died during the disaster, a special remembrance ceremony was held at the Memorial Wall on Bold street, Granville. The traditional ‘day of the roses’ commemoration followed the ceremony, in which 83 roses were thrown onto the tracks in honour of the victims.

Among the many attending the anniversary event was acting NSW Police Commissioner, David Hudson APM. “Granville remains Australia’s worst rail disaster and the nation will never forget that day,” Acting Commissioner Hudson said, “But I also think this occasion allows us the opportunity to honour the bravery of the emergency services crews who ventured into the wreckage to rescue those trapped and the medical staff who then kept those victims alive.

“As much as it is about a tragedy, this anniversary is also about recognising Australian heroism and determination.”

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Western News 20 January 2017 Issue 26

THE G SPOT

IS it just me or have people noticed the (Jaws music please) the New Year’s Resolution walkers!?

Run for your lives, they are taking up our streets, roads, footpaths and even parks, they are everywhere, don’t feed after dark or add water.

Yes folks these are the people that you never see all year round, they are like hermit crabs all year and then suddenly......

The one thing I also notice is all the different types of walkers out there.

Mixed Matched walker - The mixed match walker is a person who has never bought fitness gear in their life and it appears that they have replaced an engine block prior to the walk.

The determined walker - This is a person that has the look of pain on their face, like they are passing a large object, however they’re walking slower than a snail. There’s a lot of arm pumping going on but not much distance happening.

The I don’t give a rat’s bum walker - This is a walker that proceeds to kick every stone up along the path and meander like they are heading to work or something.

The sweaty walker - This is a walker that looks

With Gina Field, Nepean Regional Security

like they have swum 10 laps and then jumped out of the pool for the evening walk. The sweat beads are pouring out and the t-shirt looks like the last scene of Rocky when he is yelling out for his wife, Adrian!

The male bum crack walker - This is a walker that feels the need to wear shorts with no elastic.

Their pants are constantly sliding down and they are presenting a crack bigger than a plumber’s.

The Harry High Pants - This is a walker who wears their shorts so high it looks like they need an operation to get them off.

Colour co-ordinated walker - Thank god for these ladies, with matching shoes, socks, tops and of course the Lycra pants, with, yes folks, the matching thin colour stripe down the side of the pants. (I hear the angels sing).

Super model walker - This is a walker who attends the beautician to have their hair and makeup done simply for their daily walks. These people don’t care if they are getting fit as long as they get 20 thousand car horns beep, they’re happy.

Now I know you’re asking what has all of this crap got to do with security, but alas my dear readers

it has a lot, because I am going to give you walking security tips. So just keep ya knickers on!

Firstly, tell people where you are walking, so when you are not back in 48 hours they know where to come looking. They can also cash in on your life insurance as well.

Secondly, we know how much you love Dolly Parton, but having her screaming at 70 thousand decibels in ear phones is not really good, considering you won’t hear anything or anyone around you.

Thirdly, walk in groups, so society not only has to put up with one of you on the street but 15. (Yippee) Fourthly, don’t keep checking facebook. Taking selfies on every street corner is not really needed, because to be quite frank we don’t really care that you have decided to walk for two weeks only into the New Year, and it also takes your attention away from what you are actually doing.

So there you have it the NYRW ( New Year’s Resolution Walker) not for the feint-hearted folks, this is a trend that you must approach with fear and caution as it only happens at 12.01 on the 01/01 of the New Year - miss the boat and you have to wait another 12 months!

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By Keegan Thomson

FLUFFY, cute and cuddly is how many have described Bear, the poor Chow Chow dog who tragically died inside Hawkesbury pound on a hot 40 degree day.

According to the Penrith Area Lost and Found Animals page on facebook, Bear was found on December 29, last year, and was taken to Hawkesbury pound. There he was put into a cage where it was alleged he had no fan or air conditioning during the heatwave which hit the region on the subsequent days after.

On December 31 it was announced on the Penrith Area Lost and Found Animals facebook page that Bear had died in the pound of heat exhaustion.

Numerous members of the facebook page had planned to take portable air conditioning units and fans over to the pound during the 40 degree weather, but it is not known whether or not any of those fans or air-cons made it to the Hawkesbury pound.

Some other members of the facebook page even offered to come in and shave Bear so he might have some

Bear, a Chow Chow, died of heat exhaustion during a heatwave.

Photo: Facebook

form of relief from the heat, however it is understood that even shaving a chow chow wouldn’t have helped.

Hawkesbury pound is in the Hawkesbury LGA and is maintained by the Hawkesbury council however the Penrith city council and other councils send stray animals there.

Mayor of Penrith, Cr John Thain

has vowed to investigate the matters further.

“I’ve requested a report from council as to what happened at the pound,” he said. “Even though it isn’t located in the Penrith LGA we send stray animals there as well so we need to take some responsibility for it.”

Cr Thain is a well-known animal lover who has previously fought for the improvement of local pounds across the Penrith LGA. “We need to find out how and why something like this happened because we can’t let it happen again particularly with all of the ongoing hot weather,” he said.

Cr Thain said he had received more emails on this issue than any other during his tenure as Mayor.

“I must have received around 60 emails from the community about this issue over the last few weeks,” he said.

In a video posted on the Hawkesbury pound’s facebook page it’s said Bear’s owners knew he was housed at the pound yet they’d not come to pick him up yet.

According to the NSW animal welfare code of practice, ‘animals must be protected from extremes of temperature and the environmental temperature controlled to minimise distress to animals’.

More heatwaves are predicted this summer and with the conditions inside the pounds expected to reach over 40 degrees there has never been a more important time to take note of what is happening to our four legged and fluffy friends.

Western News 20 January 2017 Issue 26

Pound death during heatwave

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Western News 20 January 2017 Issue 26

Advance Australia Fair with TP AUSTRALIA DAY is rapidly approaching and I’m beginning to think about what our family celebrations may entail. I got up to the food part and was considering things like lamb kofta, Vietnamese pork rolls, lamingtons etc. I mentioned a few of these ideas around some older people and was told, “that’s not very Australian to have Vietnamese pork rolls”.

Um, it is in the Australia that I live in.

I hail from caucasian genes and yet the more ‘traditional’ plain old sausages, steak and chips were rarely part of my diet growing up. I was really lucky to have been brought up in an open minded family where it was normal to eat vine leaves, Turkish pide and any other foods of the world that my family fancied trying.

You only have to take a look around to see that we have, in a short space of time, changed as a nation.

Since the white Europeans came along, in a not so peaceful fashion, we have always been a multicultural nation, some might say even before that. Now we have a broader cross section of cultures in our community, wider and more diverse than ever.

I know that diversity and multiculturalism can create hysteria in some aspects of the community but we need to take a breath and think carefully about how we perceive the world.

Prejudice is a very dangerous thing because it’s based on a prejudgement and not based on one bit of reality. I was saddened to see that an Australia Day billboard was pulled down in Melbourne because it featured two Muslim women. There are some extremists who claim to be Muslim, but most mainstream Muslims would denounce this radical

behaviour as being totally unacceptable and do not subscribe to that way of life at all. The world looked on as the Catholics and Protestants blew each other up in Ireland for years, but did we call all Catholics or Protestants around the world terrorists? Did we support those extremists? Of course not. We are talking about a minority of individuals who aren’t interested in a peaceful way of life, who use religion as a loose reason to push their personal agendas.

Fear is a tool used by narrow minded people to perpetuate prejudice. They actively spruik stereotypes which becomes a convenient narrative

for people who don’t want to bother learning about other cultures. I’m not saying it shouldn’t be a two way street, but imagine if no one talked to you or treated you badly because of the colour of your skin, the food you ate or the God you worshipped? Not a great feeling I imagine.

Perhaps this Australia Day we could all be a little more tolerant and maybe the first step in learning about other cultures could be to consider something a little more exotic and adventurous to pop on our tables. Hey it’s better than nothing.

Happy Australia Day

Opinion: Taking the ‘amateur activist’ out of Local Government

By Bart Bassett

BLACKTOWN city Mayor Stephen Bali has challenged the perception that councillors delay development approvals. He said, “In a lot of the coverage surrounding proposed planning legislation by the NSW Government, the image has been created that councillors needlessly delay developments.”

“This is not the case in Blacktown, where under our efficient system councillors only look at around one percent of the DAs the council decides upon,” Cr Bali said.

Whilst I agree with the Mayor’s comments regarding Blacktown City Council and the same is true for many other councils, it is not always the case. Take the neighbouring council of Hawkesbury, who have just been named one of the slowest and most inefficient councils in Sydney when it comes to processing development applications. It is a council like Hawkesbury City Council that gives local government a bad reputation and is the reason the state government is looking to make even more changes in the planning arena.

Let’s look at Hawkesbury City Council and how they deal with hosting a major international event and other tourism related activities.

The World Cup of Polo is planned to take place in the existing polo precinct

of the Richmond Lowlands later this year. How does that compare to the way Blacktown dealt with the 2000 Olympics?

Back during the 2000 Olympics, the Blacktown City Council worked tirelessly with the Olympic program, going to enormous lengths to form a partnership, because they knew the region would be on the world’s stage. This would include television coverage, international guests and teams coming to Blacktown. The council supported the event as much as possible because they appreciated the enormous publicity and economic benefits such an event brings to a region. If Blacktown were hosting the World Cup of Polo then I’d expect

them to work with the championships in a similar way as to how they worked with the Olympics.

Hawkesbury City Council, on the other hand, has a small batch of current and previous councillors going out of their way to undermine the staging of this event, and are trying to stop tourism and related activities occurring at the Richmond Lowlands.

This undermining is occurring at the same time as the state government is supporting the event through Destination NSW because they recognise we will have a world audience watching on television as well as traveling to western Sydney to watch the event.

I have heard all sorts of ridiculous

and questionable reasons why some councillors past and present at Hawkesbury City Council are undermining the event, but whatever their reasons are they should be working with the organisers and Destination NSW to ensure the World Cup of Polo 2017 in western Sydney is something we can all be proud of.

This event is too important to be delayed by petty amateur activist councillors and if the council is too childish to deal with it professionally then the state government should have it dealt by an independent planning panel.

Western Sydney deserves better than what is being served up by the Hawkesbury City Council.

Last weekend Polo by the Sea was held at Palm Beach (see photo above).

It was enormously successful and was supported by Northern Beaches Council, with the event even being played on a council controlled public recreation ground. If the northern beaches can do it why can’t western Sydney?

Activist councillors in some councils across Sydney have caused the state government to intervene. Through this intervention we will soon see a planing system in NSW which will be more efficient than ever and will provide a more reliable approval process based on policy, not on the personal whim of a few petty narrow minded councillors.

localnews local

Above the Amazon

By Ben Cranney

I SPENT part of my childhood searching our farm for kangaroos and goannas, canoeing the river looking for pelicans, turtles or platypus, and watching the treetops for the eagle family. Seeing new animals while travelling brings back some of this wonder, and my first real experience was in the Peruvian Amazonian jungle at a small lodge near Puerto Maldonado. It’s worth considering flying in, as the bus is 12 stomach churning hours along the world’s windiest road. At least get the bottom floor, as there’s less movement, which

also means less ‘aroma de vomit’.

In comparison, the boat ride to the lodge was blissfully peaceful, at least until the guide’s almost superhuman senses started spotting animals. The first was a caiman, a small, alligator like animal. Because it was so far away and stationary, I figured it was fake, planted to wow the tourists, and then it moved.

Our guide continued spotting things we couldn’t. From the top of a 45 meter scaffold, he showed us monkeys, toucans and parrots across the canopy, framed by the river snaking away through the forest.

The next morning, he took us to a big

Fishing for piranhas

ox-bow lake to search for a family of giant river otters. We passed the rangers hut on the way, an open building with only a mosquito net between him and the jungle. It was empty, and I had visions of an anaconda taking him in the night.

He was safe at the lake, though, waiting with his boat, which we used to track the otters who were playing like a pack of puppies.

There was other ‘tracking’ going on, too. Our guide’s brother had left the Amazon with a tourist and our guide was trying his luck with my sister in law. She was oblivious, but my wife had a great laugh as our guide told

Western News 20 January 2017 Issue 26

Animals in the Amazon

Learning to make Pisco Sour

the ranger (in Spanish, which he’d forgotten my wife speaks fluently) that he liked ‘the skinny blonde one’.

Despite the rare sighting of the otters, the highlight was watching the monkeys dance through the trees, leaping across impossible gaps to impossibly thin branches, as we made our way back to the wharf.

An afternoon of learning to make Pisco Sour, a night walk through the forest and a visit to the local Shaman to learn about and try some jungle medicine rounded out the trip and got us ready for more animal tourism. Next time, I’ll tell you about the Galapagos Islands and then a safari in Africa.

The Unintentional Medium By Suzi Samuel Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot I WENT to pick up my mail this morning expecting the usual postChristmas bills but instead I had a lovely surprise. I had two rather belated cards, one from a German family who were my neighbours in England over thirty years ago and the other from the an Italian friend who I haven’t seen for fifty years. Writing that, it is so hard to believe that so much time has gone by, but every year we exchange cards telling each other our news and just keeping in touch. My poor husband gets very bewildered when the cards come in and I read him snippets about how the children of friends from a distant past are doing or how my second cousin three times removed is getting on. In fact, I have even drawn up a rather complicated family tree, but that seems to have got him even more confused. It is so important to me to keep up with old friends and this year I had special visits from a couple of people I hadn’t spoken to for quite a while.

Somehow the run-up to Christmas and the New Year seems to stir up the spirit world and every year I do feel an increased presence of Gran and Co. and, as with the greetings cards, it is not unusual to hear from those on the other

side who do not pop in that often.

Those of you who have read my book - and if you haven’t, why not? may have noticed that I have written in memory of Annie Pelligrini and Stephen Speed, two wonderful friends who played a very important role in my life and two people who came back to see me for very different reasons.

Beautiful Annie loved Golden

Retrievers and has been here regularly to help my lovely blonde boy who is on borrowed time. We have had a few crises and many vet visits over the past few weeks, but every time things were really bad, there was Annie stroking Sydney and hugging me. It is very comforting to know that when he does eventually cross the rainbow bridge, she will be there with him.

11

Normally I am a happy little bunny, but unusually for me, I did go through a down patch during the holidays.

Anyway, there I was in the kitchen feeling needlessly sorry for myself and snivelling a bit, when I heard a voice behind me saying, “Darling, you know what you need to do.” I turned round and there, leaning elegantly against the fridge was my darling Stephen, clairvoyant extraordinaire, wonderful teacher and fantastic friend, always there for me when things were difficult.

Although I have often thought of him over the years since he sadly died so prematurely, we have not been in contact and I was so happy to see him again. It did reinforce my feeling that true friends are worth hanging on to, even if it is only a card at Christmas - or a ghostly presence in the kitchen.

So please, pick up the phone to the old school friend or drop a line to someone you haven’t seen for a while.

In these stressful times we need the warmth of loved ones.

I do wish you all a very happy and loving 2017.

The Unintentional Medium is available from all good book stores and on line.

westernhistory western

12 Western News 20 January 2017 Issue 26

Walers of WW1

By John Kelaher, NDHS member

A

T a society meeting we were entertained by guest speaker Shirley Seale with a brief history of Waler horses who went to war.

These horses were originally called horses from N.S.W. and later shortened to New South Walers and again later shortened to simply Walers. The term eventually was used by Australia, and indeed the rest of the world, to refer to all horses exported from Australia.

Horses were brought to Australia with the First Fleet- on the Lady Penrhyn. By 1802, William Cox was reputed to have the best horses and the colony had a total of 203. Within ten years the total had grown to over 2,000. The crossing of the Blue Mountains was only possible because of the Waler horses used, especially as they were able to survive on poor feed for days on end. During the 1800s, the early colony was exporting horses to India and New Zealand and elsewhere. The official term Walers came into common usage after 1846.

During WWI Australia had a population of five million people - and two-and-a-half million horses! Remember, horses were the main means of transport for the world up till then. Men enlisting often enlisted their horse as well, and the horse was tested and if found acceptable was rebranded as a government horse and paid for by the army. (Did you know that originally, only Queenslanders were given permission to wear emu feathers on the left-hand side of their hat, but later this was allowed to all enlisting. The Diggers called them “kangaroo feathers” to poke fun at non-Australians).

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In the first convoy there were 30,000 men and 12,000 horses. Only 3% of the horses were ever lost at sea. Walers were trained to go from a walk to a canter and carry up to 140kg of rider plus gear while English horses were trained to go from a walk to a trot and this caused more bounce and not good for all the weight.

Horses normally drink around 30L of water a day and eat 3kg of barley. Camels were originally used to carry water for the horses but they could not keep up with the Walers.

The Light Horse were in fact not cavalry but infantry - the Waler horses were simply used to carry the infantry from one engagement to the next. During battle, horse handlers would look after five or six horses. A “remount” was a replacement horse for a soldier’s horse which was killed and was not usually as well broken in.

At the end of WWI, the army had 13,000 horses left - it was regarded as too expensive to return them home and also a danger to Australian wildlife.

The army planned on selling them to the locals for work horses or they were to be “put down” but the Australian soldiers were often too attached to their mounts to see this happen and there were many reported incidents of the Light Horse infantry riding a mate’s horse and having to “destroy it after it fell, treading in a hole” in the desert.

Shirley reminded us that over 80% of these diggers were farmers or tradesmen and many wrote poetry and yarns for the “Kia Ora CooEe” magazine which sold for 2d on the battle fields. (for an extra 1/2d you could buy an envelope and send it home).

Would you like to read about the history of the Nepean?

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SOLUTION: 16th December

World’s best sausage sizzle ... Serves 12 The sausage sizzle is a craft not a dish. It is an art form served with sophistication and class which can only be truly appreciated by those who posses a highly tuned palate. This sausage sizzle is a work of such fine culinary skill that it has taken this cook decades to master. They say only tastebuds which are subject to the harsh climates of Australia can truly understand the depth and tastes involved in the sausage sizzle, which is why the sausage sizzle is truly Australia’s national delicacy.

INSTRUCTIONS Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9 with no duplicates

INGREDIENTS: A dozen pack of sausages (no matter what flavour or price your sausages are they will still taste the same) 3 large onions 1 loaf of white bread High class liquor (a 70 year of Scotch will do) A bottle of high class truffle oil Tomato sauce fresh from the bottle (to serve) METHOD: Start by perfectly pre-heating the barbecue to a temperature that is not too hot and not too cold. To have the perfect sizzle on your sausages you’ll need a slow heat burning otherwise the proteins within the sausages will cook too fast become chewy. Once you’ve achieved the perfect temperature the sizzle can begin.

Drizzle some truffle oil onto the barbecue and let it heat up. Separate the sausages and place them with care on the barbecue, you want to be very careful not to place the sausages too hard onto the barbecue otherwise you will upset the balance within the meat. With tongs slowly and carefully

turn the sausages as they cook. Do not be tempted to burst the sausage skins because that will let out all the flavours and juices from within.

Take your onions, halve them and slice those halves. Each slice of onion has to be measured to around three to five millimetres thick, this will produce the best flavours from your onions and will help with the cooking processes. On the barbecue make sure the sausages aren’t burning, move them to the side of the heat if they appear to be cooked. Once onions sliced with procession add them to the barbecue with a healthy drizzle of truffle oil.

Stir the onions as they fry and add a healthy sloshing of high class liquor to the onions as they cook. This will provide an exquisite and unique flavour. Let it cook on the barbecue but be careful not to let it burn. Inspect the sausages by turning them and once they’re cooked take them off the heat.

Take your slice of white bread and lay a sausage across it on a diagonal fashion. Place a helping of onions on the top of the sausage and drizzle with fresh tomato sauce from a bottle. Serve.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 8. Abominable Snowman (4) 9. Official examination (10) 10. Dormant (6) 11. Edible marine bivalves (8) 12. Dad (4) 13. Flight attendant (10) 17. Perishes (4) 18. Small terrestrial lizard (5) 19. Autumn (4) 20. Particularly (10) 22. Constellation bear (4) 23. Precarious (8) 27. Not outside (6) 28. Unglazed earthenware (10) 29. Cut (4)

solution 16/12/16

13 Western News 20 January 2017 Issue 26

SUDOKU: HARD

E N T E R T A I N M E N T Keegan’s Kitchen

DOWN 1. Stunt flying (10) 2. Exhibits (8) 3. A language of India (10) 4. Demands (4) 5. Plateau (4) 6. Impassive (6) 7. A type of liquid food (4) 14. Electronic letters (5) 15. Deductive (10) 16. The end of an Apollo flight (10) 19. Quartet (8) 21. Whole (6) 24. Require (4) 25. Baroque composer (4) 26. Dines (4)

14

realestate real

Western News 20 January 2017 Issue 26

HOW IS THE MORTGAGE MARKET GOING TO CHANGE IN THE YEAR? 2016 was mixed bag for property buyers as house prices soared, rate cuts by the RBA kept the properties affordable with lowest interest rates on home loans in years. The question is, how will the Australian loan market change in 2017? Will there be further rate cuts? Will the interest rates continue to drop or will the banks move independent of the RBA. ANZ recently announced to increase the variable rate for property investors, ING Direct raised its standard variable rate. Many borrowers have moved to fix their loans while the rates are still low.

The cycle of demand and supply is confusing when and many experts agree there is an acute home shortage in Sydney is in contrast to the oversupply of homes, especially high rise apartments, in Melbourne and Brisbane. This can only aggravate the issue of housing affordability in Sydney, sending home buyers looking to other areas or states.

The new BIS Shrapnel’s 2016 Building Industry Prospects report predicts an oversupply of more than 24,000 homes across Australia. As per the report, all capital cities except Sydney will have an oversupply of homes, a situation that hasn’t occurred in ten years.

Lenders and financial experts worldwide are discussing if home owners in Australia have stretched themselves too far.

It is anyone’s guess where the prices will go, property purchases for ‘off the plan’ and apartments may drop in Melbourne according to Core logic’s Home Value Index in November 2016.

What about the Trump effect on interest rate changes and on the Australian property market.

Trump’s victory is already affecting Australian home owners and home buyers, threatening increased home loan rates soon. Several non-bank lenders have

raised their variable interest rates in anticipation.

Increasing household debts, dropping property prices and increased interest rates – is the boom over for the mortgage market in Australia? It seems not really, there are still banks and non-bank lenders offering low rates and competitive home loan deals, but 2017 calls for more prudent home buying choices and decisions.

It can be confusing to know whether to get a variable rate or fixed rate mortgage, and what features are important. That’s why it’s important to not only check the right rates, but make sure that you’re getting the right features in your home loan.

Speak to a Wealthwiz Wealth Management consultant for a free home loan review to help you understand your financial needs and options.

Contact Alex Soncini on 0419 600 177 or alex.soncini@welathwiz.com.au.

@wealthwiz

#wealthwizau

WealthWiz Wealth Management Suite 3, 47-51 Richmond Rd, Blacktown Call 8004 6655 | www.wealthwiz.com.au

Blue Sox look to gain momentum

THE Sydney Blue Sox have had varying results throughout the 2016/17 Australian Baseball League (ABL) season. Currently sitting at 11 wins, 18 losses, the Blue Sox are still only two games from playoff contention.

Despite a solid start to the season, the Blue Sox have had challenges playing away from home, with two wins in twelve attempts. Sydney Blue Sox Manager and Penrith local, Jason Pospishil, knows that trend needs to reverse if the Club is any chance of the playoffs.

“Consistency is definitely the key for the second half of the season,” Pospishil said.

“We’ve been so close in lots of matches this season, we’ve got to find a way to win those games.”

Although the scoreboard might indicate otherwise, the Blue Sox have seen strong performances from the squad and seven of the roster were selected to play in the ABL All-star Game in December.

Overseas stars Malik Collymore (19 Runs Batted In and 11 Stolen Bases) and Stone Garrett (six home-runs) have been lighting up the League and leading the Blue Sox on offense.

Garrett, a prospect of the Miami Marlins organisation, has been enjoying his time in Australia.

“The experience has been great, it’s a good schedule for playing baseball and seeing the country,” Garrett stated.

“My goals for the remainder of the season are to have quality at-bats and hit the ball to all parts of the field.”

German pitcher, and Los Angeles Dodgers prospect, Sven Schueller is confident the Blue Sox will find that winning feeling soon.

“We went to Brisbane aiming to claim a win on the road,” Schueller said.

“We need to now take momentum into our next home series against Canberra.”

The Blue Sox take on the Canberra Cavalry in their final home series at Blue Sox Stadium, Friday January 20th – Sunday January 22nd.

For more information and to book your tickets visit www.sydneybluesox.com.au

Inaugural AFLW leaders named WESTERN Sydney school who all have their own teacher Amanda Farrugia leadership style and will share will lead the Giants as the leadership with me.” captain in the inaugural NAB On announcing the AFL Women’s season. captaincy, AFLW Coach Tim Farrugia was announced Schmidt said Farrugia was a as captain in front of her standout candidate. team mates this week ahead “Amanda is a brilliant of the Giants’ first NAB communicator, a passionate AFL Women’s match in person who upholds the Adelaide against the Crows values of our team,” said on February 4.

Schmidt.

Born and raised in “On and off the field she Western Sydney, Farrugia gives one hundred per cent affectionately known to everything she does and as ‘Fridge’ - discovered has the respect of the entire Australian Football when playing group.” looking for a new activity to Giants Chief Executive stay fit.

David Matthews welcomed After joining Macquarie the announcement less than University in 2011, Farrugia a month out from the Giants’ has led her home club for first ever AFLW match.

(From the left) Maddy Collier, Emma Swanson (VC), Amanda Farrugia (C), Jessica Dal Pos, Jess Bibby the past two seasons in “This is a historic the local competition and appointment for the Giants was awarded the 2015 Mostyn Medal as the Best club as AFLW Leadership Partner for the next two and Amanda is the ideal person to lead this group and Fairest player in the Sydney AFL Women’s seasons. in the inaugural NAB AFL Women’s season,” Mr competition.

The Giants’ leadership group was selected by Matthews said.

The 31-year old will lead a five woman leadership both the playing group and the coaching panel and “To have a player from western Sydney chosen by group that includes marquee signing Emma Swanson Farrugia said she was proud to be elected by her her peers to lead the Giants is a sign of the growth as vice-captain, local star Maddy Collier, Victorian peers to lead the first ever Giants’ women’s side. of Australian Football in this region in recent years. midfielder Jessica Dal Pos and ACT veteran and “Strong leadership has been a key element of “It’s a huge honour to be named captain for the former WNBL legend Jess Bibby. the Giants men’s team with Callan Ward and Phil inaugural season,” said Farrugia.

The five woman leadership group, alongside “I’m humbled by the opportunity and the Davis leading the club brilliantly on the field in our AFLW coach Tim Schmidt, will form a key aspect of responsibility that comes with this role. formative years and I’ve got no doubt Amanda will the Giants’ partnership with relocation and storage “While I’ve got the title next to my name, I’m continue to take our club’s on-field leadership to specialists the Grace Group who have joined the confident that we’ve got a fantastic group of players new heights.”

15 Western News 20 January 2017 Issue 26

sport

Western NEWS Friday, 20 January 2017

sport

Highs and Lows for the western NRL teams

By Conner Lowe

LOOKING back at the year that was 2016 there were a lot of high points and an equal amount of low points for the two western Sydney NRL teams.

Penrith Panthers: High The 2016 NRL season was very promising for a young Penrith Panthers side after naming Matt Moylan as their captain for the 2016 season. With young guns Bryce Cartwright and Nathan Cleary showing experience beyond their years, and with help from veteran players like Peter Wallace and Josh Mansour, the Panthers were able to finish in the top eight. The 2016 season shifted excitement and optimism back into the fans of the club and the future looks bright for the NRL team at the foot of the mountains. 2017 is shaping up to be Penrith’s year.

Low The Penrith Panthers had a great

year with such a young team and although the future looks bright for the NRL club the only low point for their season was they weren’t able to progress further in the finals. The Panthers were in great form coming into the finals but they hit a road block against the Canberra Raiders, who also had a stellar season but were more experienced than the younger Panthers side.

The 2016 NRL season was a successful one for the Penrith Panthers and gave the fans plenty of hope for the coming years with so much talent spread around the team.

With NSW and Australian Prop, James Tamou coming into the side for the next season and the resigning of captain Matt Moylan and Bryce Cartwright the Panthers future looks bright.

Parramatta Eels: High The Parramatta Eels came into the 2016 season as one of the favourites of the competition with a great squad filled with youth and experience across the park. The eels started the season in great form with Semi Radradra, Nathan Peats, Corey Norman and Kieran Foran

instrumental in their early successes in the season. Unfortunately, the salary cap breech set the club back and meant that they had to release players causing the NRL team to lose form.

Low The 2016 season was filled with many lows for the Parramatta Eels with the salary cap breech, releasing star players like Nathan Peats and Kieran Foran and retiring Anthony Watmough to free up funds in their salary cap. The Eels were deducted 12 points and forced to pay a hefty $1 million fine from the NRL. Although the season was filled with many negatives the 2017 season is just around the corner and hopefully the Parramatta club will rise from the ashes.

The 2016 season was one to forget for the Parramatta Eels, there are positives to take with Corey Norman staying on and a new board of directors joining the embattled club.

The 2017 season will hopefully bring joy back to the fans and players of Parramatta.