Westernnews 27october2017

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Friday, 27 October 2017

ISSUE 46

Get your Melbourne Cup sweep for the office wall page 14

Surfing for solutions Couch surfing for a good cause! Full story by Keegan Thomson on page 5

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Western News 27 October 2017 Issue 46

Government to spend millions on local roads Member for Riverstone Kevin Conolly MP has welcomed the latest NSW Government’s announcement that an additional $113 million from the Housing Acceleration Fund (HAF) will be used to deliver infrastructure projects in support of the boom in housing construction in the city’s west, south-west and north-west.

This financial boost will accelerate the delivery of vital infrastructure such as new and upgraded roads to support the growth of new homes across the region, including local projects in The Ponds and Schofields.

The announcement confirmed the allocation of $26.8 million for the reconstruction and widening of Hambledon Road between Stanhope Parkway and Schofields Road, with work to start in 2018. There was also an allocation of $31.5 million to upgrade Boundary Road, Schofields and McCulloch Street, Riverstone.

“What this means locally is that

existing roads experiencing the pressures of the housing construction boom, will be upgraded to cope with the growing traffic demands, which is good news for residents,” said Mr Conolly.

“These roads serve major new developments allowing homeseekers to break into the market and the government is ensuring that the local road network is upgraded to cope with that growth.

Minister for Planning and Housing, Anthony Roberts, said this latest funding release was part of a larger program which, over the last five years has seen an investment of $2.48 billion and completed 12 major infrastructure projects.

“We are working with local councils to create new opportunities for housing through new and upgraded roads. This will ensure adequate housing and infrastructure is provided to support population growth in Sydney,” Mr Roberts said.

Record funding for NSW Public Schools

Government schools will each receive a share of $1.09 billion next year for educational resources and student support, including targeted literacy and numeracy programs, teacher training, and additional speech pathologists.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Education Minister Rob Stokes and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres this week announced the needsbased funding for 2018, an increase of about $80 million, or 8 per cent, on 2017.

The funding method, known as the Resource Allocation Model, funds schools based on student need.

“This needs-based funding is making a real difference to the outcomes of students at the local level,” Ms Berejiklian said “This funding allows schools to develop programs that address academic and well-being needs identified in their schools,” she said.

Mr Stokes said the 2018 needsbased funding increase was additional to funding announced last month under the Schools Leadership Strategy to enable employment of extra support staff so principals could focus on educational leadership.

“The combination of funding

increases and changes will enable schools to sharpen their focus on catering for the specific academic and wellbeing needs of their individual students,” Mr Stokes said.

Mr Ayres, Minister for Western Sydney, said he was delighted so see the funding produce such wonderful results for students in western Sydney.

“Every school will develop its own plan to spend the funding in consultation with their local community,” Mr Ayres said.

The equity loadings under the needs-based funding include the socio-economic profile of students,

Aboriginal student numbers, English language proficiency and disability.

In 2017 literacy and numeracy support initiatives were among the most commonly funded programs while many schools also invested in additional staff to assist students with disabilities. Other popular measures included software applications, homework clubs, breakfast programs and pre-school playgroups to assist in transition to school.

For the full funding list go to: https:// education.nsw.gov.au/our-priorities/ work-more-effectively/local-schoolslocal-decisions/resource-allocationmodel

Opposition Leader Luke Foley’s plan for Blacktown

By Keegan Thomson

FRESH off the back of campaigning with the new MP for Blacktown, Stephen Bali, the NSW State Opposition Leader, Luke Foley, sat down with Western News to chat about his plans for western Sydney.

Even though we’re some 18 months away from the next NSW election, Mr Foley is clearly looking to western Sydney for support and sees the region as a key to Labor winning the next election.

A hot button topic for commuters in Blacktown at the moment is the toll on the M4. Labor is opposed to the toll, which costs drivers around $45 a week, with Mr Foley calling it “a tax on western Sydney motorists”.

He said NSW Labor will look into whether or not the toll could be removed. but Mr Foley fears it might be too late.

“We would like to remove the M4 toll but we have to see the contracts the Liberal government has signed up to,” Mr Foley said.

“My fear is that they’ve locked the state into a contract that will cost tax payers billions of dollars to get out of.

“Western Sydney motorists deserve a fair and better deal when it comes to

toll roads,” he said.

The NSW Labor Opposition Leader has thrown his support behind a northsouth rail line that will link the western Sydney region to the proposed airport at Bedgerys Creek.

“It is north-south connections in western Sydney that makes sense.

We have to connect places in western Sydney with each other.” Mr Foley said.

“For too long the thinking, when it comes to transport, has been how do you get people into the city and back out again. If everyone has to go to the Sydney city for a decent job an come back home out west again congestion will cripple the city.”

Plans recently came to light of police local area command (LAC) mergers, with some smaller LACs being merged into larger ones. Further details of these are yet to be confirmed by the NSW government but the whisper of them is enough cause for concern, says Mr Foley.

“We are hearing plans for mergers in western Sydney of Police LACs like Quakers Hill and Blacktown, Penrith and St Marys,” Mr Foley said.

“Forced police mergers is this a cover for cutting of policer budgets?

We need more information from the government.”

According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research the

Blacktown Local Government Area (LGA) has had “stable” figures over the past two years despite increases in population. Mr Foley is worried Blacktown isn’t going to receive its fair share of government resources with these mergers.

“This is the fastest growing part of the state in terms of population numbers. The big issue is how does Blacktown and western Sydney get its fair share of government resources. The resources don’t seem to be following the population,” Mr Foley said.

Chatting to Mr Foley in the heart of the Blacktown CBD, he reflected on the generosity and the hard working nature of the people of western Sydney.

“They’re ward working people, fair dinkum people who are not asking for a special deal in life but want to be treated fairly by government,” Mr Foley said.

“I think people here haven’t got a fair deal out of the Liberals, whether it is the M4 toll or the refusal to deliver an upgrade to the Doonside railway station. It is a matter of fairness,” he said.

Mr Foley will be needing all the votes he can scrounge up as early campaigning starts on what could be a very interesting NSW state election in 2019.

3 Western News 27 October 2017 Issue 46

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Ph: 9833 1122 154 Queen Street, St Marys londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au

4 Western News 27 October 2017 Issue 46

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CAN you believe how fast this year has flown?

In the blink of an eye it is almost time for the girls to don the frock and fascinator and for the blokes to dust off the bag of fruit and head to your favourite venue for the race that stops the nation; the Melbourne Cup! These days lots of workers are granted time off, or at the very least most businesses will stop the bundy clock to watch 24 jockeys and horses charge 3200 metres trying to claim victory.

It’s one of the most exciting moments of the year when those gates crash back and the race-caller says “And they’re off!”

It’s the race where serious punters and the once-a-year flutterers will all have expert opinions on who will win the big race.

I come from a racing family, full of punters and a bookie father who loved his racing greyhounds so much they not only slept inside but they had a bedroom each. I’m serious! I also married a would-be Perce the Punter. I fancy a few bets myself every Saturday, so you’d think I’d have a fair idea on who the winner will be, right?

The sad fact is I have not picked a Melbourne Cup winner since 2002. So good luck.

There’ll be winners and grinners, losers and boozers but whichever category you fall into, let’s hope we’ll all be back to do it again next year!

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Couch surfing for a good cause

By Keegan Thomson

COUCH surfing isn’t just something young backpackers do to save money as they travel across the globe, it is also the most common form of homelessness in western Sydney.

According to Blacktown Council and leading local homelessness charities, young people are particularly at risk and often turn to couch surfing when they can no longer stay at home.

Josh Lennon, a youth case worker with Marist180, says he helps hundreds of young people each year with many of them caught in couch surfing cycles.

“In the past year we’ve helped 707 young people in the Blacktown, Mt Druitt and Hills area,” Mr Lennon said.

“There’s a misconception that young people choose to be homeless, but the reality is they’ve got no choice but to leave their family home and find something more suitable,” he said.

To help combat youth homelessness, and raise awareness of homeless couch surfing, Blacktown City Council set up the inaugural Blacktown Couch Surfing Championships.

Workers from various community organisations gathered at Colo Lane car park in Blacktown last Friday to compete with the team from ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) crowned the winners, clocking in with a time of 18.68 seconds of surf time.

The fun event was organised by the Council to highlight a serious issue: the number of people experiencing homelessness and couch surfing within the local government area.

The Mayor of Blacktown, Councillor Stephen Bali, said there are hundreds of “hidden” homeless young

people in Blacktown who are couch surfing because for whatever reason they don’t have a home to go to.

“While we commonly think people experiencing homelessness sleep rough on the streets, just over half are couch surfers – people staying with friends, extended family, or in overcrowded accommodation,” Cr Stephen Bali said.

“This hidden form of homelessness is common in many parts of our city, with statistics showing up to 900 people within Blacktown are currently couch surfing.

“People who turn to couch surfing

are often fleeing violence or trapped in poverty,” he said.

Transition housing worker Catherine Williams said her organisation Houses to Homes provides transitional housing for young mothers and pregnant women who are in need of a new place to live after fleeing violent relationships or domestic issues.

“A large percentage of these women are escaping domestic and family violence and family relationship breakdown,” Ms Williams said.

“Substance abuse and mental health are also contributing factors,” she said.

Ms Williams said it was great to see the Council getting behind such a prevalent issue to the Blacktown area.

“We saw today’s event as a good opportunity to raise awareness of homelessness and the services that are out there,” she said.

Representatives from seven organisations participated in the inaugural Blacktown Couch Surfing Championships.

They were: LikeMind, Hills Community Aid, Houses to Homes, Marist180, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Western Sydney Partners in Recovery, and Blacktown Hospital.

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Western News 27 October 2017 Issue 46

Bali is Blacktown’s new State MP POPULAR Mayor of Blacktown, Stephen Bali can add another position on his resume after he was elected MP of the NSW seat of Blacktown during a byelection earlier this month.

Mr Bali will keep his position as Mayor until the next Mayoral election, which will be held in about a year’s time, but he aims to utilise his position to push for a better represented Blacktown electorate.

Speaking to Western News, Mr Bali said everything was slowly starting to sink in.

“It is a humbling yet awesome feeling,” Mr Bali said.

“To represent the people of Blacktown in the big house on Macquarie street, in parliament, it is a big honour.”

After working in Blacktown Council for the past 12 years, Mr Bali says people already know his track record as a loud and proud member of the western Sydney community.

“People know I’ve been a strong advocate for Blacktown and I’ll keep working hard so that western Sydney and the people of Blacktown aren’t forgotten,” Mr Bali said.

On election day Mr Bali pulled in nearly 72 percent of first preference votes and won the overall vote with 82 percent of the preferential vote, making Blacktown one of the strongest Labor seats in the country.

Despite no Liberal candidate running in the by-election, the new MP for Blacktown says this is a signal to any Liberal government that they need to listen to the people of Blacktown otherwise they’ll suffer the consequences.

“It is a huge signal to the government. People had the right to choose a non-Labor government candidate at the polls but the turn out showed

people are tired of the government,” Mr Bali said.

“There is general neglect from the government of Blacktown. They’re closing down the work cover offices, they’ve left Doonside train station high and dry without a lift, they reintroduced the tolls

and they’re not doing anything to bring down cost of living.

“We’ve also got understaffing of police station and the Blacktown Hospital. It is now a strong signal that Blacktown isn’t going to be left out of the conversation,” he said.

Of course Mr Bali didn’t become MP without the support of his family and the community.

“I’m just really grateful that my family is really wonderful and supportive of this ambition of mine,” Mr Bali said.

“For them it is also slowly setting in.

It happened all so quickly.”

He was also very thankful of the support the Opposition Leader, Luke Foley gave during the election. Mr Foley came out to Blacktown on numerous occasions to throw his support behind the community and Mr Bali’s candidacy.

“When does a leader take so much time out of their schedule to help campaign? That connection Mr Foley offered is also what drove some of our results. It is good that we’ve got such an approachable person leading the NSW Labor Party,” Mr Bali said.

For Mr Bali this is something he has always aspired to but it isn’t something he thought he’d be able to achieve so early in his career.

“It is something I’ve looked at and people kept patting me on the back and telling me I should be in parliament but it wasn’t something I’d anticipated, it was something I’d hoped for,” Mr Bali said.

You’ve got to grab whatever opportunities come at you,” he said.

Council catch up with Keegan Thomson COUNCILLOR Kevin Gillies was only elected into his position on Council earlier this year but he has embraced his position with Council like a fish in water.

One thing you’ll notice about Cr Gillies is drive to balance the books and make sure financial security and stability is offered to every Australian. He is keen to see superannuation reform go in favour of workers and he thinks Council’s funds should be shared evenly across the Council.

“We need to make sure that some of the older parts of the Council, particularly some of the suburbs in Ward Two, aren’t neglected and there is spending on new parks,” Cr Gillies said.

Ward Two includes the suburbs of Blacktown, Glenwood, Kings Langley, Kings Park Lalor Park, Marayong, Quakers Hill and Seven Hills.

Cr Gillies wants to make sure that there is funding for upgrades to old parks as well as spends on new parks in developing suburbs of Blacktown.

“One thing Council constantly does is we’re always looking for upgrades of parks across all the Wards,” Cr Gillies said.

“We build new parks because as new suburbs come along we need to make sure the infrastructure is there but we can’t forget about the older suburbs, they need upgrades too.”

Not choosing to sit idly on Council, Cr Gillies wears the badge of pride that he is an “active Councillor”.

“Most days I’ll be out and about. I’ll go and talk to pensioners about problem trees in the front yard, I’ll talk to someone else about a guttering issues or I’ll be out advocating for the work of the Council,” he said.

Cr Gillies said he is very proud to be apart of a Council that listens to the people.

“This is democracy and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Cr Gillies proudly said.

“Blacktown Council goes out of the way to listen to every person within the Local Government Area through forums, submissions and we’re always considering the people who live here.”

Recently the Mayor of Blacktown, Stephen Bali, was elected as the new state MP for the seat of Blacktown. Cr Gillies said it will be a great thing for Blacktown to have a state MP lead Council.

Cr Gillies also said he supports the Mayor in his new role and thinks Cr Bali will have a soaring political career.

“He is going into parliament with a massive vote, he is a dynamic young man, he is a visionary young man and although these things sound like cliches they are real,” Cr Gillies said.

“Just look at this Council, much of what we’re getting done is being lead by him.”

Farewell to Westmead’s General Manager Westmead and Auburn hospitals are set to farewell their beloved general manager Andrew Newton next month.

Mr Newton announced his plans to leave Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) last week to take on the chief executive role at Southern NSW Local Health District.

Andrew has been working for WSLHD for six years – three years as general manager for Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals and three years as general manager at Westmead and Auburn hospitals.

Andrew said he came to WSLHD on a 10-week secondment from Western NSW LHD as the acting executive director of clinical governance in 2012 – and never returned!

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time in western Sydney,” he said.

“I work with great people, who are really invested in high-quality service delivery, and I will miss the camaraderie and sense of excitement for what the future holds for health and beyond in western Sydney.”

Andrew started his career as a student nurse in Sunderland in the UK before moving to Australia. The first hospital he worked at on his arrival was Blacktown.

Fast forward to 2012 and Andrew was back as general manager, where he said he had the privilege of working on stage one of the hospital’s expansion project.

“Getting the go-ahead for stage one was a real highlight of my time in western Sydney and I had the pleasure of collaborating with so many people during its planning and early delivery,” he said.

In 2014, Andrew took on the general manager role at Westmead Hospital, naming the stint as another career milestone.

“I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to work in one of the largest, most complex hospitals in the state, with a real focus on the delivery of excellent clinical care, research and education,” he said.

Andrew said while he was sad to

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be leaving WSLHD, he was looking forward to new challenges ahead.

He takes a wealth of experience in rural health delivery with him, having performed hospital manager roles in Cowra, Forbes and Western NSW before he was appointed as rural and remote operations manager at Dubbo Hospital in 2009.

Andrew finishes up at WSLHD on November 10.

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Local focus on road safety Road trauma is something that we hope we will never experience but all too many people are affected by crashes.

It is not just the people who are injured or killed in a road crash who suffer the effects but also the family and friends of those people, the emergency services workers who attend the crashes and all those drivers who are then impacted by the ensuing disruption to the traffic.

To help the community be as safe as possible on the road Blacktown City Council holds a number of road safety workshops and events. These workshops cover every driver from parents with young children who need their car seats checked to a course for supervisors of L plate drivers, another for senior drivers and a general course for anyone from L platers to 90 year olds. We also hold a senior pedestrians workshop. To make the workshops accessible to the maximum number of people they are held in a variety of locations and further sessions will be held as necessary.

For parents with children under the age of 7 there are child carseat checking days which are held regularly throughout the year. These are free for Blacktown City residents.

For anyone who is or will be supervising a learner driver there is a free workshop to help with understanding the Graduated Licensing Scheme, how to get the most out of the log book, rules for L and P plate drivers, and tips to

help make the process easier for both the learner and the supervisor.

Anyone who is 65 and over can join the free senior drivers workshop called DriveWise. This 2 hour session is about helping older drivers to be safe on the road for as long as possible and to plan for the time when they are no longer driving. The session covers health issues that affect driving as we age, a roundabouts refresher and planning for when we are no longer driving.

You’re the Driver is the workshop for all drivers. This intensive 2 session course includes a unit on road rules including intersection rules, roundabouts and Bus/Transit Lanes; a unit on avoiding a crash and minimising your risk of injury; and a final unit on minimising the costs of driving through eco-driving and avoiding parking fines.

The senior pedestrians workshop is StreetSmart. This is for everyone over the age of 65 to help keep you safe when out and about. It deals with using and understanding pedestrian facilities such as pedestrian crossings, traffic signals and pedestrian refuges, safety tips for using public transport, being a “good passenger” and use of mobility scooters. This is a free 2 hour workshop which can also be held in a retirement village or with a community group.

To find out more about any of these workshops or to book your place check the Blacktown Council webpage or call 9839 6363.

Shining light

The Singh family from Blacktown has been announced the winner of Australia’s first Diwali Festival of Lights Competition.

The competition was organised

by Blacktown City Council in association with Indian Link Media Group to celebrate the annual Diwali Festival, held across the world on 19 October this year.

Ajinesh Singh said his family has been decorating their home for Diwali for the past 11 years, but it was wonderful to be publicly and officially recognised

by Council.

“Council should be proud and I think it is a great idea that they have done this because we are a very multicultural community” he said.

Tea time for Mount Druitt Hospital carers Mount Druitt Hospital celebrated its carers on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 as part of National Carer’s Week.

Staff took a tea trolley, filled with delicious goodies, to wards around the hospital, offering treats to hardworking carers.

Staff handed out morning tea and thank you packages, containing a mug, tea, coffee and a small pamper item, in the hope carers get to have some time to themselves, with a cuppa, to reflect on the incredible support they give.

National Carers Week (October 16 – 21) was an opportunity to raise awareness about the diversity of carers and their caring roles.

There are more than 2.8 million family and friend carers in Australia, providing 36 million hours of care and support every week to a family member or friend who has a disability, mental illness, drug and/ or alcohol dependency, chronic condition, terminal illness or who is frail.

The theme for National Carers Week 2017 was Carers Count, focusing on the number of carers in Australia, the hours of care they provide and the value of that unpaid care.

Western Sydney Local Health District patient and carer experience manager Wendy Cain said National Carers Week was a good opportunity

 Amanda Nowak with Mount Druitt Hospital patient Iris Ruby. Iris was excited to give the thank you pack to her carer, who was arriving for a visit later in the day.

to pay homage to these often unsung heroes.

“Our carers are vital; we count on them and we really want to celebrate

the outstanding contribution they make, often behind the scenes,” she said.

“Anyone at any time can become a

carer; National Carers Week was an opportunity to raise awareness about the roles carers play each and every day.”

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Halloween: Stories from Cemeteries

 Angels in Highgate

By Ben Cranney

Halloween is coming up, and it got me thinking about one of my stranger travel interests, graveyards.

I think this fascination began in Athens, where the Acropolis entrance ticket also gets you into the millennia old cemetery. We had the ticket, so figured we’d go. It was so peaceful.

We’d found our own space in an area with thousands of years of continual human connection. There were some impressive ruins, remains of monuments to powerful people who probably thought their families would influence the world forever, but whose names are lost to crumbled

 At Khai Dinh’s Tomb

grave stones, or are written in a script most now can’t read. And that was the other thing I loved, learning or imagining the stories of the people remembered there.

London’s Highgate is incredibly atmospheric. Left to ruin for years, it’s now a battle between the groundskeepers, and the moss and forest. Visit the grave of the boxing champion, Tom Sayers, who fought a 42 round match, with a broken arm, against America’s champ in the first international fight. They ended up trading punches on their knees, blinded from swollen faces, and the fight only ended because the police broke it up. There are plenty of other

 View from an Andean Cemetery

famous people with there, including Karl Marx, George Eliot and Australia’s own Sir Sidney Nolan.

In Peru’s Sacred Valley, near Machu Picchu, is a mountain side filled with natural looking holes. Turns out, they are graves. I figured they were the resting places of the most important people, because it was beyond me how the anyone could be carried in there to be laid to rest. And then we saw little figures, invisible were it not for their huge loads and bright clothes, traversing the mountain face with ease, suggesting that the stories of all classes were hidden in that mountain.

In Vietnam, near Hue, generations

of royals seem to have made burial a competition. Entire complexes big enough to farm are devoted to individuals and are more impressive than any other resting place that I’ve ever been to. We went to Khai Dinh (my favourite), Tu Doc and Minh Mang, and if I did it again, I’d go by boat along the Perfume River.

Crawling through burials chambers in Orkney, watching the full moon set over the ocean at Waverley Cemetery, and visiting Homer’s Tomb at the end of the Greek Island, Ios, were all special experiences. But what I really want to see is a Viking Burial. I just need to find out where to go. Maybe you know?

The Unintentional Medium By Suzi Samuel CROSSING OVER I had a client last week, a lovely lady who had taken the trouble to drive out from Sydney in the pouring rain to see me. When I had finished the reading, I asked, as I always do, if she had any questions. “Yes”, she said. “Do you believe dead people can talk to you?” Well, this flummoxed me a bit as I thought that was what we had been doing for the last hour, but told her that yes, I did. She said that her nephew had died last year and nobody knew for four days. However, on the second day, his mother had been shopping and she had distinctly heard his voice calling “Mum!”. It was so clear that she turned round to look for him but of course didn’t see him as he was already dead.

This made me think about how and when people cross over to the other side. In my experience, it is quite common for the recently departed to make contact at some time between their death and their funeral. My very first experience of this was when my first husband died. Now, at that time I had the psychic ability of a rice pudding but the night before his funeral I awoke at about 2am to feel some sort of loving presence standing at the end of my bed.

Slowly it began to recede in waves like a tide going out and I was so sure it was John coming to say goodbye to me. It was so peaceful and calm and helped me get through the funeral the next day.

The other experience I had was just after my father died. It was dark outside and I was in my sitting room which had sliding glass doors to a conservatory. Out of the corner of my eye, I was

suddenly aware of someone standing just behind the doors and I automatically thought it was either David or my daughter. When I looked up, I saw it was my dear old Daddy, not the old, sick man he was, but rather the dashing figure from his fifties and even wearing his favourite blue sweater from that time. He raised his hand in his funny little half salute, half wave he did and then said “Goodbye, chick” before fading into the ether. He too had come to say goodbye just before his funeral.

But what about those who don’t ascend the golden stairway and instead stay around? I recently watched a film about a young man who crashed a car in which his little brother was killed. He was so consumed with guilt that he ran away from the funeral and, as he was on the ground crying, his

little brother appeared to him just as he was in real life. To cut a long story short, they made a pact to meet every evening at 6pm to play baseball for half an hour and the young man kept this up for years.

However, when he met a girl and fell in love, the little brother realised he was no longer needed and crossed over.

Now, this begs the question, was the little brother really there or was he part of the guy’s imagination and his way of coping with his grief. When we feel our loved ones around us are they really there or are we desperately trying to keep them with us and if they are there, are we holding them back from crossing over? Recently I have been feeling my darling old dog around me. I still miss him terribly and want him back and so am I imagining him begging for food as I’m cooking or thinking I can hear him in the night? If it is my imagination, why is the rug he used to sleep on by my bed dirtier than the rest of the carpet with bits of mud and leaves on it and why am I suddenly picking up dog hairs when I vacuum?

My friend Karina Machado has written a wonderful book called Love Never Dies about our loved ones keeping close to us and I think she is right. When there is a lot of love I think the connection is there for ever and so as I started this column, I do think dead people - and dogs - can talk to you.

The Unintentional Medium is available online or at all good book stores.

Seventies Hitmakers are back

By Keegan Thomson

GET the time machine ready because we’re going back to the 1970s with the Seventies Hitmakers show.

Featuring three timeless British music legends, the Seventies Hitmakers concert stars Richard Gower, the original lead singer of Racey, The Rubettes with Alan Williams and Paper Lace featuring Phil Wright.

Richard Gower phoned up from Tasmania to chat about Racey’s time at the top of the charts and why he now calls Australia home.

In the winter of 1978 Racey broke through the 1970s punk scene with fresh, innocent pop music and their debut single, Baby It’s You. Gower says his band was picked up by the R.A.K record label because Racey was staying away from the punk sound and instead giving audiences what they wanted.

“People were sick of the loud and aggressive sounds of punk music and it was doing a lot of harm to the British music industry,” Gower said.

“We were offering an alternative to all that. People at the time wanted to listen to music that they’d always known.”

Racey first toured south of the Equator after music journo and Aussie icon, Molly Meldrum, convinced them they’d be a hit if they came to Australia. Taking this advice the band packed up and toured down under, charting their debut album Smash and Grab at number 1.

“Molly Meldrum told us to come to Australia after I spoke to him for Countdown at ABC House in London,” Gower said.

“People here accepted us because there is a certain something about British music that no-one else can do. Take the Beatles for example. When the Beatles were successful in America, if you listen to She Loves You, it is something that jumps out of the radio and it becomes unique.”

Once he was in Australia, Gower fell in love with the people and the environment, so much that he decided to buy a house here.

“We first arrived in Melbourne on our first day of touring in 1984 and I was blown away by the beautiful sunshine, the brilliant blue sky and the positivity that was around.”

Since then Gower has decided to become a “to and from Pom”.

“I live in Australia and in England travelling between each. How can you choose?” Gower said.

“The one thing that has kept me from making the full move over here is that there are so many creatures here in the oceans, in the sky and on the land that have the potential to kill you,” he joked.

Gower promised anyone heading along to the Seventies Hitmakers tour can expect a bloody good time, with the tour kicking off at Rooty Hill RSL on November 3.

“I’m not in this for the money, I do it because I love the music and I’m going to be forever chasing another hit song,” Gower said.

“What keeps me going is I’m still looking for my lost chord. I’m always looking for and chasing that one last timeless song.”

You can get tickets to the Seventies Hitmakers show from Rooty Hill RSL at (02) 9625 5500.

11 Western News 27 October 2017 Issue 46

e n t e r t a i n m e n t

FOR 7 YEARS THUS FAR, THE RHYTHMBOAT HAS STAGED THE ‘MAMAMIA - TRIBUTE TO ABBA’, WITH AN ESTIMATED 50,000+ PASSENGERS ENJOYING THIS GREAT SHOW OVER THE DURATION. INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ENTERTAINER, BOB DOWNE, HAS FOR THE PAST 15 MONTHS ENTERTAINED SELL OUT SHOWS ON THE RHYTHMBOAT WHERE HE ‘DANCES, SINGS AND TAKES VERY GOOD CARE OF HIS HAIR’.

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12

westernhistory

Western News 27 October 2017 Issue 46

Elizabeth Macarthur (née Veale) c.1767-1850  Elizabeth Farm

E

lizabeth Macarthur (nee Veale) was born in Devon, England. Her parents were farmers of Cornish stock. Elizabeth received a good education, which equipped her to be able to successfully manage the affairs of her husband’s business later in life.

She married John Macarthur in October 1788. When he joined the NSW Corps in 1789, she accompanied him on a voyage to the new colony, together with their eldest son, Edward, born earlier that year.

A daughter born on the voyage did not survive. Seven more children, four sons and three daughters, were born in the colony. By 1794 the Macarthur’s had their own house and land at Parramatta, Elizabeth Farm. Colonial life and New South Wales suited Elizabeth and she wrote: “The country holds numerous advantages to persons holding appointments under Government... We enjoy here one of the finest climates in the world. The necessaries of life are abundant, and fruitful soil affords us many luxuries. Nothing induces me to wish for a change but the difficulty of educating our children... Our gardens with fruit and vegetables are extensive; and produce abundantly. It is now spring, and the eye is delighted with a most beautiful variegated landscape; almonds, apricots, pear and apple trees are in full bloom; the native shrubs are also in flower and the whole country gives a grateful perfume...

One letter written by Elizabeth to her dear friend Miss Kingdom in England, dated September 1 1795, mentions a journey along Hawkesbury Road. She would have passed what she later called ‘ my Seven Hills farm’. It reads: “I have once visited the Hawkesbury, and made the journey on horseback. The road is through an uninterrupted wood, with the exception of the village of Toongabbie, a farm of the Government, and one or 2 others, which we distinguish by the name of Greenlands, on account of the fine grass, and there being few trees compared with the other parts of the country, which is occasionally brushy, and more or less covered with underwood.

By Jack Brook, Blacktown and District Historical Society

 Elizabeth Macarthur: oil painting by an unknown artist; from the collection of the State Library of New South Wales

When the croppies (convicts) rebelled and escaped from Castle Hill Government Farm in March 1894, Elizabeth was at Parramatta. She along with Mrs Marsden and the children, departed from Sydney after William Joyce , from Seven Hills, had galloped to Parramatta to warn them of the uprising. Later she wrote a letter that in part reveals a sense of irony, in which she said: “It is somewhat singular that a party of the Irishmen were despatched to our Pennant Hills Farm to gather the men and arms there, and a second party to the Seven Hills Farm. These places were the first places they attacked and in Parramatta mine was to have been the first also.”

She ended the letter, saying,”Not a very flattering distinction you will say” Following the uprising, Seven Hills and the surrounding districts were proclaimed to be in a State of Rebellion and Martial Law was established. Elizabeth had an extremely charming personality and appears to have escaped the criticism levelled at her husband throughout his life. Without feminine company she travelled to visit the various merino flocks and discussed the choice of rams and sales of sheep in the company of one trusted convict overseer. There is no doubt that she loved her husband dearly. Her family gave her great comfort, and her faith - she was an Anglican- sustained her through many lonely troubled years. Even through her husband’s deep fits of melancholia and utterly unfounded fears that she had been unfaithful to him, her strength of character kept the family united. There is no doubt that Elizabeth loved life and was interested in everyone and everything she encountered. Having survived John by 16 years, she died on February 9 1850. Due to a malady of the mind suffered by her husband, the last years of her life were shrouded in sadness

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Alex Soncini

Small business finance without the headache

While SMEs account for 97 per cent of Australian businesses, it can still be difficult to make a case to a bank when looking for finance to start a new business or invest in the growth of an existing one. The good news is that applying for commercial finance through a bank is far from the only option.

Personal loans A relatively young enterprise that doesn’t have a track record of success may not be looked upon favourably by banks, which make decisions based on risk. A lack of documented history doesn’t aid a business loan application, so for those who still want to go through the bank they use for transaction accounts, a personal loan could be the way to go.

The downside may be slightly higher interest rates and lower loan amounts, but a personal loan can provide a good buffer for start-ups and is relatively easy to apply for.

“If someone told me that they’re going to run off and start a new business, I’d suggest, while still working in PAYG, to secure a personal loan before doing so,” advises the

finance broker. “Banks like to see at least two years’ worth of company tax returns, which could prove problematic for new businesses.”

Private funding Private funding is when individuals lend through a trust account. While it can be a little more costly than the average business loan, it carries the advantage of flexibility.

“If it’s a ridiculously difficult deal to put together, with no banks wanting to touch it due to not having the appropriate documentation or being outside LVRs, then [private funding] would be an option I’d advise,” says the finance broker. “In saying that, however, I would strongly recommend speaking with a broker who has experience in private lending because, as a consumer, you’re kind of flying blind and you need to know that they’re going to be trustworthy and not rip you off.”

Raise the money Crowdfunding can help raise the funds needed to finance a start-up or a product. The two main types are equity crowdfunding, where a share of the business is offered in return for funds,

and rewards crowdfunding, where a product or service is pre-sold prior to the launch of the business or product.

While it may seem like the most hassle-free approach, with no applications or forms required to be filled out, it does entail high risks.

According to crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, the success rate for small businesses is extremely low, with only 3.1 per cent reaching their goals in 2015.

Talk to a broker Skipping the banks entirely and talking to a commercial finance broker means gaining access to myriad finance products and loan types, as well as expertise in matching your needs to

the right loan type. An experienced finance broker can take a broad view of a business’s finance, assist in business planning, and use their deep knowledge of a client’s needs to look beyond a simple ‘lowest interest rate’ formula in selecting a finance product, ensuring that business owners have access to the capital they need, when they need it.

Securing finance is imperative for a business’s prosperity. Alex Soncini is a MFAA accredited broker who can assist with business planning and finding the right type of finance to support growth and success.

The first step towards finding business finance is calling Alex from Wealthwiz on 0419 600 177.

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CROSSWORD ACROSS 9 Gave off (7) 10 Stretchable (7) 11 Engages for work

again (7) 12 Beseech (7) 13 An expression of

criticism (9) 15 Breadth (5) 16 Japanese warrior (7) 19 Mocks (7) 20 Horrible in

savagery (5) 21 Most nauseous (9) 25 Hunting guide (7) 26 A wise king of

Israel (7) 28 The _______ Falcon (7) 29 Ennoble (7)

down 1 Listener (6) 2 Senior church official (6) 3 Sun (4) 4 City in south central Ukraine (6) 5 Protected (8) 6 Ramparts (10) 7 Was present at (8) 8 Whiskies (8) 14 Exposes to radiation (10) 16 Being the exact same one (8) 17 Senior generals (archaic) (8) 18 Asks (8) 22 Christian holy holiday (6) 23 Hostility (6) 24 Kindling (6) 27 Permits (4)

solution 13/10/17

13 Western News 27 October 2017 Issue 46

realestate

POLLIE CUP 2017

Here’s your Melbourne Cup Sweep to hang on the office wall.

Simply draw the staff names one at a time and write their name next to the neXt horse number, going down the page.

The winner is the person whose name is next to the number of the horse who wins the race!

STUART

AYRES

1, 7, 13 & 19

State Member for Mount Druitt

Minister for Western Sydney

Phone: 4722 8660 penrith@parliament.nsw.gov.au

PRUE

CAR

EDMOND ATALLA MP Phone: 9625 6770

Drawn By ........................................

2, 8, 14 & 20

MP

mountdruitt@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Kevin

Conolly State Member for Riverstone

Phone: 9833 1122

Phone: 8883 3499

MAYOR

Stephen

BALI

Drawn By ........................................

3, 9, 15 & 21

5, 11, 17 & 23

www.kevinconollymp.com.au

Michelle Rowland Federal Member for Greenway

Drawn By ........................................

6, 12, 18 & 24

Phone: 9671 4780

Phone: 0401 993 634 stephen.bali@blacktown.nsw.gov.au

Drawn By ........................................

MP

State Member for Londonderry

londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au

4, 10, 16 & 22

Drawn By ........................................

www.michellerowland.com.au

Drawn By ........................................

NRL legends attend cycling fundraiser for cancer

By Conner Lowe

The Children’s Cancer Institute hosted its annual 12-hour cycling fundraiser last Friday.

The ‘Endure for a Cure’ was supported by childhood cancer survivors and their families, Sydney school students and NRL legends Matt Cooper and Shaun Timmins, the fundraiser aims to raise $350,000 for Children’s Cancer Institute’s vital research.

Over 270 individuals hit the track last Friday at Sydney’s Motorsport Park in Eastern Creek, testing their endurance in an effort to help Children’s Cancer Institute’s research end childhood cancer.

Matt Cooper, NRL legend of the St George Illawarra spoke about the event and why as a parent he wanted to be involved in the fundraiser.

“A 12-hour cycling relay may seem like a challenge, but it’s nothing compared to the lifetime of challenges faced by families affected by childhood cancer,” he said.

“As a father, I can’t even begin to imagine what it feels like to hear the words ‘your child has cancer’.

“I’m far more comfortable throwing a football than I am jumping on a bike, but It was good to hit the track and join

the efforts to cure childhood cancer.”

Professor Michelle Haber AM, The Executive Director of Children’s Cancer Institute, said all of the funds raised by the Endure for a Cure campaign will go directly to research.

“As the only independent medical research institute in Australia wholly

dedicated to childhood cancer, our role is vital. Because, despite our progress, cancer still kills more children than any other disease,” he said.

“Campaigns like Endure for a Cure help us raise the funds we need to further our research, so we can one day find a cure for every child with cancer.”

Endure for a Cure brought together individuals, childhood cancer survivors and their families, corporate teams and Sydney school students for this ultimate test of endurance. With the help of everyone who attended and the fundraising effort the goal to raise $350,000 will be achieved.

Mumford calls time on AFL career

By Conner Lowe

Giants ruckman Shane Mumford has announced his retirement following extensive medical consultation.

Mumford has battled degenerative ankle and knee problems for several years in addition to sustaining a number of significant injuries, the most recent being a fractured foot suffered in the Giants’ Qualifying Final against Adelaide that led to him missing the club’s following two finals.

This injury followed a serious ankle injury midway through 2015 that led the veteran ruckman missing the remainder of the season and undergoing an ankle reconstruction.

While the 31-year-old’s outstanding playing career has come to an end, the Giants are pleased to advise that Mumford will remain with the club as part-time ruck coach.

Mumford retires after 172 games at Geelong, Sydney and the Giants after making his debut for the Cats in 2008. He was part of the Swans’ Premiership team of 2012 before crossing to the Giants in 2014, where he played 72 games for the AFL’s youngest club.

Wayne Campbell, the Giants General Manager of Football said Mumford’s legacy at the Giants will always be revered.

“There’s no doubt Shane has put his body through a lot in the last 10 years and unfortunately injury has ultimately led to his retirement,” Campbell said.

“Both on and off field Shane’s impact on the club has been profound - has been a key member of the Giants playing group and has been integral to our growth in Western Sydney and the ACT.

“He has been a hugely popular member of our playing group and we’re delighted Shane will continue be involved with the Giants, helping the likes of Rory Lobb, Dawson Simpson and Matthew Flynn.”

Mumford said he’ll look back fondly on his decorated playing career.

“While my mind was ready to go for another season, the medical advice told me something very different,” Mumford said.

“I’ve loved my time playing for the Giants but I know this is the right decision when it comes to

being able to play with my kids for years to come.

“I couldn’t have asked for more from the past decade in the AFL and I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me along this journey.

“I’m excited about the next stage of my life and continuing to help the Giants in a role I’m really looking forward to.”

The hulking ruckman quickly became a fan favourite at the Giants, playing 72 games across four seasons and winning the 2014 Kevin Sheedy Medal as Club Champion in his first year at the club.

15 Western News 27 October 2017 Issue 46

sport

Western News Friday, 27 October 2017

sport

Western Sydney draw in Derby

By Conner Lowe

The Western Sydney Wanderers blew a two-goal lead to draw with Sydney FC 2-2 at Allianz stadium on Saturday night.

The Wanderers started the game fantastically opening the scoring in the 3rd minute. Josh Risdon broke away down the line from fullback and wipped in an excellent cross for Spaniard Oriol Riera to head home for the opening goal.

The Wanderers controlled most of the first half and after multiple chances to double their lead they scored through Brendan Hamill after an excellent set play. Spanish signing Ă lvaro Cejudo crossed in a fantastic free kick for Hamill to extend the lead to 2-0.

Toward the end of the first half Chris Herd brought down David Carney inside the box, leaving the referee with no choice but to give the home side a penalty. BobĂ´ stepped up and slotted home from 12-yards out to go into the break 2-1.

Early into the start of the second half

Bonevacia had a chance to restore the Wanderers two-goal lead. However, failed to convert from close range after a fantastic cross from Cejudo.

Sydney would soon after level the scoring through Josh Brillante. The Sydney midfielder found room on the edge of the box and fired a shot past Vedran Janjetovic.

Kearyn Baccus then tried his luck

from distance with a curling strike but the ball sailed agonisingly over the bar.

The Wanderers defence worked tirelessly in the final minutes of the match to deny a number of chances by Sydney, with substitute Matt Simon having a glorious opportunity to steal all three, only to send his header wide.

With either side failing to find a winner the derby finished 2-2. Both

teams had chances to find a winner, but due to some excellent defence from both sides the points were shared.

The result sees the Wanderers continue their undefeated start to the Hyundai A-League season and sit in a comfortable 4th place on the table.

The Wanderers will now turn their attention to an away game against the Newcastle Jets on Sunday afternoon.