Our Place Penrith Summer 2021

LOVE SUMMER LOVE PENRITH LEARN TO SWIM THE RIPPLES WAY MAGNETIC PLACES CREATIVE PROJECTS KICK OFF

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PENRITH CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY NEWS ISSUE 8

SUMMER 2021

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This edition of Our Place was proudly produced by Penrith City Council in November 2021. We would love to hear your feedback. You can email us at ourplace@penrith.city

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 2

INSIDE OUR PLACE I would like to thank

Our cover story on

As the end of the year

the Penrith Community

page 4 is a celebration

approaches, I wish you and

for voting in the recent

of our local area and

your families a joyful and

Council elections on

I encourage everyone

relaxing Christmas and

December 4. Perhaps

to get out and enjoy

holiday period. I am proud

now more than ever,

our City and all it has

to be looking to a future

after an extended

to offer. This story is a

where Penrith continues to

lockdown, State and

great starting point for

evolve, innovate, and thrive

Federal governments

planning your perfect

in ways that make our City

can seem quite remote

summer. Keeping in mind

the best place to be.

and removed from

that the best summer

our day to day lives.

is not only fun, but

When it comes to

safe, Council is proud

the concerns of our

to support the efforts

community, the locals

of our Ripples team

elected to Council are

in delivering excellent

consistently advocating

quality Learn to Swim

for our people, investing

programs detailed in our

in, revitalising, and

feature on page 22.

transforming our place to meet the needs of our community.

This is demonstrated in the many projects Council has underway including the City Park precinct, the Nepean River transformation, and the Soper Place Revitalisation.

Council’s Representative Karen McKeown OAM

Just when I think I know everything about our City, something emerges from its long, rich history to take me by surprise. If like me, you were unaware that Penrith was home to one of the world’s leading

CELEBRATE SUMMER IN PENRITH

10

GET READY SAFETY GUIDE

astronomy field stations, our story on page 28 will enlighten you.

4

NEW MAGNETIC PLACES PROJECTS LEARN TO SWIM

16 22

28

MAMRE RD TELESCOPE SITE

•3•

CELEBRATING SUMMER IN OUR CITY

As we look to put the long months of lockdown behind us, summer beckons and asks us all to take a breath, to get outside, to explore, to start having

adventures again and to reconnect with the people and places we have missed. Living in Penrith means you have access to a wealth of world-

class attractions, unforgettable experiences, and hidden gems all waiting to play a part in your perfect summer.

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 4

Take in Yandhai Bridge on your summer evening stroll. Photo credit: Mark Powell

Sunset at The Rock Lookout Photo Credit: Leah-Anne

Penrith is open for business this summer with exciting outdoor adventures, fascinating historical treasures, diverse arts and culture scenes, an array of thriving dining and bar options and fun family activities.

SOAK UP THE S E R E N I T Y O F N AT U R E Our local area serves up some beautiful scenery and best of all, there’s no cost to enjoy it! Grab a friend, take the whole family or just go solo to enjoy a moment of peace.

The comprehensive Hike, Bike and Fitness Trails Map outlines 26 amazing locations to visit. Find it at penrithcity/ fitness-trails.

The Rock Lookout at Mulgoa is a short walk delivering breathtaking views of the Nepean Gorge in the Blue

Mountains National Park. Once you reach the lookout you can pose for photos on the iconic rock which visitors have done for more than 200 years.

The rock has seen picnics, proposals, yoga poses and more! To maximise your Rock experience be sure to exercise caution while at the lookout, stay clear of the edge and keep a close eye on children and vulnerable family members. See visitpenrith.com.au for more details.

RIGHT: Amateur photographer Edward Tombs visited The Rock in the 1930s with his family (photo from Penrith City Library)

•5•

While in the area satisfy your cravings with a visit to the award-winning Settlers Café, the Oasis Terrace (the cannoli are next level delicious!) or the family-friendly Wallacia Hotel, complete with kids play area.

The Great River Walk offers stunning scenery along the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. Visitors can stop along the way at one of the lookouts or sculptural seating areas to watch the boats, birds, and other wildlife. There’s a handy map available for the walk on Council’s website at penrith.city/greatriverwalk.

I F Y O U H AV E N ’ T C H E C K E D I T O U T A L R E A D Y, G E T O N L I N E A N D E X P L O R E T H E N E P E A N R I V E R I N T E R A C T I V E M A P AT PENRITH.CITY/NEPEANRIVER investment from Council and other levels of government.

The map also allows you to see facilities available and search

for things to see and do on the Nepean River such as the best places to go fishing or kayaking.

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 6

Photo Credit: Destination NSW

Recently launched, the map allows you to find out about the projects being planned and delivered to improve the riverside, all part of the Our Nepean River Masterplan (2013). Developed

by Council and the community, the plan outlines the revitalisation of our greatest natural asset. This plan is coming to life due to extensive

If you want to upgrade your outing and treat yourself after a big walk or ride, there’s a range of cafes and restaurants nearby where you can pick up a bite to eat or enjoy a drink. Head to the Nepean Rowing Club, Cafe at Lewers, Emu Hall or to the East Bank - Nepean River Restaurant Precinct at Tench Reserve. Many of our local eateries are relying on your support to recover from the impact of the pandemic, so there has never been a more important time to spend locally.

Mountain View Reserve, Cranebrook is one of the lesserknown walks in the area, only a 7-minute drive from the Penrith CBD. The accessible, family-friendly 1.8km easy grade track can be walked or cycled.

When walking along one of the reserve’s pathways you’ll likely see a range of birds, reptiles and frogs and if you’re lucky you may even see a sugar glider! The loop takes approximately 30-40

The iconic Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler also has a new $25 cruise – perfect for your NSW Dine and Discover Voucher.

Experience the Nepean River like never before on the Belle! “Cuppa on the River” includes a 1-hour cruise with tea, coffee and bikkies.

See nepeanbelle.com.au for full details and to book.

•7•

minutes. To download a child-friendly map and activity sheet for the walk, visit bushtrackers.com.au.

We all know fresh air and exercise makes you hungry, so be sure to add a visit to Avli Restaurant to the itinerary. Avli is located 100 metres from the start of the walk and offers a little bit of Greece right here in Penrith. For more check their website avlirestaurant.com.au.

Penrith Regional Gallery, Home of The Lewers Bequest Photo Credit: Adam Hollingworth

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN OUR RICH H E R I TA G E A N D C U LT U R E Discover local history with artefacts and exhibitions at the Arms of Australia Inn Museum

Connect with Indigenous culture and history with the help of a Dalmarri (dalmarri. com.au) immersive art experience, based in Cranebrook and visit Penrith’s unique Black Door Gallery, comprising both traditional and contemporary Indigenous art styles and Aboriginal products including boomerangs and timber carvings. In the words of the Dalmarri founders, ‘life is short, but art lives forever’.

Continue your journey through Penrith’s fascinating past with the free smartphone app “Colonial Heritage of Western

Sydney.” The app details many of the historical buildings, farmhouses, churches, cemeteries, roads and bridges in the region. You can create your own journey through history with the guided and themed driving and walking tours offered in the app. Download it on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

We know summer isn’t all sunshine, so on those wet weather days, try out the Penrith Heritage Drive.

Approximately 50kms long the drive takes in some of the oldest buildings, structures

and locations in St Marys, Penrith, Castlereagh, Emu Plains and Mulgoa.

The drive’s 27 historical sites across the City will captivate and fascinate visitors and Penrith locals alike. Some, like the Victoria Bridge are well-known, but others including the Arms of Australia Inn Museum, one of the oldest buildings in Penrith, are hidden historical gems. Download the brochure with maps at visitpenrith.com. au/things-to-do/ arts-culture-heritage/ penrith-heritagedrive.

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 8

Those with a creative interest will find Penrith has much to offer, starting with the Penrith Regional Gallery. Situated on the banks of the beautiful Nepean River, visitors get the opportunity to experience an everchanging program of exhibitions while enjoying the spectacular views of the river, native wildlife, plants, and flowers along the riverbank. Best of all, the exhibitions are free!

To find out more go to penrithregionalgallery. com.au.

If street art is more your style, take a walk down Queen Street and discover the St Marys street art trail visitpenrith.com.au/ stmarysmap Don’t forget to tag us in your Instagram pictures using

#visitpenrith.

Whether you’re new to the area or you’ve lived here for years, our amazing City still has surprises in store for you. This summer take the time to get out and discover (or rediscover!) what makes Penrith Western Sydney’s most liveable city.

•9•

OUR

GUIDE FOR A SAFE SUMMER

As much as we all love summer, it can bring with it the challenges of storms, floods, and fire. This year, the Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a wetter than average storm season which could lead to an increased danger of grassfires

and floods. Sadly, emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime. Preparing for emergencies can provide peace of mind and helps to protect your family, animals, home, and property. Now is the time to make sure you’re ready for a

safe summer. Download the free Red Cross Get Prepared app from the App store or by visiting getprepared. app.link/Penrith_City_ Council. You can even use the app to group text key people in your emergency plan!

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 10

Don’t forget your pets and other animals.

Make sure these valuable members of your family are safe – the Get Prepared app includes the ability to plan for your pets.

YOUR GET READY CHECKLIST Be prepared for whatever nature throws at you by following these simple steps recommended by the NSW SES: 01 1.

GET YOUR HOME READY BY: Cleaning your gutters, downpipes, and drains.

Trimming trees and branches.

Keeping your roof in good condition.

Making sure you have a sturdy hose/s that will reach all around your home and a reliable source of water.

02 1.

BE AWARE

The Bureau of Meteorology and the NSW SES will issue various kinds of warnings for severe weather on their websites and social media pages. You can also hear weather warnings on your local radio station (WOW FM 100.7 Penrith’s Community Radio). Bushfires can be tracked on the NSW RFS website and in the ‘Fires Near Me’ app. Pay attention to the official advice on what to do.

03 1.

LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER

Share the ‘Get Ready’ message with everyone and help those around you to prepare. The Penrith community is known for coming together during a crisis and preparing together before a severe weather event means we can respond and recover better as a community.

04 1.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Keep these handy or store them in your phone.

» » »

• 11 •

000 for life threatening emergencies.

NSW SES on 132 500 - for emergency help in floods and storms.

WIRES on 1300 094 737, or Wildlife Rescue Inc on 1300 596 457 (24/7 number) - If you find wildlife impacted during emergencies.

HOLIDAY

WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY GUIDE

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 12

Find Out About Waste and Resource Recovery in Your Area

IT’S EASY TO OVERDO THINGS AT CHRISTMAS – WE OFTEN EAT TOO MUCH AND BUY TOO MUCH, WHICH LEADS TO MORE WASTE CREATED THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME OF YEAR.

All this information and more is in our 2021-22 Waste and Resource Recovery Calendar, here’s how you can get a copy, either:

So you don’t need to trip over all those excess boxes, bottles and wrapping paper for weeks to come, Council provides convenient opportunities to dispose of that waste and recycling in an environmentally friendly way.

Find a copy at penrith.city/bincalendar Raise an online request at The Waste Spot to have a calendar mailed to you penrith.city/ thewastespot

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PENRITH.CITY/CHRISTMASWASTE

penrith.ci

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01

ADDITIONAL KERBSIDE BIN COLLECTIONS 27 DECEMBER 2021 – 7 JANUARY 2022 Extra collections of your redlidded and yellow-lidded bins will be running for two weeks from Christmas Day onwards.

This includes public holidays!

Just remember:

WHAT IS PENRITH’S WASTE CHAMPION APP? Find out about extra collections, holiday waste drop-offs and get real-time notifications at your fingertips.

To download, search ‘waste champion’ in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

»

All three bins need to be placed on the kerbside.

»

Bins should stay out until they are emptied – collections may take place early in the morning or late in the evening.

»

Place bins out the night before your normal collection day only.

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 14

02

CHRISTMAS TREE DROP-OFF (FOR REAL TREES) 8 JANUARY 2022 FROM 10AM–2PM JAMISON PARK, SOUTH PENRITH NSW 2750 03

Residents can bring their real Christmas tree to Jamison Park where it will be collected and sent to the right facility for mulching to be reused.

RECYCLING DROP-OFF DAYS 20 DECEMBER 2021 31 DECEMBER 2021 FROM 3PM–6PM

If you are disposing of an artificial tree, you can book a bulky waste collection or break it down to go in your red-lidded residual bin.

Excluding public holidays and weekends

JAMISON PARK, SOUTH PENRITH NSW 2750 Residents are able to easily drop off excess household recyclables collected over Christmas, which might not fit in your yellowlidded bin. Think large items made of cardboard!

Polystyrene won’t be accepted during the drop-off however you can take this to the Penrith Community Recycling Centre (CRC). See penrith.city/CRC for details.

Book a bulky waste collection at penrith.city/bulkywaste

• 15 •

MAGNETIC PLACES F O U R E X C I T I N G N E W C R E AT I V E PROJECTS SET TO BEGIN Magnetic Places is an arts initiative of Penrith City Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal Program that

enables Penrith residents to contribute their energy and imagination to transform public spaces.

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 16

Artist Carolyn Donovan in Art doco series “Watcha Doin’ Today” Image credit: Loretta Farrell

OUR

Council has funded four creative community projects:

01» Magnetic Creative Faces – Make a documentary on your phone from home (Oct 2021 – Mar 2022)

03» North St Marys New Vision – Create mosaics in North St Marys (Feb 2022 – Apr 2022)

BELOW: Student, Charlotte Kube in Loretta Farrell’s 2020 lockdown doco series

04» Untitled: Untold Tales by the Unheard – Walk through film projections on Queen Street, St Marys (Apr 2022 – May 2022)

With the easing of NSW Health restrictions, these innovative projects are gearing up to begin. Don’t miss your chance to be part of one! The first project to kick off is “Magnetic Creative Faces” by local documentary filmmaker, Loretta Farrell. Participants are invited to become joint filmmakers in this combined documentary where they can share their creative stories

and passions. Creative people of all types are welcome including painters, makers, writers, and musicians. Getting involved is easy:

»

Reach out to Loretta via email magneticcreativeface @gmail.com. » Film yourself being creative on your phone or camera » No editing is required – that’s Loretta’s job!

The documentary will be made in the style of the film “Love Actually” following different

creatives with stories from 30 seconds to 3 minutes. Each story will introduce us to our colourful, creative community as we meet our neighbours of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. For inspiration check out Loretta’s previous docuseries “Watcha Doin’ Today”: lorettafarrell.wixsite. com/watchadointoday The final Magnetic Creative Faces documentary will be screened in Coachmans Park, St Marys in the first half of 2022 as part of the Magnetic Places Arts Trail. Over the past 12 years the Magnetic Places program has delivered over 93 creative projects.

Join in the fun with this year’s Magnetic Places projects – learn more at Penrith.city/MagneticPlaces • 17 •

ABOVE: Western Sydney Pacific artists feature in digital installation, ‘Untitled’ coming to St Marys. Image Credit: Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu

02» St Marys Sings – Join a temporary choir at St Marys Library (Feb 2022 – Apr 2022)

OUR

CULTURAL TREASURES PENRITH REGIONAL GALLERY - HOME OF T H E L E W E R S B E Q U E S T, I S E X C I T E D T O WELCOME YOU BACK WITH A RANGE

Maryanne Taouk

OF AMAZING EXHIBITIONS PATTERN AND PRINT: EASTON PEARSON ARCHIVE features a selection of vibrant garments that highlight the technical innovations, bespoke fabric, bold prints, and embellishment choices of this fashion house over its remarkable 28-year history (22 January - 17 April).

FROM THE COLLECTION X - MARYANNE TAOUK with journalist and writer, Maryanne Taouk, who undertakes a residency in Ancher House, meeting with the local community to discuss the objects they hold dear (15 January - 17 April).

A TANGLED BANK presents the powerful works of seven contemporary artists from diverse backgrounds, reflecting on environmental crises, histories of forced migration, and the displacement and dispossession of First Nations land (15 January - 17 April).

PENRITHREGIONALGALLERY. COM.AU Mehwish Iqbal, Oscillation of Memorabilia, 2018, Silk Screen, Etching, Collagraph, Embroidery. Courtesy the Artist.

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 18

THE JOAN IS BACK WITH

The Designers’ Guide: Easton Pearson Archive 2018.

Photo by Carl Warner. Illustration: Stephen Mok

OLD AND NEW IN 2022 There is so much in store for theatregoers in 2022, check out just a few of the experiences that will be on offer.

KIDS AT THE JOAN Performing arts for families, schools, early childhood and school holidays groups.

OPEN FRIDAYS The Borland Lounge will be open from 5pm with entertainment, walk-ins welcome.

COMEDY Regular local stand-up nights, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow and more!

MUSIC Local musicians, Morning Melodies, Penrith Symphony Orchestra, and touring performers.

TALKS & IDEAS Provocation, humour, panel discussions, presentations, and Q & A.

THEJOAN.COM.AU

• 19 •

OUR

LIBRARY

01

Summer Reads Check out these fantastic library offerings, perfect for some summer “ME time”!

02

APPLES NEVER FALL

THE CURLEW’S EYE

Liane Moriarty

Karen Manton

Read the book that will be talked about at every summer BBQ this year. From #1 New York Times bestselling author Liane Moriarty comes a novel that looks at marriage, siblings, and how the people we love the most can hurt us the deepest. Moriarty delivers her trademark “domesticsuspense” that will have you turning pages late into the night.

A haunting mystery set on an isolated property in the Northern Territory, Manton’s atmospheric debut novel has a distinctly gothic vibe. Returning to the burnt-out ruins of his childhood home, Joel’s hidden past is determined to disrupt his new life. It seems both Joel and his wife Greta have longheld secrets that must be dealt with. A bonus element of the story is the rich description of life in outback Australia.

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 20

LIBRARY HOLIDAY OPENING HOURS

Kickstart Your Summer of Reading with the Orbit Summer Readathon

Friday 24 December 2021 9am to 4pm Saturday 25 December through to Monday 3 January 2022 All branches CLOSED Tuesday 4 January 2022 All branches return to normal operating hours

Monday 6 December 2021 Friday 28 January 2022 Calling all children and teens under 16, into one of our library branches, to grab an Orbit Summer Readathon log sheet and get reading!

Return your completed log sheets to any Penrith City library branch by 28 January 2022 for your chance to win great prizes.

03

RIDE THE WIND, SKYDRAGON BOOK 3 Anh Do One of Australia’s best-loved storytellers, Anh Do delivers the latest in the Skydragon series. Tired of being hunted, and sick of being afraid, Amber wonders if she can escape her destiny and live a normal life, like a normal girl. But two new villains are on the prowl, and when other people’s lives are on the line, will Amber hide...or will she rise?

Perfect for young readers aged 8-14.

• 21 •

There’s more than one way to win! Read 20 books or more to receive a $5 book voucher (limit of one per entrant). There are also some major Joan Pearson Reading Award prizes to be won. The more log sheets you complete, the more chances you have to win!

Terms and conditions apply.

Visit library.penrith.city for full details.

OUR

LEARN TO SWIM PROGRAM

Y O U R S U M M E R S TA R T S H E R E AT R I P P L E S Now is the time to take advantage of the community facilities on offer, whether it be to increase your fitness, improve your skills, or just to cool off and have some fun!

Ripples Leisure Centres operate according to COVIDsafe practices, check out ripplesnsw.com.au to learn more.

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 22

What’s the perfect

The heated indoor

in the Turtle stage, children

antidote to long, hot days in Penrith? A refreshing swim! This makes learning to be safe in and around water a must-have skill for us all. The expert staff at our Ripples Leisure Centres are thrilled to be able to bring back their award-winning learn to swim program.

pool at Ripples St Marys allows the school to run all year round. This provides the consistency and routine needed to help little ones build skills and become comfortable in the water. Babies enjoy the added warmth and quieter atmosphere of the hydrotherapy pool across the road at the Ripples Hydrotherapy Centre.

can earn a new, brightly coloured cap each time they progress to a new class level - at no cost to parents.

The response to the initiative has been fantastic, with children showing a sense of unity within classes as they all wear matching caps, as well as motivating them to improve their skills and earn their next cap.

Being named AUSTSWIM’s National Swim School of the Year (2019), inspired the Ripples team to continue to find ways to improve the learn to swim experience.

Earlier this year, the centre introduced a colour-coded swim cap system for the learn to swim levels. Starting out with a green cap

the next Olympic Games, swimming is a skill that can benefit your health and might just help you reach your dream career. Just ask any police officer or flight attendant, knowing how to swim is a pre-requisite for their jobs and an essential lifesaving skill. As a low impact form of exercise, it’s also an activity that our entire community can enjoy.

Ripples Leisure Centres, Council’s fitness and aquatics facilities in Penrith and St Marys, are passionate about giving everyone the skills to be confident swimmers. The team of 35 instructors, most of whom are Penrith locals, teach babies as young as four months old, through to teenagers and adults at the Ripples Swim School.

• 23 •

Whilst incredibly important, learning to swim isn’t just about safety. Even if you don’t have your eyes on

OUR

KIDS’ CARE

100% OF OUR SERVICES MEET OR EXCEED T H E N AT I O N A L QUALITY S TA N D A R D S , THE BENCHMARK FOR QUALITY E D U C AT I O N A N D CARE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA.

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 24

COUNCIL’S CHILDREN’S SERVICES ENROLLING NOW FOR 2022 As another year draws to a close it’s time to make plans for your child’s care in 2022. With 44 services in 18 locations, Penrith City Council provides high quality and affordable services for babies through to 12-year-olds across Long Day Care, Preschool, Out of School Hours Care, Vacation Care and a Mobile Playvan. Our services are not for profit, with all proceeds invested right back into our educational facilities and resources.

LOOKING FOR A PRESCHOOL TO GET YOUR CHILD READY FOR BIG SCHOOL? All our preschool services offer quality transition to school programs in a safe and nurturing environment.

Our competitive, allinclusive fees give your child access to exciting programs such as music, yoga and photography.

NEED BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL CARE?

WANT TO GET SCHOOL HOLIDAY CARE SORTED? We will be offering Vacation Care programs in December and January (for children aged 5-12) across a range of sites.

You can book for the entire holidays or individual days to suit your needs. For details on our programs and online booking dates opening this month (December), visit penrith.city/childcare

Our 15 conveniently located Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) services offer young people opportunities to discover, explore, develop new skills, and share interests in a warm, caring, familiar environment. Breakfast and afternoon tea included.

To find out more about any of our services or to enrol your child, contact our team on 4732 7844 or email csclerical@penrith.city.

Child Care Subsidy is available for those parents who are eligible.

We look forward to welcoming your child to one of our centres soon!

• 25 •

OUR

CHANGING BACKYARD Construction has begun on the Harold Corr Athletics Track Upgrade, a $5 million project which will see the existing field in Herbert St, Cambridge Park, become an improved training facility for the region’s sporting clubs and offer

a prime location for athletics events.

To be jointly funded

by Penrith City Council and the NSW and Australian governments, the project will be rolled out in stages. The first stage will deliver

a synthetic athletics track and field facility, floodlighting, and a formalised carpark.

To find out more and see the detailed design, visit penrith. city/sports-upgrades.

New Cafes Coming Renowned retailer 2773 Café Glenbrook has been announced as the hospitality provider for the soon to be refurbished historic Police Cottage at Emu Plains.

To find out more visit penrith.city/policecottage

The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre (The Joan) will be getting a café (image above) as part of Council’s plan to enhance the theatre’s offering. Expressions of interest for the hospitality operator have just closed. For the latest on the café see penrith.city/thejoancafe

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • COMMUNITY NEWS SUMMER 2021 • 26

COUNCIL ELECTION 2021 The Council election recently took place on 4 December 2021. An announcement regarding the election results will be made once all the votes have been counted. Full details of the new Mayor and Councillors will be shared in the Autumn issue of Our Place in March, 2022.

KNOW SOMEONE WHO MAKES PENRITH A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE? Nominations Now Open for 2022 Submit in person, online, by mail and video until 30 April 2022.

THERE ARE FOUR AWARD CATEGORIES TO CHOOSE FROM:

For details on Council elections, including the election process and legal obligations visit PENRITH.CITY/ COUNCILELECTION

Citizen of the Year over 18 years old

Young Citizen of the Year aged under 17 years old

Mayor’s Local Heroes Award all ages

Making a Difference: Community Service Award all ages

PENRITH.CITY/LOCAL-CELEBRATION-AWARDS

• 27 •

OUR

The Chris Cross Image Credit: CSIRO Radio Astronomy Image Archive

PLACE IN HISTORY

While the town of Parkes is well known for the role of its “dish” in space exploration, few people realise that one of Australia’s most important radio

astronomy sites is located right here in Penrith. The Fleurs telescope site on Mamre Road, Kemps Creek was once considered one of

the world’s leading astronomy field stations.

Fleurs was home to three innovative radio telescopes, the Mill Cross, Shain Cross and the Chris Cross.

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W H AT I S A R A D I O T E L E S C O P E ?

A telescope that is designed to receive radio waves from space. They allow us to map out galaxies that are impossible to view using visible light and optical telescopes.

THE SHAIN

THE MILLS

The Mills Cross radio telescope was the invention of Australian Bernie Mills and boasted narrow N-S and E-W arrays of dipoles (magnetic poles) about 450m long, arranged in a cross configuration.

Between 1954 and

1957, the Mills Cross was used to carry out a detailed survey of the sky and recorded more than 2,000 sources of radio emission.

Most of them were extragalactic (coming from other galaxies!) and these had a big impact on how we understand the structure of the universe.

CROSS The Shain Cross, named for Alex Shain, a pioneer of Australian radio astronomy, was created in 1956. The Shain Cross was used to carry out a survey of the galactic plane and monitor radio emissions from Jupiter. Studying Jupiter’s radio waves is how we know that it rotates once every ten hours and that it has a magnetic field.

THE CHRIS CROSS The Chris Cross designed by Dr W N Christiansen and completed in 1957, was the first radio telescope to generate daily two-dimensional high-resolution radio pictures of the Sun. • 29 •

Bernie Mills and Alec Little taking measurements at the Mills Cross, 1954 Image Credit: CSIRO Radio Astronomy Image Archive

CROSS

C R O S S, TH IS WAS ONE OF T H E M OST P OWE RFUL RAD IO T E L E S C OPE S IN TH E WORL D . interstellar gas and dust that emit light in different colours).

After the Fleurs Synthesis Telescope was closed in 1988, the site passed to the Engineering Faculty at the University of Western Sydney and for some years was used as a teaching facility.

Penrith’s three radio telescopes, used to achieve groundbreaking research, are an important part of both local and international astronomical heritage. Penrith’s achievement in this field is a testament to our City’s commitment to continual improvement, an attribute that is still evident today in the many future focused initiatives taking place across our City. Now, as in the past, Penrith forges ahead.

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Equipment inside the Receiver Hut, 1954 Image Credit: CSIRO Radio Astronomy Image Archive

W H E N USE D WITH TH E C H RIS

LEFT: An aerial view of the Fleurs Synthesis Telescope, 1969 Image Credit: CSIRO Radio Astronomy Image Archive

In 1963, the Fleurs’ 18m antennae was moved to Parkes to be used with its radio telescope, and the Fleurs site and remaining equipment were presented to the University of Sydney.

During the 1970s, staff and graduate students from the School of Electrical Engineering set about constructing the Fleurs Synthesis Telescope (FST).

When used with the Chris Cross, this was one of the most powerful radio telescopes in the world. It was used for detailed studies of large radio galaxies, supernova remnants and emission nebulae (clouds of

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