Western Weekender October 16 2025

Thursday, October 16, 2025

BASKETBALL IN PENRITH ON HIATUS OVER STADIUM DISPUTE

SLAM DUNKED

Basketball in Penrith is on hold and its future uncertain as a dispute emerges between the local association and the region’s biggest basketball venue.

Penrith District Basketball Association (PDBA) was meant to tip off its Summer season last weekend, but a breakdown in negotiations with Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre (PVRSC) – specifically on hire fees and office space rent – has resulted in players staying off the court.

Local mum Sonya Lee’s two sons Zeek and Vance love playing basketball, but she says the rise in court costs – which will ultimately be passed down to families suffering from a cost-of-living crisis – will be detrimental to the sport in the area.

“The recent and proposed court hire fee increases from PVRSC, along with new upfront payment requirements, threaten the viability of basketball in Penrith,” she said.

“If local courts are lost or access becomes unaffordable, many children will be forced to travel outside the area, or worse, stop

playing together. This is a real community issue that affects hundreds of young people and families in Penrith.”

Earlier this month, PDBA received a short-term offer from PVRSC to cover their upcoming summer competitions – which were scheduled to start last week – of which they were requested to pay $120 + GST per hour for court hire (up $37 including GST from July prices), and $1,000 + GST per week for their use of the office space.

It is understood up until now, PVRSC has never had a formal agreement in place with PDBA to occupy the office space.

In an email to members about the situation, PDBA said upon reviewing the offer, they remain “focused negotiating in good faith”, and would be guided by their commitment to the needs of members.

“Given the significant increase in court hire fees, we have made the decision, in consultation with our members, to pause the start of our competitions pending further negotiations,” the PDBA Board said in a written statement to the Weekender this week.

NATHAN TAYLOR

Story continues on » p. 5

Courts remain empty for basketballers in Penrith.

Photo: Melinda Jane.

Hot weather prompts fire season alert

Penrith is no stranger to a hot summer blanketed by smoke; in fact, the memories of the 2019-2020 Black Summer fires remain strong in the community’s minds.

As the area nears the Bush Fire Danger Period (BFDP), the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) is urging local communities not to become complacent this bush fire season and to begin their own preparations.

Local RFS Operation Officer –Preparedness, Damian Larkin, urged the local community to begin their preparations now, saying it is never too early to make a Bush Fire Survival Plan.

“With hotter and drier conditions on the way now is the time for Penrith residents to get their homes and families ready,” he said.

“A few hours spent preparing can make all the difference when conditions deteriorate.

“It’s also important to keep up to date using the Fires Near Me app, local news and RFS social media.

“Understanding what the alert levels mean and having a clear plan gives you the best chance of staying safe when fire conditions worsen.”

Those alert levels Larkin mentioned are a key element to keeping communities safe this bush fire season.

The first level is ‘advice’: a fire has started but there’s no immediate danger. Stay informed.

The second level is ‘watch and act’: conditions are changing, and you need to be ready to act.

The third level is ‘emergency’ warning: You are in danger. Take immediate action.

Other key tips to be prepared this bushfire season:

• Clean up around your property: remove leaves and debris from gutters, gardens and under decks.

• Maintain lawns and gardens: keep grass short and plants wellspaced to slow any spread of fire.

• Check hoses and water supply: Make sure garden hoses reach all areas of your home.

• Have a Bush Fire Survival Plan: Discuss with your household what you will do if a fire threatens including when to leave, where to go and what to take. You can create and download one easily at www. myfireplan.com.au.

• Stay informed: know the fire ratings and understand the three Bush Fire Alert Levels.

• Don’t forget the basics: dispose of cigarette butts properly, avoid using machinery in dry or windy conditions, and report unattended fires immediately to Triple Zero (000).

RFS Commissioner Trent Curtin

said with the official start of the Bush Fire Danger Period (BFDP) commencing for most of the state, all of NSW needs to remember it only takes one ember to destroy an unprepared home.

“Most homes lost during bushfires are destroyed by embers, not flames, which means even those who don’t live right next to the bush

need to be aware of their risk this season,” Curtin said.

“These small sparks can impact neighbourhoods more than 20km from a fire front, quickly igniting leaves in your gutter or debris in an untidy lawn.”

The statutory bush fire season runs until March 31 next year, and started on October 1.

Man admits to killing partner

The man charged with murdering his girlfriend last year has plead guilty in Penrith Local Court.

After over 12 months of court delays Jeremaia Tuwai officially plead guilty to stabbing his girlfriend to death in their Kingswood home last year.

Emergency services were called to a unit on the Great Western Highway at 1.40pm on Monday, July 8 last year where

they located a 21-year-old woman with two stab wounds to her chest.

Paramedics worked to save the woman for an extensive period of time, but she died at the scene.

The woman was later identified as Fijian national Nunia Kurualeba.

Kurualeba died at the hands of her partner, the then 21-year-old Tuwai.

It is understood at least one other person was home when Tuwai stabbed Kurualeba twice

in the chest. It is believed that person raised the alarm with police.

Tuwai then fled from the unit but was later apprehended that same evening at a premises on Derby Street in Penrith.

Tuwai was questioned overnight and was charged with ‘murder – DV’ the following morning.

Since his arrest, Tuwai has been remanded in custody at Goulburn Correctional Centre.

Tuwai appeared via AVL in

Penrith Local Court on Friday, October 10 where he officially entered a plea of guilty for the charge against him.

He sat calmly in his prison greens as he spoke to the judge, confirming he understood the gravity of what he was pleading guilty to.

Bail was not applied for by Tuwai’s legal team.

The case will next be mentioned in the Sydney Supreme Court on Friday, November 7 where Tuwai will be sentenced.

Nunia Kurualeba was killed by her partner Jeremaia Tuwai.

Local RFS Operation Officer – Preparedness Damian Larkin.

BRIDES LEFT FURIOUS

Wedding venue finally acts after deposits not refunded

Awedding day is expected to be a magical experience for a couple, and for a series of local brides it was until it wasn’t.

In the weeks after their special day one thing became very apparent – the $1,000 security deposit they paid to their venue wasn’t going to be refunded without hassle.

At least not until questions were asked by The Western Weekender

Hawkesbury Country Retreat has been operating as a wedding venue for years, offering couples a picturesque venue nestled on the edge of the Hawkesbury River in Cornwallis.

As part of the contract couples agree to when engaging the site is to pay a $1,000 security deposit prior to the wedding to cover any damages or cleaning fees following the end of the event. If there are no issues the deposit would be refunded to

the couple one month following their wedding.

For many brides the $1,000 was never returned to their bank accounts despite countless promises.

Instead, they were met with excuses before the owner would turn radio silent.

This was the case for Jordan Springs bride Skye Johnson who got married at Hawkesbury Country Retreat in July, meaning she was supposed to receive her security deposit back by the middle of August.

Johnson followed up with the venue numerous times asking for the promised refund.

“The owner then said that their account had been hacked and that it might take a little bit longer for them to refund it, so I just said ‘No worries and that I’ll check in with you at the end of next week’,” Johnson explained.

“I followed them up and didn’t hear anything. I sent another email and still didn’t hear anything.

“I sent a third email, and

they responded saying ‘so sorry I’ll … sort it this week…’ that was the 8th of September and that was the last correspondence I had with them.”

Since then, Johnson and her husband have engaged their solicitor to deliver the owner a letter of demand – which they delivered in person, over email and via text – as well as continuing to call, email and text.

“I’ve lodged a complaint with Fair Trading and in between all of this, I’ve still tried to get in touch,” Johnson said.

“…[The owner’s] just ignoring any type of correspondence.”

Despite the problems trying to get her money refunded, Johnson said everything else with the venue went perfectly.

“It’s a real shame because the actual wedding was incredible. I honestly can’t fault the way the day played out, the staff they had for the night, it was wonderful,” Johnson said.

“Nothing went wrong, everything went perfect which you rarely hear about weddings, there is usually always something that goes wrong but honestly, I can’t fault them in that sense.

“For this to be the outcome, I’m shocked and I am really disappointed because ... to then find out we’re not the only ones this has happened to, I just think it is really sad. [The owner] kind of just takes away from everyone’s special day.”

Johnson and her husband were not the only couple that have not had their security deposit returned.

“I have tried to call, text and email [the owner] where I am mainly met with radio silence or an excuse that their accounts have been hacked,” another bride, Jade explained.

“I’ve just gone through our local court and served them with papers; however, this has also been ignored, and we are now in the process of filing for a default win

with Windsor Court. The process hasn’t been easy, as my partner and I both work full-time, have a toddler and expecting another on the way, so dedicating time filing with local courts, driving to get documents signed by a JP has been exhausting.”

Two other brides spoke to the Weekender confirming they have also not had their deposit refunded to them despite numerous attempts to contact the owner of Hawkesbury Country Retreat.

“There’s a part of me where

it is nice to know you are not the only one but the other side of that is like that is really sad,” Johnson said. The Weekender attempted to contact Hawkesbury Country Retreat in relation to the issue.

On Tuesday, the owner responded, saying that outstanding deposits were being refunded. The Weekender confirmed on Wednesday that couples we had spoken to had started receiving their long-awaited refunds.

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One of the brides, Skye Johnson, who has been fighting to get her security deposit back, as promised. Photo: Melinda Jane.

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From The Editor’s Desk

Troy Dodds

Iwas 11-years-old in 1994.

The world still ahead of me. Naïve enough to not fully understand the perils of the world in which we live, smart enough to know it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Now don’t get me wrong. Life is pretty good here in 2025. I wouldn’t change much in the 42 years I’ve spent on this planet.

But 1994. Sometimes I want to go back to 1994.

A world where not all information was at our fingertips. When you’d engage in a magazine to learn or enhance your hobbies.

A time when the hourly news on the radio and the 6pm TV news meant everything. When journalism was special and real, free from worrying about clicks or interaction online.

When the front or back page of the paper legitimately surprised you and set the agenda for the rest of the day.

In 1994 I was only just discovering my own musical tastes, stepping ever so slightly away from my parents’ love of rock ‘n’ roll.

It was the year I fell in love with Tina Arena’s ‘Don’t Ask’, and Tina Arena herself to be fair. CDs may have cost $29.95 but there was something special about buying them. Something different about holding that physical product in your hand, the anticipation of buying it reaching its crescendo.

I’d been to a few concerts by the time 1994 rolled around as well.

Boy, did they hit different back then to the way they do now.

Not an iPhone in sight. The sea of mobile phones replaced instead by a truly connected audience letting their minds provide the memories.

In fact, you faced getting kicked out if you were spotted taking a sneaky photo on your bulky, film camera.

‘Blue Heelers’ was my favourite show back in 1994. It was in its second season back then, and quickly became appointment television.

Nobody could argue that the quality of TV has improved a lot over the years and the streaming world has opened our eyes to new ways to consume the latest shows and movies, but there was something about free-

INDEX

to-air TV. Something about scouring the free weekly TV guide in the Sunday papers or if you were really lucky, the TV Week

Setting the VHS to record your favourite show if you were out.

Jumping on the landline phone after an episode of your favourite show had ended to debrief, something now largely done by group chats – once everyone has got around to watching it in their own time.

We had so little to watch when you think about it but it still felt like there was too many choices.

It was front page news when Channel 10 decided to dump the Sunday night movie, an institution in the 1990s. Somehow, the hour of ads included didn’t bother us that much.

in 1994. A rusted on fan for life and I wasn’t even a teenager yet.

But boy did sport hit different.

Gambling just wasn’t part of the equation, a different world to the ads and pushes we have to navigate today.

Players were motivated by legitimate passion for the codes in which they played, not million-dollar pay packets.

It all just felt more real.

Friday night footy was often accompanied by a pizza. It still is, but back in those days you of course had to ring up, place your order and let them know you only had a $50 note. That’s right, not only did you have to pay in cash, but you’d need so much change from $50 you had to let them know in advance.

Heading out for dinner meant a two-for-one deal at the Black Stump or an all you can eat extravaganza at Oz Family Restaurant.

Going anywhere required a street directory and thorough planning.

“You just thought Christmas was going to be like that forever”

Celebrity culture hit different too.

Stars were way bigger back then than they are today given how small and concentrated the world was.

These days you could easily be unaware of someone who may be one of the most popular people on the planet, not through ignorance but the sheer variety of different ways you can be famous in 2025.

Back in 1994, in-store shopping centre appearances were the big thing.

One of my fondest memories was meeting the aforementioned Tina Arena at Warringah Mall.

Autographs were the big thing, not selfies. I was well entrenched into my love affair with rugby league and the Penrith Panthers

I don’t long for the days without GPS but it’s worth noting how much more of your surroundings you took in when you were zoned in on where you were and not constantly glancing at your phone map.

On a personal level there were other things about 1994 that I bloody loved too.

Both my grandmothers, who I loved dearly, were still alive and well.

My Dad, who we lost nine years ago now, was my best mate and only 40-years-old in 1994.

To me that felt so old, now I’m in my 40s and have a better understanding of how life in general must have felt for him at that stage. Family Christmases were special. At that age you’re young enough to still get plenty of presents and old enough to understand and appreciate the traditions.

You just thought Christmas was going to be like that forever.

I’ve benefited a lot from the way our world has changed.

There is enormous benefit to today’s tech-focused world and how we live today. But sometimes, just sometimes, I long for 1994.

What is your 1994?

troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au

@troydodds

SPORT AT STANDSTILL

“We look forward to continuing to negotiate in order to provide an opportunity for basketball within the Penrith LGA.”

The PVRSC, a not-for-profit organisation that operates on Council-owned land and has been located in Cambridge Park for more than 40 years, defended its decision to jack up prices – stating it recently underwent significant high-cost repairs to be able to continue to provide a modern venue for community events.

“This would not have been possible without access to a loan from Penrith City Council,” the PVRSC Board said in a written statement to the Weekender

“One of the conditions of the loan is that the operating model of the stadium needed to be financially sustainable and capable of both repaying the loan and building reserves capable of providing ongoing capital maintenance costs.

“Council commissioned a study of the best operating model for the facility that provided some areas of opportunity for the PVRSC to consider.”

Options explored by the PVRSC to achieve this outcome included a merger proposal with PDBA and a commercial agreement that addressed the previously free use of office space and utilities and different methods for determining equitable contribution to a sustainable financial model.

“All negotiations were conducted in good faith, however neither option has been considered accept-

able by the PDBA,” the PVRSC Board said.

“The PDBA has enjoyed generous exceptions over more than 20 years, including rent free office space and utilities and delayed requirements for invoice payments given the historic ties between the two organisations.

“Given the conditions of the loan and the failure to determine an alternate operating model, the

PVRSC then had to establish a base rate for all its users ($120 per hour ex GST) that reflected a market-aligned rate that would start addressing the immediate and long-term financial challenges of keeping the stadium open for all community events.”

The Weekender understands that the upcoming Summer competition for basketball was the first longterm booking for which that rate would be applicable and has been offered on a ‘pay for what you book’ model.

The PVRSC Board said the decision to hike up costs was “regrettable but necessary” for the sustainability of

the popular community venue into the future.

“The increasing cost of providing a community venue, and the impact of the recent significant improvements to the venue that required the Council loan are regrettable but necessary,” the Board said.

“The PVRSC wants to support all of our users in the growth of their endeavours but must now more than ever ensure that decisions including hire rates reflect the future costs and needs of the facility.”

For now, as negotiations continue, summer basketball in Penrith remains at a standstill.

Sonya Lee’s basketball loving son, Vance.

Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Police Snapshot Legal Matters LAW and ORDER

Penrith: Vehicle stop reveals drugs, bullet and knife

A man will front court after a number of illegal items were allegedly discovered in his car by police.

At 11.40am on Tuesday, October 7 police conducted a car stop on Doonmore Street in Penrith.

The male driver of the car told police that he may be carrying ice in his pocket. Police found a small plastic container containing methamphetamine and a small clear resealable bag that they believed to contain ketamine.

A further search of the car revealed a .22 calibre rifle bullet as well as a disability card in another person’s name. In the centre console police also found a knife.

The man was taken to Penrith Police Station where he was charged with five offences.

He will appear in Penrith Local Court on Wednesday, November 26.

St Marys: Man riding e-scooter flees from police

At 2.45pm on Thursday, October 9 police came across a man believed to be under the influence of drugs, riding an electric scooter.

The 42-year-old Doonside man recognised police and started to walk away causing police to engage in a foot pursuit.

A short struggle ensued between police and the 42-year-old before the man was successfully apprehended.

The man was carrying two Corrections NSW ankle monitor chargers which he had left with the electric scooter that he had been riding before the pursuit.

The 42-year-old was taken to St Marys Police Station where he was formally charged.

He will appear in Penrith Local Court on Thursday, November 27.

Penrith: Man refuses to pull up pants; police do it for him

A man exposing himself has been charged by police after he refused directions to pull up his pants.

At 6.30pm on Thursday, October 9 police responded to reports of a man in Coombewood Avenue in Penrith who was exposing his genitalia and buttocks to the surrounding members of the public.

The 33-year-old Atarmon man appeared to be under the influence of drugs and was refusing to pull his pants up.

The 33-year-old was arrested, handcuffed and police pulled his pants up for him.

The man was taken to Penrith Police Station where he was charged with ‘Wilful

and obscene exposure in/near public place/ school’.

He will appear in Penrith Local Court on Monday, October 27.

Penrith: Woman arrested after shoplifting

At 8.30 pm on Thursday, October 9 a woman walked into an electronics store within a large shopping centre in Penrith.

The woman made her way to the phones section of the store, selected a phone holder, placed it into her handbag and left the store without making any attempt to pay for the item.

Shortly after, police found the 36-year-old Miller woman who matched the description of the woman believed to have stolen the item. Police spoke to the 36-year-old, and she denied having any knowledge of stealing the item.

Police charged the woman with shoplifting, and she will appear in Penrith Local Court on Friday, October 31.

Werrington: Red p plater caught drink driving

At 2.50am on Saturday, October 11 police were patrolling the Great Western Highway in Werrington when they saw a white Mitsubishi Triton swerving in and out of lanes.

Police stopped the Triton and spoke with the driver, a 19-year-old Claremont Meadows man who held a red P2 licence.

The 19-year-old was subjected to a roadside breath test to which he returned a positive result.

The 19-year-old was arrested and taken to St Marys Police Station where he was subjected to a further breath analysis. He returned a positive reading of 0.036.

His driver’s licence was suspended, and he was charged with ‘Novice driver drive with novice range PCS – 1st off’.

The 19-year-old will appear in Penrith Local Court on Thursday, November 27.

North St Marys: Police issue appeal to find missing teenagers

Police are searching for two brothers last seen at North St Marys earlier this week.

Ronnie Trindall and Tyrell Trindall, aged 13 and 14, were last seen on Liddle Street, North St Marys, about 8am on Tuesday.

When they could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Parramatta Police Area Command were notified and commenced inquiries into their whereabouts.

Photos of the pair are available on our website at www.westernweekender.com.au.

WHAT ARE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND ARE THEY COMPULSORY?

In New South Wales, and more broadly across Australia, there is no strict legal requirement for employment contracts to be in writing. Employment relationships can be formed verbally, in writing, or by conduct. However, certain minimum terms and conditions of employment are governed by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), the National Employment Standards (NES), and relevant modern awards or enterprise agreements.

While a written employment contract is not compulsory, employers are legally required to provide new employees with a Fair Work Information Statement, which outlines key rights and entitlements.

We recommend to employees and employers alike that employment contracts are usually a good idea.

Why are employment contracts a good idea?

Firstly, a written contract clearly sets out the terms and conditions of employment, reducing the risk of misunderstandings or disputes.

Contracts also allow for the inclusion of terms specific to the business or role, such as confidentiality, intellectual property, and post-employment restraints or things like bonus or incentive schemes.

What types of things are included in employment contracts?

A well-drafted employment contract typically includes the following: Parties to the Contract: Names and details of the employer and employee.

Position and Duties: Job title, description of duties, and reporting lines.

Commencement Date and Term: Start date and, if applicable, duration of employment (e.g., fixed-term or ongoing).

Remuneration and Benefits: Salary or wage, payment frequency, superannuation, and any additional benefits (e.g., bonuses, allowances).

Hours of Work: Ordinary hours, overtime, and arrangements for flexible work.

Leave Entitlements: Annual leave, personal/carer’s leave, parental leave, and other statutory or contractual leave.

Probationary Period: If there a probation period applicable, the duration and conditions of any probationary period.

Termination: Notice periods, grounds for termination, and procedures for resignation or dismissal.

Confidentiality and Intellectual Property: Obligations regarding confidential information and ownership of intellectual property created during employment.

Post Employment Restraints: Any applicable non-compete, non-solicitation, and other post-employment restrictions, where appropriate.

Dispute Resolution: Mechanisms for resolving workplace disputes.

An employment contract also has another great benefit – it is a talking piece to start a conversation between employee and employer about each party’s expectations to ensure they are on the same page before deciding to work together.

GOVERNMENT TO RECOVER OPAL FUNDS

The NSW Government will recover unused balances on millions of dormant, unregistered Opal cards that have not been used for at least five years and invest in active transport initiatives, including more Opal bike lockers.

A Bill is being introduced to NSW Parliament this week that will for the first time allow Transport for NSW to make use of dormant funds on cards that have not been tapped for five years or more.

There are an estimated 17 million Opal Cards with positive balances that will not

have been used for five years by 2026-27 –many of which are thought to be interstate or international visitors who have purchased one-off Opal credit on unregistered cards.

The average unused balance per card is $4. There is an estimated total balance of about $70 million across those cards.

“Sydney is a global destination and a magnet for visitors which is one reason why there may be so many Opal cards – 17 million of them – left unused with dormant balances for five years or more,” said Transport Minister John Graham.

Local nurse’s shock at cancer diagnosis

Aroutine visit to her doctor in May turned into the beginning of a long journey of treatment and advocacy for Penrith resident Jaimie Earl, who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

The Nurse Manager at Nepean Hospital had no cancer symptoms and had done everything right, so it was a shock when her doctor revealed some concerning blood test results.

“My liver function tests were highly elevated, and after some investigations, we discovered I had a metastasis of secondary tumours in my liver,” Jaimie recounted.

“From there, we worked backwards and traced it back to my breast, which led to the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer.”

In secret, the cancer had quietly made its way from the nurse’s breast to her liver and bones despite consistent self-checks at home and regular check-ups with

her doctor. Since having its cover blown, Jaimie has undergone a whirlwind of tests.

“I was diagnosed on May 9, and within nine business days I had started chemotherapy at Nepean’s Cancer Care and Wellness Centre,” Jaimie said, adding on that she’s been cared for by the friendly faces of co-workers.

“It was hard to begin with because I wanted to keep my diagnosis a secret. I was embarrassed by my diagnosis, and I felt I had let myself down and let others down, so I was very nervous about it.

“After I got over the initial shock, it has been reassuring to walk into a centre where I know people and people know me; it does make the experience a little bit warmer.”

Disappointment about her diagnosis lingers, but after five months, Jaimie has come to terms with it and hopes to put a positive spin on her circumstances.

“If something positive can come out of this diagnosis,

then that’s what I want,” Jaimie stated.

“I want to ensure women and men get screened from the age of 40. If someone is younger than 40, I hope they see their GP if they have concerns or notice changes in their breasts.

“I think I’ve turned what was embarrassment into motivation to increase awareness and make a bit of change.”

Early intervention is the key to optimal outcomes according to McGrath Metastatic Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Consultant Melanie Brothers.

“Routine screening and self-examination remain the most powerful tools we have to catch breast cancer early, long before symptoms appear,” said Brothers, who works at the Nepean Cancer and Wellness Centre.

“It’s not just for those with a family history. It’s about staying one step ahead.”

Stay one step ahead by booking a life-saving appointment at www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au.

There’s no need for alarm

APenrith man is finally getting a good night’s sleep after a pesky alarm at Penrith Local Court was finally fixed.

Local resident Michael Zammit has heard a piercing noise ringing out in the quiet hours for years, keeping him awake and only allowing him a few hours of sleep a night.

But exactly where the noise was coming from had been a mystery until recently.

“I’ve been hearing it for a long long time, maybe years,” Zammit said.

“I live very far away from the alarm, I don’t know how no one else has complained but me.

“It just rings that loudly, I have a blanket over my head and earplugs in, and it just can’t shut it out.”

Fed up, one-night Zammit went looking for the noise and found it to be coming from Penrith Local Court.

“I sent so many emails to the courthouse; I never got a response,” Zammit explained.

“I went to the police station, and they said they can’t do anything because it is out of their hands.

“It was just an impossible thing to get through with no answers.”

Eventually, Zammit took his concerns to radio station 2GB.

“I sent a big story to 2GB, to Ben Fordham and he just hammered them across three different episodes… all of a sudden it is fixed in 24 hours,” Zammit said.

The cause of the alarm turned out to be faulty sensors being triggered, which have now been fixed.

“A review has been completed in relation to the recent complaint regarding multiple alarm activations at Penrith Courthouse, and the issue has been resolved,” a spokesperson for the Department of Communities and Justice confirmed.

For Zammit, that means he finally has had a good night’s sleep.

“I was only getting two and a half hours of sleep!” Zammit said.

“It was making my job dangerous, and it was making it dangerous for other people on the road because I was driving fatigued, but I had to go to work. It was just a shit go.

“Every single night since has been a good sleep.”

Michael Zammit. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Jaimie Earl is encouraging people to get regular checks.

ALLY HALL

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8.30am-4pm. Mon-Fri. 4732 7777

PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751 council@penrith.city Council’s services are accessible via the online portal at

Services 4732 7777

Contact the EPA hotline on 131 555 and ask for the RID Squad (Regional Illegal Dumping Squad).

Freecall 1800 022 182

Meeting Dates

Monday 27 October – 7pm (Ordinary Meeting)

Online via

penrith.city.council

penrithcouncil

penrithcitycouncil

penrithcitycouncil

penrith.city visitpenrith.com.au

Council Briefs

● Penrith City Council is offering free microchipping for cats and dogs on Saturday 18 October 2025 from 9am–3pm at Gipps Street Recreation Precinct, 34 Gipps Street, Claremont Meadows.

This event gives pet owners the chance to ensure their them if they ever get lost. Residents can also access free pet health checks, receive a free pet ID tag, meet Council’s Animal Services team and chat with local animal care providers.

No appointment is needed – simply come along on the day. Please ensure dogs are on a lead and cats are secured in a carrier.

This event is open to Penrith residents only. For more information call 4732 7777 or head to

● Council is planning for the future of Kingswood and Werrington. These areas are key centres within Penrith’s East-West Corridor, which is set to grow with more people and jobs over the next 20 years.

needed to make these great places to live, work and visit. We want to know what you already like about Kingswood and Werrington, and what you want to see change in future.

You can share your feedback until 13 November 2025.

● The Local Celebration Awards are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the people in our community who dedicate their time to making Penrith a great place to live.

Find out more about the Awards and how to nominate at

● Did you know that two out of three child restraints are

Ensure the safety of your child by having your child car

The next FREE child car seat checking day for Penrith residents is on Saturday 25 October 2025. Bookings essential: Call 4732 7777 or email

● Come along to Village Café to meet your neighbours and chat in a friendly and relaxed environment over a free barista-made coffee. Take the opportunity to connect with local support services to gain free advice on a range of topics including health and wellbeing.

Village Café is held monthly from 9.30–11:30am on the second Thursday of every month at Wainwright Park, Kingswood; the third Thursday at Wattle Park, North St Marys; and the fourth Thursday at Wilson Park, Llandilo.

See you at Village Café!

For more information visit

Integrated Development

Penrith City Council have received a Development Application in respect of the subject property. The consent authority for the Development Application is Penrith City Council.

• Nikolina Vukmirica DA25/0722

Lot 122 DP 32140, 6–12 Mt Vernon Road, Mount Vernon Torrens title subdivision x 2 lots

The proposed development is an Integrated Development, requiring approval from the NSW Rural Fire Service, pursuant to Section 100B of the Rural Fires Act 1997

The Development Application referred to in this notice and supporting documentation accompanying the subject application may be inspected on Penrith City Council’s DA Tracker at , in the period from Monday 20 October 2025 to Sunday 2 November 2025.

Any person may, during the exhibition period, make a submission in writing to Penrith City Council, in relation to the Development Application. Where a submission is made by way of an objection, the grounds of objection are to be

Council’s reference number DA25/0722.

Please contact Hannah Vousden, Development Assessment Planner on 4732 7646.

The above development application/s may be viewed on Council’s DA Tracker via Council’s Development Services Department will be able to assist with your enquiries.

By law, reportable political donations or gifts must be disclosed by anyone lodging a planning application to Council. Call 4732 7649 or visit

cupboard prize

Q: What did the doctor say to the pair of curtains? A: Pull yourself together!

Send your jokes to news@westernweekender.com.au.

Gorilla Glue is known for its strong, versatile, and premium adhesives that make repairs simple – whether it’s a small craft project or a challenging fix.

With their durability and range, these products are a staple in any household toolkit, making them the perfect go-to gift for DIY enthusiasts, fixer-dads, creative crafters, or anyone who loves to mend and make.

Everyone should have some Gorilla Glue Original at home. The product that started it all, famous for its incredible strength and versatility, Original Gorilla Glue is 100 per cent waterproof and resistant to extreme temperatures. The water activated polyurethane formula expands into materials to form an incredibly

paceway winners lucky

Members of the Penrith Paceway in Penrith have the chance to win great prizes thanks to a special promotion involving the club and your favourite newspaper, The Western Weekender Club members can pick up a free specially numbered

you

Tell us exactly where this week’s featured I Spy image is located in Penrith and you could win! Email competitions@ westernweekender.com.au with your answer for your chance to win two movie tickets. Our winner will be notified by email. Entries close each Wednesday at 5pm.

LAST WEEK’S ANSWER

The abandoned Honda motorcycle and women’s mannequin head is located at Watsonia Street, Emu Plains.

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The Gorilla Glue Company is family-owned and operated and prides itself on its family atmosphere and fun-but-serious products.

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The Weekender has four Gorilla prize packs to give away. For your chance to win one, send an email to competitions@ westernweekender.com.au with ‘Gorilla’ in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your contact details. Entries close October 31 and the winners will be notified by email. Terms and conditions are available at www. westernweekender.com.au or Weekender reception.

bumper sticker from the Paceway or the Weekender office, and our spotters will be out and about in the community.

Three spotted bumper sticker numbers will be printed each week, with winners needing to report to the Pace-

way to verify their bumper sticker number and collect their prize. Look out for new winners on this page every single week!

This week’s lucky winners are: 0001, 0049, 0376

Garton,

Times tough for too many

Walking along Penrith’s High Street, it doesn’t take long to notice sleeping bags nestled into nooks and crannies between storefronts or their disadvantaged owners hoping someone will offer help.

Until October 18, Anti-Poverty Week will highlight the ways we can help impoverished people in our region together. All the while, there are multiple organisations in our community working around the clock to support disadvantaged locals.

“Poverty isn’t just a lack of money, it’s a lack of hope, opportunity and belonging,” said Gai Hawthorn, Secretary of Penrith Community Kitchen.

“At the Kitchen, you do belong and there is hope and there is opportunity with the amount of product we give away. There are always hampers for those in need,

“We can’t fix poverty as much as we wish we could, but together each one of us can

do something.”

Penrith Community Kitchen

– which began operating in 1994 –

“We feed up to 100 people a day,” Hawthorn stated.

“There are around 1,000 people in our local area experiencing homelessness, which is a really hard reality to accept.

“Some of the people on the poverty line are people that have homes, but they can’t afford food after paying all their bills.”

According to WestCare Community Services Director Andrew Paech, many residents need to make difficult decisions during their weekly grocery shop to make ends meet.

“I have been in this role for almost 12 years, and I have not seen a time like this with this much need,” Paech explained.

“Two weeks ago, we received a shipment of over 50,000 nappies, and in just one week, we’ve already distributed over 40,000 across a range of community organisations. For some of them, it’s almost too good to be true.

make decisions on essential items to prioritise. That’s why this shipment of nappies was so important because sometimes we hear families have to make decisions between nappies and food.”

WestCare has been committed to relieving poverty, suffering, and distress in the west since 1977.

“We’ve just come out of the most intense winter,” Paech began.

“We held another Winter Blitz, and we moved a lot of winter warming items – more than any other year.

“We’re seeing more needs arising across the domestic violence and health sectors, and a lot of needs are rising through schools; thankfully, there are a lot of organisations

Another local organisation doing their part to help is Link Wentworth, a community housing provider.

“I define poverty as people who are disadvantaged in our economic system,” said Margaret Maljkovic, the Chief Customer Officer at Link Wentworth.

“They may not have had the same opportunities for employment and education, or they may have had negative experiences throughout their life that caused a breakdown.

Maljkovic stressed the importance of this year’s Anti-Poverty Week and its message.

“This is a really important topic to highlight, especially right here, right now,” she declared.

“We do have a cost-of-living crisis and a housing crisis, so people need

ALLY HALL

Penrith Community Kitchen. Photo: Melinda Jane.

WestCare’s Andrew Paech. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Parcel deadlines for Christmas

Australia Post has released its last-sending dates for Christmas.

Parcels should be sent by Monday, December 22 for same state deliveries and Friday, December 19 for interstate deliveries.

Christmas letters and cards should be sent by Thursday, December 18 for same state deliveries and Tuesday, December 16 for interstate deliveries.

“Christmas is the busiest time of year for our network and we know how important it is for parcels and cards to arrive on time. We’re sharing these key dates early so people can plan ahead, while also scaling up our operations with thousands of extra team members,” said Australia Post Executive General Manager, Gary Starr.

AUSTRALIA POST SPREADS HELP

Local community groups in Sydney have received a combined $85,000 through Australia Post’s 2025 Community Grants program.

Across Sydney, the 10 charities demonstrated commitment to enhancing mental wellbeing, fostering connection, and building resilience in their communities.

Among the recipients was Voices of Resilience at St Marys, which was granted $4,000. Voices of Resilience will support refugees and migrants through creative art and storytelling sessions designed to promote healing and connection. It was developed in response to trauma and recent flooding.

CASE DELAYED

Another adjournment in case of disgraced local accountant

EMILY CHATE

There has been a fresh delay in the case of a Penrith accountant facing fraud charges.

38-year-old tax agent Benjamin Carter was arrested at his Silverdale home in July of 2023 by NSW Raptor Squad detectives, and the case still lingers almost two years later.

He had been under investigation since June of 2023 when Raptor Squad officers – with assistance from the Tax Practitioners Board – commenced an investigation into reports of fraudulent misconduct by Carter and his firm.

Carter was subsequently charged with 16 offences including 14 counts of ‘dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception’, ‘knowingly deal with proceeds of crime’ and ‘possess prohibited drug’.

At the time of his arrest Carter was refused bail but has since been granted conditional bail.

Arrested at the same time as Carter was a then 25-year-old receptionist, now known to be

BIGGEST AU S TRALIA ’S EXPERIENCE

Carter’s partner Amy Steele, at the Carter’s Tax Advisory office in the Penrith CBD.

Police will allege Steele knowingly attempted to conceal Carter’s misconduct and benefited from the proceeds of his crime.

Steele’s case currently remains before the court subject to lengthy adjournments as it is linked with Carter’s case. Her case will return to Penrith Local Court in November.

Since Carter was first arrested in July of 2023 the case has been before the NSW Local Court system at least a dozen times.

The matter has been perpetually adjourned given the magnitude of the evidence collected, including an extensive forensic accounting report.

The matter returned to court on Wednesday where Magistrate van Zuylen adjourned the matter until Wednesday, November 19. It is expected the matter will be committed the next time it is mentioned in court, meaning the magistrate will decide if there is enough evidence for the case to be transferred to a higher court for trial or sentencing.

Ben Carter continues to face the courts.

Gallery makes a splash with summer exhibition

In the Australian summer, a trip to the pool is a no-brainer and a rite of passage. And with an extra hot summer forecasted this year, Lewers: Penrith Regional Gallery plans to keep things cool with a new exhibition – ‘The Pool Show’.

“This is the second in our series of summer blockbuster exhibitions following ‘Spot the Difference’ in 2024,” said Penrith Regional Gallery Director, Toby Chapman.

“In ‘The Pool Show’, we turn our attention to the local swimming pool, not just as a space of leisure and relaxation, but also as a site where the politics of our time play out; where your race, postcode,

gender or sexuality can be determinants for who can swim, and how they are treated in the pool.”

‘The Pool Show’ will be presented in collaboration with the Art Gallery of New South Wales and will feature works by Australian and international artists, including

new commissions from emerging western Sydney artists.

One of the commissioned artists is 21-year-old local Katerina Asistin, who will focus on creating a body of work around Mount Druitt Swimming Centre.

“I grew up in Mount Druitt, and

Mount Druitt Pool has been a place where I’ve made special memories,” Asistin explained.

“I would spend summers there, I would have swimming carnivals for school there, and because of how close it is, it’s always been part of my image of Mount Druitt and one of the staple locations of the suburb.”

Other commissioned work includes the documentation of refugee and migrant women as they learn to swim by Marian Abboud and Forked Tongue Storytellers; a time capsule of poolside holiday snapshots from artist JD Reforma’s family archive; and Kamilaroi/ Gamilaraay artist Dennis Golding’s work exploring the ongoing impact of the 1965 Freedom Ride which protested the segregation of First Nations people from town facilities in New South Wales – including swimming pools.

“Echoing Pathways is a collaborative artwork I created with youth from my pop’s hometown of Collarenebri, guided with stories by Elder, Aunty Roslyn McGregor,” Golding explained.

“We began by listening to histories of exclusion from public spaces across north-west NSW, and the lived experiences of discrimination, resilience and survival that continue to shape our communities today. From these conversations, new expressions and ideas emerged in a curated printmaking workshop at the National Art School in Sydney.

“Each young person etched their own drypoint plate, inscribing words, designs and symbols that spoke of strength, resilience, and their visions of the future.

“When printed together, these plates align like the lanes of a pool, yet instead of dividing they connect. They become pathways of possibility.”

The works on display throughout the exhibition will span almost 100 years, and you can explore them from November 8 to February 15 at the Emu Plains gallery.

A pool is a promise. JD Reforma.

Olympic Pool (Diver), 1988. Max Dupain.

Barred from baths, 1987. Robert Campbell Jnr.

ALLY HALL

HAMPER & WINE GIVEAWAY

TUESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2025

DELICIOUS

A healthy place to work

Penrith’s OnePointHealth skyrockets up prestigious list of Australia’s best workplaces

OnePointHealth Group has a sparkling reputation as the one-stop destination for comprehensive healthcare in Penrith.

Now, the forward-thinking clinic is also known as the 18th Best Workplace in Australia and the 2nd Best Workplace in Healthcare and Social Assistance for 2025.

OnePointHealth CEO Michael Todd explained it’s all about the people.

“Together we have built a great place to work and a strong Employee Value Proposition (EVP) which we keep building on,” Todd said.

“Our recruitment, policies, values, and the way we act every day contributes to the fantastic culture and place to work.

“Every business is unique, and all have their strengths; I think what we do best is focus on ourselves and what we can control, and we try to improve all the time.”

The culture at OnePointHealth has been described as life changing.

“Our team is very diverse with many different skill sets, but we are linked through personal and profes-

sional values,” Todd explained.

“Our culture is built – actually, centered – on positivity, resilience and commitment, and that flows through every conversation, every appointment and every person.”

One value shared by employees is the desire to help people every day.

“We try to go further than this through our ‘Be One’s Best’ slogan, which is all about patients, our team

and the communities we operate in,” the CEO said.

“Our multidisciplinary approach and constant education keep us at the top of our industry. There is just so much learning all the time which leads to improvement.

“Not only that, but every business or location within our group has a charity attached to it. For example, our Footwear Store has ‘The

Footcare Project’ which collects secondhand shoes from the public and then fits them on the homeless once a month.”

Receiving two ‘Best Workplace’ titles from Great Place to Work

Australia has filled the OnePointHealth team with pride.

“We know we are a part of something special,” Todd stated.

“There is no better way to sum up

our group or describe the significant progress we’ve made in culture, patient outcomes, and community and charity support than by being named a ‘Great Place to Work’ and achieve the rankings that we have when up against the whole of Australia.”

This isn’t the first time the local business has been recognised for its commitment to a positive environment and passion for health.

“We were also in the Australia Financial Review ’s Fast Starters List in 2017 and 2018 ranked 32nd and 36th respectively. They were amazing acknowledgments for what we had created at OnePointHealth,” Todd reminisced.

But accolades are not the reason why the dedicated team of allied health professionals continue helping clients achieve their best possible health.

“The achievements we strive for are positive patient outcomes –helping as many people as we can to live a better life,” Todd explained. Across eight locations in New South Wales, OnePointHealth is enriching the lives of clients and employees, ensuring everyone can ‘Be One’s Best’.

The OnePointHealth Penrith team.

ALLY HALL

Charity founder named our latest Local Hero

The Founder of Mama Lana’s Community Foundation has been announced as the 2025 Penrith Westfield Local Hero.

The Westfield Local Heroes Program celebrates individuals and their organisations who have made a significant contribution and impact to their local community.

Lana Borg was on Tuesday, October 14 announced as the successful recipient of the Westfield Local Heroes program, receiving a giant cheque for $20,000.

“It’s going to make a huge difference, especially this financial year because we missed out on a $40,000 grant that we normally get every year, but we didn’t get it this year,” Borg said.

“So, we’re still behind but at least it puts us further in front now.

“The money will go a long way to producing more meals, buying the meat that we need that we never get, all that sort of stuff that we have to purchase ourselves.”

Mama Lana’s has been a beloved institution in Penrith for over a decade, providing over 300 meals daily to anyone facing hardship.

“I just can’t thank the people who voted for me enough, I can’t believe it!” Borg said.

“I’ve got a lot of people behind me, and I would never have come this far if it wasn’t for them.”

Westfield Penrith Centre Manager Matilde Princiotta congratulated Borg and the two runners-up for their continual hard work in the Penrith community.

“Lana Borg from Mama Lana’s Community Foundation is a driving force of compassion,

“Through her warmth and leadership, she’s built a welcoming space where people can find nourishments, dignity and hope.

“As we round out the eighth year of the program, we continue to be astounded by the selfless contributions these individuals make, and we’re pleased to be able to recognise their achievements and grow their impact through the program.”

One runner up was Kris Gauci from Our Community Cares.

Gauci was nominated for her work supporting vulnerable people in Penrith through initiatives like food programs, virtual reality in aged care and fundraising for patient comfort equipment.

The other runner-up was Mischelle McCallum from Barnardos Australia. McCallum was nominated for her work as a foster mum offering children in Penrith a safe home and emotional support.

Also honoured at the event was beloved St Marys man David Trist.

99-year-old Trist sadly passed away before the voting phase of the program began but Westfield donated $5,000 to his nominated charity, Wounded Heroes Australia, to honour his dedication to the organisation.

“I find it very moving, especially to see his picture there,” his daughter Elizabeth Trist said.

“To know how passionate he became about this charity later in life and how he really connected with them… he really committed himself to it.”

Nominations for 2026 Westfield Local Heroes are now open, offering more oppor-

Kris Gauci, Lana Borg and Mischelle McCallum. Photo: Melinda Jane.

New way your parcels are getting delivered

in Penrith

Australia Post is ramping up its national fleet modernisation with the rollout of 500 new electric delivery vehicles.

Australia Post has confirmed the Penrith area is among the locations the vehicles have been implemented.

The new three-wheeled Rapide 3 marks a significant upgrade to Australia Post’s delivery operations, offering improved safety performance and handling, enhanced productivity and speed, and the ability to tackle more challenging terrain.

Capable of reaching speeds of 80 km/h and covering up to 180km on a single charge, the Rapide 3 can carry up to 150 small parcels, which is a 400 per cent increase in capacity over the outgoing Honda motorbike.

This boost in efficiency enables Posties to deliver more in fewer trips, getting parcels to

customers sooner.

Australia Post Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Paul Graham, said this was a significant investment towards future-proofing sustainable operations.

“This rollout is part of a broader transformation as we build the Australia Post of the future, one that is safer, more sustainable and ready to meet the changing needs of our

Stats show we’re waiting longer to have children

We’re waiting longer to have children than ever before, according to new statistics released this week.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this week revealed that the median age of mothers in Australia is now 32.1, and fathers was 33.9.

“Since 2014, the median age of mothers increased 1.2 years, while fathers increased 0.9 years,” said Beidar Cho, ABS Head of Demography.

“But in the decade before 2014, the median age of mothers and fathers only rose by 0.3 years for mothers and 0.2 years for fathers.

“This shift toward older parenthood reflects broader social changes

We’re

A postie in one of the new electric vehicles being used by Australia Post.

waiting longer to start a family, the ABS says.

TROY DODDS

Bringing arts together

ARTWEST to return to St Marys with range of activities scheduled for next week

Local artists and crafters will connect next week at ARTWEST Exhibition and Family Day from October 24 to 25.

“ARTWEST is a local tradition here,” said David Ryan, the Community Development Worker at Nepean Multicultural Access.

“It doesn’t happen every year because it’s a labour of love and it takes a lot of volunteer time to put it together, but since the 1990s, ARTWEST has been held in St Marys every couple of years.

“It’s an opportunity for all of those people who are passionate about making art and craft – whether they’re painters, drawers, weavers, textile makers, sewers, wood carvers, videographers, printers – to bring it together for a couple of days at St Marys Community Centre to show what they do, and celebrate who they are and what they’re passionate about.”

On Friday, the event will run from 10am to 8pm at St Marys

Community Centre and will be officially opened at 6pm by Mayor Todd Carney.

On Saturday, the exhibition will run alongside Family Day events from 10am to 1pm.

“On that day, locals can see the exhibition and visit the open studio to try their hand at art or pottery,” Ryan detailed.

“We also have Aunty Cindy Laws who will run a weaving

workshop showing people how to build rope – a basic building block for life.

“With a rope, you can go fishing, you can build a bag, you can do lots of things.

“She’ll show locals how to do that from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective.”

Locals can also look at a very special exhibition made

by a group of primary school students.

“We’ve worked with the Year 5 and Year 6 classes at Oxley Park Public School,” Ryan explained.

“180 of those kids have created portraits of a sibling or somebody younger than them, and you’d be blown away by the remarkable perspectives they have of their siblings and of younger people. They have really creative expressions that will bring you to laughter and tears.”

The event will also include market stalls, clothing repairs, henna tattoos, fresh coffee, and a display of historical costumes.

“The event brings together lots of traditions, ideas and thoughts in a very friendly, open, havea-go space,” Ryan said.

“When you’re making something, whether you’re confident or not, celebrating the pride that you feel is a really important part of life.”

The deadline for works to be submitted for the exhibition has been extended to October 17. You can submit online via https://nma.org.au.

DEAR WEEKENDER

NEWS@WESTERNWEEKENDER.COM.AU

SUITE 2, 42-44 ABEL STREET, JAMISONTOWN 2750

School’s in, but concerns remain I write with deep concern regarding the recent announcement and celebration of the new high school being built in Jordan Springs, as featured on your front page last week. While the long-overdue construction of this school is certainly welcome, two glaring issues demand immediate attention before we start patting anyone on the back. Firstly, the still-incomplete connector road between Jordan Springs and Ropes Crossing remains a broken promise. This road – guaranteed for completion by 2019 – was a condition of the original development approval for Jordan Springs, intended to provide two additional exit points and significantly relieve pressure on the already overstressed Dunheved Road. Yet, six years on, it remains unfinished. The absurdity deepens when you consider that this new high school is meant to service both Jordan Springs and Ropes Crossing families. Upon contacting Schools Infrastructure NSW, I was informed that they are “only responsible for the delivery of the school, not the road.” This means it is entirely possible the school could open in 2027 while Ropes Crossing parents are still forced to drive 25 minutes in peak traffic instead of taking a 90-second trip along the uncompleted connector. The traffic and safety implications of this are simply unacceptable. Secondly, the proposed capacity of the new high school – just 1,000 students – is completely inadequate. The combined enrolments of Jordan Springs and Ropes Crossing Public Schools already exceed 2,000 students. Overcrowding from day one is not a possibility; it’s a certainty. While “future expansion” might sound like

a solution, we all know how that story goes – budget cuts, delays, and shifting priorities. The government must build it once and build it right. With the Deputy Premier herself representing this area, the community deserves more than vague promises and photo opportunities. I challenge her to commit in writing that the connector road will be open on day one of the school’s operation in 2027 and that the school will be built to meet actual community needs – not minimum targets on a spreadsheet. I urge local residents to make their voices heard: write to Schools Infrastructure NSW, Deputy Premier Prue Car, Penrith Council, and Lendlease, demanding both adequate school capacity and immediate completion of the connector road.

JEFF PEGG, JORDAN SPRINGS

Give bridge fresh look

I think it would be a good idea to Brighten our Bridge! Victoria Bridge, over the Nepean River at Emu Plains, is the historic entrance and exit to our city of Penrith. It was completed in December 1855 after many floods, and is a busy thoroughfare for road and rail transport to Penrith and Sydney. It is very grey and serviceable, and I think now is a good time for a change. At this point, I would like to thank Penrith City Council for organising the graffiti removal, which is done quite regularly. It could be a real ‘Welcome to Penrith’ if the whole structure was painted gold and blue or green, or any colour voted by interested residents. A paint job could do wonders!

JOYCE LEAVETT-BROWN, VIA EMAIL

The Western Weekender reserves the right to edit letters for the sake of accuracy and space. For more information, see our public notices section.

Participants at ARTWEST 2022. Photo: Sara Spearpoint.

Oxley Park student portrait.

ALLY HALL

HALLOWEEN OPENING TIMES

WEDNESDAY 22ND OCT

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FRIDAY 24TH OCT

SATURDAY 25TH OCT

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MONDAY 27TH OCT

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Blaxland

McDonalds

C addens

C addens News (C addens Corner)

Woolworths

C ambridge Gardens

Coles

McDonald's

Overlander Hotel

C ambridge Park

C ambridge Park Newsagency

Cellarbations

Friendly Grocer

C astlereagh

Ampol Ser vice Station

Claremont Meadows

Iga Claremont Meadows

Coly ton

Coly ton Centre Pharmacy

Coly ton Friendly Grocer

Coly ton Hotel

Coly ton Newsagency

Dan Murphy's

Hewitt Street Takeaway

Cranebrook

Aldi Cranebrook

Cranebrook Community Health

Cranebrook Village

McDonald's

Mother Earth Nurser y Plus Pharmacy

Woolworths Cranebrook

Emu Plains

Chambers Cellars

Lennox Centre Newsagency

McDonald's

Penrith Regional Galler y

Woolworths Lennox Village

7/ 11 Emu Plains (Gre at Western Highway)

7/ 11 Emu Plains (Old Bathurst Rd)

Emu Height s

Super Save Compounding Chemis t

Erskine Park

Ashcroft’s Iga

Erskine Park Ctc

G lenbrook

Glenbrook Newsagency

G lenmore Park

Coles

Mags News

McDonald's

Medi Advice Pharmacy

Woolworths

J amisontown

Abcoe

Atmosphere

Fitness Signature Gym

B att Street Take Away

Grey Gums Hotel

Har vey Norman

New On York Takeaway

Parrabey Gourmet Kitchen

(Penrith Homemaker)

Patt y’s Place

S alt C afé (Penrith Homemaker)

S hell Ser vice Station

The Coffee Club Nepean River

Three Sugars C afé

We stern Weekender

York Takeaway

Zoo Fitness

7/ 11 Jamisontow n

Jordan Springs

Brooks Tavern

Jordan Springs Newsagency

Woolworths

Kemps Creek

C altex Ser vice Station

Kemps Creek Bowling Club

Kingswood

B arista Bar Coff ee Shop

(Nepean Private Hospital)

Countr y Brewer

Hallani’s

Kingswood Hotel

Kingswood Newsagency

Kingswood Sports Club

Penrith Gaels Club

Volunteers Desk Nepean Hospital

7/ 11 Kingswood

Leonay

Emu Sports Club

Grow C afé (formerly Willow Tree C afé)

Llandilo

IGA

Londonderr y Londonderr y Liquor Store

S hell X Roads

Luddenham

Au stralia Pos t

IGA Luddenham

Minchinbur y McDonald's

Minchinbur y Fruit Market

Mulgoa

Glenmore Heritage Golf Club

Mulgoa Newsagency

Mulgoa Pharmacy

Nor th St Mar ys

Boronia House (Retirement Community)

Little Bottler

MFC Food Stores

Old Mt Druitt

RM Newsagency

Orchard Hills

Flower Power

Oxley Park

Morris C are & Advice Pharmacy

Penrith

Aldi

Astina

Atmosphere Gym

Au stralian Arms

Ca fé Fre d

Coles Penrith (Nepean Village)

Coles ( We stfield Penrith)

Crescent Mini Mar t

High Street Pies

Hogs Bre ath C afe

Hoyt s Westfield

Joan Sutherland Arts Centre

Liquor Stax Pe achtree

McDonald's High Street

McDonald's Panthers Le agues

McDonald's Pe achtree

Mercure Hotel

Museum Of Fire

Nepean Aquatic Centre

Nepean Motor Group C afé

Nepean Rowing Club

Nepean Village Coffee Club

Nepean Village Newsagency

Nextra Westfield

O ffice of Karen McKeown MP

One Point Health

Panthers Le agues Club

Pe achtree Hotel

Penrith Bowling Club

Penrith CBD Corporation

Penrith City Council

Penrith City Librar y

Penrith Hotel

Penrith Paceway

Penrith RSL

Penrith Senior Citizens’ Centre

Pioneer Tavern

RE/MAX

Sittano s Restaurant

Ta s tify

Tattersalls Hotel

The Heritage Terrace C afé

The Log C abin

We stfield

World Gym

7/ 11 Henr y Street

Regentville

7/ 11 Regentville

Ropes Crossing

Coles

Ropes Crossing Newsagency

Silverdale

CHOICE Pharmacy

Mobil Ser vice Station

S outh Penrith

Budget Ser vice Station

Fish Fish

Friendly Grocer

Grose’s Pharmacy

Southlands Newsagency

Borec Road Takeaway (Valley C afé)

Lemongrove Community Health Centre

South Penrith Neighbourhood Centre

Woolworths

St Clair Blue C attle Dog Hotel

Foodworks

St Clair Librar y

St Clair Shopping Centre

7/ 11 St Clair

St Mar ys All Good Newsagency

Andrew s Corner Store

Ampol Foodar y

Astley Pharmacy

C assand ra’s On Queen

Cr ystal C afé

Guido s Hair C are

Jayam Supermarket

Monfar ville Corner Store

Queen St Newsagency

St Mar ys Band Club

St . Mar ys Diggers

McDonald's St Mar ys South

Koala statue is a selfie lover’s dream thanks to mower shop

ALLY HALL

Koala Mowers has a new team member at their Emu Plains store, and the new employee has received a very warm welcome!

Willmot the koala statue is now the friendly face that greets customers as they enter the store, and Koala Mowers director Adam Samuel is proud to have this new addition for everyone to admire.

“These are scattered everywhere in Port Macquarie; they’re called ‘Hello Koalas’,” Samuel explained.

“If you go to the mid-north coast they’re everywhere and they’re painted in their own unique way. I’ve always admired them, and I’ve always wanted one, so I got one.”

When Samuel made the purchase, the statue was plain white. But since then, the statue has paid a visit to its namesake – Willmot Public School – to be painted by students aged eight to 12.

“I didn’t tell them what to paint, they just did their own thing,” Samuel said before pointing out some of his favourite artworks.

“I love the left ear which has a bottlebrush painted on it, and I also love the Sydney Opera House. There’s some dot work done on the side as well and all the toenails are painted. I love it all.”

Already, Willmot has become a selfie icon –especially with one particular customer.

“Bob – who prefers to be called ‘Old Man’ –came in earlier and took photos of the koala and wanted me to take photos of him with the koala. He loves it,” Samuel said about the First Nations regular.

“I hope people from our community come and take photos with Willmot and admire it as much as we do.”

You can say hello to the colourful koala at Koala Mowers, located at 3/112 Russell Street, Emu Plains.

St Marys Halloween tradition returns with free family fun

Get ready to experience the Halloween Circus at the St Marys Halloween Trick or Treat Trail, a beloved annual event that has been enchanting our community since 2011.

This spectacular celebration was brought to life by the creative genius of Steve from

St Marys Sound Centre, who served as Chairperson and a team of enthusiastic individuals, including Vanessa Campbell, who organised and managed the event.

The Trail aims to make Halloween magical and safe while fostering strong connections between local businesses and the vibrant

community of St Marys.

Picture a day filled with fun, where businesses open their doors and hearts to welcome little goblins and ghouls!

Here’s how it works: Parents, get your costumes ready and sign up your tiny trick-or-treaters! You’ll receive a clue sheet to kick off the exciting journey. Local shops will transform their storefronts, and the fun starts at 10am. Children will roam the town in their best outfits, checking off clues, collecting stamps, and enjoying delightful treats or playful tricks at each stop! Don’t forget to join in the entertainment at Coachmans Park!

Keep the tradition alive and join in for an unforgettable free community day on Saturday, October 25, at Coachmans Park from 10am to 2pm. You won’t want to miss the thrills and chills. Grab your friends and family, and let’s create some unforgettable memories together.

Book now at https://www. eventbrite.com.au/e/trickor-treat-trail-halloween-circus-tickets-1686125419519.

HALLOWEEN Lithgow in

Carnivale Street Party

Saturday 25 October- 4-8pm- MainStreet Lithgow th

The countdownisonfor Lithgow’s Halloween Carnivale – here’syour overviewofeverythingwaiting foryou at Main StreetLithgow on Saturday October 25 from 4-8pm

Beginning at 4pm, expect an evening packed with:

·Live music and dance performances from localmusicians and artists

·Circus-stylestreetactsand roving performers

The Halloween Art Prize– amazingartwork createdbylocal artist

·Market stalls with handmade goods andspooky treats

·Costume fashion parade with best dressedprizestobewon

·Main Street businesses open forshopping and delicious food

Delicious treats from pop-up food and beverage vendors

Family-friendly interactive attractions and activities

·A trickortreattrail forthe kids

IF YOU’D LIKE TO KEEP PARTYING PAST 8PM – GRAB A TICKET TO HALLOWEEN AFTER DARK AT THE UNION THEATRE THIS IS A FUN AND SAFE WAY FOR OLDER TEENS AND GROWN-UPS TO CONTINUE TO BOOGIE INTO THE NIGHT WITH LIVE MUSIC, DRINKS AND DANCING!

It ’s free,it’sfun for all the family,and it ’s going to be unforgettable!

Lithgow’siconic Halloweencelebrationisnow in its12th year,and 2025 is settobe the most unforgettableyet. What began as a oneday street party has evolvedintoa week-long festival filled with music, culturalexperiences,food, film, and spookyfun.

From Friday 24thto Friday 31st October,the Lithgowregion will come alive witha dynamic mixoff ree and ticketedeventsfor all ages. Find outmoreonthe website

Willmot the koala. Photo: Ally Hall.

The Trick or Treat Trail is back in St Marys.

World record ride with a pit stop in Penrith

Some heads might have turned last week in disbelief but what they were seeing was real – four women riding a quad tandem bike in Penrith, all in the name of charity.

Louise, Sonia, Rachel and Anna took on the outlandish challenge to ride a quad tandem bike across Australia in order to raise funds for mental health awareness.

Their ride began at the start of September at Scarborough Beach in Perth and finished last Friday at Bondi Beach, but they had one extra special stop along the way: Penrith, for a hearty meal before the final stretch.

Five local Lions Clubs organised a small celebration for the ladies to give them a night to relax before finishing their over 4,000km journey.

“We had five of our western Lions clubs there to support them, there was our brand-new club at Nepean, Penrith, Cambridge Park, Blacktown City and Richmond Club was there as well,” Graham Estreich, President of the Nepean Lions Club said.

“We had about 45-50 people there including the Deputy Mayor, Karen McKeown and we had Lou Greco, who is the Founder and current President of the Australian Man Cave

Support Group. They are a group that does work with suicide prevention, so they were there to talk about that as well. The purpose of the night was simply to feed them, welcome them to Penrith and send them on their way for their final leg of the ride.”

The whole reason the four ladies got on their bike was to raise $500,000 for Gotcha4Life, a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to mental health, fitness and awareness.

“They’ve ridden from Perth to Sydney, it’s about 4,200km, there abouts, on a quad tandem bike,” Estreich explained.

“This will be a world record when they do it, no one else has ever done it before and these four amazing ladies are doing it to bring more awareness to suicide prevention.”

While the ladies aren’t Lions members, Lions clubs across the country were happy to support them on along their journey.

“The ladies looked like they had just come out of the shower, they are as fit as anything, and they are so bubbly,” Estreich said.

“Just having the chance to talk to them, to understand why they did this and to know a little bit about the reason and meet their support crew, it was just a very emotional and heartwarming experience.”

The ladies finished their race last Friday, October 10, a world first.

Mayor’s News

The weekly views of Penrith’s Mayor

What’s next for Kingswood and Werrington?

Community input is vital to improved planning and decision-making for our City’s future. With Penrith’s greatest transformation underway, Council is committed to engaging with people who live, work and invest in our Local Government Area, to achieve the best outcomes for our City and community.

award-winning approach that we took for planning the transformation of the St Marys Town Centre over the next 20 years. That means an evidence-based, place-based approach, grounded in meaningful engagement with our community and stakeholders. Our goal is to shape a more vibrant, connected and sustainable future for ourselves, our children and generations to come.

Council is currently planning for the future of Kingswood and Werrington and is inviting your feedback. These are key centres in the City’s East-West corridor, which stretches from Penrith Lakes in the east to St Marys in the west.

If you are a resident, business owner, worker, student, local organisation, investor, patient or visitor, Council invites you to tell us what you like and what you hope to see here in the future.

Your feedback will give us a better understanding of this community’s evolving needs and aspirations, which will inform Council’s draft East-West Corridor: Kingswood-Werrington Structure Plan.

Kingswood and Werrington are already well-established hubs for health and education, directly connected by rail to other parts of this City and beyond. Once open, the new airport and the metro rail link at St Marys, will boost local jobs and other opportunities.

The corridor’s population is projected to grow from almost 25,000 residents to 33,000 by 2041. Council is committed to managing this growth well. Our role is to advocate for, and support the delivery of necessary infrastructure, services, amenity and public spaces for our changing community.

Council is building on the same

This is one of the priorities your Councillors identified in the 2025-29 Delivery Program. We will implement this ongoing work through the Penrith 2041+ Community Strategic Plan.

Until November 13 2025, share your thoughts and ideas at yoursaypenrith. com.au/kwstructureplan.

CR TODD CARNEY Mayor of Penrith

Louise, Sonia, Deputy Mayor Garion Thain, State Member for Penrith Karen McKeown, Graham Estreich (Nepean Lions Club President), Anna and Rachel.

Δ Macca’s turns up the heat: Spice lovers, brace yourselves… Macca’s is bringing the heat like never before with the all-new Frank’s RedHot Range, a fiery collab that’s serving up bold flavour and serious spice to ignite tastebuds nationwide. The line-up features the Frank’s RedHot McCrispy(er), Frank’s RedHot McSpicy, and a Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wings Sauce made with cayenne peppers, served as a dip for Chicken McWings. The range is available at Macca’s outlets nationwide.

Δ KFC opens new store: KFC has opened a new restaurant at Claremont Meadows. It’s open 9am to 11pm daily and is at 578 Great Western Highway.

draws on its past and present whilst aiming to modernise the brand for new customers. Changes include a new jingle built around the Domino’s name, recorded with musician Shaboozey, and redesigned pizza boxes that feature brighter colours and simplified graphics. Domino’s menu items like pan and stuffed-crust pizzas will come in black-andgold boxes. The rollout is expected internationally in the coming months.

provide comprehensive hospital dispensary services, professional expertise, and discharge medications, supporting patient care and improving integration with clinical teams.

Δ Coffee Club’s fresh look: The Coffee Club at Nepean Village has undergone a refurbishment, with a brand new look and feel.

Δ Air Fries: Coles shoppers can stock up on Infuzions Air Fries in new 90g sharepacks – available in two crave-worthy flavours: Tomato Sauce and Aioli. Made with 100 per cent Australian split peas and carrying a 4-star health rating, these light and crunchy Air Fries give families a better-for-you chip alternative without sacrificing taste. The bigger 90g pack is perfect for family movie nights, road trips, or after-school munchies.

Δ Domino’s has a glow up: Domino’s Pizza is rolling out its first major rebrand in 13 years, updating everything from its logo and packaging to store designs and employee uniforms. The company says the refresh

Δ Regatta Park Kitchen open for business: Regatta Park Kitchen is now open alongside the Nepean River at Emu Plains. The new hospitality venue from the team behind Laughin’ Boy and 2773 opened on Wednesday.

Δ Pharmacy boosts health response: HPS Pharmacies has announced the official opening of its new onsite pharmacy at Nepean Private Hospital. It marks a significant milestone in the partnership between HPS and Healthscope, and delivers enhanced pharmacy services for patients of Nepean Private Hospital. The new HPS Pharmacies site will

Tregear Public School C anteen Licence

Tenders are called for the licence of the school canteen for the school year commencing on 27 January 2026 for a term of 3 years with an option to renew for 2 years. Annual school enrolments will be approximately 345

General enquiries and requests for a Tender Information Package should be referred to:

Olivia Tredoux Principal 02 96286301 tregear-p.school@det .nsw.edu.au

Tenders must be sent electronically and noted in the subject line “Commercial in Confidence - School C anteen Tender” ad sent to:

Olivia Tredoux - Principal tregear-p.school@det .nsw.edu.au

Tenders close at 3pm on Friday 7 November 2025

Mandatory Criteria: All employees must hold a current working with children check.

This photograph was taken at the Penrith Showground in late 1954 of a group of young Penrith women (around 18-years-old) who raised money for local charities.

Station Street is in the background and the women are facing Mulgoa Road.

From left to right: Unknown, Lyn Martin (Feltis), Ilene Potter, Joan Roberts, Wendy Roots, Pat Sutton (Reddan), Wendy Gibson (Judd), Judith Phillips (Roberts), Bev Taylor (Turnbull), Roslyn Baines (Jones).

Wendy Roots was crowned ‘The Queen of Fundraising’ having raised the most of the participants.

Many of these women lived their entire lives in the Penrith area with several still alive and residing locally.

Badgerys

TURNING BACK TIME

Invitation for Registrations of Interest

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment

Creek Concrete Batching Plant (CBP), Liverpool LGA

Gunlake Concrete Pty Ltd (Gunlake Concrete) proposes to develop a concrete batching plant (CBP) (the Project) located at 205 Lawson Road, Badgerys Creek in Lot 14 DP 3050 (the site), and within the Liverpool City Council local government area (LGA). The Project includes construction and operation of a CBP, a future development area, and provisions for the construction of two roads within the Lot.

EMM Consulting Pty Ltd (EMM) is preparing an Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment to inform the activity

The proponent contact is: David Kelly, Gunlake Concrete Pty Ltd (A: PO Box 1665 Double Bay, NSW 1360; T: 02 9363 1744; E: info@gunlake.com.au)

EMM, on behalf of Gunlake Concrete, invites Aboriginal individuals and organisations who hold cultural knowledge relevant to determining the significance of Aboriginal objects and/or places in the area, and who wish to be involved in the consultation process undertaken as part of the assessment to register their interests.

The purpose of Aboriginal community consultation is to assist Gunlake Concrete in: 1) assessing the Aboriginal heritage values of the area; 2) to assist NSW Government in the assessment of Aboriginal heritage reports prepared for this project; and 3) to support any future applications or approvals for the project sought under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and/or the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

Registrations of interest are to be provided by no later than 30 October 2025 to:

Mikhaila Chaplin

E: mchaplin@emmconsulting.com.au

A: EMM Consulting Pty Ltd

The Forum, Level 10/201 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW 2065 T: 02 9493 9500.

Sunnyfield’s roaring success

Real-world learning and inclusive skill building are key parts of Sunnyfield’s mission as one of New South Wales’ leading and most trusted disability and NDIS service providers.

With the guiding hands of Sunnyfield’s vocational services trainers, participants from Mount Druitt are building bright futures through education and training, including a recent unique work experience placement at Sydney Zoo Western Sydney.

The amazing opportunity enabled participants to step outside their comfort zones and into the world of work amongst 4,000 animals and zoo visitors.

Throughout the experience, participants went behind the scenes developing a number of soft and hard skillsets including horticulture, connection to Country, and animal nutrition, care, and training. They also explored other roles at the zoo, including administration, customer service, retail, maintenance, and even cleaning the lions’ den.

“These hands-on experiences challenged participants to think critically, adapt to new situations, and collaborate with others,” said David Manczak, the Vocational

Services Manager at Sunnyfield.

“They built strong foundations for workplace success, developing communication, teamwork, problem-solving and time management skills, as well as the importance of routine.”

The 10-week industry immersive workplace journey culminated in a moment of celebration, where participants confidently presented detailed knowledge and under-

standing about their favourite animals and were recognised for their achievements.

It’s clear the experience made a lasting impression on everyone involved.

“I was proud of what I learnt about the animals, and I hope to help animals in any way I can in the future,” said 20-year-old participant Ryan.

“I really hope I get a job there

because I’ll miss the place,” followed up 20-year-old Dustin, showcasing how meaningful the opportunity was to the two participants.

The collaboration between Sydney Zoo and Sunnyfield’s Vocational Services represents a powerful example of what’s possible when organisations across sectors come together to create meaningful local opportunities.

The placement was designed to support individual learning styles and needs, while still offering authentic workplace exposure. This

balance reflects the strength of Sunnyfield’s approach to vocational learning – structured, supportive, responsive and tailored to the individual.

Through initiatives like this, Sunnyfield creates real opportunities for growth, helping participants build confidence, connection, and a stronger sense of direction toward their future career and life goals.

Find out more about Sunnyfield’s Vocational Services at https://www. sunnyfield.org.au.

Thomas, Jess, and Hurricane the snake.

Sunnyfield group at Sydney Zoo.

Western Weekender

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE AN EXISTING MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION

Yiraaldiya National Park, 25 Stony Creek Road SHANES PARK NSW 2760 RFNSA Site Number: 2760004

1. Telstra is proposing to upgrade an existing mobile phone base station (lattice tower) located in the Yiraaldiya National Park (Air Services facility) at Shanes Park. The upgrade will improve Telstra 4G and 5G services to the surrounding area.

2. The upgrade works on the existing lattice tower consist of:

• Removal of nine (9) existing panel antennas

• Installation of three (3) new panel antennas (less than 2.8m in length)

• Installation of three (3) new panel antennas (less than 1.1m in length)

• Installation of ancillary equipment including cables, cable trays and remote radio units.

3. In accordance with Section 7 of the Industry Code C564:2025 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment, we invite you to make comments about the proposal.

4. Please direct comments to Mark Baade (Planning Consultant) on mark@saqconsulting.com.au, 0417 088 000 or to SAQ Consulting, PO Box 50, CLAYFIELD QLD 4011 by Friday 31st October 2025

For more information about the proposal, scan the QR Code or visit www.rfnsa.com.au/2760004

PUBLIC NOTICES

Rubbish Removers

CULTURE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

turned into the usual nightclub scene,” Bagaei explained.

Directed by Parramatta-born Seppy Bagaei, ‘Daytime Deewane’ is a play that follows two young cousins – one quiet and one wild – through the daytime rave scene of 1990s London.

The two ravers, Farhan and Sadiq, are torn between respect and rebellion as they navigate culture and what it means to be a good Muslim boy and a proper British man.

“The daytime rave scene was this incredible hidden scene where the South Asian diaspora would come together and take over clubs during the daytime from 3pm to 6pm before it

“They would use it as an opportunity to play their music with their people and celebrate their culture.

“In the ‘90s, racism was a lot more overt, and in some cases people of the Asian diaspora weren’t allowed in the same space as nonAsian British people, so there was a real need to come together and have a safe space to be themselves, express themselves, and celebrate their culture.”

Racism and identity are huge topics to tackle in one hour and 10 minutes, but playwright Azan Ahmed has created a merry piece of theatrical storytelling.

“There is so much music, dancing, and cele-

bration of culture in amongst this difficult political landscape,” the director stated.

“What Azan has done so beautifully is allow poetry and music to really bring these young men to life in a joyous, fun way.”

The music in question is called Bhangra.

“We’ve been doing sessions with an amazing choreographer, and she’s been teaching us about how Bhangra can look easy on the outside in the way the body is moving, but it’s actually quite demanding,” Bagaei explained.

“It’s in your feet, it’s in your arms, it’s in the whole body. The music itself is a great beat, and I think audiences will be grooving along to the Bhangra music.”

The cast and creatives of ‘Daytime Deewane’ have enjoyed stepping back in time to bring

the piece to life.

“It’s a really fun trip back in time because I was born in the ‘90s,” Bagaei said.

“It’s been such a highlight to step back into that time capsule and to direct a show that’s proudly spotlighting brown men and brown stories – especially in Parramatta which has such a big South Asian community.

“It’s really special to see these stories on stage that I didn’t see growing up 20 years ago. It’s so great to see that change happening to reflect our community in Parramatta.”

Experience the toe-tapping addictiveness of Bhangra and the immersive world of the daytime rave scene until October 25 by booking a ticket online at https://riversideparramatta.com.au.

ALLY HALL

THINGS TO DO

Throughout October, Saturdays will come alive at Rooty Hill’s new local legend, The Woodstock Hotel. Live music will ring through the venue every weekend and ice-cold Tooheys jugs will set you back $15, pouring from 7pm onwards. Visit the state-of-the-art venue for connection, celebration and good times, and keep up to date on exciting events on their website.

BARGAIN BUYS

Op Shop at Kingswood

Thursdays and Fridays, 9am to 3.30pm. Kingswood Anglican Church, corner of Bringelly Road and Second Avenue, Kingswood. Morning tea every Friday morning.

BUSINESS

Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce

For more information about membership and upcoming events, visit www.penrithchamber.org.au.

Penrith CBD Corporation

Regular meetings and networking for Penrith CBD businesses. Visit www. penrithcbdcorp.com.au.

CLASSES AND FUN

Free weekly Tai Chi & Qiqong

Saturdays 4.30pm, WSU Kingswood Campus. Outside the Food Hub. Guan 0422 120 738.

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Glenmore Park Probus Club

Meets on the third Wednesday of each month at Leonay Golf Club. New members welcome.

Kingswood-Caddens Probus Club

Meets on the fourth Monday of the

All Chrysler Day returns to Museum of Fire

The 38th NSW All Chrysler Day is back on October 19 at the Museum of Fire from 8am to 3pm. The event attracts over 200 vehicles annually – from 1920s DeSotos to 1970s muscle cars. The event started in the ‘80s when Chrysler clubs across NSW decided they needed a dedicated day for their favourite automobiles. Visit www.museumoffire.net.

month at Kingswood Sports Club at 10.30am. All new members welcome.

Probus Club of Nepean

First Wednesday of the month at Emu Sports Club, Leonay from 10.30am. Visitors and new members welcome. Contact Faye on 0417 267 866.

Ropes Crossing Probus Club

Meets every third Monday of the month at Ropes Crossing Community Hub from 10am. Email ropescrossingprobusclub@gmail.com for more information.

St Clair Probus Club

Meets on the third Monday of the month at St Barys D&B Club. Email secretarystclairprobusclub@hotmail. com for more information.

Penrith Lions Club

Second and fourth Monday of the month. Penrith Bowling Club. 4736 1546 for more information.

Penrith Hospital Auxiliary

Craft stall at Nepean Hospital on the first Tuesday of each month from 9am-

of the month for lunch. Members and volunteers knit teddies for trauma victims. Call 0438 244 414.

Penrith NASHOS

Monthly meeting on the third Sunday of the month at Penrith RSL from 10am. Call 0448 983 399 for details.

Nepean Evening VIEW Club

Community fundraisers for The Smith Family. Meets the third Monday of the month at Panthers from 7pm, with dinner and interesting speakers. Call 0411 306 150.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Nepean Food Services

Delivered meals available to purchase for those over 65 or with a disability. Call 4733 7200 for details or visit www.nepeanfoodservices.org.au.

Free food shop

9am-11am every Tuesday at 51 Henry Street, Penrith.

JP service

Located in Western Weekender office

Sundays from 10am. Penrith Paceway. 0415 625 573 for more information.

Nepean Naval Museum

Open Sundays 11am-3pm. 40-42

Bruce Neale Drive. 0411 138 700.

Arms of Australia Inn Monday and Wednesday 10am-1pm, 4735 4394. 127 Gardenia Avenue, Emu Plains.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Penrith Stroke Recovery Group Third Thursday of the month at 10am, Panthers. 1300 650 594.

Penrith Carer Support Group First Thursday of the month. Headspace. 8880 8160.

Penrith Men’s Walk and Talk Thursdays from 5.30pm. Meet at Coffee Club Nepean River.

Penrith Women’s Health Centre Domestic violence support services. 4721 2499.

Woodstock Hotel

Grammy winner and breakout jazz sensation Samara Joy will bring her timeless voice to The Joan on October 23. The artist is celebrated for her rich tone, refined phrasing, and love and understanding of the Great American Songbook. Experience jazz’s golden age with a modern touch alongside Samara by purchasing a ticket online at www.thejoan.com.au.

Samara Joy comes to Penrith

WAYNE’S W RLD

with Wayne Tunks

WAYNE TUNKS CAN BE HEARD WEEKDAYS, 7AM-10AM ON MY88 – AN IHEART STATION

Coming up on October 22 is National Colour Day. And while it would be the perfect time to celebrate Cyndi Lauper’s absolute anthem, ‘True Colours’, instead, I thought it would be a good time to pit each colour against each other to find out which is the best, musically.

So which colour offers the best ‘80s songs? Black is always a safe bet. There’s AC/DCs iconic ‘Back in Black’, and then moving to the other end of the ‘80s we have ‘Black Velvet’ from Alannah Myles and ‘Black Cat’ from Janet.

White naturally has Billy Idol’s anthem, ‘White Wedding’ and the seminal rap classic, ‘White Lines’ by Grandmaster Flash. Pink has a few great tracks too, there’s ‘Pretty in Pink’, the theme to the iconic ‘80s film, by the Psychedelic Furs and John Cougar Mellencamp’s ‘Pink House’.

Other great colour tunes include, ‘Orange Crush’ by REM, ‘Golden Brown’ by The Stranglers and ‘Red Red Wine’, by UB40. Then you could even just pick Prince as your favourite colour, as he’s had the anthems, ‘Purple Rain’ and ‘Raspberry Beret’.

Though for me, the ultimate colour for ‘80s anthems is blue. New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’ is so good it was a hit twice, originally in ‘83 and then again with an ‘88 remix. Icehouse

hit number one in Australia with ‘Electric Blue’, and went top 10 in the US, and then haven’t we all belted out John Williamson’s ‘True Blue’ at least once in our life? David Bowie had ‘Blue Jean’, Elton John had ‘Blue Eyes’ and ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues’, New Zealand’s Mi-Sex had ‘Blue Day’, Lou Gramm had ‘Midnight Blue’, the Fine Young Cannibals had ‘Blue’, and my favourite Madonna, had ‘True Blue’, the title track from her highest selling album. So in the battle of the ‘80s colour songs, I’m going blue. How about you?

Mechanical Operator and Construction Labourer/Gas Field Installers

LMS Energy is Australia’s largest emissions reducer and the national leader in biogas-to-energy and solar on landfill. LMS Energy requires the ser vices of both Mechanical Operators and Construction Labourer/Gas Field Installers to be based in the Caringbah region of South Sydney, NSW

As part of our team, you will collaborate with the Manager where your role will involve operating and maintaining LMS’ power stations and the landfill biogas extraction systems on a daily basis.

Mechanically minded people and construction labourers/trades are encouraged to apply. LMS offers full in-house training for the right applicants!

Check out our website https://www.lms.com.au/ to learn more about what we do or email your application to employment@lms.com.au

Visit our Careers page on our website for current openings and follow us on Linked In and Instagram!

COUNTRY CORNER

Rising star’s new song Vincent Mason turns up the emotional heat this summer with his newest release, ‘Damned If I Do’, available now everywhere. Mason doesn’t just sing about heartbreak; he lives in it, which allows him to curate a song that sounds more like a journal entry than a record. Written by Vincent with Jacob Hackworth and Lauren Hungate, the trio concoct a country confessional anchored by an unforgettable hook. He continues to carve out his place as one of the most compelling voices in the country music scene.

“Coming off of my first year

of touring, I wanted something different musically that I could look forward to playing every night,” shared Mason.

“I wrote it with Lauren Hungate and Jacob Hackworth, two of my favourite writers in town. This song is one of my favourite moments on the new record, and I’m sure it will be one of my favourites on the road.”

Mason spent most of 2025 so far on his first-ever headlining run, the Hell Is A Dance Floor Tour, which sold out in presale and expanded with a second leg due to overwhelming demand.

He’ll stay on the road throughout the year, joining Riley Green, Luke Bryan, Jordan Davis, and Parker McCollum as an opener on select dates, while also hitting major festivals across the country, before heading to Australia in 2026 to perform at CMC Rocks. Stream the new song on all the usual services.

Another Opry member Veteran singer Kathy Mattea has officially been inducted as a Member of the Grand Ole Opry.

She received the prestigious invitation earlier this year.

You can watch her invite and induction on YouTube.

Ballerini strips it back American country superstar Kelsea Ballerini has dropped a strippedback version of her album ‘Patterns’.

‘Patterns (Stripped Session)’ features seven tracks with Ballerini and her guitar, which really shows off the strength of her voice. The 21-minute record is available now on all the usual streaming services. Ballerini, who recently split with celebrity partner Chase Stokes, is bound for Australia in the coming months and will play at the ICC Theatre in Sydney in early December.

OKTOBERFEST

GIG LINE-UP

11:00AM BLUE MOUNTAINS CITY BAND 12:00PM GRAVITY BELT 1:00PM JF K TRIO 2:00PM BONNIEDOON 4:00PM 3PM PICK UP 6:00PM MOLOHI 7:00PM MADAM FATALE 11 00AM B

At the movies...

The Running Man

Based in a near-future society, a top-rated reality TV show called ‘The Running Man’ is a deadly competition where contestants, known as ‘Runners’, must survive 30 days while being hunted by assassins. The reward for surviving the bloodbath is a cash prize.

Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class man Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort.

But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favourite – and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the

Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.

‘The Running Man’ will be released on November 13.

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

‘Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere’ chronicles the making of Bruce Springsteen’s 1982 ‘Nebraska’ album.

Recorded on a four-track recorder in Springsteen’s New Jersey bedroom, the album marked a pivotal time in his life and is considered one of his most enduring works – a raw, haunted acoustic record populated by lost souls searching for a reason to believe.

Starring Jeremy Allen White (‘The Bear’) as Bruce Springsteen, the film is directed by Scott Cooper.

“This film takes a couple years out of my life and looks at them very closely; a time when I made ‘Nebraska’ and went through some personal difficulties,” Springsteen said.

“I’m so appreciative of Jeremy Allen White and the entire cast for their wonderful and moving performances.”

The biopic will be released in cinemas next Thursday, October 23.

www.hoyts.com.au

TV Guide: October 17 – 23

Your guide to the week’s television viewing

6:00 News Breakfast 9:00 ABC News 10:00 Take 5 With Zan Rowe 10:30 The Pacific 11:00 The Following Events Are Based On Lies (M l) 12:00 ABC News 1:00 Mystery Road (M l) 1:55 Grand Designs Australia (PG) 2:55 Anh’s Brush With Fame (PG) 3:25 Grand Designs (PG) 4:15 Long Lost Family (PG) 5:00 Antiques Roadshow 6:00 QI (PG) 6:30 Hard Quiz (PG) 7:00 ABC News 7:30 Gardening Australia 8:30 Professor T (M v) 9:15 Hard Quiz (PG) 9:50 Mother And Son 6:00 Sunrise 9:00 The Morning Show (PG) 12:00 Seven Noon News 1:00 Seven News With Alex Cullen 1:10 Blankety Blank (PG) 2:00 Bridge Of Lies (PG) 3:00 The Chase UK (PG) 4:00 Seven News At 4 5:00 The Chase Australia (PG) 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Better Homes And Gardens 8:30 Movie: “The Bourne Identity” (M l,v) (’02) Stars: Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje 11:00 GetOn Extra 11:30 Motorway Patrol (PG) 12:00 Healthy, Wealthy & Wise (PG) 6:00 Today 9:00 Today Extra (PG) 11:30 NINE News Morning 12:00 Movie: “Finding Love In Saint Lucia” (PG) (’24) Stars: Brooke Burfitt 2:00 Pointless (PG) 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) 4:00 NINE News Afternoon 5:00 Tipping Point Australia (PG) 6:00 NINE News 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) 7:30 David Attenborough’s Asia (PG) 8:40 Movie: “The Intern” (PG) (’15) Stars: Robert De Niro 11:00 Law & Order: Organized Crime (M) 11:50 Tipping Point (PG) 10:00 Entertainment Tonight 10:20 Taskmaster Australia (PG) 11:30

Stars (PG) 7:00 AFLW: Round 10: Port Adelaide v Hawthorn *Live*

12:00 The Rookie (M v) 3:00 Grand Crew (PG) 3:30 First Dates UK (M) 4:30 Movie: “The Smurfs” (G) (’11) Stars: Hank Azaria 6:35 Movie: “Bean” (PG) (’97) Stars: Rowan Atkinson 8:30 Movie: “Sleepless In Seattle” (PG) (’93) Stars: Meg Ryan 4:35 Motown Magic 5:00 Harlem Globetrotters: Play It Forward (PG) 5:30 NITV News: Nula 6:00 Bamay 6:40 Guardians Of The Wild (PG) 7:30 Movie: “The Witches” (PG) (’90) Stars: Anjelica Huston

3:35 Richard Osman’s House Of Games 4:05 Would I Lie To You? (PG) 4:40 MythBusters (PG) 5:30 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces 6:20 Phil Spencer:

Agent 7:05 Richard Osman’s House Of Games 7:35 QI (PG)

6:00 rage (PG) 7:00 Weekend Breakfast 9:00 rage (PG) 10:30 rage Guest Programmer (PG) 12:00 ABC News 12:30 Beyond Paradise (PG) 1:30 Professor T (M)

October 1:30 Better Homes And Gardens 3:00 The Yorkshire Vet (PG) 4:00 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys (PG) 5:00 The Yorkshire Vet (PG) 6:00 Seven’s Horse Racing: Harness Racing Victoria *Live* 10:00 Escape To The Country

Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield 6:00 Maneet’s Eats 6:30 Secrets Of The Curry Kitchen 7:00 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw 7:30 Two Greedy Italians 8:40 The Streets Hong Kong 9:40 Gourmet Farmer 10:10 Luke Nguyen’s India

12:00 Days Of Our Lives (PG) 12:45 The Young And The Restless (PG) 1:30 The ExWife (M l,v) 2:30 JAG (PG) 4:30 The Living Room (PG) 5:30 JAG (PG) 7:30 NCIS (M v) 10:20 The Real CSI: Miami (M v)

3:00 Bamay 3:30 Worldwatch 5:35 If You Are The One (PG) (In Mandarin) 6:40 Jeopardy! 7:30 NITV News Update 7:35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (M l,s) 8:30 Women Who Rock (M l) 9:35 Sex Unlimited (M) 11:25 Homeland (MA15+)

2:00 Ghosts (PG) 2:30 Becker (PG) 3:00 Frasier (PG) 4:00 Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield 4:30 Ghosts (PG) 5:00 Becker (PG) 5:30 Frasier (PG) 6:30 Friends (PG) 7:30 Movie: “Black Rain” (M l,v) (’89) Stars: Michael Douglas

2:00 The Golden Girls (PG) 2:30 The Nanny (PG) 3:30 Seinfeld (PG) 4:30 The Addams Family 5:00 Bewitched 5:30 I Dream Of Jeannie 6:00 The Golden Girls (PG) 6:30 The Nanny (PG) 7:30 Movie: “Godzilla” (M v) (’14) Stars: Elizabeth Olsen 3:20 Movie: “The Truth About Women” (PG) (’57) 5:30 The Travelling Auctioneers 6:30 Antiques Roadshow 7:30 Secret Life Of The Auction House 8:30 Movie: “The Terminator” (M l,v) (’84) Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger

2:15 The Assembly (PG) 3:00 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery (PG) 3:30 Boyer Lecture 2025 4:00 Tech Smart Agriculture 4:10 The Assembly (PG) 4:55 Take 5 With Zan Rowe (M l) 5:25 Landline 5:55 Australian Story 6:25 I Was Actually There (M l) 7:00 ABC News 7:30 Beyond Paradise (PG) 6:00 NBC Today 7:00 Weekend Sunrise 10:00 The Morning Show (PG) 12:00 Seven’s Horse Racing: Caulfield/ Randwick *Live* 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Healthy, Wealthy & Wise (PG) 8:00 Movie: “Live Free Or Die Hard” (M l,v) (’07) Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead 10:40 Movie: “Cold Pursuit” (MA15+) (’19) Stars: Liam Neeson 1:05 In Plain Sight: Hoosier Daddy (M v) 2:00 Home Shopping 4:00 It’s Academic 5:00 House Of Wellness (PG) 7:00 Weekend Today 10:00 Today ExtraSaturday 12:00 Surfing Australia TV (PG) 12:30 My Way 1:00 The Garden Gurus 1:30 Rugby League: Women’s Pacific Championships: PNG Orchids v Cook Islands *Live* 4:00 Rugby League: Men’s Pacific Championships: Fiji v Cook Islands *Live* 6:00 NINE News Saturday 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) 7:30 Getaway (PG) 8:00 Movie: “The Notebook” (M) (’04) Stars: Ryan Gosling 10:30 Movie: “The Vow” (PG) (’12) 10:00 My Market Kitchen 10:30 The Amazing Race Australia Celebrity (PG) 12:00 Planet Shapers 12:30 All 4 Adventure (PG) 1:30 MotoGP: Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix: Round 19: Qualifying *Live* From Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit 4:00 Cook With Luke 4:30 Food Trail - South Africa 5:00 10 News 6:30 The Dog House Australia (PG) 7:30 Selling Houses Australia 8:30 Ambulance UK (M l) 9:45 Gogglebox Australia (PG) 10:45 The Gilded Age (PG)

12:00 Garage 41 (PG) 12:30 STIHL Timbersports (PG) 1:00 AFLW: Round 10: Melbourne v Sydney *Live* 3:00 AFLW: Round 10: GWS v Fremantle *Live* 5:00 Counting Cars (PG) 6:00 Pawn Stars (PG) 7:00 Storage Wars (PG)

1:20 Bringing Sexy Back (PG) 2:30 Dancing With The Stars (PG) 4:15 Manu’s American Road Trip (PG) 5:15 Movie: “City Slickers II” (PG) (’94) Stars: Jack Palance 7:45 Movie: “Field Of Dreams” (PG) (’89) Stars: Kevin Costner

3:30 The First Inventors (PG) 4:30 Homesteads (In English/ Maori) 5:00 Larapinta 6:00 Amplify (PG) 6:30 NITV News Update 6:40 The Other Side (PG) 7:30 Alone Australia (M l) 8:30 Movie: “Blade Runner” (M v) (’82) Stars: Harrison Ford

3:30 Thomas And Friends 4:35 Little J And Big Cuz 5:10 Fireman Sam 5:35 Peter Rabbit 6:00 Octonauts - Above And Beyond 6:30 The Adventures Of Paddington 7:05 Do Not Watch This Show 7:30 Hard Quiz Kids

Alice 4:10 Richard Osman’s House Of Games 4:35 MythBusters (PG) 5:30 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces 6:15 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 7:05 Spicks And Specks (PG) 7:35 QI (PG) 5:30 Lorraine Pascale: Home Cooking Made Easy 6:30 Hairy Bikers Mediterranean 7:30 Paul Hollywood Eats Japan 8:30 Rick Stein’s Cornwall 9:35 Anthony Bourdain: The Layover 10:30 Big Food Bucket List 11:00 Eat China Specials

6:00 rage (PG) 7:00 Weekend Breakfast 9:00 Insiders 10:00 Offsiders 10:30 The World This Week 11:00 Compass 11:30 Songs Of Praise 12:00 ABC News 12:30 Landline 1:30 Gardening Australia 2:30 David Attenborough’s Conquest Of The Skies 3:20 Grand Designs NZ (PG) 4:10 The Role Of A Lifetime (PG) 5:00 Antiques Roadshow 6:00 Grand Designs Australia (PG) 7:00 ABC News 7:30 The Assembly (M) 8:15 Mystery Road - Origin (M

4:00 Reel Action 4:30 Football: Isuzu UTE ALeague: Round 1: Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City *Live* 7:00 Football Tonight 7:25 Football: Isuzu UTE A-League: Round 1: Melbourne Victory v Auckland FC *Live* 10:00 NCIS (M v) 10:00 Ridiculousness (PG) 11:00 Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield 11:30 Deal Or No Deal 12:00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (PG) 2:00 Ridiculousness (PG) 3:00 Frasier (PG) 4:00 Friends (PG) 6:30 The Big Bang Theory (M) 1:30 Building Off The Grid 2:30 Building Alaska (PG) 3:30 New

2:35 A Fork In The Road (PG) 3:35 NITV News Update 3:40 BBC News At Ten 4:10 France 24 International News 4:40 PBS News Hour 5:40 Mastermind 6:40 Mysteries From Above (PG) 7:35 Impossible Engineering (PG)

2:00 WNBL: Southside Melbourne Flyers v Canberra Capitals *Live* 4:00 Seinfeld (PG) 4:30 Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge 5:30 Movie: “Tom & Jerry” (G) (’21) Stars: Chloë Grace Moretz 7:30 Movie: “17 Again” (PG) (’09)

12:30 Movie: “The Last Days Of Dolwyn” (G) (’49) Stars: Edith Evans 2:30 Movie: “Hobson’s Choice” (PG) (’54) Stars: Charles Laughton 4:45 Movie: “The Honey Pot” (G) (’67) Stars: Rex Harrison 7:30 Movie: “Tombstone” (M l,v) (’93)

5:00 Seven News At 5 5:30 Sydney Weekender 6:00 Seven News 7:00 The Voice (PG) 8:10 The Rise And Fall Of Kings Cross (M) 9:45 24 Hours In Police Custody (M l,v) 10:45 Crime Investigation Australia - Most Infamous (M v) 12:00 The Long Song (M s,v) 6:00 Hello SA (PG) 6:30 A Current Affair (PG) 7:00 Weekend Today 10:00 Wide World Of Sports (PG) 11:00 Cross Court 11:30 Customs (PG) 12:00 Drive - Driving Value 12:30 Young Sheldon (PG) 1:00 Rugby League: Women’s Pacific Championships: Kiwi Ferns v Fetu Samoa *Live* 3:30 Rugby League: Men’s Pacific Championships: Kiwis v Toa Samoa *Live*

(PG) 9:30 The Chef’s Garden 10:00 Roads Less Travelled 10:30 MotoGP: Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix: Round 19: Race *Live* 3:30 Deal Or No Deal (PG) 4:00 Lingo (PG) 5:00 10 News 6:00

(PG) 6:30 NITV News Update 6:40 Wildlife Rescue New Zealand (PG) 7:30 Great Australian Road Trips (PG) 9:00 JAG (PG) 2:00 I Fish 2:30 NBL: Round 5: Melbourne United v New Zealand Breakers

5:50 History’s Greatest Heists With Pierce Brosnan (PG) 6:40 Abandoned Engineering (PG) 8:30 Suranne Jones Investigating Witch Trials (PG)

3:00 Big Rigs Of Oz 3:30 Project Impossible (PG) 4:30 Young Sheldon (PG) 5:00 Dinner With The Parents (PG) 5:30 Movie: “The Lego Movie” (PG) (’14) Stars: Chris Pratt 7:30 Movie: “Shazam! Fury Of The Gods” (M v) (’23) Stars: Zachary Levi

1:40 Movie: “The Captain’s Paradise” (G) (’53) Stars: Alec Guinness 3:30 Movie: “Irma La Douce” (PG) (’63) Stars: Jack Lemmon 6:30 M*A*S*H (PG) 8:30 Movie: “The Expendables 2” (MA15+) (’12) Stars: Sylvester Stallone Classifications: (G) General, (PG) Parental Guidance, (M) Mature Audiences, (MA15+) Mature Audience Over 15 Years Consumer Advice: (d) drug references, (s) sexual references or sex scenes (h) horror, (l) language, (mp) medical procedures, (n) nudity, (v) violence

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6:05 PJ Masks Power Heroes 6:25 The Adventures Of Paddington 7:05 Rocket Club 7:35 Ninjago Dragons Rising (PG) 8:00 Operation Ouch!

3:00 ABC News Afternoons 4:00 Afternoon Briefing

5:00 Becker (PG) 5:30 Frasier (PG) 6:30 Neighbours (PG) 7:00 Friends (PG)

6:05 PJ Masks Power Heroes 6:25 The Adventures Of Paddington 7:05 Rocket Club 7:35 Ninjago Dragons Rising 8:00 Operation Ouch!

3:00 ABC News Afternoons 4:00 Afternoon Briefing 5:00

The Young And The Restless (PG) 1:30 Numb3rs (M v) 2:30 JAG (PG) 4:30 The Living Room (PG) 5:30 JAG (PG) 7:30 NCIS (M v) 4:00 Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield 4:30 Ghosts (PG) 5:00 Becker (PG) 5:30 Frasier (PG) 6:30 Neighbours (PG) 7:00 Friends (PG)

News With Joe O’Brien 6:00 ABC News Hour 7:00 ABC National News 7:30 7:30 4:40 MythBusters (PG) 5:30 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces 6:15 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 7:05 Richard Osman’s House Of Games 7:35 QI (PG) 6:00 Hidden Flavours Of India 6:30 Secrets Of The Curry Kitchen 7:00 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw 7:30 Nadiya’s Cook Once, Eat Twice 5:35 The Matchmakers (PG) (In

7:30 Seinfeld (PG) 8:30 Movie: “Dukes Of Hazzard” (M d,s) (’05)

6:30

5:30 The Travelling Auctioneers 6:30 Antiques Roadshow 7:30 As Time Goes By (PG) 8:40 Midsomer Murders (M v) 10:50 Major Crimes (M v) 12:00 ABC News 1:00 Silent Witness (PG) 2:00 Restoration Australia (PG) 2:55 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery (PG) 3:25 Grand Designs (PG) 4:15 Long Lost Family (PG) 5:00 Antiques Roadshow 6:00 TBA 6:30 Hard Quiz (PG) 7:00 ABC News 7:30 7.30 (PG) 8:00 Grand Designs Australia (PG) 9:00 Long Lost Family (PG)

Nathan Taylor TV NEWS

Ê Highly-anticipated new dating series ‘The Golden Bachelor’ will premiere this Monday, October 20 at 7.30pm. Hosted by Sam Armytage, 20 women will vie for the affections of 61-year-old Sydneysider Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden. I’m sure plenty of people are looking forward to this one, but the promos are yet to convince me.

Ê 10 has finally revealed the premiere date for ‘Big Brother’ – Sunday, November 9 at 7pm. Mel Tracina will host the new era, which goes back to its roots with live nominations, live evictions and 24/7 livestreaming from Dreamworld. This marks the fourth incarnation of the series in Australia, which premiered on 10 in 2001, before subsequent seasons on Nine then Seven, both with Sonia Kruger hosting.

Ê Hit Paramount+ series ‘Dexter: Resurrection’ has been renewed for a second season.

Ê New ABC panel show ‘Crime Night’, hosted by Julia Zemiro, will premiere on Wednesday, November 5 at 8.30pm. The six-part series dives beneath the surface of crime to explore the science and psychology behind it all. The panel features expert criminologists Professor Danielle Reynald and Dr David Bartlett, alongside rotating guests including Celia Pacquola, Mel Buttle, Claire Hooper,

Rhys Nicholson, Susie Youssef, Nick Cody, Ryan Shelton, Lizzy Hoo, Alexei Toliopoulos and Steph Tisdell.

Ê HBO Max has just dropped new US comedy series ‘The Chair Company’. Over eight episodes, the story follows a suburban family man (Tim Robinson) whose life unravels after a humiliating mishap at work. What begins as a personal crisis quickly spirals into something far stranger, as he stumbles into a far-reaching conspiracy he can’t ignore. New episodes premiere Mondays.

Ê New Stan series ‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ will have its two-episode premiere on Friday, December 5. ‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ is a thrilling, erotic, history-bending, roller-coaster experience that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit. ‘Spartacus: Blood and Sand’ debuted in 2010 and was followed by ‘Spartacus: Gods of the Arena’ in 2011, ‘Spartacus: Vengeance’ in 2012 and ‘Spartacus: War of the Damned’ in 2013.

Ê NZ musical comedy ‘Happiness’, starring Rebecca Gibney and Harry McNaughton, will screen on HBO Max on Tuesday, November 4. Set in the picturesque coastal town of Tauranga, Aotearoa New Zealand, the six-part series follows Charlie Summers (McNaughton), a rising-star Broadway director whose scandalous secret sends him packing back to his roots. But Charlie’s return is anything but quiet. He is quickly roped into directing his mother Gaye’s (Gibney) amateur musical theatre production, where he turns the sleepy stage into a riotous rehearsal of redemption, reinvention and showbiz sparkle. This show must be good because a second season has been green-lit!

Shopping Let’s go

LEVEL UP YOUR WATERING

TAKE WATERING TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH NYLEX

Iconic Aussie brand, Nylex, has launched a new watering accessories range designed to elevate the look of outdoor spaces while offering easy and efficient water usage. With an understanding of current home and landscaping trends, the collection has been created for the style conscious homeowner, transforming necessary watering equipment into a feature they’d want to show.

Architecturally-inspired, the new Nylex range consists of watering essentials including hoses, hose reels and hose carts. Stylish features such as a sophisticated monochromatic palette with contrasting textures and bold streamlined forms, are a significant move away from the bright colours tradition-

ally seen in garden watering accessories.

“For a long time, garden watering products have been purely function-driven, with equipment traditionally hidden away. We’re now seeing a shift towards more visually appealing designs and the new range responds by combining quality performance with a look that homeowners are proud to have on display,” said Paul English, Senior Industrial Designer at Nylex.

“When designing the range, our aim was to approach these products in the way an architect approaches a building.

“We started with simple geometric forms shaped by function, then used colour, texture and material to bring them to life. By stripping

back unnecessary details and focusing on the core features, we’ve created a collection that is both elegant and practical.”

Inge Jabara, horticulture and landscaping expert, says this shift reflects how Australians are living and gardening today.

“Increasingly, gardens are becoming an extension of the home and we’re seeing more focus on cohesive outdoor spaces, which extends from the landscaping right down to gardening tools and equipment,” she said.

“GARDENS

ARE BECOMING AN EXTENSION OF THE HOME”

“For spring/summer 2026 it’s all about functional items that will complement rather than detract from the overall garden aesthetic.

“Depending on the style of your home and outdoor space, we’re seeing fences and garden features in darker moody colours, as well as fresh lighter hues, so to have a range that blends effortlessly into these tones provides a more cohesive look. The new Nylex Retracting Auto Reel with its organic modern casing in either matte black or alpine grey, looks perfectly at home in the garden, on the fence, or attached to a nearby wall.”

The right equipment also makes it easier to maintain essential watering over the warmer months. According to Inge, “If the hose has a home within the garden space and is in easy reach, watering will be much more practical and enjoyable, especially as we head into spring and summer when watering becomes a priority.”

“When selecting watering accessories look for well designed ergonomic, quality products, which are comfortable to use and longer lasting. Your hose should last for years, a retractable hose system needs to be well functioning to make cleaning up after gardening easy, and if using a hose cart make sure it can easily be wheeled up and popped behind some greenery ready for the next use.”

Nylex’s stylish new collection for gardens is available from Bunnings stores nationally and online

What is so great about this property?

Brand-new house with approved granny flat, already rented, offering stylish modern living, functional spaces, and immediate investment income in a highly sought-after location.

Who does this property suit?

Just a short walk to Kingswood Station, shops, schools, cafés,

parks, childcare centres, and local amenities, making daily life convenient and enjoyable.

Tell us about the suburb this property is in?

Cambridge Park is a familyfriendly, affordable Penrith suburb with schools, parks, shops, and excellent transport links, ideal for modern suburban living.

Discover exclusive townhome

living in Oran Pa rk .

Inviting you to enjoy the best of both worlds, Oran Park townhomes combine the space of a house with a back yard and the low-maintenance qualities of apar tment living

You can choose from an exceptional selection of architecturally designed townhomes located near all the town’s popular amenities and most loved at tractions.

Ideal for growing families, downsizers and couples, these distinctive residences of fer excellent value-for-money.

• Spacious, designer interiors

• Landscaped grounds

• Two to five-bedroom layouts

• Private porches and cour tyards

• Family-friendly living areas

• Premium finishes and inclusions

• Tranquil locations

Ready for you to move in, these elegant townhomes are curated for comfor t and practicality. A beautiful lifest yle in one of Au stralia’s fastest growing suburbs awaits.

Arena - Typical example of Oran Park townhomes

The Circuit - Typical example of Oran Park townhomes

Civic Collection - Typical example of Oran Park townhomesB anksia - Typical example of Oran Park townhomes

The ResidencesTypical example of Oran Park townhomes

bene eady rented granny at makes this a fantastic investment with immediate retu

STRENGTH TRAINING FOR CHEER AND GYMNASTICS

Gymnastics and cheerleading demand far more than flexibility and skill, they require strength, power and speed. An athlete’s performance and risk of injury is impacted on their ability to generate power but also control the force produced. That’s why structured strength training is such an important part of preparation for these sports.

For gymnasts, strength underpins almost everything they do. Powerful legs drive vaults and floor routines, while strong upper body and core muscles help maintain control on bars and beam. Cheerleaders rely on the same foundations, explosive lower body strength to jump and tumble and upper body strength for the base to control the flyers. Simple but effective exercises like squats, lunges, push ups and core work build the strength needed to perform skills more efficiently and to a higher standard, decreasing the risk of fatigue or error.

Progressive overload is a training principle where load is gradually increased with demands, prompting continuous adaptation that improves strength, power and speed. This principle is especially important for youth athletes, where

programs should be designed according to their age and ability.

By steadily increasing intensity through heavier weights and volume through additional sets and repetitions, young athletes can safely develop strength while reinforcing proper technique

and reducing the risk of injury.

Training in line with their developmental stage ensures athletes continue to progress while building confidence, and a strong foundation for long term growth in their sport.

Just as important, strength training helps prevent injury. Both sports involve high repetition and impact on joints such as the wrists, knees and ankles. Building stronger muscles around those joints improves stability and reduces strain during landings or awkward movements. When paired with mobility and balance work, athletes become better equipped to handle the demands of training.

Adding strength training to a regular cheer or gymnastics program helps athletes move better, perform with more confidence, and stay safer for longer. Book a session with Hannah, the Strength and Conditioning Coach at OnePointHealth, who brings a background in gymnastics and years of experience.

Tim Webster for Breakfast 5am-9am Weekdays

Chris Smith Across Australia 9am-12 Noon

DESEXING YOUR CAT: A RESPONSIBLE CHOICE

Cats make wonderful companions, but without responsible ownership, they can also contribute to a serious community problem – overpopulation. It’s estimated that in just seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce as many as 420,000 kittens. That’s a staggering number of unwanted animals, many of whom will end up in shelters or living on the streets.

Desexing – or spaying and neutering – is a simple and effective way to prevent this from happening. Beyond controlling the population, desexing brings significant health and behavioural benefits to your pet.

A desexed cat is:

• Less likely to wander or run away. With a reduced urge to roam, your cat is more likely to stay close to home, lowering the risk of accidents or getting lost.

• Less prone to fighting. Cats that haven’t been desexed may fight over territory or mating

partners. These fights often lead to painful injuries and abscesses, and can even be life-threatening.

• Less likely to contract serious diseases. Fights can spread

mammary cancers in females and testicular cancer in males.

• Better behaved. Desexing can reduce antisocial behaviour, making your cat calmer and more affectionate. It also helps

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), also known as Feline AIDS. Desexing can help reduce this risk.

• At lower risk of reproductive cancers. Desexing can help prevent uterine, ovarian and

prevent spraying or territorial marking inside your home.

For pet owners, desexing is also the more affordable and practical option. A single cat can have 4–6 kittens per litter. Each of these kittens needs to be fed, wormed,

treated for fleas, vaccinated and microchipped – all of which can become expensive very quickly. In fact, it is a legal requirement that all kittens be vaccinated and microchipped before being sold or given away.

The recommended age for desexing is around 4–6 months, ideally before your cat reaches puberty. Local council regulations require cats to be desexed by four months of age unless an exemption letter is provided by a veterinarian. Early desexing is safe, quick, and gives your cat the best start in life.

By choosing to desex your cat, you’re not only helping your pet live a longer, healthier, and happier life – you’re also playing an important role in protecting the wider cat community.

If you’d like more information about desexing, microchipping or registration of your cat, contact Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital on 4736 2027.

Together, we can make a difference.

Relax & Unwind

JOANNE

MADELINE MOORE

Boho Astro

@JoMadelineMoore

© Joanne Madeline Moore 2025

AQUARIUS

JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 19

Are you restless for physical adventure and mental challenges? The New Moon illuminates your travel and education zone, so it’s time to explore, study and experiment! Negotiation planet Venus also encourages you to compromise and hold out the olive branch of peace (especially to a stressed friend or work colleague). Attached Aquarians – don’t put your career before relationships. Singles – you could meet your soul mate while one of you is on holiday.

TAURUS

APRIL 21 TO MAY 21

Venus (your ruling planet) and the New Moon stimulate your daily routine and wellbeing zone, so try to find a nutritious diet and fitness program that you enjoy and will stick to. But there’s the potential for a Sun-Pluto power struggle on Friday or Saturday, with an authority figure, work colleague or loved one. So calm down Bulls, and try to communicate with extra care and diplomacy, otherwise you could overreact and do or say something you later regret.

LEO

JULY 23 TO AUGUST 23

You’re in the mood to talk, text, tweet, publish and/or podcast as Tuesday’s New Moon activates your communication zone. Then on Friday/Saturday there’s a challenging connection between Pluto and your ruler, the Sun. So try to avoid partnership dramas, family squabbles, online arguments and run-ins with authority figures. If you are the person in charge, resist the urge to be bossy and over-bearing. Behaving like a demanding Diva will get you nowhere fast!

SCORPIO

OCTOBER 24 TO NOVEMBER 22

On Thursday the Sun transits into Scorpio and on Friday/Saturday, the Sun squares powerful Pluto, which boosts your temperamental streak and your control-freak tendencies. You may feel like you’re stuck in a self-sabotaging rut or even going backwards. The more stubborn you are, the more challenging things will be. As comedian (and fellow Scorpio) John Cleese observes, “You don’t have to be the Dalai Lama to tell people that life is about change.”

PISCES

FEBRUARY 20 TO MARCH 20

Someone could pressure you to reveal information that was given to you in confidence. Hence your current moral and philosophical conundrum as you ponder, “Is honesty always the best policy’? With the Sun, Mercury and Mars all activating your foreign travel zone, adventure and faraway places beckon, so start planning your itinerary now. It’s also important to keep up to date with your international contacts. Who knows where they will eventually lead?

GEMINI

MAY 22 TO JUNE 21

This week your creativity and peer group zone is being activated by the New Moon and Venus, so it’s a fabulous time to create, inspire, socialise and fraternize. And an exciting new romance or friendship may be just around the corner! Are you single and looking for love? You could be introduced to your future partner via a close friend or a casual acquaintance. The weekend is productive for ticking the to-do list and catching up on a backlog of paperwork.

VIRGO

AUGUST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 23

Tuesday’s New Moon signals a fresh financial chapter. On Friday and Saturday, the Sun/Pluto square could stir up trouble, especially at work or within your neighbourhood. A double dose of diplomacy is required if you want to keep the peace. The focus is on long-term relationships. How to nurture them, keep them … and then let them go if you have outgrown each other. Enjoyable mutual interests are essential to satisfying romantic and platonic relationships.

SAGITTARIUS

NOVEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 21

Tuesday’s New Moon is the perfect time to revise, reassess and reboot your Sagittarian hopes, goals and dreams. Think of creative ways you can navigate the unpredictable economic landscape, adapt professionally and pivot personally. Taskmaster Saturn encourages you to be more responsible at home and more accountable with family members. If things aren’t going well with loved ones, then it’s time to communicate clearly and cooperate often!

HOROSCOPES

ARIES

MARCH 21 TO APRIL 20

The New Moon and Venus rev up your relationship zone, so you’ll experience the greatest satisfaction if you share your goals and dreams with other likeminded people. Collective collaboration is the key. But you need to think longterm and be patient. Do your best to get the balance right between being creative and being productive; between having inspirational ideas and making practical progress. Resist the urge to be bossy on Friday and Saturday.

CANCER

JUNE 22 TO JULY 22

A fresh start is likely on the domestic front, as Tuesday’s New Moon highlights your home zone. When it comes to relationship issues, are you trying to fix a frustrating situation? Prepare for some resistance from other people (especially your partner or a close friend). Quick fixes won’t work. You need to slow down and think things through in a realistic and responsible fashion. The weekend favours reading, writing and long-term planning.

LIBRA

S EPTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 23

With a New Moon stimulating your sign (and Jupiter jumping through your life direction/professional zone) be more proactive about where you are heading. Don’t just sit on the fence and hope that things will magically change. It’s the ideal time to set intentions and make wishes involving personal projects, physical appearance and individual goals. Most of all … enjoy yourself! On Friday and Saturday, friends and finances are a volatile mix.

CAPRICORN

DECEMBER 22 TO JANUARY 20

It’s full steam ahead at work, as Tuesday’s New Moon activates your career zone. However, when it comes to friendships, financial matters or local community connections, things are moving a bit slower. And that’s OK! If you’re a clever Capricorn, you’ll adjust your energy and output to the required pace. Your motto is from birthday great, actress Carrie Fisher (who was born on October 21, 1956), “Sometimes the tide’s in, and sometimes it’s out.”

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contains every number uniquely.

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org

If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

Word Search

Find all the words listed hidden in the grid of letters. They can be found in straight lines up, down, forwards, backwards or even diagonally.

THEME: SQUIRRELS

HAIRY TAIL

HIBERNATE

HINDLIMBS

LEAP

PRAIRIE DOG

PYGMY

SHARP CLAWS

STRONG LEGS

TUFTED-EAR

VEGETARIAN

WOODCHUCK

Last week’s solution

What is the smallest bone in the body?

What is in the centre of a bone?

How many muscles are in the body? 9. How many litres of blood does the body hold?

How to beat Str8ts –

Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’ are formed.

MOTORING WITH GARY WORRALL

The adventures of Tow Triton and the GemRod

After launching the pick-up version Triton ute, Mitsubishi expanded the range to include cab-chassis models.

The front end remains the same, out back it is all change, the tub is gone, giving the option of a dropside tray or a bespoke service unit.

Despite being a workhorse, the cab-chassis can be ordered in the full range of trim options, from the entry GXL to top-shelf GSR, with the option of four-wheel-drive across the range, a genuine option for those wanting to get their wheels dirty.

Our test car was the GSR with 4WD and six-speed auto, giving it the full bells and whistles treatment and although standard with a bare chassis, we got the optional steel dropside tray.

“SMOOTH, COMFORTABLE AND RELAXED, THE TRITON TRAYBACK WAS AN EXCELLENT TOW VEHICLE”

With the body-coloured front grille and silver triple diamond badge, the Triton was easy to spot in the car park, particularly with black front guard flares and black 18”x7.5” alloy wheels.

We also got side steps, I didn’t find them necessary, while there is plenty of ground clearance, it is not that tall.

Inside, is a unique black leather trim, complete with orange stitching, offering a sporty feel, including chunky-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel with face-mounted buttons for audio, cruise, telephone and instrument cluster display.

A widescreen infotainment unit dominates the centre stack, including four-speaker with wireless Apple CarPlay, along with navigation and vehicle control apps.

Underneath is the two-zone automatic climate control system, including front seat and steering

wheel heaters, very nice in winter!, as well as twin USB ports, one each for -A and -C, and two dashmounted cupholders to complement the two in the centre console.

The power-adjustable driver’s seat was nicely padded, providing good support for long drives, a little short on the base for tall drivers but with plenty of leg and shoulder room.

The 2.4-litre diesel has twin, sequential, turbochargers, the smaller diameter unit spools up

is accessible. Once connected, it was time to set sail for the track, the dropsides allowed for fast loading of race tyres and tools, all strapped down to the side rails and headboard.

While a canopy keeps the weather out, being able to lift items on and off was easy, the steel checkerplate floor sturdy enough for the jacks, fuel churns and other items riding out back.

The auto made take-offs easy, no

quickly from low engine speeds, the larger unit making more boost as the revs build, giving a total 150Kw and 470Nm from 1,500rpm, proving ideal with the trailer hooked up.

Yes, some drivers want a manual transmission, the GLX dual cab gets one, but for smoother operation and full vehicle integration, the auto wins hands down.

My licence says I can drive an unrestricted road train, but for hauling a trailer in urban traffic the auto is stress-free and modern multi-speed units allow manual gear selection when desired.

The Triton is rated at 3.5 tonnes for towing, our trailer is 2,000kg with the GemRod racer on board, this weight tends to sit with a lot of owners’ needs.

The trayback option made hitching easy, you aren’t reaching under the tub for connections, everything

clutch feathering needed, easing driveline shock as it took up the weight, and we were away.

Despite the 7.5” rim width, it sits flat on the road, there was no floating or wandering, even at highway speeds.

Sitting in the left lane on a relaxed 95km/h with the smart cruise control on, there was plenty in reserve to overtake if we encountered any slower vehicles.

It takes a moment longer to build up a head of steam, but with the second turbo coming on line power delivery was linear, there was no jerking or leaping with a sudden rush of power arriving.

Downshifts were smooth, generally fifth was enough, we didn’t climb any mountains, but there were plenty of hills and valleys, which it did with ease.

The frameless auto-dimming mirror gave a great view of GemRod tailgating me, but the big door mirrors offered a line of sight down both sides of the trailer as well as reducing blind spots.

Trailer Stability Assist is part of the safety suite, I didn’t need it (!), there are also traction and stability controls and blind spot sensors helping the mirrors.

The electric power steering is well-

weighted and accurate, handy when navigating roundabouts with a dual axle car trailer, I made sure not to use the ABS brakes or Brake Assist, keeping an eye on traffic and using ‘lift and coast’ driving to reduce the amount of braking.

When I did use them, there was plenty of stopping power, braking was progressive, with no snatching or grabbing, bringing everything to a stop with minimal fuss.

Standard testing has the GSR returning 7.7 litres per 100km, this goes out the door when towing, even so we averaged less than 10 litres per 100km with sustained highway driving.

Roadworks detoured us down some dirt roads, even then the Triton took it in its stride, the ride remained composed and unfussed, despite surface corrugations.

The whole driving task was relaxed and comfortable, I got to the circuit in air-conditioned comfort, which made the track activities even more enjoyable.

Yes, I would have one, my preference would be a 2WD, I don’t need 4WD, preferably with an updated driver monitoring system, to be less intrusive, while it can be switched off, you have to do it pretty much every time you start the car.

Luxury is everywhere inside the Triton.

Putting the cab-chassis model to the test.

KIA set to launch van competitor

After an absence of more than 15 years, KIA is set to move back into the commercial van market with a new EV model, the PV5.

Previously, KIA offered the Pregio van and K2700/2900 light duty truck, with some success, in the early to middle 2000s, however there was no replacement forthcoming after they were retired.

Set to debut at Sydney’s Mobility Live expo on October 15 and 16, the PV5 will be available as both a large-

scale people mover and a dedicated cargo van.

Built on an all-new design, the ‘Platform Beyond Vehicle’ (PBV) can be configured for multiple applications, with a total of 16 variants, including as a driver-only model with removable front passenger seat.

With 120kW and 250Nm, standardised testing gave a range of 412km for the five-seat passenger van and 416km for the Long cargo model, when fitted with the 71.2kw/h Nickel Cobalt Manganese battery.

Recognising accidents do indeed happen, the PV5’s LED headlights are recessed into the front bumper, to reduce the potential for minor accident damage, while the rear bumper is built in three sections, allowing individual parts to be replaced, without needing to remove the complete assembly.

The high roofline of the cargo van is offset by the underfloor battery packs, creating a lower centre of gravity for improved stability, even when loaded.

The Tiggo 9 is top Chery in town

Chinese manufacturer Chery revealed its new Super Hybrid range-topper, the Tiggo 9, complete with an electric-only range of 170 kilometres, and a total range of 1,250 kilometres last week.

Powered by a combination of a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and three electric motors, two front and one rear, the Tiggo 9 produces a stunning 315kW peak power and 580Nm torque.

Clearly targeting the luxury SUV market, the Tiggo’s standard equipment list includes front massage seats with 6-way power adjustment and an extendable thigh support on the seat base, a 14-speaker Sony sound system with 15.6” infotainment and navigation touchscreen, while the driver’s instrument cluster is a 10.25” unit.

Other touches include a heated steering wheel, heating and cooling for the front and outboard rear seats, all leather trimmed, a panoramic sunroof and driver’s Heads-Up Display.

Externally, the Tiggo runs on 20” rims, with LED projector headlights and LED tail lights, with a powered tailgate and acoustic glass for the front screen and doors.

The electronic assistance for drivers includes the modern-day usual suspects of autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping and adaptive cruise control, as well as auto parking, for both perpendicular and parallel parking spaces.

While dealers are currently taking orders, the first vehicles are expected to land here in November.

KIA is launching a new van range, including the company’s first dedicated cargo van in more than 20 years, with the release of the PV5.

The Chery Tiggo 9 is the brand’s new flagship model, arriving in November.

panther rumblings

BRAD POPS THE QUESTION

! Brad’s big move: While Danika Mason was getting all the media attention last weekend, another big rugby league personality also got engaged. Outgoing Panthers back-up halfback Brad Schneider popped the question to his long-time partner Karlee. The pair have been together for about eight years, so it was about time!

! Cleary settles on assistant: Penrith NSW Cup coach Ben Harden will move into the NRL coaching ranks from next season, sitting alongside Ivan Cleary as an assistant. Weekender columnist Peter Lang reports that Harden will relinquish his coaching duties with the reserve grade side and replace Ben Gardiner in the NRL coach’s box. Gardiner is heading to the Perth Bears as an Assistant Coach to Mal Meninga in their inaugural season in 2027. He announced earlier this year that he would depart Penrith at the end of 2025.

! Spotted: Former Panthers player and onetime powerbroker Lou Zivanovic sharing a beer with veteran sports journalist Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield.

! Spotted: Brian To’o, Spencer Leniu and Stephen Crichton all out on the town with their partners in a mini Panthers reunion.

! Cleary to rugby? All the talk about Nathan Cleary and Rugby 360 is purely that at the moment, but there is no doubt that there’s some uncertainty around the Penrith superstar’s future beyond the 2027 season. If he and partner Mary go the distance – and every indication is they will – you wouldn’t expect them to continue a long distance relationship forever. Something will have to give.

! Cameron talks business: Panthers CEO Matt Cameron (pictured right) is among a host of sporting administrators who will speak at a

Business Leader Luncheon being presented by the Western Sydney Business Connection in Warwick Farm next month. Cameron will be in good company with the likes of Wanderers CEO Scott Hudson, Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos and Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster all on the rundown.

! Cogger back in town: It was known for some time but the Panthers officially confirmed the return of Jack Cogger to the club last week. A member of the 2023 Premiership winning team, Cogger returns to the Panthers from the Knights on a threeyear deal. The length of the deal has surprised some, but it certainly gives Penrith stability when it comes to a back-up for Nathan Cleary. Cogger is every chance of being a permanent member of Ivan Cleary’s top 17 if he plays the same Brad Schneider role that he settled on at the back end of this season.

! Girds back in town: Panthers 2003 Grand Final champion Ryan Girdler was back in Penrith last week. He was spotted leading some health and wellness classes down at Mark Geyer’s gym.

! Media man’s side gig: It’s not only the players who are on representative duty at this time of the year. Penrith’s well-liked media manager Michael Blok is doubling as the media contact for the Samoan international team for the Pacific Championships.

! Horsing around: Keep an eye out for Hooligan Tommy during the spring racing season. The horse is part-owned by Panthers legend Greg Alexander. The gelding has already had some good wins, and will be back racing this Saturday at Randwick. Save your cash though, it’s in Race 9.

! Aussie pride: There’s plenty of talk about the future of the Prime Minister’s XIII fixture but try telling Penrith forwards Liam Henry and Matt Eisenhuth that it means nothing. They were brimming with pride to wear the green and gold in Papua New Guinea last Sunday.

Refs recognised at top event

“Wow! What a feeling this is! It’s truly humbling to be standing here and receiving this jacket tonight,” Robinson said.

“To be receiving this from someone I’ve looked up to – a mentor but also a mate – is a surreal experience.”

In the night’s other awards, youngster Hunter Charlesworth won the Peter Browne Award; Madison Lockey took out the Barry Beveridge Award; Hunter Clavan

secured the Yvonne Lewis Award; and Jack Catania took home the Phil Sanders Memorial Award and Sarah Ford Trophy.

Proving they have a bright future in refereeing, Eliza Livingstone won the Len Manuel Award for Rookie of the Year; Beau Jackson took out the Reg Newsome Award for Most Improved; and Lachlan Masters was handed the Michael Grady Junior Merit Award.

Floyd Gilchrist took out the Russell Turner Award

for Touch Judge of the Year; Megan Buckley won the Fred Lucas Award for Most Improved Senior Referee; Jayden Kastelan was handed the Don Courts Award; James Fitzgerald named the Ray Steele Memorial Trophy winner for the second straight year; Brodie Rushby got his hands on the Joe Beacroft Memorial Trophy; while Luke Mulligan and Katina Geale were both bestowed the Jack Harris Senior Merit Award. The Awards will return next year.

Brad Schneider and his partner Karlee.

Photo: Ella Duba.

Photo: Ella Duba.

SPORTS SHORTS

WITH NATHAN TAYLOR

Giants put community in focus

NETBALL: Giants Netball are hitting the courts and the community this spring, with Jamison Park Netball Complex on the agenda. As the players make a staggered return to pre-season, the club will also be returning for phase two of their ‘Spring Takeover’ community campaign – an exciting grassroots initiative designed to deepen the connection between the club and the passionate netball communities across Greater Western Sydney. Following the success of last year’s campaign, the Giants will this year integrate themselves into the Spring Netball rosters of five associations, over a nine-week period, including Penrith District Netball Association. With a mix of family-friendly fun, elite player engagement, and game-day style activations, it’s a celebration of community sport and the role it plays in shaping the next generation of athletes and fans. “Community is at the heart of everything we do,” said Kristina Genovese-Jones, Giants Netball’s General Manager of Community and Events. “Western Sydney is one of the strongest netball communities in the state, and it’s incredibly important to us that we’re not just visible but actively involved in supporting local clubs, players, and volunteers. Grassroots netball is where it all begins – it’s where future Giants first fall in love with the game.” With more than 4000 participants expected to be involved, the campaign marks a major step forward in Giants Netball’s commitment to expanding its footprint in western Sydney – a region rich in sporting talent and a deep passion for netball.

CRICKET: Penrith have notched up their first win of the season, defeating Sydney Cricket Club in Round 3 of the Belvidere Cup. Playing in a One-Day match last Saturday at Drummoyne Oval, Sydney won the toss and elected to bat. Sydney batted well before being dismissed for 247. Liam Doddrell took four wickets for Penrith. When Penrith hit the crease later that day, they reached Sydney’s target with seven wickets and eight balls in hand (3/251). Jordan Watson was superb, smashing 108 not-out. Penrith will aim for back-to-back wins when they play Eastern Suburbs at Howell Oval this Saturday in the first Two-Day match of the season.

CRICKET: Penrith have lost a thriller to Parramatta in Round 1 of the Women’s Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup. Playing at Merrylands last Sunday, Penrith won the toss and elected to bowl. Parramatta posted 4/158 with the bat after 20 overs. When Penrith hit the crease, they fell one run short of victory (9/157)

after 20 overs. Ella Tilburg was best with the bat, scoring 45 not-out. Penrith will visit Raby Sports Complex this Sunday morning to play Campbelltown Camden.

GRIDIRON: The Nepean Ducks have had a mixed weekend in Round 4 of the Gridiron NSW competition. In Tackle Football, Nepean’s Men’s team were flogged 52-0 by the UNSW Raiders, while Nepean’s Colts team defeated the Wollongong Mustangs 36-28. In Flag Football, Nepean’s Women’s team went down to the UTS Gators 44-14, but bounced back to defeat Rebels Purple 34-7. Nepean’s U15s team defeated the Wollongong Mustangs 24-16 in thrilling encounter.

AFLW: The GWS Giants have extended their losing streak to three games with their latest loss coming last Saturday against the Geelong Cats at GMHBA Stadium. The Cats kicked five goals to one in the final quarter to break away from the Giants, eventually winning 72-45 in front of a crowd of 2,509. Saturday’s win was Geelong’s first victory at home this season and the first time in AFLW history that the Cats have beaten the Giants. GWS will return home this Saturday afternoon to battle Fremantle.

extend for another two years. “Alyce has been both an exceptional player and person for our club ever since she was drafted back in 2018 and we’re thrilled that she’ll remain a Giant for another two years,” she said.

golf’s big stage. Meanwhile, Carter, who attends Cambridge Gardens Public School, and teammate James Kilbourne, who attends Werrington County Public School, recently represented Sydney West in PSSA at Barooga/ Tocumwal Golf Course. Carter and James’ team finished third overall. Well done, boys!

AFLW: The GWS Giants have announced that star midfielder Alyce Parker has signed a new two-year contract extension. The new deal will see the dual All Australian and four-time club champion remain in orange and charcoal until at least the end of the 2027 AFLW season. Giants Executive General Manager of AFLW, Alison Zell, said it was fantastic to have Parker

GOLF: 500 juniors from across the globe were in the Hunter Valley from September 30 to October 2 for the 2025 Jack Newton International, with many local golfers taking part. Cranebrook’s Carter Bryant, who won the U9’s event last year, finished second in Scratch for the 10 and Under age group. Congratulations Carter on your incredible performance on

CRICKET: Indian legend Ravichandran Ashwin has confirmed his full availability in Sydney Thunder’s upcoming BBL|15 campaign, including Finals. His extended availability – having previously signed on for the January portion of BBL|15 – encompasses all games this season, including Thunder’s home games at ENGIE Stadium and both Manuka Oval fixtures. Ashwin will become the first capped male Indian player to play for a BBL club on December 16 when the Thunder travels to Hobart for a BBL|14 Final rematch against the Hurricanes, before making his first home appearance in the Sydney Smash on December 20. Trent Copeland, Sydney Thunder General Manager, said: “Ashwin’s decision to play the full BBL|15 season with Sydney Thunder is another exciting moment for our club, members and fans leading into a huge summer of Big Bash. From the outset, we put an offer to Ashwin to bring him to western Sydney for the entire BBL|15 season. Following the initial announcement of his signing, conversations progressed quickly, and it was a no brainer from Thunder’s perspective to bring him in for the whole tournament. We can’t wait to welcome him to western Sydney in December.” For the full Sydney Thunder fixture, visit www.sydneythunder.com.au.

Giants Netball is coming to Penrith District Netball Association.

Young golfer Carter Bryant.

Alyce Parker has re-signed.

Good news for Giants – see page 55

NIGHT OF NIGHTS FOR REFS

For the second straight year, two referees have been bestowed the prestigious Bob Kandelas Medal for ‘Referee’s Referee’.

Junior rugby league referees Jack Catania and Luke Mulligan were taken by surprise when they were declared joint winners of the Penrith Referees’ Association’s top award during a lavish ceremony at the Western Sydney Conference Centre in Penrith last weekend.

An audience of more than 150 people were in attendance for the annual presentation, which was hosted by 7News and ‘Sunrise’ journalist, Liam Tapper.

The Bob Kandelas Medal is named after the late referee, who began his officiating journey as a member of the Balmain Referees’ Association before joining Penrith back in 1969.

Jack Catania, who was already the proud winner of two awards throughout the night, was lost for words when accepting the Bob Kandelas Medal.

“This is a special group to be amongst from 1980 to last year,” he said.

“My advice for younger refs would be to take in everything. Even though someone might be telling you something you don’t want to hear… everything you hear from someone will help you at some point.”

Luke Mulligan, who accepted his award from the WWE in Perth, thanked his parents for encouraging him to referee.

“It’s a huge honour to win the Bob Kandelas Medal,” he said.

“To be sharing this award [with Jack] shows how good of a position this association is in.”

The night also saw long-time referee Curtis Robinson awarded Life Membership of the Penrith Referees’ Association.

Since 1970, there have been 56 Life

Members of the Association, with names on the list including outgoing Penrith Referees’ Chairman Gary Haines and recent 2025 NRL Grand Final referee Grant Atkins, who was in attendance on the evening.

In one of the more special moments of the night, Robinson accepted his Life Membership jacket off Tom Stindl.

Jack Catania. Photo: Ella Duba.

NATHAN TAYLOR