Western Weekender April 9 2026

Thursday, April 9, 2026

CAREER CROWN

Labelled Penrith’s “ultimate networker”, Colin Henry has been celebrated with a special honour. Full story on Page 16.

HISTORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REVEALED AFTER EMU PLAINS MURDER

SON STANDS ACCUSED

Ason is accused of stabbing his father to death in an alleged domestic violence incident that rocked Emu Plains over the long weekend.

Emergency services were called to Emu Plains following reports of a stabbing about 6.45pm on Thursday, April 2.

Officers arrived at a Clouta Place address to find a 58-year-old man with multiple stab wounds to his upper body. Paramedics

treated him at the scene but he could not be revived.

The deceased’s 30-year-old son, Evan Davis Clark, was arrested at the address and taken to Penrith Police Station, where he was charged with ‘murder (domestic violence)’.

Clark faced a bail court last Friday but did not make an application for his release.

Detective Acting Superintendent Michael Cantrell said a number of witnesses had

been spoken to regarding the incident, but would not confirm if anybody else was home when it occurred.

Both Clark and his father were known to police for previous domestic violence incidents, albeit not for a number of years, Cantrell said.

“The Easter long weekend is supposed to be a time for families to come together and for someone’s family to start off a long weekend

in such tragic circumstances is very tough,” he said.

A number of police and ambulance vehicles were pictured crowding the otherwise quiet, residential street after the incident last Thursday.

A crime scene was established and detectives have formed Strike Force Hawklar as part of their investigation.

– With AAP

MONDAY TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Colyton house sprayed with bullets in drive-by

Aperson has escaped injury after shots were fired into a home at Colyton. The incident happened at around 9.30pm on Tuesday night.

Shots were fired from a vehicle into the

home on Shepherd Street, with no sign of the car since the incident.

Police have confirmed one person was at home at the time of the shooting, however no injuries were recorded.

“Police have established a crime scene and Nepean detectives have commenced

an investigation into the incident,” a Police spokesperson said on Wednesday morning.

“Anyone with information, including CCTV or dashcam footage, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

Police remained on the scene of the shooting on Wednesday, continuing to search for

evidence and speak to local residents. It is understood a large number of bullet cartridges were found on the lawn of the Shepherd Street house on Tuesday night.

Forensic investigators as well as detectives and police dogs were spotted at the scene as part of the investigation.

2.5kW...........

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From The Editor’s Desk

Troy Dodds

Why Albo gave us nothing

You say it best when you say nothing at all, according to Ronan Keating (or country star Keith Whitley before him, if you prefer).

Perhaps Anthony Albanese should have fired up the CD player before making the now infamous call to address the nation last week as the Middle East conflict continues to have an impact in Australia.

Rather than say nothing, which we all would have probably preferred, Albanese waffled on for three minutes in a monologue now mocked extensively online and in the mainstream press.

It did little but prompt more questions about what Albanese wasn’t saying, sparking fears this was all about calming people before Easter, ahead of some level of restrictions around fuel in the weeks ahead.

A Prime Minister addressing the nation is a pretty big deal. When you demand networks hand their prime time schedule over to you and radio stations alter their tight hourly network schedules, you’re expected to be delivering some important news.

John Curtin addressed the nation in 1941, declaring Australia was at war with Japan.

Paul Keating did so in 1993 following the High Court’s historic Mabo decision, while John Howard fronted the cameras in 2003 to announce Australia’s entrance into the Iraq war.

Kevin Rudd grabbed his slice of history in 2008 at the height of the Global Financial Crisis, while Scott Morrison addressed the nation in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Albanese himself addressed the nation in 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth, which means he’s now racked up two addresses that I’m sure his closest inner circle confidantes have given him a pat on the back for.

Let’s say it as it is: Albanese made a mockery of the concept of a national address. It was a major failure to read the room and understand what the nation needed at this time.

The last thing we needed was uncertainty, but that three minutes delivered nothing but.

Making it even more futile was that unlike Curtin, Keating, Howard and even Rudd,

Albanese has access to a whole range of ways to get a message like that out. Release it through social media channels, make the video available to the wider media, do the rounds of TV and radio.

But a “national address”? Totally unwarranted and nothing short of fear-mongering.

Albanese is coming across as desperate to remain relevant in a situation he has little control over.

Australia’s reliance on overseas imports for its most crucial elements to keep running as a functional society really comes to the fore at times like this.

So does leadership.

Albanese lacked it last Wednesday in his decision to push ahead with a national address despite the fact that surely someone

“The last thing we needed was uncertainty, but that three minutes delivered nothing but”

within his crew of nodding heads would have brought up the historical context and pointed out it was a bad idea.

Meantime, the people who are confident in Energy Minister Chris Bowen getting us through this could fit in the local phone box. However, I do have some sympathy for the government here and I’m not as critical as some who are demanding definite plans and action points be released to the public about the steps ahead.

We saw during the COVID pandemic that as much as we talk about putting our arms around each other and hoping the best of society emerges, in the end it becomes a selfish battle that results in toilet paper – a commodity that’s supply was never actually in any danger as a result of the pandemic or international restrictions – being stripped from supermarket shelves.

When petrol stations started running out of fuel last month, the government got a glimpse at just what may happen if they start talking about restrictions.

Work from home started being whispered again; words that would have sent a shiver down those impacted by the economic disasters of COVID and the slow recovery of our major CBDs and cities.

Labor knows it needs to learn lessons from the response to COVID-19.

While Scott Morrison was flying somewhat blind in the government’s response to the pandemic, Albanese has the advantage of knowing how Australia reacted and behaved during that period.

He knows too that the at-times over-the-top rules and bizarre advice from experts, along with that toilet paper shortage, means that any level of restrictions is not likely to be handled well by the wider public.

It’s why Labor is deflecting as much as possible about anything even resembling restrictions and fresh rules.

Case in point: Attorney-General Michelle Rowland’s comment on ‘Sunrise’ on Tuesday morning when asked about fuel rationing.

“We are not considering that”.

I just cannot believe that is true.

That as petrol prices sky-rocket and Australia’s fuel supplies remain in some level of doubt, the government has “not considered” rationing.

If the government hasn’t even considered it, it isn’t doing its job.

Of course it has considered it.

And it likely has an extensive and detailed response if things do get worse.

Perhaps this indeed is the best approach. Convince people you’re in control, don’t panic, keep restrictions off the table and try to push ‘everyday life’ the best you can.

Problem is Albanese took a step outside the plan last Wednesday with a national address that was not needed if your approach is as outlined above.

I suspect the government does actually know what it is doing here.

In fact, I trust that it does.

Unfortunately, it’s just not doing a very good job of showing it.

Best friend of business calls it a day

For over three decades local businesses have had the helping hand of John Todd from the Western Sydney Business Centre (WSBC) to guide them through the process of starting and operating a business.

Now, he has officially retired –after seeing some 50,000 clients come through the doors.

Through his working life, Todd only ever had two jobs – landing at the WSBC after a secondment from Westpac.

“It was supposed to be 18 months,” Todd laughed.

“At the end of my 18 months, they decided that they wouldn’t continue with the sponsorship… so I elected to stay.

“34 years later and it has gone so

quickly. I can’t believe I’ve been here for 34 years. I’ve had two jobs in one lifetime – 20 years at Westpac and 34 years here.”

During his time at WSBC they have helped 51,237 clients one-on-one, helped 11,000 new businesses form and provided 18,451 workshops and webinars to clients.

“Definitely helping small businesses is a good memory but I think a big achievement is when we won the Australian Small Business Advisory Services Contract for the whole of New South Wales and ACT,” Todd reflected.

“There are only three contracts handed out in the whole of Australian and we won one of them. Unfortunately, we lost it after five years and we are waiting for an answer to see if we can get it back this time.

“We’ve delivered small business

advisory services on behalf of the State Government for the whole 36 years the centre’s been here. We’re in the top three every year of every award they give out every 12 months.

“We’ve achieved a lot over the years, made a lot of good friends, and no real enemies! But a lot of good friends and that’s probably what I’m going to miss the most.”

Todd is exceptionally well versed in the business world having a Diploma of Advanced Business Facilitation, being a past member of Penrith City Council’s Floodplain Risk Management Committee, and Foundation Member and Past Chair of Business & Enterprise Facilitators for 10 years.

Todd is also the past Vice President, Treasurer and NSW Representative of the National NEIS Association

for 11 years, past board member of Business Innovation and Incubation Australia Inc for 20 years, Member of Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce and Hawkesbury City Chamber of Commerce for over 30 years and was a Member of the institute of Managers and Leaders for 20 years.

Todd’s son Nathan will take over the day to day of the WSBC.

“Nathan took over from me about

OPEN DAYS

28 April 5pm (McCar thy Campus) 30 April 5pm (Loyola Campus)

six months ago and I’ve just been in the background guiding him,” Todd said.

“This was planned two years ago, and we were doing a gradual transition to him over the last two and a half years and in the last six months he has officially taken over.” Now, Todd will spend his time working on the house and with his wife Marianne, who he has been married to for 48 years.

Police Snapshot Legal Matters

Penrith: Trio found to be supplying drugs after assault

On Friday, February 13 a 21-year-old Werrington man seriously assaulted a 16-year-old teenage boy at the intersection of Oxford Street and Barry Street in Cambridge Park. The 16-year-old sustained a fractured skull and other facial injuries as a result of the assault.

Strike Force Annable was formed to investigate the serious assault. During the investigation, police discovered that the 21-year-old, his girlfriend, a 19-year-old from Werrington, and his mother, a 43-year-old from Carlingford, were actively involved in the supply of prohibited drugs.

At 2.10pm on Tuesday, March 31 the 21-yearold and the 19-year-old were arrested on Castlereagh Road in Penrith. The 43-year-old was also arrested after leaving her home in her car. Police searched the 43-year-old’s car and found a large amount of prohibited drugs as well as drug manufacturing equipment and drug paraphernalia.

A house on Depot Circuit in Werrington was also searched where police found prohibited drugs and other items of interest.

All three people were taken to Penrith Police Station where they were all formally charged. All three were bail refused and appeared in Penrith Local Court on Wednesday, April 1. The 21-year-old and the 43-year-old were further bail refused until Friday, May 29 while the 19-year-old was bail refused until Sunday, May 17.

Cranebrook: Woman caught trying to break into houses

At 11am on Monday, April 6 a 46-year-old Cranebrook woman damaged the screen door of a residential premises on Bedley Place in Cranebrook while asking the resident if she could take plants from the front yard.

The 46-year-old left and made her way to a second residence on McGann Place where she began rummaging through items in the front yard.

The 46-year-old then went to a nearby residence, walked down the side of the house and into the rear yard. The woman was found by police a short time later after attempting to gain entry into the house through the back door.

Implements thought to be used in housebreaking were found on the 46-year-old and she admitted to attempting to gain entry into the first house by damaging the screen door.

The 46-year-old was arrested and charged. She was granted conditional bail and will

appear at Penrith Local Court on Monday, April 20.

Cranebrook: Man assaults police after being arrested

At 4am on Friday, April 3 police were responding to reports that a 19-year-old Ashmont man was assaulting someone on Martley Way in Cranebrook.

The 19-year-old ran into a premises where he was arrested and placed into a caged police car. While this was occurring, the 19-year-old kicked out violently, bit an officer on the arm, and attempted to spit at a second officer. The 19-year-old was taken to Nepean Hospital where he kicked a third officer in the leg.

The 19-year-old was later charged with three counts of ‘assault police’, ‘contravene AVO’ and ‘breach bail’. He was bail refused and appeared in Penrith Local Court on Tuesday, April 7.

Penrith: Man tries to escape custody while at hospital

On Sunday, April 5 a 31-year-old man in Corrective Services custody was being transported by Corrective Officers to Nepean Hospital to receive treatment.

The 31-year-old was being assessed within a secure area of the hospital but ran directly into the front door of the unit in an attempt to escape. A glass panel within the door smashed when the man hit it.

The 31-year-old was immediately restrained by Corrective Officers and security during which he was violently resisting.

The 31-year-old was returned to Corrective Services custody, and a future court attendance notice was generated.

Glenmore Park: Teenagers targeted in e-bike operations

Nepean Police Area Command have received complaints recently about youths riding e-bikes harassing shop owners and customers within the Glenmore Park shopping area.

On Sunday, March 22 and Sunday, March 29 Nepean trail bike officers conducted Operational Foil within the Glenmore Parking shopping precinct, targeting e-bike offences.

The operation resulted in six official cautions for e-bike related offences, official move-on directions and several youths being moved on who were harassing customers while blocking doorway entrances.

Two other youths will receive official cautions for assaulting another youth.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

IF YOU ARE LEASING A BUSINESS PREMISES

Most businesses need some sort of premises to run from. Whether you are in a trade or construction based business, professional services, or selling goods to consumers at some point in your business’ lifecycle you will probably need a factory, commercial office space, or retail shop to trade from.

For most people, their first entry into establishing a business premises is to enter into a lease and rent one.

As the business evolves, tenants often turn into landlords and buy their own premises however, even if that is your end goal, it is important that you take seriously understanding your rights and obligations if you are entering into a lease to run your business from.

Here is a list of important things to think about from the beginning:

• You will usually be asked to sign a heads of agreement or lease proposal that contains the commercial terms you agree to with the landlord before a formal lease is prepared. Make sure you read this carefully and agree to those terms. It is uncommon for a landlord to agree to any changes from the terms that are set out in the heads of agreement or lease proposal so if you want to negotiate anything in particular you should try to do it at the start and make sure it is recorded in the heads of agreement or lease proposal.

• Get an estimate of what costs you are going to have to pay in addition to your rent. For example, most leases require that the tenant makes a contribution to outgoings (things like Council rates, water rates, insurance costs, strata levies and more). Some leases require the tenant to pay a percentage share of the outgoing, where other leases require a tenant to pay 100 per cent or nil. Either way, it is important that you think about more than just your rent.

• It is important for you to understand who is responsible for maintenance, service, and repair. Typically speaking, a tenant is ordinarily responsible for general maintenance and upkeep and fixing any damage that they cause whereas a landlord is responsible for repairs or replacement of a capital nature. For example, often a tenant will be required to service an air conditioning system at their own regularly however if replacement or significant repair is required this will be the responsibility of the landlord. Each lease differs however, so you need to check.

Common items that tenants will be responsible for maintaining and/or servicing include air conditioning, roller doors and shutters, grease traps, and fire safety including yearly certification.

• Be prepared to pay some upfront rent (usually a month in advance) and provide a security bond (usually three or six months rent), or a bank guarantee that is equal to three or six months rent. If you are providing a bank guarantee instead of a cash bond, you will need to make an application to your bank and the process can take one to two weeks so you should get to work early in the process so you are not delayed waiting for the bank to issue your bank guarantee.

• You will be required to provide evidence of your insurance for public liability and any other insurance (for example plate glass) at the commencement of the lease. If you engage with an insurance broker you can usually arrange an insurance policy that complies with the requirements of the lease fairly quickly but again you should start this conversation early.

• Makegood – what state do you need to leave the premises in at the end of the lease? Tenants often overlook this. Often, they are too focused on getting into the premises and commencing trade. It is common at the end of a lease a tenant will be required to remove its fitout (for example partitions, joinery, cabinetry and other installations) and repair any damaged caused as a result of removal. There is often also a redecoration clause requiring painting and/or the restoration of services like floors and walls or a “bare shell” requirement which requires a tenant to de-fit the premises, remove fixed floor coverings and installations, and give the premises back as a bare shell (blank canvas) ready for the next tenant to fitout. Makegood and redecoration requirements are often expensive and you need to budget for them.

The above is not an exhaustive list of the only things you need to think about if you are considering renting a business premises. There are other more obvious things like amount of rent, how often it is paid, when it increases and by how much, how long your lease is for and whether you can extend it and a range of other considerations.

We work with tenants and landlords everyday to assist them in navigating the relationship of landlord and tenant.

30 YEARS IN BUSINESS

Local family-run business Raygal celebrated its 30th birthday last month.

The Weekender spoke with Raygal Director Cathy Galea and her daughter Jacqui Vella about the company’s origins and its future.

“My husband Ray was in the building industry alongside his father and his brother, so he learned from the ground up,” Cathy recounted.

“He had a passion for equipment, and he didn’t want to just do building, so he purchased his first backhoe and he started digging out slabs for the family.

“But then he started doing it for other customers and clients, and that passion grew

from there. That’s when we became more involved in roadworks.”

Ray is now 62 and can rarely be found in the office.

“He’s always on-site with his crew. He loves being out there working with his hands; no job is too hard for him,” Cathy explained.

“His staff sometimes don’t even realise he’s the boss because he’s out there with all the boys.”

The company has grown immensely since its origins in 1996 and has always maintained its family values.

“We have three divisions in our company now,” said Jacqui, who works in Operations.

“We have plant and equipment hire, the landscaping and nursery supplies side, and we also have the civil and roadworks section.

“We were originally in the Kellyville area, and now we’ve been in Penrith for 11 years and we’ve worked on many major projects across Sydney.”

The team are also on call for emergencies.

“We’ve done a lot of emergency response over the years, from floods to bushfires,” Jacqui explained.

“If there’s a major accident and they need a quick response with clean-up and removing things from the road, we’re contacted.”

The family is incredibly proud of the business, and every Galea plays a role.

“We all grew up in the business, and we don’t know a life without Raygal,” Jacqui said.

“After school, Jonathon would come home and help with the maintaining and changing of tyres, and Jacqui’s school holidays would be

filing in the office,” Cathy continued.

“Back in those days we didn’t have office staff, it was just me and the kids.”

Cathy hopes that over the next 30 years, her grandchildren will continue Raygal’s legacy.

“I want to see the grandkids bring their fresh ideas into Raygal. My children brought so many great ideas that Ray and I would not have thought to do without them,” Cathy said.

“We want to continue to grow and develop and be innovative. We’d love to see Raygal move to the third and fourth generations, and we’d like to continue growing with the community,” Jacqui finished.

News

Contact Us

Administration

Civic Centre, 601 High Street.

Queen Street Centre, 207-209 Queen Street.

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 13 April – 7pm (Policy & Strategy Committee Meeting)

Monday 20 April – 7pm (Ordinary Meeting) Online via

penrith.city.council

penrithcouncil

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penrithcitycouncil

penrith.city visitpenrith.com.au

Council Briefs

You’re invited to Penrith After Dark

PENRITH AFTER DARK

Saturday 2 May

land in accordance with Section 31 of the Local Government

Join us on Saturday 2 May for a night of food, fun and live entertainment at Penrith After Dark! The heart of the Penrith CBD will transform into a late-night dining extravaganza, with this latest event bringing local restaurants together for a bespoke evening of live entertainment and activities for all to enjoy.

Penrith After Dark is proudly funded by the NSW Government, in association with Penrith City Council.

When: Saturday 2 May, 5–10pm

Where: Penrith CBD (Memory Park, High Street and Woodriff Street)

For more information, please visit

Blair Oval Amenities & Mavis Harris Clubhouse upgrades

Construction has begun on Blair Oval Amenities and Mavis Harris Clubhouse upgrade, delivering a combination of several internal and external works which will help improve the functionality, longevity and overall appearance of the buildings. Work is expected to be completed by September 2026, weather permitting.

For more information, visit

Monfarville Reserve precinct-wide upgrades complete

Penrith City Council has completed precinct-wide upgrades at Monfarville Reserve in St Marys, providing modern, accessible sporting facilities for the community. The improvements include a new amenities building with storage, accessible toilets, changerooms and a modern canteen.

Sporting facilities have been improved with a 2-lane cricket practice facility and upgraded baseball players dug out shelters including landscaping, tree planting, driveway resurfacing and an accessible car space.

The project was funded by the NSW Government and Penrith City Council.

For more information go to

Sales Park upgrade begins

Construction has begun on the Sales Park upgrade, delivering new the community includes a multi-play unit with climbing features and slides, a nest swing, balance elements and imaginative play and twist, pull-up bar station and a shoulder press.

This new play and outdoor exercise equipment will go alongside the existing swing set, accessible rocker and shade sails.

This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government and Penrith City Council.

For more information, visit

Public Notice

In pursuance of the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993, notice is hereby given that Penrith City Council proposes to classify

All affected parties are hereby invited to make submissions concerning the proposal. Submissions must be received in writing addressed to the General Manager, Penrith City Council to PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751 or , within 28 days of the date of this notice.

For all enquiries: Laura Gray on 4732 8608 or

Public Exhibition

Council invites you to view and provide feedback on a Planning Proposal which seeks to amend Penrith Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2010, and a draft amendment to Penrith Development Control Plan (DCP) 2014.

several anomalies and/or outdated provisions which must be

This includes correcting errors, removing duplicate controls and amending other obsolete provisions.

A Planning Proposal has been prepared that outlines each of the proposed amendments in detail. On 23 February 2026, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure issued a Gateway determination that authorises Council to exercise the functions of the local plan-making authority.

mostly administrative and minor in nature. This includes a new structure and format, updated references to legislation and polices where the change does not materially alter existing controls. Other minor amendments are proposed to the Waste Management, Luddenham Road Industrial Business Park and Sydney Science Park chapters. A draft amendment to Penrith DCP 2014 has been prepared.

At its Ordinary Meeting of 8 December 2025, Council resolved to place the above documents on public exhibition.

The Planning Proposal, the draft amendment to Penrith DCP 2014 and supporting documents are on public exhibition from Friday 10 April 2026 to Tuesday 12 May 2026.

All exhibition material can be viewed online at yoursaypenrith.com. au and at Council’s Civic Centre, Penrith library and St Marys library. You are invited to provide feedback on the proposed changes by making a written submission to Council by close of business on Tuesday 12 May 2026 via:

• Email:

• Post: The General Manager

Penrith City Council PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751

Please include a subject line indicating whether your submission relates to the Penrith LEP 2010 Review, the Penrith DCP 2014 Review, or both.

public exhibition period.

For further enquiries: Zac Scott, Planner on 4732 7915.

Q: Why do calculators make great friends?

A: You can always count on them.

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

cupboard prize

do you know where this picture was taken?

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

Last week’s photo was taken on Maxwell Street, South Penrith.

As more Australians are choosing to repair not replace, a renewed pride in practical skills is reshaping how we care for the things we own.

From small household fixes to ambitious restorations, repair culture is gaining momentum as people look to save money, develop skills, reduce waste and extend the life of well-loved items.

To celebrate this shift, WD-40 Company has launched the Repair Challenge 2026, running until April 18, inviting doers, makers, fixers and professionals alike to showcase the repairs that keep homes, tools and treasured belongings in circulation for longer. The Challenge is a global initiative that recognises projects of all sizes, proving that no repair is too small to make a difference.

Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast, handy person or a keen recycler, the WD-40 Repair Challenge invites you to join the movement towards a more responsible way of reducing waste by extending the life of your salvageable products. For more information on how to enter the WD-40 Repair Challenge, visit https://repairchallenge.wd40. com.au.

The Weekender has a $200 Bunnings voucher to give away to celebrate the WD-40 Repair Challenge. For your chance to win, send an email to competitions@ westernweekender.com.au with ‘WD40’ in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your contact details. Entries close Wednesday, April 22 and the winners will be notified by email. Terms and conditions are available at www. westernweekender.com.au or Weekender reception.

my name: Zena and Huxley my proud owner: Kim Latter i live in: Emu Plains a bit about me: We are German Shepherds and we love chasing our ball all day long - but not as much as we love swimming in the river!

Email alison.hall@westernweekender.com.au with your favourite picture of your pet, and include your name, pet’s name, suburb and a blurb about your favourite furry friend.

CHOICE FLIGHTS, BRO

Air New Zealand confirms three flights per week between western Sydney and Auckland

Flights between Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) and Auckland are officially on sale with Air New Zealand announcing they will deliver three trips a week.

The service will be the first international flights to operate out of WSI beginning on October 26 this year.

“This route will give Sydneysiders greater connectivity to New Zealand’s largest city and main holiday destination, so they can enjoy more choice and flexibility, alongside WSI’s innovative and seamless customer experience in our state-of-the-art terminal,” WSI CEO Simon Hickey said.

Air New Zealand’s service to and from WSI will comprise of three return flights per week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning on October 26.

The flights will depart from Auckland at 6.05am (NZT) arriving at WSI (AEST) at 7.50am.

The return service will depart WSI (AEST) at 9am, arriving back in Auckland at 2.15pm (NZT).

The service will be delivered on the Air New Zealand jet fleet of

A321, which has 214 economy seats or the A320, which has 165 economy seats.

Air New Zealand General Manager

Short Haul and Domestic Lucy Hall said the introduction of the western Sydney service strengthens the airline’s network across the Tasman.

“Flying directly into western Sydney opens up a catchment of more than 2.5 million people,

including a significant New Zealand community, and supports stronger business, tourism and visiting friends and family links between our two countries,” she said.

“Together with our services to Sydney Kingsford Smith, this new route gives customers more choice and flexibility when travelling between New Zealand and Australia.”

Executive Director of Business

Western Sydney David Borger said the new service creates a major opportunity to promote western Sydney and regions such as Macarthur, the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains more directly to international visitors.

“We can better showcase to the US, Canadian, Pacific and New Zealand markets what makes this part of

the world special – from our lakes and rivers to the Blue Mountains, wineries, wildlife, food and cultural experiences that are increasingly sought by global travellers,” he said.

“It’s not just about getting people out of western Sydney. It’s about bringing the world in.”

Also announced last week, WSI has secured Lagardère AWPL to become their official duty-free and travel essentials partner for the next decade.

Lagardère AWPL will operate 11 retail stores, including 1,900 square metres for Duty-Free, 1,200 square metres for Travel Essentials and specialty retail, spanning across the international and domestic precincts.

“In Lagardère AWPL we have secured a partner that truly understands our vision to provide a world-class retail experience that also reflects the local character of western Sydney,” WSI Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Alison Webster said.

WSI is on track to open for domestic and international passenger services by the end of October this year, following the launch of cargo services by the end of July.

WHERE THE SUN SETS ON

NOW HIRING: EXPERIENCED CONVEYANCER ABOUT US: ABOUT YOU:

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If this sounds like you, please email your resume to david@perpetualconveyancing.com.au

We look forward to hearing from you.

Twins Kaiden and Ciara Cooper surprised everyone when they were born at 26 weeks gestation at Nepean Hospital on April 1, 2008.

Now 18-years-old, the pair visited the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for their birthday to see where their lives started prematurely almost two decades ago.

“It’s a bit mind-blowing to be here,” Ciara told the Weekender

The twins’ mother Bianca joined them as they toured the NICU, alongside Kerry Tosswill, one of the midwives involved in their birth.

“I was quite young and naïve, so I didn’t really take in the full gravity of it at the time,”

Bianca said about her birth experience.

“That was probably a good thing because I didn’t stress too much and everyone was giving me really good odds and stats.

“But it was definitely a surprise that morning when I woke up in labour. When I told my friends, they thought I was playing an April Fool’s joke on them.”

Aside from a few precautionary trips to hospital with bronchitis and pneumonia, the twins have mostly avoided any serious medical attention since spending six weeks at Nepean Hospital.

“We’ve been extremely lucky, except for one time Ciara managed to pull some black coffee down onto her shoulder at about 18-monthsold,” Bianca recounted.

“She had to have skin grafting done. I think she just wanted a scar like Kaiden’s from his heart surgery when he was in the NICU. He had heart surgery at one-week-old to close his heart duct, so I think Ciara wanted her scar too.”

In addition to the scar, the twins also have matching inspired ambitions.

“I really want to get into fashion because I like making clothes. I’d also be interested in making outfits for television or doing make-up and hair,” Ciara said about plans for the future.

“Anything like that would be really cool because I’m not a numbers person, I’m a creative person.”

Meanwhile, Kaiden enjoys making Halloween masks and hiking with his friends.

“Next year, I’m going to do the Young Endeavour, which involves being on a ship for three months as a crew member. But then, I just want to travel,” Kaiden said. Hearing these aspirations was music to Kerry’s ears.

“When families leave, you often wonder what happened to them. So, 18 years later, to come back and see these two adults who are doing well, have great visions, and are really creative is so rewarding,” the midwife said.

Fierce battle to save church likely lost

Since the Weekender reported on a local family’s mission to save Jamisontown Uniting Church in early March, efforts ramped up, but it may be too little too late.

Despite many locals joining Amanda Davis’ crusade to save the historic building, it’s understood a planned auction has been cancelled and the property is under offer.

The Weekender spoke with protesters prior to the news of the likely sale on Wednesday afternoon.

“Since the last time we spoke, we’ve reached out to many different organisations, including the two historical societies in Penrith, Penrith City Council, Karen McKeown, Melissa McIntosh, and I’ve also been in contact with a lot of locals,” Davis explained.

“I created a petition on Change. org, which garnered some attention after I reached out to 2GB. Clinton Maynard was happy to run our story, so I was interviewed on the radio.

“After that, I got a phone call from Graham Chapman who runs the ‘Memories of Penrith and surrounding suburbs’ Facebook group and he made a video of the church. After that, it exploded and became viral.”

The online petition now has over 1,100 signatures from locals who wanted to see the more than 100-year-old building rescued from potential developers.

“I applied for an Interim Heritage Order through Penrith City Council,

and it was rejected,” Davis told the Weekender

“They said this church is not under threat at the moment, which conflicts with the information we’ve received from the real estate agent saying that they have confirmed that this church is not heritage listed and it can be demolished.”

Prior to being taken offline, the church site was advertised as an opportunity for developers, investors and strategic buyers.

Head Teacher of History at Penrith Selective High School Clark Stone was mortified by this.

“Just because it doesn’t have a heritage listing, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have heritage value,” the educator exclaimed.

“There are very few 19th century buildings left in Penrith. This is one of them, and it doesn’t have to be knocked down; there is room to build townhouses elsewhere.”

Stone wanted to see the building immortalised, even if it wouldn’t function as a church anymore.

“An example of this being done right is Laughin’ Boy Café. That was the old Policeman’s Cottage, and it’s been repurposed. That’s what needs to happen here. You can’t rebuild an 1889 building,” Stone stated.

“Past Penrith Councils have a terrible record for destroying our heritage, and this is their chance to stand up and do something.”

Lyn Williams from the Nepean Historical Archaeology Society said the church had been overlooked for too long.

“We have a very limited number of historical buildings left in Penrith,

and this represents one of the earliest buildingsinJamisontownthatserved the community in the early days of the colony,” Williams explained.

“It’s a beautifully built church for its dayandtherearealotofplaquesinside the church that commemorate local dignitaries and people who meant something to the community. There is also an Honour Roll in there for all theJamisontownmenwhowenttothe First World War and indicates those who didn’t come back.

DIGNITY DEAL

Penrith Councillors vote to expand program that offers free period products to women

Access to free period products will be made easier after Penrith Councillors voted to fund an expansion of the Share the Dignity program.

At the most recent meeting of Penrith City Council, Labor Councillor Robin Cook brought an item to urgent business requesting that all three wards of Penrith Council split the cost of $10,360 to fund the Share the Dignity program for a further two years as well as expand the program to be offered at three locations instead of one, St Marys Library.

“It’s a simple thing we can do to help,” Cook explained.

Currently, there is only one place in Penrith that offers the free period

products but the new funding will see the program expanded to include Ripples and Penrith Library.

Fellow Labor Councillor Libby Austin outlined the importance of the program in preventing period poverty.

“Share the Dignity is a program that has been running for many years, including right here in our own community,” Austin explained.

“At St Marys Library, we currently have a Share the Dignity vending machine located in the women’s bathroom, providing free period products to those who need them.

“Period poverty is something far too many people understand all too well. Period products are expensive, and the reality is that not everyone has access to them.”

The vending machine in St Marys

Library has been there since 2020 with Councillor Austin remembering it from her time in high school.

“I remember being in high school, studying at St Marys Library, when I found myself in need of these products,” she recalled.

“That wasn’t long ago, but thankfully, that vending machine was there when I needed it.

“My story isn’t unique or exciting; it is the reality of being a woman. These experiences come in the many and in all different forms. Nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed, it’s life for women.

“This is the bare minimum. Women should never have to feel like they don’t have the right to basic hygiene products. We do, and we support you.”

The funding was passed.

“This is one of the last historic buildings in the Jamisontown area, and we would really like to save it.”

Penrith Councillor Faithe Skinner is now involved and has applied for an Interim Heritage Order.

“They are working on it but were unable to give me a timeframe,” she said.

“If nothing comes of it, I will then have to do a Notice of Motion. That would involve getting all other Councillors to listen to my Notice of

Motion and either vote yes or no to do an Interim Heritage Order.”

Since finding out about the offer for 185 Mulgoa Road, the undeterred Amanda Davis delivered a message of unity: “Our group of supporters continues to grow. It is important that we continue to work together in our fight to preserve the building.”

The Weekender has not been able to officially confirm if an offer has been placed and accepted, but online listings have been removed.

The future of local news

Local and independent publishers from across Australia have gathered in Murray Bridge, South Australia for the Local and Independent News Association (LINA)’s three-day annual Summit.

Western Sydney Publishing Group, publishers of this masthead, was among those at the conference.

LINA’s Summit program equips local newsrooms to tackle key issues facing their industry, including community building, and sustainable scaling for small publishers, emerging technologies and storytelling techniques.

LINA Executive Director Claire Stuchbery said the Summit, which was co-hosted by local news service Murray Bridge News, is also a chance for publishers from across the country to meet in-person and share advice and insights.

“While deeply embedded in their local communities, being an independent news publisher can be a challenging job. Some of our members are the only journalists reporting in their area,” Stuchbery said.

“One of LINA’s key roles is to help provide a network of support for people working in isolation to serve their communities. This is partly through the services we offer; tech

support, legal advice, revenue growth programs, templates and training, and so on, but also facilitating opportunities like this for publishers to gather and connect with each other.”

LINA welcomed its first member newsroom in 2022, and now supports over 170 news publishers across Australia.

The annual conference kicked off with intensive practical workshops on impact-driven scaling, revenue ready newsletters and video journalism, followed by a welcome

dinner on the Murray River.

Murray Bridge News Managing Editor Peri Strathearn said he was excited about hosting a top-level industry gathering in the community, just six years after he launched his publication during the COVID19 pandemic.

“The LINA summit is always my favourite week of the year: a time to network with amazing people, swap knowledge and feel supported in what can be a challenging operating environment,” he said.

“I hope LINA members will come away from these few days refreshed, full of enthusiasm and ready to implement what they’ve learned at their own publications around Australia.”

Topics covered throughout the three-day event included working with content creators, the role of news in civics and democracy, choosing a not-for-profit business structure, reporting before, during and after emergencies, how to pitch advertising, and much more.

The event welcomed international speakers too, including US-based David Grant from Blue Engine Collaborative sharing learnings on growth gathered from working with hundreds of newsrooms across the globe.

Beyond fostering industry collaboration, LINA’s annual Summit sets the agenda for the industry association’s work moving forward, with a focus on practical support for news-

AN HONOUR FOR COLIN

One of Penrith’s most respected and well-known commercial real estate agents has been honoured with a major industry award.

Raine & Horne Commercial Penrith’s Colin Henry took out one of the top honours at the Raine & Horne NSW and ACT Awards for Excellence – the Max Raine Award.

The prestigious award was presented to Henry, Managing Director of Raine & Horne Commercial Penrith and Raine & Horne Retail Services, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the network over more than three decades.

Henry joined Raine & Horne Penrith in 1988 after a career in residential real estate and, three years later, became the prin cipal of Raine & Horne Commercial Penrith. He has since built a highly successful business employing over 40 staff and was recognised with the Max Raine Award for his unwavering commitment to developing people, fostering a high-per-

$40 million sale of the Glenmore Park Town Centre.

Angus Raine, Executive Chairman of Raine & Horne, said Colin Henry’s influence on the network and the broader industry and the communities around Penrith had been profound.

formance culture, and continually evolving his business.

During his stellar career, Henry has been responsible for some of

western Sydney’s most significant commercial transactions, including the $58 million sale of At Home on Mulgoa Road, Penrith, and the

“Colin has built an extraordinary career and left a lasting impact on everyone he works with,” Raine said.

“He’s widely known as the ultimate networker – as someone who connects people, inspires his team and drives growth wherever he goes.

“Across more than 40 years, he has shown incredible loyalty to the Penrith community, including long-standing support of rugby league and his beloved Penrith Panthers, and he has a genuine commitment to the people around him.

“Colin is a mentor, a leader and a coach whose guidance has shaped countless careers across our industry and the Raine & Horne network.”

Raine also highlighted Henry’s forward-thinking approach to business, including the recent rebranding of his extensive port-

folio of shopping centre managements under Raine & Horne Retail Services.

Launching with more than 40 retail property specialists, the business is already one of the leading Sydney-based shopping centre management firms, overseeing 20 neighbourhood centres and having staff based in nine centres across New South Wales and Queensland, with approximately $120 million in annual rent collection.

Henry and his team now have their sights set on expanding their management portfolio.

“This move reflects Colin’s entrepreneurial mindset and his belief in the strength of our network,” Raine said.

“He is always looking ahead and is constantly seeking new opportunities to grow his business and expand his impact.”

In accepting the award, Henry paid tribute to the people who have supported him throughout his journey.

“I’d just like to thank the fabulous team that I work with and Angus Raine – and Max before him – for supporting me for so long. It’s a great brand,” Henry said.

How an app helped save Alan Thomas’ life

Have you ever been in the position to save someone’s life? Thanks to the GoodSAM app, that situation could be closer than you think.

On Sunday, January 18, Alan Thomas was driving the short distance to his local shops, when suddenly he experienced a severe medical event. Stopping his car prompted a 000 call from bystanders, activating the GoodSAM app and ultimately saving his life. If it weren’t for Adam Waddington and his registration on the GoodSAM app, Thomas may not be here to tell his tale.

Thomas was undertaking a usual trip to his local shops, when while driving he unexpectedly had a severe cardiac episode. Paramedics were called to the scene while Thomas lay almost lifeless on the ground. Meanwhile, just 500 metres away, off-duty flight nurse Waddington was finishing up his shopping when he received a notification on the GoodSAM app, saying

someone was in need of assistance.

As any good samaritan would, Waddington raced to the scene to see if he could lend a hand.

“This man on the ground... his face was as blue as the jeans I was wearing,” Waddington said.

After life-saving efforts from both the paramedics and Waddington,

Thomas was on his way to hospital in a serious but stable condition. He would regain understanding of his situation two days later in hospital.

“To be quite frank, I was 99.9 per cent gone except for Adam turning up,” Thomas said.

Thomas’ life was saved thanks to GoodSAM, an app allowing off duty

and specialised medical professionals to assist citizens while waiting for paramedics to arrive. Standing for Good Samaritan, it integrates with the ambulance dispatch service to send notifications to registered bystanders within a 500 metre radius whilst the ambulance is en route. This groundbreaking

technology alerted Waddington to Thomas’ episode, and allowed him to perform live saving maneuvers to get him to hospital safely, making him the 100th person to be saved in NSW using the app.

A press conference was held to commemorate the occasion, and was attended by Minister for Health, Ryan Park, last week.

Despite his valiant efforts, Waddington doesn’t consider himself a hero.

“It’s very humbling to be called that, but ultimately there were other people there that were very much a part of this team as well,” he said.

“It was ultimately the app and the system that enabled me.”

You don’t need formal first aid or CPR training to become a GoodSAM responder. Chest compressions are easy to do, and NSW Ambulance emergency medical call takers will talk you through it. Anyone aged 18 years or over who is willing to perform chest compressions can register. To find out more, or sign up, visit ambulance.nsw.gov.au/ goodsam.

Penrith-born swimwear brand marks first year

APenrith local is on a mission to bring high-quality, well-fitting togs to the swimwear market with her new business, Vacanza Swim.

Former Pantherette Jessie

Sciberras is the founder of the brand, and her passion for swimwear began in childhood.

“My family and I have always been into water sports; we grew up water skiing and basically lived on the water,” Sciberras explained her inspiration.

“For swimwear, I felt like there was nothing in the market that I was gravitating towards. I’m one of three girls in my family, and we all have different body types, and we were never happy with the quality of swimwear.”

Research into materials and manufacturers began two years ago, and Vacanza Swim was launched one year ago.

“I spent a lot of time in the research phase because I wanted to test different manufacturers. So, two years ago was when I really started to knuckle down and build the business,” Sciberras explained.

“The fabric of our swimwear goes through a softening process, so it does take a bit longer to be made than some other swimwear.”

To celebrate the business’ first birthday, Sciberras hosted a Pilates class.

“I’m a part-time Pilates

instructor and a lot of the people who buy my swimmers are people that know me from Pilates,” she stated.

“I think movement is a big way to bring people together, and I’m really passionate about health, mindfulness and togetherness – so I wanted to tie that all into one.

“Another reason why I wanted to host an event is because community is such a big thing in Penrith, and everyone wants to get around you when you are doing something in the area.”

This year, the company is set to grow.

“We will definitely be releasing more swim collections, but will also expand into something related to movement; something that fits perfectly with Pilates,” Sciberras hinted.

More: https://vacanzaswim.com.

A story this St Clair local needed to tell

In your lifetime you hope to never receive a cancer diagnosis, much less two, but that is the reality for St Clair local Robert Behrens.

Heartbreakingly, the cancer diagnoses were not the worst days of Behrens’ life, he also lost his son Lou 10 years earlier in 2005.

67-year-old Behrens has penned his story into a memoir, leaving a legacy behind and ensuring the memory of his son never fades.

“The book is about my journey over two different cancers but it’s mainly a family story about how my family coped with me having cancer after we had gone through a death in the family and how we handled it and how we grew from that,” Behrens explained.

Behrens was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2015 and then in 2021 he was diagnosed with liver cancer.

“When I got that [the first diagnosis] I was shocked,” Behrens recalled.

“I just went through it, went through the surgery, the chemotherapy, the recovery and the return to work and I was just trying to get back to normal.

“Then six years later, I was diagnosed again with liver cancer. This time I was very angry… Eventually that wore off and the reality settled in that there is nothing I can really do about this.

“Then I started thinking that both of these cancers are terminal cancers and what have I done? What am I going to leave my family... I kind of felt that I needed to leave

something for when I’m gone.”

The novel began as documentation of all his treatment, but later Behrens used it to pen his tale.

“When I got the second cancer, I started documenting my progress… I thought at any time I can get really sick again and a doctor might ask me questions and I need to actually have some sort of timeline about what happened to me,” Behrens said.

“I went back as far as I could remember and started documenting every illness, medication, and what surgeries were done. That actually became the basis of this book.”

It took him eight months to pen his tale, saying the motivation came from wanting to leave a legacy for his family.

“I knew I could do it, but I had

no motivation to do it,” Behrens explained.

“Once my back was to the wall I thought I’ve got to leave something, and I actually started focusing on this.

“The second cancer stirred up this in me. I didn’t know I could do it but I became motivated to do it because I had to do it and I had to leave something.”

The book, The Uninvited Guests,

Mayor’s News

The weekly views of Penrith’s Mayor

Exciting community facility upgrades coming soon

It has been fantastic to see so many residents and visitors getting outside and enjoying Penrith’s parks, playgrounds, pools and other community facilities over the Easter break.

Having an active, healthy and connected community continues to inspire Penrith City Council’s ongoing program of upgrades and new projects across our City.

Council strives to be conscious of your needs and expectations as our community grows and changes. We appreciate input from residents of all ages, as your feedback informs priorities that will benefit current and future generations.

We are proud to offer facilities like our multi-award-winning Gipps Street Recreation Precinct and this year we will start construction on the St Marys central park project – part of the recently approved town centre master plan. The park will be the civic green heart – a gamechanger for the area that will start to bring the Council and community’s shared vision to life.

Council provides more than 160 playspaces and maintains over 130 sports

has been endorsed by Professor Jacob George – Head, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Westmead Hospital and can be found on Amazon.

The book is also available in store at Better Read Than Dead on King Street in Newtown.

Behrens is now in remission for his cancer and remains surrounded by his wife Marianne, their sons, and their grandchildren.

fields in our Local Government Area and to see our community making active use these facilities year-round is encouraging.

It means that, like Council, you value their greater benefits to Penrith – community pride, belonging, opportunities for social activities and connection, as well as improved health and wellbeing.

This is why we continue to invest in our community infrastructure and advocate to other levels of government to deliver the best for our City and its people.

I am excited to share more details about specific projects, as well as an update on the indoor multi-sports arena, in the Autumn 2026 edition of Our Place –Council’s free quarterly newsletter that will arrive on doorsteps from this week. You can also find out more about Council improving our online booking system for halls, sporting grounds and other community facility hire in Our Place. Visit penrith.city/ourplace to read previous editions.

To stay up to date with upgrades, other exciting news and to share your thoughts, go to www.yoursaypenrith.com.au.

CR TODD CARNEY Mayor of Penrith

Helping out one square at a time

10 years ago, when a cold snap blasted Penrith in 2017, Debbie O’Connor had a restless night thinking about community members sleeping rough outside.

By morning, she had an idea to help less fortunate locals and pitched it to her colleagues at The Creative Fringe.

“What if we were to ask locals if they could knit or crochet a 20x20 centimetre square?” O’Connor asked them.

“If we got a bunch of these squares, we could join them together to make blankets and donate them to homeless people.”

That’s how the Think Outside the Square (TOTS) Blanket Challenge began. That week, the call-out for knitted squares was delivered to the

community via social media and the Western Weekender

The following Monday, an elderly lady approached The Creative Fringe with a bag filled to the brim with squares.

“I was astounded, I asked how she had all these squares because we only put the story in the paper the weekend before,” O’Connor said.

“She told me her husband passed away six months ago, and she found solace in knitting. She had been knitting these squares with no idea what to do with them until she saw the article in the paper about our initiative.

“She said to me that I had given her grief a purpose, and that’s when I realised this was so much bigger than the blankets.”

Since then, the knitting initiative has gone national.

“We hear stories from volunteers about how much the challenge has helped them and how much it means to them,” O’Connor said.

“These are stories from elderly people who feel isolated but can now attend sewing bees and meet people and feel like part of a community. We’ve had stories of people who have been diagnosed with cancer, and they have crocheted their way through chemo treatment.

“Every year we hear more and more of these amazing stories.”

Not to mention the people who receive the heartwarming gifts.

“The blankets now go to homeless people, domestic violence survivors, youth in crisis, and cancer patients – they tend to be the charity partners that we’re partnered with,” O’Connor explained.

“If there is a natural disaster – like

Donation kicks off big week for muscle car enthusiasts

Some of the best Holden muscle cars to ever be built will return to the grounds of Club Paceway Penrith this Sunday.

For the third straight year, the HSV Owners Club NSW will hold their famous Muscle Car Show at the iconic Station Street venue from 9am to 3.30pm, with free entry for spectators.

To mark their return to the Paceway, the HSV Owners Club NSW have given back to the local community courtesy of a $1000 donation to Nepean Hospital’s Children’s Ward.

the flood up in Taree – we send a whole bunch of blankets.

“I know for many people, the blankets mean a lot. They get to feel a complete stranger’s absolute love, kindness, generosity, and talent all wrapped up in a blanket.”

In its first year, the TOTS Blanket Challenge resulted in 49 blankets.

Last year, volunteers created 1,025 blankets.

“Simply create a square; that’s all we’re asking. We don’t need anyone

to create a whole blanket,” O’Connor reiterated.

“If someone just makes one square, and we add it to a blanket, they have helped change how someone feels on a cold night.

“It’s certainly more than just a square.”

This year’s TOTS Blanket Chal-

The funds, which were donated on Wednesday, will go towards making kids’ stays that little bit brighter.

The HSV Owners Club NSW is a not-for-profit organisation for motoring enthusiasts who have purchased Holden HDT and HSV models.

These vehicles are amongst the world’s fastest sedans, offering optimum performance, handling and comfort at half the cost of their European equivalents whilst maintaining their identity as Australian cars built for Australian conditions. It’s for this reason these

vehicles remain so popular and worth a pretty penny if they ever go on the market.

This Sunday, locals will have the chance to see these rare cars in the flesh when they pull up at the Club Paceway Penrith car park.

More than 80 impressive original and modified cars will be on display, with the general public encouraged to come along to enjoy a great day out, with raffles, prizes, and food and beverage on offer.

For more information on the club and this weekend’s free Muscle Car Show at Club Paceway Penrith, visit www.hsvclubnsw.com.

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SCAN TO BOOK

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Δ Tim Tam ices new flavour: Tim Tam has announced one of Arnott’s most iconic biscuit blends in its 160-year history – Tim Tam inspired by Iced VoVo, available exclusively at Coles supermarkets from the middle of April. Tim Tam inspired by Iced VoVo is a modern twist on this much-loved Aussie classic. With every bite, you will experience the iconic, indulgent layers of Tim Tam paired with the gooey, tart raspberry jam of an Iced VoVo, complemented with irresistibly indulgent coconut flavour cream. It’s the perfect bikkie to unwind at the end of the day, and a deliciously nostalgic nod to the familiar taste of a pantry-staple.

Δ Wipes get an upgrade: Any parent or grandparent knows how critical wipes are to everyday life, but finding the right one that

ticks all the boxes is a challenge. Enter Kine, which has recently launched a certified flushable, plant-based wipe – designed to help the battle of billions of wipes

entering landfill each year. Made from 100 per cent renewable cellulose fibres and free from hidden plastics, alcohol, parabens, and sulphates, the cloths prioritise both skin safety and environmental responsibility. Look out for Kine in supermarkets.

Δ Business Awards return: It’s been announced that this year’s Penrith City Local Business Awards will take place on Wednesday, July 15. The Western Weekender is again on board as the media partner. Nominations for this years awards will open on April 13. Details are available at www.thebusinessawards.com.au.

Δ Cafe’s big update: Popular St Marys cafe Cassandra’s On The Park has confirmed it is undergoing a renovation, to celebrate its 10 years on Queen Street. The cafe remains open, and you’ll see some changes sweeping through the eatery and popular coffee spot in the next few weeks.

Δ Squinters drops new Fizz: We all know Mango Fizz is one of Penrith’s most popular drops, now Squinters has released Pineapple Fizz –which it declares is light, tropical and ridiculously refreshing. It’s available now from the Squinters Brewery in Penrith.

Δ Takeaway change: Abel Street takeaway shop Patty’s Place has been replaced with Abel Street Cafe, and is under new ownership.

Creating Dream Pools Since 1976

Proudly family-owned and based in Penrith, Outback Pools has been building premium inground concrete pools and spas for Sydney families for nearly 50 years. We’re known for quality craftsmanship, personalised service, and designs that suit your lifestyle.

From concept to completion, we work closely with you to create a pool that’s beautiful, functional, and built to last. Our team also renovates and refurbishes existing pools, giving them a fresh new life.

Your Local Pool Exper ts

Our Penrith store stocks pumps, filters, cleaners, chemicals, and spare parts from leading brands. We also offer water testing, equipment repairs, and maintenance to keep your pool in perfect condition all year round.

At Outback Pools, we create more than pools — we create spaces for relaxation, fun, and lasting memories.

CONTACT US

Unit 2/18 Abel Street, Penrith 4721 8914 info@outbackpools.com.au

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Are you looking for a new dentist?

Since opening in April 2025, Omega Dental in Jordan Springs has solidified itself as the go-to local dentist with a reputation for equal parts expertise and empathy.

The team at the clinic are guided by a dedication to listening – ensuring client concerns and goals are understood before tailoring treatment plans that fit customer lifestyles. Built on a foundation of clinical excellence, advanced technology, and a genuine commitment to people, Omega Dental is forging forward with a compassionate, patient-first approach; these are the values that have brought the clinic to its first birthday!

As the clinic nears this milestone on April 28, the team feels proud of their achievements over the last 12 months. Led by Dr Michael Kozman and Dr Fady Tawadrous the team have had the privilege of meeting members of the Jordan Springs community and helping patients rediscover their confidence through healthier, brighter smiles.

Locals have been walking through the clinic doors to access the doctors’ specialist knowledge in full mouth rehabilitation, All-on-4 dental implants, orthodontics, digital smile design, IV sedation, and same day crown restoration.

Looking ahead to year two, the clinic’s vision is to expand their care beyond Jordan Springs into the greater Penrith region, including offering a promotion that offers all children under 18 a check-up, clean and orthodontic

assessment at no out-of-pocket cost.

Over the coming year, they will also offer a $99 new patient special, or gap-free examinations, cleans and scans where needed.

The dentists are also committed to strengthening partnerships with local schools and

enhancing their connection with the wider community. They hope to appear at more community events, and by their second birthday celebration you will know the Omega Dental team by name.

Whether a client is anxious about treatment

or excited about a cosmetic upgrade, Omega Dental will provide honest advice and gentle hands.

Find Omega Dental at Shop 13/61-63 Water Gum Drive, Jordan Springs, or reach out by calling 4744 3754.

SUPER IS ABOUT TO CHANGE BUSINESS MATTERS

Employers are currently required to pay superannuation at least quarterly. But on July 1, as PayDay Super comes into effect, employers must pay their employees superannuation on the day the employee is paid. If staff are paid weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, superannuation must be paid on the same day. The government has done this because each year, employees miss out on significant retirement savings when businesses fall behind and may enter liquidation with massive

superannuation debts. The idea is that non-compliance can be identified much earlier, and unpaid amounts are less likely to build up. There is also a clear benefit for employees. When super is paid earlier, it reaches the super fund sooner and is invested sooner. The industry super funds’ return is about 10 per cent per annum, so about 2.5 per cent per quarter. If $200 is deposited at the start of a quarter, compared to the end of the quarter, that’s about $5 the employee would otherwise have missed out on. This would occur multiple times a quarter throughout a working life, and the interest compounds daily, so the outcome at retirement will be significant. For business owners, this will require tighter cash flow

KING Director of Mackay Goodwin Penrith Chamber Board Member

management. My advice is to start role-playing the payday super scenario now. If there are system issues, cash flow gaps, or miscommunications, you will be more prepared to address them early.

And importantly, if you make a mistake and the super is paid late after July 1, it must be paid to the ATO, not simply sent to the super fund. Getting this wrong can lead to penalties that build quickly.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

THE FINAL WORD

In the 34th minute of Penrith’s win over Melbourne last Friday, a stock standard left side play on the last tackle appeared to go awry when Blaize Talagi was caught with the ball and didn’t have time to get a kick away.

He somehow got the ball free, rushed it to Isaiah Papali’i and then stayed alive, regrouped and got the ball again – getting things moving on the left again and nearly setting up a Dylan Edwards try.

It ensured Penrith maintained possession and pressure at a time the Storm would have been desperate to claw some field position back.

It is plays like this that are all the difference at the moment for Penrith. Up 20-6 at the time

and with half-time not too far away, Talagi had every excuse to just put it down to an unlucky moment and move on.

But he refused to do so – he squeezed the lemon dry on the play and refused to let it fizzle.

As much as we’ll look at Brian To’o’s spectacular leap or Scott Sorensen’s wild flick pass as some of the highlights of the trouncing of Melbourne, it was moments like that from Talagi that are actually putting Penrith head and shoulders above every other team in the competition at the moment.

Talagi has been one of the quiet achievers for Penrith this year. In a team that Nathan Cleary steers around the park, Talagi has not necessarily been talked about as one of the key cogs in the wheel but after a settling in period last year has well and truly found his place in the team now.

After five rounds, there is no question the

Panthers are the best team in the competition.

There is a long way to go, no doubt, and nobody would be counting their chickens before they’re hatched just yet.

But there is every indication this 2026 Penrith side has the chance to be the best of the bunch in terms of the last half dozen or so years – and that’s saying something given there is four Premierships in the mix there.

And the scary thing is, the Panthers don’t believe they have hit their ceiling yet.

Ivan Cleary said as much in his post-match press conference last Friday night, convinced the side can still get better.

Isaah Yeo mentioned in an interview that the side was still chasing a complete 80 minute performance.

It really does put the rest of the competition on notice if Penrith’s blistering start to the season still hasn’t satisfied them.

And it certainly makes Thursday night’s clash between Canterbury and Penrith one that the Bulldogs probably aren’t looking forward to.

With Stephen Crichton injured and a couple of losses in recent weeks, the last thing the Bulldogs need at the moment is to come up against a rampant Penrith that is conquering everything before it.

If Penrith put 50 on a Melbourne side that completed at over 90 per cent last Friday, imagine what they would do if Canterbury repeated the 61 per cent completion rate they produced against the Rabbitohs?

I’m not necessarily expecting the Panthers to put on another cricket score here. Often when scorelines like that are anticipated, they fail to eventuate. But this should be another comfortable win for the top-of-the-table Panthers –they just have too much in-form class. Tip: Panthers by 20.

FRI 17TH, SAT 18TH & SUN 19TH APRIL 2026

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

MEDIA SPONSOR

FEATURE Plaudits aplenty for star skipper

Former Penrith Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai has paid tribute to his ex-halves partner and good friend Nathan Cleary ahead of his 200th NRL game.

In an exclusive interview with Extra Time this week, the current Wests Tigers skipper said playing with Cleary for seven NRL seasons, as well as many years at junior level, is a period in his life that he still cherishes.

“It’s been a blessing for me to have played so many games alongside Clez,” Luai said on Tuesday evening.

“Everyone will remember the games on the big stage but, for me, the ones that I’ll really remember are the ones that came before.”

Across all senior levels of the game, Cleary and Luai played 128 games together for a win percentage of 80 per cent. And when they teamed up in first grade and went on a mesmerising four-title run, the duo were statistically the greatest halves pairing in rugby league history, with a staggering win percentage of 87.6 per cent.

Luai said Cleary’s success in the game, which sees him currently lead the race for this year’s Dally M Medal, can be put down to both his “character and work ethic”.

“His commitment to his team and the game is contagious and his success has been a byproduct of his character and work ethic,” Luai said.

“It’s been an awesome start to the year for the Panthers and I’m sure they’ll get the job done for their skipper. Happy 200th, always love to my bro.”

Fellow four-time Premiership winner Moses Leota also spoke very highly of his superstar

halfback at the Panthers Academy on Tuesday afternoon.

Leota and Cleary have quite a unique connection, with the pair making their NRL debuts in 2016 just one week apart from each other.

“I don’t really remember too much from back then, but I do know that I debuted a week after him,” Leota told Extra Time

“Clez has been part of my journey since the start, so it’s been good to have him on this ride.”

While the two debuted in first grade at the same time under former coach Anthony Griffin, Cleary did it at just 18-years-old while Leota was nearly 21.

“His commitment to his team and the game is contagious”

“I always knew he was a talent coming through the grades. He’s two years younger than me but played in my age group, so that says a lot about his talent,” Leota said.

“He went on to play Australian Schoolboys and debuted at 18, which goes to show how much talent he had. The club knew what he was destined for.”

Leota said his favourite memory with Cleary across 199 NRL games was when the two-time Clive Churchill Medallist passed him the ball, which led to a try during the incredible 2023

he does in attack and defence.

“He’s a great leader and he gives us confidence when he’s playing,” Leota said.

“Everything comes off him and when we’re doing our job, it sort of gives him the freedom to do his. He always makes the right pass or the right kick – he’s a talent.”

The Panthers will be looking to give Cleary a win for his milestone match on Thursday night when they take on the struggling Canterbury Bulldogs at Accor Stadium.

The competition leaders

brimming with confidence heading into the clash after thrashing Melbourne 50-10 on Good Friday.

“I was talking to one of the boys and I was like, ‘Bro, whenever we do verse Melbourne it’s a tit-for-tat game’. They’ve won the last two against us and for us to then put 50 on them was a shock, but it was good at the same time,” Leota smiled.

“We’re all enjoying each other’s company and obviously we’re playing well.

“We restart every week and it’s always a new opponent, so we’ve just got to stay on top of our keep doing what we do best.”

And that’s winning…

FEATURE

Talagi learns from the best

Panthers five-eighth Blaize Talagi still pinches himself every week that he gets to play alongside one of the best halves in the history of the game, Nathan Cleary.

On the eve of Cleary’s 200th NRL game this Thursday night, 21-year-old Talagi said getting the opportunity to play with the four-time premiership winner was one of the big reasons he decided to switch from the Eels to the Panthers last season.

“Yeah for sure! Him and the other leaders in the team were definitely one of the main reasons I made the switch,” he told Extra Time

“Knowing those boys can lead the way and sort of take pressure off myself was definitely a big factor.”

Talagi and Cleary haven’t even played 30 games together yet, but they are already one of the most formidable halves combinations in the NRL.

The Samoan international said playing with Cleary is always “such a cool experience”.

“Only a few years ago I was watching him on the big screen and now I play alongside him –it’s awesome!” Talagi said.

“Just watching him, seeing what he does, learning from him on and off the field. I’m just

really grateful to share the field with him.”

Cleary is famous for his meticulous preparation in the lead up to matches, with Talagi revealing that’s the one big lesson that he’s taken from being around the champion halfback these past 18 months.

“There’s not too many things people don’t know about him, but one thing that stands out for me being around him is the way he preps and how detailed he is,” Talagi said.

“I know everyone says it but he really does do it. He’s always the last one to come off the field and he’s just so detailed in everything he does.”

Cleary and Talagi will be hoping to combine for their sixth straight win of the season when the Panthers battle the Canterbury Bulldogs at Accor Stadium tonight.

Penrith currently lead the competition after five rounds, with their latest win coming against Melbourne last Friday night 50-10.

“It definitely wasn’t easy,” Talagi said of the 40-point blowout.

“I feel like everything we did was working out there and it was a really good feeling.

“The start of the season we were a bit scrappy, but I feel like each week we looked at things we needed to work on and have improved, so we want to keep that going.”

A win over the Bulldogs on Thursday will be another big scalp for Penrith, even with former Panthers Grand Final hero Stephen Crichton

missing for the home side due to a serious shoulder injury.

“The Doggies are a very good team no matter what situation they’re in,” Talagi said.

“It’s the NRL, you should never take any team lightly. So we’ll be resetting, not thinking about any of the previous games and taking them on

Champion backs champions

Cleary cheers home Kings: Four-time Premiership-winning Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary was in the ‘Kingdome’ to watch the Sydney Kings claim the NBL championship at Qudos Bank Arena last Sunday. Adelaide looked to have the series-deciding match sewn up before the Kings launched a huge comeback and won the game in overtime.

Spotted: Former Panthers forward Sam McKendry with his family at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Special tribute: Well done to the family and friends of Panthers fan Leanne McMeniman, who sadly passed away aged 47 on February 21 following a medical episode. Leanne was an absolute Panthers tragic, so her support crew turned up at the Panthers v Eels game last month with cardboard cut-outs featuring her face. Our thoughts are with Leanne’s partner Steven Fitzgibbon and her children. We’re sure Leanne is still telling the ref to get ‘em on side.

Stadium. While Mansour was only a fill-in this time around, I believe he’s also locked in for the duties again later in the season.

PNG Panther raid? Reports last weekend suggested that both Liam Martin and Mitch Kenny may test the market after November 1, amid rumours that the PNG Chiefs will launch a huge bid to lure both of them to the new NRL franchise from 2028. Both Martin and Kenny are off-contract at the end of the 2027 season. While both Martin and Kenny have been sensational servants for the Panthers, don’t be surprised if the club doesn’t put up the greatest of fights to keep them. Both will be well into the second half of their careers at that point, and I’d be surprised if Penrith had plans for any huge offers – at least not the size of which they’ll attract from elsewhere.

Spotted: Former Panther Reagan Campbell-Gillard, who has picked up a contract at the London Broncos this year in the Super League, doing some sight-seeing in Paris.

Saying Hello: It was interesting to see advertising for Helloworld Stadium, the name for the new Penrith Stadium, being promoted heavily at the Good Friday clash between the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs at Accor Stadium last week. Venues NSW is clearly working very hard to make the new stadium feel like part of its wider network.

PANTHERS POSTER

Let’s sign Casey McLean for life!

Casey McLean doesn’t turn 20 until April 24 but already he has shown enough to suggest he is a generational player who deserves to be signed to a 10-year contract to play for the Panthers.

He should never be allowed to play for any other NRL team – ever.

This kid is good. I mean he’s really good. The club knows it and I’ve heard are keen to extend his current contract beyond 2028.

Not a 10 year-contract like I’m suggesting but Penrith supporters can relax in the knowledge that the club has no plans to let Casey McLean go anytime soon.

In fact in the next few years he could well end up as the number one centre in the game.

This year McLean has gone up yet another level in class. He’s almost unstoppable and his footwork, balance and turn of speed makes him difficult to tackle.

The fact that he’s even being mentioned as a possible New South Wales Blues bolter for this year’s State of Origin series is mind-boggling and it’s mind-boggling only because it could actually happen if

Ball (Under 19) and went straight into Jersey Flegg (Under 21).

Then on May 2 just 10 days after he turned 18 he was elevated to NSW Cup to play with the big boys. 59 days after his NSW Cup debut he made his first

Cleary brings up a double century

What an absolute pleasure it’s been to watch one of the greatest halfbacks the rugby league world has ever seen play for Penrith over the last 10 years.

grade debut on June 30 against the North Queensland Cowboys.

I’ve heard for years now how McLean is tracking better than Stephen Crichton was in this early part of his career in terms of mass, speed, body size and skill.

This week he brings up his 200th first grade game for the Panthers. Nathan Cleary or ‘Clez’ as he’s also affectionately known, could have reached this milestone even quicker if it weren’t for a couple of serious injuries over the last couple

What more can I say about a player who is already being touted as a future immortal except that

this is Nathan Cleary’s world and we’re just lucky to be living in it. Who knows what is next for Nathan Cleary, but no matter what happens in the future, we can’t deny what he and his family have contributed to the Penrith Panthers already.

Panthers lower grades stand tall

It was amazing to not only see Penrith win in first grade but also all the grades under it last weekend.

The Harold Matthews (Under 17) side is currently sitting second on the ladder and has only lost one game, SG Ball (Under 19) has lost two games while Jersey Flegg (Under 21) is coming first and has also not lost a game while the NSW Cup side is fifth and has also lost only one game.

The Panthers did a complete overhaul of their ‘pathways system’ at the end of last season changing many of the coaching staff and going to market for the first time in years to bring in players from outside the system to help with the rebuild.

Well, take a bow everyone involved in that decision, because the restructuring of the Panthers pathways system has worked out perfectly.

BEHIND THE GAME

Country kid never far from home

Achance to be a professional athlete is all Jack Cole dreamed of as a kid growing up in the country, now he is a top 30 player for the Penrith Panthers, and he vows to not throw away his shot.

Cole credits his parents – and partner – as the people who have supported him the most, saying they gave him every opportunity to make his dream come true.

“It’s definitely my mum and dad, they’ve helped me out a lot in driving down because I’m from Orange originally, so they’ve driven me down my whole junior career and helped me move down here and continue to come down and watch me play so I would definitely say them,” Cole said.

“But my partner as well, that’s who I live with at the moment, and she’s been massive as well.”

Even a rising Panthers star like Cole

isn’t immune to sibling rivalry with his parents having to, at times, choose between their two children’s games.

“They both try to come to all the games that they can, but my sister plays a bit of sport too so sometimes it gets a bit harder and maybe one of them will come,” Cole laughed.

“They both try to when they can.”

Cole is a country kid at heart, having grown up in Orange, and the privilege he has of being a professional athlete isn’t lost on him.

“That’s where I grew up, went to school, and all my mates are from there too and I know a few mates would have wanted to pursue footy, I probably wouldn’t say couldn’t, but didn’t,” he said.

“So, I think it’s cool to represent them as well. It’s good for some young kids coming through to see that kids from the country can make it up here as well – I like thinking of it that way.”

This writer is sure Cole’s friends and family are proud of the career he has carved out for himself.

with Emily Chate

Quick Questions

Coffee order: Iced butterscotch latte from High Street Depot

Cheat meal: Quarter pounder meal with a chocolate thick shake and nuggets on the side

Favourite movie: ‘Law Abiding Citizen’

Favourite musician: Olivia Dean and Sam Fender

Who did you support growing up: Roosters

Pet peeve: People who chew loudly

Favourite streaming service: Netflix

THEY SAID IT...

“I don’t think they will go undefeated. Somewhere along the line someone will beat them. But it’s going to be a hell of a game to beat the Panthers.”

“We’re actually getting better. Things are clicking for us at the moment.”

“It’s hard to see anyone coming close to Penrith.”

“It’s entirely possible that the closest NRL team to challenge Penrith this year is the one they put 50 points on the other night.”

ABC Sport’s Brett Sprigg

“If you’re picking a State of Origin team tomorrow, Penrith would have nine players in it. Casey McLean is the form centre of the comp. He’s in!”

“Liam Martin has real interest in playing for the Chiefs. Another big danger for Penrith could be the Roosters when it comes to Martin.”

Danny Weidler in The

“Nathan Cleary is only just getting into his best years as a half. He’s so comfortable and aware.”

“How they’ve started the year... they have been very impressive, especially in defence. They’re certainly an impressive bunch.”

NRL LADDER & FIXTURES

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ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES, TELEVISION, MUSIC AND MORE – PENRITH’S LEADING ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

SONGS YOU KNOW AND LOVE!

Michael Paynter – who will soon grace the stage as John Farnham is upcoming musical ‘Whispering Jack’ – is embarking on a solo journey first, touring the nation with his personally curated ‘Great Australian Songbook’.

On Friday, April 24, the singer-songwriter will stop at Richmond’s Regent Theatre.

“The songbook is just me taking a guitar and a grand piano around the country and I’ve picked a whole bunch of songs that I think are incredible examples of Australian creative genius,” Paynter explained.

“I’ve also picked songs that mean a lot to me; I explain during the show that there are songs in the set where I can remember where I was, what I was wearing, and who I was kissing when I first heard them.

“I have those core memories around those songs, and I’m trying to shine a light on them and get people thinking about what their own great Australian songbook might look like.”

Throughout his career, Paynter has worked with Aussie music icons like Jimmy Barnes, Icehouse, The Veronicas, and more! He describes Australian music as having its own character.

“I’ve been asked many times if I can define that character, and over time you can trace a flavour based on generations,” Paynter described.

“In the ‘60s, Australian music had a really beautiful unique folk element; in the ‘70s you had bands like Skyhooks and early Cold Chisel; in the ‘80s you had Hunters and Collectors, The Saints, The Angels, and

that big pub rock resurgence; in the ‘90s you had Leonardo’s Bride, Bachelor Girl, and all this really cool quirky alternative pop.

“I think that with every generation and every decade, Australia has had its own flavour that has reflected the current generation that’s making music. I think it’s always stood up and stood out on the world stage and that’s why it’s a real honour to be highlighting it and accentuating it on this tour.”

While the ‘Great Australian Songbook Tour’ is primarily a one-man-show, audiences can expect surprise cameos.

“In every show, I invite friends to come and join me in the middle,” Paynter explained.

“I’ve had Jack Jones and The Veronicas; it just adds a little bit of surprise and spice to the show. But the core of the show is still me and my voice and the songs.”

This creates a more intimate setting for listeners to reacquaint with music from their past.

“The whole point of the show is not to blow everybody away with production and spectacular scenery; the point is to take songs that people know and love and reinterpret them and strip them down to their core – the lyrics and the melody,” Paynter stated.

“It helps people realise how powerful and deep the lyrics are to these big popular songs. It’s a pleasure to be able to remind people that sometimes a great song is a big hit because it’s a genuinely beautiful piece of art.”

Purchase a ticket to Michael Paynter’s ‘Great Australian Songbook Tour’ online at www.theregentrichmond.com.au.

THINGS TO DO

Centre Stage Adult Acting Classes

Starting on April 23, Centre Stage Academy is calling adult actors of all ages to join classes over an 11-week term. This term will also see the school start its own theatre festival entitled ‘A Moment in the Sun’, written and directed by Wayne Tunks. This will take place on July 3-4 and all Centre Stage acting students will participate. Email centrestagedesk@gmail.com for more info.

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

Seniors Dance Club (Over 55s)

Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Penrith Senior Citizens Centre. Call Glenda for details on 0421 322 846.

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Probus Club of Nepean

Meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Emu Sports Club. New members welcome. Call 0417 267 866.

Kingswood-Caddens Probus Club

Meets on the fourth Monday of the

From children’s author Andy Griffiths comes a new laugh-outloud, action-packed live-on-stage adaptation of the first book in his new Adventures Unlimited series. At The Joan from April 17 to 18, journey through the wildly imaginative, colourful, and curious world of ‘The Land of Lost Things’, guided by the playful narration of ‘You’ and ‘Me’. Book a ticket on The Joan website. The Land of Lost Things

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

Jordan Springs Probus Club

Fourth Tuesday of the month. 9.45am for 10am at Jordan Springs Hub. Call Keith on 9713 9038 for details.

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.

South Creek Probus Club

Meets on the third Wednesday of the month at St Marys D&B Club. Email southcreekprobusclub@gmail.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 9am2pm. Call Trish on 0421 414 012.

Red Cross Penrith

Meetings held the second Thursday of the month for lunch. Members and

NATIONAL GEM & CRYSTAL EXPO

SATURDAY APRIL 11 | 9:30AM - 5:00

SUNDAY APRIL 12 | 9:30 - 4:00

Josh Cunningham and Felicity Urquhart

Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham are touring Australia to celebrate the release of their third studio album, ‘Everything Around You’. With a blend of folk, country, blues and roots unmistakably their own, Felicity and Josh pair world-class musicianship with down-to-earth performances that feel warm and inviting. See them perform at The Joan on Thursday, April 16.

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 at 2/42-44 Abel St, Jamisontown.

MUSEUMS

Penrith Museum of Printing Sundays from 10am. Penrith Paceway.

PCYC HAWKESBUR

16 Stewar t St, Sth Windsor

This extraordinar y event will feature premier traders from across Australia, offering a stunning array of gemstones, minerals, fossils, jeweller y, and mo

• Largest Indoor Gem & Cr ystal Expo in Australia

• Free bus shuttle running all day from Windsor station

• Over 90 traders with ever ything from Minerals, cr ystal, carvings, jewe cut and rough gemstones, fossils, meteorite and a kids quiz.

• Tickets are valid for the duration of the expo

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

• A $10,000 lucky door prize is going to be won by someone who attends the

COUNTRY CORNER

This week in Country Corner, we’re counting down the top 10 best female country singers right now. After looking at the legends last week, it’s time to rate the current crop of stars.

10. Ashley McBryde

Ashley McBryde has been hitting the high notes in country music for years now but is still producing hits and has a huge following. Her songs have evolved as she’s gotten older and her voice is currently as good as ever.

9. Carrie Underwood

The only artist to make both our legends and currents list, Carrie Underwood remains a hit maker today and continues to sell out shows. A little quieter on the scene these days, she is still one of country’s biggest stars.

8. Ashley Cooke

A rising star of the genre in the United States, Ashley Cooke is quickly gaining ascendency and will be one of country’s biggest stars before you know it. Catchy music, a big social media following

and a huge star already.

7. Lauren Alaina

With a country twang and a great mix of classic and modern country, Lauren Alaina remains one of country’s most recognised performers. Definitely worthy of her place in the top 10.

6. Carly Pearce

A regular at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville where she has built much of her fame, the ‘Every Little Thing’ singer has had quite the ride in country music. A little quiet lately, but recently burst back onto the scene via a duet with Riley Green.

5. Kacey Musgraves

Always been a little outside of the mainstream, but with a huge following behind her.

Kacey Musgraves continues to dominate the charts whenever she releases new music and is one of the most respected artists in country music.

4. Lainey Wilson

Fresh from an Australian tour, Lainey Wilson continues to win major country music awards the world over and has had a string of number ones. She is without question the biggest

cross-over artist in country music.

3. Kelsea Ballerini

A huge star in international country music but probably has been looked over too many times for some of the big awards. Writes with absolute heart and soul, and has produced non-stop hits as her career has evolved.

2. Megan Moroney

She may not be every country fan’s cup of tea, but it is impossible to deny the incredible force behind Megan Moroney right now. She is riding an incredible wave of hits, sold out shows and an unbelievably loyal fan base.

1. Ella Langley

Currently one of country music’s biggest stars, Ella Langley can’t do much wrong at the moment. Her recent US tour ticket sales have gone crazy, and she’s banking top 10 hits like they’re nothing. The best of the currents.

At the movies...

The latest sci-fi adventure flick to drop this year, ‘Project Hail Mary’, is a fun, engaging, buddy comedy, starring Ryan Gosling and an alien rock.

Gosling portrays Dr Grace, a science teacher who wakes up in space, with seemingly no memory of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he uncovers his mission: save the earth from a mysterious substance that is killing the sun.

Dr Grace teams up with an unlikely friend, that being an alien rock-like creature, nicknamed Rocky. The pair discover they share the same goal in protecting their worlds from imminent destruction, and work together to find a solution, forming an inseparable bond in the process.

Gosling gives a great performance, using

his usual sarcastic, witty humour. My only critique here would be that I’m starting to question whether he is unable to play another role, or if roles are specifically written for him.

His interactions with Rocky provide a good chunk of the film, as they work out how to communicate with each other while calamity of course ensues. For me, Rocky is the highlight of the film. His quirky communication style and obvious love for Grace are both cute and gut wrenching at times. The film keeps you guessing as Grace and Rocky develop a closeness and work together, each using their unique skills to solve the problem, with plenty of laughs, and tear-jerk moments along the way.

As engaging as it was however, I feel the

wasn’t necessary. Understandably, there’s a lot to jam in, but an almost three hour runtime for a film like this seems su-

www.hoyts.com.au

Ê The 18th season of ‘MasterChef Australia’ will premiere on 10 on Sunday, April 19 at 7pm. 24 of Australia’s best amateur cooks will battle it out in the iconic ‘MasterChef Australia’ kitchen. Judges Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli will be joined by guests Maggie Beer, Curtis Stone, Adriano Zumbo, Rick Stein and ex-contestant Justine Schofield. New additions include social media superstars and viral VIPs DimSimLim, Andy Cooks, Recipes by Victoria’s Victoria Minell, and biteswithlily’s Lily Huynh – plus celebs Robert Irwin, and Jimmy and Jane Barnes.

Ê The new season of ‘Gruen’, hosted by Wil Anderson and featuring Todd Sampson and Russel Howcroft, will premiere on the ABC on Wednesday, April 29 at 8pm.

Ê ‘Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee’ will return for a third season on the ABC on Wednesday, April 29 at 8.30pm with new sidekick Sam Campbell replacing Aaron Chen. Each week, Montgomery and Campbell will test four of the nation’s sharpest comedians as they battle it out across five high

stakes spelling rounds. Playing this season are Hamish Blake, Melanie Bracewell, Myf Warhurst, Charlie Pickering, Andrew Denton, Urzila Carlson, Anne Edmonds, Matt Okine and Nazeem Hussain.

Ê New Aussie sketch comedy series ‘Urzila’, starring Urzila Carlson, will premiere on Wednesday, April 29 at 9.25pm on the ABC. Each episode mashes up razor–sharp stand–up with cheeky, fast–firing sketches, many of them plucked straight from the wildly funny stories Urzila riffs on during her live shows.

Ê Acclaimed US comedy series ‘Hacks’ will drop its fifth and final season on Friday, April 10 on Stan. The Emmy-winning series stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. ‘Hacks’ is one of the best shows of the decade and I’m one of many who will miss it!

Ê Three Dick Wolf action procedurals based in the great city of Chicago have been renewed for new seasons. ‘Chicago Fire’, ‘Chicago P.D.’ and ‘Chicago Med’ have all been greenlit by NBC in the US.

Ê Sherlock Holmes-inspired medical drama ‘Watson’ has been axed after just two seasons. The Paramount+ and 10 drama starred Morris Chestnut as John Watson, a physician devastated by the death of his close friend, Holmes.

Ê ‘The Real Housewives of London’ has arrived on 7Bravo, with new episodes airing Wednesday nights at 9.30pm.

Ê Apple TV has renewed popular space drama ‘For All Mankind’ for a sixth and final season. New spin-off series ‘Star City’ will debut on May 29. With space back in the news, this is probably a good time to jump in!

Ê Four-part documentary series ‘The Dark Wizard’, which profiles Dean Potter, one of the world’s most influential and controversial climbers, BASE jumpers and highline walkers, is coming to HBO Max next Wednesday, April 15. The series traces the jaw dropping feats that made him an extreme legend, as well as the personal turmoil that defined his life.

TV Guide: April 10 - 16

Your guide to the week’s television viewing

6:00 News Breakfast 9:00 ABC News 10:00 Compass 10:30 Stuff The British Stole (PG) 11:00 Fake Or Fortune? 12:00 ABC News 1:00 The Piano (M) 1:45 Can You Keep A Secret? (M) 2:15 The Assembly (PG) 3:00 Fake Or Fortune? 3:55 Murdoch Mysteries (PG) 4:45 Long Lost Family (PG) 5:30 Antiques Roadshow 6:30 Hard Quiz (PG) 7:00 ABC News 7:30 Gardening Australia (PG) 8:30 Patience (M v) 9:20 Tonight At The Museum (PG) 6:00 Sunrise 9:00 The Morning Show (PG) 12:00 Seven News At Noon 1:00 Movie: “Murder On The Menu” (AKA ‘Morning Show Mystery: Murder On The Menu’) (PG) (’18) Stars: Holly Robinson Peete 3:00 The Chase UK (PG) 4:00 Seven News At 4 5:00 The Chase Australia (PG) 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Athletics: Australian Championships *Live* 9:00 Movie: “Knives Out” (M) (’19) Stars: Daniel Craig 11:45 Australian Idol (PG) 1:30 Damnation (MA15+) 6:00 Today 9:00 Today Extra (PG) 11:30 NINE News Morning 12:00 Movie: “Love In Zion National: A National Park Romance” (PG) (’23) Stars: Cindy Busby 2:00 Pointless (PG) 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) 4:00 NINE News Afternoon 4:30 Tipping Point Australia (PG) 5:30 WIN News 6:00 NINE News 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) 7:30 NRL: Broncos v Cowboys *Live* 9:55 NRL: Post-Match 10:45 Movie: “Navy Seals” (M l,v) (’90) Stars: Charlie Sheen 1:00 Explore TV-Viking 9:00 The Finish Line 10:00 Entertainment Tonight 10:30 Jamie Oliver: Cooking For Less (PG) 11:30 My Market Kitchen

1:30 Pawn Stars (PG)

2:30 Kick Ons 3:00 STIHL Timbersports (PG) 3:30 Mountain Men (PG) 4:30 American Restoration (PG) 5:00 Storage Wars (PG) 5:30 American Pickers (PG) 6:30 Pawn Stars (PG) 7:00 AFL: Friday Night Countdown

3:30 Jordie, Sam & Ted’s Adventures (PG) 4:30 Grand Crew (PG) 5:00 Australia’s Got Talent (PG) 6:30 Movie: “Beethoven” (G) (’92) Stars: Charles Grodin 8:30 Movie: “Fifty Shades Darker” (MA15+) (’17) Stars: Jamie Dornan

6:00 rage (PG) 7:00 Weekend Breakfast 9:00 rage (PG) 10:30 rage Guest Programmer (PG) 12:00 ABC News 12:30 Blue Murder

April

Saturday 11

3:25 Mysterious Cities Of Gold (PG) 4:35 Motown Magic 5:00 Harlem Globetrotters: Play It Forward (PG) 5:30 NITV News: Nula 6:00 Bamay 6:40 Waterworld Africa (PG) 7:30 Movie: “Howl’s Moving Castle” (PG) (’04) Stars: Christian Bale

9:30 JAG (PG) 10:30 The Living Room (PG) 11:30 The Bold & The Beautiful (PG) 12:00 Days Of Our Lives (PG) 12:45 The Young And The Restless (PG) 1:30 JAG (PG) 3:30 Bull (M s,v) 4:30 JAG (PG) 6:30 Bull (M s,v) 7:30 NCIS (M v) 11:30 Becker (PG) 12:00 Frasier (PG) 1:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG) 2:00 Friends (PG) 3:30 Becker (PG) 4:00 Good Chef Bad Chef 4:30 Frasier (PG) 5:30 The Big Bang

Comfort Food 9:30 Come Dine With Me UK 10:30 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw 12:45 Calipari: Razor’s Edge (PG) 2:30 Bamay 3:05 Where Are You Really From? (PG) 3:35 Worldwatch 5:40 Inside The Huddle 6:10 Over The Black Dot 6:40 Jeopardy! 7:30 NITV News Update 7:35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (M l,s) 11:00 Rugby Heaven (PG) 12:00 Tennis: Billie Jean King Cup: Australia v Great Britain *Live* 6:00 Bewitched 6:30 The Nanny (PG) 7:30 Movie: “The Meg” (M) (’18) Stars: Jason Statham 9:45 Movie: “Deep Blue Sea” (M l,v)

2:00 Better Homes And Gardens 4:00 The Yorkshire Vet (M l) 5:00 Seven’s Horse Racing: Randwick/ Caulfield/ Ascot *Live* 5:30 Harry’s Practice

6:00 Luxury Escapes (PG)

6:30 Dog Patrol (PG) 7:00 Better Homes And Gardens

5:30 Yorkshire Auction House 6:30 Antiques Roadshow 7:30 Airport Security: USA (M)

(PG) 7:00 ABC News 7:30 Blue Murder Motel (M) 8:15 Top End Bub (PG) 8:45 Death In Paradise (M v) 9:45 Frauds (PG) 10:30 rage (MA15+) 6:00 NBC Today 7:00 Weekend Sunrise 10:00 The Morning Show Weekend (PG) 12:00 Seven’s Horse Racing: Randwick/ Caulfield/ Ascot *Live* 5:00 Seven News At 5 5:30 Border Security - Australia’s Front Line (PG) 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Athletics: Australian Championships *Live* 9:00 Movie: “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” (M v) (’16) Stars: Chris Hemsworth 11:30 Movie: “Morbius” (M l,v) (’22) Stars: Jared Leto 1:35 Repco Supercars Highlights 7:00 Weekend Today 10:00 Today Extra Saturday 12:00 Open For Inspection 12:30 Find My Country House Australia (PG) 1:00 Explore TV-Viking 1:30 My Way 2:00 Destination WA 2:30 Taronga - Who’s Who In The Zoo (PG) 3:30 Epic Builds (PG) 4:30 The Garden Gurus 5:00 NINE News First At 5 5:30 Getaway (PG) 6:00 NINE News Saturday 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) 7:30 Space Invaders (PG) 8:30 Movie: “Legally Blonde” (M) (’01) Stars: Reese Witherspoon 9:00 All 4 Adventure (PG) 10:00 Roads Less Travelled 10:30 Silvia’s Italian Masterclass 11:00 Good Chef Bad Chef 11:30 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia (PG) 12:30 The Dog House UK 1:30 Australian Survivor (PG) 3:00 Millionaire Hot Seat (PG) 3:30 Lingo (PG) 4:30 Ultimate Classroom 5:00 10 News 6:30 The Dog House UK 7:30 Love It Or List It Australia (PG) 10:30 Ambulance Australia (M) 11:30 Elsbeth (PG) 12:30 Home Shopping 5:00 Religious Programs 5:00 Worldwatch

1:00 Blokesworld (PG) 1:30 My Road To Adventure 2:00 Night Thunder 4:00 Frozen Gold (PG) 5:00 Counting Cars (PG) 6:00 AFL: Round 5: Sydney v Gold Coast *Live* 9:00 Movie: “Men In Black” (PG) (’97) Stars: Will Smith

12:00 Wife Swap Australia (PG) 1:15 Instant Hotel (PG) 2:30 Dancing With The Stars (PG) 5:15 Movie: “Spies In Disguise” (M) (’19) Stars: Rachel Brosnahan 7:30 Movie: “The Sound Of Music” (G) (’65) Stars: Julie Andrews

3:05

Going

(PG) 3:35 QI (PG) 4:05

I

To

4:35 MythBusters (PG) 5:25 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 6:15 Portrait Artist Of The Year UK 7:00 Spicks And Specks (PG) 7:30 QI (PG) 8:00 Would I Lie To You? (PG)

Weekend (PG) 12:00 Athletics: Australian Championships *Live* 2:00

Of Wellness (PG) 3:00 Jabba’s

2:55 Over The Black Dot 3:25 Emily - I Am Kam (PG) 4:30 This Is Indian Country (PG) 5:00 Rebel With A Cause (PG) 6:00 Homesteads (In Maori/ English) 6:30 NITV News Update 6:40 The Other Side (PG) 7:30 Alone Australia (M l)

5:30 Tom Kerridge Cooks Britain 6:00 Nadiya’s Family Favourites 6:30 Jamie Cooks Italy 7:30 Tour De Fred: Northern Ireland 8:30 Rick Stein’s Long Weekends 9:40 Anthony Bourdain: A Cook’s Tour 10:30 Masters Of Savours

4:00 Escape Fishing With ET 4:30 Football: Isuzu UTE A-League: Round 24: Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United *Live* 7:00 Football Tonight 7:30 Football: Isuzu UTE A-League: Round 24: Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC *Live*

12:15 Hostage Rescue (M l,v) 2:00 Race For The Planet (M l) 2:40 Lee Lin Chin’s Fashionista 2:50 Forged In Fire (PG) 3:40 Worldwatch 5:45 Mastermind 6:45 The Food That Built The World (PG) 7:35 Abandoned Americana (M l,v)

8:25 Magical Train Journeys In Switzerland (PG) (In English/ French/

9:30 Millionaire Hot Seat (PG) 10:00 Ultimate Classroom 10:30 Millionaire Hot Seat (PG) 11:00 Good Chef Bad Chef 11:30 Ridiculousness (M l) 2:00 Friends (PG) 6:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG) 10:30 Ridiculousness (M l)

10:00 Movie: “The Man In The Moon” (PG) (’91) Stars: Sam Waterston 12:00 Tennis: Billie Jean King Cup: Australia v Great Britain *Live* 7:00 Seinfeld: The Pool Guy (PG) 7:30 Movie: “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore” (PG) (’22)

3:00 Rugby Union: Easts v Northern Suburbs *Live* 5:00 Movie: “Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express” (PG) (’74) Stars: Lauren Bacall 7:30 Movie: “US Marshals” (M l,v) (’98) Stars: Tommy Lee Jones 10:10 TBA

School Holiday Special (PG) 3:30

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 (PG) 12:00 ABC News 12:30 Landline 1:30 Gardening Australia 2:30 The Piano (M) 3:30 Inside The Sydney Opera House 4:30 Creative Types With Virginia Trioli 5:00 Back Roads 5:30 Fake Or Fortune? 6:30 Compass 7:00 ABC News 7:30 The Piano (M) 8:20 Can You Keep A Secret? (M) 8:50 Frauds (PG) 7:00 Weekend Sunrise 10:00 The Morning

Security - International (PG) 4:00 Better Homes And Gardens 5:00 Seven News At 5 5:30 Sydney Weekender 6:00 Seven News 7:00 The 1% Club UK (PG) 8:00 Why Planes Crash (PG) 9:10 Movie: “Cold Chisel - The Big Five-0” (M l) (’25) 6:00 Hello SA (PG) 6:30 A Current Affair (PG) 7:00 Weekend Today 10:00 Wide World Of Sports (PG) 11:00 NRL: Sunday Footy Show *Live* 1:00 Drive TV - Drive Car Of The Year 1:30 Reel Destinations 2:00 Oz Off Road TV 3:00 NRL: Tigers v Knights *Live* 6:00 NINE News Sunday 7:00 Married At First Sight (M l,s) 8:50 60 Minutes (PG) 9:50 Power (MA15+)

Port Adelaide v St Kilda *Live*

2:30 Australian Idol (PG) 3:30 A Moveable Feast (PG) 4:00 Animals Aboard With Dr. Harry (PG) 5:00 Behave Yourself (PG) 6:00 Puppy School (PG) 6:30 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly (PG) 7:30 Law & Order: Criminal Intent (M v) 2:00 Movie: “Black Magic” (PG) (’88) Stars: Randy Cochran 3:00 Movie: “Lionel” (M l) (’08) Stars: John Johnson 4:30 Stompem Ground 6:30 NITV News Update 6:40 Wild, Smart And Deadly (PG) 7:30 Free The People 9:30 Reel Action 10:00 Navigating The World 11:00 Escape Fishing With ET 11:30 All 4 Adventure (PG) 12:30 Pat Callinan’s 4x4 Adventures 1:30 Fire Country (M v) 3:30 JAG (PG) 7:30 Movie: “The Lost City” (M s,v) (’22) Stars: Sandra Bullock

French Atlantic 8:00 Girls Guide: Hunting Fishing Wild Cooking 8:30 Rick Stein’s Food Stories 9:30 Anthony Bourdain: A Cook’s Tour

6:00 Good Chef Bad Chef 7:00 Deal Or No Deal 9:30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (PG) 2:30 Friends (PG) 6:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG) 10:30 Ridiculousness (M l) 12:00

12:20 How Islam Built The World 1:15 Jeopardy! 3:20 Worldwatch 4:50 Myths: Greatest Mysteries Of Humanity (PG) 5:50 Architecture The Railways Built 6:45 Cycling: Men’s ParisRoubaix Race *Live* 11:30 The Summit (PG) 1:30 Australian Ninja Warrior (PG) 3:30 The Toys That Built The World (PG) 5:30 Movie: “The Lego Movie” (PG) (’14) Stars: Chris Pratt 7:30 Movie: “Gone In Sixty Seconds” (M l,s,v) (’00) Stars: Angelina Jolie

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

1:30 Movie: “Trent’s Last Case” (G) (’52) Stars: Michael Wilding 3:25 Movie: “I Was Monty’s Double” (G) (’58) Stars: John Mills 5:30 Midsomer Murders (PG) 7:30 David Attenborough’s Planet Earth III (PG) 8:40 Paramedics (M)

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4:30 Mojo

Theory (PG) 6:30 Friends (PG) 8:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG)

5:30 The Big Bang Theory (PG) 6:30 Friends (PG) 8:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG)

4:00 Afternoon Briefing

(PG) 1:30 JAG (PG) 3:30 Bull (M s,v) 4:30 JAG (PG) 6:30 Bull (M s,v) 3:30 Becker (PG) 4:00 Good Chef Bad Chef 4:30 Frasier (PG) 5:30 The Big Bang Theory (PG) 6:30 Friends (PG) 8:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG)

3:00 The Block (PG) 4:00 Flipping Across America (PG) 5:00 Escape To The Chateau 6:00 House Hunters International 7:00

Bewitched 6:30 The Nanny (PG) 7:30 Seinfeld (PG) 8:30 Movie: “We’re The Millers” (M l,s,n) (’13) 5:30 Secret Life Of The Auction House 6:30 Antiques Roadshow 7:30 Keeping Up Appearances (PG) 8:40 Midsomer Murders (M v) 12:00 ABC News 1:00 Frauds (PG) 2:00 Spicks And Specks (PG) 2:30 Anh’s Brush With Fame (PG)

Blaxland

McDonald's

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

Plus Pharmacy

Raygal Landscape & Nursary Supplies

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 Glenmore Park

McDonald’s Mulgoa Rise

Medi Advice Pharmacy

Woolworths

J amisontown

Abcoe

Atmosphere Fitness Signature Gym

B att Street Takeaway

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

Ca fé Fre d

Au stralian Arms

Coles Penrith (Nepean Village)

Coles ( We stfield Penrith)

Crescent Mini Mar t

High Street Pies

Hog's Bre ath C afé

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 Markets (Thursdays)

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

St Mar ys Band Club

St Mar ys Diggers

St Mar ys Fish Market

Queen Street Newsagency

St Mar ys Le agues Club

St Mar ys Librar y

St Mar

McDonald's St Mar ys South

St Mar ys Pharmacy Queen Street

A WIN FOR BUILDING OWNERS AND TENANTS

Commercial and residential landlords across Australia are discovering a new way to increase property returns, by turning their buildings into energy providers.

As energy costs rise and tenants seek ways to reduce bills, building owners are increasingly installing solar panels and battery systems and supplying power back into the grid and directly to building occupants, creating an additional income stream alongside rent.

According to Jack Kapoor, founder and managing director of Agile Energy, energy-as-aservice is quietly transforming how property owners generate revenue from their assets.

“For decades, landlords relied

almost entirely on rent to generate returns,” Kapoor said.

“Now buildings can generate income in two ways, from tenants paying rent and from the energy the building produces.”

Large rooftops on commercial buildings, warehouses, apartment blocks and shopping centres are particularly well suited to solar installations.

Instead of leaving that space unused, building owners can install solar systems and supply electricity directly to tenants.

“Your roof can effectively become a power station. Tenants receive cheaper and cleaner electricity while the building owner earns revenue from the energy produced,” Kapoor said.

In many cases, landlords can sell electricity to tenants at a rate lower than grid prices while still generating a margin.

“That means tenants win through lower power bills and owners gain a new revenue stream,” Kapoor said.

The model is becoming increasingly attractive as property owners look for ways to improve yields in a high-interest-rate environment.

Energy costs are now one of the largest operational expenses for many businesses and households, creating strong demand for cheaper on-site power.

“For landlords, energy is becoming a second income stream,” Kapoor said.

“Instead of treating electricity as a cost, buildings are being designed to produce and sell energy.”

Commercial properties with large daytime energy demand such as shopping centres, office buildings, medical facilities and logistics sites are particularly suited to the model.

“YOUR ROOF CAN EFFECTIVELY BECOME A POWER STATION”

Apartment buildings and multi-tenant residential developments are also beginning to adopt similar systems.

Adding battery storage to solar installations allows building owners to store energy during the day and supply it when demand and prices are higher.

“Solar generates power during daylight hours, but batteries allow that energy to be used or sold later,” Kapoor said.

“This means building owners can maximise the value of the electricity their property produces.”

Battery systems can also allow buildings to participate in emerging energy markets.

Kapoor believes energy-as-aservice will become a defining trend in the Australian property market over the coming decade.

“As energy prices rise and buildings become more technologically advanced, property owners will increasingly generate income not just from rent but from energy,” he said.

“The landlords who recognise that early will have a major advantage.”

LUXURY LIVING AWAITS

What

Over

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living in Oran Pa rk .

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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.

When injury strikes, the first instinct for many people is simple: stop everything and rest. While rest is an important part of early recovery, relying on it alone can actually slow your progress and, in some cases, make things worse.

In the initial phase of an injury, short-term rest helps reduce pain, swelling, and further damage. However, the body is designed to move, and prolonged inactivity can lead to muscle weakness, joint stiffness, and reduced overall function. This often creates a cycle where the injury feels just as limiting weeks later as it did on day one.

Modern rehabilitation takes a different approach – one which focuses on active recovery. This doesn’t mean pushing through pain or returning to full activity too soon. Instead, it involves carefully prescribed, gradual movement designed to restore strength, range of motion, and confidence.

• Improve joint mobility

• Promote circulation and tissue healing

• Restore functional movement patterns

Just as importantly, staying active during recovery can have significant mental health benefits. Injuries often bring frustration, stress, and a loss of routine. Structured exercise can help individuals regain a sense of control and progress.

• Maintain and rebuild muscle strength

For example, after a back injury, complete rest can lead to deconditioning of the muscles that support the spine. Without rebuilding this strength, the risk of ongoing pain or reinjury increases. Similarly, after an acute or chronic knee injury, avoiding movement altogether can reduce joint stability and delay return to normal activities like walking, climbing stairs, or working. Guided exercise plays a key role in recovery. Targeted programs help:

The key is finding the right balance. Too much rest can lead to decline, while too much activity too soon can aggravate the injury. This is where professional guidance is essential. An exercise physiologist can tailor a program to your specific condition, ensuring you progress safely and effectively.

Injury recovery isn’t about doing nothing, it’s about doing the right things at the right time. By moving beyond rest and embracing active rehabilitation, you give your body the best chance to heal, rebuild, and return stronger.

The Experts

RINGWORM EXPLAINED: INFO YOU MUST KNOW

Ringworm is one of those conditions that immediately worries pet owners, and understandably so. Despite the name, it’s not caused by worms at all, but by a fungal infection that can affect both pets and people. You might hear it called dermatophytosis, but most of us know it as those distinctive round patches on the skin that can cause hair loss, redness and irritation.

What makes ringworm particularly tricky is how easily it spreads. The fungus can live in soil, on surfaces, and on infected animals or people. It’s also zoonotic, meaning it can pass between animals and humans. Spores can linger on things like bedding, towels, brushes and furniture, so even indirect contact can lead to infection. That’s why it can sometimes feel like it appears out of nowhere and moves quickly through a household, especially where pets share spaces or bedding. In pets, ringworm often shows

up as circular areas of hair loss with flaky or scaly skin. You might notice broken hairs, small bald patches, or areas that look a little red and inflamed. Some pets are itchy, while others seem completely unbothered, which can make it easy to miss in the early stages. In multi-pet households, it can quietly spread before anyone realises what’s going on. If you notice any changes to your pet’s skin or coat, it’s always worth getting it checked. Diagnosis isn’t always straightforward and can take a bit of detective work. Your veterinarian may use

a combination of tools, including examining hairs under a microscope or performing specific tests to confirm ringworm and rule out other skin conditions that can look very similar. When it comes to treatment, patience is key. Ringworm doesn’t resolve overnight, and consistency is important. Most pets need a combination of treatments, such as medicated washes and, in some cases, oral antifungal medications to fully clear the infection. Just as important is managing the environment – washing bedding regularly, vacuuming thoroughly,

and disinfecting surfaces to remove any lingering spores.

Because its zoonotic, good hygiene plays a big role in protecting your household. Washing your hands after handling your pet, avoiding sharing bedding, and limiting close contact while your pet is being treated can all help reduce the risk.

While ringworm is usually mild in healthy adults, it can be more of a concern for young children, older adults or anyone with a weakened immune system. The good news is that ringworm is very manageable with the right approach.

Early detection, consistent treatment and a bit of extra care at home can make all the difference in stopping it in its tracks.

If you’re ever unsure, or something doesn’t look quite right with your pet’s skin, the team at Orchard Hills Veterinary Hospital is always here to help, offering practical advice and supportive care for both you and your pet.

DON’T RISK GOING OUTSIDE OF PLATFORMS

Online services and gig platforms make it easy to post a task and get bids from people who want the job. Some examples are Airtasker, ServiceSeeking, Freelancer, TaskRabbit, and Upwork.

I have been using these over the years and, for the most part, have been very happy with the services. The way these companies generally work is that they charge you a listing fee and take between 15 per cent and 25 per cent of the amount paid.

These platforms are helpful because they quickly connect you with people ready to work, so you don’t have to spend time making calls or searching online. You often get several offers, but it can cost more than hiring someone directly. The convenience also means that workers pay high fees to the platform, and sometimes they might try to work with you outside the platform.

Recently, I posted a job looking for old pool tiles along with installation. After months of

waiting, someone contacted me and said he had exactly what I needed. After we spoke on the phone, he convinced me to skip the platform for a better price. We agreed on a deposit, a date and I shared my address.

I sent a deposit through Oska, but my bank held the money for 24 hours since he was a new payee. Right away, problems started. I got more than 25 abusive texts demanding payment. The messages began with personal

complaints and soon turned into threats. One of the messages indicated he was on his way over to my house to sort me out. He also called me over eight times, but I ignored the calls. This is intimidating behaviour and did spook my wife. Thank fully we do have a surveillance system, and my wife will not answer the door for the next few weeks.

Looking back, I didn’t do my usual checks because I was just relieved to find someone with the right tiles. I agreed to work outside the platform and gave him my address. Only later did I look at his profile more carefully and saw it was new, with no references or past work. A quick Google reverse image search showed he had used stolen project photos. Basically the profile was set up to target me. This experience taught me a hard lesson. Now, someone who threatened me has my address. I reported him, but he still has my information. Next time, I’ll pay extra to make sure I use the platform’s protections.

Relax & Unwind

JOANNE

MADELINE MOORE

Boho Astro

@JoMadelineMoore

© Joanne Madeline Moore 2026

AQUARIUS

JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 19

This week is all about communication, education and travel – especially within your immediate environment. Perhaps you’ll do some volunteer work at a school, pair up with a neighbour and go on an adventure or become involved in a local community project. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, actor and writer Emma Thompson, “Any problem, big or small, always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn’t listening.”

TAURUS

APRIL 21 TO MAY 21

On Monday, a lucky opportunity could come your way, as Jupiter links up with Venus (your patron planet). Six planets are transiting through your spirituality zone, so this week is all about spending quiet time on your own, listening to your inner voice and following your intuition. Your motto for the moment is from actress and feminist Emma Watson (who turns 36 on Wednesday), “All I can do is follow my instincts, because I’ll never please everyone.”

LEO

PISCES

FEBRUARY 20 TO MARCH 20

On Monday, a friend or acquaintance in your local community could send a lucky opportunity your way, so make the most of it. For the rest of the week the focus is on inner and outer security, involving financial matters and self-esteem. Don’t sacrifice your core values and beliefs in the pursuit of something (or someone) that is shallow and lacking in substance. And don’t settle for second best. Make sure you set your sights and standards high.

GEMINI

22 TO JUNE 21

With six planets (including the New Moon) transiting through your hopes and wishes zone, it’s time to dream big dreams and take adventurous steps to make them come true. No sitting on the sidelines! Your motto is from Victoria Beckham (who turns 52 on Friday), “If you can get your head around your dream, it means your dream isn’t big enough.” On Friday, your ruler Mercury pairs up with Neptune, so think compassionately and speak kindly.

VIRGO

HOROSCOPES

ARIES

MARCH 21 TO APRIL 20

Calling all red-hot Rams! This week, no less than six planets are transiting through your sign – the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, Saturn and Neptune. So you’ll be at your fiery, passionate, courageous best … and your feisty, impatient, combative worst. If you can sometimes morph from a raging ram into a gentle lamb, then life will be less bumpy. Friday’s New Moon in Aries signals a fresh approach to love, relationships, friendships, life – everything!

CANCER

22 TO JULY 22

The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, Saturn and Neptune are all in Aries, charging through your career zone. So it’s time for cautious Crabs to be bold and brave. Which will give you the confidence and courage to be the authentic you, showcase your professional strengths, and pursue your wildest dreams. Your motto is from birthday great, actress and activist Emma Watson, “I don’t want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself.”

JULY 23 TO AUGUST 23 LIBRA

Lions are feeling frisky and Cats are feeling courageous as no less than six planets transit though fellow fire sign, Aries. So you’re full of feisty, restless energy that needs a positive outlet, via vigorous physical activity or a challenging creative project. And with Friday’s New Moon activating your adventure and travel zone, you’re also in the mood to organize a weekend getaway or an overdue holiday – somewhere flamboyant, indulgent and fun!

SCORPIO

OCTOBER 24 TO NOVEMBER 22

It’s time to cool down and calm down Scorpio! Aim to do plenty of physical activity this week, as you channel your intense energy in pleasant and productive ways. But being overly proprietorial about a person or situation will only lead to a fraction too much friction. So strive to be less stubborn about relationships, possessions and work. Friday’s fiery New Moon signals a fresh start involving a health matter, your daily routine or a professional project.

AUGUST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 23

Six planets are transiting through your intrigue, research and partnership zones. So it’s a good week to investigate something thoroughly (with your Virgo x-ray vision), read a detective story, uncover a secret, solve a puzzling problem or get to the bottom of an intriguing mystery. But the more you try to control others, the more they are likely to resist. So, if you want to avoid ongoing power struggles, learn to diplomatically let go and move on.

SAGITTARIUS

NOVEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 21

Six planets light up your good fortune zone and there’s a fabulous link between the two lucky planets Venus and Jupiter (your ruler). So a combination of self-belief, sudden opportunities and good

S EPTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 23

Monday is the luckiest day of the week, especially involving professional matters and/or joint finances. Don’t waste energy worrying, especially at work. It’s a good week to re-connect with loved ones, tell them what’s on your mind and keep them up-to-date with your plans. The New Moon encourages you to look at a troubled relationship in a perceptive and diplomatic new light as you re-set boundaries and road-test some creative new strategies.

CAPRICORN

DECEMBER 22 TO JANUARY 20

No less than eight planets fire up your family, friendship and neighbourhood zones as you express more love, compassion and understanding towards loved ones. Family and friends are the ones

Relax & Unwind

DESTINATION

SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

WORDS

Emily Chate

Chate

PACKED SCHEDULE IN

Many times I’ve thought about jumping in the car and heading off for a weekend away. I recently did just that and found the ideal place to escape to –the Southern Highlands – but there is a twist: my car sat at home the whole time I was gone.

Let me introduce you to Turo. A car rental marketplace that connects car owners with travellers looking for a car for their next trip. Think of it sort of like Airbnb for cars. I used the app to find a car near me, and when it happened to be a Mercedes, I will say a smile crossed my face. The car’s owner Linh was utterly gracious and easy to communicate with! She dropped the car to my house at 8am one morning and then came to pick it up three days later.

I must say the ideal part of using Turo was that you can make sure you get the exact car you’re after, not the usual “something similar” that is usually heard from typical car rental places. If you want a car with a surfboard rack, then the app will deliver it. The same goes if you are like me and looking for something a bit sleeker than your normal ride. But it doesn’t have to always be a luxury number, the options on Turo are endless!

My rented Mercedes and I decided to take the scenic route to the Southern Highlands with stops along the coast first. A quick stop at the Bald Hill Lookout at Stanwell Tops was the first glimpse of the magic I was in for during my trip. The next stop was at Robertson Pie Shop, a must stop for any road trip down south! My tip: the apple pie with fresh cream! The next stop was a bit kooky but worth every second. I stopped and did a tour of a mushroom farm inside a Victorian era railway in Mittagong – the site is full of WWII history (perfect for this history nerd!). Led by Mycologist farmers Leonie and Peter, I have truly never seen someone so dedicated to the mushroom.

Following the mushroom tunnel tour, it was time to check into my home for the weekend: Peppers Manor House. The manor has been re-purposed from its original homestead into charming accommodation perfect for a getaway, a conference or a wedding. In my opinion

you don’t even need to leave the grounds to have a varied itinerary! From a dip in the pool to a spot of badminton guests at Pepper’s Manor House will never be bored. My favourite part though was the chance to rest with a book in a cosy armchair by the roaring fire in the Great Hall.

“THE VIEW OF THE SPRAWLING ESTATE FELT LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FRAMED”

My room – in the Garden Wing – was effortlessly glamorous. The view of the sprawling grounds of the estate felt like it should have been framed and the room was big enough to feel more like a suite! It had everything this weary traveller needed (including a large bathtub).

I didn’t rest in my quarters for long because

I had a gin blending experience booked on the grounds with Nathan from Millsheds Distillery in Bowral. Nathan was so full of energy and gave so many interesting insights into how gin is made. Nathan soon let the group loose to taste a range of different botanicals to find the flavours that would make our own special blend. A simple touch during the experience that truly elevated it was the onsite printing of a label with the name you chose for your gin. It’s the small things!

The next stop was Peppers’ onsite restaurant Kater’s. The restaurant is dimly lit giving the perfect ambience for a decadent dinner. The group I was with chose to try the sharing menu which has a 1.2kg red gum tomahawk steak and a whole Tumut region rainbow trout. The food was expertly prepared leaving it to simply melt in your mouth. You can’t visit Peppers Manor House without a stop here. The next day, I enjoyed a lazy morning lounging exploring the manor’s garden (I even saw a few bunnies hopping around), before heading into Berrima. The historic town is full of charm, and after a stop at a bakery I wandered through the various shops – all full to the brim with care.

THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

Lunch was preceded by a wine tasting at Bendooley Estate. The 200-acre property is perfect for a casual lunch or a glitzy wedding. The sommelier led me through a wine tasting of some of the wines produced from the estate. Her knowledge and charm only highlighted the experience, leaving me no choice but to buy a bottle or two.

The afternoon saw me back at Peppers Manor

House I went to relax (and snooze off the wine) before heading back into Berrima for dinner.

We went to Eschalot, a fine dining restaurant inside a heritage listed stone cottage where we were seated in a private room and delivered the chef’s ‘feed me’ menu – which is driven by the produce of the day. This is a must do.

My last morning at Peppers Manor House saw me wake with both excitement and

nerves because I had an activity booked that I never thought I would do: beekeeping. On site at Peppers Manor House are beehives tended to by Bowral Honey Farm and groups can book a beekeeping experience without having to leave the grounds. Hamish, the lead beekeeper, clad in a yellow and black striped t-shirt was so full of life and passion that I could not have been more invested in

the experience. This is a must do for anyone staying at Peppers Manor House. Afterwards I got to taste test some of the honey Hamish had extracted from the bees – a truly magical experience.

If you are looking for a weekend getaway my pick is Peppers Manor House in the Southern Highlands – do it in style with a hire car from Turo.

76.

Word Search

JOHNNY

COWBOY

HONKY

LUKE

ZACH

LAINEY

JELLY ROLL

Last

Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or

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.

Maddie’s Meals

Cheat’s Fettuccine

Carbonara

What You’ll Need:

– Large Pan

– Pot for boiling pasta

– Colander

Ingredients:

– Fettuccine (I prefer fresh egg pasta, but you can use whatever you like)

– 400g bacon

– Approx 300g Mushrooms

– 300mL Thickened Cream

– 2 eggs

– Spices (I use salt, black pepper, white pepper, onion powder, garlic powder paprika and chilli flakes-optional)

Method:

1. Fill the pot with water on medium to high heat, adding pasta once boiling.

2. Slice bacon and mushrooms, adding

to a pan on medium heat. Add spices and stir through, cooking until bacon is slightly crispy.

3. Create a well in the centre of the pan, and crack the eggs in. After letting cook for roughly 30 seconds, scramble the egg and stir through the bacon and mushrooms.

4. Add cream to the pan and stir through the mixture. Reduce heat until pasta is boiled.

5. Once boiled, drain pasta water, saving a cup to add to the pan later. Empty pasta into the pan and coat pasta with cream mixture, adding small amounts of pasta water as well.

6. Let the pasta sit for 5-10 minutes once combined, stirring occasionally. Once the sauce is thick, it’s ready to serve!

Indy Performance is an independent, high-tech automotive workshop in Emu Plains. Their mission is to get any vehicle performing at its best every day.

Indy Performance has been taking care of cars from Emu Plains, Penrith and the lower Blue Mountains for over 35 years.

These days you need someone who can diagnose and work with the latest technology – that’s what Indy Performance does.

The team has diagnostic equipment for all cars, this allows them to zero in on the things to fix, so they can get straight on to sorting them out for you.

Indy Performance takes care of general repairs, auto electrical work, fuel injection, brakes, clutches and tuning. They also repair and change tyres, perform rego checks as well as service and repair air

conditioners. They have a loan car available through booking only. They can service cars still under warranty.

The team provides quality repairs for most makes and models of vehicles – 4WDs, light commercials, vans, utes and family cars –including European models. Have a hybrid?

The team at Indy Performance are also qualified in servicing hybrid motor vehicles.

For your convenience, they are open six days a week, which includes Saturday mornings, and provide an early drop-off facility.

Indy Performance is located close to public transport. They also pick up and drop customers home in the Emu Plains area.

Indy Performance has worked hard to keep their Green accreditation and take pride in having one of the area’s cleanest and most well-maintained workshops.

Cricket is a real passion for Annabel

NATHAN TAYLOR

Annabel Batty lives in a cricket-loving household.

Every summer, the TV in the family living room is always locked on to some form of the game – whether that be a gruelling Test match or Big Bash cricket.

So it comes as no surprise that the 18-year-old is not only obsessed with the game but is pretty good at it too!

The Penrith Cricket Club member recently wrapped up the best season of her short career so far and, as a result, has been named the latest recipient of the Penrith Valley Sports Foundation Senior Sports Star Award.

Batty joined Penrith when she was 13 after starting her cricketing journey at Pat Cummins’ old club

Glenbrook-Blaxland as a little girl.

“I started actually playing cricket when I was seven but prior to that I did Milo Cricket,” Batty told the Weekender

“I loved the game straight away! I had a few friends in the team as well, so it was a social thing for me as well as a sport.”

After a few years with her junior club, Batty integrated into the Penrith women’s program and has been there ever since.

A talented batter and wicket keeper, Batty quickly rose up the ranks at Penrith and made her first grade debut at just 15 during the 2023/24 season.

In season 2024/25, Batty was named captain of Penrith’s second grade side, developing not just her on-field cricketing skills but her

This past summer, Batty has taken her game to yet another level and played the majority of the season in first grade.

“Playing first grade was definitely an adjustment at first. I remember struggling to get off strike because the standard of bowling is so much better in first grade,” Batty said.

“I faced Sam Bates (Sydney Thunder WBBL player) in my first game of first grade this season. It was a big difference, but it was good to challenge myself.”

While Batty, who was also picked in the NSW U19 team, knows she still has plenty to improve on, she is very proud of the strides she’s made in her career so far, including becoming the first woman in Penrith Cricket Club history to score three centuries.

achievement was making it to first grade and playing with all those girls,” said Batty, who is a big fan of Alyssa Healy and Alex Carey.

“My main goal is to win a first grade premiership with Penrith one day. And I’d love to score a first grade century – that would be amazing!”

Penrith Panthers Leagues Club. PVSF Senior Sports Star of the Month winners take home a cool $500 each for their efforts.

If you know someone who has achieved in their chosen sport, send in your nomination to Penrith Valley Sports Foundation. Nomi-

“I’d have to say my proudest

DISTRICT TENNI

SPORTS SHORTS

Easter Open serves up success

AFL The Penrith Rams and Penrith Ramettes will kick off the 2026 AFL Sydney seasons this weekend at Greygums Oval in Cranebrook. The Rams first grade side will play in the Men’s Division 2 competition this season, while the Penrith Ramettes will play in the Women’s Division 2 competition. First up for the Rams is a battle with Southern Power at Greygums Oval this Saturday afternoon at 2pm. While the Ramettes will face-off with the UNSW-ES Bulldogs at Greygums Oval from 10.30am this Saturday morning. Both sides are aiming for strong years in their respective competitions.

AFL Following a much-needed bye last weekend, the GWS Giants will return to the paddock this Sunday afternoon to take on the struggling Richmond Tigers at Barossa Park in South Australia. The Round 5 clash is part of the AFL’s Gather Round concept, which is an annual Festival of Footy where all 10 teams play a full premiership round in South Australia. The Giants haven’t won since the opening round and will be desperate to get their season back on track before taking on the second-placed Sydney Swans next Friday night. The Giants have struggled with injuries to start the season but are expected to welcome some troops back as soon as this weekend.

FOOTBALL:The Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC will do battle for the final time this Saturday night at CommBank Stadium. Despite a poor season from the last-placed Wanderers, the third and final Sydney Derby of the year is expected to be well attended as per usual. Last Saturday night at AAMI Park, the Wanderers were handed a football lesson by their opponents with Melbourne City crushing the Red & Black 3-0. City led 2-0 at half-time before getting their third goal just four minutes

into the second half. Marcus Younis had a night to remember – assisting Andreas Kuen for the opener, scoring one of his own, assisting Elbasan Rashani for the final goal and then getting sent off late in the match. For tickets to this Saturday night’s Sydney Derby, visit ticketmaster.com.au.

TENNIS: The Nepean District Tennis Association held their annual Easter Open during the long weekend, with hundreds of tennis players from all over the state descending on the Woodriff Gardens, St Marys and Springwood tennis courts. Regarded as one of Australia’s biggest tennis events, the 60th

Easter Open featured 621 entries (up from 583 last year) and saw the long-awaited opening of Nepean Tennis’ brand-new clubhouse at Woodriff Gardens. Despite several rain delays, the 2026 Easter Open was considered a huge success!

BASKETBALL: Following the Easter long weekend, the Penrith Panthers will return to the court this Saturday at the Sydney Uni Sports & Aquatics Centre. Both Panthers teams, who are still searching for their first wins of the year, will take on the Inner West Bulls in Round 2 of the NBL1 East competition.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Round 9 of the NSWRL Junior Representative Men’s season took place last weekend with excellent results on the eve of the Finals for Penrith’s Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball Cup sides. In the Harold Matthews Cup, Penrith smashed the St George Dragons 32-8 to end the regular season in second spot. In the SG Ball Cup, Penrith demolished the Dragons 40-12 to finish the regular season in sixth place. This Saturday, the Panthers will battle the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the first week of the Harold Matthews Cup Finals. While the Panthers will take on the Newcastle Knights in the first week of the SG Ball Cup finals. Both matches will be played at HE Laybutt Field in Blacktown.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Round 9 of the NSWRL Junior Representative Women’s season took place last weekend with excellent results for

Penrith’s Tarsha Gale Cup and Lisa Fiaola Cup sides. In the Tarsha Gale Cup, the Panthers enjoyed a huge win over the St George Dragons 44-4 to finish the regular season in fifth place. In the Lisa Fiaola Cup, Penrith hammered the Dragons 58-12 to also finish the regular season in fifth spot. This Saturday, the Panthers will take on the Wests Tigers in the first week of the Tarsha Gale Cup Finals. While the Panthers will also battle the Wests Tigers in the first week of the Lisa Fiaola Cup Finals. Both games will be played at historic Henson Park in Newtown.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Round 3 of the Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield competitions will take place this weekend. In the Ron Massey Cup, St Marys will do battle with the Ryde Eastwood Hawks at Lidcombe Oval, while Penrith Brothers will take on Mounties at Parker Street Reserve. In the Sydney Shield, St Marys will face-off with the Ryde-Eastwood Hawks, while Penrith Brothers clash with Mounties.

NETBALL: Giants Netball remain in last place on the Super Netball ladder following a 23-goal thrashing at the hands of the Queensland Firebirds last weekend at Ken Rosewall Arena. Both sides were winless heading into the Round 4 clash, with the Firebirds on a 15-game losing streak dating back to last season. The Giants continue to struggle on the shooting end, with coach Nerida Stewart still tinkering with her goal scorers. The Giants will hit the road this Saturday night to take on the red-hot Adelaide Thunderbirds, who currently sit undefeated in first place.

IN TOUCH: To make a submission to ‘Sports Shorts’, email Nathan@westernweekender.com.au. You can also direct message the Weekender on Facebook, Instagram or @ wwpenrith on X.