Richmond Park will fall into a reverent hush as the clock strikes 11 on Monday, November 11, 2024. The Richmond RSL Sub-branch will lead a Remembrance Day service, inviting the community to honour those who have served and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today. But beyond the solemn wreath-laying at the Richmond War Memorial, this day represents something more profound - a chance to connect the past with the future and remind younger generations why this tradition remains so vital.For many young people, Remembrance Day may seem like an event disconnected from their daily lives. After all, the wars it commemorates feel like ancient history. However, this day is more than just a moment of silence; it's a bridge between the past and present, a reflection on how peace, often taken for granted, has been hard-won.The tradition of observing a moment of silence at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month began after World War I, the so-called "War To End All Wars." It's a time when entire nations pause to reflect on the immense loss of life, not just from that conflict, but from all wars. More than 60,000 Australians died during World War I, and the ripple effect of that loss continues to shape families and communities.But how does this history resonate with younger generations? Today's young people may not feel the immediate impact of global conflicts, but they live in a world shaped by them. The soldiers, airmen, and sailors whose service we remember on this day fought for ideals that still resonate—freedom, fairness, and unity. In many ways, these values are even more relevant in today's rapidly changing world.The Richmond RSL Sub-branch invites all members of the community, young and old, to the 2024 Remembrance Day service. As they gather at Richmond War Memorial, local school students will stand alongside veterans and military personnel, laying wreaths to commemorate those who came before them. It's a powerful visual reminder that, even though past wars may seem far removed, the legacy of service and sacrifice lives on.Involving schools and younger community members is part of a broader effort to ensure the importance of Remembrance Day continues to resonate. The Richmond RSL Sub-Branch hopes that by bringing together people of all ages, younger generations will see the relevance of reflecting on peace and the price paid for it."Remembrance Day is an opportunity for young people to connect with history in a meaningful way," a spokesperson for the Sub-branch said. "It's not just about looking back, but about understanding how the past shapes our present and future. The peace we have today was earned through great sacrifice."So, as Remembrance Day approaches, it's worth pausing to consider why we observe this tradition. It's not just for the older generations who remember the wars firsthand but for young people whose future is being built on the foundation of those sacrifices. This November 11, Richmond will once again honour that legacy—and invite a new generation to carry it forward. Details of the Remembrance Day Service:- Location: Richmond War Memorial, Richmond Park- Time: 10:55am, Monday, November 11, 2024 (assemble by 10:40am)- Covered seating available for veterans and older community members.

Students at Maroota Public School received an exciting visit, when the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service made a special landing on their school grounds. The visit, which also included students from MacDonald Valley Public School, allowed children to meet the rescue crew and learn about coastal safety and emergency procedures.In addition to the helicopter visit, around 12 volunteers from the Maroota Rural Fire Brigade and a fire truck were on hand to further enhance the students' understanding of emergency services.The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service operates from two bases in Sydney's La Perouse and Moruya on the South Coast. With a longstanding history of providing vital support to the community, the service assists in search and rescue missions, aerial surveillance, flood support, and coastal patrols. The service has recently marked 50 years of operation and has completed more than 100,000 missions without charging anyone for rescue efforts.Westpac Regional General Manager Mellissa Pearson said educating young Australians about safety was important, especially as they spend time exploring the country's beaches and waterways. "It's important to remind young Australians to stay safe no matter what time of year it is or what they are doing," Pearson said. She noted that the interactive session provided students with a unique opportunity to see up close the advanced lifesaving equipment used by the rescue crew, making the experience both educational and fun.Shane Daw, General Manager of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service, highlighted the significance of teaching children how to stay safe outdoors and what to do in emergencies. "The helicopter has been called out to the area numerous times, and it's great to teach students about the role we play in helping the community," Daw said. "While we hope they'll never need us, if they do, we'll be there to help."The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service, supported by Westpac for 50 years, remains one of Australia's longest-running community partnerships.

By Kate Hughes, PhD2When experts disagree about PFAS risks to health, what can we do to protect ourselves?In the last 100 years, humans created many substances that caused pollution on a global scale. Think DDT and other persistent pesticides, or industrial chemicals like PCBs, and wastes like dioxins, which are among the most toxic of man-made substances. More recently, PFAS has emerged as a pollutant, including here in the Hawkesbury where groundwater is contaminated with fire retardants migrating from RAAF Base Richmond. But the Base is not the only source of PFAS. Fabrics and floor coverings, potting mix, outdoor gear, cosmetics and pizza boxes are among many everyday products that contain some of the thousands of types of PFAS. According to the US EPA, there are 15,000 classes of PFAS but not much is known about the health hazards that most of them might present.    So is this lack of data a problem for the community? Yes it is, but toxicity is not the only issue. We also have to understand how we get exposed and whether there is enough exposure to affect our health. Recently. I attended two scientific conferences where PFAS was front and centre of many of the presentations. PFAS origins, PFAS chemistry, sources of PFAS pollution, PFAS investigation, PFAS risks to health, PFAS risk to wildlife and PFAS clean up. What stood out was the divergence of expert opinions about risks to health. One leading Australian regulator stated that the risk was minimal when compared with others, while an American toxicologist described PFAS as multi-system toxicants that can affect a range of organs and systems in the body. Impacts on health accepted in many jurisdictions include cardiovascular problems, reduced birth weight, decreased response to vaccines, endocrine and immune system disruption, and liver and kidney toxicity.Other talks confirmed in my mind that despite assurances to the contrary, there are serious health risks linked to exposure to PFAS. The critical thing is the amount of exposure needed to cause damage. Again, as with the PFAS toxicity, experts differ in their opinions as do regulators. The variation in drinking water standards in different countries is a good example. The lack of agreement about toxicity and exposure is what is most troubling because risks are calculated using these two parameters. As risk assessors put it: risk = hazard plus exposure.So while the experts wrestle with the data and hopefully come up with practical recommendations to governments about minimising exposure to PFAS and cleaning up groundwater pollution, what can individuals do to protect their health? Given the many sources of PFAS, we are at a point where exposure happens just by being alive. So what to do? Recognising the many sources of PFAS is a start, and then taking action personally to avoid exposure where possible. The links below provide reader-friendly information that can help you understand more about PFAS, how exposure happens and what you can do about it.

Hawkesbury Council has released the Draft Hawkesbury Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan 2025, outlining major recommendations to tackle future flood risks in our community. We’re digging through the details ourselves, but what stands out immediately is the potential impact on property owners who could find themselves on the downside of new flood planning levels and planning rules. You have until December 9 to make submission - it’s online at https://www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au Council is also holding info sessions where you can ask questions: Richmond Oval on October 12 (4pm - 9pm), North Richmond Shopping Village on October 24 (11am - 1pm), Wilberforce School of Arts on October 30 (10:30am - 12:30pm), and Windsor Mall on November 30 (5pm - 9pm). The study's brief was to look at the consequences of flooding on the community and measures to mitigate flood risks and impacts. See what you think. Measures investigated are outlined in the picture.

More than 2,000 people in the Nepean Blue Mountains region sought help for alcohol and drug issues last year, according to Wentworth Healthcare. As substance abuse continues to impact the area, a new community-based service has opened in the Hawkesbury to provide much-needed support.WHOS Hawkesbury, located in Windsor, offers free day treatment for those living with alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems. Funded by the Federal Government’s Community Health and Hospitals Program, the centre is the latest effort to address rising concerns over the lack of accessible services for residents seeking help with addiction.Alcohol remains the leading issue, accounting for over a quarter of those treated in the region, according to Wentworth Healthcare’s 2023 Needs Assessment. WHOS Hawkesbury’s opening is expected to provide a lifeline for locals struggling to find affordable care close to home. “Anyone can have issues with substance dependence, it doesn’t discriminate,” Wentworth Healthcare CEO Lizz Reay said. “In the Hawkesbury, there has been a lack of permanent and accessible services offering affordable community-based support.” She said many people can’t commit to residential rehabilitation due to family or work responsibilities, which means they’ve been left without options.”The new service aims to change that by offering a range of treatment options, including counselling, group therapy, case management, and relapse prevention, all within the local community. Clients can remain close to their families, friends, and healthcare providers throughout their recovery, a model that has been widely advocated for by local health stakeholders.WHOS Hawkesbury also provides outreach services, working closely with Aboriginal community organisations to ensure culturally appropriate care is available. The service is designed to be flexible, providing tailored support for each individual’s needs.Local Federal MP Susan Templeman praised the opening of the service, which she said had been long overdue. “I’m proud that the Federal Government is supporting this service, which has been long-needed in Hawkesbury. I congratulate Wentworth Healthcare for finding a model designed to suit local needs and give people the ability to continue living in their community as they tackle their addiction,” she said.For many in the region, the opening of WHOS Hawkesbury will provide a vital step toward reducing the strain on hospitals and ensuring that people have access to the help they need without having to travel or uproot their lives. “Residential rehab is important, but it’s not always suitable for everyone,” Reay added. “Community-based support allows people to get well where they live, surrounded by their support networks.”WHOS Executive Director Garth Popple hopes the new service will have a lasting impact. “ We are looking forward to further develop relationships with a variety of service partners, such as Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District and the local Aboriginal community, as we collectively work towards the common goal of reducing substance use related harm in the Hawkesbury”,he said.The centre is open Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 2 Forbes Street, Windsor. People can self-refer, walk in, or be referred by a GP or specialist. For more information or to book an appointment, visit www.nbmphn.com.au/WHOSHawkesbury or call 4509 9110.

Newly obtained photos, allegedly taken at Redbank, reveal the tragic impact of land clearing on native wildlife, showing a dead baby galah found in the hollow of a felled tree. While distressing, we have decided to publish these images to highlight the brutal reality for animals that rely on old-growth trees for shelter and breeding. The Hawkesbury Post has not been able to verify that these photos were taken at Redbank in North Richmond in 2021.This particular incident is far from isolated; it starkly illustrates the irreversible damage land clearing is causing across the Hawkesbury and New South Wales. Trees with hollows, like the one pictured, can take over a century to form, providing critical shelter for a range of native animals, including birds, mammals, and reptiles. Once felled, these trees leave animals homeless and vulnerable, often resulting in injuries or death as their habitats are destroyed.Currently, developer Redbank is cutting down 158 trees along Grose Vale Road in Grose Vale. Yesterday, the Riot Squad was deployed when community members peacefully protested the destruction of the wildlife corridor, holding placards to voice their opposition.One resident who contacted the Hawkesbury Post today said she and many others who live in Redbank are appalled by the developer’s actions. “I’m eating my breakfast outside right now, and all I can hear are birds calling and trees being chopped to pieces. I just watched a flock of cockatoos fly overhead, alarmed and calling, trying to land in nearby trees,” she said.“I hope someone is checking for wildlife before they cut these trees down, or at the very least, that they are present to help any animals in the process.”As Redbank workers continue to destroy the Grose Vale wildlife corridor today, another developer, Monterra Holdings, is seeking approval to clear an additional 133 trees in nearby Kurrajong. The Land and Environment Court will hold a site meeting on February 10 at 67 Kurrajong Road, where residents are encouraged to attend.Environmentalists have long called for urgent, and stronger protections against land clearing. They say current planning rules have failed to safeguard the environment, and governments are not acting to close the loopholes that allow developers to raze native habitats across the state. With each tree that is cut down, native species are being driven closer to extinction.Below are more photos of the felled trees, allegedly at Redbank which show the dead baby galah in the hollow at the trees felled by bulldozers.

Late yesterday evening, emergency services were called to a severe house fire in East Kurrajong, leaving a large family home in ruins. At 6:21 PM, the East Kurrajong Rural Fire Service (RFS) was activated, with reports indicating a house engulfed in flames and fire already spreading through the roof by the time they arrived.Additional crews from the NSW RFS Glossodia Brigade and other units from the Hawkesbury District arrived shortly after, bringing support. Wilberforce RFS said responders faced challenging conditions due to the intensity of the fire and the threat of explosion from two large LPG cylinders on the property’s verandah.“Our heavy tanker arrived just after, and with NSW RFS - Glossodia Brigade in tow we were able to cool down and eventually remove two large LPG cylinders from the verandah,” Wilberforce RFS said on Facebook. “Several of our members assisted with breathing apparatus (BA) operations, improvised a water supply, established breathing apparatus control, and performed fire suppression using our ground monitor.”Multiple brigades, including those from Wilberforce, Tennyson, and specialised support from Hawkesbury Bulk Water and Hawkesbury PC Charlie, coordinated on-site for more than five hours. With limited water supply adding to the difficulties, firefighters used all available resources, drawing water from a swimming pool, an irrigation system, and a nearby dam to sustain the suppression efforts.The Windsor and Richmond Fire and Rescue NSW teams joined the RFS in managing the fire, with both services employing breathing apparatus and ground monitors to tackle the blaze. However, despite their combined efforts, the structure could not be saved due to the extent of the fire upon their arrival.Thankfully, all occupants of the home were able to evacuate without injury. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, though early assessments are underway. This incident involved various local firefighting units, from both RFS and Fire and Rescue NSW. Friends of the family are asking the community for donations to help provide immediate support. Donations of clothing and essentials are needed for two young boys (clothing sizes 4 and 6; shoe sizes 9 and 12), an adult male (XL clothing), and an adult female (clothing size 12, shoe size 9). The family greatly appreciates any assistance during this challenging time.

Ever wondered what it’s like to see military aircraft and cutting-edge equipment up close? Now’s your chance! The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is opening the doors of RAAF Base Richmond to the public on Saturday, October 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm, offering a rare glimpse into the powerful operations and technology behind Australia’s air defense.The community open day will feature a display of aircraft and military equipment, allowing visitors to experience the scale and sophistication of the ADF's assets firsthand. ADF personnel will also be on hand to answer questions and provide insight into the wide range of career opportunities available in the military.Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, has long advocated for the open day and said she is thrilled to see the Base welcoming the local community.“This is something I’ve certainly been a proponent of with senior RAAF leadership, as I believe it’s really crucial that local people understand the breadth and depth of the important Defence work that takes place on the Richmond Base. “Last year I attended the open day with RAAF Base families, and partners, parents and children told me what an eye-opener it was to see the Base and get a better understanding of how the work of their family member fitted into the bigger defence picture. “This open day is a terrific opportunity for local residents to have that same experience, and for longer-term locals to see the change in the role of the Base. With a $9.8 billion upgrade in the pipeline for the arrival of 20 state-of-the-art C-130 Hercules aircraft beginning in 2027, RAAF Base Richmond’s role is set to grow as a vital asset in Australia’s defense strategy.Event Details:Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Location: RAAF Base Richmond, entry via Gate 2 off Dight St, Richmond, NSWTickets are free and will be available from today (Wednesday, 9 October) at: https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/aa389152-54bd-43cd-bcc7-bd1d1a92b088.

Determined to protect their own development, Redbank developers today rejected any compromise, shifting the full impact of their road-widening project onto the neighbours. Disregarding the community’s pleas, they began clearing 158 old-growth trees - some over a meter wide - that provide essential wildlife habitat along Grose Vale Road.Residents gathered in protest early this morning, holding signs and pleading for the trees to be spared. By 8 am, police arrived. Residents told the Hawkesbury Post that one police car and two paddy wagons with six police officers walked them out. Shortly afterwards the trees began to be cut down.Police would not say who reported the protesters but told the Hawkesbury Post that at about 8 am today police were called to Grose Vale Road, North Richmond, following reports of protesters at a construction site.“Officers attached to Hawkesbury Police Area Command attended and located a group of protesters. The group agreed to leave the construction site police action was required.”Local councillors Mary Lyons-Buckett, Nathan Zamprogno, and Danielle Wheeler attended the protest. Councillor Zamprogno said he believes the road could have been designed to avoid the trees by moving it to the right on the Redbank side of the road.“Look at these photos. The trees on the left are scheduled for felling. The clear land on the right is part of an (expanded) road reserve and edges the Redbank estate. In my mind there is no reason why the road couldn’t run to the right and avoid the trees,” Zamprogno said.“I asked the Redbank representatives directly whether a road conforming to the relevant design rules could be constructed further over. In fact, I asked three times and never got a satisfactory answer.“The proposed loss of these trees was not presented to Councillors at any stage. We feel it should have,” he said.For residents, the felling represents not only a loss of cherished green space but also a threat to local wildlife, including koalas and gliders. One resident said: “We’re losing these beautiful trees and the wildlife they support, all so Redbank can keep their development unscathed. It’s infuriating that we’re the ones who have to sacrifice.”Comment is being sought from Redbank.The felling will be the latest in a number that has occurred recently in the Hawkesbury for new developments.Hawkesbury City Council (HCC) says the planned clearing is part of a road widening project agreed upon between Redbank developers and HCC under a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA). The approval for these works was a 2023 DA that was not considered by Hawkesbury Councillors but by the Planning Panel which was established in 2017.The Redbank development North Richmond has long been a source of contention in the Hawkesbury, with its origins tied to allegations of political corruption and questions over the project’s approval process. The development, which began in the early 2010s, was envisioned as a large-scale residential estate but soon became embroiled in an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation that involved former Liberal MP Bart Bassett. Although ICAC found that Bassett had accepted prohibited donations, he maintained that they did not influence his support for Redbank. No corrupt findings were made against Bassett. Bassett today works for Redbank.

"It's been like this for months now. Every time I step outside, the smell hits you like a wall. It's so bad, I can't even hang my washing out or open my windows," Wilberforce resident, Logan (name changed), wrote to Hawkesbury City Council more than four years ago, their frustration palpable. Since then, little has changed. The stench from the Hypro pet food factory has pushed Logan, a Wilberforce resident of 15 years, to consider leaving their home. "I don't know what else to do. We've tried everything - complaints, petitions, you name it. No one seems to be listening."Logan's experience is far from unique. Nearby residents continue to describe the odour as "unbearable" and "putrid," akin to "cooking dead animals." One neighbour lamented, "We can't have barbecues, our kids can't play outside," while others say the smell worsens on humid days. For years, locals have battled the stench, claiming the factory violates consent conditions and operates outside regulated hours, with trucks routinely arriving during restricted times. The Hawkesbury Post has sighted years of correspondence between residents, Council and Hypro management.In June 2018, Logan wrote: "As you can see, our main concern is the smell. However, the activity down there seems to be growing with earlier start times and later finishes. You can hear semi-trailers pulling up very late at night and sometimes early in the morning. They are then accompanied by the sounds of forklifts… When we moved here, this factory didn't exist. It has been growing dramatically, producing more and more foul odours, and they are well and truly working outside normal hours."In 2019, Logan noted: "…there is a 12/10 very foul odour. I've had to close all my back windows and sliding door as our kitchen and lounge are filling up with the bad smell." The next day, Logan wrote: "It's like déjà vu this morning. Opened my back door and guess what greeted me. Actually, my entire family has been having gut issues. I'm wondering." By 2020, Logan's patience had worn thin: "Could I please have an update on what Council has done about Hypro, if anything? The smell is horrific and more frequent, and the late-hour activities continue."In the correspondence Council has told residents it had sought legal advice, conducted surveillance, and held discussions with Hypro, yet ongoing complaints suggest little has changed. "It would be good to know if they cook every day. Sometimes it smells like boiling dead chooks; other times it's simply a strong kibble odour," a resident said.Frustrated by the lack of action, Logan has lodged complaints with both Hawkesbury City Council and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), only to be caught in a bureaucratic loop. "Council says it's within regulations, and the EPA says it's a council issue. I'm just passed from one to the other." "I've kept logs, sent videos, but it all leads to nothing. One time, they even lost my video." The company's senior management has told Logan that the complaints would forwarded to the compliance team, but nothing has changed.Many residents trace the problem back to Hypro's expansion into manufacturing, shifting from packaging to full-scale production. "It started small, but then these chimneys went up, and the smell became unbearable," Logan explained. "Now they operate early and late, and it's not just the smell. The noise, lights, and trucks at all hours are a constant presence, but the smell is what drives people mad."Despite double-glazed windows, the odour frequently invades Logan's home. "We can't even hang my laundry outside - it seeps into everything." The family lives less than a kilometre from the factory, yet relief remains elusive.Other residents echo these complaints, with one person stating, "The smell is sometimes worse in the mornings, sometimes at night, but it's always there." Another resident, who lives near Wilberforce sports grounds, added, "On Saturdays, when there's soccer or cricket, the smell is horrendous for players and spectators. It's like the air is toxic, and you can't escape it."When approached by the Hawkesbury Post, Hypro Industries did not respond to requests for comment about the odour complaints or concerns about operational violations. However, emails seen by the Post show that Hypro previously denied responsibility for the smell, instead blaming nearby Grange Growing Solutions. "When myself and another colleague approached Hypro last year with the odour concerns, they were very firm and believed it was not coming from them, alleging it was from Grange Growing Solutions. Hypro has a weather station on-site and used some of the data collected to back up their claims. With them refuting the odour is produced by their processes, any future regulatory action taken by Council will probably result in legal action from their side, which would put Council in a tricky situation," a Council officer wrote to a resident in 2020.Council maintains that Hypro is operating within the law. "Hypro has development consent to operate their business on-site. Council has received complaints in the past about odour and truck movements, which have been investigated by Council and its partner agencies. These investigations have found Hypro is operating in compliance with the regulatory framework," a spokesperson for Hawkesbury City Council said. The EPA said it's a Council matter.However, residents disagree and say they feel abandoned. "We've been ignored for years," one complainant said. "At this point, I just feel like nobody cares."Despite this, Hypro wants to expand its operations, which include purchasing the nearby Woodlands Park Pony Club site. The land, valued for its high biodiversity and role as a wildlife corridor, would require rezoning for industrial use. "I would be very concerned if they build another factory or intensify their operations," said a local resident who has written to the company about the smell for two years.The situation echoes the battle fought by residents near the Elf Farm Supplies mushroom composting factory in Mulgrave, where a "sustained campaign" led the EPA to intervene. When an odour monitor was finally deployed, it found the factory operating at 100 odour units near Hawkesbury Hospital, far exceeding the one-unit limit at the boundary.[All residents spoken to by the Hawkesbury Post asked to have their names withheld from publication]

It only took seconds for six-year-old Ava to dash away, says her father, Brendan Edmonds "Ava put her shoes on to come out the back door, but I was going to mow the lawn with the ride-on. Her mum was just putting a load of washing on. So I said, 'No, darling, wait until I've done the lawns, and then you can come out.' A few seconds later, I heard the front door. So I ran out to the front, and she was already gone - just like that."CCTV footage later showed Ava running like she was in a race. As Brendan explains, "She's never run, but I reckon, in the CCTV, she was running like she was in the Olympics, so to speak."What unfolded on Monday morning, September 23, was a heart-stopping search, as hundreds of locals from Glossodia and beyond joined forces with emergency services to find her.Neighbour Michelle Rampling sounded the alarm on social media. "She was the first one to hear my partner come out. She didn’t give up. She was out here 10 minutes after Ava had gone missing and stayed with my partner right through to the end," Brendan said. "She was the one who thought of checking the CCTV cameras, and that gave us a direction to search."Michelle immediately posted on social media.  It was the type of post no one wants to read, but it rallied the volunteer searchers. “I said to [Lisa], ‘Do you have the Glossvegas page?’ She said ‘no,’ so I immediately put it out there. The response was amazing,” Michelle told the Hawkesbury Post.That afternoon, Michelle posted a desperate plea on the Glossvegas Facebook page: "There had been a little autistic girl that has gone missing on Wattle Crescent. She is six years old, sandy blonde hair, wearing a t-shirt and nappy. She has been missing for about 20 minutes. Please can everyone keep an eye out for her - the police have been called. It's my neighbour's little girl. Thank you."The community responded in force. Brendan estimates that between 200 to 300 local volunteers joined the search, though police put the number closer to 100. The overwhelming support gave Brendan hope that Ava would be found. "After the one-hour mark, I was getting really, really worried. We called the police, obviously, but I only had two eyes. I was thinking it was like finding a needle in a haystack. But as I saw more and more people coming out, I got so much more confident that she was going to be found."Five hours after she went missing, Ava was found by two local men, Charles Xiberras and his cousin Luke, who had travelled from Grose View to join the search. Coincidentally, one of the men has a child with autism, while the other has a newborn also named Ava. Brendan was full of praise for the men who helped find his daughter.In an interview with Seven News, Charles Xiberras said: "I felt helpless, hearing it on the radio and the news, so I came out with my cousin, Luke. We were trying to work out what to do, and as we were working it out, we heard plovers swooping down at a little girl. We thought maybe it was someone who lives on the property, but as we got closer, we realised it was actually her."Having only moved to Glossodia with his partner Lisa in July,, Brendan said they were still getting to know the neighbourhood. He knew no one "from a bar of soap" and hadn't even met the neighbours yet.   "It's hard to describe in words, but the feeling and the support that I received in our time of need, in our new community of Glossodia - the love, the effort. Thank you. I'm proud to say that I've moved into Glossodia," Brendan tld the Hawkesbury Post.He also expressed his gratitude to emergency services. "I want to thank the emergency services like the SES and the RFS, but in particular, the four Hawkesbury detectives on the case. There was a lady and three gentlemen, and they were so supportive and like rocks with us. It was unbelievable how good they were with us." But it’s also the local community - and especially Michelle - that Brendan will never forget. “People I’d never even met before were out there looking for Ava like she was their own daughter," he says. "I’ll never forget that. We’re so lucky to be here."For Michelle, the experience left her humbled by the outpouring of support. However, she remains modest about her role in the search. "My daughters even said, ‘You don’t realise what you did,’ but I don’t think I did anything special," she said. "It’s just what you do - you look out for your neighbours."

A 25-year-old man has tragically lost his life following a water-skiing accident on the Hawkesbury River early Sunday morning.Emergency services were called to a boat ramp in Lower Portland at around 7:2 am today, after receiving reports of a marine incident. Police said officers from the Hawkesbury Police Area Command arrived to find the man had sustained critical injuries when he struck the water at high speed while being towed by a boat.Despite efforts by NSW Ambulance paramedics to revive him, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have established a crime scene and are preparing a report for the coroner as part of their ongoing investigation. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.

"People were sitting on their roofs, hearing the water hit the wall and ricochet - this loud sound - and then waves of water would rush back across the town," recalled Evans Head resident Lyndall Murray, reflecting on the devastating night of February 2022, when floods ravaged the Richmond Valley in Northern NSW." The turbulation in the water was created by the wall, and that's probably what scared people, clinging to their roofs, the most. They didn't know if they'd survive the night."Two years later, the scars of that disaster remain. Residents are still struggling to rebuild from a catastrophe they believe was made worse by the highway acting as a dam wall. The water stagnated for 12 days, trapped west of the highway, when other communities were able to clean their homes.For more than a decade, locals had warned governments that the new Pacific Highway upgrade would act as a dam, exacerbating floods in communities upstream. When the floods came on February 28, 2022, the devastation was unprecedented. Thousands of homes and businesses across the Northern Rivers region were ravaged. Residents in towns downstream of Lismore, like Woodburn, Broadwater, Coraki and Wardell, had never experienced anything like it. As the Hawkesbury awaits the results of the flood study and final designs for the new Richmond Bridge, concerns are rising about the impact a raised road on the floodplain could have. The parallels to Richmond Valley are hard to ignore. Woodburn resident, Bert Plenkovich OAM, told the ABC in 2022, "Why would you put a highway on the lowest possible area of the floodplain when you have an option to place it on higher ground? We could see that it would hold back flooding."  In the Hawkesbury the former NSW government ignored the advice of their experts to build the bridge south of the current bridge - known as the Purple Route. This route provided the most flood resilience and the least impact on surrounding properties. Instead, the bridge will now be built 50 metres downstream from the current bridge in one of the lowest parts of the floodplain and will require raised roads to ensure it can be accessed in a 15.3-metre flood. Kurrajong Road on the eastern side of the bridge is just 12 metres. The aftermath of the Richmond Valley floods included talk of a class-action lawsuit against the government for damages caused by the highway. However, the toll of the disaster left most residents too exhausted to pursue legal action. "These people lost everything," Murray said. "The $790 million Resilient Homes Grant was rolled out too slowly, and 5,000 homes were rejected for funding in June 2023. "Most of our community are on pensions or disability payments, so when people are trying to make ends meet, any energy left to try and campaign for a class action, lost traction because of the magnitude of the rebuild for the community," she said.Despite the community's efforts to seek accountability, residents remain in the dark about the true extent of the highway's impact on the flooding. A promised investigation into the flood modelling remains hidden from public view. "Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is completing modelling validation in respect of the record flooding that impacted Woodburn in February and March 2022," a TfNSW spokesperson told the Hawkesbury Post. "This modelling is privileged and cannot be released to the public," he said. When we asked why the information was privileged, TfNSW did not respond.The floodwaters in Richmond Valley didn't just inundate homes; they lingered for 12 days, causing severe damage to foundations and leaving entire communities underwater long after the floods receded in other areas. Murray emphasised the difference between Richmond Valley and neighbouring Lismore: "In Lismore, the water came up and down quite quickly. But for 12 days, our water stayed stagnant through people's homes because there was no escape route for the water to reach the wetlands and flow to the ocean."Most believed the key issue was the design of the new road. The drainage holes built under the highway were too small to handle floodwater and debris, effectively blocking the natural flow of water. "If you get one tree branch caught on that drain, there's no water going anywhere," Murray explained.Residents are frustrated with what they see as a systemic failure of government agencies to listen to local voices. "This is a testament to the epic failure of the State government to listen to local knowledge," Murray said. "Experts ignored generations of lived experience from the people who know these floodplains intimately."Despite raising concerns during consultation meetings as early as 2006, locals found their input sidelined or excluded from official records. Some meetings weren't even minuted, forcing residents to fight to have their insights recorded. Even as government agencies promised transparency, crucial design changes ignored local knowledge. A flood-free alternative route was also proposed by residents but ultimately rejected.Rumours persist that cost-cutting measures played a role in the flawed infrastructure design. However, with the investigation's findings kept secret, the community is left in the dark. "We deserve transparency," Murray said. "People who invested their life savings in their homes or businesses deserve to know what went wrong and how it will be fixed. But we've seen nothing from the government."Murray's warning to the Hawkesbury is clear: "These infrastructure projects need to be informed by local knowledge. If they build that bridge and those roads without listening to the people who know the floodplain, it will be a disaster."Residents are taking matters into their own hands. "We've already started preparing for the next flood," Murray said. "We know the water will stay for days again. We're setting up our own crisis management plans because we have no faith the government will be there to help us."Murray's message is simple: "We need accountability from those making these decisions. Until they start listening to locals and applying common sense, we're going to keep facing these disasters, and people will continue to suffer."

Farmers and landowners in Cornwallis and the Richmond Lowlands are facing yet another year of waiting for the repair of the collapsed road and riverbank along the Hawkesbury River. The $18.7 million project, meant to fix the damage that began almost four years ago, has stalled again, pushing potential repairs into 2026 after another delay in the tender process.An investigation by the Hawkesbury Post (HP) revealed that although Hawkesbury City Council (HCC) secured $18.7 million in funding through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements in December 2023, the council delayed announcing this until February 2024. Of the funding, $8.2 million was allocated for a new road and $13.5 million for the reconstruction of the riverbank and drainage. However, despite the urgency, a four-week tender was not issued until June 2024, more than three years after the damage occurred in March 2021.This delay, combined with further tender complications, has only added to the frustration. In June, HCC and Public Works shortlisted six companies and appeared ready to award the contract to local firm Jeffsann Excavations, people familiar with the tender told the Hawkesbury Post. Jeffsann had been working with private landholders Jeremy Bayard and Emmanuel Degabriel to restore parts of their properties.Jeffsann's bid of $13.5 million beat a rival bid from Sutherland-based Haslin Constructions by $2 million. However, in a sudden reversal, Public Works declared that Jeffsann did not qualify for projects over $9 million, despite inviting them to bid three months earlier. Neither HCC nor Public Works have commented on the abrupt change in decision. Jeffsann also declined to comment. One local resident familiar with the process told the HP that "the reality is work on Cornwallis won't commence until March/April, which is during the greatest threat of flooding - meaning that work may stretch into 2026."In response to inquiries, an HCC spokesperson said: "Following extensive evaluation and in accordance with the NSW Government's tendering requirements, it was deemed that the tender responses failed to demonstrate value-for-money, a key requirement of the State and Federal Government funding." The spokesperson added, "a new open tender process will shortly commence with the objective of awarding a contract prior to the end of this calendar year."Meanwhile, local landowners continue to struggle with the worsening damage. "The canyon," as it's referred to, began when a poorly maintained HCC drain collapsed in early 2021. Over the years, the damage has expanded, with significant economic and environmental consequences. Turf farmers have seen their land inundated with silt from the breached riverbanks during floods, destroying millions of dollars' worth of crops. One turf farmer noted that "hundreds of tonnes of extra silt are dumped on our land during floods, causing devastating damage."Even as construction drags on, logistical blunders have piled up. The HP learned that $1.6 million has been spent on new box culverts to replace pipes ordered by HCC that were found to be the wrong size. Those pipes, worth $1 million, have been sitting unused on the riverbank for two years. Although some of the pipes have been repurposed, the tender documents also call for 42 pipes to be crushed and disposed of, which conflicts with HCC's earlier claims that they would be reused.HCC maintains that once the contract is awarded, construction will take approximately 9 -12 months, depending on weather and river conditions. An HCC spokesperson acknowledged the risk of further delays, stating, "Despite the recent dry weather, major storages in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment remain close to their full supply levels, and while ever this remains the case, there remains an elevated risk of a flood, as we saw in April and June this year, should there be a significant rainfall event."Yet, with no firm start date, local farmers and landowners continue to face growing concerns as the riverbank damage remains unaddressed and the tender process restarts.

The Hawkesbury region is bustling with activity as the Spring polo season kicks off, welcoming more than 1000 polo ponies and their grooms and riders for a prestigious Hector King, Dudley and Sir Phillip Charley Cups.The spring tournaments will significantly boost the local economy with hundreds of thousands of dollars pouring in over ten days of competition. Various private and public polo clubs in the area are collaborating to host the tournaments, which will attract top polo talent from across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and the UK. The Richmond Lowlands are once again a focal point for the sport, featuring all competition levels ranging from amateur to professional to matches.The highlights of the season are the Hector King and Dudley Cup tournaments. These events, which include more than twelve 12 - goal teams, are widely regarded as Australia's largest and most competitive high-level polo competitions.This season, polo fans will be treated to matches starring a string of elite players. Among them are Ellerston Team's Shane Finemore, a renowned investment banker and a highly respected figure in the polo community, and Peter Huston Troika, who is also Head of Corporate Legal & Strategy at Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. Other players include Ben Barnham, grandson of media mogul Kerry Packer, as well as world-class talent Alec White, an ex-Australian Captain who has played across the world, including the UK, Argentina, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain, Dubai, and whose presence is sure to bring the wow factor. Another Australian Captain and Australia's highest-ranked player to play this season will be Ruki Ballieu of Eynesbury Polo Club.The exceptional quality of the players in this seasonal competition highlights the national significance of these Hawkesbury-based events in the polo calendar. Jeremy Bayard, Treasurer of NSW Polo, told the Post: "The record entries for Countess of Dudley Cup mean approximately 1,000 horses arrive in the Hawkesbury for a fortnight of polo. "With horses come more than 150 people directly employed for their care - all of whom inject thousands into the local economy. The pubs, cafes, hotels/ motels, produce stores, vets and farriers will all benefit from this festival of polo. The final is watched online by thousands around the world, further establishing the Hawkesbury's reputation as the centre of polo in Australia."The Hawkesbury polo tournaments present a colossal organisational challenge. The event's scale is immense, with almost 40 teams registered, each scheduled for five matches. Adding to the complexity, individual players bring between 6 to 10 horses apiece, and some athletes compete across multiple skill levels. Recent rainfall has further complicated matters, forcing the closure of some fields. Consequently, organisers face the daunting task of revising the entire tournament schedule. This intricate web of logistics, coupled with unpredictable weather, has transformed the event management into a Herculean effort requiring constant adaptation and problem-solving by local company M Polo, Kim McDougal and Adam Mealy.Tickets are free for the public to get along and enjoy a game or two. Games will be played at the Windsor Polo Club between 26 September and 6 October.

The 2024 Hawkesbury Council election has delivered a significant shake-up, as voters turned away from the traditional powerhouses of the Liberal and Labor parties in favor of independents and minor parties. While some familiar faces remain, the dominance of the major parties has been decisively broken, with the Liberal Party suffering one of the largest local government swings in the region’s history.The biggest gain was made by Independent Mary-Lyons Buckett’s “People Not Parties.” They were the only Group to secure an extra seat in the Council Chamber, with Tom Aczel a new face amongst the 12 Councillors this term.The message from voters is unmistakably clear: dissatisfaction with the status quo has reached a boiling point. Former Mayor Sarah McMahon and her Liberal Party suffered a staggering blow, shedding more than a quarter of their 2021 vote. McMahon’s individual support plummeted by over 36% compared to the last local government election, highlighting a profound loss of confidence among constituents. The Liberals clung to their fourth seat by a mere nine votes, a nail-biting margin that underscores their fragile position. Meanwhile, the Labor Party, under Amanda Kotlash's leadership, faced a similar fate, seeing its representation halved as it lost one of its two seats. These results not only signal a dramatic shift in voter sentiment but also weaken the once-dominant Liberal-Labor voting bloc that controlled the previous Council.The result saw a surge in support for independent candidates and minor parties. Shane Djuric’s Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers (SFF) Party recorded a dramatic 34% increase in its vote compared to 2021, capturing 10.32% of the total formal vote. Similarly, Eddie Dogramachi’s Small Business Party has a strong swing towards it, securing 7.6% of the vote, a 47% increase from 2021. Independent Nathan Zamprogno, not only retained his seat but also received the largest individual vote of any candidate, almost 55% more votes than McMahon who had him expelled from the Liberal Party last year. McMahon’s individual vote collapsed, suffering a decline of more than 36% since the last election. The Greens, led by Danielle Wheeler, also saw a notable rise in support, with their vote increasing by almost 10%. Wheeler's party now holds 8.4% of the overall vote, compared to 7.08% in 2021, indicating that environmental issues are gaining more traction with voters.Wheeler described the election result as a sign of a major shift in the electorate’s priorities. “The result shows that people are increasingly choosing an alternative to the old major parties. More than half the Hawkesbury have voted for minor parties and independents with clear plans to make the Hawkesbury better. Now it’s time for us to work together to see those plans come to fruition. What’s really notable is the rise in the progressive vote, especially the People Not Parties ticket gaining two spots, which hasn’t happened since the days of conservative Mayor Rex Stubbs.”Liberal leader McMahon has seen her party's vote dive. In 2021, the Liberals commanded over a third of the total vote, but this year, their share fell from 34.4% to 24.6%. Despite an increase of 1,661 in the number of eligible electors, more than 3,615 people who voted Liberal in 2021 have switched their support to other parties or independents. This marks one of the largest local government swings in the Hawkesbury, as voters reject the status quo.The Labor Party, which in the past has aligned with the Liberals on key votes in Council, fared no better. Labor shed 26% of its 2021 vote, reducing its presence in the Chamber and losing influence. The much-maligned Liberal-Labor voting bloc, which controlled much of the Council's agenda in the last term, has been dealt a significant blow.Zamprogno, reflecting on the election outcome, said, "This result is good for the community because it returns control of our Council to citizens with independent voices and away from the dysfunction of the major political parties. It is clear that people have reacted badly to the acrimony and personal drama that made the last Council such a mess. Now, people expect us to focus on the basics, especially roads, but also finishing our new Local Environment Plan (LEP) and reintroducing a range of protections to accountability, our environment, and heritage that were stripped away by the last Council. I'm excited about the ability of the new chamber to make significant progress in these areas."Lyons-Buckett, whose "People Not Parties" group secured an additional seat, expressed a similar sentiment; “Since 2012, I have actively advocated for a 12-member Council to represent the Hawkesbury area, free from the dominance of major political parties. The election results reflect that our community shares this vision, as we've seen a notable decline in votes for major parties. The message is clear: people want us to focus on delivering essential services and facilities funded by their rates, ensuring a well-maintained road network, and preserving the unique character of our region. It’s evident that residents do not wish to see a continuation of the major party bloc of Liberal and Labor Councillors that dominated the previous two Councils and failed to meet the expectations of our community. I am looking forward to a fresh new Council term.”This election also saw a marked increase in the number of voters casting deliberate preferences. More than 13.3% of voters chose to vote "below the line," ensuring that their preferences were directed to specific candidates rather than the parties themselves. This is similar to the 13.9% who voted BTL in 2021, but one signal toward more deliberate voting was many groups also exchanging preferences, encouraging voters to number multiple squares above the line. This reduced the number of "exhausted" votes and ensured that voter preferences were influential throughout the counting process.The message from voters couldn't be clearer - Hawkesbury residents want new voices, independent perspectives, and a focus on the issues that matter most - roads, infrastructure, and preserving the character of the region.As the newly elected Council members prepare to take their seats, one question looms large: who will be the next Mayor? Unlike other councils, the Mayor of Hawkesbury is not directly elected by the residents but chosen by fellow Councillors. With the major party bloc fractured and independents holding significant influence, the decision on who will lead the Council is now wide open.

While many of us spent the week dreaming we, or someone we love, might be the Hawkesbury's lucky new multi-millionaire, officials at The Lott revealed yesterday that a Bathurst man was the mystery 15 million jackpot winner in last week's Oz Lotto draw 1597 after purchasing the winning ticket at Wilberforce Newsagency.Wilberforce Newsagency owner Allison Griffith said the outlet had been buzzing with excitement. "We've had the newsagency for 17 years now, and this is our first major win," she said. "It feels very special to know that we sold someone a life-changing ticket."With his newfound wealth, the winner plans to focus on family. "It feels great to know that I will be able to help my family," he shared. "All I care to do is look after my family and make sure they're happy and healthy."https://mediacentre.thelott.com/media-releases/bathurst-man-wakes-to-spine-tingling-15-million-oz-lotto-win/

After 13 long years, the Bee Polding Class Of 2024 has graduated.Students celebrated their Graduation Mass and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, September 24th.A massive congratulations to all graduating students from the school for their achievements, with a particular acknowledgement to the following students for receiving major awards:*College Perfect Attendance Award - Chloe Lovelace*Sportsperson Award - Charlotte Ward*Stephanie Doohan Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Award - Brianna Gray*Gemma Thompson Memorial Award for Science - Cassandra Dimech*Sister Gwenda Critchley Award - Emma Lappalainen*The College Leadership Award - Ava Grace Bennett & Kurt Rodwell*Australian Defence Force Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award - Calum Winston*Australian Defence Force - Future Innovators Award (Science/Technology) - Taleisha Muscat*The Year 12 School Spirit Award - Erin Banks, Jacinta Brincat, Finbar Hicks, William Hicks &Chloe Lovelace*The College Medal - Chloe Lovelace, Jessica Reimer, Isabella Spiteri*The Annual Bishop of Parramatta Student Excellence Award - Jessica Reimer*The Good Samaritan Award - Calum Winston Marist*All-Rounder Award - Jessica Reimer*The Bishop Bede Polding Award for Outstanding Contributions to the College - Phebe Dalton*The College Academic High Achiever Award1st: Mikaylah Dimech2nd: Jade Zammit3rd: Jana Chadevski4th: Rylee McKeon5th: Roisin Kearney*The College Award - Ava Grace Bennett & Kurt RodwellFinbar Hicks, Chloe Lovelace, Erin Banks, Jacinta Brincat, Williams HicksHendrix Donnelly, William Hicks, Hayden Kelly, ... Rodwell, Finbar Hicks, Calum Winston, Mitchell CwojdzinskiJessica Reimer, Jana Chadevski, Maddison Dicki ... inta Brincat, Phebe Dalton, Alisha Sultana, Chloe LovelaceThe College Medal Left to right- Chloe Lovelace, Jessica Reimer, Isabella Spiteri

So lovely to see all the local schools' graduation events - Here's Arndell Anglican College celebrating the achievements of their year 12 class of 2024. Arndell held its valedictory celebrations on Monday.Thanks to the school for providing these images.So many amazing young people going out to make their mark on the world. Congratulations Arndell's class of 2024.Gemma Zammit, Layla Jackson, Eesha Chand, Elise Hall, Hannah MapleHarrison McLuuckie, Dr Gareth Leechman (Headmaster)Back row: Montana A, Leila Crawford, Isabella Humberstone, Anneliese Welsh, Georgia Waters, Tehya Wilson, Kayla Avery, Lucy OwenFront Row: Jade Taylor, Sienna Smith, Jade Lennox, Madison Edworthy-Cramond, Tijana McCarthyLachlan Ward, Aimee Bawcombe, Rachel NathakumaranLachlan Ward, Korey Owen, Scott Hulme, Jasper Deane, Brody Collins, Seaff Jaradat, Riley Avery