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Whether it was the rise of new trends , unexpected triumphs , or lessons learned , 2024 was a year of challenge and change .
In this review , we ’ ll recount the stories that captured imaginations and sparked conversations . Here ’ s to celebrating the news that made our pages .
JANUARY
Planning began for the $ 60million upgrade to Mount Druitt Hospital . The colourful dog lover Maggie Campbell , an award-winning exhibitor and canine judge , was our Finest for the month .
The Prospect electorate received welcome funds for the installation of lifesaving defibrillators at its sporting facilities , while a $ 19m upgrade of Westpoint Blacktown ’ s dining precinct wowed customers .
P & C advocate for Schofields Public School Jess Wanders featured in our Make a Difference column and Doonside Railway Station finally got a lift installed for commuters . MP Warren Kirby reported on the critical need for a Riverstone Town Centre MasterPlan to be continued .
Duck Man featured the successful Pasifika Cup Rugby Union ’ s junior teams as well as the Super 6 Blacktown City Youth Games which promotes elite high performance .
FEBRUARY
Lunar New Year celebrations graced our cover and historian John Horne recounted the history and origins of Valentine ’ s Day .
Council conducted the first urban heat monitoring study in conjunction with WSU , The
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Disclaimer : The comments of columnists and contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Independent magazine group . The Independent nor any person acting on their behalf , may be held responsible for the use to which the information contained in this publication may be put , or for any errors which , despite careful preparation and checking , may appear .
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Blacktown Women and Girls Health Centre was the focus of our Make a Difference column for its invaluable services as a ‘ safe place ’.
Australia Day awards went to : Rachael Hanlon , president of Blacktown City Lions , who was named citizen of the year ; Ebony O ’ Connor was named young citizen ; Ariana Goanta took out environmental citizen of the year and Blacktown Rotary was recognized as Blacktown City ’ s Community Event of the Year .
Weightlifting powerhouse Talamoni Pakoti was our Finest for the month , while the Blacktown City Art Prize main prize winner was Catherine O ’ Donnell for her artwork Gilded Communities .
We encouraged readers to check out the Glenwood Athletics and Sports Club and the Western City Tigers Rugby League Club in our sports section .
MARCH
Rugby League coach Brad Arthur and Shred Fitness gym owner Yannick Mifsud were both highlighted as our Finest citizens for March .
Walker Corporation revealed its multimillion-dollar Blacktown City redevelopment ‘ Blacktown Quarter ’ plans ; the annual Doctors of the Year Awards saw Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospital staff take home a swag of accolades .
John Horne recounted the history of St Patrick ’ s Day and the Irish in Blacktown , while the handy lasses at the Blacktown Women ’ s Shed was the focus of our Make a Difference column .
Government plans for a mix of 5000 new and affordable homes as part of the Riverstone East Stage 3 development went on public display . Krianne Doherty , of Riverstone RFS , was crowned Riverstone local woman of the year .
NRL referee Greg McCallum , who long dominated the refereeing world , was honoured in our sports pages , along with the rise of the juggernaut Western Sydney Wanderers team .
APRIL
Anzac Day services and the history of local men who lost their lives in battle were featured on our commemorative pages .
Council announced Angela Van Dyke , CEO of North West Community Services Riverstone , as its woman of the year , and we featured her humanitarian work as our Finest for the month . Jamison Dustin and Annacemone Nashid were our Youth Ambassadors .
Christine Nield and Peter Overton were recognized for their community service at the Senior Citizen of the Year awards , while Seven Hills boy made good in the NRL Graham Olling was featured in our ‘ Where are they Now ’ column .
Mt Druitt ’ s city centre transformation began with the opening of Dawson Mall as part of a $ 3.8m revitalisation of the area and MP Hugh McDermott spoke on the government committing $ 2m to investigate potential improvements of Toongabbie Bridge .
In Sport , we were introduced to the progressive Western Raptors Rugby Club and read about ex NRL CEO David Moffett ’ s interesting life story .
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MAY
We announced $ 35 million was being invested in two reserves in the newly created suburb of Grantham Farm and wished all our mums a Happy Mother ’ s Day .
Chris Barton , who walked non-stop for 30 hours to raise $ 20,000 for mental health , was our Finest for the month .
Our cover and inside stories heralded the fun and upcoming events as part of the huge Blacktown City Festival and Robert Vincent retired his long career as barber and hairdresser extraordinaire at his Campbell Street salon .
MP Ed Husic raised the urgent need for a Marsden Park post office and MP Warren Kirby got right behind the Riverstone Youth Forum .
The rise and rise of women ’ s rugby league was reported on in Sport , and the gold medal achievements of acrobatic gymnasts Layla Dimacali and Brooke Prampero were awesome .
JUNE
With a heavy heart , we sadly bid farewell to Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM , a champion of the city , who died suddenly . He left a long-lasting legacy in his efforts in transforming Blacktown into a thriving metropolis - a testament to his work and life in the city . Many of our pages were dedicated to remembering Tony ’ s life ’ s work .
Brad Bunting , lifelong resident of Mount Druitt , was elected new Mayor of Blacktown City . Council released its balanced draft $ 758m budget .
The story of Quakers Hill Junior Soccer Club ’ s rise was the topic of our Make a Difference column , and Wayne Olling , long time president of Cumberland Land Conservation Conservancy and member of Blacktown and District Environment Group , was our Finest for the month .
Parklea Correctional Centre ’ s Indigenous inmates debuted their artworks at the Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative , Leichhardt ; MP Warren Kirby praised locals during Neighbourhood Centres and Volunteers weeks and MP Michelle Rowland marked two years of being Minister for Communications in the Albanese cabinet .
Weekend warrior , rugby union player Matt Galysa and Blacktown City FC , proved why they were standouts on the field in our sports pages .
JULY
NAIDOC Week history , culture and local celebrations were featured on our cover this month .
Our MPs all commented on the budget . MP Warren Kirby outlined the government ’ s investment in local schools , roads , public transport and health care ; MP Hugh McDermott listed investments made in the community , while MP Michelle Rowland spoke on easing the cost of living for residents and giving small business a boost .
Council received the prestigious NSW Community Sports Award which recognized it for delivering the most sport and recreational facilities of any other council in the state .
Gratitude was explored in our writer Lorna ’ s ‘ Power of …’ column , while our Finest for the month was cancer survivor
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and Marathon 4 Cancer advocate Lyn O ’ Reilly .
Toongabbie ’ s Vanessa Wegener explained her Box Divvy movement , bringing local fresh food growers together with consumers and BREED – Blacktown Regional Economic Employment Development , was recognised for its progressive learning pathways in our Make a Difference column .
The history of Blacktown Police , services provided by Hills Community Aid and former cricket Test fast bowler Doug Bollinger ’ s love of Seven Hills made for great reading .
Stories about sports callers and commentators , Ken Howard , Johnny Tapp and Ray Warren ; the popularity of women ’ s rugby league in Penrith and , Blacktown District Football Association ’ s premier league teams were singled out for special mentions in Sport .
AUGUST
Olympic fever hits town . Our sports pages featured local track and field indigenous Paralympic athlete Telaya Blacksmith along with Paralympian swimmers Chloe Osborn and Timothy Hodge .
The thriving Glenwood Little Athletics Club and coach of the year , Gulsher Singh , were highlighted , and work on two new indoor basketball courts at Kevin Betts Stadium , Mt Druitt , got underway , greatly expanding its facilities .
The Blacktown City Council Women ’ s Forum was deemed an overwhelming success with floods of ideas , bringing together community change makers across many fields .
Blacktown ’ s Finest for the month was coffee entrepreneur and school student Daniel Mierzanowski . Blacktown ’ s association with the Vietnam War was retold in our history column .
The life story of builder and community identity Bill McNamara , of McNamara Group Constructions , was featured in our pages . Bill passed away aged 96 .
The work of the Better Foundation , the official fundraising arm of Blacktown and Mt Druitt hospitals , was the subject of our Make a Difference column .
SEPTEMBER
West HQ ( formerly Rooty Hill RSL ) marked its 60th birthday with golden jubilee celebrations in this edition .
The Blacktown City Pet Festival attracted plenty of paws , claws , feathers and friends to mark another successful event .
Blacktown ’ s Finest were family members Corinna , David and Mia Snook and their extraordinary story of mother Corinna ’ s journey with bone cancer , leading to the amputation of her leg and recovery via competitive Australian Pole and Ariel sports .
We looked through the expansive Coles Supermarkets ’ fully automated distribution centre at Kemps Creek , and heard about the Chain Reaction Foundation , a not for profit which helps young people with family relationships and mental health issues .
MP Warren Kirby discussed the northwest metro extension and
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