INDEPENDENT magazine group HAWKESBURY • HILLS • BLACKTOWN
INDEPENDENT magazine group HAWKESBURY • HILLS • BLACKTOWN
Julie Ryan 0421 574 093 OWNER / EDITOR / PUBLISHER info @ hdinews. com. au PO Box 16 WINDSOR NSW 2756
LOCAL LIFE
Gifts for Blacktown’ s children and young people in need
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MacKillop Family Services is one of five charities to benefit from this year’ s Blacktown Mayoress Christmas Gift Appeal, joining forces with its own annual drive to bring joy to local children and young people.
MacKillop Regional Manager, Nicole Gaffney, recently thanked Lady Mayoress Norma Bunting at a meet-the-charities event.
“ We are grateful for this support of our Blacktown work, and for the gifts that will go to our children and young people in foster care and residential care homes,” she said.
The Mayoress Appeal has been running for more than 30 years, with Blacktown Council noting that community support grows stronger each year.
“ It’ s phenomenal the support that the everyday person gives to this appeal,” Lady Mayoress Norma Bunting said.
“ We thank the people and businesses of Blacktown City for responding generously to the needs of others.”
Council’ s Events & Sister Cities Manager, Kevin Poilly, recalled just how big the appeal has
become,“ Last year we had to have two trucks, not just one, to collect all the gifts from the drop-off locations.”
The Blacktown Mayoress Christmas Appeal is collecting gifts for children aged 0 – 16, while MacKillop is gathering gifts for children and young people up to age 18.
“ We have 12 residential and therapeutic care homes in Western Sydney,” Nicole Gaffney explained.
“ I can personally vouch for the delight our young people feel when they receive their presents. Many have come from difficult backgrounds where a Christmas gift was far from the norm.”
MacKillop also supports 35 foster carers across Western Sydney.“ Carers already give so much to keep a child safe in their homes, and these Christmas gifts help stretch the budget and spread the cheer,” she added.
MacKillop Family Services is inviting the Blacktown community to help make
R-L: MacKillop Family Services’ Regional Manager Nicole Gaffney( R) and Mikaela Train( L) with Mayoress Norma Bunting.
Christmas special again this year. Gifts can be donated in two ways:
1. Through the Blacktown Mayoress Christmas Gift Appeal Donate unwrapped gifts for ages 0 – 16. Drop them at any of the official locations listed on Blacktown Council’ s website. Donations accepted until 3 December 2025.
2. Through the MacKillop Christmas Gift Appeal Donate unwrapped gifts for children and young people up to age 18. Deliver to: MacKillop Family Services, Level 1, 38 Prince Street, Blacktown CBD.
Blacktown Christmas
PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE AN EXISTING MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION AT MARSDEN PARK
Festivities
1. Optus is proposing to upgrade an existing mobile phone base station at 879 Richmond Road, Marsden Park NSW 2765.
2. The proposed upgrade will consist of:
• Replacement of one( 1) existing panel antenna with one( 1) new panel antenna( each not more than 2.8m in length);
• Replacement of one( 1) existing Optus 5G panel antenna with one( 1) new Optus 5G panel antenna( each not more than 2.8m in length);
• Relocation of one( 1) existing Optus 5G panel antenna( each not more than 2.8m in length);
• Installation, relocation and removal of ancillary equipment, including Remote Radio Units( RRUs), GPS antennas, mounts, feeders, cabling, combiners, and other associated equipment; and
• Internal works within the existing equipment shelter.
3. In accordance with Section 7 of the Industry Code C564:2025 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment, we invite you to make comments about the proposal.
4. Please direct comments to Vanessa Wan at 0447 240 015 or via email at optus. submissions @ servicestream. com. au or via post at Level 3, Tower B, Zenith Centre, 821 Pacific Highway, Chatswood NSW 2067 by 5pm, Monday 15 December 2025.
For more information about the proposal, scan the QR Code or visit www. rfnsa. com. au / 2765021.
FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER Christmas Fun Night( Minchinbury Little Athletics) Minchinbury Oval- 22 Minchin Drive MINCHINBURY info @ minchinburylittleathletics. com 0436 419 370 www. minchinburylittleathletics. com / calendar-of-events
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER Blacktown City Christmas Carols Woodcroft Festival and Carols Woodcroft Oval- Burragorang Street, WOODCROFT 4pm- 9pm www. blacktown. nsw. gov. au / Eventsand-activities / 2025-Woodcroft-Festivaland-Carols
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER Riverstone Carols Sam Lane Complex- 9 Park Street, RIVERSTONE 6pm- 8pm( 02) 8529 8199
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER The Ponds Carols Spectacular Jonas Bradley Oval- The Ponds Boulevard THE PONDS 5.30pm- 9pm www. facebook. com / CarolsSpectacular /
SUNDAY 14 DECEMBER Kings Langley Carols- The Lion’ s Club Pearce Reserve- Whitby Road, KINGS LANGLEY
4 ISSUE 57 // DECEMBER 2025 MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS! theindependentmagazine. com. au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT