Across Blacktown, 2025 unfolded as a year of growth, momentum and creativity as we reported on local news, council projects, community events and community heroes. From neighbourhood events that ignited local pride to major projects that reshaped our growing city, residents, businesses and community groups all played their part in steering us forward. This review looks back at some of the moments that defined the year and the people who made them happen.

JANUARY

New Year’ s well wishes from our Mayor and MPs as well as community-wide Australia Day celebrations kicked off our January edition with colour and excitement for the months ahead.

We learned Peter and Lauraine Overton raised $ 80,000 for Lights for Kids initiative with their amazing Christmas light display at their Quakers Hill home and met Blacktown’ s Finest, Dawn Wells, of Riverstone, 90, OAM, who, with late husband Eric, tirelessly volunteered with Riverstone Swim Club, Riverstone Senior Citizens Club, Meals on Wheels, was P & C treasurer at three schools, and a long standing member of Richmond Ladies Golf Club.

Mayor Bunting called for banks to stop branch closures and was elected President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils( WSROC), Blacktown Bowling Club’ s history unfolded, 18 new police officers were posted through the city and Duck Man reported on the Blacktown City Masters Swimming Club, which has produced world and national record holders.

FEBRUARY

Nurragingy Reserve, Doonside, was the focus of Lunar New Year celebrations on our front page,

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while Blacktown City Art Prize main winner was Monica Rani Rudhar with her giant ceramic earrings.

2016 Riverstone Woman of the Year, 40-year member of the Riverstone and District Historical Society, public servant and community volunteer, Rosemary Phillis, was our Finest for the month; and long-time family business Mac’ s Hire Riverstone, founded by the late Bill McNamara, closed its doors.

Lorna Gordon told us the story of volunteer dynamo Marilynn Bradd, who supported the Salvos, Vinnies and a Richmond aged care centre and involved herself with Riverstone Neightbourhood Centre and Riverstone Seniors.

Marion Coles, of Minchinbury, founder of Pay It Forward Angels, and former police officer Paul Wynne, Blacktown South P & C President for 25 years and Life Member of Prospect United Football Club, were named our Citizens of the Year; Peter Murphy was appointed CEO of NSW Rugby.

MP Warren Kirby hailed the multimillion-dollar investment in the Federal Budget for public transport buses, which has seen timetables double buses for residents, the new beach volleyball courts at Glenwood Reserve were given the thumbs up.

MARCH

Seniors celebrated their“ time to shine” during the two-week NSW Seniors Festival; model maker Bill Ruxton, whose house if full of model planes, model houses, caravans and castles, was our Finest for the month.

Seven Hills Community Hub, a $ 35.8 million project to improve the town centre was announced

Sport was a highlight this month, with Blacktown City Football Club’ s history being the subject of our Finest series; the rise of Blacktown Gymnastics; the aspirational baseball of the Sydney Blue Sox; the upgrade of Charlie Lowles Leisure Centre; the mayor paid tribute to Doonside Little Athletics and Junior Rugby and Parklea Golf Club president Ron Keys OAM and Harpo’ s column naming sporting greats of yesteryear- all stories that filled our pages news pages.

The history of Blacktown fire fighting made for a burning read while Michael Nash, P & C President of Schofields Public School, showed how motivation and volunteering reap many rewards.

APRIL

The excitement, thrills and colour of the 138th annual Hawkesbury Show adorned our front page; while inside we paid multiple tributes the many who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country’ s freedom when commemorating Anzac Day and remembrance events across the city.

The publication Women of Blacktown 2025 was launched by council chronicling the lives of 25 remarkable women; Mt Druitt PCYC plans for expansion were released; Paul Field longtime manager of The Wiggles was Blacktown’ s Finest for the month.

The inaugural Walk Festival 2025 in Blacktown took place and MP Warren Kirby congratulated Riverstone’ s Woman of the Year Belinda McKinlay in his column.

We found out Acquapole was a real thing at West HQs Sydney Gymnastic and

Aquatic Centre and heard GWS Giants were going to make a strong impact under the leadership of Adam Kingsley.

MAY

We celebrated a milestone with our 50th edition of the Blacktown City Independent rolling off the printing presses, proving that celebrating good news and community pride is alive and well.

Our celebration fittingly coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Blacktown Festival, celebrating the best of our community, culture, connection and strong future.

We headed to the polls for the Federal Election this month; marked Mother’ s Day and master farrier, Jeff Levy was our Finest for the month.

The mayor presented Aunty Edna Watson OAM with the Key to the City; a new indoor pool and upgrade for Mt Druitt Swimming Centre was announced; the life of storyteller Emie Roy, who published Women of Blacktown, was inspirational; Caiden Bond, of Mt Druitt, and Jiyaa Sahdev, of The Ponds, were appointed Youth Ambassadors of the Year.

Cyclist Gordon Allan, who made his debut at the Paracycling Track World Championships in Rio in 2018, battles cerebral palsy with continued grace and numerous Paralympic, world and championship medals, while Penrith Women’ s Rugby League predicted strong growth with the resurgence of their senior team this year.

JUNE

A $ 767 million plan was released by council to meet our area’ s growing needs. Being the largest NSW council, with a population of 450,000, our city continues to expand at a fast rate, meaning essential services and infrastructure upgrades are needed to meet residents’ needs. One of these being the upgrade of the Aquatic Centre featured in our pages.

Local leader and true inspiration Mayor Changi was our Finest for the month, with his‘ no school, no play’ philosophy keeping the Savannah Pride basketball program on track.

Globetrotter, longtime Riverstone- Schofields Memorial Club member and owner of Statesman Building Services, Mark Stacey, told us his story and love for rugby league.

We traced the history of NSW Ambulance, which began in 1895, and looked back to the opening of the first ambulance station in Blacktown 67 years ago.

Dr Kim Loo, local GP, champion for justice and climate advocate, is making a real difference in our community and beyond; while council unrolled its new food and garden waste service.

Our Greenway MP Michelle Rowland was appointed Australia’ s new Attorney General. St Marys Rugby League Club continued its impressive form and looked on track for a great season and we shone a spotlight on Wallaroo, Oneata Schwalger’ s rugby union and rugby league career and elite coaching aspirations.

JULY

Our cover was graced by a stunning generational indigenous artwork entitled Ancestral Lines by Jeremy Morgan Worrall in commemoration of Naidoc Week – to

mark the event’ s 50th year, council held the Warami Mittigar Concert at Blacktown Showground.

The Blacktown Historical Society was featured in our Finest series, sharing anecdotes of history and famous faces before it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026.

Lorna Gordon reported on the Stronger Together conference, which is making a difference for families with children with a range of disabilities.

Workers Lifestyle Group hosted GLOW Community Night at Sydney Zoo, in support of some 3000 families affected by domestic violence. Macquarie Community College expands to Mt Druitt and marks 75 years of learning.

Duck Man gave us the wrap up of the Sydney International Speedway 2024 / 25 season and showed us Mt Druitt Rangers Women were setting the benchmark in elite NSW Women’ s Football.

AUGUST

A proposed, staged rate change was afoot this month to help fund the increasing demand on service delivery; MP Warren Kirby spoke on government plans to upgrade Windsor Road, the Richmond Road corridor and sections of Schofields.

Church leader, clinician, business owner and advocate for vulnerable women, Melissa Katoa, who was named Blacktown’ s 2025 Woman of the Year, was the focus of our Finest spotlight this month.

Toongabbie and Seven Hills Lions Club continued to make a difference in the community showing when we all come together we can achieve meaningful things, according to new president Piryan Rajaram. Turtle Landscaping celebrated its 50th year in business.

Duck Man reported on the retirement of athlete Chloe Dalton, who conquered elite sport in rugby, basketball and Aussie rules footy; as well as the unique Riverstone Dolphins Swim Club’ s achievements over the past 31 years.

Our magazine itself transitioned from glossy stock to high-grade white stock paper as a practical, cost-effective step to keep producing our magazine on the same scale, given production costs increased 40 % in the past two years. Publisher / Owner Julie Ryan thanking readers and businesses for“ sticking with us and helping keep local news alive and thriving”. Please support the local businesses that support the Independent, buy and celebrate local.

SEPTEMBER

The thrill and spectacle of the RAAF Richmond Air Show gave us a visually stunning front page cover. The base turned 100 years old.

BreastScreen NSW opened a brandnew clinic in central Blacktown, with Health Minister Ryan Park cutting the celebratory ribbon; the CWA of NSW took on a food sustainability campaign.

Our Finest for the month, Winnie Dunn, was the first author to publish a Tongan-Australian novel, Dirt Poor Islanders, and given her young age, we expect to see more from her.

Michelle Rowland MP used her first meeting as Attorney-General to address the need for reforms to the Working With Children Check. A council grant enabled