HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT IND 176 January 2025 | Page 4

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LOCAL LIFE

Hawkesbury City 2024 - Year in Review

by Maryann Callaghan

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

Australia Day was celebrated on the Hawkesbury , with colour , fanfare , fireworks and family fun .

We discovered our Finest , June Locock was the youngest female to take up the new sport of waterskiing in the Hawkesbury , if not the country , and was happy traversing the country with husband Barry , of Turtle Nursery fame , at 85 !

Windsor Wolves Rugby League Club was looking forward to welcoming more female players into its ranks .

We reported on Indigenous students and elders at Brewongle Environment Education Centre constructing a traditional Aboriginal nawi – stringybark canoe .

P & C advocate for Schofields Public School Jess Wanders featured in our Make a Difference column , and council was undertaking new communication strategies to promote water safety on the Hawkesbury .

While in sport , Arlene ‘ Angerfist ’ Blencowe is considered one of the best boxers in the business of MMA . FEBRUARY

Battle of Codes , Union vs League splashed across our cover this month .

Australia Day award recipients were announced : Scott Hinks , Rochelle Miller , Keith Acton , Melissa Crane , Kurrajong Nursing Home Auxiliary , Gemma King , Windsor High School

Thursday Lunchtime Interest Group . Forty-four residents also became Australian citizens .

Community identity , historian , flood mitigation advocate , tour guide and lobbyist John Miller OAM was honoured with a memorial at Streeton Lookout , Freemans Reach .

The community agrees the derelict Jolly Frog hotel needs to be finally fixed or demolished . Plans were afoot to turn Rum Corps Barracks Club into a golf resort .

The restoration and revival of Fairfield House , Windsor , was the subject of our Finest column .

Londonderry Pony Club celebrated its 50 th anniversary and Bligh Park FC continues to grow and foster upcoming champions . MARCH

Trevor Niass , well respected horseman and film star was featured in our Finest column .

Council rejected state government plans to increase housing density in the district , while we reported on St John of God deciding not to renew its contract at Hawkesbury Hospital , with the state government taking over services .

The Archibald Prize 2023 regional tour hit Hawkesbury Gallery this month .

Southern Cross Speckle Park cattle breeders Angela McGrath and Jordan Ridge , donated a steer to begin the Hawkesbury Show ’ s first Charity Steer Auction , raising funds for Pink Finss .

Evelyn Beaver , a Riverstone solicitor , was featured in our local life story , while council gave the green light to Windsor Rotary to organise beautification murals in the town centre and water pumping station .

Sports legends converged on the Pioneer Tavern to raise funds for the Royce Simmons Foundation , to slow or find a cure for dementia .

Mileham St Netball Complex was resurfaced , the Western Sydney Veterans Golfers Interclub

Series was held at Richmond Golf Club and boxer Nathan Meritt ’ s star is on the rise . APRIL

The 137 th Hawkesbury Show was the wrap around cover of this edition , featuring a show guide and plenty of stories about this huge annual country meets city event .

Anzac Day services and the history of local men who lost their lives in battle were featured on our commemorative pages .

We reported on Second Chance , a book by horsewoman and former Mounted Police Officer Tiffany Williams , on the unexpected rise of Clydesdale-cross Toby into the Mounted Police .

Our Hawkesbury ’ s Finest subject was Greg Hansell , renowned artist and community identity . Kurrajong Bakery owner and its only baker Robert Eather told us the bakery was definitely his favourite place to be since 2008 when he purchased the place .

The Eather Group won the Indigenous Excellence Award at the Telstra Best of Business Awards , while Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare Network received a $ 230,000 funding boost .

In sport , the Hawkesbury Hornets BMX Club announced its hosting of the 2024 AusCycling BMX State Series ACT / NSW ; Windsor Polo Club was competing on the international stage and Indy Aquilina is a dynamo , excelling in soccer , boxing and athletics . MAY

Richmond Memorial Bowling Club turned 75 years young ; the state government announced it will manage the Lower Portland Ferry ; nurses and midwives at Hawkesbury Hospital rallied over concerns of losing leave entitlements .

Teacher and foundation member of the first Hospital Auxiliary in NSW , Honora McMahon , later known as Mrs Nora Culpitt , her inspirational life was

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