LOCAL LIFE
Windsor Bridge Club
goes electronic
Members of the Windsor Bridge Club took time out to acknowledge and thank Bendigo Bank for its wonderful contribution to the club. This will enable the club to purchase all the items it needs to go as electronic as possible.
Club president, John Courtman, stated that the club is using a significant portion of its own funds, together with a sizeable contribution from Bendigo Bank. We could not have achieved this without their support. Our members are both grateful and thrilled that we can now purchase the necessary items. This will make a huge difference to the ease of scoring and standard of play, with significant feedback to members.
96 year old Anna Noot, who celebrated her birthday at the same time, said this club is so warm and welcoming. It gives me a great social outing and exercises my mind at the same time.
The club caters for players of all ages and gives both beginner and improver lessons, both through the club and the local University of the Third Age.
John also stated that the club has twice previously applied for assistance funding through the Councils’ grants program but
John Courtman( WBC President), Kellie Scholte( CB Richmond), Carmen Sultana( CB Richmond), Peter Budd, Mike Thompson( WBC Secretary), Criss Dorahy( WBC Treasurer), Derek Holmes, Anne Campbell and Susie Fookes( WBC Vice-President).
was rejected with no feedback. Country councils often acknowledge the significant social contribution of their bridge club by allocation of land or a surplus building to enable the club to establish a fit for purpose permanent club house. We can only dream of this level of support.
Bridge as a game is proven to reduce the incidence of mental decline. It combines both the skill of strategy and memorising. It is played internationally and is one of games in the mind Olympics.
Windsor Bridge Club’ s vision is a warm and friendly club. It welcomes all new players. The club plays on a Tuesday night, starting at 6.30pm and on a Friday, starting at 9.30am. Both sessions are located at the Richmond Community Centre in West Market St
Rouse Hill Medicare Urgent Care Clinic now open
North West Sydney residents now have easier access to urgent medical support with the opening of the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at Rouse Hill Town Centre.
Located at Level 1, 10 – 14 Market Lane, the clinic is open seven days a week with extended hours. The service is fully bulk billed, requires no appointment, and provides fast, free treatment for anyone with a Medicare card. Highly trained doctors and nurses are available to treat non-life-threatening conditions such as cuts, sprains, minor injuries and common infections. The clinic is designed to take pressure off Blacktown Hospital, where nearly 29 per cent of presentations in 2023 – 24 were for semi-urgent or non-urgent issues that can now be managed locally.
Rouse Hill joins a growing network of 24 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across NSW, with another 11 on the way. Nationally, the Albanese Government aims for four out of five Australians to live within a 20-minute drive of a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.
Since the first clinics opened in June 2023, more than 2.2 million presentations have been recorded, including more than 446,000 in NSW. Over a quarter of these patients were children under 15, with many attending on weekends or after hours— highlighting the importance of accessible urgent care options. The Rouse Hill clinic has been commissioned by the Western Sydney Primary Health Network and is operated by Rouse Hill Town Medical & Dental Centre.
Minister Butler said“ The Rouse Hill Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is a game changer for families in North West Sydney. It will ease pressure on Blacktown Hospital and strengthen Medicare by making care more accessible and affordable.”
Attorney-General and Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowland MP, added“ I promised our community a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic – and now it’ s a reality. This is a huge win for locals and for our health system.”
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland was joined by the Health Minister, Mark Butler.
12 ISSUE 188 // JANUARY 2026 theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT