BIG PUZZLE PAGE
crossword 1
ACROSS 1 A lack of vitamin C( 6) 4 Roomy( 8) 10 One of the Little Rascals( 9) 11 Relative magnitudes( 5) 12 Clocked( 5) 13 Started( 9) 14 Expanding( 7) 16 Parental mother( 4) 19 Among( 4) 21 Go down( 7) 24 Forever( 9) 25 Prefix meaning“ Hand”( 5) 26 Proof of innocence( 5) 27 Intermediary( 9) 28 An imaginary monster( 8) 29 Admiration( 6)
DOWN 1 A deliberate act of destruction( 8) 2 Rare( 8) 3 Promised( 5) 5 Placing( 7) 6 Fairs( 9) 7 Groups of 8( 6) 8 Chides( 6) 9 Bewitching( 6) 15 Vastness( 9) 17 Denigrate( 8) 18 A graphic symbol( 8) 20 Quandary( 7) 21 Wood nymphs( 6) 22 Spread over( 6) 23 Stitching( 6) 25 Anagram of“ Acres”( 5)
ANSWERS PAGE 30 sudokU 1
To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: Each of the nine vertical columns Each of the nine horizontal rows Each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box. Good luck!
SPORT
Windsor Wolves crowned Panthers Juniors Club of the Year
The Windsor Wolves Junior Rugby League Club capped off an outstanding 2025 season, being proudly named Panthers Juniors Club of the Year- one of the highest honours in junior rugby league.
The prestigious award recognises clubs that demonstrate excellence both on and off the field, embracing positive culture, fair play, strong governance, community leadership and player development. Clubs are assessed on competition results across all teams, tribunal outcomes, participation levels and their commitment to sustainable development pathways.
In 2025, the Windsor Wolves continued their remarkable growth, fielding 52 teams from Under 5s through to adults, with 818 registered players supported by more than 200 dedicated volunteers. Female participation also continued to rise, with 96 female players proudly representing the club across multiple age groups.
Established in 1912, the Windsor Wolves is one of the oldest, largest and fastest-growing junior rugby league clubs in the Penrith District. The Windsor Leagues Club is the proud home of the Wolves, providing the club with its own football stadium and grandstand and playing a vital role in supporting grassroots rugby league in the Hawkesbury.
Windsor Wolves Junior Rugby League Football Manager Dean Jones said the award reflects the collective effort of everyone involved with the club.
“ Winning this award is a tremendous achievement for the Windsor Wolves and a true reflection of the hard work and dedication of our players, volunteers and sponsors. With the continued support of the Windsor Leagues Club, this recognition highlights the strong culture we’ ve built both on and off the field,” he said.
The Panthers Juniors Club of the Year Award is presented by Panthers Juniors, the largest junior rugby league district in the world. In 2025, Panthers Juniors comprised 23 clubs, 661 teams and 9,858 players, with female participation approaching 2,000 players. The competition spans from Blacktown to Katoomba and across the Hawkesbury region, reinforcing its status as a cornerstone of sport in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
Registrations Open for 2026 Season Following a record-breaking year and with even more growth expected, registrations are now open for the 2026 Windsor Wolves Junior Rugby League season.
New and returning players of all ages and abilities are encouraged to join one of the district’ s most inclusive and progressive junior clubs, built on strong community values and supported by passionate volunteers.
Register at: https:// profile. mysideline. com. au / register / clubsearch /? criteria = wi ndsor & type = player & activity & gender & ag emin & agemax & comptype = contact, noncontact & source = rugby-league
28 ISSUE 189 // FEBRUARY 2026 theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT