POLITICS |
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with Susan Templeman MP Federal Member for Macquarie
I am so often in awe of the commitment, energy and care I see in young people across the Hawkesbury.
I want to share some examples of how they do us proud.
The first is a group of young people I got to know in the thick of COVID lockdowns who wanted to do something to support their friends at a tough time. They were worried about mental health, they were worried about bad habits and they were worried about lost connections. Together we formed the Macquarie Youth Advisory Group, and we got in touch with two important organisations- youth mental health online organisation,
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ReachOut, and DrinkWise. Over months they worked to develop the first“ Never have I ever …” campaign which rolled out through Macquarie, providing a cue for young people to have a conversation about mental health.
Four years on, I am so proud that the“ Never have I ever …” campaign has been relaunched nationally at an event in Parliament by Olympic gold medallist Shayna Jack. The campaign is designed to prompt self-reflection, open up conversations about mental health, stress, anxiety and alcohol and provide a clear pathway to advice and support for those who may be using alcohol to try to cope.
You can check out the campaign on the DrinkWise site( and see credit given to the Macquarie originators).
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At the Hawkesbury Show, you will have seen students from schools across the Hawkesbury and surrounds demonstrating their care and skill with animals. The Hawkesbury Young Woman & Rural Ambassadors are an inspiring group – there were the 2026 entrants and winners as well as past winners volunteering their time to make the Show a huge success.
And on Anzac Day we saw young people representing their schools, clubs and in cadet uniforms to pay tribute to those who served and those who fell.
Finally, congratulations to Finn from Colo High School, who has been selected as the Youth Member for Macquarie in the 2026 National Youth Parliament.
The National Youth Parliament brings
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together 150 young Australians aged 16 – 17, one from each electorate across the country, to experience Australia’ s democracy.
In August, Finn will travel to Canberra to learn about parliamentary practice, debate mock legislation and represent the voices of young people from our community.
Programs like this help the next generation better understand how decisions are made and how they can contribute to shaping Australia’ s future
I have great confidence our Hawkesbury young people will continue to shine across many activities and pursuits, and remind us that the future has some pretty awesome people growing up to lead this wonderful nation.
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How my office and I can help you
• Represent you in Parliament and raise local issues with the appropriate Minister or Department
• Answer questions, help you access government services and provide information about community groups and events
• Facilitate applications to become a Justice of the Peace or to obtain a Seniors Card
• Update your electoral enrolment details
• Send a congratulatory letter for anniversaries and birthdays of significance
• Provide you with details on how to apply for government grants
The office is located at Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus Building R4, College Drive, Richmond. M: PO Box 505 Richmond NSW 2753 T: 02 4578 0300 E: hawkesbury @ parliament. nsw. gov. au
Authorised by Robyn Preston MP. Funded using Parliamentary entitlements. with Robyn Preston MP Member for Hawkesbury
I was recently given a tour of the Fernadell Park Sports Complex at Pitt Town. The facility will be home to cricket, soccer and netball with some exciting play equipment to enjoy as well. The precinct will also provide a long-awaited community centre for locals to utilise. One of the most disturbing features that came to my attention was that this sporting complex will only provide‘ all-gender’ toilet facilities.
This has been a design that Hawkesbury City Council staff seem to be proud of, but it’ s not one that I endorse, nor does the Mayor Clr Les Sheather. Is there a lack of respect for women’ s and children’ s needs? Would parents sanction male adults using the same toilets as their 8-year-old daughter? I don’ t fancy walking into a cubicle and dodging a puddle of urine, but that’ s the dilemma that I might be facing if we don’ t push back against this nonsense.
Families in Hawkesbury are not asking for radical redesigns of basic amenities. They are asking for safe, practical and respectful facilities that reflect how people actually live and use community spaces. Sporting complexes are, by their very nature, hubs for families and young people. Ignoring the very real concerns of women and parents in favour of a onesize-fits-all approach is not inclusive, it’ s dismissive. It breaches privacy, safety and community standards.
What is most frustrating is that sensible alternatives already exist. Across New South Wales, councils are delivering facilities that accommodate accessibility needs while still maintaining clearly designated male and female amenities. It is not complicated and it does not require sacrificing common sense. Instead, what we are seeing here is a decision made without proper regard for community expectations.
To make matters worse, Hawkesbury City Council are proposing to install only one changeroom and depending on the number of females gathered on the day, it will fluctuate between a female changeroom and male changeroom. I seriously believe that Council needs a change of attitude.
I will continue to strongly oppose this approach and advocate for a redesign that respects the needs of all members of our community, especially women and children. The Fernadell Park Sports Complex should be something that Hawkesbury can be proud of, not a source of concern. It’ s time to put common sense back at the centre of decision-making.
THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 192 // MAY 2026 21