Gabe ’ s Fresh Foods
with three councillors assigned to each ward ,” Frank explained .
“ I represent West Ward , which covers from where the intersection is at Old Windsor Road and Windsor Road meet down to the M2 . I help to look after Baulkham Hills , Bella Vista , Norwest and Kellyville , but anyone in the Hills can approach me with an issue or concern they have and I will bring it up for them . I don ’ t like to stop at a boundary .”
One of Frank ’ s proudest achievements for the community is the new aquatic centre which is due to open this year .
“ I really pushed hard for the new aquatic centre and I ’ m proud to say that they are on budget , but sadly not on time because of COVID and the wet weather - things we could never envisage . We ’ ll have a quality product jewel in the crown for the shire .”
Outside of council and his work at the post office , Frank is heavily involved in other causes close to his heart . He is the area chairman for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal and came up with an idea to reach out to schools and get them more involved .
This year he had eighteen schools involved in raising awareness and the event was attended by the head of the Salvation Army who wants to use it as a template to replicate through the state .
Frank is also involved in supporting Jersey Day where once a year students and employees wear a sports jersey to start a conversation about organ and tissue donation . The day was started by the family of Nathan Gremmo , a young man who tragically passed away aged only thirteen , but whose organs saved the lives of six people . He feels it ’ s an important conversation to start .
“ I ’ m 100 per cent behind organ donation and promote it through the business and at council . It ’ s not a money raising event , but an important day to talk about donating your organs with your friends and family and potentially saving other people ’ s lives .”
Frank has also been happy about the metro and the opportunities it has brought to the area and can see it making the Hills an even more desirable place for people to live .
“ When the metro opened it added so much value to our lives , having that transport link is bringing people from other areas to the Hills to work . I can see it helping to create job opportunities in the Hills so that our community doesn ’ t have to travel to the city . They can live , work and play close to home .”
I think that the fact that our area is still growing , and houses and business are being developed , Frank might just be on to something there , which is probably why he is the perfect position to help the community achieve it .
Frank at the recent Red Shield event with Hills Australian of the Year Mercedes Durante .
The students at St Gabriel ’ s School love having Gabe ’ s Fresh Food onsite . ( Credit Dallas Kilponen )
by Lorna Gordon
St Gabriel ’ s School in Castle Hill has been getting new buildings on its campus , some to house the expanding high school and others to provide better facilities for the students , staff and families .
One of the facilities to benefit from an upgrade has been ‘ Gabe ’ s Fresh Foods ’, a branch of Woolworths within the school . It was originally launched four years ago and is a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn about the whole shopping experience , from going into the shop to buy items to what it ’ s like to work in a supermarket .
Jaqueline Cashmore , the deputy principle of St Gabriel ’ s explained why this is such a beneficial addition to the school . “ We relaunched Gabe ’ s Fresh Foods a couple of weeks ago , in that time we have seen significant growth in the students ’ skills , from going shopping with family and job skills . From early primary years , students learn to line up , as a customer , then from about year six they start to develop retail assistance skills , like they could in a Woolworths store .
“ This experience sets the students up for a job , it teaches them to have the skills to be employed and it is much easier for them than learning at the supermarket .”
This is the ninth mini supermarket that Woolworths have set up in partnership with Fujitsu Australia Limited and they hope to roll out more new sites this year to help educate thousands of students and candidates across schools and inclusive recruitment centres using the program .
Shop 4 / 70 The Parkway
Discover . Enjoy . Share .
Bigger , Juicier , and Tastier !
Vasco ’ s Chargrill Chicken is a family run business which started in Parramatta , Sydney and has also opened its doors at Beaumont Hills . Soon Vasco ’ s will be providing its great customer service to the community of Box Hills
Inspired by Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama , Vasco ’ s chicken is free range , healthy , and gluten free with no added fats and oil plus with world class peri peri sauce , it will leave your tastebuds with an experience that will keep you wanting more . Come and meet the Vasco ’ s Team and be part of our growing community . See you soon .
• Free Range Chicken
• Halal Certified
• Gourmet Burgers and Chips
• Daily Fresh Salads
OPEN 7 DAYS 10AM-8PM
Phone 0405 137 376 vascoschicken . com
We offer amazing catering packages ! QR or check out the website for details Perfect for parties and family gatherings THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 84 // JUNE 2022 7