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 explore the stories that captured imaginations and sparked conversations . Here ’ s to celebrating the news that made our pages .

JANUARY

We celebrated a huge Australia Day at Bella Vista Farm and heard of the fascinating life and work of Mercedes Durante , who made our Hills Finest column . Mercedes was the region ’ s Adult Volunteer of the Year in 2023 .

Diamond Women , a group which assists women ’ s diverse needs during and after pregnancy , were making a difference in the community with the Mum2Mum support groups .

A new plaque to honour Vietnam veterans was unveiled at John Benyon Rotary Park and council established its first Disability and Inclusion reference group .

Norwest Christian College reported on its inclusion in the Sydney Christian Schools Teaching Hub , while the annual St Albans Village Market was deemed a success again .

Australian tennis was in good hands with the talent emerging through the Hills District Tennis Association , and we read about the Hills Indoor Sports Centre serving the community .

FEBRUARY

Our Hills Heroes Australia Day winners were pictured on our cover this month . The amazing Ellen Kulbicki ( Citizen of the Year ), Melissa Scaife of Fit Kidz Foundation ( Community

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Group ), Lilly Schwartz ( Environmental Citizen ), Jim Smith ( Senior Citizen ) and Khurram Jaw ( for Young Citizens Aiza , Aish and Adbullah Khurram ) of Little Helpers on the Run .

Joseph Kim , founder of social media platform Visit Hills , was our Finest for February , while waterskiing pioneer June Locock , was the subject for our local life column .

Pawstitive Steps day , which celebrates all things dog and mental wellbeing , featured in our Make a Difference column .

OASIS Oldyroos founder , Keith Pierce , was recruiting for two football teams to enter the world cup – the criteria being over 70 or over 75 .

Talented cricket allrounder Dave McDonald and Sydney Ice Dogs Ice Hockey were our sporting feature stories , and Harpo ’ s Marks column gave us a rundown of cricketing legends past and present .

MARCH

Mayor Gangemi pushed for an exemption on the State Government ’ s low and mid-rise housing reforms , saying council had already zoned land to cater for an additional 50,000 homes . Our Finest was Rachel Golding , founder of Dinner on the Table - readymade nutritious meals for families in need .

Sydney Hills Gymnastics athletics won a swag of awards at the Gymnastics NSW Annual Awards and residents were asked to step up and clean up Caddies Creek – home to a platypus colony .

Women with Altitude were the focus of our Make a Difference column ; West Pennant Hills reserve showed off its new improvements and Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club relayed the message they were seeking club members .

MP Mark Hodges reported on Kenthurst ’ s amazing Ashleen Khela , Australia ’ s youngest published female author , at 11 years of age .

The Baulkham Hills district was the focus of our sports pages this month – namely its Hawks AFL team and Volleyball team , which are both thriving competitively in their respective disciplines .

APRIL

While the Hawkesbury Show graced our cover wrap , Anzac Day services and the history of local men who lost their lives in battle were featured on our commemorative pages .

MP Julian Leeser reflected on the lives of locals Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent and Warren Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock , who died tragically in a training exercise the previous year .

The Shire was being given more opportunities to recycle electronic waste , and we were introduced to the Hills Distilling Company , founded by three local brothers .

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

Autism Awareness Day was the

focus of our Make a Difference column , and we learned the Shire had recycled more than 174 million bottles , cans and cartons through Return and Earn points .

The fastest growing touch football team – Razzle Dazzle – brought the love to awards night at the Viking Sports Club Dundas , while Hills United FC were kicking goals during their season . . MAY

Many of our stories centered on The Shire being declared a natural disaster following the recent rain and floods of April , receiving extra federal and state government funding to assist with the massive infrastructure clean-up .

Member of Hills Yarning , Sue Martin , was our Hills Finest for the month . Fagan Park Children ’ s Forest was officially opened by Hornsby Council and MP Stephen Bali .

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

Marcus Campagna was certainly making a charitable difference in the community , having won the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award , presented by NSW Governor , the Hon Margaret Beazley .

MP Ray Williams was full of praise for Local Woman of the Year , Kylie Tzavaras ; while the story of David Kirk , World Cup winning All Black and , rising star gold medal winning gymnast Ritam Malik were our sports highlights

JUNE

The celebration that is Winterfest , a weekend of history and fantasy , made our cover wrap , while our cover story featured a thank you to volunteers during National Volunteer Week .

The annual Cancer Council Hills Relay for Life celebrated its 23rd anniversary ; the Rotary Club of Hills- Kellyville held its annual Pride in Workmanship Awards and the Hills March for Change – raising awareness of domestic and family violence were among our community stories .

Box Hill ’ s first sports field , Brindle Park Reserve , opened . One of Hills Finest was Ellen Witzlsperger , Citizen of the Year awardee , and driving force behind the Stronger Together Foundation .

More North Kellyville intersections were granted the traffic lights treatment , and MP Mark Hodges reported on the 23 rd annual Hills Relay for Life .

GWS Netball kept scoring big in the Super Netball , the Western Sydney Two Blues , showed why they were a force to be reckoned with in rugby and Western Division rugby legend Barry Rushworth was pictured holding the coveted 1974 Amco Cup Trophy .

JULY

Mayor Gangemi announced the $ 162.8m budget as one of the biggest in the Shire ’ s history .

Our Youth Ambassadors , Krish Nair and Shivani Sundaranathan , were both interviewed for our Finest column , and Dilys Kindleysides was honoured

with the prestigious NSW Community Sports Award .

The services and work of Hills Community Aid was the focus of our Make a Difference column , and residents were encouraged to have a Yarn at Bella Vista Farm during NAIDOC Week .

In Sport , we reported on Western Sydney Academy of Sport ’ s 20-year partnership with council , along with Indigenous Talent Identification Day ; Glenhaven Football Club ’ s community spirit and sports callers and commentators , Ken Howard , Johnny Tapp and Ray Warren .

AUGUST

Mayor Gangemi said the State Government ’ s proposal for 42,000 homes between Bella Vista and Kellyville metro stations was ‘ significantly flawed ’.

A 50-year volunteer with Meals on Wheels , Barbara Stewart , and her community work made her our Finest profile of the month .

Escabags – a free starter kit of personal care items and emergency contacts for victims fleeing domestic violence , and Hills Pet Buddies , bringing joy to older people , were reported on in our community news .

The life story of builder and community identity Bill McNamara , of McNamara Group Constructions , was featured in our pages . Bill passed away aged 96 .

Hornsby Council called for feedback on plans to revitalize Galston Village , and a $ 300,000 disability virtual reality technology rollout came to Castle Hill .

MP Mark Hodges asked residents to sign a petition for a new school in Castle Hill , and council brought back its platypus workshops .

Our sports pages included stories on Timmy Aitken , climbing the ranks in the world of elite football coaching , and a feature on Australian women ’ s 600m record holder , runner Bendere Oboya and her journey to the Olympics .

SEPTEMBER

The glorious Orange Blossom Festival adorned our cover page and featured on our inside pages .

Council urged the State Government to stop rushing ‘ mini city ’ plans for Bella Vista and Kellyville metro stations , claiming infrastructure could not keep up with the influx of 100,000 residents .

Azita Abdollahian showed us how you can weekend therapy retreats into your life as our Finest subject for the month , while we covered the story of Dr Pritpal Singh , one of the country ’ s eminent ophthalmologists and specialist eye surgeons .

The Disability Inclusion Action Plan Reference Group was featured in our Make a Difference column , medical student Yannick De Silva was named North Western Sydney Volunteer of the Year , Pauleen West was Senior Volunteer of the Year and team of the year was Red Frogs Australia Taylor Swift Team .

Dancing hurdler , Olympian Michelle Jenneke ’ s racing career was highlighted along with the Sydney Bears in the Australian Ice Hockey League .