HILLS INDEPENDENT HILLS 128 February 2026 | Page 27

Macquarie Ice Rink re-opens to the public

with Matt“ Duck Man” Austin
Ice skating brings back plenty of memories for many Australians – from Steven Bradbury’ s unforgettable goldmedal win at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics to the laughs of the cult comedy Blades of Glory. Now, locals can create some new memories of their own, with Macquarie Ice Rink officially reopening to the public.
Established in 1981, Macquarie Ice Rink has long been a valued hub for skaters from across Western Sydney and the Hills District, drawing visitors from Penrith, Blacktown and Liverpool, as well as the Eastern Suburbs and Inner West. Over the decades, it has welcomed everyone from recreational skaters to national, international and even Olympiclevel athletes.
Located inside Macquarie Shopping Centre, the rink is unique in Sydney as the only facility to feature a full-sized Olympic ice rink, measuring 60 metres by 30 metres. With seating for around 2,000 spectators, the venue hosts a wide range of disciplines including figure skating, ice dance, synchronised skating, speed skating and ice hockey.
The rink recently underwent muchneeded refurbishments, following challenges in maintaining international
ice standards amid growing demand from competitive skaters, casual visitors and families seeking weekend activities. The upgrades have been warmly received by patrons, who have praised the increased seating, new jumbotron, refurbished kiosk and improved amenities. Easy access via the Sydney Metro North West Line, or a short drive by car, has also been a major plus.
Importantly, the upgrades include new boards and glass, improved sustainability measures and enhanced environmental controls to ensure the ice remains at optimal quality year-round for decades to come. On the official
reopening day on 20 December, an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 casual skaters took to the ice, enjoying the modernised facilities and vibrant atmosphere.
The improvements are especially welcome for the rink’ s long-term tenants, including the Sydney Sirens Women’ s Ice Hockey Team, the Sydney Bears and the Sydney Ice Dogs, all of whom compete in the national AIHL competition.
These teams showcase Sydney’ s top ice hockey talent, including many players from the Hills District, as they take on clubs from Canberra, the Central Coast, Newcastle, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
With ice hockey continuing to grow across Western Sydney, the upgraded venue is expected to attract some of the country’ s biggest and best games.
It also highlights what is possible, with former Sydney Ice Dogs player Nathan Walker now competing in the NHL, the world’ s premier ice hockey league, where he has played more than 250 games.
The reopening of Macquarie Ice Rink is a welcome boost for the region – and a reminder that big dreams can start close to home. Perhaps the next Steven Bradbury or Nathan Walker is already learning their skills on the ice right here in Western Sydney.

Kenthurst Upper Hills Cricket Club

with Matt“ Duck Man” Austin
The Kenthurst Upper Hills Cricket Club is a friendly, community-focused club competing in the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai & Hills District Cricket Association in Sydney. Founded in 1896, the club caters for cricketers of all ages – from five-year-olds taking their first swing of a bat to lifelong players still enjoying the game well into their later years.
The club’ s home ground is Kenthurst Park on Roughley Road, with a catchment that includes Kenthurst, Dural, Annangrove, Glenhaven and Galston.
Formed on 4 May 1896, Kenthurst Cricket Club played its first match just 12
days later against neighbouring Pennant Hills. While the club did not compete in an organised competition during the 1896 – 97 season, it arranged unofficial matches against local rivals including Castle Hill, Rouse Hill, Dural, Galston, Glenorie and Glenhaven. In 1899 – 1900, Kenthurst joined the Parramatta & District Junior Cricket Association, before becoming a foundation member of the Northern Districts Cricket Association in 1907.
The club joined the Hornsby District Cricket Association in the 1930 – 31 season and, apart from a brief three-season absence between 1957 – 58 and 1959 – 60, has remained part of the association ever since.
One of the club’ s most celebrated eras came during the 1930s with the arrival of outstanding all-rounder Les Stranger. Moving to Kenthurst in the mid-1930s, Stranger made his debut in the 1936 – 37 season. Over his first 15 years, he amassed 8,263 runs at an average of 37.87 and claimed more than 400 wickets. He
Kenthurst Upper Hills Cricket Club Juniors ready for action. Credit KUHCC.
continued playing into the 1960s and is estimated to have finished his career with more than 10,000 runs and over 500 wickets.
In 1990, the club recognised the need to expand its junior pathways and adopted the name Upper Hills Cricket Club for its junior teams, drawing players from Kenthurst, Glenhaven, Annangrove, Dural and surrounding areas. The juniors remained under the Kenthurst Cricket Club banner until 2010 – 11, when the senior and junior sections were reunited under the current name, Kenthurst Upper Hills Cricket Club.
Today, the club continues to evolve alongside the game itself. One of its most popular modern programs is Cricket Blast, designed for children aged five to 10. The fast-paced, funfocused program runs over eight to 10 weeks, with 60-minute sessions that introduce fundamental cricket skills while emphasising teamwork, friendships and enjoyment. Junior cricket then provides a structured pathway from under-7s through to under-17s, preparing players for senior cricket or representative opportunities.
The club fields several senior teams competing on Saturday afternoons, including A Reserve, B Reserve, C2 and D2
Kenthurst Upper Hills Cricket Club Seniors. Credit KUHCC.
sides. This season, the D2 team sits fifth on the ladder with 33 points and a strong chance of securing a finals berth. The C Reserve team is currently second with 47 points, just two behind leaders Kissing Point Red, while the B Reserve side leads its competition and is well placed to finish the regular season on top. The mixed A Grade team is in fifth position and remains firmly in contention for a semi-finals spot, determined to continue the club’ s proud tradition.
The club’ s ultimate goal remains adding to its senior honours, with hopes of replicating its first A Grade premiership victory from the 2000 – 01 season – a milestone that may not be too far away.
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 128 // FEBRUARY 2026 25