Congratulations
POLITICS
with Ray Williams MP
30 years of Dural Men ’ s Shed
I recently had the opportunity to attend a celebration for the Dural Men ’ s Shed ’ s 30 year anniversary ( pictured ). The shed , part of ‘ The Centre ’ is a great place for men to meet and contribute to the community and work on their own projects . With woodwork , metalwork and gardening facilities there are things to do no matter what one ’ s interests . I previously described men ’ s sheds as places that prove their worth in “ encouraging elderly men to get off their backsides and interact with other older blokes in a friendly , blokey environment where they can get their hands dirty , have a good yarn and a swear ”, and I would still struggle to find a more accurate description .
But the Dural shed goes beyond this , with programs in youth intervention , advocacy and practical training all being just part of what it does , helping Western Sydney youths gain practical skills such as carpentry , and giving them something of tangible benefit in their lives .
My thanks go out to all involved in the shed , particularly President Chris Thomas , and to all those who are involved in their local shed across NSW . Here ’ s to another 30 years ! Run For The Hills The annual ‘ Run For The Hills ’ was recently held at Bella Vista Farm within my electorate of Kellyville . Formerly The Hills ‘ Cross Country Challenge ’, the run was as successful as ever this year , with running courses available for all levels and many hundred runners taking up the challenge .
Raising money for Fr . Chris Riley ’ s Youth off the Street , Positive Vibes and Youth Insearch , the run has already raised close to $ 10,000 – a number that is expected to rise as donations from the day are still being counted . My thanks go out to all involved in organising the event , particularly former Hills Deputy Mayor Mike Blair and I look forward to attending next year .
Congratulations
Doreen Adophus - 100th Birthday Ronald & Yvonne White - 60th Wedding Anniversary with Julian Leeser MP
Thank you to our RFS volunteers and preparing
As we approach the official start of the fire season , I want to acknowledge our remarkable Rural Fire Service volunteers . Across Berowra there are over 1,500 local volunteers across 27 brigades who do a remarkable job .
They ’ re an extraordinary group of men and women .
They volunteer all year round . In autumn and winter they undertake drills and hazard reductions and prepare . Over
for the upcoming bushfire season
the past year brigades across the two local districts have responded to over 700 incident calls . Floods , storms , multiplevehicle accidents — no matter what the disaster , they ’ re always there to lend a hand .
But , of course , the role the RFS volunteers play in our fire safety is their most significant contribution . Berowra is a beautiful bushland electorate . But it means we ’ re also a bushfire prone electorate . Every year , our RFS volunteers stand ready to defend properties and lives during the fire season . Many residents will not have lived through the terrible bushfires that ripped through our area in 2002 . Those who did will remember how ferocious and devastating they were . That is why it is so important to start getting your property ready now , in case we face similar conditions this fire season .
Make sure your bushfire survival plan is up to date and that you undertake important preventative work , like clearing out gutters or keeping your yard free of combustible material . As part of that bushfire survival plan , you should think about which valuables you need to pack up – so if you need to go , you can , before it ’ s too late .
If you ’ ve got a pool , I would also encourage you to get a static water supply ( SWS ) sign at your property entrance . That water might save your own home , or your neighbour ’ s .
Thanks again to the wonderful RFS for all the work they do for our community and for all Australians .
16 ISSUE 100 // OCTOBER 2023 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT