Hawke, Ruddock win Hills seats easily

Alex and Bec Hawke vote on Saturday.

Philip and Heather Ruddock vote on Saturday.

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The Liberal held seats of Mitchell and Berowra turned a deeper shade of blue on Saturday as sitting MPs Alex Hawke and Philip Ruddock both increased their margins.

The huge swings from away from the ALP in both seats did not flow straight to the Greens who did increase their margins but not as much as the ALP vote plunged.

At Annangrove Public School, where there was outrage over the BER funding for the school library, 90 per cent of the vote at

David Elliot gets John Howard's support for Baulkham Hills seat

FORMER prime minister John Howard has written a letter of support for David Elliot who is standing for Liberal preselection for the state seat of Baulkham Hills.

The letter to NSW Liberal Party state director Mark Neeham"strongly” recommends Mr Elliot, of Kellyville, saying he had many qualities equipping him to be “a most effective member of the NSW Parliament”.

The letter, which has been posted to all 98 preselectors, will be a blow for the two other candidates in the race for preselection for Baulkham Hills, Hills Shire councillor Mike Thomas and solicitor Damien Tudehope.

There has been a

Girl, 5, drowns at Galston

Police are preparing a report for the coroner after a girl, 5, drowned in a swimming pool at Galston yesterday. (August 26).

They said the child fell into the pool about 5pm.

Police said it was a backyard swimming pool.

She was taken to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, but died a short time later.

Source: whereilive

Raiders add bite at back

The Canberra Raiders hope the addition of Blake Ferguson to their rapid developing back line will help bolster their bid to be a competition powerhouse in the coming seasons.

Ferguson yesterday exercised the get-out clause in his Cronulla Sharks contract to sign a two-year deal with Canberra.

He will join established juniors Josh Dugan, Jarrod Croker and Daniel Vidot as the Raiders' attacking weapons.

Ferguson had a clause written into his Cronulla contract which allowed him to quit the Sharks if former Raiders great Ricky Stuart was no longer the coach.

When Stuart left his post as Cronulla mentor mid-way

Masters shows off muscle

Eastern Creek Raceway is again hosting Australia's largest gathering of muscle cars.

GIVE dad a Father’s Day present with a difference. Eastern Creek Raceway is again hosting Australia’s largest gathering of muscle cars, the Muscle Car Masters early next month.

The masters is a celebration of Australia’s motoring heritage and a tribute to the drivers.

It will be held on Sunday, September 5, and celebrates 50 years of the Australian Touring Car Championship.

The event will feature a one-off 50th anniversary handicap race that will see the best muscle cars from the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s pitted against

Preferences favor Perrett

A RELIEVED Graham Perrett says he is happy to still be in the job as the Labor member for Moreton after the weekend’s election backlash against his party.

A redistribution of electoral boundaries which bumped Labor’s margin up from 4.8 per cent to 6 per cent at the last election saved Mr Perrett from going the same way as many of his federal Labor colleagues. He suffered a 12 per cent swing against him in primary votes and a 5 per cent swing on a two-party preferred basis.

“Thank God for the AEC,” said Mr Perrett, who

Waste of money, says MP

Galston High School P and C president David Byrne and Hornsby State Liberal MP Judy Hopwood are unhappy about how the State Government spent the school's BER funding on administration costs.

THE State Government has been slammed by Hornsby State Liberal MP Judy Hopwood, for wasting thousands of dollars of Galston High School’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) funds on administration costs.

Mrs Hopwood said the school community was elated after being awarded $200,000 in BER funding to enhance the school’s facilities.

“The optimism was tempered with the news 17 per cent of the $200,000 was allocated to a

Phone volunteers vital

Castle Hill Grief Support co-ordinator Elizabeth Fogolin is looking for more volunteers to help her with a telephone support service.

FOR most people, loss and grief is associated with the death of a loved one but Grief Support co-ordinator Elizabeth Fogolin said it came in many forms.

The Castle Hill volunteer is part of a group of people who give up their time to look after a telephone support service which helps people who are going through their own personal loss.

The mother of three and grandmother of five has been a volunteer with the service for four years.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Plea for kinder space in Newport

Hobsons Bay Kindergarten's Leone Hede (centre) and kids (from left) Laukynn , Stella , Ava , Maddie and Isla, all aged four.

PARENTS have called for an upgrade or relocation of a Newport kindergarten to allow room for increasing enrolments.

A petition with 69 signatories was given to Hobsons Bay Council last week, asking the council to step up planning and allocate funds for an expanded modern centre.

The Hobsons Bay Kindergarten parents want the kindergarten either upgraded on its current site or moved to vacant land on the nearby Newport Gardens Primary School.

They have told how the

Hughes candidates ready for a long night

Liberal candidate Craig Kelly and wife Vicki cast their vote at Nuwarra Public School, Moorebank. Pic Jane Dempster

HAD the Liverpool candidates in the seat of Hughes read the mood or just the newspapers?

The latest Newspoll out today had Labor ahead by a tiny lead of 50.2 per cent to the Coalition’s 49.8 per cent.

In the marginal seat of Hughes, narrowly held by the Liberals retiring Danna Vale, this is likely to translate into more votes for the Liberals and less for Labor.

When Liberal candidate Craig Kelly arrived in an open-necked blue chambray shirt at Nuwarra

Cafe rebellion over outdated dog laws

NOOSA: Struggling cafe owners are rebelling against ``out-of-date’’ dog laws which are costing them money.
They are backing a move by Coast action group Pups in Paradise (PIP) to have the law changed to allow companion dogs in alfresco dining areas.
They say cafes need to be protected from possible fines and patrons must feel protected from possible removal from cafes by council.
Raw Energy Coolum owner Jimmy Carruthers said he would happily welcome back dog owners.
``I didn’t even realise they weren’t allowed, until the council came along with a letter,’’ he said.
``As long as they

Bid to boost Castle Hill's heritage

The Hills has an ideal world heritage listing opportunity and it’s sitting right at Castle Hill.

Castle Hill State Liberal MP Michael Richardson said Hills Shire Council and the State Government could capitalise on the world heritage listing of parts of the Great North Rd by building an interpretation centre at Heritage Park.

“It may never be known as World Heritage Park but it should be linked to the world heritage treasures it helped to spawn,” Mr Richardson said.

“The convict-built Great North Rd, which opened up the Hunter Valley to settlement, is one of the truly great engineering

Krisit McDougall murder accused in hospital

A man charged with murdering Carlingford mother Kristi McDougall was taken to hospital before he could appear in court.

Robert Best, 48, was arrested yesterday (August 17) and was due to appear in Parramatta Court today.

However, a court officer told reporters Best had suffered chest pains and had been taken to Westmead Hospital for observation.

He is expected to appear in the court tomorrow.

A woman charged with being an accessary after the fact of Ms McDougall’s alleged murder appeared in the court today.

Debbra Hogden, 42, was granted conditional bail.

Ms McDougall, 31, was last seen by

Castle Hill RSL recognised for going green

Waterless urinals, water harvesting and timers on plasmas are just a few ways a Castle Hill business is helping the environment.

Castle Hill RSL’s achievements in the sustainable use of natural resources and climate change were recognised last night (August 16) in the 2010 Green Globe Awards hosted by Climate Change and Environment Minister Frank Sartor.

The club received one of the 10-year achievement certificates and was recognised alongside other leading NSW green organisations Astra Zeneca, Cannon Australia and New England University.

“Castle Hill RSL is very proud to be a recipient of the 10-year achievement certificate,” Castle Hill

Dogs on the move to allow for Williamstown wetland

Dog users and their pooches at Cyril Curtain Reserve last week. Pictures: DAVID SMITH

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A POPULAR playground for pooches could have to make way for a new wetland on Williamstown’s foreshore.

Hobsons Bay Council has proposed building a 100m wetland in a section of Cyril Curtain Reserve that is also a popular off-leash dog area.

The section is also used sporadically for junior football training.

The $300,000 wetland’s vegetation would filter stormwater used to irrigate the nearby Williamstown Cricket Ground and run-off into Port Phillip Bay.

The council plans to expand the off-leash dog area by 100m

Gillard announces $400m in health promises

A re-elected Labor Government will extend the GP after-hours hot line to include video calls, to take advantage of the growth of broadband and allow anxious parents to show doctors a sick child, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

Ms Gillard has announced a series of health promises, worth almost $400 million, at Labor's campaign launch in Brisbane today.

She said Labor would expand the GP after hours helpline so it could to provide online triage and basic medical advice via videoconferencing, at a cost of $50 million. This would begin July 2012.

She gave the example of parents of a

New plan for boardwalk

NOOSA: A plan to narrow the proposed Little Cove boardwalk to Noosa National Park has been hailed as a ``breakthrough compromise’‘.
Sunshine Coast Council will ask the State Government to consider a proposal by community groups to reduce the width of the planned Park Rd boardwalk from 3m to 2.5m and cut the number of viewing platforms from five to one.
Council discussed the plan with members of Noosa Parks Association (NPA), Hastings St Association, Noosa Residents and Ratepayers, Friends of Noosa, Tourism Noosa, Noosa Biosphere Board, residents and Landcare on Tuesday.
NPA project officer Michael Gloster

Jack Starkey inspires Crestwood Public School classmates

INSPIRING his schoolmates is Crestwood Public School captain Jack Starkey who lives his life to the full despite having cerebral palsy.

Not one to allow his disability to get in the way of achieving his dreams, Jack is determined to have as normal a life as everyone else.

For The Spastic Centre’s National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week, Jack, 11, of Baulkham Hills, has taken the opportunity to educate people about his disability.

“Because a lot of people with cerebral palsy having a problem with their legs, some people mistake us for someone who has had a bad accident,” he

Baulkham Hills election forum shot in the arm

POLITICS almost took a back seat when three Federal candidates for Mitchell took questions at a forum organised by the Make Poverty History group at Baulkham Hills.

Candidates were given three minutes to answer questions during which time, Max Collison pointed out, one baby a minute would die in agony from neonatal tetanus.

Dr Collison told the forum that since 1961 it was known the condition could be eradicated if pregnant women were vaccinated for tetanus but developed countries were not doing enough.

“Because we are so much wealthier it is possible to reduce world poverty for the first

Knife horror on bus at Bella Vista

POLICE are scanning CCTV footage after an irate passenger held up a bus driver at knifepoint on Windsor Rd at Bella Vista yesterday afternoon.

The 745 Busways vehicle had more than 40 students onboard when the man approached the driver in an agitated state demanding to know where the bus was going.

The 35-year-old driver told the man it was going to St Marys and the passenger demanded he stopped the bus immediately.

The driver told the man it was too dangerous to stop immediately and said he would pull over at the first stop.

Police said he was turning

Housing program leaves homes sweltering

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott and Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin have been challenged to live in desert homes after a federal housing program removed residents' air conditioners.

Residents of Santa Teresa, 80km south of Alice Springs, were shocked to find out their houses were without cooling after the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) finished refurbishment work, the Centralian Advocate said.

One resident, Annette Williams called on both Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin to swap houses with her for a week this summer.

"We're just living in second-hand houses," Mrs Williams said, " We thought Jenny Macklin should swap houses with the community. Both of them. Tony Abbott too."

The $672 million bush housing program set out to make homes

Driven to Despair

Drivers may be stuck with a gridlocked Enoggera intersection - slammed as one of the worst in the state.
An RACQ survey of more than 2600 drivers last week identified the Wardell St/Samford Rd crossroads as one of the state's five worst Red Spots of congestion.
Motorists, businesses and community leaders want the peak-hour chaos fixed, but the State Government maintains upgrades between 2010 and mid-2012 would be subject to funding.
A Main Roads spokesman said a recent study had identified options to improve traffic flow manage future growth on Samford Rd between Settlement Rd and Wardell St.

New family class offers quality, convenient, musical learning in Runcorn & Annerley

Beginning in July this year in both Runcorn & Annerley, Anacrusis Music will offer a new musical learning program for families with children ages newborn and up—Family Time. The new curriculum, created by Kindermusik, is designed to apply musical and developmental learning in a multi-age, multi-child, family environment.

Suzie White, a Kindermusik Educator, is teaching the program created exclusively for Kindermusik by a team of music and child development experts. In a "one room schoolhouse" environment, Family Time helps children develop musical skills, as well as the social skills necessary to share, take turns, and strengthen the emotional bond among

Sue Dengate to talk to Hills parents about food labels

A THOROUGH read of the nutrition labels on the food you eat may just be the key to a calm, happy family.

Author of the Fed Up book series Sue Dengate will pay a visit to Castle Hill this Thursday to talk about how food additives can affect the health and behaviour of children.

Ms Dengate has studied the effects of food chemicals for more than 20 years and is currently travelling around the country holding talks on the matter.

She said many parents are not aware that food additives can cause many problems in their children such as

Sue Dengate to talk to Hills parents about food labels

A THOROUGH read of the nutrition labels on the food you eat may just be the key to a calm, happy family.

Author of the Fed Up book series Sue Dengate will pay a visit to Castle Hill this Thursday to talk about how food additives can affect the health and behaviour of children.

Ms Dengate has studied the effects of food chemicals for more than 20 years and is currently travelling around the country holding talks on the matter.

She said many parents are not aware that food additives can cause many problems in their children such as

Smocks from Kellyville to grieving mums with love

HUNDREDS of beautifully crafted baby gowns have been given to grieving mums by members of the Smocking Arts Guild of NSW.

The We Care program also provides hospital gowns for premature babies.

It’s a labour of love according to the guild’s president Bev McPherson, of Kellyville.

“Last year we provided 561 little smocked dresses, 187 hospital gowns and 189 cuddle rugs,” she said.

She said making the items for the We Care program was a lovely thing for members to do and was therapeutic for some.

“It is a traumatic time for parents, when a baby dies, the last

Stranger danger warning after North Rocks incidents

STUDENTS are being urged not to accept lifts from strangers following two incidents in North Rocks.

Police are also warning parents not to offer lifts to children they don’t know after two teenage girls were offered lifts by women in separate incidents just days apart.

A 13-year old girl was walking to school along Barclay Rd on Monday, August 2, when a woman drove up alongside her near the Perry St lights by Muirfield Golf Course at about 8am and offered her a lift.

The girl refused and alerted staff when she reached school.

The woman was described as

High rope adventure course proposed at West Pennant Hills

The Tree Top Walk at Ourimbah State Forest is the type of activity being proposed for Cumberland State Forest at West Pennant Hills. Photo: Forest NSW, Howard Spencer.

A HIGH ropes course and a canopy walk has been proposed for the Cumberland State Forest at West Pennant Hills.

Forests NSW is calling for expressions of interest to run the commercial venture in the popular state forest.

Deadline for submissions is this Friday.

Forest Resources Minister Paul McLeay said the venture would attract more visitors and bring new jobs to the area.

“The proposed course would allow regular visitors to

State Government reduces building heights at West End

BUILDING heights will be reduced in parts of the South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood Plan under the state government’s conditional approval of the draft plan.
Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe reduced heights in precinct 7 - the area between Riverside Dr and Montague Rd between Forbes and just past Beesley streets, from 12 storeys to seven in residential zones.
Mixed used buildings in the precinct will be four storeys maximum, a reduction of four storeys.

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Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has labelled Mr Hinchliffe as ``short-sighted’’ and said the decision contradicts the State Government’s own South East Queensland

Big Bad Bill from Castle Hill mourned

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http://hills-shire-times.whereilive.com.au/photos/gallery/funeral-for-big-bad-bill-of-castle-hill/BILL Lawrence was a shy retiring man at home at the Anglican Retirement Villages but on ABC radio 702 he was “Big Bad Bill from Castle Hill”.

Breakfast announcer Adam Spencer and his audience took the pensioner to their hearts as a regular contestant in the Voice from the Vault competition.

Mr Lawrence became such a favourite over the years that often the two would just chat on air.

They were due for another on-air catch-up last week but Mr Lawrence died in the early hours of July 27. His funeral was yesterday.

See more photos at

High rope adventure course proposed at West Pennant Hills

A HIGH ropes course and a canopy walk has been proposed for the Cumberland State Forest at West Pennant Hills.

Forests NSW is calling for expressions of interest to run the commercial venture in the popular state forest.

Deadline for submissions is this Friday.

Forest Resources Minister Paul McLeay said the venture would attract more visitors and bring new jobs to the area.

“The proposed course would allow regular visitors to see it from a completely different angle, as well as attracting new adventure-seekers to the site,” he said.

The proposed course would cover 3ha in the 40ha forest.

Ourimbah

John Mangos to speak at Castle Hill RSL's Jeans for Genes day

Chloe Boston models her denim nappy.

Families are proudly denimstrating they care at Castle Hill RSL by attending Castle Hill RSL’s Mums, Dads and Bubs August seminar.

The next Mums, Dads n’ Bubs Club meeting on Fridayis dedicated to Jeans for Genes Day and Children’s Medical Research Institute ambassadors John and Tanny Mangos will be the guest speakers.

Children, such as Chloe Boston, will even model denim nappies.

There will also be free Huggies showbags and lucky door prizes given away on the day. Jeans For Genes merchandise will also be available to buy.

Come along dressed in denim