By The Westmead Institute for Medical Research

Wednesday 29 September is World Heart Day – a global day of focus on heart health and cardiovascular disease. The Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) is rising to the challenge with an online drive to help accelerate pioneering cardiac research. Every dollar raised in the countdown to World Heart Day will be instantly matched, driving every dollar further and immediately doubling the impact.

Associate Professor James Chong, a Cardiologist at Westmead Hospital and Co-Director of WIMR’s Centre for Cardiac Research, is leading a dedicated team striving to develop a radical new treatment for heart disease – using innovative stem cell technologies to grow new heart muscle and create a ‘patch’ to repair damaged and failing hearts.

For the first time we could begin to talk about a ‘cure’ for heart disease, one that could eliminate the need for heart transplants within the next decade. This is a gamechanger that has the potential to not only save millions of lives around the world, but to also save billions of dollars in health care costs.

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in Australia. Tragically, it is responsible for causing one in four deaths. This means that on average, cardiovascular disease takes a life every 12 minutes; that’s 118 people every day. New approaches to treatment are urgently needed.

Associate Professor Chong says, “Our research into a new way of treating heart failure is extremely promising, and I am incredibly excited about progressing this project to clinical trial very soon. We have government backing to be able to move to clinical trials. However, there is more critical work still to be done in the lab, and that’s where we need community support.”

WIMR aims to raise $50,000 throughout September. Every donation made up to World Heart Day on Wednesday 29 September will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia.

That means every contribution could help unlock an additional $50,000 and could see $100,000 directed to accelerating progress on Associate Professor James Chong’s vital research.

Together we can help transform the way heart disease is treated in Australia and around the world, from right at the heart of Western Sydney.

• Find out more and make a personal contribution, visit https://wimr-world-heart-day.raisely.com/
• Join other Western Sydney business leaders and organisations showing their support – spread the word and encourage donations from colleagues, staff and customers.

To discuss how your business could get involved and show your support for breakthrough research underway at WIMR contact:

Amanda Thompson, Strategic Partnerships Manager, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research Foundation, amanda.thompson@sydney.edu.au

J&J Metro Air Conditioning would like to introduce you to brand-new technology in Australia to help protect against COVID in your home or office.

As seen on 7NEWS, the Aerus Pure & Clean system helps win the battle against COVID by killing up to 99.96% of airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus particles in three minutes. The UVC technology also helps to kill virus particles on surfaces within 7 hours.

J&J Metro Air Conditioning have secured exclusive rights to supply the Aerus Pure & Clean System in Australia and they are currently taking orders for their first batch of units to land in Australia.

Stocks are very limited, and demand is high, so enquire today for a full price list and system specifications.

It is time to help your team get back to the workplace in a safe way. Aerus Pure & Clean can be used in a variety of commercial businesses including:

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For over ten years, Active Pure Technology® has undergone extensive independent lab testing showing the technology is verified to significantly reduce contaminants and pathogens such as:

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Has lockdown left you feeling exhausted and unmotivated? Are you struggling to show up as your best self and worrying that you're not achieving as much as you should?

It's harder to be at the top of your game now more than ever before, but the pandemic shouldn't take over your life. We need to find ways to lift ourselves, regain control of our time and combat fatigue.

That's why we're offering a live-streamed workshop with practical techniques to help you feel re-energised, refocused, and productive in your work and home life.

In this one-hour microlearning workshop on Friday 17th September, you’ll:

• Learn the high impact Pomodoro productivity technique
• Understand why it is critical not to be so hard on yourself
• How to reset expectations with your manager
• Discover an easy way to flick the mental switch and feel motivated again
• Get practical tools you can start implementing straight away
• Have a chance to have your specific questions answered by Diana

Time is your most valuable asset. Don’t waste any more of it feeling exhausted and unmotivated.

Secure your seat now for Friday's exciting live training event.

WHO IS IT FOR

High-achieving leaders, managers and team members who want to:

• Restore their sense of achievement and self-worth

• Better juggle competing demands at work and home

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• Be the best versions of themselves EVERY day

• Feel more in control of their day and mood

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• 45-minute live-streamed workshop

• 15-minutes live Q&A

• Printable Action Pack with tools, techniques and templates

• 30-day access to a recording of the session

MEET YOUR FACILITATOR

This highly interactive workshop is presented by Diana Tapp, CEO of World Class Teams. Diana is Australia’s #1 High Performance Team Consultant and author of the book “Unleash Your Team's Potential”.

WHAT OTHERS SAY

"The tools & techniques Di gave us worked! Di is intelligent, experienced, inspiring, influential and so much more".

Brodie Collins, GM of Global Accounts, MONDIALE FREIGHT SERVICES

"Di, you were first class and I got so much out of the course. I look forward to now implementing and utilising the tools I learnt".

Paul Mercieca, Project Leader, LION

Limited places, so get in quickly to secure your seat.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS now or for more information please contact World Class teams on 1300 085 248 or email info@worldclassteams.com.

Western Sydney’s world-class dining precinct, the $2.7 billion Parramatta Square, is set to welcome two new eateries as City of Parramatta Council launches its search for innovative food and beverage entrepreneurs.

Expressions of interest are now open for experienced operators to run a café in Council’s iconic new community, cultural and civic building, 5 Parramatta Square, and a restaurant with al fresco dining in the refurbished Town Hall, known as 7 Parramatta Square.

New images released today offer a first look at the soon-to-come dining hotspots, which will serve up healthy, modern cuisine to thousands of workers, residents and visitors each day.

“Parramatta Square is a bustling dining precinct in the heart of the CBD, boasting some of the best restaurants in Australia, and the food offerings at 5 & 7 Parramatta Square will be just as fantastic,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.

“We’re looking for exceptional food and beverage operators to transform 5 & 7 Parramatta Square into foodie destinations, dishing out healthy meals and memorable dining experiences in the centre of global Sydney.

“We are excited to partner with gutsy and dynamic food entrepreneurs to create vibrant, accessible and welcoming spaces where people from all walks of life can meet and eat.”

5 & 7 Parramatta Square are set to open mid-2022.

The $130 million 5 Parramatta Square will contain a state-of-the-art public library, cultural spaces, and community meeting rooms. The ground-floor café will offer a healthy menu throughout the day, with a mix of full service a la carte, fast table service, counter service, and grab and go.

The revitalised Town Hall will feature a new function and event space, meeting rooms, and an upgraded Main Hall. Serving a creative menu, the restaurant in Jubilee Hall will offer all-day al fresco dining in a heritage setting, with the potential for a licensed bar.

Parramatta Square is a three-hectare precinct in the Parramatta CBD with award-winning architecture, commercial towers, premium-grade office space, civic facilities, retailers, first-class restaurants, and a large welcoming public domain. 

Submissions close 5pm Monday 13 September. You can access the EOI through Tenderlink here.

Top law firms, universities and business groups have joined City of Parramatta Council’s bold bid to transform the Parramatta CBD into one of Australia’s key legal hubs.

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer, NSW Member for Parramatta Dr Geoff Lee MP and other members of the new Parramatta Legal & Justice Coalition will begin advocating for a permanent Supreme Court presence, new law school, and more jobs in the Parramatta CBD.

“Parramatta is a rapidly growing powerhouse in the centre of global Sydney and we have brought together this powerful coalition to transform the CBD into one of the country’s largest and most influential justice and legal precincts,” Cr Dwyer said.

“The people of Greater Sydney deserve equal access to legal and justice services. We will work closely with our partners to advocate for a permanent Supreme Court presence in Sydney’s Central River City, as well as a new law school and start-up innovation hub to nurture local talent.

“Realising our vision for an expanded Justice Precinct in the CBD will be game-changing, attracting more than 2,200 permanent legal jobs, boosting the local economy by $350 million a year, and tripling the annual number of cases heard to 75,000.”

NSW Member for Parramatta Dr Geoff Lee said: “Being the geographical centre of Sydney, Parramatta is ideally located to service the legal needs of Western Sydney. Western Sydney will grow by another million residents over the next 20 years which will require expanded legal services. Whilst Parramatta is the largest legal precinct outside the Sydney CBD, there is now the opportunity to plan for its future. I commend City of Parramatta Council for recognising and promoting the legal hub.”

Parramatta & District Law Society President Steve McAuley was elected Chair of the Parramatta Legal & Justice Coalition at its inaugural meeting, recently held online.

Coalition members include representatives from the University of New England Law School; law firms Coleman Greig Lawyers, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers, Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers, Frank Law, and Shephard & Shephard Solicitors; the Parramatta & District Law Society; and business groups Parramatta Chamber of Commerce, Business Western Sydney, and Property Council of Australia.

Shephard & Shephard Solicitors is Parramatta’s oldest continuous family-operated law firm, opening its first local office in 1908.

The firm’s principal Michael Shephard said: “I have watched the dramatic growth of the Parramatta legal precinct with great pride over the last 50 years. That growth is understandable given the precinct’s more relevant and convenient location for the people of Greater Sydney and the whole of NSW. I am keen to assist the Council’s new coalition in making the precinct even more relevant and useful.”

City of Parramatta rangers and parking officers have taken on a vital new role during lockdown, delivering Meals on Wheels to vulnerable residents across the Local Government Area.

Thirteen rangers and parking officers have stepped in to help with the critical community service after volunteer numbers decreased due to the lockdown.

“The current restrictions have presented many challenges for all of us, but they have been especially hard for our most vulnerable residents,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.

“Council is doing what it can to support the community through this difficult period, whether it’s through financial relief or providing extra support services.

“Rangers and parking officers can get a bad rap, but their role is to look after the community, and that’s exactly what they’re doing here. I’d like to thank them for helping to ensure our crucial Meals on Wheels service can continue uninterrupted, despite the challenging circumstances.”

Under the leadership of COVID marshal Yvette Gray, who is also a Council parking officer, the team of rangers is helping to deliver nearly 3000 meals to residents each month.

“It’s been wonderful to be able to serve our community during this difficult time. In some cases, we might be the only person our Meals on Wheels recipients have face-to-face contact with all week. It’s a joy to be able to brighten someone’s day while providing a vital service – and they get just as much joy from seeing us,” Ms Gray said.

Also among the team are brothers Brad and Josh Moncaster, who are both parking officers. The pair, who also delivered Meals on Wheels during last year’s lockdown, said they enjoy being able to help the community in a different way.

“It’s really great to be able to help people who need it – I can see how appreciative they are,” Brad said.

Council is also helping to provide other valuable food services to the community, including supporting OzHarvest Hamper Hubs in Telopea and Granville.

It recently launched its Help a Neighbour calling cards to encourage neighbours to safely check in on each other during lockdown, along with a $2.9 million support package for residents and businesses.

For more information about Council’s COVID response, visit cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au

Based in Parramatta, Matthews Folbigg Lawyers offers a diverse range of legal services to small and large companies across Australia. They have a large Debt Recovery group that has extensive experience in collections across many differing industry types. Matthews Folbigg Lawyers also have the largest specialist insolvency practice in Greater Western Sydney and can deal with the full extent of debt recovery from issuing demands to dealing with insolvency practitioners on behalf of creditors.

Matthews Folbigg Lawyers is offering WSBC members a free letter of demand for all instructions received before October 31st 2021 in respect of simple outstanding debts.

Any WSBC member wishing to take advantage of this exclusive offer should simply provide instructions by contacting Anica Cunanan on 9635 7966 or email anicac@matthewsfolbigg.com.au. Matthews Folbigg Lawyers will then prepare for you, FREE of CHARGE a Letter of Demand to be sent on your behalf to your outstanding debtor.

Letters of Demand are the first step in the debt recovery process for credit managers. A good letter of demand sets out clearly the details of the debt that is owed, the amount owing, steps for payment, and consequences for default. In Matthews Folbigg Lawyers experience, a letter of demand issued by a law firm can have a greater impact with debtors who may be ignoring the need for payment of outstanding simple debts.

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Sydney’s Western Parkland City is set to become Australia’s biggest hyper-connected, future-focussed Smart City with the release of the Smart Western City Program at the NSW Smart Places Summit.

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the Program will catapult Western Sydney to the 22nd Century and leverage Sydney’s new ‘hi-tech’ city of Bradfield; making sure the benefits of today’s technologies are realised and building strong foundations to support growth and innovation.

“Digital connectivity is essential infrastructure. It facilitates education, employment opportunities, entertainment and service delivery. It will enable the city of Bradfield to become an innovative ecosystem at the Aerotropolis, and it is also the powerhouse of smart and connected solutions for communities; attracting investment, sparking innovation and supporting knowledge industries.

“The Smart Western City Program sets out steps we can take now to secure a digitally connected future; creating a City that is a virtual 0.03-second city as well as a 30-minute city,” said Minister Ayres.

The Smart Western City Program was co-created over 24 months with industry, local government and State Government. It delivers on one commitment as part of the 20-year Western Sydney city deal and covers eight local council areas - Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Penrith and Wollondilly.

“The Program lays out a game plan for what we need to do to address the digital divide and unleash the smart potential of the West,” said Minister Ayres.

Minister Ayres also comments that work was progressing in earnest in the Western Parkland City, with funding from the Smart Places Acceleration Program.

“We have already contributed NSW Government funds to pilots exploring the potential of smart solutions.

“This includes a trial to pilot innovative technologies and digital systems to collect and collate data on kerb space allocation and use in Liverpool. This data will help us better manage kerbsides, providing opportunities for better active and public transport options and better safety outcomes for pedestrians and cyclists.”

“This is just one way smart solutions will deliver for the Western City. We envisage a future where smart technologies support sustainability and efficient resource use, grow communities and allow the City and its people to set the pace for innovation internationally,” said Minister Ayres.

The NSW Smart Places Summit will be hosted virtually on 6 August and will provide an opportunity for Government and industry to collaborate on best practice ways to deliver outcomes for people using smart solutions.

To view the agenda for the Smart Places Summit and to register your attendance click here. 

The City of Parramatta is driving forward its ambitious redevelopment of the iconic Riverside Theatres after Council approved the next steps to progress its new concept proposal.

The Riverside Theatres Redevelopment Concept Proposal outlines Council’s vision for a major upgrade and significant expansion of Riverside Theatres, which includes new venues and increased capacity at the existing site.

Council agreed last night to begin exploring design options, developing functional specifications and validating cost estimates.

“Riverside Theatres is the heart and soul of performance culture in Western Sydney and for more than 30 years has attracted some of the world’s best artists, nurtured local talent and showcased the diverse and vibrant stories of Sydney’s Central River City,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.

“We are ready to take Riverside into the future and are excited to reinvigorate plans for its redevelopment.

“Council remains committed to investing the $100 million generated by the sale of land for the Powerhouse Parramatta into a redeveloped Riverside Theatres. We look forward to working with partners in the government and private sectors to breathe new life into the iconic theatre.

“Our vision is that Riverside Theatres will become the centrepiece of Parramatta’s revitalised arts and culture precinct: a hub of performance excellence that attracts talent and investment, complements the Powerhouse Parramatta, and welcomes the whole community.”

Riverside Theatres’ incoming director Craig McMaster said the aim of the redevelopment is to build on the Riverside legacy.

“We are creating a centre for living culture and aspire to make the theatres accessible and inclusive for all,” Mr McMaster said.

“The performing arts in Western Sydney have been growing significantly over the past 30 years and we need a world-class space that will nurture local culture, support performance development, and provide the capacity needed for the growing Central River City.”

The Riverside redevelopment is an important community priority reflected in Council’s Cultural Plan for Parramatta’s CBD 2017-2022.

Council proposes bringing a Riverside redevelopment scheme, budget and operating model to Councillors for endorsement early next year.

The Council owned and operated theatre, which opened in 1988, attracts more than 180,000 patrons to up to 1000 performances and events every year.

Riverside Theatres is home to the National Theatre of Parramatta, which cultivates Western Sydney’s next generation of artists, performers and creators, and FORM Dance Projects, a presenter of independent contemporary dance. It also offers an extensive educational program for young people and people with disability.