Many people dream of moving to a property for the peace and quiet of country life, but when the third biggest highway in the state is moved almost to your front door that dream soon turns into a nightmare.

This is exactly what happened to the McFadyen family of Trewilga Park when work started on the Trewilga realignment project 18 months ago. The Newell Highway was moved 100m closer to their house leaving them with no privacy, and with 2,800 vehicles passing on the highway per day, drastically increased noise levels.

“Our pool is in our front yard and my four teenage daughters no longer feel comfortable going for a swim,” said Phil McFadyen. “At night we have head beams shining into our house.” For his wife, Ronnie, the constant noise is a real problem as she is home schooling their children.

The family ‘welcomed’ Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister Melinda Pavey last Friday at the completion of the upgrade at Trewilga with a home-made banner reading: “Please help us Minister! We would like a fence!”

“We’ve been to every man,” said Phil of their endless battle to get compensation for the inconvenience. Making a direct appeal to the Minister and RMS Regional Director was one more step to ensure their side of the story is heard.

Phil said the RMS had offered them hay bales as an interim fence until the newly planted trees had grown, but they were not prepared to maintain or replace the bales over a five-year period.

Minister Pavey promised to go and have a look at their property “and we will come back to you,” she told the McFadyen couple.

By Maggi Barnard

After almost 40 years of addiction, all she saw in the mirror was a sad, angry, overweight, unemployable and ugly person with no self-respect. “I hated that reflection.” Fast forward 20 months and you meet 52-year-old Robyn Lewis – a picture of health and fitness. She has found a purpose in life and many people guess her to be six or seven years younger than her age.

You’d look far to find a more contrasting before and after story which Robyn is now using to motivate others tackle the long road to recovery to living a fulfilling life. “I grew up in a very violent home with an alcoholic father. I only found out after his death that he was also the victim of domestic violence as a child.”

At 15 Robyn turned to drugs and started using marijuana, which was followed by drinking and smoking. “At 17 I turned to amphetamines and at 18 ran away from home.”

She had a relationship with an older man, also a drug user, “and he got me into needles, which I continued for the next 35 years.”

In 2009 her partner at the time was murdered and she was prescribed an anti-psychotic drug. “I got addicted to that for four years and picked up 30kg.” She was also on ice for 15 years, had developed a gambling addiction and was
drinking heavily.

“I was a complete wreck, suicidal with no self-esteem or self-respect, and very angry. I had tried all types of rehabilitation, counselling, doctors and psychiatrists. None of them worked for me.”

“Those people have no clue what it’s like when you’ve been on ice for five days not eating, drinking or sleeping. I always felt they patronised me. I had no respect for them.”

The turnaround came when her new GP introduced her to the Smart Recovery program. “This program did not label me, there was no judgement and I managed my own recovery with the support of the group.” “The weekly meetings focused on the last seven days and the next seven days. Through self-management I reached a point one day when I realised I did not need any drugs and threw it all in the bin.”

Robyn has been clean for 20 months and her latest ‘addictions’ are being fit and healthy, and doing speaking engagements to tell her story.

“I have wasted almost 40 years of my life. I feel like I need to tell my story in order to help others. So many people have been really helpful. I’ve had so much reaction and never realised just how big the problem is.” Robyn receives a lot of calls and emails from family members who are concerned about their loved ones. “People’s stories and tears keep me motivated. I will never go back.”

If you would like to hear Robyn she will be the speaker at the Canowindra Phoenix International Women’s Day event in Canowindra on 8th March. Tickets are available by phoning 6344 1846. On 17th March she will be in Bogan Gate during Mental Health Prevent Week.

She has started a Smart Recovery group in West Wyalong where she lives. The group meets every Tuesday from 5:30 to 7pm. Contact her on 0403 523 711 or dunromin1965@hotmail.com

By Maggi Barnard

The missing 110km/h link on the Newell Highway has been completed and was officially opened by the Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister last week. The $36 million upgrade at Trewilga (just north of Alectown) means the speed limit on the Newell Highway will be 110km/h all the way from Forbes to Gilgandra.

Minister Melinda Pavey said the roads budget in the Central West had tripled since 2011. The work at Trewilga involved the widening and realigning of 6.5km to improve safety. In addittion a 1.3km northbound overtaking lane was built, as well as a bus turning area at Baldry-Peak Hill Road and a truck parking area on the eastern side of the highway.

The Minister mentioned the importance of the addition of the centre space in the middle of the road to give motorists extra time for correction. “It is great to see this initiative being rolled out so strongly on the Newell.”

A special guest at the event was 90-year old Laurie Narris who grew up in Trewilga and remember when the Newell Highway was first built in 1935. “I was seven years old and used to ride five miles to school on my bike opening seven gates along the way.” He clearly remembers how he saw a steam engine for the very first time working on the road, as
well as the two teams of ten horses each driven by a man helping to build the road.

“We all laughed when our teacher said there would come a day when it would be a job trying to cross the highway…”

By Maggi Barnard

Enduring Powers Of Attorney

Powers of attorney have been around since 1500 or thereabouts. An enduring power of attorney authorises another person chosen by you to make decisions for you on legal and financial matters. The main difference between a general power of attorney and an enduring power of attorney is that the latter remains valid even if you become mentally incompetent.

You can limit the powers that you give to your attorney, and you can limit it in time to be revoked at any time, provided you are mentally competent to do so.

You can appoint one or more persons. If you choose more than one attorney, you must decide whether they can act jointly or severally. Jointly means they must act together. Severally means each attorney can make decisions by themselves and bind all other appointed attorneys. There are no set rules on whom you can appoint but there are rules against the attorney giving gifts to themselves. Attorneys are trustees and they must not intermingle the principal’s monies with their own. Breach of these rules might see criminal prosecutions.

An enduring power must be witnessed by a Solicitor, Barrister or the Registrar of the Court. In each case the witness must not work for, or have any close connection with, the person appointed as the attorney. The power of attorney lasts until you die; you cancel it (you have to be mentally competent to do this) by tearing it up and notifying the attorney that it is cancelled, you become bankrupt; or a court cancels it.

This is a complex legal field and is becoming an essential legal document. Feel free to call us for any legal matters.

It’s been 10 years since Greg and Tracy Kearney have been burning the midnight oil at Johnson’s Bakery. They are ready to celebrate this milestone with the community next Friday, 23rd February with a day of festivities. The day includes a pie eating competition, spinning wheel, lucky door prizes, give aways and cake of course, while Petie Pie will also make an appearance. Remember to get your entries in for the pie eating competition before it’s too late.

The bakery is looking spic and span for the big occasion with a brand new look after renovating work done over the past 18 months with the help of Bec Thomson of Saint Flo Design. The work included a coat of new paint, new flooring and lighting.

“A lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into the past 10 years,” said Tracy, “and we would like to thank our friends, family and staff for helping us along the way, and most of all our valued customers for their support.

Greg are I are over the moon that we have made it this far.”