Local People

Rotary Honour for Hills Community Champion by Greg Martin To Rotarians around the world, being named a Paul Harris Fellow is one of the highest honours a member can receive comparable to a Victoria Cross for valour, an Academy Award, a Nobel Peace Prize or soccer’s Ballon d’Or. Paul Harris was the American lawyer who […]

Emma Hoskins has been a busy young woman — so busy, in fact, that by the time she turns 16 in September, she will already have made a remarkable contribution to her community and culture. That contribution has now been recognised with Emma being nominated for the 2026 NSW Women of the Year Awards in […]

by Greg Martin We were returning to home base after interviewing multi award-winning Munro’s Quality Meats proprietor Craig Munro when I quipped to our ace photographer, Kathryn Johnston, that Craig was certainly the “Baron of Beef”. That sparked a rapid-fire swapping of nicknames for Craig Tsar of Sausages, King of Kransky, Prince of Pork, Baron […]

On my way home after interviewing Jill Reardon, my thoughts turned to Leo Tolstoy and his huge and hugely successful novel, War and Peace. You would nearly have to have been a weightlifter to pick up the book which, depending on the publisher, runs anywhere between 1,200 and 1,400 pages! Such was the wealth of […]

By Julie Ryan After almost 50 years in medicine, respected Castle Hill GP Dr Robert Elliott is retiring, bringing to a close an extraordinary career dedicated to caring for generations of local families across the Hills District. Dr Elliott’s journey into medicine was anything but traditional. Leaving school at just 15 years of age, his […]

By Lorna Gordon Advika and Rihanna Ambassadors have worked on projects to connect with the young people of the community. The young people of the Hills will be happy to know that their thoughts and feelings about what is happening in our area is being represented to our local council by two very capable young […]

By Greg Martin When she’s not attending girl guides meetings and functions, Diane Williams always finds time to potter in the spectacular gardens surrounding the Williams home in Bilpin. The gardens attract a large variety of birds who always find a bite to eat compliments of their hosts! Nearly five decades down the track, Diane […]

By Christine Rau When the producers of ABC Radio’s triple j Hottest 100 reviewed their 2024 countdown, they were alarmed to see only 29 Australian songs had made the list representing just 18 Australian artists. In contrast, 24 of the top 100 songs came from only four US acts. It was the weakest Australian showing […]

By Lorna Gordon Ri (right) with Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne (left) at the launch of the Youth Passport Quest A new initiative is helping young people across The Hills Shire get out, get involved and discover everything their community has to offer. The Hills Youth Passport Quest, developed by young people for young people, is […]

By Lorna Gordon Members of The Inner Wheel Club supporting local organisation Super Tees, which provide special garments for children in hospital. Inner Wheel Australia is part of an international organisation which brings women together with a shared goal to build friendships give service and make a meaningful difference in their communities. The Inner Wheel […]

By Lorna Gordon From the corporate boardroom to a crafters dream, Debbie splits her talents over two very different careers. We often meet people in everyday life whose roles seem straightforward—teachers, delivery drivers, or council workers. Yet, many of them have another story to tell, a side hustle or passion project that transforms them into […]

Blacktown City Council is offering scholarships to the value of $1,500 to 15 local tertiary students. In announcing the scholarships, Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said; “Council is proud to champion the diversity, talent, and achievements of our tertiary students as they pursue their chosen fields. “We know that support from family, friends and […]