also known as “Lambo Guy” is giving away $150,000 of Coles vouchers at two Western Sydney Coles supermarkets on Tuesday The move follows similar giveaways in Melbourne with many hoping he will soon share this same generosity in Perth and Brisbane Mr Portelli will complete his first giveaway at Coles Penrith before travelling to Coles Fairfield West to complete a second giveaway at 12pm Get the first look at the digital newspaper curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It’s the second giveaway the billionaire has completed this week handing out $80,000 at Coles Glenorchy in Tasmania he gave away over $75,000 at Coles Munno Para and Port Adelaide and around $80,000 worth of gift vouchers to Coles shoppers around Victoria There were long queues outside Coles in Munno Para where Adrian Portelli was giving out vouchers Credit: Instagram “Sydney share to those that need help,” Mr Portelli wrote on his Instagram “I’m putting down a total $150,000 tab at these locations tomorrow.” Mr Portelli said on Instagram he had been “grilled” for trying to do something nice Billionaire Adrian Portelli plans to give away $150,000 in Coles vouchers in western Sydney on Tuesday. Credit: InstagramIf Mr Portelli plans to conduct similar giveaways in Western Australia or Queensland waits to be seen, but if he does, locals can expect long queues at locations as Australians do it tough ahead of Christmas. Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T Picture by NSW PolicePolice have cracked a freelance 'muscle for hire' gang in Sydney's south-west that was involved in shootings All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe group was hired and operated by organised criminal networks In July State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad detectives established Strike Force Currambene to investigate organised criminal acts These incidents include an alleged public place shooting at Austral on July 25 and a home invasion and kidnapping at Edmonson Park on August 14 Multiple search warrants were executed at homes in Fairfield West During the searches detectives seized ketamine knives and other weapons along with cash and items allegedly stolen during the home invasion and kidnapping During the searches detectives located and seized ketamine Picture by NSW PoliceThree men - two 20-year-old men from Fairfield West and Mt Druitt and an 18-year-old man from Lakemba - were arrested Detectives will allege in court the Fairfield West man led the gang and accepted tasks from organised crime networks including shootings and kidnappings The arrests are a 'major blow' to organised crime in the state Picture by NSW PoliceAll three were refused bail on August 20 Detective superintendent Jason Box said the dismantling of the group was a "major blow" to organised crime in NSW "No one should think they can commit these serious offences such as shooting and kidnapping and avoid any consequences for their actions," he said syndicates and groups and hold them accountable for these dangerous violent acts" Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Carla Mascarenhas is the NSW correspondent covering breaking news, state politics and investigations. She is based in Sydney. Contact her on carla.mascarenhas@austcommunitymedia.com.au Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy home invasions in southwest Sydney Matt ShrivellThe Nightly3 Min Read22 Aug 2024Updated22 Aug 2024Police have arrested a gang of thugs accused of shootings Credit: AAPLike something straight out of a Hollywood movie police have arrested and charged a group of men accused of being ‘muscle for hire’ involved in serious criminal acts including shootings and home invasions Criminal groups squad detectives have charged three men for their alleged roles as a ‘freelance gang’ being hired to conduct serious criminal acts such as shootings home invasions and kidnappings across southwest Sydney State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad detectives established Strike Force Currambene to investigate organised criminal acts including shootings kidnapping and drug supply allegedly being carried out by a group that was hired by and operating on behalf of organised criminal networks Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.These incidents include an alleged public place shooting at Austral on Thursday 25 July 2024 and a home invasion and kidnapping at Edmonson Park on Wednesday 14 August 2024 strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – executed multiple search warrants at homes in Fairfield West Mt Druitt and St Clair at about 6am on Wednesday Three men – two 20-year-old men from Fairfield West and Mt Druitt and an 18-year-old man from Lakemba – were arrested and taken back to Fairfield Police Station Campsie Police Station and Mt Druitt Police Station The Fairfield West man was charged with special aggravated break with intent to commit serious indictable offence armed with a dangerous weapon kidnap in company with the intent to commit serious indictable offence occasioning actual bodily harm knowingly direct activities of a criminal group and participating in the criminal group contribute criminal activity The Mt Druitt man was charged with concealing serious indictable offence and participating criminal group contributingto criminal activity. All three were refused bail to appear before court yesterday with the Fairfield West man appearing before Fairfield Local Court, the Lakemba man appearing before Bankstown Local Court and the Mt Druitt man appearing before Mt Druitt Local Court. Detectives will allege in court the Fairfield West man led the gang and accepted tasks from organised crime networks including public place shootings and kidnappings. Detective Superintendent Jason Box, Criminal Groups Squad Commander, said police will continue to investigate these groups committing these serious acts of violence. “The dismantling of this group is a major blow to organised crime in this state and a relief for the people of southwest Sydney. “No one should think they can commit these serious offences, such as shooting and kidnapping and avoid any consequences for their actions”. “We will continue to target these gangs, syndicates and groups and hold them accountable for these dangerous violent acts”. Det Supt Box said. Investigations under Strike Force Currambene will continue. Western Sydney University is set to launch Western Sydney University – Fairfield Connect in the heart of Fairfield – making university more accessible for the people of western Sydney and bringing it closer to where they live and work Western Sydney University – Fairfield Connect will be located at 54 Smart Street in the Fairfield CBD and will be a tech-enabled place for study and engagement for both current and future students as well as the broader community It is expected to commence operating by the start of 2024.Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AO and Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Barney Glover AO made the announcement joined by Federal Minister for Education and Member for Blaxland and Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Member for McMahon Chris Bowen MP.The University’s announcement of Western Sydney University – Fairfield Connect follows the release of the interim report by the Australian Universities Accord panel as part of its comprehensive review of higher education in Australia.Among the panel’s five immediate recommendations is boosting the number of university Study Hubs in regional and outer metropolitan areas to make higher education more accessible for all Australians.At Western Sydney University – Fairfield Connect students will be able to access computers high-speed internet and video-conferencing facilities for learning as well as resources and support services for adult literacy There will also be a strong emphasis on engaging with the community through a number of the University’s programs including the Launch Pad business incubator its Academy program for high achievers and its pathways initiative which will all have a presence at the site Artists ImpressionVice-Chancellor and President said the University is pleased to announce Western Sydney University – Fairfield Connect which will add to the University’s established presence throughout the fast-growing western Sydney region.“Western Sydney University – Fairfield Connect makes university study more visible and more attainable As Minister Clare himself has said: ‘If you can’t see it A hub conveniently located in their own neighbourhood puts the opportunity of a university education firmly in the sights of future students,” said Professor Glover.“It also removes barriers to study such as a lack of transport or a long commute to campus when we know students are already juggling equally-important commitments like family and work.”Professor Jennifer Westacott AO said Western Sydney University is passionate about ensuring the rate of higher education attainment in western Sydney – one of the most socially economically and culturally diverse regions in Australia – keeps pace with other parts of Sydney.“With 65 per cent of our students the first in their family to attend university we know the life-changing impact that successfully completing a university degree has – not only on students but on their families and broader communities,” said Professor Westacott.“As an anchor institution for western Sydney our University plays a vital role in significantly increasing the number of highly-skilled graduates from all backgrounds needed to help drive Australia’s future economic growth We must ensure that all hard-working and talented students who want to go to university get that opportunity and – most critically – can share in our nation’s prosperity.” Amanda Whibley, Manager, Media and Public Relations. Coeliac disease is not a food allergy or intolerance It’s an autoimmune disease that makes the body attack the small intestine if gluten (a protein found in wheat since the liar has the great advantage of knowing beforehand what the audience wishes or expects to hear.” Distinguished Professor George Williams AO has shared his thoughts on the importance of listening to students and championing them for success – including engaging with them on social media Launch your career at UWS Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Four men in their early 20s have been arrested after NSW Police say they found more than 20 kilograms of MDMA and other prohibited drugs worth more than $4 million at two homes in Fairfield West Police said a search warrant was executed at a home on Hawkesbury Street in the suburb about 1.30pm on Tuesday 11 kilograms of MDMA and some electronic devices were allegedly located were arrested and taken to Liverpool police station Four men have been arrested after police allegedly seized more than 20 kilograms of prohibited drugs worth more than $4 million at two homes in Fairfield West police searched a home on Vancouver Place in Fairfield West 2.5 kilograms of cocaine and about 40 grams of a crystal substance suspected to be methylamphetamine were allegedly seized The two 22-year-olds and one 21-year-old were charged with two counts of supplying a prohibited drug more than a large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity The other 21-year-old was charged with five counts of supplying a prohibited drug more than a large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity All were refused bail and appeared on Wednesday at Fairfield Local Court They are due to reappear at the same court on Monday The men were four of 18 people arrested in south-west Sydney on Tuesday for various drug supply firearms and proceeds of crime offences as part of Taskforce Erebus which was set up in response to the killings of three gang figures in the past month which will target associates and facilitators of organised crime beyond Sydney Detective Superintendent Jason Weinstein said the “tentacles” of illicit activity extended beyond the city to the state’s regions we’ve succeeded in demobilising a significant drug supply syndicate operating from Sydney’s south-west but also know the tentacles of illicit activity stretch far beyond our cities “NSW attracts around 40 per cent of Australia’s national organised crime population – many of whom attempt to evade the attention of police by operating outside the Sydney metropolitan area “The sale of prohibited drugs in NSW is a lucrative market worth at least $3.7 billion per year at a street level and a root cause of the violent spate of murders we’ve recently seen,” Weinstein said “These arrests send a clear message to anyone involved in organised crime that we are aware of your illicit activities and will hold you accountable irrespective of your location.” The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here Detective Superintendent Jason Weinstein said the \\u201Ctentacles\\u201D of illicit activity extended beyond the city to the state\\u2019s regions we\\u2019ve succeeded in demobilising a significant drug supply syndicate operating from Sydney\\u2019s south-west \\u201CNSW attracts around 40 per cent of Australia\\u2019s national organised crime population \\u2013 many of whom attempt to evade the attention of police by operating outside the Sydney metropolitan area \\u201CThe sale of prohibited drugs in NSW is a lucrative market worth at least $3.7 billion per year at a street level and a root cause of the violent spate of murders we\\u2019ve recently seen,\\u201D Weinstein said \\u201CThese arrests send a clear message to anyone involved in organised crime that we are aware of your illicit activities and will hold you accountable irrespective of your location.\\u201D The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories After leading Fairfield for most of their third matchup of the season, it would have been easy for the Lakota West boys basketball team to fold after Fairfield took the lead midway through the fourth quarter of their postseason battle Fairfield had won both previous meetings by a total of 3 points But the Firebirds rallied back and outlasted the Indians to win the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I Region 4 championship Sunday at Xavier University’s Cintas Center More: Which Northern Kentucky boys basketball teams advance to the Ninth Region semifinals? Lakota West, 21-5, will play in the state semifinals Sunday, March 16. Fairfield finishes 18-8. It is the first regional title in Lakota West history and the first for the school district since Lakota won a state championship in 1992 before West and Lakota East opened. That team had former University of Cincinnati standout Keith Gregor and Dan Dudukovich, the father of several stars who have come through Lakota West in recent years. “I’ve been emotional all day,” said West head coach Kelven Moss said. “I cried before the game even started. I just feel really good. I’m proud of these kids. I’m proud of our staff. We were well-prepared. These kids deserve it.”    His son, senior Isaiah Meade-Moss, led the Firebirds with 13 points and made several clutch plays down the stretch. “My dad has been working his whole career for this moment, and for me to be with him and help him with this. It’s great,” Meade-Moss said. Meade-Moss and teammates stepped up when things got tense in front of 2,300 fans at the Cintas Center. Fairfield took the lead for the first time since early in the first quarter on a layup by senior Gabe Clemmons with 4:40 to go in the fourth, 35-34. West responded with plays from Meade-Moss. He made a 3-pointer to put West back in front, 37-35. On the next possession, he threw a perfect lob pass to Bryce Curry for a dunk, and it was 39-35. Fairfield senior Daviawne Crim scored a basket to make it a one-point game at 41-40 with 35 seconds left. Fairfield put on full-court pressure. West broke the press and junior Tyson Davis broke free for an uncontested layup to put the Firebirds up three at 43-40 with 20 seconds to play. Fairfield missed a 3-pointer, and Meade-Moss made two free throws to finish it. “As a little kid, you always dream of these moments,” Meade-Moss said. “I just seized the moment and tried to breathe as much as I can. I made the free throws. Happy about it. Super excited. The job’s not finished, though.” Meade-Moss is one of two seniors who start for the Firebirds. He led the way with 13 points and four rebounds. The other senior starter, post player L.J. Green, had a big first half and finished with 5 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot. “I’m just trying to lead these guys,” Meade-Moss said. “A lot of these younger guys play like they’re old so they don’t really need much advice. But I’m here for them if they need anything and it’s been great leading this team.” Curry had 10 points and six rebounds. Tyson posted 9 points and seven rebounds, and Tyson Davis 6 points and three boards. West’s defense clamped down on Fairfield, which is led by senior guards Daviawne Crim and Mike Lewis. Lewis had 14 points. Crim was limited to eight with six rebounds and four assists. “We knew we just had to grind it out,” said Tyson, West’s leading scorer for the year. “Fairfield’s a great team so I knew we had to come in and execute. It was all part of the process. It’s a great environment. Our student section came out and it was a great experience. I’m so happy to be with this team.” Fairfield senior Matt Hilvert made three 3-pointers in the second quarter and totaled 9 points. Clemmons had 6 points and 11 rebounds. West led 13-7 after one quarter and 24-18 at halftime. West led by 10 at 28-18 before the Indians posted a 9-2 run to pull within three at 30-27, early in the fourth. A 3-pointer by Peyton Jones made it 32-30, West. West limited Fairfield to 35 percent shooting for the game and outrebounded the Firebirds by five. “We wanted to be physical,” Kelven Moss said. “The last two times we played against them, their physicality kind of hurt us. We came into the game today (saying) we were going to be the more physical team. If it takes us getting a few fouls, we wanted our presence to be felt tonight.” Local grassroots sports players and visitors will now be able to use a clean, fully functioning amenities building at Endeavour Park, Fairfield West. Council has recently finished refurbishing it with a canteen and change room fit out and a stronger new roof. We acknowledge the Cabrogal of the Darug Nation who are the Traditional Custodians of this Land. We also pay our respect to the Elders both past, present and emerging of the Darug Nation. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Left to right: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Member for McMahon Chris Bowen MP; Western Sydney University Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AO; Federal Minister for Education and Member for Blaxland Jason Clare MP; and Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Barney Glover AO Western Sydney University is proud to launch Fairfield Connect a cutting-edge study hub that will support students and the community of Western Sydney enhancing accessibility to higher education Launched alongside the release of the Australian Universities Accord Final Report in the Fairfield CBD today Fairfield Connect responds to one of the report’s pivotal recommendations to boost the number of university Study Hubs in regional and outer metropolitan areas making higher education more accessible for all Australians Western Sydney University recognises the expanded potential that partnership brings to the Fairfield region Partnering with Western on Fairfield Connect is the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the University of NSW (UNSW) The three universities are committed to working together through Fairfield Connect to boost higher education attainment in Western Sydney – one of the most socially economically and culturally diverse regions in Australia The hub will offer students and the community access to facilities including computers and advanced video-conferencing capabilities Western Sydney University will deliver valuable resources and support services for adult literacy Professor Jennifer Westacott AO and Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Barney Glover AO made the announcement joined by Federal Minister for Education and Member for Blaxland Western Sydney University’s Vice-Chancellor and President said the launch of Fairfield Connect is an important step towards providing more opportunities and greater accessibility for the communities of Western Sydney “Fairfield Connect brings cutting-edge facilities and technology close to where students live and work the facility is adding to Western Sydney University’s already strong presence across the region including our world-class high-rise Bankstown City campus,” said Professor Glover “Designed to promote lifelong learning and community and business engagement Fairfield Connect will be a hub for collaboration and innovation including interaction with Western Sydney University’s leading business technology incubator Launch Pad which will be embedded in the facility.” said Fairfield Connect will upskill talented and hard-working local students to access high-skilled jobs “With Western Sydney University’s focus on adult literacy programs and accelerated access to further education Fairfield Connect will empower Fairfield residents to seize high-skilled jobs and contribute to Australia's future economy,” said Professor Westacott “Regional and suburban learning hubs have an important role to play in increasing educational attainment to drive national productivity With a long history of opening up opportunity for our region the University is proud to boost participation in areas of Western Sydney particularly among diverse student groups.” Professor Andrew Parfitt said that from UTS’s perspective Fairfield Connect represented an important opportunity to strengthen UTS’s already deep ties in the community and contribute to UTS’s efforts to support people from Western Sydney into higher education “One of UTS’s most successful widening participation initiatives is our U@Uni Academy which has Fairfield and South-Western Sydney communities at its core We have fantastic relationships with the local high schools and we’re excited about the prospect of working in Fairfield Connect to expand these collaborations.” “UTS is also keen to explore expanding our work with small to medium businesses based in and around Fairfield Connect to reduce barriers SMEs face in investing in emerging trends and innovation and we look forward to working with our partner universities on this,” he said “Fairfield Connect will increase access for all students enabling them to study out of the hub as well as on the UNSW campuses The new facility will further assist UNSW to assure success as well as access for low-SES students ensuring its success rate remains among the highest in Australia,” said Professor Brungs Fairfield Connect encompasses over 1,000m² of learning and collaborative spaces Situated conveniently on the ground floor of Fairfield City Central at 54 Smart Street this vibrant hub offers a diverse array of student learning environments including an interactive technology-enabled learning studio It will foster a strong emphasis on engaging with the community through a number of the universities’ programs including the Launch Pad business incubator Western’s Academy program for high achievers and its pathways initiative The College as well as UTS’s U@Uni Academy program the facility features versatile teaching spaces and meeting rooms that are available for community use Fairfield Connect will formally open to students and the community mid April 2024 Ali Sardyga, Acting Manager, Media and Public Relations Council will invest $58 million over the next couple of years to give the community and families some amazing recreational and sporting infrastructure thanks to funding from the NSW Government’s WestInvest program Planning is currently underway to transform Brenan Park in Smithfield and Avenel Park in Canley Vale These two projects will see residents benefit from new recreation and fitness facilities for all ages building a healthier and more engaged local community I’d like to thank everyone who participated in the community consultation survey to help inform our plans as we move into the detailed design phase with construction anticipated to start next year The Endeavour Sports Park netball courts in Fairfield West will also be transformed into a multi-purpose ball-sports court Scheduled works for the $1.5 million project will include a complete court reconfiguration to accommodate netball I am especially looking forward to the start of work on the indoor Multicultural and Sports Centre at Fairfield Showground This $46.5 million project will bring something new and much-needed to our City and includes four multipurpose sports courts and stage/performance area 800-seat grandstand and corporate box seating for 50 The facility will cater for recreational to competition level sports such as gymnastics Something of this scale will help attract major sporting performances and corporate events to Fairfield City Early works are expected to start in April 2023 The major construction works are expected to start in September 2024 You can follow me on social media or sign up to Council’s fortnightly City Connect newsletter for regular updates Follow Mayor Frank Carbone on Facebook Subscribe to Fairfield City Council's City Connect e-newsletter We acknowledge the Cabrogal of the Darug Nation who are the Traditional Custodians of this Land We also pay our respect to the Elders both past Remove items from your saved list to add more Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime When Elvis Abrahanowicz was growing up in Fairfield in the 1980s the streets rang with Spanish chatter and there were shops selling dulce de leche-stuffed treats on almost every corner It's a different story today in the western Sydney suburb after many South Americans moved out paving the way for the melting pot of cultures it has become with over 71 per cent of residents speaking a language other than English Elvis was born in Australia to Argentinian-born parents of Polish and Italian heritage His family returned to Buenos Aires when he was one and finally settled back in Fairfield when he turned eight Chilean bakery La Paula in Fairfield.James BrickwoodAdvertisementToday the chef is behind a string of cult diners It all started in Surry Hills with a graffiti-sprayed tapas bar called Bodega which he launched with his business partners Ben Milgate and Joe Valore in 2006 Serving up 1950s swagger and South American share plates with more rock'n'roll than the tunes spinning in the background Bodega made a loud splash in a city weaned on a la carte They had Sydney-siders eating out of the palm of their heavily inked hands I meet Elvis and his dad Adan out the front of one of the last surviving Chilean bakeries in Fairfield – Nelson Street's La Torre Cake Shop Behind a nondescript shopfront are cabinets crammed with coconut-rimmed alfajores and empanadas while the benchtops behind cradle fresh-from-the-oven medialunas The croissant-like Chilean pastries are layered with halal beef fat (a local riff on the more traditional pork lard) Hovering above are trays of puffy bread laced with crunchy beef fat Medialunas are a rare find in Sydney partly due to their laborious three-day baking process Adan moved to Surry Hills years ago but still commutes here for the crumbly Chilean croissants – his preferred breakfast with a cup of mate the caffeine-rich tea loved throughout South America he would come every Sunday to buy bread and facturas (Argentinian pastries) fattened with custard before stocking up on cold cuts from the local deli Completo (hot dog) from La Paula in Fairfield.James Brickwood"When we woke up there would be deli paper spread out on the table with prosciutto and salami … we'd eat and then start on the charcoals for lunch," says Elvis It's been years since Elvis last visited his old stomping ground but as we wind through the streets the father and son (who are more like good mates) recount stories about every second building we pass between jibes about who has the sweeter tooth We spot one of the Abrahanowicz's old apartment buildings across the road from Elvis' former primary school morcilla (blood sausage) and sweetbreads.Wolter Peeters"I had just come back from Argentina and was in year 3 I remember the smells were so different – there was a Vietnamese family downstairs It was amazing – [their food was] like nothing I'd smelled before." In 2010, the team opened Porteno in the grand old Dimitri's building on Cleveland Street (it's since moved to Holt Street, where the group also run Humble Bakery and Italian diner Bastardo) which cooked whole beasts on a cross over a glowing fire pit was inspired by Adan's legendary Sunday garage barbecues Elvis' wife Sarah deftly running front-of house mum Hilda making chimichurri and empanadas and Adan taming the flames of the asador grill pit The whole animals are only cooked by request these days (Adan has since pivoted to pasta-making duties at Bastardo) but in Porteno's earlier years they would often order the lamb from Ivan's Butchery in Fairfield Chef Elvis Abrahanowicz outside Continental Deli and Bar.Edwina PicklesWe weave through Fairfield City Central shopping centre until we reach Ivan's which Adan would boil for Elvis and his sister as kids ("we always used continental sausages never ones from the supermarket," he says) tinned fish and Eastern European condiments The front cabinet-proper is full of sausages Elvis points to a speckled pink German blood tongue sausage "It's ridiculously good – I love it We get stuff from here for Continental from time to time." Continental Deli Bar Bistro was born in Newtown in 2015 we lived in a corner house and there was a deli downstairs," says Elvis "My mum would be making gnocchi and always ask us to run down and grab her some parmesan Groups of men spill out of cafes and huddle over hot coffees and frozen-in-time arcades are dotted with Middle Eastern spice shops where the Abrahanowicz family used to buy their Christmas Day prawns before arriving at Fairfield's other Chilean bakery with custard-piped sweets and Chilean empanadas but there's also a hot menu serving lomito pork sandwiches and completo hot dogs – the Chilean dogs pimped up with tomato Completo (hot dog) at La Paula in Fairfield.Christopher PearceElvis points to jars of a jelly-like sweet potato jam used to make his favourite Argentinian dessert It's one of the first and last things I eat whenever I go to Argentina." In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it spot cosseted behind The Crescent is Baalbek Bakery They make one thing here – Lebanese flatbreads feather-light rounds flying off the conveyer belt each morning it was the only Middle Eastern bakery in the suburb before the Minas and Al Anwars rolled in "We'd use them to make school lunches with Nutella A six-minute drive lands us at family-run Chilean butchery Theo's Cecinas in Fairfield West The original Theo's opened in Surry Hills in 1931 and is believed to be the first South American butcher in Sydney Elvis and Adan would visit the Fairfield offshoot for asado (beef ribs) "If you put an eye fillet in front of an Argentinian it's almost secondary to them," Elvis says which are actually harder to get than the prime cuts over there." As we stop for a quick lunch at Fairfield institution Lao Village (don't leave without trying the crunchy Elvis says he's excited to bring his eldest daughter back for a field trip "I'm going to show her everywhere I lived and tell her I shared a bedroom with my sister until I was 16 news and the hottest openings served to your inbox Fairfield City Council provides 36 sportfields across the City a significant asset and annual investment in sports and recreation for the community Local schools rely upon the City’s sportfields for local students Two athletics fields at Makepeace Park in Fairfield and Rosford Park in Smithfield provide the City’s children and young people an opportunity to keep fit Two sportsfields are located on sites with a dual recreation/stormwater detention basin: Stockdale Park Edensor Park.The sportsfields in these parks are subject to being affected by flooding in periods of high rainfall and more disruption  Special consideration is given to hire fees with this dual use as sportfields When you breakdown the seasonal hiring fees a club of 50 members hiring a sportsfield with all week access for 26 weeks: While rain unfortunately disrupts use and enjoyment of the City’s sportsfields the rain doesn’t reduce the maintenance cost maintenance costs increase particularly when damage has been done to playing fields Rainy seasons disrupt the income stream for many clubs particularly reduced takings from canteen sales While the request for discounts due to adverse weather is understood the significant subsidy by the community already offers value for money compared to the cost of providing facilities Council relies on the season fees to help offset the cost of maintaining sportfields and associated infrastructure.   Bookings are now open for the 2024 Winter season please ensure you have your insurance details with you You will need to upload a scanned copy of your Certificate of Currency with your application WINTER SEASON SPORTSFIELD APPLICATION Located between Elizabeth Drive and Simpson Road The playground is accessible from Moorhouse Crescent The younger brother of a man accused of killing Comanchero bikie boss Alen Moradian has been shot dead outside the front of his house in Sydney's west in a targeted drive-by attack Emergency services were called to the home on Stella Street just after 8.30am on Tuesday following multiple gunshots was found unresponsive on the footpath and was treated by paramedics but was unable to be saved The carpenter is understood to be a sibling of Dut Deng who was arrested in early January over the death of Moradian NSW Police Detective Superintendent Michael Mclean said Bol was known to police 'His history and other associations will form part of the investigation going forward,' he told reporters The victim's family were believed to have been in the vicinity of the home at the time of the shooting The shots were fired from a 'dark-coloured sedan' but no other details about the vehicle of the shooter are known Detective Superintendent Mclean said police would be canvassing CCTV for the movements of the sedan which is yet to be located but he was a good boy,' William told Daily Mail Australia When asked if he knew why the police said Mr Deng was known to them William said: 'I don't know about that - I don't know if there was a problem with the police.' claimed that the victim had no links to crime 'All the news outlets that are out there saying he was involved in underworld crime - that's all fake,' Mr Tunga told reporters Asked why the police would said Mr Deng was known to them Mr Tunga responded: 'He wasn't into that stuff 'He's a black male - they just go off that.' A neighbour four doors down said he heard a 'minimum of five' gunshots on Tuesday morning 'I ran outside and saw a guy with no shirt on who was running towards me He just looked in shock and had his hand on his head,' the neighbour said 'There was about a dozen kids on their way to school who didn't know whether to run or stay pinned there on the corner I feel so sorry for them to have witnessed something like that.' He said he saw a woman at the house 'screaming hysterically' 'She took a young child out the back of the car which makes me think the family were getting ready to go to school and the gunman had just been waiting,' he said 'The family got raided by the cops in January over that bikie killing in Bondi A neighbour on another street just metres from where the suspected targeted attack took place said he also heard 'several gunshots' around 8.30am 'We heard gunshots but by the time we came out we didn't see anything - they'd gone,' he said said he believed the family had African heritage and had only recently moved to the area Another neighbour said he heard about three or four gunshots ring out A crime scene has been established and investigations are continuing. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... 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Long queues have formed at pop-up testing sites in south-western Sydney like this one at Prestons in the Liverpool LGA Link copiedShareShare articleNSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warns tighter restrictions could be forced on three Sydney local government areas (LGAs) as the COVID-19 outbreak spreads to the city's west Data from NSW Health shows that of 21 cases notified in the past two days six from Canterbury-Bankstown and four from Liverpool Ms Berejiklian called on communities in those three LGAs not to mingle with family "Don't think it is OK to visit your cousins or have sleepovers," she said The Premier also foreshadowed that extra social distancing restrictions were under consideration for those areas NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said there were a number of cases across multiple households in south-western Sydney which is reflected in the numbers of the people that are infectious in the community is the fact that by the time we get to those household cases the rest of the household is already infected and so has been unknowingly in the community infectious," she said She highlighted the suburbs of Bossley Park Canley Vale and Greenfield Park as causing particular concern Catch up on the latest COVID-19 news here NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said two of the 75 infringement notices issued yesterday were at a barber shop in Liverpool Residents in Liverpool have been urged to restrict their movements need to redouble down their efforts again in those local government areas that is happening right now," he said Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas are home to large multicultural populations About 41 per cent of the Fairfield population were born in Australia 50 per cent in Canterbury-Bankstown and 52 per cent in Liverpool compared with a NSW average of 66 per cent Australian-born residents The Premier said she understood the strong family values that may lead to breaches but insisted adherence was required "Can I say to the communities in those area I haven't seen my parents since the lockdown started — it is hard." The dominant ethnicity in Fairfield is Vietnamese at 17 per cent followed by 11 per cent Chinese the federal president of the Vietnamese Community in Australia said she didn't agree with the Premier pinpointing cultural issues as a reason for the spread The south-western Sydney people are following the law and health advice but sometimes there is definitely an information lag due to language barriers compared to people in other suburbs," she said "We want to do the right thing." Kate Hoang says language has been a barrier in people following the rules in the three LGAs said many in the community are not English speakers and don't watch the news daily so the translation through their local network takes a few days "I think the message has gotten through now as the streets are really quiet where I am and a lot of the Vietnamese businesses have actually chosen to shut down completely Mayor of Fairfield Frank Carbone said he had received a call from Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Dr Chant in response to the latest cases there is a strong connection between families here in Fairfield it's our families we want to protect." More potential COVID-19 exposure sites are released by NSW Health He said more support was needed to communicate with multicultural communities as well as financially support businesses during the lockdown the Premier said students in Greater Sydney will not return to face-to-face learning next week apart from the children of essential workers said parents were growing anxious as Monday approaches "The rumours of how infectious it is is really concerning families here "I think the sentiment is just everyone's keen to get vaccinated." Dr Chant encouraged anyone in the three LGAs to come forward if they had breached rules as contract tracers try to chase the spread The Premier said she expected case numbers to be higher tomorrow with a concentration in Western Sydney Four cases have been detected in Liverpool in the last two days Read our full coverage on COVID-19 here There are grave fears for a young woman who vanished from her home a month ago with police hoping a public appeal will help them find the missing teen Merna Kasha, 18, was last seen when a family member dropped her off on Kihilla St in the western Sydney suburb of Fairfield Heights around 8pm on Thursday, April 28.  Ms Kasha is described as being of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean appearance, about 160cm tall, slim build, with dark brown, shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. She has a tattoo along the middle of her back, and piercings in her lip, nose, and cheek. Ms Kasha regularly uses public transport and is known to associate around the Fairfield Heights and Liverpool areas. The post on the NSW Police Facebook page has received messages of support for the family. One person commented 'very sad news I hope she's found safe and very soon our prayers are with you Feryal...hope God helps you to find your beautiful daughter.' 'WOW that was a while ago now, that would be terrible for her family, it doesn't sound good, praying for a good outcome,' another added.  While a third person commented 'missing for a whole month and you are just posting about it now?...I hope she is found safe and well'. Anyone with information about Ms Kasha's whereabouts is urged to contact either Inner West Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Fears for missing teen who disappeared in Sydney a month agoCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} A man crossing a busy major road in Sydney's west was hit by a car and catapulted into the air with confronting CCTV footage capturing the incident Paramedics were called to the intersection of Smithfield Rd and Polding St in Fairfield West at 7.20pm on Thursday following reports of the collision between a car and a pedestrian Video shows the man waiting on the edge of the road before walking out when traffic appears to slow to a halt The 41-year-old man makes it across the closest lanes but when he steps out from behind a stopped car onto the far lanes He then tries to run across the lane as the car brakes but is hit and sent summersaulting into the air He then lands on the asphalt in front of another car 'Officers from Fairfield City Police Area Command arrived to find the man suffering serious head injuries and he was treated on scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics,' police said. The man was transported to Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition, but is now in a serious but stable condition. 'The driver, a 62-year-old man, was not injured and was taken to Fairfield Hospital for mandatory testing.' At least three ambulances and three patrol cars were dispatched to the site and police have established a crime scene.  Bystanders and drivers gathered on the edge of the road as detectives scoured the area for evidence next to the man's pair of running shoes which had been tossed onto the bitumen.  'Investigations have commenced into the circumstances surrounding the crash,'  police said. Pedestrian catapulted into the air while crossing a busy roadCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} Police believe a 20-year-old man who was shot dead in Sydney's south-west on Tuesday morning was the victim of a targeted attack A police investigation is underway after a man was shot dead in Sydney's south-west.  emergency crews were called to Stella Street in Fairfield Heights following reports of a shooting outside a property.  Officers arrived at the scene to find a 20-year-old male unresponsive on the footpath.  Despite ambulance paramedics' efforts to treat the man detective superintendent Michael Mclean said reports suggest there were a number of shots fired from a vehicle towards a home on Stella Street.   The 20-year-old male is known to us and believed to have resided at the premises," he told reporters on Tuesday a dark-coloured sedan approached the premises in a westerly direction the shooting occurred and the vehicle drove off "We're appealing for anyone who may have been in the street at the time or who may have information in respect of this matter."  Superintendent Mclean said the male victim was outside the property when he was shot.  "There were a number of people nearby but I don't believe anybody was directly in his vicinity," he said.  "We don't know if there are links to other crimes in the area."  with an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death underway.  own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment Western Sydney University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU View all partners This is the second of three articles based on newly released research on the impacts of a lack of local jobs on the rapidly growing Western Sydney region After 2016 – but before COVID-19, it should be said – Western Sydney experienced a mini jobs boom. Growth came from the region’s extraordinary surge in population, driven by record levels of immigration The residential construction sector was flat-out Also thriving were the population-serving sectors: health care and social assistance By late 2019 the construction boom had ended the capacity of the population-serving sectors to maintain jobs The mini jobs boom was good for Western Sydney’s long-suffering unskilled workers and for women the population-serving sectors – retailing and the domesticated side of the health personal and child-care sectors – offered jobs without qualifications hurdles Now it’s back to insecure, short-term work stints in a dwindling pool of jobs. Often these are outside the regulated labour market and competing with many others looking for the same work will hit those Western Sydney neighbourhoods with large concentrations of unskilled workers as hard as anywhere else in Australia Even before this recession, indeed at the height of Western Sydney’s 2016-18 jobs boom, employment access for these neighbourhoods was miserable. Using the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) community-level statistical area, SA2, we find unemployment rates in 2018 were double and triple the metropolitan average Fairfield City SA2 had 18.7% unemployment in 2018 Fairfield-East 16.0% and Fairfield-West 12.2% Bidwell-Hebersham-Emerton had 16.3% unemployment Lethbridge Park-Tregear 12.9% and Mount Druitt-Whalan 11.3% Guilford-South Granville had 14.7% and Guilford West-Merrylands West 10.8% Ashcroft-Busby-Miller had 14.8% unemployment Western Sydney’s jobs deficit is having broad and unacceptable consequences. Significant numbers of households record no paid work for long periods of time. Unemployment in the 15-24 age group typically exceeds 25% About the same proportion of this age bracket has completely dropped out of education and the workforce, as our recent report on youth unemployment in Western Sydney explains These areas have among the highest levels of socio-economic disadvantage in Australia It’s a result of poor education and training qualifications poor access to jobs strikes at Western Sydney households in relatively hidden ways but we can see it in low rates of labour force participation For Australia, at the 2016 census, the male participation rate was 64.8% while the female rate was 8.9 points lower at 55.9% In outer Western Sydney, in the greenfields mortgage belt, participation rates are significantly higher than national averages the rate in 2016 was 70.1% while The Hills recorded 68.0% These rates indicate young dual-income households are prepared to move to the outer suburbs for affordable housing In the old industrial districts of Western Sydney participation rates are five or more percentage points below the national average We see extremely low rates of female participation in three areas: Cumberland at 47.9% Canterbury-Bankstown 47.7% and Fairfield with an extraordinarily low 43.2% These rates compare poorly with female participation rates elsewhere in Sydney The obvious consequence of lower labour force participation is lower household income. Longer term, households with lower participation rates are likely to have lower retirement incomes. And the children in households where fewer adults are working tend to have impaired development and poor job prospects Western Sydney’s jobs deficit can crush a neighbourhood It can also make things very tough in households scattered across other suburbs Poor access to jobs reduces workforce participation but with outcomes not compatible with the idea of Sydney as the generous In a region that has a million workers but only 790,000 jobs, many workers migrate daily to other regions to find work Others with less competitive CVs miss out completely The COVID-19 recession will only make them worse The Centre for Western Sydney has released three reports on Western Sydney’s growing jobs deficit. You can read the reports here Sydney’s appetite for homes with a granny flat separate studio accommodation or space to build something similar in the future is going strong with two out of the top three recent sales for the Fairfield area featuring studio accommodation on site The three-bedroom home at 8 Warrumbungle St Fairfield West sold recently for $860,000 The streetfront at 8 Warrumbungle St Fairfield West The property has a two-bedroom detached granny flat included on the property currently leased for $350 per week A nearby Wetherill Park listing at 13 Vidal St (below) sold recently for $830,000 The property features a huge studio space behind the carport that could easily be converted The four-bedroom home sits on a block sized 558.9 sqm and also has an in-ground swimming pool and polished timber floorboards throughout It sold through Ray White Wetherill Park agent Marcus Biasetto He said the listing had granny flat potential but there were a few steps in the way towards doing so and the new owners decided to knock down and rebuild “Over the last five to seven years there has been a slow increase towards people wanting homes with a granny flat to help cover the mortgage cost,” he said Ripe for a granny flat: 13 Vidal St Wetherill Park “At that time it did not make any sense to not buy a property without granny flat potential and as the market has improved a few have sold but not many because the rental returns were so good.” third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Dramatic footage has captured the moment a massive fire ripped through a petrol station with explosions rocking a quiet suburb Around a dozen gas cylinders ignited at the Metro Petroleum station on Hamilton Road at Fairfield, in western Sydney Each of the cylinders contained 200 kilograms of petroleum gas with the flames threatening to destroy nearby properties Fire and Rescue teams were called to respond to the blaze which required more than 50 firefighters and three hours to extinguish More than a dozen nearby residents fled their homes as 17 firetrucks sped towards the station to prevent any more petroleum from meeting the flame Superintendent Adam Dewberry described the explosions as 'large rocket sounds' 'It was an extremely intense fire ... the flames were leaping high and starting to impinge on adjoining properties,' he told ABC Bystanders who were nearby at the time ran as far from the sounds as they could while 15 locals successfully fled their homes unharmed Superintendent Dewberry said the likelihood of an untamed explosion was very real as the fire surrounded countless petroleum cylinders One witness who was filling up their car at the time immediately called triple-0 at the first sight of flames only to be told that fire trucks were already on their way Another said that the flames were 'coming out of nowhere' and reaching as high as trees Once the fire was under control a specialised hazard materials team monitored the area between Sackville Street and Hamilton Road to ensure it was safe 'A very fortunate outcome here to keep this incident from being catastrophic and causing severe damage,' Superintendent Dewberry added Teams from NSW police worked alongside fire investigators throughout Thursday to work out what caused the fire in the first place A total fire ban and a severe fire danger warning was issued for the Greater Sydney area on Wednesday after dry winds created perfect tinder box conditions More than 100 bushfires flared up across the state in the past three days as temperatures continued to spike The entire country is on alert after the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the onset of an El Nino weather pattern, raising the chances of a blistering hot and dry summer. Another fire in Sydney's west required the attention of more than 100 firefighters on Thursday morning after a plastics factory ignited at around 4am. The Vinidex Plastics building on Woodpark Road in Smithfield was evacuated as flames gripped the building in the early hours of the morning.  Several fire crews and 25 trucks took more than an hour to douse the fire while 30 staff members were safely evacuated from the building.  A hazmat truck has been left onsite to manage asbestos that was detected in the roof and investigators are trying to determine what started the fire.   Massive fire breaks out at a petrol station as crews battle blazeCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} St George Illawarra junior representative players Jason Saab and Jalal Bazzaz have been selected to represent the Australian Schoolboys over in England later this year Bazzaz and Saab – who represented the Illawarra Steelers and St George Dragons SG Ball sides in 2018 respectively – have earned yet another representative honour following their selection in the New South Wales Under-18s side Director of Rugby League Pathways and List Management Ian Millward discusses in the above video why Bazzaz and Saab's selection for the Australian Schoolboys is important for the Dragons Dragons Wheelchair Rugby League continue march towards finals Jersey Flegg Cup Highlights: Round 9 v Wests Tigers Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights: Round 9 v Magpies Knock-On Effect NSW Cup: Dragons thump Wests Police have smashed what they allege is a 'dial-a-dealer' drug ring following a string of raids across Sydney's south-west NSW Police arrested three men and a teenager and charged them with serious drug offences Police established Strike Force Winetr earlier this year in an effort to break an alleged cocaine supply syndicate which they believed was involved in a 'dial-a-dealer' scheme Smithfield and Bossley Park on Friday morning Strike force investigtaors were assistaned by officers attached to Bankstown Region Enforcement Squad Southwest Metropolitan Operations Support Group and the Raptor Squad Police seized a number of electronic devices ammunition and over $70,000 cash during the operation The items will undergo further examination A 24-year-old man was arrested at a Fairfield West Home and was charged with directing a criminal group A 21-year-old was arrested at a Smithfield address and charged with driving and drug offences including supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug A 25-year-old man and 17-year-old boy were arrested at Bossley Park The 25-year-old is facing five counts of supplying a prohibited drug The teenage boy was charged with supplying a prohibited drug before being granted bail to appear before Parramatta Children's Court later this month Investigations under Strike Force Winetr continue Anyone with information about the supply of prohibited drugs in their community is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:.. 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