Watchout Rivervale because your gym motivation is about to go through the roof While it’s no feat of strength for most of us to come up with a reasonable enough excuse to skip the gym every so often, Revo’s new gym in Rivervale is about to put our resistance training to the test They’ve just opened a brand new facility with weighty savings and all the bells and whistles that have made Revo one of the biggest names in gyms in Australia This isn’t your average workout spot either we’re talking a massive 1,800sqm location filled with brand-new equipment 15 squat racks (because no one likes waiting around) We didn’t think a Revo membership could get any sweeter but to celebrate their newest club opening they’re offering Rivervale’s new members a second and third month free you’re already making some impressive gains Revo’s Level Two membership is just an additional $3 per week unlocking unlimited access to 15 reformer Pilates beds and all the muscle therapy and recovery gear you need to keep feeling your best Level Two members can bring a friend for free every Friday and Sunday during staffed hours – because let’s be real from the first time user to the experienced gym goer and the everyday athlete Revo is all about convenience – no sign up fees Membership will also get you into any Revo gym across Australia (that’s 31 in WA and 53 nationwide) so you can mix it up anywhere at home or on the road and you never have to miss a leg day Whether you’re into high intensity interval workouts like HIITFIT Revo’s got you covered with self-run circuit programs that have new workouts every day so you’re never lost for what to do in the gym again Sign up now to get your first two months free – limited time only Head to revofitness.com.au/gyms/rivervale to lock in your membership or follow @revofitness on Instagram This article is sponsored by Revo Fitness and endorsed by us. Please see our Editorial Policy for more info. 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) A man has been charged by police over an alleged sex assault that took place in Rivervale has been charged by Sex Assault Squad Detectives The alleged assault took place on Monday the 18th of November this year “It will be alleged; the male victim and his friend were at Crown Perth who is unknown to them,” said a police spokesperson “The three males entered into conversation and about 1:50am the three departed the complex and attended the accused’s residence in Rivervale                                 Advertisement it will be further alleged the victim was sexually assaulted “The victim’s friend was outside the house at the time of the incident when he was alerted by the victim.” the victim’s friend helped him escape the area police attended and the accused was apprehended,” said a police spokesperson “The victim and his friend sustained no injuries.” faces four charges including one charge of “sexual penetration without consent” and two charges of “deprivation of liberty” the man will face the Perth Magistrates Court “Detectives are asking for anyone with information in relation to any similar incidents in the area to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online via www.crimestopperswa.com.au ,” said the police spokesperson “If you have been a victim of sexual abuse or if you have information about someone being abused or report the information via the Safe2Say online reporting platform.” You must be logged in to post a comment WAMN ESHOP Dismiss This is probably not the page you’re looking for An uncle’s Ford Cortina company car and monthly copies of Glass’s Guide captured the imagination of a young Vince Pemberton so much inevitable the CEO at Brighton-based leasing company Rivervale would end up somewhere in the automotive industry: his father and grandfather both worked in the motor trade while the aforementioned uncle ran a car dealership “He had a Ford Cortina as a company car and I thought ‘I want some of that’,” Pemberton tells Fleet News “While other kids had football magazines I got Glass’s Guide to study from my dad!” Hs first role was as a sales executive at Evans Halshaw before moving into corporate sales with Ford which was “a great training environment” leasing brokers started to make their mark and a work colleague suggested Pemberton should give it a go The sticking point was the need for a consumer credit licence and VAT number; fortunately his father had both and so in 2001 Pemberton launched Eagle Oak Vehicle Contracts from a desk in his father’s office Pemberton was approached by Rivervale where he had previously spent five happy years running the corporate team in the Mercedes dealership before the manufacturer removed the franchise during a UK-wide restructure “(Owner) Tommy Sopwith wanted to buy the business and have me run it with him,” Pemberton said “He bought it in January 2009 and since then the business has continued to grow.” in 2019 Pemberton took the decision to offer own-book funding “It seemed a natural progression if we were going to grow our business,” he said Sopwith died and Rivervale management was handed over to a trust they offered Pemberton an MBO opportunity which was duly completed on April 29 – just over a month after the country had gone into Covid lockdown Rivervale emerged from the pandemic with a thirst for expansion Three quick-fire acquisitions last year have strengthened and broadened its services: OVS and 1st Choice Vehicle Finance consolidated its position on the south coast while adding new leasing solutions and services – the former included a salary sacrifice proposition; minibus leasing broker Castle Minibus bolstered Rivervale’s fledging business in that sector It is now the largest supplier of minibuses to state and private schools with between 750-1,000 in market at any one time “We are extending our credit lines again this year which will enable us to start funding minibuses as well,” Pemberton said The broker division handles just over 4,000 vehicles per year Forty per cent of the total is corporate; 60% is personal lines Its own book funding for fleets adds another 1,200 to the mix including bluechip companies Red Bull and Auto Windscreens “We wanted to work in fleet management and saw a gap with smaller fleets typically between 20 and 1,000 units,” Pemberton said “We created an app with purpose-built software to manage them.” The suite of fleet management services includes its own service maintenance and repair offering which other brokers have now started to use by the end of the year it will have more than 1,000 live contracts “We also have a deal with a major leasing company that is using us as their maintenance provider,” Pemberton added “My goal is to make Rivervale a diverse business We collaborate where we can; the industry is moving at such a pace Diversification has also seen Rivervale return to its dealer roots with both a Maxus van franchise and a used car facility The used car site opens up further opportunities for second life leasing an area into which several leasing companies have already dipped a toe Why wouldn’t we take that approach?” Pemberton asks “I think it’s a huge opportunity and we are also talking to other leasing brokers about it.” Although the process of merging systems with the three newly acquired businesses is ongoing Pemberton doesn’t rule out further purchases he states: “We have two conversations ongoing right now with leasing brokers which are potential additions.” He is also working on a five-year strategy and has already set out three growth pillars: minibus leasing including working with more leasing companies “Can we double in size within five years I can’t see why not with the right resource,” Pemberton said “We have a service and offering that works.” he recognises that Rivervale can’t be a “ragbag of businesses” suggesting that the car sales and service part of the organisation could become a self-contained division to ensure it gets the right level of focus Core to Rivervale’s success is its ability to offer a broad range of services that remove inefficiencies underpinned by its focus on customer service “We look for improvements and efficiencies in every bit of the chain,” Pemberton said we focus on getting the vehicle back on the road quicker Rivervale is also exploiting artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure its rates remain competitive “We work with 11 funding partners and AI calculates the pricing on each vehicle to populate our website with the best offers,” Pemberton explained “We use AI to ensure that what the customer sees is what the customer gets.” He added: “We also have our own data scientists who run competitor analyses to see how we compare in the marketplace for each model This enables us to produce the right pricing and the right marketing.” It’s an inimitable approach that is characteristic of a company which is full of surprises As Pemberton says: “We’re not a conventional leasing broker.” Bauer B2B group editor Stephen Briers has been an automotive business journalist since 1995 He has been editor of Fleet News since 2009 and before that was editor of Automotive Management for almost seven years Register to receive our range of digital content, including newsletters and special reports. Fleet News, Media House, Lynch Wood Peterborough, PE2 6EA WHEN you expand your brokerage there’s a chance that you become a Jack of all trades The Brighton-based business is in the enviable position of operating successfully across a variety of channels and thereby spreading its exposure to risk Aside from the traditional revenue streams of personal contract hire (PCH) business contract hire (BCH) and fleet management it is the largest supplier of minibuses to state and private schools has its own servicing capability operating as a state of the art Bosch Service Centre is a Ford terms holder and has a Maxus van franchise and used vehicle facility and let’s not forget that it has gone where other brokers fear to tread by offering own-book funding When you put all of that together it’s clear that Rivervale is a very well built business Behind that success sits people with years of industry experience intelligent systems and a customer-led approach we’re not particularly in favour of relying on rigid scripts which is something we currently have to do We are in the process of developing a system that leverages AI and staff training to enhance the customer experience Our aim is to provide a more positive and engaging interaction while ensuring that customers receive all the essential information they need.” Instead of manually typing call summaries and action points into the CRM system and automatically update the CRM with the relevant information This innovation aims to save time and improve efficiency The bespoke system is an “incredibly complex model” took longer to develop and cost more than anticipated “now we are this very diverse business model we are really starting to see its value,” he says which was formed in 2019 and has grown significantly over recent years demonstrates that leasing brokers are also a valued option in this sector of the market Rivervale previously used ODO fleet management software; however when developer DRIVE Software Solutions went bust during the Covid-19 pandemic a comprehensive re-evaluation and data migration project became necessary “Rivervale now works with an experienced industry developer to create a bespoke system tailored to our needs This solution encompasses all key functionalities and includes a highly practical Fleet customers include well-known brands such as Red Bull and Auto Windscreens Rivervale also handles field marketing fleets for Nestlé and Heineken Part of Rivervale’s fleet management offering is in-house vehicle maintenance This has grown from 5-10 maintenance units being processed per month to now over 100 maintenance units per week as well as a mainstream major leasing company as a white label solution Rivervale has built its expertise in minibus leasing, with an astute move in February 2023 to acquire Bicester-based Castle Minibus Rivervale maintains the minibuses and carries out safety inspections It can also provide driver training – be that online training or one-to-one coaching – to schools to help them with compliance “It’s quite daunting when you think about it and suddenly you’re asked to take the rugby team to a match You’ve got to jump into the driver’s seat of a 17-seat Minibus and safely transport all those pupils That’s why our driver training is so highly valued.” Castle Minibus was the first acquisition following the Rivervale Group management buyout (MBO) in 2022 It was quickly followed by the acquisition of two local leasing brokers furthering its grip on the south coast whilst adding salary sacrifice to Rivervale’s range of products The move also meant the addition of vastly experienced Neill Cole to the Rivervale management team Vince says that Neill’s extensive experience and meticulous approach to operations and regulatory compliance have “significantly” contributed to Rivervale’s growth and operational excellence.  That was recognised recently with Neill’s promotion to Director of Operations and Compliance as the business looks to remain at the forefront of compliance and customer satisfaction Castle Minibus now branded Rivervale Minibus had two separate locations (one for its leasing teams and one for minibus rentals) and a major project in 2024 was bringing them together into a one-size-fits-all location which is now fully operational and working extremely well Another challenge has been having different leasing systems. Rivervale decided to sign up broker/dealer procurement platform Fleet Procure in August 2024 after “thoroughly evaluating the platform’s offerings” He was particularly impressed by its Stock Manager feature the potential for seamless API integrations and exclusive offers and says it has brought real efficiency to the business Rivervale is the Official Vehicle Partner of the 2025 Brighton Marathon Weekend on 06 April and is promoting road safety for both runners and drivers Rivervale is poised to maintain its upward trajectory. An obvious lever for growth is own book funding. Rivervale entered the FN50 for the first time at position 45 in 2024 with a risk fleet of 1,224 vehicles (60% of which are cars) and is targeting a spot in the 30s in 2025.  There are opportunities for growth from funding minibuses and Rivervale also wants to scale up its fleet servicing and maintenance solutions Another big stand out is its more traditional leasing broker services which are beginning to recover from the after effects and challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic Despite the challenges with transitioning to electric vans Vince believes Rivervale could do more commercial vehicle leasing both through its leasing business and through its Maxus dealership.  He also has an eye on second life leasing and has had discussions with some of the major leasing companies about it If that opportunity materialises it will make Rivervale even more diverse.  Vince Pemberton was named Vice Chair of the BVRLA Leasing Broker Committee supporting current Chair Rod Lloyd for a period of two years before he takes over the role of Chair in 2026 Vince has been part of the BVRLA team at Parliamentary sessions explaining the requirement for greater Government support for the eLCV transition Our Women in Broking series turns its attention to Kirsten Blackwell Rental companies are reportedly reverting to traditional seasonal fleet replacement strategies for the first time since the disruptions of 2020 Alphabet’s Service Management Apprentice Miri Watson has been formally recognised at Autocar’s Great British Women – Rising Stars’ awards Catch up on the latest leasing broker news in the 29 April 2025 Broker News newsletter Fleet Alliance AR Chris Rowthorn is putting ESG into practice by signing up to the Business Wales Green Growth Pledge A used Tesla Model 3 is in great customer demand being the fastest off dealer forecourts says Indicata’s month market report Sarah Tooze has been an automotive journalist for more than 15 years specialising in the fleet and transport sectors She has held senior positions at industry-leading B2B titles Fleet News and Smart Transport and led campaigns championing motorists as consumer editor for online used car marketplace Heycar and motoring advice website HonestJohn.co.uk In 2017 she won the Newspress Automotive Business Journalist award and website in this browser for the next time I comment Keep up to date with latest leasing broker news stories as they happen on our social media channel If you would like to receive our weekly newsletter you can sign up here Broker Newsletter CONGRATULATIONS to Neill Cole who has been appointed Director of Operations and Compliance at Rivervale The Brighton-based business said the appointment was  a strategic move reflecting the company’s continued expansion and the increasing complexity of compliance within the automotive finance secotr Neill joined the Brighton based leasing broker following the acquisition of First Choice Vehicle Finance His extensive experience and meticulous approach to operations and regulatory compliance have significantly contributed to the company’s growth and operational excellence ensuring streamlined processes across all areas of the business Rivervale added that his expertise in vehicle finance compliance and deep understanding of industry regulations would also assist Rivervale in navigating the evolving landscape and the  company’s commitment to integrity and customer service Vince added that Neill’s promotion underscored the company’s dedication to robust governance and operational excellence it remained at the forefront of compliance and customer satisfaction “I am thrilled to step into this role at such an exciting time for Rivervale maintaining rigorous compliance and operational efficiency is crucial I look forward to contributing further to Rivervale’s success and supporting our team as we continue to grow.” Ralph Morton is the leading journalist in the leasing broker sector and editor of Broker News the website which provides information and news for BVRLA-registered leasing brokers He also writes extensively on the fleet and leasing market in both the UK and Europe THE broker/dealer procurement platform Fleet Procure continues to expand its presence in the automotive market with the addition of new leasing brokers to the service including established industry names such as Brighton-based broker Rivervale and Vertu-owned van specialist Vansdirect Also joining Fleet Procure in August were AngloScottish Vehicle Solutions B&B Vehicle Contracts and The Leasing Guys It takes the number of buyer partners using Fleet Procure to 87 while there are a further 120 using the Stock Manager module, including funders and OEMS such as Leasys and smart “It’s fantastic to have such well-established industry brands joining the platform,” added Lee Jones “It’s a great result from the team and there’s more still to come before the end of this quarter!” The company recently hired former Leasing Manager of Renault Group Lerato Barratt as its new Commercial Manager – Agency, Leasing and Rental to help manage its expansion. Fleet Procure was the Headline Partner for the Broker News Awards held earlier this year LYDIA’S first stint at Rivervale Leasing Lydia declared that ‘working in an office job was not really for her’ and she was ‘more of a people person’ post-college sales positions at retailers such as Specsavers and Debenhams changed her mind Lydia really enjoyed the personal interaction of retail but it became clear that career opportunities were limited when a vacancy came up at Rivervale a couple of years later who suggested she ‘give it a chance for six months’ Lydia is fully embedded in the business along with her sister But despite strong motoring roots – her grandfather and great grandfather also worked in the trade – Lydia comments that there was a lot to learn initially ‘Joining automotive was challenging to start with I was just 19 and there was a lot to take in Up until that point vehicles were just a way of getting from A to B but I was well supported to learn and progress I find myself spotting a tail lift and think – what have I turned into?’ Lydia’s first role at Rivervale was in leasing administration. From there, she moved into sales support for four years. Then, the opportunity came up to work on van brand Maxus Lydia initially managed the sales support and then took over the broker channel as Account Manager for Maxus Sales in 2022 She explains that her career route has given her a great grounding in the sector:  ‘I really recommend starting from the beginning Every position is important and is reliant on another role – sales can’t do their job without administration You also fully understand the pressure of other roles when you’ve been through it yourself It’s so important to put the effort in to learn throughout your career the more confident you become to offer your view – and that’s critical to growing as a person.’ Two years into her role as Maxus Account Manager Lydia handles all aspects of sales – including stocklist and system management plus broker communication She is clearly passionate about the role with extensive van knowledge Lydia is also very conscious of just how competitive the market is is ‘to always be super responsive and on hand for brokers And ultimately secure the best price for the customer’ she is typically based in the Rivervale Brighton office although she also has the flexibility to work from home Lydia prefers to be in the office and comments that working with other people energises her saying she has really benefited from the support of the team: ‘Encouragement is central to the Rivervale culture it’s essential to build confidence and it’s important to people.  Positive feedback on both ideas and achievements makes a huge difference.’ just how is it working with family day to day Lydia explains that she genuinely loves it and feels lucky to have her family around her She comments that there are always ups and downs but ‘it’s a big office’ so everyone has their own space Lydia does admit that it was harder to have work / life separation initially when the family was still all living together at home support from Rivervale has been key for Lydia but how has she found the automotive industry more generally ‘I have also always been respected by brokers and the wider van industry It’s good to see more women in the industry now and I do think automotive is an attractive place to work – it’s a real community When you look at the sector there are more females today and they are in higher roles That helps as it looks more achievable as a career when you see women in senior positions.’ With aspirations for a family in the future she sees automotive as a great industry to stay in because of the variety of job opportunities and flexibility It certainly looks like the passion for the motoring trade continues to run strong in those Pemberton genes Women in Broking: Hollie Crumlish Laura is a writer and Head of Marketing for Broker News with extensive automotive experience from senior marketing roles with RBS/Nat West ABC News News HomeRivervale tenant hit with $250-a-week rent rise as Perth house rents jump for ninth straight quarterShare Rivervale tenant hit with $250-a-week rent rise as Perth house rents jump for ninth straight quarterCBy Cason Ho The rental landscape in Perth has ben described as "very much a landlord's market" Link copiedShareShare articlePerth suffered the biggest increase in rental prices in 2023 and has continued its record-long stretch of rising rent with one tenant being hit with a $250-a-week price hike The latest property report by Domain shows house rent prices in Perth have increased for the ninth consecutive quarter with unit rents rising for the sixth quarter in a row house rents in Perth have grown 17 per cent The median rent for houses in Perth is now $620 a week Domain chief of research and economics Nicola Powell described the situation as "very much a landlord's market" "It is the most competitive rental market out of all of our capital cities jointly with Adelaide," she told ABC Radio Perth Margaret River father Bernard Shanahan said his 28-year-old son who lives in a share house in Rivervale in Perth was just given notice of a $250 increase in his weekly rent "They got a notice Tuesday evening saying 'look we're very happy with the tenancy and would like to offer you a fixed lease extension'," Mr Shanahan said "'We're offering you a 12-month extension with a $250 rent increase which equals new rent of $800 per week.' "And then it says down the bottom again 'thank you for being great tenants'." Perth house rent prices have risen for the ninth consecutive quarter Mr Shanahan said it likely meant his son would have to leave the city and move back to regional WA to live with family "He's going to have to come home … he just wants somewhere to live where he can be independent," he said Regional areas also saw a huge bump in rental pricing in the past year Dr Powell said Perth – and Western Australia more broadly – had unique factors that contributed to an exceptionally tight rental market Perth house prices are being boosted by growing interest from east coast buyers many of whom have no plans to move west — and a local settlement agent says she has never seen anything like it "In terms of what's creating this but it is [also] demographic trends," she said "WA's got positive net interstate migration which is a turnaround from the multiple years that it was into the negative and it's also got stronger or elevated levels of overseas migration also." Domain's report highlighted perilous conditions for renters across 2023 noting rental prices were beginning to stagnate in some jurisdictions "There are a number of factors slowing rental growth — stretched affordability more renters opting for house shares and a slow return of investors of 2023," the report read If you're unable to load the form, click here. The Rivervale Shores playgrounds in Sengkang offer kids a chance to play at three different playgrounds Kids can can hideaway up within three colourful birds nests and explore a large climbing playground while preschoolers can enjoy a cute little one There are plenty of opportunities for kids to stretch themselves and have fun scaling up the various play structures at the Rivervale Shores playgrounds.  We take a look at what you can expect at each Rivervale Shores playground This sprawling playground at Rivervale Shores can be found beside the banks of Sungei Serangoon.  The playground features various elevated platforms along with trampolines built into the ground provide a place for kids to bounce into the air Slides invite kids to swoosh about and play there are also lower mounds that cater to younger kids Not only can kids climb up the mounds but there tunnels underneath for them to “burrow” through.  One section of the playground includes a set of balancing sticks perhaps a reference to the materials that birds gather There is also a section filled with boulders Another feature here is a sand pit with additional climbing equipment It is a fun challenge for kids to make their way through the climbing obstacles and onwards to the play platforms The Land Bird playground at Rivervale Shores is great because of its large expanse with amply room for kids to play The Land Birds playground is located in front of Block 175A Sengkang East Drive The second Rivervale Shores is the Flying Birds Nest playground located above the car park of the new BTO estate between Sengkang East Drive and Tampines Expressway.  the most striking feature is the three elevated pods These look like the nests of weaver birds.  the three birds nests are interconnected to each other by netted bridges.  Slides are connected to the teal and blue pods with the higher slide found at the blue nest.  There are multiple ways to enter into the Rivervale Shores playground Each of these flying birds nests have different apparatus for kids to use to climb inside.  A series of rubber hammocks in the teal pod forms a fun wobbly stairway upwards.  The yellow pod has a choice of a straight-forward metal ladder or a set of criss-crossed climbing ropes lead from beneath.  The blue pod has a rope ladder that leads upwards.  There are multiple layers within each pod with nice views from the elevated platforms inside.  Kids can scramble from one pod to another using the interconnecting bridges.  This flying birds nest playground is a fun structure for kids to play and let their imagination take flight.  Next to the three pods, there are more structures for kids to play and practise their gross motor skills Kids can trample their way across a cargo net.  They can also step up and down on an array of rubber hammocks.  There are also a set of larger hammocks that kids can use to sway back and forth there are two basket swings and a regular seated swing too.  The Flying Birds Nest Playground is located at Block 173C Sengkang East Drive A short distance away from the Flying Birds Nest playground is a colourful tower A blue seesaw can also be found beside the tower.  There are also a climbing stack made out of cubes that kids can climb The bright colours of the cubes match the colours of the tower.  Completing this Rivervale Shores playground for preschoolers are some musical play equipment like drums and bells.  The Colourful Tower playground is located in front of Block 173A Sengkang East Drive Rivervale Shores’ three different playgrounds allow kids to enjoy different types of play They provide a way for kids to have fun in the Sengkang neighbourhood and enjoy a carefree time!    If you enjoyed this story, we think that you will also enjoy this one on another fun playground Newly appointed Auxiliary-Lieutenants Marenda and Steve Freind are on a mission to breathe new life into Salvation Army soldiership and are planning to turn the abandoned Rivervale Corps in Western Australia into a ‘boot camp’ to do so Breath of fresh air is flowing through an ‘abandoned’ Salvation Army corps building in Perth after a young couple answered God’s call to establish a new mission The Rivervale Salvation Army Corps was closed several years ago and the building became a sad-looking place The arrival of Auxiliary Lieutenants Marenda and Steve Freind has now brought new life with their appointment to oversee ‘The Rivervale Project’ The Freinds have been told not to re-establish Rivervale as a corps mentor and support Salvationists on mission The official brief is to establish “an organic mission designed to train missional practitioners in what it means to be a 21st century Salvation Army soldier” Using the old Rivervale Corps building as their base Marenda and Steve plan to be mobile in their support and training of Salvos on mission They firmly believe in former territorial leaders Commissioners Floyd and Tracey Tidd’s prophetic word spoken over The Salvation Army Australia at the beginning of the reunification process that “one plus one equals new” They are hoping that The Rivervale Project will birth new expressions of The Salvation Army that are culturally relevant yet centred on Salvation Army founder William Booth’s original vision for his Army of God’s soldiers The Rivervale Project is the start of a revolution,” says Steve ‘What does a 21st century Salvationist look like?’ One of the scripture verses that we have been looking at comes from John 4:13 where Jesus talks to the woman at the well and says: ‘Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again but anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst The water I give will be an artisan’s spring with gushing fountains of endless love.’ “That verse keeps coming back to us We don’t want to be a thirsty [Salvation] Army We want to see an Army that’s gushing with the everlasting fountain of God’s Spirit.Marenda and Steve commissioned by former Australia Territory leader Commissioner Floyd Tidd one of the things that we’re going to be looking at is: ‘What does it mean to be vibrant as a Salvationist Or as a Salvo?’ And: ‘How does that look in local mission?’” Steve and Marenda both come from a long family line of missionaries Steve’s mother [Major Lyn Freind] is an active officer in Western Australia attacked while walking down a street in Malawi during a preaching tour His aunt and uncle [Commissioners Jennifer and Peter Walker] have just concluded their service as territorial leaders in Indonesia with members of her family being missionaries who have served in places such as Mozambique and Colombia The couple both grew up with an unwavering knowledge of God’s intense love for them and for all of humanity so it was a natural step for them to move into ministries and workplaces where they could share God’s love with others Marenda studied social work and has forged her career in the foster care system Steve studied youth work and has held several jobs with The Salvation Army in Perth starting at Genesis Drop-In Centre (now The Beacon) and Crossroads West transitional support service before becoming the youth pastor at Morley Salvation Army.The Freinds felt nudged towards a united ministry “We always kind of dreamed that maybe one day we would do some work or some sort of mission together,” says Marenda The couple met when their two high schools united for a Year 12 leavers camp serving as carers for young people with disabilities Steve invited Marenda to Morley Salvation Army to witness his enrolment as a senior soldier “I walked into the hall and there were all these people in crisp white shirts .. it felt quite foreign to me,” she remembers “But I respected Steve and I respected the commitment that he made.” despite going through soldiership classes and being aligned with the mission and the values of The Salvation Army “It didn’t feel like something that was for me .. I didn’t feel like I needed to sign a contract with the church nudging both Marenda and Steve towards a united ministry Steve was asked to sit on a Salvation Army committee looking at the strategic plan for Western Australia and how to engage young adults but Steve had no idea at the time that God had already chosen Marenda and him and their young family for the ministry knew that Marenda and Steve would be a perfect fit for The Rivervale Project “We left it with God,” says Steve is this you?’ because we need you to show up!” God did show up in a pretty spectacular way Five days after they were asked to consider taking on Rivervale a guest speaker at a divisional youth event at Morley Salvation Army prophesied over Steve and Marenda’s future and where God wanted to plant them “He explained it as though he was sitting at the table having lunch with Stuart and I five days earlier,” says Steve “But he knew nothing about the conversation Stuart and I were having!” then-Australia Territory leaders Commissioners Floyd and Tracey Tidd appointed Marenda and Steve as auxiliary-lieutenants and mission leaders of The Rivervale Project Stuart says the ministry wasn’t designed exclusively for young adults “We know that the national vision requires us to mobilise a passionate mission force and we need to pioneer some fresh thinking to the way we attract and equip people for this task,” he says “We also believe that the new approaches that will be developed will give fresh energy to soldiership.” Steve says the ministry will have a focus on young adults and from there into being an auxiliary-lieutenant but with God’s confirmation she willingly stepped up to the calling we’ve seen a shift in opportunities within The Salvation Army to serve and to minister as an officer,” says Marenda “This auxiliary-lieutenancy is a new pathway .. We both come with relevant experience in the social work field and we have an opportunity to serve within our own local community with the supports that we already have around us plus some additional supports and opportunity to do more study “When [William and Catherine] Booth started up the Army it was so culturally relevant and vibrant and it caught people’s attention and it was attractive .. but times have seriously changed since then so how can we maintain that spirit and that passion for justice and seeing God at work How can we bring that back to our local areas How can we equip people to work out what that means for them As the doors open again on the Rivervale Salvation Army building in Perth a burst of fresh air sweeps through its dusty interior As they step into their calling to The Rivervale Project Marenda and Steve Freind believe God’s spirit is ready to sweep through The Salvation Army invigorating fresh ideas for mission and ministry and firing an unstoppable passion among Salvos to partner with Jesus in his new creation All of us are called to be part of what God is doing in the world It’s an invitation as old as time itself to join the Creator in his renewal and restoration of the world and humanity How Salvos find their place within that calling is what The Salvation Army Come Alive campaign is delving into over the next six months “We want Salvos to really consider how they can best position themselves for the call that God has placed on all of our lives,” says Officer Recruitment Secretary Captain Paul Lorimer ‘What is God saying to me about that?’” Despite people still saying “Yes” to God’s call many Salvos still aren’t aware of the diverse range of pathways into leadership within The Salvation Army “As people start to explore those pathways they will start to realise that officership is an incredible way to get the freedom to live a life of mission and ministry that aligns with their calling,” says Paul “We want to raise the awareness and support people that are exploring the calling that God has placed on their lives.” Over the next six months, Come Alive will hold an event in each state. To find out more, head to salvationarmy.org.au/ComeAlive © The Salvation Army 2025  singapore'Million-dollar view': Sengkang resident shares her experience living in award-winning HDB estateRivervale Shores recently won both the construction and design awards at the HDB awards 2024.PHOTO: AsiaOne/Claudia TanPUBLISHED ONOctober 23, 2024 4:23 AMByClaudia TanWhen Farah Charles was selecting a flat in 2017 one of her main considerations was being able to live near her mother and sister She decided to buy a four-room Build-to-Order (BTO) flat for $317,000 at Sengkang's Rivervale Shores Farah and her husband are currently staying in their new flat over the weekends with their five-year-old daughter The family plan to officially move into their new home when the school holidays begin next month Rivervale Shores comprises 2,500 two-room Flexi four- and five- room flats across 16 residential blocks on 10-hectares of land making it HDB's biggest BTO project to date the 32-year-old homemaker shared that she was drawn to the estate Farah said that her flat on the 11th floor faces Sungei Serangoon giving her a "million-dollar view" "Our flat also faces Paya Lebar Air Base which allows us to see the military planes take off The noise might be bothersome to some but we enjoy it," she said Rivervale Shores was designed by Surbana Jurong to seamlessly integrate with Sungei Serangoon's waterfront In order to maximise residents' views of the river and landscaped spaces the residential blocks were strategically oriented and staggered Sky terraces and sky gardens were also built into the residential blocks as vantage points for scenic views About 45 per cent of Rivervale Shores' surface area is made up of green spaces which help to soften the urban environment and reduce the heat island effect Another highlight of the project is the elevated environmental deck (e-deck) connecting all 16 blocks The estate's car park also lies beneath the e-deck which allows better spacing between residential blocks "We like the fact that the car park is below us and that there's a vehicle-free space for residents on the second floor," said Farah Her family also enjoys the halal food court as well as the various playgrounds within the premises "My daughter is in absolute awe of the playgrounds our estate has and even one with an actual sand pit!"  While she's excited and pleased about the design and amenities in her estate Farah hopes to see an ATM and a 24-hour convenience store in the future Rivervale Shores bagged both the Construction and Design Awards at the HDB Awards on Oct 20 The annual awards recognises the work of architects engineering consultants and building contractors in public housing projects Minister for National Development Desmond Lee presented a total of 26 Design Construction and Engineering awards to various industry members Addressing the attendees during the ceremony he reiterated the need to maintain a stable supply of homes to help more Singaporeans fulfil their homeownership aspirations He also announced plans to build another 14,000 homes in Sembawang North and Woodlands North I seek your continued support so we can deliver more quality homes for Singaporeans in the coming years," said Lee HDB's CEO Tan Meng Dui also noted: "This year’s HDB Awards is especially significant as it takes place at a time where HDB is close to completing all the pandemic-delayed BTO projects in the next five months."  To recognise the efforts of three construction companies which overcame challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic HDB also presented them with the inaugural Construction Resilience Recognition "This recognition demonstrates both the strength and depth of the BTO construction ecosystem as well as the ingenuity and resilience of our contractors in overcoming adversity and emerging stronger HDB is proud of the exceptional standard of excellence demonstrated by our building partners and humbled by their strong commitment to our mission of delivering quality homes to Singaporeans," Tan said READ ALSO: HDB unveils development plans for Sembawang North and Woodlands North Coast, including 12,000 flats Picture via Nine NewsPolice charged two men after a drunken eight hour standoff caused chaos at a construction site All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueNeighbours complained that two men had trespassed on the construction site in the inner Perth suburb of Rivervale at 1.45am on December 14 Footage shows the pair napping on the construction site rooftop All while swigging a bottle of Smirnoff vodka firefighters and paramedics were called to de-escalate what police minister Paul Papalia called "complete stupidity" But the 24-year-old and 27-year-old wouldn't come quietly The two Beechboro men nap on the construction site roof during the standoff with police Picture via Nine News"We're ready to make a deal We want a four pack of cruisers," one man yelled to police The men allegedly "threw a number of dry powder bags from the upper levels of the construction site onto the road below" "I want a helicopter here now!" one of the men yelled from the roof By 9.35am the men climbed down from the roof and allegedly attempted to run from police via the perimeter fence before they were arrested The two Beechboro men were charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct and stealing after the eight hour standoff. They're expected to appear before the Perth Magistrate's Court on December 19. Today's top stories curated by our news team Don't miss updates on news about the Public Service Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Your exclusive preview of David Pope's latest cartoon Join our weekly poll for Canberra Times readers We've selected the best reading for your weekend Get the latest property and development news here tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time The Church of Scientology's plan to convert a warehouse in Rivervale into a $6 million purpose-built church is the next phase of a national push that has so far involved the purchase of $58 million of property in Sydney and Melbourne And it claims that as many as 30,000 West Australians have expressed an interest in the religion through visits to their website The site of the proposed new Perth Church of Scientology building in Rivervale.Credit: James Mooney People practicing scientology include lawyers writers and beauticians - and many are self-employed business owners It will become the new national headquarters of the church It is currently waiting on Perth planning approval for the Belmont Avenue property and expects to begin construction work later this year Church spokeswoman Virginia Stewart said from Sydney that the Rivervale property would be sub-divided and the church would retain the existing building and redesign its interior to reflect its needs Ms Stewart said local members had been behind the push to leave their rented Murray Street premises in Perth and had helped raise funds for the new development "The church is progressively replacing rented premises throughout Australia with buildings that it can buy and renovate," she said we are completing renovations and restoration on them." Ms Stewart said the repurposed Rivervale building would open up the variety of services the church had to offer with specific rooms allocated for designated purposes our communication courses tend to be somewhat noisy and we would be able to separate them from other areas like the library where people tend to want a quiet space," she said The church would also be able to better service interest in its activities with a public information centre Ms Stewart said the church had experienced significant demand for tours of its centres in Sydney and Melbourne with school and university groups among the biggest participants "People will be welcome to drop in and see what we do We can provide tours and access to resources like DVDs - we have over 500 of those," Ms Stewart said "Quite often they [visitors] are studying comparative religions and want to understand our perspective." She said the church's Rivervale neighbours would be welcome and the organisation would aim to grow organically without any need for it to campaign for new members our growth comes from people who know someone who knows a member but it's increasingly coming from the internet People do their research and come to see us when they're ready," she said "We don't convert people - it's up to them to find a philosophy or a religion that meets their needs "There are a lot of misconceptions about Scientology We offer far more than the popular perception." The 2011 ABS census reported that 2161 Australians identified themselves as scientologists 2500 were Satanists and about 1400 were Rastafarians The Church of Scientology's plan to convert a warehouse in Rivervale into a $6 million purpose-built church is the next phase of a national push that has so far involved the purchase of $58 million of property in Sydney and Melbourne The church spent $21 million to buy and refurbish the Late last year it spent $37 million to snap up the 3.5 hectare site of the former National Acoustic Laboratory in the \\\"The church is progressively replacing rented premises throughout Australia with buildings that it can buy and renovate,\\\" she said we are completing renovations and restoration on them.\\\" where people tend to want a quiet space,\\\" she said \\\"People will be welcome to drop in and see what we do We can provide tours and access to resources like DVDs - we have over 500 of those,\\\" Ms Stewart said \\\"Quite often they [visitors] are studying comparative religions and want to understand our perspective.\\\" She said the church's Rivervale neighbours would be welcome and the organisation would aim to grow organically without any need for it to campaign for new members our growth comes from people who know someone who knows a member but it's increasingly coming from the internet People do their research and come to see us when they're ready,\\\" she said \\\"We don't convert people - it's up to them to find a philosophy or a religion that meets their needs \\\"There are a lot of misconceptions about Scientology We offer far more than the popular perception.\\\" RIVER VALE—A third Joint Planning Board hearing on a controversial proposal by Incandescent Development LLC to build 52 townhomes at 691 and 693 Rivervale Road is set for Wednesday The hearing follows two prior postponements Land use administrator Maria Haag confirmed last week that the hearing is still on for Sept No reasons were provided for the earlier postponements but a possible tax lien sale on the properties complicated matters Deputy Tax Collector Kelly Lombardy told Pascack Press on Sept 17 that “all previously unpaid taxes” at 691 and 693 Rivervale Road have been paid and “there will be no tax lien sale this year.” A public notice posted Sept 17 tax sale listed the two properties’ unpaid 2023 taxes the total tax lien sale amount for 691 Rivervale Road was $65,026.09 clearing the way for the hearing to proceed as planned is seeking to build 52 townhomes on the 5.4-acre property which is currently owned by Forcellati under V.E.R The development proposal includes eight affordable townhouse units consisting of four townhomes with two affordable units each The applicant is requesting preliminary and final site plan approval along with several variances from township zoning regulations These include a use variance for the townhouse development a height variance for buildings up to 38 feet where 32 feet is the maximum allowed and a bulk variance for impervious coverage A design waiver is also sought for minimum active recreation space outlines additional site improvements such as landscaping The project also requires approval for major soil movement and other potential design waivers is scheduled to testify at the upcoming hearing with questions from the board and the public to follow if the applicant does not recall any prior witnesses board chair Scott Lippert is expected to open the meeting for final comments from board members and the public If time permits and no additional information or testimony is required a vote could be taken at the end of the meeting “There should only be one more meeting which will end with a vote by the board.” If a decision is not reached on Sept The proposed development has drawn significant public interest partly due to the variances and waivers requested and the inclusion of affordable housing units The 30-plus documents related to the Incandescent Development application are available for public review on the Joint Planning Board page at rivervalenj.org Ball in town’s court on 450 Pascack Road ShopRite invite you to meet food pantries and pitch in All content on this website is the property of The Press Group and is protected by copyright. Reproduction, distribution, or use of any material without prior written permission is strictly prohibited, unless otherwise stated. To report any misuse, please contact us at PascackPress@ThePressGroup.net The incident happened on Thursday (Aug 29) the girl was travelling down the escalator from the second to the first floor when the accident occurred When reporters from the Chinese evening daily arrived at the scene a group of close to 10 SCDF officers were seen gathered at the escalator landing surrounded by a throng of curious onlookers An employee at a shop nearby told Shin Min that she'd heard a loud sound at about 3.50pm a person shouted for someone to help press the escalator's emergency stop button I saw a young girl of about five or six wearing a pair of rubber sandals which had gotten stuck in the escalator The girl was very scared and crying," said the staff member In a photo of the incident published online a single pink sandal can be seen wedged in between the side of the escalator and the steps the girl didn't appear to be hurt as she stopped crying after a while "Her parents were by her side holding her and they looked very anxious The mum looked like she was crying while the father comforted the girl," Isha told Shin Min She added that SCDF personnel arrived after about 10 minutes and took an estimated 40 minutes to extricate the girl "There was no sign of injury or blood," said Isha Shin Min reported that when the girl was finally freed her parents immediately rushed forward to hug her an SCDF spokesperson stated that it had received a call for assistance at about 4pm on Aug 29 "A child's right leg was trapped in an escalator at level 1 SCDF freed the child using hydraulic rescue equipment and conveyed the child to KK Women's and Children's Hospital," added the spokesperson Just last month, SCDF officers were also called in after a boy's foot was stuck in an escalator at Jurong Point mall Screams and crying could be heard from the boy near the first-floor escalator eyewitnesses reported in the July 14 incident Photos circulating on a Reddit Singapore thread show a blue rubber slipper caught in a gap at the side of the downward-moving escalator which appeared to be closed for maintenance after the accident ALSO READ: Boy ends up requiring stitches after hand gets trapped in City Plaza escalator The requested URL was not found on this server Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates a devoted Bergen County father and accomplished accountant Michael Klingele leaves behind his three children Michael's death was sudden and unexpected, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched for the futures of his three children Born and raised on Staten Island, Michael graduated from the University of Scranton, where he met his wife, Teresa, his obituary on the Becker Funeral Home website reads Michael climbed the ranks in his accounting career starting at PwC and ultimately becoming a partner at BDO "Those who knew Michael will never forget his sharp wit and boundless sense of humor," his obituary says "He had an uncanny ability to find the funny side of any situation His humor was a reflection of his genuine warmth always using laughter to bring people closer together and an active member of White Beeches Golf & Country Club the well-being and future of their children remain of utmost importance," Buldo writes on the GoFundMe "Mike and Teresa worked tirelessly to create opportunities for their children and shared a steadfast belief in the transformative power of education to help them build meaningful and fulfilling lives we have established a college fund to support their children’s education and ensure they can access the opportunities he and Teresa envisioned We humbly ask you to consider a contribution to provide lasting support for their dreams and aspirations." 24 at Becker Funeral Home in Westwood from 2 p.m A Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday with entombment to follow at Garden of Memories in Washington Township Click here for Michael Klingele's complete obituary on the Becker Funeral Home website and here to donate to his children. Police have issued a plea for help after a woman was robbed and left with serious injuries following a horror home invasion An unidentified man broke into the home on Fitzroy Road, in Rivervale in Perth's inner-east at about 9.15pm on Friday.  The woman, aged in her 40s, was assaulted before the man fled the home taking a mobile phone and car keys. Investigators have released a CCTV image of a man they believe can assist with inquiries into the home invasion.  Paramedics from St John Ambulance were called to the Fitzroy Road home, with the woman taken to Royal Perth Hospital. She was treated for serious but not life-threatening injuries. Police later found the stolen phone on Armadale Road, Rivervale, at about 1.05am. The two homes sit on parallel streets. Police have asked anyone with information 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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