Western Weekender

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor take a look at the week that was in Pantherland. On the anniversary of his death, we remember Ben Alexander. Plus the return of the chocolate soldiers, and do you remember the match day sausage sizzle at Penrith Park?Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

In our new Penrith Panthers podcast, Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor discuss the Taylan May saga, plus some signing news and we preview the Panthers versus the Knights.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor have the last word on Sunday footy as the Panthers prepare to take on the Sea Eagles. Can Penrith bounce back from a last-start loss, or will the Sea Eagles do the double on Ivan Cleary's side in 2024?Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Hear from Ivan Cleary as Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor present your last minute preview of tonight's clash between the Panthers and Dragons. Plus Nathan provides some insight into his visit to NSW Origin training earlier this week.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor preview the top four blockbuster between Penrith and Cronulla at PointsBet Stadium. Can the Panthers bounce back from last week's win over the Warriors and grab a vital two competition points?Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor preview the Magic Round clash between Penrith and the Warriors. Plus, they chat about the time ahead without Nathan Cleary and the David Fifita debacle.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

It's game day! Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor have the final say on tonight's clash between Penrith and Canterbury. Will it be all one-way traffic at the foot of the Mountains, or will the Bulldogs put up a fight?Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor preview the Round 9 NRL clash between Penrith and South Sydney at Accor Stadium.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

50 years ago, George Rabie started an electrical retail business in Penrith. He would go on to become one of Penrith's leading business operators, with Little & Rabie becoming iconic in the local area. George joins us to talk about his career in retail and business - its challenges, its joys and why, in 2017, he opted to call it a day after four decades in business.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor offer your last minute preview ahead of the Round 8 NRL clash between Penrith and North Queensland.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Mat Thompson is the voice of rugby league at Channel 9. Growing up in Penrith, Mat's passion for sport him saw him pursue a career in broadcasting. He would eventually take over as Chief Sports Broadcaster at Wide World Of Sports, replacing the legendary Ray Warren. Mat provides some intriguing insights into NRL broadcasting, and lifts the lid on the perceived rivalry between Nine and Fox Sports.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor provide your last minute Panthers v Tigers preview ahead of the Round 7 NRL clash in Bathurst.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Scott McRae remains the longest serving ground announcer in Panthers history, becoming the voice of Penrith Stadium between 1998 and 2019. In this podcast, Scott speaks about how he got the job in the first place - and opens up about his controversial exit. Raw, honest and at times explosive, Scott doesn't hold back in a must-listen interview.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor preview the Round 5 NRL clash between Penrith and Manly at 4 Pines Park.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Warren Smith has been President of St Marys Rugby League Club for 35 years. As he prepares for his retirement, Warren speaks to us about his extraordinary stint at St Marys, and what has made the club so successful over the years.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor preview Penrith's clash against the Roosters in Round 4 of the NRL.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor preview the Round 3 NRL clash between Penrith and Brisbane. Hear from Ivan Cleary and Billy Walters as we deliver the final preview of the Grand Final re-match.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Former Defence Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne joins us 'On The Record' to discuss her extraordinary career in politics. A Federal Senator from 1997 until her retirement in 2023, she has held several high profile positions in Government and become a trailblazer for women in politics. Marise speaks about her passion for the Liberal Party, how a car accident changed her direction in life and about a quieter time now that she and partner Stuart Ayres are both out of politics.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor provide your last minute Panthers v Eels Preview ahead of the Round 2 NRL clash at BlueBet Stadium.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor provide a last minute preview of the Round 1 NRL clash between Penrith and Melbourne.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Currently the President of the Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce, Richard Fox's career has had many chapters. He rose to prominence as one of Great Britain's best paddlers in the 1980s, and competed at the Olympics in 1992. His move to Penrith became pivotal - and he played a critical role in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, before raising his family here. As the father of prolific paddlers Jess and Noemi Fox, Richard has a wonderful story to tell about family, sport and community.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Gina Field is a trailblazer in the security industry - defying gender stereotypes to succeed in an industry so often dominated by men. Gina speaks to us about why she entered the industry in the first place, how a redundancy resulted in the launch of her business Nepean Regional Security, and why it's tougher owning a business now than ever before. A great business success story, Gina speaks about her passion for Penrith and what the future holds for.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Former Panthers Group CEO Glenn Matthews opens up about his life and career. Glenn speaks about his rise through the ranks of Panthers, including surviving making a $1 million mistake early in his career. He opens up about the controversy surrounding 2003 Premiership winning coach John Lang's departure from Penrith, including the infamous 'broken promise'. Glenn also speaks about being charged by police and held personally responsible because an intoxicated person was found at Panthers. Plus, how a realisation in the middle of the night resulted in his resignation in 2010.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Kyra Quinlivan has positioned herself as a domestic violence victims' advocate in Penrith, a city plagued by the issue. She speaks to us about the current domestic violence situation, and what changes are needed to help victims. Plus why she doesn't want to be remembered as the 'DV advocate' in years to come.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

World War II veteran David Trist recounts his experiences at war, and his involvement in Legacy for many decades. A long-time St Marys resident, David speaks about his career in banking, and what went wrong when he organised a home loan for music great Col Joye.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Former St Marys Local Area Commander Ray Filewood had a stellar career in policing, with the local area always intertwined. He speaks to us about his role in responding to the Glenbrook Train Disaster, the Bathurst Motorcycle Race Riots and the Sydney 2000 Olympics. After more than 40 years in the police, Ray certainly has some fascinating stories to tell.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Born and bred in Penrith, Bruce Turner had a stellar career in accounting and internal auditing. In his later years, he has become an author - telling stories of Penrith's extraordinary history, and the people who laid the foundations for the modern city we have today. At its core, Bruce's story is one of a passionate Penrith family man who has watched the city grow and evolve to what it is today.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Alan Whiticker has written more than 50 books, covering everything from rugby league to true crime and biographies. Born and bred in Penrith, he has a fascinating story about growing up in a changing city, becoming a teacher and following his true passion in writing.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Gai Hawthorn is the CEO of the Penrith CBD Corporation. She has a long history in Penrith - her Dad helped build the Leonay Golf Club - and has worked for major local organisations including Panthers and The Good Guys. Gai is also a passionate charity advocate, working closely with Penrith Community Kitchen, Penrith PCYC and the McGrath Foundation. She chats about her roles in Penrith, working with Roger Cowan and how much Penrith has changed over the years.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Stanton & Taylor is the longest-running real estate business in Penrith. Director Greg Taylor joins us as we kick off series three of On The Record. Greg speaks about studying to be an accountant, how he got into the family real estate business, and how his firm has survived where others have fallen. Greg has a fascinating story to tell about surviving in a cut-throat industry, and thriving in a city he has forever called home.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor take a look back at Penrith's 2023 season, which culminated in an historic NRL three-peat. Plus, they look ahead to next year at some exciting things in store for the Panthers and the NRL.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor take an early look at Grand Final week, and preview the 2003 NRL decider between Penrith and Brisbane.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor take a look at the 2023 NRL season for the Penrith Panthers. There's a few bold predictions, a couple of laughs and lots of footy talk ahead of the new season.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor take an in depth, light-hearted look at the 2022 NRL Grand Final between Penrith and Parramatta at Accor Stadium.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Fiona Scott served as the Federal Member for Lindsay from 2013 to 2016. In this podcast, she opens up about Tony Abbott's infamous 'sex appeal' comment and how much it impacted her, reveals unknown details about the shock 2016 election defeat and talks about how she handled the loss. She also reveals her personal journey with trying to start a family through IVF.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Born at a private hospital on High Street, Jim Mason has had Penrith in his blood since birth. He started working with Penrith City Council in 1960, and embarked on what would be a 45-year career in local government. Fresh from celebrating his 80th birthday, Jim talks about his long career, the changing face of Penrith and his involvement with the time-honoured Penrith Show - among many other local organisations.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Born in Penrith, Belinda Wollaston dreamed of a career on stage from a young age. She has gone on to perform in dozens of major musicals, eventually moving to London where she's performed on the West End. Musical theatre has taken her all over the world, but it is a life and career that began here in Penrith. Belinda speaks about how she forged a career from humble beginnings in the suburbs of Sydney, her major career achievements and being comfortable with her sexuality.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Peter Collins is the current Chair of Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, which oversees Nepean Hospital. But his link with Nepean Hospital dates back several decades, when he became a key figure in installing the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Peter had a long career in politics, including as NSW Opposition Leader. In recent years, his role at Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District and his work to restore the historic Werrington House has seen him establish his base at Penrith. Peter details his extraordinary career, and discusses the challenges facing the local health sector.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Bernard Zuel is one of the most respected music writers in Australian journalism, best known for his 25 years with The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. But it is Penrith where Bernard learned his craft, especially during a stint with the Penrith Press newspaper in the early 1990s. In this fascinating chat, Bernard speaks about his career, the music industry, journalism and difficult confrontations with artists.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Ross Free has the honour of being the inaugural Member for Lindsay. He speaks about his time in the Hawke and Keating ministries, about Penrith's growth in the 1980s and 1990s, and about that infamous 1996 election, when he lost the seat. Ross is a long-time Labor Party member and his life in politics is both intriguing and insightful.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Colyton resident Terry Gallaway OAM has been a journalist since 1955. In this podcast, he details his remarkable career in print, TV and radio and recounts some of the stories that have stuck with him, including the 1989 murder of Lauren Hickson in Emu Plains. Terry also talks about his time at the now defunct Penrith Star, and reveals why he'll never leave the city he calls home.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Peter Lang has lived in Penrith since the early 1970s. He's worked with some of the biggest brands in Penrith, including Panthers, Penrith City Council and The Western Weekender. Peter details plenty of stories about his career in Penrith, reveals his personal demons and talks family, life and footy.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

In a special episode, we've turned the tables and our regular host, Troy Dodds, is in the hot seat as our guest. Troy speaks about his career in the media, including how he shook up the media scene of the theatre industry. Troy has guided the Weekender for the past 12 years, and has some interesting stories to tell about the paper and the media in general.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

John Todd is the Executive Officer at the Western Sydney Business Centre. He joins us to talk about his three decades in the role, his 20 years with Westpac and chats about his time in football, particularly with the Blacktown Spartans. John is a major player in the Penrith business community, and has worked alongside thousands of businesses in the region over the past three decades.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen joins On The Record to talk about her decorated career in the police force, how she first got into politics and what the future holds. She also drops a major local news bombshell!Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Tough on the field but a softie off it, Mark Geyer rose to prominence with the Penrith Panthers and won the Premiership with the club in 1991. In this episode of On The Record, 'MG' talks extensively about his rise to first grade and that incredible period in 1990 and 1991. He also speaks about the tragedy of losing team mate Ben Alexander - and reveals the unique way in which he and others coped with the loss. Mark Geyer is Penrith through and through.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Born in Canberra, Stuart Ayres has very much made Penrith his home. Stuart was elected as the State Member for Penrith in 2010, and has risen to numerous ministerial portfolios and to become the Deputy Leader of the NSW Liberal Party. In this insightful chat, Stuart talks about his career in politics, plus reveals some of the darkest days and toughest decisions of his career. No matter what your side of politics, Stuart's story is an interesting one - and there's no doubt he has Penrith at heart.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

The Freeburn name is synonymous with business in Penrith. Matthew Freeburn currently owns and runs Freeburn Surveying, which started in Penrith in October 1951 and is the oldest family-run business in the region. Matthew is known for his passion for Penrith, and proudly declares he'll be in the city forever. This is a fascinating chat with someone who has such great knowledge of Penrith.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, Penrith's night-life was dominated by one club: The Daily Planet. Matt Jones was the owner of the Planet - famous for $1 drinks, celebrity appearances and hair cuts on the dance floor. Yes, hair cuts! In a time before social media and smart phones, The Daily Planet stood tall as Penrith's social hub. In this episode of On The Record, Matt re-lives the amazing period in Penrith's entertainment history - and explains why it all ended.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.

Graham Chapman moved to Llandilo when he was five, and his passion for the region has grown ever since. Radio announcer, marketing expert, business owner, referee, talent manager, tourism entrepreneur... his career is as extensive as it is varied. Graham also runs the very popular Memories of Penrith and Surrounding Suburbs page on Facebook.Visit www.westernweekender.com.au or download The Western Weekender App.