Ellie 2

Can you sit a selective high school test from the UK @hannah78 ? Thanks

No. The test takes place on 1 particular day in various centres across NSW. However, there is a procedure by which you can apply from overseas.

http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/learning/k-6assessments/shsplacements/iandsostuds.php

If the whole link doesn't work just go to the nswschools bit and look for the the exam.

No, I don't know Rouse Hill, but surely the people who drink at that pub come from the surrounding area so that's an indicator?

 

Many people endure long commutes because they have to - e.g. because they can't afford to live closer in. It doesn't mean it's a pleasant experience.

 

I bow to your superior knowledge of the area - but at the same time, it's definitely not a village and neither are any of the other places you mentioned.

I believe that the patrons at that particular venue come from all over and that venue's reputation should not taint that of the general area. I certainly did not mention any areas in my post. You must be confusing my post with another.In years gone by it was one of the best places in Sydney to enjoy a night out. I believe the management of that establishment is attempting to regain it's good reputation.

Rouse Hill has one of the most pleasant shopping centres I've ever encountered. But it's still not the village like place the OP was asking about.

I never said it had a village atmosphere. My post was in answer to the post I quoted, which was rather derisive of the OP saying she loved Rouse Hill. I rarely post because even although I've lived in and around Sydney for almost 49 years I think it's best to let newbies make up there own minds where to live, but I will comment when I read a post that gives the wrong impression of an area or some other subject.

You love Rouse Hill? Isn't that where the most violent pub in Sydney is?

 

I also think the buses would be a problem - it's a long trip in peak hour even when the buses are reliable.

You obviously don't know much about Rouse Hill when you insinuate it isn't a nice place because of one pub which isn't even in the middle of Rouse Hill but on Windsor Road. I don't travel on the express bus to the city but I know many, many people do, so there can't be much of a problem with it.

I am a nurse. I have worked in the Public and private sector and NHS and speak from experience. Harsh but unfortunately true. Profits mixed with effective healthcare are an interesting combination.

Don't know which private hospitals you have worked in but my experience as a patient has been totally the opposite to yours. The private hospitals, there has been a few over the years, that I and my sons have had to use have been excellent in every way.

I think it's quite amusing that a Victorian labels the people of Sydney as judgemental. I have lived in and around Sydney for many,many years and never experienced this, nor people staring. Maybe I'm just not observant. If someone did stare at me for a time I'd ask if they needed help with anything.

There are also designated dog parks where dogs can run free.

Do you really expect anyone to say the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland whenever they refer to the UK.

 

Now you are being silly. No one does that.

No, I don't expect that title to be used all the time but neither do I expect to be correct by someone who doesn't have a clue what they are talking about and who calls me silly for pointing out that simply saying UK does not include Northern Ireland.

The UK is classed as a country. But it comprises 4 other countries not 3.

You forgot Northern Ireland.

The UK came into existence in 1603 when James VI of Scotland accepted the throne of England and Wales, NI was not involved in this. Read Scrutineer's post to acquaint yourself with the title that includes Northern Ireland.

The UK is not a country , it is,supposed to be, a "joint venture" involving 3 countries, Scotland, England and Wales. The legal systems are also separate. The education ranking figures cannot be assumed as accurate as it is almost impossible to combine statistics from two different systems accurately.

Didn't know there was a UK education system. I knew there was a Scots education system as well as an England and Wales system - the two being separate entities.

I live in the Hills and get more big ones than little brown ones.Saying that I don't see many and they are usually dead. Only had one professional spray in 43 years of living in the Hills. I spray around the perimeter of rooms and into the gratings in the bathrooms and laundry floors with mortein surface spray. If you are renting the agent should fix it for you.

If you have a limited budget you should concentrate on southern or north western suburbs for rentals, that way you have more chance of picking somewhere where you can afford a long term rental.

Best access to Silverwater would be Baulkham Hills, Winston Hill, Northmead. James Ruse Drive, Kissing Point Road, Silverwater Road.

Hi Ellie, thanks. Could you clarify approx commute time from the suburbs you mention to Parramatta? Thx

Off peak by car approximately 10 minutes, peak times around half an hour, haven't ever timed it. Don't know bus times but could be pretty quick as there are designated bus lanes all the way down Windsor road to Parramatta and motorists are fined if caught in them during the peak.

There are all types of families and homes in the Hills, although the newer,farther out, suburbs like Rouse Hill are inhabited by mostly young families.

There are trains in easy reach of Baulkham Hills and Winston Hills at Seven Hills, which has good parking at the station. My suggestion was made on the assumption the the OP would be mainly working in Parramatta. If that will not be the case there are too many options to list. I wouldn't live in Parramatta!

If it ends up being the Parramatta Office I would suggest Baulkham Hills, Winston Hills, Northmead. I haven't mentioned the other Hills suburbs because Old Northern Road, Windsor and Old Windsor Roads are dreadful morning and evening peaks. The suburbs I've mentioned mean that you don't have to enter Windsor road until north Parramatta,making the commute reasonable. Schools are excellent and plenty of other facilities, as there are all over the Hills District.

Being so great, I wonder why he lasted less than 3 years as PM. Don't blame the dismissal, he was hammered at the next and subsequent elections. Bob Hawke saved the Labor party - the only half decent Labor PM in my life time.

Never was a fan of Whitlam and could never understand why the Labor Party held him in such high esteem. He was only in for 3 years and left a mess. The electorate wasn't enamoured either as he was resoundingly defeated at the election held after the dismissal.

Thanks Ellie, it looks like the others need to catch up, glad I posted as they now know what I already did. My problem though is Do I qualify with just these cards? I guess the easiest way is to drop by the RTA office. I already know that I will get a six month refund on my renewed drivers licence as I paid in full last November then turned 65 in June.

Neither of these cards get you anything from the RTA only the pension gets you the discounts. They are very good, i.e. RTA, I paid the full amount for my rego and got a part pension shortly after. I didn't know about the free rego so didn't apply and they sorted it all out and the first I knew of it was when they sent me a cheque for what I had overpaid.

If you are in NSW and have, at least a part old age pension, you will get free rego. Ofcourse you still need to pay for insurances and pink slip if you need one.

That doesn't happen with a saltwater chlorinator.

 

I think there are crossed wires....I disagree with the detention aspect...I would like to see a better way of dealing with boat arrivals...a fairer system...a right to claim asylum...be it by boat/plane or whatever means an individual takes...

It would be nice if that were possible but unfortunately there are too many people claiming refuge status who are not really refuges and some who want come to cause trouble. It would be so good if there were no refuges and everyone lived in harmony but unfortunately there seems to be more and more people who have no regard for their fellow man. Utopia is along way away.

 

What on earth do you think detention does to them!!!!

Didn't you read all of or understand my post? I said this is what happens to children in these circumstances and more would be subject to this if the governments policy was changed.

I didn't 'accuse you of child abuse'. Read the post again: you condone a policy that does actually harm children mentally, and has been judged by a large majority of Australian paediatricians to constitute 'child abuse'. Seeing as paediatricians are the experts in the field of diagnosing child abuse, I'd take their word for it, wouldn't you?

 

You accused me of condoning a child abuse policy which is nonsense. You want the policy to change so that more boats will come, putting more children in danger. Children suffer if they are confined for a very long time and are made to feel stressed. This is what you want with your anti government policy stance. So my comments were hardly offensive. Fewer boats, less children in danger and less children in detention.