Pittwater Life November 2017 Issue

The Local Voice Since 1991 

NOVEMBER 2017 

FREE 

pittwaterlife 

A LOYAL 

COMMISSION 

ARCHIBALD FINALIST 

WHO WANTS YOU 

IN THE FRAME 

5 QUESTIONS 

FOR THE MAYOR 

WILL PITTWATER 

GET A FAIR DEAL? 

PRINCIPAL 

& INTEREST 

WHY OUR 

EDUCATORS ARE 

BETTER EQUIPPED 

THAN EVER 

MARKET 

VALUE! 

Family fun days out in Avalon, 

Narrabeen, Newport & Mona Vale

Editorial 

Will we ever give Bs a chance? 

Last month we reported 

local Minister Rob Stokes’ 

frustration at misinformation 

about the B-Line service 

being spread throughout the 

community and the wariness 

of opponents to accept the 

government’s word on its 

planning. 

Well, nothing’s changed. 

Which is a shame given the cash 

the government is spending 

trying to consult with residents. 

A rally at Newport Beach Surf 

Club in late October saw the fire 

of opposition stoked further. A 

Newport Residents Association 

petition garnered more than 

500 signatures; those who 

signed it pledged to withhold 

support for the extension of 

the B-Line from Mona Vale 

to Newport until a “fully 

developed and researched plan” 

is submitted for consideration. 

There’s hope then; that 

appears to allow room for 

anyone currently opposed to the 

B-Line heading to Newport to 

change their opinion. 

It won’t be the major 

community and residents 

groups north of Newport 

though; they remain steadfast 

in their opposition to the B-Line 

heading north of Mona Vale. 

It appears Newport residents 

may be more flexible – but 

they’ll need to be convinced 

their village won’t be “slashed 

and burned” in the process. 

The government’s preferred 

position – a roundabout at 

Neptune Road with no incursion 

into the surf club car park 

and no loss of trees – seems a 

good starting point for a “fully 

developed and researched plan”. 

(Yes the netball court will go 

but new ones have already been 

sited and funded – see p18.) 

Will a bus entering a 

roundabout every 10 minutes 

add a pinchpoint to southbound 

traffic during peak periods, if 

synchronised with an existing 

set of traffic lights 150 metres 

south? We’ll leave that to the 

experts. But it’s guaranteed not 

all will agree! – Nigel Wall 


NOVEMBER 2017 3

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Vol 27 No 4 

Celebrating 26 years 


5 QUESTIONS 

FOR THE MAYOR 

WILL PITTWATER 

GET A FAIR DEAL? 

PRINCIPAL 

& INTEREST 

WHY OUR 

EDUCATORS ARE 

BETTER EQUIPPED 

THAN EVER 

MARKET 

VALUE! 

Family fun days out in Avalon, 

Narrabeen, Newport & Mona Vale 


FREE 

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thislife 

COVER: It’s markets and festivals month! Find info on 

what’s on offer at Mona Vale, Narrabeen Lakes, Avalon 

Beach (4-page liftout p37) and Newport Beach; Mayor 

Michael Regan gives a heads-up on what we can expect 

from Council in its first term (p6); we profile local artist 

and Archibald Prize finalist Phil Meatchem – who wants 

to paint your portrait (p17); plus check out our other 

great local artists and their exhibitions (p30); Nick Carroll 

recounts a sobering tale (p34); and Janelle Bloom shows 

how to cook a cafe-style breakfast for the family at home 

(p64). COVER: Warriewood Beach /Jay Platt – allskydrones 

also this month 

Editorial 3 

Pittwater Local News 6-27 

Life Stories 28-29 

Art Life 30-33 

Surfing Life 34-35 

Boating Life 36-37 

Avalon Market Day Program 38-41 

Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 42-49 

Money & Finance 50-52 

Law 54-55 

Trades & Services 56-58 

Food: Cafe-style breakfasts – at home 64-66 

Gardening Life 68-70 

Travel Life 72-74 

the goodlife 

Restaurants, food, gigs, travel and gardening. 

Also find our regular features on beauty, health, surfing, 

art, local history, our guide to trades and services, money, 

law and our essential maps. 

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4 NOVEMBER 2017 

The Local Voice Since 1991

5 Quick Questions 

News 

Our new Mayor Michael 

Regan says his commitment 

to creating an 

inclusive, integrated northern 

beaches will be made possible 

through community consultation, 

by appreciating the 

individuality of each village 

and town centre… and learning 

from past mistakes. 

“It’s a huge honour and 

very humbling to have been 

elected to the new Northern 

Beaches Council,” Mr Regan 

said in his first interview 

with Pittwater Life since the 

election. 

“To have been elected as 

the first ever Mayor is both 

exciting and challenging.” 

In a special message to our 

readers Mr Regan said: “This 

Council is history in the making 

and I am determined not 

to let you down. 

“I will represent all within 

our Community and continue 

to champion the Northern 

Beaches at every opportunity. 

“We 15 councillors – ‘the 

first 15’ as one of my Councillors 

put it – have diverse 

views and skills which rightly 

reflect the diversity of the 

community that we represent. 

“We all agree that we live in 

the best part of the world. 

“You, the voters, have put 

your faith in us and it is up to 

us to work hard together to 

achieve the best outcomes.” 

What’s your message to 

1. Pittwater residents wary 

that the Mayor and Deputy 

Mayor roles have been won 

by councillors external to 

the Pittwater and Narrabeen 

wards? 

I pledged to be Mayor for 

all the Northern Beaches. I 

will make decisions which 

are in the best interests of 

the entire Northern Beaches 

and not favour one area over 

another. I am proud of the 

numerous projects that are 

already underway at Church 

Point, Palm Beach, Avalon and 

other areas. We are one community 

and I will endeavour 

to be a strong voice for all. 

We are one Council now, and 

the onus is on us to lead by 

example, and to learn from 

history. 

How much of a debrief 

2. were you given on the 

projects pledged or currently 

underway in the former Pittwater 

area, and what in particular 

excites you when taking 

into account the broader 

new Council region? 

I’m very enthusiastic about 

bringing the Northern Beaches 

together. We have so much 

in common and so many 

shared aspirations. Take the 

$22.3 million Connecting 

Northern Beaches plan, which 

will essentially fill the missing 

links and create a shared 

pathway from Palm Beach to 

Manly. It will also link to the 

incoming B-Line bus service. I 

also want to see the Northern 

Beaches inclusive as well as 

connected. The $10.3 million 

‘Connecting All Through Play’ 

project features the creation 

of two new major all-abilities 

playgrounds, upgrades to play 

areas across the Northern 

Beaches to make them more 

inclusive and $4 million for 

sporting facilities and Surf 

Lifesaving Clubs. I’m excited 

about the projects we have 

underway in this part of 

the Northern Beaches. The 

upgrade at Church Point 

will provide safer access, 

improved parking and better 

facilities, as well as a 

much-needed facelift. The 

new walkway at Palm Beach 

will greatly improve access 

between the ferry wharf and 

the park. At the southern end 

of Palm Beach, the landscaping 

project will improve 

parking, landscaping and 

access. The ‘Walk Avalon’ 

project will improve safety, 



for the Mayor 

convenience and connectivity 

within Avalon Village. Council 

is also upgrading wharves 

at Currawong and Mackerel 

Beach, roads and drainage 

on Scotland Island, and new 

retaining walls, footpaths, 

stormwater drains and foreshore 

renewals across the 

northern suburbs. 

Access to the new Northern 

Beaches Hospital at Frenchs 

Forest is a major issue, in particular 

for people in the north. 

I am committed to ensuring 

that road access is as good as 

it can be. Council is working 

with the RMS to investigate 

ways to stop the frequent 

flooding on Wakehurst Parkway 

during heavy rain and to 

ensure that the road network 

around the new hospital is 

efficient and effective. 

McPherson Street in Warriewood 

is an important connection 

and Council is nearing 

completion of the upgrade. 

One of the really tangible benefits 

of the amalgamation is 

that Narrabeen Lagoon State 

Park is now under the control 

of one council and can be 

managed and protected more 

consistently. We will continue 

to work with the Narrabeen 

Lagoon Catchment Committee 

and the community to ensure 

the area is respected, maintained 

and enhanced. 

There are more announcements 

pending such as the 

performance space at Mona 

Vale. Watch this space! 

Since the formation of the 

new Council, former Pittwater 

has received unprecedented 

capital works expenditure 

and their debts reduced. 

Are there any current 

3. exclusive services being 

delivered to regions of the 

new Council that you would 

look at replicating in Pittwater? 

For example, we have 

been inundated with queries 

about Manly’s free ‘Hop, Skip 

& Jump Bus’ service? 

While I am committed to 

an inclusive and integrated 

Northern Beaches there is 

no one-size-fits-all approach 

that will work. We have much 

in common but the villages 

and towns which make up the 

Northern Beaches have their 

own distinctive flavor and 

feel, as well as needs. 

For instance, I am 

conscious that the 

level of development 

we see in 

Continued on page 8 

News 



News 

Continued from page 7 

places like Manly, Dee Why 

and Frenchs Forest is not appropriate 

for the north. 

We will not be seeing 

skyscrapers adorning the 

Pittwater foreshore, not while 

I am Mayor. We have a unique 

opportunity to learn from what 

has worked and not worked 

in places like Manly and Dee 

Why to inform planning for the 

north. In terms of replicating 

the Manly Hop, Skip & Jump 

Bus service, it is clear the way 

public transport is provided 

is changing. The NSW Government 

will soon be trialing 

a new on-demand mini-bus 

service that will perform a 

similar role to the Hop, Skip & 

Jump service. It will connect 

customers from Palm Beach to 

North Narrabeen allowing customers 

to book transport from 

their home to a local transport 

hub or landmark. But why stop 

there? I’ll be calling on the 

Council to develop a Northern 

Beaches Transport Strategy to 

transform the way people move 

around. 

How will Council demonstrate 

an 4. improved 

overall community consultation 

process? 

Community consultation 

is one of the most important 

things councillors can do, to 

make sure that we have as wide 

as possible an understanding 

of what the community wants 

– and doesn’t want – before we 

embark on projects. Whether 

it is the review of library 

hours, to the future shape of 

Brookvale, I urge the community 

to get involved. As the 

Mayor I make the following 

promise: I will always listen 

to the community and I will 

always be open to new ideas 

and new perspectives. And 

as I have said all along, One 

Council has far more resources 

to be effective and do more for 

less. The community is already 

noticing the difference. 

And a final question 

thrown in for good measure… 

A lesson learned from 

5. your last time in office? 

You are always learning if 

you are listening. You will 

always make a mistake – nobody 

is perfect. So own it, fix 

it and learn from it. Simple. 

– Compiled by Lisa Offord 



News 

Gold star for Principal support 

Local school principals 

have given top marks to 

a new State Government 

grant program and leadership 

strategy they say will ease the 

burden on their day-to-day 

workloads and allow them to 

focus more on their key roles as 

educators. 

Local State MP and Education 

Minister Rob Stokes recently 

announced the NSW Government 

will allocate $50 million 

a year to enable principals to 

focus on core duties such as 

curriculum planning, student 

progress, teaching quality and 

student wellbeing. 

The strategy follows an 

independent study that found 

school principals were spending 

too much time on management 

and administration tasks 

and not enough time on improving 

teaching and learning. 

The study, involving principals 

at 119 government schools, 

found principals’ workloads 

had increased in recent years 

with burgeoning responsibilities 

in areas like planning, 

policy, finance, compliance, risk 

and work health and safety. 

Numerous tasks undertaken 

by principals distract them 

from their key role; they include 

fixing plumbing, organising 

cleaning, minor asset repairs, 

tree audits, and troubleshooting 

technology. 

Mr Stokes said the new 

strategy would also include a 

leadership institute to develop 

and support school leaders 

and those preparing to take 

on leadership roles, as well as 

coaching and mentoring for 

new principals and support for 

existing principals. 

Additionally, 20 scholarships 

a year will be awarded 

for principals to participate 

in internationally renowned 

leadership programs and a 

new team of trained officers 

will be introduced to undertake 

annual work, health and 

safety inspections and remove 

the compliance burden off 

principals. 

Mona Vale Public School 

Principal Greg Jones said the 

pledge and focus on educational 

leadership was welcome 

news for the many heads who 

found themselves “drowned in 

administration”. 

And he said the big winners 

would be the students. 

“The role of the principal 

is both complex and multifacetted,” 

said Mr Jones. “While 

we believe our core business is 

leading communities towards 

improved school and student 

outcomes, many distractions 

have drawn us from that goal. 

“For many years the path 

to becoming a principal was 

relatively simple: be a good 

teacher, have organisational 

and leadership skills and a 

desire to be a school leader and 

although much of this remains 

essential today, an understanding 

of business mythology is 

also critical.” 

Mr Jones – who was recently 

awarded the 2017 NSW Primary 



GRATEFUL: Narrabeen 

Sports High 

Principal Dane 

Ropa (left) and 

Mona Vale Public 

School head Greg 

Jones (above). 

Principals Association’s ‘Professional 

Award’ for Leadership 

– said NSW Public School 

principals led their communities 

under the mantra of ‘Local 

Schools Local Decisions’ and 

while this had allowed schools 

to focus on what worked for 

their community, it had also 

added to the organisational, 

compliance and risk requirements 

they needed to manage. 

These included planning, 

policy, finance and work place 

health and safety. 

“In any given week at Mona 

Vale I can deal with cleaning 

issues, tree audits, plumbing 

and electrical issues, repairs to 

buildings, lodging reports regarding 

vandalism, workplace 

injuries, technology issues, 

staffing matters and a neverending 

number of administrative 

returns,” Mr Jones said. 

“The big winners will be 

students – they should be at 

the centre of what I do and less 

time on administration allows 

me more time for them and 

staff.” 

Narrabeen Sports High Principal 

Dane Ropa said he was 

grateful the government had 

listened and understood the 

distinct and varying needs of 

principals in different contexts 

across the state. 

“I have experienced the 

best days along with the most 

challenging days of my career 

during my first two years as 

a principal,” Mr Ropa said. 

“These experiences are part of 

what makes the role exciting 

and meaningful." 

He said schools were complex 

organisations and as Principal, 

he was responsible for the 

operational, relational, strategic 

and systemic structures that 

delivered education, support 


News 



News 

Winner 

Lily waxes 

financial 

and leadership to students and 

their families each day. 

“Most businesses employing 

more than 100 staff would have 

positions responsible for the 

carriage of each of those four 

areas,” he observed. 

“I will be using the Minister’s 

flexible funding to employ 

staff to relieve me of the 

many compliance and heavily 

administrative requirements of 

managing human and financial 

resources such as payroll and 

site management.” 

Mr Ropa said that during the 

school day, he prioritised being 

available for and working with 

his students, teachers, staff and 

community – meaning other 

administrative tasks had to be 

done in the evening, denying 

him quality time with his own 

family or the process of ‘timing 

out’ to be best prepared for the 

next day. 

“The opportunity to improve 

my work-life balance and work 

more closely with teachers to 

improve practice will have a 

positive impact on the success 

of my students,” he said. 

The leadership institute’s 

programs will be developed 

with school leaders in partnership 

with experts and universities. 

The first flagship course 

will be a 12-month development 

program starting in 2018 

for aspiring principals. 

– Nigel Wall 



A 

successful local start-up 

business is giving back to the 

community, having partnered 

with Barrenjoey High School to 

provide a valuable leg-up to budding 

business entrepreneurs. 

In late 2016, Surf Collective, 

which promotes independent 

Aussie surf brands, approached Barrenjoey High with a 

proposal to help bring a study subject to life for students. 

Surf Collective co-owner Mark Ranucci said the school was 

receptive to the idea and suggested that the Year 10 Business 

Studies class would be ideal. 

“Surf Collective then had the students develop ideas for a 

surf-related product, together with a marketing plan,” Mark 

said. “The subject topics revolved around their product, 

which helped engage all the kids in the class.” 

Not surprisingly, with $2,000 up for grabs for the winner 

to help bring his/her product to market, there was plenty of 

interest. 

“Some worked in a group and others individually,” Mark 

continued. “Surf Collective spent time in the classroom providing 

feedback before putting the kids in front of their very 

own ‘Shark-Tank’ – a panel made up of local Surf Collective 

Brands – to pitch their ideas.” 

He said the eventual winner, Lily McElligott, presented an 

awesome idea – to recycle unwanted skateboard decks and 

convert them into wax combs. 

“Lily’s idea was both clever and environmentally responsible,” 

Mark said. 

Surf Collective is promoting Lily’s idea on their website – 

surfcollective.com.au – and in The Sneaky Grind Café, their 

retail collaboration in Avalon Beach. 

Meanwhile, Lily plans to make other products under her 

new venture, ‘The Coastal Upcycling Company’. 

Mark added the program was so successful in engaging with 

local kids and their studies that it would be repeated next year. 


Gold star for Principal support 

Continued from page 11

News 

Festival fun and excitement 

headed for Newport Beach 

This year’s Newport Beach Festival on 

Sunday November 26 will be big, with a 

huge array of activities planned for the 45th 

anniversary of the event. 

Event organiser Owen Heywood reports 

there will be three stages with quality 

local music talent playing all day, plus 

performances by local dance schools and 

street performers. 

“There’s a great ride area, with jumping 

castles, mechanical rides and face painting 

near the beach for the young or young at 

heart,” said Owen. 

“We’ll have more than 200 great stalls 

with an exciting mix of fashion, food and 

furniture and everything in between – the 

local businesses are more supportive than 

ever, with most of the shops in Newport 

running exceptional promotions and sales 

for the day and local restaurants and cafes 

showcasing their food.” 

He added there would also be the muchloved 

visit from Santa, who’ll be doing a meetand-great 

and handing out treats. 

“There is something for everyone at the 

Festival, it has a great community feel to the 

day and really brings people together and 

shows off what a great suburb Newport is.” 

The Newport Beach Festival is run on behalf 

of the Newport Chamber of Commerce, 

who set up the event in 1972 with the aim 

of fulfilling the motto ‘one community, one 

village’. 

The fun kicks off from 9am (until 5pm) 

on Sunday November 26; more info Newport 

Beach Festival facebook page. 

6THINGS 

THIS MONTH 

Breakfast bowl. Get down 

to Newport Bowling Club 

Sunday mornings from 9am 

where you can have a bowl and 

a bacon and egg roll for only 

$10. Beginners welcome, bowls 

supplied. The club at Palm Road 

Newport is also available for 

barefoot and corporate bowls. 

Call 0402 126 109. 

Pittwater Paddle. This 

major community fundraiser 

for NBI, supporting children 

with additional needs and their 

families, kicks off 9am on Sun 12 

at Winnererremy Bay. There are 

two paddles this year; one purely 

for fun, the other for those who 

like a challenge. Register as an 

individual or compete as a team 

in a multi-seated craft. If paddling 

isn’t your thing, simply show your 

support on the day – there will 

be food and entertainment. More 

info nbi.org.au 

Want a feathered friend? 

Chooks make great pets; they 

help reduce your food waste and 

give you free, fresh eggs. Find out 

the best chicken breed for you 

and learn how to feed and house 

them at this free workshop at the 

Coastal Environment Centre on 

Sat 18. Bookings essential cec@ 

northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au or 

9942 2732. 

Get into print. Warringah 

Printmakers Studio is holding 

an exhibition of contemporary 

printmaking, artist books and 

three-dimensional print-based 

media at the Creative Space, 

Abbott Rd North Curl Curl on 

Nov 15-26 from 10am-4pm with 

printmaking demos Sun 19, Sat 

25 and Sun 26 from 12-2pm. 

Code club. Every Sunday 

between 2-3.30pm Mona Vale 

Library hosts a Code Club 

for kids aged 9-11. The club, 

supported by trained volunteers, 

is based on fun, creativity and 

problem solving. Materials 

provided. Kids are encouraged 

to bring their own laptop if they 

have one. Registration essential 

9970 1606. 

Beach Clean. Do a clean sweep 

of Avalon Beach with The Green 

Team at 4pm (after Market Day) 

on Sun 19. All ages welcome. 

Bring a bucket, gloves and hat. 



Residents demand better B-Line plan 

Pittwater community groups 

remain opposed to the 

extension of the B-Line to Newport 

despite assurances from 

NSW government consultation 

representatives that their fears 

of disruption and destruction 

of the beachside suburb’s village 

lifestyle were unfounded. 

Transport NSW met with 

groups including the Newport 

Residents Association 

and CABPRA to present its 

‘preferred option’ for the $500 

million bus service last month. 

It followed a letterbox drop 

by Transport NSW revealing 

their plan to construct a 

roundabout on the corner of 

Neptune Road and Barrenjoey 

Road, with buses turning and 

stopping at the existing bus 

stop outside Newport Beach 

Surf Life Saving Club. 

No incursion into the surf 

club was proposed in the government’s 

preferred plan, nor 

were any car parking spaces 

corralled for B-Line users. 

The preferred option for the 

B-Line terminus was contingent 

on the results of engineering 

studies, the Transport 

NSW representative said. 

However, residents groups 

rebuffed the consultation, with 

the NRA proceeding with a 

rally on October 22 that drew 

a crowd of hundreds and 

garnered more than 500 signatures 

on a petition to withhold 

support for the extension of 

the service from Mona Vale to 

Newport until a “fully developed 

and researched plan” was 

submitted for consideration. 

NRA president Gavin Butler 

said residents felt they were 

being “blackmailed” by the 

government to a degree. 

“They are saying if you don’t 

accept the B-Line in Newport 

you will not share in the $500 

million of the B-Line money 

and you will end up with an 

inferior bus service to the one 

that you have today,” he said. 

He added there were great 

concerns as to whether a 

roundabout could work at the 

Neptune and Barrenjoey Road 

intersection, “let alone create 

another choke point for communities 

north of Newport”. 

Transport NSW also met 

with the Newport Beach 

Chamber of Commerce, who 

queried whether the iconic 

Norfolk Pines in the centre of 

the road or other trees would 

be removed; representatives 

said some pruning would be 

required in the village centre 

but said it would be arboristled 

and minimal. 

Following the meeting the 

Photo: Michael Mannington 

Chamber was hopeful of gaining 

several parking spaces for 

shoppers on Barrenjoey Road, 

currently designated ‘no parking’ 

due to the length of the 

existing ‘bendy buses’. 

Meanwhile CABPRA has 

rejected the ‘Newport B-Line 

solution’ out of hand, supporting 

Mona Vale as the northern 

terminus point, with feeder 

and express services catering 

for communities north of 

Mona Vale. 

It said the proposed turnaround 

site was a “very dangerous 

intersection”. 

President David Owen added 

the group had supplied the 

B-Line project team with a 

proposed service schedule 

for residents north of Mona 

Vale. This proposal was also 

supported by the NRA, the 

Palm Beach and Whale Beach 

Association and the Avalon 

Preservation Association. 

Transport NSW is holding a 

drop-in B-Line info session at 

Newport Beach SLSC on Tuesday 

October 31 from 4-7pm. 


News 



Put yourself in the frame 

News 

DOUBLE TAKE: Francis Greenslade in front of his Archibald portrait. 

It’s not every day you get the 

chance to commission an 

Archibald Prize finalist to 

paint your portrait or other 

artwork, but that’s the business 

model local artist Phil Meatchem 

is rolling out as he looks to 

pursue his lifelong dream of 

painting fulltime. 

Meatchem, 59, admits he was 

gripped by fear when he quit 

his successful 40-year career in 

advertising last year. 

“Sheer terror and crazy excitement” 

are the mix of emotions 

the Avalon resident uses 

to describe his midlife detour. 

However, he’s feeling a whole 

lot more excited and less terrified 

now after his portrait of 

ubiquitous Australian television 

and theatre actor Francis 

Greenslade was selected as a 

finalist in the 2017 Archibald 

Prize – the first time Meatchem’s 

entered Australia’s bestknown 

art prize. 

“l had never had the confidence 

to enter the Archibald 

Prize before,” Meatchem says 

as he guides us to his opento-the-elements 

creative space 

underneath his house in the 

Avalon hinterland. 

Across a few square metres 

is crammed a jumble of turnedaround 

completed works, 

drained paint pots, strewn 

paintbrushes and a lone metal 

stool. It’s a storage space for 

surfboards and nostalgia too, 

including collector car hubcaps. 

(“This is it,” he says with a mixture 

of disbelief and pride.) 

“l’d go and visit (the Archibald) 

every year and always 

felt frustrated and would think 

to myself, ‘l can do that’,” he 

said. “lt was a dream to one 

day hang in the Art Gallery of 

NSW – l’m in my second year of 

following my dreams and this 

was the year l had that box to 

tick. 

“l had to at least have a go… 

even though I thought I was no 

hope in Hades of getting in.” 

Shocked but delighted, 

Meatchem says the acknowledgement 

has been a huge 

confidence boost. 

“It has given me the feeling 

that l actually rate,” he said. 

Meatchem (pictured right) 

has always loved art. 

“As a kid I was a comic book 

fanatic and was quite particular 

about the artists who 

created them,” he explained. 

“Neil Adams was my favourite 

‘Batman’ illustrator and l loved 

Will Eisner’s ‘Spirit’ comics… l 

used to spend hours copying 

their styles.” 

After leaving school he spent 

a year at the Julian Ashton art 

school, where he discovered 

painting and became passionate 

about animation. 

“This eventually led me into 

becoming an animator at a 

very young age, l think l was 

16 or 17,” he said. “The career 

blossomed and l transitioned 

into live action directing as 

well – l stuck at this for almost 

40 years... drawing and designing 

was a huge part of this.” 

Painting took a back seat – 

until he could no longer ignore 

“an incredible urge to slow 

down, simplify things and just 

paint”. 

“l liken it to becoming entranced 

and l basically gave in 

to the urge and walked away,” 

he said. “l’ve taken a risk to see 

if dreams do come true.” 

Meatchem says he is inspired 

by many artists, with the list 

changing often. 

“l love the old school guys 

like Rembrandt and Australian 

Ivor Hele,” he said. “Current 

artists that l idolise are Hollis 

Dunlap, Zin Lim and Sebastian 

Kruger – all these artists are 

real masters of their craft and 

l can see by their work they 

are confident and strong with 

every brushstroke, which is 

something l’m only learning.” 

He describes his style as 

“more or less traditional”. 

“l’m still developing and 

learning… my biggest challenge 

is not to overwork things 

and labour too long,” he said. “l 

work mainly with acrylic paint 

as l find it quicker to work 

with than oils. I’ve found l can 

achieve a rich, deep oil paint 

look with acrylic.” 

Portraits or the human figure 

are his favourite subjects, 

although he adds: “l do lots 

of dogs and animals and l 

enjoy that as well… l like to 

think l can paint pretty much 

anything.” 

He said the time it takes to 

create a portrait can vary. 



“l’ve found that smaller isn’t 

necessarily quicker,” he says. “l 

think a good timeframe would 

be two weeks.” 

He said his Archibald portrait 

of Francis Greenslade took 

around a week to paint. 

“He didn’t know me and l 

was very nervous about contacting 

him,” Meatchem said. 

“Through the fantastic support 

from my son Zac’s partner 

Lucy, we got an immediate 

response. Lucy had emailed the 

request to Francis and he was 

happy to be on board. l flew to 

Melbourne for an initial sitting 

with Francis – and things were 

in motion.” 

Meatchem already has his 

2018 work in the pipeline – and 

says he’s blown away by the 

subject whose identity he understandably 

declines to reveal. 

As for painting for locals, 

Meatchem says the process is 

optional. 

“l usually request a series of 

photos and l’ll select which one 

would be suitable,” he said. 

“l can also set up a sitting 

where l take some photos and 

work from there. Working 

from photos is convenient for 

clients,” he said. 

His preference is to work 

alone and undistracted in his 

space at home. 

“The only thing l worry 

about is have l made the right 

choice? I’m basically starting 

over and l’ve never done 

anything like this before. It’s 

part sheer terror and crazy 

excitement!” 

* Contact the artist at 

philmeatchem.com – Nigel Wall 

NB Veterans 

Day doing it 

for the kids 

All are welcome to the 

Inaugural Northern 

Beaches Veterans and 

Community Day on Sunday 

November 12 in Dunbar 

Park Avalon Beach from 

10am-4pm. 

Awareness of veteran’s 

issues is increasing within 

the community and the AN- 

ZAC Spirit is flourishing on 

the Northern Beaches; the 

aim of this special event is 

to provide an opportunity 

for younger generations to 

learn more about past and 

current conflicts and to 

meet veterans and serving 

members of the Australian 

Defence Force. 

This free, non-profit 

event will feature an array 

of stalls supporting wellness 

with local schools and 

community groups showcasing 

talents through 

music, drama and artwork. 

There will be a quilt 

show, ANZAC biscuit 

baking competition and 

many interactive displays 

and activities including an 

obstacle course. 

The day has evolved due 

to the success of the Avalon 

Military Tattoo over the 

past 10 years and to carry 

on the legacy of past Avalon 

RSL Sub Branch President, 

the late CDRE Graham 

Sloper AM RAN (Rtd). 

News 



News 

Netballers court improvements 

Local netball clubs are one step 

closer to reaching their goal of 

securing additional training and 

playing facilities with the NSW 

government contributing $300,000 

towards the installation of permanent 

courts at Avalon Beach. 

It is anticipated the funding 

will be used by Northern Beaches 

Council to construct three new 

all-weather hard courts, with 

lighting next to the Avalon skate 

park, to cater for the increasingly 

popular sport. 

Netball is booming on the 

peninsular, with Newport Breakers 

and Peninsula netball clubs 

boasting more than 1000 registered 

players fielding more than 

60 junior and senior teams. 

Welcoming the financial boost, 

Simone Dickinson from Pittwater 

Peninsula Netball and Cara Mc- 

Cauley from Newport Breakers Netball, 

said there was a dire need for more 

courts in the Pittwater area. 

“We approached Pittwater Council 

in June about the lack of facilities for 

netball players in our area and submitted 

a request for more hard courts,” Simone 

told Pittwater Life. 

HOLDING COURT: Caitlin Dickinson, Michaela Dickinson, Simone 

Dickinson, Cara McCauley, Zara McCauley and Astrid Osborn hope 

the new netball courts will be built adjacent to the Avalon Skate Park. 

“Although they seemed sympathetic, 

it was placed into the 15-year plan… unfortunately, 

we are in need of the courts 

now and have been for some time.” 

Pittwater Peninsula Netball Club had 

46 teams and Newport Breakers Netball 

Club had 15 teams entered in the 2017 

Manly Warringah competition. 

“The majority of our teams are junior 

teams, Under-8s to Under-17s, 

most requiring a court to train 

during the week,” Simone said. 

Currently there is only one, 

free-to-use hard court available in 

the Pittwater area for training. 

“This court is at Newport Beach 

and is limited to about an hour of 

training due to the lack of lighting 

– and it may be sacrificed for 

the B-Line,” Simone said. 

As a result, both clubs pay for 

the hire of Avalon Recreation 

Centre and while acknowledging 

this was a fabulous facility, they 

said not every team was afforded 

training time because of demand. 

“Some teams have to train on 

grass courts that can be poorly 

marked and restricted by weather 

conditions,” said Simone. 

“Our clubs would love to see 

the money spent on constructing 

three all- weather hard courts with lighting, 

to help with the demand for training 

facilities. 

“Many players will benefit from these 

courts and it will continue to encourage 

our young people to stay active in a team 

sport,” Simone said. 

– Lisa Offord 



Sorting out plastics problem 

Citizen science is at the heart of a pilot project aimed at monitoring 

micro plastic levels in Narrabeen Lagoon. 

Micro plastics are tiny pieces of plastic, less than 5mm, which 

can end up in our waterways from the breakdown of various plastic 

items, including plastic fibres shed from clothing. 

Mackellar MP Jason Falinski launched the $30,000 ‘What’s in 

our Lagoons?’ program – funded by Greater Sydney Local Land 

Services through the National Landcare Program – at Narrabeen 

Lagoon last month. 

Local Northern Beaches volunteers and school kids will be 

trained in the collection of micro-plastics using steel sieves, as 

well as how to identify findings through microscopes. 

They will then be taught how to record the data using a special 

program known as the Australian Marine Debris Database. 

The project will help scientists better understand the role of micro 

plastics in local waterways and their impact on local wildlife. 

Mr Falinski said survey kits would be developed to sample and 

analyse surface sediments for micro plastics, in partnership with 

local high schools and the Department of Education and Communities 

Environmental Education Centre. 

“I am very happy to say the Federal Government has extended 

the National Landcare Program over the next five years with a 

further $1 billion commitment.” 

News 



News 

Keeping up with Kardash 

The world of travel may 

have changed a lot in 

the 30 years specialist 

Gail Kardash has run Travel 

View in Avalon Beach but the 

excitement factor of working 

in the industry remains at an 

all-time high. 

Formerly Barrenjoey Travel, 

the agency (now called Travel 

View Cruise View) opened its 

doors in October 1987 with 

Gail heading up the operation 

as Managing Director for 

owners the Lerpiniere family. 

It was a time when air 

travel was still a comparative 

luxury, two airlines – TAA 

and Ansett – dominated the 

domestic scene, and the only 

cruise line in and out of Sydney 

was P&O. 

“Air travel was booming 

with the introduction of the 

Jumbos and with Qantas 

boasting a full fleet of 747s 

and the introduction of Business 

Class,” Gail said. 

“Interestingly the average 

economy return airfare to 

London was $2300 – quite 

expensive when 

comparing the average 

salary today.” 

She said the ’80s 

also saw a growth in 

air and hotel packages, 

with more of us holidaying 

in Asia, Bali, the USA and 

the South Pacific, while the 

best way to see Europe was on 

coach tours. 

“Australians didn’t need a 

passport for New Zealand – 

and mothers travelling with 

their children were required 

to carry a permission letter 

from their husbands,” Gail 

said. 

The deregulation of domestic 

aviation in 1990 saw a big 

shift in the industry. 

“Benefits intended were low 

average airfares, more people 

travelling by air, increased 

competition, more efficient 

carriers and to improve quality 

of service,” Gail said. 

“This saw the introduction 

of our first low-cost carrier 

Compass, who had two failed 

attempts at the market… the 

next 10 years saw other lowcost 

carriers having their turn 

but not succeeding and 1993 

saw Ansett buying East West 

airlines. 

“The year 2000 

brought the introduction 

of Virgin 

Blue to our fine 

shores and their 

success speaks for 

itself.” 

Gail said the 

September 11, 2001 

terrorist attacks 

changed the way we 

travel forever. 

“2011 was significant 

in the way not only Australia 

but the way the world 

viewed travelling,” Gail said. 

“Obviously security has 

been the highest of priorities 

everywhere – scanning of 

bags, bodies and waiting in 

lines at airports and shipping 

terminals is a new part of our 

travelling days and one that I 

don’t foresee the end of. 

“But we are still here and 

still as excited as ever – 

our industry is now being 

saturated with exciting new 

destinations, and we are now 

leading the way with Expedition 

cruising,” Gail said. – NW 



Book Reviews 

The Extremely 

Inconvenient 

Adventures 

of Bronte 

Mettlesome 

Jaclyn Moriarty 

Allen & Unwin $22.99 

Sometimes books 

come along that are so 

special, you don’t want 

to finish them. Always 

a household of fans of 

Sydney author Jacyln 

Moriarty’s awardwinning 

teen novels, 

getting our hands on her 

first middle fiction title 

was like being handed our 

own packet of never-ending 

Tim Tams. 

Ten-year-old Bronte’s 

parents are killed by pirates, 

and their will stipulates 

she must visit all her aunts 

throughout the Kingdoms 

and Empire to deliver their 

meaningful gifts. And so 

the extremely inconvenient 

adventures begin. 

Written with Moriarty’s 

signature wit and storyteller’s 

gift, this enchanting and 

sometimes poignant tale 

will be a favourite re-read 

by younger readers, and a 

beautiful book to read aloud 

to any age. Well done to her 

publishing team at Allen & 

Unwin for creating such a 

beautiful edition – a sparkly 

addition to your Australian 

classics collection. 

– Libby Armstrong 

News 



News 

‘Cut’ price offer for 

film festival entry 

Reinvigorated after a 

12-month hiatus, the 

fifth Northern Beaches 

Creative Creatures Film 

Festival will run at the 

Avalon Beach Bowling 

Club on Sunday April 

8th 2018. 

Most recently renowned 

around town as 

the launching pad for 

Avalon Now, filmmakers 

young and old are being 

encouraged to register 

at Avalon Market Day on 

Sunday November 19 – 

for a 50% discount on 

the registration fee. 

Festival Director Katy Young said you won’t be able to miss 

their Market Day stall in Dunbar Park, with its huge, glitterspangled 

red shoe – the signature item to be included or referenced 

in all film entries for 2018. 

“This local film festival is all about showcasing the many 

creative creatures in the area.” Katy said. 

“So if you or anyone you know is interested in making a film 

for the festival, come and see me on Market Day in Dunbar 

Park by the big red shoe, register for half price and be in the 

running to win part of the $4,000 prize pool and the coveted 

‘Willbe’ trophy for under- and over-16-year age categories.” 

Also available at the Market Day stall will be the limited 

edition 2018 calendar showcasing our beautiful beaches as 

painted by local artist Julie Nicholson. 

Festival goers on April 8 will be treated to not only an array 

of short films by both talented local and out-of-area filmmakers 

but also fabulous food vendors and local music on the 

Bowling Club green. 

Over the years one of the festival’s key features have been 

the opening titles, which in 2018 will be designed by The 

Kingdom of Ludd set to the tune ‘Yellow Brick Road’ by local 

dynamic music duo Angus and Julia Stone. 

For registrations after Market Day go to creativecreaturesfilmfestival.com.au 

or call Katy on 0409 285 169. 


Grab market value in Mona Vale 

Get along to Village Park 

on Sunday November 5 

for Mona Vale Market Day. 

Billed as the event’s 

biggest yet, more than 120 

stalls have been booked 

for this year’s celebration 

organised by the Mona Vale 

Chamber of Commerce. 

Certain to draw a crowd 

this year will be a shiny new 

double decker bus and a B- 

Line stall manned by those 

in the know prepped to 

answer all your questions. 

Another new crowd pleaser 

will be the 9D cinema – 

billed as an Ultimate Virtual 

Reality Experience – set up 

between the Memorial Hall 

and Café Racer. 

There will be scores of 

other amusements and interactive 

stalls, with child-centered 

activities and plenty 

to keep the adults happy too 

with great food, live music 

plus stalls selling jewellery, 

clothing, homewares, crafts 

and collectors items. 

Local businesses will have 

their doors open too, with 

some great pre-Christmas 

bargains. More info under 

the Market Day tab at monavalechamber.org 



Pittwater News 

Spotlight lagoon walk 

Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon 

catchment will be holding 

their last Forum for 2017 

on November 27. Wildlife 

expert Jayden Walsh will 

give a presentation featuring 

original photographs, 

depicting a hidden world 

of the Herpetofauna 

– Amphibians and Reptiles 

– of the catchment. This 

presentation will be followed 

by a guided Spotlighting 

walk led by Jayden to see 

some of these incredible 

creatures and their habitats. 

Join them for a night not 

to be missed. More info 

and bookings email @ 

narrabeenlagoon.org.au. 

Heritage Grant 

For Church Point 

Cemetery 

Historic Church Point 

Cemetery has been allocated 

a $100,000 grant for heritage 

improvements. The funding 

will be provided to Northern 

Beaches Council as part 

of the NSW Government’s 

Heritage ‘Near Me’ grant 

program. Improvements 

will include an upgrade 

to the street access and 

pathway, landscaping, 

and the installation of a 

viewing platform, seating 

and heritage information 

signage to improve amenity 

and increase visitation. 

“This historic cemetery is 

a peaceful site in which 

visitors can explore and 

reflect,” local MP Rob 

Stokes said. “It’s a reminder 

of the pioneering days 

of our community and 

I’m delighted the NSW 

Government can assist 

in preserving our local 

heritage.” The cemetery 

was adjacent to the small 

Methodist church that stood 

on the site between 1872 

and 1932 and from which 

Church Point derives its 

name. 

News 

Ritzy ‘Rocks’ Christmas 

Christmas is fast 

approaching – and Renata 

from RITZYROCKS 

has returned from a 

wonderful trip to Venice 

and Murano sourcing 

new products. Renata has 

added beautiful millefiori 

watches to her range; 

these watches come in 

a variety of coloured 

leather bands and feature 

a quartz movement. 

Renata also added to 

her range of Millefiore 

pendants, which are 

produced by the Murrine 

technique that involves 

the layering of coloured 

liquid glass, stretched 

into long rods called 

canes which are then 

sliced in cross-section 

revealing the layered 

pattern. As a Christmas 

bonus for Pittwater Life 

readers, RITZYROCKS 

is offering free postage 

on all orders placed 

from November 1 up 

until Christmas. (Simply 

include the code RRXS17 

when completing your 

order.) RITZYROCKS 

will be at Mona Vale 

Market Day (Village Park) 

on November 5 from 

10am. More info www. 

ritzyrocks.com.au 



History gets a repeat 

at Mona Vale Probus 

‘The truth about history’ will 

be the topic of an enthralling 

and entertaining talk at the 

next meeting of the Pittwater 

Probus Club on Tuesday 

November 14th. Speaker Phil 

Pryor, a regular speaker on 

history for Sydney U3A adult 

education school, says he 

can always find new ways of 

approaching his subject with 

any audience. Bring along 

your pre-conceived notions 

on any historical topic and 

Phil will talk about them. 

Also, John Harston will 

give a short talk on electric 

cars. The meeting starts at 

10.30am at Mona Vale Golf 

Club; all welcome. More info 

Michael Mannington 9973 

1624. 

Performance fund 

top-up to $1 million 

Member for Pittwater Rob 

Stokes has announced a 

further $500,000 will be 

provided to Northern Beaches 

Council for the construction 

of a Community 

Performance Space at 

Barrenjoey High School. The 

NSW Government funding 

follows an earlier $500,000 

announced last month to 

complete planning and 

initiate construction of Stage 

One of the project. The total 

of $1 million will now enable 

the construction of the full 

project in cooperation with 

funding already raised 

by the Barrenjoey High 

School P&C Association. 

Mr Stokes said the project 

would now be fast-tracked. 

“The Barrenjoey P&C have 

worked incredibly hard to 

deliver the vision for this 

dedicated performance 

space and along with the 

Avalon Beach community 

they’ve done a fantastic job 

fundraising.” Renowned 

local architect Richard Cole 

has generously donated 

his services towards this 

project which will deliver 

a high-quality enclosed 


News 



Pittwater News 

News 

Continued from page 25 

amphitheatre designed to 

facilitate performances of 

ensembles, choirs, dance and 

drama. Other local school 

and community groups such 

as Scouts, surf clubs and 

garage bands will also be 

able to benefit from the new 

creative space. 

Help Council make 

a special delivery 

Northern Beaches Council 

wants the Pittwater 

community to help set 

priorities for the next 

three years to make the 

new Council even better. 

So far, more than 2,000 

beaches residents have 

provided input to the draft 

More accolades 

for our Romilly 

Green Building Council of 

Australia Chief Executive 

Officer and proud local 

Romilly Madew has been 

awarded the prestigious 

World Green Building Council 

(WorldGBC) Chairman’s 

Award for her work to 

advance sustainable building 

globally. The Award honours 

people who have contributed 

to the transformation of 

the global property and 

construction industry; 

Romilly was chosen as this 

year’s winner for her tireless 

commitment to sustainability, and her inspirational 

leadership. At the helm of the GBCA for more than 

a decade, Romilly represents 650-plus individual 

companies with a collective annual turnover of more 

than $40 billion. Under her watch the GBCA has certified 

more than 1,715 sustainable buildings, communities and 

fit-outs under the Green Star rating system. Importantly, 

these buildings consume 62 per cent less energy than 

non-Green Star buildings, emit 66 per cent fewer 

greenhouse gases and use 51 per cent less water. Today, 

37 per cent of Australia’s office space has Green Star 

certification. 

vision and 10-year draft 

Community Strategic Plan; 

the next step is to identify 

priorities for the Delivery 

Program which will be 

rolled out over the next 

three years. To help build 

this plan, Council wants 

to identify community’s 

priorities in service delivery. 

Mayor Michael Regan said 

some of the challenges 

are complex. “Issues like 

housing and transport 

are regularly identified as 

among the most pressing 

on the Northern Beaches as 

housing costs and traffic 

congestion increase… This 

is a great opportunity for 

the community to join the 

conversation to help Council 

deal with some of the major 

issues we face. So please 

do tell us what projects 

and services you want us 

to prioritise. Council will 

be listening to what is 

important to you. Your input 

will shape our roadmap 

for the future.” Workshops 

in November will be held 

at Mona Vale (Wednesday 

1 November, 6-8:30pm); 

Long Reef (Monday 6 

November, 6-8:30pm); and 

Frenchs Forest (Wednesday 

8 November, 6-8:30pm). 

Register to attend, complete 

the online survey or make 

a submission on the draft 

Community Strategic Plan 

at yoursay.northernbeaches. 

nsw.gov.au. 

Your chance to be 

a lighthouse guide 

Discovery Chase Alive Volunteers 

of NSW National Parks 

and Wildlife Service have 

continued to play an integral 

role at Kalkari Discovery 

Centre, Ku-ring-gai Chase 

National Park and surrounding 

reserves. Guiding walks 

and leading tours at Barrenjoey 

Lighthouse, Muogamarra 

Nature Reserve and areas of 

the Great North Walk, delivering 

children’s programs and 

of course welcoming visitors 

to the various reserves is only 

some of the duties. If you can 

spare a minimum of eight 

hours per month as a volunteer, 

they would love to hear 

from you. Contact Kalkari on 

02 9472 9300 or email snr. 

discovery@environment.nsw. 

gov.au for a volunteer pack. 



Get crafty: 60,000 

poppies needed 

Be part of something remarkable and 

create a knitted or crocheted poppy 

to contribute to special installation 

of 60,000 handmade poppies at the 

Australian War Memorial in Canberra 

in November next year. Part of the 

commemoration of the end of World 

War I, each poppy made will represent 

one Australian life lost in the Great War. 

In a call to arms Community Connect 

Northern Beaches will be hosting a ‘Knit- 

In’ and morning tea on November 8 from 

10am-12.30pm at 28 Fisher Rd Dee Why. 

Everyone is welcome. Patterns and some 

knitting supplies will be provided on the 

day but bring whatever you can, including 

needles (3.75mm knitting needles or 

350mm crochet hook), red wool, black 

Bird’s eye view of 

‘connecting’ projects 

Want a bird’s eye view of 

the works being delivered 

to connect the Northern 

Beaches, including 36km 

of coastal walkways and 

cycleways stretching from 

Manly to Palm Beach? 

Head to Council’s website 

and its new interactive map. 

The Social PinPoint map 

provides an opportunity to 

view the overall program 

in one location and can 

be zoomed in to identify 

individual projects. Clicking 

on map pinpoints brings up 

details about that project 

and shows whether work 

is current or proposed. 

It also gives users the 

opportunity to learn more 

or have their say. The map 

will be regularly updated 

as works progress on the 

program, which forms part 

of Council’s $32.6 million 

Connecting Northern Beaches 

infrastructure investment 

partnership with the NSW 

Government. To find the 

map, visit northernbeaches. 

nsw.gov.au and search 

‘connecting northern 

beaches’. 

Remembering 

the fallen 

Remembrance Day 

Memorial Services will be 

held across the Northern 

Beaches this month, with 

the public invited to 

attend. Remembrance Day 

commemorates the armistice 

at the eleventh hour of the 

eleventh day of the eleventh 

wool, wool needle for sewing up, and 

decorative threads and buttons. For more 

info and to RSVP contact Vesna on 9931 

7777 ASAP. 

month, marking the end 

of World War I (1914-18) 99 

years ago and remembers 

all those who have suffered 

or died in wars and armed 

conflicts. Services include: 

Friday 10 November at 

10.45am – Manly Dam War 

Memorial Park, King Street, 

Manly Vale (presented 

by Northern Beaches 

Council and the Manly 

Warringah War Memorial 

Park Remembrance Trust; 

Saturday 11 November at 

10.45am – The Manly War 

Memorial, corner of The 

Corso and Belgrave Street 

(presented by Northern 

Beaches Council); Avalon 

RSL Sub Branch, Palm Beach 

RSL, Pittwater RSL, Dee Why 

RSL and the War Veterans, 

Collaroy Plateau will also 

hold services. 

Vet 

on 

call 

with 

Dr Ben Brown 

Unfortunately tick season 

is well and truly upon us 

again and we are treating 

many cases of tick paralysis 

in dogs and cats. 

Ixodes holocyclus is the 

official name of the paralysis 

tick which inhabits coastal 

bushland areas. This species 

of tick is only a problem in 

Australia! These ticks are 

most active in the warmer 

months especially after 

wet weather which initiates 

hatching of eggs and activity 

of the larval stages which 

feed on mammals. 

After attaching to a host 

these ticks inject a neurotoxin 

(or nerve toxin) as part of 

their feeding process. After 

the tick has been attached 

for a day or two enough 

poison will have been 

injected to cause significant 

neurological disease in pets 

due to blocking of nerve 

receptors at the nerve-muscle 

interface. The most common 

symptom is a weak or flaccid 

paralysis starting in the hind 

limbs due to nerve signals 

being blocked from accessing 

the muscles of movement. 

As time progresses the 

paralysis ascends up the 

body to eventually affect the 

muscles of breathing and 

swallowing. This process 

causes significant illness and 

death unless an antiserum 

is administered. Other 

symptoms of tick paralysis 

include vomiting, coughing, 

excessive panting and 

grunting, an altered bark or 

meow or limping if the tick is 

lodged in a foot or leg. 

Tick poisoning is 

common, severe and very 

preventable. Our top tips for 

prevention are: 

■ Tick clipping by an 

experienced groomer and 

daily tick searching. 

■ Administration of highly 

effective and safe tick 

preventatives such as 

Bravecto, Nexgard (dogs 

only) or Seresto collars 

(dogs and cats). 

News 



One 

for all 

Life Stories 

Newport’s Sandy Menzies has been a 

leading voice in the successful adoption 

of inclusiveness in surf lifesaving. 

is a day I just want to be 

over,” says blonde 54-year-old 

“This 

Sandy Menzies standing on 

the terrace of Newport Surf Life Saving 

Club. Sandy is a clinical nurse specialist 

for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, and she 

is close to tears as she explains that two 

of her patients have died within hours 

of one another. 

“You get close to them,” she murmurs. 

We go into the bar area to talk, and 

I tentatively suggest that maybe she 

should have a drink. 

“It’s all locked up,” she replies. 

“Would Rescue Remedy help?” I ask, 

producing a bottle of the herbal stress 

reliever from my bag. 

“I’ve already taken a gutful,” she 

responds. 

From 2014 to 2016 Sandy Menzies was 

the first ever female president of the 

Newport SLSC. I had visions of meeting 

some Amazon woman who, whatever 

the weather, runs down to the beach at 

dawn and plunges into the surf, while 

urging a bevy of men to follow suit. But, 

Sandy confesses that she doesn’t like 

cold water, and only got back into the 

water for the first time this season with 

the start of Nippers last month. 

She spent much of her life inland, 

as having done her nursing training at 

Hornsby Hospital, aged 21 she married 

Doug Menzies, and they moved for his 

work – he was a hospital administrator 

– to Armidale. During their eight years 

there they had their first two children, 

Jess and Kieran, before moving to Cowra 

for two years where their third child, 

Brendan, was born. 

The Menzies clan came back to Sydney 

in 1993, and moved into the house 

they had bought a few years earlier 

in Newport’s Wallumatta Road. Two 

years later Jess started Nippers, and 

the family involved with the surf club 

began. Doug did his bronze medallion 

in 1998 and Sandy in 2000. 

“I had swum a lot at school, and used 

to come to the beach growing up, but 

training for it was scary,” Sandy admits. 

“Back then you were just given a board 

and told, ‘Off you go,’ and I’d never been 

on a board. I was covered in bruises 

for weeks, and at times the challenge 

seemed impossible, but I’m fairly 

Story by Rosamund Burton 

stubborn,” she says with a smile. 

Sandy is one very determined lady 

with the firm belief that she can do 

anything if she wants to. ‘Unstoppable’ 

is probably the best way to describe 

her. With her bronze medallion under 

her belt she rowed surfboats, until 

she had to stop due to a shoulder 

reconstruction. She was First Aid Officer 

at the club for 12 years, only giving that 

up when she took on the position of 

President. Her other roles have included 

Chief Instructor, Secretary and two 

stints as Vice President. 

All the Menzies family are active surf 

club members. Currently Sandy does 

patrol as well as assessing and training 

for CPR and spinal management, and 

Nippers training. Doug is Branch 

President. Jess is Newport’s Club 

Captain, so in charge of organising 

all the patrols. As we’re talking she 

appears, looking for some keys. She and 

Lauren Budd were recently sponsored by 

the surf club to travel to Timor with the 

Pittwater Friends of Soibada to do CPR 

training at the hospital and schools over 

there. Jess’s brother, Kieran is one of 



the Vice Captains as well as a radio and 

jet ski operator for the branch. They all 

train and assess, including the youngest 

family member, Brendan. 

“If there’s an assessment there’s 

a pretty good chance that you’ll get 

somewhere between two and five of us,” 

says Sandy. 

Despite having been the first woman 

president in the club’s history, and at 

the AGM in July this year being made 

the club’s second female Life Member, 

Sandy is quick to say she isn’t a 

feminist. 

“I just think people should do what 

their comfortable with, and if we can 

keep up with the men, then fantastic.” 

The presidency was a role which took up 

a lot of time, and involved a fair amount 

of negotiation and conflict resolution, 

she admits. This was particularly 

demanding with her job, as there would 

be phone calls regarding the club most 

days, and she wasn’t always contactable 

during work hours. When asked if she 

would take on the position again, she 

gazes through the window at a surfer 

paddling out beyond the break, before 

CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE: Sandy 

Menzies on the balcony of her beloved 

Newport Beach Surf Life Saving Club; 

heading to her high school formal with 

now-husband Doug who she married 

at 21; receiving her Life Member cap – 

only the second awarded to a female at 

Newport; with her friend Leanne Budd 

– Sandy‘s daughter Jess and Leanne’s 

daughter Lauren recently travelled to 

Soibada to teach CPR training at its 

schools and hospitals. 

replying, “Not while I’m working fulltime, 

but maybe one day.” 

A project that Sandy has held close to 

her heart since Doug and she initiated 

it at the Newport SLSC in 2002 is an 

inclusion and access program called 

Marlins and Dolphins. They had a friend 

whose child had a disability, so initially 

they organised a program for six weeks, 

twice a year, for him and several other 

participants. 

After a few years they decided to run 

the program on Sunday mornings, the 

same time as the other Nipper groups. 

The integration of these children with 

disabilities has not only made them 

feel more included, but also raised 

awareness in the other children at 

Nippers. 

“I think it’s shown them there’s 

another side, and I would hope when 

they see these guys on the street they 

would say, ‘hello’.” 

There are usually between 15 and 20 

participants in Marlins and Dolphins, 

ranging in age from 6 to their late 20s. 

‘They enjoy it so much they keep 

coming back year after year. A couple of 

the fellows in the program who are both 

in their mid-20s also do patrol support. 

They wear a white shirt with Patrol 

Support on it, and help the patrol set 

up and pack up, and move the flags 

around.” 

Sandy tells me that they thought 

Newport was the first club to establish 

this inclusion and access program, but 

later found out that Pambula SLSC had 

set up something similar at the same 

time. Currently, four of the Northern 

Beaches’ 21 clubs operate this program, 

the other three clubs being Mona Vale, 

South Curl Curl and North Steyne. 

Sandy is on the Surf Life Saving 

Australia Learning and Development 

Advisory Council, and is eager to convey 

to many more clubs that this program 

doesn’t require a lot of funding, special 

equipment or people with particular 

qualifications. 

“You just need a bit of patience.” 

With Sandy Menzies’ quiet, caring 

pragmatism and determination, not to 

mention patience, there is no doubt that 

we’re going to see a few more Marlins 

and Dolphins at our local surf clubs. 

Life Stories 



Art Life 


Seeing Saltwater 

Country connects 

‘S 

altwater Country’ began in 2009 when 

artists Sally Mayman and Dale Kentwell 

collaborated with the local indigenous peoples 

of the Dampier Peninsula in WA. The resultant 

exhibition of both photographs and painting 

explores connection to country, highlighting a 

unique saltwater lifestyle. 

Recently acquired by the State Library of WA for 

their permanent collection, this beautiful, thoughtprovoking 

body of work explores through stories, 

language, portraits and landscape, the strength 

and humanity within the remote communities. 

Observes local Dr Jeff McMullen: “Sally 

Mayman and Dale Kentwell, with the camera and 

canvas, have beautifully conveyed in an honest 

and warm-hearted way what country means 

to the Aboriginal peoples living on Saltwater 

Country in the Dampier Peninsula. Listen to their 

stories. Listen to the country sing to us all.” 

Fremantle Press has produced a beautiful book 

and the artists have now printed a high-quality 

archival box set of the works, hoping to increase 

understanding, awareness and reconciliation. 

Their exhibition at Avalon Art Gallery opens 

Friday 17th November from 6-8pm for drinks 

with the artists, showing until Saturday 2nd 

December. 

Design 

School 

Open Day 

Looking to make a career change 

in 2018? Have you always loved the 

idea of being an Interior Decorator 

Designer and creating spaces that 

people love? 

Sydney Design School is offering 

career courses in interior decoration 

and design, as well as ‘short tasters’ 

as part of their summer school in 

January. 

Director Amanda Grace says you 

can pave your own career path with 

loads of options and work opportunities. 

“Choose from a career working 

with architectural and interior design 

firms, furniture/furnishings and lighting 

suppliers or become a stylist for 

an online retailer, magazine or real 

estate styling company,” she said. 

“Or if you’d prefer to go it alone, 

work for yourself in your own interiors 

business – this is a great way to combine 

the demands of work and family 

while achieving a work life balance.” 

As an interior designer, Amanda 

said you will be involved in myriad 

aspects of the job, from dealing 

with clients and developing design 

concepts, to planning spaces, working 

with buildings and developing colour 

and furnishing schemes. 

“Best of all you’ll see your ideas 

come to life!” she said. 

“If you want to see what’s on offer 

bring your family and friends along to 

our Open Day on Saturday November 

4 from 10am -12pm where you’ll 

get hands-on experience creating 

your own mood board and be in the 

running to win an Interior Design 

Masterclass.” 

More info and registrations sydneydesignschool.com.au 



Sight for Soar eyes 

Photographer Sophie Howarth 

says she became fascinated 

with capturing the ‘festival 

experience’ – the gaze and energy 

of an audience – through 

her role as official photographer 

for leading rock music 

festival, Big Day Out. 

This fascination, coupled 

with her passion for photography, 

took her to Mongolia, 

where she captured incredible 

images of the local traditional 

Golden Eagle Festival, involving 

participants who train eagles 

to hunt for them. 

Her extraordinary images 

will be showcased at her exhibition, 

Soaring – the Eagle 

Hunters Of Mongolia, Land Of 

The Eternal Blue Sky, at the 

Chatswood Concourse from 

November 1-19. 

“The Golden Eagle Hunters 

have captured my heart 

and each visit to Mongolia 

has taken me deeper into the 

enduring tradition of eagle 

falconry,” said Sophie. 

“The Golden Eagle Festival 

was the first experience I had 

of being swept away – visually 

and emotionally. 

“My work is a study of reverie, 

a powerful alchemy that 

the performer and audience inspire, 

exist in, and respond to 

during the cycle of a festival… 

a presence that everyone has a 

part in, that brings an otherworldliness 

to the occasion; 

an atmosphere of something 

greater than ourselves.” 

Sophie explained the old 

Kazakh tradition of horseback 

eagle falconry was celebrated 

each October in the Bayan- 

Olgii Province in far western 

Mongolia. 

“Participants train an eagle 

to hunt and at the festival they 

have an opportunity to show 

their skill as a hunter,” she said. 

Sophie’s images will also be 

released in a book. 

The exhibition runs at Art 

Space on the Concourse, 409 

Victoria Ave, Chatswood, 

from 11am-5pm Wednesdays 

through Sundays. Art After 

Hours on November 3-4 until 

10pm. 







Market exhibitions 

offer interesting Mix 

It’s a busy month for the Mixed Palette Art 

School which will be running two professional 

art exhibitions in November – providing art 

lovers with a great opportunity to grab some 

bargains and Christmas presents. 

First up is the exhibition on Sunday 5th at 

Mona Vale Memorial Hall in conjunction with 

the Chamber of Commerce annual market day. 

The exhibition will feature a diverse range 

of works by local artists Jan Cristaudo, 

Debby Waters, Ellie Waters, Lorrie Morgan 

and Theresa Hunt, with the style and subject 

matter varying from contemporary abstraction, 

landscape, portraiture and still life, making it 

an event for all to attend. 

Mixed Palette will also be running the annual 

Art Exhibition in Avalon Recreation Centre 

in conjunction with Avalon Market Day – the 

‘lucky’ 13th year that this highly successful, 

free-admission exhibition has taken place. 

Opening night will be in the Avalon 

Recreation Centre on Friday 17th from 

6.30pm to 9pm; the Avalon exhibition will 

continue Saturday and Sunday 18th-19th from 

9am to 4pm. 

Debby Waters and Lorrie Morgan are the 

energetic 

duo running the 

exhibition, which will represent an eclectic mix 

of paintings, jewellery, ceramics, wall hangings 

(and more) by many local artists. 

n Interested in being involved in the 

exhibition? Contact Lorrie on 0412 141 852 

or Debby on 0409 278 591. 

Mixed Palette runs mixed media art classes 

for all ages – from children, teens, HSC 

students and adults – as well as Art Parties 

and Workshops. 

Avalon’s Christmas craft sale 

Members of the Avalon Craft Cottage are busy arranging 

their annual Christmas Show and Sale which will be held in 

the Avalon Recreation Centre over three days from Thursday 

November 30. 

Organiser Maureen Darcy Smith said members remained 

proud of their link with Avalon, where they set up in 1969. 

Nowadays they ply their craft at Pittwater’s shopping centres, 

as well as making two regular trips 

back north of the Bends each year. 

“With our 50th birthday coming 

up in a couple of years, the Craft 

Cottage is proud we still have a few 

original members, all creating lovely 

craftwork,” said Maureen. 

Maureen said the Rec Centre 

space would be looking very ‘Christmassy’ 

over the three days, with 

beautiful bunting, patchwork quilts 

and brilliant silk wall hangings. 

“As always there will be a variety 

of hand-crafted items on show, 

from Australian woodwork, ceramics, colourful patchwork 

quilts, embroidered baby wear and knitted shawls, booties and 

blankets, screen-printed tea towels, jewellery, children’s summer 

dresses, brilliant silk scarves, fabric handbags, knitted scarves, 

socks and beanies, plus hundreds of beautiful hand-crafted 

greeting cards and decorations,” Maureen said. 

She said all visitors would receive a ticket in their Christmas 

raffle to win a basket chock full of Christmas goodies. 

The sale is on November 30 then Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd 

December from 10am to 4pm; free admission. 

More info 9999 3703 or facebook. 



Newport 

ablaze with 

sculptures 

Sydney Art Space is proud to announce 

their curational role for 

the Newport Sculpture Trailblazers 

2017 – this fabulous not-for-profit 

arts event runs till 13th November 

in Newport village and environs and 

features artworks from many Northern 

Beaches artists including talented 

participants from Sydney Art Space. 

Convenor Christine Simpson 

urges art lovers to come and see a 

wonderful range of sculptures that 

employ various media, from contemporary 

installations to timeless 

figurative classics. 

Sydney Art Space also collaborated 

with Newport Primary School 

Year 2s to facilitate the ceramic installation 

– 46 Sugar Gliders – which 

is being exhibited during the Trailblazers 

arts event at the Newport 

Community Gardens in Woolcott 

Street (a hidden treasure for all of 

the community to enjoy!) 

Meanwhile coursework for sculpture, 

drawing, painting and Kids/ 

Teens Art Club continues at Sydney 

Art Space’s home base at 64 Darley 

St, Mona Vale for Term 4 (until the 

week before Christmas). 

“If you want to step out of the 

mad Christmas rush and enjoy some 

creative quiet time check out what is 

being offered,” said Christine. 

More info at sydneyartspace. 

com 

Nettie well versed in Rime art 

Scotland Island-based author and illustrator 

Nettie Lodge has drawn on her lifelong 

love of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem 

‘The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner’ to create 

a stunning artistic accompaniment to the 

classic verse – a series of 40 paintings which 

will be exhibited at the Manly Art Gallery 

and Museum from November 3. 

Nettie explained she was mesmerized by 

Coleridge’s words at the age of 10 and her 

“visual narrative” of the poem, created over 

the past seven years, powerfully illustrates 

the epic and tragic 

story of the albatross 

and the mariner. 

“I first heard the 

poem on a record, 

recited by Richard 

Burton, when I was a 

child and it conjured 

such imagery and 

adventure, it has 

stayed with me all 

my life,” Nettie said. 

Originally started 

as a picture book for adults, Nettie’s work 

soon evolved into broader project. 

“For me, the poem galvanizes the concept 

of humanity and uses its symbolism to 

deliver a story so compelling and tragic 

and contemporary, that it has survived and 

continues to mystify new generations of 

readers,” she said. 

“At the heart of the poem are the ocean 

and the albatross. They are the protagonists, 

the wild forces that elude the mariner. 

They are the metaphors for guilt and redemption, 

so prevalent in the poem.” 

She added it has been argued that Coleridge 

based his poem on Captain James 

Cook’s second voyage to the Southern 

Ocean around 1772. 

“I have always loved this link to Australia 

– the poem was written in 1798 – and the 

reference to the Great Wandering Albatross.” 

Nettie explained her illustrations were her 

interpretation of the text. 

“They are not literal, but spattered with 

symbols,” she said. 

“As the weight of guilt falls on the mariner, 

my albatross becomes omnipresent: a 

ghost. In the poem, the mariner is forced 

to wear the dead 

albatross around his 

neck, so I have given 

my mariner wings – I 

want the bird and 

the man to become 

interchangeable.” 

To reflect the 

pivotal point in the 

story, when the ship 

runs into the doldrums, 

Nettie created 

a three-dimensional 

skeleton ghost ship using diaphanous 

materials – “a kind of three-dimensional 

drawing”. 

“The vagaries of the ocean have always 

influenced me and my work,” she said. “I 

have lived on Pittwater for many years and 

the water and ocean will continue to remain 

my innate soul mate.” 

The exhibition at Manly Art Gallery and 

Museum runs from November 3 through 

December 3; open Tuesday to Sunday 10am- 

5pm; free entry. More info 9976 1421. 

* Join Nettie on a walk through the exhibition 

and learn about her creative process; 

Sunday November 12 from 2-3pm. 




Surfing Life 


Beep from the deep – a 

reminder of the unseen 

As the whales pass by us again at this time of year, what travels with them? 

I’ve often thought of surfing 

skill as the modern equivalent 

of shooting pool: sign of a 

wasted youth. But occasionally 

I get a glimpse of things that if I 

hadn’t surfed, I’d miss. 

On the second Saturday in 

October, at around 8am, I was 

sitting on a surf ski 200 metres 

north-east of the tip of Newport 

Reef, a southerly gale ripping 

up a messy sea. Birds were 

bombing the surface, and small 

dead fish, mostly leatherjackets, 

floated dead in the chop, 

victims of some offshore algae 

bloom which must have starved 

them of oxygen at just the 

wrong moment in their short 

lives. 

My eye was on another 

paddler, fighting the wind just 

seaward. 

Then maybe 50 metres 

further out, I saw a small silver 

streak of a fish leap clear of the 

surface, and before I’d quite 

registered that, the fish’s pursuer 

exploded from the water 

behind it – a big mako shark, 

maybe a touch under three 

metres, as close to a game fish 

as a shark can get. 

My eye froze the image of 

the shark at the top of its arc, 

even as it twisted down and 

vanished. The sharp lines of its 

body and tail quivering with 

the energy of its movement, so 

sudden, yet so practised and 

efficient. Then the vanishing; 

200 kilos of wild animal gone 

in a blink, with barely a splash. 

Nothing there now but the 

wind, and the circling birds and 

the small dead fish. 

Where did it go? I have no 

idea. I didn’t see it again. I 

didn’t say anything about it to 

the other paddler – just gently 

encouraged a return to shore. 

That afternoon I switched 

on the SharkSmart app on my 

phone. The SharkSmart app 

is connected to an array of 

“smart” sensor buoys off the 

NSW coast, which are designed 

to pick up transmissions 

from the tags being fitted to 

“killer” shark species caught 

on drumlines off Ballina, Evans 

Head, Forster, and several other 

known haunts of great white 

sharks. The NSW Department of 

Primary Industry’s latest figures 

show 178 Great Whites have 

been tagged in the past year 

and a half, along with a lesser 

number of bulls and tigers. (No 

makos; makos don’t care for 

drumlines. Makos like chasing 

things.) 

Now my phone beeps every 

few minutes, day and night. 

It tells me about sharks off 

Sharpes Beach in Ballina, and 

Lighthouse Beach in Port 

Macquarie, and Old Bar Beach 

with Nick Carroll 

STAYING CALM: The SharkSmart app is proof you’re never alone offshore. 

and the main beach in Forster, 

and even as far south as 

Sussex Inlet, as the humpback 

whale migration moves toward 

its Southern Ocean summer 

haunts. It tells me about further 

taggings. Beep! There it goes, 

right now, as I type: 3.19m 

Great White caught on drumline 

off Tuncurry, tagged and 

released. Make that 179. 

My phone is telling me about 

an unseen coast, in deep contrast 

with the one we see each 

day. And generally, the coast we 

see shows us the things we like 

about our world. The whales 

we watch with such pleasure 

as they breach just offshore, 

the cliffs and dolphin pods, the 

beautiful waves and amazingly 

unpolluted water. The 

holiday-style trappings of life in 

Pittwater. 

Yet the seen and unseen 

co-exist. They do more than coexist. 

They rely on each other, 

in critical ways. This can be uncomfortable 

knowledge. During 

September and mid-October, 

four whales washed up dead on 

east coast beaches, one each 

at Wurtulla in Queensland, Port 

Macquarie and Ballina in NSW, 

and Kilcunda in Victoria. Three 

of the whales had lost flesh and 



PL’s NOVEMBER SURF CALENDAR 

18/11: Under-12 Grommet NSW Titles, Cronulla NSW 

This event had to be re-scheduled after an earlier cancellation. It’s a 

seeded event, so there’s no random entries, but it might still be fun to 

watch if you’re around the ’Nulla that weekend. As well some of you 

may be, since the Tradies Surf Masters – possibly the greatest dads’ 

surf contest ever – is on at the same time! 

25/11: Australian Junior Surfing Titles, Culburra NSW 

Under-14 to under-18 divisions for boys and girls, plus schools team 

titles. Absolute mayhem no doubt. 

25/11 – into December: WSL CT Maui Women’s Pro, Honolua 

Bay, Maui 

Peak moment for this year’s world title race. After years of ups and 

downs, untimely injuries and harsh over-shadowing by other pros in 

their primes, Sally Fitzgibbons is finally in the box seat to win a world 

championship. Three surfers – Hawaii’s Carissa Moore, California’s 

Courtney Conlogue and fellow Aussie Tyler Wright – can numerically 

get to her, but Sal’s in the lead and it’s hers to take, and it’s impossible 

to think of a pro, man or woman, who deserves a world title more. Go 

Sal! Watch it live at www.worldsurfeague.com 

NICK’S NOVEMBER SURF FORECAST 

I try to read the tea leaves of these seasons, I really do. But lately I 

am being undone by computer modelling. There’s three big forecast 

models in use by most surf predictors, one from Europe, one from 

the US, and one from right here in Australia, and they all have their 

strengths and weaknesses, but to a model, right now, they’re undercalling 

things. They’re saying it’s September and the weather’s acting 

like it’s December. I’m going to semi-ignore them here and go with 

a gut feeling: that we’re heading for the hottest summer ever, and 

November will be another step toward that. Watch for some big swings 

this month, with a couple of cooler southerlies early in the month, 

then a pattern of heat, humidity, and flat northerly coastal winds, and 

occasional brief showery south-easterlies. Surf-wise, this means a 

constant conflict between winds and swells: south swells filling in only 

to be met by north winds, and vice versa. At least it also means the 

water’s warming trend should continue. You’ll be in boardshorts or 

bikinis before ya know it! 

Nick Carroll 


blubber to the white shark population’s 

feeding effort. Local 

communities in each case were 

riven by the presence of the 

carcasses. Councils and government 

departments tried to bury 

them on the beaches, only to 

be faced by astonishment and 

outrage from surfers and others, 

who were concerned that a 

decomposing whale would act 

as literal sharkbait. Feigning 

misunderstanding, the councils 

and government departments 

quickly dug them up. 

Behind it lies the uncomfortable 

knowledge: You don’t just 

get pretty things in Nature. 

That booming whale population, 

so magnificently visible 

from our cliffs and beaches, 

is moving in lockstep with so 

much else we never see, unless 

maybe we are dumb enough 

to be a kilometre offshore on a 

surf ski, at exactly the moment 


a mako decides to leap. 

Otherwise… out here, off 

Pittwater? You won’t even get 

a ping on your phone. There’s 

Smart buoys all up and down 

the coast. But there’s none off 

Sydney. The array stops at Newcastle, 

and starts again south 

of Wollongong. When it comes 

to Great White sharks, we’re off 

the only radar there is. 

I guess it’s how the ocean 

gets to us. It shows us things 

and it hides them. We see the 

things we want to see. But the 

other things are still there, 

whether we see them or not. 

Nick Carroll is a leading 

Australian and international 

surf writer, author, filmmaker 

and surfer, and one 

of Newport’s own. Email: 

ncsurf@ozemail.com.au 


Boating Life 

Boating Life 

Coutas show 

‘Tenacity’ 

The name says it all – Don 

Telford’s ‘Tenacity’ became 

the first non-Victorian crew to 

claim an Australian title in the 

historic Couta Boat class when 

the Sydney team wrapped up 

the four-race series on a tricky 

Pittwater on October 15. 

A second NSW team and 

Tenacity’s Royal Prince Alfred 

Yacht Club clubmates, Larry 

Eastwood’s Sylvia, finished 

runner-up by two points and 

the Sorrento crew of Margarita, 

skippered by Australian class 

president James Mighell, 

completed the podium results. 

“We had no idea if we’d won 

overall after today’s race,” said 

Telford (pictured right). “It’s a 

wonderful win; to take it to the 

Victorians was magnificent.” 

Long-time mate and tactician 

John ‘Steamer’ Stanley – pleased 

to knock off an Australian 

championship at the age of 70 – 

added: “after the Sydney regatta 

we worked out you had to be in 

the top 10 in every race”. 

Tenacity finished tenth from 

an outstanding multi-state line 

up of 22 Coutas in the final 

passage race around Scotland 

Island and then north to 

Mackerel Beach and back south 

to the area known as ‘the pond’, 

in 8-10 knot east sou’easters. 

Following one 

general recall and 

a re-jig of the line, 

Stanley opted to 

play it clean at the 

start and from 

there Tenacity’s 

crew of six left 

nothing behind, knowing the 

championship result rested on 

their final score. 

Said Telford: “Steamer was 

saying for old guys this is the 

only class left; everything else 

is sailing on the water not in the 

water. These are beautiful and 

very hard boats to sail.” 

The likes of professional 

yachtsman Steve McConaghy, 

coach Rod Hagebols and Moth 

sailor Josh McKnight raised the 

bar at what was already a very 

serious class meet – serious 

enough for 10 Victorian owners 

to transport their Coutas on 

B-double trucks from the 

Mornington Peninsula and one to 

send his boat the length of the 

continent from Perth. 

At the closing awards 

presentation at Avalon SC, 

James Mighell acknowledged 

the hospitality and work of the 

volunteers, chiefly NSW president 

Larry Eastwood and his helpers. 

“Bringing the boats to Sydney 

was a crazy idea borne of people 

with foresight. But for it we’d all 

be sitting around our own little 

clubs. It’s people like Larry and 

Couta boat builder Tim Phillips 

who have the vision to drive 

ideas like this one,” he said. 

On combined scratch (over the 

line) results it was a Victorian 

whitewash, with the top six 

racing for the Sorrento Sailing 

and Couta Boat Club, led by Nick 

Williams’ Wagtail. 

In the Wattle Cup, reserved 

in 2017 for the classic Coutas, 

Kelly Holder’s syndicate-owned 

Kathleen Mary (built 1988) 

from the Royal Motor Yacht 

Club Broken Bay collected 

the main trophy, while Tim 

Phillips’ century-old Muriel 

(SSCBC) finished second and Jeff 

Richardson’s Georgia (SSCBC) 

placed third. – Lisa Ratcliff 



Avalon’s 

big day out! 

Avalon Beach Market Day returns on Sunday 19 November 

from 9am to 4pm. The main streets of Avalon Beach 

village and Dunbar Park will be alive with amazing music, 

fabulous food, fantastic fashion and fun for all the family! 

There will be an array of market stalls selling fashion, jewellery 

and crafts as well as gourmet food stalls. Local clubs and 

charities will be working hard to raise funds for their worthy 

causes. This year the markets are being organised by a local 

event company, Roobarb and Company Pty Ltd, who bring a 

more local focus to the day – more stallholders from the local 

area and northern beaches. 

Also, to help increase breast cancer awareness, McGrath 

Avalon will be selling pink cupcakes, pink lemonade and pink 

fairy floss as well as a huge 

raffle with the chance to 

win an Apple i-pad mini 

and a host of other community 

donated prizes. (All 

proceeds to the McGrath 

Foundation.) 

Fun for the Kids 

The carnival rides are 

back – this year they will be 

located on Old Barrenjoey 

Road, outside of Avalon lic School. There will also be 

Puban 

assortment of Show Bags 

filled with lots of goodies. 

Annual Dog Show 

The ever-popular Dog Show is on the main stage at 9.30am! 

(Sponsored by Sydney Animal Hospital Northern Beaches, 

Yvette’s Pet Grooming and Chelsea Lane Pets.) This year there’s 

a gold coin donation to enter (proceeds to saferehoming.com. 

au). Join MC David Koch (Kochie – right) from ‘Sunrise’ alongside 

judges – The Hon. Rob Stokes MP, and Mr Jason Falinski MP. 

Bring your pooch 

down on the 

day to partake 

in Best Dressed 

Dog, Best Trick 

and Best Dog in 

Show. (Thanks to Elizabeth 

Browning, ‘Rust’, who does an amazing 

job organising the Show every year.) 

Live music 

John Stone has arranged a spectacular line-up of local school 

bands, dance troupes, musicians and fantastic bands (full entertainment 

schedule – see page 40). The main streets of Avalon 

Beach village will be filled with bluegrass from Distant Sons, 

soul singer Tiana Martel, Latin jazz by Urban Gypsies Quartet 

and cool tunes by Expand & Surrender. Stop by the Dunbar Park 

stage to support the local school bands from Avalon Public 

School, Maria Regina Catholic, Bilgola Public School and Barrenjoey 

High School. Mona Vale Music has also arranged a fantastic 

line-up of young local talent on the Avalon Parade stage. (Special 

big thanks to Lamont Dance School for their ongoing support!) 

Food… & more food 

Dunbar Park will be the place to go to grab a bite from of the 

many fabulous food stalls. Anything from paella to Turkish 

gozleme to Japanese pancakes or a simple sausage sizzle. 

The flavours of the world are at your doorstep! 

The Local 

Voice Since 1991 






Stage 1 – X-roads 

9am: Ella Seabrook 

9.30am: 

10.15am: 

11am: 

11.15am: 

12pm: 

12.15pm: 

1pm: 

1.10pm: 

2pm: 

3pm: 

Dog Show 

Distant Sons 

Lamont Dance 

Tiana Martel 

Flamenco Dance 

Liquid Times 

Qantas Bollywood Dancers 

Backbeat 

Urban Gypsies Quartet 

Expand & Surrender 

Stage 2 – Dunbar Park 

9am: Avalon Public School Bands 

10am: 

10.30am: 

11am: 

12pm: 

12.30pm: 

1pm: 

1.30pm: 

2pm: 

2.30pm: 

3pm: 

Maria Regina Band 

Bilgola Public School Band 

Barrenjoey High School Bands 

Blue Jays 

Jade Darby 

Night Owls Acappella 

Hot Robert Jazz Funk Grooves 

Mr. T. Mosman Rock Trio 

Lara Duncan 

Village Big Band 

Stage 3 – Avalon Parade 

9pm: Josh Armistead 

9.15am: 

10.15am: 

10.30am: 

10.45am: 

11.15am: 

11.30am: 

12pm: 

12.30pm: 

1pm: 

1.30pm: 

2.30pm 

3pm 

3.30pm: 

Ella Couston and 

Megan Mulcahy 

Natasha Elliot 

Micah Lihachov 

Dan Crestani 

Fifi Archibold 

Megan Longhurst 

Tiana Mannell 

Kasey Cramer 

Tayanita Robinson 

Ken Lloyd Guitar Ensemble 

Barrenjoey Year 8 Rock 

Barrenjoey Year 10 Rock 

Merryn Baker 


The Local 

Voice Since 1991

Real Estate 

Upside to 

downsize 

With its sweeping waterways 

and laid-back 

villages offering an 

enviable lifestyle, it comes 

as no surprise that Pittwater 

is attracting more and more 

‘downsizers’ who are prepared 

to sacrifice large living areas for 

smaller ‘digs’ to live by the sea. 

It’s not just retirees who 

are opting for the move, but 

also the over-55s whose children 

have left home, leaving 

parents in large houses with 

“wasted” space. 

Local developer Tom Luedecke, 

whose local projects 

include The Boathouse at 

Clareville and Catalina 66 at 

Avalon, said over-55s living 

appealed because their 

developments were generally 

low-rise, and situated in 

convenient and pleasant locations, 

rather than an apartment 

located in a commercial 

or medium-density zone. 

“Downsizing from a large 

home allows residual capital 

which can be used for many 

other lifestyle choices,” Tom said. 

“We have renovated and built 

a number of luxury homes in 

the area, working with Richard 

Cole Architecture on most 

occasions, and have translated 

the style and quality of a home 

rather than a generic apartment 

into our over-55 developments. 

“Our motto is ‘build them as 

you would like to live in them 

yourself’ – quality and style in 

a considered approach.” 

Tom said the requirements 

of seniors living produced a 

well-considered home, with 

spacious hallways, generous 

bedrooms and bathrooms 

generally all on one level with 

no stairs – with most owners 

as occupiers who took care of 

their homes. 

Tom’s latest development is 

drift at Avalon (pictured) – a 

modest profile of four crafted 

town homes and four singlelevel 

apartments. 

“It’s a meld of The Boathouse 

and Catalina 66, taking the 

best of both and matching it 

with what purchasers expect 

and request and will enjoy,” 

Tom said. 

“Once again it’s a simple, 

timeless architectural-considered 

space providing a blank 

canvas for owners to personalise. 

“Richard Cole is a well-known 

and respected residential 

architect in Avalon who has 

designed three developments 

for us now and each is refined 

and tuned to the location and 

expected occupants.” 

He said using a residentialquality 

architect meant the 

spaces felt like generous 

homes rather than gyprocklined 

apartment boxes. 

“I love drift’s build quality, 

the textures, the layouts, the 

location, the aspect and its 

overall simplicity – architectural 

simplicity is harder to achieve 

than complexity,” he said. 

“Developments need to be 

appropriate places to fit in, 

convenient and pleasant to all 

– they need to add to the area 

rather than detract.” 

And the most common feedback 

he receives? 

“Everyone we’ve built 

an apartment for has 

said ‘why didn’t we do this 

years ago?’ – that sums it up.” 




Health & Wellbeing 


Fire up for fitness and fun 

Over 40 and looking for an alternative 

fitness regime that will 

combine wellbeing with socialising? 

Then you might want to consider Dragon 

Boat Racing, one of the fastestgrowing 

aquatic sports in the 

world that’s taken a real foothold 

on the upper northern beaches. 

The Pittwater Dragon Boat 

Racing Club, based at Rowland 

Reserve on the shores of Pittwater 

at Bayview, is holding a series of 

open days to help explain what 

they and the sport are all about. 

Club coach Lindy Chester explains 

Dragon Boat Racing began 

in China more than 2000 years 

ago as a celebration conducted 

during the summer solstice. At 

this time of year disease and death were 

more prevalent and the racing came to 

symbolize the struggle against nature as 

well as enemies. 

“A dragon boat team consists of 20 

paddlers sitting two abreast, plus a Sweep 

who steers the dragon boat from the rear 

and a drummer who sits at the front – 

they’re the heartbeat of the boat,” said 

Lindy, who is also a coach at NSW level. 

“It’s great for promoting strength, 

fitness and of course teamwork, as the 

performance of the boat is determined by 

the work of the paddlers in unison.” 

The PDBRC was formed in 2011; since 

then it has become a popular outlet for 

over-40s looking to stay fit. 

“A typical member would be over 40 

– we race in the over-40s, -50s and -60s 

categories,” she said, adding it was a good 

sport for breast cancer survivors. 

The racing season runs from Sept 

to April, with at least one racing regatta 

per month and culminating with the Australian 

Championships to finish off 

the season. 

“It’s a summer sport so it won’t 

interfere with your winter sports – 

and you will become addicted!” 

Training for 90 minutes is on 

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 

6pm, as well as 8am Saturdays 

and 7.30am Sundays; three sessions 

a week are recommended. 

“This is a great team sport 

for over 40s, both friendly and 

competitive,” she said. “We have 

achieved a lot over the past few 

years with medals at international, 

national and State level and several of our 

team paddle for NSW and have paddled 

for Australia – in fact our oldest member is 

75 and still paddling in the National team!” 

The club is holding Open Days at 

Rowland Reserve on November 11 and 

December 9; more info 0414 450 065 

(Donna) or pittwaterdragons.com.au 





Colourful step the right direction 

Former model and kids clothing 

designer Kylie Johnson 

has launched a book to help 

adults and children connect “in 

the present moment”. 

The mum of one from Bayview 

was inspired to create her 

book Mindfulness Colouring 

With Affirmations For Kids and 

Adults after she experienced 

a number of tough years going 

through IVF, a marriage 

breakdown and the death of 

her mother. 

Kylie said her creativity and 

the power of positivity during 

that time were the answers to 

her healing. 

As Kylie’s art evolved, her 

daughter Jasmin (now aged 7) 

joined her to draw, colour and 

paint – an activity Kylie found 

was mutually beneficial. 

Kylie said the book celebrated 

the simplicity of togetherness 

and was based on the 

principles of mindfulness. 

She said the aim of the book 

was for parents and carers to 

bring awareness to children 

about the power of a positive 

mindset and to learn the 

practice of positive-self talk by 

using affirmations. 

“When you become mindful 

of all your thoughts, words 

and feelings and talk kindly to 

yourself, you realise that your 

mind is the most powerful 

friend you have,” Kylie said. 

“If you can act with gratitude 

and kindness then you will 

lead a fulfilling life. 

“Only then will your mind 

be trained to see the upside of 

life – even if you have to look a 

little harder at times. 

“My hope with this book is 

to inspire children right from 

the start and be reminders to 

adults at the same time.” 

Kylie says the book (available 

through kyliejohnsonart. 

com) is suitable for adults and 

children from five years of age. 




Dental care Family grows 

After an exciting and successful first three years Avalon 

Beach Family Dental is expanding – adding another dental 

chair, dentist and offering more hours to provide convenience 

and flexibility for patients. 

The practice opened in late 2014 with one dental room 

and with practice owner Dr Astrid Kylstra as the only operating 

dentist. 

However, the warm embrace 

the team have received from the 

local community has prompted 

a growth to two dental rooms 

and three dentists. 

Dr Kylstra said she and colleague 

Dr Mary Clayton, who 

has been onboard since last 

year, are excited to introduce Dr 

Jayne Temple to their modern 

space at the southern end of Old 

Barrenjoey Road. 

“We can now care for patients 

not only six days a week, but also have the ability to treat 

more patients throughout each day,” said Dr Kylstra. 

Dr Temple is originally from the UK but has resided on the 

beaches for the past 12 years. She is excited to work within 

the Avalon community. 

“We are really excited to have another dental chair and to 

welcome Jayne,” said Dr Kylstra. 

“We can now provide more overall clinical time, ‘out-ofhours’ 

time slots and the opportunity to treat new and existing 

patients more promptly and with greater flexibility. 

“We know life is busy and we want your dental health to 

be a priority.” 






Making contact 

with new lenses 

Do you want to read a 

menu without specs? 

Do your glasses dig 

in, fall down or fog up when 

you exercise? Do you want to 

avoid reading glasses with 

sunnies over the top on the 

beach or by the pool this 

summer? 

No matter what your age 

or vision condition, contact 

lenses are now available to 

solve all vision problems. The 

lenses we prescribe provide 

the best in vision, health and 

comfort for your eyes. 

If you are more reliant on 

reading glasses than ever before, 

carrying specs with you 

to restaurants or becoming 

frustrated in shopping centres 

with spectacles on and off…. 

modern contact lenses can be 

a used as a part-time or fulltime 

vision correction. 

Contact lens technology has 

improved to provide flexibility 

for those needing different 

vision at different distances, 

with new generation multifo- 

Celebrate ‘Movember’ this month and help 

men live happier, healthier and longer lives. 

Each November the Movember Foundation 

is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches 

on thousands of faces around the world, 

with funds raised helping to deliver innovative 

research and support programs focusing 

on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental 

cal lenses available. It also 

provides a great alternative to 

those looking at surgical correction 

for vision problems. 

Prescribing contact lenses 

to children is a particularly 

rewarding part of our practice. 

It changes kids’ lives, giving 

confidence, and encourages 

with Rowena Beckenham 

those to come out from behind 

their specs to participate in 

team sports and make it ‘out 

the back’ in the surf break. 

Contact lens options are 

also becoming important in 

the prevention of myopia and 

progression of short sightedness, 

with the latest release of 

lenses also addressing relief of 

digital eyestrain. 

No longer are contact lenses 

only suitable for the minority; 

flexibility and a wide range 

of options are the key to 

modern-day contact lenses. 

For further info or an 

appointment contact us on 

9918 0616 or visit beckenhamoptometrist.com.au 

Comment supplied by Rowena Beckenham, of 

Beckenham Optometrist in Avalon (9918 0616). Rowena 

has been involved in all facets of independent private 

practice optometry in Avalon for 16 years, in addition 

to working as a consultant to the optometric and 

pharmaceutical industry, and regularly volunteering in 

Aboriginal eyecare programs in regional NSW. 

Grow a mo for men’s health issues 

health and suicide prevention. 

Thankfully, growing a ‘tash’ isn’t the only 

way to get involved – other fund-raising activities 

for men’s health include walking, running 

or cycling and hosting an event. 

There are tips on how to grow a mo, “move” 

for Movember and how to host a memorable 

event on the website movember.com. 








Bounce back with a tailored 

holistic health program 

Physical activity can make you feel happier, 

more relaxed and boost your self-esteem – 

but when you aren’t feeling 100 per cent, often 

the last thing you want to do is exercise or go 

to the gym. 

Whether you are a trained athlete or haven’t 

moved for a while due 

to pain, injury or lack of 

motivation, professional 

help will get you on the 

right track. 

Exercise Physiologists 

are university-trained 

health professionals who 

specialise in helping 

people of all fitness levels 

feel comfortable and 

empowered to embrace 

healthy habits that suit 

their individual needs. 

Local Exercise Physiologist Andrew Daubney 

of Rebound Health, works with a dedicated 

team of allied health professionals providing 

one-to-one coaching, group classes, specialised 

programs, physiotherapy and nutritional 

advice. 

“We believe in working collaboratively as a 

team in order to allow our clients to achieve 

their goals – be them rehabilitation, sport or 

adventure,” Andrew said. 

Andrew explained success came from 

comprehensive and evidence-based 

assessment, personalised 

programming and a 

holistic ‘goals-based’ 

approach to health. 

“We aim to support our 

clients by guiding positive 

change and cementing 

healthy lifestyle habits,” 

he said. 

As well as a range 

of personal training 

programs, Rebound 

Health runs community 

health and fitness programs including Veterans 

Wellness programs, an 8-week exercise program 

for people with Type 2 diabetes (which is bulkbilled), 

an exercise program for people with 

cancer and an 8-week weight loss program. 

For details visit reboundhealth.com.au or 

call 9907 6023. 



Hair & Beauty 

Put the big freeze on fat, 

smile through summer 

with Sue Carroll 

The thought of ‘bathing 

an experienced therapist, the 

suit season’ can incite 

contouring of the body with 

anything from mild 

the fat freezing technology 

insecurity to hysteria in both 

will definitely provide an 

men and women. However, 

exceptional reduction of 

there is a possible solution to 

stubborn fat bulges for 

most of those hard-to-budge 

both men and women. (As 

areas – fat freezing. The 

always, any treatments 

freezing of one’s assets used 

have greater longevity and 

to be an exclusive domain of 

optimum results when used 

bankruptcy courts, but with 

in conjunction with a healthy 

ever-evolving technology, 

diet and lifestyle.) 

the term has now been 

extended to the freezing and 

Sue Carroll of Skin 

permanent removal of areas 

Inspiration has been a qualified 

of fat. 

Aesthetician for 33 years. 

Fat freezing is a method of 

Sue has owned and 

non-invasive fat reduction. Its 

operated successful beauty 

principle relies on controlled 

clinics and day spas on 

cooling, through non-invasive 

the Northern Beaches. 

technology, of the stubborn include the heating of the fat today for the permanent 

fat areas of the body. Fat cells prior to the freezing process. non-surgical removal of fat. info@skininspiration.com.au 

are more sensitive to cold To make it easier there is After having a complete 

www.skininspiration.com.au 

than other cells, which means equipment that will do all of 360-degrees consultation with 

that fat freezing treatments this with the one handpiece, 

kill fat cells without harming rather than two separate 

the skin, nerves or other treatments, and therefore 

tissue surrounding the area providing exceptional results. 

to be treated. 

Another innovation is the 

Fat cells can be compared ability to be able to treat two 

to a balloon that expands areas of fat at the same time, 

and contracts. When you which for time-poor people 

lose weight through diet and is advantageous. So long 

exercise, you do not lose fat as weight is not gained the 

cells; rather they will shrink. size will remain contoured 

Fat freezing can be used in permanently. If weight is 

conjunction with diet and gained and then lost, the 

exercise to either contour or contour returns. 

debulk stubborn areas of fat Fat freezing can treat 

to provide a more defined areas of the body such as 

silhouette for both men and the inner and outer thigh, 

women. 

stomach, waist, hips and 

Today there are many ‘love handles’, bra rolls, chin, 

machines that pretend to knees and arms. Usually the 

destroy fat, when in fact they optimum result can be seen 

only do this temporarily and within 12 weeks. Areas can 

the fat soon returns. In order also be retreated in order 

for the fat cells to die the to reduce the site further. 

temperature of the treatment Each treatment will destroy 

can be anywhere from -9 a minimum of 20% of the 

to -11 degrees celcius for at existing fat cells. As there 

least an hour, depending on is no down-time with the fat 

the area being treated. The freezing treatment it can 

fat cells are literally frozen; be an ideal choice for those 

they become crystallised, seeking a non-invasive, 

die and are then eliminated localised fat reduction 

from the body as waste. treatment compared to 

With constant research the liposuction. 

improvements with this 

Fat freezing tends to be the 

treatment have come to most consistent treatment 


NOVEMBER 2017 49 

Hair & Beauty

Business Life: Money 

Business Life 

Running the rule over 

Exchange Traded Funds 

Iwrite this on the anniversary 

of the October 1987 stock 

market crash – or ‘Black 

Monday’. Back then I was a 

21-year-old with barely two 

years of work experience and 

no real concept of what was 

happening to the markets or 

people’s wealth at the time. 

In the 20-year period 

spanning Black Monday to 

what history now refer to as 

the Great Recession (the period 

between 2007 – 2010) not much 

other than the development 

of electronic trading really 

changed the nature of our local 

stock market. 

Since the Great Recession, 

however, our markets have 

become home to a breed of 

products that have altered the 

nature of investing and portfolio 

construction. Exchange traded 

funds (ETFs) have been a feature 

on American exchanges since 

the launch of an S&P 500 fund 

in 1993 but it wasn’t until 

the passing of the GFC that 

local investors started to seek 

out ASX-listed ETFs and the 

manufacturers of ETFs started 

developing a wider range of 

products. 

The reason for this wave 

of interest had had several 

important parts to it: 

Cost – ETFs in the main are 

based on relatively low-cost 

index funds listed on the ASX 

and post GFC people were 

looking at ways of reduce the 

cost of investing. 

Administration – being 

listed on the ASX they could 

be transacted easily and 

electronically from any broking 

account. 

Democratisation of the 

stock market – along with the 

advent of low-cost electronic 

trading investors saw that many 

active fund managers fared no 

better than index funds during 

the GFC so why pay a fund 

manager a fee when a cheap 

index fund would do the job. 

Diversification – the 

purchase of a single ETF share 

brings instant diversification 

with up to the entire market 

underlying a single share 

purchase. 

Tax structure – ETFs that 

represent indexes tend not 

to be as frequently traded as 

active managed funds which 

can reduce the amount of 

distributable capital gains 

– something that generally 

bothers investors outside of 

super funds. 

We have had ETF-like 

securities listed on the 

Australian exchange for many 

years before we saw the rise 

of ETFs in the post-GFC era. 

Investors would have known 

these as Listed Investment 

Companies or LICs. There 

are several key differences 

between the two including 

a fundamental issue of legal 

structure but the main one was 

a tendency for LICs to trade at 

a discount to their net asset 

value (NAV). This often has to 

do with restrictive management 

agreements embedded in LICs 

but it mainly has to do with 

the key ETFs having a market 

with Brian Hrnjak 

maker that stands in the market 

providing liquidity and allowing 

them to trade close to their NAV. 

So how can you use 

ETFs to enhance portfolio 

construction? 

Geographic diversification: 

You can hold the wider 

investable Australian market by 

owning a single share in an ASX 

300 Fund as easily as you can 

own a share in a US based S&P 

500 Fund, a Euro market Fund or 

a Japanese Fund. 

Company size 

diversification: You can 

purchase shares in ETFs that 

track large or small, global or 

local companies. 

Industry diversification: You 

can purchase shares in ETFs that 

focus on particular industries, 

such as one that tracks a Nasdaq 

index following shares in cyber 

security companies. 

Diversification into 

commodities: You can buy 

an interest in gold, crude oil 

or agricultural commodities 

through an ETF. 

Diversification into 

currencies: You can buy 

exposure to UK Pounds, Euros or 

US Dollars via an ETF. 

Gearing: You can buy ETFs that 

contain internal gearing that will 

disproportionately profit if the 

market rises (the opposite if it 

falls!) or short based ETFs that 

will profit if the market is falling. 

So, like the US, our listed 

market is moving down a path 



of sophistication where we can 

select ETFs that allow us to slice 

and dice risk in portfolios in 

ways only imaginable 10 years 

ago. But what are the potential 

downsides of ETFs? 

Just lately there have been 

articles appearing questioning 

the potential effect of ETFs in 

falling markets. What we know 

about index funds is that they 

diligently buy the underlying 

assets that make up their 

respective index. An index that 

is rising causes index funds 

to automatically buy more of 

the underlying shares further 

raising the index. In a down 

market the reverse happens; 

prices fall, causing the index 

to fall and the index funds 

therefore to automatically sell 

shares. 

With the global market for 

ETFs now reportedly around 

$US 4 Trillion the experts are 

divided on what the effect may 

be in a down market as ETFs 

have never been prevalent 

during a market correction. As 

you’d expect when asking 

experts, the range goes from 

nothing to a risk of contagion. 

I suppose we’ll just have to 

wait and see when it happens 

but my experience suggests 

that the existence of large 

pools of ETFs in a falling market 

would enhance or exaggerate 

a fall with this effect being 

more pronounced the quicker 

it happens which is simply the 

inverse of what occurs in a 

rising market. 

Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is a Director of GHR Accounting 

Group Pty Ltd, Certified Practising Accountants. Offices at: 

Suite 12, Ground Floor, 20 Bungan Street Mona Vale NSW 2103 

and Shop 8, 9 – 15 Central Ave Manly NSW 2095, 

Telephone: 02 9979-4300, Webs: www.ghr.com.au and 

www.altre.com.au Email: brian@ghr.com.au 

These comments are of a general nature only and are not 

intended as a substitute for professional advice. 




Business Life: Finance 


Processing future won’t 

be left up in the ‘Cloud’ 

I 

have watched the ongoing 

debate about the National 

Broadband Network and its 

rollout for some time now. 

What seems to be taking place 

is that the more people get 

connected, the more people 

complain about their low 

speeds and frustration. 

But consider this. Due to 

the fact there is a Coworking 

business (ours) in the middle 

of Newport offering flexible 

desk space, with required highspeed 

internet capacity, there 

was a need to think outside the 

box. 

Some time ago we figured 

that the convergence of Artificial 

Intelligence, big data, and 

low-cost processing power 

would fundamentally transform 

computing. For the first time 

in history, real world data is 

being collected in real time 

(vision, location, temperature, 

etc), using an exponentially 

growing sensor network – so 

underscored Peter Levine in his 

presentation: The End of Cloud 

Computing. 

Every AI network-connected 

device, whether self-driving 

cars, robots, immersive AR / 

VR, or Internet of Things sensors 

will use huge amounts of 

processing power, becoming its 

own small data centre. 

The current cloud architecture 

of sending all data to a 

centralised location for processing 

is obsolete and won’t 

work for AI-driven applications, 

because there is simply not 

enough bandwidth, resulting in 

significant latency issues. 

Self-driving cars can generate 

10 gigabytes of data per mile, 

requiring single-digit millisecond 

response times to avoid 

collisions, communicate with 

nearby vehicles for optimising 

traffic flow and finding the best 

routes. Assuming there is a 

strong wireless signal, it takes 

150-250 milliseconds to communicate 

with a data centre. 

However, at 60mph, a 

250-millisecond delay corresponds 

to 21 feet – potentially 

the difference between being 

able to dodge an obstacle or 

not. This means more processing 

will be done at the 

“edge” of the network, rather 

than in huge data centres and 

therefore require increasing 

connectivity. 

So, the need will be for everincreasing 

amounts of bandwidth; 

this can be achieved by 

fibre, or a hybrid model of fibre 

and wireless. The technology 

is advancing rapidly, in fact so 

rapidly that Google is currently 

conducting trials with Nascar in 

the US to see how fast a car can 

go whilst still maintaining an 

uninterrupted wireless signal. 

But back to the NBN. The top 

tier 5 is 100 mbps down and 

40 up, known as asymmetrical. 

Sign up and depending on how 

many others sign up the following 

will happen. If you are 

on it by yourself at 2.34am you 

may get a reasonable download, 

BUT, add in a contention 

ratio – which means that the 

connection is shared among 

others – and it’s a different ball 

game. Say the contention ratio 

with Simon Bond 

is 30, and all those 30 are on at 

the same time watching Netflix, 

or on Facebook or Snapchat, 

Instagram, Twitter, You Tube 

or whatever. That means you 

divide 100 by 30 to get an average 

download of 3.33 mbps 

and an upload of 1.33 mbps. 

Hmm, not so future proof. 

Here in Newport we invested 

heavily in getting our own “dark 

fibre” connection to the building, 

initially lit to a gig – that is 

1,000 mpbs down and 1,000 

mbps up. Symmetrical, which 

means it’s ours. And all ours. 

Any on-site resident can 

theoretically participate in that 

1,000 mbps connection. If you 

“google” speedtest you can easily 

check your own connection 

speed. Then compare it to the 

one illustrated here. 

From my research, I can state 

that at this time, ‘Sandara’ in 

Newport Beach, Sydney, has the 

fastest residential internet connection 

in Australia. 

Imagine what that connection 

does for real estate value? 

NewportNet co-director Simon Bond has been actively involved 

in all aspects of Stockbroking since 1987. His focus is on how 

technology is changing the investment landscape, demographic 

trends and how they influence equity markets. 






Business Life: Law 


Responsible model of 

respecting body image 

The lazy days of summer 

are fast approaching and 

this year it is projected 

to be be a long, hot one. Hence 

it won’t be too long before 

we’ll be searching out the 

lighter clothes, beach wear and 

swimming costumes. 

The latter can bring the 

confronting realisation that 

perhaps over the winter days a 

little too much indulgent eating 

and drinking has occurred, 

altering one’s body shape and 

size. A look in the mirror as well 

as a step on the scales serves to 

confirm early fears. 

At the same time fashion 

shows, magazines and other 

media display slim and beautiful 

models which challenge the 

viewer and often activates 

eating disorders among men 

and women as they try to 

cope with what they consider 

inadequate body image. 

Four per cent of Australians 

– or approximately one million 

people – suffer from an eating 

disorder. The figure doubles 

among young Australian 

women, with 10 per cent 

between the ages of 14-24 

suffering from an eating 

disorder. Eating disorders are 

the second most likely cause of 

young women being admitted 

to hospital. Such statistics 

are adding to a movement to 

legislate healthier body image 

requirements into law. 

Internationally, Israel and 

France have passed legislation 

designed to regulate the 

advertising fashion and media 

industries from photoshopping 

images so that women appear 

thinner and more attractive, as 

has been the ideal in Western 

countries for many decades. 

The “ideal” body is a thin one. 

Photoshopping is a common 

method of digitally editing 

images featured in fashion 

magazine spreads’ advertising 

campaigns to make models 

appear slimmer or more 

aesthetically attractive. 

As the American Medical 

Association stated in a press 

release in 2011 condemning 

excessive image alteration: 

“The appearance of 

advertisements with extremely 

altered models can create 

unrealistic expectations of 

appropriate body image. In one 

image, a model’s waist was 

slimmed so severely, her head 

appeared to be wider than her 

waist. We must stop exposing 

impressionable children and 

teenagers to advertisements 

portraying models with body 

types only attainable with the 

help of photo editing software.” 

Models in Israel and France 

are required, among other 

matters, to present a medical 

certificate confirming that their 

health, assessed in particular 

terms of Body Mass Index 

(BMI), is compatible with the 

practice of the modelling 

profession before being cast for 

a modelling job. 

Body Mass Index, calculated 

by dividing an individual’s 

weight in kilograms by their 

height in metres squared, is 

supposed to indicate whether 

someone is underweight, 

healthy or overweight. (The BMI 

test is controversial on the basis 

with Jennifer Harris 

that a low BMI is not necessarily 

indicative of an eating disorder 

and the laws may be unfair to 

the naturally thin model.) 

The Israeli Government 

passed The Act Limiting Weight 

in the Modelling Industry 2012 

(Israeli Photoshop Law) under 

which the model must provide 

a medical certificate which 

has been supplied in the past 

three months stating that they 

have a BMI of at least 18.5 in 

order to work. If an image is 

photoshopped making the 

model appear thinner, the image 

must state that it has been 

modified. And the statement 

must convey it’s at least seven 

per cent of the image and it 

must be clearly visible. 

The Israeli law is criticised 

by some commentators as 

having inadequate sanctions. 

Unlike the French law, where 

criminal sanctions for a breach 

of the law applies, a breach 

of the Israeli law only offers 

civil actions which would be 

almost impossible to prove. For 

example, it would be difficult 

to mount an action on the basis 

that a publication caused a child 

to suffer from an eating disorder 

and poor body image. 

By contrast, the French law 

provides specific criminal 

sanctions for breach of the 

law – for example if someone 

modifies an image to make a 

model appear thinner, then 

a warning must accompany 



the image that states “edited 

photograph”. If the warning 

is omitted there may be a 

fine of 37,500 Euro, or 30 per 

cent of the amount spent on 

advertising. And if a modelling 

agency earns money from 

employing a model who has a 

BMI less than the one required 

by law, its directors can face six 

months in prison and a 75,000 

Euro fine. 

Other countries have in 

varying ways taken steps to 

legislate or regulate in this area. 

Argentina in 2005 passed a 

law requiring stores in Buenos 

Aries to carry larger sizes of 

clothing because they were 

selling clothes only 30 per 

cent of women could fit into; 

in 2006 Spain banned very 

thin models from participating 

in fashion shows after two 

models died, and in 2010 

its parliament passed a law 

forbidding television networks 

from showing advertisements 

for plastic surgery, diet products 

and some cosmetics during 

certain hours; Italian fashion 

administrators in Milan have 

been enforcing the BMI test 

before models can participate 

in its famous fashion shows; 

the UK has had a parliamentary 

inquiry and the subject is 

ongoing (however, from July 

2016 advertisements on public 

transport in London cannot 

feature models whose figures 

may negatively impact upon 

the public’s body image); and 

in Trondheim, Norway, similar 

regulations were introduced. 

So much for overseas… what 

have we done in Australia? 

In 2009 the then Minister for 

Youth, Kate Ellis, established 

the National Advisory Group on 

Body Image, which in due course 

created the voluntary industry 

code of conduct on body image 

that encourages businesses not 

to photoshop models so that 

their figures look “unrealistic 

or unattainable”. An awards 

scheme encouraging positive 

image was announced. 

However, Mia Freedman, who 

chaired the advisory group, has 

stated that the voluntary code 

is not working. She asked the 

government to make the code 

mandatory but last year The 

Minister for Women, Michaela 

Cash, reportedly said that the 

federal government would not 

follow French moves to ban 

“super-skinny” models. She said 

the industry needed to take 

action and not the government. 

The issue of body image and 

eating disorders has however 

attracted academic attention 

and writing. They have noted 

“Body Image Law is part Fashion 

Law (Fashion Law involves 

Trademark law, Copyright 

Law, Employment Law, and 

Corporate Law, among other 

areas) because it affects aspects 

of fashion Models’ work. It is 

also Part Health Law because it 

involves trying to improve the 

health of the public, or more 

specifically, the body image 

among the general public.” 

So while you ponder what 

to wear this summer, don’t be 

disheartened; just be yourself 

and enjoy the lazy, hot days. 

Comment supplied by 

Jennifer Harris, of Jennifer 

Harris & Associates, Solicitors, 

4/57 Avalon Parade, 

Avalon Beach. 

T: 9973 2011. F: 9918 3290. 

E: jenniferha@pacific.net.au 

W: www.jenniferharris.com.au 




Trades & Services 


AUTO REPAIRS 

British & Swedish 

Motors 

Call 9970 6654 

Services Range Rover, Land 

Rover, Saab and Volvo with the 

latest in diagnostic equipment. 

Narrabeen Tyrepower 

Call 9970 6670 

Stocks all popular brands 

including Cooper 4WD. Plus 

they’ll do all mechanical repairs 

and rego inspections. 

Barrenjoey 

Smash Repairs 

Call 9970 8207 

barrenjoeysmashrepairs.com.au 

Re-sprays a specialty, plus 

restoration of your favourite vehicle. 

Commercial vehicle specialist. 

BOAT SERVICES 

Avalon Marine 

Upholstery 

Call Simon 9918 9803 

Makes cushions for boats, 

patio and pool furniture, 

window seats. 

KB Marine 

Call Pami 9913 3522 

New owner; one-stop shop for 

sales, service and repairs of 

outboard and inboard Mercury 

engines, boats and trailers. 

ELECTRICAL 

Eamon Dowling 

Electrical 

Call 0410 457 373 

For all electrical, phone, TV, 

data and security needs. 

FLOOR COVERINGS 

Blue Tongue Carpets 

Call Stephan 9979 7292 

Family owned and run. Carpet, 

rugs, runners, timber, bamboo, 

vinyl, tiles & laminates. 

Open 6 days. 

GARDENS 

Graham Brooks 

Call 0412 281 580 

Tree pruning and removals. 

Reports regarding DA tree management, 

arborist reports. 

Precision Tree Services 

Call Adam 0410 736 105 

Adam Bridger; professional tree 

care by qualified arborists and 

tree surgeons. 

CLEANING 

The Aqua Clean Team 

Call Mark 0449 049 101 

Quality window washing, 

pressure cleaning, carpet 

washing, building soft wash. 

Martin Earl House Wash 

Call 0405 583 305 

Pittwater-based owner on site at 

all times. No travellers or uninsured 

casuals on your property. 

House Washing 

Northern Beaches 

Call Ben 0408 682 525 

Family-run housewashing – 

exteriors, high-pressure cleaning 

and soft washing; 18 years 

on the Northern Beaches. 

LAWN CARE 

Platinum Turf Solutions 

Call Liam 0412 692 578 

Specialists in turf supply & 

installation, lawn care & cylinder 

mowing, full lawn construction, 

turf renovations, maintenance. 

MASSAGE & FITNESS 

Avalon Physiotherapy 

Call 9918 3373 

Provide specialist treatment for 

neck & back pain, sports injuries, 

orthopaedic problems. 

Avalon Physiotherapy 

& Clinical Pilates 

Call 9918 0230 

Dry needling and acupuncture, 

falls prevention and balance 

enhancement programs. 

Avalon Beach 

Chiropractic 

Call 9918 0070 

Professional care for all ages. 

Treatment for chronic and acute 

pain, sports injuries. 

NJF Exercise Physio 

Call 0449 713 472 

Increase mobility. Entitled 

Department of Veterans Affairs 

(DVA) clients may be referred for 

clinically necessary treatment 

on a valid D904 referral form. 

Francois Naef/Osteopath 

Call 9918 2288 

Diagnosis, treatment and 

prevention for back pain and 

sciatica, sports injuries, muscle 

soreness and strain, pregnancyrelated 

pain, postural imbalance. 

PAINTING 

Contrast Colour 

Call 0431 004 421 

Locals Josef and Richard offer 

quality painting services. Tidy, 

reliable, they’ll help consult 

on the best type of paint for 

your job. 

Modern Colour 

Call 0406 150 555 

Simon Bergin offers painting 

and decorating; clean, tidy, 

quality detail you will notice. 

Dependable and on time. 

Painting & Decorating 

Call 0418 116 700 

Andrew is a master painter with 

30 years’ experience. Domestic 

and commercial; reasonable 

rates, free quotes. 







UPHOLSTERY 

Luxafoam North 

Call 9999 5567 

Local specialists in all aspects 

of outdoor & indoor seating. 

Custom service and expert 

advice. 

Susan Ottowa 

Call Susan 0422 466 880 

Specialist in day bed and outdoor 

areas. Reliable local service. 

Domestic & commercial. 

Leather Hero 

Call 0490 796 012 

Northern Beaches-based 

specialists in leather cleaning, 

revamps, repairs and colour restoration. 

Clean in time for Xmas. 

PUMPS & TANKS 

Water Warehouse 

Call 9913 7988 

waterwarehouse.com.au 

Rainwater tanks & pumps. Irrigation 

& filter supply specialists. 

RENOVATIONS 

Rob Burgers 

Call 0416 066 159 

Qualified builder provides all 

carpentry needs; decks, pergolas, 

carports, renovations and 

repairs. 

Underdeck 

Call Adrian 0417 591 113 

Waterproof under your deck and 

turn the area into usable space 

all year round. 

Advertise your 

Business in 

Trades 

& Services 

section 

Phone 

0438 123 096 

DISCLAIMER: The 

editorial and advertising 

content in Pittwater Life 

has been provided by a 

number of sources. Any 

opinions expressed are 

not necessarily those of 

the Editor or Publisher 

of Pittwater Life and 

no responsibility is 

taken for the accuracy 

of the information 

contained within. Readers 

should make their own 

enquiries directly to any 

organisations or businesses 

prior to making any plans 

or taking any action. 


PEST CONTROL 

Predator Pest Control 

Call 0417 276 962 

predatorpestcontrol.com.au 

Environmental services at their 

best. Comprehensive control. 

They provide a 24-hour service. 

SunSpec 

Call Dustin 0413 737 934 

sunspec.com.au 

All-aluminium, rust-proof 

remote-controlled opening roofs 

& awnings. Beats competitor’s 

prices. 



the 

good 

life 

dining 

food 

crossword 

gardening 

travel 

60 

64 

67 

68 

72 

Showtime 

Better look out 

the ’80s are back 

A brand new show for any fan 

of the ’80s. Back to the ’80s 

– The Music Video Show has 

been described as the perfect 

mix of seeing a live band, 

flashback videos and a disco 

all in one. Bringing back the 

good and not so good – think 

mullets, shoulder pads and 

acid-washed jeans – of the 

era you will see the best MTV 

videos played on three big 

screens accompnied by a live 

band in perfect lip sync. Get 

a group of friends together 

for this one but you better 

act quickly as tickets for 

the show at the Royal Motor 

Yacht Club in Newport at 8pm 

on Nov 25 ase selling fast. 

More info at royalmotor. 

com.au. 

Night of laughs 

and happy tears 

Laugh out loud when the 

Comedy All Stars Gala lights 

up Dee Why RSL on Friday 

Nov 10. Catch Australian 

multi-award winning comic 

the internationally acclaimed, 

gobsmackingly excellent 

Jackie Loeb on one of her 

visits back home. Also 

starring in this show is the 

loveable, quick-witted and 

clever Nova radio morning 

host Greg Burns. The pair will 

be supported by Bill D’Arcy 

and Lizzy Hoo with MC Simon 

Kennedy live on stage from 

8pm. Bookings 

at deewhyrsl.com.au. 

For some the ’80s 

just keeps giving 

Direct fromt he ’80s, idols 

of the oz music scene Scott 

Carne ( Kids In the Kitchen), 

Brian Mannix (Uncanny 

Xmen), Sean Kelly (The 

Models), Fred Loneragan 

(Machinations) and Paul 

Gray (Wa Wa Nee) with the 

Absolutely ’80s Band are 

celebrating 11 years of 

touring with their ‘1 Louder 

Tour’ in a high octane two 

hour show (18 years and 

over) at Dee Why RSL on 

Friday Nov 17. Do yourself 

a favour and catch this gig 

and all the big hits of the 

Countdown era. 

Get a Handel 

on Christmas 

Start the festive season 

on the first weekend in 

December with an uplifting 

concert in the stunning 

Cardinal Cerretti Chapel in 

the castle overlooking Manly. 

The Manly-Warringah 

Choir with orchestra and 

soloists will present two 

Majestic Christmas Concerts 

featuring Bach Magnificat, 

Schubert Symphony No 

5, Handel – Corona tion 

Anthems and modern and 

traditional carols (audience 

participation optional!). 

The Saturday December 2 

concert will begin at 7.30pm 

while the Sunday Dec ember 

3 performance starts at 

4pm, followed by light 

refreshments. 

Pictured is soloist Hayden 

Barrington (baritone) 

who is studying elite 

performance at the Sydney 

Conservatorium of Music. He 

will be joined by MWC’s long 

time favourite soprano Anita 

Kyle, Naomi Giselle (second 

soprano), Anna Yun (alto) 

and Ryan O’Donnell (tenor). 

The conductor is Carlos 

Alvarado. 

Tickets $50 available 

through manly 

warringahchoir.org.au or 

call 0432 656 798 for more 

information. 


Showtime

Dining Guide 

November’s best restaurants, functions, events and reader deals... 

Dining Guide 

Bistro 61 

Avalon Beach RSL 

1 Bowling Green Lane 

Avalon Beach 

OPENING HOURS 

Open 7 days 

Lunch 12pm-2:30pm 

Dinner 5:30-8:30pm 

CUISINE 

Modern Aust / pub food 

PRICE RANGE 

Meals $8-$30 

Specials $12-$15 

BOOKINGS 9918 2201 

Avalon Beach RSL’s new 

Bistro 61 is a great place 

to head for a local meal, 

offering tasty modern 

Australian dishes at 

affordable prices. 

Book now for ‘Melbourne 

Cup by the Park’ on Tuesday 

November 7 with a threecourse 

lunch including bubbles 

and canapes on arrival ($65 

members; $69 non-members). 

Strictly limited tickets left. 

Great music acts on 

Saturdays include Rogue 

Company (9th), The Maybes 

(11th), Shade Of Red (18th) 

and Bonnie Johnston (18th). 

Happy Hour is now every 

Monday, Tuesday & Friday 

from 4-6pm. 

Bistro 61 has been named 

It’s been a busy few months for iconic 

local restaurant and boutique hotel 

Jonah’s at Whale Beach, with the 

appointment of a new Executive Chef 

and a luxurious rooms transformation. 

The stunning renovation, driven 

by interior designers Baxter & Thrum, 

pays homage to Jonah’s breathtaking 

beachside, clifftop location. It 

encompasses 11 rooms including the 

opulent Peninsula Room, offering more 

space with beautifully crafted furniture 

pieces and a separate living area to 

bedrooms, with the treatment in a 

neutral palette with gold accents. 

The hotel’s overall room design 

allows guests to relax, indulge 

and completely unwind while 

enjoying thoughtful touches such as 

to commemorate the opening 

of the Club in 1961. The 

kitchen – led by experienced 

Northern Beaches head chef 

Mitch Blundell, boasts all 

fresh, house-made meals, with 

locally sourced ingredients. 

Open for lunch and dinner 

seven days, with extensive 

outdoor dining areas, Bistro 

61 offers a variety of specials 

(lunch and dinner) during the 

week, including $12 tacos 

(Tues), $15 Chicken Schnitzels 

(Wed), 2-4-1 pizzas (Thurs), 

and a $20 burger + beer (Fri). 

Seniors are well catered 

for – there are daily Seniors 

specials, including beerbattered 

flathead – plus they 

do a $5 kids meals on Sundays! 

(There’s a playground, too.) 

From the menu, chef 

Mitch recommends his twist 

on nachos – pulled beef and 

blackbeans with chipotle, 

corn chips, guacamole, 

Danish fetta and coriander. 

Members get discounts on 

meals purchased. Membership 

starts from $5.50. 

The club is licensed, with 

no BYO. Bookings online or 

call 9918 2201 – large groups 

welcome. 

Head to Avalon RSL for 

APL Poker Tournaments on 

Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Visit avalonrsl.com.au/ 

bistro-61 

Royal Motor 

Yacht Club 

Salt Cove on Pittwater 

46 Prince Alfred 

Parade, Newport 

OPENING HOURS 

Breakfast Lunch & Dinner 

Mon-Fri from 8.30am 

Weekends from 8am 

PRICE RANGE 

Breakfast from $8-$18 

Entrees from $9-$21 

Mains from $16-$26 


RMYC’s restaurant Salt 

Cove on Pittwater’s menu 

offers affordable meals and 

generous servings including 

a variety of starters and share 

plates, seafood, burgers, 

grills, salads, desserts and 

woodfired pizza. 

Great Friday night 

entertainment in November 

kicks off in the Lounge Bar 

from 7.30pm. Acts appearing 

include Phil Simmons (3rd), Alex 

Roussos (10th), Keff McCulloch 

(17th) and Geoff Kendall (24th). 

Don’t miss the 2017 Timber 

Boat Festival 10am-4pm on 

November 4-5. 

And book now for the ‘Back 

To The ’80s’ show on Sunday 

November 25. 

complimentary video on demand, free 

WIFI, USB charger outlets, high pressure 

walk-in showers, automated curtains, 

indulgent mini bar with Vittoria coffee 

machines and hand-crafted World Luxury 

Series king beds from A.H. Beard. 

Jonah’s also welcomed Executive 

Chef Matteo Zamboni to the kitchen. 

Trivia is held every Tuesday 

night from 7.30pm (great 

prizes and vouchers). 

Club social memberships 

are available for just $160. 

The Mirage 

Restaurant 

at Metro Hotel 

Mirage Newport 

2 Queens Parade West, 

Newport 

CUISINE 

Modern Australian 

PRICE RANGE 

Breakfast – $25 adults, 

$12.50 kids (5-12) 

Dinner – entrees 

from $7-$17, 

Mains from $21-$30, 

Desserts from $13-$25 


This boutique waterfront hotel 

is now taking bookings for its 

popular traditional Christmas 

Day Buffet Lunch, commencing 

at 12 noon on December 25. 

Guests will enjoy a sumptuous 

Christmas menu created by Head 

Chef, Raul Farnea. 

At a fixed price of $150 for 

adults and $65 for children 

(5-12 years), guests will enjoy 

everything from Italian-style 

porchetta with crunchy crackling 

New double-take at iconic Jonah’s 

Italian-born Matteo has recently 

launched new menus across the 

property including A La Carte and 

Degustation menus along with in-room 

dining, terrace and function menus. 

Matteo’s impressive career has 

included opening his own restaurant 

Zambo in Surry Hills, prior to that he 

worked at 2 Hatted Pilu in Freshwater 

as Head Chef, 2 Hatted Ormeggio at 

the Spit, 3 Hatted Quay Restaurant 

Sydney, 3 Michelin Star RyuGin in 

Tokyo, and Head Chef for the royal 

family in Qatar, Doha. 

Matteo’s menus showcase 

contemporary Australian cuisine with 

Italian influences. Jonah’s current 

Spring menu is available seven days a 

week for lunch and dinner. 

60 



and roasted turkey filled 

with dried fruit and nuts, to 

a selection of fresh seafood 

including oysters, king prawns, 

house-smoked salmon, 

Moreton Bay bugs and blue 

swimmer crabs. Whether it’s 

traditional roasted vegetables 

or a variety of summer salads 

you are after, the buffet has 

all the sides you could want, 

including an antipasto platter 

of Italian charcuterie, marinated 

olives, pickles, assorted 

cheeses and dips. 

A choice of desserts will be 

available, including a traditional 

Christmas pudding with brandy 

sauce and berry Christmas 

pavlova. Tea and coffee and 

gingerbread cookies are also 

included (other beverages are 

additional cost). 

Bookings 9997 7011. 

Pizzico Italiano 

2 Simmonds Lane 

Avalon Beach 

PRICE RANGE 

Entrees from $17.50 

Mains from $24.50 


Family-owned Pizzico is 

introduce relaxing ‘Aperitivo’ 

summer dining sessions 

this month with extended 

hours Friday through Sunday, 

from 2pm-6pm, with a light 

tapas-style menu inspired by 

summers on the Amalfi coast 

and accompanied by Aperol 

spritz, cocktails, Italian wines 

and imported beers. 

Brother and sister Elena 

and Mauritzio and mamma 

Giovanna have crafted a menu 

that sings with traditional 

treats and flavours including 

Elena’s favourite pasta offering, 

pappardelle with slowcooked 

lamb ragu, topped with 

parmigiano reggiano. 

Other offerings include 

Nonna’s house-made gnocchi 

baked and served in a clay pot, 

Spaghetti barcaiola with fresh 

local seafood, lamb scottadito, 

stuffed zucchini flowers, while 

the specials menu regularly 

features duck, quail, fish and 

house-made pasta. 

As part of the Aperitivo 

by Pizzico menu, expect 

house-made fried bread with a 

selection of cured meats and 


cheeses, fresh buffalo ricotta 

and mozzarella, antipasto platters, 

sardines scapece, Burrata 

cheese, and traditional street 

food from Napoli. 

More info on facebook. 

com / pizzicoitaliano 

Barrenjoey 

Bistro 

Club Palm Beach 

1087 Barrenjoey Rd, 

Palm Beach 

BISTRO OPENING HOURS 

Lunch 11:30am-2.30pm 

Dinner 6pm-8.30pm 

PRICE RANGE 

Lunch and dinner 

specials $13.50 


Conveniently located just a 

short stroll from Palm Beach 

Wharf, celebrate Melbourne 

Cup on November 7 with a 

Bucket of Prawns and glass 

of champagne for $26.50pp. 

The Members’ lucky badge 

draw is held Wednesday and 

Friday night (every 30 mins 

between 5pm-7pm), and 

jackpots by $100 each week. 

Wednesday and Sunday 

are meat raffle nights, with a 

whopping 14 trays to be won. 

Enjoy Trivia Night from 

5.30pm on Wednesdays, plus 

Bingo at 10am on Fridays. 

The club’s Barrenjoey 

Bistro is open for lunch 

(11.30am to 2.30pm) and 

dinner (6pm to 8.30pm) seven 

days. The Bistro serves topvalue 

a la carte meals plus 

daily $13.50 specials of roasts 

(Mondays), rump steak with 

chips and salad (Tuesdays), 

chicken schnitzel with chips 

and salad (Wednesdays), 

homemade gourmet pies with 

chips and salad (Thursdays) 

and fish and chips with salad 

(Fridays), except public hols. 

Entrees on the a la carte 

menu range from $10.50 to 

$17.50 (mains $14.50 to $25). 

The club has a courtesy 

bus that makes regular runs 

Wednesdays, Fridays and 

Saturdays from 4.30pm to 

9pm. Ring to book a pick-up. 


Dining Guide

Dining Guide 

Dining Guide 

Hong Kong 

Chinese Restaurant 

332 Barrenjoey Rd, 

Newport 

OPENING HOURS 

Dinner Tues-Sun 5pm 

CUISINE 

Chinese & Asian 

PRICE RANGE 

Entrees $5-20 

Mains $12.90-26.50 

*Deliver Whale Beach - Narrabeen 


LIC 

BYO 

All 

Book a table at this 

popular Newport eatery in 

November and your family 

is guaranteed a great night 

out with a feast for the eyes 

and the tastebuds. 

Order ahead for their 

wonderful Peking Duck which 

is offered as a dine-in-only 

special Thursdays through 

Sundays in Spring. 

There are two traditional 

P 

courses: Peking Duck 

pancakes & duck sang choy 

bow (bookings essential; 

mention the ad when you call). 

This long-established 

restaurant on the eastern 

side of Barrenjoey Rd has 

an extensive menu based 

on traditional flavoursome 

Cantonese with touches of 

spicy Szechuan and other 

Asian dishes and fresh 

seasonal vegetables. 

Entrees start at just $6 

while mains are great value 

too, starting at $16.80. 

The menu ranges from 

adventurous, like a Sizzling 

Szechuan-style Platter of 

king prawns and fillets of 

chicken, to contemporary, 

featuring spicy salt and 

pepper king prawns, to 

traditional, with favourites 

including Mongolian lamb, 

Honey king prawns and 

Honey chicken. 

New dishes are introduced 

regularly so make sure you 

check out the blackboard 

specials. 

The team are only too 

happy to home deliver your 

meal, with a range that takes 

in Narrabeen to the south to 

Palm Beach in the north. 

Fully licensed or BYO. 

Sabiang 

Thai Restaurant 

4/49 Old Barrenjoey Rd, 

Avalon 

OPENING HOURS 

Lunch 11.30am – 3pm 7 days 

Dinner 5-10pm 7 days 

CUISINE 

Thai 

PRICE RANGE 

Entrees from $8 

Mains $15-$28 


Sabiang Thai is Avalon 

Beach’s newest dining 

destination – and if you’re 

craving some traditional 

Thai ‘street food’ fare as well 

as hearty curry favourites, 

you’ll come away licking 

your lips at the menu 

The Mill: small bar, big vision 

Restaurant-goers 

are spoilt for 

choice in Avalon but if 

you’re looking to get 

together with friends 

for a late-afternoon 

drink, a small bite 

or something more 

substantial, you need 

to know where to go. 

Stepping up to the 

‘plate’ with renewed 

energy is The Mill @ 

Avalon Beach, with a 

revamp to its offerings 

and vibe at its welcoming 

modern space in Avalon 

Parade. 

Owner Nathan Livotto 

(above left) has joined forces 

with industry-renowned chef 

Hayden Ellerton, who has 

crafted a new-look menu, 

which will feature market-fresh 

produce to complement the 

extensive range of cocktails, 

wines and beers (including 

micro-brewery draughts). 

“After four years, the run-in 

to this summer gives us the 

opportunity to refresh things,” 

said Nathan. 

“We want people to know 

we have great, sophisticated 

mains and substantial sharemeal 

options, so they can stay 

and relax rather than grab a 

quick drink and think about 

where to move on to dinner. 

“Our aim is to provide 

the right atmosphere, great 

drinks and variety of quality 

dining options so they can 

settle in and really enjoy our 

small bar experience, which 

includes great live music 

Friday through Sunday.” 

Hayden said he was looking 

forward to creating 

new offerings for the 

menu every couple of 

weeks, based on the 

availability of seasonal 

produce. 

A current ‘wow’ 

dish is Hayden’s 

moreish Kingfish 

Ceviche with blood 

orange, stinging 

nettles and bottarga 

(right) – the ideal 

‘small bite’ that goes 

great with a glass of 

Semillon or crisp beer. 

There’s a selection of 

French and Spanish cheeses, 

schiacciata (Italian flat bread) 

with prosciutto, roast garlic 

and parmesan, while large 

share plates include Baked 

Snapper, celeriac remoulade, 

watercress, coriander seed 

and lemon. 

“We are a small bar 

producing contemporary, 

tasty, thoughtful bites, 

including beautiful oysters, 

delicious pizze and wellexecuted 

main-size meals 



formulated by co-owner Mint 

and team. 

Chef’s specials include 

‘Angry Seafood’ (a spicy 

seafood stir-fry), Pad Cha 

Duck (stir-fried with wild 

ginger, basil, red chilli and 

green peppercorn), and 

‘Heavenly’ Sizzling Beef 

(marinated in sesame oil with 

oyster sauce, onion, shallot 

and roasted sesame seeds). 

Enjoy Larb Chicken Mince 

– which features chicken, 

chillies, toasted rice, onion 

and mint – or the Kana Moo 

Grob, which is a stir-fry 

broccoli dish with oyster sauce 

and garlic. For street food you 

can’t go past the crispy skin 

pork stir fry with green beans, 

red chilli, kaffir lime leaves 

and prik khing sauce. 

Or try their delectable 

seafood dishes including 

whole fried baby barramundi, 

crispy soft shell crab or salt 

and pepper squid. 

Fried rice, noodle dishes, 

curry, and soups are also 

favourites... 

Located near the corner 

where sharing is encouraged,” 

said Hayden. 

“I’m really looking forward 

to what other great ideas 

we can come up with in the 

coming months.” 

The Mill @ Avalon Beach (19 

Avalon Pde) is open Tuesday 

to Sunday, 3pm to late. 


of Old Barrenjoey Road and 

Avalon Parade, Sabiang 

boasts a smart, industrialstyle 

interior with soft 

colours and soothing blackand-white 

wall prints. 

There’s outdoor seating 

too – perfect as the weather 

heats up. Open seven days; 

takeaway pick-up or delivery. 

Riva Bar & 

Kitchen 

8/57 Avalon Pde, 

Avalon Beach 

OPENING HOURS 

Lunch 11.30am-3pm Wed-Sat 

Dinner 5.30-10pm Mon-Sat 

CUISINE 

Modern Australian 

PRICE RANGE 

Entrees $14-$19 

Mains $30-$32 

Desserts $14 


Avalon’s latest up-market 

eatery boasts a stylish 

interior and mouth-watering 

contemporary menu crafted 

by experienced chef Rishi 

(ex Berowra Waters Inn) at 

exceptional value (3-course 

special only $55). 

Tuck into entrees including 

Kingfish Carpaccio, lime, 

chilli vinaigrette and pickled 

cucumber and watercress 

salad, or Crispy-skin Pork 

Belly with port-braised 

cabbage and apple and 

saffron puree (both ($16). 

Mains include Slowpoached 

Salmon, dried olives, 

orange and fennel and ginger 

cream, Baby Chicken stuffed 

with pistachios, porcine 

and brioche served with 

mushroom sauce (both $30), 

and 8-hours Slow-cooked 

Glazed Wagyu Beef Brisket, 

truffle mashed potato, speck 

and wild mushroom ($32). 

Plus all vegan, vegetarian, 

gluten-free, nut allergy or 

other special requirements 

can be catered for with 

advance notice. 

Kids meals Including Fish 

and Chips, Pasta or Chicken 

and Chips) are $12; BYO 

offered only Monday, Tuesday 

and Wednesday. Bookings 

9918 4007. 


Dining Guide

Food Life 

For more recipes go to www.janellebloom.com.au 


Recipes: Janelle Bloom Photos: Steve Brown and Benito Martin 

Creating your own gourmet, 

cafe-style breakfasts at home 

We are spoilt for choice 

when it comes to 

cafes and breakfast 

options on the northern 

beaches. While there is nothing 

more relaxing than sitting 

along our stunning coastline 

watching the surf break, sipping 

a latte and enjoying a 

cooked breakfast, it can be an 

expensive family outing. While 

we encourage you to eat local, 

here are some great recipes 

with plenty of tips so you can 

create your own café breakfast 

at home. 

Café-style scrambled 

eggs with roasted 

tomatoes 

Serves 4 

400g Solanato tomatoes (these 

are sweet and perfect for 

breakfast) 

2 tbs olive oil 

8 large free-range eggs 

2/3 cup pouring cream 

4 tbs butter 

2 tbs finely chopped chives 

4 thick slices multigrain bread, 

toasted 

1. Preheat oven to 200°C fan 

forced. Scatter the tomatoes 

over the base of a roasting 

pan lined with baking paper. 

Drizzle olive oil over tomatoes 

and season with salt and 

pepper. Roast for 8 minutes 

until skins start to blister. 

2. Meanwhile, whisk eggs and 

cream together in a bowl 

until just combined. Melt the 

butter in a large frying pan 

Janelle’s Tip: Don’t 

add salt to the eggs 

until after they are 

cooked; salt will 

toughen the protein, 

causing eggs to 

become watery as 

they cook. 

over medium-high heat. Add 

egg mixture. Leave to cook 

for 30-45 seconds until they 

start to set around the edge. 

Gently stir egg mixture from 

outer edges of the pan into 

the centre, until eggs form 

creamy curds. Remove the 

pan from the heat just before 

they are cooked. 

3. Spoon over the tomatoes. 

Scatter over the chives and 

season with salt and pepper. 

Serve with toast. 

Buddah breakfast 

bowl 

Serves 4 

300g dried peaches 

2 cups cloudy apple juice 

2 cups granola or toasted 

muesli 

4 slices brioche or fruit loaf, 

toasted, buttered 

2 x 125g fresh blueberries 

2 cups Greek yoghurt 

2 passionfruit, halved 

Edible flowers & herbs (optional), 

to serve 

Milk, apple juice or yoghurt, 

to serve 

1. Combine the dried peaches 

and apple juice in a saucepan. 

Place over medium 

heat for 8 minutes until 



chopped 

1 tbs butter 

4 fresh free-range eggs, at room 

temperature 

200g fresh ricotta 

Toasted grain bread, to serve 

with Janelle Bloom 

fruit are soft and plump. 

Transfer to a bowl, set aside 

to cool. 

2. Spoon ½ cup granola into 

one bowl. Add quarter of the 

peaches and syrup, 1 piece 

brioche and a quarter of the 

blueberries. Top with ¼ cup 

yoghurt and ½ passionfruit. 

Scatter over flowers and 

herbs, repeat three times to 

make 4 bowls. Serve with 

extra apple juice or yoghurt 

if desired. 

Janelle’s Tip: If your 

yoghurt is a bit runny, 

spoon it into a sieve lined 

with some muslin or a 

clean Chux cloth; cover, sit 

over a bowl in the fridge 

for 1-3 hours. The excess 

liquid will drain off leaving 

you with a beautiful, thick 

creamy yoghurt. 

Toasted fruit 

bread with 

roasted cinnamon 

sugar grapes 

Serves 4 

750g seedless black grapes 

½ tsp ground cinnamon 

2 tbs white sugar 

1 loaf fruit bread, toasted 

250g, cream cheese, fresh 

ricotta or cottage cheese 

Spinach & ricotta 

omelette 

Serves 2 


½ bunch English spinach, 

shredded 

2 green onions, thinly sliced 

2 tbs flat leaf parsley leaves, 

1. Heat oil in a 20cm heavybased 

frying pan, (preferably 

non-stick with shallow sides 

so omelette will slide out easily) 

over medium-high heat. 

Add spinach, green onions 

and parsley and toss until 

spinach just wilts. Remove to a 

plate. Wash and dry the pan. 

2. Reheat the pan over mediumhigh 

heat until just warm. Add 

half the butter. Tilt frying pan 

back and forth until the butter 

is sizzling. Crack 2 eggs into 

a jug. Use a fork to beat eggs, 

until the egg runs in a thin 

stream when you lift fork out 

of the mixture. Pour into frying 

pan, tilting to cover base 

with egg. Using a wooden 

spoon, drag cooked egg from 

outer edge into centre. Tilt 

pan to allow uncooked egg to 

come in contact with pan. 

3. Arrange half the spinach 

mixture over one-half of the 

omelette, crumble over half 

the ricotta. Fold the omelette 

over the filling and cook 

1-2 minutes until warmed 

through. Slide onto hot toast. 

Season with salt and pepper 

and repeat with remaining 

ingredients. 



1. Preheat oven 230°C fan 

forced. Line a roasting 

pan with baking paper. 

Remove the grapes from 

stalks, put into a sieve. 

2. Combine the cinnamon 

and sugar. Rinse grapes 

under cold water, put into 

roasting pan with water 

still clinging. Sprinkle 

over three-quarters of 

the cinnamon sugar and 

shake pan to coat the 

grapes. Roast 10 minutes. 

Remove from oven. Cool 5 

minutes. 

3. Spread the fruit loaf with 

cream cheese, ricotta or 

cottage cheese. Top with 

grapes and pan juices. 

Sprinkle with remaining 

cinnamon sugar. Serve. 



In Season 

Minicaps 

Barbecue Minicaps, corn & Quke salad 

Serves 4 


These attractive little multicoloured 

capsicums are 

absolutely delicious – they 

may look like a chilli, but they 

carry no heat. They are sweet, 

crunchy and great eaten raw, 

stuffed, baked, roasted or 

barbecued. 

Buying 

Minicaps come pre-packed 

in containers at the 

greengrocers and sometimes 

are located at room 

temperature or in the fridge 

section of the fruit and veg at 

the supermarket. 

Storing 

Keep stored in their 

containers in the crisper 

section of the fridge for up to 

7 days. 

Also In Season 

November 

Look out for a wide variety 

of tomatoes, Asian Greens; 

Hass avocadoes; Broad 

Beans, Baby carrots; 

Green beans; beetroot; 

capsicums; peas; Green 

onions; zucchini and 

zucchini flowers. The 

top fruit buys include 

blueberries, blackberries, 

raspberries, mulberries, 

cherries, mangoes (Calypso 

& Kensington Pride); plus 

seedless watermelon, 

grapes and pineapple. 

Nutrition 

Minicaps are packed with 

vitamin C to strengthen the 

immune system, as well as 

cholesterol-fighting niacin 

and cell-boosting folate. 

2 x 175g Minicaps, halved, seeds removed 


3 corn cobs, husks removed 

200g Qukes (baby cucumbers), thinly sliced lengthways 

6 red radish, thinly sliced 

1 bunch watercress, leaves picked 

Roasted hazelnut vinaigrette 

60ml extra virgin olive oil 

1 small orange, rind finely grated, juiced 

1 tsp honey 

1 tsp Dijon mustard 

¼ cup roasted hazelnuts, chopped 

1. Spread the Minicaps on a large tray. Drizzle with oil, season, 

turn to coat. Wash the corn and place on a microwavesafe 

plate, cover with damp paper towel and microwave on 

High/100% for 3 minutes until hot. 

2. Preheat a barbecue plate on medium heat. Barbecue the 

corn and Minicaps for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally or 

until lightly charred. Set aside to cool to room temperature. 

Cut the corn from the cobs. 

3. For the dressing, whisk the oil, orange rind and juice, honey 

and mustard together, Season then stir in the hazelnuts. 

4. Combine the Minicaps, corn, Qukes, radish and watercress 

on a platter. Spoon over the vinaigrette, toss gently. Serve. 



Pittwater Puzzler 

Compiled by David Stickley 

26 Type of yoga involving physical 

exercise (5,4) 

27 Cook with dry heat (5) 

28 Eating plan (4) 

29 Postie’s target when delivering the 

mail (9) 

ACROSS 

1 No doubt one appears in Channel 7’s 

reality TV show, ‘Beach Cops’ (9) 

6 Frothy stuff sometimes seen on the 

surface of the ocean (4) 

10 One may go off if a shark is spotted 

at a swimming beach (5) 

11 Modern musical (4,5) 

12 Golf club at the southern end of Fishermans 

Beach (4,4) 

13 Any medical centre devoted to a 

particular type of treatment or health 

care, as child health care, vaccinations, 

prenatal care, etc. (6) 

14 Dehydrated (5) 

15 Lounge around on a beach catching 

some rays, say (7) 

17 Sydney ___ Space are involved with 

Newport Sculpture Trailblazers 2017 (3) 

18 A wide tidal mouth of a river (7) 

20 Kookaburras, cockatoos, lorikeets 

etc. (5) 

23 A business that serves other businesses 

(6) 

24 Equestrian discipline that can be 

learnt at the Loane Equestrian Centre 

in Ingleside (8) 

DOWN 

1 Round gems that can be found in 

oysters (6) 

2 Well-read (7) 

3 Aboriginal people group, part of the 

Guringai language nation, whose home 

was the lower North Shore area (10,4) 

4 Avalon Beach event that will feature 

amazing music, fabulous food, fantastic 

fashion and fun for all the family (6,3) 

5 A narrow elongated projecting strip 

of land like that which goes out to Barrenjoey 

Lighthouse (4) 

7 Islands of the Pacific and adjacent 

seas (7) 

8 Avalon resident who entered a 

painting of Francis Greenslade in the 

Archibald Prize (8) 

9 Location of the Pittwater Dragon 

Boat Racing Club’s open days in November 

(7,7) 

15 Northern Beaches construction 

company with a name of a famous 

rescue dog breed (2,7) 

16 Showing lack of emotional involvement 

(8) 

19 Building designed for the performance 

of plays, operas, etc. (7) 

21 Regular routes taken by ocean traffic 

(7) 

22 Scotland Island-based author and 

illustrator with an exhibition based on 

Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem The 

Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, ______ 

Lodge (6) 

25 Narrabeen Sports High principal, 

Dane ____ (4) 

[Solution page 70] 

Pittwater Puzzler 



Garden Life 


Jump on board and plant 

kangaroo paws for effect with Gabrielle Bryant 

Aussie kangaroo paws have wrongly been 

slighted as being difficult to grow. It is true 

that the new dwarf varieties are short-lived, 

but the tall-growing varieties are tough and hardy. 

These spectacular plants will send up flower 

spikes two metres tall – yellow, red, green or 

black, they are all amazingly tough, long-lasting, 

low-maintenance landscape plants. Planted as a 

backdrop to smaller native shrubs or used as the 

most spectacular feature plants, they are hard to 

beat. Also, kangaroo paws are drought-resistant 

and tolerate full sun and coastal conditions. 

Once a year in autumn, after flowering, cut 

them back hard and they will quickly bounce back 

with new flowers and foliage. I have even seen 

large areas of these amazing plants mown with a 

lawn mower! 

Many years ago, I was given a hint as to how 

to prolong the flowering time of these wonderful 

plants: once the flowering stems have opened, cut 

the top half and use them as a bunch of flowers. 

This will encourage new flower stems to grow 

from the bottom. 

Pansy Orchids are an exciting find 

Orchids have returned to 

popularity over the past 

few years. Pansy Orchids 

(miltonia) may be hard to find, 

but to orchid lovers they are an 

exciting addition to collections. 

Nowadays it seems no interior 

house photo is complete 

without a moth orchid on the 

coffee table; modern tissue 

culture has made it possible 

to supply new plants by the 

thousand. Let’s hope that 

pansy orchids will be the next 

to be grown this way. 

These light, free-flowering 

orchids are hardy and easy to 

grow. They love good light but 

not direct sun. They will grow 

inside or outside in the shade 

and are happy in temperatures 

from 6 degrees to high 30s 

(however, shelter them from 

extreme heat). Their natural 

home is high in the rainforests 

of Columbia, where they get 

rainfall every day. 

Pansy orchids, unlike 

other orchids that like to dry 

before another watering, 

need to be kept moist during 

the summer months. Soak 

the whole pot in water and 

allow it to drain. Miltonias 

are sensitive to a build-up 

of fertiliser. Water them with 

a liquid fertilizer (don’t use 

granular food) about every 

two weeks. 

Pansy orchids are epiphytes 

and as such dislike potting 

mix that breaks down. Re-pot 

every year after flowering, in 

a mix of sphagnum moss and 

fine-grade orchid bark. 



A sprinkle 

of retro 

sparkle 

Summer is almost here 

and the forecast is for a 

good share of long, hot, dry 

days. Make sure you are well 

prepared. Fully automated 

irrigation systems are great… 

but not only are they very 

expensive to install, they 

need continual updating and 

adjusting as plants grow, with 

dry spots appearing as foliage 

begins to block the water flow. 

There is something to be 

said for good old-fashioned 

sprinklers. Large rainwave 

sprinklers can be adjusted to 

any rectangular shape, the 

water goes high into the air 

and falls evenly downwards like 

rain; the original capitol sprinkler 

is great in the shrubbery 

– it will soak the ground without 

wasting water. 

There are any number of decorative 

sprinklers – tall, spinning 

ones and short ones that can 

connect. Sprinklers are always 

good gifts for gardeners. 

Buddleja 

Buzz – the 

butterfly 

bush 

Buddlejas attract birds, bees and butterflies to the garden. They 

flower from spring to late summer. Old-fashioned buddlejas 

are very beautiful – but they can grow tall and get out of control. 

The Buzz range is different; these are small, compact shrubs 

that grow just over a metre high. Covered in honey-sweet 

spears of magenta, violet, lilac, pink or white through the summer 

months, these hardy and easy-to-grow bushes are ideal 

for every garden. 

Importantly, all the pollinators love them! Dead-head the 

flowers as they finish, to promote new ones. As winter approaches, 

be ruthless and cut them back hard (they will grow 

back in spring). The flowers appear on the new season’s 

growth. The butterfly bush is not choosey – it will grow in any 

garden soil, in full sun or semi-shade. 

A slow-release fertiliser applied in spring and again in early 

autumn is all that they need to flourish. 

Fragrant pelargoniums 

stand the test of time 

Regal Pelargoniums, which 

are closely related to geraniums, 

are easy to grow; 

and they are tougher than 

the new hybrid geraniums. 

They flower from early 

spring until summer, rambling 

and spilling over banks, 

creating glorious colour on 

gravel beds, in large tubs 

and in rock walls. The profusion 

of large flowers can be 

lilac, bright red, purple, burgundy, 

pink, white or violet. 

Once established they are 

tough, hardy and droughttolerant; 

the perfect answer 

to hot dry coastal gardens. 

Often thought of as ‘Old 

fashioned Grandma plants’ 

pelargoniums are becoming 

popular once more. Make 

sure their drainage is good; 

they hate wet feet and high 

humidity. They need open 

space and fresh air to grow 

well. 

Their huge velvety leaves 

add a delicious fragrance 

to the evening air when 

crushed. Add a small amount 

of dolomite to the soil when 

planting and feed a couple 

of times a year with an allpurpose, 

slow-release fertiliser. 

This is all the attention 

they need. Trim them back 

to keep them bushy after 

flowering. 






Jobs this Month 

November 

At last – it is raining off 

and on! After a very 

long dry spell, the rain 

is beginning to heal scorched 

plants. It is amazing how quickly 

the gardens start to grow and 

flourish once more. This month, 

keep on top of the weeds. Spray 

with ‘Slasher’, the organic weed 

spray (don’t spray on a windy 

day to avoid spray drift). It will 

kill any plant that it touches, but 

it leaves no residual in the soil. 

The big ‘wet’ 

Even though we have had rain 

the ground is dry; with a hot 

summer ahead it is worth the 

effort to apply a granular wetting 

agent, before applying a 

thick mulch. This will enable the 

water to penetrate the surface 

and soak into the ground, instead 

of running off. It will also 

reduce your water bills. 

Encourage bees 

Plant borage or scarlet nasturtiums 

in the veggie garden to 

attract the bees. Spray fruiting 

trees and flowering veggies 

with Beekeeper every week. 

Without bees there is no crop! 

Miner relief 

Eco oil will keep the leaf miner 

away from citrus trees. A CLM 

sticky trap in the trees will 

attract the male leaf miner and 

Little Bambinos 

Bambino bougainvilleas are 

in full flower. Plant this dwarf 

variety in pots, window boxes 

or hanging baskets, to give 

it time to settle in before the 

Christmas festivities begin. 

Cane cull 

If you haven’t already done 

so, cut back and remove 

old canes from ornamental 

gingers. New shoots will soon 

come up from below the soil. 

These are the shoots that will 

flower after Christmas. 

Top-dress time 

Now the rain has returned it 

is the perfect time to lightly 

top-dress and feed the grass. 

Lightly rake and scratch the 

surface of any bare patches 

before raking in a light dressprevent 

them from mating 

with the females. 

Hibiscus care 

Feed hibiscus this month with 

dynamic lifter to get them going. 

Protect them from hibiscus 

beetle with granular Richgro 

Bug Killa. It is a systemic 

insecticide. If you apply it now 

it will control the beetles and 

by the time the flowers come 

in summer, it will not be active 

to hurt the bees. 

More than less 

Be ruthless in the garden. Pull 

out any spring annuals that are 

just hanging on and replace 

them with petunias, dahlias, 

verbenas, alyssum, lobelia, 

or other brightly coloured 

annuals. Get the kids to pot 

up seedlings. They make ideal 

presents for end-of-term gifts. 

‘Carnival’ colour 

Looking good this month 

is Leucospermum Carnival 

Orange. There are several 

that are flowering along 

our coast. Leucospermums 

are hardy and droughttolerant, 

the birds love 

them and they will grow 

right by the water’s edge. 

(They are closely related to 

our own waratahs.) 

ing of Top Dressing soil. Don’t 

put on too much at one time, 

apply a thin layer first and 

follow it with more at weekly 

intervals if necessary. 

Bush Tucker 

Trim back native shrubs that 

have finished flowering and 

feed them with Bush Tucker 

Native Plant Fertiliser. (It is 

made by Neutrog and is brilliant 

– the results are amazing.) 

Cover the ground 

If you want a new ground 

cover for a tropical, shaded 

or semi-shaded garden, plant 

the new and very beautiful 

Tradescantia Sunshine Gem. 

The bright gold foliage lights 

up the garden. Grow it in the 

ground as a border or as an 

indoor plant in bowls or pots. 

If you have a dog, be aware 

some dogs can be allergic to 

rhoeos and tradescantias. 

Crossword solution from page 67 

Mystery location: ERIC GREEN RESERVE 



Times Past 

Legend 

of the Parkway link 

Even prior to the raids on 

Darwin during World 

War II, the possibility of 

the Japanese heading south 

down our east coast was 

considered very real. Coastal 

defence activities such as 

barbed wire and two-tonne 

concrete tetrahedrons as tank 

traps were installed along the 

northern beaches. 

Wakehurst Parkway was 

considered essential to 

provide alternate access for 

residents and maybe for 

troop movements and 

other military purposes. 

Although the ‘Parkway’ 

wasn’t opened until 

1946, construction work 

began in 1939 with 30 

workers – the number 

growing to 300 by 1942. 

It’s understood the road 

required a total of five 

bridges to be built, the 

main one being Deep Creek 

(Cement Works Creek 

plus three across Middle 

Creek boosted the number to 

five). The delay in completion 

was also brought about by 

the temporary diversion of 

workers to the more-urgent 

coastal defence works. 

Over time the Parkway has 

become known for numerous 

fatal crashes, the grisly 

murders committed at Deep 

Creek, and as a dumping 

ground for bodies of murder 

victims. 

There is also the story of the 

‘Lady in White’ – the ghost of a 

young girl, Kelly, who appears 

mysteriously in the back seat of 

vehicles travelling north late at 

night down the Parkway from 

Warringah Road. (One wild 

legend has it that if you do not 

inform Kelly that her presence 

is not required, telekinetically 

she makes your vehicle veer off 

the road and crash!) 

Other reports closer to Deep 

Creek claim that “windscreen 

wipers suddenly cease to 

work, car doors lock by 

themselves and switched off 

radios suddenly ramp up”. 

For the Aboriginal 

population of the area 

(members of the Camaraigal 

clan) the area around Deep 

Creek provided 

a very real 

and necessary 

community living 

area. Peter Read 

in ‘The Dictionary 

of Sydney’ claims 

that this Narrabeen 

Lagoon town 

camp “was one of 

the many coastal occupation 

sites offering seasonal shelter, 

fish and wetland resources”. 

Apparently it was the last of 

the town camps to survive in 

the northern Sydney suburbs 

and it existed “probably before 

the British invasion”. 

Many other town camps 

were resumed for residential 

and recreational reasons but 

the Narrabeen Lagoon camp 

lasted the longest, primarily 

because of its inaccessibility. 

The opening of the 

Parkway on 22 March 1946 

was followed closely by the 

creation of a 32-hectares 

National Fitness Centre 

(Sydney Academy of Sport and 

Recreation). This combination 

rang the death knell for the 

20 or so resident Koori people 

of the camp, with humpies 

destroyed and the occupants 

forcibly removed to the 

Western Suburbs. 

Wakehurst Parkway is 

named after John de Vere 

Loder, 2nd Baron Wakehurst 

and the Governor of NSW from 

1937 to 1946. 

TIMES PAST is supplied 

by local historian 

and President of the 

Avalon Beach Historical 

Society GEOFF SEARL. 

Visit the Society’s 

showroom in Bowling 

Green Lane, Avalon 

Beach. 

Times Past 



Travel Life 


Bucket list to a tee 

The South American 

Ultimate Bucket List Tour 

for Golfers is a new 30-day 

escorted tour curated by 

Chris and Luana at Newport 

Travel for their 2019 bucket 

list journeys program. 

“Beginning with a tango 

in Buenos Aires and all the 

excitement of Carnival in Rio, 

the journey takes you through 

to mystical Machu Picchu and 

a traverse of Peru on the new 

luxury sleeper train, the Andean 

Explorer,” explains Chris. 

“After a golfing 

sojourn at iconic 

Iguassu Falls, 

we travel down 

to the stunning 

wilderness areas 

of Patagonia, 

where the trip 

ends with a 5-day Chilean 

Fjord cruise onboard the 

newly built MV Ventus 

Australis – and a round at the 

‘End of the World’ golf course 

in Ushaia. 

“This is an epic, yet 

leisurely paced, journey with 

active, engaging and unique 

experiences selectively woven 

into the itinerary.” 

All up there are five 

courses on the itinerary, 

including the wow-factor Rio 

Olympics course (subject 

to being open) which was 

designed by renowned 

American architect Gil Hanse 

plus El Calafate with its 

breathtaking backdrop of 

The Andes mountains and 

Los Glacieres National Park. 

Although created with 

golfers in mind, Chris said 

the tour would also appeal 

to many others – including 

photographers, who 

appreciate lots of ‘free time’ 

integrated into a guided tour 

itinerary. (Non-golfers are 

also welcome on the tour.) 

Accommodation is luxury, 

boutique-style in stunning 

locations, such as the Explora 

Patagonia, and the golf 

courses are iconic and among 

the best in South America. 

For a full itinerary or more 

information, email luana@ 

newporttravel.com.au or call 

9997 1277. 

Take in the 

country roads 

Local boutique self-drive 

holiday specialists Driving 

Adventures have included a 

new five-day tour for 2018 

that takes in the best roads 

and some of the best-kept 

secrets that Victoria and 

the New South Wales South 

Coast have to offer. 

Departing Melbourne on 

March 5, you’ll head into the 

Yarra Ranges enjoying a great 

road leading to the overnight 

stop at Mansfield. 

Day 2 is particularly 

memorable, visiting the 

gourmet village of Milawa 

then on to Myrtleford and 

scenic Bright (in its autumn 

glory) before overnighting in 

Falls Creek. 

Next is the Murray Valley 

and the Alpine Way through 

Thredbo into Jindabyne; 

on Day 4 you’ll head east, 

dropping into the Bega Valley 

and the beautiful south coast, 

before turning north on Day 5. 

Operator David Thomas 

says the drives – all between 

350-375km – are well away 

from the heavy traffic and 

highways and take in beautiful 

locations, great country pubs 

and a couple of special cafes. 

“There is plenty of time for 

stops, which you will want 

so you can photograph this 

amazing country,” he said. 

“Dinners are still being 

organised but will be in line 

with our mantra of ‘Great 

Roads – Good Bottle of Red – 

Soft Bed’!” 

More info drivingadventures. 

com.au or phone David on 

0418 473 916. 





New unique Kimberley experience 

The Kimberley is an ancient 

land built on 1.8 billionyear-old 

sandstone that has 

been uplifted, contorted and 

eroded to form spectacular 

gorges, desolate mountains and 

magnificent waterfalls. 

Now you have the 

chance to experience 

this living indigenous 

culture dating back 

more than 40,000 

years, and Australia’s 

oldest rock art galleries 

contained within 

the rocky outcrops. 

“The isolated coastline 

boasts more than 2,633 

islands, extensive mangrove 

forests, wild rivers and important 

seabird breeding colonies,” 

said Travel View Cruise View’s 

Gail Kardash. 

“It is a national biodiversity 

hotspot listed in the top four per 

cent of least-impacted marine 

environments worldwide!” 

Gail said PONANT’s upcoming 

unique Expedition Cruise 

through the Kimberley would 

deliver an authentic expedition 

blended with luxury. 

“You’ll explore the coastline 

in refined adventure on board 

their luxury small ship, Le 

Laperouse, which boasts all 

the facilities of a 5-star yacht – 

including a pool.” 

Plus, Le Lapérouse is the 

world’s first cruise ship 

equipped with a multi-sensory 

underwater space. 

“Located within the hull beneath 

the water line, the state- 

of-the-art technology developed 

with PONANT lets guests 

become modern-day explorers,” 

said Gail. 

“All focus is drawn towards 

two portholes, looking out 

upon the sub-aquatic world. 

And, comfortably ensconced, 

guests can listen to the underwater 

world thanks to hydrophones.” 

Incredibly, the natural symphony 

of the deep sea is captured 

across a 5km radius and 

transmitted live into the lounge 

in the form of acoustic waves. 

Innovative underwater vision 

is enhanced by non-intrusive underwater 

projectors developed 

expressly for PONANT, enabling 

the observation of the seabed 

– without any risk to the marine 

biosphere. 

“On your cruise you’ll enjoy 

regular Zodiac outings and 

shore visits to get close to the 

nature of the Kimberley, and 

discover landscapes and rock 

art that is billions of years old,” 

Gail said. 

“You’ll be amazed listening to 

stories of the Dreamtime from 

the oldest continuous culture on 

the planet. 

Not to mention the cruise 

provided an encounter with the 

world’s largest population of 

migrating humpback whales. 

* The PONANT 2019 Kimberley 

Expedition cruises – with 

up to 30% savings – are now 

available with Travel View and 

Cruise View. For more info call 

9918 4444 or 9999 0444.

Pittwater Life November 2017 Issue

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