Pittwater Life April 2017 Issue

Celebrating 25 Years
STRAIGHT
SHOOTER
NETBALL LEGEND
ANNE SARGEANT
+
HELP TO
‘SHAPE 2028’
ANZAC DAY
SERVICES
AVALON
SURF SWAP
EASTER
HOLIDAY
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APRIL 2017
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pittwaterlife
Arrested
EXCLUSIVE
Development
Govt hands Pittwater the power on planning

Editorial
Planning destiny in our hands
The amalgamation of
Pittwater Council into the
broader Northern Beaches
Council is still a bitter pill
swallowed by many local
residents.
Uppermost in opponents’
minds for almost a year has
been the issue of development
and the concern that planning
laws in place outside Pittwater’s
former bounderies would be
forced upon us.
The classic case in point is
the brouhaha surrounding
the Mona Vale Place Plan and
the potential for six-storey
development.
So it comes as blue sky relief
to offset March’s miserable rain
that the NSW Government has
made a landmark decision that
will ensure future strategic
planning falls squarely on the
shoulders of councillors elected
in specific wards throughout
the NB Council region (full
coverage see page 14).
Come September, you will
get to vote for councillor
candidates in the Pittwater
and Narrabeen wards who will
be responsible for the level of
density development we adopt
going forward.
Woah! Isn’t that essentially
what we all wanted/hoped
would be retained prior to
amalgamation?
Community Group Pittwater
Forever is cautiously optimistic
and supportive. Local
Chambers of Commerce like it.
It’s now up to the government
to deliver on its promise.
Speaking of the council
election, Pittwater Forever has
announced it will provide all
candidates with a questionnaire
to fill out to determine their
suitability to represent the
people of Pittwater.
That’s admirable, but
we hope it doesn’t prevent
some potentially valuable
contributors to our community
from putting up their hands for
fear of not falling into line with
the PFE manifesto.
– Nigel Wall
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 3

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Publisher: Nigel Wall
Managing Editor: Lisa Offord
Graphic Design: CLS Design
Photography: iStock
Contributors: Rosamund
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Hrnjak, Jennifer Harris, Nick
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Wall, Matilda Wall
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Vol 26 No 9
Celebrating 25 Years
STRAIGHT
SHOOTER
NETBALL LEGEND
ANNE SARGEANT
+
HELP TO
‘SHAPE 2028’
ANZAC DAY
SERVICES
AVALON
SURF SWAP
EASTER
HOLIDAY
ACTIVITIES
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017
FREE
pittwaterlife
Arrested
Development
EXCLUSIVE
Govt hands Pittwater the power on planning
28
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thislife
COVER: Read how community group Pittwater Forever
plans to vet candidates intending to run for Northern
Beaches Council (p8); fears that outside control could
lead to high-density development in Pittwater have been
quashed by a landmark NSW Government decision (p14);
find a local Anzac Day ceremony (p10); Anne Sargeant
talks about her love of netball and lifetime involvement in
the sport (p28); set a course for Sail Expo (p36); plan your
kids’ school holiday activities (p40); and learn about new
Strata laws (p54). COVER IMAGE: Jay Platt/allskydrones
also this month
Editorial 3
Pittwater Community News 6-27
Life Stories: Anne Sargeant 28-30
Art Life 32-33
Sporting Life 34
Young Life 35
Boating Life 36
Surfing Life 38-39
School Holiday Activities 40
Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 41-49
Money & Finance 50-53
Dining Guide 60-63
Food 64-66
Gardening Life 68-71
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4 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

News
Health providers full of interest
The transformation of Mona
Vale Hospital has entered its
next stage with an enthusiastic
response to the Registration of
Interest (ROI) process for additional
health services to be co-located
throughout the precinct.
As reported by Pittwater Life in
January, the NSW Government is
planning a “sea change” in the provision
of local medical services that
will see the hospital campus remain
solely for health use and wholly
owned by the public.
Local MP Rob Stokes said more
than 20 health care providers had
responded to the ROI process in just two
months, exceeding government expectations.
Although he would not go into specifics,
Mr Stokes said he was “particularly
excited” by the diversity of health services
being proposed – especially from
local operators.
“These additional services would be
provided alongside a range of existing
and new health services including 24/7
Urgent Care, medical imaging, pathology,
pharmacy, inpatient rehabilitation and
assessment, inpatient geriatric evaluation
and management, inpatient palliative
care and a diversity of community
health services,” he said.
“We’re now looking at the potential for
a broader range of sub-acute and complementary
health services to be provided
at Mona Vale Hospital than ever before.
This includes everything from General
Practice through to medical specialists.
“This process is a really important part
of the ongoing work to modernise Mona
Vale Hospital and continue introducing
new infrastructure and services,” Rob
Stokes said.
Acute services will transfer to the new
Level 5 Northern Beaches Hospital at
Frenchs Forest when it opens in late 2018.
He confirmed all land would
remain in public ownership and
the Northern Sydney Local Health
District would continue to manage
the Mona Vale Hospital campus.
The Government’s vision is for a
series of modern, sub-acute health
facilities to be built around a central
park where the main building
currently stands (see diagram).
This better use of the land would
protect it from any short-term
decisions by future governments,
Mr Stokes said – adding he would
be open to considering longer-term
leases to give security for successful
health provider applicant to build on the
site.
The ROI responses will now be assessed
by a panel of representatives
from the Northern Sydney Local Health
District and NSW Health Infrastructure.
Recommendations to the Minister for
Health regarding which operators will be
asked for more detailed proposals will be
made in coming months.
Meanwhile some community groups
remain committed to retaining the
hospital building and its maternity and
emergency services.
– Nigel Wall
6 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Your chance to ‘Shape 2028’
It’s the saying made famous
by former US president
Harry Truman: “Decisions
are made by those who turn
up.” Now the call is out for
residents to put up their hands
and contribute to a series of
Community Strategic Plan
workshops that will help
define the roadmap for the
Northern Beaches over the
next decade.
Northern Beaches Council
General Manager Mark
Ferguson said council’s Shape
2028 workshops were the
community’s chance to ensure
their issues and priorities were
voiced and captured.
“A lot can change in a
decade – those we hear from
will shape the first elected
Northern Beaches Council’s
priorities,” Mr Ferguson said.
“Those who provide their
views are essentially deciding
what programs and initiatives
your rates will pay for… it will
form the blueprint for the new
Council’s decision-making and
investment.”
Younger and middleaged
residents are urged
to contribute – of the 131
people currently registered to
attend upcoming Shape 2028
sessions, almost half are over
60 years old.
“A large portion of Northern
Beaches residents are time
poor, with 45% of our working
population being managers
or professionals, with many
raising families where both
parents are working,” Mr
Ferguson said.
“Consequently, council is
holding workshops in the
evenings and on weekends.”
More than 1,000 community
members provided input to the
key themes for the Shape 2028
Workshops last year.
Upcoming workshops are
on March 30 at Forestville RSL
(6-8.30pm); April 1 at Dee Why
Civic Centre (2-4.30pm); and
April 4 at Mona Vale GC (6-
8.30pm). To register, view the
Discussion Paper or complete
an online survey, visit yoursay.
northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
News
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 7

News
Pittwater Forever to
vet council candidates
on ‘suitability’ to run
Community group
Pittwater Forever
say a questionnaire
they have prepared for
people nominating for
Pittwater and Narrabeen
ward councillor roles in the
Northern Beaches Council
elections in September will
provide transparency to the
community on the intent of
candidates.
The group, which
represents the 18 residents
associations in the former
Pittwater area, says it will
ask all nominees to respond
to eight key criteria, to
determine their “suitability to
represent Pittwater”.
They will make all
responses known before the
election – as well as noting
any non-respondents.
Criteria candidates are
asked to confirm or otherwise
include that they intend to
“support and vote in Council
along the lines of PFE and the
Pittwater Community and are
truly independent”.
Candidates will also be
asked if they “support the
eventual restoration of
Pittwater Council on its preamalgamation
boundaries”.
Chairman Craig Boaden
told Pittwater Life that
candidates’ responses will
be made public before the
election, and Pittwater Forever
may provide candidates who
respond “appropriately” to the
questions with in-kind (noncash)
assistance that could
include volunteers for letter
box drops.
“The aim is to facilitate
the ability for Pittwater
residents to understand what
the candidates stand for,”
Mr Boaden said. “If people
don’t want to answer, that’s
okay; we’ll simply report who
responds and their answers,
and who doesn’t. We won’t
talk to it ,or go through the
rights and wrongs. He denied
the process would see the
group run their own ticket.
“We’re not officially
endorsing people… put it
this way, we won’t be having
a ticket of Pittwater Forever
candidates,” he said.
“Pittwater Forever has
developed a strong reputation
fighting forced council
amalgamations, and our nonpolitical
stance and reputation
is highly regarded.
“We understand that for
many people in Pittwater,
the only way to express
Jonah’s competition winner
opposition is democratically,
via election to council.”
Mr Boaden said PFE
would attempt to submit
questionnaires to every
council nominee.
“We want to be as fair and
equitable to all candidates,” he
said. “It’s up to them to reply.
“Pittwater Forever is very
clear about its position – we
oppose amalgamation. We
have decided to carry on, not
pack up the tent and leave.
“We understand the
possible conflict (of requiring
councillor candidates to
continue to campaign for
returning Pittwater to its
former boundaries) but
the only way we can get
democratic representation is
nominating to council.”
Mr Boaden said PFE would
hold public sessions prior to
the election so all candidates
could address residents. He
urged potential candidates to
make contact with their local
community association.
For more info on the
PFE questionnaire visit
pittwaterforever.wordpress.
com; for more info about the
council nomination process
visit votensw.info/nsw_local_
council_elections_2017/
candidates_and_group
Congratulations to Roger Roger and his wife Jane
Davison of Warriewood, celebrated their 32nd
who won our Romantic wedding anniversary on
Escape competition
March 2 – “It’s a great way
(February issue) and the to further celebrate – many
prize of a luxury overnight thanks!” said Roger.
accommodation and dining Stay tuned for more great
package at Jonah’s Boutique competitions in coming
Hotel & Restaurant.
months!
– Nigel Wall
8 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years
PIC: Michael Mannington / Volunteer Photography

News
Guide to 2017 ANZAC
Details of services across
Sunday 9 April. The march
Pittwater and further afield
will depart Dee Why RSL Club
to mark Anzac Day 2017 (some
car park (in Clarence Avenue)
of the organisers hold a march
at 2.30pm for Dee Why Beach,
and commemorative service
with a Commemoration
the Sunday prior to the actual
Service from 3pm. The 2017
Anzac Day, or earlier, to allow
Annual Dee Why Beach, Anzac
Sub-Branch members to participate
in events in the city or
Ted Jackson Reserve, Dee Why
Dawn Service will be held at
elsewhere on Anzac Day).
Beach, on Tuesday April 25; arrive
5.15am for 5.30am start.
Avalon Beach RSL
The dawn service at the Club
will be held at 5am on Anzac
Day and the Commemorative
Service at 11am. The march will
be forming at 10.45am at Avalon
Beach Primary School before
proceeding along Old Barrenjoey
Road, turning left into Avalon
Parade, right into Bowling Green
Lane and then into Dunbar Park
at the Cenotaph.
Pittwater RSL
The Club will be holding their
Anzac Day on Sunday 23rd
March, with a march to commence
at 12.40pm at Vineyard
street Mona Vale; the Sub-
Branch will march to Mona
Vale Park and the service will
commence at 1pm. The Hon.
Rob Stokes and Hon. Jason
Falinski will be attending. On
Anzac Day, a Dawn Service
will commence at 5.20am
at the New Cenotaph at the
Lower carpark. (The Club will
be having a Dedication Service
for their New Cenotaph at
1pm on Friday March 31, with
Rob Stokes and Jason Falinski
opening the service and the
Rev. Jason Ramsay and father
George Kolodzeij performing
the Dedication blessings.)
Club Palm Beach
Their march on Anzac Day
begins from Pittwater Park to
the Club from 10.45am (meeting
from 10.30am). A commemorative
service will be
held outside the Club at 11am,
followed by a luncheon for
Members and ticketholders.
Dee Why RSL
Anzac Sunday will be held on
Forestville
Anzac Sunday (23rd) march
and service starting on the
corner of Starkey Street and
Warringah Road at 2:40am followed
by service at The Forest
Club at 3pm. Anzac Day Dawn
Service at The Forest Club at
5:30am for 5:40am start, followed
by breakfast with a $2
per person donation or $5 per
family of Mum, Dad and kids.
Narrabeen RSL
The Sub-Branch cordially
invite all members of the local
community to come along
and watch the annual Anzac
10 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Day services
Sunday March and Wreath
Laying Ceremony to be held on
Sunday, 23rd April 2017. March
participants are to assemble in
the car park (at the Narrabeen
Terminus, Berry Reserve) from
11am and the march will commence
at 11:30am. The parade
will proceed south along Pittwater
Road to the Narrabeen
Cenotaph, at the intersection
of Pittwater Road and Ocean
Street.
Northern Beaches Council
Manly’s ANZAC Day Commemoration
and Wreath
Laying Ceremony will be held
at the Manly War Memorial
on The Corso, commencing
at 11am on ANZAC
Day, Tuesday 25 April. A
Dawn Service of Remembrance
will also be held
between 4.25am
and 5am at the Manly War
Memorial, The Corso, Manly.
A separate Dawn Service at
Manly Dam at the end of King
St, Manly Vale, gets underway
at 5.30am, hosted along with
the Manly Warringah War
Memorial Park Trust. The
service will be followed by
ANZAC biscuits, tea and coffee
for a donation. Donations of
cut rosemary will be gratefully
accepted to be handed out at
the services. Please deliver to
Manly Town Hall, 1 Belgrave
Street, Manly (opposite Manly
Ferry Wharf) by Friday 21
April. For details, visit northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
News
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 11

News
Beaches climate initiative
The impact of climate change on coastal infrastructure
across the Northern Beaches will be addressed in an
Australia-first initiative, with Northern Beaches Council
receiving a grant of $80,000 from Local Government NSW to
ensure that public infrastructure is resilient and adaptable.
Experts predict an increase in the impact of climate change
on coastal communities, including rising sea levels and extreme
weather events like the April 2015 and June 2016 storms.
The funding will be used to produce options for making
infrastructure last longer, with two pilot projects to be tested.
Northern Beaches Council is partnering with the Institute
of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA), which will
author a Climate Change Impacts on Assets update to their
Useful Life of Infrastructure Assets Practice Note.
“That Practice Note will be developed in conjunction with
Northern Beaches Council so its useability is tested,” said
Council Administrator Dick Persson. “The final Practice Note
will feature Northern Beaches Council case studies and form
part of national industry guidance.
“It will propose alternative designs in response to sea level
rise and increased extreme weather events for things like
community facilities, wharves, roads and stormwater outlets
to make them last longer and therefore provide greater
community and financial benefit.
“NB Council is almost unique in Australia as it is a peninsula
that is three-quarters surrounded by water and dominated by
bushland. That has very obvious impacts on our environment.
“The Northern Beaches has 21 surf life saving clubs, the most
of any local area in Australia. With many club buildings ageing,
it is important any renovations or rebuilds are done sustainably
so they are resilient to sea level rise and storm events.”
Deborah’s award a
victory for vets help
Pittwater’s newly crowned
Woman Of The Year
for 2017 Deborah Carter
hopes the award will help
shed light on the work of
volunteers and the support
and care available for
veterans and their families.
“We are blessed living on
the Northern Beaches as
there is a strong community
spirit and a strong ethos
of volunteering,” Ms Carter
(pictured) said.
The first woman to be
elected President of the
Pittwater RSL Sub-Branch,
Deborah said she developed
a respect and need to
assist with our military
community following 39
years of nursing and with
a background as a Nursing
Officer in the RAAF.
Leaving her career as a
clinical nurse specialist
in cardiac rehab to follow
her passion, Deborah has
volunteered full-time since
2012, also serving in a
key advisory role in the
successful establishment
of the Veterans Centre at
Dee Why RSL. She is also
the Vice-President of the
RSL District Council which
supports veterans and their
families across the northern
beaches.
“It’s important for
veterans to know – whether
they are a member of an RSL
or not – we are always there
to help our mates,” she said.
Member for Pittwater Rob
Stokes said Deborah had an
extraordinary passion for
community service and set
an outstanding example for
others.
“Deborah is continuing
to use her professional
experience to train others,
whilst also donating her
time to assist and advocate
for some of the most
vulnerable and deserving
members of our community.
“Importantly, Deborah’s
focus is not only on older
veterans in our community,
but also the newest
generation of veterans
returning from conflicts
in places like East Timor,
Afghanistan and Iraq,” Mr
Stokes said.
The Pittwater Woman
Of The Year Award was
announced at the annual
Zonta International Women’s
Day Breakfast at the Royal
Prince Alfred Yacht Club in
March.
– Lisa Offord
12 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

EXCLUSIVE
Planning destiny: in
News
Decision-making on future
planning and development
in Pittwater will be
handed outright to local councillors
elected to represent our
area under a landmark decision
by the NSW Government.
The move is a huge boost for
local communities and also residents
groups concerned about
a flurry of ongoing over-development
– including six-storey
buildings in Mona Vale – that
they feared would transform the
region following the amalgamation
of Manly, Warringah and
Pittwater Councils last May.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian
confirmed councillors elected
to the Pittwater and Narrabeen
wards in the Northern Beaches
Council elections in September
would have the ultimate say
in planning laws across their
boundaries following a cabinet
decision in early March.
The ‘destiny in your hands’
approach to devolve strategic
planning to individual wards
will ensure no input or decisions
are made on Pittwater
planning from councillors in
wards external to Pittwater.
The same principle will apply
for elected councillors and
wards in other amalgamated
councils across New South
Wales.
The new Northern Beaches
Council comprises five wards;
each will have three elected
councillors.
The Local Environment Plans
(LEPs) currently in place for
Manly, Warringah and Pittwater
will remain until after
the Council election, when
the 15 councillors will develop
the new LEP for the Northern
Beaches Council.
This will be done with input
ward by ward, not collectively;
consequently it is possible the
LEP could comprise up to five
sets of strategic planning laws.
The three councillors elected
to represent Pittwater ward
in the September election will
determine planning matters in
Mona Vale, Duffys Forest and all
suburbs north to Palm Beach.
Councillors elected to
represent Narrabeen ward will
determine planning matters in
Warriewood, Ingleside and Terrey
Hills and all suburbs south
to Oxford Falls and Collaroy.
The new powers will be set
in stone by an amendment
to the Environmental Planning
& Assessment Act (1979),
expected to be implemented
prior to the Council election.
This would provide candidates
with a solid platform
to run their campaigns and
ensure transparency for voters.
Announcing the change, Premier
Berejiklian said: “We have
listened to concerns about local
character in Sydney and will
continue to ensure individual
wards of merged councils will
have a say in strategic planning
processes so that local
residents get an even stronger
say in the planning of their
neighbourhoods.”
Pittwater MP Rob Stokes
confirmed elected local ward
councillors would have control
of making decisions about land
use, zoning and strategic plans.
“This means that decisions
about which areas will be zoned
for lower and higher density
development will be made by
local representatives, and not
by councillors representing
other parts of the northern
beaches,” Mr Stokes said.
He explained the change was
based on a ‘localism approach’
implemented in the UK.
“This will focus local control
over neighbourhood character
– which has been raised
with me as one of the central
concerns with council amalgamation,”
he said.
“No-one has concerns about
who collects the rubbish, or
who looks after the sports
grounds. However, there is a
general concern that each part
of the Northern Beaches has
a character that needs to be
protected and enhanced.
“This reform reflects that the
NSW Government has listened
to concerns about local planning
and it provides direct
14 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

our hands
LEFT: The boundaries of the Narrabeen (pink) and Pittwater (pale blue)
wards; ABOVE: Much-maligned multi-storey development in Mona Vale.
control over local planning to
the specific ward councillors.”
He added that the government
would require updates
to LEPs every five years, to
facilitate gradual change rather
than extraordinary change.
“Again, that change will be
determined by ward councillors
specific to their ward,” he said.
Palm Beach Whale Beach
Residents Association President
Richard West welcomed the
government’s announcement.
“As far as Pittwater is
concerned it has its advantages,”
Dr West said. “There
was general concern that as
we were quite different from
other regions of the northern
beaches we would be affected,
but this is a positive move by
the government.
“The only caveat is that the
present LEPs be retained for
Pittwater,” he said.
Pittwater Forever Chairman
Craig Boaden welcomed the
government’s decision “as a
gesture to allow local input
on local planning matters” but
added “we expect and hope
the government will follow
through on this commitment”.
“We’re not quite sure how
it will pan out – DAs will be
processed by one team, not
three – but it does allay fears…
we have to be glad about it,”
he said.
President of the Mona Vale
Chamber of Commerce Simon
Dunn commented: “I think it’s
encouraging that some element
of local government is
being restored from what has
been regional government, and
that LEPs will be governed by
the people who treasure their
area.” – Nigel Wall
Locals’ keen eye shaping
Church Point aesthetics
The new look and feel of the
Church Point waterfront
is being driven by a group
of local design professionals
who have been collaborating
on the all-important scope of
works with
the Northern
Beaches Council
for almost
a year.
The Church
Point Project
Aesthetic Advisory
Group,
along with
the offshore
and onshore communities,
have been working diligently
to find the best possible outcomes
for the area.
One of the tasks of the
volunteer group, comprising
Cathy Kubany, Roberta
Conroy, Lizzie Hazelwood,
Michael Wiener and Scotland
Island Residents Association
President, Bill Gye, has been to
work with Council to modify
the new Church Point carpark
design to be more recessive
and fit in with the surrounding
local environment.
Northern Beaches Deputy
General Manager Ben Taylor
said the collaborative approach
would provide a better visual
outcome for the community.
The CPPAAG has met eight
times and provided Council
with technical and aesthetic
advice since May 2016 following
the release of the Project
concept plans.
The first phase of the
Church Point Upgrade will be
delivered by August 2017 and
includes the already completed
200-metre
long seawall,
new boardwalk
and
realigned
roadway.
The second
phase of the
Church Point
Upgrade will
be completed
by February 2018 with the
new carpark.
In addition to the seawall
and carpark, other aspects of
the $10 million project include
a new boardwalk that blends
in with the existing character
of the area, heritage upgrades
around the café and wharf, realignment
of the bus stop and
improved pedestrian access.
“The Committee have already
provided valuable ideas
during the project and I look
forward to continuing this
work as we progress building
the carpark to ensure the final
aesthetics works with the
general amenity and safety of
the Church Point Precinct,” Mr
Taylor said.
More info search Church
Point Upgrade at northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
– Nigel Wall
News
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 15

News
City no longer slicker for work
It’s the living hell endured
by thousands of locals – the
Pittwater-to-wherever work
commute involving sitting in
traffic or on public transport
for nearly 20 hours each week.
It’s so dire that more and
more workers are looking to
relocate locally. And it’s some
traditionally city-based businesses
that are leading the way,
with plenty of creative and
advertising types uprooting or
simply planting themselves on
the beaches – all to attain a better
work/life balance.
Examples are Jamie Kwong,
founder and CEO of successful
advertising and design agency
Workshop Australia and a local
for more than 20 years, and the
crew of media planning and
buying agency, Sandbox Media.
“In 2015 I moved my ad
agency from Surry Hills, where
I established in 2003, to Newport,”
Jamie said. “It hit me…
we have a good list of clients
located around Australia (and
the world), and whilst I love
living on the Northern Beaches
I was forced to drive – or worse,
catch the L90 – over 80km to
and from my own company!
“I did the math – commuting
3½ hours from Palm Beach
to the city and back five days
a week, for 46 weeks for 20.5
years, is about 380,000km,
approximately 16,500 hours or
around 687 days,” Jamie continued.
“That’s close to two years
just driving in my car!”
He understands why many
workers and business owners
feel locked in to a city commute
but says challenging ‘the norm’
could see them break free.
“I always thought advertising
agencies needed to be
central – but to what?” he said.
“Our clients range from new
start-ups and local businesses,
to established national and even
international brands that are
spread far and wide.
“We figured with clients from
Sydney to New York, Newport
was as central as anywhere.”
Jamie said it was a misconception
that clients would not
travel far. “Clients don’t travel
– period!” he said.
“Since moving we have put on
some very big clients who are
based in the city,” he countered.
“They don’t discriminate based
on postcode. It’s all about the
quality of our work.”
Finding locally based staff
has not been a problem.
“They’re looking for work which
doesn’t drag them to the city
every day,” he said. “Not only
are they good at their jobs, they
aren’t jaded from travel.”
And his rent is a lot less than
his former fringe-city space.
“Now that we have reduced
our overheads and changed
our business model we’re able
to work with a wider range of
clients on interesting projects –
purely because we want to,” he
said. “We see a lot more of our
families, we are more efficient,
Residents in Central Road, Avalon Beach
face an anxious wait to see whether a
proposed 72-place childcare facility will be
approved on appeal in the NSW Land and
Environment Court. Hundreds of locals
immediately affected by the proposed
development, who argued against its
detrimental impact, were jubilant when
BETTER ON THE BEACHES: Jamie Kwong of Workshop Australia.
happier, healthier and the work sales and saw a gap in the
we’re producing is better.”
market bringing together the
Sandbox Media, which brokers
deals with the media for
best in each discipline from the
media to service his current
client base across all of their
its clients across all mediums
marketing mix.
and platforms, was set up in
“These long-standing client
Newport in 2009 after founder
relationships, together with our
Anthony Colreavy grew tired of
strong media relationships, has
working in the city and beyond.
allowed the company to grow –
Anthony recruited friend Paul we were recently awarded Top
Brennan as General Manager – 12 on BRW’s ‘Fast 100’,” he said.
and the tight-knit team haven’t With a background in TV
looked back.
sales, Paul’s roles have been
“Ant had just finished building
in Newport, and with two “The traffic from the beaches
predominantly city-based.
young children it was a pretty to the city used to be bad – now
easy decision that the home office
was a good idea to establish “Spending 2.5hrs + per day just
it’s unbearable,” Paul said.
the business,” said Paul.
getting to and from work
“He was working in direct
Continued on page 52
Developer appeals refused DA
Northern Beaches Council refused the
Development Application on March 1.
However, the developer of the projected $2
million construction which would include
a semi-basement car park and which locals
said would attract more than 70 extra
vehicles to the narrow suburban street per
day, has appealed via the courts.
16 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

News
Go bush and help regenerate
Here’s your opportunity to
enjoy a weekend “away”
in one of the area’s hidden
gems – for only $20.
The Pittwater YHA Hostel
is holding its annual bush regeneration
weekend where in
return for two mornings’ work
you will receive two nights’ accommodation,
evening meals,
lunches and morning teas plus
the afternoons and evenings
free to explore, paddle the
peaceful waterways or simply
kick back and relax.
Nestled on the hillside of
Morning Bay in Ku-ring-gai
National Park, the hostel was
originally a 1920s family
home donated to the YHA 50
years ago.
Reached by ferry ride from
Church Point, the hostel serves
as a popular retreat for local
groups-in-the-know and travellers
from around the globe.
Retired physiotherapist Robyn
Hughes of Avalon has volunteered
in the Pittwater YHA
bush regeneration weekends
since they began nine years ago.
“I just love the place, being
out in the bush and spending
the time in that natural setting,”
she said.
Up to 50 people may volunteer
for the weekend, which
typically draws a diverse
bunch from seasoned bushcarers
to couples and groups
of mums wanting a quick
break and international travellers
and young people from
the inner city.
For first timers, Robyn advises
accommodation is clean
and basic and meals are tasty
and generous.
“Be prepared for a 15-minute
walk uphill on the bush
track to the hostel; don’t carry
more than you need, a back
pack is a good idea,” she said.
Also if you like your wine,
cheese and chocolate, treats
are more than welcome!
Reserve your place now.
Bookings essential: $50 nonrefundable
booking fee with a
$30 refund on arrival.
Contact Michael on 9999
5748 or pittwater@yha.com.au
This activity is in partnership
with Pittwater Natural
Heritage Association, the
National Parks and Wildlife
Service, NB Council & supported
by the Greater Sydney
Local Land Service with
funding from the Australian
Government and The NSW
Government Programs.
– Lisa Offord
18 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

6THINGS
THIS MONTH
Rain check. A couple
events set down for March
were rescheduled due to the
weather. Australasian Bat Night
at Warriewood Wetlands is now
on Fri 7 and Swim Around The
Bends – Newport to Avalon –
now on Sun 9.
Get twitching. Spend the
morning with our feathered
friends on Sun 9 on a guided
walk in North Narrabeen to
learn more about local birdlife.
Call 1300 000 232.
Rust’s Easter sale. Avalon’s
iconic emporium of unique
imported furniture, original
art, handpicked homewares,
fashion and gifts Rust is holding
its traditional long weekend sale
(April 14-17) when customers
in the know snap up the items
they have been keeping an eye
on at bargain prices. Check out
what’s in store at 45A Avalon
Pde (next to the Post Office) or
www.rustonline.com.au.
Support your hospital. The
Mona Vale Hospital Auxiliary
will be selling an assortment
of bric-a-brac, baking, craft,
books and handmade knits
to raise funds to purchase
equipment for Mona Vale
Hospital on Fri 21 from 9am-
3pm in the hospital foyer. For
more info call 9979 5115.
Car boot sale. Pick up a
treasure at the Avalon car
boot sale at Dunbar Park from
8am-2pm on Sat 29 where you
will find great quality pre-loved
clothing and household items
for sale or trade.
Wicked pleasure. Don’t be
the only one to miss the smash
comedy hit The Play That Goes
Wrong playing at the Roslyn
Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay this
month with final tickets released
until April 23. Winner of Best
New Comedy at London’s 2015
Olivier Awards and playing to
packed audiences around the
world, the play centres on The
Cornley Polytechnic Drama
Society production of a 1920s
murder mystery where, as you
have probably already guessed,
everything that can go wrong...
does! See page 10 for booking
details.
What a narly record!
Barrenjoey High School
not only smashed a world
record last month – it also
raised a whopping $5,500 for
disabled surfers.
Exactly 880 surfboards were
laid down end to end around
the Avalon Beach school
grounds to break the previous
record set in Long Beach New
York, by 195 boards.
Students,
parents,
teachers
and local
businesses
contributed
boards to
help set
the new
mark which
will be made official after
evidence is submitted to
Guinness World Records.
Principal Ian Bowsher
explained this type of event,
which took more than nine
months to organise, gave
the students a communityminded
focus while fostering
pride in their school.
“We needed to lay over 685
boards end to end around the
school – the call went out to
‘bring more boards’ and the
community responded,” he
said.
As part of the attempt,
the school community sold
raffle tickets to raise both
funds and awareness for the
Disabled Surfers Association,
established in 1986 by Gary
Blaschke.
“We
received
strong
support
from local
businesses
in the
form of
providing
prizes for our fundraising
efforts,” Mr Bowsher said.
“This fundraising helps
to germinate in the minds
of students a focus away
from themselves and into
the greater community in
a fun and interesting way
that directly relates to the
environment we live in.”
– Lisa Offord
News
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 19

Lend a ‘Hand’ for kids
charity founded by North
A Narrabeen local Peter
Baines after the 2004 Boxing
Day tsunami marks a significant
milestone next year.
Hands Across the Water,
an organisation supporting
at-risk Thai children has just
launched the program and
opened applications for its 10th
annual fundraising bike rides.
A NSW police forensic
investigator for 22 years, Peter
worked in Bali after the bombings
in 2002 and then in Thailand
following the tsunami,
leading the Australian team in
the identification of the people
who died and the repatriation
of bodies across the world.
After spending several
months in Thailand the
50-year-old father of three
began raising money to build
a home to accommodate a
group of children who had
lost everything.
“I set up ‘hands’ in 2005
then professionally I spent a
couple of years working on
counter terrorism for Interpol
and the United Nations
before resigning at the end of
2008 to work for myself and
‘hands’,” he said.
“We now have seven homes
across Thailand and we have
350 kids who spend each
night with us.
“We have 43 kids who have
graduated from our homes
and are currently studying at
university – two of our kids
have already graduated from
uni, one with a law degree and
one with a business degree.
“Our focus is long term on
the kids,” he explained.
Peter acknowledged an
Australian-based charity
working overseas was existing
in a competitive space – Hands
Across the Water’s niche was
providing “meaningful experiences”
to the supporters who
engaged with it with 100 per
cent of donations going to the
kids and their communities.
There will be eight rides in
Thailand over the charity’s
“riding calendar” from November
through to March. For
more info go to handsacrossthewater.org.au
– Lisa Offord
News
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 21

Pittwater News
News
Long-awaited upgrade
for Birdwood Park
Northern Beaches Council
says work on a $365,000
upgrade of Birdwood Park at
North Narrabeen – triggered
nearly five years after the
former Warringah Council
earmarked it for renovation –
will be completed by the end
of June. NB Council General
Manager Ben Taylor said the
park was an important recreational
space that had significant
environmental and
heritage value. “The section
of the park overlooking North
Narrabeen Beach is popular
with locals and visitors, but
after 30 years of heavy use
it has become rundown and
in need of upgrading,” Mr
Taylor said. “With its great
location, Birdwood Park has
become increasingly popular
but the quality of the amenity
does not match modern
standards,” he continued.
“This project will greatly
improve accessibility, safety
and the recreational use and
I think when it’s finished it
will be warmly welcomed by
residents, and benefit visitors
and the broader community.”
The project will deliver a new
26-space accessible concrete
carpark; concrete seating
platforms; a beach shower
and water bubbler; park furniture
including picnic tables
and seats; custom shade
structures; and new grassed
areas (see artist’s impression).
The upgrade will also provide
substantial environmental
benefits by controlling erosion
and ensuring run-off
from the carpark is filtered
prior to entering the lagoon.
Minerals on men’s
Probus agenda
Former minerals researcher
and mining analyst Wes Harder
is the next guest speaker
at the Pittwater Men’s Probus
Club meeting at Mona Vale
Golf Club on Tuesday April 11.
Wes, who is also a past president
of Toast Masters, will
speak about his challenging
yet rewarding minerals work
over 15 years in New Guinea
and elsewhere. The meeting
starts at 10.30am; visitors
welcome. More info phone Bill
Marshall on 9999 5226.
More info on
Peninsula Probus
Probus Clubs from Narrabeen
to Palm Beach are encouraging
interested community
members to join and attend
their regular monthly meetings
– especially as a means
for new retirees to the peninsula
to meet new faces and
socialize. Clubs meet once a
month to hear a speaker and
get together over a cup of
tea and most arrange other
activities as well. Avalon Ladies
Probus meets every 1st
Tuesday @ 10am – phone 9973
1655; Narrabeen Lakes Probus
Combined meets every 4th
Wednesday @ 10am – phone
9979 8465; Pittwater Probus
(men) meet every 2nd Tuesday
@ 10am – phone 9999 5226;
and Palm Beach Probus Combined
meet every 3rd Wednesday
@ 9.30am – phone 9973
1247. For other info phone
Probus South Pacific on 1300
630 488 or email administration@probusouthpacific.org
Call goes out ‘fore’
Burdekin golf day
Pioneer Northern Beaches
youth charity, the Burdekin
Association, is calling for
entries and sponsors for its
22 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

third annual Charity Golf Day
at Cromer Golf Club on Tuesday
May 2. Proceeds will go towards
accommodation, education and
support for homeless youth
in local districts. The popular
18-hole event is played in
stress-free ‘Ambrose’ format,
allowing players of all skills to
participate and have fun. Lunch,
drinks and prizes are awarded
to the winners. Last year
Burdekin had some wonderful
hole sponsors who helped
them raise over $20,000. Hole
sponsorship comes with four
tickets to play golf with cart. If
you are interested in sponsoring
a hole or playing, phone
Megan Davenport on 8976 1777
or email burdekin.admin@
burdekin.org.au.
Happy Dragon says
goodbye to Newport
Following a detailed review,
St George Bank has shut its
Newport branch. The bank
says the closure was due to
fewer customers due to a
decline in over-the-counter
transactions. “We are committed
to helping our customers
through a number of ways,
including face-to-face banking
at our Mona Vale branch
or Bank@Post at Newport’s
Australia Post,” a spokesperson
said. “Our ATM will
remain at the same location,
and customers can also access
their banking 24/7 through
our Internet, Mobile and Phone
banking services.”
Mums raise funds
for Lifeline
Northern Beaches Surfing
Mums are staging their ‘Surf
Mums for Life Fest’ to raise
funds for Lifeline Northern
Beaches at the North Narrabeen
SLSC on Saturday April 1
from 3pm. The family friendly
event includes live bands, face
painting, pop-up burger stall,
raffles, a cash bar and more.
Entry costs $20 for adults and
a gold coin donation for kids.
Pre-sale tickets are available
via eventbrite.com
Mona Vale Road
works continue
Roads and Maritime Services
is reminding motorists of
continuing changed traffic
conditions on Mona Vale Road
over the next two months for
investigation work to be carried
out between Terrey Hills
and Mona Vale. Work including
survey, geotechnical and
utility investigations is being
carried out between Ingleside
and Mona Vale to inform the
proposed upgrade of Mona
Vale Road East from two to
four lanes. Work will be carried
out until Wednesday 31
May from 7am-6pm between
Monday and Friday (weather
permitting), excluding public
holidays. Up to six nightshifts
will also be carried out between
6pm-7am. Investigation
work will also continue until
May 31 between Terrey Hills
and Ingleside for the proposed
Mona Vale Road West
upgrade. Work will be carried
out between McCarrs Creek
Skate and scoot at Mona Vale
The Mona Vale Skate Ramp will host the Northern Beaches
Street Skate and Scooter comp on Saturday April 8. Registrations
commence 10am with racing starting 11am and
concluding at 4pm. A workshop will also be conducted by
Skater HQ. There are great prizes to be won plus there’s a
free BBQ. Entry to the event is free; helmets compulsory.
Road and Powder Works Road
from 7am-6pm on weekdays,
with up to 16 nightshifts
between 6pm-7am. More info
livetraffic.com or download
the Live Traffic NSW App.
Beaches Hospital
precinct plan
Planning for the precinct
around the new Northern
Beaches Hospital in Frenchs
Forest is set to move to the
next stage, with the threemonth
public exhibition of
the plan now closed. Northern
Beaches Council Deputy General
Manager Andrew Pigott
said the high level of community
engagement had been
pleasing. “More than 1,000
people attended the nine
community drop-in sessions
and we received more than
800 submissions,” he said.
“We appreciate the effort and
time everyone has taken.” The
project team will now review
all submissions. It is expected
a report will be presented to
Council in July.
Ladies’ golf week
a stunning success
Organisers of the 2017 Barrenjoey
Peninsula Week of Golf
are thrilled with the turnout
and success of the recent
35th year of the event – with
583 ladies playing golf over
seven days at seven stunning
northern beaches golf courses
and raising $8688 for women
Continued on page 24
News
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 23

Pittwater News
News
Continued on page 23
in need. The money, raised by
the tournament’s raffle, will
be used to help provide crisis
accommodation to women at
the Manly Women’s Shelter.
The Barrenjoey Peninsula
Week of Golf will be on again
in February 2018.
Monet & music
in perfect harmony
Here’s a great early gift idea
for Mother’s Day! Book now to
experience French Impressionist
Monet’s paintings projected
onto a big screen accompanied
by the music of WWI French
composers in a delicious feast
for the senses. This multimedia
production of visual projections
and music, presented
by the Peninsula Music Club,
brings together the paintings
Monet created at Giverny during
the Great War – including
his Japanese Bridges, Water
Lilies, Weeping Willows, and
the Alley of Roses – alongside
music written in 1914-1918
by serving or volunteering
French composers such as
Debussy, Ravel, Koechlin and
Boulanger. The production on
May 12 at St Luke’s Grammar
School, Bayview, will feature
flautist Jane Rutter (pictured)
and distinguished guest artists
including tenor Andrew
Goodwin, pianist Tamara-
Anna Cislowska, cellist David
Pereira and violinist Christopher
Latham. The performance
starts at 8pm; tickets
are $25, with students under
18 $10 (or free if accompanied
by an adult). A sparkling wine
supper will be served after the
performance with a chance to
meet the artists.
More info peninsulamusicclub.com.au.
Kylie on board
at Easylink
Former Deputy Mayor of Pittwater
Kylie Ferguson is one
of six new volunteer board
members of northern beaches
community transport provider
Easylink. The new members
will complement long-serving
board members, helping the
not-for-profit community
organisation, which serves
transport disadvantaged
residents such as seniors and
people with disability, gear up
for expansion. Ms Ferguson
said she volunteered for the
role as she believes in giving
back to the community, and
is particularly passionate
about helping both youth and
seniors. “I’ve seen the pleasure
Easylink’s social outings and
mystery tours bring to our
older residents,” she said.
The service also provides
community transport for
people who are temporarily
incapacitated and unable to
use other transport, and free
public transport travel training
services for anyone who
needs help using public transport
on their own. The other
new board members are: Jay
Zmijewski, Operations Director
at Forest Coach Lines;
Jane Mulroney, a community
and stakeholder engagement
expert with local and state
government experience; Debbie
Organ, a financial services
executive known for her stand
on ethical business practices
and community work, who
came across Easylink’s services
while helping a lost elderly
lady get home; Leeanne
Gray, an Executive Manager
at Westpac Institutional Bank
brings senior change management,
leadership and business
improvement expertise; and
Margaret Hardy, who has extensive
management experience
in the health sector, from
prevention to palliative care.
24 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Nothing but bouquets for Avalon Uncorked
The Village Green at Dunbar Park will
come alive with the renowned pleasures of
Australia’s oldest wine region on Sunday
23 April when the tastes, sights and
sounds of the Hunter Valley merge with
the breezy coastal lifestyle of Avalon at
the inaugural ‘Uncorked Avalon’ Festival.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the
Hunter Valley way of life and its well-loved
charm under the sunny skies of Avalon as
they wander through food stalls, sampling
fresh, gourmet delights and the incredible
wines of the picturesque region. Uncorked
Avalon will bring
together more
than 20 wineries
from Australia’s
premium winegrowing
region, a
brewery and food
stalls featuring
delicious fare
from popular
local restaurants.
Promising to be
a relaxing day
of sumptuous
food and wine
with family and friends, the event will
also provide a taste of what’s to come in
this year’s Hunter Valley Food and Wine
Festival, which spans May and June.
The Wine Selectors Expert Tasting Panel
will hold a range of informative and fun
cellar session for all lovers of wine –
from experienced palettes to those just
beginning their wine- tasting journey of
discovery. If you want to skip the lines,
Riedel wine glasses and four tasting tickets
can be purchased online prior to the event
for $29, while souvenir wine glasses can
be purchased
on the day for
$10. Tasting
vouchers are
$3.50 each. The
event begins
10.30am, with
the last wine
vouchers sold at
4.30pm and last
wine poured at
4.45pm. More
info www.
winecountry.
com.au.
Bayview boat
wash boost
Northern Beaches Council has
started $1.12 million upgrade
works at Rowland Reserve to
improve stormwater drainage
around the boat wash-down
bay at the southern end of
Pittwater. Council General
Manager Mark Ferguson said
the area was used by hundreds
of boaties every week. “This
project is about making sure
the facilities we provide keep
pace with growing demand as
well as ensuring we protect
our beautiful environment,” he
said. The old wash-down bay
had inadequate drainage, which
meant any pollutants washed
off boats and engines could
run across the asphalt surface,
potentially causing damage to
the surface and seepage into
Winnererremy Bay. A new pollutant
trap has been installed
to capture contaminant run-off.
The capacity of boat wash-down
bays has also been increased
from two bays to three.
Continued on page 26
News
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 25

News
Pittwater News
Funding call for
Community groups
Eligible organisations are
being invited to apply for
the second and final round
of grants offered under the
NSW Government’s Stronger
Communities Fund, designed
to kick-start the delivery
of projects that build a
more vibrant, sustainable
and inclusive community.
Incorporated not-for-profit
groups can apply for the
second round of funding
and must demonstrate that
their project will benefit the
Northern Beaches community.
Northern Beaches Council is
holding three grant information
sessions, a grant writing
workshop and three prebooked
drop in brainstorming
sessions to assist the
community with their grant
application. The maximum
Chocolate makers are hopping to it
While some of us are taking a well-earned break, spare a
thought for our local chocolatiers who are up to their bunny
ears preparing for their busiest time of year. The small
team at Lindsay & Edmunds in Apollo St, Warriewood have
produced a whopping tonne of handmade organic chocolate,
putting in 12-hour days, six days a week to make sure
their beautiful bunnies, stunning designer eggs and quirky
penguins are on the shelves for the Easter chocolate splurge.
Owner Peter Edmunds says he will sell $100,000 worth of
chocolate in the lead-up to and during Easter week, with the
best sellers being milk and dark 150g eggs ($17) and boxed
bunnies ($8.99) traditionally snapped up earl y. Sweet!
grant amount for the second
round of funding is $50,000,
with a minimum of $5,000.
Applications open on 3 April
and close on 12 May. Further
info at northernbeaches.nsw.
gov.au/get-involved/strongercommunities-fund.
Save the date for
Volunteer Expo
Want to make a difference
to your community and the
people around you, develop
new skills or share your
knowledge and experience
but don’t know where to
start? Make a diary note for
May 10 to visit the Northern
Beaches Volunteer Expo where
more than 35 community
organisations will showcase a
wide variety of volunteer opportunities.
The Expo will be
held in The Show Room at the
Dee Why RSL Club from 10am
to 2pm. Contact Community
Connect Northern Beaches on
9931 7777.
Free street libraries
New street libraries are popping
up in Pittwater – brightly
coloured boxes installed by
volunteers outside homes,
along pathways and parkland
and filled with books to encourage
literacy and community.
With the motto “Borrow a
Book, Lend a Book” there are
more than 200 Street Libraries
in Australia with a goal of
increasing to 500. For more
info go to streetlibrary.org.au.
Vet
on
call
with
Dr Ben Brown
Cat owners in the region
should be aware that
a highly contagious,
life-threatening cat virus
that has not been seen in
Sydney for 40 years has
recently resurfaced in some
western Sydney pounds.
This outbreak has caused at
least four pounds or animal
facilities to temporarily stop
accepting cats in order to
prevent further spread of
the virus.
Feline panleukopenia
virus (FPV) – also known
as feline enteritis or feline
distemper – is a form of
parvovirus that affects the
gastrointestinal tract and
immune system of infected
cats, especially kittens.
It can cause extreme
diarrhoea and dehydration,
as well as secondary
bacterial infections, often
leading to death.
In addition to diarrhoea,
symptoms of FPV infection
can include fever,
listlessness, vomiting and
loss of appetite. Treatment
often requires quarantine
hospitalisation, intravenous
fluid replacement and
sometimes even blood
transfusions.
This viral outbreak
highlights the importance of
annual vaccinations for your
cat. FPV is covered under
the regular F3 vaccinations
for all cats, so we urge all
cat owners to contact our
hospital to ensure their
cat’s vaccinations are up
to date. Vaccination is safe
and is one of the easiest
ways we can help protect
our feline friends against
diseases. All vaccination
visits also include a full
clinical examination by a
veterinarian.
If you’d like to know more
about pet vaccination or any
other aspect of their health,
our hospital is open every
day from 7 am to 9 pm and
no appointment is needed.
26 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Straight
Shooter
Life Stories
With the whistle blowing to start
the 2017 netball season this
month, we talk to one of the
game’s greats – Anne Sargeant.
Story by Rosamund Burton
Tall and immaculately presented, netball legend
Anne Sargeant opens the front door of her home on
Barrenjoey Road at Palm Beach. Her two small dogs,
Loki and Moku, named after the great Hawaiian surfer, Duke
Kahanamoku, yap around her feet with excitement as she
strides down the hallway and out to the verandah. Here we
sit in an oasis of greenery broken only by glimpses of the
silvery surface of Pittwater, until a heavy downpour forces us
indoors.
It’s 29 years since Anne Sargeant retired from playing
netball. She played for Australia from 1978 to 1988, and
during her six-year captaincy worked tirelessly to promote
the game. Her contribution to one of Australia’s leading
participation sports has not diminished.
Anne is a commentator for the new national league Suncorp
Super Netball, two live matches of which are broadcast live
every Saturday night on Channel Nine.
“We want Suncorp Super Netball to not only appeal to the
stalwart netball fans, but also to attract other people to the
athleticism and fierce beauty of this sport,” she explains.
For netball to be showcased live on primetime television
is ground-breaking for women’s sport, and her 50-year
involvement in the game has played no small part in this.
The previous weekend she was commentating on two games,
so was away all Saturday and Sunday. She is also a selector for
the Australian team. “So when I came home I re-watched all four
games that were played over the weekend with my selector-head
working, and then I watched the games I commentated on again
to see what I could hone, and what I could do better.”
I am struck by her unwavering desire to do and be her
very best, as well as her dedication to the game. She started
playing with Forestville Netball Club as an eight-year old,
and recalls swinging the tassel on her uniform, and being
so proud of her black Dunlop Volleys. She made the Manly
Warringah rep team as a 10-year old. “Our rep coach instilled
in us an absolute love of the game, and also respect for our
opponents, and to do our best, learn as we go and have fun.”
Having played for Manly for many years, she admits, despite
her respect and support for other districts, that she is “a
Manly girl through and through”.
Anne was tracked into a State Development Team. But it
was soon after she got into the Under-18s NSW Team that her
dream run came to an abrupt halt. She was put out of the
team after a couple of training sessions because her Umpiring
Theory Badge, which all State players had to have, was found
to be a month out of date, although she had checked it was
current when she trialled for the team. Anne was shattered.
However, a couple of years later she not only made a NSW
Open Team, but also the Australian Team.
She met Warwick Sargeant at the University of Sydney,
where they were both doing a Bachelor of Education. Anne
was 22 when they married and six months later they bought
what she describes as ‘a shoebox on legs’ overlooking
Newport’s Salt Pan Cove.
“I was working as a full-time teacher and competing, so
doing overseas tours representing Australia and taking leave
without pay.”
Then Warwick realised that he wanted to do physiotherapy,
28 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

so he studied that for four years. His local practice, Avalon
Physiotherapy Centre, is very much community-orientated
and offers a wide specialty range.
When Anne retired from playing netball in 1988 it was a
desire to combine her coaching skills, teaching skills, and
passion for the game, which led to the Anne Sargeant Netball
Clinics. She ran the first one, back in 1989, with three of her
Rep playing girlfriends; 60 kids attended, and her father
cooked a sausage sizzle at the end.
Having started on the Northern Beaches, over 25 years later
the clinics are still going strong here, but now also take place
all over Sydney and are attended by hundreds of kids. Run
during the school holidays they are an opportunity for young
players of all ages to learn new skills and have fun.
Anne runs the Junior Elite Talent Squad (JETS) alongside
former international and Manly player Karan Smith and
Virginia Welsh, both of whom are currently coaching teams
for the Manly Sapphires premier league. “These sessions are
for higher grade players who maybe want to make a highergrade
team, or a rep team.” Under the Anne Sargeant Netball
Clinics umbrella, they are run at Narrabeen, Crows Nest and
Ku-ring-gai. “I don’t like getting up at 5.30 three mornings
a week, but I love between 7 and 8.15am working with those
kids because they train so hard, and love it. Hopefully it
enhances the girls’ club and rep experiences.”
Coaching these enthusiastic, young passionate players
one minute and then having the responsibility of players at
national selection level, she says “is a reminder of what the
young players are aspiring to, and that the Australian team
players were once like that, and that they are people with
family lives, and a need for work life balance, as much as they
are a national athlete.”
She reflects that Warwick probably thought when she
retired from the game in 1988 that her work would slow
down, but actually it’s escalated, and she is currently working
seven days a week. Perhaps this isn’t surprising for someone
whose motto for life is ‘There is no end point to success’. (It’s
a line from Joyce Brown, her coach for 11 years.)
Then she adds: “Warwick is the most gorgeous man. I don’t
want to paint him as a saint, because he’ll be ribbed when he
has his daily coffee with the guys at the Palm Beach General
Store. But he’s always been very generous of spirit and very
selfless in enabling me to continue to pursue my passions.
Also, he’s very proud of what I do, which is just lovely.”
Her life is paced and tightly organized, but she makes time
for a daily walk with the dogs usually up over the hill, along
the beach, and back along the Pittwater foreshore, which, she
says, is not only good physical exercise, but clears her head.
“My life is detail, detail, detail, whether it’s organisation of
large events, or commentary, or selection.” When there’s time
she stops for a coffee at The Boathouse and sits relishing the
beautiful surroundings.
The Sargeants have lived in their 1920s house about
nine years. Anne admits that she has a passion for interior
decorating, which is shared by Warwick, and the place is
testament to their flair.
“We pulled internal walls down to open up the space, but
wanted to retain the era, so this has been very carefully and
lovingly renovated.”
A glass fronted wood burning stove sits in the corner.
Shelves abound with china. Shells hang on strings. On
the walls hang a couple of paintings by Terri Butterworth,
who used to live in the area. And a Nada Herman. It’s airy
and spacious, but also intimate, and exudes a creative
individuality.
When I ask what some of her great moments have been she
replies that of course marriage and the birth of their only
child daughter, Kendall. “I’m an only child, and my mother was
Life Stories
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
Anne acknowledging the crowd
after representing Australia; the
smiling toddler; being honoured
with Legend status at the Sport
Australia Hall of Fame awards
in 2015; with husband Warwick;
towering over her Forestville
Public School teammates, circa
1968; with daughter Kendall
at the launch of the ‘Anne
Sargeant’ ferry.
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 29
PHOTOS: Supplied;

Life Stories
an only child,” she recounts, and “people assume it was by
choice Warwick and I didn’t have more children, but we love
kids, and I tried really hard to have a second.” But when the
procedures became just too hard and intrusive they both
decided to focus on the beautiful daughter they had.
Kendall, now 27, played netball for Manly and the NSW
Under-19s teams, but made a decision to stop when at
university studying media. She is now working in fashion
PR in Los Angeles. “She’s much braver than either of
us,” says Anne. “We miss her, but I’m very proud of her
independence and resilience.”
One instance that stopped Anne in her tracks was seeing
the love and pride on her parents’ faces when she received
her Order of Australia Medal. Another was in October 2015
when Anne became the first ever netballer to be elevated to
Legend status in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Kendall
was unable to get back to Australia for the occasion, but
at the end of the night when Anne received the award her
daughter came up on the video screens around the room.
“She said she was enormously proud of me, not just for
what I had achieved, but for who I was, and she hoped to be
just one part of that person.” Her words not only reduced
Anne to tears, but also Warwick – and looking around Anne
saw the Australian cricketers were tearing up too.
She’s truly down-to-earth and forever the team player,
despite her many achievements and accolades, including
having a Sydney Ferries Jet Cat named after her – which
caused all her friends to text her saying she’d put on weight,
when it ran aground a couple of years ago.
Turning 60 this year she is as sharp, energetic and
unstoppable as ever and concludes: “I think you just need
to be happy. We get very busy, and do a lot of things out of
responsibility. You have to check that you’re happy with
what you’re doing, and relish the great moments.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
‘Annie’ in pigtails in her early
days of representing NSW;
wearing the goal shooter
bib as a teenager playing for
Manly Warringah in the ’70s;
celebrating with teammates as
State Champions; in action with
the Australian team in 1978.
30 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Art Life
Art Life
Matt and Max go with the ‘FLOW’
Matt Wilcock of Outfall Art and Max
Pemberton of Digital Adventures
have joined forces to bring something
special to Avalon Art Gallery – a joint
exhibition titled FLOW showing early next
month.
The pair decided on the name of their
exhibition as the definition pitted perfectly
– to ‘FLOW’ is to move steadily and continuously
in a current or stream.
“Our works complement each other’s
in so many ways,” says Matt (right), who
explains their art has a deep connection to
the forces of nature – from Matt’s sculptural
works made of iron salvaged after decades
of being ravaged by the sea and ocean
elements, to Max’s ocean, coastal and
landscape photography (top right) shot in
some of the most stunning and inaccessible
locations on the planet.
“Capturing nature in its raw form, the
force and simplicity are so beautiful it often
takes your breath away,” Matt said.
“We came up with ‘FLOW’ as it represents
so much of what we do; from the flow of
nature’s cycles that create our subjects, to
being at the right spot, at the right time
to get that cracking shot or losing track of
time while sculpting – when you’re in that
moment, when you get in the flow, everything
just seems to fall into place,” he said.
This is Matt’s first major exhibition on
the Northern Beaches and he says he’s looking
forward to showing this body of work
– the raw materials salvaged locally off an
abandoned ocean outfall at Warriewood.
Manly Art Gallery &
Museum are inviting
expressions of interest from
local artists to produce new
works in response to the
theme ‘land’ for their seventh
biannual exhibition.
Senior Curator Katherine
Roberts said the exhibition
is open to artists working in
all media, including digital
media, photography, painting,
drawing, printmaking, textiles,
sculpture, glass and ceramics.
“There is so much history tied up with
what I sculpt,” Matt said. “Before I was born
this pipeline was laid, used and forgotten,
never to be seen or thought of again. Now,
bit by bit, I am bringing it back to the studio
and creating unique pieces. It has an exciting
treasure hunt feel, which I think is rare
these days.”
Opening night is Saturday the 6th May
from 6pm, when you can come and meet
the artists.
FLOW runs from the May 6-27 at Avalon
Art Gallery in the Cinema Arcade, 39 Old
Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach.
More info phone Jen Hill on 0411
623 204; Check out Matt @outfallart,
Max @digitaladventures and @
avalonartgalleryartdepot all on instagram.
‘Land’ a lifetime opportunity
The exhibition supports
and connects Northern
Beaches’ contemporary
artists with the Manly Art
Gallery & Museum, providing
a valuable opportunity to
showcase their work.
Artists are required to send
in digital images (300 dpi
and no larger than 2mb each)
of two to five existing works,
together with the Expression
of Interest form; artist concept
statement and payment
of $20 for members and $30
for non-members, by Monday
1 May 2017.
EOI forms visit magam.
com.au or email artgallery@
northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au.
The exhibition is open to
members of the Manly Art
Gallery & Museum Society or
artists that live in Sydney’s
Northern Beaches region. All
works selected for exhibition
must have been produced
after 19 May 2017.
32 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

ACOP celebrates
golden anniversary
Consolidated creative group
Artists and Craftsmen of
Pittwater celebrate their 50th
Anniversary in 2017 – and the
call is out for locals to come
forward with photos or articles
relating to ACOP exhibitions
that the group hope can be
used in their Celebration Exhibition
later this year.
ACOP are proud
to still be presenting
locally made art and
craft for sale – the
first of four exhibitions
at Mona Vale
Memorial Hall in
2017 will be from
April 20-22 – with a
People’s Choice Art
Award the feature.
New work on display will
include dried and silk flower
arrangements using found objects,
plus bases and wreaths
made from organic materials.
This collection has been
designed by Rose Savage.
Children’s clothing (made by
Ruth) features a range of skirts
for young girls, featuring frills
and glitzy lace.
Their artists have new
collections in mixed media,
oils, acrylics, watercolours,
plus photography and framed
prints. Kathy’s popular, quirky
art will feature some Animeand
Manga-style influences
to complement the Japanese
Collectibles
(left).
Linda Joyce and
mixed media artist
Allen Goodman will
also exhibit.
There are myriad
items to pore over
– browse felt mermaids
and creatures,
glass terrariums,
mosaics, folk art, jewellery,
wooden burls, porcelain, patchwork,
knitting, paper tole, baby
ware, embroidery, silk scarves,
silver wire jewellery, art cards,
glass, cushions and bunting.
Exhibition and sale open
each day from 9am-4pm; info
on facebook oracop.com.au
Change of direction for Trail
The Pittwater Artists Trail is
excited to be stepping in a new
direction – as well as established
‘Trailers’, a host of new and
exciting artists will be opening
their studio doors for the first time
when the 2017 Trail kicks off in
October. First though there will
be an exciting launch exhibition
over the June long weekend (June
9-12), to showcase a selection of
work from each artist and a hint
of what is to come. Keep reading
Pittwater Life for more details or
visit pittwaterartiststrail.com.au
Art Society call for members
The North Shore Art Society
– a non-profit community
organisation formed in 1946
– is calling for new members.
The Society is based on the
Northern Beaches, with many
members from the local area,
who enjoy the creative process
amongst fellow artists.
“We hold monthly workshops
and demonstrations
with visiting tutors, helping to
develop the skills of our members,”
says NSAS president,
June Rodden. “These events
are quite social occasions as
well as highly informative.”
The Society also holds
fortnightly Plein Air Painting
mornings in the local area,
followed by a get-together at
a local café for coffee or
lunch. Their Plein Air Painting
mornings are free to attend.
“Two exhibitions are usually
held each year at various venues,
where members can exhibit
and sell their works,” explained
June. “Members help with the
running of these exhibitions,
which are fun and social events.”
When joining the North
Shore Art Society you can
choose to be a Social Member
or an Exhibiting Member.
All members are entitled to
attend all workshops and
demonstrations – however,
only Exhibiting Members are
entitled to exhibit their work
through the Society.
For more info phone June on
9402 4550 or Louise Cole (vice
president) on 0487 451 294.
Membership forms northshoreartsociety.org.
Art Life
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 33

Sporting Life
Sporting Life
Newport gains
points decision
for fourth year
Just six years ago, Newport
SLSC weren’t even in the
top 20 when the points
were tallied at the State Open
Championships.
The juniors struggled as well
that year at Kingscliff on the
far north coast and the Brooks’
brothers, Max and Charlie,
were among the club’s best.
Charlie won the under-13
ironman and Max came third
on the ski in his first year of
under-17s. But how things have
changed at Newport.
Max is a Nutri Grain ironman
competitor these days but the
introduction of the Newport
Surf Racing Academy has seen
a dramatic improvement in not
only the development of the athletes
now at the club but also in
results at State and Aussies.
Having won the Summer
of Surf Series, which included
a host of top Queensland
clubs, for the first time this season,
Newport were hot favourites
to take out the point score at
the NSW Open Championships at
Blacksmiths Beach (March 10-12).
The club did so for the fourth
successive year, finishing on
425 points, from Manly 343
and Wanda 202.
This year it was the Newport
female competitors who really
stole the show. The club won
30 gold medals – 17 of those
went to female athletes. The
open female athletes, spearheaded
by golden girl Georgia
Miller, won 12 gold.
Miller was certainly the super
star at the championships,
winning the open surf race,
board race and ironwoman.
What made her performance all
the more remarkable was that
she was coming back from an
appendix operation.
“It’s crazy how quickly you
lose it (fitness) and how hard it
is to get back but I can’t complain
about my weekend,” she
said after the championships.
Miller also won gold in the
surf teams with Maddie Spencer,
Tayla Tullett and Phoebe Cater.
She combined with Hannah
Minogue and Jaime Roberts to
win the ski relay and with Spencer
and young gun Olivia Heaton
to take out the board relay.
RELIEF: Georgia Miller raises a smile after winning a close ironwoman at
the State Championships at Blacksmiths Beach in March.
In her own under-17 age
group, Heaton won the surf
and ski races, while Minogue
won four gold, also winning the
single ski and mixed double ski
with Mitchell Trim.
The Newport open men
found themselves outgunned
by the Manly athletes but the
Newport under-19 boys salvaged
pride.
Charlie Brooks and Jackson
Borg, who only started to get
serious about surf sports a few
years ago, shone. They each
won four gold medals, with
Borg showing his versatility
by first winning the under 19
Champion Lifesaver.
His victory in the iron
(photo left) over his clubmate
Brooks was most impressive
and rewarding for the affable
teenager.
Borg’s race plan was simple.
He said: “I just wanted to belt
the swim and see what happened…
I really didn’t expect to
come out first because Charlie
had been swimming way better
than me and so had some of
the other guys. I had to just
hold them off on the board.”
Brooks took out the ski and
board finals, the board relay
with Borg and Isaac Smith and
ski relay with Borg and Keelan
Smith. They were double ski
partners and finished second.
The disappointment for
Newport A was only finishing
third in the Taplin relay (behind
Manly and Redhead). The
Brooks brothers paddled their
hearts out to get the team back
in contention but Manly were
just too strong on the day.
Newport will be hoping they
can hang onto the Louw sisters,
Maddie and Jodie, and young
Joel Piper. They are definitely
the stars of the future.
Apart from Newport and
Manly, gold medals were certainly
hard to come by for other
Sydney Northern Beaches clubs.
In the boat area, Newport
Sharknado won the under-19
female final, with Palm Beach
Peaches third.
The Avalon Beach Pinkies took
silver in the under-23 male final
and the Avalon Beach women
(Avocados) took bronze.
The Bilgola Gold women’s
reserve crew came third, as did
the Mona Vale Pandas in the
male reserves. – John Taylor
34 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Young Life
Equipping kids with skills
for 21st century
Avalon Public School is
set to trial a new learning
method designed to
help students better prepare
for the rapidly changing workforce
they will enter over the
next decade.
APS Principal Andy Rankin
(right) said the school is keen
to discover the benefits of a
new program that involves
teaching ‘21st Century Fluencies’
that will ultimately help
students cut through the
rapidly increasing disruption
to workplaces caused by fastpaced
technological change
and innovation.
He said 11 teachers had put
up their hands to learn the
mechanisms required to teach
‘solution fluency’, which they
begin in classes in Term 2.
“Skills that employers are
looking for are more aimed
at creativity, collaboration,
problem solving and critical
thinking skills, and we need to
Book Review
See What I have Done
Sarah Schmidt
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prepare our kids for this,” Mr
Rankin said.
“The school environment
that we work in was very much
created back in the 1900s to
deal with the factory model of
education and work.
“We need to give our kids
21st Century skills.”
The new guidelines were formulated
by Canadian academic
Ian Jukes, who presented his
roadmap to a group of 70
parents earlier this year.
“One particular focus is what
has come to be known as the
21st Century Fluencies: solution
fluency, media fluency,
creativity fluency, collaboration
fluency, information fluency
and global digital citizenship,”
Mr Rankin continued.
“These are skills that students
need to be taught to be
fully equipped for the workforce
of the future, along with
the essentials of literacy and
numeracy.
Speculative fiction is a genre really
hitting its strides in Australia with
debut author Sarah Schmidt turning
her hand to the gothic 1892 murder
mystery of Lizzie Borden.
Did she or didn’t she take an axe
to her father and stepmother in
Fall River, Massachusetts, and why
would an Australian librarian want
to write about it? The story of how
Schmidt was haunted by Lizzie
appearing in her dreams is just as
spooky and moody as the tale she
has spun.
Schmidt’s talent at descriptive prose teases out a story
of a dysfunctional family, placing you at their dinner table,
witness to their peccadilloes, hanging a big fat question
mark over what really happened. It is a page-turner that
will appear to readers who like their thrillers to be literary.
So dedicated to her research, Schmidt told me she spent
the night at the Borden House which is now a B&B, booking
herself in the parents’ bedroom. So intrigued by this novel,
we are doing the same later this year! – Libby Armstrong
“And these fluencies reflect
the general capabilities of the
NSW K-10 syllabus documents
taught at all public schools, including
Avalon Public School.”
Mr Rankin said that while
schools such as Avalon continued
to deliver on literacy
and numeracy as part of the
NAPLAN “tremendously well”
there remained an urgent need
to address critical problem
solving.
“I had never seen anything
that described how to do so
until I heard Ian Jukes at the
NSW Primary Principals Association
annual conference in
2015,” he said.
Mr Jukes was invited to present
to the school; in addition
to meeting with staff, parents
and students, Ian and his partner,
Nicky Mohan, provided a
day’s professional learning to
APS’ 11-member modern learning
team on integrating one
of these fluencies – solution
fluency – into units of work
from the history, geography
and science syllabi.
“They will trial this fluency
with their classes this new
term and next, before we look
to expand the learning out
across the school in 2017 and
beyond,” he said.
Mr Rankin said it would provide
a valuable framework for
the future while retaining core
teaching requirements.
“We are not throwing the
baby out with the bathwater,”
he said. “We are still teaching
the basics.
“I just believe we can’t afford
to just sit around and wait
– while the kids are learning
their curriculum we will be giving
them an extra set of skills.”
The trial would be assessed
before a decision was made to
broaden it internally.
“I think we owe it to our students
to take this approach,”
he said. “It’s not a ‘silver bullet’
– we still need to read and
write… we just want to provide
some added value.”
Young Life
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 35

Boating Life
Boating Life
Chart a course
for Sail Expo
If you’ve ever wanted to
learn more about sailing
but never gotten around
to it, this month you get
your chance when the
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht
Club host the sixth annual
Club Marine Pittwater Sail
Expo on Saturday 29th to
Sunday 30th April, from
10am – 4pm.
The Club Marine Pittwater
Sail Expo is a free event
which opens the doors for
the public to meet with industry
professionals. A community
event, the expo will feature over
50 exhibitors supplying goods
and services to the professional
and leisure/casual sailor as well
as providing information on
sail training, club membership,
cruising, dinghy and yacht
racing.
This family friendly event also
welcomes visitors to see The
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
first hand, with sailing boats on
display and information about
training, racing, cruising, kid’s
programs and membership. It’s
a fantastic opportunity to see
how easy it is to get into sailing
with the RPAYC.
There will be plenty
of free parking available
(up to 400 spaces) plus
entertainment, special
deals, prizes to be won
and some great food and
drink specials. All are
welcome to enjoy a great
day at ‘The Alfred’s’.
The event is
supported by the naming
rights sponsor Club Marine.
Corey Yeung, Club Marine
State Manager said: “The
Hawkesbury River and
Pittwater is one the most
picturesque waterways in NSW.
It’s my local area and being on
a yacht is one the best ways
you can enjoy and experience
the beauty of Pittwater.
“Club Marine is proud to
sponsor the Pittwater Sail
Expo as it provides a great
opportunity for the local
community to learn about
sailing, meet some industry
experts and find out how easy
it is to get out on the water.”
Club Marine Pittwater Sail
Expo spokesperson Rob
Cole said: “The expo is a
community event and a great
opportunity for people to see
the Club first hand, witness
our magnificent waterway
of Pittwater and learn more
about all aspects of sailing.
“There’s already been a very
strong level of interest towards
this event from all aspects of
the boating industry and people
will have the opportunity to
gain professional advice directly
from industry experts. Anyone
with an interest in sailing boats
or wants to get into sailing is
invited to come along.”
Exhibitors will include
Achilles Inflatables, Windcraft
Australia, Sailtime Australia
and Performance Cruising
Yachts, to name a few.
For more info visit www.
pittwatersailexpo.com.au. To
follow all the updates ‘Like’
the Expo on Facebook www.
facebook.com/Club-Marine-
Pittwater-Sail-Expo
- Stephen Collopy
36 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Local Call
Consigned
to succeed
When friends Jen
Munro and Jules
Medlyn opened their
Furniture On Consignment
(FOC) shop in Avalon in 2012,
they were expecting to have
“a bit of fun” – little did they
know that five years on they
would be swamped with
inquiries to sell goods.
“It appeals to everyone,”
Jen tells Pittwater Life. “It’s
so easy for sellers and a lot
of people have been put off
other avenues like Gumtree –
they don’t like being mucked
around when people don’t
turn up as promised.”
Jen explains the business
model is simple: FOC displays
the furniture and homewares,
they price tag the goods after
liaison with vendors, then
take a 40% cut of the sale.
“We’ve had around 95%
‘1000 Flowers’
for Mother’s Day
Millefiori is a term
which is a combination
of the Italian
words “mille” (thousand) and
“fiori” (flowers) – hence the
English word of one thousand
flowers.
Renata Phegan
from RitzyRocks
explains this is a
creative technique
which produces
distinctive patterns
of glassware. “The
technique was lost
in the 18th century
and not revived until
the 19th century,”
said Renata. “It
involved producing
glass canes or rods
known as ‘murrine’
with multi-coloured patterns
which are viewable only from
the cut ends of the cane.”
She explained the rod
was heated in a furnace and
pulled until thin, while still
turnover since
we started,” says
Jen. “Mostly
there’s a home for
everything but on
the odd occasion
something struggles
to sell, after
six months we
might suggest returning to the
owner, or they may consider
donating the item to charity.”
Jen says while other shops
rely on seasonal sales, their
goods are “always” on sale.
“That’s because customers
can always make us an offer on
the ticketed price,” she said.
Items in demand depend on
the season.
“Christmas is all about
tables – for dining and outdoors
entertaining,” she said.
“Winter is about couches and
everything indoors.”
maintaining the cross sections
design, then cut into
beads or discs when cooled.
Renata has managed to
obtain a variety of these
delicate discs which either
have gold or silver
bezels and are presented
on a beautiful
sterling silver
or 14ct gold-filled
snake chain. She
has also sourced
some spectacular
Millefiore watches
with leather bands.
“These pieces
are the perfect
Mother’s Day gift
being presented in
an elegant display
box, with all purchases
Express Post delivered
in time for the big day,” she
said. More info see ad on P25
or view the unique designs
and order at www.ritzyrocks.
com.au
When they started in
October 2012, most of their
business came from the Palm
Beach to Bayview corridor
– now it’s extended to the
eastern suburbs, north shore
and even the country.
“A lot of goods come from
people who are selling up and
downsizing,” Jen observes.
Research and appraisal
can sometimes lead to some
surprise treasures – like a
Turkish rug that the owner
had no idea was worth its selling
price of $4500.
Jen and Jules have recently
settled into impressive new
digs at 36-38 Old Barrenjoey
Rd (the former Video Ezy
store), 100 metres south of
their former site, which is being
redeveloped.
They love their new shop,
which is double the display
size of the old space, with
great display windows and
easier parking. If you have
something to sell, give them a
call on 9918 9954.
APRIL 2017 37
Local Call

Surfing Life
So much more than a
big chunk of fibreglass
What does an old surfboard mean to us? Sometimes an awful lot, writes Nick.
with Nick Carroll
Surfing Life
I’m basically unsentimental
about surfboards. Or so I
kid myself. The fact that I
have about 60 of ’em tucked
away in various places here
and around the world really
means nothing; they’re
practical items, there to be
used, even if some of them
haven’t been used for years.
There’s no attachment, you
understand.
But there is, of course. To
any core surfer, a surfboard
begins with hope, sometimes
ends with despair, and in
between, with any luck, grows
into something quite different
– an embodiment of his or
her physical connection to
the surf, a connection arising
from the actual and somehow
indescribable sensation of
riding board across wave.
Physical, and something more.
Around six months ago
I was checking the surf at
Newport when a man came
up and introduced himself as
David.
We shook hands and I
looked at him: a quiet man,
unobtrusive, about my height,
maybe a couple of years
younger.
“I’ve wanted to catch up
with you for a while,” he said.
“I have a board that belongs
to you, and I want to give it
back.”
Turned out he’d bought
the board some years earlier
and seen my name, or at least
some “Nick”, written along
the stringer by the shaper.
“It’s too small for me now,”
he said, “I’m not surfing
enough to be in shape to ride
it properly. So it feels right to
return it.”
“Oh look, you don’t have to
do that,” I said. Partly because
of those other 60 boards, like
I need another one. Partly
because I was suddenly a bit
unsure of the situation. Who
was this man David? Was I
38 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

PL’s APRIL SURF CALENDAR
April 1-9: WSL CT Druh Aware Margaret River Pro, WA
April 12-24 WSL CT Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach, VIC
These two, big double-header Championship Tour events will
go a good way to telling us who’ll be the world champs in 2017.
They will complete a solid month and a half of WSL CT competition
in Australia, following the recent Quiksilver Pro at Snapper;
whoever survives these three events with the ratings leads will
have done the serious work in what looks to us like a tricky year.
The men’s field is not quite as fractured as last year, but there’s
been one surprise win already (Owen Wright at Snapper) and at
least one title contender, Brazil’s Gabriel Medina, is struggling
under a knee injury. In the women’s, the field looks even stronger
with the return of Californian Lakey Peterson, who spent last
year out with injury; Lakey is an uncompromising power surfer
who was the only one to really challenge Snapper winner Steph
Gilmore. Most of all, the standard in both men’s and women’s
is incredibly high – these events are worth watching just for the
spectacle. Check ’em out live at worldsurfleague.com or on the
WSL Facebook page.
NICK’S APRIL SURF FORECAST
Geoffrey Chaucer went on about April’s “sweet showers”; well
I think we have had enough of showers, sweet or otherwise.
It’s sooo time for a weather swing and April’s probably gonna
provide it, with signs pointing to a strengthening Southern
Ocean wind band through the month. This will bring some
real autumn days to our coast, days of cooler southerly and
south-west winds in between calmer conditions with light
seabreezes. Ooooo fantastic! But surf-wise this month may
actually suck. Unless those southerlies have semi-wintry
muscle behind them, very little in the way of serious surf will
get around the corner of Tasmania, and with the tradewind
band temporarily shifting away to our north, there’s unlikely to
be a whole lot of surf from that angle either. Some pretty cool
small wave sandbars around though thanks to all that March
surf action, so what swell there is should be a lot of fun. Get
into it and brace yourselves for a more tumultuous May.
Nick Carroll
being pulled into someone
else’s fantasy, about some
board I might never have seen
in my life?
But he really seemed to
want to give me this board
– said he lived in Taree and
would be back down in a few
weeks and would bring it with
him – so I gave him my email,
thinking, Well, it can’t get too
weird, can it?
The few weeks passed.
It was early summer, a lot
was happening. I half forgot
about David and this board.
Then he sent me an email
and a contact number: he’d
be down with his family on
Saturday, could we meet at
the Newport Peak viewing
platform? I almost forgot that
too – dashed down a minute
or so late.
There was David, with his
family. And there was the
board. I looked at it and a
quarter century disappeared.
The board is 6’4”, a
swallowtail six-channel handshaped
for me by the late
great Allan Byrne in November
1989. It was part of a series
of boards I’d been working
on with AB through the back
half of the ’80s, boards
so advanced and indeed
so outright challenging in
their slashed-out fighter jet
appearance that only one top
pro of the time, Gary Elkerton,
would ride them – and Gary
lived in perpetual fear that the
other guys would cotton on.
“Christ, I hope Pottz (Martin
Potter) never gets one,” he
used to mutter. Pottz didn’t,
not that it ended up mattering.
Celebrating 25 Years
I picked it up, almost
frightened to touch this
talisman of a past time. Its
lines and curves seemed
harsh and unyielding
through modern eyes. Yet
the memories of surfs on this
board came leaping back into
the present day. More than
the memories, the actual
sensations. Back came great
days riding it at Bells Beach in
March 1990, where those hard
lines matched Bells’ fast open
walls. My body shook with
the muscle memory of long
chattering turns on cold winter
days, of westerly winds and
deep tube rides in the angled
Sydney sun of June and July.
David was smiling shyly. I
looked at him and didn’t know
what to say. “I’ve got this too,”
he said, handing me a folded
sheet of paper. “It’s how I
knew for sure it was yours.” It
was the note I’d written and
stuck on the board when I put
it in the second-hand racks
at Mullet’s Surf Shop for sale
that August, 1990. We were
moving to California at the
time and I wasn’t ever gonna
ride that thing in the soft
waves of SoCal.
“Thanks, David,” I said. I’d
brought him down a bottle of
wine, which as an exchange
for this memory, now felt
about as inadequate as words.
Day at Dunbar Park, Avalon,
on Sunday, April 9. The event
will feature board displays
with craft dating back to the
1930s, board value appraisals,
and sales, plus a range of
stalls with other stuff – art,
clothing, furniture, and so
forth. The event starts at
10am and runs until 4pm,
with bands and food and beer
stalls adjacent near the Avalon
Bowling Club. It’ll be pretty
much the next best thing to
surfing all day. See ya there.
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
* * *
If you’ve got a board like
my 6’4”, or want to look at
a bunch of boards like it, or
want to buy or sell one, or
just want to hear a bunch of
stories about fibreglass, come
up to the Avalon Board Swap
APRIL 2017 39
Surfing Life

School Holidays
School Holidays
Activities to excite, inspire and educate
If you’re looking for ways
to entertain the kids these
school holidays you are
on the right page as we’ve
uncovered heaps of activities
to excite, inspire and educate
during the break – and they’re
not too far from home.
BACKED BY
COUNCIL
For starters, check out seven
of the kids’ activities Northern
Beaches Council backs at
local vacation care centres,
libraries, art galleries, plus
other centre-based activities
and excursions for youngsters
aged 4 to 15 years all led by
professional carers.
Easter Egg Decoration
Decorate an egg for a chance
to win great prizes. For full
competition details pick up an
entry form from Mona Vale Library.
For kids aged 4-12 open
from Sat 1- 20 April. Enquiries:
9976 1747.
Kids On The Coast
A fun-filled program of exciting,
educational activities
returns to the Coastal Environmental
Centre at Narrabeen.
From Snack Habitat, where
kids get into the MasterChef
spirit and cook up a storm,
to learning how to survive
on the coastline by making
tools from plants and stones
or learning how to find bush
tucker, or simply getting up
close and personal with coastal
wildlife, there’s something
for all. Activities are hands-on
and provide children aged
6-12 to 12 opportunities to
interact with the natural world
in a safe, supervised environment.
The program runs from
10-21 April; activities start
at 10am and finish at 3pm
and cost $60, which includes
morning and afternoon activities
and supervision over a
BYO lunch. Bookings essential
1300 000 CEC (232).
Learn To Swim
These classes at Warringah
Aquatic Centre are ideal for
improving swimming skills,
giving your child extra
confidence and water safety
awareness. The classes run
for 30 minutes each day of the
program. New swimmers will
require a swim assessment
prior to booking. From 10-13
April, 9am-12pm Cost: $71.60
(4 days). New swimmers additional
$6 enrolment fee. Bookings
essential 9451 8000.
Day At The Museum
Visit the Australian Museum
and marvel at their huge
range of strange, fascinating
and interesting collections
and exhibitions. For kids aged
5-12 on April 12. Leaves from
Forestville Vacation Care Centre.
$63, bookings 9942 2312.
Liquid Nitrogen Show
Be amazed by this cool
performance as the scientist
uses liquid nitrogen to shrink
balloons, make a glove fly,
smash a rubber ball and create
frozen bubbles. To finish
the show watch as ice cream is
created before your eyes with
everyone treated to a taste.
Ages: 7-12 on Thu 20, 10.30-
11.30am at Warringah Mall
Library. Cost: $5 Bookings
essential: 9942 2449
Chess Tournament
Kids can test their skills
against others in a round robin
chess competition at Manly
Library. For ages15 and under
on Wed 19 April, 10am-2pm.
Free. Bookings 9976 1747.
Wild About Whales
Marine biologist Dr Michelle
about those fascinating ‘giants
of the ocean’, Whales for ages
4-12 at Mona Vale Library, 20
April, 10.30-11.30am. Free;
bookings essential 9970 1600.
OUTDOORS
Tennis
The kids can learn tennis from
the best and have fun along
the way at Goodwin’s Tennis
Academy holiday camps at Careel
Bay, Mona Vale and Narrabeen.
Choose from half days/
full day or weekly camps. And
for busy mums and dads you’ll
be stoked to learn there’s FREE
before and after camp care
now available at some locations.
More info and bookings
goodwinstennisacademy.com.
au or 0410 523 726.
Sailing
The Kid’s Learn to Sail Holiday
Program at The Royal Prince Alfred
Yacht Club provides a fun,
and safe introduction to sailing
and the marine environment.
Programs are tailored to age
groups and conducted in the
safety of Pittwater, under the
supervision of fully qualified
instructors. From 9am-3.30pm
on 10-13 April and 18-21st
April. Cost: Non-Members
$490. Members $390. Info and
bookings 9998 3761.
Jump On A Ferry
Head to Palm Beach and take
the kids on a journey on our
pristine waters. There are a
few options with price points
that won’t cost the earth. Escape
for the day on the timber
passenger ferry Merinda II for
a 60km scenic Palm Beach &
Hawkesbury River cruise which
includes commentary along
the way (9974 2159 – see ad
page 36). Fantasea Cruising
– formerly Palm Beach Ferries
– (9974 2411) can get you to
the Central Coast departing
roughly every hour and
offers trips to Bennett Wharf
& Bonnie Doon, The Basin,
Currawong Beach & Mackerel
Beach. And while you are at
it, pop into the Fantasea shop
opposite the wharf and treat
yourselves to authentic Italian
Gelato from Duccio Gelato, offering
mouthwatering flavours
such as pistachio, choc mint
and the kids’ all-time favourite
– bubblegum.
INDOORS
ABC Kids Live
Join Lah-Lah’s Big Live
Band from ABC KIDS LIVE on
stage at Dee Why RSL April 11
and give the kids the chance
to meet these leaders of
preschool music education
and their wonderful
instruments after the show.
Info 9454 4000.
Canvas Painting
Children will paint a large,
colourful self-portrait guided
by a qualified, experienced
teacher. Students will learn
the proportions of the face,
colour mixing and expressive
paint application. Individual
expression is encouraged
at all times. Wed 19th April
from 10am-12pm at the Avalon
Rec Centre. Cost $50 including
all materials for kids
aged 5-12years. Children need
to bring large clear photo of
their head and shoulders.
Bookings meredith.rasdall@
Blewitt reveals amazing facts
westnet.com.au
40 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Health & Wellbeing
Arm yourself against the flu
Local doctors are now taking appointment
bookings for flu vaccination.
Health authorities say the annual flu
vaccination is your best shot at keeping
you and your family safe from the serious
risks of influenza.
The flu usually differs from a cold as
symptoms develop suddenly, and can
lead to complications such as chest
infections and pneumonia – particularly
among the elderly and young children.
Flu symptoms tend to develop abruptly
one to three days after infection, and can
include: tiredness, high fever, chills, headache,
coughing, sneezing, runny noses,
poor appetite, and muscle aches.
Most people who get the flu will suffer
from mild illness and will recover in
around four weeks. However, some people
can develop more severe health problems,
including pneumonia, bronchitis,
chest and sinus infections, heart, blood
system or liver complications, which can
lead to hospitalisation and even death.
Experts estimate that influenza in
Australia contributes to more than 18,000
hospitalisations and between 1500 and
3500 deaths each year.
This year’s flu jab protects against the
four strains of flu predicted to circulate in
Australia over the winter months.
Influenza vaccination is recommended
for every person aged six months and
over who wishes to reduce the likelihood
of becoming ill with the flu.
Free seasonal influenza vaccination is
available for the following people:
n People aged 65 years and over;
n Aboriginal and Torres Strait people aged
six months to five years;
n Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people who are aged 15 years and over;
n Pregnant women; and
n People aged six months and over with
medical conditions such as severe
asthma, lung or heart disease, low
immunity or diabetes that can lead to
complications from influenza.
While the vaccine is free for the groups
above, consultation fees may apply.
Influenza is extremely contagious, with
studies showing influenza can survive for:
n An hour or more in the air in enclosed
environments;
n More than 8 hours on hard surfaces
such as stainless steel and plastic;
n Up to 15 minutes if transferred from tissues
to hands; and
n Up to 5 minutes after transfer from the
environmental surfaces.
As well as the flu shot other things to help
protect yourself against influenza include:
regular hand washing; avoid touching your
mouth or nose; sneeze and cough into
tissues and dispose of them quickly; keep
surfaces and door handles clean and avoid
sharing things like cups, cutlery and towels.
According to Immunise Australia there
is now evidence that the effectiveness of
the influenza vaccine wanes over time
and it’s important be protected when the
flu is most common, around August.
Ask your doctor for advice on the best
time to receive your vaccination.
– Lisa Offord
Health & Wellbeing
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 41

Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
What to do when breast
size causes discomfort
Nowadays breast
reductions are
commonly performed,
with generally very favourable
results.
It’s a fact that larger breasts
may contribute to poor
posture, shoulder, neck and
back pain, rashes under the
breasts and may also limit
exercise. Bra selection may
also be difficult and cause
grooving on the shoulders.
Reducing the size and weight
of breasts may improve these
conditions – although it
cannot be guaranteed.
There are many techniques
of breast reduction. These are
selected by assessing breast
and chest parameters, size of
reduction and scar tendency.
Mastopexy, or breast lift,
is a very similar procedure.
In breast lift, the remaining
breast tissue is rearranged to
create a breast cone. Skin is
removed and then redraped.
With breast reduction, both
skin and breast tissue are
removed and the remaining
breast tissue used to create a
breast cone to allow closure.
Larger breasts may also be
associated with a degree of
droop. The nipple position
is determined by using three
parameters: the position of
the infra-mammary fold (the
fold where breast meets chest
wall) projected forwards; the
midpoint of the humerus or
arm bone; and a set distance
from either the midpoint of
the collar-bone or the base of
the neck. This distance varies
with the height of the person.
Once the correct position has
been established, a keyhole
shape pattern is drawn around
this point. Depending on the
width of the lines and the
length determines the amount
of reduction.
Breasts that are unequal or
asymmetrical can be made to
be more equal.
A common misconception is
that the nipple is removed and
replaced. This is usually not
the case. The nipple is kept on
a pedicle of tissue. This allows
inflow of blood and nerve
supply, keeping the nipple
alive and sensate. By keeping
continuity with the nipple
and the breast ducts, breast
feeding may be possible.
Surgery is performed under
general anaesthetic. Local
anaesthetic may also be used
to minimise bleeding and
bruising and reducing the
amount of general anaesthetic
required. The use of drains
or drainage tubes depends
on the surgeon. Surgeons
will also decide on the length
of hospital stay – usually
overnight only. Smaller
reductions may be performed
as day surgery.
The tendency is now
to reduce the amount of
scarring. This is usually the
horizontal portion of the
anchor-shaped scar that may
already be hidden in the
infra-mammary fold. There
is a visible scar around the
areolar and a vertical scar
downwards from the areolar
to the infra-mammary fold.
Larger areolar are usually
reduced. Liposuction of the
lateral parts, under the arm,
may be combined as this
reduces tissue in this area,
the axillary tail, and does
not introduce more scarring.
Scar management, or looking
after the scar, is important.
Each surgeon will guide you
through this to try to optimise
the final scar.
The excised tissue is
with Dr John Kippen
weighed to try to get breasts
as equal as possible but
there will always be minor
differences in size, shape
and projection. Bra size is
used as a guide only, as cup
size varies with different bra
manufacturers. Any tissue
that is removed is sent for
histological examination to
exclude breast cancer or other
breast disease. Benign cysts
are a common finding at the
time of surgery.
Many women tolerate
this procedure very well
and are happy with the
results. As always, careful
consultation with your
surgeon optimises realistic
expectations and ensures a
thorough understanding of
the procedure and steps to full
recovery.
Our columnist Dr John
Kippen is a qualified, fully
certified consultant specialist
in Cosmetic, Plastic and
Reconstructive surgery.
Australian trained, he also
has additional Australian and
International Fellowships.
Dr Kippen works from custom-built
premises in Mona
Vale. He welcomes enquiries
and questions. Please
contact him via johnkippen.
com.au or by email: doctor@
johnkippen.com.au
42 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Focus on Allergy Week
Seeing red spots? To increase
awareness of the
impact of allergy in our community
key organisations are
promoting World Allergy Week
2-8 April, encouraging supporters
to wear a spot of red
or holding an event at their
home, work or school.
This year’s focus is hives
(also known as urticaria)
which affect approximately
one in six people sometime
during their life.
Most common in children,
hives often starts as an itchy
patch of skin that turns into
swollen red welts.
Individual lumps usually go
in minutes to hours, however
some people can have them
every day for weeks.
Common causes of hives
include:
n Infection (particularly in
young children)
n Contact with animals or
plants
n Allergic reactions to food,
latex, antibiotics or pain
killers (such as aspirin and
arthritis tablets).
Sometimes insect stings,
food additives or preservatives
can also trigger hives.
Stress can make established
symptoms worse, but is a very
rare cause of hives.
Most hives resolve within
a couple of weeks however
there are some things you
can do to reduce symptoms
such as:
n Avoid aggravating factors
such as excessive heat, spicy
foods or alcohol.
n Avoid aspirin as it often
makes symptoms worse.
n Medicines like antihistamines
are often used to
reduce the severity of the itch.
n Severe throat swelling requires
early use of medication
and attention by your doctor
or in hospital.
n Other medicines (like cortisone
tablets) may be needed if
symptoms are severe.
n Occasionally, going on a
restricted diet will help. – LO
Health & Wellbeing
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 43

Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
Mean feet: managing our
kids’ winter sport injuries
With the winter sports
season upon us, so too
comes the prevalence of
debilitating foot injuries. Avalon
podiatrist Mark Osborne says
popular children’s sports, with
huge participation numbers –
including soccer, netball, rugby
and Aussie Rules – often see
overuse foot injuries.
“Heel pain in children called
Severs disease is one of the most
common injuries,” says Mark, who
has practised for 14 years. “This
is where the growth plate in the
heel bone between the ages of
8 and 12 years is closing up and
gets inflamed.
“The muscles under the arch
pull on the bone, and the heavy
heel contact with boots and hard
surfaces irritates the growth
plate.”
Mark says treatment involves
strapping the feet and padding
the heels to take the strain off
the heel. He added that advice
on the correct choice of footwear,
plus using an orthotic
insert for shoes and boots to
give long-term support were
important.
“With children’s feet in mind,
support with cushioning and
flexibility is needed for growing
feet.”
Mark said in-growing toenails
he often sees in children have
been exacerbated by poor-fitting
shoes.
“They often start by incorrect
cutting (or picking and ripping)
of the nail and pressure of poorfitting
shoes causes the nail to
press into the skin. This results
in inflammation and the area
can become infected.”
The professional treatment
is to painlessly clear the nail
spicule from the edge. A minor
nail operation can be
performed if the ingrown
nail reoccurs.
He said plantar warts
most often seen in children
can be confused as corns.
“They require an accurate
diagnosis,” he said. “Warts are
a viral infection of the skin, and
build up callous within the wart
causing pain when walking.”
Treatment involves painlessly
removing the callous and
treating the viral tissue with an
acidic paste.
“I remember playing sports
as a child and still play soccer
locally and never like missing
games due to injury,” Mark said.
“Keeping kids active is most rewarding
– having three children
myself who all enjoy their sports,
I have extra practice looking
after their foot problems!”
More info phone 9918 3716.
How your gift of blood can
help the one in three in need
According to the Australian
Red Cross Blood Service,
only one in 30 people donate
blood – but one in three will
need it in their lifetime.
Blood donations are used
in the treatment of people
with major medical conditions
such as cancer, heart, blood
diseases, stomach or kidney
disease; people undergoing
surgery; people who have
been injured; and in pregnant
women and new mothers.
Many people are eligible to
donate blood. To give blood
you need to be 16-70 years
old, weigh more than 50kg
and be healthy and not suffering
from a cold, flu or any
illness on the day of donation,
or in the previous week.
Want to give it a shot? The
mobile blood donation centre
will be in Mona Vale on W ed
12, 1.30-6.30pm and Thurs
13, 8.30am-2pm. To make an
appointment call 13 14 95.
44 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Scale to rate your hunger
As the weather gets cooler
we tend to eat more food.
It’s essential for weight control
to recognise and act on the
feedback your body gives you
about when and how much
food you need to eat.
To help you get in touch
with your body, practise considering
how hungry you are
both before and after a meal.
Rating your hunger helps
you recognise whether you’re
eating because you’re truly
hungry.
Similarly, rating your hunger
after eating helps you to learn
that you don’t need to eat
until you are stuffed in order
to survive.
Use the Queensland Health
Department’s Hunger Level
Scale below to rate your hunger
levels.
1 – Starvation, physical pain.
2 – Definite physical
symptoms, headache. Lack
of energy
light-headed.
3 – Beginning of physical signs
of hunger.
4 – Could eat if it were
suggested.
5 – Neutral.
6 – Satisfied.
7 – Feel food in stomach.
8 – Stomach protrudes,
beginning of mood
alteration.
9 – Bloated, definite mood
alteration.
10 – Definitely full; physical
pain, numbness.
Weight management is usually
most successful when you
wait until you are at a 3 before
eating and then stop when
you reach a rating of 6.
If you are watching your
weight it’s also important to
aim for a regular eating pattern
of meals and snacks.
An unstructured eating pattern
is more likely to include
too many discretionary foods
ie “junk foods” which means
too much saturated fat, added
sugars, added salt and kilojoules
at the expense of fibre
and important nutrients.
Health & Wellbeing
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 45

Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
Keep on moving
for better
bone health
Osteoporosis is a common condition in
which bones become weak and brittle,
leading to a greater risk of fractures; it affects
over one million Australians.
The most commonly affected bones are the
hips, wrist and spine, while spinal fractures can
lead to a loss of height and a stooped posture.
“It is common to be unaware of having osteoporosis
until you sustain an apparently minor
fall or bump and realise that you have a broken
bone,” said Jennie Strathairn from Avalon Physiotherapy
and Clinical Pilates.
There are a number of risk factors, such
as being a post menopausal woman, family
history, low calcium and vitamin D levels, low
levels of physical activity and certain medications
like long term use of corticosteroids.
“Early diagnosis of osteoporosis is crucial
so you get a head start in fighting it.. go to
see your GP if you think you may be at risk,”
advises Jennie.
She said regular and ongoing weight bearing
exercise, as recommended by a qualified health
professional, was a proven method of treatment,
along with medication or supplements.
“The more you apply stress to your bones in
the right way, the more the bone is stimulated
to strengthen,” she said.
The best exercises for building bone density
are: jumping (for example, impact aerobics,
netball, skipping); tennis; and jogging.
“Simply going for a regular brisk walk can be
beneficial too,” she said.
“We use a Galileo whole body vibration machine
which has a plate that you stand on that
rapidly pivots on a central axis, creating forces
through your legs, similar to running.
“Performing different exercises on this plate
has been shown to effectively build bone mass.
Come down and give it a try!”
More info call the practice on 9918 0230.
Eco Corner
The capacity for renewable
energy generation in
Australia is enormous. We
rank second, after Russia and
ahead of China, for renewable
energy production potential
according to a report by
Beyond Zero Emissions.
Is this a dilemma for us
as the world’s biggest coal
exporter?
Why does it take Elon Musk,
Co-founder Of Tesla, to spot
the opportunity to provide
utility scale battery storage
facilities in SA?
The opportunities in
renewables lie in harvesting,
storage and management.
We have a small window to
support our innovators and
ensure Australia takes a
leading position.
Contemplate the alternative:
the impact on the environment
of coal generated electricity
and the opaque pricing
practices which have seen our
electricity bills doubling in
some areas in the last decade.
There’s no denying that
some days the sun doesn’t
shine and the wind doesn’t
blow. That’s where the storage
of energy is crucial to smooth
out the peaks and troughs.
Ironically the motor industry
is driving the development
of battery storage for use in
electric vehicles to significantly
reduce CO2 emissions.
We have the ability to
generate, the technology is
rapidly becoming available
to store and the remaining
challenge is to allow
households to manage their
use of electricity intelligently.
What does smart energy
management mean? It allows
you to run your energy-hungry
appliances including washing
machines, dryers and pool
pumps, using stored energy
produced by your own solar
panels rather than drawing on
the electricity
grid at peak
times.
Russell
Lamb is the
Founder of
ecodownunder
46 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Health & Wellbeing
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 47

Hair & Beauty
Hair & Beauty
Men may be from Mars
... but the gap’s closing
We all know men
are different from
women, physically,
emotionally and mentally.
Men are also slightly
different from women when
it comes to their skin. There
are many similarities but
the differences include
the epidermis and dermis
being thicker, with higher
sensitivity, increased
production of oil or sebum,
larger pores, more facial hair
and of course a different
hormonal structure.
Skin issues specifically
related to shaving, such as
ingrown hairs, dryness and
razor burn, also challenge
men.
Studies have also shown
a difference in a man’s acid
mantle – the combination of
oil and perspiration which
serves as an important
protective barrier. The acid
mantle can be disrupted
when the pH level fluctuates.
This can be affected by using
incorrect products – those
with a higher pH – plus diet,
sleep, environment and
medication. Testosterone
will also create significant
differences in a man’s skin
compared to that of a woman.
In the epidermis and dermis,
testosterone increases the
number of granular cells,
collagen and blood flow.
It will also stimulate the
production of sebum and
toughens the hair in the
follicle. Testosterone will
fluctuate with age and while
there is no magic cure for
what ails men, with correct
product use and treatment
selection, skin challenges can
be solved through their lives.
Largely due to the internet,
Australian men read global
stories about men having
different types of aesthetic
treatments and willingly using
products that assist them to
look good for their age. The
difference here with women
is the fact that women want
to look younger than their
age. While every man will
come with his own set of skin
challenges, there are a few
fundamental steps each man
should be aware of to help
achieve healthy skin. Three
very simple steps – cleanse,
exfoliate and protect – will
help abate acne, ingrown hairs,
hyperpigmentation and ageing.
Cleansing or washing
the skin correctly will allow
corrective ingredients to
with Sue Carroll
penetrate the cells and go to
work. Washing the face with a
pH-balanced face wash can be
a two-in-one step, cleansing
and wet shaving at the same
time. This can be followed by
a lotion applied with gauze
to the face to give the skin
a further exfoliation and
refinement.
Correct exfoliation will
stimulate cell turnover
by lifting dead cells, in
the process initiating the
regenerating process. This
step requires balance,
Need a makeup makeover?
Frustrated with foundation? You are not alone.
One of the great quandaries of makeup is
how to choose the right foundation for your
skin type or age.
Makeup artist Sandra Glynn has you
covered by creating a made-to-order couture
foundation that perfectly matches your skin
tone, with the texture and coverage you prefer.
“I love educating women when it comes to all
things makeup,” Sandra said.
Ensuring her clients have the perfect base is
the first step.
Using the Melli cosmetics ‘Create-a-Blend’
custom foundation system, Sandra will
mix your formula addressing your specific
requirements to bring out the best in your skin.
“Whether you’d like a full coverage matte
finish or dewy luminous glow, you can add
SPF, hydration and re-texturizers to suit your
individual requirements and lifestyle.
“Best of all, tested by dermatologists, the
vegan formula won’t clog your pores and is
perfect for sensitive skins being paraben,
fragrance and talc-free.
“I am here to help women look flawless –
but most importantly, feel fabulous about
themselves,” she said.
While Sandra started her journey 16 years
ago applying makeup, her business has
continued to expand; including stocking
makeup, creating her own range of cosmetics,
offering Custom Blend Foundation services,
and running her popular Beauty Workshops
for women and teens where you can learn the
techniques of applying makeup and find out
what colours and products suit you best. – LO
48 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

particularly with granular
scrubs. Too much exfoliation
for anyone is detrimental
to the acid mantle and can
create further problems.
Last, skin protection is
essential – but it is often a
forgotten part of the daily
regimen for men. Not only
is it important to shield the
skin from UV rays, but also
other damaging elements like
wind and pollutants. A good
zinc and antioxidant-based
protection formula will guard
against free radical damage,
nourish the skin and prevent
sun induced premature ageing.
Clinical treatments for men
are gaining in popularity.
These may comprise nonsurgical
body sculpting
such as fat freezing, which
will help to eliminate the
stubborn areas of fat that the
gym will not budge. Another
treatment men are learning
about and enjoying is the
use of injectables, which can
reduce heavy wrinkles and
volumise the areas that have
become hollow.
Australian men enjoy the
stereotype of being a “macho
male”. In days gone by, the
typical Aussie bloke wouldn’t
be caught using skin care,
but things have changed. Men
want to look good for their
age and now not only use a
male fragrance but are also
using skin care and venturing
into clinics where they can
enjoy treatments and their
benefits. Perhaps the gap is
closing between Mars and
Venus?
Sue Carroll of Skin
Inspiration writes on
beauty trends and treatments
for Pittwater Life.
She has been a fully qualified
Aesthetician for 33 years.
Sue has owned and
operated successful beauty
clinics and day spas on
the Northern Beaches.
info@skininspiration.com.au
www.skininspiration.com.au
80,000
Reasons
to Advertise
in
in MAY
Showcase what you have
to offer in our special
Mother’s Day Gift Guide
Reach a HUGE audience
in Pittwater Life
Phone
0438 123 096
*Readership based on 2 1/2 readers per copy
May Issue out
Friday April 28
Hair & Beauty
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 49

Business Life: Money
Business Life
‘I’m alright, Jack’ drives
self-interest and denial
This month we look at
how recent failures in
national energy policy
continue to grow the negative
feedback loop driving
mistrust in government.
I had an entirely predictable
experience at a local
government audit committee
meeting earlier in March
involving an adverse internal
audit report into outstanding
debt collections. Given
that the management of
this particular council had
recently been ‘turned over’
the executive around the
table to a man chimed in
with a version of the “not our
fault” chorus. Be that as it
may, they took the jobs when
offered with all of the various
problems in place so it’s now
their collective problem to
fix – and in the process it may
teach them to spend some
time on due diligence and
less time worrying about the
terms of their contracts or
remuneration.
Unfortunately, the “not our
fault” chorus is well a wellpractised
tune played at all
levels of government. State
governments do it particularly
well in relation to missing
infrastructure such as
schools and transport,
while the Federal
Government started
tuning up most recently
in relation to energy
policy.
It is true that threeor
four-year electoral
cycles are not conducive
to developing long-term
policies or forecasts
unless of course a
politician is talking
about how much they
are going to spend on
a program, that seems
to always be expressed
over a 10-year time
horizon to give it
maximum gravitas. Go
back a generation and
we had a permanent
bureaucracy to provide
policy consistency
and offer (frank and
fearless) advice to
politicians. These days the
policy branch of government
changes with the politicians.
But back to energy
policy. In mid-March, Brian
Robins reported in The
Sydney Morning Herald
findings from Energy
Consumers Australia (ECA)
research to the Finkel Review
into energy security, that
households have “lost faith” in
energy suppliers as they move
to install greater numbers of
solar systems.
According to ECA: “Our
research indicates that the
primary reasons consumers
with Brian Hrnjak
are investing in this
technology is to manage
consumption and gain
control of costs. The
desire for independence
from the grid is a
particularly strong
driver for early interest
in battery storage,” it
says.
“We see this as a
clear indication that
consumers have lost
faith in the traditional
market’s capacity to
deliver value for money,
and are taking matters
into their own hands.”
ECA research
quoted in the article
indicated: “1.5 million
households in Australia
have already invested
in solar rooftop
systems. A further
third of households are
considering installing
solar systems over the next
five years with as many as 27%
considering battery storage
systems.”
And it’s this last point
about battery storage that
I think is the game-changer
in the evolving relationship
between consumers, the
50 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

government and generators. I
have wanted to install a
solar system for years but
the thought of entering a
market with as many complex
variables and where the
main players are new to it
themselves always reminds
me of that saying: “If you
don’t know who the fool at
the table is it’s likely to be
you.”
The advances in battery
systems, particularly the
consumer-oriented Tesla
battery, means that investing
in a system can now largely
exclude the effect of the
government feed-in tariff,
eliminating a particular
element of sovereign
risk. The economics of it
come down to simply what a
system costs and what it can
save you. These things will
eventually do to energy what
self-managed superannuation
did to compulsory super – and
that is to provide a technically
feasible means of households
wrestling back control over
an important aspect of their
lives. This ‘I’m alright, Jack’
approach to household energy
is just another part of the
wider trend of consumers
taking back control from
what is perceived to be
dysfunctional government
policy and decision making.
But what’s happening in
the gas market? We know
that things in the national
electricity market must be
bad – so bad in fact that in
mid-March, Malcolm Turnbull
had to invoke the mighty
and holy name of the Snowy
Mountains scheme to reset
the narrative. Anyone who
watched the news on that day
could have been excused for
thinking they were watching
an episode of the ABC’s
‘Utopia’ and PR lady Rhonda
had written the script.
To help understand what’s
happened in the gas market
I turned to another branch
of the ABC, this time an
article published on March
20 by business editor Ian
Verrender. He describes the
situation as follows:
“Within the next four years,
Australia will overtake Qatar
as the world’s biggest supplier
of gas. We are sitting on vast
gas reserves. In fact, we’re
swimming in the stuff. And
yet, we face critical shortages
at home which could starve
manufacturers of fuel, see
power outages across the
eastern states and force
energy prices through the
roof while any profits that are
made will be shipped offshore.
This is a public policy fail of
epic proportions.”
Verrender argues a failure
in markets so bad (for the
Australian gas consumer)
that AGL is considering a
proposal to buy Australian
gas in Japan and ship it
back home! Successive
governments inability to
raise adequate royalties and
reserve for local use leaves
us with a problem that is
even above the pay grade
of Utopia’s Rhonda to make
disappear in spin.
Energy security and energy
policy are part of that function
of government that most of
the population would simply
assume to be under control…
you know, governed. Once
failures become apparent at
the petrol pump or quarterly
utility bills, the genie of failure
is out of the bottle for all to
see and a round of the “not
our fault chorus” won’t fix it.
These failures in policy
and planning by established
political parties are no
doubt grist to the mill for
any populist politician
or party that is going to
promise to fix this along with
road congestion and train
timetables so long as it all
involves lower immigration.
Business Life
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.
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 51

Business Life: Finance
Business Life
Will we see growth from
new age of shrinkflation?
It’s always interesting to go
back in time and review
notes and views to see how
much things change. Bearing
this in mind I recently re-read
every article I have written for
the readers of Pittwater Life
to make sure we remained
relevant.
Interestingly in the June
2016 edition of Pittwater Life
our ‘Business Life – Finance’
column focused the entire
article on why Donald Trump
was underestimated and
why he would continue his
ascendancy to the top role. I
recall “taking some flack” for
what was at the time seen as
an extreme view of potential
for change.
So, what comes next? Well,
many predicted that the US
Stock Market would fall by 30
per cent or more; but what in
fact has happened post the US
election is that the US Stock
Market has increased in value
by around 3 TRILLION dollars
(cue little finger to side of
mouth, a la Dr Evil) – so the
sky hasn’t fallen in, yet.
Knowing that generally
“investors have a fundamental
misunderstanding of risk”
we need to continue to look
forward and look at the big
maps in order to prepare for
what lies ahead. Which is what,
exactly?
Well, get ready for higher
interest rates, higher inflation
and what we also call
‘Shrinkflation’.
What is Shrinkflation? Well,
Shrinkflation is a rise in the
general price level of goods
per unit weight or size, with
a corresponding reduction
in the weight or size of the
item sold. Hence the price
of the packaged product
remains the same. This does
not affect inflation measures
such as the consumer price
index or Retail Price Index,
because there is no increase
in the cost of a basket of
City is no longer slicker
Continued from page 16
is not productive. Putting that
time back into something constructive,
whether that be a few
extra hours in the office or take
a kid to soccer, is better than
hearing the same traffic report
five times.
“On sunny days we have
sales meetings on the beach –
it doesn’t get any better than
that!”
Sandbox started out in coworking
space in Newport, with
a growing team prompting two
office moves since.
Paul said almost all their
clients’ needs and work can
be done over the phones or by
email – “and we can be in the
city at a moment’s notice (outside
of peak hour obviously) so
proximity to our clients really
doesn’t make a difference”.
Their digital team and search
department work from an
office close to their homes at
Thirroul north of Wollongong.
“We couldn’t be further
apart, it’s just more time on
the phones and emails,” he
said. “We tend to do a lot of our
meetings in one or two days
a week in the city, outside of
peak times.
“We have had a few clients
come up to us – mostly the
media come and visit us, they
actually don’t mind the trip
and tend to make a day of it,
retail goods and services. Go
to your local supermarket,
walk the aisles and count the
amount of products that seem
to be in smaller packaging, or
have less product in the old
packaging.
By way of example you may
have noticed the press of last
year regarding the public
backlash as the size of the
Toblerone bar was reduced,
in quite a tricky way I recall.
In 2016, the size in the United
Kingdom of the 170-gram
Toblerone bar was reduced
to 150g while the 400g bar
was reduced to 360g. This
was done by enlarging the
gap between the chocolate
triangles – the size of the
packaging stayed the same.
and The Newport gets a fair
workout…
“We had one media rep come
down to our offices, had a swim
in Pittwater then did their sales
pitch wrapped in a towel on the
wharf in Newport.”
He said the move had
changed lives.
with Simon Bond
Let us consider a few
other examples from recent
studies released in the United
Kingdom.
The Kit Kat Chunky is less
chunky than it used to be,
after its weight dropped from
48g to 40g. But manufacturer
Nestle claimed this is not all
down to rising production
costs – it said that the change
is also to help customers
lose weight as a part of the
Government’s anti-obesity
campaign. Yeah right.
The Daily Mail in the UK
reported that while Tesco has
reduced pasta sauce cartons
from 375g to 350g, they are
still promoted as serving two
people. Cadbury has also cut
the number of Creme Eggs in
its multipacks from six eggs
to five ahead of Easter. And a
study published by consumer
group ‘Which?’ highlights
other products using the trick.
Richard Lloyd, executive
director of the consumer
group, said: “Shrinking
products can be a sneaky
way of putting up costs for
consumers because pack sizes
shrink but the prices don’t.”
Loaves of Hovis’ Best
of Both bread reduced
“Not having the pressure
of leaving before dawn and
getting home after dark
five days a week and being
able to spend more time
with our young families is
invaluable.
“A lot more people are looking
at what we have established
and are questioning
why they still live/work the
way they do – and why not?
We spend the majority of our
lives working, so it makes
sense to enjoy what you do.”
* Workshop Australia – Level 1,
341 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport.
P: 0419 208 239 wshop.com.
au; Sandbox Media – 15/355
Barrenjoey Rd, Newport.
P: 0412 792 911.
– Nigel Wall
52 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

from 800g to 750g, but the
company said it still has the
same number of slices in
each loaf – and now uses an
improved recipe as well.
Birds Eye select mixed
vegetables are also smaller –
dropping from 750g to 690g
– but the firm claimed that
the change was partly down
to the introduction of zip-lock
packaging.
Manufacturers insist that is
the shops that set the prices for
customers. However, most admit
the product-size ploy is designed
to cut costs. Unilever said it had
reduced recommended retail
prices on items such as Surf
washing powder and Domestos
and Cif cleaning products, but
it was up to stores whether they
chose to pass this on to their
customers.
Which? suggested the
companies are using ‘Alice
in Wonderland’ tactics to
try to bamboozle shoppers.
A spokesman said: “When
Alice picked up a potion that
said ‘Drink Me’ she wasn’t
expecting that she would end
up only 10 inches tall.
“Likewise, when you are in
the supermarket picking up
a packet of vegetables or a
box of laundry powder, you’re
not expecting it to be an inch
shorter or 100g lighter than
last week.
“But that’s exactly what
we’ve found to be the case.
Products are losing 50g here
and a few centimetres there,
which is all adding up to a
more expensive shop without
you knowing why.”
Now you do.
Simon Bond of Morgans Newport (9998 4200) has been actively
involved in all aspects of Stockbroking since 1987. Simon’s area
of expertise includes equities, portfolio management, short-term
trading, long-term strategies, derivatives and fixed interest. His
focus is on how technology is changing the investment landscape,
demographic trends and how they influence equity markets.
Business Life
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 53

Business Life: Law
Business Life
Navigating new Strata
Schemes negotiations
Back in August 2015 we
wrote that “the Minister
for Fair Trading, Victor
Dominello, has released
two exposure draft bills for
community consultation
to reform strata living
throughout New South Wales”.
Following extensive
consultation, The Strata
Schemes Management Act
2015 (‘SSMA’) commenced on
November 30, 2016.
As with any new legislation
it takes testing and time to
work through the changes
and, to a certain extent, to
understand the full impact of
the changes.
Reactions from clients have
given rise to some disquiet
and anxiety concerning
collective sale and renewal
or redevelopment, a concept
introduced by the 2015
legislation.
The reason for the
introduction of collective sale
and collective redevelopment
was threefold:
First, over the past 30 to
40 years, Sydney residential
development occurred by
greater density of buildings
on land and in time this
spread out to older industrial
areas. However, this failed
to occur in older residential
areas serviced by transport
corridors. The aim of
government to promote
density of older established
residential areas was
impeded by, for example,
the difficulty of obtaining
an order from the Supreme
Court for a termination order
of the strata scheme, or
obtaining the agreement of
all owners agreeing to the
Registrar General terminating
the scheme.
Second, in October 2015
there were around 75,000
registered schemes in New
South Wales. In many of the
30- to 40-year-old schemes,
major structural problems
had emerged and the cost
of ongoing maintenance
and repair was becoming
prohibitive and uneconomic.
Often the costs of upgrading
and repairs were estimated
to be more than the cost
of upgrading the building
and required continual and
substantial special levies
being struck.
All in all, the constant
upgrading of these buildings
became unviable and a
struggle to maintain to meet
the standards of the Building
Code of Australia.
Three, prior to last
November, there were only
with Jennifer Harris
two methods available to deal
with the problems outlined
above. They were:
(1) Obtain an order from
the Supreme Court to
terminate the strata scheme;
and
(2) Obtain an order from
the Registrar General’s
office where all lot owners
and mortgagees, not just
a majority, agreed to the
termination of the Strata.
As to (1) obtaining such an
order was almost impossible
if one or more of the lot
owners objected. As to (2)
if one or more owners or
mortgagees objected it was
defeated and could not be
pursued.
The 2015 Strata Schemes
Development Act at Part 10
and titled ‘Strata Renewal
Process for Freehold Strata
Schemes’ provides for two
alternative solutions if at least
75% of the unit holders agree
their options are as follows:
(a) Pursue a collective sale
– which means “the sale of
the whole strata scheme” to
a single purchaser, usually
a developer who will do the
following:
n Offer to purchase all the
lots in the strata plan
including the common
property in accordance
with the steps for a strata
renewal plan as set out in
54 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Part 10 of the legislation;
and
n Pay each owner of a lot not
less than the compensation
value of the lot in exchange
for vacant possession
and ownership of the lot
following approval of
the plan by the Land and
Environment Court.
Once the lots have been
acquired and compensation
paid, the owner has no
recourse or right to buy
back into any future
redevelopment.
(b) Pursue collective
redevelopment, which is “a
redevelopment of the whole
strata scheme in a way that
alters the scheme to the
extent that its termination
and replacement by a further
strata plan is necessary”. In
this context ‘redevelopment’
is called ‘collective
redevelopment’ to distinguish
it from ‘collective sale’. This
being so, the developer is
likely to offer to redevelop the
property by undertaking the
following…
In accordance with the
procedure set out in Part
10 of the legislation and in
accordance with the approval
of the Plan by the Land and
Environment Court terminate
the Strata:
n Pay compensation to
dissenting owners
according to the Plan
prepared by the developer
for the lot as if the owner
had supported termination
of the strata scheme;
n Demolish the building;
n Build a new strata title
property in its place; or
n Pay a supporting owner
the profits and rewards
from the sale of the new
property.
The developer may or may
not give the supporting owner
the right to buy back into the
future scheme depending on
market forces. Options 1 and
2 are called “strata renewal”
and apply only to freehold
strata schemes not leasehold
schemes. The new property
may result in the replacement
of strata schemes with either
a new strata scheme built up
to three storeys but requiring
to be built to higher quality
specifications and building
Code of Australia standards
or a new higher quality strata
scheme being more than
three storeys and perhaps
combined with a nearby strata
scheme. As the requirement
of a minimum of 75% lot
threshold, two- and three-lot
strata schemes will continue
to require unanimous
agreement before they can
be the subject of strata
renewal. If confronted by a
proposal for collective sale
and renewal, as explained
above, there is a set process
that applies to protect the
rights and interests of all lot
owners:
Vote to opt into the
process. If the majority of
owners (more than 50%) do
not support the decision, no
further action can be taken;
Initiate the collective sale/
renewal process, which must
first be considered by the
strata committee;
Form a strata renewal
committee and the committee
can appoint professionals,
such as valuers, lawyers, and
tax experts, to assist them;
Develop a strata renewal
plan. The Office of Registrar
General will provide Guidance
material on how to prepare a
strata renewal plan.
Consideration of the Plan,
where owners have 60 days
to consider the plan and seek
independent advice. The plan
lapses if it is not supported
by the owners of at least
75% of the lots within three
months.
Approval of the plan. The
strata renewal plan must
be approved by the Land
and Environment Court
before the collective sale or
redevelopment can proceed.
The steps set out above
may appear daunting to
many owners. It is therefore
important that the correct
processes are followed in
reaching decisions. The Land
and Environment Court will
not approve a plan unless
it is satisfied that the plan
has been developed in the
absence of good faith and the
correct process followed.
The department of Fair
Trading has established
the Strata Collective Sale
Advocacy Service to assist
owners from vulnerable
groups affected by a strata
collective sale or renewal
proposal such as those on the
aged or disability pension.
General inquiries should be
made to: Strata Collective Sale
Advocacy Service (General),
Marrickville Legal Centre, 338
Illawarra Road, Marrickville
NSW 2204 – phone 9559
2899; or the Strata Collective
Sale Advocacy Service
(Older Persons) Seniors
Rights Service, Level 4, 418A
Elizabeth St, Surrey Hills 2010
– phone 1800 424 079.
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
Business Life
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 55

Trades & Services
Trades & Services
AIRCONDITIONING
Avalon Air
Call 0414 944 894
Local and dependable. They
specialise in domestic ducted
airconditioning, split systems and
central heating.
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.
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.
S&B Tree Services
Call Josh 0420 436 498
A 24-hour emergency service
specialising in all aspects of tree
work. Maintenance and advice;
free mulch delivery. Free quotes.
Newscapes
Call Craig 0416 238 506
Specialist in lawn care, trimming,
irrigation installation and repairs.
Also house and paving cleaning.
Precision Tree Services
Call Adam 0410 736 105
Adam Bridger; professional tree
care by qualified arborists and
tree surgeons.
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/operator
on site at all times. No travellers
or uninsured casuals on your
property. Ideal for selling.
MASSAGE & FITNESS
Avalon Physiotherapy
Call 9918 3373
Provide specialist treatment for
neck & back pain, sports injuries,
niggling orthopaedic problems.
Avalon Beach
Chiropractic
Call 9918 0070
Chiropractic, massage, dry
needling. Professional care for all
ages. Treatment for chronic and
acute pain, sports injuries, postural
correction & pregancy care.
Fix & Flex Pilates / Physio
Call Jen 0404 804 441
Equipment pilates sessions run by
physios. Mona Vale-based. Help
improve posture and reduce pain
while improving core strength.
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.
PLUMBING
Nick Anderson Plumbing
Call 0411 251 256
All aspects of plumbing including
gasfitting and drainage.
Competitive rates, free quotes.
Avalon Physiotherapy
& Clinical Pilates
Call 9918 0230
Dry needling and acupuncture,
falls prevention and balance
enhancement programs.
UPHOLSTERY
Susan Ottowa
Call 0422 466 880
Specialist in day bed and
outdoor areas. Reliable local
service. Domestic & commercial.
Advertise
your
Business in
Trades &
Services
section
Phone
0438 123 096
56 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Trades & Services
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 57

Trades & Services
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.
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.
B & RD Williams
Call Brian 0416 182 774
Kitchen and bathroom renovations,
decks and pergolas. Small
extensions specialists.
SunSpec
Call Dustin 0413 737 934
sunspec.com.au
All-aluminium, rust-proof remotecontrolled
opening roofs & awnings.
Beat competitor’s prices.
SECURITY
Sure Security
Call 1300 55 12 10
Northern Beaches-based specialists
in Alarms, Intercoms, Access
Control and CCTV Surveillance
with solutions to fit your needs.
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.
Trades & Services
58 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

the
good
life
dining
food
crossword
60
64
67
Showtime
Laughter booms as sisters
find ways to deal with loss
Shelagh Stephenson’s
hilariously funny, sublime
and poignant play The
Memory of Water is community
drama group the Elanora
Players’ next production in
April.
The theme centres on coping
with loss: when mother
Violet passes, her three
daughters return home to
Yorkshire in the 1990s for her
funeral, with each sibling finding
their own way of dealing
with their mother’s death.
For Teresa, it is herbal
tea, obsessive cleaning and
hectoring her long-suffering
husband Frank. Catherine,
A date with
McClymonts
Australia’s No.1 country
group The McClymonts
are bringing their ‘Endless’
tour to Dee Why RSL on
Friday May 5. Brooke, Sam
and Mollie will showcase
songs from their new
album plus a selection of
hits spanning their 10-year
career, delivered with stunning
harmonies. Tickets are
$40; bookings 9454 4000
or visit dyrsl.com.au.
CURTAIN UP: (Front) Lela Keighley, Sandra Muscat-Bowers, Diane Howden;
(Back) Michael McCrann, Karen Pattinson, Gerard Hawkins.
the youngest, resorts to retail
therapy, manic phone calls
and a playful reliance on hashish.
Middle sister Mary seeks
consolation in the arms of her
lover Mike. Like Mary, Mike
is a doctor; unlike Mary he is
married.
“The play is a wonderful
story about a family of misfits
who are simultaneously loveable,
tragic and funny,” says
director Sarah Lovesy, who is
being assisted on the production
by Robert Longley. “It is
a tragic-comedy performed in
the style of heightened realism
with touches of the surreal.”
The cast of The Memory of
Water features Sandra Muscat-
Bowers as Vi, the surreal elegant
Mother. Karen Pattinson
plays Mary, the middle sister
who has an air of sensuality
and superiority about her. Diane
Howden plays Teresa, the
eldest sister who is a woman
of extremes. Lela Keighley is
Catherine, the youngest sister
who is free spirited but with
attention-grabbing histrionics.
Gerard Hawkins and Michael
McCrann play the celebrity
Doctor and frustrated husband
respectively.
Performance dates for the
Elanora Community Centre,
49A Kalang Road are April 15,
20, 21 and 22 at 8pm; matinees
will be staged at 3pm on
April 16, 17 and 22 with two
11am shows on April 16 and
17. Bookings on 9982 7364 or
elanora.bookings@gmail.com.
More info at www.elanoraplayers.com.au
Showtime
gardening
68
travel
73
APRIL 2017 59

Dining Guide
Dining Guide
April’s best restaurants, functions, events and reader deals...
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
BOOKINGS 9997 4157
LIC
BYO
All
Who doesn’t love great Chinese
food? At this popular
Newport eatery you will be
amazed at the variety of
great dishes.
Order ahead for their wonderful
Peking Duck which
is offered as a dine-in-only
special Thursdays through
P
Sunday evenings.
There are two traditional
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 $5
while mains are reasonable
too, starting at $12.90.
The menu ranges from adventurous,
like a Mongolian
chicken hot pot, to contemporary,
spicy salt and pepper
king prawns, to traditional,
fillet steak with snow peas
and bean sprouts.
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.
Phone 9997 8379.
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
BOOKINGS 9974 5566
LIC
All
P
Head to Club Palm Beach,
conveniently located just a
short stroll from Palm Beach
Wharf, for great meal specials
in April.
Book now for the Anzac Day
Luncheon from 12 noon on April
25, featuring entertainment
from comedian and singer Grant
Galea.
And head down for Two-Up,
which starts at 2pm (club open
to the public from 1pm).
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 top-value 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
on public holidays.
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 which meets the 11am
ferry from Ettalong at the Palm
Beach Wharf at 11.20am daily,
returning on request.
It also makes regular runs
Wednesdays, Fridays and
Saturdays from 4.30pm to 9pm.
Ring to book a pick-up.
* The Club celebrates its 60th
anniversary in 2017; the call is
out for locals to contribute their
stories about the early days.
Phone 9974 5566.
Oceanviews
Restaurant
Shop 4, 120 Narrabeen Park
Pde, Warriewood Beach.
OPENING HOURS
Open 7 days lunch and dinner
CUISINE
Vietnamese
PRICE RANGE
Entrees $2-$9.80
Mains $13.80-$19.80
Noodles $13.80
Lunch specials.
1/2 price daily deals.
BOOKINGS 9979 9449
BYO
All
P
Book now for a great table
for lunch or dinner at this
popular Vietnamese eatery.
Ocean views across
Warriewood Beach may be
enjoyed from the restaurant
which offers one of the most
popular of Asian cuisines.
Eat in and take-away meals
are available; plus they offer
free home delivery for orders
over $35.
Tantalising lunch specials
60
APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

from $2 to $10.80 include egg
custard buns (two for $4.40),
Money Bags (four for $5.80),
prawn dumplings, fresh rice
paper rolls, beef noodle soup,
noodles with veggies and
chicken, or beef with rice for
just $10.80.
Chef’s specials include Basil
Mint Pork, Honey King Prawns,
Sizzling Tofu Hot Pot and
Chicken Laksa.
Each day there is a half-price
deal for evening diners-in (limit
of one deal per table of diners).
They include: on Thursday
satay king prawn for $10.40, on
Monday salt and pepper squid
for $10.40 and on Saturday
lemongrass chicken for $8.90.
Prices reduced across the
board, as well as lunch specials
and the daily half-price deals.
Find Daniel and his
friendly team at 120
Narrabeen Park Parade,
Warriewood Beach.
Beach Road Dining
Palm Beach Golf Club
2 Beach Road, Palm Beach
CUISINE
Modern Australian
PRICE RANGE
Entrees From $18
Mains $26-$33
Kids’ meals $12
BOOKINGS 9974 4079
LIC
Visa
MasterCard
If you haven’t already tried
out the new Beach Road
Dining at Palm Beach Golf
Club, you don’t know what
you’re missing – Andrew
and Amy Towner and
their team from The 2107
Restaurant in Avalon have
taken over the kitchen,
serving up tasty dishes
from a new modern
Australian-themed menu.
A multitude of menu
options are available from a
Café style menu during the
week to an a la carte dining
menu on Friday nights and a
pub-style bar menu with all
the classics on weekends.
Selections from the a la
carte menu include entrees
of flash-fried salt and pepper
squid and beef and vegetable
spring rolls (both $18), for
Celebrating 25 Years
P
mains you can’t go past the
delicious 250g New York
cut sirloin with waffle chips,
chef’s slaw and chimichurri
($33) – although the grilled or
battered WA barramundi with
chips and salad ($26) receive
plenty of return orders.
Book now for their
Mother’s Day Luncheon on
May 14 – 2 courses for $55
includes a drink on arrival.
In April they’re offering
a Mother’s Day Membership
Special – $1190 gets you 14
months for the price of 12,
plus discounts at the bar and
restaurant and more.
Plus there’s great music
every Sunday in April from
1-4pm – with performers
including Jo Elms (2nd), Victor
Rounds (9th), Red Herringsk
(16th), Rebecca Johnson (23rd)
and Kate Lush (30th).
And don’t miss Barry Leef
on Saturday April 15; tickets
$25 (bookings essential).
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
Visa
MasterCard
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.
Bistro 61 has been named
to commemorate the opening
of the Club in 1961. The
kitchen – led by experienced
Northern Breaches head chef
Mitch Blundell, boasts all
fresh, house-made meals, with
locally sourced ingredients
used when possible.
Open for lunch and dinner
seven days, with extensive
outdoor dining areas, Bistro 61
offers a different special (lunch
and dinner) every weekday,
including $15 steak chips and
salad (Mon), $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.)
Bistro 61 will continue to
serve breakfast on weekends
until late in April.
From the menu, chef
Mitch recommends his twist
on nachos - pulled beef and
blackbeans with chipotle,
corn chips, guacamole,
Danish fetta and coriander.
Member’s get discounts on
meals purchased. Membership
starts from $5.50.
The club is licensed, with
no BYO. Bookings online or
call 02 9918 2201 – large
groups welcome.
Visit avalonrsl.com.au/
bistro-61
APRIL 2017 61
Dining Guide

Dining Guide
Dining Guide
Little Bok Choy
Pittwater RSL
82 Mona Vale Rd,
Mona Vale
OPENING HOURS
Open 7 days
Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm
(3pm Fri, Sat, Sun)
Dinner 5:30-8:30pm
(9:30pm Fri, Sat)
PRICE RANGE
Entrees $6-$20
Mains $12.80-$25
BOOKINGS 9446 9613
Book now for 10 per cent
off your Easter dinner at
Little Bok Choy restaurant
(mention the ad – left).
Have you discovered this
hidden gem? Conveniently
located inside Pittwater RSL,
with plenty of on-site parking
and public transport, it’s the
ideal location for locals to get
together to share great Asian
food.
With a vast range of menu
options, you won’t know
where to start in this Asian
Fusion restaurant. Some of
the secrets of LBC’s finest eats
include traditional favourites,
like Shao Long Bao – it’s the
perfect starter; the juicy mini
pork buns will get your taste
buds excited for the coming
courses.
Tuck in to Yum Cha
favourites including delicious
Prawn Dumplings, BBQ pork
buns, Spring Rolls and popular
Thai entrees like Thai Curry
Puffs.
For mains, all the
popular Chinese dishes are
included, from Sweet and
Sour Pork, Honey Chicken,
Sizzling Mongolian Beef and
Seafood Stir-fry. Plus, they
have plenty of fried rice and
fried noodles also available in
kids’ size!
Prices are very reasonable
– Chinese mains start from
$15.80, with gluten free and
vegetarian options available.
If you prefer Thai, be sure
to check out their latest
addition – Tom Yum Fried Rice,
a modern twist on a classic
favourite. And their range of
Thai soups, salads, curries and
stir fry noodles are fresh and
exciting, all prepared by their
skilled Thai chef.
Walk-ins are welcome,
although for larger
groups (6+) to ensure they can
comfortably accommodate
you, call to book in advance.
Advertise
in our
Dining
Guide!
Phone
0438 123 096
Ninja
6/11-13 Avalon Pde,
Avalon Beach
OPENING HOURS
Dinner Tues-Sun 6-10pm
Lunch Tues-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm
CUISINE
Japanese Restaurant
PRICE RANGE
Entrees $6.80-19.80
Main $16.80-36
Corkage $2.50pp
*Takeaway available
BOOKINGS 9918 9963
62 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years
LIC
BYO
Visa
MasterCard
Dine indoors or outside
under stylish awnings,
catching the cool sea breeze
at Ninja in Avalon – it’s
the perfect space for a
great dining experience in
authentic surrounds.
Ninja serves tantalising
Japanese dishes including
fresh sushi and sashimi,
assorted tempura, agedashi
tofu and char-grilled salmon
teriyaki.
Owner/chef Hideaki
Serizawa is a qualified
Japanese chef, who graduated
from Barrenjoey High, and
was trained in popular
restaurants in the Akasaka
district of Tokyo where he
learnt their secret recipes.
Recommended entrees
include the grilled premium
wagyu beef, and deep
fried soft shell crab with
ponzu sauce. Mains include
Japanese-style steak,
California rolls, prawn
tempura and mixed sushi/
sashimi platter. Particularly
popular is the Grilled Hirimasa
Kingfish, chargrilled with your
choice of teriyaki or wasabi
tartare sauce.
Ninja serves a mouthwatering
Agedashi tofu and
their Ninja Potatoes (deep
fried sweet potatoes with
soy-based sweet syrup and
black sesame) are a true taste
experience.
Also, for a local lunch on
the run, Ninja offer takeaway
specials Tues-Fri, 11.30am-3pm,
including Chicken Teriyaki with
rice ($6) and Vegetarian Spring
Rolls (3 for $4).
P

Ninja can accommodate
up to 40 guests in the main
dining room – it’s perfect for
parties or for those special
family get togethers.
www.ninjarestaurant.com.au
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
BOOKINGS 9997 5511
LIC
All
P
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.
In April, Friday night
entertainment kicks off in
the Lounge Bar from 7.30pm.
Great acts appearing this
month include Geoff Kendall
(7th), Paul Winn (14th) Keff
McCullough (21st) and
Phil Simmons (28th).
Trivia is held every
Tuesday night from 7.30pm
(great prizes and vouchers).
On Saturday April 22, be
transported back to the days
of Beatlemania of the ’60s and
’70s with the incredible Beatels
show.
This dynamic tribute band
have wowed audiences around
the world for nearly a decade
with their uncanny sounds and
performances. Hear all the
hits, from the early days (She
Loves You, Day Tripper) right
through to the final days (Let it
Be, Get Back).
Tickets are just $25 for
members ($30 non-members).
Plus, book now for
Mother’s Day on May 14 – with
Champagne Buffet sittings for
breakfast, lunch or dinner
Celebrating 25 Years
Bookings are essential for
all events.
Club social memberships
are available for just $160.
Cinque Cucina
e Caffe
5 Darley St East,
Mona Vale
OPENING HOURS
Breakfast/lunch
7 days 7am-2.30pm
Dinner Wed-Sun 5.30-10pm
CUISINE
Italian
PRICE RANGE
Breakfast $9.50-$16
Lunch:
Starters $12-$22
Main $15-26
Dinner:
Starters $13-$22
Main $21-$28
BOOKINGS 9999 5555
Visa
MasterCard
Casual, authentic Italian at
it best. Operating 7 days
for breakfast and lunch and
Wednesday through Sunday
for dinner, Cinque Cucina e
Caffe brings a taste of Italy
to Mona Vale Beach – with a
pleasing price-tag.
Relaxed indoor and outdoor
dining areas provide a great
setting for early morning
coffee, a work meeting, a
dinner date or whole-venue
function for that special event
(birthdays/anniversaries).
With simplicity and fresh
key ingredients in mind, the
lunch/dinner menus comprise
6 to 8 starters and 9 mains
with gluten free, vegetarian
and dairy free options.
Start with a cured meat &
cheese Antipasto plate ($21),
followed by a Cartoccio Di
Pesce ($28) an oven-baked
parcel of Hoki fillet, calamari,
prawns & mussels with white
wine, olives, cherry tomatoes
& garlic.
Their signature 5-hour
roasted Pork Belly ($24) is
another must – whilst their
famous burger is available
Wednesday nights for just $10!
The standout on their
extensive Italian wine list
is the Fantinel Pinot Grigio
– crisp with a light finish –
whilst the Nero D’Avola will be
a hit with anyone looking for
a full-bodied shiraz. There’s
BYO too (wine only).
Bookings are highly
recommended on 9999 5555
or ciao@cinque5.com.au
APRIL 2017 63
Dining Guide

Food Life
Food Life
Recipes: Janelle Bloom Photos: Steve Brown; Benito Martin
Dishes for all tastes over
the Easter holiday break
April has come around way too quickly for my liking –
although it does give all of us the opportunity to slow
down a little and regroup over Easter, enjoy the warmth
of the Autumn sunshine and spend quality time with family
and friends. The recipes over these pages are some of the
dishes I will be serving up…
Smoked salmon
Nicoise
Serves 4
12 chat (small coliban)
potatoes
200g green beans, topped
4 free range eggs
250g grape kumatoes, halved
2 lebanese cucumber,
chopped
¾ cup flat leaf parsley leaves
100g kalamata olives
2 tbs drained capers
4 green onions, thinly sliced
200g smoked salmon
Crusty bread, to serve
Dressing
3 anchovy fillets, drained,
finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
4 tsp Dijon mustard
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tbs red wine vinegar
1 tsp caster sugar
1. Place potatoes in a
saucepan, cover with cold
water with a pinch salt.
Bring to the boil over high
heat, reduce heat, simmer
10 minutes or until almost
tender. Add the beans and
cook for 1 minute or until
beans turn bright green.
Drain, chop the warm
potatoes and put into a
large bowl. Refresh beans
in cold water. Drain and pat
dry, set aside.
2. For the dressing: place
anchovy, garlic and mustard
in a mortar and gently
pound with a pestle to form
a paste, alternately blend
in a small food processor.
Stir in olive oil, vinegar and
sugar, mix well. Season.
3. Spoon two tablespoons
dressing over the warm
potatoes, toss gently and
set aside.
4. Meanwhile, place the eggs
in a small saucepan of cold
water. Bring to the boil,
simmer for 5 minutes for
soft boiled. Drain, allow to
cool for 5 minutes, peel.
5. Add the beans, kumatoes,
cucumber, parsley leaves,
olives capers and onions to
the potatoes. Spoon over
the dressing, season with
salt and pepper, toss gently.
Divide between serving
plates, cut eggs in half
and place onto plates with
salmon. Serve with crusty
with Janelle Bloom
Spinach, ricotta,
feta pie
Serves 8
½ cup couscous
2 tsp olive oil
1 bunch silverbeet, leaves
removed, cored
100g feta, crumbled
50g parmesan, finely grated
200g fresh ricotta, broken
into chunks
1 bunch dill, leaves chopped
4 green onions, finely
chopped
2 eggs, lightly beaten
12 sheets fresh filo pastry
100g ghee, melted
1 tbs sesame seeds
Lemon wedges, to serve
1. Put the couscous in a
heatproof bowl. Pour over
¼ cup boiling water, add
the oil and stir to combine.
Cover and set aside 5
minutes. Stir gently with a
fork to separate the grains.
2. Meanwhile, place spinach
in a heatproof bowl.
Cover with boiling water,
then drain immediately.
bread.
Refresh in cold water, drain.
64 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

For more recipes go to www.janellebloom.com.au
Squeeze tightly to remove
all water. Chop spinach and
add to couscous. Add the,
cheeses, dill, green onions
and eggs. Season.
3. Place a flat baking tray into
the oven, preheat oven and
tray to 220°C, fan-forced.
Place 1 sheet filo onto work
bench, brush with ghee.
Top with a second sheet
and repeat twice so you
have a stack of four sheets.
Arrange in pan allowing
excess to overhang on both
sides. Repeat so you have
another stack 4 filo sheets,
turning the pan 180° so
pastry completely covers
side and base of the pan.
Repeat once more with final
4 sheets filo, set aside to
use for the top.
4. Spoon the filling into the
pan pressing down firmly
to compact filling. Place
the reserved filo stack
over the filling and roll the
edges together to seal.
Brush with melted ghee
and sprinkle with sesame
seeds. Place the pie onto
the hot oven tray and bake
20-30 minutes or until
pastry is golden and crisp.
Serve warm or at room
temperature with lemon.
Janelle’s Tip: Ghee is clarified
butter and available in jars
in the Asian section of most
supermarkets. Its low water
content means the filo will
stay nice and crisp.
Peri peri barbecue
chicken salad
Serve 6
4 tbs olive oil
1 lemon, rind finely grated,
juiced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 tsp peri peri seasoning
8 chicken thigh fillets, halved
crossways
Warm Salad
1 cup long grain rice, rinsed
300g beans, trimmed
1 cup green olives, smashed,
pips removed
150g roasted red capsicum,
roughly chopped
150g char-grilled eggplant,
roughly chopped
1 tbs drained capers
Celebrating 25 Years
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 cup basil leaves
½ cup pine nuts, toasted
1. Combine half the oil, lemon
rind, garlic and seasoning
in a ceramic bowl. Season.
Whisk to combine. Add the
chicken and turn to coat.
Cover and refrigerate for 10
minutes if time allows.
2. Preheat a well-greased
barbecue grill on mediumhigh.
Barbecue chicken
for 5-6 minutes each side
or until cooked through.
Transfer to a tray, cover to
keep warm.
3. For the warm salad: put the
rice and 1½ cups water in
a saucepan. Bring to the
boil. Reduce heat to low,
cover and simmer for 12-15
minutes until small craters
in surface of the rice.
Remove from heat. Stand
covered for 5 minutes.
Transfer to a large bowl.
4. Blanch the beans in a
saucepan of boiling salted
water for 2 minutes, drain.
Cut into 5cm lengths. Add
to the rice with olives,
capsicum, eggplant, capers,
green onions, basil and
pinenuts.
5. Spoon the rice salad onto
a large serving platter. Top
with the chicken. Combine
remaining 2 tbs olive oil
and lemon juice together
and spoon over the salad.
Serve.
Nutella lamingtons
Makes 36
½ cup self-raising flour
½ cup plain flour
½ cup cornflour
6 eggs, at room temperature
1 cup caster sugar
4 cups desiccated coconut
Edible flowers, to decorate
Chocolate Icing
6 cups icing sugar mixture
1 cup cocoa powder
1½ cups boiling water
Nutella frosting
250g cream cheese
½ cup icing sugar
½ cup Nutella
1. Preheat oven to 160°C.
Grease and line 4cm deep,
23 x 28cm (base) lamington
pan with baking paper,
allowing it to overhang
slightly.
2. Sift flours together three
times to aerate. Beat eggs
and sugar on high speed in
a mixer for 5-7 minutes, or
until thick and pale. Sift flour
mixture over egg mixture,
and gently fold until just
combined. Spread sponge
mixture into the pan and
bake, for 26-28 minutes or
until light golden and sponge
springs back when gently
touched in the centre. Set
aside to cool in the pan.
Cover with a clean tea towel;
set aside overnight (see tip).
3. Remove cake from the pan
and trim the edges. Cut
into 36 squares. Spread the
coconut over a tray.
4. For the chocolate icing, sift
the icing sugar and cocoa
powder into a medium bowl.
Add the water and stir until
smooth. Use 2 forks to dip
1 piece of cake at a time
into the warm icing to coat.
Allow excess to drip back
into the bowl. Roll the cake
in the coconut and place on
a wire rack to set. Repeat
with the remaining cake,
icing and coconut.
5. For the frosting; beat cream
cheese until smooth. Add
the sugar and beat until well
combined, then stir in the
Nutella. Pipe of spoon the
frosting onto the lamingtons
and decorate with edible
flowers or little Easter eggs
as an Easter treat.
Janelle’s Tip: Alternatively,
wrap the sponge in plastic
wrap and leave in freezer
for 4-5 hours until frozen.
Remove from the freezer, cut
into squares and allow to thaw
before dipping in icing.
APRIL 2017 65
Food Life

Food Life
In Season
Pineapple
bag, leaving the leaves
exposed for
up to 3 days.
Peeled and
cut fruit
will keep in
an airtight
container for up
to 1 week.
Food Life
Despite us associating
pineapples with summer
they’re available
year-round and as the
cooler months approach, are a
perfect choice to boost the immune
system (they are packed
with vitamin C).
Buying
Select pineapples that have
fresh-looking leaves, feel
heavy for their size and no
soft spots or bruises. Aroma is
a great indicator of ripeness.
If the fruit smells sweet it is
a sure sign the pineapple is
ripe. If it has a ‘yeasty’ aroma
this indicates overripe fruit.
Skin colour is not an accurate
indicator as different varieties
develop different skin colour
as they mature. Pineapples
do not ripen after picking so
consume within 1-2 days of
buying.
Storage
Pineapples have a short
shelf-life after harvesting and
bruise easily. Store in a fruit
bowl at room temperature
for 1-2 days. Alternatively
place whole fruit in a storage
Preparation
Some varieties have a
woody core, so this needs
to be removed. It is also worth
noting fresh pineapples contain
a protein-destroying enzyme
called bromelin, which
prevents gelatin from setting,
meat from breaking down
and causes sour cream and
yoghurt to weep. When adding
pineapple to salads containing
these ingredients, do so just
before serving.
Nutrition
Pineapples are high in fibre,
vitamins B6 and C, as well as
folate and the minerals manganese
and potassium.
Also In Season
April
Apples; avocados; custard
apples; fresh Australian
dates and pomegranates;
pineapple; grapes;
Kiwi fruit; limes; pears;
passionfruit; mandarins.
Also bok choy; green
beans; cabbage;
capsicum; cauliflower;
kale; fennel; potatoes;
pumpkin; silverbeet;
spinach.
Five spice chicken and
pineapple Asian salad
Serves 6
½ large pineapple, peeled,
chopped
600g chicken breast or thigh
fillets
2 tsp five spice
2 tbs vegetable oil, for
cooking
250g cherry tomatoes, halved
2 Lebanese cucumber, sliced
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 cup beansprouts, trimmed
100g Asian salad mix
½ cup fresh mint leaves
½ cup fresh coriander leaves
2 tbs chopped roasted salted
peanuts
Dressing
2 tbs peanut or vegetable oil
1 lime, juiced
1 long red chilli, chopped
1 tbs fish sauce
2 tsp brown sugar
1. Whisk all the dressing
ingredients together in
a large bowl. Add the
pineapple and toss to coat.
Set aside 15 minutes.
2. Place chicken onto a sheet
baking paper. Sprinkle
both sides with five spice.
Cover with a second sheet
paper and pound gently
with a meat mallet or
rolling pin. Preheat chargrill
on medium high. Drizzle
the chicken with oil then
barbecue 4-5 minutes
each side or until cooking
through. Remove to a plate,
cover and rest 5 minutes.
3. Slice the chicken and add
to the pineapple with the
tomatoes, cucumber, onions,
sprouts, salad leaves and
herbs. Toss gently. Sprinkle
with peanuts and serve.
66 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

25 26 27 28 29
Pittwater Puzzler
30 31 32 33 34 35 36
37 38 39
40 41
42
43 44
Compiled by David Stickley
Miller at the NSW Open Championships
at Blacksmiths Beach (9)
30 Not for a moment (5)
31 Christian festival that occurs this
month (6)
32 Stood upright, of hair or a brush (8)
ACROSS
1 Herb used as a symbol of remembrance
on Anzac Day (8)
5 The mother character in The Memory
of Water performed by the Elanora
Players in April (6)
9 BBQ plate (5)
10 Adaptable for many uses (9)
12 Inactive or still (10)
13 An open flat-bottomed boat (4)
15 Number in Narrabeen Park Parade
housing All Northern Beaches Lock-
smiths (8)
17 Meltemi Pizza and Family Restaurant’s
cuisine originated in this country
(6)
20 Really tight pants: ___ jeans (6)
22 Domestic goods that the Johnson
Bros specialise in (8)
26 Signals in agreement (4)
27 Excavation of soil on a large scale
(10)
29 One of the events won by Georgia
DOWN
1 Regulated course of diet, etc. (7)
2 Rich, waxy, blue-veined cheese (7)
3 A dissatisfied person (10)
4 Beatles album no doubt found at
Pacific Records in Mona Vale (8)
6 A cinematographic format in which
images are ten times larger than normal
(4)
7 A centre providing activities for
seniors, Northern Beaches Creative ___
& Learning (7)
8 Open air space built in the 1950s
at Avalon Public School under the
guidance of the first headmaster Les
McGuire (7)
11 A store with well-worn interiors on
Avalon Parade (4)
14 A new compact hibiscus, as recommended
in Pittwater Life’s gardening
section (5,5)
16 Get on one’s nerves (3)
18 Motor vehicle (3)
19 A zip, for example (8)
20 This can be viewed in the early
morning from Pittwater’s beaches
looking east (7)
21 Inside a building (7)
23 The coming of expected guests (7)
24 Made certain (7)
25 Pittwater suburb, ____ Beach (4)
28 Small and sweet in a sentimental
way (4)
[Solution page 71]
Pittwater Puzzler
OWN THIS SPACE!
Advertise here & get readers THINKING about YOUR business
Phone 0438 123 096
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 67

Garden Life
Garden Life
Happy hibiscus: moving
colour inside your home with Gabrielle Bryant
As the middle of
autumn approaches
and our gardens are
reeling from the deluge of
water that we have received
over the past weeks, it will
cheer you up to move some
colour inside and appreciate
your indoor garden.
Hibiscus have traditionally
been tropical outdoor
shrubs, but plant breeders
have worked hard to produce
new varieties for indoor
colour. Older varieties had
flowers that lasted for just
one day – but these new
babies have flowers that last
for four or five days before
fading. Hibiscus are not just
for the garden any more,
with residents of Canada and
Northern Europe growing
them indoors for many
years.
However, to keep hibiscus
happy indoors, there are a
few basic requirements.
Grow them on a sunny
window sill or in a bright
environment. They are
hungry plants, so feed
them with a weak solution
of fertiliser every time you
water. Thrive (for flowering
plants) is excellent.
Keep the foliage clean
by regular cleaning. Spray
the plants with warm water,
clean them in the sink or
use eco oil every two weeks.
Your hibiscus will reward you
with flowers to brighten your
home.
There are several new
collections – Island Dream,
Flamenco, or the new baby
Trade Winds. All are compact
bushy plants that will grow in
tubs or pots; they need very
little pruning and flower from
spring until winter sets in.
These new varieties will grow
in pots as small as 140mm
diameter, or you can grow
them on into large tubs.
Grow them outside in
summer and bring them
in for the cooler months.
They will flower until the
temperature drops below 12
degrees.
HISTORY
BEHIND
ANZAC
ROSEMARY
Rosemary is the symbol
of remembrance. Used by
the Greek scholars, who
valued it for its properties
to strengthen the brain,
this hardy herb was first
introduced to European
gardens by the Romans
who used it in chests to
keep the moths away.
Later in the 14th century
it was used as a sweetsmelling
scent to fight
infections.
Rosemary was burnt at
weddings, funerals and
other church festivals
through the medieval ages.
Today it is the symbol of
our Anzacs that have given
their lives for our future
times of peace and liberty.
Plant some now so that
each year you will have a
home-grown piece to wear
with pride on April 25.
Wild rosemary flowers
are pale lavender, but you
can choose many different
shapes, sizes and colours
from the many hybrid
varieties that are available,
dark blue, purple, white or
pink that will grow upright,
rambling or prostrate
across the ground or
cascading over a wall.
Salt-hardy and tough, this
native of the Mediterranean
thrives in light sandy soil
and full sun.
68 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Interested in seed saving?
Permaculture Northern
Beaches will be holding a
seed saving afternoon on Sun
April 23 from 2-4pm at Bungan
Edible Sanctuary.
Apart from cost savings,
saving seeds helps adapt
plants to your local area.
This is a regular event to
exchange seeds, package up
excess seeds for distributing
at the PNB monthly meeting
and share knowledge about
seeds, seed saving and what
grows well in our area.
Admission to the ‘seed circle’
is by bringing along seeds
that you are pretty sure are
open-pollinated (not hybrid)
and have been sourced from
your own garden, or from
someone you know.
Alternatively you are
welcome to bring some food
or probiotic drinks to share
around the table.
If you would like to learn
more or be involved in seed
saving go to permaculturenorthernbeaches.org.au.
Everyone welcome.
– Lisa Offord
Black Diamond crepe
myrtles a sweet sight
Through the ’80s and ’90s Sydney gardeners planted
spring blossom trees that suffered through hot
summer days. Its coloured foliage of dark leaved prunus
was stunning in early spring against the lime green
golden elms.
Now in the 21st century, lucky gardeners can achieve
the same brilliant explosion of colour with trees that will
thrive in our coastal climate.
Crepe Myrtles flower from early December until late
autumn, with blossoms in a rainbow of colours from white
to the darkest burgundy. The Indian Summer series have
bright green foliage that offsets their cloak of colour. They
are smaller-growing than the older varieties, making them
the perfect street tree height.
Now you can interplant them with the brilliant, newly
released Black Diamond series. The vibrant nearly black
foliage looks magic against the vivid colours of the
flowers. There are seven colours to choose from, from
pure white to blush pink, magenta and bright red.
These trees are slightly smaller than the Indian Summer
collection and grow just 2.5m to 3m tall. Grow them as a tall
bushy shrub or train your tree onto a single stem and cut the
top at the desired height where it will soon bush out.
Crepe myrtles flower on new growth, so a light trim in
early spring will improve the flowers. April is coming to
the end of the flowering period, so get your orders in for
Spring if stocks are limited.
Garden Life
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 69

Garden Life
Jobs this Month
April
Garden Life
Make your own
masterpiece
with water lilies
After all the
rain, isn’t it
great to discover
some plants that
not only coped
with the rain,
but that loved it!
Don’t be tricked
into thinking that
water lilies are
delicate. Their
delicate appearance
is deceiving. They
are very hardy and
easy to grow. They
don’t need much
attention. Nothing can be
more elegant than a tub of
water lilies, outside on the
patio or at the front door.
You can buy water lilies
in packets when they are
dormant in winter or as
potted plants. They will
be readily available at the
Plant Collectors Fair, or
from water plant nurseries
on line or take a drive to
visit them.
Plant water lilies into
shallow containers about
250mm – 300mm wide.
A drainage hole is not
necessary but if there is a
hole, line the pot with shade
cloth or hessian to keep the
soil in place. Use garden soil
not potting mix. Add a couple
of aquatic fertiliser tablets
into to soil underneath the
roots.
After planting cover the
surface
with gravel or pebbles
to hold the plant in place and
prevent it from floating to
the top while it establishes its
new root system.
Mosquitoes can be a
problem, but this is easily
controlled by the addition of
a couple of gold fish to the
bowl.
Wait and watch as the
flowers magically appear
above the water!
Yes, we needed some rain
– but not quite so much!
The soil in our gardens
is waterlogged and as it dries
out it will leave the surface
compacted and hard. Turn the
soil to allow it to breathe again
and cover with a mulch of cow
manure, Water it in with Seasol
to repair water-damaged roots.
And make sure you clean, trim
and feed everything.
The great unblock
Stay on top of your home
maintenance – make sure you
clean your gutters and drains.
Blocked drains can cause leaks
in heavy rain. And blocked
gutters can cause structural
damage to your roof. (Your
compost bin will love the
storm-damaged leaves and
twigs that are retrieved from
the gutters and also swept up.)
Great cover-up
Stone walls look bare. Cover
them with creeping ficus (ficus
pumilla – below). It is easy
to grow and will stick to any
surface without support.
70 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Grevillea treat
Give the birds a treat and
plant a grevillea in the garden.
Robyn Gordon (above) is still
one of the best bird-attracting
shrubs.
Winter colour
The rain has finished off the
summer annuals. Pull them
out now and plant pansies and
violas, polyanthus and primula,
poppies and snapdragons,
alyssum and cineraria,
calendula and verbena, for a
colourful winter garden.
Grow veggies
As soon as the wet weather
ends plant winter crops in
the veggie patch. Cabbages,
Brussels sprouts, cauliflowers,
broccoli, peas, spinach, carrots,
spring onions, strawberries,
seed potatoes and
Chinese cabbage can all go in
now.
Snail watch
Protect new seedlings from
the slugs and snails that are
everywhere after the wet
month of March. Be careful
with snail pellets that
will harm pets and wildlife.
Saucers of beer placed in the
garden will attract snails and
slugs – what a way to go!
Tale of the tapes
Seed tapes are an easy way to
sow fine seed. Water the soil
with a fine spray until the seed
germinates. Plant a strip each
week to stagger the crops.
Army worm
Aerate and improve the drainage
of your lawn with a garden
fork or a spiked roller that can
be hired before watering with
Eco Neem. Army worm will be
on the march after the rain.
Eco Neem will control them
and is completely organic.
Time for sweet
peas
It is not too late to plant sweet
peas. Be sure to give the
seedlings a lattice or bamboo
support to climb up, or grow
dwarf varieties in pots and
baskets.
‘Turn on’ bulbs
Garden Centres are full of
enticing packets of spring
bulbs. It is time to plant them
now. It is tempting to try all
the different varieties, but
mass planting of one variety
looks much better when the
bulbs come into flower. Look
for early flowering varieties.
Narcissus and jonquils grow
better in our climate than
daffodils. Tulips look great
for the first year but they very
rarely re-flower the following
season.
Pest tips
Caterpillars can decimate a
shrub overnight. Yates Success
will control them. Also, watch
out for the white cabbage
moth – light shade cloth
over new seedlings will
protect them.
Under pressure
Moss and mildew are
everywhere. Beware of
slippery pavers and footpaths.
Chlorine will clean the mildew
away but the fumes can burn
the plants nearby. A highpressure
water jet is the
easiest way to clean up.
Crossword solution from page 67
Mystery Word: SAND POINT
Garden Life
Masked marauders swooping
The Masked Lapwing – aka
Plover – with its over-protective
parenting and haunting
late night calls, is
making some residents
a little nervous
at the moment.
A spokesperson for
the Foundation for National
Parks & Wildlife
said while usually very
shy, you can expect
to see the Masked Lapwing
nesting and increasing their
defensive behaviour over the
coming weeks.
‘There will be more swooping
at park visitors and
making a racket if you get too
close to their nest or babies,
but you’ll be pleased to know
that they rarely make contact
with you – it’s all just a part of
their performance.”
Masked Lapwings are a
great “backyard
buddy” as they will
remove all sorts of
insects from your
lawn, giving some
protection against
pests like army grubs,
mole crickets and
lawn beetles.
Backyard Buddies is a free
program run by Australia’s
Foundation for National Parks
& Wildlife with information
and tips to make your backyard
inviting and safe for native
animals. A new logo and
website (www.backyardbuddies.org.au)
will be launched
this month. – LO
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 71

Times Past
Arts boosted by
open-air theatre
Times Past
Avalon Public School
opened in August
1950 with Les McGuire
as the inaugural headmaster
(and teacher of 4th to 6th
Grade classes) and his wife
Doss as the teacher of the
Kindergarten to 3rd Grade
class students.
Les McGuire had an
incredible ability to galvanise
the community, engaging
it to provide for the many
needs of the new school.
One of the primary needs
he saw was the construction
of a hall or theatre where
drama could be performed.
There were many people in the
community already involved
in drama, music and art.
Avalon Beach was 39
kilometres from Sydney with
no theatre close-by.
The Avalon Evening
College began in 1953 and
drama was one of the more
popular courses, with a keen
following early. Of course, it
too required a performance
area, although Mr McGuire
saw the theatre especially
as a “first-rate stimulus to
children’s expression”.
Parents and Citizens’ (P&C)
meetings were convened
soon after August 1950 and a
Works Committee was elected
to organise construction
of the theatre. Members of
the committee included an
architect, a master builder
and others with practical
theatre experience.
The school first operated
in a double portable building;
however, student numbers
grew so rapidly that a second
building was soon needed.
A second building was
obtained and sited parallel
to the first but a sufficient
distance apart (to the south)
to allow for an ‘auditorium’
for the future theatre
between the two buildings.
A third building (a disused
RAAF building) was then
secured and placed at the
western end of the space but
set back to allow for a 7.5
metres by 5-metres stage.
This building was to serve as
the theatre dressing room.
A grant of $130 enabled
the purchase of bricks and
timber and an enthusiastic
band of parents soon
had the floor of the stage
constructed. The P&C then
managed to obtain enough
timber on credit for the
framework of the stage
and in one weekend the
stage was erected. The roof
for some months was an
untidy collection of massive
tarpaulins draped over the
skeleton structure during a
performance and laboriously
removed afterwards.
The walls were clad with
fibro and timber donated
by a generous patron and a
roof of malthoid was then
laid. Unfortunately this roof
was wrenched off violently
during a sudden winter
storm and was later replaced
with corrugated iron.
After two years of hiring
or borrowing seating for
each performance an appeal
brought a sum of $300.
“Fifty gaily coloured garden
seats each 5 feet in length”
were purchased and by
March 1953 these provided
permanent seating for over
200 adults.
(I remember the theatre
well and playing the part of
Balthasar, one of the three
wise men, in a Christmas
Nativity performance in the
1950s!)
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.
72 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years

Travel Life
Find a beat to suit you
on 2017 music cruises
Cruiseco have four exclusive
music cruises cruising
the South Pacific, roundtrip
from Sydney this year. Embark
the four star 2,110-guest Radiance
of the Seas, unpack once
– then get set for some of the
best international and Australian
artists on the high seas.
Cruisin’ Country 7, departing
October 8, is all about the
family. Over eight fun-filled
nights (via Loyalty Islands,
Vanuatu and New Caledonia)
guests will enjoy dance lessons,
song writing and guitar
workshops – not to mention
performances from illustrious
country music artists
including Lee Kernaghan, John
Williamson, and Beccy Cole.
Travel View’s Karen Robinson
recommends you book quickly
as Interior cabins are already
sold out, with Oceanview
staterooms and above still
available, starting from
$3,345pp, twin share.
On Rock the Boat
7 – billed as Australia’s
biggest rock ’n’ roll
festival at sea – guests
will be taken on a nostalgic
journey reliving
the greatest decades
of popular music. “It
will feature over 30
artists including UK
legends Status Quo
and Australian rock legends
Baby Animals, Jon Stevens
and Jack Jones, coupled with
rock ’n’ roll dancing lessons
and live performances,” said
Karen. This extraordinary
seven-night round trip from
Sydney, departing October
16, starts from $3,195pp, twin
share in an Oceanview stateroom
(limited availability).
Following the success of
2013’s inaugural Cruise N
Groove
cruise, the
best dance music from the
’70s through the ’90s will be
featured during eight nights
aboard Cruise N Groove 2017,
departing October 23. “Charttopping
artists include KC and
the Sunshine Band, Boney M,
Marcia Hines, Paul Young and
Go West,” Karen said. All new
bookings, made by April 30,
include a generous discount of
$1,000 per person – with twin
share starting from $1,757pp
(subject to availability).
Last, Bravo – the
cruise of the performing
arts –
departs October 31
for a seven-night
journey. “With over
30 acts and artists
it will showcase the biggest
line-up ever assembled on
water – including international
acclaimed Spanish tenor Jose
Carreras in one of his final
performances,” Karen said.
“Other highlight acts include
David Hobson, Marina Prior,
Jonathan Welch and Emma
Pask.” Cruise fares start from
$2,686pp, twin share in an
Interior stateroom.
* Travel View, a member of
Cruiseco, welcome enquiries
and bookings; contact them
on 9918 4444.
Travel Life
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 73

Travel Life
Travel Life
Myriad ship options all
add to cruising appeal
Australians continue to
embrace cruising with
enthusiasm and are consistently
cruising in larger numbers and
more often, says specialist mobile
travel agent Amanda Erwin.
“Cruising is a fantastic way
to travel and these days there
are so many choices,” says
Amanda. “There are large
ships, small luxury ships, amazing
river cruising options, from
Europe, to Asia, North and
South America, North Africa –
and of course we can’t forget
the Murray River here at home.”
Amanda says cruising can enhance
the experience of a visit
to a bucket list destination.
“I often think of the time I
spent in Egypt and the wonderful
cruise we enjoyed down
the river Nile,” she said. “We
would start our day early (to
escape the heat of the noon
sun) to visit all the amazing
monuments and incredible
sites (pictured), returning to our
cruise boat for lunch and siesta
and then venture forth again in
the late afternoon.
“I was lucky on a couple of
occasions to have the top deck
to myself, a deck chair and
book and the tranquility of
watching the passing villages
and gardens of the river bank.
Being an avid ABC viewer, the
Agatha Christie detective series
would immediately spring to
mind.”
Something out of the ordinary,
says Amanda, are expedition
ships for the adventurist
souls of all ages, visiting the
Antarctic, the Artic and small
nooks and crannies of the
Alaskan coastline.
“There are also cruises taking
in the gorgeous Pacific Islands,
around Australian cruising,
New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti,
the Galapagos Islands, Caribbean
islands… the list goes on
and on. The choices are wide
and varied and really cater for
everyone.
“And the beauty with cruising
is that you unpack once, the
fares include all meals, accommodation,
entertainment, and
of course your transportation.”
She said many cruise
companies offered even more
inclusions, with fabulous cruise
packages available to suit every
budget.
* Need help planning your
next cruise? Call Amanda on
0423 056 815 or email aerwin@
mtatravel.com.au.
Plan your
own Driving
Adventure
T
o many, the thought
of sitting in a packed
coach for hours, sneaking
a glimpse of scenery as a
holiday tour bus hurtles
through the countries of
destination, lacks appeal.
Ditto the idea of planning a
self-drive vacation.
Local tour operator
David Thomas has come
up with a happy medium
– a sort of ‘holiday rally’
where you can choose to
drive (a luxury vehicle) to
designated destinations
with other members of
your tour group or set
your own pace and road
route, meeting up at your
overnight accommodation.
David’s ‘Driving
Adventures’ has two great
tours on the horizon. From
May 13-27 he’s heading
to the US West Coast,
taking in the mountains
and deserts of California,
Arizona and Nevada with
sights including the Grand
Canyon, Las Vegas and
Death Valley.
His new UK tour from
June 11-23 kicks off in
the picture-perfect Lakes
District, driving the
east and west coasts of
Scotland and into Wales.
More info
drivingadventures.com.au
74 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years