Pittwater Life August 2017 Issue

The Local Voice Since 1991
LOCAL ELECTION
COUNTDOWN
NEW CANDIDATES
SHOW THEIR HANDS
DAs PROCESS
OVERHAULED
IT’S A WIN
FOR PITTWATER
GALLOP POLL
WHAT FUTURE FOR
OUR LOCAL HORSES?
AUGUST 2017
FREE
pittwaterlife
New Event
Taste of the
Beaches
FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
HEADS TO MONA VALE
* Burger indicative only!

Editorial
Latest on the Council election...
With little more than six
weeks to go before the
first Northern Beaches Council
election, this month we grill
the latest batch of candidates
who have announced their
intentions to run in our
Pittwater and Narrabeen wards.
(First up: before you vote, you
might want to check what ward
you live in, so you can work out
which candidates you need to
run your eye over – see p9.)
The latest election
development sees the
emergence of the Northern
Beaches Community Alliance,
which will field independent
candidates in Pittwater and
Narrabeen wards (so far).
Their driving force is former
Pittwater Mayor Alex McTaggart
– although with Robert Hopton
as the focus in Pittwater, and
Dr Conny Harris in Narrabeen.
Alex believes it’s a time for
renewal – read about their push
on p18.
The Greens have also
launched a ticket, while Liberal
candidates are days away from
confirming. Stay tuned!
* * *
This month we say a fond
farewell to meticulous
distribution manager Ray
Drury, who worked dilligently
for 22 years ensuring you
received a copy of Pittwater Life
in your letterbox each month.
Ray estimates he’s engaged
around 750 locals to deliver the
magazine during his tenure.
Turning 79 this month, Ray
is looking forward to spending
more time with his wife Joy...
and having a few more hits
(but fewer shots) on his beloved
Palm Beach Golf Course.
From all of us at Pittwater Life
– a huge thanks, and wishing
you many quiet, happy days
ahead!
Ray hands the distribution
baton to John Nieuwenhof
and Gill Stokes; if you’re
interested in becoming part
of our walking team email
pitlifewalkers@gmail.com
– Nigel Wall
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 3

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Email:
info@pittwaterlife.com.au
Website:
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Publisher: Nigel Wall
Managing Editor: Lisa Offord
Graphic Design: CLS Design
Photography: iStock
Contributors: Rosamund
Burton, Gabrielle Bryant, Brian
Hrnjak, Jennifer Harris, Nick
Carroll, Sue Carroll, Dr. John
Kippen, Janelle Bloom, Geoff
Searl.
Distribution:
John Nieuwenhof & Gill Stokes
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Vol 27 No 1
Celebrating 26 years
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thislife
COVER: The countdown is on to the first Northern
Beaches Council election on September 9 – meet the latest
locals to put up their hands to represent (p18); we look
at the growing number of Street Libraries connecting
communities (p24); Sid Slaven – the Urban Cowboy of the
Beaches – is worried about the future of horses on the
peninsula (p32); the RMYC has announced the Pittwater
to Coffs Harbour yacht race is on again (p41); meet the
artist whose new mural work adorns the Pittwater Youth
Hostel (p36); and head to the Taste of the Beaches on
August 27 (p16). COVER IMAGE (yummo!): Brett Stevens
also this month
Editorial 3
Pittwater Community News 8-31
Life Stories: Sid Slaven, ‘Urban Cowboy’ 32-35
Art Life 36-37
Surfing Life 38-39
Boating Life 40-41
Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 42-49
Money & Finance 50-52
Law 54-55
Trades & Services 56-58
Food: Winter-warming soups 64-66
Crossword 67
Gardening Life 68-70
Travel Life 72-74
the goodlife
Restaurants, food, gigs, travel and gardening.
Also find our regular features on beauty, health, surfing,
art, local history, our guide to trades and services, money,
law and our essential maps.
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS!
Bookings and advert material to set for
our SEPTEMBER issue MUST be supplied by
FRIDAY 11 AUGUST
Finished art & editorial submissions deadline:
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The SEPTEMBER issue will be published
on WEDNESDAY 30 AUGUST
COPYRIGHT
All contents are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the
written consent of the copyright owner. GST: All advertising rates are subject to GST.
4 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

News
‘Why I’m for the B-Line’
As residents associations
and community groups
continue to rally, debate
and oppose the impact of the
B-Line Bus Service and its
planned Newport Beach terminus
point, other residents hope
that their voice in favour of the
B-Line is heard.
Allan Porter, 73, of Avalon
Beach, says it’s important to
not let emotion cloud the issue.
The 30-years Pittwater resident
said the distant parts of
the northern beaches remained
the same distance from the
major urban centres of north
and central Sydney – but had
become further away in travel
time as growth, urbanisation
and road usage continued to
increase.
“That’s progress… that’s
life on the northern beaches,
where an increasing number of
people want to live,” Mr Porter
said. “And now there is an improvement
on the horizon that
has cheered up a lot of people –
those who are frequent public
transport users, those who see
the attraction that improved
public transport offers and
have long hoped for the benefit
of something new.”
Mr Porter said that while
there had been a lot of “huffing
and puffing” about the
effect of buses having to turn
around, buses were doing that
now.
“One can be forgiven if
they hadn’t noticed,” he said.
“Avalon Beach has been a loop
for buses to terminate journeys
from the city, swing into
Avalon Parade, then Old Barrenjoey
Road, then Barrenjoey
Road to a rest point outside
Avalon Beach Surf Club awaiting
schedule to commence.
“The system works and has
done successfully for years as
part of the natural environmental
integration of people
and vehicular movement.”
Mr Porter – who describes
himself as “old enough to
know that things change,
experienced enough to know
that when something new is
proposed there’s frequently
objection, and wise enough
to know that things seem
to sort themselves out very
nicely” – noted the schedule of
departures from Avalon Beach
was currently on average about
every 15 minutes.
“Although Avalon Beach is
not, sadly, the turnaround
point for the B-Line, an increase
to a scheduled departure
of every 10 minutes as is
proposed with the B-Line is no
big deal no matter where the
terminus.”
He remains disappointed
the red line was run through
Avalon Beach as the B-Line
terminus.
“It’s a pity, as the higher deck
of the B-Line buses might have
permitted travellers one of
the greatest ocean road views
in Sydney, not visible from
normal vehicles.”
As for opposition to proposed
schedules for new and
existing bus routes servicing
the B-Line, he said: “Having
been closely associated with
the business of the heavy
vehicle transport industry, I
can say that when an operator
has a rig costing big money, he
is not going to have it sit idle
in car parks or neighbourhood
streets.
“A commercial vehicle that
is not working is loss making.
Down-time is eliminated
through good scheduling. Getting
bums on seats or freight
on truck and achieving a
satisfactory result is all a matter
of research and calculation
and I give credit to those who
have the knowledge and skills
to do this.”
He said anyone who had
travelled overseas would have
favourable opinions on the
good public transport systems
they had experienced.
“I am sure the B-Line will
achieve an excellent pass
mark and give some welcome
evidence that something is
happening on the northern
beaches that improves our connection
to the rest of the world
nearby.” – Nigel Wall
New course options for Pub2Pub
The iconic Pub2Pub Charity Fun Run
and Festival celebrates its 25th year of
raising hundreds of thousands of dollars
for local charities. The event will be staged
on Sunday August 27, from 8-10am.
Organised by the Rotary Club of
Brookvale, the event now has three
course options: 13km from Dee Why SLC
to Newport SLC; 6km from Warriewood
to Newport; and 3km from Mona Vale to
Newport.
A Family Festival will be held at the Newport
Beach finish line with live music, a licensed
bar area, international food options and
plenty of fun rides and games for the kids.
More info visit pub2pub.com.au
6 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

News
DAs streamlining a win for Pittwater
Residents of the former Pittwater Council
area who hold concerns about potentially
inappropriate development will now need to
lodge fewer objections before the matter is
referred for independent judgment.
The downgrade from five objections to just
three follows Northern Beaches Council’s unification
of its Development Assessment services
across all three former Council areas, including
a review of determination procedures.
The amended Development Control Plan
(DCP) came into effect on Saturday July 8,
with all existing and future applications to
now be assessed under its guidelines.
Acting General Manager Planning, Place
& Community Melissa Messina said the new
streamlined system would significantly improve
the customer experience.
“We now offer a process whereby development
applications are referred to one of three
determination bodies based on standardised
criteria which include cost of works and objections
received,” Ms Messina said.
She said complex applications would be
referred (monthly) to the Northern Beaches
Independent Assessment Panel (NBIAP), adding
she was confident residents could expect
clarity and consistency in the handling of
their development applications.
“These changes herald a new era for
Development Assessment on the Northern
Beaches,” she said.
Prior to the new system, DAs in Pittwater
had been referred to the NBIAP when there
was an estimated cost of more than $10
million and where there were “five or more
objections that are relevant and remain unresolved”.
The new standardised criteria will see the
NBIAP ruling on DAs where the estimated
cost is greater than $2 million and where
there are three or more unresolved objections.
The new criteria bring the former Pittwater
Council area into alignment with the former
Manly Council region, which prior to amalgamation
had triggers of three complaints
before independent referral.
Meanwhile the former Warringah Council
required just two objections before independent
referral.
Chair of community group Pittwater Forever,
Craig Boaden, commended Council on
the move.
“It’s excellent news – any improvement over
the previous regulation that makes it easier
for residents’ voices to be heard is welcome,”
he said.
“It’s really heartening to see the new
Council helping to promote the voice of the
local community in development matters; we
are sure it will all be used in a constructive
manner.”
– Nigel Wall
Talking is key
to avoiding
neighbour rifts
The three biggest areas of
complaints to Northern
Beaches Council involve
illegal building works (including
fences), dumped
waste and parking issues.
Council General Manager
Planning, Place &
Community David Kerr
has urged neighbours to
communicate to avoid
disputes.
“If you can, talk to
your neighbour about the
practical aspects of the
problem, how it is affecting
you both and what
needs to be done to solve
it,” David said. “Be courteous
and respectful and
listen and be prepared to
compromise.”
Fallen trees, invasive
tree roots, barking dogs
and late-night parties
were other day-to-day annoyances
that can lead to
ongoing neighbourhood
squabbles.
8 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Be aware of Ward changes
With the Northern Beaches
Council election around
the corner on September 9,
many residents remain unsure
of which Ward they need to
cast their vote in.
Boundaries for the Pittwater
and Narrabeen Wards in the
new Council region are considerably
different to the Northern,
Central and Southern
Wards of the previous Pittwater
Council area.
Pittwater Ward comprises
coastal suburbs from Palm
Beach to Mona Vale, plus Scotland
Island and the Western
Foreshore, Bayview and Church
Point, plus Terrey Hills, Duffys
Forest and Cottage Point.
Narrabeen Ward stretches
from the edge of Mona Vale
south through North Narrabeen,
Narrabeen and Collaroy,
plus west through Ingleside,
Elanora Heights, Oxford Falls
and Cromer.
More info: northernbeaches.
nsw.gov.au
Meanwhile, candidate nominations
for the election will
be accepted from Monday July
31, with Returning Officers
closing the process at noon on
Wednesday August 9 in the
lead-up to polling day.
And community umbrella
group Pittwater Forever,
representing 18 community
groups and their members,
has confirmed two public information
sessions at the Mona
Vale Memorial Hall at which
candidates for Council can address
electors.
The session for candidates
for Pittwater Ward is from
6.30pm on Tuesday August 29,
with the Narrabeen Ward session
from 6.30pm on Tuesday
September 5.
“Pittwater Forever will invite
all candidates seeking election
to council from these two
Wards to make brief presentations
of their policies, and to
answer questions from the
floor,” Pittwater Forever Chairman
Craig Boaden said.
“We will also facilitate
recruiting volunteers to help
independent candidates with
things like leafletting, and
handing out How to Vote cards
at pre-poll and polling stations.”
– Nigel Wall
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 9

Overdevelopment overpl
News
Community
misconceptions about
what constitutes
‘overdevelopment’ is
threatening compliant
proposals and jeopardising
the area’s potential growth,
according to a local planner.
Ursula Lang, who has many
years of experience in State
and Local government as well
as private consultancy, said
the label “overdevelopment”
was more a slogan used to try
to prevent development and
maintain the status quo.
“It is often used to simply
appease neighbour objections,”
said Ursula (pictured), a
strategic and environmental
planning specialist who
operates Transformative
Planning at Clareville.
“Interestingly, these
residents are often the
same people who demand
major improvements to
infrastructure, especially
public transport, public space,
and accessibility, none of
which is likely to happen if we
are constantly locked in with
the status quo.
“We see the word
‘overdevelopment’ painted
on signs on Mona Vale Road
in relation to the Ingleside
Release Area, and referred to
in resident submissions.
“We see it in submissions
against Seniors Living
developments, secondary
dwellings and often on
developments which fully
comply with Council and State
Policies – this does seem like
an anomaly,” she said.
Ursula noted residents
group protests over the
Mona Vale Place Plan of 2016,
which was developed by the
former Pittwater Council and
staff, but shelved because of
cries of “overdevelopment”
– partly because some of the
key sites were proposed to
be permitted to develop to a
6-storey height limit.
“I have asked many people
to define ‘overdevelopment’,
including Council planners,
other professionals and nonprofessionals
but most struggle
to define what they mean.
“It is a word which is
generic in meaning, often
emotive, highly subjective –
and in fact means absolutely
nothing,” she said.
Regarding Ingleside, Ursula
said if the Northern Beaches
Council was expected to
contribute to providing
housing in Metropolitan
Sydney – and if we wanted our
children to live close to us and
afford to buy – then acceptance
of a new housing area at a
higher density was required.
“A certain level of density
in a new release area is
necessary to support a
small shopping centre, to
support patronage of new
public transport and other
infrastructure, and to ensure
development with its huge
costs of providing roads,
water, sewerage, electricity,
communications etc, as well
as schools, open space and
community facilities, is
viable,” she said.
Otherwise there was no
incentive for the developer to
invest money.
“This is not
overdevelopment,” she
stressed. “It is a question
of getting the new density
and the new infrastructure
right at a level which makes
development feasible.”
Regarding Seniors Living
developments, Ursula
10 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

ayed?
said many residents who
were looking to downsize
locally would love to
live in a compact, wellappointed
apartment with no
maintenance, close to public
transport and shopping
facilities and a higher
standard of accessibility.
She said The Boathouse
development on the corner
of Hudson Parade and
Riverview Road at Clareville
(right) was an example of
an “overdevelopment” that
proved unfounded.
“It has six Seniors Living
apartments and underground
parking and was the subject
of residents’ complaints and
court action… one wonders
what all the fuss was about,”
she said, adding she had
nothing to do with the project.
“This is a really welldesigned
development, which
snuggles into the corner,
beautifully maintained with
lovely landscaping.
“It’s a totally appropriate
infill development which is
needed in this area to fulfil
a clear demand for people
wanting to age in the area,
but not necessarily needing to
go into supported aged care
facilities.”
Similarly, she said
secondary dwellings were
now permissible in parts of
Pittwater zoned Environmental
Living (formerly zoned
residential) and were a great
form of infill development on
properties where there was
sufficient space.
“In some cases, compromise
is necessary in terms of tree
removal and aspirations for
tree retention, but it’s unlikely
to be justifiably judged as
overdevelopment particularly
where the property is of a
substantial size, and given
that a secondary dwelling can
only be 25 per cent of the floor
area of the main dwelling.”
Ursula said it was time the
local area was delivered some
quality buildings that could
be considered “beautiful” in
terms of their architectural
design – “I struggle to think
of more than one in the
whole of the former Pittwater
Council area” – with generous
landscaped public space at
ground, foyers with seating,
cafes, and the essential lift
access not mandated on
buildings under four-storeys.
“With a new Council
soon to be elected, let’s
take the opportunity to do
planning better,” she urged.
“Let’s look at the detail of
development proposals
carefully, collaborate with
both developers, applicants
of development proposals,
and the community, and
not shy away from proper
communication, discussions
around the table and working
out how to get the best
planning outcomes with the
least environmental impact.
“Finally, let’s not hide away
behind meaningless words
like ‘overdevelopment’.”
What Do You Think?
Tell us at
readers@pittwaterlife.com.au
– Nigel Wall
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 11

High-impact sports
ban under review
Local sporting groups are
cheering a decision by Northern
Beaches Council to review
the current January to March
restriction on high-impact
activities at some locations,
including North Narrabeen
Reserve, to enable pre-season
and other sports use.
Currently the former Pittwater
Council area is out of sync
with the rest of the new Council
region, which permits activities
on all its grass playing fields
throughout the year.
Acting General Manager
Environment & Infrastructure
Steve Lawler said Council was
endeavouring to address different
needs of the community.
This included a Masterplan
for North Narrabeen Reserve
which would accommodate
both the markets and sports.
“The intent is to have a consistent,
single approach across
the entire Northern Beaches”,
Mr Lawler said.
Council announced its
detailed sports fields strategy
in late July; it provided several
solutions to deal with the shortage
of sports fields, including
upgrades to existing fields,
synthetic sports grounds and a
new priority allocation system.
The 15-year strategy involves
building new fields in Warriewood
Valley and at Ingleside,
while Council will work with
schools to facilitate access to
their sports grounds for community
sports and will install
more synthetic surfaces in the
southern Council area.
At other grounds, Council
will install new drainage and
lighting.
The unused equestrian
facility at North Narrabeen
Reserve was also the subject of
the Council strategy, with the
recommendation that the Clive
Rogers Equestrian Ground become
a shared facility allowing
both sports training and community
uses like the market.
– Nigel Wall
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 13

Mums’ super snacks
is no half-baked idea
Two northern beaches mums have taken activities and weekend sport, often doesn’t
the hard work out of snack shopping – by leave much time to research the nutritional
reading the fine print on packaging and subsequently
delivering healthy and nutritious on the market in order to find something that
information contained in the many products
products to your
tastes great, has
front door.
health benefits and
Busy parents can
doesn’t contain
now order healthy
any hidden nasties,”
Kylie said.
snacks, “superfood”
blends and
“Our aim is to
prepared snack
provide healthy
boxes through the
products that complement
a fresh
new online business
The Nutritious
food lifestyle.
Pantry.
“We have also
All the foods
created readyto-order
boxes
brought together
by founders Kylie
containing a selection
of snacks and
Dowling and Bec
Lyons have been
healthy options
thoroughly researched, taste-tested and
perfect for kids’ lunch boxes, to take to work
nutritionist-approved.
for that 3pm pick-me-up, or a perfect choice if
Kylie, a mum of three and qualified nutritionist,
explained she and Bec joined forces to The Kids Snack Box, Gluten Free Box, Dairy
you have diet restrictions,” she said.
launch The Nutritious Pantry, knowing all too Free Box and Vegan Box are all available
well how busy life gets.
through thenutritiouspantry.com.au; delivery
“Juggling work, kids at school, after-school is free to the northern beaches. – Lisa Offord
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 15

News
Sample a Taste of the Beaches
smorgasbord of
A Northern Beaches
restaurants and cafes
have teamed up with
local boutique brewers
and outstanding Mudgee
wineries for a new pop-up
style food-and-wine festival
overlooking Pittwater’s
stunning Winnererremy Bay
on Sunday 27 August from
11am-5pm.
Taste of the Beaches
promises sumptuous food
paired with craft beers and
boutique wines, plus family
friendly entertainment,
including live music – all in a
spectacular waterfront setting.
Organised by the interim
Northern Beaches Council
and timed as an end-ofwinter
celebration in the
lead-up to the new Council
election in September, Taste
of the Beaches will feature
around 25 stalls featuring
regional wines, quality local
food and beer as well as
plenty of children’s activities
and live music.
Official tasting glasses will
be sold for $5 and tickets
from participating wine and
beer stalls will be $3 for each
tasting.
Performers taking the
stage include the groovy
Black Bird Hum, funky Gang
of Brothers and reggaeinspired
Kool Vibration.
Children can ride the
thrilling Flying Fox in the
park, plus there will be free
face painting, arts and crafts,
interactive stalls, a children’s
puppet show and more.
More info thingstodo.
northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
5THINGS
THIS MONTH
Young minds big ideas.
Do you have an aspiring
entrepreneur aged 16-22 in the
family? Set them on the right
path at this two-and-a-half day
conference where they will learn
from leading experts on how to
create a successful business and
make a positive difference. Fri 4
from 5-8.30pm, Sat 5, 8.30am-
5pm and Sun 6, 8.30am. Tickets
at youngmindsnb.com.au
Birthing kit packing day.
The Zonta Club and Barrenjoey
High School have joined forces
to pack 2000 simple birthing kits
to assist women in developing
countries to have a safe delivery.
All welcome at Barrenjoey High
on Sat 5 from 1pm-3pm. ($3 buys
the materials for one kit and the
training program for its delivery.
Make a donation now or on the
day.) More info call Margaret 0416
182 393 or marg.white@me.com
Citizen science. Be inspired
and learn how you can get
involved in some exciting
research projects and become
part of Northern Beaches
Council's Citizen Science
programs on Thur 17 at 7pm at
the Coastal Environment Centre
North Narrabeen bookings
essential 1300 000 232.
Daffodil Day. A national day
of hope for a cancer-free future,
takes place on Fri, 25 and Cancer
Council NSW is encouraging
you to support the event by
volunteering, buying merchandise
or making a donation. To get
involved in Daffodil Day 2017, visit
daffodilday.com.au.
Save the date. Tickets for the
northern beaches Melbourne
Cup Fundraising Lunch go on
sale this month. Hosted by
Peninsula Pals for the past 30
years, the event will be held
on November 7 in The Grand
Ballroom, Manly Pacific Hotel
from 11.30-4pm. Tickets $120
includes a two-course lunch
and all beverages. There will be
prizes, raffles, sweeps, fashions
in the field and entertainment
with all funds raised supporting
the local charities Sunnyfield,
BeCentre, SMS Lighthouse and
Burdekin Association. Details at
peninsulapals.org.
16 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Election Countdown
‘A time for renewal’
News
Interview by Nigel Wall
After more than a year of
consideration, Avalon
community identity
Robert Hopton has committed
to running for Council as part
of the new Northern Beaches
Community Alliance of independents.
Mr Hopton is a 16-year patrolling
member of Avalon Beach
Surf Life Saving Club. Along
with two past Presidents – his
wife Christine and her successor
Richard Cole – he spent
six years driving the refurbishment
of the Club, in close
partnership with members, the
community and the Council.
“I am a positive and proactive
supporter of the Pittwater
community and believe I have
the skills to help protect this
wonderful part of the world and
bring new blood to the Council,”
he said. “The Northern Beaches
Community Alliance provides
Former Pittwater Mayor Alex McTaggart
will stand as an Independent
under the ‘Northern Beaches Community
Alliance’ banner in Pittwater Ward at the
upcoming Council election, alongside
well-known Avalon Beach SLSC identity
Robert Hopton.
And former Greens candidate Dr
Conny Harris will run as the Alliance
candidate in Narrabeen Ward, he said.
Mr McTaggart, who served on Council
for 13 years, said original councillors
and community representatives who
delivered a successful financial and representative
council were fading with age
an umbrella for like-minded independent
candidates to stand
under, share ideas, marketing
and electoral issues.”
Professionally Mr Hopton has
worked in design and architecture
for more than 40 years,
leading the development of several
major projects, including
the Victorian Comprehensive
Cancer Clinic, hospitals, urban
planning projects for townships
and local neighborhoods
plus office buildings and retail
projects both in Australia and
overseas.
With the Council Election on
September 9 fast approaching
Mr Hopton spoke to Pittwater
Life about what the new generation
of local independents
hoped to achieve if successful…
Pittwater Life: Why are you
standing and what attracts you
about the NBCA ticket?
Robert Hopton: My business
experience and community
engagement means I can represent
the residents’ interests in
council, bringing focus, clarity
and dedication to ensure that
Pittwater is protected and that
our aspirations as a community
are heard and acted on by the
Northern Beaches Council. I
believe that it is our responsibility
to ensure that when we
are finished, we have improved
and enhanced our habitat for
the next generation. Being a
Councillor will provide me a
platform to do just this. I had
been thinking about running
for some time before the amalgamation,
sharing my thoughts
with several people from different
parts of our community
to see if they thought that I
had something to offer. I was
overwhelmed with the positive
reaction to my suggestions and
I am now stepping up. I have
been fortunate to have two
mentors in my wife Christine
and Alex McTaggart. Alex has
McTaggart forges new Alliance
and that it was “time for renewal”.
“There is a need to ignite the passion
in our younger generation to preserve
and enhance our unique natural environment
and carry on the aspirations of
our predecessors,” the 67-year-old said.
“Council is now an $800 million business
– the area takes in three and a half
state seats and two federal seats… it’s
no longer a place for well-intentioned
amateurs.
“We need serious candidates, and not
individuals using Council as a political
stepladder.”
Mr McTaggart sees himself as the
convinced me that there is a
need for renewal if the new
Council is going to serve the
community well. Alex has spent
the past 24 years in politics and
is concerned that the representation
on the new Council
link between the past and the future
and intends to work to strengthen local
community groups to support the new
Council in the decision-making process.
“This new council with 270,000 residents
is a huge step forward,” he said.
Continued on page 22
18 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

may not adequately represent
Pittwater should a block from
other wards have the power.
PL: If elected, what can the residents
of Pittwater expect from
you on the NB Council?
RH: I will be the community’s
voice on all issues. I will vigorously
debate, apply rigor to the
decision-making processes,
look for alternative options to
be put forward by the Council
and make the Council
Staff accountable to their Key
Performance Indicators. I will
protect and enhance our community
and our environment.
All volunteer organisations are
integral to our community – I
will use my best endeavors to
ensure that they are fairly and
accurately represented where
needed. Regarding the Surf Life
Saving community, I will fight
against any proposal to introduce
paid life guard services to
our beaches, which will minimise
the opportunities for our
volunteers. I will actively lobby
with the Northern Beaches
Branch to the State Government
for funding. I will focus on our
youth and endeavour to ensure
that we have support structures
in place for any of the disaffected.
I will endeavour to provide a
pathway for start-up incubators
as centres of excellence where
we can gain employment and
experience, without having
to commute to other parts
of Sydney. I will encourage
the arts community, to build
on what already is a vibrant
and exciting space; and I will
provide a sounding board and
a way forward for our sporting
community, especially where
sports such as netball are in
dire straits for playing fields.
future of the bigger Council?
RH: Staying as Pittwater was
not put forward as an option. I
voted that the three electorates
were split into two, as I thought
that the one, large council
would create issues at a local
level.
As a reminder, the Northern
Beaches Council as it stands
now has a turnover of over
$800m per annum. It looks
after some 270,000 people who
generate some $13.5 billion
each year in revenue. This is a
large and incredibly important
part of the fabric of Sydney and
indeed NSW. With only three
Councillors representing Pittwater,
we must have the ability
to shine a spotlight on things
that are wrong, to articulate
and reason with focus and clarity,
and to be able to negotiate
with the other councillors. It is
imperative that alliances are
made and forged, with the three
Pittwater Councillors forming
an alliance where decisions
impact Pittwater. The elected
Councillors must have strong
connections to Pittwater and
be able to bring skill sets to the
process, in planning, in community
awareness, in business
and to help provide surety to
the process of local government.
Councillors will need to
think globally but still respond
and act locally.
PL: What’s your opinion on
the ‘Protect Pittwater’ push to
reverse the amalgamation?
RH: The Protect Pittwater Group
is a part of the community that
feels disenfranchised and are
disillusioned about the process
instigated by the State Government.
They are concerned that
there will be a return to the old
PL: What’s your opinion on the Warringah days where Pittwater
Council amalgamation and the was largely ignored. Success-
Continued on page 20
ful Council candidates must
be representative of the whole
community and ensure that the
best of the “old” Pittwater Council
policies are carried over and
continue to be implemented. We
need to ensure that there is continual
consultation and communication
to all parts of our
community to instill confidence
in the new council. The Northern
Beaches Council is a reality.
I don’t believe that this will be
reversed in the short term. The
fact remains that we will have
three Councillors to represent
the Pittwater [Ward] community,
to provide a consistent and
clear line of communication
between the residents and the
Council. These Councillors will
need to be able to deal with the
other Councillors on the myriad
problems and issues that arise
in the NBC. Being a single-issue
Councillor in my opinion will
not provide a full representation
for the people of Pittwater.
We are concerned about the
quality of life, our pristine environment,
our rates and services,
our youth and the provision of
opportunities for employment
through the establishment of
centres of excellence connected
to universities, colleges and
businesses.
PL: How important is it that the
issues and needs of the former
Pittwater Council region are
articulated?
RH: There is a real concern
amongst the community that
Pittwater will slip back in time
to when Warringah ruled and
we were ignored. Our elected
Councillors need to have a
strong and articulate voice at
the ‘boardroom table’ to ensure
that the community voice is
heard and to ensure that there
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 19

Election Countdown
News
Continued from page 19
is a continuity of the best
processes and policies from the
‘old’ council. I will remind the
Council that the Council staff
are accountable to the elected
Councillors and that major
decisions that impact on our
way of life that have not been
ratified cannot/should not
proceed. Our community has
ownership, albeit for a relatively
brief period, and we need to
ensure that we don’t waste this
opportunity to provide surety
for our community.
PL: What are your opinions
on things like development
of more than three storeys in
Pittwater, protection of trees,
Mona Vale Hospital…
RH: We need to continually
enhance our community, to
renew and re-invigorate, but
this needs to be relevant and
within the established and
agreed guidelines. If there is
a proposal to provide a new
urban plan for Mona Vale, you
don’t put a completed plan on
the table that shows parts of
Mona Vale having six-storey
buildings without consultation.
Of course this will create
angst and concern amongst
the residents! There is always a
need for continual, clear, community
consultation… we are
the owners. I am firmly against
the idea of having the height
restrictions lifted to accommodate
six storeys. I am firmly
for the renewal of our major
business hubs in Pittwater
ward (Mona Vale, Newport
and Avalon Beach) so that they
attract and retain businesses,
people and tourists to share our
wonderful place in the world. I
believe that the 10/50 ruling
on trees should be revisited
– too many of our trees are
being taken down, destroying
the very fabric of our community.
The Mona Vale Hospital
precinct has been fought over
for many years. The Community
has exerted pressure over
an extended period to ensure
that the area will remain as a
health precinct, but we need to
keep the pressure on to ensure
that it has the facilities that
we, the community, need. Long
term, it could be connected to
a university and develop into a
centre of excellence for health
and science, whilst continuing
to provide outstanding services
to the community.
PL: What about the B-Line?
RH: State issues overlap and
impact continually on our lives.
We need to ensure that we have
‘With only three Councillors representing
Pittwater, we must have the ability to shine
a spotlight on things that are wrong.’
very strong and open lines of
communication with the three
State representatives, so that
they hear our voices. The emotions
shown by the community
over some of the current State
Government initiatives have
been caused through a total
lack of communication and
consultation. This need not be
the case. The classic example
being the B-Line to Newport:
no consultation, no drawings
showing intent and no options
to discuss. I am firmly in favour
of enhanced public transport;
I am not in favour of the lack
of consultation and the lack of
communication by the Minister
of Transport and his people.
The perception in many cases
is because we are a peninsula
we are at the “end of the line”
and the issues of running bus
routes and servicing people
does not make any economic
sense, therefore it will not be
considered. This is not good
enough.
PL: What’s your parting message
to the mums and dads
and the ‘new’ Pittwater residents,
as well as the long-term
or multi-generational resident?
RH: We should remember that
we are blessed to live in such a
wonderful part of the world and
to enjoy the magical surroundings;
look after it and look
after yourselves. Especially the
young – let them grow strong
and free, let them explore the
waterways and the National
Parks and encourage them to
find themselves amongst this
magical place. We are a special
community in Pittwater; be part
of it, give back to it and enjoy
your life here.
20 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Election Countdown
Biodiversity protection push
Protecting the biodiversity of Pittwater’s unique
public transport, and a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian
environment will be Northern Beaches Community network.
Alliance candidate Dr Conny Harris’ priority should she be In her past Council life Dr Harris chaired many committees,
elected to Council in Narrabeen Ward.
including the Traffic, Narrabeen Lagoon, and Waste committees.
A former Deputy Mayor of Warringah, Dr Harris (right)
“Experience and knowledge will be invaluable for the
says she will build on her track record which to date
transformation period ahead, She told Pittwater Life. “Good
includes convincing Kimbriki Tip into eliminating e-waste governance by the first elected council requires strong ties
from its landfill and her research into roadkill which led to to the community, an ability to listen, an understanding of
the installation of the wallaby fence along the Wakehurst how to operate local government and independence from
Parkway.
developers and political parties.
“It’s crucial that inappropriate development proposals be “Patterns of work, education and even our climate are
red flagged,” she said. “Our environment is under threat. changing,” Dr Harris continued. “This means we will
Huge roadworks and high-rise developments are spoiling have to adapt and improve the ways we do things too – I
the Northern Beaches.”
am determined to make the Northern Beaches a healthy,
Dr Harris said she wanted the region to be more liveable sustainable and intelligent community where people and
and sustainable, with less car dependence, more accessible their families can work and enjoy life.” – Lisa Offord
News
Continued from page 18
“Pittwater Ward will have
three of 15 representatives –
we need councillors who can
think globally but act locally.”
Mr McTaggart was Mayor
from 2005 to 2007 and the
Independent member for Pittwater
in the NSW Parliament
from 2005 to 2007 (photo p18).
Whilst serving on Council
he chaired the Corporate,
Legal, Community Services
and Natural Environment
Portfolios.
He was also the President
of SHOROC – the regional
group of four councils made
up of Manly Pittwater, Warringah
and Mosman – driving
the transformation of the
Kimbriki recycling facility to
a community-owned company
allowing it to evolve into a
21st century waste recovery
facility.
He said if elected, Alliance
members would play an important
transition role on the
new Council.
“We’ll help with the handing
over of the ‘corporate’
knowledge of the local community,
the issues and the
personalities,” he said. “The
community position on a
particular issue doesn’t come
out of an IKEA box, it is always
generated out of history,
participation and exposure.
This is the knowledge we can
pass on.
“And the 15 councilors as
a ‘board of directors’ will be
hard to manage – the sheer
size of the budget, land size
and staff will lead to a lessening
of community contact…
the easy access of the former
Pittwater council will be lost.”
The Alliance would offer
stability and continuity in a
bigger Council, he said.
“These two adjoining wards
hold the bulk of the environmentally
sensitive land and
have a common catchment in
Narrabeen Lagoon, with all of
the environmental and flood
issues attached,” he said.
“Plus, both wards have relatively
low building heights
and densities – the previous
Councils accepted and supported
views. The residents
will want to see no change in
council policy.
Mr McTaggart said candidates
standing along party
lines was an unhelpful and
unwelcome addition to the Local
Government process.
“Political parties vote in a
block on issues – sometimes
the vote has nothing to do
with the issue and is more
about a political position,” he
said. “Independents bring a
different mindset to the table
and that should be a good
thing.
“If you ask any previous independent
councilor they will
tell you they came to council
because of an issue that affected
them and they decided
to get on council and right the
wrong… this new council will
generate plenty of these disaffected
residents.
“They start out as singleissue
councilors but someone
22 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

smart enough to get elected
soon adapts to the bigger
picture.
He said the community held
fears about governance under
political party lines.
“The Liberals want control
to promote their development
agenda,” he said. “Michael
Regan wants to promote
his personal political ambitions
and the Greens want to
promote their NSW political
agenda.
“And while the councilors
fight over side issues, the
staff push through their
unelected agenda – that’s why
you need independents.
“At 67 and with six grandchildren
I am not seeking a
further life in politics – my
mission is to hand on the
baton.” – Nigel Wall
Greens trio launch bid
Defending Pittwater from over-development
whilst fostering sustainable initiatives will
be the mission of any Greens candidate successful
in the upcoming council election.
Clareville resident Miranda Korzy (right)
will head their three-candidates ticket for the
Pittwater Ward, along with Avalon’s Pru Wawn
and Mona Vale’s Andrew McIntosh.
Ms Korzy, a journalist whose family has
lived in Avalon since the 1960s, aims to champion
the Pittwater community and environment
on the new council.
“We are at a turning point on the Northern
Beaches,” she said. “Our quiet villages and
beautiful bushland are under threat from a
huge push for development by the state government.
“We need Pittwater councillors who will
stand up for the community to ensure concrete,
high-rise and multi-lane roads don’t take
over.”
She said with their tradition of grassroots
democracy, the Greens would listen to residents
and make sure everyone’s voices were beautiful place deserves to be protected and
heard.
that will happen most effectively at a local
“We will also stand up for our community, level.
our bushland and beaches at state level, so “I want to support options on council for
that local planning – whether for homes, hospitals,
public transport or roads – is carried tives.”
sustainable living and local community initia-
out for all of us, rather than in the interests of Andrew McIntosh said he was concerned
developers.”
about the impact of climate change locally,
An active member of P&C associations at adding he would like to use his professional
her kids’ local schools from 2001 until last expertise as an accountant to align council
year, Ms Korzy is also secretary of the Protect policy with sustainable goals.
Pittwater Association – set up earlier this year “Like anyone with young kids, I want to ensure
we can hand over this area we’re entrust-
to campaign for the restoration of Pittwater
Council.
ed with to the next generation intact,” he said.
Party colleague and visual arts teacher Pru “That means we need to use sound financial
Wawn went to Newport Primary School and management to make it happen.
was in the first year to graduate from Barrenjoey
High School.
is designed to benefit the community and the
“The Greens will make sure council policy
“I swim at Avalon Beach all year round and environment – rather than developers.”
love the trees and the bush,” she said. “Such a
– Lisa Offord
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 23

News
New chapters for our street libraries
Street libraries continue to be planted in Pittwater as the community
embraces the concept of leaving books in distinctive boxes
outside homes to share with others.
One of the first locals to turn a page was Newport’s Rosemary
Puddy (right) who created the Saltpan Point street library the same
week she launched her podcast – thebookpodcast.com – which
features interviews with Australian women writers.
Rosemary’s little dark blue hut attached to the wall on her driveway
in Prince Alfred Parade houses books from all genres, from
crime to cooking, children’s to YA Fiction and non-fiction.
The library was set up around six months ago – with Rosemary
saying it’s tricky to estimate how many books had been “borrowed”
as the library rules were quite flexible.
“On the door it says, ‘take a book, swap a book, or leave a book’
– some weeks they are gone in a few days and other
times over a week or two… I take out any that
haven’t moved after two weeks,” she explained.
Rosemary started the library as a community gesture
and a way to get to know people in her street.
“I get to chat with anyone who happens to be there
when I am coming and going from the house… everyone
loves the idea,” she said.
“I did put a couple of racier books in the library
in my first week – and got two Bibles back in return!
Must have thought I needed redemption,” she said
with a laugh.
Rosemary added street libraries were not just for
households, adding any business or club could set
one up.
“It’s a great way to connect and step outside your
reading comfort zone.”
Meanwhile in Terrey Hills, you can’t miss the colourful Possum
Lodge street library in Burraga Avenue.
Curated by Radio Northern Beaches (88.7 and 90.3FM) community
program host, artist, and Sydney Wildlife Rescuer Michelle
Holmes, the library holds 90 books, with up to half of them moving
every week.
The library, which cost just $50 for paint and hardware, was
built by Michelle’s husband Bill “out of his magic garage of bits and
pieces”, with a kindly neighbour supplying Perspex.
Michelle said response from the community had been wonderful.
“We started with the stand-alone library but soon found people
were messaging me and offering books,” Michelle said. “So we
included two plastic tubs – one for children and one for more adult
books… then soon after came the offer of DVDs.
“Two little girls drew thank-you notes and
thanked me… their mum said they thought the fairies
had built it,” Michelle said.
“One man takes a regular walk each week to select
a book and a family comes after school because one
little man loves cookbooks.
“I had a beautiful letter saying how pleased this
giver of books was because the books were a collection
that belonged to her grandmother and she was
happy to know they will now be loved all over again.
“It made me quite teary to be the recipient of such
emotion.”
* For more information on Street Libraries go
to streetlibrary.com.au where other local libraries
listed include The Tardis at 47 Patrick St, Avalon and
A Novel Idea at 1758 Pittwater Rd, Bayview.
– Lisa Offord
24 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Council
to close
the book
on fines?
If members of your household
remain haunted by the
prospect of a hefty fine for
long-forgotten and overdue
library books, they might
soon be able to relax –
Northern Beaches Council
is planning to investigate
whether to follow the City of Sydney Council’s
lead and put in place an amnesty on late returns.
City of Sydney announced a trial amnesty period last
July; in the eight months since, a staggering 67,945 library
resources were returned – more than triple the number of
overdue items returned in the 12 months prior.
Consequently, they have initiated a new system, with fines
for overdue book returns shelved until 2021.
It reported the trial had resulted in greater levels of customer
satisfaction and freed up staff to focus on more positive
tasks, rather than administering fines.
Under their new system, library memberships will be suspended
until an overdue item is returned – an approach they
says has been welcomed by its library members.
After Pittwater Life brought the results of the City of
Sydney amnesty trial to the attention of Northern Beaches
Council, Administrator Dick Persson said he would ask
Council and library staff to examine the merits of applying
the system locally.
He noted two-thirds of residents in the broader Northern
Beaches Council area were members of a library.
“We’re always happy to look at ways of doing things better,
and I’m very interested in knowing more about the trial the
City of Sydney has conducted,” Mr Persson said. – Nigel Wall
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 25

Book Reviews
News
Fluke
Lesley Gibbes
Working Title Press
$24.99
It has been a wonderful
winter for whale
watching, one of the
many pleasures of
living on the Northern
Beaches.
In 2012, Sydney was kept
enthralled as for the third
time in recorded history, a
Southern Right whale gave
birth to a calf in the Harbour,
and since then other calves
have been sighted in this
natural nursery.
Local author Lesley Gibbes
has drawn on the events
of one such calf that was
separated from its mother
and found hiding by a boat,
to bring us her latest picture
book Fluke. Artist Michelle
Dawson brings Lesley’s
prose to life with beautiful
illustrations and there are
lots of whale facts to educate
young readers.
It’s not too early to start
putting books away for
Christmas, and Beachside
Bookshop has signed copies
which makes Fluke even more
special. – Libby Armstrong
Collisions
Janet Austin
Pegasus $17.99
The first published work
of Clareville resident Janet
Austin, this easy-reading
novella switches between
parallel plotlines before the
story converges with impact,
as its title suggests.
On a visit to her sister, Eve
has further confirmation of
the unhappy state of her sister
Rose’s marriage. Eve finds it
hard to put up with her difficult
brother-in-law, and urges her
sister to give thought to her
future.
That sets about a chain of
events that will affect them all.
Meanwhile unhappy teenager
Perry struggles for attention at
home from his mother and her
new partner. When a note is
sent home from school, Perry’s
mum thinks it is another tale
of disappointment regarding
her child.
Her boyfriend teaches Perry
a lesson – which sets the
youngster off on his own path
of pay-back.
Available at Beachside Books
or online. – Nigel Wall
26 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Pittwater News
Let loose at Woven
community concert
Let the local group Loosely
Woven led by Wayne
Richmond take you on a
musical journey at a free
community concert in Avalon
Baptist Church on Sunday 6
at 4pm. The concert Going
Home, named after the
opening song from Dvorak’s
New World Symphony,
includes a wide range of items
including modern Australian
songs, folk, rock and soul.
Amongst the performers this
month is a young man from
Tanzania who has taught the
group two of his own songs.
Loosely Woven encourage
audience participation in
their concerts which are
always lots of fun and feature
flutes, saxophones, clarinets,
trumpet, recorders, harp,
concertina, melodicas,
glockenspiel, xylophone,
guitars, keyboard and
percussion. Wayne and his
musicians regularly contribute
to Amnesty International’s
work. Entry is free and the
Church at 2 George St supplies
a free supper. Donations to
Amnesty are voluntary. More
info looselywoven.org.
Digital boat
licences set sail
Boaters can now download a
digital Boat Driving Licence
on their phones, following the
rollout of digital boat licences
and vessel registrations across
NSW. The State Government
says it issues more than 23
million licences and permits
each year, covering more than
760 different categories. This
News
Midget submarine wreck dive ballot announced
A trial ballot will see selected
members of the public
permitted to dive 54m to the
Japanese midget submarine
M24 wreck off Bungan beach
headland in November. NSW
Heritage Minister Gabrielle
Upton said the public dive
open day would remember
the people who died the
night the Japanese midget
submarines entered Sydney
Harbour. “This year marks
the 75th anniversary and
the only time Sydney has
come under attack – it’s
a significant moment in
Australia’s history,” Ms
Upton said. “This dive ballot
is a rare opportunity for
people to visit an underwater
site of international
heritage significance in a
respectful and sensitive
way.” Two groups of six will
be chosen from the ballot,
to coincide with the 11th
anniversary of the M24
site’s discovery. The M24
site is the only remaining
midget submarine from the
1942 attack located in situ
underwater. It remains the
grave for the two Japanese
submariners. On 31 May
1942, 21 sailors were killed
aboard the navy depot ship
HMAS Kuttabul along with
six Japanese submariners
aboard three midget
submarines. The dive will
be conducted according to
strict protections under
federal and state laws – there
are penalties of up to $1.1m
for disturbing the M24 site.
Registrations environment.
nsw.gov.au
28 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

means customers could be
carrying up to six different
government licences or
permits in their wallet. It’s
hoped the move to a digital
platform will not only make
it easier for boaters, but also
help authorities make the
waterways safer. The only
exception is for personal
watercraft licence holders who
need to carry physical licences
when out on a jet ski, as photo
identification is required. More
info www.service.nsw.gov.au.
Fundraising starts for
next China adventure
Following Pittwater High
School (PHS) Performing
Ensembles’ enormously
successful instrumental tour
of China in 2016, planning is
now underway for a return
excursion. PHS Performing
Ensembles Committee are
fundraising with the goal
of taking as many talented
and keen performers as
possible overseas in 2020 to
showcase the musical talent
on our Northern Beaches. The
Committee is aiming to raise
enough funds by 2020 to see
their current Year 7 and 8
students and future students
experience this amazing
opportunity. On Sunday
August 6 Pittwater High are
holding a Car Boot Sale in the
school grounds from 7.30am
to 1.30pm to kick-start this
initiative – if you’re looking
for a bargain, join the fun with
coffee, cakes and a sausage
sizzle. Anyone interested in
booking a boot should visit
trybooking.com/PZCM.
Polo by the Sea
sponsor deals
The best party on the
Northern Beaches – Polo by
the Sea – returns to Hitchcock
Park on Saturday January
13, 2018, followed by an epic
after party, with mini-bus
transfers directly from the
polo venue. Organisers have
launched a special early-bird
deal: Businesses within a
10-kilometre radius of Palm
Beach receive a 15% discount
on Corporate Hospitality &
Sponsorship, if booked prior
to September 15. Email info@
poloenterprises.com.au for
more details.
Tracey gets spicy
at Live@Library
Northern Beaches literature
lovers take note: the Pittwater
House School library is
scheduling a series of events
called Live@Library that will
showcase local authors and
their work. First up is wellknown
local celebrity, Tracey
Spicer, who will discuss her
book ‘The Good Girl Stripped
Continued on page 30
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 29

Pittwater News
Continued from page 29
Bare’. Tracey will provide
an engaging evening of
discussion and laughs and will
be happy to sign copies of her
book (which will be available
for purchase on the evening).
The event is on Monday August
28 from 7-9pm. Tickets can be
purchased via traceyspicer.
eventbrite.com.au; bookings
essential (adults only – 18 +).
– NSW Trustee & Guardian;
Carer Wellbeing – Alzheimer’s
Australia NSW; and Support
services in the local area.
The workshop will be held
on Friday August 11, from
10.30am-3pm in the Oaks
Room, Dee Why RSL Club.
Morning tea and lunch
included. To book phone
Northern Beaches Community
Connect on 9931 7777.
safety and its recreational
use. Features include a new,
26-space accessible carpark,
concrete seating platforms,
picnic tables and chairs
and beach shower as well
as custom shade structures
and new grassed areas. The
upgrade will also control
erosion and ensure run-off
from the carpark is filtered
prior to entering the lagoon.
News
Alan celebrates
90th with Salt
Pan Friends
Friends and family of
lifetime Salt Pan and
Refuge Cove Association
volunteer Alan Thompson
turned out in force
last month to help him
celebrate his 90th birthday
and honour his volunteer
service. Association
chairman Robert Vine
said Alan had been the
“ultimate volunteer” who
for 40 years had been
involved in the protection
of their rights as users
of the waterway. “Alan is
the source of the Salt Pan
Association, the Marine
Watch and has served on
multiple advisory panels
for many years.
What life was like
as a ‘Blitz kid’
Pittwater Men’s Probus Club
member Bryan Pritchard will
speak of his memories as a
‘Blitz kid’ during the bombing
of London in World War II, and
later as a banker in Australia,
at the Club’s next meeting on
Tuesday August 8. Venue is
Mona Vale Golf Club, starting
at 10.30am. Visitors welcome;
more information from Bill
Marshall on 9999 5226.
Caring for someone
with memory loss?
A workshop is being held for
carers and families of people
with dementia to help them
plan for the future. This is
an opportunity for carers to
improve their knowledge,
access a range of support
services and connect with
others. There will be four
presentations from expert
speakers: Financial planning
– by John Saunders (Pittwater
Partnership); Legal Planning
New Birdwood Park
upgrade complete
Locals are flocking back
to Birdwood Park, next to
Narrabeen Lagoon (below),
and enjoying the benefits of
a recent $365,000 Council
upgrade to facilities. After 30
years of heavy use, the park –
one of the Northern Beaches’
most popular recreation areas
– had become rundown. The
Northern Beaches Council
believes the upgrade will
greatly improve accessibility,
‘Protect Pittwater’
engages lawyers
for council fight
Advocates for the former
Pittwater Council have engaged
a legal team to consider taking
the NSW Government to court
to recover the council. Protect
Pittwater Association president
Bob Grace says the group has
selected solicitors from the
firm Beswick Lynch. “We now
have our legal team in place,”
Mr Grace said. “We are doing
30 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

this with funding raised from
the community – so we must
take a responsible approach.”
He labelled the fact residents
had to spend money to fight to
get the former Council back “a
disgrace”. “Internal polling by
the Council before the mergers
showed 89 per cent of Pittwater
residents wanted to retain our
council.” The group is also
circulating a petition calling
on the state government to
reconstitute Pittwater Council;
supporters have already
collected more than the 250
signatures needed under the
Local Government Act to spark
a government inquiry into
the amalgamation. Moves for
de-amalgamations are also
occurring in State Parliament,
with a bill put forward in the
Upper House by the Shooters,
Kids go casual for a
serious cancer cause
While many mums were getting prepped for Fight On The
Beaches’ annual Christmas In July Charity Ball, loads of
local kids also had the chance to dress up and support
a great cause. Pittwater Community Schools and several
state, private and pre-schools hosted a Christmas In July
mufti day late last month to support FOTB. All 13 PCS
schools were involved, including the high schools, as well
as Good Start Kindy in Mona Vale and Newport Kindy.
FOTB has raised more than $800,000 over three years to
fight for a cure for cancer, with funds raised supporting
Australian cancer research while engaging in communitybased
early detection and prevention programs. Started by
a group of local women who have been impacted by cancer,
FOTB has funded five cancer researchers over the past
three years. (Pictured starting top row are Madison Everitt
(NBCS), Charlie Heaton-Armstrong (MV), Alex Everitt
(NBCS), Oliver Heaton-Armstrong (MV); and Jack Parker
(CP), Emily Parker (CP) and Isobel Heaton-Armstrong.
Fishers and Farmers Party
and amended by the Greens
passed last month. The bill,
supported by all parties except
the Coalition, gives residents in
forcibly amalgamated councils
the right to a plebiscite on
de-mergers. It is expected to be
presented to the Lower House
in early August.
Veterans Day
for Avalon
The inaugural Northern
Beaches Veterans and
Community Day will be held
in Dunbar Park at Avalon on
Sunday November 12. The new
free event, from 10am-4pm,
evolved due to the success of
the Avalon Military Tattoo over
the past 10 years, the enhanced
relationship between RSL Sub-
Branches and the community,
and to carry on the legacy of
Tattoo driving force CDRE
Graham Sloper. It will provide
an opportunity for younger
generations to learn more about
past and current conflicts and
to meet veterans and serving
members of the ADF.
The day will feature local
schools and community groups
showcasing their talents in
music, drama and art with a
veterans theme, with a stage
and live music performances
throughout the day. There
will also be an ANZAC Biscuit
baking competition, a quilting
display, plus interactive
exhibitions. Funds raised will go
towards Veterans organisations,
including the Veterans Centre
Sydney Northern Beaches.
More info email subbranch@
avalonrsl.com.au
Vet
on
call
with
Dr Ben Brown
Periodontal disease is
simply disease around the
outside of the tooth which,
importantly, includes the
part of the tooth below the
gum line that is not visible
to pet owners. Because our
pets don’t brush or floss
their teeth, they often suffer
from periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is caused
by increasing amounts of
dental calculus (or plaque) on
the outside of the tooth that
harbours bacteria which then
infects the tooth below the
gum line. This infection results
in progressive destruction of
the jawbone around the tooth
and the periodontal ligament
that attaches the tooth to the
bone.
The only way to accurately
diagnose periodontal disease
is to take dental x-rays. This
is done in a very similar way
that a dentist would assess
our teeth in a dentistry
practice; however, our pets
require a general anaesthetic.
Unfortunately, the only way
to treat advanced periodontal
disease is to remove the tooth
that is infected, so prevention
is much better than cure!
The best way to prevent
periodontal disease is via
removal and prevention of
dental calculus (or plaque).
Dental calculus is removed
from our pets in the same
way it is in people – using
an ultrasonic dental scaler,
the teeth are then polished
afterwards to provide
additional protection. The best
way to prevent the build-up of
dental calculus is brushing at
home using special pet tooth
brushes and tooth paste.
There are also preventative
dental diets, water additives
and dental chews available
that also effectively prevent
periodontal disease.
* This month we are
offering free dental health
check-ups for your pet – drop
in and see us at either of our
Sydney Animal Hospitals at
Newport or Avalon.
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 31

Horses roaming the streets have been an intrinsic
part of the southern Pittwater community for many
decades. But for how much longer?
Story by Rosamund Burton
Life Stories
The Urban
Cowboy
A
bay and a pinto are tethered to a street pole outside
Zubi Espresso cafe on Ocean Street in North Narrabeen.
Sid Slaven, who owns the horses, and Ted Adams, the
owner of the building, reminisce about when Sid taught Ted
how to cut a piece of glass back in the 1970s, while Ted’s
granddaughter Laura delights in being able to pat the two
animals.
“Everybody loves the horses, they always draw a crowd,” says
the café’s owner Sam Todman, “especially all the kids.”
Sid Slaven and Phoebe Custer ride to Zubi Espresso for coffee
a couple of times a week. The three of us sit outside on stools,
while the horses stand quietly munching carrots.
Nicknamed Urban Cowboy by ex-South Sydney footballer
Jason Death, Sid (who is nearly 70), has been riding around
Warriewood and the North Narrabeen area for the past 25 years.
“I’ve never had a riding lesson in my life,” he says, with a
glint in his blue eyes, “and it shows!”
His aunt had a weekender in Narrabeen, and he used to
come to the Northern Beaches every weekend. He worked for a
glass company in Parramatta, and lived in Homebush. Then in
1968 the glass company opened a branch at Brookvale, and he
moved with his wife to Narrabeen.
Before he took up riding he had been a keen water skier,
until a mate had a waterskiing accident while in America and
was left a paraplegic. When Sid asked him what he was going
to do, he replied: “I’m going to buy a horse. Why don’t you buy
one?” The friend bought a trotter, and for $800 Sid bought a
thoroughbred fresh from the racecourse.
“I’ve had a passion for horses ever since,” he says, “despite
being bucked off a couple of times.”
Sid has owned Dakota, a part Arab horse and part Welsh
pony, for 17 years.
“I’ve taken him everywhere,” he says. “He could be on the
beach today, and tomorrow I could be on a friend’s property at
Rylestone chasing cattle, or on top of Mudgee Mountain. He’s a
beautiful animal.”
Phoebe is riding Sid’s younger stock horse, Ned. Ten years
ago Phoebe Custer and her husband moved to Turimetta
Headland.
“One of the reasons I wanted to buy the house was that
from the back I could see the pony club, and the horses
cantering around the Clive Rogers Equestrian Ground on
Sunday mornings.” Phoebe had grown up riding at Frenchs
Forest, but with a young family was unable to own a horse at
32 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

CLOCKWISE FROM
OPPOSITE: Sid Slaven
on his trusty steed,
Dakota, on Narrabeen
Beach; riding partner
of 10 years Phoebe
Custer sits atop Ned;
the horses grazing on
the headland; Dakota
takes a dip heading
south towards Curl
Curl; beach bliss on
the soft sand; a gallop
through the lagoon
entrance.
Life Stories
this stage of her life. Soon after they moved into the house,
Sid rode up to Turimetta Headland.
“I went running over in my pyjamas with carrots, and told
him that I used to have horses. ‘Anytime you want someone to
come riding with you, let me know,’ I said. To which Sid replied,
‘I’ve got a million of you girls who want to ride my horses.’”
However, Phoebe persisted, and when she next saw Sid, she
asked him again. This time he invited her for a ride, and since
that day, nine years ago, they have ridden Sid’s horses together
twice a week.
“We jump on and make it part of our day, and part of our
life. We ride the horses on the beaches, and in summer we take
them swimming in Narrabeen Lake. It’s pretty special,” says
Phoebe.
Sid has nearly retired now, but still occasionally rides Dakota
to someone’s house to give a quote for glazing work. Sometimes
he can also be seen at 2am riding around the empty streets, or
along the beach at first light.
“I just love getting on a horse,” he says.
But now he’s worried that his days of riding on the Northern
Beaches are numbered. Warriewood Valley used to be full of small
farms and market gardens, so there were always paddocks for
Continued on page 35
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 33

Continued on page 35
‘PARKING’
PERMITTED:
Taking a coffee break
outside Zubi Espresso
Cafe at Narrabeen.
horses. But with residential development the agricultural land has
been slowly lost. Sid reckons he’s leased about 10 paddocks over
the past 25 years. Currently he’s renting one from the Northern
Beaches Council before the site is developed. Then he’s unsure
where he’ll be able to keep his horses.
“There are no paddocks left. There’ll be no horses in
Warriewood Valley because there’ll be nowhere to keep them,”
he laments.
Sid is philosophical about the inevitable advance of
progress; however, after the death of his Clydesdale, Sam,
at the beginning of July, he is finding it hard to come to
terms with the lack of safe paths or verges for horse riders
because of the amount of construction work in the area. A
young woman who exercises Sam for him, and he were riding
along Warriewood Road, and the Clydesdale fell on a slippery
driveway and didn’t get up.
“Half an hour later my beautiful 20-year Clydesdale was
lying on the ground dead,” he recounts. “You’ve got me at a
difficult time.”
Sid and Phoebe finish their coffees and ride down the road
to North Narrabeen Reserve, and I follow behind by bicycle.
The south-western section of the reserve is the Clive Rogers
Equestrian Ground. Sid remembers polo matches being
played here in the mid-1990s and it being a place that people
could exercise a horse at any time. We ride down to a locked
building that has a faded sign on the side saying, Manly
Warringah Pittwater Pony Club. Sid was president of the club
for five years until 2010. The club closed at the end of 2015,
Sid explains, due to lack of members.
The Pittwater Council had stipulated in 2004 that use of the
Clive Rogers Equestrian Ground was only permitted through
the approval and or membership of the Pony Club.
“So now, despite it being an equestrian ground, as far as the
Council are concerned, nobody can ride here, because no-one
is a member of the Pony Club anymore,” says Sid. “Now there
is no provision for anyone who has a horse in Warriewood
Valley to actually ride on a piece of grass. The only place the
Council allows horses is the road!”
Sid says there are only 13 horses left in the valley, and
about eight riders. He acknowledges there are horse trails
at Duffys Forest and Terrey Hills, but adds: “Because we’re a
minority we’re being discriminated against by the Council. We
all realise that the era of horses in the valley is coming to an
end… but don’t polish us off before it’s all over.”
The horses not only bring pleasure to people in the local
community, but are also part of the history of the area,
Phoebe says.
“Sid and his horses are part of the culture of Narrabeen.
He’s the original urban cowboy.”
To have your say about horses on the Northern Beaches go
to www.facebook.com/NorthernBeachesHorses
Life Stories
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 35

Art Life
Art Life
YHA’s brush with mural fame
Internationally recognised artist Kim
Polomka well and truly left his mark at
the Pittwater YHA recently.
Visiting family with his 8-year-old son
Max last month, Kim created a series
of murals to help celebrate the hostel’s
50th year on the Morning Bay Hillside.
“This is such a special place and the
best digital detox in the world,” he told
Pittwater Life.
Kim is probably best known for his
large-scale murals of colour and whimsy
adorning rooftops, walls and alleyways
in Colorado Springs where he has been
based for 18 years.
The Australian-born fine arts trained
artist turned his hand to large-scale mural
painting shortly after settling in the
city, embarking on a mission to “break
up the mundane”.
Widely credited with softening the
city’s streetscape, he has inspired a
growing band of artists to create (sometimes
controversial) public art, with
downtown Colorado Springs experiencing
a “mini-Renaissance”.
As the photos show, Kim had no
It’s not too late to enquire
about the timetable and
enrol for Term 3 courses at
Sydney Art Space, Mona Vale.
Convenor Christine Simpson
said courses include sculpture
workshop, lifeclass for
sculpture, drawing, painting,
life-drawing, Kids Art Club
and HSC: Exploration and
Intention.
“And a new four-week
course starts on Wednesday
August 2 – An Introduction to
Abstraction with Rachel Carroll
using mixed media,” said
Christine.
SAS will also be offering two
fantastic workshops in August,
with bookings essential:
Get Out of your Mind and
into your Art features artist
and educator Gitte Backhausen
on Sunday August 6 from
10am-4pm. “In this one-day
workshop you will be exploring
unlocking the psychological
blockers to the creative
process to get you into your
creative flow via drawing,
painting and mixed media
techniques,” said Christine.
Christine herself will
oversee the See and Draw
Natural Sydney workshop at
Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment
from 1-4pm on Sunday
August 26. “Workshoppers
will learn about drawing plein
air using medium such as
charcoal, pencil and pen to
worries embracing and showcasing the
beautiful surroundings in our neck of
the woods, with colourful depictions in
the bathroom.
“I wanted to do something that celebrated
this wonderful environment and
pay homage to the Australian bush,” he
said.
“What a joy it is to come here and
recharge the batteries.”
See Kim’s work for yourself at Pittwater
YHA – and if you volunteer for two
mornings’ bush regeneration on August
25-27, you’ll get two nights’ accommodation
with all meals for only $20.
Bookings are essential – there’s a $50
non-refundable booking fee, with a $30
refund on arrival. More info 9999 5748
or email Pittwater@yha.com.au
August workshops offer great variety
explore techniques in hatching,
smudging and dotting as
you develop planes, depth and
form in your drawings,” she
said. (Easels, boards, clips,
drawing paper and materials
will be supplied and you can
take home your drawing.)
You can check out availability
for courses at www.
sydneyartspace.com
* The Art Space team are now
curating the line-up for the
Newport Sculpture Trailblazers
2017. All interested sculptors,
painters, installation, performance
and sound artists are
encouraged to send proposals
to info@sydneyartspace.com.
“Show us what you can do!”
Christine urged. (Deadline for
proposals is August 25.)
36 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Art Life
Social statements
at Knox Art Show
More than 500 thoughtprovoking
paintings,
photographs, sculptures,
prints, drawings and
ceramic works will be on
display at the annual Knox
Grammar Art Show from
Thursday 3 to Thursday 10
August.
The free exhibition will
showcase the talents of
the School’s Visual Arts
students from Years 7 to 12.
“The exhibition includes
all of our Year 12 Visual Art
students’ bodies of works,”
said Acting Head Teacher
and Art Show Co-ordinator
Rachel Smith. “The boys
have been busy working
The Local Voice Since 1991
over the school holidays to
complete their works for the
upcoming exhibition.”
The students have created
works that comment on the
environment, politics, social
structures and personal
issues. An example is Year
12 student Ben Jackson’s
provocative and “immersive”
photos (above).
The exhibition will take
place at the Knox Great Hall,
Pacific Highway, Wahroonga.
Entry is free, with the
exhibition open from 9am to
4pm on weekdays and 10am
to 2pm on the weekend.
More info www.knox.nsw.
edu.au – Nigel Wall
AUGUST 2017 37

Surfing Life
Surfing Life
‘Endless’ possibilities at
spot Bruce Brown missed
It’s not the most picturesque
entry to a renowned surf
spot. Fire has swept the
coastal hills and ridges
between Port Elizabeth and
Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.
A long, low, curved ridge
rises just north of the road,
blackened face crowned by
bare white granite. Driving
past, it feels as if you’re
about to be cleaned up by the
biggest set ever.
Yet eventually the road
winds its way out of the hills
and over a crest, and still 15
kilometres away, yet instantly
recognisable, there it is: J-Bay.
The myth. The legend. The
spot famously bypassed by
film-maker Bruce Brown, who
headed further east to Cape
St Francis for his big secretspot
sequence in ‘Endless
Summer’.
To coin a phrase, Bruce
missed it. But maybe not.
Jeffreys is not a summer
spot, not unless you’re one
of the well-off families from
Johannesburg who own
the deep Roaring Fortiesplus
wind bands that circle
the planet, shifting north
between June and September
and smashing everywhere
from southern Australia to
Peru to Indonesia and Africa
in the process.
I was there ostensibly to
write about the World Surf
League’s mega pro event, the
Corona Open in mid-July, but
I was more motivated by the
surf forecast (epic) and the
chance to talk with some of
South Africa’s surfing elders
about the development of the
sport.
Jeffreys is where South
African surfing had its
Woodstock moment. In the
early to mid-1960s, surfing
focused on the big coastal
towns like Cape Town and
Durban, both many hundreds
of kilometres away from this
very minor outpost. The long
Jeffreys point was farmland;
occasionally passing surfers
would camp in the bushes.
In 1968 two Australian
surfers, Tony Wright and John
with Nick Carroll
Although far from a modern Byron, Jeffreys Bay in South Africa is the real deal, writes Nick...
BEYOND BYRON: Jeffreys Bay bends like a point but breaks on a mixture of rock and sand. Photos: Nick Carroll.
expensive real estate high
on the hill overlooking the
bay, and leave it empty most
of the year, waiting for the
Christmas break. For a surfer,
J-Bay is all about winter, and
Batcheldor, arrived by boat
in Cape Town. They brought
with them the shortboard
revolution – an explosive
down-shift in board design
that occurred in perfect sync
with the Summer of Love and
the sport’s big moment of
cultural change.
“John and I thought we
were going to the bottom of
Africa to surf those magical
waves for 12 months or so,
until the money ran out,” Tony
later told RSA’s surf historian
Pat Flanagan. Instead, they
helped re-invent surfing,
into something faster, lighter
and more dramatic. The
shorter boards fit South
Africa’s waves the way they
did Australia’s: like acoustic
guitars suddenly turned
electric. And nowhere did
they fit better than J-Bay.
By the early 1970s, Jeffreys
was The Spot. Young white
South Africans were dropping
out, baffling their elders,
getting part-time jobs as
wharfies, and saving enough
to head to J-Bay for the winter
38 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

PL’s AUGUST SURF CALENDAR
August 11-22: Billabong Pro Teahupoo
From the sublime to the… sublime. That appears to be the life of a
professional surfer these days. No sooner are they done surfing the
best Jeffreys Bay in many years, than they are forced to fly to Tahiti.
Dear oh dear. Teahupoo’s silky smooth fearsome reef break will
test the pros as it always does. If it gets J-Bay style swell energy,
it’ll bring out a totally different side of the sport – the ability to keep
your head screwed on for 10 of the most intimidating seconds of
your life. Watch at www.worldsurfleague.com
NICK’S AUGUST SURF FORECAST
In most years, August is a dud of a month. The full westerly wind
band sets up across the south-east of the continent, and dry, cool,
clear days follow cold nights, and no surf shows up. It’s pretty and
it’s flat. This year? I think not! I think large quantities of surf from
numerous directions, as more energy pushes up into the southern
Tasman Sea and drives big south swells up the coast, just as it
began doing late in July. I also suspect some of that energy may
collide with the still surprisingly warm surface waters of the SW
Pacific and cause some ructions off northern New Zealand, maybe
bringing the tradewind band to life and blasting us with long range
easterly swell here and there. All in all, potentially the most surf
active August in a long time. Be careful, won’t ya.
Nick Carroll
months. An old Afrikaans
farm became a mythic centre
of a new way of life: Kombis
in the bushes, bell bottomed
jeans, and large quantities of
“Durban Poison” marijuana.
Very Byron Bay, except for
the wave itself. As a surfing
experience, Jeffreys is a bit
beyond Byron. It bends like a
point but breaks on a mixture
of rock and sand, causing it
to feel way more like a reef.
Surfing it, I was reminded of
Elizabeth Riddell’s poem, ‘The
Surfer’, that great line about
the “long muscle of water”.
J-Bay is a long muscle that lifts
you into another, faster place.
Its length and line was a
technical challenge for the
pros I’d come to watch. But
they were seduced by it as
much as the kids of the ’70s.
Normally, pro surfers flee a
location pretty much as soon
as they lose, but here, many
changed their flights in the
other direction, feasting on
the wave’s power and speed.
They circled the lineup with
glazed expressions. “I don’t
know how I’m gonna go back
to beachbreak surf,” Hawaii’s
Sebastian Zietz told me. “I
might need some kind of
detox!”
Jeffrey’s hasn’t become a
modern Byron. South Africa’s
social and economic distortions
The Local Voice Since 1991
were, and still are, too great to
permit the rise of such a classic
first-world Wellness Nirvana.
Besides, the water’s too cold.
And maybe the sea life is too
sketchy. Twice the event was
stalled by the presence of a
shark, the second time by a
sub-adult Great White that
came meandering up the point,
tracked by a jet-ski until it
disappeared off toward Cape
Town.
Two afternoons before, I’d
watched one around the same
size come to the surface just
outside Boneyard, J-Bay’s
top section. It cruised along
in much the same manner,
dorsal and tail fin clearly
visible. The wind was light,
the sun dipping past the
inland ranges. More waves
were lifting on some reef
further out. The shark’s
movement seemed in perfect
rhythm with it all. Three
or four other surfers were
waiting with me, but nobody
said anything, and we just
kept surfing.
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
AUGUST 2017 39
Surfing Life

Boating Life
Boating Life
Dip your toe in the
water at Avalon SC
Looking to give sailing a go, or to get
your kids involved at a young age
but at a relaxed club? Then consider
Avalon Sailing Club, which is holding
an information and registration day on
Sunday August 27.
With a modest clubhouse on the shore
between Clareville and Paradise beaches,
Avalon SC is a unique part of Pittwater’s
world-class sailing heritage. Aimed mainly
at kids but also catering for their ‘yachtie’
parents, the club – which is celebrating its
80th birthday in 2017 – is driven by the
energy and enthusiasm of its 400 active
members, who range in age from 8 to 88.
“Avalon is one of those iconic wooden
shed sailing clubs which has a wonderfully
inclusive culture that welcomes newcomers,”
said Club captain Ralf Moller.
“We provide boats, training and support
to promote the love of sailing and we are
blessed with a great location.”
Ralf says Avalon’s comprehensive and
professional sailing program caters to
all ages and skills, with sailing always on
Sundays through a season that runs from
the beginning of September to Easter.
“Our Youth program starts with Blue
Group, which is aimed at absolute beginners,
aged 7-12, who sail in the club’s
own Nippas & Pacer,” he said. “Once they
have learned the basics they progress to
the Red Group to hone their skills, and
then onto Gold Group to compete in club
races, State and National Regattas.”
The club runs learn to sail camps
during September and Summer school
holidays, open to children of all ages.
Plus, adult learn to sail classes for yachts
and centreboarders are held throughout
the year, typically run over four Saturdays
or Sundays.
“Don’t be fooled by our relaxed and
friendly nature – many current members
are seriously good sailors keen to pass
on their passion and knowledge,” Ralf
said. “Iain Murray is Club Patron, and
Jimmy Spithill did his first sailing here.”
The Club has a healthy Yacht division,
with around 50 yachts – from very fast
Etchells, through to well-loved 30- to
40-footers and modern production boats
– competing on Sundays for six different
series. Also, they host one or two State or
National Regattas every Summer, along
with the Pittwater Australia Day Regatta.
“This is not a plush yacht club with
restaurants, bars and pokies, but it does
have the best views on Pittwater and a
canteen serving local pies, sandwiches,
and BBQ plus beer and wine to quench
the thirst at the end of a long day in
paradise!” Ralf said.
Blue Group is limited to 25 children,
and along with the summer camps, positions
are provided on a first-come basis.
More info and early registrations www.
avalonsailingclub.com.au
Early-bird boat service deal
Keen sailor and Marine Engineer
Pami KohI, who recently acquired
the well-known Mercury dealership
at North Narrabeen, knows how
important it is for boat owners to
prepare their vessels for the coming
season.
To celebrate his new business, Pami
is offering a 10% discount on boat,
engine and trailer servicing in August
– plus his team will also perform a
free Salt-Away engine flush with every
service to help reduce corrosion and
prolong the life of your engine.
“If you are looking at getting your
boat in shape for the boating season,
now is the best time,” said Pami.
“And if you are too busy to come in,
call and ask about our special ‘pickup
and drop-off’ service.”
More info and bookings on 9913
3522.
Multi-tasking at
Palm Beach show
With the warm weather and the start of
the new sailing season just around the
corner, family-orientated Palm Beach Sailing
Club is offering great opportunities for
young and older sailors to get the feel of
fast, “off the beach” multihulls.
Sailing committee spokesman Anthony
Duchatel said the club would hold its own
scaled-down “boat show” on Saturday
August 12 – the weekend after the popular
Sydney International Boat Show.
“With a few of our sailors looking at
turning over their multihulls in time for the
new season this is a great opportunity to
see some of the boats that some Olympic
and Americas Cup sailors cut their teeth on
and experience the thrill of ‘off the beach’
multihull sailing,” he said.
Anthony said that while not anywhere
near the same dimensions as the Sydney
event, PBSC would be showcasing the multihulls
that frequent the waters of Pittwater
including the Weta Trimaran, A Class, F18
and F16 and Hobie 18, 16 and 14s.
“Our sailors have competed and podiumed
at State, National, World and Olympic events
over our long history,” he said. “The multis
will be on the beach and available for a sail
from noon August 12 from Sandy Beach at
the corner of Iluka and Woorak Roads, Palm
Beach – come down, have a look and bring
your sailing gear.” – Nigel Wall
Blue Water Series open
Entries open this month for the Club Marine
East Coast Blue Water Pointscore Series –
the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s premier
offshore series conducted along the east coast
between September and April which now includes
the new Pittwater to Paradise Regatta.
The six-part Series includes the Bird Island
Race (Category 3) in September; Port Hacking
Race (Category 3) in October; Boondelbah
Race (Category 2) in November; Pittwater
to Paradise Race (Category 2) on January 2
(2018); Pittwater to Sydney Race (Category 3)
on March 3; and Pittwater to Newcastle Race
(Category 3) in April.
More info 9998 3700 or email sailing@
rpayc.com.au
40 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Race on from Newport to Coffs
After a short hiatus,
proud host Royal Motor
Yacht Club has announced
the resumption of
‘the great race’ – the 2017
Pantaenius Newport to Coffs
Coast Yacht Race which will
start on December 27.
RMYC Development Manager
and Race Director Rob
Brown said substantial repairs
to the damaged Marina
and Ocean Seawall at Coffs
Harbour, which forced the
postponement of the classic
last year, had now been completed,
with all facilities now
back fully operational.
“Around 40+ boats are
expected to race to Coffs,
with a more affordable ‘Safety
Category 3 Plus’ in place for
the race,” said Rob. “Also,
the timing of event, starting
the day after Boxing Day, will
attract a wider cross section
of the yachting community,
which will enable yacht owners,
crew and family to be
involved and be able to get
back to work early in the New
Year, if required.”
He said Coffs Harbour Yacht
Club was pleased to have
the RMYC on board as Race
Organisers and were counting
down the days to this year’s
37th staging of the race –
“… and a big party is being
planned to welcome the fleet
in Coffs.”
Rob added a food and wine
festival was being planned,
which would utilise the harbour
beach foreshore development
including a boardwalk
adjacent to the beach and
grassed areas in front of the
Yacht Club.
Commodore Chris Lee said
it was a privilege to be invited
to host the race, and welcomed
great Club supporter
Pantaenius Sail and Motor
Yacht Insurance on board as
naming rights partner.
“It’s a milestone event for
our club and parallels our
steady growth in all areas of
the club’s activities,” he said.
“We are proud to support this
iconic race and believe we can
add to its appeal with its new
format and timing.”
Around 230 nautical miles
in length, it means yachts
can return home easily in
a relatively short weather
window, which will suit many
club racers.
More details 9998 5511; details
and entry www.royalmotor.com.au
- Nigel Wall
Boating Life
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 41

Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
New GPs focus is a
boost for Mona Vale
Mona Vale is enjoying
a much-needed boost
in general practice
healthcare services following
the recent opening of
Mona Vale Medical Centre,
located at the site of the old
Commonwealth Bank on Park
Street.
A privately owned and
run practice, the centre
offers a bright and vibrant
atmosphere – matched by
the smiles on the faces of its
engaging reception team.
Centre operator Peter Carr
(pictured) says the “first
impressions” generated at
front of house is integral to
the philosophy behind the
practice.
“One of the most common
complaints you hear about
medical centres is the grumpy
and rude response that many
people experience from
reception staff,” he said. “A
major focus of our practice
is offering patients the
customer service that they
expect.
“Healthcare should not be
excused from giving good
service, so we will be focusing
on giving patients the best
service possible. When you
come to the practice, expect
to see a happy and helpful
receptionist!”
The new practice already
has an impressive number of
services under the one roof –
with physiotherapy six days
per week, a psychologist,
Douglas Pathology, dietitian,
exercise physiology and
denture clinic.
GP visits work two ways.
“Bulk Billing applies to all
patients if you just present to
the practice and wait to see
a doctor,” Peter explained.
“You can request the doctor
of your choice, or just first
available.
“Plus, patients are welcome
to leave the practice to do
shopping while they progress
in the queue if it is busy.”
The alternative is to set an
appointment time, when an
out-of-pocket fee of around
$30 applies (appointments
can even be made online via
the practice website).
“The main aim of opening
the new centre has been to
provide the local community
with more general practice
services,” Peter said. “The area
has grown a lot over the years,
but the supply of GPs servicing
the area has not grown at the
same time. And a lot of the
current GP workforce are all
close to retirement.
“By bringing new GPs to the
area, we hope to bring a new
level of service to patients on
the upper Northern Beaches.
“Since opening in March,
the practice has certainly
done this – with five doctors
all new to the area, we are
already seeing this benefit
the local community.”
More info www.
monavalemc.com.au
Take a deep
breath and stop
wheezing your
way through
the winter cold
If you have asthma you’d
be aware of the range
of common symptoms
including breathlessness,
wheezing, tight chest,
persistent cough which are
commonly triggered during
the colder months.
To reduce the likelihood of
asthma flaring due to cold,
dry air in winter, Asthma
Australia recommends
you try to help warm and
moisten the air before it
reaches your airways by
concentrating on breathing
through your nose… putting
a scarf over your mouth and
nose when you go outside
may also help.
Colds and viral infections
can also make your asthma
worse, even if you are taking
your preventer treatment
regularly.
Asthma Australia says
there is some evidence that
increasing your preventer
treatment as soon as your
asthma worsens with a cold
can reduce the chance of a
flare-up – ask your doctor
about this and while you are
at it make sure your written
asthma action plan is up to
date.
You can reduce your risk
of catching viral infections
from family members or
other contacts by washing
your hands before you eat or
touch your face. – LO
42 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
About Face: Information
on lifting procedures...
Your face is probably
the most visible part
of your body. Agerelated
changes are therefore
noticed early. Common
changes include changes to
the skin colour, consistency
and wrinkle patterns; also
down-turning of the corner of
the mouth, deepening of the
folds near the nose and lips
and jowls all start to form.
Neck contour changes and fat
may be deposited under the
chin, plus bands and ridges
may form in the neck.
Surgery addresses
structural changes to the face
and neck and removes excess
skin. Recovery is therefore
longer than non-surgical
changes. There are numerous
different techniques to
address these changes and a
few may be combined to give
optimal results. Less invasive
techniques usually have
shorter recoveries – but the
degree of improvement may
be less.
Traditional facelifts work
to tighten the strong fascial
layer in the face known as
the SMAS layer – superficial
muscular aponeurotic
system. This is a strong
fibrous layer and tightening
this layer gives longer-term
results. Sections may be
excised, or it may be plicated
(folded) to give the lift. Neck
muscles are also tightened
to improve the neck contour.
Less invasive techniques may
rely on stitches to lift and
hold the tissues in place.
Subsequent scar tissue may
then hold the new, lifted
position.
Lifting and tightening the
SMAS layer results in excess
skin as the facial tissues
are lifted. This is carefully
removed and fine stitches
secure this back in place. The
scar lines usually run around
the ears and then behind
the ears back to the hairline.
Often an incision is required
in the grove under the chin.
Through this incision the
neck muscles are tightened.
Careful closure and double
breasting of this corrects
the indentation that is a
recognised aging change, and
results in a smoother contour.
Recovery depends on the
amount of work performed.
with Dr John Kippen
44 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Smaller procedures may
require as little as a
week, while larger, deeper
procedures may require a
few weeks. It varies between
individuals and can even be
different from side to side.
The most obvious signs are
bruising and swelling in the
early post-operative period.
Facelift surgery may
be combined with other
procedures such as browlifts,
eyelid surgery and fat
transfers or liposuction.
Surgery may be performed
under sedation, twilight or
a light general anaesthetic.
Local anaesthetic is usually
combined to reduce the
amount of anaesthetic
required and ensure an initial
pain-free period. Depending
on the procedure, surgery
can be performed as a
day-only procedure, or an
overnight stay.
All invasive procedures,
including surgery, have
risks and complications.
These should be thoroughly
discussed at the time of
your consultation. Surgeons
will often give you written
information to read and
cover the topic in much
greater detail than this
article. ‘Before’ and ‘after’
photographs of their
previous results are also
helpful to give you a realistic
expectation of outcomes.
Usually surgery is well
tolerated, with favourable
outcomes.
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
August campaign:
be ‘Medicinewise’
Y
ou are likely to hear and read a lot of stories
about medicines this month, with the key message
encouraging all of us to be ‘Medicinewise’ to help make
better health decisions.
With Medicinewise Week from August 21-27, here are
tips to get the most benefit from your medicines:
l Identify your medicnes. Medicines don’t just come in a
pill on prescription – they can also be bought over the
counter from the pharmacy, supermarket and online.
Your medicines may include vitamins, minerals, herbal
remedies and nutritional supplements and may come in
several forms such as tablets, creams, drops or inhalers.
l Always ask ‘why’ before taking any medicine. It is
important to know what you’re taking and how it could
affect you – and whether a medicine is the best option
for you at this stage.
l Check the label. Read the packaging for instructions
and expiry date.
l Tell your doctor, pharmacist or other health professional
about all the medicines you are taking. All medicines
have possible risks or unwanted side effects, regardless
of where you get them or what form they are in and
some medications may interact with others.
l Identify your medicine by the active ingredient.
l Know your medicines routine. Know what to take and
refill your prescriptions before they run out. – LO
Health & Wellbeing
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 45

Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
Girls: Make Your Move!
Young girls are being
urged to focus on a
healthy lifestyle to
boost their self-esteem,
enhance their mood and
strengthen their mental
alertness.
‘Girls Make Your Move’ and
Jazzercise have teamed up
to give girls around Australia
an amazing opportunity to
start dancing to generate
wellbeing.
Shirley Edwards, owner/
operator of Jazzercise at
North Narrabeen, said the
campaign was about creating
positive perceptions of
physical activity.
“It’s about inspiring,
energising and empowering
young women to be more
active and reinforcing
the many benefits of
an active life, whether
through recreation, sport or
incidental physical activity,”
Shirley said.
“Stay active, sit around less
and spend time away from
your devices – don’t let go
of your physical activity and
keep exercise an integral part
of your week.
“Physical activity helps
you stay fit mentally, helps
you cope with the ups and
downs in life and helps
you manage stress and
alleviate depression and
anxiety. Exercise is good
for our health – reducing
the risk of diseases such as
cardiovascular disease, type
II diabetes, osteoporosis,
colon cancer, obesity and
injury. It also helps us sleep
better!”
Shirley said young women
under 21 who have never
done Jazzercise before are
invited to one month of free,
unlimited Jazzercise classes
– a dance party workout
program that fuses cardio,
resistance training, Pilates,
yoga, kickboxing, modern
dance and more.
Sisters Jess and Madi
Bidder (pictured) are among
the dozens of locals who are
already enjoying the benefits
of the initiative.
Classes are located at
Ted Blackwood Youth &
Community Centre, Jacksons
Road, North Narrabeen.
Go to www.australia.gov.au/
girlsmove/jazzercise-offer and
download the voucher – bring
it along to get started. (Month
of free classes must be started
before September 30.)
More info 9944 7006.
46 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Health & Wellbeing
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 47

Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
Eco Corner
Hope you weren’t too
daunted by Plastic Free
July! It’s vital to remember
that every little bit of plastic
you refuse to use makes a
difference. It’s these small
actions that collectively bring
about change, as awareness
spreads and we move away
from single-use plastic.
We know it’s hard to be
“eco perfect” and aspiring to a
state where you can maximise
change from unfriendly
usage. Our mantra is “don’t
let perfect get in the way of
good”. Harris Farm Markets,
Woolworths and Coles’ decision
last month to ban single-use
bags will save over 6 billion
bags every year! Whilst these
supermarkets will still wrap
some bananas in plastic, and
sell reusable plastic bags, this
is a massive saving for the
environment.
It’s challenging for
businesses to reduce their
environmental footprint, and
more for some industries than
others when customers have
an expectation of the way their
goods should be presented.
In retail, it can also be hard
to find eco alternatives that
protect and keep products
pristine for the consumer. At
ecodownunder, we’re trialling
new eco packaging in our
stores and feedback so far has
been extremely encouraging.
T
Often small business
wo highly regarded local
owners, who are already
not-for-profit essential
time poor, put sustainability services for women will
in the ‘too-hard basket’ and continue to be supported by
see it as an additional cost. It council grants for the next
doesn’t have to be. In many three years as part of a new
ways it’s more important for funding agreement.
SMEs to be socially responsible Manly Women’s Shelter
as they’re more engaged in will receive an annual grant
the community in which they of $61,102 and the Manly
operate and can respond to Community Centre $90,349,
and support social change. including $10,000 to support
Let’s not forget that research its Homeless Outreach Service.
has shown that consumers are
increasingly seeking out brands
which “care”,
so it’s good for
business too.
An eye to a greener future
Beckenham Optometrist has implemented
further steps to promote its affinity to the
‘Green’ cause and offset increasing wastage
world-wide.
“The environment on the Northern Beaches
is crucial to our quality of life, as is healthy
good vision,” says Rowena Beckenham. “We are
focussed on reducing our impact on the environment
whilst offering good-quality products
that will survive the rigours daily life. We back
this with frame and lens warranties that are
second to none.”
Rowena said frequent replacement of product
was necessary because the disposable
world’s inferior materials and manufacturing
techniques didn’t enable re-use.
“Poor longevity is adding to the masses of
wastes produced each year. According to Green
Peace, the average Australian produces 1.5
tonnes of waste in a year and much of this
household waste is avoidable – like plastic
packaging.”
She said Beckenham Optometrist tried to
avoid single-use plastic items, which posed a
threat to marine life and oceans.
“And we sponsor Boomerang Bags, which
offers shoppers an alternative to plastic bags,”
she said. “This is a fantastic initiative by a passionate
group of locals, in the move to ridding
Avalon of single-use plastic bags.”
Rowena added their glasses and contact
lenses were delivered in bags made from 100%
recycled paper that could then be used as giftwrapping,
and they reused boxes for mailing
out jobs to their laboratories.
“We offer free re-fills on lens cleaner spray
bottles; we work in conjunction with the Lion’s
Club to collect patients’ old glasses that would
otherwise be thrown out – to be used by
people in developing countries; and, if they are
still in good condition, we update patients’ new
prescription lenses into their old frames.”
Rowena said other initiatives customers
could embrace to be more environmentally
friendly included utilising their new 350-drop
capacity preservative-free lubricant bottles
that had an expiry date of 6 months; dropping
in old glasses (pictured) so they could be recycled
for overseas aid projects; and recycling
contact lens packaging.
“Beckenham strives to: Be Environmentally
Conscious, Keep Excess to Naught, and Help
Avalon Maximise recycling…” – Lisa Offord
Boost for local essential services
Northern Beaches Council
Administrator Dick Persson
said both organisations formed
an integral part of the Northern
Beaches’ social infrastructure.
Manly Women’s Shelter is
a community-based, nongovernment
organisation
that provides emergency
accommodation for up to 10
women at any one time and
support for homeless and atrisk
women who do not have
dependent children.
It costs $530,000 to run the
shelter per year, including the
grant from Council.
Manly Community Centre
is a community-based, nongovernment,
charitable,
not-for-profit organisation
providing residents with access
to information, counselling,
financial and legal advice,
multicultural services and
homelessness services. – LO
Russell Lamb is
the Founder of
ecodownunder
48 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Hair & Beauty
Cellulite: understanding
annoying dimple effect
with Sue Carroll
peel skin’…
‘cottage cheese
‘Orange
skin’… ‘the mattress
phenomenon’… and ‘hail
damage’ are all common names
for the common concern which
afflicts predominantly women,
rather than men: cellulite!
Cellulite is a connective
tissue disorder which often
accumulates around the
buttocks, thighs, abdomen
and arms. It is estimated that
up to 90 per cent of women
will experience some form of
cellulite at some time in their
life after puberty.
Cellulite will occur more
predominantly in women
than men primarily because
of hormonal differences. In
women, fat cells and connective
tissue are arranged vertically,
whereas in men the tissue is
more of a criss-cross structure.
Cellulite is the protrusion or
cleaving of subcutaneous fat
within fibrous connective tissue
that causes the skin dimpling.
While fat is a component of
cellulite, it is only part of the
story. Fibrous connective tissue
adheres skin to the muscle
beneath, and as the body ages,
this connective tissue contracts
and stiffens causing it to pull
down or tighten the skin which
pushes the fat cells out against
the skin.
Age also causes the skin to
become less elastic, thinner and
more likely to sag. This is yet
another possible cause of the
dreaded cellulite phenomenon,
along with genetic factors
such as speed of metabolism,
distribution of fat under the skin
and circulatory levels.
There are three grades of
cellulite appearance on the
skin. Grade 1 is very mild and
may only be seen when the skin
is squeezed together; there
may be a slight ‘orange peel’
appearance.
Grade 2 is moderate in
appearance and is more
severe, with a ‘cottage cheese’
appearance and a slight draping
of the skin.
Grade 3 (or severe) is more of
a lumpy mattress appearance,
with deeper depressions and
hanging of the skin.
While there is no cure for
cellulite, a healthy lifestyle and
exercise program will go a long
way to prevent and reduce it.
There are various treatments
both at home and in the clinic
that may assist.
Sue Carroll of Skin
Inspiration has been a 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
Hair & Beauty
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 49

Business Life: Money
Business Life
Look out! Get ready for
the new financial year...
This month we take a brief
look at some of the changes
and issues you should
be aware of as we commence a
new financial year.
Superannuation changes: I
have written about the changes
to superannuation rules before
but at the start of a new year it
is imperative to review and adjust
any existing salary sacrifice
arrangements to the new lower
contribution thresholds. This
year the maximum deductible
(or pre-tax) amount that can be
contributed from all sources regardless
of age is $25,000. The
maximum that can be contributed
from after tax funds is
$100,000 per year, or $300,000
using the three-year bring-forward
provisions if you are under
65. Over 65s making contributions
to super still need to pass
a work test of 40 hours over 30
days before contributing and
they are not eligible to use the
bring-forward provisions.
One positive from these
changes has been the abolition
of the 10% rule for employment
income. Employees up to 75
years of age can now make personal
deductible contributions
up to the overall $25,000 limit;
previously they had to show nine
times their employment income
from other non-employment
sources before being eligible to
make a deductible contribution.
Buying or selling a property
over $750,000: In 2016 provisions
were introduced to require
property vendors to obtain a
clearance certificate from the
ATO for property sales in excess
of $2 million. In the absence of
a certificate the purchaser in
the transaction was required to
remit 10% of the property price
to the ATO, where it would sit as
a credit until claimed by the vendor
in their tax return. This year
the value threshold has fallen to
$750,000 and the withholding
amount has risen to 12.5%. This
means just about every property
sold around here will be
caught in the net.
The intent of the legislation
is to capture non-reported
sales of Australian property by
foreign residents; however, the
reality is that every property
sale falling within the threshold
is now complicated by the need
to obtain a certificate. The ATO
have a service standard of up
to 28 days to issue a certificate
and vendors need to factor this
piece of bureaucracy into their
settlement schedule.
Tightening of rental deductions
1 – travel expenses for
with Brian Hrnjak
residential rental property:
Our tax system contains a
fundamental premise that
expenses may be offset against
revenues – except it seems
where negative gearing (and
politics) are concerned. From 1
July 2017, residential property
investors will not be able to
claim travel expenses associated
with the ownership and
management of their rental
property. The change affects
both direct visits to the property
for inspections or repairs
as well as indirect matters such
as travel to attend an owner’s
corporation meeting. (Note that
this provision and the following
one are not yet law.)
The precise words from the
exposure draft are: “In the 2017-
18 Budget, the Government announced
a package of measures
designed to reduce pressure
on housing affordability. This
Schedule implements one of
the reforms in the package
to disallow travel expenditure
deductions relating to residential
investment properties. This is
an integrity measure to address
concerns that some taxpayers
have been claiming travel deductions
without correctly apportioning
costs, or have claimed
50 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

travel costs that were for private
purposes. The amendments will
provide confidence in the tax
system by ensuring tax deductions
are better targeted.”
Tightening of rental deductions
2 – depreciation of plant
and equipment: Also abolished
but from budget night on 9
May 2017 is the ability to claim
deductions for the depreciation
of previously used plant and
equipment.
Again, quoting from the
exposure draft: “The intended
effect of these amendments is
that certain entities will only
be able to deduct the decline in
value of depreciating assets used
in gaining or producing assessable
income from residential
premises if the asset is acquired
new for that purpose. Broadly,
the amendments ensure that
entities cannot claim overstated
deductions relating to their
rental properties by ‘refreshing’
the values of previously used
depreciating assets used or installed
ready for use in relation
to those properties.”
The reference above to ‘certain
entities’ is that big business (specifically:
companies, public offer
superannuation funds and unit
trusts with 300+ unitholders) will
still be able to depreciate their
plant and equipment and continue
to claim for travel expenses.
In both cases it appears it was
the mums and dads who were
‘rorting’ the system and who presumably
will be happy enough
to retain negative gearing in its
general form despite the loss of
deductibility of these two items.
This is rubbish policy, as it runs
contrary to fundamental principles
of tax law and has its roots
in populism. What we don’t know
at this point is will the government
stop here or is this the start
of ‘a death by a thousand cuts’ to
negative gearing?
Retention of the 20k
instant asset write-off: There’s
nothing really new here, it
obviously keeps testing well in
focus groups and is back for
another year at least. From the
ATO website: “On 9 May 2017,
the Government announced an
extension to the 2015-16 Budget
measure providing an instant
asset write-off provision for
small business. Small businesses
can immediately deduct the
business portion of most assets
if they cost less than $20,000
and were purchased between
7:30PM on 12 May 2015 and
30 June 2018. This deduction
can be used for each asset that
costs less than $20,000, whether
new or second-hand. You can
claim the deduction through
your tax return, in the year the
asset was first used or installed
ready for use.”
The franking credit debacle:
You may have caught the headlines
about the reduction in
company taxes – currently 27.5%
(down from 30%) for businesses
turning over less than $10 million
in 2016/17. The government
is aiming for a 25% company tax
rate across the board; however,
this has not been legislated yet.
I’ve written about this before.
The thing with small business
is that most earnings are usually
taken out as wages or as
dividends and therefore taxed
at marginal personal rates, not
corporate rates. What people
are realising about these tax
cuts is that if you paid tax at
30% but only obtain dividend
imputation at 27.5%, there is
a net 2.5% give back to the
government of unused franking
credits. In other words, not really
a tax cut at all. The problem
is starting to be anticipated up
the chain, as bigger turnover
companies see the potential
for this franking credit wastage
and shareholders such as large
superannuation funds start lobbying
the government.
If you are in business and use
a corporate entity presumably
your accountant will be the one
grappling with this problem. Be
thankful it’s them and not you.
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.
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 51

Business Life: Finance
Business Life
Weighing up your options
for retirement investment
If you want income from
your investment portfolio,
the choices over the
past few years have been
narrowed considerably as
interest rates have fallen to
the lowest level that we can
recall.
There are effectively three
choices currently available.
The first is to leave your
money in the bank either “at
call” or on term deposits.
The returns range from 1.5%
to around 3% at the five-year
mark. Once you step outside
the bank-guaranteed
security blanket, the
risks in fixed interest
investing can rise
considerably.
Another choice
is property. In the
residential space, the
yield after costs for the
average Sydney unit is not
much better than 3%. Real
Estate Investment Trust on the
Morgans recommended list
are currently yielding between
4-9% and generally have
exposure to commercial and/
or industrial property. That is
one way to improve earnings.
The issue with property
in general is that in
the short to medium
term, valuations may well
have peaked. So, whilst the
earnings are generally more
attractive than cash and fixed
term investments, the capital
risk needs to be carefully
assessed.
The third choice is that
of high-yielding equities
(especially those paying fully
franked dividends). Chief
amongst this group are the
financials, with the four
major banks heading the list.
The Morgans recommended
income portfolio has a
weighting of 32% amongst
three of the big four, with
a further 6% in Macquarie.
Telstra also has 6%, with
the balance of the portfolio
spread amongst nine
industrials. The forecast
yield is 4.8%, which
is close to being fully
franked.
This income portfolio
has no bank hybrids, as
the risk/return favours
holding physical bank
shares in preference.
As there is a heavy
weighting to banks, telcos
with Roger Corrie
and utilities, some may prefer
diversification into other
areas. Regardless of this, the
fact remains that in order to
achieve a reasonable income
stream, investors must be
prepared to take on more risk
than in days gone by.
So a million dollars invested
in a bank term deposit would
produce a maximum of
$30,000 per annum (pa) at
current rates. If this were to
be redirected to a portfolio
of income securities, this
amount would rise to $48,000
pa and provide in addition
almost $19,000 of imputed
tax credits – which in a
super fund paying a pension
stream, should come back as
a refund.
That’s a pretty good
income stream.
If you would like a copy of
the Morgans Income portfolio
for July, contact Charmaine
Riley on 9998 4206.
Roger Corrie of Morgans Newport (9998 4201) has been an
Investment Adviser for 30 years and established Morgans
on the Northern Beaches in 2002. His motto: “The acid test
for any investment is to simply ask – would I buy it myself?”
(Comment of a general nature only and is not intended
as a substitute for professional advice.)
52 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Business Life
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 53

Business Life: Law
Business Life
‘Foreign Resident’ tax
creating public issues
Back in 2013, the
Commonwealth
Government introduced
new withholding tax rules to
deal with increasing foreign
investment in commercial
and residential real estate.
The rules, designed to stop
foreign property owners
avoiding capital gains tax,
were enacted in February
2016 and introduced with
effect from July 1 last year.
The name for this
legislation – Foreign Resident
Capital Gains Tax Withholding
Tax – has attracted criticism,
as the rules do not operate
in line with their name. This
has created several issues in
public market transactions.
First, it is not a withholding
tax. There is no statutory
obligation to withhold
tax from payments of
consideration. Instead, there
is an obligation on the buyer
to pay an amount determined
under the rules to the
Australian Taxation Office
(ATO). That amount “can also
be treated as withholding
payments” and the buyer is
“discharged from all liability
to pay or account for that
amount to any entity” other
than the ATO.
The Government has
failed to deal directly with
relevant issues, thus creating
unnecessary issues. In
the absence of a statutory
obligation
to withhold, a
contractual right must
be sought, which is not
available in public market
transactions, and absolution
for the ‘withholding’ does
not adequately address
the conflict between
the requirements of the
corporations law and the
tax law – especially in the
absence of a statutory right
to withhold.
Second, it does not apply
to capital gains tax only.
It applies to all income tax
on revenue account (for
example, disposals by private
equity, disposals of inventory
and depreciating assets).
Third, it
does not apply
to foreign residents
only. Provided there is at
least one non-resident, the
whole transaction is caught
by the rules.
There are other issues of
concern in dealing with, for
example, shares and units
and other transactions, but
for this article we’ll consider
the impact of the legislation
on conveyancing and real
property transactions.
At first, Australian
residents buying or selling
real property with a market
value of $2 million or more
needed to obtain a clearance
certificate from the ATO
to confirm that a 10%
withholding amount did not
need to be withheld from a
with Jennifer Harris
transaction.
However, as of
the July 1 this year, a
vendor selling a property
worth $750,000.00 or more
needs to provide a clearance
certificate or face withholding
amount of 12.5%.
All property transactions with
a market value of $750,000 or
more will need the vendor and
purchaser to consider if they
need a clearance certificate. In
most cases the market value
of the property will be the
purchase price.
The purchaser has an
obligation to withhold when:
n Any vendor of the property
is a foreign resident;
n The property that the
purchaser has acquired is a
relevant property;
n The acquisition is not an
excluded transaction; and
n The vendor does not
provide a clearance
certificate or make a
relevant declaration.
54 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Unless an exception applies,
the vendor is a relevant
foreign resident if any of the
following apply:
n The purchaser knows the
vendor is a foreign resident;
n The purchaser reasonably
believes the vendor is a
foreign resident;
n The purchaser does not
reasonably believe the
vendor is an Australian
resident, and either
n Has a record about the
acquisition indicating that
the vendor has an address
outside Australia;
n Is authorised by the vendor
to provide a related financial
benefit (for example, make a
payment) to a place outside
Australia (whether to the
vendor or anyone else); and
n The vendor has a
connection outside Australia
of a kind specified in the
regulations;
The capital gains tax asset
to which the transaction
relates is taxable Australian
real property.
A vendor is not a relevant
foreign resident if they
provide the purchaser with:
A valid clearance
certificate in transactions
involving taxable Australian
real property or indirect
Australian real property
company title interests (even
if the vendor is an Australian
resident for other income tax
purposes);
A valid vendor declaration
in transactions involving
other assets covered by the
foreign resident capital gains
withholding law.
Clearance certificates are
valid for 12 months from
the date of issue and the
vendor may be able to use
it for multiple disposals of
real property or indirect
Australian real property
company title interests that
occur within that period.
The vendor does not have
to reapply for a clearance
certificate each time they
dispose of a property, so long
as the clearance certificate is
valid.
It is prudent for the vendor
to make application for a
clearance certificate well in
advance of settlement and to
provide it to the purchaser
in a timely fashion to ensure
The Local Voice Since 1991
that monies are not withheld
on settlement. Matters of
finance mortgages and the
like could be affected if the
clearance certificate is not
obtained. A well-organised
vendor could obtain a
clearance certificate from
the ATO prior to putting his
property on the market.
The introduction of this
legislation has been without
fanfare and we have found
that a lack of awareness of
the need to consider the
necessity or otherwise of
obtaining a clearance has
begun to cause problems in
some transactions. Where
banks and other financial
institutions are involved
parties to a transaction
might find they are unable
to settle their transaction
because 12.5% has been
withheld.
Another element which
has shown up in the early
stages of working with
this legislation is the need
for vendors to have their
taxation affairs in order as
they may come under ATO
checking as the clearance
certificate is sought.
The ATO has assured all
those involved in property
transactions that it is
automating the process for
issuing clearance certificates.
It has advised that if there
are data irregularities, e.g.
incorrect or incomplete
names, some manual
processing may be required
and the clearance certificate
may take 14 to 28 days to
issue.
There are many elements
to be considered with
the introduction and
implementation of this
legislation and there are
some teething problems.
Remember to consult
your lawyer for advice on
the ramifications of the
legislation as it applies to
your situation.
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
AUGUST 2017 55
Business Life

Trades & Services
Trades & Services
AUTO REPAIRS
British & Swedish
Motors
Call 9970 6654
Services Range Rover, Land
Rover, Saab and Volvo with the
latest in diagnostic equipment.
Narrabeen Tyrepower
Call 9970 6670
Stocks all popular brands
including Cooper 4WD. Plus
they’ll do all mechanical repairs
and rego inspections.
Barrenjoey
Smash Repairs
Call 9970 8207
barrenjoeysmashrepairs.com.au
Re-sprays a specialty, plus
restoration of your favourite
vehicle. Commercial vehicle
specialist.
BOAT SERVICES
Avalon Marine
Upholstery
Call Simon 9918 9803
Makes cushions for boats,
patio and pool furniture,
window seats.
KB Marine
Call Pami 9913 3522
New owner; 10% off engine
and trailer servicing in July.
Free salt-away flush with every
engine service.
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.
FLORISTS
Avalon Floral Art
Call 9918 2711
Internationally recognized;
amazing bouquets and
arrangements with freshness
guaranteed.
GARDENS
Graham Brooks
Call 0412 281 580
Tree pruning and removals.
Reports regarding DA tree management,
arborist reports.
Precision Tree Services
Call Adam 0410 736 105
Adam Bridger; professional tree
care by qualified arborists and
tree surgeons.
CLEANING
The Aqua Clean Team
Call Mark 0449 049 101
Quality window washing,
pressure cleaning, carpet
washing, building soft wash.
Martin Earl House Wash
Call 0405 583 305
Pittwater-based owner on
site at all times. No travellers
or uninsured casuals on your
property.
MASSAGE & FITNESS
Avalon Physiotherapy
Call 9918 3373
Provide specialist treatment
for neck & back pain, sports
injuries, niggling orthopaedic
problems.
Avalon Physiotherapy
& Clinical Pilates
Call 9918 0230
Dry needling and acupuncture,
falls prevention and balance
enhancement programs.
Avalon Beach
Chiropractic
Call 9918 0070
Professional care for all ages.
Treatment for chronic and acute
pain, sports injuries.
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.
Francois Naef/Osteopath
Call 9918 2288
Diagnosis, treatment and
prevention for back pain and
sciatica, sports injuries, muscle
soreness and strain, pregnancyrelated
pain, postural imbalance.
PAINTING
Contrast Colour
Call 0431 004 421
Locals Josef and Richard offer
quality painting services. Tidy,
reliable, they’ll help consult
on the best type of paint for
your job.
Modern Colour
Call 0406 150 555
Simon Bergin offers painting
and decorating; clean, tidy,
quality detail you will notice.
Dependable and on time.
Painting & Decorating
Call 0418 116 700
Andrew is a master painter with
30 years’ experience. Domestic
and commercial; reasonable
rates, free quotes.
56 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Trades & Services
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 57

Trades & Services
PLUMBING
Nick Anderson Plumbing
Call 0411 251 256
All aspects of plumbing including
gasfitting and drainage.
Competitive rates, free quotes.
UPHOLSTERY
Luxafoam North
Call 9999 5567
Local specialists in all aspects
of outdoor & indoor seating.
Custom service and expert
advice.
Susan Ottowa
Call Susan 0422 466 880
Specialist in day bed and outdoor
areas. Reliable local service.
Domestic & commercial.
RENOVATIONS
Rob Burgers
Call 0416 066 159
Qualified builder provides all
carpentry needs; decks, pergolas,
carports, renovations and
repairs.
Underdeck
Call Adrian 0417 591 113
Waterproof under your deck and
turn the area into usable space
all year round.
SunSpec
Call Dustin 0413 737 934
sunspec.com.au
All-aluminium, rust-proof
remote-controlled opening roofs
& awnings. Beats competitor’s
prices.
Advertise your
Business in
Trades
& Services
section
Phone
0438 123 096
DISCLAIMER: The
editorial and advertising
content in Pittwater Life
has been provided by a
number of sources. Any
opinions expressed are
not necessarily those of
the Editor or Publisher
of Pittwater Life and
no responsibility is
taken for the accuracy
of the information
contained within. Readers
should make their own
enquiries directly to any
organisations or businesses
prior to making any plans
or taking any action.
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.
Askerrobertson
Call 0411 956 242
Northern Beaches-based
specialists in residential alterations
and extensions, and new
houses.
SECURITY
Sure Security
Call 1300 55 12 10
Northern Beaches-based specialists
in Alarms, Intercoms, Access
Control and CCTV Surveillance;
solutions to fit your needs.
58 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

the
good
life
dining
food
crossword
gardening
travel
60
64
67
68
72
Showtime
Prepare as soul is bared
at George & Tina tributes
If you love Tina Turner
you are in for a treat
this month with two
shows straight from the
US in a club near you.
As far as tribute
shows go, Tina, starring
‘Cookie’ Watkins, is
regarded as simply the
best!
A consummate
performer, Cookie is
reportedly the closest
thing to the real Tina
Turner, leaving audiences
breathless and wanting
more.
Her new tribute show
allows the audience to
savour the saucy effects
of Tina’s Higher before
a seamless transition
to Better Be Good To Me
followed by What’s Love
Got To Do With It?
The evening closes with
the high-energy, stand-up hit
Proud Mary.
Music has been Cookie’s
mainstay since the legendary
Duke Ellington invited her
onstage to perform a few
tunes at the age of 14.
Career highlights include
performing in Broadway
musicals such as Hair and work
as a session singer for artists
including Debbie Harry and
Lou Gramm (ex-Foreigner).
Cookie became a recording
artist in her own right before
finding her calling as ‘The
World’s Number One Tina
Spring Serenade
on Father’s Day
Manly-Warringah Choir and Orchestra conducted by
Dr Carlos Alvarado, with three soloists including Anita
Kyle, will present a Spring Serenade concert in the
inspiring surroundings of the Cardinal Cerretti Chapel,
Manly, early next month.
Featuring Schubert’s Mass in G, Elgar’s renowned
Serenade for Strings, and Ramirez’s Misa Criolla the concert
concludes with a suite of songs from South America.
After the performance, the audience has the
opportunity to join the choir and orchestra for
complimentary drinks and light refreshments on the
terrace outside the Chapel.
The concert will be held on Sunday September 3
starting at 2.30pm – what a lovely way to celebrate
Fathers’ Day!
Adults $45, Concessions $40, Students $20, Children
under 12 free (with booking). Premium seats $5
extra. Parking opposite in St Paul’s College. Bookings
manlywarringahchoir.org.au; phone 9953 2443 or 0432
656 798.
Turner Tribute Artist’.
You can catch Tina at
the Royal Motor Yacht
Club on Saturday August
12 and Dee Why RSL on
Fri 18 at 8pm.
Also at Dee Why RSL
this month is the 18+
show George Michael
Relived taking yo u on a
journey from the early
years of Wham!
Featuring tight
harmonies from some
of Sydney’s best singers
and a killer band, get
set to enjoy the hits we
all know such as Faith,
Careless Whisper, Fast
Love, Outside, Last
Christmas, Wake Me Up
Before You Go-Go, I’m
Your Man, Freedom and
Everything She Wants.
This is promoted as a
“funky night to remember”, so
get ready to dance and sing
along.
– LO
Contact the clubs for
bookings and more
details: RMYC 9997 5511 or
royalmotor.com.au; Dee Why
RSL 9454 4000 or deewhyrsl.
com.au.
The cat in the
hat at Belrose
See all your favourite Dr Seuss
characters including The
Cat in the Hat, Horton the
Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz,
Mayzie LaBird and Jojo – a little
boy with a big imagination
– come to life at Glen Street
Theatre on August 3-5.
Inspired by the much-loved
books of Dr Seuss, Seussical is
a fantastical, magical musical
extravaganza.
Here’s your opportunity to
take the whole family for a
special serving of the zany
and colourul production close
to home before the super talented
LOUD Theatre Company
takes the show to the Roslyn
Packer Theatre in the city.
More info glenstreet.com.au
AUGUST 2017 59
Showtime

Dining Guide
Dining Guide
August’s best restaurants, functions, events and reader deals...
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
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.
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
Club Palm Beach will host its
Vietnam Veteran’s lunch on
Sunday August 13 (bookings
essential – see ad right).
The Members’ lucky badge
draw is held Wednesday and
Friday night (every 30 mins
between 5pm-7pm), and
jackpots by $100 each week.
Wednesday and Sunday
are meat raffle nights, with a
whopping 14 trays to be won.
Enjoy Trivia Night from
5.30pm on Wednesdays, plus
Bingo at 10am on Fridays.
The club’s Barrenjoey
Bistro is open for lunch
(11.30am to 2.30pm) and
dinner (6pm to 8.30pm) seven
days. The Bistro serves topvalue
a la carte meals plus
daily $13.50 specials of roasts
(Mondays), rump steak with
chips and salad (Tuesdays),
chicken schnitzel with chips
and salad (Wednesdays),
homemade gourmet pies with
chips and salad (Thursdays)
and fish and chips with salad
(Fridays), except public hols.
Entrees on the a la carte
menu range from $10.50 to
$17.50 (mains $14.50 to $25).
The club has a courtesy
bus 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 call is out for locals
to contribute stories about the
Club’s early days. P: 9974 5566.
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
Book brekkie by the water
Enjoy a sumptuous yet healthy buffet breakfast overlooking
spectacular Pittwater!
Local residents and business people are finding the peaceful
ambience of The Mirage restaurant overlooking idyllic Pittwater,
the perfect place to start the day.
Located in the Metro Mirage Hotel Newport and open for
breakfast from 7-10am seven days a week, Mirage Restaurant
is the perfect venue for breakfast with friends, an early
business meeting with work colleagues or a weekend brunch
with the family.
At a fixed price of $25 for adults and $15 for children (5-12
years), guests can choose from a full hot and cold breakfast
buffet, including a selection of cereals, seasonal fruit and freshly
made juices, toast and pastries, sausages, eggs, hash browns,
bacon and tomato served with the Chef’s Special of the day.
Walk-ins are welcome or call 9997 7011 to book.
60
AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

of the Club in 1961. The
kitchen – led by experienced
Northern Beaches head chef
Mitch Blundell, boasts all
fresh, house-made meals, with
locally sourced ingredients
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 rump
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.)
From the menu, chef
Mitch recommends his twist
on nachos – pulled beef and
blackbeans with chipotle,
corn chips, guacamole,
Danish fetta and coriander.
Members get discounts on
meals purchased. Membership
starts from $5.50.
The club is licensed, with
no BYO. Bookings online or
call 9918 2201 – large groups
welcome.
Head to Avalon RSL for
APL Poker Tournaments on
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Visit avalonrsl.com.au/
bistro-61
Royal Motor
Yacht Club
Salt Cove on Pittwater
a variety of starters and
share plates, seafood,
burgers, grills, salads,
desserts and woodfired
pizza.
In August, Friday night
entertainment kicks off in
the Lounge Bar from 7.30pm.
Great acts appearing this
month include Rohan Cannon
(4th), Gordon Hunte (11th),
Geoff Kendall (18th) and Keff
McCullough (25th).
Trivia is held every Tuesday
night from 7.30pm (great
prizes and vouchers).
Don’t miss the incredible
Tina Turner tribute show,
performed by US star Cookie
Watkins on Saturday August 12.
Cookie has made a name
for herself as the best in the
business at delivering an
authentic account of Tina’s
career, delivering hits from
‘Nutbush City Limits’ through
her later solo years with
‘Simply The Best’ and ‘Private
Dancer’. Bookings essential.
And don’t forget Club social
memberships are available for
just $160.
Dining Guide
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
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 61

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
Little Bok Choy are still
celebrating their first
birthday – book now for
10 per cent off your meal
(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 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 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
special 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.
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
Book a table at this popular
Newport eatery in July and
your family is guaranteed
a great night out with a
feast for the eyes and the
tastebuds.
Order ahead for their
wonderful Peking Duck which
62 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991
LIC
BYO
All
Avalon’s
Sabiang is
in Mint
condition
P
is offered as a dine-in-only
special Thursdays through
Sundays.
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.
Home delivery available.
Avalon has a new and
welcome addition
to its diverse restaurant
scene – Sabiang Thai near
the watch-the-world-go-by
corner of Old Barrenjoey
Rd and Avalon Parade.
The restaurant,
which boasts a smart,
industrial-style metal
interior, soft colours
and soothing blackand-white
photo prints
of trees on its walls, is the latest project of restauranteurs
Mint and Kwan of ChaRice Noodlebar in Newport Beach.
After seven years in Newport the pair have decided to
expand around the bends (while continuing to have a hand
in the Newport restaurant they have run for seven years).
“Sabiang is a Lao word for ‘food for a trip’ or ‘provisions’,”
said Mint (pictured). “It’s a place to stock up and refuel for
your journey… when you come to Sabiang you will enjoy
eating because we will have so much for you to choose from.”
Mint said customers can expect traditional Thai
favourites, cooked with authenticity and plenty of flavor,
plus dishes with a few twists.
“My favourite is a ‘Crying Tiger’ (steak with hot dipping
sauce)… and I think diners will also love experiencing
things like our Papaya Salad with BBQ Chicken,” she said.
Sabiang is licensed but also offers BYO (wine only); to
book call 9918 3292. – Nigel Wall

Local Shout-out
Jenny honoured with 2017
Pittwater Community gong
Environmental and heritage
advocate Jenny Harris
has been recognised by the
state government for her
commitment to our unique
area.
Member for Pittwater Rob
Stokes announced Jenny
as the recipient of the NSW
Government’s 2017 Pittwater
Community Service Award.
Jenny is actively involved
in a variety of community
groups including the Duffys
Forest Residents Association,
Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon
Catchment and the Duffys
Forest Rural Fire Service.
Jenny was also integral in
the recent listing of Waratah
Park, the home of Skippy
Branch Lifesaver of the Year,
22-year-old student Lara
Boyle, has certainly crammed
a lot into her short life as a
volunteer lifesaver.
The Whale Beach
SLSC member,
who was raised in
Gladesville, was introduced
to the surf
club by a group of
friends while attending
Pymble Ladies’
College and quickly
become enthralled
with what surf life
saving had to offer.
She has been
Chief Training Officer,
Patrol Captain and now
Club Captain at Whale Beach.
She holds the Gold Medallion
– the pinnacle of surf life
saving awards and is also a
jet ski operator for Branch.
Lara is already planning
the 2017-18 season.
“I’ll probably focus on
The Local Voice Since 1991
the Bush Kangaroo, on the
State Heritage Register and
coordinates regular bush
regeneration events to help
ensure this significant area of
our community is preserved
for future generations.
“Jenny has an amazing
passion for our community,
our environment and our
local heritage,” Mr Stokes
said.
“I’m continually impressed
by the diversity of
community initiatives and
projects that Jenny is actively
involved with.
“Jenny typifies many of
our wonderful community
volunteers who do an
enormous amount of work
Awarding surf
lifesaving’s finest
the development of our
younger members and making
sure we are focussing
on our frontline service of
lifesaving… ideally
develop a NSW
women’s leadership
network,” she said.
Lara described
being crowned
Branch Lifesaver
of the Year at the
Northern Beaches
Awards of Excellence
function at
Dee Why RSL Club
last month as “just
insane”.
Newport’s Marty
Lynch also was recognised
with Life Membership of the
Branch at this year’s awards.
The Australian beach coach
and Newport SLSC member,
was one of two awards recognising
the Lynch family as
son Jake was named Speedo
Athlete of the Year.
behind the scenes – but seek
no gratitude or recognition
for their efforts.
“Without people such as
Jenny who are willing to do
the hard work and complete
the mundane but necessary
tasks – many of the
opportunities we often take
for granted simply wouldn’t
be possible.
“The natural areas
surrounding Narrabeen
Lagoon and Waratah Park
help define our community
and Jenny’s ongoing efforts
have contributed to their
formal protection over recent
years,” he said.
Jenny has also worked
closely with other local
groups and associations to
provide advice on projects,
fundraising opportunities
and awareness strategies.
The award, presented
at a community leader’s
reception at Mona Vale
Golf Club in late July,
recognises outstanding
voluntary service to the
Pittwater community.
Bill honoured by France
Pittwater Sub-Branch member Bill
Mackay has received a huge honour
– made a Chevalier in the Order of
the Legion of Honour on behalf of the
President of the Republic of France.
Bill was awarded the 1939-45 Star,
Africa Star, Italy Star, France and
Germany Star, Defence Medal and the
1939-45 War Medal, GSM Palestine.
His story is a thrilling one.
“I joined the 5th Scottish Regiment in
1941, at the age of 16 and transferred
to the Parachute Regiment in 1942,”
Bill recounted. “I had to get a letter of permission from my
mother so I could enlist. I was initially sent to North Africa,
where I fought for about two and a half years.
“About March 1943, we conducted Long Range Desert
Patrols in Jeeps and did numerous jumps in preparation
for the invasion of Sicily. I fought in Italy up to June 1944,
when we jumped into France with the Americans one
week after D-Day.”
After fighting in France for a month, he was sent back
to Italy to prepare for the invasion of Greece.
“Throughout my wartime service I made 37 parachute
jumps, with six made into live combat situations,” he said.
“Our 5th Scottish was then chosen to be sent to Palestine
from 1946-1947, where we were caught up in the Arab War
of Independence. Finally, in 1947 I was sent home to Scotland
and demobilised. I immediately joined the Territorial
Army in Glasgow where I served a further seven years, up
to 1954. In 1959, I immigrated to Australia.”
AUGUST 2017 63
Local Shout-out

Food Life
Food Life
Wonderful winter soups you
can eat now or freeze for later
Just when we were all starting to think we were over the winter
‘hump’, along comes August with its Arctic-cold days and
nights. So, here are some wonderful winter soups that will
both tingle the taste buds as well as warm the family from top to
toe. The best part is these beauties will freeze well – so make a
double batch and any leftovers will be perfect for lunch!
Sweet potato
miso soup
Serves 6
2 tbs olive oil
1 brown onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbs finely grated fresh ginger
1kg sweet potato, peeled,
chopped
1 litre chicken stock
¼ cup red miso paste
2 tbs sesame seeds, toasted
3 green onions, finely chopped
1 cup coriander leaves,
chopped
1/3 cup yoghurt, to sere
1. Heat the oil in a large
saucepan over medium
heat. Add the onion. Cook,
stirring occasionally, for
5 minutes or until soft.
Add the garlic and ginger
and cook, stirring, for 2
minutes. Add the sweet
potato. Stir to coat in the
onion mixture.
2. Increase heat to high. Add
the stock. Bring to the boil.
Reduce heat to medium-low.
Use the lid to partially cover,
simmer for 20 minutes or
until sweet potato is very
tender. Set aside to cool
slightly. Blend or process
until smooth.
3. Return the soup to the
saucepan. Combine miso
paste with ¼ cup cold water,
stirring until smooth. Stir
into the soup and return
soup to a gentle simmer.
Taste and season.
4. Combine the sesame seeds,
green onions and coriander
together. Ladle the soup
among serving bowls. Top
with a dollop of yoghurt,
sprinkle with sesame mixture
and serve.
Vegetable laksa
Serves 4
Recipes: Janelle Bloom Photos: Steve Brown, Benito Martin, Ben Dearnley, Mark O’Meara
1 tbs vegetable oil
3-4 tbs store-bought laksa
paste (see jb tip)
2 cups chicken stock
2 x 400ml cans of coconut milk
600g sweet potato or butternut
pumpkin, peeled, chopped
1 bunch broccolini, ends
trimmed, roughly chopped
2 tbs fish sauce
2 tbs lime juice
2 tbs grated palm sugar
200g rice stick noodles
1 cup coriander leaves
1 small red capsicum, quartered,
thinly sliced
1 cup bean sprouts
Fried shallots & lime wedges,
to serve
1. Heat the oil in a large wok
over medium heat. Add
the laksa paste and cook,
stirring for 1 minute. Add
the stock, coconut milk and
sweet potato or pumpkin.
Bring to simmer, cover and
cook for 10 minutes or until
sweet potato is tender.
2. Remove the lid. Add the
broccolini and cook for a fur-
64 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

For more recipes go to www.janellebloom.com.au
with Janelle Bloom
Janelle’s Tip: The flavour
and heat of laksa paste
can vary; generally,
3 tablespoons is mild. If
you like it very spicy add
1 finely chopped red chilli
with the paste.
1 tbs Chinese rice wine
1 tbs cornflour
1 tsp sesame oil
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
Extra green onions, sliced to
serve
1. Place chicken fillets into a
large saucepan. Cover with
cold water. Bring to simmer;
simmer 8 minutes or until
chicken cooked through.
Remove chicken to a board,
cool then shred. Discard
water, wipe pan clean.
2. Heat the saucepan over
medium-high heat, add the
vegetable oil, onions, garlic
and ginger, cook stirring for
30 seconds. Add the stock,
corn kernels, creamed corn,
soy sauce and rice wine. Stir
until the soup comes to the
boil. Reduce the heat and
simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, stir the cornflour,
sesame oil and 1 tablespoon
of cold water together until
smooth. Stir in 1 tablespoon
of hot soup mixture, then stir
into the soup. Bring to the
boil, stirring constantly for
3-4 minutes, or until slightly
thickened.
4. Add the chicken. Cook a further
1 minute, or until hot.
Ladle into bowls, top with
green onions and serve.
Banana coconut puddings
Makes 6
100g butter, softened
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 eggs
1¼ cups self-raising flour, sifted
2 tbs toasted coconut
¾ cup mashed banana (see Tip)
2/3 cup greek style yoghurt
Toasted flaked coconut, to
serve optional
Butterscotch sauce
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup thickened cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
25g butter, chopped
1. Preheat oven to 160°C fan-forced. Grease and line base of
6 x ¾-cup capacity ovenproof ramekins or a 6-hole, ¾-cup
capacity Texas muffin pan.
2. Beat butter, sugar and cinnamon with an electric mixer
until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well
after each addition. Fold in the sifted flour and coconut,
then gently stir in combined banana and yoghurt. Divide
between ramekins or muffin holes.
3. Bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in centre of
1 pudding comes out clean. Stand in pan for 5 minutes.
Turn out onto a wire rack.
4. Meanwhile, combine the butterscotch sauce ingredients
in a saucepan. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes over medium
heat until sugar has dissolved. Increase heat to mediumhigh,
bring to the boil. Simmer for 4 minutes or until sauce
has thickened slightly.
5. Pour the warm sauce over the warm puddings, top with
coconut and serve.
Food Life
ther 2 minutes or until bright
green and tender. Combine
the fish sauce, lime juice and
sugar and stir into the laksa;
cook 1 minute.
3. Meanwhile, cover the
noodles with boiling water
and stand 3 minutes until
softened. Drain and divide
the noodles between bowls.
Spoon over the soup. Top
with coriander capsicum,
bean sprouts and shallots.
Serve with lime.
Chicken and Sweet
Corn Soup
Serves 6
3 small chicken breast fillets
1 tbs vegetable oil
4 green onions, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tsp finely grated fresh
ginger
1 litre chicken stock
3 corn cobs, kernels removed
420g can creamed corn
1 tbs soy sauce
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 65

Food Life
In Season
Fresh Ginger
Janelle’s Tip: Use a
good-quality, thick,
salted caramel
sauce (available
from supermarkets).
Fresh Ginger is described as
a root but it is technically a
rhinezome (known and used
for both its medicinal properties
and extensive widespread
cooking use all over the world).
Australia is one of the
world’s most important
ginger producers, with the
majority coming from farms
at Buderim in Queensland.
Buying
Fresh ginger should feel
heavy, have tight, unwrinkled
skin and when broken
produce a crisp sound. Old
ginger will be more fibrous.
Young ginger has mild flavour,
with a thin papery skin
that does not require peeling.
The skin of mature ginger is
tough and requires peeling.
Storage
Store fresh unused ginger in
a snap lock bag on the bottom
shelf of the fridge; it will keep
for 2 weeks. Alternatively put
it in an airtight container and
freeze for up to 6 months.
Frozen ginger is easy to grate.
Food Life
Ginger coconut rice pudding
Serves 6
1 cup Sunrice medium grain and milk in a large bowl,
rice, rinsed
mix well. Pour into the ovenproof
dish. Cover tightly
Also In Season
½ cup caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
with a greased foil. Put dish
August
1 tbs grated fresh ginger
onto a baking tray. Bake for
Apples, Bananas, Grapefruit,
2 x 400ml cans of coconut 20 minutes. Remove from
Mandarins, Kiwi fruit,
milk
the oven, stir with a fork to
Australian Navel, Blood
Nutrition
4 cups full cream milk
separate the grains. Cover
and Cara Cara Oranges,
Ginger has a long history of use
60g butter, chopped
and return to the oven.
Tangelos, Pears, Quince,
in various forms of traditional
3 tbs brown sugar
Bake a further 40 minutes.
Rhubarb and Strawberries.
and alternative medicine. It is
4 beurre bosc pears, quartered,
cored
remove and discard the
3. Remove from the oven,
Also Avocados, Beetroot,
loaded with nutrients and bioactive
compounds, with incredible
Broccolini and Broccoli,
1 cup salted caramel sauce, foil. Stir rice again with a
Brussels sprouts,
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties. It’s great for an
to serve
fork then return to the oven
Cauliflower, Celery and
un-covered further 25-30
Celeriac, Leeks, Fennel,
upset stomach, helps prevent
1. Preheat oven 180°C, fanforced.
Grease a 10-cup milk has been absorbed, it
minutes or until most of the
Jerusalem artichokes;
nausea (especially motion and
Pumpkin, Sweet potato,
morning sickness) and helps
capacity ovenproof dish. will continue to cook and
Spinach and Silverbeet; plus
fight infections, such as flu and
2. Combine the rice, sugar, thicken on standing. Stand
Kale.
the common cold.
vanilla, ginger, coconut milk 15 minutes without stirring.
4. While pudding is standing,
melt butter and brown
sugar in a large non-stick
frying pan over mediumhigh
heat. Add pears,
cook, turning occasionally
5-10 minutes until tender.
Remove from the heat, add
caramel sauce and shake to
coat the pears. Spoon the
pears and caramel sauce
over the rice pudding and
serve.
66 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Pittwater Puzzler
Compiled by David Stickley
of time (7)
26 Someone who embraces an
ultrafashionable life-style (6)
27 Selection of alcohol available to drink
at Jonah’s in Whale Beach, for example
(4,4)
28 Written compositions (6)
29 Perhaps describing a man wanting
a shave at The Alley Barber Shop in
Newport (8)
DOWN
1 Single out (4,2)
2 The first course of a large meal (7)
3 Praise enthusiastically (5)
4 Popular recreation area in Narrabeen
that has been upgraded (8,4)
6 A mechanical device for entertainment
at a fairground etc (9)
ACROSS
1 A person who goes past, especially by
chance (6-2)
5 Small park in Bilgola Plateau, Betsy
______ Reserve (6)
9 Location on the western shores of
Pittwater in Ku-ring-gai Chase National
Park, ________ Retreat (8)
10 Wine region supporting the Taste of
the Beaches event in August (6)
12 Discharge (7)
13 Headed off (7)
14 Electrically powered passenger
vehicle that can be found at the Arts &
Community Centre in Narrabeen (4)
16 Prominent feature of the Bible Garden
in Palm Beach (5,4)
18 A written account of a person’s life,
usually by another (9)
20 Cuisine served by the new Sabiang
restaurant in Avalon (4)
23 Sunglasses, for example (7)
24 Connected with an intervening period
7 A large open boat used in unloading
and loading ships (7)
8 Braced (8)
11 Festival scheduled at the end of the
Pub2Pub 2017 Fun Run (6,6)
15 Large Avalon Beach event to be held
on Sunday 19 November 2017 (6,3)
17 Someone who habitually lives away
from their country, place of work, etc (8)
19 Batsmen who start off an innings (7)
21 Flying business like Qantas or
Lufthansa (7)
22 A workplace where metal is worked
by heating and hammering (6)
25 One of the earliest houses built on
Bilgola Plateau (5)
[Solution page 70]
Pittwater Puzzler
The Local Voice Since 1991
AUGUST 2017 67

Garden Life
Garden Life
Mini gardens: It’s so easy
to add a touch of whimsy with Gabrielle Bryant
Gardening can be hard
work, so take time out
to have some fun, find
a shallow bowl and make a
miniature landscaped garden. I
found an unused bird bath that
was ideal. Tiny garden tools,
arches, benches and bridges
can be found in garden centres
which have a great selection.
With some imagination, it
is amazing the number of tiny
plants that you can find in the
garden. Tiny rosette succulents
can be used to represent
agaves; mini mondo grass
looks like New Zealand flax;
give height with Chinese jade;
use brightly coloured golden
sedums as ground covers; and
miniature pepperomia will
trail or climb over fences and
rotundas.
Collect coloured pebbles,
gravel or stones to create
paths and mulches in your tiny
garden. None of these gardens
will remain tiny indefinitely,
but with regular attention
plants can be replaced; there
will always be tiny seedlings
or plantlets in the garden to
replace those already used.
As with any landscape or
garden it will need to be maintained
and looked after. It’s a
great attraction for kids and
grandchildren: look carefully
and you may even find some
fairies lurking in the magic
garden that you have created!
Spring daisy
ground cover
Arctotis are sun-loving
ground-cover daisies that
thrive in well-drained hot spots
in the garden. These South African
daisies cover banks and
slopes with their silver, soft
grey leaves and brightly coloured
flowers from pale pink
to dark cerise, from cream
to gold that open to the sun.
Once the light fades they close
and sleep until the sun rises
again the following day.
Plant them by the sea or on
hot, dry gardens; they need
dry, light soil that drains freely
– their only problem is from
damp and poorly drained soil
that will cause mildew and leaf
drop. After a week of solid rain
and poor light they will look
very sad but once the hot dry
sun comes back they recover
very quickly. I have seen them
growing into the sandy beaches
looking amazingly bright,
colourful and well.
68 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

For you
the Pieris
Temple
bells toll!
Pieris Temple Bells, or Lily
of the Valley tree, is a
small slow-growing shrub
that thrives in the semi-shade
under trees, where it is sheltered
from wind and hot sun.
The bright red new leaves in
spring turn to a glossy dark
green as they mature.
The delicate, pendulous
tresses of pure white bells
decorate the branches in
spring. Temple Bells loves to
grow mass-planted in borders,
as a feature plant or as a delicate,
compact shrub in tubs
or planter boxes. It is an acidloving
plant that grows in the
company of azaleas, camellias
and rhododendrons.
Pieris Temple Bells that
will grow one-metre tall are
a native to the hills of Japan.
There are other cultivars of
Pieris available – some are
smaller and others will grow
tall, some have pale pink bells
and others are a deeper pink;
all of them will grow in cooler
districts or in damp but welldrained
spots in the gardens
here.
After planting, keep Pieris
well-watered but not in soggy
soil. Once the plant is established
the watering can be reduced.
Mulch well around the
roots and feed with Kahoona
or a slow-release azalea food
now, before the new foliage
appears, and again after the
flowers finish in early summer.
The Local Voice Since 1991
Fragrantflowering
specimen
tree gold!
One of my very favourite
trees is the Michelia
champaca. As a specimen
tree in a lawn it is hard to
beat. Grow this tree where it
can grow to its full potential.
The beautiful Golden
Champaca is a fast-growing
evergreen tree that has
highly fragrant golden flowers
in spring. Although the
flowers are not flamboyant
their perfume in the evening
air is fantastic.
A member of the magnolia
family, this tree will grow in
its native Asian environment
to 30m tall but in cultivation
in domestic gardens it grows
to about 10m. The fragrant
flowers are delightful when
floated in bowls of water
inside the house where their
sweet scent will fill the air.
Spoilt for choice! Wattle they think of next?
The Aussie green and gold
comes to life outdoors as
spring reappears. There is
a wattle for every situation,
including those that spill
down banks – prostrate acacia
baileyana (the Cootamundra
wattle).
Then there is the weeping
wattle, acacia cognata Limelight.
And the weeping wattle acacia
cultriformis Cascade. Small
shrubs will grow to only one
metre – look for acacia howittii
Honey Bun, with the sensational
pale cream blossom.
Also, there are medium shrubs
and those that will grow into
stately trees – the ‘Fringe’ wattle,
acaia fimbirata and the Golden
Wattle, acacia pycnantha.
Wattles are our national
emblem; as wattle day
approaches on September 1,
every garden should have one.
We all fly the national flag,
so why not grow the national
flower.
AUGUST 2017 69
Garden Life

Garden Life
Garden Life
Jobs this Month
August
August is a busy month;
there is a lot to do to
prepare your garden
for the warmer, growing
months ahead. After the very
wet autumn, winter has been
very cold and mostly dry. It
is time to don the gloves for
some TLC.
Stick a fork in it
Lawns have suffered. Aerate
the ground with a fork, or
buy a pair of spiked metal
soles for your shoes – this
makes the task much easier,
as you can stomp around and
do the job. Then feed the
lawn with a hose-on fertiliser.
If the ground is very hard,
water first with Eco-hydrate
to help the water to penetrate
the soil.
Seed cliveas
Cliveas are expensive to buy
but are very easy to grow
from seed. Seeds are ripe
now and ready to harvest
if you left the flowers last
spring. Open the pod and
you will find around 6 or 8
seeds inside. Red seeds will
produce red flowers and if
you can find some yellow
seed pods you will have the
very special cream-coloured
plants. Take notice of clivea
flowers this spring and make
a note of the flowers that
you like. Cross-pollinate the
flowers so that next winter
you can harvest the seeds
that you want,
Super succulents
Spring is the time for ‘babies’.
Succulents grow from just one
leaf! Spread the leaves out on
a dry tray in a warm spot and
within a few weeks you will
find that new plantlets have
grown. Wait until the tiny
roots appear and then place
the leaf onto a tray of seedraising
mix. Once the roots
establish, plant out your new
succulent babies.
Get the good oil
Protect your citrus trees from
leaf miner and fruit fly. Spray
with Eco oil every fortnight.
As soon as the blossom
opens, it is well worth the
investment to buy a fruit fly
trap to protect your crop.
Summer vegies
Get the summer vegies
growing. Early tomatoes,
zucchinis, capsicum,
silverbeet, eggplants, lettuce
and cucumbers can all go in
now. Remember to rotate the
veggies in the vegie garden.
You should try to have a
three-year cycle. Before you
plant add plenty of compost
and cow manure.
Perennial problem
Now that spring is around
the corner split up
overcrowded perennials.
Gingers, agapanthus bulbs,
gazanias, phlox, begonias,
liriope, mondo grass can
all be divided now. Also,
spray azaleas with Zayleton
to protect them from petal
blight. Petal blight can
destroy the flowers on
Azaleas overnight. In dry
conditions, the flowers will
last but one rainy day can
destroy them. Don’t wait for
the flowers to open it will be
too late.
Caterpillar woes
The lily caterpillar can
destroy your cliveas in just
one night, as they eat their
way down the back of leaves
to the heart of the bulbs. At
the first sign of damage, cut
off the affected leaves and
put them – caterpillars and
all – into a plastic bag in the
bin. Spray with Eco oil to
Bulb care
Spring bulbs, daffodils,
jonquils, snowdrops and
tulips, are finishing as the
weather warms up. Make
sure that you keep feeding
and watering them as
they die down. Resist the
temptation to tidy them
before the leaves shrivel
up. This is when they store
the nourishment for next
year’s flowers.
prevent any new infestations.
Start a worm farm
If you don’t already have one,
start a worm farm today. The
worms will consume all your
kitchen waste and the liquid
from the farm is the most
amazing fertiliser.
Lime spray
It’s your last chance to spray
lime sulphur on roses, fruit
trees and frangipani to destroy
the fungal spores from last
season.
Colour explosion
Replant pots and baskets with
seedlings for summer. Petunias,
alyssum, portulacca, French
marigolds, snapdragons,
pansies and dianthus, give a
brilliant display of colour.
Crossword solution from page 67
Mystery location: CAREEL BAY
70 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Times Past
‘Trees’ among earliest
roots on the Plateau
One of the earliest
houses built on Bilgola
Plateau was the house
appropriately called ‘Trees’. It
was erected some time after
October 1934 when John David
Handley and his wife, Nellie
May, took possession of two
blocks at the top of Plateau
Road. The road had only just
been formalised from a rough
track by overtopping with
bitumen in 1929.
The house nestles into its
site just below the road level
and has excellent views over
the golf course to Bangalley
Head and beyond (and in the
1930s the view would have
extended around to Bilgola
Beach; trees now create a
visual filter to the southeast).
Originally the house was
one main room, the upper
level of timber-framed walls
set on a sandstone basement.
The upper walls and the roof
were clad with split Douglas
Fir, with the bark still intact
(as shown in the main photo).
The roof has since been re-clad
with green Marseilles tiles
after the original roof cladding
deteriorated. (Interestingly, in
1894 Wunderlich became the
sole agents in Australia of the
imported terracotta tiles from
France and claimed proudly
they had ‘painted the town red’
but the green tiles ‘harmonised
with the dark green of the
eucalyptus’.)
The use of natural materials
such as stone and timber
predominate in the structure
(internally as well as externally)
and like its close neighbour –
‘Stella James House’ by Burley
Griffin in 1933 – it harmonises
well with the environment.
Organic architect
extraordinaire, Alexander
Stewart Jolly, was working in
the area during this period
and it was thought he may
have had some input or
influence in the design of
‘Trees’. He was a master in the
use of natural materials and
The Local Voice Since 1991
there is no record of
him having used made) bricks in any of
(manhis
buildings.
In 1947, Norman
Arthur Kingsbury Wallis
purchased ‘Trees’ from
the Handleys.
He obviously
loved the garden
surrounding the
house and maintained
it enthusiastically.
He won four awards
for the garden in
the Sydney Morning
Herald and Sun
Herald’s Garden
Competition during
the years 1957 to
1964. On 18 February,
1950, he purchased
the block next door
in Plateau Road and six
years later donated this small
parcel of land (0.07 hectares)
to Warringah Shire Council
as ‘Betsy Wallis Reserve’ in
memory of his mother who
had died in 1949.
A memorial seat in the
upper area of the reserve has
cast into the back-rest the
title ‘Betsy’s Corner’ but his
mother’s names were Edith
Emily. (Maybe ‘Betsy’ was a
term of endearment used by
his father, Arthur?)
Wallis was a fine
yachtsman who also received
the award of the Royal Naval
and Royal Marine Forces
Volunteer Reserve Decoration
from HRH Queen Elizabeth in
December 1958.
He died on 17 November,
1965.
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.
AUGUST 2017 71
Times Past

Travel Life
Step off the wharf at
Pittwater and onto a
luxury Tassie cruise
Here’s your chance to ‘join’
the Sydney to Hobart Yacht
race – while dodging the discomfort
and hardships the rest
of the fleet may experience,
kicking back in supreme luxury
instead!
Embark 9am at Palm Beach,
Pittwater, on December 26 for
a unique two-week small-ship
cruise of a lifetime to Tasmania’s
southern wilderness.
Newport Travel’s Chris Riou explains
your journey, aboard the
72-passenger Coral Discoverer,
comprises a 6-night Sydney
to Hobart Yacht Race special,
followed by a 7-night discovery
cruise leg of Tasmania’s south
and east coast wilderness
areas.
“You’ll cruise past Barrenjoey
Headland to just off North Head,
for a grandstand view of the
race start, before trailing the
yachts on a scenic coastal cruise
to Hobart,” Chris said. “On
board, you’ll enjoy expert commentary
and race legends from
on-board lecturer, John Longley
AM, a celebrated veteran of five
Americas Cup campaigns.”
Visit Jervis Bay and Twofold
Bay en route and once across
Bass Strait, explore the magical
Tasmanian coast with Coral
Discoverer’s guided shore excursions,
by zodiac, hiking or
kayak (as conditions permit).
“The cruise arrives into
Hobart on New Year’s Eve,
to join the festivities of race
presentations and the launch
of Tasmania’s summer Taste
festival,” Chris said. “Then you
return to the Coral Discoverer
for a special New Year’s Eve
captain’s dinner and to enjoy
the festivities from our prime
harbour viewing point.”
The second leg of your discovery
cruise journey begins
on January 1.
“You’ll experience the
vestiges of Tasmania’s indigenous,
maritime, penal and
pioneering heritage, including
its pristine waters, ancient forests,
secret coves and rugged
dolomite crags,” said Chris.
“You’ll take in the abundant
and unique wildlife – both at
sea and on land – and skirt
Tasmania’s World Heritage
wilderness area, unreachable
by land, reaching the remote
destination of Port Davey.”
Chris said the ship for the
2-week cruise is the recently
refurbished and state-of-theart,
Coral Discoverer, with
upgrades to the latest technology
ensuring comfortable
cruising in open waters.
“Plus, her shallow draught
and manoeuvrability allow her
an unmatched ability to enter
the bays and inlets of Tasmania’s
rugged coastline,” Chris
said.
At meal times, enjoy an
outstanding menu of fresh
Tasmanian produce, complemented
by a specially curated
wine list featuring some of
Tasmania’s finest varietals.
To secure your cabin on this
special one-off voyage, call
Chris at Newport Travel on
9997 1277 or email
chris@newporttravel.com.au
– Nigel Wall
72 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991

Help at hand to
convert Amex
points for travel
Redeeming your accrued
American Express Membership
Rewards points to pay
for your next holiday sounds
ideal – but how do you do it?
The Travel Book at Mona
Vale are American Express
Membership Rewards Redemption
specialists who don’t
charge a merchant fee for
their service.
Agency operator Mike Dungan
says his team can help
you use your points for all or
part of the payment towards
any travel booking, including
the best available fare with
any airline, hotels, cruises,
car hire, holiday packages
and even travel insurance and
foreign exchange.
“You can even use your
points to upgrade to business
or first class, earn frequent
flyer points on eligible travel
booked and enjoy existing
child and infant discounts with
no travel restrictions – as long
as there’s availability, you can
book it,” Mike said. “And you
can use your points to purchase
travel for anyone.”
And if you’re planning a
getaway in 2018, consider the
Early Bird Deals offered by
European specialists Albatross
Tours which can save you up
to $350 per person.
If the convenience of coach
touring appeals but you’re put
off by the thought of joining
an overly large group, Albatross
Tours is perfect for you.
Albatross Tours are escort
The Local Voice Since 1991
experts in small-group coach
touring, limiting numbers to
28 travellers to ensure guests
receive authentic dining and accommodation
experiences that
other Tour groups can’t match.
The Travel Book consultant
Anne Williamson says small
groups offer many benefits.
“Less time is wasted getting
on and off the coach and a
more manageable group size
leads to a higher level of personal
service from your Tour
manager,” she said.
Being a smaller group, Albatross
guests stay in authentic
hotels chosen for their style,
character and location – which
larger groups often cannot
consider staying in.
“Dining out is also more
enjoyable, as we can eat at
delightful local restaurants
rather than standard, largergroup
establishments.”
Albatross structure their
tours to be more inclusive,
with longer stays in captivating
cities. All-inclusive sight-seeing
excursions and feature dinners
plus some completely free
days ensure you get to relax.
They have exciting new
tours in 2018 including 15-
days Venice to Rome and
Berlin to Munich, plus 10-days
Paris to Paris (surrounds).
* Albatross Tours are holding
an information evening at
The Travel Book at 5.30pm on
Thursday 31 August; RSVP to
9979 7780 by August 24.
– Nigel Wall
AUGUST 2017 73
Travel Life

Travel Life
Travel Life
Star Clippers unfurls
its holiday heroes
Making new friends is
unavoidable aboard the
magnificent Royal Clipper, the
world’s largest square rigger
and the ultimate vessel on
which to relax and watch the
world go by.
One of the three heroes of
Star Clippers’ unique sailing
adventures, the Royal Clipper
combines modern comfort
with the grace and elegance of
a bygone era.
Travel View’s Karen Robinson
says it’s a truly extraordinary
way to experience the charm of
small ports in traditional destinations
such as the Mediterranean
and the Caribbean.
“Boasting 42 sails across
five masts with over 5,000
sqm of sail, Royal Clipper has
no delusions of grandeur – she
is impressive!” said Karen.
“Our cruise of discovery
across Italy and the Dalmatian
Riviera had been sold out for
months… we left Civitavecchia,
the port for Rome, already
making new friends from the
225 other guests that were also
anticipating a wonderful 11
days ahead to Venice.”
Accompanied with music
and a magical sunset, the crew
hoisted the sails and everyone
raised a toast to their upcoming
days of exploration.
“We could even lend a hand
with the sails if we wished,”
Karen said. “Then it was time
to get to know our ship and
the first thing we noticed was
the fantastic deck space, with
three pools, and the ship’s
most popular gathering place,
the Tropical Bar, where even
more new friends were made.”
Inside, Royal Clipper showcases
the age of the original
clipper ships but with a modern
opulence.
“Our cabin was comfortable
and well-appointed and the
cuisine on board was fresh
and fabulous, with open unhurried
dining,” she said.
Karen said their route negotiated
the Pontine Islands and
the Amalfi Coast; Taormina
with its Greco-Roman theatre
and famous Cannoli; Corfu
for a taste of Greece; Kotor
in Montenegro and medieval
Dubrovnik (pictured).
The last stage was Venice
and sailing past Piazza San
Marco in full sail.
“We had favourable winds
under full sail for a good part
of our journey and when the
winds didn’t play ball, the ship
motored instead,” she said.
“But there’s nothing quite like
the sense of relaxation you
get leaning on the railing on
deck as the sails unfurl.”
* Want to know more?
Travel View Cruise View are
holding an info evening on
Wed Sept 6 at Long Reef Golf
Club (6pm-7.30pm, Oceanview
room). RSVP by August 30 on
9999 0444.
74 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991