Pittwater Life November 2018 Issue

The Local Voice Since 1991 

COMING TO 

YOUR RESCUE 

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF 

OUR MARINE VOLUNTEERS 

MISSING ‘LINK’ 

NEW HOSPITAL BUS 

PLANS REVEALED 

OFFLEASH 

DOG TRIAL 

WHY WON’T COUNCIL 

TAKE THE LEAD? 

WONDERS 

OF SCIENCE 

BOB MORAN & HIS 

‘DISCOVERY SHED’ 

NOVEMBER 2018 

FREE 

pittwaterlife 

+ GLENN SHORROCK 

PITTWATER PADDLE 

GREAT BREKKIE IDEAS 

MARKET 

MONTH! 

FAMILY FUN DAYS OUT IN AVALON, 

NARRABEEN, MONA VALE & NEWPORT

Editorial 

Silver lining to Pasadena saga 

The saga over the compulsory 

acquisition of the Pasadena 

site at Church Point attracted 

plenty of press in 2018; not all 

of it was complimentary, as 

ratepayers were left wondering 

if they had been sold a pup by 

the previous administrator. 

But finally a great outcome. 

After backing out of the deal 

after the owner refused its 

offer, Council went cap in hand 

to local MP Rob Stokes to see if 

he could secure the allocated 

funding for Pasadena – believed 

to be more than $5 million 

– for other council projects. 

(Credit here to Narrabeen Ward 

Councillor Rory Amon for 

getting the ball rolling.) 

In late October, Mr Stokes 

announced $2.5 million of 

the kitty for Pasadena would 

be deposited into Council 

coffers to help pay for the 

redevelopment of the Mona Vale 

Surf Life Saving Club. 

Even better, we hear there 

will be more announcements 

of funding for other Council 

projects in coming months. 

* * * 

October’s wild, wet and 

windy weather saw more 

delays in the dredging at 

Ettalong but we hear ferry 

services between Palm Beach 

and Ettalong are expected to be 

finished by mid November. 

Terrigal MP Adam Crouch 

says the dredging contractor, 

Fantasea Cruising and the 

Department of Industry are 

doing everything possible 

to see services recommence. 

Let’s hope everything’s back to 

normal before the December 

peak visitor period. 

* * * 

Our villages will come to life 

with markets and festivals 

in Mona Vale, Avalon, Newport 

and Narrabeen in coming 

weeks. 

Get out there and enjoy these 

fun-filled days – but also pop 

into the local shops and help 

support our businesses in the 

run up to Christmas. They need 

your help! – Nigel Wall 


NOVEMBER 2018 3

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Publisher: Nigel Wall 

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Photography: iStock / Staff 

Contributors: Rosamund 

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Vol 28 No 4 

Celebrating 27 years 

COMING TO 

YOUR RESCUE 


A DAY IN THE LIFE OF 

OUR MARINE VOLUNTEERS 

MISSING ‘LINK’ 

NEW HOSPITAL BUS 

PLANS REVEALED 

OFFLEASH 

DOG TRIAL 

WHY WON’T COUNCIL 

TAKE THE LEAD? 

WONDERS 

OF SCIENCE 

BOB MORAN & HIS 

‘DISCOVERY SHED’ 

+ GLENN SHORROCK 

PITTWATER PADDLE 

GREAT BREKKIE IDEAS 

MARKET 

MONTH! 

FAMILY FUN DAYS OUT IN AVALON, 

NARRABEEN, MONA VALE & NEWPORT 

NOVEMBER 2018 

FREE 

pittwaterlife 

26 

37 

64 

WALKERS 

WANTED 

To deliver Pittwater Life 

once a month. 

Permanent and casual runs 

are available now in: 

Palm Beach, Avalon, 

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Bayview & Church Point. 

EARN TOP MONEY PAID PROMPTLY! 

Email: 

pitlifewalkers@gmail.com 

thislife 

COVER: Our writer Rosamund Burton was up at the crack 

of dawn to meet the volunteers who work around the clock 

assisting Marine Rescue NSW (page 26); we reveal full 

details on the story we broke last month about the new NB 

Hospital shuttle bus (page 8); local Chambers of Commerce 

voice their concerns about the difficulties faced by local 

businesses (page 10); meet engineer Bob Moran, who takes 

us on a tour of the collection of technological wonders that 

comprise his ‘Discovery Shed’ (page 32); and check out the 

details for Market Month – it’s going to be a fun few weeks! 

COVER IMAGE: Pamela Pauline / pamelapauline.com 

also this month 

Editorial 3 

Pittwater Local News 6-25 

Feature: Day In The Life Of... Marine Rescue 26-29 

Surfing Life 30-31 

Life Stories: Bob Moran 32-33 

Art Life 34-36 

Avalon Market Day Guide 37-40 

Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 42-49 

Money 50-51 

Law 52-54 

Trades & Services 56-58 

Showtime 59 

Food 64-66 

Gardening 68-70 

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! 

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THURSDAY 8 NOVEMBER 

Finished art & editorial submissions deadline: 

THURSDAY 15 NOVEMBER 

The DECEMBER issue will be published 

on WEDNESDAY 28 NOVEMBER 

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 NOVEMBER 2018 

The Local Voice Since 1991

News 

Council has ‘dropped offleash lead’ 

Dog-owners advocacy group Pittwater Unleashed has accused 

Northern Beaches Council of unnecessarily delaying the 

introduction of an off-leash dog trial at Palm Beach’s Station Beach 

which it says should have been settled by staff months ago. 

The community group is furious that Council has wasted time 

and money assigning a Council staff member to 

oversee the project, only to stonewall the plan at 

the 11th hour. 

At a meeting on June 26, Council resolved to 

trigger a public consultation process within 12 

weeks, subject to there being no unresolvable 

barriers to do so, presented in any Government 

Agency correspondence response to the 

proposed trial. 

The site for the proposed trial involves the 

Pittwater foreshore commencing 80 metres 

north of Beach Road and finishing at the Boathouse 

Wharf, 630 metres south of National Park 

lands. 

Pittwater Unleashed, whose charter is to 

deliver “a voice for dog owners promoting a ‘Fair 

Share’ open space policy across the Northern 

Beaches Local Government Area” said Council 

had pointed to considerations requested by the 

NSW Lands Department in September as the 

reason for the additional delay. 

Given “environmental sensitivities” NSW 

Lands had requested a Review of Environmental 

Factors (REF) be undertaken. 

But Pittwater Unleashed spokesman Mitch 

Geddes said there was no reason for Council 

to be commissioning further studies given 

a 50-page REF and Biodiversity Assessment had already been 

undertaken by the former Pittwater Council, at a reported cost 

of $15,000. According to Mr Geddes, the previous REF had been 

“misplaced” by Council in 2014, but is now available for all to see. 

“The work is already done, and it is high time we let the 

community see the findings, by way of the formal consultation 

process,” he said. 

At its June meeting Council also invited the Executive Committee 

of Pittwater Unleashed to help develop the parameters for the 

Station Beach trial prior to its projected September public exhibition 

commencement. 

Preparations for the trial had progressed to the point where a 

draft sign had been prepared for the site to outline the conditions 

and scope of the trial (pictured). 

Following discussion with Pittwater Unleashed, the parameters 

of the trial propose a 12-month timeframe, with restrictions 

between 4.00pm to 10.30am (Eastern Standard Time) and 5.30pm 

to 10.30am (Daylight Savings Time). 

Mr Geddes said: “The Department of Lands 

already had its go when it demanded the first 

REF. The conduct of Lands, and other departmental 

officers at that time has recently been 

called into question, and is the subject of an 

investigation by Environment Minister Gabrielle 

Upton and Lands Minister Paul Toole. 

“Imposing new delays and cost duplication 

at this late stage is not a good look, especially 

when one of the laughable suggestions is that 

we consider taking the dogs back to Careel 

Bay! 

“Council needs to get on with the job of 

delivering for the community by activating 

this stretch of underutilised foreshore, and by 

not getting caught up in endless bureaucratic 

circles.” 

General Manager Environment and Infrastructure 

Ben Taylor told Pittwater Life: “We 

know off leash dog parks are an important 

topic for the community and Council is committed 

to providing improved spaces for our 

four-legged friends. 

“Council has now received feedback about a 

trial off-leash dog area on Station Beach from 

a range of Government agencies including the 

NSW Government’s Department of Industry. 

“This feedback identifies the need for environmental research 

prior to proceeding with any trial. 

“The next steps are that Council will work with the government 

to meet their requirements prior to conducting any community 

consultation.” 

While the commencement date for public exhibition is currently 

up in the air, Council CEO Ray Brownlee had set a meeting with 

Pittwater Unleashed for late October. 

“He’s only been here five minutes, and is already onto this. We 

take this as a very good sign – that he won’t cop these costly delay 

tactics,” Mr Geddes said. 

– Nigel Wall 



News 

Shuttle provides ‘easy’ 

link to new hospital 

Not-for-profit community transport operator 

Easylink says it’s proud to be helping 

patients and visitors travel to the new Northern 

Beaches Hospital with a brand new bus offering 

regular, scheduled weekday services as well as 

tailor-made, door-to-door shuttles. 

Their new bus will shift into gear on October 

30, the day the hospital opens, with its specially 

adapted vehicle running 

between Mona Vale Hospital 

and NB Hospital. 

Its first departure leaves 

Mona Vale at 7.45am and its 

last return from Northern 

Beaches Hospital commences 

3pm. 

Member for Pittwater 

Rob Stokes said the new shuttle bus was more 

affordable than taxis and a fantastic option for 

individuals who experienced mobility issues. 

“One-way fares will start at a concession rate 

of $6 for registered customers and up to $10 for 

full-fare passengers,” Mr Stokes said. 

Susan Watson, General Manager of Easylink, 

told Pittwater Life the team was excited to be able 

to provide an essential service for people from 

the northern end of the peninsula who may find 

it difficult to get to the new hospital. 

“We believe this shuttle will be very popular 

– in fact we have already received our first bookings,” 

she said. 

“Easylink will provide ‘transport with care’ in 

our brand new accessible vehicle… we can pick 

passengers up from the bus stop or their home 

and ensure they arrive at the hospital and home 

again safely.” 

Easylink asks all passengers 

intending to travel 

to book at least two days in 

advance (carers travel free). 

The service will run 

initially as a trial for 12 

months. 

Bookings can be made 

by calling 9919 0700 with 

payment made on the day of travel to the driver, 

or alternatively passengers can open an account 

with Easylink. (More info easylink.com.au) 

Meanwhile, locals have slammed new public 

bus services announced by Transport for NSW in 

October to access the NB Hospital, with no direct 

route via the Wakehurst Parkway and Pittwater 

residents required to change buses at Dee Why 

to get to Frenchs Forest. 

Go to transportnsw.info or use the Trip Planner 

or look up a bus route online. – Lisa Offord 

Timetable 

Mona Vale Community 

Health Centre 

Departs 7.45am, 9.45am, 

12pm, 2.30pm 

Northern Beaches Hospital 

Departs 8.30am, 10.30am, 

12.30pm, 3pm 

Costs 

If you’re registered with My 

Aged Care, transport disadvantaged 

(temporarily or 

permanently), or referred 

by local private hospitals, 

the shuttle costs are: 

$6 each way from Mona 

Vale Hospital Community 

Health Centre; 

$8 each way from home (up 

to 5km from MV Hospital); 

$10 each way from home 

(more than 5km from MV 

Hospital). 

For NDIS, HCP customers: 


Vale Hospital Community 

Health Centre 

$15 each way from home 

For private customers: 


Vale Community Health 

Centre 

NB: Carers travel free. 



Pasadena funds 

in redistribution 

State Government funding 

originally earmarked for 

the compulsory acquisition of 

the Pasadena site at Church 

Point will be redirected to 

other Northern Beaches 

Council projects following 

the scrapping of the planned 

purchase. 

First to benefit is the Mona 

Vale Surf Life Saving Club, 

with Member for Pittwater Rob 

Stokes announcing a further 

$2.5 million to assist with the 

building upgrade, in addition 

to $1.4 million allocated to the 

project last year. 

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael 

Regan said Council was 

currently preparing a DA for 

the surf club site with a view 

to being “shovel-ready” by mid 

next year. 

More announcements are 

pending on where the balance 

of the residual funding for 

Pasadena will be allocated. 

Mr Stokes explained the 

funding was part of the NSW 

Government’s ‘Stronger Communities 

Fund’, provided to 

progress key local projects in 

partnership with Council. 

“This generational upgrade 

of Mona Vale will ensure the 

surf club continues to provide 

outstanding community services 

into the future,” he said. 

“Improvements to Mona 

Vale Surf Club have been 

sought for many years but 

funding has always been an 

issue.” 

Surf club upgrades at Newport 

and Long Reef are also 

being supported as part of the 

‘Stronger Communities Fund’. 

Mayor Regan added: “It’s 

fantastic that Council has 

been able to secure this funding 

and we thank the state 

government for their contribution. 

“The community overwhelmingly 

support the concept 

design for the new club 

and will be excited to know it’s 

now fully funded.”– Nigel Wall 

News 



News 

Chambers slam council fee hikes 

Local Chambers of Commerce 

have slammed Northern 

Beaches Council’s fee increases 

for outdoor seating space for cafes 

and restaurants, saying they 

are jeopardising businesses 

and slowly stripping villages of 

their vibrancy and character. 

The Newport Residents Association 

has also weighed in, 

highlighting the recent closure 

of the patisserie in Robertson 

Road after its owner blamed the 

Council’s fees increase, on top 

of escalating rent, as the reason 

for shutting his business after 

more than 16 years. 

After taking the patisserie 

closure and the fee hikes in 

general up with Council, NRA 

President Gavin Butler said the 

group was “disturbed” at the 

staff response that: “We do not 

have authority to change the 

charges as they are set…” 

Pittwater Ward Councillor 

Alex McTaggart intends to run 

a notice of motion at Council’s 

November meeting, calling for 

a complete review of outdoor 

seating, including charges. 

Further, at the first Avalon 

Place Plan meeting, appointed 

Community Reference Group 

members called for an independent 

economic assessment 

of business in Avalon village, 

noting a decline in activity. 

Council’s new fees for 2018-19 

included fee hikes of up to 20% 

for some regions of Pittwater. 

Council’s Acting General 

Manager Environment and 

Infrastructure Todd Dickinson 

said Council used external valuers 

to provide pricing advice on 

outdoor dining to ensure fees 

fairly reflected the market. 

“Each location is benchmarked 

against other like areas 

and valuations take into account 

factors including centre 

size, traffic and more,” he said. 

“Changes to outdoor dining 

licence fees in the 2018/2019 

Budget were proposed in 

line with external valuations 

received. Increases are not 

uniform across the area.” 

Newport Chamber of Commerce 

President Noni Long said 

Newport and Pittwater’s businesses 

needed a “fair go”. 

“They need to be heard, they 

need commitment and they 

definitely need assistance based 

on the reality of economic 

times,” Ms Long said. “Without 

that, how are we supposed to 

redevelop our vibrant village 

centres?” 

She noted that while Council 

was actively seeking community 

feedback on how to improve 

and promote its suburbs, they 

hadn’t listened to raw business 

feedback. 

Also, she questioned how 

council’s independent valuers 

recommended an almost 15% 

fee hike for Newport. 

Avalon Palm Beach Business 

Chamber President Sam Garner 

said Avalon was experiencing 

a high turnover of businesses, 

mostly due to high costs and a 

lack of utilisation. 

“The Avalon and Palm Beach 

area has rent comparable to the 

Sydney CBD – the increase in 

Council fees for outdoor space 

makes it even harder for these 

small businesses to succeed,” 

Mr Garner said. 

“Currently our chamber is 

focussed on improving the 

town centre’s atmosphere and 

increase ambience, so clearly if 

cafes are forced to stop using 

outdoor space due to increased 

fees, this will not benefit our 

cause.” 

Mona Vale Chamber of 

Commerce President Chris 

Kavanagh said his members 

were disappointed that the NSW 

Government caveat on council 

rate increases post-amalgamation 

has not been extended to 

increases in council fees and 

charges. 

“A significant number of 

businesses depend on council 

areas such as footpaths outside 

their businesses for advertising, 

merchandising and seating,” 

he said. “Our recent survey 

of businesses in Mona Vale 

indicates that the proposed fee 

increases may affect businesses 

decisions about expansion.” 

He added council fee increases 

might be more palatable if 

accompanied by a commensu- 



ate improvement in services 

delivered to the community. 

“Health and safety issues in 

Mona Vale need to be addressed 

and the parking situation in the 

Mona Vale shopping precinct is 

unacceptable. 

“It is the Chamber’s view that 

council should not increase fees 

at a rate more than the Consumer 

Price Index (CPI) unless there 

is a direct and tangible increase 

in benefit to the community.” 

Pittwater’s suburbs are hardest 

hit by increases in the Local 

Government Area (fees based 

on per square metre of usage). 

Palm Beach is most affected 

locally, with owners forking out 

20% more per annum. Other 

increases include North Narrabeen 

(15%), Avalon (13%), Mona 

Vale (10%) and Narrabeen (7%). 

Narrabeen Ward Councillor 

Rory Amon told Pittwater Life: 

“If the Council’s valuation is 

wrong, it’s wrong… if there’s 

a problem, businesses need to 

contact councillors direct and 

lobby us. Councillors represent 

you, not staff.” 

Meanwhile Council has 

announced it will continue to 

sponsor the privately managed 

‘Northern Beaches Local Business 

Awards’ for the next three 

years. 

“Council’s investment in 

these awards reflects our 

commitment to supporting 

economic growth, innovation 

and the sustainability of our local 

businesses,” Mayor Michael 

Regan said. – Nigel Wall 

News 



News 

Book Review 

Lenny’s Book 

of Everything 

Karen Foxlee, 

Allen & Unwin; 

PB $19.99, HB $27.99 

Get the tissues ready. Lenny 

Spink’s brother Davey has 

been born with a rare form 

of gigantism so you know 

what is likely to transpire. 

But be prepared to have 

your heart filled before it 

is broken, as Australian 

author Karen Foxlee crafts 

a beautiful tale of sibling 

championship and pluck, with plenty of 

wry comedic moments too. 

Early readers who got their hands on advanced reading copies 

were addicted to this story, and Foxlee’s incredible writing. The 

American ’70s setting is an important backdrop, magnifying the 

schoolyard prejudice Davey faces, and the battle the family faces 

for treatment. 

Lenny and Davey, inspired by their regular subscriptions 

to a build-it-at-home encyclopaedia, have grand dreams for 

a future we know is foggy. But there is always hope. Lenny’s 

Book of Everything joins, and perhaps even surpasses our stock 

favourites of Out of My Mind, Wonder and Counting By 7. I know, 

a big call. Get a copy and you’ll understand why. 

– Libby Armstrong 

6THINGS 

THIS MONTH 

Grab a free plant. All the family 

are invited to North Narrabeen to 

do some weeding and planting 

and help restore Turimetta 

Headland on Sun 4 from 8am- 

12pm. There will also be free 

native plants for residents to take 

home. More info 9970 1363 or 

9970 1390. 

All aboard the Business 

Bus. NSW Government Business 

Connect Advisors will be parked 

outside the Mona Vale Memorial 

Hall from 9am-3pm on Mon 5 

offering free personalised support 

on how to start, grow or innovate 

your business. To book call 1300 

134 359 or visit industry.nsw.gov. 

au/businessconnect for more 

info. 

Preservation talk. Hear 

from Council’s new CEO Ray 

Brownlee on his vision for the 

local government area at the 

Avalon Preservation Association’s 

(51st) AGM from 7pm on Mon 5 at 

Avalon Bowling Club. Members, 

new members and guests 

welcome. Join the APA for $10 a 

year. More info 9918 8881. 

An ‘Exquisite Hour’. The 

Peninsula Music Club is hosting 

a recital by a highly acclaimed 

trio featuring one of Australia’s 

great operatic talents, baritone 

José Carbó and spectacular 

classical guitarists. The concert 

starts 8pm on Fri 9 at St Luke’s 

Grammar in Bayview. Tickets 

$25; students (under 17) $10 

or free if accompanied by 

an adult. Purchase online at 

peninsulamusicclub.com.au. 

Silent Night. Avalon Bowlo will 

screen The Sentimental Bloke, 

the classic Australian silent film, 

first screened 100 years ago. 

Local film producer Bill Leimbach 

will introduce the film and live 

musical accompaniment by The 

Volatinsky Quartet from 7pm on 

Sat 17. Tickets $28.59 through 

eventbrite. 

Remembrance Day. This year 

marks the 100th anniversary 

of the Armistice which ended 

World War I. Avalon RSL, Palm 

Beach RSL, Pittwater RSL, 

Dee Why RSL and the War 

Veterans, Collaroy Plateau are all 

conducting community services 

on Sun 11 Nov. Check websites. 



News 

Paddle for a 

worthy cause 

Entries for the annual 

Pittwater Paddle have 

steadily grown from 

the inaugural event in 2014 

and organisers are planning 

for a big splash for the fifth 

edition, with up to 150 

paddlers expected to meet 

on Sunday November 4 for 

races to and around Scotland 

Island. 

Organised by Northern 

Beaches Interchange (NBI), 

individual entry is open via 

the website pittwaterpaddle. 

org.au to those aged 12 and 

over competing with kayaks, 

SUPs, racing skis, surf skis, 

sea kayaks, paddleboards 

(traditional prone) and the 

Stand-Up Pedal Board in the 

Hobie Eclipse. Team entry 

is open to SLSC surf boats, 

double skis and double 

kayaks. 

In addition to the 8.4km 

Pittwater Paddle from 

Winnererremy Bay around 

Scotland Island and the 

shorter 3.6km Pittwater 

Family Paddle to the island 

and return option, a new 

1km sprint race will give the 

fittest the chance to test their 

sprint stamina and speed on 

flat-water. 

NBI is a local organisation 

that provides support 

services and group 

recreational activities for 

people living with a disability. 

Funds raised via registration 

fees and more importantly 

individual and team 

sponsorship is vital, says 

Pittwater Paddle race director 

John Brockhoff, whose son 

uses NBI’s services. 

“My son’s gained enormous 

benefit mixing with his 

peers and those on a 

similar journey through 

the opportunities NBI has 

created. I’m forever in their 

debt for providing those 

opportunities. 

“For the non-elite paddler 

the scenic course can be 

challenging, depending on 

the wind and tides, and for 

the serious competitors it’s 

the perfect training run and 

family morning next to Flying 

Fox Park and the dog-friendly 

Winnererremy Bay. 

“Whichever end of 

the paddling spectrum 

participants represent, 

it’s an event where waterloving 

Northern Beaches 

residents and other paddlers 

come together to support a 

healthy outdoor activity and 

the amazing work of NBI,” 

Brockhoff added. 

Registration for the 

Pittwater Paddle is open at 

pittwaterpaddle.org.au and 

early entry is encouraged, and 

will help with planning. Local 

MP Rob Stokes, a previous 

competitor, was one of the 

first to put his name down. 

BYO paddle craft and if you 

are keen but short of a ride, 

drop into The Life Aquatic at 

Mona Vale, the event’s major 

sponsor. – Lisa Ratcliffe 



SEEN… 

While a headcount of 3,000 touted by some was more than a 

touch exaggerated there’s no denying the spirit of the community 

turnout at the Save Mona Vale Hospital rally last month. 

Attendees called for the hospital’s Emergency Department, 

Maternity and other acute services to be retained after the 

opening of the new Northern Beaches Hospital on October 30. 

Credit to Pittwater MP Rob Stokes for turning up and engaging 

with a crowd that contained many less-than-flattering signs 

waved his way. 

HEARD… 

It seemed no sooner had the rally dispersed that Mr Stokes pulled 

on the pads and went in to bat for the most contentious of the 

‘lost’ Mona Vale Hospital services – its Emergency Department. 

“My job is to listen to our community and take action – that’s why 

I’m calling on health authorities to make further enhancements 

to ensure an Emergency Department will continue as part of the 

redevelopment and modernisation of Mona Vale Hospital,” Mr 

Stokes said. He added he had held talks with senior health officials 

and Health Minister Brad Hazzard to investigate ways in which 

“planned emergency medicine at Mona Vale Hospital might be 

further enhanced.” He emphasised the new Urgent Care Centre 

would fulfil a similar role to the existing Emergency Department 

at Mona Vale, whilst specialist emergency services will now be at 

Frenchs Forest, which was still a lot closer than Royal North Shore 

(which ambulances currently convey patients to). Alas, Mr Stokes 

appeared to be bowled first ball by the Health Minister, with Mr 

Hazzard immediately shutting down the suggestion. Meanwhile, 

Save Mona Vale Hospital Chairman Parry Thomas thanked Mr 

Stokes for “finally acknowledging” the need for a genuine emergency 

department at Mona Vale. “However, it must be backed up 

by operating theatres, an intensive care unit and other associated 

services such as nuclear medicine – which are all in place.” 

ABSURD… 

The ‘ghost town’ vibe about stretches of our villages, including 

Newport and Avalon, with more shopfronts with ‘for lease’ signs 

than we can recall. As we report on page 10, the local Chambers of 

Commerce have raised concerns about high rents, increased Council 

fees and ‘underutilisation’. The latter is perhaps a kind way of 

suggesting local businessess could do with more support. How 

about we all try to do our bit when we can? 

News 



News 

Golf clubhouse arts push 

Community intervention 

has seen Northern Beaches 

Council include the Avalon Golf 

Clubhouse as one of two venue 

options for the new Creative 

Space – North, a dedicated 

exhibition and studio space for 

artists. 

Having narrowed its focus 

to the Avalon Annexe, Council 

staff were preparing to recommend 

the Dunbar Park location 

to councillors for public exhibition 

before a submission from 

local arts advocate Ros Marsh. 

Now both the Annexe and 

the Clubhouse are being publicly 

exhibited, with comments 

due to close on November 11. 

Ms Marsh told Pittwater Life 

the Avalon Beach Arts and 

Cultural Precinct Group had 

looked at the possibility of 

tendering for vacant spaces at 

the Golf Club in 2014 as a community 

art/cultural venue but 

were unable to meet lease costs. 

“The tendered areas still remain 

largely unused,” she said. 

“We always believed this was 

a great community asset with 

fabulous potential.” 

She added the Avalon Preservation 

Association supported 

the location, providing the concept 

was sensitive to existing 

users (golfers) and the building. 

Local artist and Frenchs Forest 

Ward Councillor Penny Philpott 

was also in favour. 

“We understand the golf 

course management lease is up 

for renewal in 2019; we would 

hope that Council’s intention 

is to continue the function of 

the golf course,” Ms Marsh said. 

“We see the establishment of 

the Creative Space as cementing 

the longevity of the golf 

course and its profitability.” 

She said there were many 

reasons why the golf club was a 

preferable venue. 

“Apart from location, the 

existing building and club have 

all requisite infrastructure 

operating – parking, disabled 

parking, disabled and other toilets, 

and showers, a commercial 

kitchen, café, scenic view and 

ambiance,” she said. 

“It also has 90 square metres 

of potential maker spaces and 

additional store rooms, a relaxing 

lounge area of around 40 

square metres, plus 60 square 

metres of scenic dining space 

that could have uses as venue 

or exhibition space.” 

She added that green space 

adjacent to the north could 

allow most of Council’s $1-2m 

budget to go to a new twostorey 

space. 

“We don’t follow the logic 

in the concept plans Council 

has produced (see Your Say on 

Council’s website),” she added. 

“We have suggested to Council 

that we have a lot of local 

expert architects, engineers, 

builders, curators, creatives 

who may be happy to volunteer 

for a working group to get the 

best value outcome. 

“In fact, we have sought the 

advice of a prominent Northern 

Beaches architect and his view 

is to maintain the integrity of 

the existing Clubhouse upper 

level (pictured),” Ms Marsh said. 

“It would be a simple structure 

with some accents of the 



existing heritage features. The 

concepts we have proposed 

provide significantly more 

exhibition space, more maker 

spaces that can cater to a wide 

range of creative pursuits and 

a venue that can be used for 

many more purposes and cater 

for very large groups. 

Commenting on Council’s assertion 

that the Clubhouse did 

not meet important ‘location’ 

criteria, Ms Marsh said Creative 

Space – North would service the 

immediate population (some 

27,000 residents) and its exhibitions 

should attract the wider 

NBC community and tourists. 

“The golf course has main 

road visibility, it’s close to the 

Coastal Walk, bus stops and 

lends itself to a perimeter 

walkway which could link to 

the Coast Walk and Village. 

“We think it will provide improved 

amenity with potential 

to improve the bottom line of 

the golf course... it will be a 

win-win for the golfers, creatives 

and the community.” 

Councillor Penny Philpott 

said the Golf Clubhouse offered 

a more interesting and adaptable 

gallery and studio space. 

“With careful design there 

would be ample area for muchneeded 

studio spaces for artists 

with ‘heavy’ materials such as 

welders, carvers and ceramicists; 

while artists who work 

in ‘softer’ mediums such as 

painters and weavers can also 

be catered for,” she said. 

* Attend the Council ‘pop-up’ 

at Avalon Golf Clubhouse on 

November 3 from 10am-12pm; 

comment on Council website by 

November 11. – Nigel Wall 

News 



News 

Pittwater News 

Experience thrills of 

catamaran sailing 

Palm Beach Sailing Club’s 

annual Open Day on Saturday 

November 3 will provide visitors 

with the experience of an 

exciting sail on a catamaran. 

You will also be able to try 

out the latest kayaks, pedalboards, 

SUPs and surfboards 

from ‘Pittwater SUP Central’ 

– The Life Aquatic in Mona 

Vale. On the day members 

will be on the beach (Sand 

Point, Palm Beach) with their 

boats rigged and ready to take 

you out for a spin on beautiful 

Pittwater. Just bring your 

swimmers and your sense 

of fun! And grab a bite to eat 

from the BBQ. Organisers 

want everyone to come down 

and give it a try. The club has 

a policy to encourage and 

support sailors at all levels, 

from young beginner sailors 

to Grand Masters. Their members 

range from the inexperienced 

to world champions 

and Olympic medallists. 

Pittwater High Car Boot Sale 

U3A takes a deep 

dive in the Snowies 

Learn of some incredible 

deeds involving divers in the 

1960s working on the Snowy 

Mountains project when U3A 

member David Strike presents 

his ‘The Men From Snowy’ 

talk at Newport Community 

Centre on Tuesday November 

27 from 1.30-3.30pm. David 

explains: “Early in 1961, the 

Snowy Mountains Authority 

had a major problem in the 

Lake Eucumbene Dam. A leak 

P 

ittwater High School is hosting its fourth annual 

car boot sale on November 11, to help raise 

funds to send their talented music students to tour 

America in 2020. The event will provide an enjoyable 

outing for both the stallholders and shoppers who 

come to find a bargain. Car spots will be generous 

in size, and the native bushland setting will add to the ambience – not to mention the great 

jazz tunes PHS Junior Stage Band belts out from 10am. (The band will respectfully honour the 

100th anniversary of the end of World War I at 11am). Shoppers strolling through the sea of 

bargains can also enjoy breakfast or lunch from the BBQ, as well as coffee and cake. If you wish 

to declutter or sell your own handcrafted goods, go to trybooking.com/UICI – or drop down 

between 7.30am and 1.30pm to soak up the atmosphere and go home with some great bargains. 

had developed in a sealing 

device at the entrance to the 

Lake diversion tunnel and 

the only practical method of 

checking the trouble was by 

diver inspection. The job was 

in 260 feet and although the 

Royal Australian Navy Clearance 

Divers had only worked 

regularly to depths around 

100 feet, these were the only 

divers capable of the attempt. 

The work was protracted and 

done in freezing conditions. 

The perseverance of the divers 

in the face of nitrogen narcosis 

and decompression stoppages 

was nothing short of Spartan.” 

All welcome; more info 9970 

7161. 

Beaches vet offers 

assistance in Brazil 

Sydney Animal Hospitals 

Northern Beaches owner Dr 

Ben Brown recently spent time 

as a volunteer with US charity 

‘World Vets’ in northern Brazil, 

providing free veterinary 

services to shelter animals 

and free training for local 



vets. World Vets Mission is to 

improve the health and wellbeing 

of animals by providing 

veterinary aid and training 

in developing countries and 

by providing disaster relief 

worldwide, their programs 

span 46 countries on six continents. 

The team of seven vets 

completed 506 surgical operations 

in four days, making it 

the most successful World Vets 

expedition in history (see his 

story page 25). 

Lagoon Friends in 

transport discussion 

Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon 

will host their fourth and final 

forum for the year on Monday 

November 26, looking at transport 

Issues in the Narrabeen 

Lagoon Catchment area – from 

past to present to implications 

of future transport options 

for this area. Speakers will be 

Richard Mitchell, the president 

of the Manly Warringah Pittwater 

Historical Society, and 

Malcolm Raymond. Starts 7pm 

at Coastal Environment Centre. 

Free event, but donation 

towards expenses appreciated. 

Tickets and info email@narrabeenlagoon.org.au 

or text 0402 

974 105. Also, Conny Harris 

will lead a walk of exploration 

from Garigal National Park 

to Morgan Road on Sunday 

November 18. Takes 3.5 hours, 

some weeding along the way; 

bookings essential 0432 643 

295. 

Malek delivers a 

Golden Age recital 

Acclaimed international concert 

pianist Christopher Malek 

will continue the grand tradition 

of piano music when he 

performs a recital ‘The Golden 

Continued on page 22 

News 




Continued from page 21 

Age of Piano’, for Wyvern 

Music Forestville on Sunday 

11 November at 4pm at OLGC 

Catholic Church. Renowned for 

the poetic quality of his interpretation 

and extraordinary 

virtuosity, Malek will perform 

piano classics by Mozart, Schubert, 

Chopin and Liszt. Tickets 

$25 ($20 concession); $15 students 

(under-16s free). Address: 

9 Currie Rd, Forestville. More 

info 9416 5234 or wyvernfmca. 

org.au 

create a site-specific body of 

work. They will also receive a 

$3,000 allowance for materials. 

At Eramboo, a six-month 

residency that provides free 

non-residential studio space 

awaits filling, with a $2,000 allowance 

for materials. A bonus 

is the residents will be able to 

tap into the professional development 

support and networks 

that Eramboo provides. The 

News 

Artists residencies 

for creative types 

Northern Beaches Council is 

inviting talented local artists 

to apply for its 2019 Artists 

in Residence Program at the 

Kimbriki Resource Recovery 

Centre and the Eramboo 

Artist Environment, both 

located in Terrey Hills. Under 

Council’s program, two artists 

at Kimbriki will have 

free access to a nine-month, 

non-residential studio space to 



Artists in Residence Programs 

provide opportunities for local 

artists across practices including, 

but not limited to visual 

arts, sculptural, jewellery, 

installation, print making, 

screen, digital, mixed media 

or photography to develop new 

work in their own dedicated 

studio space at either Kimbriki 

or Eramboo. At the end 

of their residency, artists are 

provided opportunities to 

present their work in a public 

space, prominent location, or 

an exhibition space. The 2018 

Kimbriki artists in residence, 

Angela van Boxtel and Colin 

Razor, recently farewelled 

their nine-month stays with 

a presentation of the artwork 

they produced in a special 

exhibition at Creative Space 

– North Curl Curl; meanwhile 

the 2018 Eramboo resident artist, 

Michelle Perrett, presented 

her body of work – Porcelian 

Flowers – at Eramboo in 

September. Applications close 

5pm, Monday 12 November; 

apply Council website. 

Gardens on point 

The former editor of Our 

Gardens, Patricia Prior, will 

give a Power Point presentation 

of gardens of note, both 

here and overseas, at the next 

meeting for Palm Beach Probus 

on Wednesday morning, 21st 

November at Club Palm Beach; 

visitors welcome; enquiries 

9973 1247. 


Ready for the fun of the fairs... 

Tell the friends and family: Pittwater’s 

‘Market Month’ is back! Here’s what’s 

coming to a village near you: 

Mona Vale Market Day – Find your favorite 

stalls at Mona Vale Village Park (above) when 

it comes alive with a carnival-like atmosphere 

from 10am-4pm on Sunday November 4. 

Brought to you by the Mona Vale Chamber 

of Commerce, this event has grown from 

strength to strength since first staged in 2013 

when more than 7000 people flocked to enjoy 

a vibrant day out. 

With clear skies the long-range forecast 

(fingers crossed), this year’s Market Day looks 

set to be the best so far – with more variety 

among the 110 stalls . 

The precinct will feature great food, activities, 

pumping music and better amusements – and 

in addition to the stalls selling jewellery, 

clothing, homewares, crafts and collectors’ 

items, local businesses will also be getting 

involved, offering their own great pre- 

Christmas bargains. (Renata from RitzyRocks 

will be there, with her unique Venetian 

‘Millifiore’ watches!) More Market Day info 

monavalechamber.org 

Newport Beach Festival – The village will be 

filled with colour and excitement on Sunday 

November 25, with more than 200 stalls, 

international food, kids’ rides, live music and 

entertainers as well as Christmas sales at 

local shops. And of course, there will be an 

appearance from Santa Claus. Supported by 

the Newport Beach Chamber of commerce. 

More info newportbeachfestival.com.au 

Avalon Beach Market Day – Sunday November 

18 (see special 4-page guide P37-40). Sponsored 

by the Avalon Beach Chamber of Commerce. 

Narrabeen Lakes Summerfest – Returns to 

Berry Reserve this year, on the weekend of 

December 1-2. More than 140 stalls selling 

fresh produce and items for Christmas gifts, 

plus food. Plenty for the kids, including rides 

and activities. Not to mention the sensational 

Saturday night fireworks! (See ad P16.) 

News 





Self-guided tours of 

Mona Vale Cemetery 

Northern Beaches Council 

has developed a self-guided 

history tour of heritage-rich 

Mona Vale Cemetery; the tour 

can be accessed on Council’s 

website using a smart phone 

or iPad, taking participants 

on a two-hour stroll through 

this historic cemetery, first 

consecrated as a burial ground 

in 1905. The tour is based on 

the Journal of Local History 

(Volume 8) published by the 

Manly Warringah and Pittwater 

Historical Society in 2004 to 

commemorate the centenary of 

the cemetery. While a printed 

version will soon be available 

on site, you can now view the 

tour via council’s website from 

the comfort of your home. The 

tour profiles around 30 local 

identities including author 

and playwright Morris West 

(‘The Devil’s Advocate’), pioneer 

James Booth and the early 20th 

Century photographer Euphemia 

Baker. Several prominent 

people who passed away since 

2005 also feature, including 

the much-loved teacher, community 

activist and Pittwater 

councillor, the late Mayor Harvey 

Rose. (Council is welcoming 

News 



submissions for consideration 

by its historical panel about interesting 

people interred in the 

cemetery.) Info Council website 

or email cemeteries@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au 

Seniors fitness on 

Probus agenda 

At the next Pittwater Probus 

Club meeting at Mona Vale Golf 

Club on Tuesday November 

13, hear from physiotherapist 

Andrew Daubney, a passionate 

golfer who believes in a holistic 

approach to metabolic and 

musculoskeletal dysfunction. 

Andrew has developed his reputation 

in spinal rehabilitation, 

low back pain and postural 

correction. He has a specific 

interest in golf biomechanics. 

Andrew will be joined by club 

member Wes Harder who will 

talk about the major medical 

complaints of seniors and the 

need to get them checked out. 

All welcome; starts 10am. 

‘Double agent’ author 

for Avalon Library 

Hear local award-winning author 

Carolinda Witt discuss her 

amazing book ‘Double Agent 

Celery’ at Avalon Community 

Library from 6pm on Thursday 

November 22. The book is 

about Carolinda’s grandfather 

Walter Dicketts, who was a 

British spy in WWI and WWII. 

Carolinda won the non-fiction 

prize at the Society of Women 

Writers Presentation Ceremony 

at the State Library last month. 

She says the book will appeal 

to not just those interested in 

history, but also the many people 

who now investigate their 

personal histories, searching 

out their family trees, or doing 

DNA testing. “My grandfather, 

Double Agent Celery, lived an 

incredible life that most people 

would be astounded to hear,” 

she told us. Bookings at the 

library or call 9918 3013; $5 entry 

includes wine and cheese. 

Marine compliance 

operations continue 

Police have promised ongoing 

marine compliance operations 

heading into summer to ensure 

safety on our waterways. The 

operations target vessel safety, 

safe navigation, speeding, 


Ocean 

Swims every 

Sunday in 

January 

There will be an 

ocean swim every 

Sunday in January, 

thanks to the annual 

Pittwater Ocean Swim 

Series involving local surf clubs. The 

ocean swims bonanza starts with the Newport Pool to Peak 

on Sunday 6 January, with 400m, 800m and 2km courses. 

Then it’s Bilgola’ s turn on Sunday 13 January with 800m 

and 1.5km swims. They will be followed by Mona Vale on 20 

January with a 900m and a 2.2km swim (from Warriewood to 

Mona Vale). Finally there is the Big Swim on Sunday January 

27, with the traditional 2.5-2.8km swim (Palm Beach to Whale 

Beach) and the Big Little Swim (an 800m swim for those 

who find the traditional swim too long). Meanwhile Avalon 

have moved their swim date to Sunday 14 April, when they 

will have 1km and 1.5 km as well as the challenging 2.5km 

swim from Newport to Avalon. One of the organisers of the 

Pittwater Ocean Swim Series, Rob Berry, says the swims 

attract thousands of entrants to the Pittwater region. “The 

series is good for local businesses and for the participating 

surf clubs, the ocean swims are very important fund raisers, 

helping to purchase essential life-saving equipment,” Rob 

said.” He added each participating club had included shorter 

swims to their traditional long events, to cater for people of 

all ages and those who would like to try ocean swimming. 

“It’s a fast-growing sport that is great for your health, 

regardless of your age... the Newport Pool to Peak swim 

is only two months away – so it’s time to start swimming 

training!” Entries and info oceanswims.com 

alcohol and drug-related crime 

and anti-social behaviour. A 

recent multi-venue screening 

across the state, including on 

Pittwater and in Broken Bay, 

saw police conduct more than 

470 marine random breath 

tests and six marine mobile 

drug tests. Additionally, more 

than 480 vessel checks were 

conducted with 13 boating 

infringement notices issued. 

The operation also included 

fisheries checks and boat 

ramp, wharf and marina patrols. 

Marine Area Commander, 

Detective Superintendent Mark 

Hutchings, said further operations 

would be conducted. 

“Police will continue to ensure 

everyone is safe this boating 

season by targeting unsafe, 

dangerous and anti-social 

behaviour on the waterways,” 

he said. “One of the most important 

messages to all water 

users is to wear a life jacket; it 

will save your life.” 

Anyone with information about 

marine compliance issues is 

urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 

1800 333 000; information 

in strict confidence. 

Gambling harm 

minimisation plan 

Northern Beaches Council 

has adopted the Gambling 

and Poker Machine Harm 

Management Policy and Plan, 

which is designed to limit the 

negative impact of electronic 

gaming machines (EGMs) on 

our community. Acting Chief 

Executive Officer David Kerr 

said Council’s focus would be 

on advocacy and community 

education. “We believe by working 

with the State Government 

and local clubs, we can help 

minimise the harm caused by 

poker machines,” Mr Kerr said. 

“We will look at how we can 

complement other activities 

and get a strong message to 

our community about how 

much harm these machines 

can do, and also provide guidance 

on where people can turn 

should they find themselves 

heading down a difficult path.” 

Council’s plan calls for continued 

lobbying of State and 

Federal Ministers to do more to 

reduce harm. The plan will be 

in force to 2023, with a review 

scheduled for that year. 

Vet 

on 

call 

with 

Dr Ben Brown 

Recently I had the pleasure 

of volunteering in South 

America with a world-wide 

veterinary charity called 

World Vets which provides 

international veterinary aid 

to poor communities around 

the world. Our team of seven 

vets and support staff set 

up a makeshift veterinary 

hospital in northern Brazil, 

working with a local animal 

welfare group to provide free 

veterinary services to the poor 

in the local community. Over 

the course of our four-day 

campaign, the team completed 

more than 500 successful 

surgeries in less-than-ideal 

conditions with minimal 

equipment and technology. 

The treatment that was 

provided included desexing 

to assist in the control of the 

stray dog population and to 

reduce the spread of Rabies 

and Transmissible Venereal 

Tumours, (TVT), a disease 

exotic to Australia, spread 

dog to dog by sexual contact. 

The team also provided 

free chemotherapy for dogs 

affected by TVT and supplied 

medication so these animals 

will soon be cancer-free. 

Not all the surgeries that 

were performed were routine. 

I was fortunate enough to be 

able to perform emergency 

surgery on a beautiful dog 

named Mel (which means 

‘honey’ in Portuguese) who 

had a ruptured diaphragm 

from a previous car accident 

whilst she was living on the 

streets. Mel has made a 

dramatic recovery and was also 

desexed during the procedure, 

to prevent unwanted litters in 

the future which will also help 

her be healthier and happier. 

If you would like to learn 

more about the work Sydney 

Animal Hospitals does with 

World Vets, drop in to speak 

to our staff. There is also a 

donation box at our hospital 

– or you can donate online at 

www.worldvets.org. 

* Dr Ben Brown, Sydney Animal 

Hospitals. 

NOVEMBER 2018 25 

News

A Day In 

The Life Of... 

Marine 

Rescue 

Special Feature 

They’re the guardian angels of our waterways – the volunteers 

who work through the day and night to ensure all are safe 

and accounted for. But to continue their good work they also 

need our help. Words & Photos by Rosamund Burton 

Pamela Sayers is standing 

in the moonlight when 

I pull up at the gates of 

the Marine Rescue Terrey Hills 

radio base at 5.15am on the 

Friday of the October long 

weekend. She takes me inside 

the building where ex-Qantas 

pilot, 70-year-old Sandy 

Howard, sits alone in front of a 

bank of computer screens. He 

has been here since 1.30am. 

This volunteer-run radio base 

in bushland just off Mona Vale 

Road not only operates 24/7 for 

Sydney waters, but overnight 

monitors radio calls from 

boats along much of the NSW 

Coastline. It is the first point of 

contact for vessels in distress 

and sometimes the only line 

of communication between a 

boat in trouble and the rescue 

vessel. 

“We’ve been listening to 

calls to 18 Marine Rescue NSW 

radio bases up and down the 

coast overnight, and now we’re 

handing them back,” Sandy 

explains. At that moment, the 

telephone rings. 

“Marine Rescue, Sandy 

speaking.” 

“Forster’s gone,” he says 

to Pamela after a brief 

conversation. She has sat down 

to answer a second call. 

“That was Evans Head taking 

back their radio,” she says. 

At 5.30am, a white ‘Scotty’ 

trots into the base. 

“Hello Bronte,” say Sandy 

and Pamela. The dog, an 

unofficial visitor, is followed 

by her owner, watch officer 

Merrilyn Little, as well as radio 

operator Helen Manifold, and 

new volunteer Neil Chugg. 

Although not yet fully trained 

in the radio, navigation, 

weather and operational 

procedures, Neil has already 

cooked plenty of sausages at 

fundraising barbeques. 

Marine Rescue receives 

financial support from the 

NSW Government and boating 

community but, to ensure 

the organisation continues to 

have the resources it needs 

to operate, all its volunteers 

need to undertake fundraising 

activities. 

“I did two hours’ 

administration work this 

morning,” Sandy says. “Then 

from 4 o’clock it got busy with 

fishermen going out.” He is 

interrupted by the loud blare 

of a claxon. “That’s the signal a 

boat wants to log on.” 

Marine Rescue operates a 

free ‘Log On’ safety service for 

yachts and other boats sailing 

up and down the NSW coast, 

or cruising or fishing in their 

local waters, as well as for 

smaller recreation craft such as 

kayakers and paddle boarders. 

“We’re now asking people to 

download the Marine Rescue 

app and log on via that,” Sandy 

said. “But whether people log 

on via the telephone, radio or 

app they must remember to log 

off when they get off their craft, 

otherwise we’ll start searching 

for them.” 



Sandy recalls he was on duty 

last year when a man rang 

saying there was a yacht under 

sail 10 miles off the coast with 

nobody on board. Three Marine 

Rescue vessels, one water police 

vessel and two helicopters 

started searching for the sailor, 

until the water police received 

a text saying he’d fallen out of 

the boat on the northern side of 

Broken Bay and swum ashore. 

The volunteers here range 

in age from mid-30s to their 

80s, and include a wheelchairbound 

volunteered for 10 years. 

“I come from a family of 

water people,” she explains. 

“My father was in the navy and 

both my grandfathers were 

professional fishermen.” Since 

joining, Merrilyn has taken up 

sailing. 

“One of the guys here wanted 

crew, and now four men and I 

share two boats.” She says the 

camaraderie at Marine Rescue 

is what makes the experience, 

as well as the opportunity to 

help people. 

strokes, dehydration – and 

often bodies are found floating 

in the water.” 

It’s just after 8am when I 

arrive at the Cottage Point base. 

Friday is a training day, and 

Unit Commander Paul Millar 

is there with Don Smallwood, 

Mike Evans, John Aitken and 

Rob Cumings. 

“Because we’re wearing 

a uniform a lot of people 

think we’re paid, but we’re all 

volunteers,” Paul says. “This 

base receives NSW government 

member. Seventy-three “We get a lot of medical funding of $21,000 a year 

how to manoeuvre the dinghy 

year-old Merrilyn Little has emergencies – heart attacks, towards running the unit and 



CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Volunteers 

Don Smallwood, Paul Millar, Mike 

Evans and John Aitken; Broken Bay 

HQ; Sandy Howard nears the end of 

his ‘graveyard’ shift at Terrey Hills; 

John Aitken at the wheel of ‘Cottage 

Point 30’; Pamela Sayers; Merrilyn 

Little and Bronty; Sandy Howard. 

maintaining the boats. But our 

fuel bills alone are between 

$32,000 and $35,000 a year 

and maintenance costs from 

$15,000 to $18,000.” 

This base holds raffles and 

sausage sizzles at Woolworths 

in Mona Vale and Narrabeen, as 

well as at Cottage Point to raise 

extra funds. 

“If we do an ‘assist’ we ask 

people to consider making a 

donation to cover the fuel burnt 

to come and assist them, and 

bring them back safely,” Paul 

explains, “and mostly people 

are happy with that. Some 

people are very generous with 

donations, and they make up 

for the ones who promise and 

don’t deliver.” 

As we talk, Richard Nyland 

and David Hukins, two 

prospective members, appear 

at the office door. David, 53, an 

engineer, has recently started 

his own business and is keen 

to volunteer as he enjoys being 

on the water. Richard, also 53, 

has a share in a yacht moored 

at Bayview, and explains he is 

“looking for meaningful things 

to do” having retired. One of 

the appeals of volunteering 

with Marine Rescue is that it 

will make him more confident 

and competent on the water, 

he says. 

The training required for 

boat crew includes a Sea 

Survival Certificate, First 

Aid Certificate, obtaining 

a VHF Radio Licence and a 

Boat Licence, as well as the 

Marine Rescue firefighting 

qualification. 

It’s a sunny day with flat 

water and little breeze and 

we climb abroad the 12-metre 

vessel ‘Cottage Point 30’ and, 

with John Aitken at the helm, 

head up towards Lion Island. 

“Even if there isn’t a call-out 

we patrol the local waters,” Paul 

explains. “We make that choice, 

although it costs us in fuel. 

We do a lot of towing, jumpstarting, 

and assist when boats 

run onto rocks or out of fuel.” 

Someone spots a large object 

in the water ahead. A couple 

of men think it’s a dead whale 

but drawing closer we see it’s 

a deflated rubber dinghy. Paul, 

Mike and Rob haul it aboard. 

“Head into Little Pittwater,” 

commands Paul, and John 

slowly turns the wheel. A small 

powerboat is moored in the 

bay, and as the crew discuss 


Special Feature



onto the shore, the man on 

the powerboat offers to push 

it onto the shore with his boat. 

Paul throws him the painter, 

John puts the vessel into 

reverse, and we move away. 

“That was an assist,” says 

Paul. “Floating in the channel 

that dinghy could have been 

problematic for other vessels, 

particularly at night when it 

might not be seen.” 

At 2pm, I meet 47-year-old 

Narraweena resident Jimmy 

Arteaga at Marine Rescue 

Broken Bay, in Bayview’s 

Rowland Reserve. Jimmy, who 

sails, scuba dives and was 

a navel cadet as a teenager, 

has recently become the unit 

commander. Originally from 

Ecuador he came with his 

family to Australia aged six, 

and previously volunteered for 

the SES. 

The Broken Bay unit has 

been in existence for more 

than 75 years, Jimmy explains, 

operating formerly as the 

Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, 

before the amalgamation in 

2009 of that organisation 

with Australian Volunteer 

Coast Guard Association and 

the marine fleet of the NSW 

Volunteer Rescue Association 

into one organisation, Marine 

Rescue NSW. 

Jimmy tells me that in 

addition to their regular patrols 

and any assists they make, this 

unit provides sea safety for 

the ocean swims, such as The 

Big Swim from Palm Beach to 

Whale Beach, and the Avalon 

Beach Surf Swim, and also 

the Royal Motor Yacht Club’s 

paddleboard competitions. 

We walk down to the water’s 

edge, and he points out the 

Marine Rescue pontoon and 

‘Broken Bay 30’, the 28 foot 

CLOCKWISE TOP: The ‘Cottage Point 30’ crew haul in a deflated rubber 

dinghy spotted drifting in Pittwater – it could have proven hazardous to 

boats; Marine Rescue NSW volunteers Don Smallwood; and Jimmy Arteaga. 

Steber, on a mooring just 

out from the shore. “In three 

years the Steber will need to 

be replaced, which will cost 

over $1 million, and the unit 

has to come up with 40% of the 

funding,” he says. 

The unit has 80 members, 

60% of whom are retirees, and 

the rest ranging in age from 

17 to 60. They hold a weekly 

sausage sizzle, and also run 

raffles.” Two of its leading 

supporters are Johnson Bros 

Mitre 10, Mona Vale, who 

provide prizes for the raffles, 

and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, 

which helps with discounted 

fuel and vessel maintenance. 

It’s 4pm when I get home, and 

as I start to relax into the long 

weekend the Marine Rescue 

volunteers at Terrey Hills are 

beginning to take back radio 

control of the bases along the 

NSW coast for the night. 

Whether due to the wind or 

the tide, a problem with a sail, 

a dragging anchor, an engine 

failure, or a person overboard, 



MODEL RESCUES: Office decorations at Marine Rescue Broken Bay. 

suddenly a vessel can run into 

trouble on the water, and the 

work of our Marine Rescue 

volunteers is truly invaluable. 

Footnote: Over the October 

long weekend the Terrey Hills 

radio base received 295 radio or 

phone communications, and 84 

vessel voyages were logged onto 

their system. On the Saturday 

the Cottage Point Unit received 

a call from a Bowrider. The 

family of three from Geelong 

had bought the boat the day 

before, and were exploring the 

Hawkesbury, when a southerly 

gusting up to 30 knots came 

through. A large cruiser came 

close to them at Parsley Bay 

and swamped their vessel. 

They bailed out the boat, and 

Marine Rescue Cottage Point 

took the mother and 13-yearold 

daughter aboard, and the 

father followed in the wake of 

CP31 back to Akuna Bay. Over 

the weekend Cottage Point 

Unit also towed two boats, 

and assisted a yacht, which 

had dragged anchor and gone 

aground on the rocks at Bobbin 

Head. Broken Bay Unit did four 

assists, towing three boats. 

* To volunteer for, donate to, 

or ‘Log On’ to Marine Rescue 

go to marinerescuensw.com.au 

or phone 9450 2468. 




Surfing Life 

Surfing Life 

Crackingly good: Just 

who are the Brazil nuts? 

It’s no exaggeration to say 

that in professional surfing – 

men’s at least – Brazil is the 

new Australia. 

The brilliant and remorseless 

Gabriel Medina leads the 

world rankings, and is a clear 

favourite to repeat his 2014 

world title win come the 

Pipeline event in Hawaii in 

December. He’s just a handful 

of points ahead of his even 

more brilliant yet not quite so 

remorseless fellow countryman 

Filipe Toledo. Trailing a tiny bit 

in fourth place is Italo Ferreira. 

Between them, this trio has won 

six of the nine Championship 

Tour events of this year so far. 

Eleven of the world’s top 

34 male pros are Brazilian, 

a number likely to increase 

in 2019, as a wave of young 

qualifiers move up the rankings. 

Only one Australian surfer, 

Julian Wilson, has any hope of 

unseating Gabriel or Filipe this 

year, and Julian isn’t part of any 

trend. Aside from him, only two 

Australians have even made a 

final this year. 

For a lot of slightly stunned 

Aussie surf fans, it’s as if 

Gabriel and co have come 

out of nowhere. How did the 

Brazilians get so good so fast? 

The answer is, they didn’t. 

Today’s world-beaters are 

generations down the track 

with Nick Carroll 

The development of this South American powerbase is the least-told story in world surfing... 

from the first wave of Brazilian 

surfers. Yet in contrast to 

Australia’s possibly over-told 

surfing history, the story of 

Brazil’s beginnings is the 

sport’s least-known tale. 

Where no story is known, 

stories spring up. Australian 

traveller Peter Troy told of 

introducing surfing to Brazil on 

a trip to Rio de Janeiro in the 

late 1960s. In fact, Brazilians 

had been surfing since at least 

the late 1930s. Photos exist 

from the time of a Customs 

official from Santos in southern 

Brazil, riding little waves on 

a solid redwood board. Who 

knows where the board came 

from? Maybe Customs had 

impounded it. 

People surfed here and there 

through the years. By 1959, for 

instance, a bunch of Rio surfers 

were building their own boards 

out of plywood. But surfing 

in Brazil never experienced a 

‘Gidget moment’ – that sudden 

explosion of baby-boomer 

surf lust that drove the sport 

in other nations. One reason is 

that Brazil’s modern history is 

radically unlike Australia’s. In 

the ’60s and ’70s, the nation 

was governed by a military 

dictatorship, covertly supported 

by the US as a bulwark against 

Communism. The dictatorship 

bred some economic success, 

BRILLIANT AND REMORSELESS: Brazil’s Gabriel Medina gets some air. 

and stifled dissent. 

In 1970, there might have 

been a thousand surfers on 

all Brazil’s 8000-kilometre 

coastline. Most of them lived 

either in Rio or in Sao Paulo, 

separated by 300km of lush 

undeveloped coast. That coast, 

and a particularly beautiful 

surf zone in its centre named 

Ubatuba, became Brazil’s Byron 

Bay – the secret paradise those 

surfers could make their own. 

One of the thousand was a 

guy named Paulo Issa. In 1972 

Paulo took it upon himself to 

organise the first “national 

championship” in Ubatuba. It 

was “national” in the sense that 

anyone who showed up could 

go in it. The winner was Rico de 

Souza, who was part of the Rio 

contingent. The rivalry between 

Rio and Sao Paulo surfers – 

Cariocas and Paulistas – fired 

up the rest of the decade and 

beyond. 

In Australia and Hawaii, the 

first surf contests were called 

“meets” and “rallies”. The 

Ubatuba contest evolved into 

a kind of festival. Pretty soon, 

this growing little surf culture 

had allied with the Tropicalia 



PL’s NOVEMBER SURF CALENDAR 

12-24/11: WSL men’s: Hawaiian Pro, Haleiwa, Hawaii 

25/11-6/12: WSL men’s: Vans World Cup, Sunset Beach, 

Hawaii 

First two events of the fabled Hawaiian Triple Crown. They’re always 

intense, always a bit feral, a last couple of chances for surfers 

to qualify for the big leagues next year. They also often feature the 

most complex and challenging surf of the tour year. Totally worth 

watching if you have the time @ worldsurfleague.com 

8-13/11: WSL women’s: Port Stephens Toyota Pro, NSW 

A fascinating event, bringing the top women competitors and 

young qualifiers together at a slightly out-of-sync moment. Could 

be a great chance for Newport’s Holly Wawn to put the boot in to 

her fellow super-grommets. 

NICK’S NOVEMBER SURF FORECAST 

Photo: WSL 

They say an El Niño event is preparing itself. 70% chance, they 

say. Well there’s El Niños and there’s El Niños, and I suspect this 

one may not be the killer drought-maker of legend. Heck, October 

almost killed the drought on its own. Expect some drying trend 

in November, maybe a bit less of the classic soaking easterlies of 

the past month, but still with plenty of tropical moisture streaming 

down the monsoon line and falling here and there over NSW. Lots 

of varying wind shifts, southerlies, northerlies, all that stuff, and 

plenty of variety in surf conditions, with a possible surprise cut-off 

low or two arising from the collision between these two influences. 

Be flexible! Look for the best sandbars and play with ’em. Later in 

November we might see a brief return to dry August-style westerly 

winds and sudden extraordinary very non-August heat, but we don’t 

reckon this will last. Classic Aussie summer coming up. 

musical movement, Brazil’s 

great artistic response to 

the dictatorship. By 1975 the 

festival had shifted north, past 

Rio to the then-small town of 

Saquarema, where it blew up 

into what attendees have called 

“the Brazilian Woodstock”. 

Surfers rode all day, music 

played all night, and thousands 

of young people who wanted 

a piece of this new life came 

to town, turning Saquarema 

upside down. 

Meanwhile, Rico de Souza, 

who like a lot of the country’s 

surfers at the time came from 

a wealthy family, travelled to 

Hawaii for the winter surf and 

became close to Randy Rarick, 

organiser of the first World Pro 

Tour. Randy heard Rico’s tales 

of Saquarema and suggested 

he put together a tour event. 

Rico got together with Nelson 

Machado, owner of one of Rio’s 

first surf shops, and by 1976 

Brazil was a pro tour stop. 

It was an epic stop, by 

the way. Some of the stories 

would turn your hair white, 


Nick Carroll 

and possibly did in a few 

travelling surfers’ cases. But it 

was up-and-down, in lock-step 

with Brazil’s transition to full 

democracy. No contests were 

held between 1982 and 1985, 

which isolated Brazilian surfers 

from international influence 

and put a big dent in the 

country’s surfing development. 

But now, huh. Brazilian 

surf journalist and historian 

Reinaldo Andraus says he 

thinks there’s a million people 

surfing in Brazil on a day-today 

basis, many more than in 

Australia. 

Despite this, Ubatuba 

remains a beautiful backwater. 

The coast is too hilly for major 

roads, and the freeway between 

Rio and Sao Paulo runs inland. 

It’s like Byron, if Byron had 

stayed that way. 

And the Carioca/Paulista 

rivalry is still alive. Filipe and 

Italo are Rio boys; Gabriel 

and Brazil’s other great world 

champ, Adriano de Souza (no 

relation), are from the other 

side. They’ll carry their own 

history into Pipeline. 


Surfing Life

A voyage 

of Discovery 

Life Stories 

cure for boredom is curiosity. 

There is no cure for curiosity.’ 

‘The 

This Dorothy Parker quote faces 

me as I walk into the ‘Discovery Shed’. The 

unprepossessing exterior of the industrial 

building in Mona Vale doesn’t prepare me 

for the technological treasure trove inside. 

Engineer, Bob Moran, who turned 80 in 

September, has been driven by curiosity 

his entire life, and his collection is testimony 

to that. 

He opens a door into a huge factory 

space, pointing out pieces of old aircraft, 

including a 1935 RAF biplane joystick, and 

a 1930s-telephone exchange he salvaged 

from Kimbriki tip three years ago. 

Bob was born in Randwick. While at 

Coogee Primary School he collected fossils; 

he admits he’s been a collector for as long 

as he can remember. He studied production 

engineering at Sydney Technical College 

(now TAFE NSW’s The Sydney Institute 

of Technology). When he and his New 

Zealander wife Jill married 54 years ago 

they moved to Collaroy Plateau, and have 

been on the Northern Beaches ever since, 

currently living on Narrabeen Lake. 

“My wife doesn’t have a mechanical 

mind, but she’s very supportive... without 

Jill I wouldn’t exist,” he says. 

In 1970, Bob co-founded a company, 

which built special-purpose machines 

and gem cutting equipment. He sold that 

business and two years later established 

Precision Dynamics, a company that made 

packaging equipment. Alongside this 

Bob, with his insatiable curiosity for how 

mechanisms worked and why, collected 

objects, many of which he found discarded 

beside the road. 

In 1988 when the Powerhouse Museum 

moved to Ultimo, it advertised it would be 

running a steam tram down Harris Street. 

“On that morning Jill and I went down to 

the Powerhouse,” Bob recounts. “I walked 

up to the front desk with a steam indicator, 

and asked if the museum would like it. A 

man called Ross Goodman overheard me. 

‘I don’t believe this,’ he said. ‘We can’t 

run the steam engine, because we haven’t 

got a steam indicator to set the timing of 

the engine.’ So, I gave it to him.” 

Ten years later an employee of Bob’s at 

Precision Dynamics met Ross Goodman, 

and Ross asked him if he knew anyone 

who might quote on building a replica 

of a section of Difference Engine No 1, a 

giant steam-driven computer designed by 

English mathematician, Charles Babbage, 

in 1833, to print error-free mathematical 

tables. The employee replied: “My boss is 

silly enough to quote on anything.” 

Whether he was silly or a sage, it took 

Bob in a direction he never anticipated. As 

Bob was a precision machinist the Powerhouse 

Museum curator Matthew Connell 

asked him to quote on building a working 

replica of this reference portion, the 

original of which is in the London Science 

Museum, explaining that the Powerhouse 

Local engineer Bob Moran 

hopes his remarkable 

collection of scientific 

wonders will endure for 

decades to come. 

Story by Rosamund Burton 

hoped to get funding to build it. 

The museum couldn’t raise the funding, 

but the steam-driven computer had 

captured Bob’s imagination and he was 

determined to construct it. The quest 

brought him in contact with Allan Bromley, 

Associate Professor of Computer at the 

University of Sydney and a world authority 

on Babbage. Bob was asked to illustrate a 

paper Allan Bromley wrote on Difference 

Engine No 1, and having completed the 

illustration for the paper, Bob proceeded to 

draw, with Allan’s guidance, the entire machine. 

There were few dimensions on Babbage’s 

original drawings, and many of the 

drawings were lost, so it wasn’t believed 

that this machine could be re-constructed; 

but Bob used the known dimensions of the 

segment of Difference Engine No 1 which 

Babbage had built to set up a grid, and then 

scaled the rest of the machine objects to fit 

this grid. 

We walk around a wall panel and 

mounted on an Australian red cedar base 

is the reference portion of Difference 

Engine No 1, which Bob built. But Bob kept 

building, going on to make an outline of 

the complete machine to scale – in front of 

us are hundreds of interlocking cogs and 

wheels, and cylinders, all of which Bob cut 

by hand, on a huge wooden stand. “You 

won’t see this anywhere else in the world.” 

Allan Bromley, who died in 2002, was 

also a collector, and several pieces in Bob’s 

collection were formerly owned by him, 



including a section of the ‘Totalisator’, invented 

in 1913 by Australian computing pioneer, Sir 

George Julius, to record bets and calculate the 

changing odds and dividends at the racecourse. 

This section of the shed is a journey through 

the history of the computer. Bob points out 

a small part of SILLIAC, the University of 

Sydney’s first computer. “Early computers were 

monstrous – the size of this building,” he says. 

He shows me a 1965 computer, the programs 

for which were punched onto tape. “And this pianola,” 

he says, sitting on the stool in front of it, 

“also works on punch tapes.” A lively tune fills 

the cavernous space, as Bob pumps the wooden 

pedals and the paper slowly rolls around. 

Several computers are on display, including 

the PDP-8, thought by many to be Australia’s 

oldest working computer. Also, the world’s first 

‘luggable’ computer (weighing 17kg) and the 

first laptop – an archaic-looking Dulmont Magnum 

– designed and built in Australia. 

Bob and Jill have two children, but neither 

have followed in his footsteps career-wise. Son 

Scott and daughter Toni are both health care 

professionals. So, in 2010, Bob sold the operating 

part of Precision Dynamics and the following 

year the Discovery Shed was established. (It 

ran for several years as a shed for blokes interested 

in fixing old technology and machinery.) 

Bob also worked for a year as a volunteer for 

Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools (SMiS), 

a CSIRO initiative, visiting primary schools. 

On the upper floor, alongside an Edison 

cylinder phonograph and an early sewing 

machine, is Bob’s collection of more than 20 

early typewriters, including one dating from 

1881, plus a hand-held one used by a Reuters 

World War I correspondent on horseback, and a 

Wagner-Underwood (circa 1897), which featured 

in the film, ‘Moulin Rouge’. 

“My wife calls me a hoarder, but I think 

there’s a distinction between hoarding and 

collecting. I have collected them,” he explains, 

“because they all have different mechanisms, 

so all these designs are a timeline.” 

Now foremost in Bob’s mind is what happens 

to his collection next. He wants to pass 

it on, and the Discovery Shed has been visited 

by prominent people from both Australia and 

overseas, who are interested in different pieces. 

Having lived on the Northern Beaches for more 

than 50 years, he would like the collection to 

be in a local museum, so it can be seen in its 

entirety for many generations to come. But it 

doesn’t have a new home yet. 

“It’s an eclectic collection,” Bob admits, “but 

it’s important because it has the potential to 

arouse curiosity, and when this happens there 

is no ending.” 

* For more info or to visit the Discovery 

Shed call 9997 2222 or email bob.moranj@ 

gmail.com 

Life Stories 

SCIENCE IN ACTION: Bob Moran hopes the eclectic 

collection of items in his ‘Discovery Shed’ will continue 

to arouse curiousity in future generations. 



Art Life 


Dickerson’s best, 

figuratively speaking 

Artist Robert Dickerson’s significant contribution to figurative 

art in Australia is being celebrated at Manly Art Gallery and 

Museum (MAG&M) until December 2. 

In collaboration with the Dickerson Gallery, MAG&M’s ‘Against 

the Tide’ exhibition brings together paintings, studies and 

graphics sourced exclusively from private collections. 

A self-taught painter, Robert Dickerson was a founding member 

of ‘The Antipodeans’ art movement in the 1950s, which included 

fellow famous Australian artists Charles Blackman, Arthur Boyd, 

David Boyd, John Brack, John Perceval and Clifton Pugh. He was 

still painting into his 90s when he passed away in 2015. 

The exhibition will also feature ‘Poets Paint People’ – an hour 

of poems read by three poets (Les Wicks, Brooke Emery and Jennifer 

Dickerson) surrounded by the paintings of Robert Dickerson 

(2-3pm on Sunday 11 November). 

* More info council’s website. 

Getting crafty 

for Christmas 

Creative 

gift ideas 

for Xmas 

The creative team from the 

Artists & Craftsmen of Pittwater 

will showcase their final 

sale of the year at the Mona 

Vale Memorial Hall for three 

days from Friday November 9. 

Their hand-made items 

make great Christmas gifts, including 

ornaments to hang on 

trees. They also have gifts of 

convenient size and pliability 

perfect for posting interstate 

or overseas, including embroidered 

towels, knitted toys, 

and paper tole-framed works. 

Summer sun dresses for 

girls 1-6 will prove popular, as 

well as beautiful gifts for babies, 

hand-painted gift cards, 

gift bags and gift tags. 

And there are lots of ideas 

for end-of-year presents for 

teachers and friends, like needle-felted 

dolls and playmats, 

patchwork quilts, cushions, 

French-style aprons, screenprinted 

linens and porcelain. 

Jewellery, silk scarves and 

wooden gifts also for sale. 

This year every visitor is 

encouraged to vote for their 

favourite display in the ACOP 

People’s Choice Craft Award. 

Meanwhile, the ACOP artists 

have enjoyed a great sales response 

in 2018 and with new 

artists recently joining, this 

sale will boast great diversity. 

(Newcomer Vanessa Georgesen, 

who has a background in 

pottery, sculpture and screen 

printing, brings a modernist 

style of Mixed Media.) 

Other artists’ works include 

acrylics and watercolours, 

many featuring northern 

beaches locations. 

Sale on Fri 9 (3-6pm) and 

weekend 10 & 11 (9am-4pm). 

More info acop.com.au 

The Avalon Craft Cottage 

members are holding their 

huge three-day Christmas 

Show at the Avalon Recreation 

Centre from Thursday Nov 22 

to Sat 24 open 10am-4pm. 

Browse and purchase 

beautiful craftwork including 

handmade cards; Australian 

timber work; jewellery; colorful 

patchwork; hand-knitted 

baby blankets, bootees and 

bonnets; girls’ dresses; soft 

toys; pure silk wall hangings 

& scarves; screen-printed tea 

towels & bags; hand-knitted 

scarves, bed socks & beanies 

and trendy fabric buckets; plus 

painted flower pots and succulent 

gardens. 

Transform your Christmas 

table into a riot of colour with 

bunting and decorations! 

The Cottagers have been an 

institution around the Northern 

Beaches since opening in 

Avalon in 1969 – next year the 

group will be celebrating their 

50th birthday. 

More info on facebook or at 

avaloncraftcottage.com.au. 



Market Days for Mixed Palette 

Mixed Palette Art School is 

showcasing the works of 

their talented artists at both 

the Mona Vale and Avalon 

Market Days this month. 

First up is their exhibition 

and sale of diverse works by 

local artists at Mona Vale Memorial 

Hall on Sunday November 

4; there’s something for 

all, with the style and subject 

matter varying from contemporary 

abstraction, landscape, 

portraiture and still life. 

Mixed Palette will also stage 

their 14th annual Art Exhibition 

in Avalon Recreation Centre 

in conjunction with Avalon 

Market Day. Opening night will 

be on Friday 16th from 6.30- 

9pm (free admission and all 

welcome). 

The exhibition continues Sat 

17th and Sun 18th (both days 

9am-4pm). 

Debby Waters and Lorrie 

Morgan will be running the 

exhibition, which will represent 

an eclectic mix of paintings, 

jewellery, ceramics and wall 

hangings. There will also be a 

silent auction of two original 

Aboriginal paintings, each with 

letters of authenticity. 

Mixed Palette runs mixed 

media art classes for all ages 

– as well as art parties and 

workshops. 

* Interested in being part 

of the exhibition? Contact 

Debby on 0409 278 591 or 

Lorrie on 0412 141 852. 

Turn love of renovation 

into a great new career 

Do you find renovating 

enormously 

satisfying? Are 

friends always complimenting 

you on 

your interior style? 

Interior design is an 

exciting career path 

for creatives – and 

the industry is growing 

every year. Government 

stats show 

a steady increase 

in the number of 

professional Interior 

Designers over the past five years, with that trend expected 

to continue into 2022 and beyond. 

“We can see from our internship program and careers 

placement service that there is a strong demand for welltrained 

interior design graduates,” said Amanda Grace, 

Director of Sydney Design School (pictured). “Our students 

work on real projects with real clients and earn industryrecognised, 

accredited qualifications. Our alumni have a 98% 

employment rate – the demand isn’t slowing!” 

SDS is putting out a challenge to interiors enthusiasts 

to roll up their sleeves and get creative. As part of their 

free Open Day this month you’re invited to build a sample 

board – which could win you a place in their sellout two-day 

Interior Decoration Workshop. 

“Open Day is an opportunity to chat with our Careers 

Coach, meet practising Interior Designers and Architects 

(who teach at the School) and be inspired by an impressive 

exhibition of student work,” said Amanda. “You’ll be guided 

through our variety of career and short courses, as well as 

flexible study options for learning part time, in the evening 

or online.” 

Join SDS at their St Leonards campus on Saturday 3 Nov 

starting at 10am. Register at sydneydesignschool.com.au 






Portraits to keep 

our memories alive 

Fresh from some 

successful 

showings and a 

brief departure 

from his usual 

artistic focus, 

Avalon artist Phil 

Meatchem says 

he is happy to be 

‘back on the tools’ 

in the lead up to 

the festive season. 

Phil has had 

a busy year so 

far, continuing 

his success 

in national 

competitions, 

and holding his own unique 

exhibition – Karokature – 

with much local attention. 

Moving away from the stylised 

creations seen in his rock 

and roll caricatures, Phil says 

is keen to get back to the 

more traditional portraits and 

landscape artistry of where 

his heart belongs – and he 

wants locals to come along 

for the ride. 

“Traditional painting is 

becoming less and less 

common in society,” said Phil. 

“People forget how special it is 

to have a one-of-a-kind artwork 

sitting in their house. 

“I want to create timeless 

heirlooms for people and help 

them keep their memories alive 

and current.” 

Phil says he loves engaging 

with clients and their families 

to create these pieces and is 

just as happy working from 

photographs supplied or 

photos he can take himself – a 

perfect way to gift someone a 

beautiful surprise to mark an 

iconic occasion. (Pictured is one 

of his recent commissions.) 

“Working from photos gives 

me flexibility, and means I can 

devote myself to ensuring I’ve 

captured the subject in their 

most-loved form.” 

Phil has started taking 

orders for Christmas, and with 

a wide array of sizing options, 

he is more than happy to work 

with you to get your ideal gift 

sorted. 

He says he doesn’t “just do 

people”, knowing that family 

pets and favourite places have 

a special hold on people’s 

hearts too. 

You can catch Phil at 

Avalon Market Day on Sunday 

November 18 as he exhibits 

a collection of his works – be 

quick though, as all his pieces 

in last year’s show sold out. 




SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18 

Avalon ushers 

new era of fun 

Avalon Beach Market Day returns this year on Sunday 18 

November from 9am to 4pm when the main streets of 

Avalon Beach village and Dunbar Park will be alive with 

amazing music, fabulous food, fantastic fashion and fun for all 

the family! 

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

and crafts as well as gourmet food stalls. And our local 

clubs and charities will be working hard to raise funds for their 

worthy causes. 

Since taking over managing the markets, Vanessa Tiernan 

(Avalon local event manager who owns Roobarb and Company) 

has been committed to ensuring that the stallholders and products 

come from the local area. This year, more than 50 per cent 

of the stalls come from the local area and the northern beaches. 

The Annual Dog Show 

A constant of market day, the annual Avalon Market Day Dog 

Show will be held on the main 

stage commencing 9.30am! 

Proudly sponsored by the local 

team from Sydney Animal Hospital 

Northern Beaches. 

This year we welcome 

respected journalist and ABC 

News presenter, Juanita Phillips, 

as our MC. Joining her on 

the panel of judges are The 

Hon Greg Combet AM, The 

Hon Rob Stokes MP, Northern 

Beaches Mayor Michael Regan, 

and Australian actress Toni 

Pearen. 

Bring your pooch down 

on the day to partake in fun 

categories of Best Trick, Fancy Dress – and Waggiest Tail! 

avalon 

market day 

Fun for the Kids 

The carnival rides are back again – this 

year they will be located on Old Barrenjoey 

Road, outside Avalon Public School. There 

will also be an assortment of Show Bags 

filled with lots of goodies. 

Live music 

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

bands, dance troupes, musicians and fantastic bands (for the 

full entertainment schedule see page 40). The main streets of 

Avalon Beach village will be filled with music. 

Stop by the Dunbar Park stage to support the local school 

bands from Avalon Public School, Maria Regina Catholic, Bilgola 

Public School and Barrenjoey High School. Mona Vale Music has 

also arranged a fantastic line-up of young local talent on the 

Avalon Parade stage. 

Food, food 

& more food 

Dunbar Park will be the place 

to head to grab a bite from of 

the many fabulous food stalls. 

We are pleased to welcome 

local food stalls – Tothy Bros 

Deli (Palm Beach), Highbrations 

Organics (Avalon), Sotto Sopra 

(Newport), Bliss Bowls (Mona 

Vale) and Azteca Taqueria 

(Frenchs Forest). 

ALL PHOTOS: Hunter Manuel 


#ThisIsAvalon 








avalon 

market day 

Stage 1 – X Roads 

9am: Night Owls 

9.30am: 

10.15am: 

11am: 

11.10am: 

12pm: 

12.10pm: 

1pm: 

2pm: 

3pm: 

Dog Show 

Hot Robert 

Ariana Dance 

Gavin Libotte Quartet 

The Big Sing 

Nativo Soul 

Kat Lush Band 

Dominic Breen Band 

Sassafraz 

Stage 2 – Dunbar Park 

9am: Avalon Public School 

10am: 

11am: 

11.30am: 

12.30pm: 

1pm: 

1.30pm: 

2.15pm: 

3pm: 

Bilgola Public School 

Maria Regina Catholic School 

Barrenjoey High School 

The Rions 

Cleopatra & Flynn 

Scoot the Loot 

Ella Couston & Meg Mulcahy 

Village Big Band 

Stage 3 – Bistro Boulevard 

9am: Eden and Darcy 

9.15am: 

9.30am: 

9.45am: 

10am: 

10.20am: 

10.40am: 

11am: 

11.15am: 

11.30am: 

11.45am: 

12pm: 

12.30pm: 

1pm: 

1.30pm: 

2pm: 

2.30pm: 

3pm: 

3.30pm: 

Josie Duncan 

Emma & Momo 

Josh Aristead & Euan Bates 

Ella Ward-Flusk 

Grace McAdam & Johnny Austen 

Riley Holt 

Kasey Cramer 

Fifi Archibald 

Milana Gerrard 

Arielle Vallis 

Lillian Hellmann 

Maddie Walker 

Tiana Mannell 

Abbey Gatwood 

Natalie & Julia 

Lachie Bates Trio 

Brown Betty 

Little Jay Biggs 

(Lilla, Ben, Jack and Alley) 

ALL PHOTOS: Hunter Manuel 



#ThisIsAvalon

Health & Wellbeing 

How small changes can 

make a big impact on 

your bowel cancer risk 


While smoking, being 

overweight and 

drinking too much 

are known risk factors for 

bowel cancer, new Australian 

research has revealed how the 

combination of all three can 

be devastating… especially 

in men. 

A study involving 370,000 

Australians has found current 

rates of smoking, overweight 

and obesity and excessive 

alcohol consumption could 

lead to 45,000 cases of bowel 

cancer over the next 10 years. 

“Combined, these factors 

will be responsible for one in 

four future bowel cancers – 

even more so for men (37 per 

cent of bowel cancers) than 

women (13 per cent),” said 

study leader, Associate Professor 

Claire Vajdic, Head of the 

Cancer Epidemiology Research 

Unit at UNSW’s Centre for Big 

Data Research in Health. 

Meanwhile local specialist 

Dr Stuart Pincott (pictured) 

said early detection, being 

aware of signs and symptoms, 

which may indicate a 

problem, and talking to your 

GP were vital in improving 

survival from bowel cancer. 

The colorectal surgeon, 

who operates at Dee Why 

Endoscopy Unit which offers 

open access Endoscopy/Colonoscopy, 

said some of the 

early signs of bowel cancer 

included bleeding from 

the bowel, loss of weight, 

abdominal pain, change in 

bowel habit or unexplained 

tiredness. 

“It is important if you notice 

these symptoms that you 

should feel comfortable to 

report them to your family 

doctor,” Dr Pincott said. 

“There are many different 

causes for these symptoms, 

most of which are not serious… 

your doctor will make 

a thorough assessment and 

advise of further investigations 

or treatments.” 

Associate Professor Vajdic 

said that if people adopted a 

healthy lifestyle and changed 

their behaviours accordingly, 

a large proportion of the anticipated 

future burden identified 

in the team’s research 

could be avoided. 

The research findings were 

the first to identify that more 

bowel cancers were caused 

by overweight or obesity and 

excessive alcohol consumption 

in men than in women, 

A/Professor Vajdic said. 

“Hormones and differences 

in body fat distribution, particularly 

excessive fat around 

the stomach, likely contribute 

to the higher body fatnessrelated 

risk in men. We also 

know that men drink more 

alcohol than women, which 

increases their bowel cancer 

risk,” she said. 

The researchers also found 

an interesting interplay between 

smoking and alcohol: 

the bowel cancer burden 

attributable to smoking was 

significantly exacerbated by 

excessive alcohol consumption 

and vice-versa. 

“This means that the future 

bowel cancer burden would 

be markedly lower if current 

and former smokers did not 

drink excessive alcohol,” A/ 

Professor Vajdic said. 

The study findings make 

a case to support everybody 

– but men in particular 

– to achieve and maintain a 

healthy weight to prevent 

bowel cancer. 

And the results also sug- 



gest more resources should 

go into encouraging people to 

use the free bowel cancer test 

sent in the mail to all Australians 

over 50, through the 

National Bowel Cancer Screening 

Program. 

The simple test can detect 

bowel cancer in its earliest 

stages, often before there are 

any symptoms. 

Research collaborator, Julie 

Marker, has survived bowel 

cancer three times over the 

past 17 years 

“Any action you can take to 

prevent or detect bowel cancer 

early might save you from 

the battle I’ve had,” she said. 

“I’d encourage men and 

women – but especially men 

– to adopt a healthy lifestyle 

and participate in bowel 

cancer screening to reduce 

their risk.” 

“GPs and other health 

professionals should target 

prevention and screening 

advice to their patients, using 

insights from this research.” 

Bowel cancer is the second 

most common cause of cancer 

deaths in Australia and 

around 80 Australians die 

from the disease every week. 

Dr Pincott added that while 

bowel cancer was a very common 

disease, if caught early, 

up to 90 per cent of bowel 

cancers could be successfully 

treated. 

“The best way to detect 

bowel cancer is by colonoscopy 

– a common day surgery 

procedure that examines 

the entire lining of the large 

bowel and can detect cancers 

before symptoms have even 

Get growing for 

Decembeard 

Registrations are now open 

for Decembeard an event 

hosted by Bowel Cancer 

Australia which encourages 

men to grow a beard or 

some chin stubble in the final 

month of the year to raise 

awareness and funds for 

bowel cancer. More info at 

bowelcanceraustralia.org. 

developed,” he said. 

Performed by specialist 

surgeons and gastroenterologists 

while the patient is 

asleep under a light anaesthetic, 

the procedure takes 

about 20 minutes. 

“Colonoscopy can detect 

many different disease processes 

such as polyps, cancer, 

diverticular disease, haemorrhoids 

and inflammatory 

bowel disease and during the 

procedure the doctor can take 

biopsies of any abnormalities, 

remove polyps or treat haemorrhoids,” 

Dr Pincott said. 

“Colonoscopy is also recommended 

for screening for 

bowel cancer in people who 

have a positive test from the 

National Bowel Cancer Screening 

Program. 

“It is also commonly advised 

for people at increased 

risk for bowel cancer due to 

a family history of polyps, 

bowel cancers or when families 

are affected by certain 

rare genetic syndromes.” 

– Lisa Offord 






Make use of your 

optical benefits 

Many of us spend a considerable 

amount on private 

health insurance and the rule 

is, if you don’t use the entitlements, 

you lose them. So 

accessing hard-earned dollars 

in the form of optical benefits 

is a worthwhile activity, and 

the right advice with tailored 

eyewear and eyecare recommendations 

will maximise 

entitlements. 

Just a few of the ways you 

can use your optical benefits 

this year: 

Contact Lenses – suitable to 

wear to the beach with regular 

sunglasses to catch up on summer 

reading. With the latest 

technologies in contact lenses, 

optometrists can prescribe a 

contact lens solution for almost 

any prescription. 

Ever feel you take your sunnies 

off to see clearer in the 

distance or for reading your 

phone? Prescription sunglasses 

enable clear vision with 

crucial UV and glare protection 

at the same time. 

Do you find yourself in front 

of digital screens most of the 

day? A simple solution with 

digital eyewear will help alleviate 

the strain on your eyes and 

enable clearer more comfortable 

vision. 

Your glasses are the first 

thing people look at when 

they engage with you; they set 

the tone and style of how you 

present to the world… so what 

is your style and are you ready 

for a new look from our handpicked 

range of frames? 

Or are you looking forward 

with Rowena Beckenham 

to losing yourself in a book, or 

taking up model boat building 

or intricate origami? A specific 

pair of reading glasses can 

provide clear vision and an 

extra level of comfort for your 

eyes. 

Now, did you know that vision 

is responsible for around 

90% of the information we use 

for driving. Optometrists will 

assess your vision to ensure 

maximum road safety with appropriate 

driving eyewear. 

Elite sportsperson or just 

keen to give it a go? Sport-specific 

eyewear can enhance both 

your comfort and performance 

on the field, as well as ensuring 

safety in the case of an 

accident. 

And finally, the stress of 

losing or breaking your glasses 

can be irritating if you don’t 

have a back-up pair. Now’s the 

time to claim a spare pair with 

your optical extras. 

Use these ideas to make 

the most of your optical 

extras before they expire on 

December 31! 

Comment supplied by Rowena Beckenham, of 

Beckenham Optometrist in Avalon (9918 0616). Rowena 

has been involved in all facets of independent private 

practice optometry in Avalon for 16 years, in addition 

to working as a consultant to the optometric and 

pharmaceutical industry, and regularly volunteering in 

Aboriginal eyecare programs in regional NSW. 



Ageing well at 

home – that 

sounds like a plan! 

Media reports highlighting 

accusations of abuse need to think now about how 

“So given that likelihood we 

and neglect in nursing homes and where we want to live 

and the announcement of a when that time comes… don’t 

Royal Commission into aged wait for a crisis to occur.” 

care investigating the scandalplagued 

sector have encour- 

knowledge sooner rather than 

Seeking out aged care 

aged many families to start a later was vital in order to protect 

not just those in the later 

conversation about ageing and 

the need to plan for the future. stages of their lives but also 

People of all ages are thinking 

more seriously about age- 

so often left with the responsi- 

to protect the families who are 

ing, says professional agedcare 

advocate, Clareville’s when they occur said Louise. 

bilities of managing problems 

Louise Mace. 

First port of call should be 

“We and our parents and the Australian Government’s 

grandparents are far more likely 

than previous generations to can provide you with infor- 

My Aged Care website which 

live well into old age and with mation about the types of 

old age, health decline is virtually 

inevitable,” said Louise. Louise said if you or 

services available. 

someone 

you know was showing 

signs of struggling to live independently, 

it was wise to book 

an Aged Care Assessment 

Team (ACAT) to start the process 

of applying for subsidised 

help at home. 

But be warned you’ll need to 

join a queue – Department of 

Health figures show as of June 

there were more than 121,000 

senior Australians waiting to 

access home care support. 

“Once the ACAT assessment 

is done, they will determine 

needs and match it to a score 

from level 1 through to 4, with 

4 being the highest care need 

package. 

“The ACAT is also only one 

part of the process… think 

of it as your passport into 

government-funded care,” 

Louise said. 

The next step was the 

means test through Centrelink, 

which determines eligibility. 

Louise, who is the founder 

and managing director of New 

Way To Stay (newwaytostay. 

com.au), a boutique consultancy 

which helps ageing Australians 

stay at home, advises 

not to rule out private care 

arrangements. 

“Sometimes the results of 

a means test with Centrelink 

can mean that you might be 

just as well off with privately 

paying options, outside of the 

government system,” she said. 

– Lisa Offord 






Journey toward 

‘Zero Suicides’ 

People in distress and 

communities impacted by 

suicide or associated mental 

health challenges will have 

more support than ever before. 

The government recently 

announced $90 million to 

deliver new suicide prevention 

initiatives and better coordination 

between the various support 

providers and agencies to 

ensure no-one slips through 

the cracks. 

NSW Health Minister Brad 

Hazzard said communities 

at high risk of suicide would 

benefit from eight new or 

expanded initiatives from next 

year including: 

n New support services for 

people bereaved by suicide 

– to prevent ‘clusters’ of 

further suicides, especially 

among young people; 

n Resilience building within 

local communities – engage 

communities to participate 

in suicide prevention; 

n Improved after care services 

– ensuring all people who 

have been admitted to 

hospital following a suicide 

attempt have access to follow 

up care and support; 

n Alternatives to presenting to 

the Emergency Department 

if in distress; 

n Programs to eliminate 

suicide attempts by people 

in care; 

n Expanded community mental 

health outreach teams; 

n Additional counsellors for 

people in regional and rural 

areas; and 

n Improved data collection 

and distribution. 

What kind of support 

do local parents want? 

Most parents will manage the 

grief associated with extraordinary 

loss through their usual 

support networks. 

Others may need a little 

extra assistance. 

With this in mind, a small 

committee of dedicated local 

services including The Avalon 

Youth Hub, The Burdekin Association, 

Mission Australia, 

CatholiCare, Lifeline, Headspace, 

and Family Drug Support 

has been formed. 

The committee wants to 

plan a range of support options 

for those parents who 

might benefit from some additional 

help explained Emerick 

Kovacs from the Avalon Youth 

Hub. 

And the committee needs 

your help encouraging parents 

to complete a brief electronic 

survey. 

“In the interest of ensuring 

that support options are 

a good fit with what parents 

believe they would find most 

helpful, the committee is 

keen to canvass the ideas of 

parents,” Mr Kovacs said. 

“Local services are very confident 

that with the views and 

input from parents, a range of 

relevant support options will 

be made available.” 

The survey can be found on 

The Avalon Youth Hub website 

at avalonyouthhub.org.au 

(click on the ‘Community 

Outreach’ and then ‘Family 

Support’ tabs and follow the 

‘survey monkey’ link) or go to 

the Hub’s Facebook page. 

* If you or someone you 

know needs crisis support 

call Lifeline 13 11 14, 

MensLine Australia 1300 78 

99 78, or Kids Helpline 1800 

55 1800. For support and 

information services phone 

the NSW Mental Health Line 

on 1800 011 511. – LO 





Hair & Beauty 

Care for your neck and 

present your best look 

The skin on the neck is 

in conjunction with the 

a telltale to how old we 

MicroNeedling procedure. 

really are. I always suggest 

Fractional Laser – stimulates 

to clients that when they treat 

the skin on their face, they take 

the same products and regime 

down to their neck and chest or 

decollete. This way the exposed 

areas look more uniform in 

colour and texture. 

The skin on the neck suffers 

the same environmental 

onslaughts as the face, only it 

is far thinner and more fragile. 

The neck skin has fewer oil 

and moisture glands and this 

can be one of the contributing 

factors to dry, crepey and heavy 

horizontal lines. 

The neck can be rejuvenated 

both topically with products 

and with clinical treatments. Sun 

damage is a contributing factor 

to the breakdown of collagen 

and elastin of the neck. Broad 

spectrum sunscreen should be 

applied every 3-4 hours. 

Clinical treatments may be 

combined or used as standalone 

methods. Remember, it 

has taken a long time to get to 

an older appearance and rarely 

will one treatment provide 

desired results. Here are some 

options: 

Fat Freezing – with a mini 

handpiece can help to reduce 

the double chin. The shape of 

the jaw line and the amount 

of fat present will determine if 

one or two applicators will be 

required. This procedure may 

be repeated after 12 weeks. 

IPL Photorejuvenation – 

uses selective light energy to 

assist with the reduction of 

both pigmentation and red 

capillaries. One of the most 

common conditions IPL can 

treat is Poikiloderma of Civatte, 

which appears on each side 

of the neck with red-brown 

pigmentation along with a 

vascular component. 

HIFU Ultrasound – these 

treatments stimulate the soft 

tissue of the neck down to the 

lower dermal layers and provide 

both a smoother and firmer 

appearance. 

MicroNeedling – penetrates 

the skin barrier to depths 

that can be customised, 

depending on the severity of 

skin laxity and crepiness. A 

cocktail of hyaluronic serum, 

growth factors and peptides 

are used to treat sun damage, 

scars, fine lines and crepiness 

cell turnover and is capable 

of minimising and eliminating 

skin concerns including sun 

damage, poor skin tone, fine 

lines and wrinkles. By creating 

micro treatment zones in the 

dermal layer of the skin, the 

body’s natural healing process 

is activated to create healthy, 

new skin. 

Plasma energy – can address 

the irregularities of colour, 

texture and tone of the neck. 

A small amount of downtime 

is normal; more than one 

treatment is often suggested. 

Other professional treatments 

available to treat the signs of 

ageing of the neck are chemical 

peels using Vitamin A, Jessner’s 

Peel or TCA. Blended chemical 

with Sue Carroll 

peels are gentle enough for 

this fragile area and may help 

to reduce skin discolouration, 

strengthen skin and increase 

cellular turnover. 

Homecare product 

consideration should address 

reducing redness and 

pigmentation, along with deep 

hydration for the neck which 

has fewer sebaceous glands and 

reduced moisture retention. 

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 

Health Hair & Wellbeing Beauty 



Business Life: Money 

Business Life 

Good Market reason watch: for taking going 

‘nuts’ stock this of ripples festive to season routs 

This When month writing we about look at 

recent financial falls innovation on local one 

and of the global perspectives markets… I 

can Ever share since with I’ve you had is anything from the 

inside to do with of a fintech investment company 

which markets in my – and case that’s has been from 

rolling 1987 – out falling the fast-growing 

markets 

Acorns never seem app. Since to reduce, launching calm, 

in diminish, Australia scale-down in early 2016 or the even 

app condense. now resides Falling on markets the smart 

phones only ever of seem around to 350,000 collapse, 

Australians, crash, plummet, that’s nose roughly dive 1.5% 

of and the plunge. population. Well, that’s what 

they If you’re do according the dark to about the 

what media I’m anyway. talking about, Acorns 

is a October micro investment has seen a platform return 

or of what’s volatility sometimes to local and called a 

‘round-up’ global share app, markets the first but one 

of it’s its not kind the in first Australia. time this Our 

firm year. along Putting with things our partners into 

brought context it we out have from seen the three US 

in standout 2015 where corrections it had been during 

established 2018; the first for a one few started years. in 

January The app and works saw in falls a couple of about 

of 5%, ways: followed by taking soon a after data with a 

feed dip in from March your of spending 5%, and most 

accounts recently in and the rounding first weeks up the of 

purchases October with you a make fall of to about the 

nearest 9%. dollar and investing 

these Peak accumulated to trough this balances calendar 

into year a our mix share of exchange market traded has 

funds traded listed in the on range the ASX, between or, 

by 5,724 you in debiting April and amount 6,373 in or 

regular August. payment (It is interesting from your to 

bank note that account the to ASX your 200 Acorns has 

account. never been Most able users to regain enjoy the 

its peak value of 6,800 first 

achieved in November 2007.) 

Looking at likely causes 

for this year’s dips, the last 

two are fully correlated to 

round up feature of Acorns as 

it allows them to save while 

they spend. As a parent of 

teenagers I think I’ve come 

to the conclusion that apps 

such as Acorns using a blend 

of psychology and technology 

may be the only effective way 

to get modern kids to save 

because they sure do know 

how to spend. 

Acorns works because the 

principles underlying its design 

interest rate decisions of 

the US Federal Reserve. The 

first one in January was in 

response to a positive US jobs 

number and more importantly 

signs that wages growth was 

gaining momentum, a pointer 

are to inflation firmly rooted and ultimately, in behavioural 

finance: you guessed investing it, interest small rate 

amounts rises. on a regular basis that 

won’t Let’s be pause missed to combined remember with 

investing that interest over rates an extended in the US 

period have only of time recently to average started 

into a process the markets of normalisation 

smoothing 

out after peaks almost and 10 troughs. years of Of 

course accommodative it doesn’t hurt policy. that The it 

does reason all the of these US central things bank within 

the has framework seen fit to of normalise a highly 

rates is that the US economy 

is doing exceptionally well 

with Gross Domestic Product 

increasing at annual rate of 

4.1% for the second quarter. 

attractive and functional user 

interface – fancy words for the 

app looks and feels very cool. 

While these principles have 

proven to be sound over time 

Acorns goes on to provide an 

indirect benefit to its users 

in the form of education and 

improved financial literacy. 

Get two or more people in the 

room who have an account and 

you’ll find out what I mean – 

when did you start? What are 

So, with this latest wave 

of volatility came also a 

predictable media reaction 

and headlines using words 

like ‘market rout’. The wealth 

editor of one normally 

sensible daily national 

you newspaper saving for? even What suggested returns 

have that investors you had? It’s looking inherently for safe 

competitive havens should but consider when it’s cash, 

combined gold and hedge with the funds. tools and 

information The decision that to the head app for 

provides the exits it’s is an also important extremely 

informative one investors – as a regular but carries user 

you its own can’t costs help if but you become get it 

more wrong. informed While there about is the little 

behaviour doubt that of markets were whether 

you toppy, are especially looking to in or tech not – the 

shares, company earnings 

have been growing and 

economic outlook positive 

but as we all know things can 

change and change quickly. 

with Brian Hrnjak 

balance Reading of your the advice Acorns to account move 

rises into cash, and falls gold in or line hedge with the 

movements funds is frankly in markets bizarre during when 

the you course consider of the that trading cash might day. 

only One achieve of the challenges between 2% and 

any 3%, finance albeit with app certainty. would have Gold 

encouraging yields nothing young on top people of to 

save introducing and invest currency is to remain and 

relevant commodity in their risk eyes. into Over a 

the portfolio. past year Hedge a number funds, of well, 

enhancements what are hedge have funds? taken Just place 

following recently in user Australia feedback, we the have 

headline witnessed ones the being: spectacular 

Found demise Money of ‘alternative partners asset’ – users 

can manager shop online Blue Sky with Alternative brands 

such Investments. as Bonds, Earlier Dan Murphy’s, this year 

BCF, Warren Uber Buffett etc. and closed these out his 

partners decade-long usually million deposit dollar bonus bet 

amounts that an index or extra fund round (S & ups P 500 

into Index) the would users account; beat a pool of 

My hedge Finance funds feature – it did, – uses 125.8% 

artificial to 36%. (The intelligence million to went track to 

and charity categorise by the way.) spending and 

calculate Buffett free was cash quoted flow; on CNN 

Super after collecting fund linkages on the – allows bet: 

users “Making to make money deposits on the to stock a 

range market of does industry not and require public 

offer great superannuation intelligence, a degree funds; 

Emerald in economics Portfolio a – familiarity a socially 

responsible with Wall Street portfolio jargon. option What 

introduced investors then following need member instead 

feedback; is an ability to both disregard 

Little mob fears Acorns – enthusiasms 

sub accounts 

designed and to focus to allow on a investment few simple 

on fundamentals.” 

behalf of children or other 

dependants If you are under nervous the about age of 18. 

the current state of markets 

don’t let me get in your way 

of going to cash or doing 

whatever allows you to sleep 

soundly at night; financial 

56 50 NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2017 2018 


planning, no matter what 

anybody says, is equal parts 

investment analysis and 

psychology. Time frames and 

investment horizons are what 

count when you are investing 

in assets that rise and fall 

and if you don’t have a five 

to seven-year investment 

horizon in front of you, you 

have no place investing in 

shares. 

But if you do still have a 

stomach for shares, property 

and things that rise and fall 

well there are other things 

that can buffer you from 

volatility. 

First things first, review 

your existing holdings; if 

you were lucky enough to tip 

into CSL or Ramsay Health 

Care 10 years ago you could 

have tipped out during that 

time having made ten times 

your money – did you? Taking 

profits is part of active 

management and ensures 

that no single holding 

dominates. These high price/ 

earnings shares tend to get 

hit hardest when markets turn 

negative so pruning in the 

good times is good practice. 

Make sure your holdings 

are of the highest quality – 

what we know following 2008 

is that while all shares may 

fall in unison during a crisis 

it’s the quality shares (biggest 

market cap and/or best in 

category) that fall the least 

and rebound the fastest. 

Be diversified – adequate 

diversification is described 

as the only ‘free lunch’ in 

portfolio management. Many 

Australian investors are 

biased towards bank shares – 

these have taken a belting of 

about 20% since the start of 

the year mainly on the back 

of the Royal Commission plus 

they rise and fall with the 

market. Investors that have 

held international shares 

have experienced volatility 

but have been rewarded with 

market growth and gains 

from currency appreciation in 

the US dollar. 

Check your income 

generation – yield in a 

portfolio, particularly one 

used to support a pension, 

provides a buffer when unit 

prices are down. During the 

GFC for example the dividend 

on Westpac shares dipped by 

only 20% for one year before 

rebounding back to pre-GFC 

levels. Income can be sourced 

from shares as well as a range 

of other listed securities 

including: government 

bonds, corporate secured 

debt, hybrid securities and 

commercial real estate. 

Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is 

a Director of GHR Accounting 

Group Pty Ltd, Certified 

Practising Accountants. Offices 

at: Suite 12, Ground Floor, 

20 Bungan Street Mona Vale 

NSW 2103 and Shop 8, 9 – 15 

Central Ave Manly NSW 2095, 

Telephone: 02 9979-4300, 

Webs: www.ghr.com.au and 

www.altre.com.au Email: 

brian@ghr.com.au 

These comments are of a 

general nature only and are 

not intended as a substitute 

for professional advice. 




Business Life: Law 


The laws of nature, of 

neighbours... and trees 

Recently when visiting 

friends, the car was parked 

in their driveway and as 

we greeted one another our 

host rushed to ask that the 

car be moved lest it become 

another victim of a very large 

eucalyptus of the ghost gum 

type, whose branches hung over 

the driveway from the house 

next door. 

It was explained that the tree, 

some 40 metres in height, had 

begun dropping very heavy 

limbs from the top of the tree 

and was a potential danger. 

Our host explained that he 

was having discussions with his 

neighbour with a view to them 

together arranging to have the 

tree examined by an arborist 

and an application made to the 

local council for permission to 

trim and reduce the tree and 

make it safe. Photographic 

evidence of fallen branches 

over the driveway and lawn had 

been shown to the neighbour. 

However, some reluctance 

concerning responsibility was 

being encountered as the 

neighbour had pointed out that 

the limbs were not hanging over 

his property, they were entirely 

over our friend’s property. 

Disputes between neighbours 

can be extremely stressful, 

often expensive, and difficult to 

resolve. 

A willingness to communicate 

and come to some agreement 

is essential with a realisation 

that like so many aspects of 

the law, a willingness to reach a 

compromise is desirable. 

Mediation is an excellent 

alternative to legal action. It is 

especially useful where you are 

finding it difficult to talk directly 

with your neighbor, or progress 

is slow and where conflict has 

become entrenched, or the 

problem is escalating. 

Mediation through Community 

Justice Centres (CJC) is a free 

confidential service. If you 

contact the service it will contact 

the other party and offer 

mediation. If the other party is 

agreeable a suitable time and 

place is arranged. Two trained 

mediators attend a session which 

can last upwards of two hours. If 

required, further sessions can be 

scheduled. There are no waiting 

lists. 

Community Justice Centres 

are established under the 

Community Justice Centres Act 

1983 and are administered by 

the NSW Department of Justice. 

Although the CJC system is 

widely used, approximately 

1500 disputes annually with an 

80% success rate, it is not always 

the solution. 

Insofar as trees are 

concerned, local councils are 

responsible for protecting trees 

through their Tree Preservation 

Orders (TPOs) in terms of the 

Environmental Planning and 

Assessment Act 1979. 

TPOs can prohibit ring 

barking, cutting down, lopping, 

removing, injuring or willful 

destruction of specified trees 

without council consent. 

In the majority of council 

areas, most trees on both 

public and private property are 

protected. 

with Jennifer Harris 

However, council has no 

authority to act in disputes 

between neighbours. This is why 

it is desirable that even if you 

are wanting to prune only 10% of 

overhanging branches, to obtain 

your neighbour’s consent and to 

follow the process set out by the 

council. 

Tree removal which the council 

will not permit may be briefly 

summarised as follows: 

n Tree work without the 

signature of the owner or their 

agent on application; 

n Removing healthy, stable trees 

or trees for views; 

n Removing trees for solar 

access, leaves, bird droppings 

or damage to sewer pipes or 

built structure; 

n Removing trees for allergies 

unless they can be medically 

supported by a specialist 

doctor; 

n Removal of trees for fences, 

footpaths or driveways; 

n Removal of trees in bushland 

or vegetation without a permit; 

n Removal of trees where they 

do not meet the criteria of the 

permit. 

Damaging or removing 

trees illegally is considered a 

serious offence. The Land and 

Environment Court can impose 

fines of up to $1.1 million, plus a 

daily fee if the offence continues 

and the offender may be directed 

to plant trees and vegetation and 

maintain them. 

If the neighbour does not 



agree to remove or prune a tree, 

contact the CJC and if mediation 

does not achieve a resolution 

then seek legal advice if you 

have not already done so – and 

seek advice in terms of the Tree 

(Disputes between Neighbours 

Act 2006) aka ‘Trees Act’. 

The Trees Act replaced the 

somewhat complicated common 

law action of nuisance which 

had to be taken to the Supreme 

Court. The Trees Act is cheaper 

and simpler. An application can 

now be made to the Land and 

Environment Court for orders 

concerning a neighbour’s tree or 

trees that cause or are likely to 

cause harm, or trees that form 

high hedges obstructing sunlight 

or views. 

The Trees Act is divided into 2 

major parts: 

Part 2 – dealing with orders 

relating to damage to 

property; 

Part 2A (introduced in 2010) 

– dealing with orders 

concerning obstruction 

of sunlight or views by 

trees that form a hedge. 

There has over time been 

some debate as to whether 

the Court has jurisdiction 

or power to make any order 

under the Trees Act. It has 

been determined that the tree 

in question must be on land 

adjoining that of the applicant’s 

and can include land across 

a public roadway from the 

applicant or properties that 

adjoin diagonally, having only 

a corner post in common. (See 

P Baer Investments Pty Ltd v 

University of NSW [2007] LEC.128 

and Cavalier v Young [2011] NSW 

LEC1080) 

The Act defines ‘tree’ as 

including bamboo and vines 

as well as any woody perennial 

plant (shrub) or plant that 

resembles a tree. 

The practice of the court in 

any action under the Trees Act is 

to make a site visit. The Court’s 

Commissioner, hearing the case 

together with the parties and 

any experts involved in the case, 

attend the applicant’s property 

to inspect the problem tree to 

better understand the evidence. 

Experts such as arborists, 

engineers, architects or builders 

in providing their evidence are 

bound by the Court’s Expert 

Witness Code of Conduct 

The Court has established 

some Tree Dispute Principles. 

In Black v Johnson [No 2] [2007] 

NSW LEC 513 it dealt with the 

issue where the neighbour’s tree 

had damaged the applicant’s 

home or risked injuring people 

around the home and, applying 

the Tree Dispute Principle 

applicable to the facts of this 

case, decided who should pay 

for the tree work or repairs. 

Insofar as a claim of risk 

of injury there must be some 

evidence of the likelihood of 

injury, not just an apprehension 

or fear of injury. And damage 

to property must similarly have 

evidence – preferably expert 

evidence to demonstrate to the 

Court the claim – which is where 

this article began and where the 

resolution of the problem of the 

ghost gum will occur. 

Comment supplied by 

Jennifer Harris, of Jennifer 

Harris & Associates, Solicitors, 

4/57 Avalon Parade, 

Avalon Beach. 

T: 9973 2011. F: 9918 3290. 

E: jennifer@jenniferharris.com.au 

W: www.jenniferharris.com.au 





Business Life: Law 

Where there’s a will, there’s also a ‘wish’ 

Having practised as a solicitor on the 

Northern Beaches for the past 25 years, 

Wills & Wishes’ Jock Kennedy says he has 

witnessed his fair share of stories when it 

comes to people ageing and dying. 

“Inevitably there are recurring themes,” 

Jock tells Pittwater Life. 

“Like the case where an estranged child is 

left out of the Will, so he/she challenges the 

Will, costing the estate a small fortune and 

further dividing the remainder of the family. 

“Or the couple (married or de facto) 

with no children who die without having 

made Wills and, because of the law 

relating to intestacy and joint tenancy 

property, their combined assets end up 

with only one of their respective families 

– for example the wife’s siblings and the 

husband’s siblings miss out.” 

The elderly feature often. 

“Such as an elderly widow with early 

onset dementia, but a generous demeanour, 

who is taken financial advantage of by 

the unconscionable conduct, or abuse of a 

power, by a family member,” Jock said. 

“Or the elderly person being kept alive, 

bed-ridden and subject to ongoing procedures 

and pain because of the medical 

fraternity’s duty of care and the wishes of 

the family – but not their own wishes.” 

Jock explains there is a fix for every 

problem: “Discuss it, plan it and most 

importantly document it,” he said. 

Jock says a Will is essential. 

“Having even a simple Will means that 

you appoint the people you want to 

manage your estate and you decide who 

receives it,” he said. “Without a Will, the 

decision is made for you by the law and 

can lead to all kinds of unfairness.” 

Also, an Enduring Power of Attorney 

and an Enduring Guardian is a must to 

cover your loss of capacity. 

“Again, it lets you decide who manages 

your financial affairs and makes decisions 

about your personal care.” 

‘Wishes’, he explains, deals with “the 

personal stuff”. It includes: 

An Advance Care Directive, which is 

prepared with the assistance of your GP 

and is an essential document. It is a must 

if you want to have a say in how your 

life is managed in the event of certain 

illnesses or accidents. Do you want to be 

resuscitated if your quality of life is likely 

to be extremely poor? 

If your Will establishes trusts (called 

Testamentary Trusts), it is a good idea to 

arm your trustee with an Expression of 

Wishes to help them manage the trust. For 

example, “I would like my home not to be 

sold until my youngest child turns 25”. 

Finally, there is ‘The Wish List’ that 

documents how you want to plan your 

own farewell, be it large or small, to 

guide your family/friends to deliver the 

send-off you desire. 

“This is a unique addition that Wills & 

Wishes has designed to complement the 

total estate planning package,” Jock said. 

He concluded: “Finally, my own story 

where my siblings and I didn’t know 

what our mother wanted as her send-off 

and whether she wanted her ashes to be 

spread in Wales, or here in Australia – the 

jury is still out.” – Nigel Wall 

* More info visit willsandwishes.com.au 



Trades & Services 


AUTO REPAIRS 

British & Swedish Motors 

Call 9970 6654 

Services Range Rover, Land Rover, 

Saab and Volvo with the latest in 

diagnostic equipment. 

Narrabeen Tyrepower 

Call 9970 6670 

Stocks all popular brands including 

Cooper 4WD. Plus they’ll do all 

mechanical repairs and rego inspections. 

Barrenjoey Smash Repairs 

Call 9970 8207 

barrenjoeysmashrepairs.com.au 

Re-sprays a specialty, plus 

restoration of your favourite vehicle. 

Commercial specialist. 

BATTERIES 

Battery Business 

Call 9970 6999 

Batteries for all applications. Won’t be 

beaten on price or service. Free testing, 

7 days. 

BOAT SERVICES 

Avalon Marine Upholstery 

Call Simon 9918 9803 

Makes cushions for boats, patio and 

pool furniture, window seats. 

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. 

Housewashing Nthn Beaches 

Call Ben 0408 682 525 

Pressure cleaning & softwash. Window 

& gutter cleaning. $10m insured. Used 

by Estate Agents. 

ELECTRICAL 

Captain Cook Electrical 

Call Blake 0488 849 124 

Zero dollars call-out; offering discount 

for Senior; 24-hour emergency service. 

Family owned and operated. 

Eamon Dowling Electrical 

Call 0410 457 373 

For all electrical, phone, TV and data 

needs. Local business. Quality service 

guaranteed. 

FLOOR COVERINGS 

Blue Tongue Carpets 

Call Stephan 9979 7292 

Family owned and run. Carpet, rugs, 

runners, timber, bamboo, vinyl, tiles & 

laminates. Open 6 days. 

GARDENS 

Graham Brooks 

Call 0412 281 580 

Tree pruning and removals. Reports 

regarding DA tree management, 

arborist reports. 

Precision Tree Services 

Call Adam 0410 736 105 

Adam Bridger; professional tree 

care by qualified arborists and tree 

surgeons. 

Special Branch Tree Services 

Call Jason 0439 964 538 

Qualified arborist, fully insured; 

celebrating 20 years in Avalon and surrounding 

areas. 

KITCHENS 

Seabreeze Kitchens 

Call 9938 5477 

Specialists in all kitchen needs; 

design, fitting, consultation. Excellent 

trades. 

MASSAGE & FITNESS 

Avalon Physiotherapy 

Call 9918 3373 

Provide specialist treatment for neck & 

back pain, sports injuries, orthopaedic 

problems. 

Avalon Physiotherapy 

& Clinical Pilates 

Call 9918 0230 

Dry needling and acupuncture, falls 

prevention and balance 

enhancement programs. 

Avalon Beach Chiropractic 

Call Sam 9918 0070 

Professional care for all ages. Treatment 

for chronic and acute pain, 

sports injuries. 

Francois Naef/Osteopath 

Call Francois 9918 2288 

Diagnosis, treatment and prevention for 

back pain and sciatica, sports injuries, 

muscle soreness, pregnancy-related 

pain, imbalance. 

PAINTING 

Modern Colour 

Call 0406 150 555 

Simon Bergin offers painting and 

decorating; clean, tidy, quality detail you 

will notice. Dependable and on time. 

AJJ Painting & Decorating 

Call 0418 116 700 

Andrew is a master painter with 30 

years’ experience. Domestic and commercial; 

reasonable rates, free quotes. 

PEST CONTROL 

Predator Pest Control 

Call 0417 276 962 

predatorpestcontrol.com.au 

Environmental services at their best. Comprehensive 

control. Eliminate all manner of 

pests. They provide a 24-hour service. 

PLUMBING 

Nick Anderson Plumbing 

Call Nick 0411 251 256 

Specialist in gasfitting, drainage and 

plumbing. Complete service, competitive 

rates. Local and reliable – free quotes. 

Pure Plumbing Professionals 

Call 9056 8166 

Zero dollars call-out – and you approve 



the price before they begin. 24/7 

Emergency Service. 10% pensioner 

discount. 

PUMPS & TANKS 

Water Warehouse 

Call 9913 7988 

waterwarehouse.com.au 

Rainwater tanks & pumps. Irrigation & 

filter supply specialists. 

RENOVATIONS 

Backyard Cabins 

Call 9973 1691 

Avoid Council approval; studios, 

workshops, cabins, teenage retreats. 

Ideal for Airbnb. 

Rob Burgers 

Call 0416 066 159 

Qualified builder provides all carpentry 

needs; decks, pergolas, carports, 

renos & repairs. 

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. 





RENOVATIONS CONT. 

BlindLight 

Call Dave 0403 466 350 

Specialists in window tinting and 

glass coatings. Act now for summer. 

RUBBISH REMOVAL 

One 2 Dump 

Call Jason 0450 712 779 

Seven-days-a-week pick-up service 

includes general household rubbish, 

construction, commercial plus vegetation. 

Also car removals. 

TUITION 

Northern Beaches 

Home Tutoring 

Call John 9972 1469 

1-ON-1 individual tutoring in your 

home. All ages and subjects K-Uni. 

Qualified tutors. WWC child protection 

checked. Since 2009. 

UPHOLSTERY 

All Foam 

Call 9973 1731 

Cut to measure quality foam for day 

beds, boats, caravans and more. Discounted 

prices, reliable local service. 

Free measure / quote. 

Luxafoam North 

Call 9999 5567 

Local specialists in all aspects of 

outdoor & indoor seating. 

Custom service, expert advice. 

Essyou Design 

Call Susan 0422 466 880 

Specialist in day bed and outdoor 

areas. Reliable local service. Offering 

domestic & commercial. 

Leather Hero 

Advertise your 

Business in Trades 

& Services section 

Phone 0438 123 096 

Call Leanne 0490 796 012 

Specialists in leather cleaning, 

revamps, repairs and colour restoration 

for lounges, cars and boats. 


TUITION 

Northern Beaches Home Tu toring 

Call John 9972 1469 

1-ON-1 individual tutoring in your home. All ages and subjects K-Uni. 

Qualified tutors. WWC child protection checked. Since 2009. 



the 

good 

life 

dining 

food 

crossword 

62 

64 

67 

Showtime 

Glenn is on his way! 

The beaches’ pre-summer 

heat is set for a ‘cool 

change’ when Aussie popular 

music legend Glenn Shorrock 

takes to the stage at Dee Why 

RSL on Friday November 30. 

With a career as a singer 

and songwriter spanning 

more than 40 years – most 

famously as the front man 

for ’70s and ’80s hitmakers 

Little River Band, Shorrock 

says he can’t wait to delve 

into his broad body of work, 

including songs from his days 

with The Twilights, Axiom 

and of course LRB. 

Shorrock’s return to 

performing coincides with the 

release of his autobiography, 

‘Now Where Was I’ last June, 

which he wrote after the 

release of his last solo album 

‘Rise Again’ in 2016. 

‘I had a good lie down and 

now I’m ready to go again,” 

Glenn told Pittwater Life. 

Shorrock began singing 

with the Twilights in 1962, 

achieving success with 

hits including ‘Needle in a 

Haystack’ and ‘Young Girl’, 

before the group disbanded 

in 1969. 

Axiom with Brian Cadd 

followed, with hits including 

‘Little Ray of Sunshine’, 

before Glenn helped form 

Little River Band. The group 

cracked the lucrative US 

market in 1976 with a string 

of top 10 hits, a success 

echoed around the world with 

songs including ‘Help Is On 

Its Way’, ‘Shut Down Turn Off’ 

and ‘Reminiscing’. 

He said he gets a real 

thrill performing the classic 

sailing anthem ‘Cool Change’: 

“I wrote it and it continues 

to connect with people – 

something folks on the 

northern beaches certainly 

appreciate. 

“I have been blessed 

with a long and successful 

career and I’m doing some 

of my best work right at the 

moment,” he said, adding he 

had recently spent time in the 

studio re-recording some LRB 

classics. 

Shorrock paid tribute to 

our local RSLs and their 

renewed investment in live 

music, which he said was 

appreciated immensely by his 

contemporaries. 

And if he had to name one 

of those contemporaries as 

someone he’d go to see live 

himself? 

“I have many friends who I 

respect and admire so I can’t 

pick one at the expense of 

the others... oh okay – maybe 

Wendy Matthews!” 

* Tickets $35; more info 

deewhyrsl.com.au 


Showtime 

gardening 

68 

travel 

72 


Tasty Morsels 

Tasty Morsels 

Newport ready 

for a ‘baking’ 

hot summer 

For more than 

30 years from 

the late 1960s, 

383 Barrenjoey 

Rd was the local 

Newport bakery/pie 

shop – now the site 

has returned to its 

grainy roots and the 

tantalising aromas of 

fresh-baked bread, 

pies and coffee are 

emanating from its 

doors again. 

The old ‘Surf Side 

Pie Shop’, which started in 

1968 and was taken over by 

locals Lachie and Jan Hayes 

in the mid-’70s, has been 

‘reimagined’ – with David 

Cummings and wife Bindy 

(pictured) opening their 

Bowan Island Bakery. 

David established Sydney’s 

original sourdough bakery 

in 1989. After travelling 

the world in the 1980s and 

discovering sourdoughs and 

other artisan breads in many 

countries, he started baking 

his own breads and pies in 

a small garage in Hunters 

Hill, selling the products at 

Balmain and Glebe Markets 

before setting up his first 

baking enterprise in Drummoyne. 

ents and premium Australian 

flours. 

“We do not use any artificial 

additives or preservatives – 

our sourdoughs are nourished 

with a unique 85-year 

old starter, or ‘mother 

culture’, which gives them a 

refined maturity in flavour, 

a beautiful soft crumb and a 

depth of rustic colours and a 

blistered crust,” he said. “Our 

“We moved to the Northern 

Beaches over 30 years ago 

and have brought up our four 

children here,” he said. “We 

have been wanting to bring 

Bowan to this glorious part of 

the world for years.” 

David said customer feedback 

suggested “nearly everyone” 

graced Lachie’s counter 

regularly – so many, in fact, 

they’ve named a ‘Lachie’ pie 

after him. 

“The pies and sausage rolls 

have been flying out the door, 

as have the acai bowls, especially 

the take-away option for 

the teens,” said David. “And 

our famous Christmas mince 

pies will be on the counter imminently.” 

He explained the team 

sourced only quality ingredigoal 

is to delight our customers 

with our products – some 

are healthy, and some are 

indulgent... but all are treats!” 

Passionate about coffee, 

David has created Bowan 

Island Bakery’s own blend. 

“It combines seven singleorigin 

beans, harmonising 

sweet-spiced South American 

caramels, earthy African 

chocolates and lush citrus 

Sumatran kickers,” he said. 

David added that with such 

a history and connection to 

the site, they looked forward 

to finding ways to work with 

the community, including the 

inspirational Sam Bloom and 

her family, to help raise funds 

for spinal cure charities. 

(Cam Bloom fell in love with 

his wife-to-be Sam – Lachie’s 

daughter – whilst she was 

serving him a pie.) 

“The Newport vibe is awesome,” 

he said. “Feels like 

home – we’re blessed.” 


Cup runneth over at Jonah’s 

Celebrate Melbourne Cup at Jonah’s on November 6 surrounded by 

panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from The Terrace balcony 

overlooking Whale Beach (left). 

Be greeted with a glass of Champagne Bollinger on arrival and enjoy a 

three-course lunch inspired by the Spring menu, designed by Executive 

Chef Matteo Zamboni. The Champagne Bollinger Bar will be flowing, along 

with fashion shows by AQWA Women and live music throughout the day. 

Dress for ‘fashion on the field’ for a chance to win Best Dressed prizes 

offered by Jonah’s partners Bollinger, AQWA, Molton Brown, Vittoria coffee 

and more. 

$185 per person; bookings essential. 

Also, Jonah’s is partnering with Henschke cellars for an exclusive wine 

lovers’ affair featuring a five-course degustation dinner on Thursday November 

1. Wine aficionados and enthusiasts will appreciate this unique 

opportunity to celebrate the Henschke family’s 150 years of wine making 

combined with the elegant ambience of the Jonah’s dining room. 

* More info 9974 5599 or enquiries@jonahs.com.au 



Dining Clubs Guide 

Clubs Guide 

November's best Club functions, concerts, events and meal deals... 

Royal Motor 

Yacht Club 

Salt Cove on Pittwater 

46 Prince Alfred 

Parade, Newport 

OPENING HOURS 

Breakfast Lunch & Dinner 

Mon-Fri from 8.30am 

Weekends from 8am 

PRICE RANGE 

Breakfast from $8-$18 

Entrees from $9-$21 

Mains from $16-$26 

BOOKINGS 9997 5511 

RMYC’s restaurant Salt Cove 

on Pittwater’s menu has been 

updated for spring – but it 

still offers affordable meals 

and generous servings including 

a variety of starters 

and share plates, seafood, 

burgers, grills, salads, desserts 

and woodfired pizza. 

Friday night music kicks 

off in the Lounge Bar from 

6.30pm. Great acts in November 

include Sarah Paton (2nd); 

Jim Gannon (9th); Keff McCulloch 

(16th); Geoff Kendall (23rd) 

and Alex Roussos (30th). 

Melbourne Cup Luncheon 

is on Tuesday November 6 

(from 12 noon to 4pm). Enjoy 

a three-course lunch with 

sparkling wine on arrival and 

entertainment from Emily 

Garth ($80 members, $90 nonmembers). 

Bookings essential. 

Also in Novemberr, catch up 

with the Travel View / Cruise 

View Travel Club at the meeting 

in the lounge bar from 

10.30am on Monday 5th. 

Book now for Christmas Day 

lunch in the Top Deck Function 

Room ($125 adults, $50 kids 

5-12, $30 kids 3-4) or Garden 

Forecourt ($115 adults, kids' 

prices as above). Enjoy a sumptuous 

buffet with seafood and 

traditional Christmas fare. 

Trivia is held every Tuesday 

night from 7.30pm (great 

prizes and vouchers – 12 years 

plus). 

Club Boat and Social memberships 

are now available for 

just $160. 

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 


Head to Club Palm Beach, 

located a short stroll from 

Palm Beach Wharf, for a 

special Remembrance Day 

service on November 11. 

It's 100 years since the 

Armistace that ended World 

War I; there will be ceremony 

at the Club from 11am. 

Melbourne Cup is on 

Tuesday Nov 6; watch the race 

and enjoy a bucket of prawns 

with champagne for $26.50. 

There's live raceday coverage 

on the big screen plus sweeps 

and onsite TAB facilities. 

'Cruising Palm Beach' is a 

great outing for groups of 10 

or more – it includes a cruise 

around Pittwater followed by 

lunch at the Club for just $25 

per person. 

Barrenjoey Bistro is open 

for lunch (11.30am to 2.30pm) 

and dinner (6pm to 9pm) 

seven days, plus there's a 

Snack Menu available 2.30pm- 

6pm. 

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 tempura fish and chips 

with salad (Fridays), except 

public hols. 

The Members’ lucky badge 

draw is held Wednesday and 

Friday night (every 30 mins 

between 5pm-7pm), and jackpots 

by $100 each week. 

Enjoy Trivia Night from 

5.30pm on Wednesdays, plus 

Bingo 10am on Fridays. 

The club has a courtesy 

bus that makes regular runs 

Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 

from 4.30pm to 9pm. 

Ring to book a pick-up. 

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 


Avalon Beach RSL’s Bistro 61 

is a great place to head for 

a local meal, offering tasty 

modern Australian dishes at 

affordable prices. 

Surf Lounge music 

sessions in November kick 

off 8.30pm on Saturdays, 

including Isaiah B Brunt Trio 

(3rd), Ziggy McNeil (10th) and 

NativoSoul (17th). 

Thinking Christmas party 

or function? Their new Stella 

Room is the ideal venue. 

And now available for free 

download – the new Avalon 

Beach RSL Club App. Earn 

rewards, prizes and member 

points by logging in daily. 

See what's on, check out 

events, view menus and more! 

Don't miss the Super 

Sunday raffle on the first 

Sunday of the month – there's 

more than $1500 in prizes. 

Here's a great new way to 

start the week – 'Wine Not 

Monday' – with $15 bottles 

of wine, $5 Peronis and $10 

pasta and pizzas. 

Bistro 61 is open for 


breakfast from 9am to 

11.30am. Open for lunch 

and dinner seven days, with 

extensive outdoor dining 

areas, Bistro 61 offers a 

variety of specials (lunch 

and dinner) during the week, 

including $12 tacos (Tues), 

$15 Chicken Schnitzels (Wed), 

2-4-1 pizzas (Thurs), and a 

$20 burger + beer (Fri). 

Seniors are well catered 

for – there are daily Seniors 

specials, including beerbattered 

flathead – plus 

they do a $5 kids meals 

on Sundays! (There’s a 

playground, too.) 

From the menu, chef 

Mitch recommends his twist 

on nachos – pulled beef and 

blackbeans with chipotle, 

corn chips, guacamole, 

Danish fetta and coriander. 

Members get discounts 

on meals purchased. 

Membership from $5.50! 

The club is licensed, with 

no BYO. Bookings online or 

call 9918 2201 – large groups 

welcome. 


Dining Clubs Guide

Food Life 

Quick & healthy options 

to help you start the day 

We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the 

day. At a conference I attended recently about healthy 

eating, I learnt it’s just as important to mix up what 

we eat at breakfast time to keep our body and metabolism 

guessing – a bit like exercising. So here are a couple of great 

ideas to suit all occasions – for an ideal breakfast on-the-go; 

make-ahead; and also a 'quick fix'. Also, these options will 

leave you more time at the beginning of a busy day, so you 

won’t start your morning stressed out! 

with Janelle Bloom 


Recipes: Janelle Bloom Photos: Adobe Stock. Poached eggs Steve Brown; stevebrownphotography.com 

Strawberry 

smoothie 

Makes 2 

200g fresh strawberries, 

hulled, chopped 

1 banana, peeled, chopped 

1 cup Greek natural yoghurt 

1 cup reduced fat milk 

6 large ice cubes 

2 tsp LSA 

2 tsp honey 

1. Put all the ingredients into 

a blender and blend until 

thick and smooth. Pour into 

chilled glass and serve. 

Variations: Replace the banana 

with 1 chopped mango, 2 cans 

of pear halves or 200g fresh or 

frozen raspberries. 

Health Tip: LSA is made from 

ground linseeds, sunflower seeds 

and almonds. It’s rich in protein, 

which helps to keep blood-sugar 

levels balanced and curb sugar 

cravings. Once opened, store 

in an airtight jar in the fridge or 

freezer to keep fresh. 

Janelle’s Tip: 

Muesli will keep 

for a month 

in an airtight 

container. 

Homemade 

toasted muesli 

Makes 4 cups 

¼ cup honey 

¼ cup maple syrup 

¼ cup light olive oil or coconut 

oil 

3 cups traditional rolled oats 

¼ cup quinoa 

½ cup bran flakes 

1 cup mixed seeds (sunflower, 

pepita, sesame, linseeds) 

½ cup flaked coconut 

1 cup nuts (almonds, pecans, 

macadamia) 

1. Preheat oven to 160°C fan 

forced. Lightly grease a 

large, deep roasting pan. 

Combine honey, maple 

syrup and oil in a small 

saucepan. Warm over 

medium heat until honey 

has melted. 

2. Combine remaining 

ingredients in the roasting 

pan. Pour over warm 

honey mixture. Mix 

until well coated. Spread 

mixture evenly over base 

of the pan. Bake for 30 

minutes, stirring every 10 

minutes, or until golden 

and toasted. Set aside to 

cool completely; muesli 

will form into clusters on 

cooling. Transfer to an 

airtight container until 

ready to serve. 

3. Serve with milk, a 

little honey and summer 

berries. 



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


Loaf is delicious 

toasted and 

served topped 

with scrambled, 

poached or a 

soft boiled egg. 

Zucchini loaf 

Serves 6 

2 cups self raising flour 

2 tbs brown sugar 

2 tsp ground cinnamon 

½ cup buttermilk 

2 eggs 

½ cup extra light olive oil 

1¼ cup shredded cheddar 

cheese 

2 tbs chopped fresh chives 

1 cup grated zucchini 


forced. Grease and Line a 

20 x 10cm (base) loaf pan. 

2. Combine the flour, sugar 

and cinnamon in a large 

bowl. Using a fork, whisk 

together the buttermilk, 

eggs and oil. Pour into 

the flour mixture, stir to 

combine. Don’t over-mix 

the batter. 

3. Stir in the cheese, chives 

and zucchini. Spoon into 

prepared loaf pan. Bake for 

50-60 minutes or until a 

skewer inserted in the centre 

of the bread comes out 

clean. Serve warm spread 

with ricotta or cream 

cheese. 


Poached eggs with 

Worcestershire 

mushrooms 

Serves 2 

4 fresh, free range eggs, at 

room temperature 

Hot buttered toast to serve 

Worcestershire mushrooms 

30g butter 

400g mixed mushrooms, 

sliced 

3 tsp Worcestershire sauce 

1. To poach the eggs, half-fill 

a deep (at least 6cm deep) 

wide frying pan with water. 

Bring to a simmer over medium-high 

heat. Crack 1 egg 

onto a saucer. Slide egg into 

the water, then gently stir 

the water to form a gentle 

whirlpool until the egg starts 

to float. Repeat with remaining 

eggs. Simmer, without 

stirring, for 3 minutes. 

Remove with a slotted spoon 

to a clean tea towel. 

2. Meanwhile, for the Worcestershire 

mushrooms, melt 

butter in a frying pan 

over high heat, add the 

mushrooms and sauté 3-4 

minutes or until tender. Add 

Worcestershire sauce, cook 

1 minute. 


You can add 

a teaspoon of 

white vinegar 

to the simmering 

water if 

your eggs are 

not really fresh. 

This will help 

to set the white 

quickly. 

3. Spoon the mushrooms onto 

toast, top with eggs, season 

and serve. 


Food Life


In Season 

Australian 


Garlic 

Garlic is a staple in every 

cook’s kitchen. Garlic 

has no aroma until cut. Once 

the cell walls are disturbed 

(chopped, crushed etc) a 

sulphur compound is released. 

This compound is destroyed 

when heated and that’s why 

cooked garlic is milder to eat 

and less potent on the breath. 

Availability 

Although available yearround, 

the Australian season 

is at its peak from October 

through to the end of April. 

Preparation 

Separate the cloves from 

the head. Place a clove on a 

chopping board and place 

the flat side of a large knife 

on top. Press down lightly to 

crush the clove; this makes 

it easier to peel. 

Buying 

When buying garlic, look 

for heads that are heavy 

for their size, enclosed in 

dry, papery layers. Avoid 

any with soft spots or that 

are sprouting. Sprouting is 

an indicator that the garlic 

is old. Sometimes garlic 

will start to sprout once 

you bring it home. It’s not 

harmful to eat, but should 

be removed using a small 

sharp knife 

Storage 

Store in a cool dry place 

for up to 1 month (do not 

refrigerate). 

Nutrition 

Garlic has high levels of 

vitamin C, vitamin B6, and 

manganese, and selenium 

which is a powerful antioxidant. 

As garlic is generally 

consumed in small quantities 

it supplies only a small 

amount of our daily recommended 

intake of nutrients. 

Cooking tip 

Be careful not to cook past 

golden brown, or it will 

become bitter. 

Also In Season 

November 

Look out for Asian Greens; 

Hass Avocadoes; Broad 

beans & Green beans; 

Beetroot; Fresh Peas; 

Aussie Garlic, Green Onions 

and Silverbeet while the 

top fruit buys are Bananas, 

Blueberries, Strawberries 

and Pineapple. 

Margherita pizza 

Serves 4 

1 head garlic 

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil 

2 large flatbread or pizza bases 

3/4 cup tomato passata 

2 large, ripe tomatoes, sliced 

2 cups grated mozzarella 

1 cup basil leaves 


forced. Cut 1cm off the top of 

garlic to expose cloves. Place 

garlic in a piece greased foil. 

Drizzle with 2 teaspoons of 

the oil, sprinkle with salt and 

pepper. Wrap tightly in the 

foil. Bake 30 minutes or until 

garlic is soft. Cool. Gently 

squeeze garlic cloves from 

skin into a bowl. Stir in the 

remaining oil. 

2. Put two large baking trays 

into the oven, increase oven 

to 220°C fan forced. Spoon 

the garlic oil evenly over 

both flatbreads or pizza 

bases. 

3. Spoon over the passata 

then top with tomatoes and 

mozzarella. Transfer pizzas 

the hot baking trays and 

bake 10 minutes or until 

base is golden and crisp. 

Scatter over the basil. Season 

and serve. 

Photo: Steve Brown; stevebrownphotography.com 



Pittwater Puzzler 

Compiled by David Stickley 

CLUE: 20 Down 

ACROSS 

1 Groups of kangaroos (4) 

3 Features of older houses that run around 

the outside (8) 

9 Weather monitoring equipment that was 

very much in play during October (4,5) 

11 Do what you do (5) 

12 Legendary bushranger (3,5) 

13 Registered trademark for rigid-hulled 

inflatable boats (6) 

14 Golf club (4) 

15 Leafy growth much sought after during 

the hot summer months (5,4) 

17 Former Governor of NSW after which a 

significant parkway was named (9) 

19 The garden of a house (4) 

22 A publication’s supplementary 

advertising (6) 

23 Ingleside’s St Sava is described as this 

kind of Serbian church (8) 

25 Source of petrol, diesel, and other 

fuels commonly (5) 

26 Old computer unit needed to access 

large amounts of data (4,5) 

27 Describing the Holiday Park in 

Narrabeen (8) 

28 An unwanted plant (4) 

DOWN 

1 & 8-down Invaluable service to ensure 

the safety of all boat users (6,6) 

2 Construction company like Peninsula 

Homes in Warriewood (7) 

4 A goal that brings scores level (9) 

5 A space allocated for a specific 

purpose (4) 

6 Treasure trove collected by local 

engineer Bob Moran (9,4) 

7 A person serving in or having served in 

an army (7) 

8 See 1-down 

10 Legendary Aussie popular music 

identity who will perform at Dee Why RSL 

on Friday November 30 (5,8) 

16 A major division of the animal 

kingdom, with segmented bodies and 

jointed appendages (9) 

17 An odd or fanciful notion (6) 

18 Bird and a type of sailing dinghy (7) 

20 Cabernet sauvignon, shiraz or claret, 

for example (3,4) 

21 Add more rooms to a house (6) 

24 Distributors of cash on the Northern 

Beaches (1,1,2) 

[Solution page 70] 

Pittwater Puzzler 



Garden Life 


Delight Flamenco in hibiscus the amazing makes 

colours brilliant of stamp hydrangeas of colour 

Lush, 

Always tropical 

a favourite 

Hawaiian 

for 

hibiscus were in 

Christmas demand in colour, the ’80s hydrangeas 

and ’90s but as the ‘new 

look’ and 

are 

trend 

flowering 

towards 

their 

low maintenance 

heads 

became 

off! 

popular, 

They look 

their 

wonderful 

popularity waned. The 

Hawaiian 

in the 

hibiscus 

garden, 

were 

brightening 

grafted plants grown by 

the 

specialist 

semi-shaded 

nurseries, 

areas 

but many 

and 

of these nurseries 

glowing closed as in clipped the full, hedges protected and strap-leaved plants 

sunlight. took over Once and hibiscus the older were hard to buy. 

varieties The huge were flowers either of pink the older or hibiscus lasted 

blue just one depending day and the on shrubs the soil, needed constant 

additional care. The warm, lime will tropical deepen gardens of the northern 

the beaches pinks are and boosted blueing by tonic a flash of colour – and 

(sulphate nothing can of compete aluminium) with will bright, spectacular 

heighten flowers of the blues, new flamboyant but the Flamenco hibiscus. 

new They named will flower varieties continuously will for nine months 

maintain of the year, their with colour. blooms White that will last on the 

never bushes changes. for up to There five or are six days before they 

hydrangeas fade. The compact of every plants size are from great for pots, 

the mass tiny planting dwarf in Piamina garden to beds the or even as a low 

tall hedge traditional in the full Mop sun. Heads. If space is limited, plants 

With that have so many been to trained choose as from standards are available. 

it is They almost look too stunning difficult as focal to points of in the garden traditional mop Hibiscus heads, have few 

that 

problems. 

can be two 

They 

metres 

should 

tall. 

decide. beds, or There in tubs are on the sunny delicate balconies the or patios cone-shaped be flowers cut back of by a third The recently in late spring, introduced as they 

lace with caps, colourful the petunias, huge blooms white allysum hydrangea or trailing, paniculata flower bushes on new growth. smaller Feed growing with a Picotee fertiliser that 

silver dichondra growing underneath. There are will promote flowers varieties – I use with Sudden two-tone Impact flower for 

nine different colours to choose from: white, plus Roses. Their only heads problem are is hard the hibiscus to leave beetle behind 

the bright and if green you have leaves a semi- 

and 

pinks, yellows, salmon, tangerine and scarlet. that eats holes in 

Their huge, single, frilly petalled blooms lives in the flower shaded buds. (Granular wall, the BugKilla climbing from 

have dark centres. 

Richgro will control hydrangea these irritating petiolaris insects.) is just 

beautiful. 

Hydrangeas are forgiving 

Little Angel 

plants 

daisies 

L 

that are easy to grow. 

ow-growing borders 

They 

add colour. 

like regular 

Little 

water 

Angel 

and 

is a 

tight, compact plant 

any 

that 

good 

will easily 

garden 

adapt 

soil. 

to 

Mulch 

any 

sunny position. It will gradually 

the roots 

carpet 

with compost 

the garden 

to 

edge with rosettes of bright 

keep them 

green 

cool 

leaves. 

and 

The 

feed 

large, 

pure white, yellow-centred 

them 

daisies 

in early 

will 

spring 

appear 

to 

all 

get 

through the summer months. 

them going. Grow them in 

Little Angel makes a 

pots, 

great 

or 

border; 

in the 

it 

garden; 

will grow 

bring 

between pavers or down 

them 

the 

inside 

centre 

when 

of a driveway. 

in flower 

Pick the flowers and add 

or 

them 

cut the 

to 

blooms 

bunches 

– 

of 

they 

scarlet 

last 

geraniums for Christmas 

well 

table 

in water. 

decorations. 

with Gabrielle Bryant 

Christmas 

bush that’s 

a ‘Cracker’ 

New Zealand Christmas 

Bush is an old favourite 

for seaside gardens. The 

soft, grey foliage is salttolerant 

and tough. In the 

past few years there have 

Cherry been many new Guava varieties a 

sweet 

under cultivation. 

surprise 

All are 

Ifantastic hedging plants for 

n 

salt 

full 

or 

flower 

as wind 

in my 

breaks. 

veggie 

garden 

The newest 

is my Cherry 

newcomer 

Guava, 

is 

sometimes 

Metrosideros 

known 

Fire 

as 

Cracker. 

a Strawberry 

Fire Cracker 

Guava. This 

has 

delightful 

all the 

evergreen 

hardiness 

shrub 

of its 

never 

parentage 

fails to 

produce 

but is quite 

a heavy 

different 

crop of 

in 

cherry 

guavas 

appearance. 

in early 

Fire 

autumn. 

Cracker 

is 

It 

a 

is 

perfect 

a small, 

name 

pretty 

for 

tree 

the 

with 

rounded, 

explosion 

glossy 

of colour 

green 

in 

leaves 

the 

that 

new 

only 

leaves: 

grows 

bright 

to about 

yellow, 

three 

gold, 

metres 

pink and 

in height. 

scarlet 

Keep 

that 

it 

trimmed 

cover the 

into 

dark 

shape 

green 

after 

and 

fruiting. 

gold 

The 

variegation 

delicate fluffy 

of the 

flowers 

older 

are 

leaves. 

creamy white, growing close 

to the 

Grown 

branches. 

as a hedge 

They are 

that 

followed 

is 

clipped, 

by the 

the 

tangy 

amazing 

flavoured, 

colours 

sweet, 

will dazzle 

berry-sized, 

you. It 

cherry 

can reach 

red 

fruit 

a height 

that are 

of 

high 

three 

in 

metres 

vitamin 

and 

C. 

Unlike 

grow 

the 

to be 

taller-growing 

two metres 

deciduous 

wide 

if left 

yellow 

as an 

guava 

informal 

that needs 

shrub. 

cooking, 

This is a 

the 

Christmas 

fruit can be 

bush 

eaten 

that 

raw 

is grown 

straight 

for 

from 

its 

the 

leaves 

tree 

alone. 

or 

used 

I have 

in cooking, 

never seen 

jellies, 

one 

drinks, 

flower. 

sauces or jams. 

You should protect the fruit 

from fruit fly with a fruit fly bait. 

Get into the 

‘swing’ of Xmas 

It is time to relax and enjoy 

your garden. Look at your 

outdoor seating requirements 

– the shops are full of 

amazing chairs and tables. 

Hanging cane egg chairs have 

been trendy for the past few 

years and now the ‘Swing 

Seat’ is back. Nothing is more 

peaceful than swinging in a 

seat for two, sheltered from 

the weather with a roof to 

shade from the sun – makes a 

great Christmas present too! 

72 68 NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2017 2018 


Spice things 

up with 

turmeric 

Not only is turmeric great for 

aches and pains, arthritis and 

rheumatism, it is a delightfully 

decorative plant in the garden. 

Turmeric is a member of the 

ginger family, native to India and 

Pakistan. 

The attractive, tall, bright 

green leaves that can grow up 

to a metre in height, are perfectly complemented by 

the spikes of pure white flowers that can be tinged with pink. 

Turmeric grows from knotty rhizomes under the ground. 

The new growth appears every spring and then dies down 

in winter. This is when the spice can be harvested. The orange 

rhizomes can be used freshly grated or in a dried, powdered 

form. It is used extensively in curries as a spice, for colouring 

dye and as a tea for aches and pains. 

Turmeric is easy to grow in warm humid conditions. Plant the 

rhizomes (I got mine from a fresh vegetable organic health food 

shop) in good, rich soil that drains well. The plants love plenty 

of water – but not ‘wet feet’. 

Their natural habitat is dappled light at the edge of subtropical 

rain forests. The plants will grow in full shade but will 

produce a higher yield with some sunlight. 

If space is a problem, turmeric makes a very attractive pot 

plant indoors, in a sunny window, or grown outside. 

Flannel flowers: 

short but so sweet 

The soft, velvety flowers of 

the native Flannel flowers 

appear every year in late spring 

along the road sides, from 

crevices in the rocky kerbs and 

in the stony soil under the gum 

trees in the bush. 

Flannel flowers are shortliving 

plants, lasting just a 

couple of years. Seeds are 

hard to find and germinate 

erratically, but established 

plants are in garden centres, 

potted. These amazing silver/ 

grey native plants love full sun 

or semi-shade; they will grow in 

any well-drained soil (they hate 

‘wet feet’). 

If your garden is damp or 

your soil is heavy clay, they 

will suffer from root problems 

and fungal disease. You will 

have to mound up the soil with 

additional sand; or better still, 

grow them in pots. 

They don’t need native 

potting mix – any good potting 

mix will do. When planting, 

remove the plants from their 

pot very carefully with as little 

disturbance to the root ball as 

possible. Flannel flowers hate 

their roots to be disturbed. 

Make sure you tip-prune the 

plants on a regular basis to 

keep them bushy. The more 

tips, the more flowers you 

will get. Water them in with a 

seaweed solution at the time of 

planting, and feed with a waterbased 

fertiliser every three or 

four weeks. (Eco-Aminogrow 

is an organic fertiliser that is 

great for native plants.) 





Jobs this Month 


October yielded rain, 

rain... and more rain! 

We needed the water – 

but maybe not quite so much. 

Time now to repair the garden 

– and control the weeds! Get 

on top of weeds before they 

get out of control; Slasher is 

a non-selective, non-residual 

weed killer that will work in 

hours if sprayed on a sunny 

day. It is a natural product 

made from plant oils that is 

completely safe to use. It will 

kill weeds, moss, algae and 

lichen. Then cover the earth 

with a thick mulch of compost 

or sugarcane mulch. 

Aerate lawns 

Lawns have suffered from 

heavy rain. Aerate the grass 

with the tynes of a garden 

fork. If you have a large area, 

hire a spiked roller to do the 

job. Lightly top-dress with 

lawn topdressing any bare 

patches and sprinkle with 

seed. Check with the garden 

centre for compatibility of the 

seed with the grass that you 

have. 

Trim time 

Cut back the old canes of 

ornamental gingers to make 

space for the new growth to 

pop up. Also, remove seed 

heads of agapanthus flowers 

before the seeds stray into the 

bush. Trim back bottlebrushes 

and grevilleas after flowering 

to promote new healthy 

growth. Feed native plants 

with Bush Tucker fertiliser. 

Attract bees 

Encourage the bees to your 

veggie garden. Spray with 

Bee Keeper every week. 

Bee Keeper is a natural bee 

attractant that will encourage 

bees to forage and maximise 

pollination of flowering crops. 

Purple reign 

November is a month of 

mauve haze in the garden, 

with jacarandas in flower. 

Nothing is more beautiful 

than a purple carpet of fallen 

flowers – but beware if they 

rain continues they will 

become very slippery. Sweep 

them up on a regular basis. 

Pet watch 

Brunfelsias, Yesterday, Today 

and Tomorrow are flowering 

now. These shrubs are tough 

and reliable garden plants that 

deserve a place in any garden; 

but beware if you have a dog 

– the seeds that follow are 

poisonous. 

Miner problems 

Watch out for leaf miner and 

November 

fruit fly on citrus and fruiting 

trees. A fruit fly lure will 

attract the male fruit fly and 

Eco oil sprayed at fortnightly 

intervals will control the leaf 

miner that curls and distorts 

the new leaves. 

Aphid control 

Aphids in the garden love new 

shoots – a yellow sticky trap 

will keep them under control. 

Be careful where you hang the 

sticky trap. The glue is very 

strong; it will trap small birds 

and lizards as well as aphids! 

Veggie crops 

Plant follow-up crops of 

beans, tomatoes, carrots 

Prepare for colour 

Pull out the last of the spring 

flowering annuals and replant with 

petunias, dahlias, alyssum, lobelia, 

nasturtiums, salvia and French 

marigolds for summer colour. 

and silver beet in the veggie 

garden. Keep planting every 

three or four weeks for 

ongoing harvests through 

summer. 

Crossword solution from page 67 

Mystery location: BAYVIEW 



Times Past 

Study of women in community 

Women of all ages are 

a vital component 

of any community. 

Avalon Beach has seen many 

remarkable women contribute 

to its fabric and over many 

years. To illustrate, this month 

we look at three women 

from different eras with very 

different experiences… 

Catherine Collins and her 

husband Jeremiah sailed 

from County Cork, Ireland, on 

board the ‘Elphinstone’ with 

their nine children in 1839. 

The Collins family 

established a large dairy farm 

covering the whole of North 

Avalon, on land rented from 

the Reverend Father Therry at 

35 pounds per year. Therry, 

who had also come from Cork, 

had received grants in the area 

totalling 1380 acres. 

In the ‘wilds of Pittwater’ 

Catherine helped establish and 

run the farm, educated the 

children, and grew vegetables 

and crops for the family and 

animals. According to one 

caller in 1861, the interior 

of the cottage, which had an 

earthen floor, “was the very 

beau ideal of cleanliness and 

care”. With little opportunity 

to take Mass at Careel Bay, 

she once walked (via Lane 

Cove Road) to Sydney for Mass 

because she didn’t like riding. 

Grace Wickham came with 

her husband Stan and their 

two young children, Lois 

and ‘Mac’ in 1924 to take up 

the tenancy of Mr Small’s 

‘new general store’. After a 

disagreement, the Wickham’s 

ERAS APART: Local achievers Brenda Kable, Catherine Collins and Grace Wickham. 

built their own store in 1934 

on the diagonally opposite 

corner (now Chambers 

Cellars). While Stan was out 

delivering orders, Grace 

ran the store, as well as the 

post office within the store, 

redirected phone calls to 

locals, sold groceries, handled 

holiday lettings, was the agent 

for the Bank of NSW, raised 

and educated her children and 

as a nurse, acted as the interim 

GP until Dr Sanders arrived 

in the 1950s. Grace was also a 

keen bowler and a foundation 

member of the Avalon Beach 

Women’s Bowling Club. 

Tragically, while on duty 

in the shop, she took the 

telegram which notified her 

of the death of her son while 

flying in France for the RAF 

in 1939. 

Brenda Kable was one of 

those many women who, with 

their family, settled in Avalon 

Beach post-WWII. Brenda had 

previously found it necessary 

to spend much of her time in 

ships. Her husband Garvon 

was a Sargeant Navigator in 

the RAAF and then in the 

Naval Fleet Air Arm. Trips 

to England, Melbourne and 

the USA with two of her 

later four children, required 

many school changes, 

understanding their needs 

and without forming any 

lasting friendships. However 

she turned travels into 

exciting adventures, making 

the most of sightseeing and 

educational opportunities. 

After settling into Avalon 

Beach in 1955 she supported 

her husband in his work with 

the APT and then started the 

Avalon Community Library in 

1983. In 1998 she was awarded 

an OAM for her work with the 

Pangloss Circle, settling new 

migrants into Australia. 

TIMES PAST is supplied 

by local historian 

and President of the 

Avalon Beach Historical 

Society GEOFF SEARL. 

Visit the Society’s 

showroom in Bowling 

Green Lane, Avalon 

Beach. 

Times Past 



Travel Life 


Open golf odyssey 

There are golfing trips – and there are 

golfing trips. The team at GOLFSelect, 

one of Australia’s premier golf holiday 

organisers, have put together a package 

which is mind-blowingly good. 

In July 2019, join hosts Gary Lisbon and 

Matthew Ridge on an escorted tour to 

Northern Ireland and Scotland to coincide 

with the Open Championship at worldrenowned 

Royal Portrush GC. 

This tour includes: Playing Royal 

Portrush the week after the Open; two 

rounds on the World #1 course Royal 

County Down in Northern Ireland; the 

Ailsa Course at Turnberry (above); Royal 

Troon; historic Prestwick (host of the first 

Open); Royal Belfast; and Portstewart. 

(More golf available for keen golfers.) 

Accommodation is top-end – the 

Bushmills Inn with its famous distillery 

for Royal Portrush; the exclusive Slieve 

Donard Hotel at the foot of the Mourne 

Mountains for Royal County Down; in 

Belfast the Titanic Hotel; and the five-star 

Trump Turnberry for the Scottish courses. 

Over 13 nights, with luxury transfers and 

limited to just 16 places, it truly is a rare 

golf opportunity open to singles, couples 

and non-golfing partners. Places filling fast 

– more info golfselect.com.au – Nigel Wall 

Sydney 

to Hobart 

in style 

Here’s your 

chance to experience 

the nautical 

tradition that is 

the 74th Sydney 

to Hobart international yacht race 

– but in luxury rather than the Spartan 

existence of a crew! 

Embarking in Palm Beach on December 

26, soak up the excitement of the start 

from the Coral Discoverer’s vantage point 

off Sydney’s North Head. Watch the fleet 

sail past as you hear from the on-board 

analyst Tony Carpenter. 

The cruise hugs the south coast and 

crosses Bass Strait with the trailing fleet. 

Enjoy the scenic rugged Tasmanian coast 

with the opportunity to join the expedition 

team on several guided shore excursions 

to Tasmania’s scenic parks. 

Coral Discoverer arrives in Hobart on 

New Year’s Eve, when you will join the 

festivities of the big race’s presentations 

and see in the New Year, before disembarking 

on January 1. 

* More info coralexpeditions.com or call 

1800 079 545. 



Up close with timeless treasures of Europe 

Silversea is taking guests closer to the 

timeless treasures of Europe with the 

choice of three exclusive offers for its 

2019 European Collection. 

Travel View’s Karen Robinson says their 

incredible offers enable guests to experience 

a rich diversity of itineraries across 

Silversea’s ever popular 2019 European 

Collection, showcasing the authentic 

beauty of the Mediterranean, Northern 

Europe and the British Isles. 

“Offering an unparalleled variety of destinations, 

guests will get closer than ever to 

the eternal romance of Europe,” she said. 

In 2019, Silversea will visit 13 countries 

in the Mediterranean encompassing Iberia, 

the Western Mediterranean, Italy, the 

Adriatic and the Eastern Mediterranean. 

“Guests will have the option to travel 

aboard Silver Shadow or Silver Whisper, 

two of the most intimate ultra-luxury 

cruise ships in the Mediterranean, or 

Silver Spirit,” Karen said. 

In Northern Europe and the British 

Isles, a number exciting of itineraries 

offer guests the chance to discover The 

Baltic, the Norwegian Fjords and North 

Cape, the British Isles, Iceland, and the 

Atlantic Coast. 

Karen said Silversea was committed to 

unlocking new destinations and travelling 

to more ports than any other cruise line. 

Late departures and overnight stays in 

iconic destinations such as Monte Carlo 

and Portofino would also allow guests 

more time to explore and immerse themselves 

in local cultures during their travel 

experience. 

Highlights in the Mediterranean 

include: Silversea Shadow’s 2019 Mediterranean 

Grand Voyage, which will 

see her spend 47 days visiting the best 

destinations in the region; The Grand Prix 

Cruise, a specialised 5-day round trip to 

Nice aboard Silver Shadow, taking in the 

glamour of the Monaco Grand Prix and; 

two Opera voyages which will see two 

soloists from the Accademia Teatro alla 

Scala of Milan deliver exclusive performances 

from the world’s most magical 

operas. 

“Notable itineraries in Northern Europe 

and the British Isles in 2019 include sailing 

through Tower Bridge to the heart of 

London; two culinary voyages featuring 

special menus, cooking demonstrations 

and guided visits to local markets and; a 

wine voyage, travelling between Barcelona 

and London with the opportunity to 

enjoy lectures from world-class experts, 

with tastings and optional private tours,” 

Karen said. 

“Silversea vessels are specifically 

designed to allow guests to disembark 

closer to town, maximising the amount of 

time spent exploring.” 

She added small islands off the UK 

coast which were not accessible to other 

ships offered Silversea guests unique 

cruising experiences such as sailing 

through the Kiel Canal, or small ports 

such as Portimao, Amalfi, Trapani, Patmos, 

Hvar and Hydra. 

More info 9918 4444 or 9999 0444. 






Talk the walk: Luxury Camino journey 

Travelling the Camino is an exciting 

journey and one that’s generating a 

lot of interest among travellers looking 

for an inspirational getaway; taking the 

journey with Captain’s Choice allows 

you to experience it with everything 

considered and included – even the 

luxury of a vehicle to whisk you 

onwards at any point, so you can really 

enjoy the experience at your own pace. 

Following a path of ancient scallop 

shells, where adventure and the divine 

connect, you can walk the most magnificent 

legs of the Camino Francés with 

expert guides. 

“Commencing in Saint Jean Pied de 

Port, the historical starting point in 

France, Captain Choice’s Crux of the 

Camino 21-day journey gives you the 

opportunity to trek more than 200 

kilometres spread out over 11 walking 

days. This qualifies us for the 

Compostela, a certificate that attests 

our effort,” says Karen Robinson from 

Travel View. 

By day, take full advantage of the astonishing 

landscape by having a picnicstyle 

lunch – with your toughest decision 

being which meadow to enjoy it in. 

Your taste buds will also be pampered 

at Michelin-starred restaurants like 

Frank Gehry’s Hotel Marqués De Riscal. 

At night your weary limbs will gratefully 

rest in luxury stays from paradors and 

monasteries to fine hotels. 

Also, the comfort of a courtesy 

vehicle is at your disposal. At any point, 

you may choose to stop walking. The 

vehicle will chauffeur you directly to 

your hotel, no questions asked. Trailing 

the group closely, it also serves as a 

mobile refreshment station, stocked 

with nibbles, sandwiches and drinks. 

(Even wine, if you are so inclined.) 

“The Camino is a chameleon, displaying 

different shades of beauty in each 

season. It’s a must-do experience for 

everyone,” says Karen. 

She added a special three-day architectural, 

cultural and culinary pre-tour 

in San Sebastian was also available. 

* Join Travel View for an information 

evening on 28 November from 6pm; 

RSVP by 18 November. Call to secure 

your spot – Avalon 9918 4444 or Collaroy 

9999 0444.

Pittwater Life November 2018 Issue

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