Coast Walk Art Plan Surprise. Where Were You? - Locals Remember The Moon Walk. Bryan Brown & Rachel Ward. Discuss The Making Of 'Palm Beach'. Plus: Station Beach Dog Walk Trial Latest.
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019
FREE
pittwaterlife
COAST WALK ART PLAN SURPRISE
WHERE WERE YOU? – LOCALS REMEMBER THE MOON WALK 50 YEARS ON
BRYAN BROWN & RACHEL WARD DISCUSS THE MAKING OF ‘PALM BEACH’
PLUS: STATION BEACH DOG WALK TRIAL LATEST / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...
Editorial
First man on moon 50 years on
If you are old enough to
remember the momentous
event, can you recall where
you were when Neil Armstrong
and Buzz Aldrin landed on the
moon and embarked on the
first walk on the lunar surface,
and how you felt at the time?
We put that to some of
Pittwater’s ‘elders’ and received
an eclectic response indeed.
And you don’t need to have
been born by July 20, 1969 to
appreciate musician and pilot
John Morrison’s hilarious tale
of how he and brother James
tried to beat Apollo 11 to the
moon – very nearly with dire
consequences. See page 16.
* * *
The mix-up at Northern
Beaches Hospital that saw
surgeons remove a healthy
section of a patient’s bowel
instead of the diagnosed precancerous
growth has raised
more questions about the
beleaguered new hospital.
Labor have already triggered
a parliamentary enquiry into
the hospital, prompting Health
Minister Brad Hazzard to
defend the facility, saying “...
these challenges will continue
to some degree – as happens
with all new hospitals”.
Mr Hazzard described the
parliamentary enquiry as a
“cynical exercise” undertaken
by the Labor Party.
In light of the latest incident
we think all Pittwater residents
deserve to feel better about any
hospital stay they may require
there in the near future.
Hopefully the enquiry can
make all sleep a little easier.
Politicians included.
* * *
Avalon Beach SLSC have
done it again! Congrats to
all concerned following their
Sport NSW Community Club of
the Year Award.
It completes a fantastic
trifecta after the Club won both
State and National SLSA Surf
Life Saving Club of the Year
Gongs.
– Nigel Wall
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 3
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Publisher: Nigel Wall
Managing Editor: Lisa Offord
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Vol 28 No 12
Celebrating 27 years
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019
FREE
pittwaterlife
COAST WALK ART PLAN SURPRISE
WHERE WERE YOU? – LOCALS REMEMBER THE MOON WALK 50 YEARS ON
BRYAN BROWN & RACHEL WARD DISCUSS THE MAKING OF ‘PALM BEACH’
PLUS: STATION BEACH DOG WALK TRIAL LATEST / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...
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thislife
COVER: Pittwater is earmarked for the lion’s share of art
installations across the new Northern Beaches Coast Walk
– find out where they’ll be (p10); Bryan Brown and Rachel
Ward reveal the inside goss on their new movie Palm Beach
which opens in cinemas next month (p12); where were you
when man walked on the moon in 1969? Locals recount their
stories (p16); learn the best tips for sprucing up your home
and getting it ready for the next selling season (p32); find out
about the plays and concerts happening this month (p60);
and follow Janelle Bloom’s recipes for the best chocolate
dishes ever! (p66). COVER IMAGE: Ferry view / Sharon Green.
also this month
Editorial 3
Pittwater Local News 6-29
Life Stories 30-31
Special Feature: Home Living 32-36
Art Life 38-39
Surfing Life 42-43
Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 44-50
Money 52-53
Law 54-55
Trades & Services Guide 56-59
Showtime; Clubs & Pubs 60-63
Tasty Morsels; Food & Recipes 64-68
Crossword 69
Gardening 70-72
the goodlife
Restaurants, food, gigs, travel and gardening.
Also find our regular features on beauty, health, surfing,
art, local history, our guide to trades and services, money,
law and our essential maps.
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4 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
News
Ingleside ‘biobank’ eco win
Pittwater has notched
another important ecowin
with the announcement
Northern Beaches Council
has entered a ‘biobanking’
agreement with the State
Government to help fund
the ongoing conservation of
the ecologically important
Ingleside Chase Reserve.
The biobanking agreement
is the first of its type for
Council. Negotiated with the
NSW Office of Environment
and Heritage, the agreement
means a biobank site will
be established at Ingleside
to help manage the land for
conservation.
Ingleside Chase Reserve
is a 70-hectare bushland
reserve owned and managed
by Council and is located on
the Warriewood Escarpment
between Warriewood,
Ingleside and Elanora Heights.
The arrangement will
enable Council to continue its
important work conserving
the Reserve.
Under the biobanking
agreement, Council receives
credits calculated on the
vegetation type and fauna
species present. These credits
can be sold to developers, for
example, looking to offset
their environmental impact.
This generates funds for
Council for the environmental
management of the site on an
ongoing basis.
“Ingleside is home to
many endangered species
of threatened plants and
animals. The Reserve is
critical to the region’s
biodiversity and it is vital it
be maintained, but this does
require significant ongoing
funding,” said Mayor Michael
Regan.
“The biobanking agreement
provides an opportunity to
secure a substantially larger
budget to continue to manage
the Reserve.”
Apart from protecting
threatened plants and
animals, Council’s work at
6 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Ingleside includes reducing
the impact of weeds and feral
animals, and minimising
the human impact to
improve water quality in the
Narrabeen, Fern and Mullet
Creek catchments.
The initiative comes as
green and open spaces
were boosted in the NSW
Government’s 2019-20 Budget
delivered last month.
Planning and Public Spaces
Minister and Pittwater MP
Rob Stokes said $162 million
would be used to upgrade
existing government-owned
land and buy new land for
public parklands, increase
the tree canopy across Sydney
and build more inclusive
playgrounds, as a follow-up
to the government’s election
commitment to create wellconnected
communities with
quality local environments.
“We’re committed to
creating outdoor living rooms
right across Sydney so more
people can get outdoors and
enjoy easy access to fantastic
public spaces wherever they
live,” Mr Stokes said.
“We are planning for open
space more strategically –
through improvements to
land we already own and by
buying up forgotten land
across Sydney to create new
parks, playgrounds, green
links and cycleways between
existing open spaces.”
The budget devoted $9
million to improve open space
in Frenchs Forest, with new
green connections, linking
the local community to
nearby bushland corridors.
Funding has also been set
aside to continue building
inclusive playgrounds
across NSW through the
Government’s Everyone Can
Play initiative.
“We’re also committed to
planting more trees to boost
Sydney’s urban tree canopy,
with more than $36 million
allocated to create greener
and cooler environments,” Mr
Stokes said.
The funding will help build
on the 149,000 trees already
planted by the community
through the ‘Five Million
Trees for Greater Sydney’
program.
– Nigel Wall
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 7
Fears new dog buffer
zone is ‘unworkable’
News
Dog walkers group Pittwater Unleashed
says it is wary of ‘uncalled
for’ recommendations included in
the environmental review of the proposed
and long-awaited off-leash dog trial at Station
Beach.
The independent Review of Environmental
Factors (REF), detailing the potential
impacts of the proposed 12-month trial, is
now on public exhibition. Public submissions
in response to the REF close at 3pm
on Friday 12 July; thereafter Council will
consider a report about the proposed trial
at its July meeting.
Pittwater Unleashed spokesman
Mitch Geddes said the 121-page
document included several areas
of concern to those supporting the
trial – including an ‘unworkable’
three-metre buffer zone inside the
offshore seagrass bed.
“Notwithstanding the green light
given to the trial by the updated
REF, there are a few matters which
serve to unnecessarily complicate
things and add to costs,” he said.
Northern Beaches Council has
proposed a trial arrangement
that would allow people to take
their dogs for a walk and a swim
off-leash along a section of Station
Beach – bound to the east by Palm
Beach Golf Club and to the west
by Pittwater Estuary – at specified
times and days.
Northern Beaches CEO Ray
Brownlee said the REF would
inform Council and help with its
decision on the proposed trial.
“The review document gives a
detailed description, takes into
account relevant planning controls,
examines the existing environment
in the vicinity of the proposed trial
area, as well as potential impacts and any
mitigation measures that must be taken,”
he said.
“It follows a period of extensive community
consultation on the nature and scope
of the proposed trial.”
However, Pittwater Unleashed is concerned
about the reduced scope of the trial
area, as recommended in the REF. The revised
trial area would cut 30 metres’ use at
the southern end of Station Beach, and include
an on-leash buffer zone some 50 metres
short of the originally planned northern
boundary at The Boathouse Wharf.
Reasons given for the southern boundary
amendment included proximity to houses
and associated noise mitigation (the nearest
house is 155 metres away), as well as closest
point to seagrass beds.
“The southern end should not be shortened
by 30 metres – there is already a
50-metre on-leash buffer zone in place at
the southern tip of the proposed trial area
and shortening the area would take out
access to the only large tree around which
needs to be included as this is where the
dogs can get some shade (see image),” said
Mr Geddes.
“And the northern end should run right
up to The Boathouse so the elderly can sit
on the bench from the proposed landscaped
area and watch kids playing with
RECOMMENDED: Diagram included in the REF on Council’s website.
their dogs – it loses its connection and
purpose if the dogs are running around offleash
50 metres away.”
A section of the REF reads: “Council
should take the minimum width buffer
zone from the edge of the seagrass bed
landward of three metres in making any decisions
regarding allowing human and dog
activities in the area off Station Beach.
“If dog swimming/activity is permitted
then… a straight boundary line (should)
be placed three metres from the edge of
the seagrass bed closest to the beach and
running parallel to the beach the length of
the proposed dog swimming area… dog
activity (should) be allowed east of this line
only, i.e. between the line and the beach, at
any time of the tide.”
But Mr Geddes said the suggested buffer
was too restrictive and would not work.
“As long as there is half a metre of depth
over the seagrass, this is enough water for
the dogs to swim without any problems,”
he said.
“We know that for over 10 years the State
Government agencies have had no objection
to the trial proceeding, and we also
know via the original REF and the updated
REF that the experts have no problem with
the trial proceeding – and we know that the
broader community is overwhelmingly onboard
for the trial, given the 90% approval
during Council’s consultation.”
He said the group was disappointed
with some of the input
from the Department Primary
Industries-Fisheries, which said
had turned the focus on the issue
of impact on seagrass “on its
head”.
“DPI-Fisheries only ever asked
for a survey of the Posidonia species
at the start of the trial, and
again at the end,” Mr Geddes said.
“The focus was Posidonia, and
two surveys were requested.
“Last-minute involvement within
DPI-Fisheries has turned this on its
head, going against the views previously
expressed. It now includes
convoluted suggestions to include
broadening the focus from Posidonia,
to include the more rampant
Zostera and proposes using a
large control area, and conducting
detailed surveys each month,
including a search for seahorses…
that’s just ‘mission creep’.”
He said this would likely see a
basic $10,000 monitoring exercise
“blow out to well over $100,000”.
“This is money Pittwater
Unleashed would rather see used
by our Council to install the ‘random rock’
revetment along the edge of the golf course
– which would protect the interests of the
golfers, who do not want to see the 3rd, 4th
and 5th fairways washed away in the next
big storm – as well as protect the interests
of DPI-Fisheries, who do not want to see
continued release of the dumped sediment
over the seagrass meadow during storm
events.”
He added it would also improve the
amenity of the area, with golfers on one
side of the revetment, and families with
dogs on the other.
To view the REF and lodge a submission
(by July 12) visit Council’s website.
– Nigel Wall
* What do you think? Email us at readers@pittwaterlife.com.au
8 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Lion’s share of Coast Walk
News
It’s been revealed most of
the sites earmarked for
more than $2 million worth
of public art projects across
the Northern Beaches will be
installed in our neck of the
woods.
Plans reveal up to 30 works
of art reflecting the cultural,
heritage and natural significance
of our area will be
placed along the 36-kilometre
Northern Beaches Coast Walk
over the next three years – with
seven of 10 “priority sites”
between Narrabeen and Palm
Beach.
The Coast Walk – on track
to be completed before 2020 –
includes 8km of new footpaths,
boardwalks, stairs and tracks,
linking Palm Beach to Manly.
Northern Beaches Mayor
Michael Regan said the experience
for users would be
enhanced significantly by the
high-quality art and sculptures.
“The artworks will add
further vibrancy to the walk,
as well as draw a direct connection
between the villages,
beaches and headlands,’’ he
said.
Council documents show
artworks along the walk
would cost between $100,000
to $250,000 to develop and
install, although some may be
cheaper.
Council will preference the
design and fabrication of artworks
to Northern Beaches artists
and there is the possibility
of some artworks being created
by groups of artists and community
groups such as youth
groups and schools.
Sites have been selected
by the Coast Walk Pubic Art
Working Group and through
extensive community engagement.
A leader in the arts and culture
sector and President of the
Manly Art Gallery & Museum
Society John Pearson praised
council’s professional, considered
approach to the project.
“What’s really impressive
ART THOUGH BEAUTIFUL: Turimetta Headland Reserve is among seven
local sites earmarked for art installations along the new Coastal Walk.
is the public consultation and
significant feedback from community
engagement that has
been taken on board,” he said.
“There is a strategic focus
which has perfectly selected
sites for public art to go on and
there will be a proper curatorial
oversight reflecting best
practice.
“And that’s important
because not only is it an opportunity
for local artists to be
engaged but also significant
Australian artists to potentially
be engaged as well.”
Plans show integrated
artworks such as sculptures,
murals, plantings, symbols
or roundels embedded in the
walkway and design elements
such as seating, fences, bol-
10 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
art is for Pittwater
lards and plantings will be
delivered in two stages, with
priority sites in the Pittwater
area at North Narrabeen Rockpool
and surrounds; Turimetta
Headland Reserve; Mona Vale
South Headland (Robert Dunn
Reserve); Mona Vale North
(Headland); Little Av (South
Avalon Headland); Bangalley
Park; and Pittwater Park [Palm
Beach].
Other stage one sites include
Dee Why and Long Reef
headlands and Collaroy Beach
(South).
The second stage will include
artworks and headland markers
at Observation Point (Palm
Beach); Avalon Beach Reserve;
Newport Beach Reserve; Bilgola
Headland; Mona Vale SLSC;
Warriewood SC; Long Reef
SLSC; Dee Why Rock Pool and
surrounds; Freshwater Beach
Reserve; Queenscliff Headland
(Freshwater Park); and Manly
SLSC.
Other potential local program
sites (subject to funding)
include Whale Beach Reserve,
Newport Beach Reserve,
Bungan Castle [Headland] and
Apex Park, Mona Vale.
Temporary art and cultural
programs will also play an important
part of the Coast Walk
public art strategy.
Council’s allocation of $2
million over four years to
fund permanent public art
works along the Coast Walk
has been boosted by a grant
for $200,000 for Indigenous
artworks and signage.
Also, Council has given the
green light for an app to be
developed that will guide the
community along the walk,
highlighting areas of natural
and heritage significance as
well as providing commentary
on artworks.
Additionally, Council is
offering a once in a lifetime opportunity
for suitably qualified
and experienced artists and
arts project teams to join the
new Northern Beaches Public
Art – Artist Panel.
Panel artists would be given
the chance to develop integrated
artworks for sites along the
Coast Walk and other potential
local public art projects.
Mayor Regan said: “To be a
part of a permanent gallery
along our extraordinary coastline
will be a real achievement
for artists who are successful
in gaining a commission.”
Artists will need to apply
through the tender process.
A Public Art Selection Panel,
made up of curators and arts
professionals, will review the
submissions to appoint successful
artists.
Artists must submit applications
outlining their artistic
approach, credentials and
qualifications, their ability to
undertake the work, a record of
their previous completed public
artworks, fee proposals and
references.
The Public Art, Artist Panel
Tender closes at 2pm on July
25; register at Council’s E-
Tendering portal. – Lisa Offord
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 11
Palm Beach
wows on the
big screen
News
Award-winning actor couple Bryan
Brown and Rachel Ward say they’d
be thrilled to hear what locals
think of their latest film ‘Palm Beach’
which opens in cinemas in August.
The movie was shot over six weeks
from May last year, directed by Ward and
featuring a stellar cast including Brown,
Sam Neil, Jacqueline McKenzie, Greta
Scacchi and Richard E Grant. It opened
the 2019 Sydney Film Festival last month
to critical acclaim – not least due to Bonnie
Elliott’s stunning cinematography
that championed the local area.
Brown told Pittwater Life all involved
were ecstatic with the finished product,
adding the final cut was the film they
wanted to make.
“We set out to tell a story that would
resonate with over-50s – that doesn’t
mean it can’t be enjoyed by other people
but I did want to tell a story about my
generation and the things that people
handle,” he said.
“And I did want to set it in a location
that was one of the great locations in
Australia – I think Palm Beach has never
looked better.”
Added Ward: “I am thrilled… you never
know if what interests you and pinches a
nerve with you will resonate. Essentially
you are dancing in the dark. It feels like
we turned the lights on and lots of people
are dancing with us.
“I think we all had a good idea of
where we wanted this film to land… we
wanted to share and celebrate some of
the good life that we have on our shoreline.
Although we’ve set our film in a
house and location in the pinnacle of
fabulousness, a lot of Australians share
its plenty and will identify with the
lifestyle. It also gives us a wonderfully
paradoxical position to share our woes.”
A dramatic comedy, the plot involves a
group of lifelong friends (the men were
members of a moderately successful
1970s band) who gather in Palm Beach to
celebrate a special birthday. From there,
bonhomie soon gives way to the messy
realities of life, with secrets revealed and
relationships fracturing.
Brown described the movie as a blend
of ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ and
the 1983 cult classic, ‘The Big Chill’.
“I saw Exotic Marigold Hotel just after I
had been thinking about a story like this
and I remember all the characters were
older characters dealing with things...
whether it was loneliness, the loss of
someone, relationships...
“In the same way, this film is dealing
with people who have known each other,
people who have had relationships, people
who are dealing with ends of careers
and questioning what that means.
“And ‘The Big Chill’ aspect was once
again a group of people who know each
other, discussing themselves and the
world. And the soundtrack is a big, big
deal, as it was in ‘The Big Chill’ – we have
Otis Redding, Frank Sinatra, The Easybeats,
Donovan… it’s a big part of the film
for the audience.”
Ward said another “tone template” for
her included contemporary French movies
and the current series superhit, ‘Big Little
Lies’.
“Palm Beach explores the universal
themes that many of us are struggling
with – retirement, children going their
own way, envy, dashed expectations,
long-term relationships, health and
friendship – to name a few,” she said.
“I think French movies always exalt in
beauty and have much less antipathy for
depicting middle class lives.
“And ‘Big Little Lies’ was the tone I
12 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
GREAT ACT: Bryan
Brown, Jacqueline
McKenzie and
Richard E Grant
(left) dressed for
summer during the
cold movie shoot.
BEAUTIFUL: The
crisp cool days on
Pittwater provided
stunning colour and
light (top right).
TEAMWORK: Director
Rachel Ward
with cinematographer
Bonnie Elliott
(right). WHAT A
VIEW: The Palm
Beach ‘hero’ house
provided a jawdropping
backdrop
(below).
was after – people seemingly having a
good life but riddled with their own personal,
existential dramas. The juxtaposition
of people in paradise having the
usual woes is often funny as well as sad.
Also, ‘It’s Complicated’ and ‘Something’s
Gotta Give’.”
Shooting a summer-themed movie in
cold months presented challenges.
“The actors were dressed for summer,
in and out of water and picnicking in
what turned out to be many blisteringly
cold days,” Ward said.
“They did a brilliant job defying the
weather but at the end of each take they
were bleating for their puffers!”
Brown shrugs and says: “That’s what
they pay you for. It was cold – particularly
when we went across to The Basin,
it happened to be a very windy day but
you would never know looking at the
screen and I have dealt with far worse
things than that.
“We went swimming at Palmy for the
movie and the temperature of the water
is pretty good all year round, really.
“Even though it was a bit cold I thought
we did pretty well – it could have rained
the whole time and then we would have
been in trouble.”
Ward said the Pittwater vista was crucial
in telling the tale.
“We needed to set up Bryan’s character
as someone who had been very successful,
so the house and view had to be
knockout,” she said. “One of our themes
is envy, so again the vista had to be
downright enviable.
“We were locals many years ago but
I never saw Pittwater from the position
of our ‘hero’ house – shooting up there
(above Palm Beach) was knockout. The
actors and crew nearly fell over when
they came there the first time.”
How did they spend their time off-set?
“The Boathouse got a fair few breakfasts
when we were working nightshift,
and The Greedy Goat, we were down
there for eggs quiet often,” said Brown.
“It was great to wander around Avalon
too – people wandered up and they were
very interested in the fact were making a
movie called Palm Beach. The next time I
wander around there, I hope they will be
telling me what they think of it.”
– Nigel Wall
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 13
Sustainability stars
It’s pretty clear Pittwater has embraced
efforts to reduce single-use plastic for the
good of the planet, so this July we shine the
light on a few initiatives that are raising the
sustainability bar. By Lisa Offord
News
Lighting upgrades at
buildings, carparks and
sports fields, heating and
cooling system improvements
as well as installation of solar
panels on depots has led to
Northern Beaches Council
receiving Bronze Partner status
from the NSW Government’s
Sustainability Advantage
program.
The program also took
into account Council’s
efforts to measure resource
use and waste generation
and to develop strategies
and initiatives to embed
sustainability through all of
Council’s business units.
The Sustainability Advantage
Recognition Scheme provides
public acknowledgement of the
sustainability achievements of
member institutions.
Since joining in October
2016, Council has been working
towards achieving Bronze
Partner status.
Council plans more solar PV
installations, implementation
of new community waste
services, accelerated streetlight
improvements and a new
environment strategy, with
plans to achieve Silver Partner
status.
businesses to reduce their volunteers have been visiting
usage of single plastics.
food and beverage venues
Swap for good
The ‘Swap for Good’ program encouraging them to be singleuse-plastic
free.
provides a range of support for
NB Council has launched a local businesses including oneon-one
Program co-ordinator Rowan
new campaign designed to
guidance, sustainable Hanley told Pittwater Life the
encourage and support local procurement guides, online group aims to accredit the TOP
networking hubs and webinars 100 Ocean Friendly Venues by
as well as a list of suppliers of the end of the year.
sustainable materials.
“It is heartening to see
Mayor Michael Regan is that most businesses on the
urging businesses to embrace Northern Beaches are already
the movement away from doing some things to reduce
single-use plastic bags, bottles, their plastic footprint as there
straws and coffee cups and is a high level of awareness in
lids and use sustainable
the community around ocean
alternatives instead.
plastic pollution,” Rowan said.
“With everyone doing their “Our volunteers are warmly
bit, we can collectively make a received and generally
huge difference to the volume businesses are interested in
of plastics polluting our
what we have to offer.”
waterways and oceans and The success of Ocean
adding to landfill,” he said. Friendly lies in that it is easy.
Businesses can sign up to “We don’t ask that they
the Swap for Good program on eliminate every piece of plastic
Council’s website.
from their operations, but
The Swap for Good
get rid of the major singleuse
Sustainable Solutions Expo
plastic ocean polluters –
will be held from 5pm on polystyrene packaging, plastic
Monday July 1 at Harbord straws, plastic cutlery, plastic
Diggers, showcasing suppliers water bottles, plastic bags –
of sustainable materials
and we ask that they embrace
for hospitality and retail proper recycling and waste
industries, independent
reduction practices.”
packaging bodies and recycling * Artist Angela van Boxtel
businesses.
produced ‘Missing Drop’
(pictured) to raise awareness
Ocean Friendly
about plastics use; fashioned
Council’s Swap for Good in the shape of a water drop
campaign sits nicely alongside and made from plastic water
the award-winning Surfrider bottles, it was unveiled at the
Foundation’s Ocean Friendly ‘Swap for Good’ launch at Cafe
accreditation scheme, where Racer in Mona Vale.
14 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Hair care that’s not costing the earth
When Deborah Grevett opened
Papillon Hair in Avalon a year
and a half ago she introduced a
range of eco-friendly practices to
become Pittwater’s first ‘Sustainable
Salon’.
The salon uses natural products,
reuses and recycles as much as
possible and aims for 95 per cent of
waste to be saved from landfill.
“We built our own in-house bins
and have a hole in the ground where
we sweep hair,” Deborah said. “Foil,
plastic, paper, hair and chemical
waste is all recycled correctly.”
The team received training and
information from a salon-specific
waste recovery service, Sustainable
Salons, which collects and recycles hair, paper, plastics, metals
including aluminium foil, chemicals, razors and hairdressing
tools from hair, beauty and dog grooming businesses around
the country.
“All plastic is melted down and turned into the NBN plastic
protective covers, or into park benches that will last for
hundreds of years,” Deborah said.
“The hair that we send off is turned in hair booms – all the
hair goes into a giant stocking-like sock that can be used to
help clean up oil spills.”
Deborah said staff embraced the waste reduction and
recycling concept wholeheartedly.
“Most of us already recycle at
home and managing the salon waste
this way is actually easier than not
recycling, it’s all organised and so
much cleaner,” she said.
“We now only have the tiniest
waste bag of rubbish per day and
the amount of recycling we are
doing makes us all so happy, it’s
very rewarding.”
There is a small $2 ‘green fee’ for
all clients – but there hasn’t been a
customer who hasn’t contributed,
for the good of the planet.
The fee goes to Sustainable Salons
to help cover costs for the bin
collection.
All proceeds from repurposing
salon materials in Australia are donated to OzHarvest to
distribute meals for those in need.
Avalon beauty salon Facial Impressions recently joined the
program and there are now 30 salons on the northern beaches
that are part of the Sustainable Salon network.
“Knowing our waste is all recycled or only re-used within
Australia makes us satisfied in knowing it’s all going to a good
cause,” Deborah said.
“We’re proud to be making a difference to ensure that
our waterways are cleaner, rubbish tips less full and our
environment saved for future generations to come,” she said.
– Lisa Offord
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 15
Walking on
the Moon
News
Fifty years ago on July 20, 1969,
Apollo 11 mission commander Neil
Armstrong became the first person
to set foot on the moon. His words to
mark the milestone – “It’s one small step
for man... one giant leap for mankind” –
will be remembered forever.
For those old enough to recall, that
winter’s day in Australia will similarly
never be forgotten.
Here’s what some of Pittwater’s ‘elders’
had to say about arguably the greatest of
human achievements.
Compiled by Nigel Wall
Bronwyn Bishop
Mackellar MP 1994 – 2016
“Ryan Gosling in the recent Hollywood
movie ‘First Man’ brought it all back.
Man was about to land on the moon and
I could watch it on my television in my
own home!
“So I was glued to the TV and
watched in awe as the Eagle module
landed and Neil Armstrong planted
himself on the moon. (‘Step’ seems
too dainty a word and yet his famous
words still resonate.)
“But my overall thoughts were of the
sheer achievement of the human mind,
the courage and dedication of the individual
men who undertook this extraordinary
voyage and the huge team behind
the mission. (Reminds me that we were
spared being drawn into a black hole
with the Liberals winning the federal
election...)
“I was and remain proud of their
achievement and full of anticipation for
what the next 50 years may hold – as
long as we put our energies into the positive
and abandon the negative.”
Brady Halls
Channel 9 Reporter
“I have recently researched and shot a
10-minute story on the moon landing. In
my story (which will air on ‘A Current Affair’
in early July), I went back to my old
school, Beacon Hill Primary.
“I also went to Parkes and Canberra
to our telescopes, and spoke to workers
involved on that day 50 years ago.
“Me? I was in Mr Ferris’ 4th Class in July
1969 – I was nine years old. I vividly recall
we were all brought up to the library at
BHPS by our teachers to watch the landing.
“I was standing against the wall, and
I remember looking over at my teacher
on the other side of the room as all the
students sat silently glued to the 1960s
black-and-white TV out front.
“As Neil Armstrong came down the ladder
and touched the surface, I looked over
to see my teacher crying. As a nine-yearold
I was puzzled and didn’t quite understand
why. But 50 years on… I now do.
“What a memorable moment! One I
shall never forget… I feel lucky I was alive
to witness it, as it is certainly one of the
greatest achievements in human history.
“I’m sure some kids at my old school
will be doing the same in the coming
decades, watching as a man or woman
one day steps foot on Mars.”
Professor Fred Watson
Astronomer-at-Large
Department of Industry,
Innovation and Science
“I remember in the lead-up that hopes
were very high for a successful mission,
given NASA’s successes of the previous
seven years with the Mercury, Gemini
and early Apollo flights. Everyone was
very confident. Also, the 1968 release
of the movie ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’
made the prospects of human habitation
of space within a few decades entirely
believable. We thought we were on the
brink of a new era of human space travel.
It was extremely exciting.
“On the day, I was living in Newcastleupon-Tyne
in northern England, working
for a company that built specialised
telescopes for astronomy. One of the
projects I was working on was a space
telescope to be flown on an uncrewed
satellite called TD1A, which was eventually
launched in 1972. I and my colleagues
in the lab lived and breathed the
Apollo missions.
“Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk took
place in the late evening UK time on
Sunday 20 July, and I spent the entire
day in my flat glued to the TV. I think the
BBC ended its live transmission before
the moonwalk took place, and I went to
bed at about 12.45am, but was up at 6am
to watch a recording of the moonwalk.
16 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
I stayed tuned for the rest of the day to
catch the lunar module lift-off and docking
with the command module.
“I remember feeling totally captivated
by the entire mission, as were all my
colleagues. We were acutely aware that
history had been made, and that this was
one of humankind’s greatest achievements.
No-one begrudged NASA and
the Americans the kudos, and Neil’s ‘we
come in peace for all mankind’ struck a
chord with us all.
“Last, I had and elderly and very
grumpy great-aunt, who was an early
Apollo-denier. My mother told me a few
days after the moon landing that my
Aunt had stumbled across a TV documentary
that showed endoscopic images
of a medical procedure, and began cursing
‘that damn Moon thing again’!”
John Morrison
Musician & Pilot
“My interest in aviation goes back to
early childhood dreams of flying to
GIANT LEAP: Neil
Armstrong’s photo of
fellow astronaut Buzz
Aldrin standing on
the moon during the
Apollo 11 mission on
July 20, 1969.
the moon, and during the Gemini and
Apollo Missions, I travelled with the
American astronauts every step of the
way. My brother James and I decided to
launch our own mission to the moon in
1969, believing that we could get there,
but would need a lift to get back home.
We planned to meet the Apollo astronauts
on the moon and come home with
them. We had a plan. James was two and
a half years younger than I and at the
age of six, he had complete faith in his
wise old brother’s idea to build a rocket
and began to help me gather all of the
necessary materials for a trip of this
magnitude.
“A tea chest was found for the command
module, large plastic bags and elastic
bands for storing oxygen, heavy-duty
tracksuit pants and gum-boots which
we had fashioned together to make what
must have looked like something out of
an early science fiction movie.
“The final and most critical element
was the propulsion system, which was to
PHOTO: Neil A. Armstrong/NASA
blast me into orbit and beyond. We had
emptied our piggy banks and convinced
most of the other kids in our street to
give us money to purchase nearly 60
large skyrockets from the local store.
These were on sale for the Queen’s Birthday
weekend in June and we bought the
biggest ones we could get.
“After securing the rockets to the
outside of the tea chest, we began
going through all the final preparations
for the launch. I had also built a
launch ramp for the rocket and in mid-
July 1969, only six days before Apollo
Eleven’s launch date, we stood back and
admired our magnificent work.
“At this point James noticed that the
ramp was not pointing towards the
moon and was concerned that I might
miss the target. I explained to him that it
would take me around four days to get to
the moon and by the time I arrived, the
moon would have travelled the necessary
distance and I would land successfully.
I’ll never forget the look in his eyes at
that point. He looked at me as though I
was the cleverest person in the world. If
only he knew what was about to happen.
“As he secured me into the wooden
tea chest and nailed it shut along with
the plastic bags full of air (and one over
my head of course) he never doubted
that lighting nearly 15 pounds of gunpowder
underneath me was going to
launch me into history. (Yes, I was about
to become history.)
“Many of the kids who had contributed
their pocket money were there to see it
(and me) go up in smoke. As the countdown
went down and the flames licked
upward I began to feel a warm orange
glow around the rocket which meant I
was either approaching escape velocity
and leaving the earth’s atmosphere, or
the whole machine was on fire and I was
leaving earth in a more biblical sense.
“The rocket shook violently, and I
could hear the approaching sound of my
father’s unusually high-pitched voice. At
this point I realised that perhaps all was
not going to plan. My father did a quick
head count and instantly knew that if he
Continued on page 18
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 17
News
Continued from page 17
couldn’t see me standing around holding a box
of matches, then I would certainly be inside the
burning box in the middle of our backyard.
“And so it came to pass that Neil Armstrong
was the first man to walk on the moon – and
if he knew how close I was to beating him,
perhaps his famous words would have been:
“One small step for a man, one giant lesson for
a nine-year-old boy.”
Dr Richard West
President Palm Beach &
Whale Beach Association
“I recall thinking in the lead-up to the moon
landing that is was a great step forward for
mankind... I was in Londaon at the time and I
remember feeling a great sense of excitement.
“However, in hindsight I have been disappointed
with the long-term benefits of the
space program. I think the money – billions of
dollars – could been spent in other ways, such
as improving living standards in Third World
countries and medical research into the cure
of cancer.”
Alex McTaggart
Pittwater Ward Councillor
“Leading up to the actual landing I can
remember going to a mate’s house but after
that I don’t remember having much specific
interest.
“As for the actual moon landing, I worked
for a firm of accountants in Clarence Street
in the CBD. I remember there was a TV in the
board room and we watched it sitting in the
board room leather chairs with the rest of the
staff... about 12 of us in all.
“Then it was back to work – we had time
sheets and had to account for every quarter of
an hour... someone had to pay!”
Collette Searl
Avalon identity
“In 1969 I was a senior student at Stella Maris
College in Manly. Just before 1pm on July 21
the nuns gathered us all together and we were
taken to the school hall. I can’t remember if
only the senior girls were allowed to watch the
television – I think so otherwise it would have
been almost impossible for the whole school
to see the television set, let alone the picture!
(Honestly I don’t think many of us girls were
especially interested in space travel but we
were just happy that we were being given time
off classes.)
“We had been told a little about what was to
happen but the main emphasis was on Australia’s
involvement through the Parkes telescope.
“Of course, being a Catholic school there
was also emphasis on President Kennedy’s
(a Catholic President) foresight in instigating
America’s space program!
“However, what we were about to witness
was truly amazing – a remarkable and unique
experience. Watching it, it was as if time stood
still. Imagine two men actually walking on the
moon! It was indeed ‘a giant leap for mankind’.”
7THINGS
THIS MONTH
Hospital stall. The Mona Vale
Hospital Auxiliary will have a
lovely assortment of bric-a-brac,
craft, books and handmade knits
on offer at Pittwater Place, Mona
Vale on Sat 6 from 9am-3pm.
Furniture repair. Give your
broken timber furniture a new life
with the help of woodworkers
from The Bower Reuse and
Repair Centre who will show how
simple it is to restore wooden
items back to functional furniture
at Kimbriki Resource Recovery
Centre, Terrey Hills on Sat 6 from
2-5pm. Spaces are limited to four
people an hour and bookings
essential through NB Council
website.
Comedy show. Join comedian
Sean Murphy for a hilarious and
interactive show all about getting
children active and curious,
emphasising the possibilities
of play without screen-based
devices on Tues 9 from 2-4pm
at Mona Vale Memorial Hall.
Suitable ages 8 and up. Cost $8.
Bookings essential. Enquiries
9976 1739.
Give blood. You’ll find the
Australian Red Cross Blood
Service’s Mobile Donor Centre at
Mona Vale Beach from Wed 10 –
Fri 12. Register donateblood.com.
au or call 13 14 95.
Waterwise garden. Learn how
to set up a self-watering garden
bed at one of two interactive
workshops on Fri 26 from 10am-
1pm and Sun 28 from 10am-1pm
at Kimbriki Eco House & Garden
Ingleside. Understand and apply
the key principles to setting up a
wicking bed and build your own
mini bed planted up with some
vegie seedlings to take home.
Bookings essential. Cost $45.
More info kimbriki@kimbriki.com
Car show. Get along to the
Royal Motor Yacht Club, Newport
on Sun 28 from 10am-3pm and
see more than 80 cars on display
in the Unique Vehicle Show. Entry
by donation. More info 9997 5511.
Support Beryl. Book your ticket
for the annual fundraiser to help
Beryl Driver compete in the 21st
annual Variety Bash. Black-and-
White event at Club Palm Beach
on Mon 14. More info 9974 5566.
18 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
various other organic products with the view of ceasing the
use of glyphosate-based products in the near future.” Also,
congrats to our Council for the gushing bouquet awarded
by Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, who
described us as a “shining star amongst the merged Councils”
in parliament last month. Ms Hancock said: “It is amazing to
see what they have been doing in that space… NB Council
is going from strength to strength due in part to the strong
partnership with the State Government and the professional
leadership present in that council.”
News
SEEN…
The striking and stylish set of new stairs through the Road
Reserve at Church Point that was recently completed and
opened, providing residents with much easier access down
the steep, heavily vegetated area (above). Remember how
poor access used to be? These new stairs connect Captain
Hunter Road to the top of Quarter Sessions Road; they’re made
from fibre-reinforced polymer and feature two flights, each
1.2m wide. Built after extensive community consultation, the
stairway will give residents better access to public transport,
local facilities and businesses in the Church Point commercial
hub, while reducing car dependence. Funding came via a State
Government grant to the Bayview Church Point Residents
Association.
ABSURD..?
To the uncaring morons who dumped dangerous asbestos and
other building materials at McCarrs Creek and Palm Beach recently
(below), we hope the authorities catch you and throw the
book at you – with a fine of $500,000 if you acted individually or
up to $2 million if a business. “Asbestos is very dangerous when
disturbed and leaving it exposed in public areas can have severe
health risks,” said Mayor Michael Regan. “Plus it costs ratepayers
thousands of dollars to remove.” The recent dumping incidents
cost around $25,000 to identify, classify and dispose of safely.
You can report illegal dumping to Council representatives on
1300 434 434, or the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), or
email info@environment.nsw.gov.au
HEARD…
A looming class action on behalf of people suffering cancers
allegedly linked to exposure to the widely used weedkiller
Roundup has prompted Sydney Councils including ours to
ban the product’s use and trial organic alternatives instead.
An NB Council spokesman told Pittwater Life: “We have
recently successfully trialled an alternative organic product
for weed control and are currently substituting it for the
glyphosate-based product. Further trials are continuing on
20 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
News
Dynamite expands
One of Pittwater’s leading dance schools has officially opened
its new state-of-the-art facility in Mona Vale. Students and the
team at Dynamite Premiere Academy, Newport are dancing to
their heart’s content in an impressive two-storey complex at 95
Darley Street – which boasts three studios fitted with sprung
flooring, mirrors, wall-mounted barres and air-conditioning.
DPA Principal Melissa Mitchell said the facility was more than
a decade in the making and a lifelong dream of hers to be able
to inspire, nurture and watch children flourish under one roof.
The school specialises in classical ballet RAD, jazz, modern,
hip hop, limber,
performance
classes and elite
ballet programs.
DPA now also
runs the northern
beaches arm of
the nationally acclaimed
program
Ready Set Ballet
offering carefully
curated classes
to ensure preschoolers
have
lots of fun whilst
also learning the
fundamentals of
classical ballet.
More info 9918
8841 or info@dynamitepa.com.au
Pittwater News
Clear the weeds
Feeling community minded?
Want to help clear Ku-ringgai
Chase National Park from
asparagus fern, learning and
laughing while you go? Join
the annual Bush Regeneration
weekend on July 12-14 – for
just $60 per person you’ll
experience two nights’ multishare
accommodation at the
beautiful Pittwater Youth
Hostel, with kayak hire and
morning tea thrown in. (Late
Sunday checkout.) More info
9999 5748.
Probus news updates
The Historical Aircraft
Restoration Society (HARS)
aviation museum, located at
Albion Park, is dedicated to
Australian aviation history
with a collection of flying,
under-restoration and static
display aircraft. It is an allvolunteer
group of aviation
professionals and enthusiasts
– many are active or
retired aircraft engineers
and pilots. Pittwater Probus
Club’s guest speaker in July
is HARS President and Chief
Pilot, Bob De La Hunty, who
manages the overall operation
of the Society. Meeting
commences 10am at Mona
Vale Golf Club on Tuesday
July 9; visitors welcome.
More info Geoff Sheppard
0437 274 074. Meanwhile
Palm Beach Probus Club
invites visitors to hear their
July speaker, David Vaughn,
discuss the wonderful
world of flags. A vexillographer,
David is regarded as
Australia’s leading authority
on the design, etiquette,
protocol and history of
flags. The meeting is at Club
Palm Beach from 9.30am
on Wednesday July 17. More
info 9973 1247.
Missing footpath link
Construction of an 800-metre
footpath ‘blackspot’ extension
along the northern side
of Hudson Parade in Clareville
has been completed by
Northern Beaches Council.
22 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
The new path from Delecta
Avenue to Taylors Point Road
links the residents of Taylors
Point, Refuge Cove and Bilgola
with existing footpaths to
Avalon. It’s anticipated the
footpath extension, which
cost $550,000 and was funded
through the NSW Government’s
‘Stronger Communities
Fund’ and was delivered as
part of Council’s New Footpath
program, will encourage
‘active transport’ in Clareville
as well as make it easier and
safer for pedestrians to reach
Clareville Beach and Avalon
Shops. “It will make it safer
for local children to walk to
schools and nearby beaches,
and improve opportunities
for activities such as dogwalking,
jogging, walking. It
will also be of great benefit
to local residents with limited
mobility,” said Mayor Michael
Regan. The extension was
undertaken following advice
received from the Clareville
and Bilgola Plateau Residents’
Association.
Pittwater budget win
Member for Pittwater Rob
Stokes has welcomed further
funding in the State Budget
to continue the NSW Government’s
investment in Pittwater
infrastructure. Key local allocations
for 2019/20 include:
$40 million for the upgrade
of Mona Vale Road East (total
funds allocated to date $67.6
million) and an additional $4.9
million for Mona Vale Road
West (total funds allocated
to date $21.4 million). Work
on this generational upgrade
commenced in February and
will deliver essential safety
and traffic flow improvements
once completed.
$18.4 million for northern
beaches health service improvements
– including ongoing
infrastructure upgrades at
Mona Vale Hospital.
Funds for the construction
of the first ever permanent
ambulance station at Mona
Vale Hospital.
An additional $10 million
Continued on page 24
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The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 23
News
Pittwater News
Continued from page 23
to enhance the palliative care
inpatient facility currently
under construction at Mona
Vale Hospital.
$339,000 to introduce improved
walking and cycling
paths in Newport.
$1.6 million to support
Northern Beaches Council
with the introduction of new
and improved boating infrastructure.
$51 million to complete
road and traffic flow enhancements
along the B-Line
corridor between Mona Vale
and the CBD.
Young Writers’ Comp
The challenge is on – who will
be the winners of this year’s
Northern Beaches Young
Writers’ Competition? Young
writers have until Wednesday
August 7 to enter. The theme
for 2019 is ‘wild’ (think wild
adventures, wild animals or
even wild child), so entries
must be an original story
based around the word ‘wild’.
Somewhere new for the ʻKiddiwinks’
The strain on families with young
children looking to break into Pittwater’s
brimming childcare facilities
has been eased with the opening of a
new centre at Warriewood.
Friends Toni Isaac and Nicole Youssef
realised a lifelong dream when they
opened their cutely named Kiddiwinks
long-day care centre in Vuko
Place, adjacent to McDonald’s, in
April.
Kiddiwinks is open 7am through
6pm Monday to Friday, with capacity
for 67 children. The centre is
currently only 50% full, with nine
staff members (all local) on the
books and more set to be employed
as numbers increase.
Conveniently sited just minutes’
walk from the B-Line, the centre
comprises four separate rooms, for
ages 0-2 (three teachers per day),
2-3 years (three teachers), 3-4 years
(two teachers) and 4-6 years (two
teachers).
Kiddiwinks features brand new
indoor and magnificent outdoor facilities,
provides Huggies and Aldi Mamia
nappies – plus a qualified chef prepares
fresh meals onsite (breakfast, morning
tea, lunch, afternoon tea, late snack) and
Now in its 10th year, entry
to the competition is open to
students up to and including
those in Year 12 and entrants
must live or go to school on
the Northern Beaches and be
members of a local library. The
best entries will be published
in an eBook to be included
in the collections of Northern
Beaches Council Library
and the National Library of
Australia. In each age category,
there are awards for
the winner and runner-up as
well as encouragement and
highly commended awards.
Entry forms with competition
details are available on
Council’s Library website and
in branches of libraries across
the Northern Beaches.
National Tree Day
Want to do your bit for a
greener local area? Council is
hosting a National Tree Day
event at Toongari Reserve
in Avalon from 10am-2pm
on July 28, with everyone
welcome to ‘turn a sod’. The
concept of National Tree Day
began in Australia in 1996
and continues to prosper each
year. Co-founded by singer
Olivia Newton-John and
Planet Ark, it has grown into
Australia’s largest community
tree planting and nature protection
event. Volunteers are
welcome, with gloves, tools
and equipment for planting
all provided, as will be
buckets and drinking water.
To register visit treeday.planetark.org
Councillor honoured
Northern Beaches Councillor
Roslyn Harrison was recently
recognised for her supreme
work ethic, taking home a
major honour from the 12th
annual Ministers’ Awards for
Women in Local Government.
The French Forest Ward Councillor
and mother of three
was the joint winner of the
Elected Representative from a
Metropolitan Council category.
Before she became a primary
school teacher, Cr Harrison
take- home meals for busy families (with
a menu approved by NSW Health to meet
all dietary requirements for children).
“We offer a school readiness and
pre-school program for all children in
the 3-4yrs and 4-6yrs room,” said Toni.
“Plus we offer dance classes, multisports
classes, language classes, yoga
classes – all included in the program
for no extra cost – and gardening and
cooking classes.”
University-trained, Toni said she and
Nicole had been in the childcare industry
for more than 20 years.
spent 20 years working in various
government departments
which included curriculum
development with the Board of
Studies, marketing for Work-
Cover and managing National
Youth Week. She has also been
president of Northern Beaches
Multiple Birth Association, as
well as sitting on numerous
northern beaches committees
the past couple of decades.
Mayor Michael Regan added:
“Everyone at Council was
delighted after news of Cr Harrison’s
award became public.
Roslyn has been an important
figure behind the scenes for
a number of years and it was
fantastic to see her hard work
formally recognised on such a
big stage.”
Kimbriki upgrade
A new $3.5 million treatment
plant at Kimbriki Resource Recovery
Centre in Terrey Hills
will provide improved environmental
outcomes for the
site. Opened last month, the
Continued on page 26
“We have both worked on the floor
with children, been directors and in the
previous company we worked with for
10 years managed seven centres,” she
said.
“But we wanted to go back to working
more with the children and families
and fulfil our dreams of opening
our own centre.
“Both of us are passionate about
working with children of all ages
and their families. We enjoy providing
environments which assist each
child to develop and flourish within
– we believe in providing an atmosphere
where children feel comfortable
and confident to be themselves
by providing a loving and caring
environment. We also believe that
children should have fun.”
She added that as a family
business, Kiddiwinks took value
in working with other families
within the local community.
Kiddiwinks is open 50 weeks per
year (closed over Christmas and on
public holidays). They are taking enrolments
for all ages for 2019, or waiting
list applications for families wanting to
start in 2020 and onwards. More info
9970 7213. – Lisa Offord
24 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Book Review
Love and
Other
Battles
Tess Wood
Harper Collins
$32.99
There’s a skill to
writing contemporary
fiction that makes the
reader feel a genuine
connection with the
characters. Tess Woods
demonstrated this
in her debut, awardwinning
Love at First Flight, the story of a
couple who meet on a plane to Sydney, and despite respective
partners, fall madly in love. You know these people.
Her third novel Love and Other Battles is a multi-generational
story sweeping from Australia’s participation in the Vietnam
War, through to parenting teenagers with today’s social media
pressures. So caught up in the lives and choices of the three
spirited and hard-loving women, Jess, Jamie and C.J, they felt
like family by the time I finished.
Make a cup of tea, find a sunny spot, keep your tissues close,
and settle in for an extremely satisfying read. – Libby Armstrong
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 25
News
Pittwater News
Relax and have a ‘Cushie’ time
With the Northern Beaches a favourite holiday
destination, some locals have been cashing in
by turning their family homes into short-term
rentals whilst they take a break themselves.
For more than three years, local company
Cushie has been helping homeowners get the
best possible returns.
Whether it is just for a few weeks while the
family is away, or for full-time holiday rentals,
Cushie takes the hassle out of the process, says
operator Maranda McLaren.
“We can take care of pretty much everything
in managing a holiday rental,” Maranda said.
“From setting up a listing on the holiday rental
sites, to arranging cleaning, photography,
guest screening, to 24/7 guest support.”
They can also tailor packages to best suit
clients’ needs.
“Some of our clients just use us for individual
services, such as professional cleans or to
supply hotel quality linen,” she said.
Maranda has a long history in customer
experiences and knows that the key to a happy
outcome is open communication, setting the
right expectations – and honesty.
Cushie sources locally where they can and
collaborates with other businesses in the
community to deliver its services.
“Our team, comprising partnerships with
local cleaning and services companies, are
truly dedicated – they know, thoroughly, the
nuances of all our homes. That way we can
present them at their best – every time.
“Key for us is that these houses are people’s
homes. We like to care for them like our own.”
* More info visit cushie.com
Continued from page 24
fully automated plant treats
wastewater generated from
landfilling activities (known
as leachate) using a combination
of biological and chemical
processes to render the leachate
safe for disposal to the
sewer. It upgrades the existing
leachate management system
on site which previously
relied on traditional site-based
solutions including onsite reticulation
and reinjection into
the waste. Kimbriki’s General
Manager – Asset Management,
Mr Mark Winser, said the
launch of the Plant was a key
milestone in Kimbriki’s ongoing
environmental protection
program, ensuring the facility
is able to exceed all regulatory
standards while meeting the
recycling and waste disposal
needs of future generations.
The Plant can treat and discharge
up to 500,000 litres per
day, providing ample capacity
during peak rainfall periods.
Mr Winser said it would be
in use through the life of the
landfill and beyond to ensure
the site remained secure from
the risk of discharging wastewater
off-site.
Early reading boost
Avalon’s Beachside Bookshop
will run a six-month program
to support Story Times in
several local kindergartens
and the Avalon Community
Library after being awarded
a grant by Penguin Books
Australia. Proprietor Libby
Armstrong said the program
involved the donation of a
monthly Puffin Picks Picture
Book from July to December
(six in total). “Our focus will be
on new releases and Australian
authors,” said Libby. They
will also issue Beachside Bookshop
‘Puffin Club’ Cards to
the program’s kindy families,
which will entitle the bearer
to a great discount off any
books bearing the Puffin logo
in-store from July 1 through
December 31. Also, they will
host a free seminar to be
run around October for local
early childhood educators
(and interested parents). “We
are kicking off with Northern
Beaches’ own Aura Parker’s
new release with Puffin Books
for July, Meerkat Splash.
Plastic-free event
Living Ocean with support
from Surfrider Foundation
is holding a Plastic Free
July event at the Avalon
Recreation Centre. Opening
night is Friday 19th from
5-8pm, showcasing recycled
art, stalls and a Red Cross
fashion parade. The art
exhibition will continue
Saturday 20th from 10am-
4pm with workshops in
basketry using recycled
materials and painting on
timber siding (pictured) plus
a silent auction of artworks.
There will also be a beach
clean at 10am on Avalon
Continued on page 28
26 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
News
Pittwater News
Continued from page 26
Beach co-ordinated by the
Avalon Green Team (all
invited). Free event.
Falinski’s new roles
Re-elected Mackellar MP
Jason Falinski will take
on new parliamentary and
community roles in coming
months. Mr Falinski has
been appointed Chair of the
House of Representatives’
Tax and Revenue committee.
“Ensuring that hard-working
people and small business
owners pay less tax is
central to the Government’s
economic plan – I am an
unashamed believer in
people having less financial
burdens,” Mr Falinski said.
“When you lower tax you help
the economy. Delivering on
the tax plan we took to the
election will be the first order
of business when Parliament
returns.” The Committee’s
role is to enquire into any
matter referred to it by the
House of Representatives
or a government minister.
It can investigate any prelegislation
proposal, bills,
motions and/or review
government expenditure,
financial matters as well
as deliver reports on its
investigations to the House of
Representatives. Mr Falinski
will formally take on the role
once parliament returns on
July 2. He has also been asked
to Co-Chair the Parliamentary
Friendship group of Surf
Life Saving Australia. CEO of
Surf Life Saving Australia,
Adam Weir offered Mr
Falinski the role off the back
Watch out... whales about!
Fantasea’s Northern Migration three-hour whale watching
cruises continue this month with departures from Palm
Beach on both Saturdays and Sundays until July 21. During
winter, Humpback Whales begin their annual migration
northbound from the colder Antarctic Waters, to breed and
give birth in Queensland’s tropical waters. This is an exciting
time to go whale watching and see entire family groups
travel past the Northern Beaches. With numbers increasing
every year in abundant proportions, Fantasea’s experts say
are expecting 33,000 whales to migrate this year. It’s a great
outing for all the family – you’ll experience an epic wildlife
adventure close to home but a world away. Listen to their expert
marine hosts educate all onboard about these fascinating
creatures and enjoy wildlife photo opportunities cruising
on their 23-metre Catamaran, with covered decks and
an open landing and inside seating. Plus they offer a whale
watching guarantee! And if you’re an NRMA member you’ll
receive 20% off! Bookings fantasia.com.au or 9974 7413.
of a successful year for the
Northern Beaches Clubs. “It
is a pleasure to be Co-Chair
of the parliamentary friends
of Surf Life Saving,” Mr
Falinski said. “The clubs do
an amazing job keeping our
beaches safe and deserve a lot
of praise – Mackellar has the
28 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
most Surf Life Saving Clubs
in a single electorate, and
don’t I know it when AGM and
award season comes around!”
Mr Falinski is the club patron
of Whale Beach and Long
Reef SLSCs but has a close
relationship with all the
Northern Beaches clubs.
Finding InnerFlame
Here’s our latest local
success story: InnerFlame
Fires. Home grown at
Avalon Beach, the start-up
team followed its vision
to combine beautiful and
robust commercial grade
furniture with warmth,
comfort and lighting
ambiance. Now three
years into development
and testing, they’re
actively seeking suitable
businesses to offer
their tables as product
placement over winter, in
order to demonstrate their
effectiveness. Interested?
Call Michael Lamb on 0404
941 273.
Patonga rooms open
Now you can stay at The
Boathouse Hotel Patonga as
well as enjoy breakfast, lunch
or dinner, with three renovated
waterside apartments opened
in late June. Plus they’re
running an opening special
on accommodation, with 20%
off rates for guests who stay
before July 31. Bookings online
or call 9974 5440.
Vet
on
call
with
Dr Ben Brown
Does your pet have smelly
breath? Halitosis (bad
breath) is common in pets and
can occur for several reasons.
The most common cause is
dental disease. Even a small
amount of dental tartar and
gingivitis (inflammation of the
gums) can lead to a bacterial
infection which causes bad
breath. A staggering 80% of
pets have some form of dental
disease by 2 years of age.
Fortunately, if caught early, it
can be treated by veterinarians
without it causing permanent
damage. Prevention of dental
disease via brushing, dental
diets and dental chews is the
most effective way to preserve
your pet’s teeth for life.
Another cause is cancers of
the mouth, tongue and throat.
This occurs more commonly in
middle-aged to older pets but
can affect any age. Tumours
can affect the jaw bone and/or
the soft tissues of the mouth
resulting in inflammation and
secondary infection. Many
cancers grow so quickly that
the blood supply can’t keep
up, meaning that some of the
tumour begins to become
diseased, causing further
bad breath. Early diagnosis
is crucial as many oral cavity
cancers can be aggressive and
spread. A detailed oral cavity
examination by a vet can allow
early diagnosis and treatment.
Some breeds of dogs –
especially the Cocker Spaniel,
can be genetically prone to
developing lip folds near the
mouth on the lower jaw that
become infected due to the
constant presence of moisture
from the mouth. This can
cause pain and inflammation
and a very foul smell. These
lip folds are not required for
the health of the animal and
surgical removal can greatly
improve these dog’s quality of
life – and their breath!
* If your pet has bad breath,
pop in for a free dental and
oral cavity health check by one
of our friendly qualified vet
nurses during July and August.
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 29
Sea
change
Local maritime and
sailing identity Yvette
Wijnen was born male but
admits that gender had
been an issue for her since
the age of 12 – until she
decided to transition.
Story by Rosamund Burton
Life Stories
I’ve arranged to meet Yvette Wijnen at
Church Point, and she’s unmissable.
Six-foot four and long-legged in her
short summer dress, wearing pink
lipstick and with a pink flower in her
shoulder-length wavy blonde hair. On
April 7, 2018 Yvette held a party for a
group of close friends – she ‘came out’
telling them she was transitioning from
man to woman.
“It was scary coming out, but that
was the first day I lived as myself, and
dressed as a woman.”
She had been on hormones for six
months prior, to prohibit facial hair
growth and grow her breasts and in
August she went to Thailand to undergo
genital surgery.
“It’s an expensive procedure,” she
tells me, as she steers her red painted
electric dinghy across Pittwater. “Last
year I worked every job I could get to
earn the money to pay for it.”
Yvette, now aged 48, admits that her
gender had been an issue for her since
she was 12 years old.
“For years on and off I dressed as
a woman at home, then I’d think I
shouldn’t be doing this and throw the
whole wardrobe out, before several
years later starting again, and I felt a
huge guilt pretending to be a woman.
Last year I realised I had to address this,
and saw a psychiatrist who told me I
had gender dysphoria – the condition of
feeling emotionally and psychologically
my gender is the opposite to my
biological sex.”
Yvette pulls up alongside the
impressive 71-foot red multi-hulled
proa – a multihull sailing boat with one
hull larger than the other – moored
to the north-west of Scotland Island,
which she built 10 years ago. Sitting on
the deck she tells me more about her
extraordinary life.
Born in the Netherlands, and living
near a lake, Yvette, then known as Ini,
became interested in sailing boats at the
age of five. Having trained in engineering,
he began building boats in his early 20s,
constructing a 40-foot proa, before he
was conscripted for national service. He
volunteered to serve as a United Nations
peacekeeper in former Yugoslavia, and
worked as a communication technician
during the Yugoslav Wars.
“After that nothing seemed
dangerous,” says Yvette.
Aged 23, Ini left the Netherlands,
single-handedly sailing the proa
westwards with no fixed destination. He
met an Australian woman in Portugal,
who was sailing with her father. In their
separate boats, they crossed the Atlantic
and got engaged when they were
reunited in the Caribbean. Ini continued
his solo sail, going through the Panama,
across the Pacific and arriving in Coffs
Harbour in July 1995.
The couple married and had two
children, a daughter and a son, and
Ini built them a 55-foot steel boat on
which they lived, until he and his wife
separated. From then on Ini lived with
his young son on the boat, travelling
up and down the east coast between
Cairns and Hobart for his work, which
was mostly boat maintenance and refits.
When his son was six, they sailed with
two other people across the Pacific,
delivering a yacht from Melbourne to
San Diego. Having gone to 10 different
primary schools, his son wanted to go
to only one high school. That was 10
years ago, and they had recently come to
Pittwater, so he went to Pittwater High.
“For a period, we lived on the boat,
and I used to drive the ferry. The ferry
route went past the boat, so I’d pick him
up from here for school.”
Yvette and her son, who is now 20,
and doing a shipwright’s apprenticeship,
are living at McCarrs Creek with
Yvette’s ex-partner. They broke up due
to Yvette’s transition, although remain
good friends.
Being a lifelong environmentalist,
Yvette runs her Nissan Navara ute
30 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
on vegetable oil. This proa, named
Gaiasdream, is built of sustainable
timber, the engine runs on vegetable
oil, cooking is done with ethanol and
electricity comes from solar and wind.
“And the dinghy is the only electric
commuter boat on Pittwater,” she says.
“I recharge the batteries every night
by plugging an extension lead into the
dinghy’s built-in battery charger.”
Yvette has specialised in making boats
fossil fuel-free, working for Greenpeace
and also Australian sailor and climate
action advocate, Lisa Blair, who sailed
solo around Antarctica in 2017.
When she came out, she says, mostly
locals were incredibly supportive, and
went out of their way to make her feel
at ease, although she adds some people,
particularly men, found it hard to deal
with the transition, because they couldn’t
understand why she wanted to do this.
“My parents found it difficult,
especially initially, but now my dad’s
happy he’s finally got a daughter, and
my mum’s really proud.”
Yvette, who holds Australian
permanent residency, not citizenship,
returned to Holland to get her
documents updated.
“It’s only my birth certificate that has
my old name and gender, as well as the
new information. My passport states
I’m female. And the Dutch authorities,
realising how special this new passport
was to me, made an exception and
allowed me to smile for the photograph.”
As a member of Trans Pride Australia,
a support group for trans and gender
diverse people, Yvette was on the
Trans Pride float at the Sydney Gay and
Lesbian Mardi Gras in March this year.
“I’m not a natural dancer, but I
learnt the dance routine, and had so
much fun. Initially, it was confronting,
because there were thousands of people
watching, and I was wearing a bikini,
but it was an amazing night. I loved it.”
She meets with members of the Trans
Pride group occasionally, and they talk
about the issues they face. One of the
reasons she agreed to be interviewed for
Pittwater Life is that she knows someone
else in the area who has just come out.
“I want people to be more aware that
there are trans people here, and that
they’re lovely people, not scary, and
need a bit of support.”
Less than a year since her operation
Yvette is still very much in a transition
phase of her life. She has gone from
being a man with little to no concern for
how he looked to what she describes as
“a real ‘girly’ girl”.
Physically, she’s lost some of her
strength, and found that knots she tied
on the boat before the operation she
now can’t undo. Psychologically, she’s
also changed,
“I definitely take things more
personally.”
Having done close to 100,000 offshore
miles, and for years getting scratched
and scraped doing boat maintenance
and repairs, she’s unsure if she’ll
remain in the male-dominated marine
industry.
“Now, I’m less interested in getting
my hands dirty, I want to look pretty. I
super care how I look, whereas before I
didn’t care.”
As we motor in the dinghy back to
Church Point I have only admiration for
the path that Yvette has chosen. It isn’t
easy for her, or her close family and
friends, but she has followed the course
she knew she needed to take.
“I wish I was born a woman,” she
says with a smile, “but I love being a
transwoman.”
Life Stories
CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE: Yvette Wijnen aboard her pride and joy, the fully sustainable
71-foot multi-hulled proa ‘Gaiasdream’ which she built 10 years ago; at the wheel moored
off Scotland Island; Yvette was born Ini before transitioning last year; Yvette has always
held an interest in environmentalism and runs her ute on vegetable oil; she now says she is
less interested in getting her hands dirty and cares more about her looks; the former Ini.
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 31
HOME
HELP
Winter is a great time to focus on
your home – we spoke to local
experts to discover the latest
trends, tips and products to help
you make the best of your space.
Compiled by Lisa Offord
Special Feature
KITCHENS
Dreaming of a new kitchen?
Whether you want to give your
kitchen a cosmetic makeover
or you’re up for a full renovation,
there are a number of key
features that stand the test of
time, says Seabreeze Kitchens
Director Anders Lawaetz.
“Good design is timeless
and classic – it may be
inspired by trends but not
driven by them,” he said. “A
good kitchen design can be
defined by its practicality and
its simplicity of line, colour
and style.
“And always buy the best quality
appliances you can afford.”
Trends
Anders says matt surfaces for
doors and benchtops are in
vogue, along with:
n Black, grey or white matt
doors often combined with
timber or metallic accents;
n Shaker or v-groove doors in
a satin finish;
n Integrated appliances and
induction cooktops;
n Concealed storage;
n Butler’s pantries / laundries;
n Marble- and concrete-look
benchtops and splashbacks;
n Black or brushed metallic
sink and tapware;
n Splashbacks that create
visual interest and/or add
texture;
n Doors that have no handles
or doors that include integrated
handles.
Eye on design
Anders says Seabreeze designers
are known for their
long-term industry expertise
designing kitchens, bathrooms
and whole house joinery, creating
spaces that are carefully
considered based on requirements
and budget.
“They can advise on the
overall space, work flow, appliances,
lighting and consult on
colour and style,” he said.
Designers are also experienced
in discussing what to
expect during your renovation.
“They are backed by a team
who custom manufacture
their designs in our factory in
Brookvale and by our scheduling
coordinators and specialised
tradespeople.”
Bells and whistles
Anders said high-spec touches
that prove worthy of added
investment included:
n Drawers with bin systems that
include recycling bins;
n Zip taps that include any
combination of boiled, chilled,
filtered or sparking water;
n Electric lift systems (servo
drive) that allow you to open
and close overhead cupboards
with just one touch;
n Combi microwave ovens or
combi steamers.
And last, if you are looking
to sell, a professional clean,
including inside appliances,
reducing clutter especially on
benches and a fresh coat of
paint on the walls can make and
refresh a tired kitchen.
* More info seabreezekitchens.
com.au or call 9938 5477.
WINDOW
COVERINGS
The importance of window
treatments is often overlooked;
whether it be it blinds,
shutters, louvres or sheer
curtains, they add a key functional
and decorative element
to homes.
Functional finery
“A window covering should be
both beautiful and practical,
as it can impact the whole feel
of a room and is something
that you will interact with every
day,” says Jonathan Pretty
from Shades of Pittwater.
32 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
“Child safety is an increasing
concern for homeowners;
fortunately all of our window
coverings are designed with
the latest ACCC Child Safety
Regulations,” he said.
“From cordless alternatives
to motorised operation
systems, there are many
innovative lifting systems that
incorporate safety, convenience
and style.”
Invite light
Light control is the number
one consideration in choosing
a window covering.
“Whether to darken a bedroom,
reduce glare in a living
room, or utilise natural light to
brighten a kitchen, different
opacities can filter or deflect
sunlight depending on your
needs and preferences,” Jonathan
said.
“Nowadays, motorisation
technology enables you to
schedule the position of window
furnishings, and even automatically
creates preferred
‘scenes’ to provide the perfect
room ambiance day or night.”
The Local Voice Since 1991
Block neighbours
Privacy is an important
consideration for homeowners
– particularly in bedrooms
and bathrooms; however,
you don’t need to give up a
beautiful view or block out the
daylight to achieve this.
Maintaining privacy and
total control can be achieved
through louvred window coverings
where you can angle the
‘vanes’ for your ideal setting.
Energy efficient
Insulation is key to maintaining
room temperatures and
a few small changes can help
your home be more energy efficient
and keep bills down.
“The patented cell-within-acell
construction of our Duette
Architella Ménage Shades
provides more insulation than
any other window covering on
the market – helping you make
direct savings on your energy
bills,” says Jonathan.
* Visit the new Shades of Pittwater
showroom at G04/697-
701 Pittwater Road, Dee Why
or call 9999 6001.
CUSHION
COMFORT
Winter is a great time to
update and replace worn-out
seating and cushions.
Custom cut
Luxafoam North in Mona Vale
specialise in providing quality
Dunlop foams for use in your
home and outdoor areas.
“From lounge chairs to
dining chairs, window seats,
outdoor daybeds, cane and
wicker settings and BBQ settings
you can bring new life
and comfort to your furniture
by replacing old worn out
cushions with comfortable
and supportive ones,” says
Caroline Wall.
The clean water specialists
Renovating or building a new
kitchen is the perfect time
to install a stylish, functional
water filter.
“They make good sense
economically – for just a few
cents a litre you can benefit
from peace of mind knowing
they can remove Chlorine,
Ammonia, Asbestos,
VOCs (pesticides, herbicides,
petroleum products), heavy
metals and parasites Giardia
and Cryptosporidium – year
round,” said Jenny Day from
Northern Suburbs Water
Filters which has operated
locally for 25 years.
“It’s really important to know that you’re providing clean,
healthy water for your family,” she added. “You can even retain
or remove Fluoride… we can tailor the water filter to suit
your needs.”
Speak to their friendly and informed team and see their
wide range of quality filters and designer faucets.
Apart from being economical, filters are environmentally
friendly, reliable and easy to use… and you can really taste
the difference.
As Jenny advises: “Buy a filter, don’t be a filter!”
* Showroom 6/20 Bungan St Mona Vale or call 9979 5855.
The team cut foams to
any size and shape to suit all
styles of seating.
“You can choose to have just
one single piece of foam or for
extra comfort you can layer
your foam cushions with soft
cushioning and slow recovery
foams which help create
lasting plush comfort,” says
Caroline.
The team also makes custom
covers with a wide range
of indoor and outdoor fabrics
from the major brands.
* Visit luxafoamnorth.com.
au or call 9999 5567.
Design advice
If you want to repair, update
or replace furniture upholstery
and/or foam, local Susan Ottowa
specialises in transforming
and reinvigorating indoor
and outdoor pieces.
With years of styling experience
and up-to-date with
current trends, Susan can help
bring life back to your exisiting
furniture with a wide selection
of foam and an extensive
range of designer fabrics to
help you achieve the feel you
are after.
Susan also offers curtain
making and soft furnishing
and upholstery zip repairs at
competitive prices.
FLOORS AND
DOORS
To add warmth and style,
roll out rugs, consider carpet
or new flooring and solid,
custom-made windows and
doors.
‘Rug’ up
Family owned business Rug
Revival have been successfully
washing rugs in their custombuilt
wash plant at Mona Vale
for more than 15 years.
“Rug cleaning is a
specialised service, which
should be done in plant and
not by a carpet cleaner in your
home,” says co-owner Ian.
Ian is fully qualified to wash
any style rug, from the finest
hand-woven Persians to the
modern designer styles.
“Each rug is individually
washed with care and
* Call Susan 0422 466 880. attention to ensure you the
JULY 2019 33
Special Feature
OUTDOORS
Make the best of your space
year-round with clever design.
Special Feature
BESPOKE
FURNITURE
Beck Urban Furniture boasts
quality, custom-made furniture
at affordable prices.
The team – comprising
owner Adrian Beck, manager
Mick Saxby and interior stylist
and designer Janet Hay – offer
a personalised experience
from start to finish.
“We specialise in and are
perfect for downsizing, kids’
furniture and custom-made
furniture,” says Adrian. “We
come out and measure to ensure
that we get the perfect fit.
“Furniture is custom-made
and designed at no extra
cost, made in any timber, any
size and any colour – and all
Australian-made.
“Labour costs are already included,
so you pay more if it’s
larger... but less if it’s smaller.”
They also have a selection
of imported timber furniture
at the cheapest prices.
“We won’t be beaten on
price with our 90-Day guarantee
– if you find the same
piece cheaper excluding delivery
(online companies) we will
refund the difference.”
* Visit beckurbanfurniture.
com.au or their showroom
at 1/553 Pittwater Rd,
Brookvale or call 9905 0947.
best possible result for your
treasured possession,” he said.
Rug Revival is equipped to
handle any carpet cleaning
problems – from pet accidents
to wine spills and stubborn
stains.
A handy pick-up and
delivery service is available
and they can also move and
replace furniture in order to
roll up and roll out your rugs.
* More info call Belinda on
9997 8888.
Make an entrance
Cool Change Doors and Windows
is a family owned company
manufacturing custom
timber doors and windows in
Terrey Hills.
Company Director Garth
Kirkland and his team construct
top-quality products
from western red cedar and
select hardwoods (above).
“Timber-framed doors and
windows should be the first
choice for those seeking optimal
energy efficiency,” Garth
said.
“Timber is far more thermally
efficient than aluminium,
allowing little heat to escape
during winter and reducing
heat transference from the
outside during summer.
“Additionally, timber doors
and windows bring a character
to your home that will never
go out of style.”
Garth is also a licensed
builder and has 30 years’
experience in the Pittwater
area, with all staff living on
the Northern Beaches.
* More info coolchangedoorsandwindows.com.au
or
Facebook; Call 9450 0889.
Lay of the land
Landscaping can add tens of
thousands of dollars to the
value of your property.
Engaging a professional
landscape design and
construction company to
give your outdoor area a
makeover (below) is one of the
few improvements you can
undertake that not only adds
value immediately but actually
increases over time.
While paint peels and kitchens
and bathrooms date, your
garden continues to become
more bountiful and advances
as years go by, says Joe Whiteside
of Blayd Architectured
Landscapes.
He explained there really
was no limit on the types of
things that could be done to
improve outdoor areas.
If you are after a low-maintenance
garden, Joe recom-
34 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
SELLER CHECKLIST
When you‘re selling your
home, as in life, it’s
best to be prepared.
As a seller, you want the
best price; meanwhile buyers
are also looking carefully for
problems, to help negotiate a
better price, or to ready themselves
for future expense.
Apparent problems can
easily result in a lower price.
That’s why good presentation
is key when you are selling –
and it all starts at the street,
says principal of Shores Real
Estate, Stephanie Hammond.
Street appeal
Potential buyers will drive by
houses, just to check out the
appeal.
“They’re looking at the area,
the street, and the house
– that’s the famed ‘street appeal’!”
Stephanie said.
So, to make it look its best:
n Tidy the garden;
n Mow the lawn;
n Clear the pet bowls and
kid’s stuff away;
n If it needs it, think about
repainting the façade; and
n At the very minimum, get
the gutters cleaned and
downpipes fixed.
Stephanie said it was crucial
to look at your own home
through someone else’s eyes.
“The quirks and oddities
you love, or are at least used
to, may be much less appealing
to strangers.”
Less is more
Inside... less is more!
“Declutter and – yes, I
know it’s your home but still
– de-personalise,” Stephanie
advises, adding you should:
n Put away all your knickknacks
and souvenirs – you
want someone to imagine
it’s their house;
n Change sheets, air bathrooms,
put washing away;
n Repair anything broken
(cracked tiles in the bathroom,
broken mirrors, loose
door handles...); and
n Clean, clean, clean!
Focus on features
Show off your home’s features.
Stephanie says:
n If it has a great view, make
sure the windows are clean.
n If it’s got a beautiful garden,
make sure it’s accessible.
n If there’s a fireplace, or a
fire pit (in winter), light it.
Be prepared
Away from the house itself,
there are also plenty of things
to prepare.
n Instruct a solicitor so that
the paperwork is all done.
n Check your mortgage
lender to make sure
you’re set for the move.
And Stephanie says that
increasingly, agents recommend
getting a Building &
Pest inspection done. “Buyers
like to know there’s nothing
nasty, and are happy to get
access to one already done – it
saves time and money,” she
said. (Check out beforeyoubid.
com.au – they will arrange an
inspection and your costs are
reduced the more people view
the inspection report.)
Trust is the key
At the open house, have your
home looking its best.
“Put the kids, pets, and
grumpy partner in the car, and
leave your agent to work their
magic,” Stephanie said.
“Don’t hang around, don’t
eavesdrop or watch the comers
and goers, it’ll only make
you more nervous.
“Just go... and leave it in the
hands of an agent you trust.”
* Thinking of selling? Call
Shores on 8355 7955 for an
obligation-free assessment.
Special Feature
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 35
Special Feature
mends focusing on advanced
trees, ground covers and
native plants.
“Consider creating features
such as BBQ terraces, paths
and timber elements such as
an entertaining area or deck,”
he said. “These work incredibly
well to give those areas a
warm and welcoming feel.”
He said a garden makeover
did not need to be costly.
“We take pride in working
closely with every client to ensure
that the best design and
project is completed within
budget and on time,” he said.
* Go to blayd.com.au or call
1300 907 266.
Roof with a view
The versatility of an opening
roof means that you can control
your environment, giving
you warm sun in winter, shade
in summer, plus more ventilation
and protection from wind,
rain and storms.
Designed for Australian
conditions, SunSpec opening
roofs offer the whole range of
positions between open and
fully closed, conveniently operated
by a remote control.
SunSpec’s Dustin Weaver
says the roof systems are versatile,
easy to use and clean.
“The louvered roof mechanism
transforms from a solid
waterproof covering to an
open garden trellis, or Pergolastyle
covering – giving light,
ventilation, and views of the
clear sky above (above) all of
this simply at the touch of a
button, giving you complete
flexibility of your light and
weather control needs for any
outdoor living area,” he said.
Opening roofs are a great
addition for the home, office,
business, commercial or industrial
site.
And SunSpec opening roofs
are unmatched in terms of
cost, functionality, warranty
period (10 years’ parts and
labour) and performance.
* Visit sunspec.com.au.
Deck space
The age-old problem of
keeping under-deck space
dry so it can be utilised for
entertaining or storage has
been solved by Underdeck.
Manufactured in Australia,
Underdeck is a specially
designed pre-engineered ceiling
system that transforms the
unsightliness of the underside
of the deck into a desirable and
useable area year-round.
It’s a simple system:
Underdeck panels catch the
water dripping through the
deck gap and channel the
water away to the gutter
running along one edge. The
water-carrying panels are
hung from specially designed
brackets that are fixed to the
bottom of the joists, with a
fall towards the gutter – all
the panels are interlocked to
prevent leaks.
Made from recycled and
recyclable metal, Underdeck
(above) is easy to install,
maintenance-free and works
with existing or new decks.
* More info underdeck.com.
au or call 0417 591 113.
Room solution
If you need an extra room,
a private space to work in,
or your teenage children
require a more independent
space, a Backyard Cabin
could be the perfect solution
and an economical option to
traditional renovations.
This home-grown company
creates attractive cabins,
cottages (below), studios
and sheds priced between
$25,000 and $120,000 with
construction times that range
between 2-10 weeks.
Backyard Cabins’ Zac
Rochester said that with
years of experience the
team understood the needs
of the family home and the
spaces required for complete
functionality.
“Our cabins are perfect for a
home office, salon, workshop,
artist studio and with the
ATO extending its $30,000
instant tax write-off for small
business, a Backyard Cabin
would be a welcome addition
to your home and help greatly
with your budget,” he said.
“We can handle all the
approvals, if required, to make
the project as smooth and
stress-free or take advantage
of the allowance for exempt
development for sheds and
cabanas up to 20m2.”
* Phone 0400 499 939 for
a free site visit and quote
and check out their work on
Instagram @backyardcabins.
36 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Art Life
Art Life
Manly gallery’s
scope on show
Manly Art Gallery and Museum
(MAG&M) is throwing
open the doors to its
extensive permanent collection
in two diverse exhibitions which
will include some works on public
display for the first time.
The exhibitions come before
the Gallery’s 90th anniversary
next year and will provide a
great insight into the workings
of a major public art gallery and
the composition of its permanent
collection.
“MAGAM is a landmark
institution on the Northern
Beaches cultural landscape,
and we are very proud to see
works from the Gallery’s permanent
collection on display
for the public to enjoy,” Mayor
Michael Regan said.
The two exhibitions – Recent
Acquisitions and Artists Abroad –
will commence on Friday 28 June.
Recent Acquisitions highlights
selected works from the
collection acquired over the
past 10 years, including Pittwater
artist Joshua Yeldham’s
gift to the gallery ‘Resonance –
Morning Bay’ (pictured).
Senior Curator Katherine
Roberts said the exhibition
would emphasise the scale and
scope of the Gallery’s permanent
collection.
“Each work has a unique
story about how and why it was
acquired,” said Katherine.
The second exhibition Artists
Abroad explores the notion of
European travel by Australian
artists over the past century.
“Both exhibitions aim to
be a fascinating and informative
and have been designed
to give visitors an excellent
understanding of our collection
history and how it came
together,” said Katherine.
“In our Recent Acquisitions
exhibition, much of this is
told through the words of the
curators, artists, donors and
subjects, making it a very
enjoyable experience of our collection
over the past 10 years.
Ms Roberts said curated
collection exhibitions such as
Artists Abroad provided a new
context in which works could
be shown.
“Like woven fabric, these
works together tell a larger
story and paint a larger picture
about the lives of artists and
the world beyond these shores.
They are historical and personal
at the same time, objective
and subjective.”
From plein air sketches and
watercolours to large-scale
Darling Portrait Prize call
Calling all Pittwater portrait
painters looking to try their
luck further afield – entries for
the inaugural Darling Portrait
Prize are open.
Get your entries in by
Tuesday 1 October 2019 to
be eligible to win the Darling
Portrait Prize valued at
$75,000.
Director of the National
oil paintings, works in Artists
Abroad include those by Will
Ashton, Theo Batten, Charles
Bryant, Theodore Penleigh
Boyd, Rupert Bunny, Ethel
Carrick-Fox, to name a few.
Featured works in Recent
Acquisitions are by artists
Herbert Badham, Grace
Cossington Smith, Elisabeth
Cummings, Joshua Yeldham,
Hobie Porter, Salvatore Zofrea,
Barbara Campbell-Allen,
Daniel Mellor, Anne Zahalka,
Bill Leak, Euan Macleod and
Luke Sciberras.
* Exhibition dates: June
28 – July 21; opening night
Friday June 28, 6-8pm (by
Paul Brinkman, President,
Regional Public Galleries
NSW and Director of Blue
Mountains Cultural Centre).
Portrait Gallery, Karen
Quinlan, says that entries are
already rolling in and she’s
excited to see a diverse field
of entrants.
“Australia is home to so
many talented and inspiring
artists and this is evident
in the entries we have
seen so far,” she said. “We
welcome entries from all
38 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
The Art School’s in
when school is out
I
t’s that time of the year when you need to get snuggly and
creative! Look no further as Sydney Art Space will be holding
its July Winter School over the school holidays for adults,
children and teens.
This art school is now a Creative Kids provider and they have
organised the July workshops so that school-aged participants
enrolling for painting, drawing and sculpting can claim their
rebate for
these sessions.
For ages 16
and up they
have three
workshops on
offer: Porcelain
Hand-Building;
Sculpting the
Portrait; and
Encaustics
Painting.
Head over
to the original
Taronga Park Zoo caretaker’s cottage at 64 Darley Street, Mona
Vale and enjoy their creative community this Winter. There is
also convenient parking directly opposite in Pittwater Place to
make everything easy for you.
And a heads-up for Term 3 coursework: It will begin on July
22 with offerings in Sculpture, Drawing, Painting: Oils, Acrylics
and Multi Media, Kids Art Club and Teens Art Club with fullterm,
half-term and casual enrolment options.
* For all bookings and enquiries go to sydneyartspace.com
Art Life
over the country and from
professional and emerging
artists alike.
Artist have until 9am
Tuesday 1 October to get
their entries in. Finalists will
be announced in November
2019 and the Darling
Portrait Prize exhibition
will run at the National
Portrait Gallery, alongside
the finalists in the National
Photographic Portrait Prize
and the Digital Portraiture
Award, in March 2020.
Prize entrants must be an
Australian citizen or resident
over the age of 18. Artists
may paint any Australian
citizen or resident and/or a
person or persons who have
a strong association with
Australia or who has made
a significant contribution to
Australian life.
* More info portrait.gov.au
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 39
Obituaries
Obituaries
Avalon celebrates life of ‘Davo’
Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving
Club legend and Life Member
Ken (Davo) Davidson passed away on
June 12; he was 91.
Club spokesman Roger Sayers said
Ken joined the club in November
1946 and obtained his Bronze
Medallion the following year.
In 2017 Ken received his
70-years’ service award.
“Ken was a boatie and
a board (toothpick style)
specialist and won the board
event at many carnivals,”
Roger said. “He was treasurer
of the Club for 14 years.
During his surf lifesaving
career, Ken had the pleasure
of seeing improvements
to four generations of our
Clubhouse.
“Ken completed many
rescues over the years but
said his most memorable
rescue was when he saved a father
with his two young daughters caught
in the rip at South Avalon. This
rescue was carried out with the belt
and reel.”
He added that perhaps Ken’s most
memorable exploit was when he dived
off his board and grabbed the tail of a
shark that was in the channel near his
brother – “... to his surprise the shark
turned around and bit him!”
Ken gave an
extraordinarily sustained
contribution to the Club
and was awarded Life
Membership in 1963. Even
with advancing years he
always attended and helped
at Club events like the
annual swim, IRB carnivals,
and still marched with the
Club on Anzac Day in his late
80s.
“He liked a good bottle
of red and a good meal on
Friday nights with Club
members, young and old,”
Roger said.
Ken, who referred to
his Club as “like a home”, passed
away wearing his Avalon Beach 70-
year anniversary 1925-1995 t-shirt.
“He will be sorely missed by many.”
– Nigel Wall
Vale Millicent Prescott
Mrs Millicent Prescott,
one-time Headmistress
of the former Loquat Valley
School, Bayview, passed away
peacefully in Hobart on May 31
at the age of 104.
She was the second longest
serving Head of the School
(1967 – 1981) and wrote in the
50th Anniversary Booklet,
“I came for two terms and
stayed 14 years! I came with 47
children and left with 200!”
Born in 1914 to Australian
missionaries in India, later
moving to Canada, she
arrived in Australia aged 14
to complete her education at
Melbourne Girls’ Grammar,
studied to be a teacher then
moved to Sydney in 1935
where she completed an Arts
degree by correspondence
from London University. From
1935 she taught Sydney Church
of England Girls’ Grammar,
Meridan School, Strathfield,
SCEGGS Moss Vale and Tudor
House. She moved to Avalon
Beach when her husband
Alwyn was appointed as the
Rector of the Pittwater Anglican
Parish. The position of
Headmistress at Loquat Valley
School was accepted on the
understanding that timetables
could be re-arranged to allow
parish commitments to be met.
Her appointment ushered
in the beginning of a new and
significant era for the School;
solid enrolment growth, new
building and grounds works,
educational innovation and a
strong Christian ethos.
She was generous,
compassionate, and always
had the best interests of the
students, staff and parents
at the forefront, yet she was
not afraid to tackle difficult
issues, asking parents in one
newsletter to “… take a far more
positive stand in directing your
children’s leisure activities
and not allow yourselves to be
cowered into submission by
the stand-over tactics of your
young ones”.
A former student and
staff member recalled: “Mrs
Prescott was extremely regal.
Her whole presentation was so
professional and so you just
looked up to her all the time.
What she said went, there was
no grey area, and she was just
held in high regard by staff,
children and parents.”
In May, 1981 at her farewell
dinner she said: “It is beyond
my capabilities to express
adequately my thanks and
appreciation, and the presents
given. Now for the hard part!
How can I say goodbye to my
little school? I love it very
dearly and can’t imagine life
without it.”
Millicent and Alwyn moved
to Hobart in 1983 leading a very
full and rewarding life. She
remained intensely interested
in her Bayview school and
continued educational pursuits
through involvement with a
literacy program for women
in Pakistan. She celebrated her
100th birthday in the presence
of the Tasmanian Premier,
the Anglican Archbishop, the
extended Prescott clan, family,
friends and representatives
from her days at Loquat Valley,
surrounded by newspaper
reporters and TV cameras, and
received written greetings from
The Queen, Governor-General
and Governor. She joined a
local Sing Australia group
which helped her regain speech
after she suffered a stroke and
continued to drive her own
car, having bought her first
automatic model in her 90s!
She and Alwyn were
married for 67 years and had
six children. Hers was a life
well lived and she will be
remembered as an outstanding
educator and Head of Loquat
Valley. – Rick Stevens
40 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Surfing Life
Any ideas where your
surfboard came from?
Crazy import figures show another side of a cultish industry...
with Nick Carroll
Surfing Life
CHANGING SHAPE: Boardroom showcases all that’s happening in the world of surfboards; however, figures on the origins of imports tell a conflicting tale.
Recently I spent two
state at his stand, flanked nations as varied as Peru, factory, the main producer of
fantastic days at
by Mr Pipeline himself, Thailand, Mexico, Taiwan, one of the world’s best-selling
Boardroom, the world’s
biggest surfboard show.
Held in Del Mar, California
in late May, Boardroom
showcases the finest in
surfboard craftsmanship
from around the world.
A highlight is always the
Shapers’ Challenge, in which
several expert surfboard
designers take to the tool in
public, trying to out-match
each other in producing a
hand-made replica of some
legendary board of yore.
(In this case, a late 1960s
design from the show’s
guest of honour, Australia’s
Wayne Lynch.)
I wandered the hall,
captivated by the general
gorgeousness on display.
Dick Brewer, probably the
greatest surfboard designer
ever, was in session with
his great team rider, the
big wave pioneer Darrick
Doerner. Darrick roamed
the show, all camo pants
and thousand-yard stare,
dragging people over to
meet Brewer, who sat in
Gerry Lopez, and a fleet of
boards priced in the many
thousands.
The whole show is like that:
drenched in cultish regard for
style, form, and most of all
perhaps, tradition. As well it
might be. A good surfboard,
made for good waves,
remains possibly the coolest
thing in surfing. Like a big
heavy early-morning winter
groundswell, it can frighten
you just by its very existence
– as anyone who walked past
the Boardroom’s big-wave
gun racks could tell ya.
But is it really a reflection
of what’s going on in
surfboard making today?
Not long after Boardroom,
I was sent a document leaked
from the USA’s international
trade watchdog. It contained
a detailed breakdown of
surfboard imports into the US
over the past five years.
To put it mildly, the figures
are astonishing. They show
that on average, over a
million surfboards a year are
brought into the US, from
Czechoslovakia, Vietnam,
China, and even good ol’
Australia.
This radically out-does
US domestic surfboard
production, which is
estimated by the Surf Industry
Manufacturers’ Association at
around 250,000 annually.
Some of the imports can
be easily traced to their
sources. Taiwan, which sent
117,962 boards to the US in
2018, is home to the world’s
biggest manufacturer of
bodyboards and softboards,
and softboard sales through
just one chain, the big box
retailer CostCo, are estimated
at around 80,000 per annum.
So there’s that.
Mexico’s figure of 59,482
is a result of US-based blank
and surfboard makers, who
have increasingly moved
production to their near
neighbour to avoid US
environmental laws and to
take advantage of cheaper
labour costs. And Thailand’s
64,412 is down to that
country’s renowned Cobra
high-performance board
brands, Firewire (including
Kelly Slater’s eponymous
brand, Slater Designs).
All pretty much known
quantities in the surfboard
market – though the figures
will still be a shock to some
home-grown US boardmakers.
But the real bolt from the
blue is China. According to
the watchdog, last year it
sent over 615,000 surfboards
across the Pacific – more than
all other imports combined.
Such a massive figure
isn’t easily explained by
any known board brand or
individual sale activity. And
needless to say, you’ll look
far and wide across US board
retail to find a ‘Made In China’
decal. There surely weren’t
any at Boardroom.
It leaves the rather awkward
likelihood that a LOT of
different, possibly very wellknown
surfboard brands are
sneakily filling their inventories
via the Chinese factory
complex, without actually
telling their customers.
42 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
PL’s JULY SURF CALENDAR
9-22/7: WSL CT Corona J-Bay Open, Jeffreys Bay, RSA
Super-pivotal event on the men’s and women’s world
championship tour thanks to the wave at Jeffreys, which tests
all sorts of surfing skills when it’s on. J-Bay became notorious
in 2015 after Mick Fanning encountered a Great White Shark
in the lineup just as the final began (pictured), resulting in the
most widely seen footage in surfing history. Don’t expect that to
happen again – the place is under intense surveillance during the
contest, if not at other times – but do expect to see some of the
best surfing of the year. www.worldsurfleague.com
NICK’S JULY SURF FORECAST
Woooo, June had a shot at it. There was one massive burst of south
swell early in the month. It lasted about as long as the wind that
accompanied it, then died back, leaving us with the bits and pieces
we’d expected. I think July is about to change it up. The deeper
waters are still unseasonably warm and at some point this will lead
to a blazing contrast between southern winds and northern water
temperatures. Watch for a series of really cold weather events, which
may well be underway as this magazine is being printed, then watch
for a resulting swirl in energies over the mid-Tasman Sea and some
explosive winds and swells, providing (I truly hope) the best moments
of 2019 so far. There’s a dark side to a month like this, by the way – if
it pans out this way, it will be another confirmation of global warming/
climate change. Because otherwise, this July would be a damp squib.
Surfing Life
Nick Carroll
While all this seems
related just to the US, the
way surfboard markets and
manufacturing only differs
between there and here by
degree. And while Australian
boardmakers send around
16,000 boards a year to be
sold in the US, we tend to
follow US trends in this area
rather than lead. Softboard
sales, for instance – they’re
only now just starting to spike
toward CostCo levels.
All of which begs the
question: where DID your
surfboard come from?
Maybe it doesn’t matter.
Maybe in some cases,
foreign production is a plus.
Thailand’s Cobra is one of,
if not the best boardmaking
facility in the world. Taiwan
makes softboard quality that
nobody in Australia could
achieve, not for any price.
The Local Voice Since 1991
And while there’s plenty of
high value Australian board
producers, particularly here
on the northern beaches,
there’s a few shonkinesses
going on. Recently a wellknown
Australian brand was
caught using faked-up paper
decals to mimic the more
expensive carbon fibre tape
that’s now commonly used
as a strengthening agent in
lamination.
Of course, you may be one
of those savvy humans who
goes big on custom ordering,
and who follows through the
production cycle from shape
to finish coat. But who has
time for that these days?
All we can say is: if the
shop can’t tell you where
the board was made, don’t
be surprised if it turns out
to be somewhere you can’t
pronounce.
JULY 2019 43
Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
Local ADHD support grows
It is estimated that one in 20
children in Australia have
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) – a chronic
problem that results in poor
concentration and control of
impulses.
Local group ADHD Support
Australia has been holding
monthly expert speaker evenings
on the northern beaches
since 2013.
Originally called Northern
Beaches ADHD Support Group
and with an aim to support parents
of children with ADHD on
the Northern Beaches through
expert speaker evenings,
various meet-ups and self-care
events, Facebook groups, parenting
courses and a website,
the organisation is in the middle
of a momentous year.
February saw the group
re-brand as ADHD Support Australia
in order to reach those in
need of help with ADHD across
the country and launched its
new website which incorporates
information on ADHD, a directory
of professionals, services,
resources and recommended
products, an expert blog and
event listings.
In January, Founder and
organiser Vivian Dunstan was
awarded a Northern Beaches
Council Australia Day Outstanding
Community Service
Award for her commitment and
dedication to helping the ADHD
community on the Northern
Beaches over the past six years.
And in May, ADHD Support
Australia received news that
it is now endorsed to provide
NSW Education Standards
Authority (NESA) Registered
Professional Development for
teachers accredited at Proficient
Teacher level.
“This is fantastic news as it
is so important for teachers to
have the training and skills to
GROUP FOUNDER: Vivian Dunstan
ensure children with ADHD are
well-catered for in the classroom,
allowing them to reach
their full potential academically,
socially and emotionally,” Vivian
told Pittwater Life.
“This new development will
give local teachers added incentive
to come along and access
training from leading experts in
ADHD and its co-morbid conditions
every month at Pittwater
RSL in Mona Vale.”
Thanks to Pittwater RSL’s
sponsorship of ADHD Support
Australia, teachers and parents
alike are able to access the
speaker evenings for only $15.
At this month’s meeting,
educational consultant Sharon
Pittwater Friends of
Soibada is a diverse group
of locals who are committed
to forging a lasting
friendship between our
community and those in the
Central Timor Leste province
of Soibada.
Its latest mission is to
raise money for clean water
for birthing clinics.
Group founder Tamara
Sloper-Harding explained
that a few years ago the
Timorese Government built
a new maternity clinic in
Soibada; however due to the
extreme weather conditions
there is no water in the clinic
in the dry season.
The midwives need to
carry soiled sheets to the
river to wash them and
Bramble will present her talk
Demystifying Reading – for
Parents of Children with ADHD
and Associated Learning Difficulties.
Attendees will hear about
the current reading practices
taught in schools and will learn
multisensory strategies using
systematic phonics that will
help children with ADHD as well
as enhance learning for other
children.
If a child with ADHD also has
a language-based learning difficulty,
a multisensory teaching
approach – which simultaneously
uses visual, auditory and
kinaesthetic pathways to the
brain – will enhance memory
and increase learning, she says.
With more than 20 years’
experience assisting learners
of all ages and abilities with
ADHD, Sharon will share some
of the evidence-based practices
which she has successfully
taught to hundreds of teachers
in primary and secondary
schools across New South
Wales.
The meeting will be held in
the Pittwater RSL Auditorium on
July 30 from 6.45-8.45pm. Go
to the website adhdsupportaustralia.com.au
for more details.
– Lisa Offord
Soibada Stayin’ Alive Disco
families carry water to the
clinic when mothers give
birth.
The group recently
purchased an industrial
washing machine for the
clinic and in July a working
party will go there to put in a
water tank and guttering so
it can be used.
And they need your
support.
One way you can help
is by dressing up and
heading to Avalon RSL Club
on Saturday July 6 for the
Stayin’ Alive Disco Party
fundraising event.
Tickets ($35) are available
from Studio Hair, Mitre 10
Avalon, Avalon RSL and
online at avalonrsl.com.au
– LO
44 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Beware kombucha’s unhealthy side effect
local dentist has issued a warning about
A the popular fermented tea drink kombucha.
The slightly fizzy beverage, which is created
from tea, sugar and a culture of bacteria
and yeast, is known for its
many health benefits and is
considered a popular alternative
to soft drinks.
“It is a natural beneficial
bacteria and probiotic but we
have to be mindful how and
when we should drink it due
its acidic nature,” Dr Astrid
Kylstra, practice owner of
Avalon Beach Family Dental,
explained.
“Kombucha actually has an
acidity on par with lemonade
or cola, without the sugar
content, so decay is unlikely –
but tooth erosion is a real danger,” she said.
Tooth erosion happens when acids wear
away the enamel on teeth. Tooth enamel
does not grow back. If left untreated, tooth
erosion can lead to the progressive loss of
the surface of the tooth.
“This loss of tooth structure can require
complex and lengthy dental treatment involving
fillings, veneers, crowns and potentially
root canal treatment or even extraction,”
Dr Kylstra warned.
When the signs of dental erosion are detected,
it’s essential to determine the cause
and modify it.
“When we continuously
drink kombucha or any acidic
beverage such as juice, or
soft drinks, we are essentially
creating an ideal acidic
environment for acid wear to
occur,” she said.
The good new is you can
still enjoy kombucha without
compromising your oral
health by following Dr Kylstra’s
teeth-saving tips.
Drink kombucha at one sitting.
Do not sip it throughout
the day. Doing this maintains
a thriving acidic environment, detrimental to
teeth enamel.
Once you have finished your drink, swish
or gargle with tap water to create a neutral,
alkaline environment.
Avoid brushing teeth for approximately 30
minutes, to allow enamel to re-harden after
the acidity.
– Lisa Offord
Health & Wellbeing
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 45
Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
How modern Digital Life
is causing eye strain woe
Do you find yourself having
to hold the menu further
away to read it? Are you
struggling to read messages on
your mobile phone or the small
print on grocery labels? If you
are, you’re not alone. Many of
our patients are too suffering
from the effects of presbyopia.
These are common first signs
of presbyopia, the normal loss
of near focusing ability that
occurs with age. Unfortunately,
we can’t escape this, and most
of us will start to notice this
change in our early to mid-40s.
The good news is that we can
help correct presbyopia very
simply with glasses or contact
lenses in the prescription you
need. Through an eye examination
we can help tackle the no.
1 symptom associated with
presbyopia – the need to extend
your arm to read the small
print.
What causes it?
When you’re young, the lens
in your eye is flexible and
relatively elastic. It can change
its length or shape with the
help of a ring of tiny muscles
that surround it. However, as
we age, the lens in the eye
gradually thickens and loses
elasticity. As a result, light focuses
behind the retina instead
of directly on it, compromising
our ability to focus on close
objects. With an estimated 1.8
billion people with presbyopia,
we are dedicated to providing
service to all those on the
Northern Beaches who might
be suffering.
What are the signs?
n Blurred and cloudy vision;
n Difficulty reading small print;
n Difficulty focusing on near
objects;
n Need to hold objects further
away to see them properly;
n Difficulty reading in dark
conditions;
n Headaches occurring after
reading; and
n Eye strain.
In response Beckenham Optometrist
is launching a community
campaign educating
on the realities of Presbyopia.
With common side effects including
eyestrain, headaches
and fatigue after reading
close work or struggling with
reading small print; we can
help find you a simple solution
to ease the strain.
Why see us?
You don’t need to put up with
the inconvenience and strain
of presbyopia. Our job is to
get your near vision within
arm’s length again, and this
starts with a comprehensive
with Rowena Beckenham
eye examination. Once we
have a full picture of your
vision and eye health, we’ll
prescribe a tailored solution
that fits best with your daily
life. It’s natural to feel a little
apprehensive about wearing
glasses or contact lenses for
the first time. With this in mind,
we will support you through
the process, so you see well
and feel confident in your new
eyewear.
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 20 years, in addition
to working as a consultant to the optometric and
pharmaceutical industry, and regularly volunteering in
Aboriginal eyecare programs in regional NSW.
46 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Organ donation focus
DonateLife Week 2019
(28 July – 4 August) is
Australia’s national awareness
week to promote organ and
tissue donation and get more
people signed up as donors.
This year’s campaign urges
existing registered donors to
find a ‘plus-one’ to sign up.
If every registered donor did
this, the number of people
on the register would soon
double.
In 2018, 1,782 lives were
transformed by 554 deceased
and 238 living organ donors
and their families.
Although the number of
annual donors has more
than doubled over the past
decade there is room for
improvement so that more
people can receive lifechanging
transplants.
“Only one in three
Australians have joined the
Australian Organ Donor
Register (AODR), even though
81 per cent believe it’s
important,” a spokesperson
said.
“With more than 1,400
Australians currently on the
waiting list for a transplant,
and a further 11,000 people
on dialysis, every new
registration counts.”
Letting your family know
you want to be a donor is
important too.
Research shows nine out of
10 families agree to donation
when their loved one is on the
donor register.
Consent is given in 7 out
of 10 cases when the family
knows their loved one’s
wishes, but this drops to 5
out of 10 when the family is
unaware of what their family
member wanted.
You can register as an
organ and tissue donor at
donatelife.gov.au – it’s quick
and easy and takes less than
a minute. – Lisa Offord
Health & Wellbeing
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 47
Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
Up for a
visitor?
If you or anyone you know
is feeling lonely and doesn’t
have regular contact with family
and friends, the Community
Visitors Scheme (CVS) can
offer an opportunity for social
support and companionship.
CVS provides friendship and
companionship by matching
aged care recipients with volunteer
visitors.
CCNB – a not-for-profit
community-based organisation
– coordinates the program on
the Northern Beaches. They will
take into account your interests
and background when finding a
suitable visitor for you.
CCNB provides impartial
information and advice to support
people to access a range of
health and community services.
More info 1300 002 262 or
email ccnb@ccnb.com.au
Diabetes
awareness
Every day almost 300 Australians
are diagnosed with diabetes
but for many the diagnosis
is being made too late, putting
them at risk, according to
Diabetes NSW and ACT.
The organisation is urging
people to learn the signs and
symptoms of type 1 and type 2
diabetes. Each year 640 children
and adults are admitted to hospital
because the early symptoms
of type 1diabetes – severe
fatigue, thirst and weight loss
– are not recognised. More than
half of these hospital admissions
are children and teens.
On top of this there are
almost half a million who are
living with type 2 diabetes but
don’t know it. That’s because
type 2 diabetes can be “silent”
and occur without any obvious
symptoms. When type 2 diabetes
goes undiagnosed there
is the danger of complications
like vision loss and blindness,
kidney failure, nerve damage
and heart disease occurring.
People over 40 are encouraged
to do a quick online assessment
to ascertain their risk
of diabetes and if concerned
to speak to their GP. More info
diabetesnsw.com.au – LO
Ros is keeping
things ‘Upbeat’
In 2015, Pittwater Life featured an article on
Ros Saunders’s newly formed Upbeat Choir
in Avalon, which she started to help people
whose voices have been affected due to
strokes, or other disorders.
She had then been asked to participate in a
research project with RSL Lifecare in Narrabeen
on the effects of singing on the communication
development of stroke victims over a 12-week
period. Participants in the choir were found to
have significant improvement in engagement,
better social interaction, and general wellbeing.
In fact, the choir proved such a success that it is
now a regular weekly event.
Ros was a piano teacher until a close friend
of hers was diagnosed with Aphasia (loss of
speech and memory). Wanting to help him she
contacted Bernadatte Matthias, who was doing
a PhD at Newcastle Conservatorium of Music
on the effect of choir-singing on people with
speech problems. Ros learnt from her and her
choir, before taking singing and conducting
lessons and embarking on her new vocation.
In RSL Lifecare’s Peter Cosgrove House, Ros
Saunders conducts the group through their
first song of the morning, I Still Call Australia
Home, with Jill Parker accompanying on the
piano, and Recreation Activities Officer, Erica
Wallace, not only singing beautifully, but also
encouraging the participants to join in. Over
half of them are in wheelchairs and their
voices are quiet and hesitant initially, but Ros
insists on volume.
There are two enthusiastic renditions of
Ob La Di Ob La Da, and a man sitting a little
apart from the group, not only bellows out the
words, but also keeps perfect time with a tambourine.
Later, Ros tells me, he can’t speak.
“I wouldn’t miss this every week, wherever
there’s singing there’s always joy,” says wheelchair
bound, 98-year-old Ita Cronan.
Annie Noddings, in her 80s, says: “I find it
invigorating. You’ve got to learn the music
and the words, and with a group of us, it feels
good. It helps the memory too.”
Ros Saunders now runs three Upbeat Choirs
– this one, her original Upbeat Choir at Avalon,
and a community choir in Bayview.
Bronwyn Coe joined the Avalon Upbeat
Choir with her husband, who’s her carer, three
years ago. Her third nerve palsy stroke in 2013
took away her capacity to express herself, but
she loved singing, and this was an opportunity
to sing again.
“It’s not only improved my lost speech and
pronunciation, but also helped build my selfconfidence,”
she explains.
Ros Saunders is now expanding the Avalon
Choir to include people suffering with dementia.
Since 2003 in the UK, over 200 Singing for
the Brain Choirs have formed across the country,
and scientific research is proving the benefits
of group singing for dementia sufferers.
The finale at RSL Lifecare is Sing, sing a
song. Thai, Mr Too, appears from the kitchen
to add volume to the men, carer Sabrina
Cohnen joins in, and as the sound of 20 voices
fill the room, there can be no doubt as to the
power of singing.
“Everyone should be in a choir,” says Ros.
– Ros Burton
*For more information about the Upbeat
Choir contact Ros Saunders on 0478 438 684.
48 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Health & Wellbeing
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 49
Hair & Beauty
Hair & Beauty
Treat for colour, texture
& tone before surgery
with Sue Carroll
Radiant skin signifies
are wanting to be the consider prior may include a
youth, good health
best version of who they change of lipstick colour, hair
and vitality and
already are. Plastic surgery style and colour.
assists us in facing
performed by a certified Post-surgery tips to stimulate
the world with more
plastic surgeon is a
the healing may consist of
confidence. It is, therefore,
fantastic tool to assist with reduced alcohol and coffee
no surprise that across
accentuating, reshaping consumption, no picking,
all cultures and regions,
or sculpting areas of the scratching or peeling the scar
wevare all in constant
face and body that may tissue site, use a silicon gel to
search for ways to improve
need tweaking to be more reduce scar tissue, and wash
our appearance. Today
functional and aesthetically makeup brushes and sponges
both men and women
surgery today is accentuated
pleasing.
every day to reduce the risk
are visiting plastic surgeons by a real phenomenon, known Even after having performed of infection. It is advisable to
in their quest to achieve their as ‘Instagram Dysmorphia’. your hours of homework in purchase at least 2-3 of each so
desired appearance. To achieve With the help of image editing finding the most skilled plastic hygienic rotation is possible.
optimal results with surgery, software, we can make
surgeon for your requirements, Following homecare postprocedures
it is always best to treat the ourselves look taller, more surgery is not able to treat the
for both surgery
colour, tone and texture of the slender, less wrinkled or
colour, tone and texture of the and clinical treatments is as
skin before surgery.
more muscular. This creates skin. By treating these elements important as the procedure
Plastic surgery patients are unrealistic expectations and can at least 2-3 months prior to itself. By thinking you know
often stigmatised as wanting lead to a nightmare for plastic surgery, the icing is applied better than the surgeon or
to look like their favourite surgeons and aestheticians. to the cake (so to speak). To aesthetician is putting your
Hollywood/pop/sporting
Not everyone wants to look improve the brown and red surgery and result at grave
idol. The demand for plastic like someone else, but instead discolouration appearing risk. Some important tools
on the skin, IPL is still the to assist with healing are the
gold standard to diminish use of lymphatic drainage
these blemishes. Chemical pressotherapy and manual
and herbal peels can reduce massage, along with a light
both the hyperpigmentation therapy system known as
and the coarse texture of BIOPTRON. This light therapy
the skin prior to surgery. system from Switzerland heals
Utilising Nano Fractional skin wounds up to twice as fast as
resurfacing, skin needling or the body would on its own.
fractional laser will retexturise Pain is reduced, along with
the coarse appearance of the discomfort and scar tissue.
skin. This includes acne scars, There are many modalities
enlarged pores and fine sun available to us today to assist
damage wrinkles. Multi-Polar with the possibility of revealing
Radio Frequency and Pulsed the best version of ourselves.
ElectroMagnetic Frequency Unfortunately, it is not as simple
will enhance collagen and as a swipe across a screen to
elastin production to show change our appearance. With
a firming of the skin and careful research, planning,
stimulate the circulation to realistic expectations and
assist with a speedy recovery combining techniques and
of your procedure. Ensuring qualified plastic surgeons and
your body and skin health is aestheticians, your desired goals
at its optimum pre-surgery is can be achieved.
of great assistance to a good
outcome. This may consist of
Sue Carroll of Skin
an exercise program, hydration Inspiration has been a qualified
Aesthetician for 33 years.
of the body and skin internally
(through water and good diet)
Sue has owned and
and externally (through in-clinic
operated successful beauty
oxygen treatments and the
clinics and day spas on
use of topicals such as organic
stem cells, multivitamins and
the Northern Beaches.
growth factor serums). If you do info@skininspiration.com.au
not want friends to realise you www.skininspiration.com.au
have had surgery, other tips to
50 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Business Life: Money
Business Life
Are there better ways
to save? Let’s ‘Raiz’ one
with Brian Hrnjak
This month we look at
how using the Raiz
investment app can
boost savings from everyday
spending… Each year the
publisher of this magazine
lets me get away with a
blatant self-interest article
and so this month I’ll choose
to indulge as it’s the perfect
time at the start of a new
financial year to talk about
establishing a pattern of
saving – especially if you
have older kids in the house.
Raiz is a smartphone app
that allows you to round-up
day-to-day purchases and
invest the difference into a
portfolio of exchange traded
funds listed on the ASX. You
can do this with a starting
balance as low as $5. Raiz
allows you to transfer funds
directly from a bank account ROUNDING UP: The smartphone app helps you save by investing into exchange-traded funds on the ASX.
in case you don’t wish to use traded funds at the heart of the unit prices, they range growth assets which returned
the round-up feature and the six Raiz portfolios are the from 0.224% p.a. to 0.423% 5.20% for the same period
the app also contains a fully same or similar to the ones p.a. Assuming a balance of and SuperRatings median
integrated superannuation we use to when constructing $10,000 the maximum annual balanced fund return of
account with insurance bespoke portfolios for clients fee is $698 or 0.698% p.a. 5.30% for the same time. The
options all kept secure on without the tailoring and made up of Raiz and ETF standout performance has
your phone and with you personalisation.
fees. By way of comparison been for the Raiz Emerald
every minute of the day.
The reality in a post-Hayne- my software tells me this (socially responsible) portfolio
The reason why this is Banking-Royal-Commissionworld
is that compliance quoted by industry funds. to 30 April 2019 with the
is cheaper than those often at 9.49% for the period
self-interest is that our firm
was a partner in bringing the is paramount and the
Above all else these fees same growth asset mix as
Raiz app to Australia from cost of being compliant is allow you access to a robust the moderately aggressive
the US where it was known astronomical. Investors who and compliant platform to portfolio suggesting it does
as Acorns – this was in 2015 are starting out have little start investing. It also comes pay to be green.
before anyone outside of desire to pay their financial with one of the best user
One of the features I did
weed control had ever heard planner thousands of dollars interfaces in the space – want to highlight that has
the term ‘round-up’. We retain to produce a legally required plenty of graphs and pictures, been extremely popular with
a significant shareholding Statement of Advice that full expense tracking,
younger savers is a feature
in the ASX listed entity and may represent more than integrated superannuation, called Raiz rewards. Rewards
aside from all that most of they actually have to invest. a child investment option, is a loyalty program that
us in the office use the app As an entry pathway roboadvice
Raiz rewards (more on that pays money into your Raiz
every day. At its core Raiz
is a perfectly rational in a minute) and full tax account if you shop with a
is a new breed of fintech solution until an investor’s reporting.
participating retailer through
company, specifically roboadvice,
needs evolve in terms of
The returns have been the app or desktop site. I’ve
where you can make sophistication and complexity good as well. Trying to
had about $100 paid back
ongoing investment choices and require customisation to compare like for like, the from purchases that would
without the intervention of meet their goals.
Raiz moderately aggressive have occurred anyway from
a human. But even though Raiz costs $1.25 per month portfolio with growth
Dan Murphy’s, Apple and
everything happens on your for accounts with balances assets between 66% and a hotel booking via Luxury
smartphone the app is not below $5,000 and 0.275% p.a. 81% returned 7.12% for
Escapes.
a toy, your investments will for those over. The underlying the financial year to date
Anecdotally I’ve heard a
rise and fall with the markets exchange traded funds have 30 April 2019. Compared report of one small business
because they are invested their own management with Chant West’s growth investor purchasing $150,000
on the ASX. The exchange fees which are reflected in portfolio holding 61% to 80% of computers through a
52 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
partner retailer and banked
almost $4,000 into his Raiz
account. This is an additional
cash benefit that can accrue
on top of things like frequent
flyer points.
For a more day to day
example consider using the
new vouchers that have just
become available through
Raiz rewards: Woolworths,
Dan Murphy’s, Caltex, Myer,
JB HiFi are all examples of
local retailers that allow
you to buy an instantly
redeemable (digital) voucher
of either $50 or $100. You can
earn up to 3% back into your
Raiz account by using one or
more of these at point of sale.
If you spend around $10,000
per year at a combination of
Caltex, Woolworths and Dan
Murphy’s that’s potentially
$300 cash back into your
Raiz account each year from
otherwise non-discretionary
spending – or, in Millennial
currency that’s around 85
lattes or 20 smashed avo
sandwiches.
Looking at the Caltex
example more closely – if
you spend $50 per week on
fuel and swipe a Woolworth’s
rewards card to obtain the 4c
per litre saving that’s about
a $1.20 saving. Pay with a
Raiz Caltex voucher and save
another $1.46 – that’s $2.66
all up, or, 5.3% or, nearly
9c per litre off your weekly
petrol.
So how do you access Raiz?
The first step is to
download the app from
either Apple or Google app
stores and install it on your
phone. This is sufficient for
The Local Voice Since 1991
the majority of users but
after downloading the app
you might find setting up
on a desktop computer is
more comfortable, it was to
me anyway. Establish your
funding account – this is
the account where money
comes from and goes
to. Then specify one or more
spending accounts this can
be the same as the funding
account but can also include
credit cards – these are the
accounts that are tracked for
round-ups if you choose that
option. Transfer an opening
balance to the account to
kick things off and you’re
away. If you get stuck, and
some banks have two factor
authentication that makes
things difficult, there’s email
support or a local call centre
based in Sydney. You can
always learn more at www.
raizinvest.com.au.
As a parent of teenagers
who all actively use the
app I can say that it is the
only solution I have come
across that is sufficiently
engaging and integrated
enough with how they live
to encourage savings and
educate about money all at
the same time. Older savers
should also consider the app
as it democratises access to
the markets (no brokerage,
very low minimum holdings)
at time when returns from
traditional sources like terms
deposits are at all-time lows,
albeit with the proviso of
there being additional risk to
bank deposits.
* Disclosure: the author
holds shares in Raiz Invest
Ltd.
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.
JULY 2019 53
Business Life
Business Life: Law
Business Life
In the news: the issues
concerning Strata Title
Over the past two months
we have discussed
purchasing property,
up to the stage of exchange of
Contracts.
This month because of
renewed developments in
evacuations of owners and
tenants from Mascot Towers
following on the December
evacuations from Sydney
Olympic Park Opal Tower
at Homebush, it seems
appropriate to consider
what you need to know
when buying a new highrise
apartment, or strata
townhouse.
Opal Tower was a fivemonth-old,
38-storey
apartment block where, just
before Christmas Eve last
year, around 300 people
were evacuated from 51 of
392 units condemned by
Fire and Rescue New South
Wales. The faults were said
to have affected 35 floors
of the building, it having
shifted between one and two
millimetres which caused
extensive cracking of walls
and supports. Residents are
said to have first noticed the
issue because door jambs of
the building had shifted and
they couldn’t open their doors.
It is understood that seven
months after evacuation,
owners/tenants from 156
of the 392 apartments are
still without access to their
units. However, it is hoped
restoration and repairs will be
completed by the end of July.
Mascot Towers is a
132-apartment complex built
10 years ago; whereas the
owners of Opal Tower knew
the identity of the developers
and many of those who
worked on the building and
insurances and the statutory
warrant period to look to for
rectification, the situation for
the owners of Mascot Towers
is very different.
The statutory warranty
period for claims for
recompense has long
expired and it is reported
that the builder/developer
of the complex went into
administration some years
ago. Meetings of the owners
have been held with their
strata managers informing
them that they cannot have
access to their units, or occupy
them, for the foreseeable
future.
To add to their problems,
owners will have to find funds
for payment of special levies
said to be an initial $1 million
contingency fund to begin
stabilising the complex – and
this is just an initial payment
with more to come – and noone
to sue.
Being 10 years old, Mascot
Towers has Strata records
which may throw some
light on whether there have
been construction or similar
with Jennifer Harris
problems with the building.
It has been reported that
the records show problems
emerging eight years ago.
To avoid the major
issues such as at Mascot
Towers, what steps should
a prospective purchaser of
a strata unit or townhouse
undertake before committing
to purchase?
What sort of unit block
do you want – a glittering
high-rise probably with
fabulous dazzling views, a
swimming pool and gym and
other facilities? Or perhaps
an established, older-style –
known as a coldwater walk-up
– or a three-level walk-up.
No lift, no pool or gym – but
probably very solid and well
54 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
established.
In a property beyond
three levels, home warranty
insurance cover is no longer
required for new apartments
over three levels. In New South
Wales there is instead a 2%
bond scheme to cover defects
identified in the first two
years of a new building. There
are also statutory warranties
provided by the builder for all
defects identified in the first
two years, and major defects
found within the first six
years.
If looking at an established
building, look at the building
as a whole – particularly the
common property areas i.e.
the areas available to all
and for whom the Owners
Corporation is responsible.
You may be shown a unit
which has been beautifully
renovated – but what does
the rest of the building look
like? Is the wallpaper tired
and scuffed... is the carpet
clean or worn... are there
water stains or cracks... has
the garden had attention and
the lawns mown? If not, the
Owners Corporation and those
who live there don’t appear
to have any pride or good
management of the building.
In our earlier columns we
noted “... if purchasing a strata
property, a strata inspection
may cost a few hundred
dollars but better before you
commit than many thousands
of dollars after taking
possession and possibly in the
years to come”.
So, what is a Strata
Inspection Report? If you are
intending to purchase a strata
unit you should obtain a Strata
Inspection Report before
exchange or during the initial
period. You should obtain it
yourself i.e. an independent
report made for you – not one
offered to you by the vendor
which has been prepared for
his/her purposes, not yours.
The report should contain
some of the following details:
n Strata roll information
setting out the details of the
lot owner;
n Strata plan;
n Certificate of title – relating
to the lot you wish to
purchase and the certificate
of title of the common
property;
n Strata Bylaws often model
bylaws, namely the rules
of the strata plan and any
additional bylaws and draft
bylaws yet to be registered;
n Details of the Strata
managing agent;
n Details of any asbestos
report;
n Whether there is any
evidence of disharmony in
the strata scheme/ this can
be gleaned from a careful
reading of the Minutes of
Strata Committee Meetings;
n Financial records for the
strata scheme – very
important;
n Amount of funds in the
administrative fund;
n Amount of funds in capital
works fund;
n Current levy amounts per
lot;
Is the strata scheme properly
retaining records?
n Details of the executive
committee;
n Details with respect to
insurance for the strata
scheme;
Is the strata scheme compliant
with fire safety, and work
health and safety matters?
n Details with respect to any
major building works;
n Copies of all recent
maintenance and defect
reports;
n Date of expiry of the
statutory warranty period;
n Details of noise complaints
in the scheme;
n Copies of any mediation,
or NCAT application and
orders issued. Details of
any cladding or orders
associated with cladding;
n Notices or orders issued
by a government authority
against the owners
corporation;
n Details of any water entry
complaints, including
history of any burst pipes;
and
n Details of any pending or
proposed special expenses
of the owners corporation
not related to repair and
maintenance.
To purchase a strata
property will likely cost
hundreds of thousands
of dollars together with
substantial stamp duty and
other costs. It is therefore a
prudent step to conduct the
widest possible enquiries
before exchange of contracts
and as far as possible
avoid the tragic problems
confronting Sydney Olympic
Park Opal Tower and Mascot
Towers owners.
* Should readers wish
to contact the writer
concerning matters raised
in this column or any other
issue our hours of business
are 9am-5.30pm, Monday to
Friday. Call 9973 2011.
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
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 55
Trades & Services
Trades & Services
AUTO REPAIRS
British & Swedish Motors
Call 9970 6654
Services Range Rover, Land Rover,
Saab and Volvo with the latest in
diagnostic equipment.
Narrabeen Tyrepower
Call 9970 6670
Stocks all popular brands including
Cooper 4WD. Plus they’ll do all
mechanical repairs and rego
inspections.
Barrenjoey Smash Repairs
Call 9970 8207
barrenjoeysmashrepairs.com.au
Re-sprays a specialty, plus
restoration of your favourite vehicle.
Commercial 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.
CONCRETING
Pavecrete – All Concrete
Services
Call Phil 0418 772 799
pavecrete@iinet.net.au
Established locally 1995. Driveways plus
– Council Accredited. Excavation service.
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.
GUTTERS & ROOFING
ABC Seamless
Call 9748 3022
56 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Local roofing & guttering experts.
Free quotes. 40 years’ industry
experience.
Fully licensed, insured & extensive
warranties.
Aussie Gutter Services
Call Henry 0409 130808
Local, reliable and punctual service
7 days a week; fully insured.
KITCHENS
Seabreeze Kitchens
Call 9938 5477
Specialists in all kitchen needs;
design, fitting, consultation.
Excellent trades.
MASSAGE & FITNESS
Avalon Physiotherapy
& Clinical Pilates
Call 9918 0230
Dry needling and acupuncture, falls
prevention and balance
enhancement programs.
Francois Naef/Osteopath
Call Francois 9918 2288
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention
for back pain and sciatica, sports
Advertise your
Business in
Trades
& Services
section
injuries, muscle soreness, pregnancyrelated
pain, imbalance.
Avalon Physiotherapy
Call 9918 3373
Provide specialist treatment for neck &
back pain, sports injuries, orthopaedic
problems.
Fix + Flex Pilates & Physio
Call Jen 0404 804 441
Private & Group Equipment Pilates &
Physio sessions (max 3 per class).
PAINTING
Modern Colour
Call 0406 150 555
Simon Bergin offers painting and
decorating; clean, tidy, quality detail you
will notice. Dependable and on time.
Trades & Services
Phone
0438 123 096
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 57
Trades & Services
Trades & Services
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.
RENOVATIONS
Rob Burgers
Call 0416 066 159
Qualified builder provides all carpentry
needs; decks, pergolas, carports,
renos & repairs.
B & RD Williams
Call Brian 0416 182 774
Kitchen and bathroom renovations, decks,
pergolas. Small extensions specialist.
RUBBISH REMOVAL
One 2 Dump
Call Josh 0450 712 779
Seven-days-a-week pick-up service
includes general household rubbish,
construction, commercial plus
vegetation. Also car removals.
UPHOLSTERY
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.
WELLNESS
Piria Coleman
Call Piria 0490 499 963
Learn Tai Chi and Qigong, gentle
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.
forms of exercise that are both
relaxing and energizing. Group
classes; private training by request.
Piriacoleman.com
58 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Trades & Services
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 59
the
good
life
Showtime
Showtime
clubs & pubs 62
food
crossword
gardening
travel
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APPEARING: Dorian Mode, Donne Restom, Zoe Hauptmann, Briana Cowlishaw and Queen Porter Stomp (below).
First Ettalong Jazz
Festival a high note
Save the date and book the Fantasea Ferry
tickets – the inaugural Ettalong Jazz Festival
will be held on Saturday July 20 at renowned
Central Cost destination Galleria Ettalong Beach.
The event is a free, family friendly day
out (11am to 5.30pm) full of food, drink and
entertainment within the Mediterraneaninspired
walls of The Galleria which is
celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Emily Batts from local events company
Empty Suitcase says she hopes Pittwater locals
and families will “cross the water” and spend a
day out enjoying incredible music from some
of Australia’s best musicians with a line-up
assembled by acclaimed Artistic Director Zoe
Hauptmann, winner of the inaugural AWMA
Creative Leadership Award.
A Central Coast local, Zoe has curated a
diverse program
including The Red
Hands (featuring Ray
Beadle), Queen Porter
Stomp, I Vanish, Gerard
Masters Aussie Jazz,
The Fabulous Botting
Flower, Jo Fabro’s
Home Cookin’, Brianna
Cowlishaw & Gavin
Ahearn, The Hauptmann Trio featuring Arne
Hanna (and for which Zoe picks up the bass),
Rodric White, Dorian Mode Trio , Donné Restom
Trio and the Andrew Wilke Duo.
There will also be a pop-up bar sponsored
by the locally loved Six String Brewing
Company and Bar Toto, alongside guest
wineries and pop-up food stalls.
“Within the quirky venue we are utilising
balconies, courtyards and stages where you can
sit and have a local beer, or a cocktail,” said Emily.
“Guest wineries and pop-up food stalls
complete the lunch options, with an array
of world cuisine that sits inside the Galleria
complex – including Armenian pizza, to
Malaysian curries and Vegalicious treats.”
More on some of the acts:
The Red Hands – “The band take their
cues from the likes of Grant Green, Wes
Montgomery, George Benson and Ernest
Ranglin,” said Emily. “Expect a high-energy
performance that showcases exceptional
musicianship.”
Gerard Masters Aussie Jazz – “They have
taken songs from songwriters and bands such
as Don Walker, Crowded House, Icehouse,
Missy Higgins, INXS and in their own unique
way, brought them into the jazz realm.”
Jo Fabro’s Home Cookin’ – “Play a mix of
original tunes and reimaginings of the great
works of legendary artists such as Bill Withers,
Al Green, B B King and Bonnie Raitt.”
Dorian Mode Trio – “Multi award-winning
jazz musician who is known equally for his
funny novels as his cool music. He first hit the
music scene with the mighty Hammond B3
Organ – exploring the unique classic ’60s jazz
sound. It earned him
a record contract with
EMI Records – one of
the few Australian jazz
artists to be signed to
a major label.”
Rodric White – “His
pianistic and vocal
skills have seen him
work with luminary
musicians such as James Morrison and Don
Burrows.”
The Hauptmann Trio – “Featuring Arne
Hanna, Zoe, Ben and James Hauptmann,
they’re well known and very well-respected
siblings in various fields. Between them
they have played with Australian greats
Katie Noonan, Lior, Bluejuice, Micheline Van
Hautem, Paul Dempsy, James Morrison, Missy
Higgins and Paul Kelly. Guest Arne Hanna is
one of Sydney’s best-known funk guitarists.”
* Galleria Ettalong Beach is celebrating its
40th year in 2019. A hidden gem of the Central
Coast, it is a hub of food, entertainment,
shopping and community. It’s home to Cinema
Paradiso, Ettalong Beach Tourist Resort, Bar
Toto, cafes, multiple restaurants and eateries
with international cuisines, a series of pop-up
events... even a brand new pilates studio.
60 JULY 2019 The Local Voice Since 1991
Turbulence galore in this
high-flying French farce
A
deliciously fabulous
farce with superbly
delectable characters –
that’s the description director
Sarah Lovesy gives Elanora
Players’ July production,
Boeing Boeing.
The French comedy,
by Marc Camoletti and
translated by Beverly Cross
and Francis Evans, is set in
Paris in the 1960s. Central
character Bernard is juggling
love affairs with three Air
Hostesses, who touch down
briefly but lovingly in his
apartment between flights.
Thanks to Bernard’s keen
study of flight schedules and
the efficiency of his quirky
French housekeeper, his three
mistresses have no inkling
of each other’s existences
– but these glamourous Air
FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS: Boeing Boeing cast Tonia Davies, Dan Ferris,
Iwona Abramowicz, Chantel Ciano, Gerard Hawkins and Karen Pattinson.
Hostesses also have their own
hidden love agendas.
“Collision of course is on
the cards – and into this mix
comes Bernard’s naïve and
inexperienced boyhood friend
Robert,” said Sarah. “Hilarity
Diplomacy earns encore
Theatre legends
John Bell and John
Gaden are starring in
the edge-of-your-seat
thriller, Diplomacy, for
five nights only at Glen
Street Theatre from 23
to 27 July.
Produced by
Ensemble Theatre and
Directed by John Bell,
best known as the
creator and former
Artistic Director of
Bell Shakespeare, this
production sold out in
its premiere run at the
Ensemble Theatre in
Sydney in 2018.
The plot is
spellbinding: In 1944 at
the Hôtel Meurice, the
Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling and the German General,
Dietrich von Choltitz meet in a life or death situation for
the city of Paris. On abandoning Paris, Hitler has ordered
its destruction.
Raoul has one night to persuade the General to leave the
landmark city standing. The many twists and turns of their
negotiations play out in this highly entertaining thriller by
Cyril Gély.
* Diplomacy runs from Tuesday 23 July through Saturday
27 July; bookings glenstreet.com.au or 9975 1455.
ensues in this glittering
cosmopolitan play.”
The cast appearing in Boeing
Boeing are Gerard Hawkins
as charming, romantic
Frenchman Bernard, with Dan
Ferris as Robert his innocent
and unworldly friend from
Provence, and Karen Pattinson
as Bertha the eccentric,
unorthodox French Maid.
The three Air Hostesses
are played by Tonia Davies
(who is Gloria the sassy,
quintessential American),
Chantel Ciano (as Gabriella
the flirtatious and feisty
Italian), and Iwona
Abramowicz as Gretchen (the
passionate, domineering,
femme fatale German).
Performance dates for the
Elanora Community Centre,
49A Kalang Road are July 12,
13, 18, 19, 20 at 8pm and
matinees at 3pm on July 13, 14,
20 (also 11am matinee July 14).
* Bookings 9979 9694 or
boxoffice.elanora@bigpond.
com or elanoraplayers.com.au
– Nigel Wall
Showtime
JULY 2019 61
Dining Clubs & Guide Pubs
Clubs & Pubs
July's best functions, music gigs, events and dining news...
THE ANGELS: Rick Brewster (far right) with brother John (second left).
No Exit anniversary
boon for Angels fans
There will be pogo dancing
aplenty when The Angels
celebrate the 40th anniversary
of their third album No Exit with
a track-by-track concert at Pittwater
RSL on Saturday July 6.
According to co-founding
member and lead guitarist Rick
Brewster, No Exit – the followup
to their hugely successful
album Face To Face – was an
important progression that
helped cement the band as
Australian rock 'n' roll icons.
“We found our sound with
Face To Face and it was a huge
success, so it was like we had
set the bar and it was a daunting
task to match or better it,”
Rick tells Pittwater Life.
“We wrote mostly in the
same vein, but there was more
experimenting with sounds
and arrangements... I used
some guitar effects for the
first time and double-tracked
some solos... Doc [Neeson,
original lead singer] doubletracked
some vocals; and I
used an organ on two songs.”
Rick has vivid memories
about making the album,
which he co-produced with
brother John and Mark Opitz.
“There were many heated
debates/arguments, mainly
with John, about arrangements,”
said Rick. “The rest
of the band used to leave the
studio, they thought it was the
end of the band!”
Once the tracks were
recorded the bickering didn’t
stop – there was still the order
of the songs to be determined.
“It was important to us, especially
the first and last tracks
on each side,” Rick said. “Track
1 had to grab you, Track 5 had
to make you want to turn the
record over, and so on.”
He rates ‘Dawn Is Breaking’
as one of four of his favourites
from the album to perform.
“I like playing my new guitar
solo on that one,” he said.
“Also ‘Skid Row After Dark’ –
Dave’s (Gleeson, lead singer)
delivery is sensational; ‘My
Light Will Shine’, which is a
beautiful song rediscovered,
and the harmonies are great!
This is a bonus track on the
studio album.
“And of course ‘Mr Damage’
– I love watching the audience
try to keep up with the words!”
Rick said Dave Gleeson’s
vocals and delivery introduced
a new element.
“Dave’s a great singer and
front man, he’s very visual,”
he said. “And he brings an element
of comedy into the show,
while his delivery of ‘Dawn is
Breaking’ is chilling!”
Rick said Pittwater RSL audience
can look forward to two
sets – the whole No Exit album
followed by some of The Angels’
best-known other works
(“and maybe something new”).
As for the future?
“I’ve never really thought
about it... it’s just kept rolling
and I guess I’ll be playing until
I can’t,” he said. “I love it! We
all do...” – Nigel Wall
Pittwater RSL
Assorted eateries
82 Mona Vale Rd Mona Vale
There are some awesome
live music acts coming to
Pittwater RSL Club – including
Diesel and The Angels
in July and Mental As
Anything in August; book
tickets now on the club's
website.
Don't miss The Angels who
will play a high-energy, twohour
gig on Saturday July 6, to
celebrate the 40th anniversary
of their second album 'No
Exit'. Hear hits including the
title track, 'Shadow Boxer' and
'Mr Damage'. Book online.
Hungry? There's something
for all tastes and ages
at Pittwater RSL. At Glasshouse
chefs stay true to the
story of the local area by
embracing the farm-to tableapproach,
focusing on where
food comes from and how it
is grown and shaping the way
they cook and create. Open
for lunch from 12pm and
dinner from 5.30pm 7 days
a week.
Or relax on the terrace and
enjoy family friendly food
and great coffee from 9.30am
from Potter’s café while kids
play in the indoor playground.
Potter’s café menu is available
weekends and public holidays
from 12pm to 5pm.
Nonna’s Kitchen boasts a
menu full of delicious and authentic
Italian pizzas, pastas,
salads and starters.
The space is warm and
versatile with intimate booths
to banquet tables for large
groups or families. There is
also a large outdoor terrace
where you can enjoy your
meal with a glass of wine
overlooking the treetops of
Mona Vale. Open for lunch
Thursday to Sunday from
12pm and dinner Wednesday
to Sunday from 5.30pm.
For a taste of Asia try
Little Bok Choy for noodles,
fried rice, stir fries and madeto-order
Laksa.
Check the Club’s website
for the latest menus and meal
deals for all eateries.
pittwaterrsl.com.au
Avalon
Beach RSL
Bistro 61
1 Bowling Green Lane
Avalon Beach
Avalon Beach RSL’s Bistro 61
is a great place to head for
a local meal, offering tasty
modern Australian dishes at
affordable prices.
Take advantage of their
new #AVRSL MEMBER MON-
DAY. This brand new weekly
promotion includes $5 drinks
all day for members, plus a
$15 Roast Meal special (lunch
and dinner) and $10 chicken
wings available to all!
Don't miss That Old Chestnut,
who return by popular
demand for a free gig on
Friday July 5. They're sculpting
a new musical genre with
their quirky reworkings of the
music of Guns and Roses, Soft
Cell... even ACDC!
Head down for the State
of Origin Decider on the big
screen on July 10 – there
will be $5 schooners from
7.30-9.30pm, plus $10 Blues
Burgers.
Then there's the Monthly
Karaoke Party on Friday July
26 with free entry from 9pm
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.
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 beer-battered
flathead – plus they do
a $5 kids meals on Sundays!
(There’s a playground, too.)
avalonbeachrsl.com.au
62 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Royal Motor
Yacht Club
Salt Cove on Pittwater
46 Prince Alfred
Parade, Newport
RMYC’s restaurant Salt Cove
on Pittwater’s winter menu
is now available, offering
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
5.30pm to 8.30pm. There are
some great acts in July, including
Mitch G (5th); Antoine
(12th); Grace Fuller (19th); and
Phil Simmons (26th).
And it's on again! The annual
Unique Vehicle Show will
be held in the RMYC waterfront
carpark from 10am-3pm
on Sunday July 28. Entry is by
donation (for charity). Come
and see a great range of over
80 unique vehicles on display
including vintage cars, classic
and sports cars, hot rods and
motorcycles. Great food and
beverages will be available
throughout the day.
Trivia every Tuesday night
from 7.30pm (great prizes and
vouchers – 12 years plus).
Club Boat and Social memberships
are now available for
just $160.
royalmotor.com.au
Club Palm Beach
Barrenjoey Bistro
1087 Barrenjoey Road,
Palm Beach
In July, make your way to
Club Palm Beach, located
a short stroll from Palm
Beach Wharf, for great dining
for the whole family.
Head down to watch State
of Origin III (July) and enjoy
half-price schooners of Carlton
during game time.
Also, enjoy a Works
Burger and schooner for just
$15 every Friday in July.
Every Wednesday there's
family trivia from 7pm, with
great prizes!
Grab some friends and
enjoy their Christmas In July
Cruise & Lunch, with a cruise
on Pittwater plus traditional
The Local Voice Since 1991
Christmas roast and vegetable
for $33pp. Book now!
Barrenjoey Bistro is
open for lunch (11.30am to
2.30pm) and dinner (6pm
to 9pm) seven days. The
Bistro serves top-value a la
carte meals plus daily $13.50
specials of roasts (Mondays),
rump steak with chips and
salad (Tuesdays), chicken
schnitzel with chips and salad
(Wednesdays), homemade
gourmet pies with chips and
salad (Thursdays) and 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 to 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.
clubpalmbeach.com.au
Dee Why
RSL Club
932 Pittwater Rd, Dee Why
Located in the heart of the
Northern Beaches, this club
boasts contemporary surroundings
and an expansive
menu offering across its six
bars, four restaurants and
13 function spaces.
Book now for the hilarious
Faulty Towers – The Dining
Experience Dinner (three
courses) + Show (Friday 26th
and Saturday 27th, $99).
The club also presents
terrific entertainment acts.
In July, catch: Two Fires
Chisel Barnes Show (5th, $25);
Marina Prior & David Hobson
(7th, $59); and The Radiators
(19th, $25).
The Bistro on Level 2 is
a great place for an enjoyable
and affordable lunch or
dinner with classic café and
pub-style food.
At ‘The Asian’, you can
choose from a menu showcasing
a variety of wok dishes
from Hong Kong, Malaysia,
Singapore and Japan.
Enjoy the heart of Italian
culture with antipasto, pizza,
pasta and contemporary
cuisine Italian at Aqua Bar &
Dining.
‘Flame Lounge & Dining’
is where the club stakes its
reputation on steaks. Sit
down to a special menu featuring
certified Angus and
Wagyu beef, fresh seafood,
and superb lamb. Perfect for
everyday or special occasion
dining.
Dee Why RSL offers a twoyear
membership for $5.
Check out their website
for the latest menus and
specials.
deewhyrsl.com.au
Park House
Food Merchants
2 Park St, Mona Vale
Park House continues to
build a name for its great
food offerings, with a
variety of experiences and
spaces in July.
Every day their Restaurant
menu offers mouth-watering
dishes such as Californian-inspired
Guacamole,
Burrata that bursts with
flavour and Snapper Ceviche
drizzled with jalapeño oil.
From local waters, favourites
include Spaghetti
Prawns with mint, parsley,
chilli, butter and lemon; and
Whole Snapper with asparagus
and white miso hollandaise
sauce.
If you are someone who
loves steak, you will be impressed
with their seasonal
selection from the grill,
sourced from areas
including Armidale and the
Riverina.
For dessert, their lime
tart brûlée is served with inhouse
sour cream Chantilly
and pistachio praline. It’s a
perfect balance of flavours
to top off a memorable evening
in Food Merchants Restaurant.
Looking for the perfect
‘hump day’ inspiration
to get you through the week?
Perhaps their $1.50 oyster
night on Wednesdays is just
what you are looking for!
Get in touch to ask about
Restaurant bookings.
parkhousefoodandliquor.com.au
This Month...
Faulty Towers
The hilarious Faulty Towers
The Dining Experience returns
to Dee Why RSL but tickets will
sell out here, so early booking
is essential! Two shows Fri 26
and Sat 27. Tickets $99; book
at deewhyrsl.com.au
Blue Plimsoul
Blues with a sting in the
tail. CP Rhodes guitar, vocals.
Rowan Turner lead guitar,
Steve Hart bass and Avo Karageuzian
on drums. Fri 19, 9pm
at Avalon Beach RSL. Free.
Celebrity Psychic
Meet Elissa and experience
an evening of live readings
and audience participation at
Pittwater RSL on Saturday 20,
from 7.30-9.30pm. Tickets
$40pp. Bookings 9997 3833.
Winter jazz
Catch some Jazz at the
Avalon Beach Bowling Club on
Wednesdays from 7pm. The
line-up this month includes Armondo
Hurley, Nicky Crayson,
Nic Jeffries and Johnny Nicol
with Ray Forster & Friends.
Tickets $15 at the door or $10
for members pre-purchased.
JULY 2019 63
Dining Clubs & Guide Pubs
Tasty Morsels
Tasty Morsels
Berempah adding
spice to Newport
The upper northern beaches is
spoilt for choice when it comes to
good-quality Asian restaurants,
with Thai options particularly plentiful
across Pittwater – now diners have a new
taste to savour with the opening of Berempah
Restaurant and Bar at Newport
which specialises in authentic Malaysian
dishes.
Owners Stephanie Hoang and her
partner opened their first Berempah
restaurant (in Malay it means “spices and
herbs”) at Willoughby three years ago;
their Newport venue opened in June,
serving the same range of tasty curries
and fusion dishes.
“Our menu has great variety – we have
entrees, authentic Malaysian curries and
mains, rice and noodles, also Chef Special
fusion dishes,” Stephanie said.
“The popular street food in Malaysia
are Roti Canai, Nasi Lemak Rice, Laksa,
Char Koay Teow, Mee Goreng and Satay
Skewers. I want to bring a great dining
experience to Newport with quality food,
good service – and authentic flavours.”
Joe also contributes as head chef, with
more than 10 years’ experience.
“Joe’s mother is Malaysian, his dad
is Thai, so his cooking style is a kind
of Malaysian-Thai fusion,” Stephanie
explains.
If you’re looking for guidance on menu
selection, Stephanie is happy to assist.
“For an entrée, I suggest from Chicken
Satay, Roti Canai, Curry Puffs or our
Sweet Tamarind Wings.
“Main meal specialties include Chicken
ʻPleased to meet you!’
In Spanish, “Mucho Gusto”
means “pleased to meet
you” – and that’s exactly
how you’ll feel when you
step through the door and
into this welcoming new
café space on Darley Road
in Mona Vale.
Owners Giselle and
Jaime say their mission is
serve the local business
community by providing
the highest-quality coffee,
sandwiches, snacks, and
baked goods in an atmosphere
that meets the needs
of customers who are in a
hurry as well as those who
want a place to relax and
enjoy their beverages and
food.
Their specialties include
Acai Bowls, signature
serving Chorizo Rolls,
Burgers, Salads,
Smoothies and freshly
made Sandwiches daily.
They’re open 6 days
Monday to Saturday and
also offer a text-and-pickup
service for those on-thego;
call them on 0450 187
574 or find them at 9/101
Darley Rd, Mona Vale.
* Reader Special: In July,
show their ad (see page
22) and receive 10% off
your bill. – Nigel Wall
Curry, Beef Rendang, Ayam Berempah,
Lamb Shank Penang Curry, Berempah
Pork Belly or tower of Pork Ribs (top
right), or Mee Goreng Noodles.
“And for dessert you must try Joe’s
chef-made coconut ice cream, banana
roti or banana fritter.”
Also, look out for their changing lunch
and monthly specials, while they will
be launching home delivery to suburbs
including Newport, Avalon, Mona Vale,
Bilgola, Warriewood and Clareville soon.
* Find them at 335 Barrenjoey Rd,
Newport (next to Wild Lotus Florist).
– Nigel Wall
64 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Palm Beach café is GOAT
Looking for a laid-back, rustic and quirky café at the northern
tip of the peninsula? Head to The Greedy Goat, the first cafe
when arriving in Palm Beach. (“If you missed the goat on the
hedge, you missed us!” say owner Vicki.)
The GG’s tasty, home-cooked fare, plus delicious coffee from
Allpress, is a favourite with the locals and a hit with day trippers
too. (And actor Bryan Brown tells us the cast and crew of the
new hit movie ‘Palm Beach’ spent plenty of mornings wolfing
down their eggs for breakfast!)
The GG has a new chef too, with local identity Alex taking
control of “the pans” recently.
This unpretentious café has outdoor seating,
is dog-friendly and has
overhead heaters.
Their go-to breakfast
dishes include tasty corn
Plus, they offer a daily $20 lunch special (from 12pm,
zucchini & shallot fritters
including coffee), which attracts customers from near and
with bacon and tomato
far – simply phone ahead to find out their dish of the day!
chutney, as well as crisp
(And ask about their $12 Soup of the Week).
potato rosti (both right).
The GG currently have two ‘Tradies Treat’ specials – a
Their burger selections
include Wagyu
Bread with regular coffee ($7).
Bacon and Egg Roll with regular coffee ($10) and Banana
Beef, Veggie and Chicken
And if it’s something sweet you’re after, they offer a
Schnitzel, while they also
selection of homemade cakes and brownies – and their
serve weekly pies in winter
must-try flourless peach and strawberry slice.
(Chicken and Leek or
* Open: 8am-2.30pm 6 days (closed Tues); find them at
Shepherd's Pie).
1031 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach. Call 9974 2555.
Tasty Dining Morsels Guide
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 65
Food Life
It's no sin to give in to
chocolate temptations...
Although there are many days chocolate is celebrated
throughout the year (a little every day for me!) July 7th
is generally considered by most to be the worldwide
day to celebrate all things chocolate. So I have pulled out the
best of the best from my files to share! My favourite chocolate
tip? Use a chocolate that has at least 40% Cocoa solids, with no
vegetable or palm oil.
with Janelle Bloom
Food Life
Best ever
chocolate cake
Serve 8
250g butter, chopped
200g dark chocolate,
chopped
½ cup cocoa powder
½ cup self-raising flour
½ cup plain flour
¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1½ cups caster sugar
3 eggs
¾ cup buttermilk
Chocolate curls, to decorate
(optional)
Frosting
¼ cup cocoa powder, sifted
¼ cup hot water
250g butter, softened
½ cup pure icing sugar, sifted
400g dark chocolate, melted,
cooled
1. Preheat oven to 160°C fan
forced. Grease and line base
and sides of a 6cm-deep,
20cm (base) round cake pan.
2. Combine butter and
chocolate in a small
saucepan. Stir over low
heat until melted. Stir in the
cocoa, whisk to dissolve. Set
aside to cool for 5 minutes.
3. Sift flours and bicarbonate
of soda into a large bowl.
Stir in sugar. Whisk eggs and
buttermilk together. Pour into
flour mixture, add chocolate
mixture and stir gently to
combine. Pour into prepared
pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15
minutes or until a skewer
inserted into the centre
comes out clean. Stand 15
minutes in pan before turning
onto a wire rack to cool.
4. Meanwhile, for the frosting:
Whisk cocoa and water
in a bowl until cocoa has
dissolved. Cool 10 minutes.
Beat butter and icing sugar
with an electric mixer
until pale. Beat in melted
chocolate. Fold in the cocoa
mixture until combined.
Janelle’s Tip: It’s delicious
served warm, drizzled with warm
chocolate or salted caramel sauce
for a winter dessert.
5. Split the cake in half. Place
base on serving plate. Spread
one third of the frosting over
the cake base. Sandwich
with cake top. Spread the
remaining frosting over the
tip and sides of the cake. Top
with chocolate curls, if using.
Serve.
Raspberry
brownies
Makes 15
200g butter, chopped
200g dark chocolate block,
chopped
2 tbs cocoa powder
1 cup brown sugar, firmly
packed
3 eggs, lightly beaten
¾ cup plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
200g fresh raspberries
extra cocoa powder to
decorate
1. Preheat oven 180°C (no
fan). Grease and line base
and sides of an 18cm x
28cm rectangular slab pan.
2. Combine butter and
chocolate in a small
saucepan. Stir over low
heat until almost melted.
Remove, stir until melted.
Add cocoa, stir until
smooth. Pour into a bowl.
Cool for 10 minutes.
3. Add sugar and eggs.
Sift the flour, and baking
powder over chocolate
mixture. Stir until smooth.
Spoon into prepared pan.
Press half the raspberries
into the batter. Smooth
over top. Bake for about 35
minutes, or until just firm
to touch. Stand 10 minutes,
while warm press half the
remaining raspberries into
the top of the brownie. Set
aside to cool completely in
the pan.
4. Remove from the pan. Cut
into squares, dust with
cocoa. Serve with remaining
raspberries.
66 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
For more recipes go to www.janellebloom.com.au
Churros with
choc fudge
dipping sauce
Makes 24
½ cup caster sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
vegetable oil, for deep-frying
churros
1¾ cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
100g butter, chopped
1 cup full cream milk
¾ cup caster sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
Choc fudge dipping sauce
300ml thickened cream
200g dark cooking chocolate,
chopped
1. For the sauce, combine
the cream and chocolate
in a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave in 1-minute
bursts, on High/100%,
stirring each minute until
melted and smooth.
2. For the churros, sift the
flour and baking powder
together into a bowl.
Combine butter, milk
and sugar in a medium
saucepan. Stir over medium
heat until butter is melted.
Bring to boil, without
stirring. Remove from heat.
Quickly add sifted flour
mixture and stir over low
heat until dough comes
together.
The Local Voice Since 1991
3. Transfer hot mixture to
the bowl of an electric
mixer. Cool for 5 minutes.
With mixer on medium,
add eggs a little at a time,
beating until smooth and
shiny. Spoon into a piping
bag fitted with a 1cm star
nozzle.
4. Combine sugar and
cinnamon on a tray.
5. Heat enough oil in a
large pan or wok over a
medium-high heat until oil
reaches 175°C on a deepfry
thermometer or a piece
bread sizzles when dropped
into oil. Carefully pipe four,
8-10cm lengths of mixture
into hot oil, cutting mixture
from bag with a kitchen
scissors (see Janelle’s Tip).
6. Deep-fry for 2-3 minutes,
turning occasionally, until
golden. Drain on a wire rack
over a baking tray. Toss
in cinnamon sugar while
hot. Repeat with remaining
mixture and cinnamon
sugar. Serve warm with
dipping sauce.
will stop mixture sticking.
#2 – make the churros a few
hours ahead. After tossing in
cinnamon sugar, place onto a
wire rack. Warm in the oven
on the rack and toss again in
more cinnamon sugar. #3 –
dipping sauce can be made
ahead and warmed in the
microwave.
Naughty caramel
hot chocolate
Makes 4
600ml full cream milk
3 tbs cocoa powder
180g block Caramello
chocolate
1 cup mini white
marshmallows
Extra cocoa, to serve
1. In a medium saucepan,
combine milk, cocoa
powder and chocolate. Stir
over medium heat until
cocoa has dissolved, and
mixture is smooth. Do not
boil, remove from heat,
whisk well then pour into
warm mugs.
Janelle’s Tips: #1 – tip
2. Top with marshmallows,
scissors in cold water
dust with extra cocoa and
between cutting churros; this serve.
JULY 2019 67
Food Life
Food Life
Food Life
In Season
Brussels
Sprouts
Growing up, my
sisters and I
refused to eat Brussels
sprouts, as we hated
anything green and
there was something
about the smell as
mum boiled them.
But I am now a convert.
However, they should not
be boiled; they should be
roasted, stir-fried or sautéed!
I know you will absolutely
adore them when cooked this
way... even with a little Maple
Syrup, and some Macadamias.
The combinations and
possibilities are endless!
Buying
Look for small to medium
Brussels sprouts. They should
have bright green that are
tightly wrapped around each
other. There should be no
yellowing of the leaves. Baby
Brussels Sprouts are slightly
firmer, crisper and sweeter
than larger ones – a bit like
peas and Baby peas.
Storage
Store unwashed in an air-tight
bag for up to a week.
Nutrition:
Brussels sprouts are
incredibly nutritious,
they offer protection from
vitamin-A deficiency, bone
loss, iron-deficiency anemia,
and believed to protect from
cardiovascular diseases and
colon and prostate cancers.
They are a rich source
of protein, dietary fibre,
vitamins, minerals, and
antioxidants.
Also In Season
July
Apples; Banana; Custard
apples; Mandarins, Kiwi
fruit (look out for new Gold
variety); Nashi; Australian
Navel oranges; Pears;
Quince, Rhubarb and
winter strawberries. Also
creamy Avocados; Beetroot;
Broccolini and Broccoli;
Cauliflower; Celeriac; Leeks
and Fennel (look out for
baby variety); Jerusalem
artichokes; Mushrooms;
Butternut pumpkin; Sweet
potato; Spinach and
Silverbeet; Kale and turnips.
Roasted parmesan Brussels Sprouts
Serve 4 as side
300g Baby Brussels Sprouts
2 tbs olive oil
1 tbs butter, melted
2 garlic cloves, crushed
40g parmesan, finely grated
1. Preheat oven 200°C fan
forced.
2. Cut the stem off the end
of the sprouts and remove
any yellow outer leaves. Cut
sprouts in half. Arrange in a
greased roasting pan.
3. Combine the oil, butter
and garlic. Spoon over
the sprouts, toss gently
to coat. Season well with
salt and pepper. Roast 20
minutes until sprouts start
to colour.
4. Scatter over the parmesan.
Roast a further 10 minutes
until leaves are crisp and
the centres of the sprouts
are just tender.
5. Serve.
68 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Pittwater Puzzler
Compiled by David Stickley
22 DOWN
ACROSS
1 Ancient calculator (6)
5 An enthusiast for the sport of
surfboard riding (7)
9 Company of singers like the
Northern Beaches Chorus (5)
10 The first man on the moon (9)
11 Professor or lecturer (8)
12 Give blood at the Australian Red
Cross Blood Service’s Mobile Donor
Centre, for example (6)
13 Very black (4)
14 Suburb in the local government
area of Northern Beaches Council (9)
18 Hear about (3,4,2)
20 The largest of the world’s
continents (4)
23 Overtakes (4,2)
24 Time when the Kids on the
Coast program has many activities
available (8)
26 Right now when it’s very chilly (9)
27 One’s son or daughter (at any age) (5)
28 In vogue (7)
29 Becoming less severe (6)
DOWN
2 Type of site to be established at
Ingleside Chase Reserve to help
manage the land for conservation (7)
3 Bay where the beginnings of the
Roman Catholic Church on the
Northern Beaches were established (6)
4 Good advice on a wet winter’s day,
perhaps (4,2,3)
5 Dull, heavy blow (4)
6 Creative features that will one day
adorn the Northern Beaches Coast
Walk (8)
7 3-D museum display (7)
8 Good golf score; bird of prey (5)
9 Outer layer (7)
15 Deviating from the correct route
(3,6)
16 Slipped away (7)
17 Resource recovery centre at
Ingleside (8)
19 A national one of these will happen
at South Creek Reserve in late July (4,3)
21 Beach where Northern Beaches
Council is proposing an off-leash dog
trial (7)
22 A place, building or tent for
entertainment by acrobats, clowns,
performing animals, etc (6)
23 Olympic ones will be held in Japan
in 2002 (5)
25 Impress clearly (4)
[Solution page 72]
Pittwater Puzzler
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 69
Garden Life
Garden Life
Delight Tips to in help the overcome amazing
colours latest water of hydrangeas restrictions with Gabrielle Bryant
All
A
gardeners are
lways a favourite for
Christmas now faced colour, with the hydrangeas
are flowering their
challenge of water
restrictions and the prospect
heads off! They look wonderful
in the garden, brightening
of a long, hot dry summer
ahead. It is time to re-look at
the semi-shaded areas and
the ways of gardening, before
glowing in the full, protected
the days of electric timers
sunlight. Once the older
and watering systems. Our
varieties were either pink or
parents managed well with
blue depending on the soil,
a few old-fashioned ways
additional lime will deepen
of keeping water for their
the pinks and blueing tonic
gardens.
(sulphate of aluminium) will
The new restriction is
heighten the blues, but the
Phase One. It means that no
new named varieties will
fixed hoses or sprinklers can
maintain their colour. White
be used, and hand watering
never changes. There are
is only allowed with a hose
hydrangeas of every size from
fitted with a spray nozzle
the tiny dwarf Piamina to the
after 4pm and before 10am.
tall traditional Mop Heads.
Water as early as possible
With so many to choose from
so that the water sinks in
it is almost too difficult to
before it evaporates in the
decide. There are the delicate
heat of the day. Don’t waste a
lace caps, the huge blooms
drop of water.
Keep your watering cans full
for watering your pot plants.
You can save roof water
into storage water tanks.
This will then need powered
pumps to use the water. The
old idea of water butts under
down pipes is very appealing.
Wooden wine barrels are
perfect; if you can’t find one
you can use any large watertight
container.
Keep empty buckets in the
shower. You will be surprised
how quickly they fill with water!
If you’re starting a new
garden, buy plants that need
little water. Most plant labels
show if the plant is droughttolerant.
Save every drop of moisture
around newly planted trees
and shrubs by cutting a
cardboard circle the width
of the foliage, making a hole
in the centre the diameter of
the trunk, and placing it over
the soil and covering it with
thick mulch or compost. The
cardboard will hold moisture
for a long time and, as a
bonus, it will keep the weeds
away.
Make sure that you use
potting mix that has water
crystals and spray both the
garden and the lawn with a
wetting agent.
of Aerate the traditional the lawn mop to allow heads,
the water cone-shaped to sink flowers in and turn of
hydrangea paniculata bushes
the topsoil of garden beds
regularly to prevent the soil
from hardening in the heat,
allowing that can be precious two metres water tall. to
run The off recently the surface. introduced
smaller
Mulch,
growing
mulch and
Picotee
more
mulch
varieties
will
with
always
two-tone
help.
flower
heads
The old
are
bottle
hard to
trick
leave
has
behind
and
taken on a
if
new
you
look.
have
Fittings
a semishaded
are made
wall,
with
the
adjustable
climbing
flow
nozzles
hydrangea
to fit
petiolaris
plastic drink
is just
beautiful.
bottles that will water your
Hydrangeas are forgiving
plants over several days. I
plants that are easy to grow.
haven’t seen them for sale in
They like regular water and
retail shops but there are many
any good garden soil. Mulch
different ones for sale online.
the roots with compost to
Some are plastic and others
keep them cool and feed
are ceramic, all will work
them in early spring to get
the same way. Ceramic is
them going. Grow them in
more expensive but more
pots, or in the garden; bring
ecologically friendly.
them inside when in flower
Last, check the washers on
or cut the blooms – they last
all taps and fix leaking pipes.
well in water.
Planning for
vegetables
July is a cold, damp month,
often wet and miserable,
so when the sun creeps out
make the most of it and get
out to the vegetable garden.
If it is still cold, put up a
collapsible plastic house
over the garden.
Cherry Then you can Guava get ahead a
with planting seedlings
sweet surprise
that will give an early crop
Ibefore n full flower Christmas. in my Sow veggie
seeds garden of is beans, my Cherry sweet Guava, corn,
sometimes leek, pumpkins, known tomato as a Strawberry
and watermelon Guava. This inside delightful your
evergreen plastic cover. shrub never fails to
produce Once they a heavy germinate, crop of cherry
guavas pot them in early into small autumn. pots
and It is keep a small, them pretty warm tree for with
rounded, planting glossy out next green month. leaves
that Make only sure grows that to about your peas
three and sweet metres peas in height. have a Keep it
trimmed strong frame into shape to climb. after If fruiting.
have The grown delicate winter fluffy crops flowers
you
are of carrots, creamy white, spring growing onions, close
to silver the branches. beet, lettuce, They or are other followed
veggies by feed the tangy them flavoured, now with
sweet, a slow berry-sized, release fertiliser cherry and red
fruit mulch that well are with high compost. in vitamin C.
Unlike Potatoes the can taller-growing be planted deciduous
and yellow so can guava sweet that potato, needs
now
cooking, onions and the fruit shallots. can be eaten
raw straight from the tree or
used in cooking, jellies, drinks,
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 70 DECEMBER JULY 2019 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991
Beautiful boronia
are heaven scent
When boronias are
mentioned, the sweet
scent of the brown boronia that
is unrivalled in the garden is
always remembered. However,
the boronia family has many
members; all are fragrant,
some are easier to grow than
others – but all are worth a try.
None of the boronias are
long-lived but while they are in
the garden they are beautiful.
Boronias are small, low-growing
shrubs that need filtered
sun and moist but well-drained
(not waterlogged) soil.
The Western Australian
Boronias magastima (brown),
lutea (yellow) and heterophylla
(red) all have many cultivars
and named varieties. They are
touchy plants and I believe
best kept as pot plants to bring
inside when they are in flower
– their pendulous bell flowers
fill the house with their magical
scent.
The easiest is the Native
Rose, boronia serrulata. Also
fragrant, the pointed soft green
leaves make a perfect background
for the star-shaped,
bright pink flowers. Plant this
boronia in a semi-shaded position
as a low-growing shrub
under taller-growing native
grevilleas or bottlebrush.
Make sure that the shallow
roots don’t dry out in summer,
trim it back after flowering and
it should live for several years
lighting up your garden in
spring. Boronia serrulata also
grows well in pots.
Waxing lyrical
about WA native
With spring almost here,
shrubs are showing buds
and the earliest are bursting
into flower. The drought-tolerant
Geraldton
Wax is a Western
Australian native
that loves
our drier sandy
coastal conditions.
You will
find it now in
garden centres.
Bees love the
honey in the
waxy flowers
that in the wild
are pale pink,
but with plant
breeding can be
found in every colour – from
palest cream to dark burgundy.
It is a great plant for flowerpicking
and is used by florists
all over the world. Picked, just
as the buds start to open the
sprays of tiny wax-like flowers
will last for many days.
The shrub will grow to about
two metres
tall. The fine
green foliage
is decorative
all year round.
Trim the bush
back after flowering
to keep it
dense and feed
in spring with
a native plant
food (Bush
Tucker is the
best).
Geraldton
Wax is an
undemanding plant that needs
full sun and well-drained soil. It
is susceptible to root rot if the
position is too shady or poorly
drained.
Garden Life
The natural dye is cast!
School holidays are here, so instead of giving tired veggies
and vegetable peelings to your worms or the compost
bin, give them to the kids. Have some fun in the kitchen with
natural dyes.
Use onion skins (ochre), beetroot (red), carrot peelings (orange),
old coffee beans and tea leaves (brown), outside red cabbage
leaves (purple), spinach (green), orange peel (yellow) and other
vegetables to make some wonderful colours.
You will need a cup of each vegetable chopped into a small
saucepan with two cups of water. Simmer for one hour, let the
water cool and strain it into a clean jar. It is as simple as that!
Run the clean cotton under cold water, before soaking it in the
coloured dye. Leave it soaking until it is the colour you want. Take
it out and let it dry.
Find new colours by experimenting with tree bark, gum leaves,
other fruit and flowers.
NB: To fix the colour permanently, soak the fabric in a saucepan
of water that is one part vinegar and 4 parts water, and simmer for
about one hour before you put it into the dye.
The Local Voice Since 1991
JULY 2019 71
Garden Life
Jobs this Month
July
Garden Life
We may be in drought,
but no-one would
have thought it
last month! Heavy rains
compacted the soil. Turn the
topsoil for better drainage
and cover with a new layer of
mulch. Also, this is the last
month to move any trees or
shrubs that are deciduous.
The days will start getting
longer now, and the sap will
begin to rise. Last chance this
month for summer-flowering
lilium and hippeastrum bulbs
and other summer-flowering
perennials that are sold on
the bulb stands. Make sure
that the bulbs are still firm
and that perennial plants
in peat packaging have not
dried out. Last, plant tomato
seeds this month so that you
will have them ready for next
month and planting.
Prune roses
Cut back any weak or twiggy
growth so that the centre
of the bush is open. Always
prune to an outward-growing
shoot. Spray your roses with
lime sulphur to eliminate any
spores of black spot. Spray
the surrounding soil at the
same time.
Glorious
gardenias
Gardenias are always a
favourite in the garden. The
smaller-growing Super Star is
a compact, low-growing neat
shrub with fragrant, single
pinwheel flowers. If you have a
space this is great plant to fill
a corner in a sunny spot. Once
established it is tough, hardy
and undemanding. Feed it with
Kahoona for a mass of flowers
at Christmas.
Fruits of labour
If you want to grow fruit trees,
this is the time to plant them.
Make sure if you are buying
fruit trees that you check the
varieties carefully. Most apples
and stone fruit need winter
frost although there are a few
newer varieties that will grow
in frost-free climates. Fruits
that are good for this area
include paw paws, passionfruit,
avocadoes, guavas,
pomegranates, grapes, kiwi
fruit, strawberries, mangoes,
bananas and figs.
Divide & conquer
Lift and divide gingers, iris,
mondo grass gazanias, liriope,
ornamental grasses, dichondra,
strawberries and Shasta
daisies. Also trim and train
passionfruit vines. The fruit is
only produced on new growth.
You should cut the vine back
by 50%.
On your guard
Guard the flower spikes on
orchids. Snails, caterpillars and
grasshoppers can decimate
the buds in a single night.
Multiguard will keep the snails
under control – but why not
bring the pots inside until they
finish flowering?
The good oil
Protect the new growth on
citrus trees from leaf miners
with Eco Oil mixed together
with Eco Neem. As the days
warm up a regular weekly spray
is worth the effort.
‘Lei’ off pruning
Wait until next month to prune
Hawaiian hibiscus. It is always
tempting to tidy them up, but
the nights are still too cold.
Basket beauty
Cheer yourself up on a cold
day by buying a new hanging
basket plant. Ipomea Blackie
is a tough and hardy trailing
plant. It is a cousin of the sweet
potato. The stunning dark
purple leaves look amazing as
a backdrop for the pretty pink
flowers. It loves good light and
the sun. It looks great in mixed
baskets, multi-planted tubs,
or as a ground cover in the
garden.
Crossword solution from page 69
Mystery location: BROKEN BAY
72 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
Times Past
Catholic beginnings
at early Careel Bay
The history of the Roman
Catholic Church in the
2107 postcode area
began when the Reverend
Father John Joseph Therry
was granted land there.
Governor Bourke granted
him some 1200 acres on
August 31, 1833 and a further
grant of 280 acres was made
on February 11, 1837.
The boundaries, according
to his biographer Eris O’Brien,
were from Narrabeen Lake to
Careel Bay and bounded by
the Tasman Sea.
However Father Therry’s
main focus was on the Careel
Bay area where he proposed to
establish the ‘Marine Village
of Brighton’ in the diocese of
Josephton.
Father Therry had
ambitions of agriculture there
but he also hoped for success
searching for coal on the
Avalon Golf Links. However,
the test bore to 120 metres
revealed nothing and it was
The Local Voice Since 1991
claimed to have cost him 800 Grace Dr Vaughan,
pounds in 1860.
accompanied by the
Besides the sale of shells Very Reverend Dean
from Aboriginal middens Hallinan, DD visited
around Careel Bay and
Pitt Water for the
Pittwater for the manufacture purpose of holding
no visiting priest, the Church
of lime for cement in Sydney, Confirmation there. The
was moved to the Narrabeen
he managed to settle a few ceremony took place in the
Parish on 6 December 1917.
Roman Catholic families in the church, which has lately been
It shows in the photo with its
area, some from his home town erected near the residence of
later roof of asbestos shingles
of Cork in Ireland. Plans for a Mr John Collins. The church
and Father Amiel Sobb
Church of “almost cathedrallike
proportions overlooking for the occasion”.
was handsomely decorated
standing by the doorway.
I was fortunate to have
the sea at St Michael’s Cave” The Church is not shown in
recorded some dialogue with
never eventuated.
the 1871 subdivision of the
him about the Church before
After his death on May 24, ‘Marine Village of Brighton’ in
he died in 1982.
1864, the small weatherboard the diocese of Josephton but
St Joseph’s Church was built the cottage and lot outline of
on the corner of Joseph and Henry Gaskin’s 50-acre grant TIMES PAST is supplied
George Streets. I suspect it from July 1820 does. This has by local historian
may have been erected in frequently been incorrectly and President of the
memory of Father Therry assumed to be the site of the
Avalon Beach Historical
as much as also providing Church.
Society GEOFF SEARL.
somewhere for the celebration The main photo shows the
of Mass for the local Roman Church with its shingled roof Visit the Society’s
Catholics.
on its site facing George Street showroom in Bowling
The Freeman’s Journal of which at that time shows as Green Lane, Avalon
November 13, 1875 reported little more than a worn track.
that “… on Monday last his After years of inactivity and
Beach.
JULY 2019 73
Times Past
Travel Life
Travel Life
Seamless journey through Old Europe
Viking Homelands is one of Viking’s most popular
ocean cruise itineraries — and with good reason,
says Travel View’s Karen Robinson.
“Sailing from Stockholm to Bergen or vice versa, this
spectacular 15-day voyage covers the highlights the
Nordic nations, Russia and Germany, with overnight
stays in three fascinating cities.
Sweden: Stockholm
“Here, you will stroll through the charming
cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan
and marvel at the Royal Palace, Parliament
House and the Royal Opera,” says Karen.
“With an overnight stay, you will have time
to sample plenty of traditional Swedish cuisine
and visit the famous Vasa Museum.”
Finland: Helsinki
“Finland was named the happiest country in the world this year,
and in the nation’s dynamic capital, it’s easy to see why. Helsinki
is overflowing with magnificent architecture and breathtaking
natural beauty. Browse the stalls of Market Square and mingle with
locals, see the Uspenski Cathedral and visit stunning Sibelius Park.”
Russia: St Petersburg
“Visit St Isaac’s Cathedral, the Peter and Paul Fortress and
Nevsky Prospekt – with an overnight stay here, you will have the
chance to explore the incredible Hermitage Museum, Catherine
Palace and Peterhof Palace.”
Estonia: Tallinn
“Stroll through the meticulously restored medieval streets of Tallinn
and visit the colossal Alexander Nevsky
Cathedral and the sumptuously baroque
Kadriorg Palace, all while feasting on delicious
locally made marzipan,” said Karen.
Poland: Gdansk
“Gilded Goldwasser… glowing amber… Gothic
cathedrals – your stop in Gdansk is a visit
to one of the richest cities in the Hanseatic
League of old. Explore the remarkably restored
Old Town with its eclectic mix of architecture
and indulge in traditional pierogi dumplings.”
Germany: Berlin
“Discover Germany’s historic capital at your own pace. Sample
locally brewed beer and see the Brandenburg Gate, Alexanderplatz,
Checkpoint Charlie, and remnants of the Berlin Wall.”
Denmark: Copenhagen & Ålborg
“Delight your palate at one of Copenhagen’s many Michelin-starred
restaurants. In beautiful Ålborg, stroll through the Old Town and
Utzon Park.”
Norway: Stavanger, Eidfjord & Bergen
“Explore Stavanger’s old quarter, where you will find Europe’s
highest concentration of wooden buildings from the 17th and 18th
centuries. In Eidfjord, ascend Europe’s largest mountain plateau,
and witness the 550-foot drop of the Vøringsfossen waterfall. And
in Bergen, gaze in awe at the majestic mountains and fjords surrounding
you, and see the quaint wooden buildings of Bryggen
– a UNESCO World Heritage site.
* Call Travel View Avalon (9918 4444) or Collaroy (9999 0444).
74 JULY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991
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