Pittwater Life November 2020 Issue

News
Pittwater News
Continued from page 31
who earned $15,000 through
employment in the agricultural
sector in regional Australia
between 30 November 2020
and 31 December 2021 would
be considered as “independent”
for the purpose of YA
(student) or ABSTUDY. “This
will significantly reduce the
time needed for a young
person to gain ‘independent’
status and claim Youth Allowance
or ABSTUDY faster than
under the existing criteria,”
Mr Falinski said. More info
dese.gov.au
Palm Beach Probus
Members of the small and
friendly Palm Beach Probus
Club have been pleased to
resume their monthly meetings
thanks to the excellent
safety protocols at Club Palm
Beach. Their next meeting is
on Wednesday, 18 November
for a 9.45 start, with guest
speaker Richard Broinowski, a
distinguished career diplomat
who has worked in Japan, the
Philippines, Iran, Burma, and
as Ambassador to Mexico,
Vietnam and South Korea. On
his retirement from DFAT he
became Adjunct Professor in
Media and Communications,
first at the University of Canberra,
then Sydney University.
He will be speaking on his
varied experiences.
Anytime access
via new library app
Northern Beaches Council has
released a new Library app to
allow members streamlined
contactless borrowing, catalogue
searches and information
about library events and
news. The app has everything
together in one mobile-friendly
location to make accessing
the library now safer and
easier. Via the new library app,
users can manage accounts;
store library cards and link
family members’ cards; borrow
books in-branch; view
loans and reservations or renew
items; scan the barcode of
any book (like one you see in
a bookstore) to see if you can
borrow it from your library;
search the collection and place
a reservation; browse for easy
access to the eLibrary and eReosurces;
and check out what’s
available at the nearest library.
Earlier this year, Council’s
library service moved quickly
during the COVID-19 pandemic
to deliver Library2U, a home
delivery service ensuring our
community could still access
and enjoy the library during
challenging times. Search for
Northern Beaches Library Service
in the App Store or Google
Play store; free to download.
Crohn’s & Colitis
support group
Crohn’s & Colitis Australia
have established a support
group at the Mona Vale Memorial
Hall for people impacted
by inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD). The facilitated
group provides support for
those diagnosed with IBD and
their family, partner, carers or
loved ones, from people with
experience living with IBD.
For more information or to
register to attend visit crohnsandcolitis.com.au
Tough competition
for Community Grants
After an exhaustive review
process, Northern Beaches
Council has approved
$280,000 in Community Development,
Arts and Creativity
as well as Environmental
grants for this financial
year, to support projects and
initiatives that deliver direct
benefits to the local community
and the environment.
It provides grants of up to
$10,000 to eligible individuals
and organisations to support
projects and initiatives to be
delivered by 31 December
2021. Of the $280,000 awarded,
$240,000 was shared between
the Arts and Creativity
and Community Development
grants and $40,000 went towards
Environmental grants.
Council approved $95,250 in
Continued on page 34
That’s not a knife…
it’s another Dagger
A
valon Beach’s Michael
Robotham has triumphed
at this year’s Crime
Writers’ Association Awards,
receiving the prestigious and
internationally recognised
Gold Dagger for Best Crime
Novel of the Year for his
bestselling Good Girl, Bad
Girl. Robotham joins a select
few including John Le Carre
to have claimed the Dagger
twice and he becomes the
first Australian to do so.
Robotham said: “What thrills
me the most is that since
2007 Australians have won
[the Gold Dagger] four times. It reflects how far Australian
crime writing has come.” An unnerving psychological thriller,
Good Girl, Bad Girl became the top-selling fiction title on
release in August 2019 and When She Was Good, released in
August this year, was equally well received earning the top
spot for adult fiction in its release week. The Gold Dagger
rounds off what has been an incredible year for Robotham,
with Good Girl, Bad Girl also nominated for the 2020 Edgar
Award for Best Novel (presented by the Mystery Writers of
America) and shortlisted for the 2020 ABIA General Fiction
Book of the Year Award. Also, The Secrets She Keeps television
series premiered on Channel 10 in April.
News
32 NOVEMBER 2020
The Local Voice Since 1991
The Local Voice Since 1991
NOVEMBER 2020 33