Pittwater Life June 2022 Issue

The Local Voice Since 1991 

JUNE 2022 

FREE 

pittwaterlife 

A NEW VOICE FOR MACKELLAR 

REVEALED: THE DRAMATIC OVERHAUL FOR THE HEART OF AVALON 

PHOTOGRAPHER PIETER DE VRIES / LOCAL ISSUES FURY 

SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... / HOT PROPERTY / THE WAY WE WERE

Editorial 

Mackellar enters bold new era 

Well, that escalated 

quickly! Seemingly 

overnight (figuratively 

speaking, given the seat had 

been a Liberal stronghold for 

73 years), Mackellar shifted 

its political allegiance, 

ushering in a new era with the 

election of Narrabeen doctor 

and ‘teal’ independent Dr 

Sophie Scamps to represent 

the community in Canberra. 

But Dr Scamps and her 

supporters are far from 

overnight successes, having 

started plotting their course 

more than two years ago, with 

more than 1200 volunteers 

engaging with locals in 

bedrock conversations about 

what they wanted not just for 

the future of our area, but for 

Australia as a whole. 

We congratulate Dr Scamps 

and place our trust in her to 

deliver on her promise. 

We also congratulate our 

former Member Jason Falinski 

for his two terms serving our 

community; having dealt with 

Mr Falinski in a professional 

capacity for six years, this 

magazine thought he was 

never anything but passionate 

and focused in his role as 

Mackellar MP. 

Indeed, given the result – as 

we went to print Mr Falinski 

had polled 41 per cent of first 

preference votes to Dr Scamps’ 

39 per cent – for every voter 

waking up celebrating a Dr 

Scamps win, there was a voter 

waking up disappointed Mr 

Falinski had been unseated. 

Regardless of which way 

you voted, we should all 

get behind Dr Scamps; her 

enthusiasm, energy, approach 

and innovative ideas and 

agenda are a breath of fresh 

air that we can see will be 

welcomed not just from 

Collaroy to Palm Beach, but 

across the nation as well. 

– Nigel Wall 


JUNE 2022 3

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Publisher: Nigel Wall 

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Graphic Design: 

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Photography: Adobe / Staff 

Contributors: Rob Pegley, 

Rosamund Burton, Steve 

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Vol 31 No 11 

Celebrating 31 years 

34 



FREE 

pittwaterlife 

A NEW VOICE FOR MACKELLAR 

REVEALED: THE DRAMATIC OVERHAUL FOR THE HEART OF AVALON 

PHOTOGRAPHER PIETER DE VRIES / LOCAL ISSUES FURY 

SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... / HOT PROPERTY / THE WAY WE WERE 

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thislife 

INSIDE: Council has defended its inability to deliver its 

required LGA housing targets (p8); it has also moved to 

explain the new rate rise hitting residents in 2022-23 (p12); 

Independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps reflects on becoming the 

first non-Liberal candidate to win the seat of Mackellar (p13); 

the community vents its frustrations over local issues (p18); 

Avalon’s major intersection is set for huge change (p22); 

and local cinematographer Pieter De Vries spins us a few 

entertaining yarns from his rich life story (p34). 

COVER: Angophora Shadow / Sharon Green 

XXXXX 2022 

also this month 

Editorial 3 

Pittwater Local News 8-33 

The Way We Were 24 

Seen... Heard... Absurd... 26 

Briefs & Community News 28-33 

Life Story: Pieter De Vries 34-36 

Hot Property 38-45 

Art 46-47 

Surfing 48-49 

Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 50-57 

Money; Law 58-60 

Crossword 65 

Food & Tasty Morsels 66-69 

Gardening 70-72 

the goodlife 

Returning soon! Showtime, Pubs & Clubs and gigs! 

Inside this month: our regular features on food, gardening, 

beauty, health, surfing, art, local history, money, plus our 

guide to trades and services... and our essential maps. 

ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! 

Bookings & advertising material to set for 

our JULY issue MUST be supplied by 

FRIDAY 10 JUNE 

Finished art & editorial submissions deadline: 

FRIDAY 17 JUNE 

The JULY issue will be published 

on WEDNESDAY 29 JUNEY 

COPYRIGHT 

All contents are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the 

written consent of the copyright owner. All advertising rates are subject to GST. 

* The complete Pittwater 

Life archive can be found at 

6 

the State Library of NSW. 


The Local Voice Since 1991

Beaches housing target 

hit by Granny Flat clause 

News 

Northern Beaches Council 

and the NSW Government 

are at loggerheads 

over housing targets after 

Council was found to have 

fallen well short of its initial 

five-year mandated requirement. 

Data from the Department 

of Planning and Environment 

identified Northern 

Beaches Council as one of 19 

Local Government Areas that 

failed to fulfil its 2016-2021 

obligations under the Greater 

Sydney Urban Development 

Program. 

A target of 3400 homes 

was set for Northern Beaches 

Council, yet only 2318 were 

built. 

However Mayor Michael 

Regan maintains the Government’s 

data is flawed as it did 

not take into account other 

types of housing and secondary 

dwellings, including 

‘granny flats’, seniors housing 

developments and boarding 

house rooms. 

Cr Regan told Pittwater Life 

that despite Council’s many 

submissions on the matter, the 

Department of Planning and 

Environment was not willing, 

and in some cases not able, to 

count these developments as 

‘homes’. 

He said Council’s data 

showed that in the period 

2016-2021, 841 granny flats, 

259 seniors living units and 

268 boarding room houses 

were completed on the Northern 

Beaches – together with 

the 2318 other completed 

‘homes’ this equated to 3686 

new dwellings, which met the 

five-year-target. 

“Many of the barriers to 

housing targets are outside of 

local government’s control,” 

he said, adding: “We want 

all people on the Northern 

Beaches to be able to access 

affordable housing and we 

THEY DON’T COUNT: 

Granny Flats. 

are supportive of some housing 

growth to help achieve 

this, but there needs to be 

appropriate infrastructure in 

place to support this growth, 

including public transport, 

schools, open space and 

hospitals.” 

The State Government asked 


to prepare a Local Housing 

Strategy to develop housing 

targets for 2021-2026, and 

2026-2036. Council adopted 

its Local Housing Strategy 

in April 2021, following two 

years of development and 

community consultation. 

The Strategy establishes 

targets of 3,582 new dwellings 

for the 2021-2026 period, and 

8,949 dwellings for the 2026- 

2036 period. 

Council’s Strategy anticipates 

that these targets can be 

readily achieved through the 

development of land already 

zoned for growth, together 

with an anticipated 4360 new 

dwellings created in the new 

Frenchs Forest centre / hospital 

precinct and through planning 

for other centres already 

underway. 

Cr Regan said key barriers 

to achieving housing targets 

included inadequate provision 

of infrastructure on the 

Northern Beaches to support 

growth. 

Council maintains new 

housing should be built within 

walking distance of centres 

where services are accessible 

and should not be built in 

areas subject to hazards such 

as bushfires and floods 

Also, the provision of social 

and affordable housing was 

a key issue – it’s estimated 

there is currently a shortfall 

of more than 8000 social and 

affordable housing dwellings 

on the Northern Beaches and 

that this is set to increase by 

an additional 2000 dwellings 

by 2036. 

“Council has set a target for 

itself to provide for the additional 

2000 dwelling shortfall 

however the State and Federal 

governments need to address 

existing shortages,” Cr Regan 

said. 

“Any targets for housing 

should not simply focus on 

supply of ‘market’ housing as 

this has been shown not to 

meaningfully improve affordability.” 

Council believes it is not 

apparent that the effect of 

the pandemic on population 

growth has been taken into 

account in the housing targets 

set by the state government. 

“Council’s housing consultants 

anticipate that population 

growth will have slowed significantly 

during the pandemic, 

reducing the demand for 

housing in the short-medium 

term,” Cr Regan said. 

“This cannot be confirmed 

until population projections 

by the state government are 

updated later this year.” 


8 JUNE 2022 


News 

History-making Scamps’ 

vision for Mackellar 

Mackellar has voted for change, anti-corruption commission is legislated around their kitchen tables, in cafes and 

with ‘teal’ Independent Dr Sophie before the end of the year. 

our parks, and together, we have now 

Scamps riding a wave of community 

Also on her extensive to-do list is made history. 

support to create history and become 

the first non-Liberal local member in the 

seat’s 73-year history. 

Results three days after the May 21 

election, with votes from 47 of 48 places 

returned, showed former Liberal MP Jason 

Falinski polling 41.27 per cent (34,821) of 

the first preference count, followed by Dr 

Scamps with 39.28 per cent (33,142 votes). 

The remainder of the Mackellar ‘pie’ 

was divided between Labor’s Paula Goodman 

(7.7 per cent), The Greens’ Ethan 

Hrnjak (5.7 per cent), UAP’s Christopher 

Ball (2.9 per cent), One Nation’s Darren 

Dickson (2.6 per cent) and The New Liberals’ 

Barry Steele (0.54 per cent). 

However, after preferences, the Two Party 

preferred vote saw Dr Scamps clearly 

ahead with 44,625 votes (52.9 per cent) to 

Mr Falinski’s 39,736 votes (47.1 per cent). 

A euphoric Dr Scamps said her top priorities 

will be to hold Anthony Albanese’s 

Labor Government to account on climate 

change, while ensuring a strong federal 

improving our public hospital and mental 

health services. 

“I will pressure the incoming government 

to ensure Mackellar receives the 

funding it needs to improve [these] local 

services,” she said. 

Dr Scamps claimed victory around 

midnight on election night. She told nearly 

800 volunteers and supporters at Dee Why 

RSL that the community in Mackellar had 

voted emphatically for change and independent 

representation in Parliament. 

“This is an historic result, and I am 

incredibly humbled to be entrusted by our 

community to represent them in Parliament 

over the next three years,” she said. 

“The foundation of our success has 

been the amazing movement which 

involved over 1200 volunteers engaging 

with our community, listening to their 

concerns and campaigning with integrity 

and positivity. 

“Our campaign started over two years 

ago, listening to the concerns of locals 

“This victory has proved the power 

of community, and that when we come 

together Mackellar can achieve great 

things.” 

She said she promised to work “every 

day to be an MP that you can be proud of”. 

“I promise to be an MP that genuinely 

listens to our community and votes in a 

way that reflects the views and values of 

this community. 

“Finally, I promise to ensure our community 

is never taken for granted again in 

Parliament and that our voice is heard and 

respected.” 

Dr Scamps acknowledged the two terms 

of work delivered by Mr Falinski since 

2016. 

“While we may have disagreed over a 

range of policy issues and had our differences 

during the campaign, I also want to 

thank Jason Falinski for serving our community 

over the last six years,” she said. 

Prior to the election Mackellar was considered 

Liberal heartland. The party had 

held it continuously for 73 years, with Mr 

Falinski holding a seemingly insurmountable 

13.3 per cent advantage following the 

2019 election. 

But the incumbent MP became one of 

several ‘moderate’ Liberals wiped from 

office by the community-funded and Climate 

200-backed teal independents. 

As the Liberals’ soul-searching continued 

in the days after the drama-charged 

TEAL APPEAL: 

New Mackellar MP 

Dr Sophie Scamps 

celebrates with 

supporters. 

election result, senior moderate Liberal 

Simon Birmingham said his party had 

clearly not learned the lessons of former 

PM Tony Abbott’s 2019 defeat to Zali Steggall 

in Warringah. 

“We should have acknowledged that 

had broader implications than just related 

to Tony,” he said. “Now we’re paying the 

price for that.” 


* Jason Falinski signs off – see page 13 

‘An ever-present risk’ 

Pittwater State MP Rob Stokes is 

not taking the threat of a possible 

independent challenge lightly in the 

lead-up to the 2023 NSW Election. 

Mr Stokes, who defeated 

independent Alex McTaggart to take 

office in 2007, said history had shown 

that northern Sydney in particular has 

been prepared to back independents, 

especially in coastal areas. 

“Given I faced an independent, 

I know there is an ever-present 

risk of independents in seats like 

Pittwater and Manly and other coastal 

peninsula seats where there is one 

road in and one road out, and there 

is a strong sense of local identity,” Mr 

Stokes said. 

He acknowledged Dr Scamps and 

the ‘teal independents’ did well 

because they resonated with voters on 

key community-focused issues. 

“They brought a level of coordination 

and commonality on some 

of society’s big challenges, like climate 

change and integrity,” he said. 

“The state Liberals have a 

demonstrated record of addressing 

these themes in government – but 

we should not take [our results] as a 

reason to congratulate ourselves or 

rest on our laurels.” 

– NW 

News 





News 

Higher 

inflation 

triggers 

rates rise 

FIX: Paradise Beach pool. 

Northern Beaches Council is defending its 2022-23 rates 

increases that will see the average household fork out an 

extra $37 a year. 

Council’s draft 2022/23 budget – trumpeted with “a focus on 

resilience, renewal and recovery” – projects an operating surplus 

of $9.4 million, includes debt repayment of $5 million 

plus an $85-million investment in both new and 

renewed capital projects. 

Mayor Michael Regan admitted it had been a tough 

few years on the bottom lines of most businesses and 

organisations, adding Council had not been immune. 

“Fortunately, we went into the pandemic, and 

ensuing flood and storm events, in a strong financial 

position,” Cr Regan said. 

He said Council’s “prudent” expenditure and 

regular reviews had meant Council had been able to 

absorb the brunt of the impacts. 

“This budget is about getting back to basics, making 

sure our community infrastructure – our roads, footpaths, 

coastal and stormwater assets – are repaired and renewed which 

costs less for ratepayers in the long term,” he said. 

“We continue to pay down legacy debt, allocating another $5 

million in this draft budget. Since 2016, Council will have repaid 

$77 million in inherited debt, again strengthening our financial 

sustainability for the future. 

“Our focus continues to be on delivering on the priorities our 

community has confirmed – protecting and enhancing our environment, 

improving community infrastructure and providing 

quality services in a financially responsible way,” he said. 

A Council spokesperson said the draft budget proposed a 

modest increase to rates of 2.4 per cent which equated to an 

average increase of $37 per year for residents. 

“This supports Council in meeting increases in costs due to 

‘TOUGH’: Cr Regan. 

inflation like higher prices for fuel and construction materials,” 

the spokesperson explained. 

“This modest increase ensures Council maintains services at 

current levels and continues to invest in the renewal of community 

infrastructure assets.” 

They explained that each year the Independent 

Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) set the 

maximum amount rates can be increased by for all 

Councils in NSW. 

In December 2021, IPART announced the limit 

would be 0.7 per cent for the 2022/23 financial year. 

“However this was based on outdated inflation 

information,” the spokesperson said. 

“With inflation currently at 5.1 per cent, the 

Minister for Local Government has established a 

process through the IPART for Council’s to apply for 

a higher increase that is consistent with the Council’s 

expected level of rating income (to a maximum 

of 2.5 per cent).” 

Consequently, Council has resolved to apply to IPART for approval 

to increase rates by 2.4 per cent. 

Highlights of the 2022-23 draft Budget include: 

n $8.8 million for stormwater management projects – reducing 

stormwater runoff and improving stormwater quality entering 

the natural environment; 

n $7.6 million road re-sheeting – involving the renewal of 

10.7km of road in 25 suburbs. A further $1.5m is assigned to 

renew adjoining kerb and gutter where required; 

n $4.4 million footpaths – new and renewal; 

n Foreshore upgrades to seawalls at Bayview and improved access 

and landscaping at Warriewood Beach; and 

n Paradise Beach will share $1 million with Clontarf on the 

renewal of its tidal pool. 


Falinski thanks community 

Former Liberal MP 

Jason Falinski says 

he remains proud of his 

team’s achievements 

since succeeding Bronwyn 

Bishop as the local 

federal member in 2016. 

In saying farewell to 

the local community, Mr 

Falinski described the 

past six years as “the 

greatest privilege of his 

life”. 

“As I did on Saturday 

night, I would once again 

like to congratulate 

Sophie Scamps on her 

victory in Mackellar,” Mr 

Falinski said in a public 

statement. “She is now 

my sitting member and I 

wish her all the success. 

“It has been the greatest 

privilege of my life 

to represent my community 

in the Australian 

parliament. I hope that 

Sophie enjoys it as much 

as I did. 

“I know that Australia’s 

best days are ahead of it, 

because we have so much 

to hope for and so little 

to fear. 

“Across the last six 

years I fought fiercely 

to guarantee our 

commitment to Net 

Zero, advancing new 

technologies for clean 

energy, making sure 

everyone can experience 

the Australian Dream in 

owning their own home, 

fighting for a taxpayer 

FAREWELL: Former Mackellar MP Jason Falinski. 

Bill of Rights, a better 

deal for our retirees and 

reforming employee 

share schemes to unlock 

a new wave of innovation 

in the Australian 

economy. Additionally, I 

tried to hold APRA, ASIC 

and the Reserve Bank to 

account. 

“Locally, we stopped 

gas and oil exploration 

off the Northern Beaches 

[PEP-11], secured funding 

for Wakehurst Parkway, 

funded phone towers 

at Belrose and Cottage 

Point, upgrades to our 

sports facilities including 

major developments 

at Long Reef Surf Life 

Saving Club, secured 

additional support for 

our schools, backed local 

businesses and helped 

our community hubs 

transition to renewable 

energy.” 

He reserved special 

thanks to his family, 

staff and locals. 

“I want to thank my 

family who has sacrificed 

so much for me to be in 

service of the nation,” he 

continued. 

“Thank you to my 

staff who have worked 

tirelessly. I am incredibly 

proud of our record in 

always putting the Mackellar 

community first, 

especially making sure 

everyone had access to 

this office and providing 

every bit of assistance to 

those who needed it. 

“But most of all I want 

to thank you for the opportunity 

to serve as your 

Member for Mackellar.” 

– NW 

Have your say on 

Lagoon strategy 

proposed comprehensive strategy to 

A establish the most effective way to 

manage the Narrabeen Lagoon entrance 

to reduce the risk of flooding is currently 

on exhibition for community feedback. 

Council’s draft Narrabeen Lagoon 

Entrance Management Strategy focuses 

on all aspects of entrance management, 

including sand transport, flood benefits 

and entrance efficiency and dynamics. 

Following the extensive assessment 

and analysis the draft Strategy recommends 

that Council continue periodic 

large scale sand clearance operations; 

trial more frequent sand clearances 

but with smaller volumes, in targeted 

areas (as revealed by Pittwater Life last 

month); continue intermittent mechanical 

breakouts if the lagoon entrance 

closes between major clearances and in 

response to forecast high rain and swells; 

revegetate and maintain Birdwood Park 

dune to assist sand stabilisation; and 

review mobile sand pumping (as an alternative 

to trucking) if lower cost pricing 

becomes available. 

Mayor Michael Regan said the main objective 

was to reduce the risk of flooding 

on the Narrabeen Lagoon floodplain. 

“Residents on the floodplain know 

too well the stress that comes every 

time there is forecast high rainfall, large 

swells or flood warnings,” Mayor Regan 

said. “The development of this draft 

strategy is about making sure we’ve canvassed 

all feasible options to reduce that 

stress, to reduce the risk and to make 

sure our lagoon management continues 

to follow best practice. 

The draft Strategy will be on exhibition 

until June 19 on the ‘Your Say’ page on 

Council’s website. 

– NW 

News 





100 YEARS IN FOCUS: Locals pose 

with a 15-foot shark hauled up next 

to the Customs Station wharf at 

Barrenjoey in 1923; La Corniche, 

Mona Vale; an early residence from 

the 1930s; and a painting of North 

Avalon Headland dated 1909. 

News 

Picture perfect 

Avalon Beach focus 

It’s finally here – after the disappointment 

of a COVID postponement last October, the 

Avalon Beach Historical Society is staging 

its 10th Great Historic Photographic Exhibition 

at the Avalon Recreation Centre over the June 

long weekend. 

On show will be more than 1000 reproduced 

and original archive photos to help celebrate 

100 years of Avalon Beach. 

Society Presidents Geoff Searl says more 

than 60 different topics, areas and eras of 

local history represented. 

“It will be a historical feast for all who 

attend, from first-time visitors to locals 

familiar with our exhibition – you certainly 

won’t be disappointed,” Geoff said. 

One of the new display panels will be ‘Art 

and Artists of Avalon Beach’; it will feature 18 

A4 reproductions of paintings of North Avalon 

headland from 1862 to 2018. Included is one 

by Pro Hart of a series painted in the early 

1980s. 

“Also represented will be the early history 

of the Whale Beach Surf Life Saving Club 

along with St Marks Anglican Church and 

an intriguing pictorial history of the Bilgola 

Bends,” Geoff said. 

“Also, photographs of 18 residences from 

many eras will illustrate the varieties of 

shelters in which we have chosen to live in this 

amazing area.” 

Geoff said these great new subjects would 

complement some of the all-time favourites 

such as ‘Koalas’; ‘The Hole in the Wall’; 

‘St Michael’s Cave and the Ovens’; ‘Avalon 

Public School’; ‘Sharks’; the ‘Golf Links’; and 

‘Clareville Wharf’. 

The exhibition will be held in the main 

hall of the Avalon Recreation Centre in Old 

Barrenjoey Road, next to Dunbar Park and will 

be open on Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th and 

Monday 13th from 9am-5pm. 

“Admission charges are the same as they 

were 12 years ago – $5 per adult and children 

free,” Geoff said. 

Besides some publications for sale the Society 

will also have reproduced high resolution 

photos ready for framing, mugs with local 

photos printed on them and printed tea towels. 

Geoff said the exhibition would be the 

Society’s biggest in its 39 years of operations 

– collecting, correlating, categorising 

and disseminating the information and 

photographs to its members, the local schools, 

tertiary students and interested groups and 

individuals. 


* More info abhs.org.au 



Newport’s big second 

News 

In April this year, Newport 

SLSC did the near impossible. 

Its competition team 

came second at the Australian 

SLS Championships. 

That might not seem unbelievable. 

After all the team, 

coached and competing under 

the aegis of Newport SLSC’s 

Kinghorn Surf Racing Academy, 

has pulled off a second 

place four times now over the 

past eight years — always to 

the same club, Northcliffe in 

Queensland. 

(Which is annoying but not 

embarrassing since Northcliffe 

has won the Aussies 14 times 

in a row.) 

But this year was different. 

The COVID-19 restrictions of 

2021 meant that here in NSW, 

unlike all the Queensland 

clubs, our squads were both 

starved of facilities and had to 

split up. No Gym time. Training 

in pairs, in ocean pools in 

the middle of winter. Being 

coached by remote control over 

Facebook. Sneakily meeting up 

a kilometre offshore for 20-kilometre 

ski paddles. 

It was one of those times that 

cause athletes to question their 

participation in a sport, much 

less encourage their will to win. 

Somehow none of this 

got in the way of some epic 

team performances. Original 

Academy duo Max Brooks and 

WINNERS: Under-15 Champion Lifesaver Bella Cox (left), Under-19 Double Ski 

Champs Bailey Clues and Harrison Taurins (top) and in action (right); and 

Open Single Surf Ski Champs Luke Morrison, Luke Jones and Greg Tobin. 

Jayke Rees won the double ski, 

Newport’s second gold in a row 

at this event. The open men’s B- 

Team – now and forever known 

as The Killer Bees – blitzed 

through a super strong field to 

win the ski relay. Powerhouse 

Jemma Smith took gold in the 

champion lifesaver, silver in the 

individual ski, and was tangled 

up in numerous other team 

successes. Young Arabella Cox 

covered herself with glory with 

a gold in the under-15 lifesaver, 

and the super-team of Harrison 

Taurins and Bailey Clues won 

the under-19 double ski at their 

first attempt. 

But it was the boys’ Under- 

17s who blew minds: the team 

produced the highest overall 

points score for an age group 

in the carnival’s history, in 

the process winning gold and 

silver in the hugely coveted 

Taplin teams event – a freakish 

achievement. 

These were highlights of 

what might be the club’s greatest 

team achievement to date. 

Let’s see what they can do with 

clear training air ahead of them 

in the coming year. 

– Nick Carroll 

* Nick was too humble to 

include himself in this report 

but it should be noted he won 

Gold in the 60-64yrs Iron; he is 

the only person to win both an 

Australian surfing title and an 

Aussie Iron title – Ed 

News 





News 

Locals have a say… 

Here’s some readers feedback on current 

issues across the Northern Beaches Council 

region, as reported by us in recent months… 

Council’s ‘arrogant’ 

call on Parkway 

I am appalled by the arrogant 

over-ruling by Council of the 

concerned residents who took 

the care and time to study 

and respond to the detailed 

studies offered to address 

the perennial problem of 

Wakehurst Parkway flooding 

(Pittwater Life, May). 

We were cut off several 

times a week this past wet 

summer, reducing our exit 

roads to two (Mona Vale Rd 

and Pittwater Rd) – and not 

even those when Pittwater Rd 

flooded recently. 

Are we doomed to live in 

third world-like conditions? 

Seems this is good enough 

for this Regan-led Council. 

But apparently the majority 

of respondents wanting 

a solution or no flooding 

option is not good enough! 

More people will become 

aware of the significant 

limitations to living in the 

‘Pittwater Paradise’ area; 

this will impact not only 

the residents’ access in 

and out of the area, but it 

will also delay or see the 

cancellation of upgrades to 

retail areas, facilities and 

general improvements, plus 

an impact on real estate. 

It must give pause to 

people considering moving 

here who do need to travel 

beyond our LGA. 

Please, what can we do to 

call this Council to account? 

Name withheld 

Newport 

It’s litter-ally a 

local disgrace 

Re the Wakehurst Parkway: 

in addition to the issue of 

flood mitigation, what about 

the disgraceful management 

of the Parkway? There are 

broken trees and rubbish 

strewn along the length of 

the road and most recently 

barricade fencing has been 

damaged. 

It has been like this for 

more than a year and would 

have added to the recent 

flooding as drains were 

blocked by the rubbish and 

debris – much of it including 

plastic bottles and bags 

that would now be floating 

around Narrabeen Lake or in 

our oceans. 

Visitors to our prestigious 

Northern Beaches could be 

excused for thinking they 

were in Bali where there is no 

garbage control! 

I have approached Council 

twice – they fobbed me off to 

the RMS (Transport for NSW) 

who have given me a job 

number three times but made 

no comment on what they are 

going to do. 

Last November my 

daughter hit some fallen 

rock that blew out her tyre; I 

pushed that rock to the side 

of the road and told a passing 

police officer. Would you 

believe the rock is still on the 

side of the road! 

There has been dead 

wildlife including Wallabies 

lying on the side of the road 

for months. 

Whilst this is not just a 

Wakehurst Parkway issue, it 

seems that NSW is a victim 

of government lethargy, 

investment and care factor 

and is using COVID as the 

reason why we should put up 

with the filth! 

It appears there is 

a complete lack of 

acknowledgement of the 

environmental issues and 

road repairs, maintenance 

and hygiene. Probably all 

about the $$$! 

Bob Labrum 

Warriewood 

Tone-deaf Council 

wasting our time 

The Council’s decision to not 

progress the flood mitigation 

measures supported by 

community is pathetic. They 

seem intent on finding any 

possible way not to progress 

the job – which is simply to 

FIX… THE… ROAD. 

Imagine if they had been 

involved in the original 

decision to build it – clearly it 

would never have progressed 

at all. I shall be writing to 

my councillors to ask for an 

explanation of their complete 

disregard for the wishes 

of the community in this 

much-vaunted “consultation 

process” which appears 

to be a complete waste of 

everyone’s time. 

Richard Lewis 

Bayview 

E-scooters? Govt 

should Ban them! 

Thank you for the article on 

E-scooters (Pittwater Life, 

May). I spend a lot of time 

as a pedestrian, so this is an 

issue of great concern to me. 

I have had two run-ins 

recently with E-scooters. 

About two weeks ago I was 

waiting for a bus in shelter 

at the bus stop on Barrenjoey 

Road where it joins Avalon 

Parade. There are posters at 

each end of the shelter, so 

anyone coming along the 

footpath can’t see if there is 

a person in the shelter, and 

vice versa. 

I decided to walk over to 

look at the timetable. Just at 

that moment, an E-scooter 

with two boys in their late 

teens on it sped past on 

the footpath and narrowly 

missed hitting me. They 

were going very fast. As you 

mention in your article, the 

top speed of an E-scooter is 

25km per hour. If they had 

hit me, that would be a total 

weight of about 130+ kilos 

hitting me at 25km per hour; 

this would have resulted in 

serious injuries to me (and 

possibly to them too). 

The same thing happened a 

week later at the same place, 

although this time only one 

young man on the E-scooter. 

I was relieved to read in 

your article that E-scooters 

are not allowed on footpaths, 

but this rule needs to be 

enforced. A hefty fine would 

be a very effective deterrent. 

I appreciate the 

opportunity for your readers 

to give feedback on this 

important issue. 

Sylvia Saszczak 

Avalon Beach 

… E-skateboards a 

safety hazard too! 

I can report a near miss 

along the walkway around 

Narrabeen Lagoon for myself 

and dog, from an electric 

skateboard. 

As a local lady I walk every 

day along the lake and these 

motorised bikes, scooters 

and skateboards cause havoc 

to pedestrians and push-bike 

riders all the time. 

At speeds of 20km/h and 

more they are accidents 

waiting to happen; they 

should be banned. 

Jan Collins, 

Narrabeen 

Lizard Rock 

housing must 

not proceed 

Thank you for the useful 

article about Lizard Rock 

(Pittwater Life, April). 

In whatever way, our 

dwindling environmentally 

sensitive and culturally 

significant areas need to 

be preserved in perpetuity. 

Without them, we will create 

an increasingly barren, 

impoverished world of 

endless land developments 

and nowhere to escape this. 

Mayor Michael Regan’s idea 

to lease the Metropolitan 

Local Aboriginal Land 

Council’s landholdings on the 

Northern Beaches and care 

and manage them forever is 

a win-win for the Indigenous 

owners and for our broader 

community. 

This, or another 

creative way to keep this 

environmental jewel 

untarnished, has to happen. 

Glenn Barry, 

Newport 

News 





News 

Church Point postie Brian signs off 

Pittwater’s offshore community 

has said farewell to its retiring 

Church Point postmaster Brian 

Dickeson after nearly 20 years’ 

service. 

Brian (left) says he has seen 

plenty of change since he walked in 

the door in 2003 – especially over 

the past few years with the impact 

of COVID and lockdowns. 

In the months up to his retirement 

in early May, Brian estimates 

he was processing around 750 

parcels a week – up from the fewer 

than 400 parcels received prior to 

2020. And 70% of everything processed 

was for offshore folk. 

Since 1908, the local post 

office – now located within the 

busy General Store – has met the 

demands of the growing onshore 

and offshore community. Given 

there has never been a postie 

providing door-to-door mail drops 

to offshore Pittwater, it has always 

played an important role in the 

lives of islanders and western foreshore 

residents. 

Scotland Island resident Roy 

Baker observed: “The post office 

wasn’t always the sophisticated 

operation it is today. Within living 

memory, residents who wanted to 

check their mail simply walked in 

and gave their name, whereupon 

whoever was on hand would sift 

through a pile of alphabetically 

sorted letters. 

“Despite his daunting workload, 

Brian remained invariably efficient, 

affable and seemingly unflappable. 

He was more than our postman. He 

was at times an ad hoc lost property 

office, a place to leave messages 

for neighbours and friends, or the 

guardian of shopping bags while 

their owners went off to look for 

somewhere to park!” 

Brian says he will miss his daily 

interaction with offshore residents 

but intends to keep in touch. – NW 

Lizard Rock’s 1200 submissions 

The Department of Planning, Industry and 

Environment is currently poring over around 

1200 submissions it received on the draft State 

Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) amendment 

and draft Northern Beaches Aboriginal 

Land Development Delivery Plan (DDP). 

The Department noted response focused on 

issues including bushland and environmental 

impacts, traffic, infrastructure, open space, 

bushfire and Aboriginal heritage. 

It said all submissions were being considered 

and summarised by an independent expert in an 

Exhibition Outcomes Report. The submissions 

and the report will be published on the Department’s 

website in the next few months. 

If the SEPP amendment and DDP are approved, 

the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council 

(MLALC) may lodge planning proposals or development 

applications with accompanying detailed 

site investigations. At this point there will be 

further opportunities for the public to provide 

feedback. 

The Department received many enquiries 

for more information about the benefits of the 

potential MLALC plans for Lizard Rock. 

In response, they posted a video on their 

website in which MLALC chief executive Nathan 

Moran talks about what the plans mean for Aboriginal 

people and the wider community. 

Mr Moran said any development on the Northern 

Beaches will help pay for broader Aboriginal 

community benefit schemes, including funerals, 

events, sponsorships and social housing. 

* More info planning.nsw.gov.au 

6THINGS 

THIS MONTH 

Meet Bluey and Bingo. 

Picnic in the Park returns to 

Narrabeen with music, dancing 

and entertainment for the kids 

featuring SplashDance and 

everyone’s favourite heelers Bluey 

and Bingo on Saturday 4 – two 

sessions 9.30am-11.30am and 

12.30pm-2.30pm; cost $15 per 

person (including children). More 

info Council website. 

Writing workshop. Join 

award-winning writer Jo Riccioni 

at Warringah Mall Library every 

Sunday in June from 1pm-3pm 

for this Creative Writing workshop 

series for adults. Suitable for 

all levels. Cost $100; bookings 

essential libraryprograms@ 

northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au 

Keeping chooks. Learn how to 

keep chickens in your backyard 

and help the environment with 

Paul Canning and his happy hens 

at the Coastal Environment Centre 

North Narrabeen on Saturday 11 

from 10am-12pm or 1pm-3pm. 

Book on Council website. 

French music festival. Fete 

de la musique is an opportunity 

for all music performers to share 

their passion and indulge in 

French cuisine, wine and cultural 

experiences for the entire family 

on Sunday 19 from 9am-4pm at 

St Pauls Catholic College Manly. 

Details at sydneymusicfest.com. 

Chemical cleanout. The next 

Household Chemical CleanOut 

will be held at Mona Vale Beach 

car park on Sat 25 and Sun 26 

from 9.30am-3.30pm. Items 

that can be dropped off include 

up to 100L of paint (for free); 

household cleaners, pesticides 

and herbicides, poisons, motor 

fuels, fluorescent globes, acids, 

smoke detectors, gas bottles, fire 

extinguishers as well as car and 

household batteries. More info on 

EPA website or call 131555. 

Test your trivia. The team 

behind the Northern Beaches 

Readers Festival is holding a Trivia 

Night Fundraiser on Sat 25 from 

6.30pm-11.30pm at the Balgowlah 

RSL hosted by Lachlan Daddo. 

Tickets cost $60 and include 

dinner, silent auction, raffles and 

a lucky door prize too. Info at nbrf. 

com.au. 

News 





News 

Bypass plan for 

heart of Avalon 

BLOCKED: A truck on 

the centre median in 

front of residents’ 

driveway. 

+ Double lines replace 

Avalon painted median 

The problematic and polarising 

heart of Avalon Beach – the 

intersection of Old Barrenjoey 

Road and Avalon Parade – is set for a 

dramatic overhaul following a $500,000 

cash injection by the NSW Government. 

A plan prepared by Northern Beaches 

Council in collaboration with the State 

Government will see a shared pedestrian 

and vehicle zone at the northern end 

of Old Barrenjoey Road, between the 

entrance to the Woolworths car park and 

Avalon Parade. 

The intersection’s northern pedestrian 

crossing will be scrapped, with northbound 

access up Old Barrenjoey Road 

removed and southbound traffic limited 

to one lane only with a 10km/h speed 

limit. 

Motorists driving into Avalon from 

Clareville will need to cross the intersection’s 

two pedestrian crossings, turn left 

at the lights into Barrenjoey Rd, then 

loop around into Avalon Parade to access 

the Woolworths car park. 

Under the plan, footpaths and road 

widths will be remodelled, with the 

northbound lane fitted out with new 

street furniture, similar to the wooden 

hubs installed in the Manly trial shared 

space in 2020. 

Member for Pittwater and Minister for 

Active Transport Rob Stokes said the 

Avalon Beach trial shared space would 

enable greater pedestrian opportunities 

through the expanded footpaths, 

new landscaping and additional seating 

areas. 

“This is all about supporting the 

vibrancy of the Avalon village, creating 

more open space and improving connectivity 

for pedestrians,” Mr Stokes said. 

“This concept has been talked about 

for decades – but the funding hurdles 

have always been prohibitive in seeing it 

launched. 

“This area of the village can be 

particularly busy with people moving 

between the shops, Dunbar Park, community 

facilities and the beach. 

“The opportunity to create additional 

open space for people to relax, dine and 

move around the village is really exciting. 

“Throughout COVID-19 we’ve seen a 

resurgence of people wanting to shop 

local, sit outdoors and explore the community. 

This project supports all of 

these elements and will provide a great 

case study for how the concept could be 

expanded elsewhere.” 

He added traffic arrangements at the 

MASSIVE CHANGE: 

An aerial view 

of the proposed 

Shared Pedestrian 

Zone, with oneway 

traffic only 

heading south 

from Woolworths 

car park. 

intersection of Avalon Parade and Old 

Barrenjoey Road would be simplified as 

a result of the reduction in approaching 

traffic lanes. 

Consideration will be made for more 

loading zones to be designated, with 

the existing Loading Zone near the 

Woolworths car park entrance slated for 

removal under the trial shared space. 

The other piece in the reconfiguring 

puzzle – the local bus stops and routes 

– will be adjusted to accommodate the 

changes. 

The announcement of the shared 

space trial coincides with Council 

presenting the final draft of the Avalon 

Beach Place Plan and outcomes of its 

community exhibition to the Avalon 

Community Reference Group, made up of 

local residents, local community groups 

and business representatives. 

It is anticipated that the draft Avalon 

Beach Place Plan will also be tabled at 

Council’s July meeting. 

Once the Avalon Beach Place Plan 

is adopted, Mayor Michael Regan said 

Council would consider the Streets as 

Shared Spaces Program on Old Barrenjoey 

Road later in the year. 

Pittwater Life understands that the 

State Government’s $500,000 grant will 

be forfeited if not used before the end of 

2022. – Nigel Wall 

* What do you think? Email readers@ 


‘Finally!’ – 

say affected 

residents 

Commercial photographer Des Harris 

has lived in Avalon for 22 years 

– for the past six on the western side 

of Old Barrenjoey Rd. 

He knows all too well the dangers 

and challenges the painted median 

has thrown up during the past decade. 

“I regularly have issues trying to 

turn out of my car park to head up to 

the roundabout at ‘Kamikaze Corner’, 

mostly from cars parked across 

the median strip blocking my way 

(above),” he told Pittwater Life. 

“I have had polite interactions with 

the drivers, advising them it’s illegal 

and that they are blocking emergency 

access from residences. 

“I am either met with aggro, or they 

look around and say ‘everyone else 

is doing it’, or ‘I’m only going to be a 

minute’.” 

Mr Harris says it takes him 40 

seconds to drive from his apartment 

south down Old Barrenjoey Rd to the 

Bilgola roundabout – as opposed to up 

to seven minutes if he’s forced to turn 

north and negotiate the centre of the 

village. 

“The removal of the painted median 

strip and new double yellow lines 

removes any doubt about whether you 

can park there – especially among 

tourists, visitors and diners who see 

all the cars parked there and think it 

must be okay. 

“People who have done so will continue, 

but less often, given the area is 

more likely to be patrolled and more 

fines issued. They can’t fall back on 

‘reasonable doubt’ anymore. 

“There are double yellow lines 

north, down by Spaghetti 75, and 

south towards the school – and no-one 

parks across them.” 

Mr Harris supports the mooted pedestrian 

shared space trial, with some 

reservations. 

“There is a massive shortage of 

loading zones along Old Barrenjoey 

Road; while I love the pedestrianisation 

of the area, losing commercial 

parking is a big issue.” 

– NW 



Northern Beaches Council will 

remove the controversial painted 

median strip markings in the 

centre of Old Barrenjoey Road at Avalon 

next month and replace them with 

unbroken double yellow lines. 

The new lines will splay out and 

around existing tree plantings. 

The move is aimed at increasing 

safety within a precinct frequented by 

hundreds of local school children each 

day. 

It’s also designed to discourage illegal 

parking in the centre of the road – by 

shoppers and delivery trucks – while 

residents living on the western side of 

the road can now legally cross the road 

and turn right, enabling the quickest 

point of exit from the village. 

Council will also consider adding new 

loading zone bays to the area, affording 

delivery truck drivers who flaunt rules 

by parking and offloading in the centre 

of the road somewhere nearby to park 

and offload legally. 

Additionally, any ambiguity 

surrounding the legality of motorists 

crossing from one side of the road to 

park their cars in bays on the other has 

been erased; such crossings will attract a 

hefty fine. 

The painted median which stretches 

around 150 metres through the southern 

side of Avalon has been a bone of 

contention since the former Pittwater 

Council introduced them in 2012. 

Angry locals and community groups 

have appealed to successive Pittwater 

and Northern Beaches Councils to get 

them removed. 

Chairman of the Pedestrian Council of 

Australia Harold Scruby said the danger 

to schoolchildren at Avalon Primary 

School had been ignored for far too long. 


SET TO END: 

The danger posed 

to pedestrians 

by cars parked 

across the centre 

median on Old 

Barrenjoey Road 

at Avalon. 

“There are a thousand children at 

Avalon Primary School which is less than 

50 metres from this centre median,” he 

said. 

“Every day you see scores of them 

crossing this median between large 

AWDs, trucks and buses – and there is 

no line of sight. 

“And for over a decade Pittwater 

and Northern Beaches Councils did 

absolutely nothing; it’s been road safety 

with fingers crossed!” 

Mr Scruby said he remained 

disappointed Council did not leave the 

road without markings. 

“At least the penalty for stopping on a 

double line will go from $116 on a media 

to $275-plus – and most motorists won’t 

normally stop there, whereas the painted 

median looked like a parking bay.” 

Pittwater Ward Councillor Michael 

Gencher said many frustrated Avalon 

locals had approached him about the 

painted median and the ongoing safety 

issues it presented. 

“I’m also glad to see that Council is 

considering additional Loading Zones 

along the existing kerb space. 

“I am aware that many locals like the 

convenience and ease of parking down 

the painted medium strip, as do the 

delivery drivers and local businesses 

– however it is illegal, inconvenient, 

frustrating, and carries significant 

potential safety issues.” 

“The proposed solution will offer a 

balance and compromise to the concerns 

of both residents and businesses.” 

Council said any change in parking 

restrictions involving the new loading 

zones would be placed on public 

consultation during June and referred 

to Council’s Local Traffic Committee 

for consideration at the end of the 

consultation period. – Nigel Wall 

JUNE 2022 23 

News

The Way We Were 

Every month we continue to pore over three decades of Pittwater Life, providing a 

snapshot of the area’s recent history – and confirming that quite often the more things 

change, the more they stay the same! Compiled by Lisa Offord 

25 Years Ago… 

The Way We Were 

Of the “$21.4 million that Pittwater Council plans to raise in 

rates in the next financial year $14.8 million will be spent on 

wages, salaries and other employee costs.” Residential rates 

were up by 2.9%, commercial 3.6% 

and farmland (about 20 properties) 

3.1%. “This means that the average 

rate per household in Pittwater is 

now $875, compared with $717 in 

the 1994-95 year.” An “upmarket” 

Clancy’s Supermarket was mooted 

for Avalon. Meanwhile, Franklins’ 

plans for upgrading its store “are 

advancing and it too will include 

some fresh food counters… it will 

also carry farm produce though it 

is believed that with will cater more 

for late shoppers rather than go into 

competition with the existing fruit 

and vegetable shops.” In other news, 

Avalon Primary School’s multipurpose 

centre was ready, with expressions of 

interest sought for operating pre- and 

after-school childcare in the building. 

“Avalon Primary with 880 children 

is one of the largest primary schools 

in the state.”; NSW TAB confirmed 


Council staff withdrew 

support for plans to 

build a privately funded 

Olympic-sized swimming 

pool at Boondah Reserve 

Warriewood, with 

suggestions the project 

could take another 10 years 

“to materialise into anything 

concrete… by that time 

the opportunity to build a 

community pool with be 

lost…” A Pool for Pittwater 

spokesman adding: “While 

the Council may be able 

to constantly put this issue 

on the backburner, the 

demands of the community 

can no longer allow this 

issue to be delayed and 

frustrated.” The inaugural Avalon Village Festival was to be held 

this month; new State MP Rob Stokes wrote about the campaign 

to save Currawong from the “wrecking ball” and his support in 

pushing for it to be recognised as a Heritage site to afford it “full 

protection”; Woolworths received approval from council for a 

fuel outlet and convenience store on Barrenjoey Road Newport; 

and Peninsula Music Club hosted a night of Latin American 

music with the group Tiempo De Tango. 

the Avalon TAB’s future was in doubt: “… it has not been 

consistently making the turnover of $40,000 a week which the 

TAB insists upon”; A Motel was proposed for Avalon adjacent 

to the Youth Hostel and the mag 

launched a computer column “… the 

most common question asked about the 

Internet is just what can it be used for?” 

In a special food feature Countrywide 

Meats in Clareville was championing its 

“guaranteed country killed” beef, lamb, 

and pork “… from the farm gate to the 

dinner plate!” Avalon Organics had free 

apple tasting daily and was promoting 

a $35 family box of “purity guaranteed 

organic produce”; you could enjoy 

a 2-course meal and coffee at Le 

Boulevard for $25 a head and lunch 

at the Avalon RSL for just $2 every 

Tuesday. In property news, LJ Hooker 

sold a three-year-old, five-bedroom 

house opposite the beach at 439 

Barrenjoey Road Newport for $806,000 

and a small waterfront block with a 

“knockdown cottage” at 208 Hudson 

Pde Clareville for $680,000. 


We featured a “Dummies Guide to the B-Line” as the State 

Government revealed Newport would be the point of 

origin and termination for buses. We observed that the 

announcement “begs the question of how the buses will turn 

around at Newport; we understand that will occur adjacent 

to the Newport Surf Lifesaving Club”. In the lead up to the 

Council election we sat down with the man who aspired 

to be Northern Beaches Council’s first Mayor, Michael 

Regan. Now-Councillor Miranda Korzy wrote about the 

“local resident activist group” Protect Pittwater Association 

“… who say all residents in the former Pittwater Council 

region must support a 

campaign for the return 

of Pittwater Council if they 

want to regain control of 

local decision making.” It 

was reported the walkway 

between Palm Beach Wharf 

and Governor Phillip Park 

was expected to be up 

and running by Christmas 

and the boundaries of the 

Narrabeen Lagoon State 

Park were increased by 

50 per cent to support 

facilities for public 

recreation and protect the 

natural habitat. 



News 

NOT SEEN… 

Were you letterbox-dropped by the Sophie Scamps camp asking 

to contribute to final-week federal election campaign initiatives 

(“We need something different to grab people’s attention!”) 

and were wondering what happened to the five-metre blimp 

the team planned to have fly the teal independent message 

in the countdown to the polls? Seems Council grounded the 

idea. “There are rules on where and how political candidates 

can advertise on public land,” Council CEO Ray Brownlee told 

us. “This request went beyond what the controls allow and, 

under the legislation, would have required Council consent via 

a development application.” True – a DA! Council further told 

us it received requests to place an advertising balloon with 

branding for Dr Sophie Scamps at Boondah Reserve in Warriewood 

from 16-21 May and Village Park in Mona Vale on 21 May. 

“Based on the location and size of the balloon it was determined 

that development consent would be required under the 

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. The proponent 

was advised they would need a DA for Boondah Reserve, but no 

DA was received. In regards to Village Park, the proponent was 

advised that requests to use Council’s open spaces should be 

aligned with the community recreational purpose and zoning 

of the land – and at this location, political advertising was not 

aligned to this purpose.” Lesson learned? Submit the DA early 

for 2025! (PS was going to be zero emissions.) 

SEEN… 

Local artist Helen Proctor has revealed her latest mural and 

new addition to Council’s Street Art collection, ‘Narrabeen 

Lagoon 2022’. The mural (below), an abstract depiction of the 

waterways and bushland around Narrabeen, wraps around the 

Narrabeen Tramshed Community Centre. The artist says her 

interpretation of the landscape pulls our focus towards the 

unique colours and shapes of the area, and complements “the 

natural vibrancy of a place that we all know so well”. 

HEARD… 

A group of locals have banded to 

recognise Midget Farrelly as our 

own first male world surfing champion 

(and local hero) by commencing 

a fundraising campaign to design 

and install a life-sized statue 

of Midget at his spiritual home, 

Palm Beach (concept pictured). 

Co-Chair of the Midget Farrelly 

Recognition Committee, Gordon 

Lang, said Northern Beaches Council had approved the 

concept and were actively supporting the project, along with patron 

Beverlie Farrelly. More info MidgetRecognition@gmail.com 

ABSURD... 

Many readers have asked us how it is that the condition and upkeep 

of Pittwater’s roads appears to have deteriorated under the 

watch of new contractor Connect Sydney. Certainly we reached 

out to Council recently to ask if they were happy with the deliverables 

in their contract, and were told everything was peachy 

keen (not their words). One reader, who asked they not be named, 

took the matter up with Connect Sydney. Their response was 

forwarded to us. Here’s an edited version: “Thank you for your 

correspondence… I note your request and appreciate your concerns 

about the condition of some roads… Transport for NSW is confident 

that Connect Sydney is meeting its contractual obligations since 

operationalising them on 1 July 2021. This view is derived from 

monthly reports detailing Connect Sydney’s performance against 

detailed and comprehensive key performance indicators. In addition, 

Transport for NSW has an experienced and professional team 

managing the Connect Sydney contract and overseeing Connect 

Sydney’s operational responsibilities.” There you have it – we 

don’t have a problem. Apparently. Maybe they should be called 

‘Disconnect Pittwater’ instead? 



News 

Pittwater News 

Musicals on song 

There’s no need to travel 

far from home to enjoy live 

performances from world 

class musicians, 

thanks to the 

Peninsula Music 

Club. 

This month, 

well-known pianist 

John Martin and 

rising star vocalists 

Kirralee Hillier 

(pictured) and 

Matthew Avery 

will present an 

afternoon filled with songs 

from much-loved musicals 

and opera classics. 

‘Colours of the Heart’, at St 

Luke’s Grammar School on 

Sunday June 19, will feature 

delightful favourites from 

Rogers & Hammerstein, 

Lerner and Lowe, Sondheim, 

They may not wear 

capes or costumes like 

Ironman or Wonder Woman 

but everyday superheroes 

from the Northern 

Beaches Social Riders Club 

unleashed their hidden 

superpowers by embarking 

on a 330km Sydney 

to Canberra scooter ride 

last month, in the lead up 

to the annual Hero For 

HeartKids in June. 

Commencing on May 7 

at Terrey Hills Tavern, 

the riders raised funds 

for HeartKids along their 

journey to generate awareness 

of the prevalence of 

congenital heart disease 

Cole Porter and more. 

It’s the second of the Club’s 

four concerts for 2022; next 

up on Friday October 7 is a 

performance by 

Italy’s Alexander 

Gadjiev, the 

winner of 

The Sydney 

2021 (formerly 

the Sydney 

International 

Piano 

Competition of 

Australia). And 

on November 11, 

club favourite – pianist and 

composer Dr Daniel Rojas – 

will perform from his new 

album of mambo, tango and 

Latin folk music featuring the 

Apex string quartet. 

One of the highlights 

of these events is the 

opportunity to meet the 

performers at sparkling wine 

suppers served after each 

concert. 

More information at 

peninsulamusicclub.com.au 

Probus/community 

Club meeting news 

Palm Beach and Peninsula 

Probus Club’s next meeting is 

Wednesday 15th June, 9.30am 

at Club Palm Beach (formerly 

the RSL), 1087 Barrenjoey 

Road. There is plenty of 

off-street parking and the 

Palm Beach-Manly bus stop is 

just outside. Membership is 

open to retirees and visitors 

are very welcome. The 

speaker is Merinda Ayre, a 

volunteer guide at the 

Australian National Maritime 

Museum. Her particular 

interest is the history of the 

original HMB Endeavour 

and the men who served 

‘Superhero’ fundraiser effort 

in Australia. Stops along 

the way included Bargo, 

Goulburn before reaching 

their final destination in 

Canberra, with families at 

each stop cheering along 

the riders and posing for 

photos on the motorbikes. 

Leading the convoy was 

Club President, Santiago 

Padilla, who was thrilled 

to support those affected 

by childhood heart disease 

who fight their own 

battle for survival and 

rely on the many support 

services that HeartKids 

provides. 

“As long-time supporters 

of HeartKids, the riders 

were very excited to 

finally be able to get back 

on their bikes and help 

after this event was put 

on hold due to COVID-19 

restrictions. “After almost 

10 years of supporting 

the HeartKids Heart Bead 

program, we thought Hero 

for HeartKids would be a 

fun way to reconnect with 

the HeartKids community 

and acknowledge their 

courage as true heroes. 

It warmed our hearts to 

be able to do something 

for this community while 

raising over $2,000 to go 

into supporting families 

and ongoing services.” 

in her who survived the 

arduous trip to Tahiti, New 

Holland, Batavia and back 

to England. Enquiries to 

Carmel 0414 978 465 or 

Patricia 0481 395 624. U3A, 

which promotes learning, 

creativity and community 

interaction for retirees, meets 

twice a month at Newport 

Community Centre. On June 

1, presenter Laurie Wilson 

will deliver a talk on the 

‘Photographs which made 

Australia’ – looking at 12 

iconic images from 1845 to 

2013. Laurie is a retired CSIRO 

scientist and a frequent 

speaker to U3A, Probus and 

camera clubs, especially on 

his passions of science and 

photography. On June 28, 

climate change advocate 

Felicity Davis will deliver a 

talk on ‘Electrification of the 

home’. She will address issues 

including the definition of 

‘net zero emissions’. Both 

meetings run 1.30-3.30pm. 

Avalon, Mona Vale 

Place Plans near 


is currently preparing the 

Draft Mona Vale Place Plan. 

Council says two Mona 

Vale Project Working Group 

meetings have been held, 

with a third scheduled in 

mid-June. It is anticipated 

that the draft Mona Vale Place 

Plan will be tabled at the July 

Council Meeting. If endorsed 

by Council, the Place Plan 

will be placed on public 

exhibition for community 

feedback. Meanwhile, Council 

has presented the final 

draft of the Avalon Beach 

Place Plan and outcomes of 

the community exhibition 

to the Avalon Community 

Reference Group, made 

up of local residents, local 

community groups and 

business representatives. It 

is anticipated that the draft 

Avalon Beach Place Plan will 

also be tabled at the July 

Council meeting. Following 

the adoption of the Place 

Plan, Council will consider 

a ‘Streets as Shared Spaces 

Program’ in a section of old 

Barrenjoey Road, Avalon 

Beach later in the year (see 

page 22). 

Single-use plastic 

Bags are banned 

The NSW Government’s ban 

on lightweight plastic bags 

comes into force on June 1. 

Minister for Environment 

James Griffin said the 

lightweight plastic bag ban 

is the first of many plastic 

items being banned in NSW 

this year. “From November, 

we’re banning more 

problematic plastics, such as 

cutlery and plates,” he said. 

“Single-use plastic is used 

by many of us for just a few 

convenient minutes, but it 

remains in our environment 

for many years, eventually 

Continued on page 30 

News 





News 


Continued from page 29 

breaking into microplastics. 

“Single-use plastic items 

and packaging make up 60 

per cent of all litter in NSW. 

By stopping the supply of 

problematic plastic in the 

first place, we’re helping 

prevent it from entering our 

environment as litter, or 

going into landfill.” The ban 

will prevent almost 2.7 billion 

items of plastic litter from 

entering the environment in 

NSW over the next 20 years. 

So-called “compostable” and 

“bioplastic” alternatives will 

also be banned as they don’t 

biodegrade unless they’re 

treated in an industrial 

composting facility, creating 

just as much of a problem as 

conventional plastic. 

Downhill movie rush 

For one night only Newportbased 

business, Adventure 

Entertainment, will screen the 

ski and snowboard adventure 

film ‘Winter Starts Now’ at 

Glen Street Theatre as part 

of the annual Warren Miller 

Snow Film Tour on Thursday 

June 2. 

‘Winter Starts Now’ is the 

72nd film from Warren Miller 

Entertainment celebrating all 

things winter – it’s a stunning 

ski and snowboarding 

film that chases the US winter 

from coast to coast leaving 

audiences inspired by the 

spectacular jumps and views 

from the top. 

The screening at Glen Street 

Theatre is a hosted event with 

prize giveaways including the 

chance to win a $20,000 trip 

of a lifetime to Canada. 

Tickets from $25 available 

from glenstreet.com.au 

Headland toilets 

by end of year 

Public toilets at Barrenjoey 

Headland are a step closer 

following public exhibition 

of plans. The lack of toilet 

facilities on the headland, 

a walking destination for 

approximately 200,000 visitors 

each year, has resulted in 

ongoing waste and litter issues 

(the closest public restrooms 

are in the car park at Station 

Beach). In 2019, transportable 

toilets were installed by NSW 

National Parks and Wildlife 

Service (NPWS) as a temporary 

solution, pending planning for 

a permanent structure. Plans 

have been revealed to build a 

permanent amenities block, 

southeast of the keeper’s 

quarters and lighthouse. The 

proposed public amenities 

building will be set into the 

landscape, concealed by the 

landform and native heath. 

The toilet cubicles are planned 

to be unisex, with baby 

change facilities and a water 

refill station. If given the goahead 

upon review of public 

consultation, it’s anticipated 

construction will commence 

by October. 

Crown land grants 

Crown land across NSW is 

set to be improved, after the 

NSW Government reserved 

$17 million to upgrade and 

maintain facilities across 

the state. Minister for Lands 

and Water Kevin Anderson 

said the Government was 

committed to providing the 

best facilities possible. “The 

Crown Reserves Improvement 

Fund will support upgrades to 

facilities used by organisations 

that are at the heart of our 

communities, like surf 

lifesaving clubs, showgrounds, 

scouts and girl guide groups, 

pony clubs and PCYC,” Mr 

Anderson said. “These grants 

will help communities as 


Play a little bit sharky 

Northern Beaches Youth Theatre is back in June with another 

exciting production – ‘School of Sharks’, by young 

Australian playwright Jessica Bellamy. 

It’s described as a “worrying, watery adventure” that will 

have you smiling at the parallels with our own sea-surrounded 

peninsula – and wondering what really does go on 

in the minds of our dwindling sea life. 

The protagonist is a big worrier and why wouldn’t she be 

living on an isthmus surrounded by mistreated sharks and 

a climate that is in real trouble? 

This is touted as a fun play about the very real concerns 

of our youth and how we all can all grow and deal with 

these complex issues. The play is also a catalyst for many 

conversations about how to be eco-conscious and live sustainably. 

There will also be workshopping with the playwright, Jessica 

Bellamy. 

Performances are 6.30pm on June 16, 18, 23 and 25; also 

matinee performances 2.30pm 

June 18 and 25. 

Tickets and info at trybooking.com/BZIDR 

News 





News 



they get back on their feet, 

by funding improvements 

to community, recreational 

and tourism facilities on 

Crown reserves, while also 

supporting local businesses 

and economies within our 

great regions.” 

Last year’s Crown Reserves 

Improvement Fund provided 

$15.233 million in grants for 

257 projects across NSW that 

benefited local communities. 

Eligible applicants include 

community groups who 

use Crown land, and all 

showgrounds including those 

on freehold land, for projects 

that can deliver social, cultural, 

environmental or economic 

benefits. Applications 

close 3 June; more info 

reservemanager.crownland. 

nsw.gov.au. 

New green carpet 

for local football 

Environmental and safety 

concerns were key drivers 

during Council’s recent 

refurbishment of the 

synthetic turf surface at 

Cromer Park. 

Council says it replaced the 

Pittwater Probus 

gets a new home 

Pittwater Men’s Probus Club has a new home from June – the 

new Mona Vale Surf Club. The occasion will be marked with a 

celebration during their next monthly meeting on Tuesday June 

14, which will include a Pittwater video presentation by local 

identity John Illingsworth. 

The club dates back 41 years; records show an ad in the 

Manly Daily advising of its formation with the first meeting 

planned for December 1980 at the Pittwater RSL Club. However, 

the actual meeting took place in January 1981, attended 

by 11 founding members and with George Cockburn voted in 

as the first President. 

The club conducted its early monthly get-together meetings 

at the Pittwater RSL, later moving to the Mona Vale Golf Club 

where it stayed for many years before the COVID pandemic 

struck. After a short break, the club resumed meetings at 

Pittwater RSL. (A belated 40th Anniversary party is planned 

once the club is settled into its new home.) 

Next meeting 14th June commences at 10am; visitors and 

partners welcome. More info Terry Larke (0412 220 820). 

surface for local football 

clubs with the hope it will 

attract A-League teams to 

play on the Northern Beaches. 

Field 1 at Cromer Park has 

been upgraded with a new 

generation synthetic turf 

surface, as the previous one 

(11 years old) had reached 

its lifespan. The works were 

completed with natural cork 

infill replacing the old rubber, 

additional storage for six-aside 

goals, and an additional 

pump to recycle water that 

drains from the field. The cork 

infill has been used instead 

of rubber to reduce the urban 

heat island effect and improve 

conditions for players on hot 

days. Fine mesh drains and 

foot brushes at all entry gates 

will collect debris, meaning 

it won’t end up in waterways. 

Mayor Michael Regan said: 

“Synthetic surfaces are more 

resilient to environmental 

factors and longer-lasting. 

Play or practice won’t need 

to be cancelled due to wet 

weather, returfing or weed 

control – that means more play 

time.” The field is leased by 

the Manly Warringah Football 

Association, with over 20,000 

members. 

School rewarded with 

sustainability grant 

Avalon’s Maria Regina Primary 

School has been granted $2000 

by Northern Beaches Council 

as part of Council’s 2022 

Eco Schools Grant Program. 

Council has committed 

$10,000 to the program to 

fund initiatives partly or 

fully in the fields of bush 

regeneration, carbon reduction, 

waste reduction, water reuse 

and reduction as well as 

sustainability education. 

Mayor Michael Regan said 

the program helped local 

schools involve more students 

in sustainability programs 

and put into practice some 

of their great ideas of how to 

implement them in their own 

schools. 

Vet 

on call 

with Dr Brown 

Vaccinating your cat helps 

to protect your precious 

pet from various debilitating 

diseases, some of which may 

not be immediately obvious 

as cats are adept at hiding 

signs of illness. As a result, 

sometimes they may be 

suffering for a long period of 

time before any symptoms 

become apparent. 

Now is the perfect time to 

book your cat in for a health 

check and vaccination at 

Sydney Animal Hospitals; this 

month we’re also offering 

free dental checks by our 

veterinary nurses, along 

with reduced-price dental 

procedures. 

Having a regular health 

check of your cat is vital to 

maintaining their health. 

Some of the things to keep an 

eye out for include changes 

to their appetite, water 

consumption or toileting 

behaviour. Or changes to 

their activity levels, grooming 

behaviour or body condition. 

When you book your cat in 

for their vaccinations, one of 

our team will perform a full 

physical examination of your 

pet and discuss with you any 

relevant history about how 

your cat is going. We’ll then 

be able to administer the 

appropriate vaccinations and 

discuss any recommended 

treatment options available. 

Kittens require vaccination 

against feline herpesvirus, 

feline calicivirus and feline 

panleukopenia at 6-8 weeks of 

age, 10-12 weeks of age and 

14-16 weeks of age. There are 

also additional vaccinations 

available against feline 

leukaemia (FeLV), chlamydia, 

rhinotracheitis and feline 

immunodeficiency virus (FIV). 

Cats require booster 

vaccinations to ensure 

long-term immunity against 

contagious diseases, and their 

first annual booster vaccination 

is due one year after their 14-16 

week vaccination, and then 

yearly thereafter. 

Offer valid through 30 

June (Ts&Cs apply). More 

info Avalon 9918 0833 or 

Newport 9997 4609. 

News 





long lunch when we heard Whitlam had 

been sacked and was about to make a 

speech on the steps,” he recalls. “I didn’t 

have a camera, so I was standing in the 

background between Bob Hawke and Bill 

Hayden when Norman Gunston (the hapless 

chat show host prone to daily shaving 

disasters played by comedian Gary Macdonald) 

turned up. Hawkie told him this 

was far too important to make fun of.” 

And the project Pieter is most proud of? 

“Working as director of photography 

with Scott Hicks (who later directed the 

Oscar-winning Shine) on the four-part 

documentary series The Great Wall of Iron 

with unprecedented access to the Chinese 

People’s Liberation Army.” 

It was a 14-week shoot for the BBC, 

NZBC and The Discovery Channel. “Some 

of the soldiers took us back to their 

remote villages to eat rice with their 

parents,” he said. “You’d never be allowed 

to do that now.” 

No sooner did Hicks’ team leave Beijing 

than another story involving the Chinese 

People’s Liberation Army began dominating 

the world’s TV screens. The Tiananmen 

Square massacre began on June 4, 

1989 when the same army’s tanks started 

rolling into the Chinese capital’s Beijing’s 

historic Imperial centre. 

Sadly, Pieter – something of a latterday 

vampire who prefers to shoot in the 

pre-dawn sunrise or the pre-dusk sunset 

– hasn’t brought his most-celebrated 

treasure to the cafe. This is a fragment 

(generally kept in cotton wool within an 

old-fashioned Kodak film canister) of 

the prow of the Titanic (where Leonardo 

DiCaprio as Jack declares himself “the 

King of the World” in James Cameron’s 

multi-Oscar-winning 1997 movie). 

Pieter didn’t work on Titanic. But he did 

work with “Jim” on the Cameron-directed 

3D IMAX documentary Titanic 3D: Ghosts 

of the Abyss, exploring the watery grave 

of “the unsinkable ship” and the 1,517 human 

souls who perished when it hit that 

iceberg in 1912. 

In 2001, Cameron, who surely has 

earned the right to be a cinematic perfectionist, 

had a massive budget for a 

documentary series of US$13 million. It 

grossed more than twice that at the box 

office. It allowed Cameron – an underwater 

explorer in his own right (in 2012 he 

descended in Deepsea Challenger in the 

world’s deepest solo depth ever experience 

by a human: 10,908 metres below 

sea level) – to hire the Russian research 

vessel Academik Mstislav Keleysh, complete 

with a mixed bag of 80 specialists. 

Scientists, sailors and film crew were 

all dependent on two Russian-built 

submersibles (Mir- 1 and Mir- 2) capable 


Visionary 

Life Stories 

thinking 

Pieter de Vries has moved in high circles and 

descended deep oceans during his career as 

a photographer and cinematographer; now 

he’s focused on a local cause. 


Story by Steve Meacham 

Award-winning photographer and 

cinematographer Pieter de Vries 

does a wicked impression of the 

next king of Great Britain (and presumably 

Australia). 

The Bilgola Plateau resident says he was 

just 21 when he and Prince Charles first 

met at Yarralumla, the Governor-General’s 

residence in Canberra. 

Pieter (his Dutch father arrived in Australia 

after World War II before meeting 

Pieter’s mother and settling in Lismore) 

had joined the ABC as an assistant cameraman 

and been assigned to cover the 

Queen’s royal tour of Australia in 1974. 

So he was obliged to go to the ‘meetand-greet’ 

– at Government House. Except 

he couldn’t afford to buy a suit. Thinking 

he could blend into the background, the 

young Pieter borrowed an ill-fitting jacket 

from a senior cameraman and a mismatched 

pair of trousers from another. 

The story is much better when Pieter – a 

born raconteur and lauded elder of the 

Australian Cinematographers Society – 

tells it at 7.30am on a Sunday over coffee 

at his local cafe. Then it comes complete 

with vocal and physical impersonations 

of the young Prince of Wales (fiddling 

with his cufflinks), the uptight British 

equerry (with the plummy voice straight 

out of Eton) and the young Pieter cast in 

a jacket with sleeves so long his hands 

could barely grab a passing cocktail. 

All was going to plan, Pieter recalls, 

until the assorted press pack were addressed 

by the Prince of Wales’ hoigtytoigty 

master of protocol. “Form yourselves 

into groups of no more than five”, 

he instructed them. Preferably in a semicircle. 

Never ask HRH a question. Just 

answer his question, then let him move 

on to the next group. Most importantly, 

if he asks you a question, preface it with 

“Your Royal Highness”. 

Suddenly a tinkle of a bell introduced 

HRH arriving down the stairs… and making 

a beeline for the worst dressed guy in 

the room. 

Pieter’s words to royalty after being 

asked the first question of the night and 

told to address the heir to an ancient 

throne? 

“‘Yes, Your Royal Worship!’” 

And the heir’s reaction? 

“He laughed and moved on…” 

Pieter’s long and extraordinary career 

sounds so much like an Australian version 

of Forrest Gump you half expect Tom 

Hanks to arrive with a box of chocolates. 

He was there in August 1975 when 

the then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam 

poured sacrificial dirt into the hands of 

Vincent Lingiari, handing over the freehold 

title of the Gurindji lands. 

He was also there on the steps of Old 

Parliament House to watch Whitlam’s 

famous dismissal speech. “I was on a 

day off and eating a Steak Diane at a 




CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE: A self portrait at Bilgola Beach; Parliament 

House, 1972; in Antarctica; there at ‘the dismissal’; shooting ‘The Great Wall 

of Iron’ in China; on the Titanic 3D ‘Ghosts’ shoot; at Cape Canaveral; the 

‘Rats of New York’; on tour with Gough Whitlam; Pittwater and Careel Bay; 

pouring sand into the hand of Vincent Lingiari at Wave Hill Station in the NT; 

with director James Cameron; with Whitlam before the historic NT visit. 




of penetrating deep enough 

to “raise the Titanic” from the 

dead. 

“I was in Mir-1,” Pieter explains. 

“Jim’s younger brother 

Michael designed two remote 

devices small enough to slip 

through the Titanic’s portholes 

and explore inside so we 

could get footage that could be 

turned into 3D.” 

They were attached by 

an umbilical cord of optical 

fibres. 

“My most emotional shot? 

Seeing a bowler hat perfectly 

preserved still hanging on the 

back of the chair where it had 

been left in 1912.” 

Let’s pass over Rats, from 

the fertile mind of Mark Lewis, 

director of the legendary 

1988 Aussie documentary, 

Cane Toads. Set in the sewers 

and homes of New York, 

Pieter reveals the rats came 

from Chicago, and the sewer 

sequences were shot in a Los 

Angeles studio. 

Moving on, Pieter also 

does a mean impression of 

Sir David Attenborough. He’s 

never met “the greatest living 

Englishman” but has worked 

on one of Attenborough’s meticulously 

planned documentaries. 

Surely you remember 

the sequence when basking 

Carpet pythons were poised to 

pounce on thousands of bats 

which emerged from their tiny 

hole in the remote rockface 

of Queensland’s Mount Etna 

Caves National Park. 

Escaping the bat cave, 

hoping not to end up on the 

snakes’ tongues as a smorgasbord 

dinner? 

No? 

It occupied less than five 

minutes of incredible primeval 

confrontation. 

But to get the shots, Pieter 

had to lug his camera and 

tripod every day for two 

months up to the fissure, and 

wait until dusk when the bats 

played Russian roulette. 

Born and raised in Lismore, 

Pieter didn’t have a passport 

until the ABC assigned him 

to cover Gough Whitlam’s 

historic visit to Papua New 

Guinea on the way to meet the 

late Indonesian strongman/ 

dictator Suharto in 1975. 

Now in his 70s, Pieter is as 

busy as ever. 

For much of his week, he 

takes one-on-one sessions 

at the ACS headquarters in 

North Sydney, explaining to 

talented stills photographers 

how to transfer to “new media 

formats”. 

(You’d be surprised at some 

of the award-winning press 

photographers from major 

media outlets who have been 

among his students.) 

He’s also literally overseas 

much of the time: a muchrequested 

best speaker – 

involving clips of his work and 

laugh-aloud anecdotes – on 

two of the world’s most elite 

cruise lines, Silversea and 

Regent Seven Seas. 

Yet most mornings – predawn 

– you’ll find him at 

Bilgola Plateau, camera on his 

belt before joining his wide 

circle of post-sunrise friends 

on Bilgola Beach after shooting 

a couple of photographs 

most of us would enlarge, 

hang on our walls and declare 

our own. 

Of an evening, you’ll find 

him at his favourite photographic 

locations between 

Palm Beach and Careel Bay as 

the sun sets in the west, providing 

him with the subdued 

light he loves. 

Pieter’s latest crusade is to 

add his talent to the salvation 

of Careel Bay’s unique ecology. 

He has volunteered to 

join the ground-breaking, 

year-long scientific survey of 

Careel Creek and Careel Bay to 

– hopefully – save an endangered 

part of Pittwater. 

As reported in Pittwater 

Life last month, it’s a citizen 

science project, backed by 

leading academics, and open 

to all: young or old. 

But you want to know a couple 

of tips from the cinematographer 

who was trapped in 

a Russian sub for eight hours 

at a time several filming the 

actual Titanic? 

“Pee before you submerge. 

It’s very embarrassing having 

to pee into a bottle in a threeman 

submersible.” 

Secondly? “I’m not a keen 

swimmer and I loathe the feeling 

of sand between my toes. 

But don’t let that stop your 

dreams.” 

* Training enquiries and 

details: pieterdevries.com. 

au; to volunteer for the Careel 

Bay project: livingocean.org. 

au or 0410 374 333. 



Hot Property 

Why ‘finished’ homes 

are highly prized 

‘The Priory’ at 56 Bynya Road 

Palm Beach. 

Hot Property 

LOCAL SCENE: 3 Ross Smith Pde Great Mackerel Beach (left) fetched a record $6.5m; 7 Beauty Drive Whale Beach. 

Although house prices 

have been softening 

since the start of the 

year, rising construction costs 

are now having an impact on all 

levels of the property market. 

“The medians in Sydney and 

Melbourne have pulled back 

a bit while elsewhere price 

growth is slowing,” reports Ray 

White Chief Economist Nerida 

Conisbee. 

“Add in the first of many expected 

interest rate rises after 

two years of the strongest level 

of price growth ever recorded, 

you would normally expect 

prices to continue to stabilise 

or fall for established homes 

for the remainder of the year. 

“However, this ignores the 

complexity of the housing 

market as well as how more 

expensive construction costs 

influence house prices.” 

Conisbee reports construction 

costs were up nine per 

cent – the highest rate recorded 

excluding the year the 

GST was introduced. 

She explained rising construction 

costs meant fewer 

homes being built – and this 

made a new home more expensive, 

meaning people will 

look to the existing market. 

Rising demand for existing 

homes from owner-occupiers is 

coming at a time when we are 

also having increased demand 

for rental accommodation. 

“With construction industry 

challenges, housing supply 

will be impacted, resulting in 

rising prices and rising rents,” 

she said. 

The demand for luxury properties 

on the Northern Beaches 

hasn’t faded, with strong sales 

results continuing to being 

achieved, particularly at the 

upper end of the market. 

When markets enter a new 

cycle typically there are less 

new listings due to sellers being 

more cautious, said Noel 

Nicholson from Ray White 

Prestige Palm Beach. 

“This has been evident 

across the upper Northern 

Beaches… Whale Beach is a 

prime example with only three 

listings in the suburb coming 

to market in 2022 to date,” 

Nicholson said. 

“The lack of stock in Palm 

and Whale Beach has continued 

the challenge for buyers to 

secure properties in the area. 

“It is primarily for this reason 

that highly desirable properties 

continue to be sought after, 

and strong sales continue to 

be achieved.” 

Properties currently listed 

for sale with Ray White Prestige 

Palm Beach include an 

expansive family home at 7 

Beauty Drive Whale Beach and 

the magnificent four-storey 

sandstone residence known as 

Holy Mackerel! 

David Edwards and BJ Edwards 

of LJ Hooker Palm Beach set 

a new suburb high for Great 

Mackerel Beach when they sold 

3 Ross Smith Parade for $6.5 

million last month. 

It wasn’t long before the 

busy father-and-son team 

added to their successful 

selling streak achieving a new 

price record for Whale Beach 

with the sale of the stunning 

oceanfront home at 17a Malo 

Road in line with their price 

guide of $14 million. 

Swell’s designs 

on the future 

Northern Beaches property 

owners, builders and architects 

can now tap into the 

latest building and design 

technology usually reserved 

for projects at ‘the big end of 

town’. 

Boasting a team who have 

worked on major public buildings 

including the Sydney 

Opera House and the National 

Gallery of Australia, Mona- 

Vale-based Southern Swell 

studio is now offering their 

collaborative technological and 

specialist design expertise to 

support small-to-medium local 

businesses involved in homes 




Hot Property 

Private touch of paradise 

Avalon Beach 

51 Therry Street 

6 Bed / 3 Bath / 3 car 

Enjoy tranquil vistas and privacy from this flexible tri-level home, 

with outdoor spaces in which to relax and entertain. 

Its sun-dappled interiors offer seamless transition to a resortstyle 

rear yard, crowned by a top-floor parents retreat and a 

lower-level two-bedroom self-contained flat ideal for multigeneration 

living or potential income (STCA). 

Set in a peaceful cul-de-sac just moments to Careel Bay Marina, 

transport, schools, village shops, and Avalon Beach, its features 

include a stone-crafted kitchen with stainless steel appliances overlooking 

the heated pool; separate dining area with timber floors 

flowing directly to outdoor living; alfresco entertaining deck. 

* Contact the listing agents @ LJ Hooker Avalon Beach: Peter 

Robinson (0401 219 077) or Rebecca Hammond (0488 004 052). 

Dream waterfront rental 

Clareville 

244 Hudson Parade 

6 Bed / 4 Bath / 3 Car 

This private split-level waterfront rental is set on a protected 

sandy beach with boatshed and jetty. The home has classic interiors 

flowing to the entertaining spaces perfect for a permanent 

residence or holiday home for a six-month stay with easy-care 

gardens providing lush privacy. 

The home enjoys direct access to Refuge Bay and features openplan 

living and kitchen areas; undercover entertaining spaces with 

beautiful views; galley kitchen; generous master suite with walk-in 

robe, ensuite and Pittwater views; spacious lounge/dining area 

with raked ceilings and timber flooring; double carport. 

For lease – $1795 per week. 

* Contact the leasing agents @ LJ Hooker Avalon Beach: 

Sian Uther (0439 844 743) or Lauren Fisher (0499 154 655). 


and construction. 

Co-founders Anu George 

and Chris Lock have worked together 

for a decade in building 

services, utilising technology 

and creating 3D virtual models 

to take the guesswork out of 

interpreting plans or sketches 

and helping ensure everyone 

involved in the construction, 

renovation or design process 

was on the same page. 

Anu explained Building Information 

Modelling (BIM) provided 

accurate representation of a 

building or space, reducing the 

risks associated with construction 

and design. 

“Often people struggle to 

interpret 2D plans and when 

it’s built it’s not at all what they 

thought it would look like,” she 

said. 

“Using BIM technologies, we 

can create virtual models so you 

can almost imagine like you are 

standing in that space and you 

can visualise better. 

“We are now collaborating 

with smaller local operators to 

provide them with the opportunity 

to utilise these cutting-edge 

tools and our other specialised 

services in their business.” 

Anu’s background is in 

specialist lighting design and 

sustainability, consulting on the 

optimal use of artificial light and 

also how to make the best use 

of natural light. 

With the ability to affect 

mood, the shape and size of a 

room and its functionality, lighting 

can make or break a design; 

however it is often one of the 

elements that are overlooked 

when constructing or creating 

a space. 

More info southernswell.com.au 

ACCURATE PLAN: Residential and 

commerical 3D modelling 



Art Life 


Gemma prizes her 

Wynne achievement 

Pittwater artist Gemma Rasdall fulfilled 

a five-year career dream last month 

when she was selected as a finalist in 

the 2022 Wynne Prize, with her entry hanging 

in the Art Gallery of NSW until August. 

The prestigious Wynne Prize, staged 

concurrently with the Archibald and Sulman 

Prizes, has been awarded annually 

since 1897 for the best landscape painting 

of Australian scenery. 

Gemma’s series of watercolour panel 

paintings of views from homes on Scotland 

Island, where she is based, was 

among 34 artworks chosen from more 

than 600 entries. 

Gemma painted her series 

of 24 small works – ‘Framed 

by life offshore’ (top) – while 

staring at the hand-drawn 

‘inspiration board’ message 

she had pinned to her studio 

wall (pictured). 

The process marked a reset 

in her artist’s journey. 

“I’d mainly been painting 

acrylic paintings, mixed 

media paintings of seascapes 

for the past 10 years. Towards 

the end of last year, I was 

struggling with overworking 

my paintings a lot,” she said. 

“I started doing watercolour works on paper; 

they’re tiny. I was trying to be deliberate about 

every brushstroke I made because you see every 

brushstroke. But they’re fast, so if you mess it up, 

it doesn’t matter. 

“I did heaps of these and I was really enjoying 

the process… I wanted to tell a story about the 

island and I thought this was a good way of doing 

it.” 

Gemma asked her neighbours if she could visit 

their houses and do sketches on their balconies. 

“I did this with my friends from the island, from 

all angles of the 

island.” 

Each panel 

faces a different 

aspect and is 

captioned underneath. 

“I’ve entered 

the Wynne Prize 

three times,” 

Gemma said. 

“I have this big 

sign on my wall 

for the last five 

years, ‘Get hung 

in the Wynne Prize’… being selected as 

a finalist was so unexpected, but such 

an amazing feeling.” 

The artist’s statement for Gemma’s 

entry reads: “Welcome to Scotland 

Island: a short boat ride, casual paddle 

or vigorous swim from Church Point 

Wharf on Garigal Country, NSW. We 

offshore dwellers blow in and out 

with the tides, basking like seals when 

the sun shines and washing up like 

drowning rats when the squalls hit. 

This place and its people – a quirky 

and multifarious community – warm 

my soul and flood my creative practice 

with colour and movement. This artwork is a 

collection of moments captured around the island 

and its surrounding bays from friends’ and neighbours’ 

houses. It is an ode to the place I call home.” 

Gemma’s artworks have featured on the cover of 

Pittwater Life, including last month. 

On May 13, the Wynne Prize was awarded to 

Nicholas Harding for his Cabbage Palm-focussed 

painting ‘Eora’. 

Meanwhile Gemma’s current exhibition ‘Water 

access only’ continues at the Bather’s Pavilion, 

Mosman, until June 20. 


* More info artgallery.nsw.gov.au 

Studio 

show ‘For 

the Love of 

Pittwater’ 

or the Love of 

‘FPittwater’ – a 

collection of local 

marine life and oceaninspired 

artworks by Jo 

Bell – is the June feature 

exhibition at The Studio 

at Careel Bay Marina. 

Jo, a passionate 

volunteer member of 

the Organisation for the 

Rescue and Research of 

Cetaceans in Australia 

(ORRCA), uses her 

platform to raise 

awareness, educate 

and inspire others to 

protect the ocean and 

its inhabitants. 

She describes her 

collection as a “love 

letter to the local area”, 

with the artworks 

inspired by Pittwater 

available for viewing 

and purchase in 

support of ORRCA. 

(Ten per cent of sale 

proceeds will be 

donated to ORRCA.) 

‘For the Love of 

Pittwater’ will be 

launched at The Studio 

by Laing+Simmons 

Young Property on 2 

June and is open 8am 

to 4pm, Monday to 

Saturday, and Sundays 

from 8am to 12pm. 

* View a collection 

of Jo’s originals 

and prints at 

oceanloveart.com 

Colours abound 

in Spectrum show 

F 

ollowing the success of their recent Autumn Art Exhibition, the 

Northern Beaches Art Society will present their 76th Annual 

Awards Art Exhibition and Sale at the Newport Community Centre 

from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 June. 

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan will open the exhibition, 

‘Spectrum’, and present all the awards on opening night. 

“Our enthusiastic members, who are all local artists, will be vying 

for three major awards and all the paintings will be for sale,” said 

NBAS President Heather Macorison. 

“A number of our new members, who joined after visiting the 

previous exhibition, will have works on display at this exhibition 

and visitors will be able to see a vast array of works in a variety of 

mediums and styles in oils, watercolours, acrylics, and pastels as 

well as drawings covering a plethora of subjects.” 

Also, visitors will be able to purchase raffle tickets to win a beautiful 

watercolour painting by Lyndall Clegg (all proceeds will go to 

the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, with the winner drawn at the end of the 

exhibition). 

Visitors will also be able to vote for their favourite painting in the 

‘People’s Choice’ prize, with the artist who gains the most votes for 

their painting awarded a prize. 

‘Spectrum’ will be open from 2pm on Friday 17 June and on Saturday 

from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 9am to 4pm. The Official 

Opening will be from 6pm to 8pm on Friday 17 June, when drinks 

will be served. 

Purchasers of exhibition paintings can collect their artworks 

after 4pm on Sunday 19 June. 

* More info northernbeachesartsociety.org 






Surfing Life 

with Nick Carroll 

Print wipeout: are surfing 

magazines a dying trend? 

2005 2013 

Surfing Life 

1964 1975-76 1984 1992 

No doubt you’ve heard it 

before. “Print is dead.” 

This reductive sorta 

judgment has been bandied 

about in media circles, in 

surfing as much as anywhere, 

for over a decade now. 

But in late January (2017), 

when SURFING magazine 

actually closed its doors, 

surfers worldwide got a bit of 

a shock. 

The California-based 

SURFING had been in 

continuous publication since 

1964. As one of the two 

biggest surf mags in the world 

for much of the past 53 years 

(the other one being close rival 

SURFER), it defined the modern 

trend toward high-energy 

high-performance surfing for 

generations of readers. 

At its peak in 1989, it sold 

over 120,000 copies a month, 

employed 38 people fulltime 

and a couple of dozen 

part-time, and booked up to 

half a million dollars’ worth of 

advertising per issue, much of 

it from the surging young lions 

of the new surf industry of the 

day: Gotcha, Quiksilver, Body 

Glove and many more. 

A social and economic 

powerhouse, in fact! Yet the 

rise and decline of SURFING 

magazine tells a bigger story, 

about how its subject and 

readership has swung with 

social change. 

When it began publishing as 

‘International Surfing’ in the 

early 1960s, modern surfing 

was still in its birth throes. The 

Baby Boomers were still almost 

just that, babies: a third of the 

US West Coast’s population 

was under 21 years of age. 

The lightweight foam and 

fibreglass Malibu surfboard 

was on sale everywhere to 

these kids, with their new-car 

mobility and desire to explore 

the world. 

Like those kids, SURFING 

took a while to figure out who 

it really was. In 1967 it briefly 

left SURFER in the dust, rolling 

with psychedelia and the 

shortboard revolution, before 

settling into a bi-monthly 

groove – a sort of stoned 

stability that matched its 

10,000-odd readers. 

That lasted until 1975, 

when the tendrils of the new 

pro surfing movement began 

to snake their ways into 

California’s surf consciousness. 

SURFER, the self-proclaimed 

“bible of the sport”, turned its 

nose up at this tomfoolery, 

but SURFING’s young editor, 

Dave Gilovich, saw a chance 

to do what all good editors 

do – separate your mag from 

the competition. SURFER might 

be the bible, but SURFING’s 

tagline read, “The Hot One!” 

In 1978 the mag was bought 

by Australian emigre Clyde 

Packer. Clyde signed off on a 

monthly publication schedule 

and gave his young staff its 

head. They dragged in brilliant 

LA designer Mike Salisbury 

and turned SURFING into a 

bright, brash showcase for 

the surf stars of the 1980s. 

And everything lit up. The 

magazine kept finding new 



readers – the “echo boomer” 

generation, who wanted to 

reject everything their boring 

1960s parents had stood for. 

In that late ’80s boom time, its 

average reader age got down 

to just under 17. SURFER’s 

publisher tried to disparage it 

with the nickname “Teen Beat” 

– but that was just what the 

advertisers wanted to hear. 

The recession of 1991 

hit that whole construct – 

advertisers and readers – hard. 

But magazine sales stayed 

bravely above 70,000, and 

rebounded with the emergence 

of sensational Kelly Slater 

and his generation of young 

wizards. SURFING spent the 

1990s perfecting the role of 

conduit between Kelly and crew 

and their expanding fan-base – 

still youthful, yet less brash and 

more given to opening up new 

areas of surf, like Indonesia’s 

Mentawais chain and Tahiti’s 

Teahupoo. 

1999’s dot-com bubble had 

everyone predicting the End of 

Print. But the dot-com bubble 

came and went with little effect 

on magazines – specially not 

on the sharp niche press like 

SURFING. What did change was 

the ownership. A terminally ill 

Clyde Packer sold the title and 

its associated publications to a 

big New York publishing house 

for just over $20 million. 

In one way this sealed 

SURFING’s fate. Magazines – 

all media really – exist in the 

tension between ownership 

and readership; once you’re 

a niche publication in a big 

corporate structure, things 

are bound to go south. A few 

years and acquisitions later, 

SURFING, SURFER and a third 

younger rival, Transworld 

Surf, were all under the same 

corporate roof, forced to share 


offices and even ad sales 

staff, trying desperately to 

chase readerships that were 

diffusing just as the mags 

themselves were congealing. 

Then came smartphones 

and social media, and 

that pretty much killed off 

SURFING’s raison d’etre – its 

role as conduit. What kid in 

a shrinking kids’ surf market 

needed “The Hot One” to 

check John John Florence’s 

latest clip? What surf star 

needed a mag when he or 

she had Instagram? The 

publication went back to 

eight per year, and sales had 

declined to something close to 

its 1975 average of 10,000. 

In the end – a very 2017 

end – SURFING was killed via 

corporate rationalising. It was 

it or SURFER, and “the bible” 

sounded better. One of the 

staff was game enough to 

offer just over $3 million for 

the title, but the corporates 

knocked it back, clearly 

thinking it was worth that just 

to prevent competition. 

In SURFING magazine’s 53 

years, Australia and the US 

saw 256 separate surfing titles 

come and go. Only a handful 

still exist, mostly surviving on 

niches within the niche: mostly 

older or more artisanally 

minded readers, who like the 

physical feel of a publication 

and who have the money to 

pay for it. Print’s not quite 

dead, but like surfing, it’s 

definitely middle-aged. 

(*I should reveal I wrote for 

SURFING it its glory years and 

was editor-in-chief of Clyde 

Packer’s Californian magazine 

stable from 1991 to 1997.) 

* Nick Carroll is on leave; 

this column first appeared in 

our March 2017 issue. 


Surfing Life

Health & Wellbeing 

Health Special Feature 

Be migraine aware: it’s 

more than a headache 

It has been estimated 4.9 million Australians – one in five – are living 

with migraine. To mark International Migraine Awareness month, we’ve 

brought together information from the Brain Foundation and patient 

advocacy group Migraine Australia to help you understand more about 

this common and often debilitating disorder. By Lisa Offord 

What is migraine 

Migraine is a neurological disorder 

that is characterised by an 

intense one-sided throbbing or 

pulsating headache, which lasts 

between 4 and 72 hours with 

some warning symptoms (aura) 

before, and a ‘migraine hangover’ 

(Postdrome) afterward. 

Migraine can be aggravated 

by physical activity and is very 

often associated with nausea 

and vomiting, as well as 

increased sensitivity to light, 

sound and even some types of 

smell. 

According to Migraine Australia, 

many people who live 

with migraine may not have a 

headache at all, and never know 

they have migraine. For others, 

migraine attacks are frequent 

and can be debilitating. 

Causes 

The exact cause of migraine 

remains a mystery; however recent 

research suggests strong 

genetic links. 

People with migraine often 

report that environmental 

factors such as diet, or the 

weather provoke or aggravate 

symptoms. 

The most reported food triggers 

are chocolate, cheese, coffee 

or other caffeinated drinks, 

nuts, citrus fruits, processed 

meats, additives, fatty or salty 

foods, and alcoholic drinks. 

Other triggers include bright 

or flickering light, motion, 

loud sounds, strong odours, 

changes in weather, fatigue or 

lack of sleep, stress, hormones, 

skipping meals and some 

medications. 

How to manage 

migraine 

Migraine cannot be cured but it 

can be managed by a combination 

of lifestyle changes, 

About aura 

A third of migraine patients 

experience ‘aura’ which is a 

range of neurological symptoms 

such as seeing lines, zigzag 

patterns, or a colourless 

‘hole’ in the vision, numbness 

and weakness, or dizziness, 

prior to the headache. Some 

people only have the aura 

symptoms and do not get 

headache. 

medications and tools that are 

right for you. Here are Migraine 

Australia’s top lifestyle tips. 

Establish a routine. At a minimum 

get up at the same time, 

eat at the same time and go to 

bed at the same time every day 

of the week. Getting a good 

night’s sleep is particularly 

important. 

Spread out your meals. Consider 

changing the way you eat 

to five or six small meals a day 

rather than three big ones. This 

will help keep your blood sugar 

consistent and may help reduce 

your attacks. 

Do an elimination diet. This 

is best done with a dietitian to 

help find any food triggers so 

you can avoid them. 

Keep a diary. Keep a diagnostic 

migraine diary for three months 

to help identify other triggers, 

such as stress or changes in 

the weather. For women, pay 

particular attention to your 

menstrual cycle: a migraine 

attack around ovulation and a 

day or two before your period 

is common. 

Stay active. Thirty minutes of 

light exercise, such as a walk 

or yoga, daily can be very 

beneficial however, high impact 

exercise can make migraine 

worse. 

Medications 

Acute treatments refer to 

medications used to treat a 

migraine attack at the onset 

of symptoms. These include 

simple pain relief medications 

you can buy over the counter 

in pharmacies or supermarkets 

or medications that can alter 

pressure on blood vessels, and 

anti-nausea medications. 

If you are experiencing more 

than three migraine attacks 

a month, Migraine Australia 

recommends you talk to your 

Simple tools to help manage 

migraine attacks and reduce 

symptoms include: 

n Having a sleep 

n Putting an ice pack on the 

back of the neck or head 

n Lying down in a dark, quiet, 

and cool room 

n Drinking a cold cola or strong 

coffee 

n Drinking a sports drink or 

eating salty food if craving salt 

n Taking a hot shower or using 

heat packs 

doctor about trying preventive 

medications, taken at regular 

intervals to reduce the incidence 

of attacks. 

Complementary 

therapies 

The Brain Foundation says the 

following therapies may also be 

used to further reduce migraine 

attacks. 

n Acupuncture: Stimulating 

acupoints may ease pain by 

encouraging production of endorphins 

(natural painkillers). 

n Alexander Technique: Can 

help prevent headaches by 

relieving poor posture and 

pressure that results from it. 

n Biofeedback: Patients learn 

to control blood pressure, heart 

rate, and spasms in the arteries 

supplying the brain through a 

sensory device. 

n Hypnotherapy: May help a 

patient cope with headache by 

altering the way the body interprets 

messages of pain. 

n Massage: Can reduce muscle 

tension throughout the body, 

thereby reducing headache. 

n Meditation: To relieve stress 

which is a major trigger for 

some migraine patients. 

Where to get help 

For most people, migraine can 

be managed effectively with the 

help of a GP without the need 

for specialists or tests. 

However, Migraine Australia 

recommends asking for a referral 

to a neurologist to confirm 

the diagnosis and says getting 

an MRI is a good idea if you 

have complex symptoms. 

Physiotherapy can be helpful 

and as migraine is commonly 

linked with anxiety and depression, 

having a psychologist 

as part of your care team is 

strongly recommended. Also, 

many people benefit from joining 

a support group. 








Seeing is believing: freedom 

of multifocal contact lenses 

As you get older, you’ve 

probably noticed that 

close-up objects are 

starting to appear blurry. 

This is a sign of presbyopia, 

a frustrating yet natural 

condition that begins to 

affect most people as they 

enter their 40s. It impacts 

many aspects of quality of 

life, including difficulty with 

near vision tasks such as 

reading printed text, or using 

a smartphone. It is estimated 

that nearly two billion people 

struggle with presbyopia 

globally – but luckily new 

multifocal contact lenses can 

help win back the clear vision 

you used to enjoy. 

The advances in multi-focal 

contact lens technology in 

Australia over the past few 

years have made contact 

lenses more accessible to 

everyone. In fact, if you wear 

glasses, chances are you 

can wear contact lenses too! 

There are a wide range of 

lenses available, providing 

the flexibility to meet almost 

every visual and lifestyle 

need. 

Contact lenses are made 

from comfortable, breathable 

materials, ensuring your 

eyes remain fresh and 

lubricated all day, providing 

the freedom to exercise and 

play sports whilst seeing 

clearly. Multifocal contacts 

enable clear judgment of 

depth perception as well 

as clarity of reading; for 

example the computer on a 

bike, or equipment set-up at 

the gym… or even the menu 

in a coffee shop after your 

morning yoga class. Forget 

pulling out glasses to read 

labels and price tags when 

shopping and imagine reading 

a menu in low light… without 

specs. Your presbyopia 

doesn’t have to hold you back! 

In addition to meeting your 

visual demands, there are 

many choices when it comes 

to the type of contact lenses 

you can select. The best 

solution for you will depend 

on how often you plan to 

wear them, whether you’d 

like to be able to sleep in 

them, and your budget. Daily 

disposable contact lenses are 

simply thrown out at night 

before bed and replaced in 

the morning with a fresh 

new pair; extended-wear 

with Rowena Beckenham 

contact lenses are lenses you 

can sleep in (they’re great for 

a busy lifestyle and seeing 

clearly at any time, including 

first thing in the morning); 

while daily care contact lenses 

can be used for 14 to 30 days 

and are removed and cleaned 

nightly for re-use the next 

morning. 

Not only can contact lenses 

cater to your every need, they 

are also relatively financially 

viable, costing as little as $2 

a day, which is probably less 

than half the cost of your daily 

cup of coffee! 

Be empowered to enjoy the 

freedom of contact lenses, 

even as your eyes change 

– so you’re always ready 

to take on every day with 

confidence. Book a contact 

lens appointment today! 

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. 

Mosquito alert updated 

Mosquitoes carrying 

dangerous viruses 

harmful to humans continue 

to be detected on the 

Northern Beaches with 

authorities updating a health 

alert advising people to 

protect themselves against 

being bitten. 

Council partners with NSW 

Health to trap mosquitoes 

at key locations to monitor 

the numbers and types of 

mosquitoes present and 

determine if they are carrying 

viral infections. 

In late May, Ross River Virus 

and Barmah Forest Virus 

were detected in mosquitoes 

trapped at Narrabeen Lagoon. 

Ross River virus can cause 

flu-like symptoms in some 

people, including fever, chills, 

headache, fatigue and aches 

and pains in the muscles and 

joints. Joints can become 

swollen and stiff and a body 

rash can occur. Symptoms 

usually develop about 7-10 

days after being bitten by an 

infected mosquito. 

You can protect yourself 

and your family by taking the 

following steps: 

n Always wear long, loosefitting 

clothing to minimise 

skin exposure; 

n Apply a repellent that 

contains either Diethyl 

Toluamide (DEET), Picaridin or 

oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE); 

n Be aware of peak mosquito 

times at dawn and dusk; and 

n Keep your yard free of 

standing water in things like 

pot plant trays where the 

mosquitoes can breed. 

Higher than average rainfall 

due to La Niña has created 

the perfect conditions for 

mosquitoes to multiply and 

numbers are up on previous 

years. 

NSW Health has advised 

Council to continue trapping 

mosquitoes at Warriewood 

Wetlands and Deep Creek, 

near the Narrabeen Lagoon 

Trail, past the usual trapping 

season based on the high 

number of mosquitoes and 

the detection of viruses. – LO 







with Matilda Brown 


6 daily health reminders for 

surviving the modern world 

Up until the age of 13 I 

was a bean pole – not 

an ounce of fat on me. 

When puberty hit, I developed 

boobs and hips and was 

suddenly labelled “fuller 

figured”. Luckily for girls now, 

a fuller figure is celebrated, 

and fat shaming is a thing of 

the past. Phew. 

But not when I was a teen. 

Chubby little 13-year-old-me 

quickly learnt to hate herself 

and for the next five years 

explored fad diet after fad 

diet, each time getting further 

Here’s a go-to, quick-and-easy recipe to warm 

the bones and nourish the soul: 

Bangers, Mash & 

Onion Gravy 

(Serves 4) 

8-12 sausages (gf) 

3 tbs olive oil 

2 large brown onions 

75ml balsamic vinegar 

500ml beef broth 

250ml red wine 

1 tsp dijon mustard 

3 sprig thyme 

1 sprig rosemary 

2 tbs besan flour (optional) 

pinch salt 

1 large sweet potato – chopped 

4 white potatoes – chopped 

4 tbs butter 

splash of milk (optional) 

Method 

1. Remove sausages from the fridge 30 minutes 

before cooking. 

2. Add sliced onions to a saucepan with 2 tbs 

olive oil. Sauté for 5-6 minutes on medium, 

add balsamic vinegar and continue to cook 

for 3-4 mins. Reduce heat to low and place 

the lid on for 20 minutes. Then cook for 

further 10 mins. 

3. Meanwhile bring the broth to a boil and 

continue to cook until it reduces by 50%; add 

wine, mustard and herbs and continue to 

reduce. Add the besan flour to thicken the 

gravy; gently whisk. Allow to simmer on low 

while sausages cook. 

away from that “ideal” body. 

Consequently, I had eating 

disorders well into my mid- 

20s, body dysmorphia and a 

plethora of different versions 

on what I should and should 

not be putting into my body. 

Add to that the pressures 

of being an actress, and you 

can imagine that being inside 

my head was at times a little 

unpleasant. 

I know many can relate 

to this story. We live in 

a superficial world with 

information being thrown 

at us from all directions. 

Enter Instagram, Influences, 

filters and fillers and the 

standard seems even more 

impossible to reach, the 

plight of obtaining self-love, 

exhausting. 

As luck would have it, I met 

and married the one person 

who would both feed me 

delicious food and teach me 

about nutrition – my husband 

Scott. Relearning has been a 

gradual process, but I now see 

my body and health through a 

much more philosophical lens, 

A little something to nourish the soul 

4. In a saucepan, add the chopped potatoes to 

some salted water and bring to the boil; cook 

on a rapid simmer until cooked through. 

5. Heat 1 tbs olive oil in a large frypan and add 

the sausages on med-high heat. Turn often 

to ensure until cooked through. Set aside. 

6. Once the potatoes are cooked, remove from 

heat, drain and add butter (and milk if you 

like). Mash with fork or masher. Season. 

7. Add the onions to the gravy and stir. 

8. Serve the sausages with the mash and onion 

gravy. 

guided primarily by my six 

daily health reminders: 

My body isn’t someone 

1. else’s to comment on nor 

is it a commodity for society 

to make money off. 

My body is my home 

2. and it houses my past, 

present and future. It’s the 

only home that I’ll never move 

out of, which means I need 

to take really good care of 

it – not just physically, but 

mentally and spiritually. 

Decide what to put into 

3. your body based on 

nutritional, energetic, and 

spiritual value. When your 

thoughts and beliefs get old, 

or no longer serve you, just 

like furniture or clothes – give 

them a good scrub or put 

them on the curb for council 

clean-up. 

Try not to punish 

4. yourself. “Punishment” 

creates perpetual negative 

self-talk loop and a toxic 

relationship with food. 

Instead, treat yourself with 

high-quality, nutrient-dense 

cooking and create a positive 

relationship with food. 

Don’t subscribe to diets 

5. that promise to achieve 

your target in two weeks. See 

health as a life-time goal, not 

a short-term goal. It takes 

time for the body to break 

old habits and find its new 

rhythm. 

Know where your food 

6. comes from and eat 

unprocessed as much as 

possible. 

Matilda Brown is 

an actress, writer and 

business owner. Her 

husband Scott Gooding 

is a holistic performance 

& nutrition coach, sports 

nutritionist and chef. 

Together they founded and 

run The Good Farm Shop. 

www.thegoodfarm.shop 







with Andrew Snow 

Hair & Beauty 

with Sue Carroll 

Address sleep environment 

& habits to combat insomnia 

Reduce the visible signs of 

aging with a collagen boost 


Sleep is an important element 

in maintaining good 

health and wellbeing. Poor 

sleep patterns and poor sleep 

quality have been linked to 

general fatigue, poor concentration, 

and other symptoms 

which can interfere with everyday 

activities and negatively 

impact quality of life. 

Sleeping patterns will change 

as we age, with the amount 

of sleep required each night 

changing over time. Most adults 

need 7-9 hours of sleep each 

night, whereas teenagers need 

8-10 hours, and infants need 

around 12-15 hours of sleep 

each day. Your sleep-wake cycle 

follows a circadian rhythm, 

cycling roughly every 24 hours 

which determines when we 

enter our period of sleep and 

when we enter our period of 

wakefulness. The balanced 

relationship between melatonin 

– the sleep hormone – and 

cortisol – the stress hormone – 

helps to regulate this cycle. 

Having good sleeping habits 

comes with a range of benefits. 

Sleep can help improve mood 

and concentration, improving 

productivity throughout 

the day. Getting an adequate 

amount of sleep has also been 

shown to reduce base levels of 

cortisol. Lower levels of cortisol 

reduce the risk of heart disease 

and diabetes, along with facilitating 

better weight management 

and mood control. 

Sleep deprivation, on the 

other hand, has been shown 

to increase cortisol levels – 

likely an attempt to stimulate 

alertness. This disturbs the 

balanced sleep-wake cycle 

and can lead to common sleep 

problems such as insomnia. 

Insomnia presents as difficulty 

falling asleep, difficulty 

staying asleep, or poor sleep 

quality. Several different elements 

can contribute to the 

development of insomnia, 

including: 

n A poor sleep environment; 

n Eating too late in the evening; 

n Stimulating the brain before 

bed; 

n Stress around not sleeping, 

or strong feelings such 

as anger, anxiety, fear, or 

sadness; 

n Caffeine or excessive alcohol 

in the evening; 

n Smoking, or using nicotine 

replacement therapy, soon 

before bed; 

n Certain medical conditions or 

medications; 

n Having multiple naps during 

the day; 

n Needing to pass often during 

the night, causing interrupted 

sleep; 

n Unmanaged pain or 

discomfort; 

Creating an optimal sleep 

environment is key to facilitating 

sleep. The bedroom should 

be a dark, quiet space with a 

comfortable bed, with good 

temperature control and air 

flow. Activities such as work, 

exercise, or watching television 

should take place outside of 

this space, and not too close to 

bedtime. Allowing yourself to 

unwind and relax with a calming 

bedtime routine helps to set 

the body up for a good night’s 

sleep and can help with stress 

management. Regular exercise, 

and spending time outdoors 

each day, can also help maintain 

your body clock and facilitate 

good sleep patterns. 

Lying in bed and worrying 

about not falling asleep can 

turn your relaxing bedtime 

space into one of stress and 

anxiety. If you are struggling to 

get to sleep, it can be helpful 

to get out of bed and leave the 

room. Write down any worries 

or problems and try to put 

them aside to deal with in the 

morning. Repeat your calming 

bedtime routine or find an 

alternative way to relax, then 

return to bed when you are feeling 

sleepy. 

Treatment options 

While sleeping tablets may be 

used in some cases to help correct 

a sleep deprivation problem 

where necessary, these 

should only be used at the 

lowest dose and for the shortest 

amount of time possible. 

Sleeping tablets can be addictive, 

and tolerance commonly 

develops with long-term use. 

They can also cause drowsiness 

which extends to the following 

day, leading to confusion and 

unsteadiness which can contribute 

to an accident or fall. 

Supplementing melatonin, 

the sleep hormone, can help 

to reset the sleep-wake cycle in 

those with insomnia. Low-dose 

controlled release melatonin 

can be acquired at your local 

pharmacy if you are over 55 

years of age for short term 

treatment of insomnia; however 

long-term use should be discussed 

with your doctor. 

Other supplements, such as 

valerian root or magnesium, 

may aid in improving sleep 

quality and correcting sleep disorders. 

This can be discussed 

with your local pharmacist. 

Pittwater Pharmacy & 

Compounding Chemist 

at Mona Vale has operated 

as a family-run business 

since 1977. Open seven 

days; drop in and meet 

the highly qualified and 

experienced team of Len, 

Sam and Amy Papandrea 

and Andrew Snow. Find 

them at 1771 Pittwater Rd; 

call 9999 3398. 



There are four main 

fundamental building 

blocks to sustain the skin 

and reduce the observable signs 

of aging: Collagen, hyaluronic 

acid and calcium. The most 

common and plentiful of our 

bodies’ proteins is Collagen. 

Collagen is manufactured 

in our bodies by combining 

different amino acids or 

building blocks from the protein 

found in our food. One of the 

primary purposes of Collagen is 

to deliver structural scaffolding 

for our various tissues to 

allow them to stretch while 

still preserving the integrity of 

the tissue. While a diet rich in 

Collagen can help balance the 

signs of aging in the skin, it is 

also important for bone health, 

nails and hair. 

The loss of Collagen is 

one of the most significant 

contributors to our observable 

signs of aging, such as 

sagging, dull and wrinkled skin. 

When our collagen levels are 

heightened, our skin will be 

firm, smooth and soft because 

collagen permits skin cells to 

revitalise and repair themselves 

continually. By the time we 

reach our 80s, we have four 

times less Collagen than when 

we were in our youth. 

Regardless of your age, 

making healthy, youthful skin 

is harder to attain when certain 

lifestyle and environmental 

factors also harm your collagen 

production. Factors that can 

slow the body’s ability to 

manufacture Collagen may 

include hormone imbalances; 

impaired thyroid function; 

overwork; processed foods; 

fluoridated water; pollution and 

dust; hydrogenated cooking 

oils; nutritional deficiencies; 

radiation; excessive sun 

exposure; stress; sugar; poor 

liver or kidney function; and 

lack of both sleep and exercise. 

Health advantages provided 

by collagen supplementation 

include deeper sleep and 

serotonin release due to its 


glycine content; better blood 

clotting and wound healing; 

decreased joint pain and 

stiffness; improved gut health 

and digestion; improved 

blood pressure and reduced 

cardiovascular harm; better 

glucose tolerance; reduced 

inflammation and oxidative 

stress and therefore having a 

positive impact on your skin. 

While 28 different types 

of Collagen are known 

scientifically, most supplements 

will contain one or more of the 

five most commonly known 

collagen types: 

n Type 1 – makes up about 90% 

of the Collagen in our body. 

Nearly all tissue contains Type 

1 collagen, including bones, 

tendons, connective tissue, 

and cartilage, and it is most 

abundant in the skin. However, 

it degrades over time, becoming 

apparent with the appearance of 

loss of elasticity, fine lines and 

wrinkles. 

n Type 2 – is found primarily 

in cartilage and provides the 

cushion for your bones and 

joints. 

n Type 3 – is often found 

alongside Type 1 Collagen. It 

assists with the hydration of 

our skin, creating cushion or 

plumpness within the second 

layer of skin, the dermis. 

n Type 4 – makes up the thin 

layer outside the cells, giving 

them their structure and is 

found in the skin, kidneys, liver 

and other vital organs. 

n Type 5 – helps form keratin 

cell surfaces in our hair and 

nails. It is also required to form 

the cells that create a pregnant 

woman’s placenta, which is 

the baby’s life support system 

inside the womb. 

The best way to have 

beautiful, healthy skin is to 

work from the inside out. A 

balanced diet and lifestyle 

are imperative. Unhydrolised 

or less denatured collagen 

supplementation made from 

grass-fed beef bones can be 

added to your diet with bone 

broth daily. Powdered collagen 

supplements (pictured) are also 

popular, and may be added to 

smoothies each day. A powder 

that combines both animal and 

marine Collagen is best. Other 

nutrients the body requires to 

synthesise Collagen are biotin 

(B7), zinc, vitamin C, copper and 

other trace minerals. 

The next component to 

having healthy, Collagen 

supported skin is to stimulate 

your skin regeneration topically 

with in-clinic professional 

treatments, a twice-daily homecare 

regime and good quality 

skincare products. 

The best way to approach 

aging and good health is 

to work on the inside and 

outside. The outcome is going 

to provide the best version of 

ourselves. 

Sue Carroll is at the forefront 

of the beauty, wellness 

and para-medical profession 

with 35 years’ experience on 

Sydney’s Northern Beaches. 

She leads a dedicated team 

of professionals who are 

passionate about results for 

men and women. 

info@skininspiration.com.au 

www.skininspiration.com.au 


Hair & Beauty

Business Life 

Business Life: Money 

Post-election, it’s time to get 

your Financial Year sorted 

This month a look at 

what’s just ahead, plus 

how to prepare for the 

next financial year… As I write 

this the outcome of the Federal 

election is not known. Today’s 

Sydney Morning Herald has the 

headline: Unemployment rate 

falls to lowest level since 1974; 

Pauline Hanson contracts CO- 

VID. I think the pairing of these 

two items is seen by the editor 

of the SMH as some sort of 

good news headline. 

The other headline that 

caught my attention was: Unemployment 

rate at lowest level 

since Gough Whitlam was in 

power. Now I can vividly recall 

the Whitlam ‘It’s Time’ campaign 

from the 1970s. There 

was a catchy tune, a bit of an 

earworm really, not as grating 

as the Libs’ ‘hole in your budget 

[my bucket]’ advertisement 

that has been driving us nuts 

at home for weeks but still very 

memorable. Kids were chanting 

‘we want Gough’ in the school 

yard up at Elanora Heights Primary 

School, none of us knew 

why, it just seemed like the 

thing to do. I don’t know if Albo 

is quite Gough, but I see that he 

wants to replicate the Whitlam 

interim Government format so 

that he and Penny Wong can 

get over to an urgent overseas 

meeting – a triumvirate though 

instead of a duumvirate allowing 

Albo and Wong to travel 

while Richard Marles hangs 

back and looks after the factory. 

Gough was well known 

for enjoying his trips so maybe 

Albo is a chip off the old block 

in that regard but it’s all academic 

from where I sit; election 

day is still a few days away. 

What is absolutely clear is 

that a new financial year will 

be upon us in just a few 

weeks and now is the 

time to get a few things 

sorted. 

The time-sensitive 

issues that need 

consideration before 

30 June are matters 

such as maximising 

superannuation 

deductions, expense 

prepayments or utilising 

the instant asset 

write-off provisions. 

Superannuation in the 

current financial year is deductible 

as a concessional 

contribution of up to $27,500 

from all sources. Some people 

with super balances below 

$500,000 may be eligible to 

make additional carry forward 

concessional contributions 

from as far back as five years 

ago. Non-concessional contributions 

(no tax deduction 

claimed) are $110,000 p.a. or 

$330,000 under the three-year 

bring forward provisions. If you 

are looking at tipping in the 

maximum of $110,000 in this 

financial year and $330,000 

a few weeks away in the next 

year you presumably already 

have your ducks in a row. 

Small business operators 

should recall that compulsory 

super is going up to 10.5% of 

wages from 1 July. SGC and 

deductible Super contributions 

for this year need to be physically 

paid before 30 June if you 

wish to obtain the deduction in 

the current year otherwise you 

have until 28 days following the 

end of the quarter (28 July) to 

submit SGC contributions. 

If you are considering prepaying 

business expenses, 

you need to do so before 

30 June. There is a general 

12-month rule, meaning the 

with Brian Hrnjak 

right or benefit paid cannot 

extend beyond the earlier of: 

12 months from the date the 

prepayment is made; or the end 

of the taxable year following 

the taxable year in which the 

payment is made. Prepayments 

can be useful if you have had 

an exceptional year and want 

to average out slightly, if your 

turnover rises you run the risk 

of paying more in tax. 

The instant asset writeoff 

provisions for businesses 

continue to apply 

for this year and also 

extend into next year. 

The key to using these, 

however, is that the asset 

needs to be installed 

(delivered) and ready for 

use by 30 June. Ordering 

and paying a deposit for 

a car in the next few weeks 

does not cut it. 

It is important to have regard 

for the motor vehicle 

thresholds that can reduce any 

write-off benefits. The first is 

the motor vehicle price limit 

which is $60,733 for the current 

year. The second is any component 

of private use (based 

on your logbook), this needs 

to be excluded from the writeoff 

claim. On that topic, any 

applicable Fringe Benefits Tax 

or your employee contribution 

to offset it should have been 

calculated as at 31 March 2022 

and may need to be included in 

the June Business Activity Statement. 

The car limit of $60,733 only 

applies to the cost of passenger 

vehicles designed to carry 

a load of less than one tonne. 

Commercial vehicles with a payload 

capacity over this can be 

exempt from this threshold and 

may be exempt from FBT – astute 

readers at this point would 

have noticed the use of can 

and may, two weasel words in 

one sentence that indicates this 

is complicated and should be 

discussed with your accountant 

beforehand. (It does however 

go a long way towards explaining 

how it is that we sometimes 

have more Dodge RAMs around 

here than an episode of ‘Yellowstone’.) 

A few other things to be 

aware of just after the end of 

the financial year: the June 

Business Activity Statement will 

be due on 28 July if lodging 

yourself or 26 August if lodging 

through a tax agent. 

Single-touch payroll (STP) 

finalisation is generally due on 

14 July. If you have less than 

19 employees and they are all 

closely held you have until the 

tax return for the business is 

due to finalise STP. Employers 

with less than 19 employees 

and with a mix of related and 

unrelated workers have until 30 

September to finalise for related 

employees and 14 July for 

unrelated workers. 

The ATO have recently published 

their focus list for the 

next financial year. There is 

continuing emphasis on record 

keeping with data matching 

employed to check the accuracy 

of claims. 

Work related expenses will 

be another focus area for 2022 

mainly because lockdowns 

caused such an increase in 

‘hybrid working environments’ 

and one in three returns are 

likely to involve working from 

home. They will be looking to 

verify that a nexus exists and 

that records are available. 

Rental income is also being 

looked at with checks on short 

term accommodation activity 

including the correct recording 

of insurance payouts and 

retained rental bonds. The calculation 

of interest deductions 

and use of redraw accounts are 

also part of this review. 

The other area that has been 

well telegraphed by the ATO are 

capital gains and losses from 

shares, property and crypto 

assets. The ATO has absorbed a 

lot of data from banks, trading 

providers and coin registries to 

form a picture about what has 

been occurring and they are 

expecting to see more gains 

and losses being reported than 

in previous years. In practice 

we have seen quite a spike in 

activity in this area, particularly 

regarding crypto currency and 

NFTs with intended and unintended 

consequences arising 

from people swapping currencies 

or making transfers to coin 

registries or bank accounts. 

Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is 

a Director of GHR Accounting 

Group Pty Ltd, Certified 

Practising Accountants. Offices 

at: Suite 12, Ground Floor, 

20 Bungan Street Mona Vale 

NSW 2103 and Shop 8, 9 – 15 

Central Ave Manly NSW 2095, 

Telephone: 02 9979-4300, 

Webs: www.ghr.com.au and 

www.altre.com.au Email: 

brian@ghr.com.au 

These comments are of a 

general nature only and are 

not intended as a substitute 

for professional advice. 






Business Life: Law 

with Jennifer Harris 

School Life 

‘Social Media’ can present 

as a terrifying medium... 

RELATIONSHIPS: 

Children need to 

feel they belong. 


As readers settle to read 

Pittwater Life it is likely 

that before doing so you 

will have checked at least one 

social media site – Facebook, 

LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter 

– as you tend to do throughout 

the day. Social media has had 

and is having an impact on 

every part of our society – not 

only in business, the legal 

profession and life at its most 

personal level, as people share 

their most intimate thoughts 

and feelings. 

Business operators surveyed 

have identified reputational 

damage from online attacks or 

criticism as a primary risk. 

Professional Investigators find 

that confidential information 

which previously would have 

been very difficult to obtain can 

now be obtained from social 

media sites, as well as entirely 

new information from analysis 

of data, which makes social 

media a vital investigative tool. 

Insurance companies 

dedicated to ensuring that 

fraudulent claims are not 

paid out look carefully at the 

claimant’s digital footprint. On 

an industry level, companies 

have begun introducing their 

own forms of vigilantism by 

‘mapping out’ the types of 

activities and areas where 

fraudulent claims are most 

likely to be filed, and circulating 

the data among themselves. 

Police maintain a social media 

presence and Government and 

community groups are anxious 

about the use of social media 

for criminal or terrorist activities; 

and the Commonwealth 

Government has legislated 

to protect children from 

cyberbullying attacks derived 

mainly from social media. 

The legal profession has 

recognised the use of sites such 

as Facebook and Twitter; its 

extensive use by academics and 

lawyers is such that that many 

courts (including the Supreme 

Court) have their own Twitter 

accounts for publication of 

information and judgments. 

So what is social media? The 

most common forms are as 

follows. (Not an exhaustive list.) 

Facebook – a popular free 

social networking website that 

allows registered users to create 

profiles, upload photos and 

video, send messages and keep 

in touch with people. 

There are many billions of 

active users on Facebook. It is 

said to be currently the world’s 

most popular social networking 

website. 

LinkedIn – a social networking 

site designed specifically for the 

business community. The aim 

for the site is to allow registered 

members to establish and 

document networks of people 

known to them and who they 

trust professionally. 

A LinkedIn member’s 

profile page emphasises 

skills, employment history 

and education and contains 

network news and updates. 

Network members are known 

as ‘connections’. Unlike other 

free social networking LinkedIn 

requires connections to have a 

pre-existing relationship. 

TripAdvisor – a platform 

which encourages feedback 

from consumers and is the 

major source of reputational 

damage claims and complaints. 

There are now entire websites 

dedicated to reputation 

protection for restaurants, 

hotels or businesses which 

receive bad reviews such critical 

reviews are a fertile source of 

defamation actions. 

Instagram – a service that 

enables its users to take 

pictures and videos, and share 

them either publicly or privately 

as well as through other social 

networking platforms, such as 

Facebook or Twitter. 

Twitter – a tweet is a post on 

Twitter in which users deliver 

280-character updates of what 

is going on in their lives which 

they consider are interesting 

or amusing to their contacts or 

followers. Twitter allows people 

to post, from their phones, 

short updates and often about 

things that irritate them like 

road rage and politics. 

On Twitter millions of ‘tweets’ 

are sent out every second and 

can be retweeted. Elon Musk’s 

recent takeover of Twitter is 

causing worldwide interest and 

has encouraged discussions on 

freedom of speech. 

So much of social media is 

unfiltered, as people discuss 

their thoughts and provide a 

more-or-less permanent record 

of their activities. 

So how should one treat 

social media? If in business, a 

prudent course would be to be 

circumspect and careful and 

to make a distinction between 

business and pleasure, between 

private and public matters; and 

if in doubt – stay offline! 

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 



Boys’ critical early years 

Research has shown that when teachers prioritise building strong 

connections with students, it significantly impacts long-term 

wellbeing in students, as well as the ability to learn and stay 

engaged at school. 

Mosman Prep Headmaster and Newport resident Peter Grimes 

agrees that while safe, supportive relationships and early positive 

learning experiences begin at home, they could be powerfully 

enhanced through connection with others outside the family, such 

as teachers or sporting coaches. 

“Building strong relationships with students is a vital part of our 

approach to education at Mosman Prep, whether at the school 

itself, at our Outdoor Learning Centre at Terrey Hills, or during 

school camps and excursions,” Mr Grimes said. 

“Relationships with caring, responsive adults and early positive 

experiences build strong brain architecture for children. 

“The child then develops inner security for life, and his brain 

acquires the skills of intimate communication, and a love of life.” 

He said that to be free to focus on their learning, children need to 

feel that they belong, are understood, respected and appreciated. 

“Our parents understand and value the importance of 

relationship, deep connection, partnership and community 

(students, staff and parents) to learning success, and appreciate our 

comprehensive and invested approach.” 

Mr Grimes stressed the importance of being aware that the first 

critical period of brain development begins around age 2 and 

concludes around age 7. 

“Early intervention in Preschool and Primary School lays the 

foundation for a child’s mental development, growth and ultimately 

their success in the future,” Mr Grimes said. “Because at this time, 

a growing child’s mind is like putty and can be easily moulded; the 

words we use and the actions we take help children’s brains actually 

change and be built, as they undergo new experiences.” 

He added early years learning was crucial in laying the 

foundation for a child’s holistic education and vital for acquiring 

core reading/numeracy skills 

“Providing the right ingredients for healthy development for 

children from the start, produces better outcomes, rather than 

trying to fix problems later,” he said. 

“At Mosman Prep, we are intentional about maximising this 

critical period in a boy’s development through purposeful play 

to explicit instruction in literacy and numeracy, creative arts, 

languages, physical education, and spiritual and character 

development. 

“This helps develop skills that lead to better relationships, better 

mental health, and more meaningful and compassionate lives.” 

*Mosman Prep is holding an Open Evening from 4.30-8pm on 

Thursday 16 June; more info 9968 4044. 



Business Life

Trades & Services 


AIR CONDITIONING 

Alliance Climate Control 

Call 02 9186 4179 

Air Conditioning & Electrical 

Professionals. Specialists in Air 

Conditioning Installation, Service, Repair 

& Replacement. 

NORTH EAST AIR 

Call Tim 0400 364 913 

We will deliver all your heating and 

cooling options; prompt, courteous 

service. 

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. 

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. 

BUILDING 

Southern Stairs 

Call 9542 1344 

Specialists in high-quality staircase for 35 

years; new Northern Beaches showroom. 

CLEANING 

Amazing Clean 

Call Andrew 0412 475 2871 

Specialists in blinds, curtains and 

awnings. Clean, repair, supply new. 

Aussie Clean Team 

Call John 0478 799 680 

For a sparkling finish, inside and out. 

Also light maintenance/repairs. Free 

quotes; fully insured. 

The Aqua Clean Team 

Call Mark 0449 049 101 

Quality window washing, pressure cleaning, 

carpet washing, building soft wash. 

ELECTRICAL 

Alliance Service Group 

Call Adrian 9063 4658 

All services & repairs, 24hr. Lighting 

installation, switchboard upgrade. Seniors 

discount 5%. 

Eamon Dowling Electrical 

Call Eamon 0410 457 373 

For all electrical needs including phone, 

TV and data. Pittwater-based. Reliable; 

quality service guaranteed. 

FLOOR COVERINGS 

Blue Tongue Carpets 

Call Stephan or Roslyn 9979 7292 

Northern Beaches Flooring Centre has 

been family owned & run for over 20 

years. Carpets, Tiles, Timber, Laminates, 

Hybrids & Vinyls. Open 6 days. 

GARDENS 

!Abloom Ace Gardening 

Call 0415 817 880 

Full range of gardening services including 

landscaping, maintenance and rubbish 

removal. 

Living Gardens Landscape 

Call Richy 0475 148417 

Lawn & garden maintenance, garden 

regeneration, stone work, residential & 

commercial. 

Melaleuca Landscapes 

Call Sandy 0416 276 066 

Professional design and construction 

for every garden situation. Sustainable 

vegetable gardens and waterfront 

specialist. 

Precision Tree Services 

Call Adam 0410 736 105 

Adam Bridger; professional tree care by 

qualified arborists and tree surgeons. 

GUTTERS & ROOFING 

Cloud9 R&G 

Call Tommy 0447 999 929 

Prompt and reliable service; gutter 

cleaning and installation, leak detection, 

roof installation and painting. Also roof 

repairs specialist. 

Ken Wilson Roofing 

Call 0419 466 783 

Leaking roofs, tile repairs, tiles replaced, 

metal roof repairs, gutter cleaning, valley 

irons replaced. 

HANDYMEN 

Hire A Hubby 

Call 1800 803 339 

Extensive services including carpentry, 

outdoor maintenance, painting and plastering 

and more. 

Local Handyman 

Call Jono 0413 313299 

Small and medium-sized building jobs, 

also welding & metalwork; licensed. 

HOT WATER 

Hot Water Maintenance NB 

Call 9982 1265 

Local emergency specialists, 7 days. Sales, 

service, installation. Warranty agents, fully 

accredited. 







Pittwater Puzzler 

Compiled by David Stickley 


KITCHENS 

Collaroy Kitchen Centre 

Call 9972 9300 

Danish design excellence. Local beaches 

specialists in kitchens, bathrooms and 

joinery. Visit the showroom in Collaroy. 

Seabreeze Kitchens 

Call 9938 5477 

Specialists in all kitchen needs; design, 

fitting, consultation. Excellent trades. 

LOCKSMITHS 

Mosman Locksmiths 

Call 9969 6333 

40 years servicing the Beaches; specialists 

in lock-outs including automotive, rekeying, 

smart lock security; also door hardware 

and safe sales & installation. 

MASSAGE & FITNESS 

Avalon Physiotherapy 

Call 9918 3373 

Provide specialist treatment for neck & 

back pain, sports injuries, orthopaedic 

problems. 

PAINTING 

Cloud9 Painting 

Call 0447 999 929 

Your one-stop shop for home or office 

painting; interiors, exteriors and also roof 

painting. Call for a quote. 

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. 

PEST CONTROL 

Predator Pest Control 

Call 0417 276 962 

predatorpestcontrol.com.au 

Environmental services at their best. 

Comprehensive control. Eliminate all 

manner of pests. 

PLUMBING 

Mark Ellison Plumbing 

Call 0431 000 400 

Advanced solutions for sewer & stormwater 

pipe relining: Upfront price, 25-year warranty. 

RUBBISH REMOVAL 

Brown Bros Skip Bins 

Call 1300 879 688 

Local waste management & environmental 

services experts. Bins to suit, delivered 

between 2 & 24 hours. Green footprint. 

Jack’s Rubbish Removals 

Call Jack 0403 385 312 

Up to 45% cheaper than skips. Latest 

health regulations. Old-fashioned honesty 

& reliability. Free quotes. 

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 0414 468 434 

Local specialists in all aspects of outdoor & 

indoor seating. Custom service, expert advice. 

ACROSS 

1 One who deliberately causes 

damage to productive capacity, 

especially as a political act (8) 

5 One of the photographic topics 

on display at the 10th Great 

Historic Photographic Exhibition 

put on by the Avalon Beach 

Historical Society (6) 

10 Essential fishing gear (5) 

11 A treatment available at 

Warriewood’s United Dental Clinic 

no doubt (4,5) 

12 Road divider (6,5) 

13 A number of things or persons 

that belong together or resemble 

one another or are usually found 

together (3) 

14 A medicine man and priest who 

works with the supernatural (6) 

16 Aroused to impatience or 

anger (7) 

18 Large African antelope having 

a head with horns like an ox and a 

long, tufted tail (3) 

19 Brief beachwear first 

manufactured in Sydney by the 

MacRae Knitting Mills in 1928 (7) 

21 A paper of little substance (6) 

24 The medium through which 

radio waves are sent (3) 

25 Team that came second at the 

2022 Australian Surf Life Saving 

Championships (7,4) 

28 Event at which Max Brooks and 

Jayke Rees (from 25-across) won 

gold at the 2022 Australian Surf 

Life Saving Championships (6,3) 

29 Gemma Rasdall was selected 

as a finalist for this art prize in 

2022 (5) 

30 To make a stand or make 

efforts in opposition (6) 

31 Riders who are well catered for 

on the Northern Beaches (8) 

DOWN 

1 A plan pursued secretly, 

insidiously, by intrigue, or for 

private ends (6) 

2 Reserve in Warriewood that was 

once proposed as a site for an 

Olympic-sized swimming pool (7) 

3 Electric vehicle brand (5) 

4 Revolts, rebellions (9) 

6 Tenants of a house, estate, 

office, etc. (9) 

7 Chocolatier in Warriewood, 

_______ and Edmunds (7) 

8 The state or situation of being 

alone (8) 

9 A guided look at Barrenjoey 

Lighthouse, perhaps (4) 

15 Family restaurant, one of a 

large chain, located in Warriewood 

(9) 

16 Legal power or right (9) 

17 One, generally, who frequents 

Elizabeth Park and Pathilda 

Reserve, perhaps (8) 

20 Very small audio receivers (7) 

22 Areas of high ground (7) 

23 A way of approaching or 

reaching or entering (6) 

26 The break of waves on the 

shore (4) 

27 A piece of rough-surfaced 

absorbent cloth used for drying 

oneself after swimming at the 

beach, possibly (5) 

[Solution page 72] 

Pittwater Puzzler 





Food Life 

with Janelle Bloom 

For more recipes go to janellebloom.com.au 


Recipes: janellebloom.com.au; facebook.com/culinaryinbloom; instagram.com/janellegbloom/ Photos: Adobe Stock 

Give Winter a cold shoulder 

with wonderful warmers... 

Winter certainly feels like it has hit us 

early this year. I have been making 

soups for a few weeks already – and I 

need to change things up. So, if like me, you’re 

looking for some delicious, hearty inspiration 

French-style 

bacon, cheese 

and egg toastie 

Makes 4 

8 slices crusty white bread, cut 

1cm thick 

4 tbs Dijon mustard 

30g baby spinach 

300g Gruyère, coarsely grated 

60g butter, coarsely chopped 

8 pieces shortcut bacon 

Olive oil, for cooking 

4 eggs 

Béchamel sauce 

50g butter, coarsely chopped 

1/3 cup (50g) plain flour 

200ml full cream milk 

Pinch ground nutmeg 

1. For béchamel, melt the 

butter in a saucepan over 

medium heat. Add the flour, 

cook stirring for 1-2 minutes 

until slightly grainy. Remove 

from the heat. Slowly add 

the milk, whisking constantly 

until smooth. Return to the 

heat, stir over medium heat 

until sauce comes to the 

boil. Add nutmeg, season 

to taste, cover loosely 

with plastic wrap and set 

aside until cooled to room 

temperature. 

2. Place four slices of bread on 

a work surface, spread with 

mustard, top with spinach 

and Gruyère; sandwich with 

remaining bread. 

3. Preheat grill to high. 

4. Melt the butter in a large, 

non-stick frying pan over 

medium heat until foaming; 

add sandwiches to pan 

and cook, for 2-3 minutes 

each side until light golden. 

Remove to a tray. Spread the 

tops thickly with béchamel 

sauce. Grill for 3-4 minutes 

until the top is golden. 

5. Meanwhile, wipe the frying 

pan clean and heat over 

medium heat. Add the bacon 

and cook in batches for 

2-3 minutes each side until 

golden. Remove to a plate. 

Wipe the pan clean. 

6. Add the oil to the frying pan 

and fry eggs for 2-3 minutes, 

or until cooked to your liking 

(3-4 minutes for soft yolks). 

Top each sandwich with 

bacon and an egg. Season 

with pepper and serve. 

to serve the family – that importantly won’t 

break the bank – look no further. There’s 

something for everyone: meat, veggie, classic, 

exotic, spicy, wholesome… you choose! Or try 

them all! Stay warm and enjoy… 

Classic cauliflower 

soup 

Serves 4 


1 tbs butter 

2 leeks, halved, washed, thinly 

sliced 

2 garlic cloves, crushed 

1 cauliflower (about 1kg), 

coarsely chopped 

1 large Sebago potato, peeled, 

coarsely chopped 

2 cups (500ml) chicken or 

vegetable stock 

1 cup (250ml) full cream milk 

2 fresh bay leaves 

1 tbs thyme leaves 

½ cup crème fraiche, optional 

1 lemon, rind finely grated 

toasted sourdough, to serve 

1. Heat the oil and butter in a 

large saucepan over medium 

heat. Add the leek and garlic; 

cook, stirring occasionally for 

5 minutes or until soft. Add 

the cauliflower and potato 

and cook, stirring often for 

8 minutes until they start to 

soften. 

2. Add the stock, milk and bay 

leaves and thyme. Season 

with pepper and bring to the 

boil over high heat. Reduce 

the heat to low, partially cover 

and simmer for 15 minutes 

until the vegetables are 

tender. Remove from the heat 

and remove the bay leaves. 

3. Blend or process the mixture 

until smooth. Stir in the crème 

fraiche and lemon rind, stir 

over medium heat until hot, 

adding more stock to adjust 

the consistency to your 

liking. Taste and season with 

salt and pepper. Serve with 

toasted sourdough. 

Peri Peri chicken 

casserole 

Serve 4-5 

2 tbs plain flour 

8-10 chicken thigh cutlets 

1/3 cup (80ml) olive oil 

2 small red onions, chopped 

400g can cherry tomatoes 

200g yellow or red fresh cherry 

tomatoes 

2 red capsicums, chopped 

1/3 cup (80ml) Peri-Peri 

marinade (Medium heat) 

Coriander and cooked rice or 

flatbread, to serve 

Peri peri spice mix 

2 tbs sweet paprika, 

2 tbs smoked paprika 

2 tsp dried oregano 

2 tbs ground cumin 

2 tbs ground coriander 

2 tsp each garlic and onion 

powder 

2 tsp brown sugar 

1 tsp sea salt flakes 

1 tsp coarse black pepper 

1. Combine all the peri peri spice 

mix ingredients together. Set 

aside. Preheat oven to 150°C 

fan-forced. 

2. Place the flour and ¼ cup 

of the peri peri spice mix 

in a snap lock bag. Add the 

chicken. Secure the bag and 

shake until well coated. 

3. Heat 2 tbs of the oil in an 

8-cup (2 litre) flameproof 

(stove top and ovenproof) 

casserole pan over medium 

heat until hot. Add half the 

chicken and cook 3 minutes 

each side until golden. 

Transfer to a plate. Repeat 

with the remaining chicken. 

4. Add the remaining oil and 

onion to the pan and cook, 

stirring, for 3-4 minutes or 

until the onion softens slightly. 

Add any of the spiced flour 

mixture left in the bag, cook, 

stirring for 1 minute. Add 

the can and fresh tomatoes, 

capsicum and marinade and 

bring to the boil. Return the 

chicken and any juices to the 

pan, poking the chicken into 

the sauce. Cover with a lid. 

Place into the oven and bake 

for 1½ hours or until chicken is 

cooked through. Scatter over 

the coriander and serve with 

rice or flatbread. 

Janelle’s Tips: The peri peri 

marinade is a little spicy – you 

can replace it with tomato 

passata if you want to reduce 

the heat; also the peri peri spice 

mix makes about 2/3 cup. You 

can store unused mix in a clean 

airtight jar for up to 12 months. 

Irish stew 

Serves 6 

1.5kg chuck steak, cut into 

3-4cm pieces 

¼ cup olive oil 

1 brown onion, finely chopped 

3 rindless rashers bacon, diced 

2 stalks celery, chopped 

2 carrots, peeled cut into 3-4cm 

pieces 

2 tbs tomato paste 

2 tbs plain flour 

1 cup red wine 

440ml can Guinness 

1½ cups beef stock 

3 fresh or 2 dried bay leaves 

1kg Desiree potato peeled, cut 

into 3-4cm pieces 

Chopped flat-leaf parsley, to 

serve 

1. Preheat the oven to 130°C 

fan-forced. Season the beef 

with salt and pepper. 

2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil 

in a large frying pan over 

high heat. Add half the beef, 

cook, turning for 3 minutes 

or until browned. Remove to 

a plate and repeat with oil 

and remaining beef. 

3. Add the remaining oil to the 

pan. Add the onion, bacon, 

celery and carrots. Cook, 

stirring for 5 minutes. Stir in 

the tomato paste, then the 

flour. Cook for 1 minute. 

4. Add the wine and Guinness 

and bring to a simmer. 

Simmer for 5-10 minutes or 

until reduced by half. 

5. Add the stock and bring to 

the boil. Return the beef 

to pan with bay leaves and 

bring to a simmer. 

6. Transfer the stew to an ovenproof 

casserole, cover with a 

tight-fitting lid. Place into the 

oven and cook for 2 hours. 

7. Meanwhile, place the 

potatoes into a saucepan, 

cover with cold water and 

bring to the boil, boil gently 

for 10 minutes until just 

tender. Drain well. 

8. Add the potatoes to the stew, 

cover and return to the oven 

for a further 2 hours until the 

beef is tender. Remove the 

bay leaves. Top with parsley 

and serve. 

Warm upsidedown 

pineapple 

gingerbread cake 

Serves 8 

125g butter, melted 

½ cup dark brown sugar 

½ cup golden syrup 

½ cup full cream milk 

1 egg, lightly beaten 

1 cup plain flour 

1 cup self-raising flour 

1 tbs ground ginger 

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

Double thick cream, to serve 

Pineapple base 

440g can pineapple slices in 

natural juice, drained 

½ cup brown sugar 

75g butter, melted 

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C 

fan-forced. Grease a 6cmdeep, 

22cm (base) round 

cake pan. Line base and side 

with baking paper. 

2. For the pineapple base, place 

the pineapple slices on plate 

lined with paper towel (you 

will need 7 pineapple rings). 

Pat dry. Sprinkle the brown 

sugar over base of prepared 

pan. Drizzle with melted 

butter. Arrange pineapple 

over the butter and sugar 

mixture. 

3. Place the butter, dark brown 

sugar, golden syrup and 

milk in a saucepan. Stir 

over medium heat for 4-5 

minutes or until the sugar 

has dissolved (do not boil). 

Transfer to a large heatproof 

bowl. Cool for 10 minutes. 

4. Whisk the egg into the butter 

mixture. Sift the flours and 

spices together over the 

butter mixture and whisk 

until smooth. Spoon over the 

pineapple. Bake for 55-60 

minutes or until a skewer 

inserted in centre comes out 

clean. Cool in the cake pan 

for 10 minutes then turn out 

onto a serving plate. 

5. Serve warm with cream. 








Pick of the Month: 

Cauliflower 

Cauliflower is the edible cumin, coriander, cream, 

flower of a plant from the milk, cheese, butter, walnuts, 

Brassica family, which also lentils, chickpeas. 

includes cabbage, Brussel 

sprouts and broccoli. The Whole roasted 

large green leaves play an cauliflower 

important role by covering Serves 4-6 (as a side) 

the head as it grows to 

prevent the cauliflowers 

exposure to sunlight, 

resulting in its snowy white 

appearance. 

Buying 

Look for firm, tight heads 

without bruises, yellowing 

or brown spots. The creamy 

white florets should be 

pressed tightly together. 

Try to buy a head where the 

leaves are intact; they should 

be green and fresh-looking. 

Avoid cauliflower with loosely 

packed or spreading florets. 

Storage 

Refrigerate unwashed, stored 

in a plastic bag. 

Nutrition 

Cauliflowers are an excellent 

source of vitamin C. Also, a 

great source of dietary fibre 

and good provider of folate 

and complex carbohydrates. 

Goes with 

Lemon, potatoes, leek, sweet 

potato, thyme, garlic, most 

spices especially cinnamon, 

1 medium (about 1.25kg) 

whole cauliflower 

1 cup vegetable stock 

1 tsp smoked paprika 

2 tsp dry mustard 

½ tsp seas salt flakes, crushed 


1 garlic clove, crushed 

2 tbs chopped green onions, 

to serve 

1. Preheat 

the oven 

to 200°C 

fan-forced. 

Cut a cross 

into the 

base of the 

cauliflower. 

Place in a large, 

heavy-based cast 

iron pan or roasting 

pan. 

2. Pour the stock into the 

pan. Combine the paprika, 

mustard, salt oil and garlic. 

Season well with pepper 

then brush all over the 

cauliflower. Cover with a 

lid or two layers of foil. 

3. Bake for 30 minutes. 

Remove the lid or foil then 

roast, uncovered, for a 

further 15 minutes or until 

the cauliflower is tender 

and golden. Sprinkle with 

green onions, season and 

serve. 

In Season 

June 

Apples (Pink Lady, Jazz and 

Kanzi for eating / Golden 

Delicious for cooking); 

bananas; Custard apples; 

Navel and Cara Cara 

oranges; pears; mandarins; 

passionfruit; quince and 

rhubarb. Also avocados; 

beetroot; broccolini/broccoli; 

Brussels sprouts; eggplant; 

leeks; fennel; potatoes, 

pumpkin; Sweet potato; 

swede; turnips and onions. 

Tasty Morsels 

Some Tiny Morsels to savour in June 

Be Civic minded 

in Mona Vale 

Pittwater Place has several casual 

eateries including The Old Civic, a 

cafe and diner fronting Park St. Follow 

the arrow on the back wall straight 

to the counter where you can order 

chilli egg tacos or buttermilk pancakes 

with eggs, bacon, hash browns and 

maple syrup for breakfast and double 

cheeseburgers for lunch. 

Alfonso taking 

his wood pizzas 

on the road 

Cafe owner Alfonso Rinaldi 

has recently called time on his 

eponymous Avalon cafe after 

seven years, but he’s still doing 

what he loves. You’ll find him 

and his portable wood-fired 

pizza oven on Friday nights 

at the Avalon Bowling Club. 

Popular pizza toppings include 

garlic prawns and prosciutto 

with bocconcini. 

New Surf Club looks 

on the 'Brightside' 

Brookvale’s Nine Yards Coffee is literally 

looking on the ‘Brightside’. It’ll be the 

name of their new cafe at the renovated 

Mona Vale Surf Life Saving Club. The 

70-seat cafe will have a tweaked menu 

with more seafood, choices like dukkah 

eggs, grab-and-go options and their own 

blend of coffee. Brightside should open 

in Spring. 

with Beverley Hudec 

Black Honey has 

sweet Scandi vibe 

Black Honey is one of those cafes 

that’s pared back with a Scandi 

feel. It’s close to Narrabeen beach 

too. Post-surf, nip across Ocean St 

and order a coffee with a muffin or 

an obligatory bacon and egg roll. 

The small menu also has avo on 

toast, chicken schnitzel wraps and 

sandwiches. 

Tasty Dining Morsels Guide 




Three of a kind: Chocolate 

Chocoholics already know 

that Warriewood is home to 

artisan chocolatier Lindsay and 

Edmunds. There are kid-friendly 

chocolate teddies as well as 

bars, jars and chilled cabinets of 

goodies (left) for discerning adults. 

There’s a small cafe too selling 

organic white, milk and dark 

hot chocolates as well as coffee, 

sausage rolls and sandwiches. 

Avalon’s Sunset Diner pimps 

chocolate several ways. S’mores 

is an all-American combo 

featuring chocolate sauce, 

marshmallows and cookie 

crumble. Cookie dough has warm 

choc-chip cookies and chocolate 

ganache. The Black Forest 

sundae overloads chocolate cake, 

chocolate ganache and whipped 

cream with cherry jam. 

For a Friday night chochazelnut 

induced coma, try 

Golly Gosh’s After Dark dessert 

menu. The Mona Vale cafe has 

acquired a fan club for decadent, 

shareable treats like Belgian 

waffles piled high with ice 

cream, berries and topped with 

little jars of Nutella. If that’s not 

enough, there’s also Nutellainfused 

hot chocolate. 


Garden Life 


Just leave it – the tough-as-nails 

plant that can tolerate neglect 

Over 100 years ago The 

Cast Iron Plant (main) 

was one of the most 

popular plants in Victorian 

conservatories. For many 

years Aspidistras were a 

forgotten indoor plant but 

recently, not surprisingly, they 

have regained their popularity. 

The name 

describes them 

well. They are 

tolerant of 

neglect, dryness, 

low light, 

heaters and air 

conditioning 

and only need 

to be re-potted 

every three 

or four years, 

nevertheless even 

though they are 

such forgiving 

plants they will 

respond well to some TLC, 

regular water and fresh air. 

These elegant plants are the 

perfect plant for beginners or 

busy working families. 

Aspidistras can be grown 

in shade or semi-shade in the 

garden, where they will spread 

to fill in dry, dull areas along 

the side paths under trees. 

They can also be grown in 

pots indoors. 

I have clumps of aspidistras 

that have been established for 

more than 20 years. I thought 

I knew them well – until I 

was amazed to see a flower 

appear in May. Maybe due to 

the unseasonal rain? I am not 

sure. This tiny purple and gold 

flower (below) has popped up 

in a pot at soil level. 

Traditionally grown as 

foliage plants, Aspidistras 

do occasionally flower but 

only on mature 

plants. Maybe 

more frequently 

than I realised 

as the flowers 

appear below 

and behind the 

tall glossy dark 

green leaves that 

grow up from 

the rhizomes 

under the soil. 

After looking 

carefully, I found 

several flowers 

that were hiding in the garden 

under leaf litter. 

Aspidistra flowers have no 

scent, so they don’t attract 

bees or insects; instead they 

rely on snails and slugs at 

ground level to fertilise them. 

There are several varieties 

of aspidistras with either 

variegated or spotted leaves 

but the most common is the 

plain green Aspidistra Elatior. 

The variegated varieties need 

more light. All will grow in full 

or semi-shade, but none will 

tolerate direct sun. 

with Gabrielle Bryant 



Calla Lillies for Spring joy 

In the language of 

flowers, Calla lilies 

are a symbol of love, 

devotion, purity, 

beauty and innocence. 

There are many 

legends and stories 

where the lilies have 

been sent by lovers 

to their partners, or 

used at funerals as 

a token of respect. 

These stories date back to the Queen 

of Sheba who its written gave a calla 

lily to King Solomon as a token of 

devotion, circa the 10th century BC. 

This is the month to plant calla lily 

tubers. Callas are close relations of 

white Arum lilies. They are dormant 

in Winter but will give you flowers 

from late Spring until Summer. They 

are easy to grow, either in pots or in 

the ground. The tall, arrow-shaped 

leaves will appear as the weather 

warms up. 

Plant them in full sun or semishade 

– morning sun is best; without 

six hours of sunlight each day they 

will not flower well. 

Add plenty of blood and bone, 

organic compost or cow manure to the 

soil before planting. Plant the tubers 

Escallonias are small- to medium-growing shrubs that make 

the perfect flowering hedge of any size from a low border to 

a privacy screen 3 metres high. 

Escallonias look delicate, with their mass of tiny fragrant flowers 

and small glossy green leaves, but their appearance is deceptive. 

They are easy to grow, salt-tolerant and fast growing. They are 

easily clipped into shape. They will grow in semi-shade but for the 

most flowers, plant them in the full sun. Once established they 

need little attention, surviving dry conditions and poor soil, but for 

best results, as with most plants, regular water and some good soil 

will give you the fastest growth. 

For a taller hedge of 2-3 metres, choose from white Escallonia 

Iveyi, pink Escallonia Apple Blossom, or bright pink Escallonia 

rubra or red Escallonia Red Knight. 

Escallonia Pink Elle and Newport Dwarf are low-growing 

varieties for lower hedging of 1 metre and borders. Pink Pixie is 

the baby perfect for pots and rockeries. 

When planting a tall hedge, plant the shrubs 1 metre apart and 

begin to clip them right from the beginning to keep the hedge 

thick and strong. If you wait for the plants to grow tall before 

clipping into shape, the hedge will never be thick to ground level. 

For smaller varieties, 60cm apart is best. 


at least 10cm deep in 

well-drained, moist 

garden soil. They need 

good drainage, but 

they must not dry out. 

When planting the 

tubers, plant them 

with the rough side 

up. 

If you plant them 

in pots, keep them 

outside until the 

flowers appear, then bring them inside 

to enjoy their cheerful colour. 

When your plants die down again, 

next Winter you can leave them 

alone to form a clump or lift them 

to divide. The tubers will have small 

bulblets on the side. Alternatively, 

you can cut the tuber, making sure 

that each piece has an ‘eye’ for new 

shoots. 

For a good selection buy the 

packets of tubers that are available 

now in garden centres. They can be 

planted out next month. The list of 

varieties available is immense. The 

height of plants can range from 

30cm to 75cm depending on variety, 

and colours from pure white to 

palest pink, red, burgundy, gold or 

bronze. 

Escallonia the flowering hedge 

DIY propagation tubes 

It is always good to find a new way to recycle 

household goods a first time in-house, before 

they are relegated to the recycle bin. Toilet 

paper rolls are a commodity that any gardener 

can easily put to good use. They make perfect 

pots for propagating cuttings or planting 

seeds, and once 

established your 

new plant can be 

popped straight 

into the ground 

without disturbing 

the roots and the 

cardboard will 

break down in the 

ground. 

1. Squash the empty 

roll flat, creasing 

the sides together, 

open it up and match the creases together and 

squash again. This will give you a square tube. 

2. With sharp scissors cut from the bottom a cut 

approximately 2.5cm long up each folded line. 

3. Fold the four side flaps that have been made 

inwards, overlapping to make a bottom of the 

new tube planter. 

4. Once folded sit the bottom of the tube into 

water until soft. Then stand it upright with a 

weight on top until dried. This will stick the card 

together. 

5. Now you are ready to plant. Remember to use 

seed raising mix or propagation mix. 


Garden Life


Jobs this Month 

June 

Times Past 

HOMES BY THE SEA: The first actual clubhouse 

(the old cricket clubhouse from 

Careel Bay) in the 1950s (main) 

before replacement; the initial clubhouse 

structure relocated from the 4th tee of 

the golf club; the new clubhouse built in 

1972 after the former burnt down; the 

Club’s first Bronze Squad in March, 1941. 

Slug fest 


Lawns have suffered badly 

though the wet Autumn 

days. The ground has 

been too wet to mow the 

grass that is now long and 

lanky. Once the ground dries 

out, reduce the length of the 

grass over a couple of cuts. 

If you expose the roots and 

we are lucky enough to have 

a warm sunny day, the roots 

will burn. The grass will need 

to harden up slowly. 

Colour bond 

Winter gardens can be just 

as bright and cheerful as 

in Summer. Look around at 

the trees and shrubs that 

are flowering now. Scarlet 

poinsettias, soft pink tree 

dahlias, kangaroo paws, 

bright yellow Xanthostemon 

Expo Gold trees (below), 

Camellias, multi coloured 

pentas, begonias and 

polyanthus. If you have a dull 

spot in the garden visit the 

nursery and look around. 

Clean up 

Clean up deciduous blossom 

and fruiting trees this month, 

once the trees are bare. Spray 

with copper or lime sulphur 

to destroy and fungal spores 

after the wet Autumn season 

before they affect the new 

spring growth. 

Tale of tape 

Seed tapes are the easy way 

to sow veggies but make sure 

that you thin out the seedlings 

as they grow. Choose the 

strongest seedlings and pull 

out the others. Overcrowding 

stops development. 

Harvest crops 

Time to harvest root crops 

now if you haven’t already 

done so. Jerusalem artichokes, 

sweet potatoes and potatoes 

should all be dug. So that you 

can plant your next crops. 

Rain can bring out the strangest creatures. We all know 

the leopard slug that helps to keep down the snail 

population but how many have seen the enormous Red 

Triangle slug? It is not uncommon, but it usually is only 

seen in wet weather or at night. Unlike the leopard slug it 

is vegetarian, living on lichens and mould. They’re usually 

only found in damp leaf litter or in the bark of trees. After 

all the rain these ghostly slugs are helping to clean the 

mildew and mould from the pavers in my garden! 

Lilium time 

Plant liliums to flower for 

Christmas. Read the packets 

and choose carefully there 

are many different varieties, 

some for pots and others for 

the garden. 

Rust watch 

Frangipani rust is hard to 

beat. Clean up all fallen 

leaves and destroy them. 

Once the tree is bare spray 

with lime sulphur to kill the 

spore. Spray the soil beneath 

and the surrounding area. 

The spores lie dormant over 

Winter to grow again in 

Spring. A follow-up spray next 

month will help. 

Fruitful yield 

Plant new strawberry plants 

this month. They have very 

pretty foliage and are great 

ground cover plants in the 

veggie garden to control 

the weeds! Add some slowrelease 

fertiliser to the soil 

before planting and plant the 

new plants 30cm apart. Tuck 

them in with a mulch of straw. 

Also consider a blueberry 

bush. Blueberry Burst is the 

best variety for our frost-free 

area. They are easy to grow. 

Feed them with Kahoona for a 

wonderful crop. 

Crossword solution from page 65 

Mystery location: CRYSTAL BAY 

Early days North Palm Beach SLSC 

According to records 

held at Surf Life Saving 

New South Wales, in 

the 1930s there was an early 

attempt to form a life-saving 

service and club at North 

Palm Beach. It was called the 

‘Surf Bathers Club’, made up 

of surfing enthusiasts from 

the camping area. Some of 

these would have been ‘permanent 

residents’ and some 

transient or simply frequent 

visitors as holiday makers. 

They met initially in the Beacon 

Store in 1939. 

Later it became known 

as the ‘Barrenjoey Surfers 

Club’; however it was forced 

to disband at the outbreak of 

World War II due to a lack of 

members. 

Although it was never affiliated 

with the SLSA of Australia, 

10 members gained 

their Bronze medallions in 

1941 before it disbanded. 

One group (of the usual six 

in those days) passed on 23 

March and a second group of 

four (with two substitutes) on 

14 December the same year. 

In January 1941, Warringah 

Shire Council (WSC) received 

a request for permission to 

form the Barrenjoey Surf Life 

Saving Club (SLSC), specifically 

to patrol the northern 

end of Palm Beach. 

The Council agreed to the 

request, provided the Club 

became affiliated with the 

Surf Life Saving Association, 

although there is no record 

of this occurring. 

Probably as the result of 

the success of the first squad 

in March 1941, the Barrenjoey 

SLSC requested permission 

to erect a small structure in 

a central position overlooking 

Barrenjoey surf beach for 

the housing of a surf reel, 

box line and box lifesaving 

gear. The structure was to 

be a temporary one because 

the Club was hoping to get 

permission in future to erect 

a permanent clubhouse when 

the Club began to actively patrol 

the beach on Saturdays, 

Sundays and holidays. 

The group hoping to form 

as the Club noted that the 

Palm Beach Golf Club had 

offered to give them a shelter 

shed by the 4th tee later in 

1941 if the group re-erected 

the shed. 

Council agreed to the 

proposal but only after the 

Works Committee approved 

the site following an inspection 

in company with the 

Club’s representatives. 

It’s clear they received approval 

because later that year 

in November the Council received 

a request “… that the 

front portion of the recently 

erected surf sheds at Bar- 

renjoey Beach be enclosed for 

the purpose of protecting the 

life-saving gear and offering 

to bear the cost if the Council 

will carry out the work”. 

This shed is most likely the 

one in the picture which appears 

on the beach proper but 

in the mid-1940s was replaced 

by the Careel Bay cricket club 

building on the site of the 

present surf club. The club 

shared the building with the 

Palm Beach Kindergarten. 

* Are you a family member 

or relative who could add to 

this story? Email readers@ 


TIMES PAST is supplied by 

local historian and President 

of the Avalon Beach 

Historical Society GEOFF 

SEARL. Visit the Society’s 

showroom in Bowling Green 

Lane, Avalon Beach. 

Times Past 





Travel Life 

Travel Life 

Relax and sail with Seven Seas 

Regent’s Seven Seas Explorer – touted 

“The Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built” – is 

bringing unrivalled luxury to cruising close 

to home in the upcoming 2023-24 season. 

Travel View’s Gail Kardash says the 

flagship vessel earned her reputation for 

many reasons: 

“Among them, her spacious, 

all-balcony suites; ‘Unrivalled 

Space at Sea’ with exceptionally 

high space per guest ratio; 

fine dining with no additional 

charges; and personalised 

service,” Gail said. 

“The attention to detail 

throughout the ship is 

astounding – Seven Seas Explorer features 

a 2,220-piece art collection that includes 

pieces by Picasso and Chagall; more than 

470 handmade crystal chandeliers; 400 

custom-made Versace place settings in 

the Compass Rose restaurant; and 4,262 

square metres, or about half a hectare, of 

exquisite marble flooring and bathrooms.” 

She recommends you make a note in 

your travel diary for next year’s all-inclusive 

voyage from Bali to Sydney, tailor-made for 

travellers eager to cruise close to home. 

“On 5 December 2023, Explorer departs 

Bali for her 17-night voyage to Sydney, 

calling at Lombok, Komodo, Cairns and 

Airlie Beach along the way,” said Gail. 

“A full day and overnight stay in Bali 

allows time to see the island’s beautiful 

terraced rice fields, visit villages where 

local artisans create 

traditional wood 

carvings, batik cloth 

and jewellery, and 

learn about Balinese dance and its ancient 

culture.” 

Gail said Regent also provides guests in 

all suite categories a FREE 3-Night Beautiful 

Bali pre-cruise land program or FREE 

2-Night Sensational Sydney post-cruise land 

program on this voyage. 

“Consider the land programs as a unique 

reward for guests to make the most of 

their holiday after being unable to journey 

beyond our own borders for almost two 

years.” 

Making the prospect of setting sail 

again even more exciting, Gail said you’ll 

enjoy every luxury included – not only are 

beverages, speciality dining, WiFi, laundry 

and gratuities covered, all voyages feature 

unlimited included shore excursions at 

every port. 

“These carefully curated shore excursions 

are unique to Regent – guests are able 

to enjoy as many shoreside tours and 

experiences as they wish, as part of their 

cruise. On this featured sailings, guests 

can select from up to 34 included shore 

excursions.” 

* Contact Travel View for more details 

and ask about their exclusive US$400 

Shipboard Credit per suite for the Bali 

to Sydney cruise; and to learn more 

about Regent Seven Seas Cruises, book 

your place at Travel View’s information 

event on Wednesday 22 June. Register 

by calling 9918 4444 or email sales@ 

traveview.net.au

Pittwater Life June 2022 Issue

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