Pittwater Life February 2023 Issue
LIGHTHOUSE STAYS SLAMMED COUNCIL SHUNS GOVT ON LIZARD ROCK AUTHORITY ROLE PITTWATER’S NSW ELECTION BATTLE / LAND VALUES SOAR SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... / NINA CURTIS / THE WAY WE WERE
LIGHTHOUSE STAYS SLAMMED
COUNCIL SHUNS GOVT ON LIZARD ROCK AUTHORITY ROLE
PITTWATER’S NSW ELECTION BATTLE / LAND VALUES SOAR
SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... / NINA CURTIS / THE WAY WE WERE
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The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
FREE<br />
pittwaterlife<br />
LIGHTHOUSE STAYS SLAMMED<br />
COUNCIL SHUNS GOVT ON LIZARD ROCK AUTHORITY ROLE<br />
PITTWATER’S NSW ELECTION BATTLE / LAND VALUES SOAR<br />
SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... / NINA CURTIS / THE WAY WE WERE
Editorial<br />
Council refuses Rock role<br />
Opponents of the Lizard<br />
Rock housing development<br />
proposal are waiting to see<br />
who the NSW Department<br />
of Planning appoints as the<br />
project’s alternative Planning<br />
Authority after Northern<br />
Beaches Council rejected the<br />
“poisoned chalice” role.<br />
Council and myriad<br />
community groups and<br />
political figures have long<br />
opposed the planning proposal<br />
to develop land for 450<br />
dwellings at Belrose.<br />
Mayor Michael Regan<br />
said: “We are declining the<br />
government’s offer… as the<br />
role is unlikely to give Council<br />
any meaningful powers to<br />
review the proposal or prevent<br />
it from going ahead.”<br />
Mayor Regan remains<br />
adamant there are alternatives<br />
that would still achieve<br />
economic self-determination<br />
for Aboriginal people.<br />
In April 2022, Councillors<br />
united to request staff write<br />
to Federal and State MPs and<br />
ministers to negotiate an<br />
alternate solution so that the<br />
landowners, the Metropolitan<br />
Local Aboriginal Land Council<br />
(MLALC), could benefit<br />
financially and that the<br />
land was preserved as is – in<br />
perpetuity.<br />
The responses, if any, are<br />
unknown.<br />
Council’s position was<br />
echoed by Mackellar Federal<br />
MP Dr Sophie Scamps, who<br />
called on the State Government<br />
to step in and purchase the<br />
land, or agree to a longer-term<br />
lease before transforming the<br />
land into an Aboriginal-owned<br />
National Park, which she says<br />
was originally suggested by the<br />
MLALC in 2013.<br />
“This would be a win-win-win<br />
situation in that the MLALC<br />
secures a financial gain in<br />
addition to the long-term jobs<br />
that are created for Indigenous<br />
people within the Park,” she<br />
said. Story – page 8. – Nigel Wall<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 3
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The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
FREE<br />
pittwaterlife<br />
LIGHTHOUSE STAYS SLAMMED<br />
COUNCIL SHUNS GOVT ON LIZARD ROCK AUTHORITY ROLE<br />
PITTWATER’S NSW ELECTION BATTLE / LAND VALUES SOAR<br />
SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... / NINA CURTIS / THE WAY WE WERE<br />
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INSIDE: Council will refuse the role as planning authority<br />
for the Lizard Rock development proposal (p8); former<br />
fugitive Darko Desic has served his prison term but his<br />
future remains in limbo (p10); hear more from <strong>Pittwater</strong>’s<br />
State Election candidates (p16); readers have their<br />
say on local matters (p20); the proposal for short-stay<br />
accommodation on Barrenjoey Headland has angered many<br />
(p26); land values on the Beaches have skyrocketed (p37);<br />
and meet female Sail GP groundbreaker Nina Curtis (p50).<br />
COVER: North Narrabeen rockpool / sunrisephotos.com.au<br />
XXXXX 2022<br />
also this month<br />
Editorial 3<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Local News & Features 8-39<br />
The Way We Were 32<br />
Seen... Heard... Absurd... 34<br />
Briefs & Community News 36-39<br />
Art 40<br />
Hot Property 42-49<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Story 50-52<br />
Sport 53-55<br />
Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 56-63<br />
Money & Law 64-67<br />
Crossword 72<br />
Food & Tasty Morsels 74-77<br />
Gardening 78-80<br />
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FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> The Local Voice Since 1991
Wary Council shuns<br />
Lizard Rock role<br />
News<br />
Northern Beaches Council<br />
will decline the NSW<br />
Government’s offer to be<br />
the Planning Proposal Authority<br />
for the controversial Lizard<br />
Rock housing development site<br />
at Belrose.<br />
It is wary of a ‘guilt by association’<br />
perception that could<br />
be formed within the community,<br />
given its long-standing<br />
and ongoing opposition to the<br />
development plan.<br />
Council staff made the recommendation<br />
to Councillors<br />
at a hastily convened extraordinary<br />
Council meeting on<br />
January 24.<br />
The Lizard Rock housing<br />
plan has been driven by the<br />
Metropolitan Local Aboriginal<br />
Land Council (MLALC) which<br />
wants to develop the land it<br />
owns on the Northern Beaches<br />
for economic self-determination<br />
of Aboriginal people.<br />
The plan, for 450 dwellings,<br />
has been widely slammed,<br />
including opposition from<br />
Council, the State Liberal MPs<br />
in the seats of <strong>Pittwater</strong>, Wakehurst<br />
and Davidson, as well as<br />
the Greens and local residents<br />
groups.<br />
The Aboriginal Support<br />
Group Manly Warringah <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
(ASG) also opposes the<br />
proposal.<br />
On December 21, the Department<br />
of Planning and Environment<br />
advised Council that the<br />
Sydney North Planning Panel<br />
had recommended the planning<br />
proposal for Morgan Road,<br />
Belrose (Lizard Rock) proceed<br />
to Gateway determination.<br />
It offered Council first option<br />
to become the Planning<br />
Proposal Authority.<br />
However, noting Council’s<br />
opposition to Lizard Rock,<br />
Council staff advised Councillors<br />
that if it were to accept the<br />
role it would be obliged to progress<br />
the planning proposal,<br />
whereupon the community<br />
may perceive that Council supported<br />
the planning proposal –<br />
which was contrary to Council’s<br />
decision of November 2022.<br />
Further, Council remained<br />
concerned by what it perceived<br />
as scant ‘due process’ by the<br />
Panel at its December 21<br />
meeting, where the planning<br />
proposal, Council’s submission<br />
and a briefing report provided<br />
by the Department were considered.<br />
At the meeting the Panel<br />
determined that the planning<br />
proposal should be submitted<br />
to the Department for a<br />
Gateway determination, with<br />
qualifications including that<br />
the number of dwellings was<br />
capped at 450 and that 10 per<br />
cent affordable housing was to<br />
be provided.<br />
But Council staff noted the<br />
briefing report provided only<br />
a “dot-point summary of the<br />
key issues” from the viewpoint<br />
of Council (which opposed<br />
the plan) and the proponent,<br />
without providing any analysis<br />
of the merits of the associated<br />
issues, conclusions or recommendations.<br />
It said the Record of Decision<br />
provided limited reasoning for<br />
a decision of such magnitude<br />
(just five short paragraphs)<br />
and no meaningful analysis<br />
or evaluation of the issues relevant<br />
to the planning proposal<br />
– including lack of infrastructure<br />
and bushfire risk – was<br />
provided in the Decision or the<br />
Department’s briefing report.<br />
8 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
CONTROVERSIAL: Aerial view of the Lizard Rock allotment at Belrose.<br />
“No meaningful discussion<br />
was provided in the Decision<br />
or the Department’s briefing<br />
report as to how the significant<br />
issues raised by the Council<br />
can be overcome,” the staff<br />
recommendation said.<br />
“Due to the paucity of analysis<br />
or explanation, there is<br />
limited opportunity for Council<br />
or the community to understand<br />
why or how this decision<br />
has been made.”<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Ward Councillor<br />
and NSW Liberals candidate for<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> at the State Election<br />
in March, Rory Amon, said the<br />
Proposal for Lizard Rock was<br />
wholly inappropriate and if<br />
successful, would turn pristine<br />
bushland into a fire trap.<br />
“As a volunteer firefighter,<br />
having directly witnessed the<br />
horror of the 2019-20 fires,<br />
attempting to save houses that<br />
burned to a cinder in relatively<br />
protected areas, the Lizard<br />
Rock proposal is a disaster<br />
waiting to happen,” he said.<br />
“When fires next visit upon<br />
the Northern Beaches, with<br />
one road in and one road out, a<br />
Lizard Rock development will<br />
be a catastrophe of Black Friday<br />
proportions.<br />
“Planning proposals are<br />
longstanding mechanisms,<br />
irrespective of the Government<br />
of the day. But in local<br />
communities, they are a cancer<br />
on our planning system,” he<br />
continued.<br />
“State and Local Governments,<br />
in consultation with<br />
residents, spend years strategically<br />
planning and arriving<br />
at consensus about how their<br />
communities should look.<br />
“This involves the primacy of<br />
environmental considerations,<br />
expectation management and<br />
achieving broad-based community<br />
buy-in.<br />
“Planning proposals, with<br />
the stroke of a pen, undo all<br />
those virtues of our planning<br />
system.”<br />
Meanwhile, the NSW Aboriginal<br />
Land Council (NSWALC) is<br />
urging all NSW MPs to leave a<br />
legacy and support the Aboriginal<br />
Cultural Heritage (Culture<br />
is Identity) Bill 2022.<br />
The Private Members’ Bill<br />
aims to recognise, protect, conserve<br />
and preserve Aboriginal<br />
cultural heritage.<br />
An Upper House Inquiry<br />
found that new, modernised<br />
and standalone legislation for<br />
the recognition, protection,<br />
conservation and preservation<br />
of Aboriginal cultural heritage<br />
in NSW was “both necessary<br />
and long overdue.”<br />
The report found the current<br />
system was failing to protect<br />
Aboriginal cultural heritage.<br />
To support the Bill, an Aboriginal<br />
Cultural Heritage march<br />
was held in the Sydney CBD last<br />
November, organised by Metropolitan<br />
and Darkinjung Local<br />
Aboriginal Land Councils.<br />
March organisers called for<br />
urgent reform.<br />
NSWALC Councillor Abie<br />
Wright spoke on the importance<br />
of preserving Aboriginal<br />
heritage across NSW, and the<br />
importance of ensuring this<br />
was a focus for the Land Rights<br />
network leading up to the State<br />
election.<br />
“Every day we wait for laws,<br />
is another day our culture and<br />
heritage is being ruined,” he<br />
said.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 9
News<br />
Darko’s future in limbo<br />
Darko ‘Dougie’ Desic, the<br />
prison escapee who spent<br />
three decades living in plain<br />
sight in Avalon before handing<br />
himself to police during<br />
the height of COVID in 2021,<br />
has served his sentence.<br />
He was released from John<br />
Morony Correctional Centre<br />
near Windsor just before New<br />
Year’s Eve and is now awaiting<br />
his fate in Villawood Detention<br />
Centre.<br />
“It’s disheartening for Dougie,”<br />
says Peter Higgins, the<br />
Avalon-based entrepreneur<br />
who has funded the former<br />
fugitive’s legal defence since<br />
his daughter Belle founded<br />
a Go Fund Me page when<br />
Darko’s surrender made international<br />
headline news.<br />
“He’ll either be sent back to<br />
Croatia… or come back home<br />
to Avalon.”<br />
After serving seven days in<br />
isolated COVID quarantine,<br />
Darko is now in a bunkhouse<br />
at Villawood with around 20<br />
other detainees.<br />
The Chinese detainee in the<br />
bunk below Darko has been<br />
incarcerated at Villawood for<br />
five years.<br />
“Dougie says, ‘How long<br />
am I going to be in here for?’”<br />
explains Peter. “As I’ve told<br />
Dougie, don’t worry about (the<br />
roommate). His case has got<br />
nothing to do with yours.”<br />
Peter is now searching for a<br />
specialist immigration lawyer<br />
to argue Darko’s case in conjunction<br />
with the high-profile<br />
Paul McGirr & Associates, who<br />
represented Darko while he<br />
was in prison after handing<br />
himself in to Dee Why police.<br />
In 1992, Darko broke out of<br />
Grafton high security prison<br />
with just 18 months left to<br />
serve of a sentence for cultivating<br />
cannabis. Fearing he’d<br />
be deported back to what was<br />
then war-torn Yugoslavia, the<br />
Croatian staged an audacious<br />
escape.<br />
Famously, with no wish to<br />
disclose his real identity, he<br />
lived in Avalon for 30 years<br />
– even pulling out his own<br />
teeth when he needed to,<br />
never visiting a doctor, and<br />
never claiming a Centrelink<br />
payment (while also never<br />
paying tax).<br />
Stone mason Scott Matthewson,<br />
who worked with<br />
Darko, has built the fugitive<br />
a self-contained bedsit at his<br />
family home, and hopes to see<br />
him employed, working again<br />
as the talented stone mason<br />
he has become.<br />
UNCERTAIN: Locals continue to rally<br />
to keep Darko Desic in Australia.<br />
“Dougie doesn’t know what<br />
is going to happen,” Scott says.<br />
“It’s all a bit ridiculous. “Australian<br />
Border Force are keeping<br />
him locked up in Villawood<br />
to keep the public safe.<br />
“But Dougie lived here for<br />
30 years without causing any<br />
problems.<br />
“He’s even earned an Aussie<br />
nickname.<br />
“I was swimming at Palm<br />
Beach the other day with a barrister<br />
and a judge, both locals,<br />
and we got talking about<br />
Dougie. I asked them what they<br />
thought of Dougie’s situation.<br />
“Both said he should be<br />
released ASAP, and what a<br />
waste of taxpayers’ money it<br />
is keeping him Villawood.”<br />
Villawood Detention Centre<br />
now has imposing walls<br />
around it and a fearsome<br />
reputation.<br />
However, it began as a place<br />
to welcome new migrants seeking<br />
refuge from impoverished<br />
post World War II Europe.<br />
In those happier days, it<br />
was the birthplace of Australian<br />
musical royalty.<br />
When George Young arrived<br />
with his Glaswegian parents<br />
and six siblings in 1963, he<br />
forged a friendship with a<br />
Dutch boy who changed his<br />
name to Harry Vanda.<br />
Together they formed ‘The<br />
Easybeat’s and masterminded<br />
the rise of AC/DC featuring<br />
George’s younger brothers,<br />
Malcolm and Angus.<br />
George and Harry also<br />
wrote John Paul Young’s 1978<br />
hit, ‘Love Is In The Air’.<br />
There doesn’t seem much<br />
love in the air now.<br />
– Steve Meacham<br />
Stick to the<br />
election facts,<br />
urges Stokes<br />
Retiring MP Rob Stokes<br />
says he would like to see<br />
all candidates for <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
“stick to the facts” in the<br />
lead-up to the NSW election.<br />
Referencing Independent<br />
for <strong>Pittwater</strong> candidate<br />
Jacqui Scruby’s pitch for the<br />
NSW Government to investigate<br />
legislating against<br />
offshore mining so that the<br />
PEP-11 gas lease could never<br />
resurface, Mr Stokes said:<br />
“It’s nothing to do with the<br />
State – we’ve got a very clear<br />
policy when it comes to offshore<br />
gas or oil exploration<br />
or drilling: it’s not allowed.<br />
“The only way to ensure<br />
PEP-11 can never return is to<br />
change federal law – PEP-11<br />
is outside State waters.<br />
“It’s the same with the<br />
Wakehurst Parkway – the issue<br />
should be taken up with<br />
the Federal Government.<br />
“We committed $18 million<br />
to Northern Beaches<br />
Council and $75 million<br />
which was matched by the<br />
former coalition government.<br />
The Commonwealth has now<br />
pulled that money.<br />
“We would have liked<br />
works (flood mitigation and<br />
black spots) to have been<br />
done before now but the<br />
helpful thing would be to get<br />
the $75 million back from<br />
the Federal Government.<br />
“I share (Ms Scruby’s)<br />
frustration about Council’s<br />
scheduling of works – but I<br />
don’t know why it has been<br />
raised as an issue... it’s been<br />
addressed.” – NW<br />
10 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Philanthropist Jennie<br />
News<br />
When Clareville resident<br />
Jennie Mackenzie<br />
died in October, 2021<br />
she left millions of dollars for<br />
research at University of Sydney’s<br />
Charles Perkins Centre.<br />
But because of COVID-19 it<br />
wasn’t until mid-November<br />
2022 that the ‘Jazz for Jennie’<br />
commemoration was held<br />
at Charles Perkins Centre to<br />
celebrate her life.<br />
Her neighbour, Barbie Laird-<br />
Varley, although at the same<br />
school as Jennie – Abbotsleigh<br />
– did not become a friend until<br />
a few years later.<br />
“We were part of a group of<br />
friends, always doing something,<br />
travelling and trips to<br />
the country,” Barbie said.<br />
“Jennie had a fabulous<br />
personality. She loved a glass<br />
of bubbles, loved colour, loved<br />
flamboyant clothing. She was<br />
my bridesmaid – ‘twice’ – she<br />
always reminded me.”<br />
Jennie was an only child,<br />
Barbie explains, and grew up<br />
RECOGNITION: Barbie Laird-Varley by the Clareville shore; Jennie Mackenzie; and Jennie’s former house.<br />
in Mosman. Her mother died<br />
when she was still at school,<br />
and her father passed when<br />
she was in her early 20s.<br />
“Having no immediate<br />
family, all her friends were a<br />
significant part of Jennie’s life.<br />
Many of us spent a lot of time<br />
at Jennie’s family beach house<br />
in Clareville, a tiny fibro shack.<br />
It was our sanctuary. Eventually,<br />
she sold the family home<br />
in Mosman and settled here.”<br />
Jennie Mackenzie was the director<br />
of a kindergarten before<br />
she became an early childhood<br />
adviser for ABC radio and television<br />
and associated projects<br />
for young children – including<br />
Play School for which she was<br />
recognised with a Television<br />
Society of Australia award.<br />
She also formed with her<br />
friends a group called the 222<br />
Committee to support children<br />
attending a kindergarten in<br />
East Sydney.<br />
“We raised heaps of money<br />
for that kindergarten and others,<br />
and Jennie became very<br />
involved with the kindergartens<br />
too,” Barbie said.<br />
The fibro shack was pulled<br />
12 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
emembered<br />
and down and a house,<br />
designed by architect Bruce<br />
Rickard, was built on the site.<br />
“We used to have countless<br />
barbecues and all gather with<br />
the children and dogs on the<br />
beautiful beach, and in summer<br />
dive off the neighbours’<br />
jetty and swim ashore,” Barbie<br />
recounted.<br />
“She loved her friends. They<br />
were very important to her. A<br />
group of about 12 of us always<br />
celebrated her birthday on 11<br />
January, and we’d go over to<br />
her place and all take food.”<br />
“David and I live a couple of<br />
doors up from Jennie’s place<br />
and she used to come to us<br />
once a week for a roast, and<br />
she’d bring hibiscus from the<br />
bush in her garden, so if Jennie<br />
was coming I always knew I<br />
would have fresh flowers.”<br />
In her 70s Jennie was<br />
diagnosed with cancer, and<br />
through her treatment she became<br />
interested in health and<br />
medical research.<br />
She was excited by the work<br />
at the Charles Perkins Centre,<br />
with its vision for change and<br />
multi-disciplinary approach to<br />
research.<br />
“In her typically dynamic<br />
and generous way, Jennie<br />
went on to be involved as a<br />
volunteer, mentor, donor and<br />
ultimately dear friend,” said<br />
Professor Stephen Simpson,<br />
Academic Director of the<br />
Charles Perkins Centre.<br />
Among others, she supported<br />
postdoctoral researchers:<br />
Dr Rosilene Ribeiro, researching<br />
ways of using nutrition to<br />
improve health and wellbeing<br />
of older individuals; and Associate<br />
Professor Melkam Kebede,<br />
looking at pancreatic islet cells<br />
and the relationship between<br />
obesity and type 2 diabetes.<br />
Both expressed their immense<br />
gratitude for her support.<br />
“Jennie was more like an<br />
advocate than anything else,”<br />
Associate Professor Kebede<br />
said.<br />
“She cared so much about<br />
what I do and my professional<br />
and personal growth. I miss<br />
her lovely kindness, positivity<br />
and huge sense of fun.”<br />
In 2014, Jennie was appointed<br />
to the Vice-Chancellor’s<br />
Campaign Board, a group comprising<br />
of the University’s most<br />
visionary philanthropic supporters,<br />
and she was awarded<br />
the title of Honorary Fellow of<br />
the University in 2018.<br />
“She never complained when<br />
she was ill. Her friends were<br />
very supportive of her, but she<br />
was very strong. She always<br />
looked on the bright side of<br />
things,” said Barbie.<br />
At the celebration of her life<br />
on 15 November 2022, it was<br />
announced in addition to a<br />
previous donation of $900,000<br />
that she had left $20 million to<br />
the Charles Perkins Centre.<br />
“How wonderful to be able<br />
to leave that, and help change<br />
so many people’s lives,” said<br />
Barbie. – Rosamund Burton<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 13
News<br />
Camera Club focuses on future<br />
Marie Windred is pragmatic about no<br />
longer being able to hold her prized<br />
(but heavy) Canon camera – although<br />
this hasn’t stopped her from taking<br />
photos.<br />
The 92-year-old from Mona Vale utters<br />
the words that no fellow <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Camera Club (PCC) member thought they<br />
would ever hear her say: “I use an iPhone<br />
now to take photos of my grandchildren<br />
and great grandchildren. I still like capturing<br />
the moments, the memory.<br />
“I’ve given a Canon to my grandson<br />
and he’s excited so I’m passing down the<br />
joy of taking photos.”<br />
The former president and life member<br />
of PCC which began in 1966, attended<br />
her last meeting almost two years ago<br />
(she joined in 1980). Mobility issues are<br />
increasingly keeping Marie and her husband<br />
Alf, 93, at home.<br />
“COVID was devastating for our club<br />
because we couldn’t meet (at <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
RSL) and now of course some people<br />
have moved on,” Mrs Windred said.<br />
For a club which grew from humble<br />
beginnings in Did and Charles Usher’s<br />
loungeroom after they advertised for<br />
interested photographers, it boasted 45<br />
members until only a few years ago.<br />
After they outgrew the Usher’s home<br />
they met in everything from a church<br />
hall to a bus depot – “I always found<br />
places that didn’t cost an arm and a leg,”<br />
Mrs Windred said of her 28-year presidency<br />
from 1981 to 2009.<br />
“Some of the most enjoyable times of<br />
my life were at a camera club meeting.<br />
I remember when the bogong moths<br />
would fly in through the window and the<br />
girls would all scream.<br />
“It was great fun, just the enjoyment<br />
you get from being with other photographers<br />
and showing each other your work<br />
MOVING WITH THE TIMES: Marie Windred.<br />
– it’s always been our aim to help in any<br />
way we could.<br />
“I encouraged members to help Year<br />
12 students and one student ended up<br />
representing the national icons of our<br />
society in an exhibition at the Australian<br />
Museum, another benefited from<br />
our help by becoming a professional<br />
photographer.”<br />
Now Mrs Windred is hoping a new generation<br />
of amateur, passionate or professional<br />
photographers will join PCC.<br />
After she relinquished the presidency<br />
13 years ago, Peter Squires took on the<br />
PHOTO: Kat Adamski<br />
role until COVID hit and now it is held<br />
by Bill Roberts, of Whale Beach, who is<br />
one of only a handful of certified master<br />
picture framers in Australia.<br />
Mr Roberts, who has been a member<br />
for 15 years, is looking forward to the<br />
year ahead.<br />
“When we had more members it used<br />
to be more competitive and it made people<br />
strive to improve their work,” he said.<br />
“We have a lot less members now so<br />
it’s more of a social club and we concentrate<br />
on education with inspiring guest<br />
speakers.<br />
“It’s for people who are interested<br />
in photography to meet like-minded<br />
people.”<br />
And Mrs Windred remains the club’s<br />
strongest supporter.<br />
The former magazine photographer<br />
has different artistic pursuits these days,<br />
including capturing her five children, 10<br />
grandchildren and two great grandchildren<br />
with her iPhone camera.<br />
“I will always support the club in any<br />
way I can,” she said.<br />
“But I have a big job to tackle at home<br />
too – scanning all of my photographic<br />
slides from the past 66 years. It’s everything<br />
from the olden days; I’ve decided<br />
I’ll keep weddings, christenings and<br />
family history but if it’s ‘just’ a beautiful<br />
mountain, it can go.”<br />
The PCC has an exciting agenda<br />
planned for the year, starting with<br />
presentation evenings at <strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL<br />
Club on <strong>February</strong> 6 and 20, with external<br />
judges to critique members’ work. There<br />
will also be outings and workshops.<br />
The club is affiliated with the Federation<br />
of Camera Clubs. – Kat Adamski<br />
*For further information visit pittwatercameraclub.org<br />
or email secretary@<br />
pittwatercameraclub.org<br />
14 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
‘Let’s do it again at state level’<br />
Climate action and environmental<br />
Park, is set to deliver thousands of jobs<br />
protection are likely to be two of the<br />
and generate over $1 billion for the<br />
most hotly contested issues in <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
in the upcoming NSW Election, according<br />
to Independent for <strong>Pittwater</strong> candidate<br />
Jacqui Scruby.<br />
“They were certainly deciding factors<br />
for voters in <strong>Pittwater</strong> in last year’s<br />
Federal election,” Ms Scruby said. “Local<br />
frustration at reluctant policy concessions<br />
and lip service rather than action<br />
from the Morrison Coalition government<br />
was a major factor behind the election<br />
of community independent Dr Sophie<br />
Scamps.”<br />
Ms Scruby said the community now<br />
had the chance to do it all again at a<br />
State level, adding she believed locals<br />
wanted a member of parliament with<br />
vision for a sustainable and liveable<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>, Sydney and NSW, who was<br />
economy,” she said.<br />
“But most importantly NSW must seize<br />
the economic benefits of becoming a<br />
renewable superpower. In the short term,<br />
we should be following Queensland’s<br />
lead and tackle NSW’s $20 billion debt by<br />
securing more royalties from coal companies<br />
making windfall profits.<br />
“We should be transitioning coal-dependent<br />
areas like the Hunter Valley into<br />
renewable energy industrial precincts,<br />
and developing and manufacturing carbon<br />
smart technology using our supply<br />
of critical minerals, to set ourselves up<br />
for a bright future.”<br />
She said policies to encourage low-cost<br />
electrification for businesses, homes, including<br />
rental properties, and transport<br />
would cut emissions and reduce power<br />
grounded in practicality and sound<br />
bills.<br />
ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS: Jacqui Scruby.<br />
economic reasoning.<br />
“NSW needs to take the lead of corporate<br />
Scruby, a former environmental lawyer,<br />
management consultant and policy<br />
advisor to Dr Scamps, continued: “We<br />
all love living here in large part because<br />
of <strong>Pittwater</strong>’s beautiful natural environment<br />
which we want to conserve. But it<br />
doesn’t end there – we’re not NIMBYs,<br />
and what we want for <strong>Pittwater</strong>, we want<br />
for our state.<br />
“Locals don’t want to see the PEP-11<br />
permit for drilling for oil and gas off the<br />
coast of <strong>Pittwater</strong> risking our beaches<br />
and, by the same token, they also don’t<br />
want the 26 new coal and gas projects<br />
that have been approved by the NSW<br />
Coalition Government since the Paris<br />
Agreement.<br />
“It’s incompatible for the NSW government<br />
to be transitioning the state to renewable<br />
energy whilst at the same time<br />
times NSW’s annual emissions.<br />
“The community is currently fighting<br />
the changes to conservation zones<br />
to residential in the Local Environment<br />
Plan and potential commercialisation of<br />
Barrenjoey Headland.<br />
“They also are outraged that taxpayer<br />
money to the tune of $13m/pa is being<br />
used to subsidise native forest logging,<br />
reducing our crucial carbon stores and<br />
killing our iconic koalas.”<br />
Ms Scruby said Victoria and WA had already<br />
committed to ending native forest<br />
logging and there was pressure on NSW<br />
to do the same, particularly following<br />
the devastating reports on biodiversity<br />
loss, including the inevitable extinction<br />
of the koala by 2050 if NSW didn’t take<br />
action.<br />
“The alternative plan, to use the native<br />
Australia and better manage climate<br />
risk. We need to plan coherently at all<br />
levels of government for the impacts of<br />
climate change.<br />
“In <strong>Pittwater</strong> we need flood mitigation<br />
for our major roads, better NSW Government<br />
management of climate adaptation,<br />
particularly for coastal erosion to avoid<br />
sea walls and protect homes and businesses<br />
from the increased insurances<br />
currently being faced by residents in<br />
Narrabeen. It will end up costing us more<br />
if we don’t take action now.<br />
“Of course, there are critical State<br />
issues from schools to health care to<br />
infrastructure that <strong>Pittwater</strong> needs<br />
addressing as well, but the people of<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> want representation on all this<br />
and more. They deserve a representative<br />
that reflects their values and embraces<br />
approving projects that will generate 34 forests to create Great Koala National the future.”<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
16 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Greens’ namesake stands<br />
The Greens have preselected environmental activist<br />
and statistician Hilary Green to stand for the seat<br />
of <strong>Pittwater</strong> at the NSW Election in March.<br />
Northern Beaches Greens convenor Evan Turner<br />
said the party was sure Ms Green would live up to her<br />
name as their candidate.<br />
“The Greens will be hard to miss with Hilary on the<br />
ballot paper,” Mr Turner said. “Currently our local<br />
secretary, she has campaigned for a large variety of<br />
causes, including human rights, climate change and<br />
the environment more broadly, as well as against the<br />
Iraq wars.<br />
“We are proud to have<br />
such an outstanding<br />
candidate representing<br />
us at what is a critical<br />
election for <strong>Pittwater</strong>,<br />
given the large number<br />
of issues we’re facing<br />
and that our local MP is<br />
retiring.”<br />
Ms Green has lived<br />
in Mona Vale for 22<br />
years after being born<br />
at Manly; she has spent<br />
most of her life on the<br />
Beaches.<br />
With a PhD in<br />
Statistics and several<br />
other degrees to her<br />
HOPES: Hilary Green.<br />
name, Ms Green was<br />
an academic lecturing and researching in Statistics<br />
at Macquarie and other Sydney universities until five<br />
years ago.<br />
She applied this expertise in the Voices of Mackellar<br />
movement in the lead-up to the last Federal election,<br />
carrying out all the statistical analysis on data<br />
collected in its ‘Kitchen Tea Conversations’.<br />
“I’ve been a Greens voter most of my voting life and<br />
until now have been a foot soldier,” Ms Green said.<br />
“However, I’ve decided to stand because I want to show<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> people that the Greens, as a party, is a powerful<br />
force for good, and encourage them to embrace this<br />
progressive movement at the election.”<br />
– NW<br />
Amon spruiks delivery<br />
Liberal Party candidate for <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Rory Amon says that<br />
if given the nod at the State election<br />
he will build on his record<br />
of delivering outcomes for community<br />
as a Northern Beaches<br />
Councillor as well as add to the<br />
legacy of achievements of retiring<br />
MP Rob Stokes.<br />
Mr Amon, a family lawyer,<br />
stands by his achievements<br />
from his five years on Northern<br />
Beaches Council, which he says<br />
includes securing $2.5 million<br />
to fast-track the re-build of the<br />
Mona Vale Surf Club.<br />
Other ‘wins’ included protecting<br />
and enhancing the<br />
Newport Littoral Rainforest by<br />
securing $4.6 million to acquire<br />
and conserve land slated for<br />
development; and preventing<br />
inappropriate developments of<br />
130 apartments in Warriewood,<br />
“thousands of dwellings in<br />
fire-prone Ingleside”, and other<br />
inappropriate development in<br />
other areas.<br />
“And I will continue the legacy<br />
of Rob Stokes, who in recent<br />
times has delivered over $50<br />
million to upgrade Mona Vale<br />
Public School, was instrumental<br />
in the set-up and success of the<br />
Keoride public transport service<br />
which has had over 700,000<br />
rides in five years, secured $250<br />
million for the crucial upgrade<br />
of Mona Vale Road, and delivered<br />
generous cost of living<br />
measures to support working<br />
families,” Mr Amon said.<br />
“I am passionate about<br />
preserving the natural beauty<br />
of <strong>Pittwater</strong>,” he said. “I want<br />
STANDING ON RECORD: Rory Amon.<br />
to ensure the people of <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
continue to be served by<br />
a strong advocate in the NSW<br />
Parliament who has the experience<br />
and proven track record to<br />
get things done.<br />
“There are many projects<br />
critical to the future of <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
and I look forward saying more<br />
about these over the coming<br />
weeks.”<br />
In addition to his community<br />
advocacy work on Northern<br />
Beaches Council, Mr Amon has<br />
been a dedicated volunteer firefighter<br />
with the Davidson Rural<br />
Fire Brigade for a decade.<br />
During the 2019-20 bushfires<br />
that devastated the state, he<br />
served on the NSW South Coast,<br />
protecting lives, property and<br />
wildlife. In recognition of this<br />
service, he was awarded the NSW<br />
Premier’s Bushfire Emergency<br />
Citation in 2020 and also awarded<br />
the Governor General’s National<br />
Emergency Medal in 2022. – NW<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 17
News<br />
6THINGS<br />
THIS MONTH<br />
Roller Disco. Skate under the stars<br />
on the first Saturday of the month (in<br />
Feb, that’s the 4th) at a pop-up roller<br />
disco at Avalon Beach Netball court<br />
from 7pm-10pm. All ages welcome;<br />
cost is $25. More info 0487 870 971.<br />
Courtyard connect. Meet new<br />
people and enjoy conversations,<br />
guest speakers, games, local history<br />
and morning tea at this free social<br />
event for adults and seniors held on<br />
the first Monday of the month (in Feb,<br />
that’s the 6th!) at Mona Vale Library<br />
from 11am-12pm.<br />
Othello in the park. Such<br />
Stuff Productions presents<br />
Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy<br />
Othello in Catherine Park on<br />
Scotland Island on Saturday 11 from<br />
7.30pm-10.30pm (a chartered ferry<br />
will be leaving Scotland Island from<br />
Tennis Wharf at 11pm after the show).<br />
Tickets $40; Concession $20;<br />
bookings through Humantix.<br />
Author talk. Avalon Community<br />
Library presents its first author<br />
talk for <strong>2023</strong> in conversation with<br />
local author Jo Riccioni about her<br />
speculative fiction book The Branded,<br />
on Wed 22 at 6pm. Also celebrate<br />
Seniors Week at a free ‘Conversation<br />
on Aging’ event on Tues 7. Book at the<br />
library or call 8495 5080.<br />
Pink Floyd show. Hard to believe it’s<br />
been 50 years since The Dark Side<br />
of the Moon was released, becoming<br />
one of the greatest albums of all time,<br />
spending more than 18 years on<br />
the charts. The <strong>Pittwater</strong> Offshore<br />
Community’s Flaming Doghouse<br />
Showband will perform the full album<br />
plus plenty of Floyd favourites at The<br />
Ted Blackwood Community Hall,<br />
Warriewood from 7.30pm on Friday<br />
24 and Saturday 25. Tickets $48;<br />
book through trybooking.<br />
Sew, knit, crochet. Manly Branch<br />
of the Country Women’s Association<br />
(CWA) of NSW is 100 years strong<br />
this year and hosting numerous<br />
events to educate the Northern<br />
Beaches community about what<br />
they do and to share some skills.<br />
On Saturday 25 (then 22nd April<br />
and 24th June) they are holding a<br />
craft day where anyone can learn<br />
to sew, knit or crochet a bag, a face<br />
washer or a toy, all materials supplied.<br />
Sessions will start at 10am, 11am,<br />
midday and 1pm, at St Matthew’s<br />
Church, The Corso, Manly;<br />
manlycwa@gmail.com<br />
18 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
Letters: Readers have their say<br />
Zones Review<br />
The Conservation Zones<br />
Review has nothing to do with<br />
conservation. It is a guide for<br />
developers as to what they<br />
can build and a greenwashing<br />
exercise that should put our<br />
Council to shame.<br />
It is deliberately skewed<br />
to releasing as much land as<br />
possible to construction.<br />
The public have been ignored<br />
and treated with contempt –<br />
presented with a mountain<br />
of subjective documentation<br />
that no ordinary citizen can<br />
understand.<br />
It makes a mockery of the<br />
environmental and ‘Have Your<br />
Say’ PR piffle that saturates the<br />
council’s website.<br />
I believe this Review and its<br />
deception is a turning point;<br />
community trust has already<br />
been eroded with the current<br />
DA approval system, so what<br />
hope can we have in them<br />
policing slacker regulations,<br />
with no avenue of appeal?<br />
If Council thinks a strategy<br />
of proposing the absurd and<br />
then compromising with the<br />
ridiculous will prove they’re<br />
listening, then they are wrong.<br />
This Conservation Zoning<br />
Review should be thrown out.<br />
Steve Jacobs<br />
Palm Beach<br />
State Election #1<br />
I applaud Independent for<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> candidate Jacqui<br />
Scruby for taking a stand on<br />
local infrastructure issues<br />
and the integrity of State<br />
Parliament. Some solid plans to<br />
achieve her aims would be nice.<br />
As Jacqui is a conservationist<br />
I’m surprised that she has<br />
not announced any plans<br />
regarding the eradication of<br />
local feral animals, invasive<br />
plant, shrub or tree species.<br />
I will listen to her arguments<br />
on renewable energy and<br />
cooking without gas when<br />
she becomes a cost planner or<br />
estimating engineer, with a few<br />
hints on how to cook fried rice<br />
electrically.<br />
Meanwhile, I can never vote<br />
for a Liberal or Labor candidate<br />
until they stand up and say: “I’d<br />
love to represent you, however I<br />
can only do what the unelected<br />
officials at Head Office tell me<br />
to do.” When any Liberal or<br />
Labor candidate can do that,<br />
we’ll all be wishing for firstpast-the-post<br />
voting.<br />
Mike Musgrave<br />
Newport<br />
State Election #2<br />
I’m not particularly interested<br />
in politics but I have had<br />
dealings with Rory Amon<br />
as a councillor regarding a<br />
walkway collapsing into water<br />
at Bayview. He definitely made<br />
some progress with this safety<br />
concern, which the Council<br />
once neglected.<br />
Also, I think Independent<br />
Jacqui Scruby isn’t doing<br />
herself any favours with her<br />
voice running other parties<br />
down. Just stay focused on<br />
what you can do, not what you<br />
think happened in the past<br />
because of others.<br />
Lorelle Mainsbridge<br />
Mona Vale<br />
Crossings danger<br />
I can’t believe Council allows a<br />
right turn into Avalon Parade<br />
exiting Old Barrenjoey Road.<br />
I’ve seen 11 cars held up<br />
waiting for a car to turn right. It<br />
should be ‘no right turn’.<br />
More serious are the new<br />
pedestrian crossings. Now set<br />
back from the intersection,<br />
cars, vans and trucks creep<br />
in seeking to turn right<br />
from Avalon Parade into Old<br />
Barrenjoey Road. This blocks<br />
the view of drivers of cars<br />
heading west on Avalon Parade,<br />
endangering pedestrians. I<br />
even saw an elderly lady on<br />
a mobility scooter sensibly<br />
waving a flag from behind<br />
a van, as she could not see<br />
approaching traffic and they<br />
could not see her!<br />
The Shared Space is a great<br />
idea but several features make<br />
it dangerous.<br />
Robert Upfold<br />
Avalon Beach<br />
*Write to us at readers@<br />
pittwaterlife.com.au<br />
20 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Avalon works update<br />
Northern Beaches<br />
Council contractors<br />
will return to Avalon<br />
in the coming weeks to<br />
complete works on the<br />
Shared Spaces project at<br />
the intersection of Old<br />
Barrenjoey Road (North)<br />
and Avalon Parade.<br />
As reported in <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
<strong>Life</strong> last month, the<br />
project has suffered<br />
from a series of poor<br />
construction executions,<br />
including drainage works.<br />
As shown by these<br />
photos taken in January,<br />
some issues with<br />
drainage remain.<br />
Gutters which formerly<br />
linked to storm water<br />
drains are now cut-off<br />
and are prone to ponding.<br />
Northern Beaches<br />
Council CEO Ray<br />
Brownlee said contractors<br />
had installed two<br />
additional stormwater<br />
inlets and works would<br />
recommence in mid-late<br />
<strong>February</strong> to complete<br />
improvements to the<br />
streetscape, including<br />
footpath extensions<br />
and pedestrian safety<br />
upgrades.<br />
“We are continuing to<br />
support local businesses<br />
and will complete this<br />
project to the standard<br />
the community expects.”<br />
The two additional<br />
stormwater pits have<br />
been installed in Old<br />
Barrenjoey Road.<br />
However, pooling of<br />
water in the drains has<br />
highlighted the risk of<br />
mosquitos breeding.<br />
Two shade structures<br />
are also slated to<br />
be installed in Old<br />
Barrenjoey Rd; however,<br />
this shading will cover<br />
only 20 per cent of the<br />
new outdoor seating.<br />
Public domain and<br />
landscaping works will<br />
recommence mid-late<br />
<strong>February</strong>. – NW<br />
‘SHARED’ CONCERN: Not-shallow puddles<br />
linger after rain under the new<br />
street furniture (above); ponding in the<br />
now-redundant road gutter outside the<br />
Avalon Rec Centre (below).<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 21
News<br />
Australia Day Award winners<br />
Northern Beaches Council’s<br />
15 Australia Day recipients<br />
included a trail blazing young<br />
person with a passion for<br />
politics, a local mother who<br />
spends any spare time<br />
advocating for the<br />
vulnerable, a senior<br />
who is a technological<br />
wizz, and a young<br />
sailor with aspirations<br />
of winning a gold<br />
medal at the Olympics.<br />
Rachael Jackson of<br />
Belrose was named<br />
Citizen of the Year.<br />
Rachel has assisted<br />
many community<br />
groups and managed<br />
projects and services<br />
for individuals in<br />
need. As a member<br />
of the Frenchs Forest<br />
Lions Club, she has<br />
been a key player<br />
in organising the<br />
Christmas Carols<br />
at Lionel Watts Ovals for the<br />
past six years. The event raises<br />
much-needed funds for local<br />
charities.<br />
As a single mum of three<br />
WINNER: Rachael.<br />
WINNER: Noah.<br />
children, she is an advocate for<br />
those with disabilities, victims<br />
of domestic violence and the<br />
homeless.<br />
Noah Smith of Bilgola Plateau<br />
was named Young<br />
Citizen of the Year.<br />
With a passion for<br />
youth and indigenous<br />
issues, for the second<br />
year running Noah<br />
was selected to be the<br />
NSW Youth Parliament<br />
Member for <strong>Pittwater</strong>, as<br />
the Youth Minister for<br />
Aboriginal Affairs.<br />
His advocacy work<br />
saw him awarded the<br />
Youth Parliamentarian<br />
of the Year. Also, a<br />
member of Bilgola Surf<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Saving Club, Noah<br />
has been awarded the<br />
Chairmans Award for<br />
his contribution to the<br />
Nippers program.<br />
He is also a member<br />
of the Northern Beaches<br />
Council’s Youth Advisory<br />
Group. – LO<br />
*Full awards list on Council<br />
website.<br />
Upgrading <strong>Pittwater</strong>’s<br />
storm response<br />
NEW ASSETS: The new storm<br />
response vehicle and trailer.<br />
NSW State Emergency<br />
Service (SES) volunteers<br />
on the Northern Beaches<br />
have been given a $255,000<br />
boost to their emergency<br />
response capability with<br />
the delivery of a new<br />
Medium Storm Vehicle and<br />
General Purpose Trailer.<br />
The two new assets form<br />
part of the NSW Government’s<br />
$116 million Fleet Replacement Program to provide<br />
volunteers with the best possible resources and equipment.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> MP Rob Stokes said the new vehicle and trailer<br />
were a welcome sight following relentless rain and flooding<br />
over the past year.<br />
“The Medium Storm Vehicle is equipped with a comprehensive<br />
suite of equipment to enhance the volunteers’ capability<br />
in storms and flood rescues, while the General Purpose<br />
Trailer will assist with the transport of sandbags, tools,<br />
water, food, medicines and other items,” Mr Stokes said.<br />
“These new assets will help our volunteers better protect<br />
the community, keeping residents safer and stronger when<br />
severe weather strikes.”<br />
Over the past three years, volunteers have responded to<br />
3,500 requests for assistance – the equivalent of going out<br />
into the community three times a day to help tarp roofs,<br />
secure trees, resupply goods and ensure the wellbeing of<br />
residents.<br />
– Lisa Offord<br />
22 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Barrenjoey stays in<br />
News<br />
The issue of whether<br />
members of the public<br />
should be allowed to<br />
stay overnight in Barrenjoey<br />
Headland’s heritage buildings<br />
is back on the agenda – and it<br />
continues to inflame sections<br />
of the local community.<br />
The potential for the short<br />
stays has been slammed by<br />
community and residents<br />
groups plus the majority of<br />
local politicians.<br />
A ‘Hands Off Barrenjoey’<br />
rally on January 22, attended<br />
by more than 100 people, saw<br />
organisers demand that accommodation<br />
on the headland<br />
never be allowed to progress.<br />
Politicians opposed to<br />
short stays include NSW State<br />
Election candidates Rory<br />
Amon (Liberals) Hilary Green<br />
(Greens), Jeffrey Quinn (Labor)<br />
and Jacqui Scruby (Independent<br />
for <strong>Pittwater</strong>), plus Mackellar<br />
MP Dr Sophie Scamps.<br />
Northern Beaches Councillors<br />
Miranda Korzy and<br />
STAY OR NOT: The cottages on Barrenjoey Headland.<br />
Michael Gencher are also<br />
opposed.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> MP Rob Stokes and<br />
his potential Liberal successor<br />
Cr Amon are at odds over the<br />
issue: Mr Stokes wants process<br />
and consideration to take due<br />
course; Mr Amon says it’s a<br />
“flat no”.<br />
The accommodation proposal<br />
is outlined in the National<br />
Parks and Wildlife Service’s<br />
(NPWS) draft revised plan of<br />
management, which was exhibited<br />
late last year.<br />
The polarising issue has<br />
rekindled the ire of the Palm<br />
Beach Whale Beach Association<br />
which has opposed any<br />
development or potential commercialisation<br />
of the headland<br />
since the NPWS released its<br />
first Plan of Management (POM)<br />
for Barrenjoey 20 years ago.<br />
NPWS’ original POM stated:<br />
“Adaptive re-use of buildings at<br />
Barrenjoey Head will be investigated<br />
and implemented subject<br />
PHOTO: Andre James<br />
to environmental assessment…<br />
under the NSW Heritage Act.”<br />
Lack of amenities, including<br />
public toilets, have been a<br />
stumbling block to progressing<br />
accommodation; however the<br />
Government has allocated $2<br />
million for toilets.<br />
Mr Stokes says he agrees<br />
that any future activities at<br />
the Headland should respect,<br />
restore and preserve its natural<br />
and cultural heritage.<br />
He also said that if the Headland<br />
was given the green light<br />
for accommodation, it should<br />
be managed by the NPWS, and<br />
not by a third-party operator.<br />
Mr Stokes views accommodation<br />
as an option should all<br />
necessary NPWS assessments<br />
be met.<br />
The NPWS said adaptive reuse<br />
of heritage buildings was<br />
common.<br />
“It is generally permissible<br />
in all parks subject to obtaining<br />
required environmental<br />
and heritage approvals,” a<br />
26 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
flames community<br />
spokesperson said.<br />
“There are dozens of heritage<br />
buildings in national parks<br />
that are used for accommodation<br />
or other uses.<br />
“Rental costs are reasonable<br />
and competitive… all proceeds<br />
are re-invested in park management.”<br />
Barrenjoey Headland is<br />
listed on the State Heritage register<br />
and as such would require<br />
Heritage Council approval<br />
before any changes could be<br />
made to buildings.<br />
NPWS has repurposed several<br />
historic buildings across<br />
Sydney to open them for public<br />
use/access including Hilltop<br />
Cottage, Middle Head officers<br />
quarters, and Gardeners<br />
cottage.<br />
NPWS said that even under<br />
the plan of management,<br />
there were several additional<br />
steps that must be undertaken<br />
before the buildings could be<br />
re-used for accommodation.<br />
Mr Stokes told <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong>:<br />
“I strongly agree with the Palm<br />
Beach Association’s concerns<br />
that any future activities at<br />
Barrenjoey Headland should<br />
respect, restore and preserve<br />
the natural and cultural heritage<br />
of the precinct.<br />
“I met with the Association<br />
on 23 December to hear their<br />
concerns. I agreed to seek a<br />
meeting with Environment<br />
Minister James Griffin, which<br />
took place on 19 January.<br />
“I also endorse the view that<br />
the Headland should be managed<br />
by the NPWS.”<br />
Mr Stokes added he was<br />
“delighted” that Mr Griffin and<br />
the NPWS had confirmed that<br />
preservation, restoration, public<br />
access and public control<br />
would be enshrined in any new<br />
POM.<br />
“I also believe that any<br />
future use should focus on<br />
providing greater access to the<br />
precinct by charities and families<br />
who might never otherwise<br />
have the opportunity to enjoy<br />
such an amazing public place.<br />
“It would be lovely to see the<br />
cottages used again. They have<br />
been locked away from the<br />
community for far too long.”<br />
Cr Amon said he stood with<br />
the members of the community<br />
who did not support the<br />
accommodation option.<br />
He said he had received commitments<br />
from Mr Griffin that<br />
the Boatman’s Cottage on the<br />
headland would not be subject<br />
to any short-term accommodation<br />
and would remain as<br />
accommodation for a caretaker,<br />
so there was a physical<br />
presence on site.<br />
“Also, a Strategic Reference<br />
Group (SRG) will be formed,<br />
made up of residents and<br />
stakeholders. The SRG will<br />
ensure the final Plan of Management<br />
reflects community<br />
feedback, including the potential<br />
for other uses suggested by<br />
the community, such as arts<br />
and cultural spaces.”<br />
At the January 22 rally,<br />
opponents aired concerns<br />
including that the use of the<br />
cottages for short-stay accommodation<br />
was not appropriate<br />
for several reasons, including<br />
that there was no road and no<br />
vehicle access to the headland<br />
to convey guests, their baggage<br />
and food up to the headland<br />
and to remove rubbish.<br />
Also, they said the proposal<br />
would mean the public would<br />
be discouraged from visiting.<br />
Meanwhile a ‘Save Barrenjoey’<br />
petition (at Change.<br />
org) has attracted almost 1500<br />
signatures.<br />
The petition maintains<br />
that appropriate uses of the<br />
cottages are daytime uses – a<br />
kiosk to provide drinks and<br />
snacks to visitors, art gallery/<br />
studios/art school, music, historical/interpretation<br />
displays<br />
or education, plus sales of<br />
memorabilia.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
*What do you think? Tell us at<br />
readers@pittwaterlife.com.au<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 27
News<br />
Protective eyes in the skies<br />
Remo Adoncello was enjoying a late staff employed during the 2022-23 season the NSW Department of Primary Industries<br />
contracted AUAVS to provide shark<br />
morning swim at Palm Beach when the by the Australian UAV Service (AUAVS).<br />
shark alarm went off, summonsing the<br />
New Year crowds in the water between Kiddies<br />
Corner and the twin black rocks back<br />
to the safety of the sand.<br />
The alarm had been triggered by Remo’s<br />
colleague, drone pilot Sebastian Vega<br />
Karpov.<br />
Sebastian had spotted a school of up to<br />
15 Hammerhead sharks chasing a “bait<br />
ball” – when small fish gather in an everchanging<br />
mass for collective protection,<br />
hoping not to be devoured when it’s their<br />
turn on the outside.<br />
Sebastian, a member of Mona Vale SLSC,<br />
did exactly as he’d been trained to do.<br />
He rushed the footage to the beach<br />
patrol which immediately sounded the<br />
shark alarm.<br />
Naturally, during the “silly season”,<br />
it made international click bait news:<br />
“Sharks attack Home and Away beach”.<br />
How could it not?<br />
As the person in charge of the drone<br />
equipment at Palm Beach, Remo was interviewed<br />
the following day by Nine’s Today.<br />
No cliche was spared by the TV crew.<br />
Cue the theme from Jaws; plus narratives<br />
including “a feeding frenzy…” and “…<br />
every swimmer’s worst nightmare”.<br />
Remo was a voice of reason, pointing<br />
out Hammerhead sharks are often seen<br />
around the Northern Beaches, including<br />
“one (in Palm Beach) locals have labelled<br />
Bruce”.<br />
Strictly speaking, what Remo and Seb fly<br />
aren’t ‘drones’; rather they are “uncrewed<br />
aerial vehicles”, always piloted by remote<br />
control by a fully trained human.<br />
They’re top of the range Mavics and<br />
Matrices, including a “voice” to warn<br />
surveillance using drones during the summer<br />
holiday. It launched on the Northern<br />
Beaches in 2020.<br />
Originally only 32 locations in NSW were<br />
chosen.<br />
Now, volunteer-operated drones are perusing<br />
the waters between the flags at just<br />
about every club on the Northern Beaches.<br />
Stuart says: “We help out with competitor<br />
safety at other surf sports events such<br />
as surfing competitions and Nippers<br />
carnivals.”<br />
Sharks (particularly Hammerheads) are<br />
probably the least concern.<br />
Rips, rock fishermen on dangerous ledges,<br />
injured surfers can also be monitored<br />
from the air in time to launch traditional<br />
surf life rescuers.<br />
Yet AUAVS drone operators have also<br />
partnered the State Emergency Service<br />
inland during the traumatic floods across<br />
NSW.<br />
Stuart quotes figures that show since<br />
the first season in 2020-1 to this (as yet<br />
uncompleted) season, the total drone<br />
flights increased from 12,000 to 31,000.<br />
Meanwhile shark sights have dropped<br />
from 250 to 149.<br />
AUAVS is keen to encourage new drone<br />
operators to protect our beaches.<br />
All ages are welcome, but the national<br />
organisation is particularly interested in<br />
recruiting teenage girls and boys willing<br />
to learn a new life and social skill.<br />
KEEPING WATCH: ‘Drone’ pilot Remo Adoncello<br />
(Presumably named after the Barry<br />
Obviously the AUAVS operators are on<br />
with his UAV at Palm Beach in busy January.<br />
Humphries-voiced vegetarian Great White<br />
duty mainly to protect humans.<br />
in Finding Nemo – and no-one in Australia<br />
has ever been attacked by a hammerhead.)<br />
The interviewer asked for Remo’s views<br />
on shark nets.<br />
“With the technology we have now we<br />
can do a better job monitoring from the<br />
air,” said the member of Whale Beach and<br />
Avalon Beach SLSCs.<br />
Palm Beach, South Narrabeen and Dee<br />
Why are the only three in the Northern<br />
Beaches Council jurisdiction which had<br />
swimmers, surfers and paddle boarders of<br />
any dangers.<br />
And in a few short years they have revolutionised<br />
surf life saving.<br />
“We currently operate at 50 NSW locations,<br />
covering every local government<br />
area on the coast from the Victorian border<br />
to the Queensland border,” says Stuart<br />
Jackson, the AUAVS supervisor responsible<br />
for NSW and based at Belrose.<br />
The state initiative dates to 2017 when<br />
However, the training and time on the<br />
job provide a unique aerial perspective<br />
on the aquatic life most of us never see<br />
beneath the surf.<br />
Seals, penguins, “bait balls”. Even Bruce.<br />
“I got lots of shots of Bruce yesterday,”<br />
Remo says on the day our photos were<br />
taken.<br />
“He was going about his day doing no<br />
harm to anyone.”<br />
– Steve Meacham<br />
PHOTO: Steve Meacham<br />
28 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
James of the write stuff<br />
News<br />
For 34-year-old James<br />
Cripps, late 2022 was a<br />
whirlwind. Not only did<br />
he win the Australian Writers’<br />
Guild’s prestigious Monte<br />
Miller award for his script High<br />
Rotation, he was also one of six<br />
emerging writers to be selected<br />
for the career-formative NCIS:<br />
SYDNEY S1 Script Department<br />
Program which immerses the<br />
screenwriters in all facets of<br />
the script department and<br />
development process.<br />
James admits that he nearly<br />
wasn’t going to apply for the<br />
program, because his wife,<br />
Caitlin, was expecting a baby<br />
in mid-December.<br />
“A few people told me I<br />
should apply, and then we<br />
worked out a way to make it<br />
happen,” he said.<br />
Having grown up in Avalon<br />
until he was five, and then<br />
lived in Newport for most of<br />
his life (until Caitlin and he<br />
moved into a place in North<br />
Narrabeen in late November),<br />
he went to Macquarie University<br />
and obtained a Bachelor of<br />
Media degree followed by an<br />
Honours year.<br />
When he finished uni in<br />
2010 he became a production<br />
runner, which he describes as<br />
the ‘gopher’ on a film crew,<br />
who runs errands, shuttles<br />
cast back and forth and gets<br />
coffees for people. He recalls<br />
working on Underbelly Razor<br />
and his first day on a film set<br />
was in a room at the Royal<br />
Automobile Club of Australia,<br />
which had been converted<br />
into a 1920s Melbourne men’s<br />
snooker lounge.<br />
“That was where I later<br />
PERSISTENT: James Cripps has won a prestigious scriptwriting award.<br />
got married. We wanted an<br />
old world vibe, and looked at<br />
lots of places during COVID.<br />
I walked into the room and<br />
went, ‘hey, I’ve been in here<br />
before’.”<br />
He made the jump into the<br />
script department, initially as<br />
a researcher and then script<br />
coordinator. He also did script<br />
editing and occasionally would<br />
be asked to write a minute’s<br />
screen time, or a new scene,<br />
sometimes for the next day, if<br />
for example an episode of a TV<br />
series was too short.<br />
“The career strategy is not<br />
drowning when constantly<br />
being thrown in the deep end,”<br />
he says.<br />
From 2016 to 2019 James<br />
worked in-house for the television<br />
production company<br />
Screentime Australia and was<br />
script editor on the ABC series<br />
Janet King 3. He was also<br />
involved in the early stages of<br />
Pine Gap, a Netflix series.<br />
There is no clear pathway to<br />
become a screenwriter, James<br />
explains, but in those three<br />
years he gained huge insight<br />
into how and why some projects<br />
get up, but others don’t.<br />
He had some money put<br />
aside to write scripts, so left<br />
Screentime Australia and took<br />
that plunge, writing six to<br />
seven hours a day, six days a<br />
week, developing several ideas.<br />
When the money ran out,<br />
knowing that perception was<br />
important in the industry and,<br />
in order to be taken seriously<br />
as a screenwriter that he could<br />
not take any job, he only took<br />
on interesting research jobs.<br />
During COVID he stepped<br />
away from the industry<br />
entirely and worked three<br />
days a week as a transcriptionist<br />
for a company whose<br />
clients included NSW courts<br />
and the police. It gave him<br />
just enough money to cover<br />
bills and expenses. The other<br />
three days he wrote.<br />
His horror drama, Blooded,<br />
was short-listed for the short<br />
form Monte Miller Award in<br />
2019. What was initially an idea<br />
for a web series is now a horror<br />
thriller feature film, and was<br />
a finalist in the 2021 AACTA<br />
Pitch: Bite competition.<br />
Then last October he was<br />
awarded the Australian Writers’<br />
Guild’s eminent long form<br />
Monte Miller Award for his<br />
script High Rotation, a TV series<br />
about how when a pop star<br />
steals her lyrics, a bedroom<br />
songwriter must fight for the<br />
recognition she deserves by<br />
breaking into the gated institution<br />
of the Australian music<br />
industry.<br />
“It’s tough,” James says. “I<br />
still haven’t got that first produced<br />
script of my own on television.<br />
I’m getting closer, but I<br />
didn’t realise it would take this<br />
long when I first started.”<br />
But his hard work and persistence<br />
are certainly paying<br />
off. The Monte Miller Awards<br />
showcase the best unproduced<br />
scripts to the industry. And to<br />
have been selected as a screenwriter<br />
for the NCIS: SYDNEY<br />
S1 Script Department Program<br />
is another significant achievement.<br />
“Jot down these names for<br />
future reference,” said Rick<br />
Maier, Head of Drama and Executive<br />
President of Paramount<br />
ANZ, about the six selected<br />
screenwriters. “I’m sure we’ll<br />
all be hearing a lot more.”<br />
Footnote: James and Caitlin<br />
welcomed son Miller Lee on<br />
15 December<br />
– Rosamund Burton<br />
30 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
The Way We Were<br />
Every month we pore over three decades of <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong>, providing a snapshot of<br />
the area’s recent history – and confirming that quite often the more things change, the<br />
more they stay the same! Compiled by Lisa Offord<br />
25 Years Ago…<br />
The Way News We Were<br />
Stardust Circus was back, setting up at the<br />
St Ives Showground: “… the closest available<br />
site since <strong>Pittwater</strong> Council banned the event<br />
from its area by not making any public land<br />
available for it”. There was a story about<br />
Avalon Beach Surf <strong>Life</strong> Saving Club stalwart<br />
Doug Crane who “… at the age of 70 is<br />
still doing active beach patrols – just as he<br />
has done for the last 51 years”. Amongst<br />
Doug’s observations about how times had<br />
changed, he said the boom in tourism had<br />
brought challenges: “When the backpackers’<br />
hostel was built, we found people walking<br />
over the sandhills and diving in out of the<br />
patrolled area. We’ve talked about putting<br />
up foreign language signs. I think it’s a good<br />
idea.” Council’s General Manager confirmed<br />
construction of the Avalon Skate Park was<br />
scheduled to begin by the end of April (1998), adding “…<br />
while there was a great amount of detail to be worked out, the<br />
council was anxious to see the project go ahead particularly<br />
after the strong show of community support in raising funds<br />
for the project”. Almost $14,000 of community money<br />
15 Years Ago…<br />
for the project had already been raised.<br />
Festivals were the flavour of the month,<br />
with organisers of the <strong>Pittwater</strong> Festival<br />
seeking contributions to fund the event<br />
which would take place in March; details<br />
were released about a major film festival<br />
which would see films screened in seven<br />
restaurants or cafes between Narrabeen<br />
and Palm Beach; and the year’s Newport<br />
Jazz Festival needed a venue after the<br />
Newport Arms dropped their sponsorship.<br />
The team at La Banette were ‘En Vacances’<br />
re-opening March 4 and Avalon Beach RSL<br />
was offering “the best value meals in town”<br />
– $2 lunch Saturdays and Tuesdays and a<br />
$7.50 buffet lunch Wednesday to Monday.<br />
The arts section carried a story about local<br />
Toni Byrne who “had been exploring the<br />
creative potential of mosaics with her works adorning many<br />
churches, schools and boardrooms across Sydney” and the<br />
ceramic hobby industry was booming with new studios<br />
opening across the Northern Beaches. Three locals received<br />
Australia Day Honours.<br />
5 Years Ago…<br />
As the cover<br />
cost estimates for One of our most popular magazines to date,<br />
shot of<br />
landslip reports Feb 2018 showcased <strong>Pittwater</strong>’s seven ocean<br />
Avalon rock<br />
with “… the much pools and their micro-communities of swimmers<br />
pool showed,<br />
bandied-about and supporters. We made enquiries to ensure<br />
“…<strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
suggestion that readers didn’t miss the NBN connection cut-off<br />
beaches took<br />
landowners<br />
date for their suburb and profiled local marine<br />
a pounding in<br />
would have to environmental group Living Ocean and its cofounder<br />
the extra high<br />
pay $4,000 for<br />
Robbi Newman. The Mona Vale Autumn<br />
tides of late last<br />
a geotechnical Festival was launched to keep businesses at<br />
month. With<br />
report if they the forefront of the local community exiting<br />
more intense<br />
wanted to put the busy summer trade period. The State<br />
storm activity<br />
additions on<br />
Government tipped in a further $45,000 to assist<br />
forecast, the<br />
their homes<br />
NB Council with its plan for watercraft storage<br />
effects of<br />
or do a<br />
around Narrabeen<br />
beach sand<br />
development on Lagoon. Ten new<br />
erosion may be<br />
landslip land… medical graduates<br />
long term and<br />
almost 10,000 commenced their<br />
expensive to<br />
properties have clinical internships<br />
fix”. Woolworths<br />
been added at Mona Vale<br />
was operating a<br />
to <strong>Pittwater</strong>’s Hospital. Six people<br />
daily bus service<br />
list of homes to be declared living in our area<br />
from Avalon to Mona Vale as the at risk of landslip. Many are in a received Australia<br />
“Avalon supermarket checks out new category which indicates that Day Honours, while<br />
for five months” for renovations. the prospect of a landslip is ‘very two residents of<br />
“Meanwhile, Woolworths is still rare’.” Building began on the new <strong>Pittwater</strong> were<br />
interested in a site in Newport $8 million Clubhouse at Bayview among a total of<br />
but rezoning and other planning Golf Club; and at the Australian 15 recognised<br />
matters… means it will be at least Hobie National Titles held on<br />
for Outstanding<br />
two years away.” Concept designs Botany Bay, Palm Beach sailors Community Service<br />
for an outdoor performance space featured in all classes (except<br />
in NB Council’s<br />
in Mona Vale Village Park were Hobie 18) – with eight podium<br />
own Australia Day<br />
presented; and Council questioned finishes.<br />
Awards.<br />
32 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
SEEN…<br />
If anyone needed reminding that the<br />
major intersection at Avalon Beach<br />
was a flood plain and not the place to<br />
mess about with due to problems with<br />
drainage, then look at this blast from<br />
the past (above). This B&W image was<br />
taken by photographer John Stone in<br />
1974, from the corner outside current<br />
Ecodownunder, with Swell cafe next-door but just<br />
out of site. The view is north/north-west, with Dunbar Park<br />
in the middle distance… Congratulations to local businesses<br />
Red Cross Newport and C Side Kids Creative Playcentre<br />
Collaroy who were judged best Window Displays in their wards<br />
(<strong>Pittwater</strong> and Narrabeen) in NB Council’s recent Christmas<br />
shopping promotion. Pictured are Red Cross’ Heather Menzies,<br />
Didi Gilder and Gisele Hindhaugh (manager).<br />
HEARD…<br />
After being boarded up for two years, the restaurant and café<br />
spaces at Avalon Beach Surf <strong>Life</strong>saving Club could be occupied<br />
again – but probably not before next Summer. Council tells us<br />
it finally released a new tender for the spaces on 15 December;<br />
these will close on 17 <strong>February</strong> whereupon submissions will be<br />
evaluated. It’s expected short-listed applicants will be reported<br />
to Council in the coming months. The long delay was caused<br />
by a legal wrangle/settlement with the former out-of-area<br />
leaseholder; Council says the tender could not be released until<br />
after the former lease was officially terminated and works<br />
required inside the premises were completed. We can only<br />
hope Council has learned a valuable lesson here, given one of<br />
the peninsula’s hero locations has been left a virtual ghost<br />
site for so long.<br />
ABSURD…<br />
A flashpoint is brewing between the Northern Beaches<br />
Indoor Sports Centre (NBISC) and the NSW Department of<br />
Education over what one of NBISC’s directors Alex McTaggart<br />
says is years of disregard for the not-for-profit organisation’s<br />
lease terms. He said the lease provides the adjoining<br />
Narrabeen North Public School and Narrabeen Sports High<br />
School free but not unfettered use of the Centre, from 8am-<br />
4pm, for supervised sporting activities. Mr McTaggart said<br />
NBISC had requested the schools notify them of any times<br />
they were not scheduling activities, so they might utilise<br />
for their own purposes. He said<br />
that request had been met<br />
by a brick wall for more than<br />
five years. Mr McTaggart said<br />
their CCTV camera footage<br />
showed the schools were<br />
using the centre just 22 per<br />
cent of the time. Also, NBISC<br />
has requested the Department<br />
stop teachers, students and<br />
parents from using its car<br />
park, which sits between the<br />
centre and the schools. NBISC<br />
says this compromises their<br />
insurance policies. Further<br />
conflict has arisen from the<br />
new redevelopment<br />
of both schools as part of<br />
the upgraded Narrabeen education campus. In December,<br />
temporary classrooms were erected on land adjoining the<br />
NBISC; these covered a Right of Way (ROW) path for the public.<br />
The Department’s contractors have laid a temporary mat<br />
path as a substitute ROW. NBISC says it’s on their land and<br />
further exposes them to insurance liability. When Council<br />
(as the NBISC lease guarantor) approached the Department,<br />
they were told the temporary path was not on NBISC land. So<br />
Council has requested a survey to confirm. Meanwhile the<br />
Return & Earn machine, which sat half on NBISC-leased land<br />
and half on the Department’s land, was removed in January.<br />
Mr McTaggart suspects it’s to clear access so heavy machinery<br />
including cranes can use the corridor for school construction<br />
works. But the lease states that can only happen if NBISC<br />
grants permission. So far NBISC has not been approached by<br />
the Department. A fed-up Mr McTaggart said: “A not-for-profit<br />
shouldn’t have to contemplate taking legal action against the<br />
Government.” Watch this space.<br />
34 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> News<br />
‘Saving <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
from chainsaws’<br />
Protecting <strong>Pittwater</strong> from<br />
inappropriate development<br />
will be the focus of a public<br />
forum, ‘Saving <strong>Pittwater</strong> from<br />
the chainsaws’, featuring<br />
Greens NSW MP Cate<br />
Faehrmann. Northern Beaches<br />
Councillor Miranda Korzy said<br />
the forum would look at how<br />
residents could strengthen<br />
and enforce local planning<br />
and development rules. “This<br />
event is for those of us who<br />
still treasure the vision of<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> as a collection of<br />
villages connected by the<br />
bush, beach and water,”<br />
Ms Korzy said. Speakers,<br />
including Environment and<br />
Planning lawyer James Ryan,<br />
will discuss their problems<br />
with Council’s Conservation<br />
Zones Review, its new<br />
Local Environment Plan,<br />
Development Applications<br />
and the NSW Government’s<br />
planning regime. The forum<br />
on 2 <strong>February</strong> (7-9pm) will<br />
take place in the Angophora<br />
Room, Nelson Heather Centre,<br />
Warriewood. More info Evan<br />
Turner (0418 945 245) or email<br />
beachesgreens@gmail.com.<br />
‘No Rules’ at the Studio<br />
The first <strong>2023</strong> exhibition at hybrid<br />
creative space The Studio at Careel Bay<br />
will feature the ‘rule-breaking’ works of<br />
local Avalon artist Robyn Williams.<br />
Robyn’s work reflects her love for bold<br />
forms, grand structures and abstract<br />
themes. While her background was with<br />
architects, and in interior and colour<br />
design, her creative focus then evolved<br />
into renovating houses, both for herself<br />
and others.<br />
“I love smudgy colours but also the<br />
natural colour of things, be it driftwood<br />
on the beach or the grain of an old wood<br />
banister,” she said.<br />
“I am particularly fascinated by the way<br />
a painting sits in its environment and its<br />
ability to change or create an atmosphere<br />
of its own. Painted oil on canvas lends<br />
itself to achieve special tonal and textural<br />
qualities through a process of layering<br />
and movement as the subject evolves.”<br />
A percentage of sales from Robyn’s<br />
‘A Compendium of Subjects – No Rules!’<br />
collection will be donated to community<br />
conservation group Living Ocean.<br />
Launch night is 2 <strong>February</strong> at 6pm, with<br />
works on display until 26 <strong>February</strong>. Open<br />
9am-4pm Monday to Friday, 9am-2pm<br />
Saturdays and 9am-11am Sundays.<br />
Book for International<br />
Women’s Day<br />
Breakfast<br />
Bookings for the Zonta Club<br />
of Northern Beaches’ annual<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> International<br />
Women’s Day Breakfast, on<br />
Wednesday 1 March at the<br />
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club,<br />
close on 16 <strong>February</strong>. The guest<br />
speaker at the breakfast will<br />
36 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
e Samantha Hollier-James<br />
who co-founded the Tour de<br />
Cure in May 2007. Tour de Cure<br />
has raised over $95 million<br />
funding 647 Australian<br />
Cancer Research Support and<br />
Prevention Projects. Also,<br />
local MP Rob Stokes will<br />
announce the <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Woman of the Year. The<br />
breakfast marks International<br />
Women’s Day (8 March) which<br />
acknowledges women’s<br />
contribution to making<br />
Australia, and the world, a<br />
better place. Proceeds from<br />
the breakfast will support<br />
service projects of Zonta Club<br />
of Northern Beaches assisting<br />
local women in need, and<br />
Zonta International projects<br />
in developing countries.<br />
Cost is $60pp; enquiries to<br />
pittwateriwdbreakfast@gmail.<br />
com or Susie (0413 623 392).<br />
More info Zonta NB facebook.<br />
Avalon swim for<br />
WorldPride <strong>2023</strong><br />
Colourful art, performance<br />
and open-air community<br />
events will define Council’s<br />
WorldPride program running<br />
from 17 <strong>February</strong> until<br />
5 March. Locally, Avalon<br />
Beach will host a ‘Love is<br />
Love Community Social and<br />
PrideSwim’ on Sunday 19<br />
<strong>February</strong> at Dunbar Park and<br />
Avalon Beach courtesy of a<br />
grant secured by the Avalon<br />
Palm Beach Business Chamber.<br />
Other events include First<br />
nations artist Daniel Golding<br />
on exhibition at Manly Art<br />
Gallery & Museum; Drag<br />
Queen story time at Manly<br />
Library (25 Feb); Rainbow art<br />
Continued on page 38<br />
Land values soar on Beaches<br />
While property prices on the peninsula<br />
have been susceptible to a correction in<br />
recent months, new land values attributed<br />
by the NSW Valuer General show significant<br />
hikes for the 2021-22 financial year.<br />
The total land value for the Sydney Coast<br />
North region – incorporating the Northern<br />
Beaches, Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Mosman,<br />
North Sydney and Willoughby – increased<br />
by 22.6 per cent from $245.6 billion to $301<br />
billion.<br />
Residential land values increased by<br />
23 per cent, with the Northern Beaches<br />
LGA having a very strong increase –<br />
particularly in waterfront and beachside<br />
suburbs including Palm Beach, Whale<br />
Beach, Newport, Bilgola Plateau, Collaroy,<br />
Narrabeen, Avalon Beach and Cottage Point.<br />
The Valuer General noted the area had<br />
also benefitted from recent infrastructure<br />
projects, such as the Northern Beaches<br />
Hospital and significant road upgrades<br />
including Mona Vale Road.<br />
Meanwhile commercial land values<br />
overall increased by 20.4 per cent. Business<br />
park properties located in Warriewood<br />
experienced a very strong increase. The<br />
increases in land values were due to the<br />
growth of on-demand delivery requiring<br />
inventory to be closer to customers. These<br />
properties were also benefitting from recent<br />
infrastructure upgrades to arterial roads in<br />
the region.<br />
Rural land values increased strongly by<br />
19.6 per cent overall. (Rural land ranges<br />
from prestige sites to isolated bushland<br />
sites). The VG said the rural market had<br />
benefitted from increased demand for larger<br />
properties with superior access to services,<br />
attractive natural amenities and work from<br />
home options.<br />
The VG noted land value is the value of<br />
the land only; it does not include the value<br />
of a home or other structure. Property sales<br />
were the most important factor valuers<br />
considered when determining land values.<br />
The new land values will be used by<br />
Revenue NSW to calculate land tax for the<br />
<strong>2023</strong> land tax year. More info valuergeneral.<br />
nsw.gov.au<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 37
Pittwate<br />
Continued from page 37<br />
on the Manly Corso as part of<br />
a city-wide mural program (17<br />
Feb – 5 Mar); Active Sessions<br />
from Collaroy Tennis Clubs<br />
Pride Day (4 Mar); and Running<br />
Stars Run the Rainbow<br />
sessions on Sunday mornings<br />
at Winnererremy Bay Reserve<br />
and John Fisher Park.<br />
News<br />
Alpha sessions<br />
for Newport<br />
A series of interactive ‘Alpha’<br />
sessions that explore the basics<br />
of the Christian faith will be<br />
held in Newport. Organisers<br />
say it’s about the big questions<br />
most people ask themselves<br />
at some stage in their life,<br />
such as: ‘What am I here for?’<br />
Alpha runs in 169 countries,<br />
with more than 29 million<br />
people having experienced it.<br />
Alpha will run from Thursday<br />
2 <strong>February</strong> at <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Presbyterian Church, Newport.<br />
Sessions will run for 1½ hours<br />
each Thursday over a 10-weeks<br />
period. Each session has<br />
three phases: food, video and<br />
discussion. More info Phil or<br />
Helen (0412 037 251).<br />
Clubs in favour of<br />
cashless payments<br />
ClubsNSW says that despite<br />
recent media reports to the<br />
contrary, its member clubs<br />
support cashless gaming<br />
technology. ClubsNSW<br />
Chairman Dr George<br />
Peponis said while some had<br />
attempted to misrepresent the<br />
club industry’s position on<br />
cashless gaming, it had a long<br />
track record of support for<br />
digital payment options and<br />
responsible gambling. “It’s our<br />
belief that people should have<br />
the ability to pay for play on<br />
a poker machine using cash<br />
or digital technology – just<br />
as they have options when it<br />
comes to paying for everything<br />
else,” Dr Peponis said. However,<br />
he added ClubsNSW was<br />
“not convinced” about an<br />
untested mandatory cashless<br />
card. “The international<br />
experience demonstrates that<br />
forcing players to use cards<br />
drives recreational players<br />
to other forms of gambling,<br />
in particular to unregulated<br />
online casinos, and can<br />
exacerbate problem gambling.”<br />
38 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
Golf scholarships pay dividends<br />
Palm Beach Golf Club has a proud history of<br />
supporting and promoting juniors when<br />
they start out with golf.<br />
In 2021, with the retirement of long-term<br />
professional Alan Berry, the Club recognised<br />
his 40 years’ service by naming a junior<br />
scholarship program in his honour. The<br />
Scholarship sees the recipients awarded $1000<br />
which they can apply towards equipment and<br />
lessons.<br />
At the Club’s presentation night last<br />
December, Chloe Bell and Luca Banderia were<br />
awarded the Alan Berry Junior Scholarships.<br />
Both youngsters are already benefitting from<br />
their awards.<br />
In January, Chloe, 12 (right),<br />
won at the Harvey Norman<br />
Sydney Week of Golf in the<br />
12-13 years girls division. She<br />
was first in the net, second in<br />
the scratch – and 10th overall<br />
in the 12-18 years girls. (Chloe<br />
has been using her scholarship<br />
money for short-game lessons.)<br />
The Scholarship is a proven<br />
driving factor with Junior<br />
development, with 2021<br />
Scholarship winners Luke Wicks<br />
and Hugh Webster (pictured, with<br />
NB Councillor Rory Amon, MP<br />
Rob Stokes and Club President<br />
Daniel Hill) going on to win<br />
Would you like to join a<br />
group of like-minded<br />
women for a short meeting,<br />
an informative guest<br />
speaker, delicious lunch and<br />
then an opportunity to join<br />
a book club or have a game<br />
of bridge or mahjong, and<br />
great outings? Learn more<br />
of what the new Avalon<br />
Beach Ladies Probus has to<br />
offer. Meetings are at Club<br />
Palm Beach on the first<br />
Tuesday of the month at<br />
10am, starting 7 <strong>February</strong>.<br />
More info Marg (0416 182<br />
393). At the next meeting<br />
of <strong>Pittwater</strong> Mens Probus,<br />
club member John Porter<br />
will talk about the making<br />
of Green Hydrogen through<br />
electrolysis, a process<br />
that separates water into<br />
hydrogen and oxygen using<br />
electricity generated from<br />
renewable sources. Meeting<br />
on Tuesday 14 <strong>February</strong> at<br />
Mona Vale Surf Club starts<br />
10am. Visitors welcome;<br />
more info Terry Larke (0412<br />
220 820). The Combined<br />
Probus Club of Mona Vale<br />
will hold its next meeting<br />
from 10am on Tuesday 21<br />
<strong>February</strong>, in the auditorium<br />
at the <strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL Club.<br />
Guest speaker is well-known<br />
colourful personality John<br />
Webeck (long-time owner and<br />
custodian of historic Bungan<br />
Castle at Newport). A man of<br />
many talents and passions,<br />
including artist, art dealer,<br />
historian, past councillor,<br />
blogger, and celebrant, John<br />
will deliver a talk about<br />
‘Genetic Memory’. Visitors<br />
welcome; more info 1300<br />
630 488. The guest speaker<br />
at Newport Probus’<br />
<strong>February</strong> meeting will be<br />
Kevin Murray, who will talk<br />
about ‘Science Myths and<br />
Misconceptions’. The meeting<br />
on Thursday 2 <strong>February</strong><br />
at Newport Bowling Club<br />
the 2022 B-Grade and C-Grade Club<br />
Championships respectively.<br />
Club President Daniel Hill said: “I<br />
can’t think of a better way of getting<br />
young kids into a sport that we all<br />
love.<br />
“I joined this club when I was<br />
13 years old and thanks to the<br />
welcoming and supportive nature of<br />
Palm Beach, I never left.<br />
“I hope we continue to grow the<br />
number of junior golfers well into<br />
the future,” he added.<br />
<strong>February</strong> local Probus news<br />
commences 10am. Visitors<br />
are welcome; more info<br />
David Newton-Ross (0418<br />
298572). Palm Beach and<br />
Peninsula Probus will meet<br />
at 9.30am on Wednesday<br />
15 <strong>February</strong> at Club Palm<br />
Beach. Classical pianist and<br />
composer Ambre Hammond<br />
will speak about her project,<br />
‘Girl and Piano Truck’. This<br />
was founded in 2013 to take<br />
the joy of music to people<br />
in underprivileged and<br />
remote areas both here and<br />
overseas. Visitors welcome;<br />
more info Carmel (0414 978<br />
465). Bilgola Plateau Probus<br />
will meet at Newport Bowling<br />
Club on Friday 3 <strong>February</strong><br />
commencing 10am. Guest<br />
speaker is Marie Palmer,<br />
volunteer with the Harbour<br />
Trust, who will talk about<br />
extraordinary places on<br />
Sydney Harbour. Visitors<br />
welcome; more info Patricia<br />
(0438 281 573).<br />
Vet<br />
on call<br />
with Dr Brown<br />
It is concerning when your<br />
beloved four-legged family<br />
member experiences difficulty<br />
breathing. Dogs can experience<br />
a variety of respiratory problems,<br />
ranging from mild to lifethreatening<br />
conditions. While it<br />
is important to take your dog<br />
to the vet if they are having difficulty<br />
breathing, understanding<br />
some of the potential causes<br />
and treatments can help you be<br />
more informed and ready when<br />
you get there.<br />
Some common causes of respiratory<br />
issues in dogs are allergies,<br />
infections, or foreign objects<br />
in the airway. Other causes<br />
can include heart disease,<br />
trauma or injuries, lung cancer,<br />
or even a collapsed trachea<br />
(the windpipe). In rare cases,<br />
these symptoms may indicate<br />
that the animal has consumed<br />
a toxic substance. Therefore, it<br />
is important to visit your vet as<br />
soon as possible so that they<br />
can determine the exact cause<br />
and provide proper treatment.<br />
Once at the vet’s office,<br />
diagnosis typically starts with a<br />
physical examination and blood<br />
work to rule out any underlying<br />
medical conditions. Treatment<br />
options could range from medications<br />
such as antihistamines<br />
or antibiotics to more aggressive<br />
treatments like surgery or<br />
oxygen therapy. In certain cases<br />
where an infection is suspected,<br />
fluid samples may need to be<br />
taken from the lungs and tested<br />
for bacteria or other organisms<br />
that could be causing obstruction<br />
in the airways.<br />
Breathing problems in dogs<br />
can be an indication of serious<br />
underlying health issues which<br />
require care right away. To<br />
ensure that your pet receives<br />
prompt and appropriate treatment<br />
for their condition, it is<br />
important to understand what<br />
some of the common causes<br />
might be and what types of<br />
treatments are available for various<br />
types of respiratory issues<br />
in dogs. Knowing this information<br />
will empower you to make<br />
sure that your pet receives<br />
quick action when needed!<br />
For more info call local Sydney<br />
Animal Hospitals Avalon (9918<br />
0833) or Newport (9997 4609)<br />
sydneyanimalhospitals.com.au<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 39
Art <strong>Life</strong><br />
Art <strong>Life</strong><br />
Art school a broad palette for all<br />
During COVID, local artist Lisa Williams<br />
saw an opportunity to further her<br />
passion for creativity while also providing<br />
others with the chance to broaden their<br />
own artistic expression.<br />
And so The Beaches Art School at Mona<br />
Vale was born.<br />
Lisa explained that although it was a<br />
difficult and challenging period for the<br />
community, it also was a time when many<br />
people were realising their love for art, or<br />
rediscovering it after many years.<br />
“During this time, the importance of<br />
community was heightened,” Lisa said.<br />
“I formed The Beaches Art School with<br />
the aim of creating a strong sense of<br />
community with a ‘everybody’s welcome’<br />
attitude.”<br />
An experienced artist, Lisa teaches the<br />
classes at the Art Studio space in Mona<br />
Vale.<br />
After growing up on the Northern<br />
Beaches, Lisa moved to America to study<br />
painting and received her Fine Arts Degree<br />
in 2011.<br />
“I have been painting almost daily ever<br />
since and I’m passionate about sharing<br />
my knowledge.”<br />
Lisa said The Beaches Art School strives<br />
MASTERSTROKE: The Beaches Art School<br />
to create a welcoming and supportive<br />
space for people of all ages and experience<br />
levels.<br />
“There is always something new to<br />
learn and discover in art and during the<br />
classes students can explore their artistic<br />
potential and have fun in the process.”<br />
Weekly art classes are available for<br />
adults, teens and kids; they are suitable<br />
for absolute beginners to advanced.<br />
Classes run year-round and new students<br />
can start any time.<br />
“Our classes provide the opportunity<br />
to explore different mediums, subjects<br />
and new techniques throughout the year,”<br />
Lisa said.<br />
“Students are guided through the artistic<br />
process and encouraged while they<br />
develop their new art skills.”<br />
With the support of the five amazing<br />
students who started with Lisa in 2020,<br />
The Beaches Art School has grown to be<br />
able to provide quality and fun art classes<br />
six days a week, where new faces are<br />
welcomed regularly.<br />
“I feel so lucky that I am able to teach<br />
each day the skills needed to paint, and<br />
I’m so grateful for all the students who<br />
allow me to be part of their week.”<br />
– LO<br />
*More info thebeachesartschool.com;<br />
insta: thebeaches.artschool<br />
40 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
School <strong>Life</strong><br />
Mater Maria chalks record result<br />
Mater Maria Catholic College<br />
at Warriewood is<br />
proudly reflecting on its best<br />
HSC results on record with a<br />
coveted ranking in The Sydney<br />
Morning Herald’s prestigious<br />
Top 150 Schools List.<br />
Nineteen students received<br />
an ATAR above 90, with<br />
Charlotte Crouch achieving<br />
the College’s highest ATAR of<br />
97.2. Seventy-five students<br />
were on the Distinguished<br />
Achievers List, 49 per cent<br />
of the cohort’s results were<br />
in the top two achievement<br />
bands; and over 80 per cent<br />
were in the top three.<br />
Principal Marc Reicher<br />
noted that all Drama students<br />
excelled above 89 per cent, all<br />
Extension 2 English students<br />
above 92 per cent, while the<br />
Visual Arts cohort boasted six<br />
Distinguished Achievers.<br />
Additionally, many students<br />
were selected or nominated<br />
for exemplary major works in<br />
a range of subjects.<br />
HIGH ACHIEVERS: Mater<br />
Maria’s impressive campus.<br />
“This significant improvement<br />
of HSC results is largely<br />
due to a focus on literacy and<br />
growth for every student and<br />
teacher,” said Mr Reicher. “This<br />
collaborative team approach<br />
supported our students to<br />
maximise their results in both<br />
the HSC and Year 9 NAPLAN.<br />
“I am immensely proud of<br />
the graduating class of 2022<br />
for their persistence over the<br />
past six years, and I would like<br />
to thank the entire College<br />
community for supporting<br />
them on their various pathways<br />
to success.”<br />
Mr Reicher added that many<br />
students gained early university<br />
entry, traineeships, apprenticeships,<br />
and employment<br />
even before their HSC exams.<br />
“I am confident they will<br />
make a significant contribution<br />
to our society,” he said.<br />
Located in the tranquil bush<br />
setting of Warriewood Valley,<br />
the College is the only coeducational<br />
Catholic secondary<br />
school on the Northern<br />
Beaches.<br />
It prides itself on providing<br />
students with an exceptional<br />
educational experience and<br />
has specialised learning spaces<br />
for STEM, digital learning,<br />
drama, fitness, hospitality, languages,<br />
music, science, timber,<br />
textiles and visual arts.<br />
Students are challenged<br />
and supported to realise their<br />
potential with a focus on maximising<br />
individual growth and<br />
the College provides opportunities<br />
for a variety of academic<br />
pathways.<br />
The College welcomes<br />
all families who seek faithcentred<br />
learning with quality<br />
education for their sons and<br />
daughters in Years 7 to 12.<br />
Its next Open Day is<br />
Wednesday 8 March at 4pm.<br />
“We welcome all families<br />
to come and experience the<br />
good things that are happening<br />
at Mater Maria Catholic<br />
College,” Mr Reicher said.<br />
– Lisa Offord<br />
School <strong>Life</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
41
Hot Property<br />
Hot Property<br />
Sweet appeal of having nothing to do<br />
The nationwide issue<br />
of surging material<br />
costs, challenges of<br />
getting tradies on site and<br />
getting work done in a<br />
timely manner, has further<br />
strengthened the appeal of<br />
fully renovated, impeccably<br />
presented properties.<br />
Take for example these two<br />
listings at Palm Beach which<br />
are attracting strong interest<br />
from home-seekers.<br />
Word is it won’t be long<br />
before a beautifully<br />
transformed home set<br />
50 metres from the<br />
Careel Bay shoreline<br />
hooks a buyer.<br />
An original<br />
fisherman’s cottage<br />
just three years ago,<br />
the property has<br />
undergone an “end-toend<br />
renovation” with<br />
respect to its vintage,<br />
to create a spacious family<br />
friendly retreat in a coastal<br />
style with modern aesthetic.<br />
One of only 10 homes in<br />
a peaceful cul-de-sac and<br />
with dual street access to<br />
Currawong Avenue, number<br />
16 Etival Street is touted as<br />
“one of the most exciting<br />
properties to hit the market<br />
in many months.”<br />
LJ Hooker Palm Beach’s<br />
marketing team’s observation<br />
says it all: “The scale and<br />
dimension of the design truly<br />
sets this home apart.<br />
“Its single-level layout<br />
simply soars with doubleheight<br />
ceilings framed by<br />
exposed trusses, while<br />
balanced by an inspired<br />
palette of crisp, neutral tones;<br />
expansive living spaces create<br />
an immediate connection<br />
with sun-drenched decks and<br />
child-friendly lawns in back.<br />
“With a rear north aspect<br />
and banks of slider windows,<br />
it’s a home that’s flooded<br />
with natural light all year<br />
long; cool and breezy in<br />
summer with bi-folds opening<br />
on to the decks, it’s fully<br />
insulated for cooler months.”<br />
The home boasts a master<br />
with walk-in-robe, designer<br />
bathroom and French doors<br />
to the deck; two double<br />
bedrooms with custom<br />
wardrobes and a separate<br />
media room or fourth<br />
bedroom and an island kitchen<br />
TRANSFORMED: From fisherman’s<br />
cottage to expansive family home.<br />
with stone benchtops, a<br />
gas range and a full butler’s<br />
pantry.<br />
Agent Peter Robinson says<br />
the property has a price guide<br />
of $4.4million; it is open for<br />
inspection on Wednesdays<br />
and Saturdays from 1pm<br />
and is listed for Auction on<br />
<strong>February</strong> 14.<br />
* * *<br />
Meanwhile, beyond the<br />
copper front door of<br />
20 Palm Beach Road is a sixbedroom,<br />
three-level retreat<br />
“where architectural lines<br />
partner a tranquil vibe”.<br />
Designed<br />
by Michael<br />
Robilliard<br />
with<br />
landscaping<br />
by Will<br />
Dangar,<br />
this<br />
stunning<br />
property<br />
takes in<br />
views<br />
STUNNING: 20 Palm Beach Road.<br />
over the beach with tropical<br />
gardens adding seclusion and<br />
inclusions that allow yearround<br />
entertaining.<br />
Listing agent Amy Young<br />
from Laing+Simmons Avalon<br />
Beach says the home’s<br />
standout features included<br />
premium blackbutt custom<br />
cabinetry, exposed iron<br />
beams and concrete flooring<br />
with design elements<br />
including a “striking” sleek<br />
black and metallic theme in<br />
the kitchen (which has double<br />
Miele appliances – oven,<br />
dishwasher, steam/combi<br />
oven – plus Sub-Zero fridge<br />
and wine fridge); “unique<br />
stairs” with white contoured<br />
metal contrasting with<br />
blackbutt timber steps which<br />
lead to a bright office; and<br />
upper sleep zone featuring<br />
a “blissful” master bedroom<br />
with a wide balcony and<br />
clawfoot tub placed for the<br />
ultimate ocean view.<br />
On the lower level, a<br />
sprawling space with home<br />
gym, media room, living<br />
room, three bedrooms and<br />
two bathrooms framed by a<br />
split-level courtyard provide a<br />
great guest set-up.<br />
The property is for sale<br />
with an<br />
asking price<br />
of $11.95<br />
million; it<br />
is open for<br />
inspection on<br />
Wednesdays<br />
and Saturdays<br />
from 10-<br />
10.30am.<br />
– Lisa Offord<br />
42 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Hot Property<br />
Hot Property<br />
Bellingen hinterland escape beckons<br />
Give the growing crowds at bulging<br />
Byron Bay a miss: if you’re<br />
considering a tree change-style<br />
escape to the country, to embrace walks in<br />
nature and relaxing moments while sipping<br />
a wine on your private veranda at sunset…<br />
or enjoying the company of friends by the<br />
glowing firepit – this spectacular mid-North<br />
Coast property will fit the bill.<br />
Situated on almost three hectares at<br />
Bellingen, 30 minutes’ drive south of Coffs<br />
Harbour, 370 Martells Road is a rare find.<br />
This classic, unique and stylish, natureinfused<br />
delight features an inviting and<br />
spacious five-bedroom home (with three<br />
bathrooms) delivering a close connection to<br />
nature via a stylish open-plan kitchen, living<br />
and dining room that overlooks a green<br />
valley in the middle of a rainforest.<br />
Also onsite is a separate one-bedroom<br />
cottage, perfect for guest or family<br />
accommodation.<br />
The main home features high ceilings<br />
and offers loads of privacy, spread over a<br />
beautifully proportioned three levels with a<br />
choice of indoor and outdoor spaces.<br />
The polished timber floors and a tasteful<br />
SERENE: Spread over 3 hectares at Bellingen.<br />
blend of modern updates and classic<br />
charm creates a warm and welcoming<br />
feel, while the fireplace and high, vaulted<br />
ceilings provide light and air flow to ensure<br />
a comfortable setting all year-round.<br />
Briar White from McGrath Nambucca<br />
Heads said the property has been designed<br />
to work just as well as a family home as it<br />
does a boutique Bed & Breakfast.<br />
“This one just happens to come with an<br />
Airbnb business that’s already set up and<br />
running, with the addition of the separate<br />
one-bedroom cottage,” she said.<br />
Historic Bellingen punches well above its<br />
weight in terms of arts and culture, foodie<br />
delights and outdoor activities – and makes<br />
the perfect base to explore attractions like<br />
dramatic waterfalls, World Heritage-listed<br />
rainforest and river activities.<br />
Bellingen is famed for its cultural<br />
festivals; the annual Readers and Writers<br />
Festival focuses exclusively on Australian<br />
writers, while the Bellingen Fine Music<br />
Festival is a four-day celebration of classical<br />
music from a range of eras and cultures.<br />
The monthly Bellingen Community<br />
Markets is also a popular event, focusing<br />
on community, diversity and local crafts<br />
and producers; while the weekly Bellingen<br />
Farmers and Produce Market showcases<br />
produce straight from the farm.<br />
“This ultimate and idyllic private retreat is<br />
nestled between Bellingen and pristine<br />
beaches on the coast,” said Briar.<br />
“It’s an easy five-and-a-half hour drive<br />
from Sydney, or choose a direct Qantas or<br />
Rex Airlines Flight.”<br />
The property is for sale; price guide<br />
$2,250,000. – Lisa Offord<br />
*Contact the listing agent Briar White on<br />
0428 816 550.<br />
Easy Avalon living<br />
Avalon Beach<br />
3/12-14 The Crescent<br />
3 Beds / 3.5 Baths / 2 Cars<br />
Immaculately maintained and beautifully presented, this threebathroom<br />
townhouse will delight with its harmonious palette and<br />
perfect northerly aspect.<br />
It’s just a short stroll to Avalon’s cafes, boutiques, and only<br />
300m to the beach.<br />
This stylish townhouse includes an extensive list of extras,<br />
including a newly renovated kitchen and Scandinavian hardwood<br />
timber floorboards; master bedroom with ensuite (including underfloor<br />
heated tiles) and sunny balcony; plus 3.5 bathrooms (with<br />
additional toilet in laundry).<br />
It boasts a beautiful living space with fireplace and immaculately<br />
manicured gardens and entertaining areas.<br />
There’s internal access to a double lock-up garage with workshop/cellar<br />
area. With 227sqm on title, it’s the perfect upsizer – or<br />
downsizer. For sale – contact agent.<br />
*Contact the listing agents @ LJ Hooker Avalon Beach:<br />
Thomas Mackay (0429 236 879) or Rana Robb (0416 797 001).<br />
Peaceful <strong>Pittwater</strong> rental<br />
Clareville<br />
237 Hudson Parade<br />
3+ Beds / 2 Baths / 2 Cars / For Rent<br />
Located opposite the waterfront and enjoying close, intimate<br />
water views, this three-bedroom-plus-study residence is the<br />
perfect family home (for rent).<br />
Beautifully presented, it’s fully furnished and boasts high Cathedral<br />
ceilings creating ample space and an abundance of natural<br />
light.<br />
The property features an open and bright living area; modern<br />
kitchen with gas cooktop and ample storage; and a master<br />
bedroom with air con and walk-in robe (plus wardrobes in other<br />
bedrooms).<br />
Also, there’s a study that’s perfect for working from home, plus<br />
a spacious deck with beautiful <strong>Pittwater</strong> views.<br />
Moments to Clareville shops and transport and within close<br />
proximity to schools, do not miss your chance to inspect this<br />
wonderful family home.<br />
*Contact the leasing agents @ LJ Hooker Avalon Beach:<br />
Sian Uther (0439 844 743) or Lauren Fisher (0499 154 655).<br />
44 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
<strong>Life</strong> Stories<br />
Sails pitch<br />
Expecting a baby in<br />
May, current NSW and<br />
ACT Female Sailor<br />
of the Year Nina<br />
Curtis aims to quickly<br />
return to competitive<br />
SailGP racing.<br />
Story by Rosamund Burton<br />
In 2021, Nina Curtis became the first<br />
female athlete to win a Sail GP event<br />
when the Australian team won in<br />
Cadiz. Sail GP announced a Women’s<br />
Pathway program for Season 2, which ran<br />
from April 2021 to March 2022, stating<br />
that the teams must have a female at<br />
each event. Great Britain ran multiple<br />
female athletes through their team, but<br />
Australia chose to have just one, and<br />
having proved herself at a selection<br />
camp, that honour fell to Nina.<br />
“It was such a cool experience for me,”<br />
the 34-year-old says, “it was a really<br />
brilliant immersive learning.”<br />
The Australian team went on to win<br />
in Sydney in December 2021, before<br />
winning the Sail GP season at the final<br />
event in San Francisco in early 2022.<br />
“To be the first female athlete to ever<br />
win the SailGP overall was incredible.”<br />
Nina occupied the sixth sailor position,<br />
responsible for making sure there are no<br />
collisions, no rules incidents and that the<br />
boat sails within the course boundaries.<br />
Given the speed of these 50-foot foiling<br />
catamarans it is a crucial role.<br />
“There are a few specialists who have<br />
done America’s Cup campaigns and<br />
sailed boats of this size and foiling<br />
level… and then there’s the rest of us<br />
humans,” says Nina. “The boats are so<br />
fast and so technologically advanced<br />
and they are incredibly dangerous. It<br />
requires a skill set that I, and I would<br />
say every other female in sailing, haven’t<br />
been exposed to, so we’re playing catch<br />
up.”<br />
For Season 3 (May 2022 to May <strong>2023</strong>)<br />
she is one of three women selected for<br />
the Australian Team, alongside Tash<br />
Bryant (who like Nina came through the<br />
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club youth<br />
training program) and Lucy Copeland,<br />
who sailed Nacra 17s. Only one of them<br />
is on the boat when racing and always<br />
as the sixth sailor. But they are being<br />
trained for other positions – Tash Bryant<br />
to helm and Lucy Copeland for flight<br />
control, which is the control of the foil<br />
angle that determines how high out of<br />
the water the boat flies. Nina is being<br />
trained in wing trim.<br />
“It’s really fascinating the level of<br />
technology/software and programming<br />
that goes into how this wing operates.<br />
It’s half coding and half what the<br />
trimmer is doing. Honestly, I could not<br />
have ever dreamed of being able to sail<br />
boats like this. It’s an absolute dream<br />
come true.”<br />
Nina, who won 2022 NSW & ACT<br />
Female Sailor of the Year, was on the<br />
boat for the Sail GP events in Chicago last<br />
June, in Copenhagen in August and Saint<br />
Tropez in September. She is expecting<br />
her first child in May, so will not be<br />
on the boat for the remaining three<br />
events of Season 3 to be held in Sydney,<br />
Auckland and San Francisco.<br />
“The goal is to be back in the boat<br />
by Season 4, the first event of which is<br />
in Chicago in mid-June.” Nina says the<br />
team have been incredibly supportive,<br />
especially as many of them are dads.<br />
“A space needs to be made for female<br />
athletes to become mums as well. I feel<br />
I’ve got something to prove here. I’ve<br />
got a real hunger to return at a really<br />
strong level, and show that you can have<br />
a family as a female athlete in the sport<br />
of sailing.”<br />
Nina says her mantra has been to<br />
always say ‘yes’. “Right through my<br />
career if an opportunity has come up I’ve<br />
dropped everything, dived in with gusto<br />
and figured it out along the way.”<br />
So she didn’t hesitate to say yes to<br />
doing the Southern Ocean leg of the<br />
2017/18 Volvo Ocean race, despite<br />
50 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
limited offshore sailing experience. She<br />
had done the 2007 and 2008 Sydney to<br />
Hobart races and some other East Coast<br />
races.<br />
That year the Volvo Ocean race,<br />
wanting to include more females,<br />
stipulated that boats could either sail<br />
with seven males, or select to take one<br />
or two extra females. A boat could<br />
also have a 50:50 crew of five men, five<br />
women.<br />
Nina was given the opportunity to<br />
sail on Team Brunel because a female<br />
trimmer, Annie Lush, was injured on<br />
the previous leg. The offer to Nina was<br />
as a trimmer for that leg only, but she so<br />
impressed the team that she stayed on<br />
the boat for remaining legs of the race<br />
and the boat finished third overall.<br />
“The Southern Ocean is like another<br />
planet,” Nina says. “It’s nothing I’ve ever<br />
experienced – the sea state, the freezing<br />
temperatures and the relentlessness<br />
of the weather. It was extraordinary. I<br />
was tested physically and emotionally<br />
in every sense of the word, not just as a<br />
sailor, but as a human being.”<br />
And the weather conditions were<br />
extremely severe that year. Turn the<br />
Tide on Plastic broke its mast, MAPFRE’s<br />
mainsail was damaged and Team Sun<br />
Hung Kai/Scallywag lost overboard<br />
experienced yachtsman, 48-year-old<br />
John Fisher, in the horrific gale force<br />
conditions.<br />
“Being the most inexperienced person<br />
in the whole fleet that absolutely rattled<br />
me. I really lost my confidence when I<br />
heard the news, and was falling over and<br />
unable to concentrate. We were in the<br />
same weather as that of the boat which<br />
had lost ‘Fish’.” She was fortunate to be<br />
guided by an experienced older crew<br />
member who told her, for her own safety,<br />
she needed to put this information aside,<br />
and fully focus on her next job.<br />
Both Nina’s parents, Evelyn Harves and<br />
Robert Curtis, have a love of sailing. Nina<br />
tells me her father’s mother was a single<br />
parent, and unable to afford to buy one,<br />
built him a Manly Junior, bending the<br />
boards in the shower and sewing the<br />
sails. Her maternal grandfather used to<br />
strap her mother as a 10-year-old into<br />
the cockpit of his yacht and take her out<br />
in Southerly busters. Nina was seven<br />
and her brother, Dean, only five, when<br />
they started racing a Manly Junior with<br />
the Bayview Yacht Racing Association<br />
(BYRA).<br />
“I am so grateful to my parents<br />
for instilling that it was never about<br />
becoming a champion, or making a<br />
career in sailing, it was about really<br />
loving it. I couldn’t imagine a better time<br />
as a kid than being out on the water and<br />
having an adventure.”<br />
Growing up at Bilgola Plateau and<br />
attending Bilgola Plateau PS and then<br />
Barrenjoey High, Nina continued to<br />
spend as much time as she could on<br />
the water sailing Flying 11s and 29ers.<br />
She was selected for the RPAYC’s youth<br />
development program at 15. Aged 19, she<br />
started competing in the Women’s Match<br />
Racing regattas, claiming a world title in<br />
2009 and then silver medal at the 2012<br />
London Olympic Games, trimming on a<br />
three-person Elliot 6 Metre.<br />
When match racing was discontinued<br />
for the Rio Olympic Games, she threw<br />
herself into the mixed gender Nacra 17<br />
catamaran racing and learnt to sail a<br />
Continued on page 52<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Stories<br />
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Competing at the London 2012 Olympics;<br />
Moth Worlds in 2022; early boating on <strong>Pittwater</strong>; Sail GP Season<br />
Champions 2022; Taking the win on home waters, Sail GP, Sydney<br />
event 2022; Rounding Cape Horn in first place in the 2017/18 Volvo<br />
Ocean Race with Team Brunel; racing the MJ on <strong>Pittwater</strong> aged eight;<br />
Hobie World Championships (with now husband Pierre Ainscow) in<br />
Florida in 2019; at the wheel during the Volvo Ocean Race 2017/18.<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 51
<strong>Life</strong> Stories<br />
Continued from page 51<br />
49er (an Olympic skiff).<br />
“I really did a double<br />
campaign over those two<br />
classes that Olympic cycle,<br />
upskilling in fleet racing,<br />
dinghy sailing, trapezing and<br />
multi-hulls.”<br />
Nina’s brother Dean is a<br />
rigger, and worked on the<br />
2017 America’s Cup campaign<br />
in Bermuda. Nina was staying<br />
with him and doing some<br />
commentary work on the<br />
America’s Cup racing when<br />
she met Pierre Ainscrow,<br />
an English physiotherapist<br />
working for the Swedish<br />
team. They chased each other<br />
around the world – he visited<br />
her in Washington DC, where<br />
she worked as a personal<br />
trainer between sailing<br />
events, he came to Australia,<br />
and Nina went to England,<br />
before she signed up for the<br />
Volvo Ocean race.<br />
“He deserved a medal for<br />
keeping our relationship<br />
together in those early days.<br />
We didn’t see each other<br />
much, but he came to all the<br />
stopovers, and I really knew<br />
he was the right person for<br />
me.”<br />
After the Volvo Ocean<br />
race, Pierre and Nina (who<br />
married in January 2022)<br />
decided to settle in Avalon.<br />
Eighteen months later COVID<br />
hit, and there were no sailing<br />
opportunities.<br />
Nina had completed a<br />
degree in human movement<br />
studies before she started to<br />
train for the 2012 Olympics,<br />
so with her personal<br />
training skills and Pierre’s<br />
physiotherapy background,<br />
they decided to start their<br />
own fitness business. Initially<br />
they did group training in the<br />
park, before they acquired<br />
their own studio gym. Now<br />
they have two studios and a<br />
team of 10 people – massage<br />
therapists, personal trainers<br />
and naturopaths.<br />
“It’s the humming health<br />
hub we dreamed that it could<br />
be.”<br />
Pierre is not a sailor, but<br />
Nina is teaching him, and<br />
he represented Australia<br />
with her several years<br />
ago at the Hobie 16 World<br />
Championships.<br />
“He’s not as passionate as I<br />
am about it, but he does love<br />
it,” she says.<br />
52 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Sporting <strong>Life</strong><br />
Cricket appealing to more girls<br />
The Manly Warringah<br />
Junior Cricket Association<br />
(MWJCA) is a case study in<br />
helping girls’ cricket on the<br />
Northern Beaches. While some<br />
cricket clubs across the city<br />
struggle to get junior girls’<br />
teams together, our clubs are<br />
showing how it’s done.<br />
Three local cricket clubs<br />
including Peninsula CC have<br />
at least two Junior girls’ teams<br />
and four clubs including Collaroy<br />
Plateau CC have four<br />
girls’ teams each, ranging<br />
from U-11s to U-15s.<br />
Add to that the Girls’ Only<br />
Cricket Blast programs that<br />
most clubs have running<br />
throughout the season, and<br />
Sydney Sixers-inspired social<br />
competitions, and you have a<br />
program for every girl.<br />
There are pathways to ensure<br />
participants can play the game<br />
at its various stages. If you<br />
love the game but want to be<br />
involved in a non-playing role,<br />
Collaroy Plateau and Peninsula<br />
Clubs would also love to have<br />
women volunteers join their<br />
ranks.<br />
MWJCA has significantly<br />
expanded its girls’ cricket program<br />
over the past few years.<br />
Initiatives have been put in<br />
place to encourage participation<br />
at the junior club level as<br />
well as a pathway for additional<br />
cricket opportunities.<br />
As a recognition of their initiatives<br />
to grow girls’ cricket,<br />
the MWJCA won the Initiative<br />
of the Year’ for their girls’ hub<br />
at Cricket Australia’s ‘A Sport<br />
ENJOYING CRICKET:<br />
The Peninsula U-11s<br />
and Manly district rep<br />
Matilda Robinson.<br />
for All’ Awards.<br />
The broader initiatives<br />
have started to show results<br />
in clubs such as the Peninsula<br />
CC. For 10-year-old Emily<br />
Cunningham who plays in the<br />
club’s U-11 girls’ team, playing<br />
cricket was just something<br />
she wanted to do because her<br />
brother played the sport.<br />
Now, with two years of<br />
Woolworths Cricket Blast<br />
behind her and a spot in club<br />
cricket, Emily is in her third<br />
year of playing.<br />
The Peninsula CC has two<br />
girls playing rep cricket in the<br />
U-13 team, Matilda Robinson<br />
and Sophia Paz. Matilda, 12,<br />
started playing Woolworths<br />
Cricket Blast when she was<br />
eight and also played for Narrabeen<br />
North Public School.<br />
The following season,<br />
Matilda played her first of two<br />
seasons in U-11s and in her<br />
second season was named<br />
Peninsula CC’s Female Player of<br />
the Year. Matilda now plays rep<br />
cricket for the Manly Warringah<br />
U-13 Mollie Dive team along<br />
with her U-13 Peninsula Cricket<br />
Club team, The Piranhas.<br />
“It is heartening to see more<br />
and more girls playing cricket<br />
at the Northern Beaches’ Junior<br />
clubs. We are committed to creating<br />
pathways for our girls so<br />
that if they want to take up the<br />
sport at any level, we have an<br />
avenue for them to grow,” said<br />
Gary Searles, Cricket Manager,<br />
Northern Beaches, Cricket NSW.<br />
*More info gary.searles@<br />
cricketnsw.com.au<br />
Sporting <strong>Life</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
53
Sporting <strong>Life</strong><br />
Hoop Dreams on <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Sporting <strong>Life</strong><br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> is about to get regular<br />
basketball nights – and it’s making local<br />
Australian Hall of Fame basketballer Brad<br />
Dalton feel nostalgic.<br />
“It reminds me of the early days of NBL,<br />
where the sport and teams went from<br />
strength to strength – including what<br />
became the Sydney Kings of today.”<br />
Warriewood resident Brad, a two-time<br />
Olympian and Sydney Kings legend, is set<br />
to have his first season coaching Manly<br />
Warringah NBL 1, in the<br />
semi-professional national<br />
league that sits just below<br />
the level of NBL.<br />
Made up predominantly of<br />
players in their 20s and 30s,<br />
it is the stepping stone for<br />
under-22 stars wanting to<br />
play in the big league. Some<br />
76 national clubs across<br />
every territory play in their<br />
State Conference (North,<br />
South, East and Central<br />
West) for a chance to make<br />
the finals.<br />
In many ways it’s already<br />
ahead of those early NBL days, with Kayo<br />
signed up to cover and show every match.<br />
Or you can watch court-side at the<br />
Indoor Centre at Warriewood, for a very<br />
reasonable price.<br />
“We’re introducing something called the<br />
300 Club,” explains Brad. “For $300 you<br />
get two season tickets for the 11 home<br />
games played between March and August,<br />
as well as an invite to the Season Launch,<br />
an invite to the End of Season awards, and<br />
any other member events.<br />
“You can watch great basketball on<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>, rather than having to drive to<br />
Homebush and back – and perhaps pay<br />
$300 for one night at the basketball.<br />
“The numbers are limited though, so I’d<br />
get in quick if you think it’s a good offer.<br />
If it sells out, then we might not have the<br />
LEGEND: Brad Dalton.<br />
ability to pay at the door.”<br />
Brad is currently looking for great local<br />
basketball talent as he builds his roster.<br />
Just like the early days of the NBL, players<br />
won’t make a wage, but all of their costs<br />
are covered as they get trained by the best<br />
and travel the country, putting themselves<br />
in the shop window for big clubs.<br />
“Most of last year’s squad have retired,<br />
so we’re putting together a new team –<br />
and it’s the chance to play at the highest<br />
level, pushing on for teams<br />
like the Sydney Kings.”<br />
Training will be three<br />
times a week, reducing<br />
to two evenings once<br />
the season starts, with<br />
games predominantly on a<br />
Saturday night – one home<br />
game is on a Sunday and<br />
there is the odd away game<br />
on a Friday night. With 12<br />
teams in the conference<br />
there are 11 games at home<br />
and 11 away.<br />
Along with being part<br />
of the team or part of the<br />
crowd, Brad and the team are looking to<br />
build strong links with local businesses<br />
and the local community, via all kinds of<br />
sponsorship opportunities.<br />
“There are packages available for all<br />
levels of sponsorship,” says Brad. “From<br />
player level, to teams, to game nights and<br />
beyond. Names on shirts and website and<br />
newsletters. And, of course, the exposure<br />
on television and other media.<br />
“There is an opportunity to get in early<br />
on something that is going to just get<br />
stronger every season.”<br />
More of a ‘first dance’ than the Michael<br />
Jordan doco The Last Dance, an evening<br />
at Warriewood watching great basketball,<br />
only a short drive from home, sounds<br />
an opportunity too good to be missed<br />
– whether you’re on the court, on the<br />
ACTION: From<br />
last year’s<br />
NBL 1 season.<br />
sidelines or helping to make it all happen.<br />
The season kicks off on March 11<br />
against the Norths Bears. – Rob Pegley<br />
*The 300 Club is available<br />
at trybooking.com/events/<br />
landing/1007786; email Brad:<br />
bdaltbasketball@optusnet.com.au<br />
54 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Avalon SC heads for bumper <strong>2023</strong><br />
After battling through two seasons of COVID-19 disruption,<br />
it was ‘Mother Nature’ who provided the biggest challenge<br />
for Avalon Soccer Club in 2022 with numerous ground<br />
closures due to the rains that plagued Sydney during the early<br />
part of the year.<br />
“We had to endure the wettest football season I can<br />
remember,” said Club President John Kowtan (JK). “Yet we still<br />
managed to put on a terrific season,<br />
which saw the 40th anniversary of the<br />
junior and senior clubs merging.”<br />
“From our juniors to our senior<br />
teams and everyone in between, the<br />
attitude, mindset and competitive<br />
spirit within our Avalon community<br />
has been second to none.<br />
John extended thanks to all<br />
concerned: “To our fantastic<br />
managers, knowledgeable coaches,<br />
generous sponsors, tireless<br />
volunteers and the positive and<br />
determined attitude of our players.<br />
“Everyone involved with the club<br />
and the community have been very<br />
resilient and patient,” he continued.<br />
“We are all hoping for a bigger, better<br />
and dryer <strong>2023</strong>!”<br />
Despite the challenging year, and<br />
being the last club on the peninsula,<br />
Avalon’s numbers and achievements<br />
were outstanding. Nearly 1200<br />
players and 90 teams were registered in 2022 and the Club<br />
recorded three League Champions, 18 Semi Finalists, 10<br />
Grand Finalists and five Grand Final Winners.<br />
“The results were fantastic, and I’d like to commend the<br />
players and coaches for their achievements,” JK said.<br />
“But more than that, it was extremely gratifying just to see<br />
the smiles on the faces of those in our famous red strip, from<br />
the newest of players in our Under-6 competition, to those<br />
playing in the Over-45s, all enjoying their football.<br />
“We really are a club for everyone, and we are incredibly<br />
proud of the position we have within this amazing<br />
community.”<br />
In <strong>2023</strong>, the club are expecting a bumper year, with a<br />
highly competitive group of players keen for more silverware,<br />
a consistently strong base of juniors and a big focus on<br />
Women’s football.<br />
“The FIFA Women’s World Cup is in Australia and NZ this<br />
winter, so we are expecting to increase our already impressive<br />
female player numbers given the focus on the game,” said JK.<br />
HUGE SUCCESS: Season <strong>2023</strong> will see an even bigger<br />
focus on Women’s football for Avalon Soccer Club.<br />
“Currently, our female players make up a third of the<br />
club’s overall numbers, with a lot of girls dual-registering to<br />
play in our Saturday mixed competition as well. It’s been a<br />
consistently strong part of the Club, and there’ll be plenty of<br />
new initiatives around female football this year.”<br />
<strong>2023</strong> also marks the return of a much-loved part of the<br />
Avalon Soccer Club history as the Women’s Under-16 team<br />
resume their annual tour to Vanuatu<br />
after a COVID-enforced hiatus. The<br />
girls will head over for 10 days in<br />
July, playing games against local<br />
teams, making charitable donations<br />
and community visits, and really<br />
promoting women’s football in the<br />
region.<br />
“The whole tour is based on<br />
fundraising by the teams themselves,<br />
so if you see them around over the<br />
next few months, help them out!”<br />
Online registrations are now<br />
open for <strong>2023</strong> via the club’s website<br />
avalonsoccerclub.com.au – this is the<br />
best source for information about the<br />
Club and the season ahead. The Club<br />
will also hold a ‘Try Football Open<br />
Day’ at the Careel Bay Clubhouse<br />
from 10am-3pm on Sunday 5<br />
<strong>February</strong>.<br />
“We’ll have a BBQ going, run some<br />
skill sessions and give newcomers<br />
the chance to try out football on the day,” said JK. “The shop<br />
will be open so grab some gear, meet the committee, ask any<br />
questions you have.”<br />
Also, the Club’s ambitious ‘Project 2030’ plan is in the<br />
works, along with major infrastructure upgrades.<br />
“We have big plans for where we want to take this Club over<br />
the next 5-10 years, and we have a vision of where we want to<br />
be, and create a whole-Club approach, which unifies Juniors<br />
and Seniors,” JK continued.<br />
“We have implemented an important Project 2030<br />
document which highlights the four key Club pillars (Football<br />
Development; Club infrastructure; Sponsorship / Marketing;<br />
Member Services) to focus on.<br />
“We are looking to form Sub-Committees to look after these<br />
areas so if you want to be involved, please reach out to me<br />
directly.<br />
“There’s no better place to play football – join us down at<br />
The Bay and find out why we say ‘Avalon is Magic’!”<br />
*More info visit avalonsoccerclub.com.au<br />
– NW<br />
Sporting <strong>Life</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
55
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Heads up<br />
seniors –<br />
celebrate<br />
together<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The Seniors Festival is back! Try something new,<br />
meet new people and have a great time at the<br />
many free and discounted events being held this<br />
month for residents aged 60 and over. Here’s a<br />
taste of some events happening near you...<br />
Online Safety<br />
Scams are continually evolving.<br />
This free information<br />
session will provide an insight<br />
into the latest risks, what to<br />
look or listen for to avoid being<br />
caught and where to get<br />
help. The main presentation<br />
will be followed by a short<br />
information session on the<br />
courses AVPALS will be offering<br />
in Term 1, <strong>2023</strong>. Followed<br />
by afternoon tea! Tuesday<br />
7th from 1.30pm-3pm at the<br />
Newport Community Centre.<br />
Enquiries: 8064 3574<br />
or email info@avpals.com<br />
Carers support<br />
Do you look after a family<br />
member or friend with disability,<br />
a medical condition,<br />
mental illness or who is frail<br />
due to age? Carer Gateway an<br />
Australian Government program<br />
providing free services<br />
and support for carers can help<br />
you. Find out all you need to<br />
know at Mona Vale Library on<br />
Monday 20th from 10am-1pm.<br />
Free, no bookings required.<br />
Square dancing<br />
The wonderful Newport Ocean<br />
Waves Square Dance Club<br />
is offering four demonstration<br />
nights every Tuesday in<br />
<strong>February</strong> where seniors are<br />
welcome to join in the fun for<br />
free at the Ted Blackwood Hall,<br />
Warriewood from 7.45pm-9pm.<br />
For bookings call Christine<br />
(0439 821 811) or Bob (0419<br />
745 628).<br />
Art gallery tour and tea<br />
Enjoy morning tea and a special<br />
guided tour by MAG&M’s<br />
curators of the three exhibitions<br />
on display: Manly by<br />
Ferry: Treasures from the<br />
Vault; Fair Play: sport as motif<br />
& metaphor, and Barely Wearable:<br />
Ruth Downes. Tuesday<br />
21st from 10am-11.30am.<br />
Free. Bookings required either<br />
online or phone 8495 7129.<br />
Avalon Beach history talk<br />
Geoff Searle formed the Avalon<br />
Beach Historical Society<br />
in 1983. He invites you to<br />
take a step back in time as he<br />
presents ‘Early Avalon Beach’<br />
followed by morning tea at<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Palms on Tuesday<br />
21st from 11am-1pm. Bookings<br />
essential. Contact Gary<br />
Brierley on 0475 705 360.<br />
Cemetery tour<br />
Hear the fascinating local history<br />
linked to Mona Vale Cemetery<br />
from an experienced<br />
guide on Tuesday 21st from<br />
9.30am. Meet at the Caretaker’s<br />
Office, see inscriptions<br />
and symbolic religious art and<br />
hear stories of the pioneers<br />
who settled and developed<br />
the area. Reasonable level<br />
of fitness is required for this<br />
hour-long tour, wear walking<br />
shoes, hat and sunscreen and<br />
bring a water bottle. Bookings<br />
essential by 10 <strong>February</strong><br />
phone 8495 6127.<br />
Seniors Group Expo<br />
Find out how you can share<br />
your hobby or interest with<br />
others or discover a new<br />
pastime at Your Local Seniors<br />
Group Expo. Browse more<br />
than 20 information tables<br />
from local community groups<br />
and organisations at Newport<br />
Community Centre on Friday<br />
24 from 1pm-4pm. The official<br />
opening by Northern Beaches<br />
Deputy Mayor Sue Heins will<br />
be followed by a performance<br />
by the Third Age Jazz Fusion,<br />
health and wellbeing presentations<br />
and giveaways! Free<br />
transport can be arranged,<br />
phone Easylink on 9919 0700<br />
(conditions apply).<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Cruise<br />
Join the crew from Northern<br />
Beaches Creative Leisure &<br />
Learning to cruise around<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> on Monday 27 from<br />
10am-1.30pm. Take a guided<br />
walk on the western foreshore<br />
at Halls Wharf. Re-join the<br />
ferry, take in the spectacular<br />
views surrounding Ku-ringgai<br />
Chase National Park, the<br />
delightful bays and inlets<br />
cruising back to Church Point.<br />
Cost $15 Bookings essential<br />
by 22 <strong>February</strong>. Phone 9944<br />
6027. – Lisa Offord<br />
*For more details and a listing<br />
of all events being held<br />
on the Northern Beaches<br />
visit NB Council’s website.<br />
56 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Support for new parents<br />
Northern Beaches parents can now access GP-referred, free<br />
specialist perinatal counselling sessions at the new Gidget<br />
House at Northern Beaches Hospital.<br />
At the opening of the service late last year, NSW Minister<br />
for Health Brad Hazzard said providing mental health support<br />
in the community was a top priority for the NSW Government.<br />
“Parenting can be difficult for numerous reasons, and we<br />
must ensure those experiencing perinatal depression and<br />
anxiety have access to a safe space to seek help,” he said.<br />
Gidget Foundation Australia is a leading not-for-profit<br />
organisation that assists thousands of expectant parents and<br />
their families each year providing free psychological services<br />
conducted through participating hospitals.<br />
The opening of Gidget House at Northern Beaches Hospital<br />
in the foundation’s 21st year was particularly significant,<br />
as ‘Gidget’ was the nickname of a young Northern Beaches<br />
mum who took her life while suffering from unrecognised<br />
postnatal depression. The foundation was established by her<br />
close friends and family in 2001.<br />
According to Gidget Foundation Australia research, Sydney<br />
parents say the biggest challenges about being a new parent<br />
were the lack of sleep (47%), getting into a routine (37%),<br />
losing their independence (29%), and accepting their new<br />
identity as a parent (29%).<br />
Gidget Foundation Australia CEO Arabella Gibson said: “We<br />
hope that the more we talk about it, the more parents feel comfortable<br />
enough to reach out for help and support,” she said.<br />
“With one in five new mums and one in ten new dads<br />
experiencing PNDA we know just how hard it is to get better<br />
without essential support.”<br />
– LO<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 57
Health & Wellbeing<br />
with Bec Johnson, M.Pharm<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Unsettling stomach issues:<br />
Self-care management tips<br />
Heartburn, or acid reflux,<br />
can occur when the<br />
acidic contents of the<br />
stomach flow back into the oesophagus<br />
and irritate the inner<br />
lining of the oesophagus. This<br />
can occur for several reasons;<br />
however most commonly it is<br />
related to the lower oesophageal<br />
sphincter (LOS) not closing<br />
properly to prevent backflow.<br />
Indigestion refers to uncomfortable<br />
stomach symptoms in<br />
general, and can include reflux<br />
along with bloating, nausea,<br />
and stomach pain. Reflux commonly<br />
presents as a rising burning<br />
feeling from the stomach<br />
to the throat, an acidic, sour,<br />
or bitter taste, or a sudden<br />
increase in saliva in the mouth.<br />
Risk factors &<br />
self-care points<br />
The presence of other medical<br />
conditions can increase the<br />
risk of reflux, such as gastrooesophageal<br />
reflux disease,<br />
hiatus hernia, and asthma.<br />
However, the mainstay of<br />
preventing acid reflux is by<br />
avoiding triggers and changing<br />
aspects which may be worsening<br />
the symptoms.<br />
Diet – Plays a big role in acid<br />
reflux and its prevention.<br />
Foods which are spicy and/<br />
or fatty, chocolate, onions,<br />
tomatoes, and citrus fruits are<br />
often linked with causing a<br />
degree of reflux. Drinks containing<br />
caffeine, such as tea,<br />
coffee, or energy drinks, along<br />
with soft drinks and alcohol,<br />
can also cause or worsen<br />
reflux.<br />
Cigarettes – Smoking can<br />
cause more acid to be<br />
produced by the stomach,<br />
increasing the risk of stomach<br />
contents irritating the oesophagus.<br />
Nicotine is thought<br />
to cause relaxation of the<br />
LOS, leading to heartburn.<br />
This includes forms such as<br />
e-cigarettes (vapes) and other<br />
forms of nicotine replacement<br />
therapy.<br />
Rush-eating – Eating a meal<br />
very quickly causes you to<br />
swallow more air than usual,<br />
which can lead to bloating and<br />
gas along with increasing the<br />
risk of reflux. Chewing slowly<br />
and eating small bites at a time<br />
aids digestion, and can help<br />
reduce symptoms of stomach<br />
discomfort. Staying upright for<br />
around 30-60 minutes after<br />
eating can also help reduce<br />
reflux.<br />
Too much – Eating a large<br />
meal or overeating can cause<br />
temporary stretching or<br />
distorting of the stomach,<br />
putting pressure on the LOS<br />
and increasing the risk of the<br />
stomach contents flowing back<br />
into the oesophagus. Similarly,<br />
being overweight or obese<br />
puts pressure on the LOS due<br />
to the presence of excess<br />
weight around the stomach.<br />
Losing weight is therefore one<br />
of the best lifestyle changes<br />
you can make to help reduce<br />
reflux. Wearing loose clothing<br />
can also help to reduce symptoms<br />
by reducing pressure on<br />
the stomach.<br />
Stirring up – The intense and<br />
sometimes jarring movements<br />
associated with vigorous exercise,<br />
particularly within 2 hours<br />
of eating, can force stomach<br />
acid into the oesophagus.<br />
Stress – Is a big risk factor for<br />
58 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
eflux. The hormones released<br />
when we are stressed can<br />
stimulate the production of<br />
stomach acid, stress can affect<br />
the functioning of the LOS,<br />
can change our eating habits,<br />
and can slow gut motility.<br />
Managing stress well, through<br />
relaxation techniques, yoga,<br />
exercise, or therapy, can help<br />
to reduce acid reflux symptoms.<br />
Treatments<br />
There are a few over-the-counter<br />
options available from your<br />
local pharmacy to help assist<br />
the management of acid reflux.<br />
As the acidic nature of the<br />
stomach contents following a<br />
meal is the cause of the irritation,<br />
neutralising the contents<br />
by using antacids can help<br />
quickly relieve symptoms.<br />
Antacids which also contain<br />
sodium alginate, i.e. Gaviscon,<br />
can both neutralise the acid<br />
and form a layer on top of the<br />
stomach contents to prevent<br />
the acid from reaching the<br />
LOS. It is important to speak<br />
with a pharmacist before<br />
selecting these – as they can<br />
contain magnesium, sodium,<br />
and calcium.<br />
Antacids are not appropriate<br />
for everyone and come with<br />
their own range of possible<br />
side effects.<br />
Proton pump inhibitors<br />
(PPIs) reduce the amount of<br />
acid produced in the stomach,<br />
therefore reducing the acidity<br />
of the stomach contents. These<br />
medications are not a ‘quick<br />
fix’ – they generally need to be<br />
taken for a few days before the<br />
therapeutic effect is achieved.<br />
These are available in small<br />
packets over the counter;<br />
however you can get larger<br />
packets on prescription from<br />
your doctor.<br />
It is important to monitor<br />
long-term use with your doctor,<br />
as the effects of reducing<br />
the stomach pH can result in<br />
unwanted effects:<br />
n Nutrient deficiencies, as the<br />
absorption of certain nutrients<br />
such as iron, calcium, and<br />
vitamin b12 are affected by<br />
the reduced acidic contents of<br />
the stomach. The affected absorption<br />
of calcium is thought<br />
to increase the risk of bone<br />
fractures and osteoporosis.<br />
n Increased risk of infection,<br />
as the reduced acid of the<br />
stomach can create an environment<br />
for which it is favourable<br />
for certain bacteria to grow.<br />
n Increased risk of kidney<br />
disease; while the mechanism<br />
by which risk is increased<br />
is debated, it is thought to<br />
perhaps be due to changes in<br />
electrolytes (namely calcium<br />
and magnesium) or the gut<br />
microbiome, which plays a<br />
role in immune response and<br />
inflammation.<br />
If you have been taking PPIs<br />
for an extended period, it is<br />
important to discuss weaning<br />
off the PPI with your doctor.<br />
Stopping them suddenly can<br />
result in rebound acid hypersecretion,<br />
which can worsen<br />
symptoms of reflux.<br />
Make sure to always check<br />
in with your local pharmacist<br />
or GP if you have any concerns<br />
relating to the management of<br />
heartburn.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Pharmacy &<br />
Compounding Chemist<br />
at Mona Vale has operated<br />
as a family-run business<br />
since 1977. Open seven days;<br />
drop in & meet the highly<br />
qualified and experienced<br />
team of Len, Sam and Amy<br />
Papandrea, Andrew Snow<br />
and Bec Johnson. Find them<br />
at 1771 <strong>Pittwater</strong> Rd;<br />
call 9999 3398.<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 59
Health & Wellbeing<br />
with Rowena Beckenham<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Why early intervention is so<br />
crucial for kids with Myopia<br />
Myopia, known as<br />
short-sightedness, is a<br />
condition that results<br />
in blurred distance vision.<br />
This occurs due to refractive<br />
error; a consequence of an<br />
elongated eyeball causing<br />
distant objects to be focussed<br />
in front of rather than on the<br />
light-sensitive retina. Low<br />
levels of outside activity and<br />
light exposure, prolonged<br />
near tasks, and having at least<br />
one myopic parent all increase<br />
the risk of developing myopia.<br />
The prevalence of myopia<br />
is on the rise globally; the<br />
circumstances of modern living<br />
have drastically increased<br />
myopia risk. Children being<br />
introduced to digital devices<br />
at an early age has led to increased<br />
prolonged periods of<br />
up-close visual focussing and<br />
reduced time spent outdoors.<br />
It’s estimated that over 50 per<br />
cent of the global population<br />
will be myopic by 2050 – and<br />
40 per cent of Australians<br />
already are. Interestingly,<br />
Aussie kids living in urban<br />
areas are approximately 2.6<br />
times more likely to experience<br />
myopia than those living<br />
rurally. COVID-19 has also<br />
had a significant impact on<br />
the progression of childhood<br />
myopia as a direct result of<br />
extended lockdowns.<br />
Uncorrected myopia has a<br />
major influence on the quality<br />
of life of young people, as<br />
poor vision can substantially<br />
impact a child’s development<br />
as well as scholastic performance.<br />
Some 80 per cent of<br />
classroom learning is visual<br />
and therefore it is extremely<br />
important for a myopic child<br />
to have the correct care<br />
and support they require<br />
to thrive. Early detection is<br />
also crucial, as each year of<br />
delay in developing myopia<br />
significantly reduces the risk<br />
of a child developing high<br />
myopia in adulthood. High<br />
myopia leads to a greater risk<br />
of developing sight-threatening<br />
complications in adulthood;<br />
these include myopic maculopathy,<br />
glaucoma, cataracts,<br />
and retinal detachment, all of<br />
which can lead to significantly<br />
reduced vision or blindness.<br />
Myopia management and<br />
intervention needs to start as<br />
early as possible, in order to<br />
delay the onset and slow the<br />
progression of myopia. We<br />
recommend that children have<br />
their eyes tested regularly,<br />
even if there are seemingly no<br />
signs or symptoms of visual<br />
abnormality. Kids should have<br />
their first eye test before they<br />
start school, and then every<br />
two to three years as they<br />
progress through their primary<br />
and high school journeys.<br />
Unfortunately, in Australia, 30<br />
per cent of Aussie kids have<br />
never had their eyes tested. As<br />
a parent it is important to be<br />
proactive as children themselves<br />
may not realise they see<br />
things a bit differently to those<br />
around them, and in some cases,<br />
as with pre-myopia, there<br />
may be no symptoms at all.<br />
There are several active<br />
intervention management options<br />
available to help improve<br />
eye health in myopic or premyopic<br />
kids; certain glasses<br />
lenses are available specifically<br />
designed for myopia management,<br />
and can be worn to<br />
correct vision; daily disposable<br />
contact lenses are suitable for<br />
children due to their soft lens<br />
design and disposable nature,<br />
and help to correct for myopia<br />
while slowing the progression<br />
of the condition; low-dose<br />
atropine eye drops are administered<br />
to children at bedtime<br />
to potentially significantly slow<br />
the progression of myopia.<br />
In addition to visiting your<br />
local optometrist, there are<br />
several healthy habits to<br />
implement at home that can<br />
help protect your child’s eyes.<br />
Firstly, it is important for kids<br />
to have balance in their worlds,<br />
for happy eyes this means<br />
incorporating outdoor learning<br />
and play into their daily<br />
routines for 90 minutes every<br />
day. All kids should have very<br />
limited exposure to hand-held<br />
electronic devices, especially<br />
infants. If they are using devices,<br />
good posture is important,<br />
with eyes at least 50 cm from<br />
the screen, as is good ambient<br />
lighting.<br />
If you have concerns about<br />
your child’s vision, or just think<br />
it’s time for a check-up, book<br />
an appointment to see one of<br />
our friendly optometrists!<br />
Comment supplied by<br />
Rowena Beckenham, of<br />
Beckenham Optometrist<br />
in Avalon (9918 0616).<br />
Rowena has been<br />
involved in all facets<br />
of independent private<br />
practice optometry in<br />
Avalon for more than<br />
20 years, in addition to<br />
working as a consultant to<br />
the optometric and<br />
pharmaceutical industry,<br />
and regularly volunteering<br />
in Aboriginal eyecare<br />
programs in regional NSW.<br />
60 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 61
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
‘Simple’ habits to<br />
improve your health<br />
Many of us struggle to<br />
state your nervous system is<br />
prioritise our health due<br />
in at any time and have some<br />
to busy schedules, stress and<br />
simple breathing or moving<br />
lack motivation. We asked<br />
tools to help you self-regulate.<br />
Bayview resident and founder<br />
Yoga and meditation can help.<br />
of Billabong Retreat Sydney,<br />
When you are stressed, your<br />
Paul von Bergen (pictured<br />
immune system is downgraded<br />
and that makes you<br />
right), for his tips for health<br />
and wellness in <strong>2023</strong>.<br />
susceptible to illness.<br />
“Through helping over<br />
3. Keep moving. It is said that<br />
30,000 people improve their<br />
a sedentary life is the new<br />
health at Billabong Retreat I<br />
smoking. Incorporate movement<br />
and exercise wherever<br />
have found the most important<br />
lesson is to keep it<br />
possible. Don’t sit down at<br />
simple,” Paul said.<br />
a desk all day – try a saddle<br />
“While there are many areas then restart again the next chair. Walk up any stairs. Walk<br />
you can focus on including day.<br />
to the shops. Every day, move<br />
eating whole-foods, reducing 4.Review how you did at the your body.<br />
alcohol, managing your stress end of each day without selfjudgment<br />
– you are only a prescription drugs where<br />
4. Avoid antibiotics and<br />
levels, maintaining regular<br />
movement, exercising and minimising<br />
environmental toxins, can be helpful here.<br />
clever ape after all. A journal possible. Take only what is essential.<br />
Ask your doctor under<br />
you can’t do them all at once. Areas in order of priority to<br />
what conditions they would be<br />
“So just start with one and work on:<br />
happy seeing you reduce your<br />
try to stick to it.”<br />
1. Wholefood eating. Also<br />
medications. Only take antibiotics<br />
as a last resort – they<br />
Here are von Bergen’s top known as JERF (just eat real<br />
tips for setting and sticking food). You can tell if it’s real<br />
trash your gut biome which is<br />
to intentions:<br />
food by reading the label and<br />
critical for physical and mental<br />
1. Start with a simple intention<br />
(ie stop eating takeaway make this ingredient? Has it<br />
asking yourself, did nature<br />
health.<br />
5. Minimise environmental<br />
or junk food), write it down been refined or modified? Eat<br />
toxins and start in the home.<br />
and remind yourself of it every only the things that nature offers,<br />
including organic whole-<br />
Look at all the kitchen, laundry<br />
and bathroom products<br />
morning.<br />
2. Work as a team with a food fruit, vegetables, nuts<br />
you have and ask yourself<br />
wellness friend, share your intentions<br />
and results together as animal fats and olive oil,<br />
and seeds, natural oils such<br />
what chemicals you are constantly<br />
exposing yourself to.<br />
and support each other with full fat organic dairy and free<br />
Throw them all out – all you<br />
suggestions and kindness. range grass fed meat. There’s<br />
need is a bit of bicarb, vinegar<br />
3. When you don’t manage to a lot of great stuff to choose<br />
and water!<br />
act according to your intention,<br />
be compassionate and 2. Manage stress skillfully. The<br />
from there.<br />
6. Come to a wellness retreat<br />
forgiving with yourself and first challenge is to know what<br />
and let them guide you.<br />
Taking time out, ideally with<br />
your wellness buddy can be<br />
a useful opportunity to reset<br />
your patterns outside of your<br />
normal routine.<br />
You can also listen to Paul’s<br />
podcast on Apple and Spotify<br />
– it’s called ‘No Regrets – Love,<br />
<strong>Life</strong> & The Universe’.<br />
– LO<br />
*Billabong Retreat has a<br />
special offer for <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
<strong>Life</strong> readers – bring your<br />
wellness buddy to Billabong<br />
Retreat for free before the<br />
end of <strong>February</strong>. Conditions<br />
apply – see billabongretreat.<br />
com.au/friend-for-free.<br />
62 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Hair & Beauty<br />
with Sue Carroll<br />
Get your skin glowing for<br />
<strong>2023</strong> with skin care goals<br />
We are already in the<br />
second month of<br />
<strong>2023</strong>, children are<br />
back at school, and you finally<br />
have a few minutes to think<br />
about yourself for the year<br />
ahead. In <strong>February</strong>, we have<br />
‘Feb Fast’ where we can reset<br />
dietary and health programs<br />
– but have you thought about<br />
your skincare goals? What do<br />
you want to achieve, how will<br />
you achieve them and who can<br />
assist in reaching these goals<br />
easily and realistically?<br />
When you set your skin care<br />
goals, these can do so much<br />
more than reverse or prevent<br />
aging. Our largest organ of<br />
the body requires assistance<br />
with its health internally and<br />
externally. Our skin will help<br />
to maintain a healthier body<br />
by reducing and keeping out<br />
harmful pathogens, ensuring<br />
vital hydration remains intact<br />
and reducing sensitivities and<br />
irritations.<br />
Then as we move into<br />
another phase of pandemic<br />
recovery, more considerations<br />
may change your skin goals<br />
for <strong>2023</strong> and how it is best<br />
to approach them. As many<br />
people have experienced flu,<br />
COVID, long COVID or all of<br />
these, their skin condition<br />
has changed and this may<br />
require a change in treatments<br />
and skincare formulations to<br />
best strengthen and support<br />
the rejuvenation of the skin.<br />
There might be evidence of<br />
inflammation, skin stress,<br />
and a compromised immune<br />
response.<br />
Even if you are already<br />
visiting an aesthetician<br />
monthly, it is the perfect time<br />
to review and possibly update<br />
your skin care treatments and<br />
home care regime. The Clinic<br />
might need updates regarding<br />
your goals, medications, skin<br />
care products, shampoo,<br />
conditioner and special events.<br />
If there are special events,<br />
don’t leave it to the last minute<br />
and expect a miracle. Mature<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
skin takes a little longer to be<br />
revitalised.<br />
It is also a good time to<br />
review your products, as here<br />
on the Beaches we have a hot<br />
humid summer and a cool<br />
dry winter, both extremes<br />
requiring a switch-up of home<br />
care. Along with the seasonal<br />
changes comes a change<br />
in our skin concerns and<br />
requirements.<br />
Some other significant skin<br />
care concerns to review and<br />
definitely to adhere to for <strong>2023</strong><br />
are:<br />
1. Apply your SPF daily no<br />
matter the season, as it is one<br />
of the best preventions for<br />
premature aging;<br />
2. Cleanse, gauze/ tone and<br />
nourish your skin morning and<br />
night with the recommended<br />
skincare that will assist with<br />
cleansing, hydrating and<br />
repairing;<br />
3. Wash your makeup off every<br />
night. Even after a long day, it<br />
can seem like the worst chore.<br />
Sleeping with your makeup can<br />
lead to clogged pores and dull<br />
skin;<br />
4. Check expiration dates<br />
on skincare, makeup and<br />
sunscreen. Old expired<br />
products usually lose their<br />
effectiveness and may harbour<br />
bacteria, increasing the risk of<br />
infection and irritation; and<br />
5. Schedule your skin cancer<br />
screening with your doctor and<br />
don’t become a statistic this<br />
year. While trying to schedule<br />
one more appointment into<br />
your busy schedule may<br />
seem inconvenient, surgery<br />
for melanoma will be more<br />
inconvenient.<br />
Introducing a treatment<br />
series is a great way to<br />
stimulate your results for your<br />
skin. Many options, including<br />
a 90-Day Program (this might<br />
be a combination of peels,<br />
microdermabrasion, laser<br />
and corrective facials), a Peel<br />
Series (a trio of peels spaced<br />
anywhere between 2-4 weeks<br />
apart), Corrective Facials or<br />
a one-off treatment such as<br />
a Tixel Infusion or Jet Peel<br />
treatment.<br />
Seeking advice from health<br />
professionals such as a<br />
naturopath, nutritionist or<br />
colon therapist to work from<br />
the inside while also working<br />
on the outside will achieve<br />
optimum results for your skin<br />
completing the health jigsaw<br />
puzzle.<br />
No matter what your<br />
skincare goals are for <strong>2023</strong>,<br />
speaking with a professional<br />
aesthetician is the perfect<br />
starting point to assist you in<br />
reaching your new year’s skin<br />
resolutions.<br />
Sue Carroll is at the forefront<br />
of the beauty, wellness<br />
and para-medical profession<br />
with 35 years’ experience on<br />
Sydney’s Northern Beaches.<br />
She leads a dedicated team<br />
of professionals who are<br />
passionate about results for<br />
men and women.<br />
info@skininspiration.com.au<br />
www.skininspiration.com.au<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 63<br />
Hair & Beauty
Business <strong>Life</strong>: Money<br />
with Brian Hrnjak<br />
Business <strong>Life</strong><br />
It’s a New Year... what about<br />
a brand new super fund?<br />
It’s back to work for many<br />
of us – this month we take<br />
a look at New Year resolution<br />
season… from a financial<br />
point of view.<br />
After nearly 30 years in<br />
public practice, I can confirm<br />
that this year has also followed<br />
a well-trodden path,<br />
with the time off over Christmas<br />
resulting in a very busy<br />
new year for people looking<br />
to make a few changes to<br />
their financial arrangements.<br />
The key theme this year from<br />
my point of view was clients<br />
wanting more control of their<br />
superannuation and in many<br />
cases this was expressed<br />
through interest in establishing<br />
a Self-Managed Superannuation<br />
Fund (SMSF).<br />
Aside from the time of<br />
year, there are also a couple of<br />
market factors causing people<br />
to re-evaluate their circumstances.<br />
Firstly, the local share<br />
market for the year to January<br />
has been flat but with a wild<br />
ride over the past 12 months;<br />
US shares also experienced<br />
the wild ride but finished negative<br />
for the year. Secondly,<br />
the local residential property<br />
market has been whacked by a<br />
series of interest rate rises (to<br />
the tune of around 15-20 per<br />
cent in increase).<br />
Public offer funds will<br />
soon be issuing half year<br />
statements and these market<br />
conditions always make<br />
people question their existing<br />
managers. When times are<br />
good the talk around the dinner<br />
table is about travel, when<br />
times are bad it turns to fees.<br />
Expect to see some members’<br />
funds committed to advertising<br />
to reinforce long term<br />
performance if conditions stay<br />
flat or turn poor. But fees are<br />
only one factor in weighing up<br />
superannuation choices and<br />
they shouldn’t be the dominant<br />
one.<br />
As a rule of thumb, we<br />
wouldn’t recommend that<br />
someone establish a SMSF<br />
with combined balances below<br />
$500,000. Only in December<br />
last year, ASIC withdrew this<br />
amount as a recommended<br />
threshold, but this is more<br />
a testament to the lobbying<br />
efforts of the SMSF industry<br />
rather than anything else. Expanding<br />
on this rule of thumb,<br />
typically when compared to<br />
public offer funds, it is not<br />
cost-effective to establish a<br />
fund with a balance below<br />
$500,000. Between $500,000<br />
to $1 million it ranges from<br />
neutral to cost effective and<br />
for balances over $1 million<br />
it’s a no-brainer.<br />
The main exception to the<br />
above thresholds would be,<br />
for example, a business operator<br />
looking to secure their<br />
premises. There are generous<br />
concessions for business real<br />
property moving into superannuation<br />
and the value to a<br />
business owner of being able<br />
to lock in their goodwill and<br />
security of location surpasses<br />
any nominal threshold.<br />
But as I mentioned earlier<br />
the motivation for establishing<br />
an SMSF should not just<br />
be cost based. The main<br />
reasons why I would suggest<br />
that people establish their own<br />
funds are:<br />
64 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Control – first and foremost<br />
the motivation to take control<br />
of your superannuation assets<br />
should be the primary motivator<br />
for establishing a fund. For<br />
many, superannuation is<br />
likely to be their second most<br />
valuable asset behind the<br />
family home but this desire<br />
for control should be matched<br />
with the ability and the time<br />
to manage such an important<br />
asset.<br />
Choice – the ability to invest<br />
in a wide range of assets<br />
not found in public offer<br />
funds. The example above of<br />
a fund holding business real<br />
property and the business<br />
owner paying rent to their<br />
own super fund is a powerful<br />
example of this. Equally<br />
though, the ability to own<br />
syndicated property, residential<br />
property or commercial<br />
property in whole or part,<br />
private mortgages, warrants,<br />
bonds, alternative assets and<br />
collectables, concentrated<br />
holdings in shares or to make<br />
your own decisions about buy<br />
backs, corporate actions or<br />
dividend reinvestment.<br />
Cost – public offer funds<br />
charge percentage-based fees<br />
that rise directly in proportion<br />
to the underlying asset<br />
holdings. Administration of a<br />
SMSF tends to be fixed with a<br />
scale based on complexity or<br />
volume of transactions.<br />
Tax – a SMSF has the ability<br />
to manage taxation outcomes<br />
in a more specific fashion by<br />
investing in assets that generate<br />
higher levels of franking<br />
credits or tax deferred income<br />
and there’s no pooling with<br />
other investors; it’s only the<br />
direct fund members that benefit.<br />
Public offer funds deduct<br />
and remit tax on contributions<br />
immediately whereas an SMSF<br />
has use of those funds for up<br />
to two years until the fund’s<br />
returns are lodged with the<br />
ATO.<br />
Estate planning – superannuation<br />
does not form part<br />
of your estate: that situation<br />
applies regardless of whether<br />
you use a SMSF or not. A SMSF<br />
should theoretically reduce<br />
the risk of death benefits being<br />
allocated against the member’s<br />
wishes, as the surviving<br />
spouse or nominated children<br />
will usually step into the trustee’s<br />
role after the passing of<br />
a member.<br />
The key factors driving the<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
decision to establish a fund<br />
should therefore be based on<br />
the desire to achieve control<br />
and flexibility over your<br />
superannuation holdings. The<br />
ancillary benefits that will flow<br />
as money accumulates in the<br />
fund will be from taxation,<br />
costs and estate planning<br />
factors.<br />
In terms of the nature and<br />
profile of SMSF’s in Australia,<br />
the latest data to the end of<br />
the September quarter was released<br />
by the ATO just before<br />
Christmas last year.<br />
There are currently more<br />
than 600,000 funds in existence<br />
in Australia with nearly<br />
1.5 million members holding<br />
average assets per fund of<br />
$1.47 million.<br />
The number of SMSF’s grew<br />
between September 21 and<br />
September 22 by just over 3<br />
per cent year on year. Two<br />
member funds are the dominant<br />
format with nearly 70<br />
per cent of funds having only<br />
two members, single member<br />
funds represented about a<br />
quarter of all funds. Some 72<br />
per cent of members of all<br />
funds in existence are over<br />
the age of 50; however, 63<br />
per cent of the members of<br />
the funds established in the<br />
September quarter were under<br />
50, with over a third being between<br />
35 and 44, reflecting a<br />
younger demographic setting<br />
up funds.<br />
The dominant asset class<br />
held by SMSFs is listed Australian<br />
shares, sitting at about<br />
30 per cent of all holdings;<br />
residential and commercial<br />
property are each below 10<br />
per cent of assets across the<br />
majority of funds; and crypto<br />
currency sits at less than 1 per<br />
cent of assets for the majority<br />
of SMSFs<br />
Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is<br />
a Director of GHR Accounting<br />
Group Pty Ltd, Certified<br />
Practising Accountants. Offices<br />
at: Suite 12, Ground Floor,<br />
20 Bungan Street Mona Vale<br />
NSW 2103 and Shop 8, 9 – 15<br />
Central Ave Manly NSW 2095,<br />
Telephone: 02 9979-4300,<br />
Webs: www.ghr.com.au and<br />
www.altre.com.au Email:<br />
brian@ghr.com.au<br />
These comments are of a<br />
general nature only and are<br />
not intended as a substitute<br />
for professional advice.<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 65<br />
Business <strong>Life</strong>
Business <strong>Life</strong>: Law<br />
with Jennifer Harris<br />
Business <strong>Life</strong><br />
The gift-giving aftermath –<br />
and (un)happy Xmas returns<br />
We’re into the New<br />
Year and you are<br />
still recovering<br />
from having the family for<br />
Christmas. Everyone seemed<br />
to enjoy themselves – but<br />
now is the time for reflecting<br />
on the air conditioner which<br />
expels heat instead of chill;<br />
the toys which broke while in<br />
the box before the children<br />
opened them. Then there is<br />
Jane, all of 17 who loved the<br />
dress bought for her school<br />
formal but having worn it<br />
now wants to take it back to<br />
the boutique from where it<br />
was purchased. (At least the<br />
books, wine and food were<br />
okay.)<br />
The air conditioner was<br />
a gift for the family. Before<br />
buying, you shopped around<br />
looking for the best deal. At<br />
short notice it was delivered<br />
and installed – bliss! But<br />
something went wrong.<br />
What to do? The product<br />
is under warranty; you<br />
should have kept the invoice<br />
and the warranty. Call the<br />
manufacturer and tell them<br />
of the problem. Providing the<br />
fault is within the equipment<br />
and it has not occurred<br />
through adaptation etc, they<br />
should honour the warranty<br />
and replace or repair.<br />
The train set came<br />
from Uncle Louis for Tom<br />
but when the parcel was<br />
unpacked the tracks were<br />
broken and the wheels on<br />
the goods train had parted<br />
company. No-one liked to<br />
make a fuss but Uncle Louis<br />
gathered it up and assured<br />
Tom he would replace it or<br />
get a refund. You hope Uncle<br />
Louis will be successful. It’s<br />
just that you hope he kept<br />
the invoice or receipt or<br />
proof of purchase or he may<br />
be further disappointed.<br />
Retailers, particularly after<br />
Christmas, are usually very<br />
wary of returns and Uncle<br />
Louis will need to prove from<br />
whom and when the item<br />
was purchased.<br />
Now to Jane; she has<br />
simply changed her mind<br />
about the dress and thinks<br />
having only worn it once<br />
she can just return it. She<br />
does not understand or<br />
want to understand that<br />
you are not legally entitled<br />
to a refund simply because<br />
she has changed her mind.<br />
(With a bit of luck <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
<strong>Life</strong> will publish the photos<br />
of the formal and there<br />
she will be for all the world<br />
and boutique owner to see,<br />
looking as pretty as a picture<br />
in the now-despised dress.)<br />
So what are your rights<br />
as a shopper to a refund<br />
or replacement? The goods<br />
you buy must be safe<br />
and must work the way<br />
they’re supposed to. The<br />
information you get about<br />
a product or service must<br />
be accurate and the product<br />
must be labelled correctly.<br />
You may ask for a refund<br />
if the goods you have<br />
purchased:<br />
n Are so defective that they<br />
should not have been sold<br />
66 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
e.g. they don’t work, they<br />
break down or they develop a<br />
serious fault;<br />
n They are not suitable for<br />
their intended purpose; or<br />
n They do not match the<br />
sample or description<br />
provided.<br />
If this occurs the goods<br />
should be returned and the<br />
retailer should refund your<br />
money.<br />
However, you may<br />
negotiate other solutions<br />
with the retailer, such as a<br />
replacement or the repair of<br />
goods.<br />
You are not entitled to a<br />
refund when you change<br />
your mind about a product;<br />
when you knew or should<br />
have known about a fault<br />
when you bought the goods,<br />
for example as ‘seconds’<br />
(however, if a second has<br />
a fault that you were not<br />
aware of, or could not have<br />
discovered upon a reasonable<br />
inspection when the item<br />
was bought, your rights are<br />
not affected); or when you<br />
are unable to prove from<br />
whom and when the item was<br />
purchased.<br />
Also, when you were<br />
responsible for damaging the<br />
goods by not following the<br />
instructions or misusing the<br />
product.<br />
So, next Christmas, as well<br />
as shopping around for the<br />
best deal and inspecting the<br />
goods carefully, remember to<br />
keep all invoices, dockets and<br />
receipts as proof of purchase.<br />
If something goes wrong<br />
you should stop using the<br />
goods, let the retailer know<br />
as soon as possible, and look<br />
after the goods until they are<br />
returned to the retailer (take<br />
along proof of purchase).<br />
If there is a dispute, ask to<br />
speak to someone in charge.<br />
Explain the problem calmly<br />
and clearly to them. If the<br />
goods are left with the store,<br />
get a receipt. If you still have<br />
problems, contact the Office<br />
of Fair Trading.<br />
Comment supplied by<br />
Jennifer Harris, of Jennifer<br />
Harris & Associates,<br />
Solicitors, 4/57 Avalon<br />
Parade, Avalon Beach.<br />
T: 9973 2011. F: 9918 3290.<br />
E: jennifer@jenniferharris.com.au<br />
W: www.jenniferharris.com.au<br />
Business <strong>Life</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 67
Trades & Services<br />
Trades & Services<br />
AIR CONDITIONING<br />
Alliance Climate Control<br />
Call 02 9186 4179<br />
Air Conditioning & Electrical Professionals. Specialists in Air<br />
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BATTERIES<br />
Battery Business<br />
Call 9970 6999<br />
Batteries for all applications. Won’t be beaten on price or<br />
service. Free testing, 7 days.<br />
BUILDING<br />
Acecase Pty Ltd<br />
Call Dan 0419 160 883<br />
Professional building and carpentry services, renovations,<br />
decks, pergolas. Fully licensed & insured. Local business<br />
operating for 25 years.<br />
CARPENTRY<br />
Able Carpentry & Joinery<br />
Call Cameron 0418 608 398<br />
Doors & locks, timber gates & handrails; decking repairs +<br />
more; 25 years’ experience.<br />
CLEANING<br />
Amazing Clean<br />
Call Andrew 0412 475 2871<br />
Specialists in blinds, curtains and awnings. Clean, repair,<br />
supply new.<br />
Aussie Clean Team<br />
Call John 0478 799 680<br />
For a good clean inside and outside, windows, gutters and<br />
small repairs.<br />
Housewashing -<br />
northernbeaches.com.au<br />
Call Ben 0408 682 525<br />
Established 1999 in Avalon & Collaroy.<br />
We specialise in soft and pressure washes, plus window and<br />
gutter cleaning, driveways and rooftops.<br />
CONCRETING<br />
Adrians Concrete<br />
Call Adrian 0404 172 435<br />
Driveways, paths, slabs… all your concreting needs; Northern<br />
Beaches-based.<br />
ELECTRICAL<br />
Alliance Service Group<br />
Call Adrian 9063 4658<br />
All services & repairs, 24hr. Lighting installation, switchboard<br />
upgrade. Seniors discount 5%.<br />
Eamon Dowling Electrical<br />
Call Eamon 0410 457 373<br />
For all electrical needs including phone, TV and data.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>-based. Reliable; quality service guaranteed.<br />
Warrick Leggo<br />
Call Warrick 0403 981 941<br />
Specialising in domestic work; small jobs welcome. Seniors’<br />
discount; Narrabeen-based.<br />
FLOOR COVERINGS<br />
Blue Tongue Carpets<br />
Call Stephan or Roslyn 9979 7292<br />
Northern Beaches Flooring Centre has been family owned<br />
& run for over 20 years. Carpets, Tiles, Timber, Laminates,<br />
Hybrids & Vinyls. Open 6 days.<br />
GARDENS<br />
!Abloom Ace Gardening<br />
Call 0415 817 880<br />
Full range of gardening services including landscaping,<br />
maintenance and rubbish removal.<br />
Conscious Gardener Avalon<br />
Call Matt 0411 750 791<br />
Professional local team offering quality garden maintenance,<br />
horticultural advice; also garden makeovers.<br />
Living Gardens Landscape<br />
Call Richy 0475 148417<br />
Lawn & garden maintenance, garden regeneration, stone<br />
68 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
work, residential & commercial.<br />
Melaleuca Landscapes<br />
Call Sandy 0416 276 066<br />
Professional design and construction for every garden<br />
situation. Sustainable vegetable gardens and waterfront<br />
specialist.<br />
Surplus Studio<br />
Call Marc 0435 743 774<br />
Permaculture design; connecting people and planet<br />
by designing ecologically sound human habitats. Free<br />
consultation.<br />
Precision Tree Services<br />
Call Adam 0410 736 105<br />
Adam Bridger; professional tree care by qualified arborists<br />
and tree surgeons.<br />
GUTTERS & ROOFING<br />
Cloud9 R&G<br />
Call Tommy 0447 999 929<br />
Prompt and reliable service; gutter cleaning and installation,<br />
leak detection, roof installation and painting. Also roof repairs<br />
specialist.<br />
Ken Wilson Roofing<br />
Call 0419 466 783<br />
Leaking roofs, tile repairs, tiles replaced, metal roof repairs,<br />
gutter cleaning, valley irons replaced.<br />
HANDYMEN<br />
Hire A Hubby<br />
Call 1800 803 339<br />
Extensive services including carpentry, outdoor<br />
maintenance, painting and plastering and more.<br />
Local Handyman<br />
Call Jono 0413 313299<br />
Small and medium-sized building jobs, also welding &<br />
metalwork; licensed.<br />
HOT WATER<br />
Hot Water Maintenance NB<br />
Call 9982 1265<br />
Local emergency specialists, 7 days. Sales, service, installation.<br />
Warranty agents, fully accredited.<br />
KITCHENS<br />
Collaroy Kitchen Centre<br />
Call 9972 9300<br />
Danish design excellence. Local beaches specialists in<br />
kitchens, bathrooms and joinery. Visit the showroom in Collaroy.<br />
Seabreeze Kitchens<br />
Call 9938 5477<br />
Specialists in all kitchen needs; design, fitting, consultation.<br />
Excellent trades.<br />
MASSAGE & FITNESS<br />
Avalon Physiotherapy<br />
Call 9918 3373<br />
Provide specialist treatment for neck & back pain, sports<br />
injuries, orthopaedic problems.<br />
PAINTING<br />
Cloud9 Painting<br />
Call 0447 999 929<br />
Your one-stop shop for home or office painting; interiors,<br />
exteriors and also roof painting. Call for a quote.<br />
Tom Wood Master Painters<br />
Call 0406 824 189<br />
Residential specialists in new work & repaints / interior &<br />
exterior. Premium paints; 17 years’ experience.<br />
PEST CONTROL<br />
Predator Pest Control<br />
Call 0417 276 962<br />
predatorpestcontrol.com.au<br />
Environmental services at their best. Comprehensive control.<br />
Eliminate all manner of pests.<br />
Trades & Services<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 69
Trades & Services<br />
PLUMBING<br />
Mark Ellison Plumbing<br />
Call 0431 000 400<br />
Advanced solutions for sewer & stormwater pipe relining:<br />
Upfront price, 25-year warranty.<br />
Total Pipe Relining<br />
Call Josh 0423 600 455<br />
Repair pipe problems without replacement. Drain systems<br />
fully relined; 50 years’ guaranty. Latest technology, best<br />
price.<br />
R AINWATER TANKS<br />
Aquarius Watermaster<br />
Call 1300 794 850<br />
Rainwater tanks & pumps to capture and use the rain. Sales,<br />
service & installation. View large display area at Terrey Hills.<br />
RUBBISH REMOVAL<br />
Jack’s Rubbish Removals<br />
Call Jack 0403 385 312<br />
Up to 45% cheaper than skips. Latest health regulations.<br />
Old-fashioned honesty & reliability. Free quotes.<br />
household rubbish, construction, commercial plus vegetation.<br />
Also car removals.<br />
SLIDING DOOR REPAIRS<br />
Beautiful Sliding Door Repairs<br />
Call 0407 546 738<br />
Fix anything that slides in your home; door specialists –<br />
wooden / aluminium. Free quote. Same-day repair; 5-year<br />
warranty.<br />
UPHOLSTERY<br />
Luxafoam North<br />
Call 0414 468 434<br />
Local specialists in all aspects of outdoor & indoor seating.<br />
Custom service, expert advice.<br />
Trades & Services<br />
One 2 Dump<br />
Call Josh 0450 712 779<br />
Seven-days-a-week pick-up service includes general<br />
DISCLAIMER: The editorial and advertising content in <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> has been provided<br />
by a number of sources. Any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor<br />
or Publisher of <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> and no responsibility is taken for the accuracy of the<br />
information contained within. Readers should make their own enquiries directly to<br />
any organisations or businesses prior to making any plans or taking any action.<br />
70 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Trades & Services<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 71
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Puzzler<br />
Compiled by David Stickley<br />
29 Statutory body responsible<br />
for counterespionage and for<br />
the collecting of information on<br />
subversive or terrorist activity (4)<br />
30 A sudden unexpected event (8)<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Puzzler<br />
ACROSS<br />
1 Boggle the mind (8)<br />
6 Item from a restaurant’s<br />
menu (4)<br />
8 Storm (7)<br />
9 Any of various monitor lizards,<br />
typically large and fast-moving (7)<br />
11 ‘Chief of the Broken Bay<br />
Tribe’ (8)<br />
12 A thing conferred as a<br />
distinction, especially an<br />
official award for bravery or<br />
achievement (6)<br />
14 Member of a rowing crew (3)<br />
16 Pop-up skating event held<br />
at the Avalon Beach Netball<br />
court (6,5)<br />
18 One of the world’s largest<br />
ocean swim events held at Manly<br />
Beach (4,7)<br />
22 What a mess! (3)<br />
24 Australian Hall of Fame<br />
basketballer who is a Warriewood<br />
resident, Brad ______ (6)<br />
25 See 7-down<br />
27 Nina Curtis has a passion for<br />
______ (7)<br />
28 Crowds of people (7)<br />
DOWN<br />
2 A short intensive course of<br />
study (7)<br />
3 Alfresco (4-3)<br />
4 Free from suspicion or<br />
difficulty (2,3,5)<br />
5 James Cripps won the Australian<br />
Writers’ Guild’s prestigious Monte<br />
Miller award for his script ____<br />
Rotation (4)<br />
6 Sporting feature found<br />
many times in Rat Park in<br />
Warriewood (7)<br />
7 & 25-across Series of events<br />
held for the older people in the<br />
community (7,8)<br />
8 A prohibition or restriction<br />
imposed by social custom (5)<br />
10 Source of petrol, diesel, and<br />
other fuels commonly (5)<br />
13 An informal printed report<br />
issued periodically to the<br />
members of a society, business,<br />
organisation, etc. (10)<br />
15 Smashed item served on<br />
toast (3)<br />
17 A boat with twin hulls in<br />
parallel (3)<br />
18 Writes software (5)<br />
19 Small pieces of confectionery<br />
made especially with sugar (7)<br />
20 One of the proteins that goes<br />
into Food Stuff’s paella (7)<br />
21 Company who supplies food<br />
for an event (7)<br />
22 Money in the bank (7)<br />
23 They are found in... (5)<br />
26 No doubt a breakfast option<br />
at one of the many seaside cafes<br />
on the Northern Beaches, ____<br />
Benedict (4)<br />
[Solution page 80]<br />
72 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
with Janelle Bloom<br />
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
Recipes: janellebloom.com.au; FB: facebook.com/culinaryinbloom Insta: instagram.com/janellegbloom/<br />
Meat, seafood and veggies –<br />
they can be heaven on a stick<br />
Skewers are like magic wands: no matter what you put on<br />
them, they always look and taste more delicious than<br />
regular plated food. So whether you’re thinking sweet,<br />
savoury, protein or vegetables, or planning the midweek family<br />
meal, summer barbecues or entertaining friends – we have it all<br />
‘skewered’ this month!<br />
Marinated chicken<br />
and vegetable<br />
skewers<br />
Serves 6<br />
To start: Soak 12 wooden<br />
skewers in cold water for 30<br />
minutes; drain.<br />
10 chicken thigh fillets,<br />
trimmed cut into 2cm pieces<br />
1 red capsicum, seeded, cut<br />
into 2cm pieces<br />
1 yellow capsicum, seeded, cut<br />
into 2cm pieces<br />
1 green capsicum, seeded, cut<br />
into 2cm pieces<br />
1 large red onion, cut into 2cm<br />
pieces<br />
2 zucchinis, cut into rounds<br />
leafy green salad and garlic<br />
bread, to serve<br />
Marinade<br />
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil<br />
2 tbs lemon juice<br />
2 tsp smoked paprika<br />
2 tsp Italian dried herbs<br />
1. Thread the chicken,<br />
capsicum, onion and<br />
zucchini onto the skewers<br />
and place in a single layer<br />
in a ceramic baking dish.<br />
Combine the marinade<br />
ingredients, then spoon<br />
over the skewers, turn to<br />
coat. Season. Cover and<br />
refrigerate for 30 minutes to<br />
develop the flavours if you<br />
have time. Drain and discard<br />
the marinade.<br />
2. Preheat a barbecue grill or<br />
chargrill on medium-high.<br />
Cook skewers, turning,<br />
for 15 minutes or until<br />
vegetables are tender and<br />
chicken is cooked through.<br />
Serve with leafy green salad<br />
and garlic bread.<br />
Switch: Try switching the<br />
chicken for pork fillet, salmon,<br />
beef blade, rump or topside.<br />
Extra Veg: Other vegetables<br />
you can use include<br />
mushrooms, par-cooked potato<br />
or sweet potato, or fresh corn<br />
(cut into rounds).<br />
Lemongrass<br />
beef skewers<br />
Serves 4<br />
To start: Soak 8 wooden<br />
skewers in cold water for 30<br />
minutes; drain.<br />
600g beef mince<br />
1 tbs lemongrass paste<br />
1 garlic clove, crushed<br />
1 tbs sriracha sauce<br />
1 tbs teriyaki sauce<br />
¼ cup dried breadcrumbs<br />
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten<br />
olive oil cooking spray<br />
mixed salad leaves, sliced red<br />
radish & Asian herbs, to serve<br />
Vietnamese salad dressing, to<br />
serve<br />
1. Combine the mince,<br />
lemongrass, garlic, sriracha,<br />
teriyaki sauce, breadcrumbs<br />
and egg yolk in a large bowl,<br />
season. Mix well with clean<br />
hands. Using clean damp<br />
hands, divide into 8 balls,<br />
then shape into 10cm long<br />
sausage shapes. Press onto<br />
bamboo skewers.<br />
2. Preheat barbecue plate on<br />
medium heat. Spray the<br />
meat well, cook, turning<br />
occasionally, for 8-10<br />
minutes, until browned on all<br />
sides and cooked through.<br />
Transfer to a tray, cover and<br />
allow to stand for 5 minutes.<br />
3. Combine the salad leaves,<br />
radish and herbs on a<br />
serving platter. Drizzle with<br />
salad dressing and toss<br />
gently to coat. Top with beef<br />
skewers and serve.<br />
Tip: Regular (not lean) mince<br />
is best for this recipe, as you<br />
need the fat content in it to<br />
hold the shape together and<br />
keep it moist. (If you do prefer<br />
to use lean mince, add an extra<br />
egg yolk.)<br />
Switch: Try switching the beef<br />
mince for pork or chicken<br />
mince.<br />
Traditional<br />
satay pork<br />
Serves 6<br />
To start: Soak 18 wooden<br />
skewers in cold water for 30<br />
minutes; drain.<br />
800g pork rashers,<br />
1 tbs peanut oil<br />
2 garlic cloves, crushed<br />
2 Asian (red) eschalots, peeled<br />
2 long red chillies, chopped<br />
¼ tsp ground white pepper<br />
2 tsp ground coriander<br />
1 tsp ground cumin<br />
1 tsp ground turmeric<br />
15g shrimp paste, optional<br />
1 tbs finely grated palm sugar<br />
or brown sugar<br />
2 tbs light soy sauce<br />
2 tbs peanut oil, for greasing<br />
cooked jasmine rice, diced<br />
cucumber, to serve<br />
Peanut sauce<br />
1 tbs peanut oil<br />
2 garlic cloves, crushed<br />
2 Asian (red) eschalots, finely<br />
chopped<br />
2 tsp chilli paste of sambal<br />
oelek (Indonesian chilli paste)<br />
½ cup smooth peanut butter<br />
270ml can coconut milk<br />
¼ cup Kecap Manis (Indonesian<br />
sweet soy sauce)<br />
74 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
For more recipes go to janellebloom.com.au<br />
2 tsp light soy sauce<br />
¼ cup roasted peanuts, very<br />
finely chopped<br />
1 lime, juiced<br />
1. Preheat the oven to 160°C fanforced.<br />
Pour cold water into<br />
the base of a roasting pan to<br />
cover the base. Place the pork<br />
rashers onto a lightly greased<br />
wire rack then place into the<br />
pan. Cover tightly with foil<br />
and cook for 1 hour. Remove<br />
the pork to a plate (it won’t<br />
look appealing at this stage).<br />
Cool to room temperature.<br />
2. Meanwhile, combine the<br />
oil, garlic, eschalots, chilli,<br />
pepper, spices and shrimp<br />
paste in a small food<br />
processor. Process until paste<br />
like. Transfer to a saucepan.<br />
Add the palm sugar and soy.<br />
Bring to a gentle boil over<br />
medium heat. Simmer for<br />
3-4 minutes until slightly<br />
thickened. Set aside to cool.<br />
3. For the peanut sauce, place<br />
the oil, garlic, eschalots and<br />
chilli in a saucepan over<br />
medium heat. Cook, stirring<br />
5 minutes until soft. Add<br />
the peanut butter, coconut<br />
milk, Kecap Manis, soy<br />
and peanuts, stir until well<br />
combined. Bring to the boil,<br />
boil gently 5 minutes until<br />
thickened slightly. Remove<br />
from the heat and stir in the<br />
lime juice. taste, adding more<br />
lime, chilli or a little sugar to<br />
adjust to your taste.<br />
4. Cut the pork into 2cm pieces<br />
and place into a bowl, pour<br />
over the marinade and turn<br />
to coat. Thread onto skewers,<br />
reserving the marinade.<br />
5. Heat a greased barbecue or<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
chargrill on medium-high<br />
heat. Cook the satay, basting<br />
and turning occasionally<br />
for 8-10 minutes until the<br />
pork is slightly charred and<br />
warmed through. Serve with<br />
rice, cucumber and peanut<br />
sauce.<br />
Switch: You can replace the<br />
pork with chicken thigh fillet,<br />
beef rump, green prawns or<br />
tofu – ignore Step 1 for these<br />
proteins.<br />
Barbecue maple<br />
mustard salmon<br />
skewers<br />
Serves 4<br />
To start: Soak 8 wooden<br />
skewers in cold water for 30<br />
minutes; drain.<br />
1 eggplant, cut into 1cm-thick<br />
rounds<br />
2 yellow capsicums, cut into<br />
3cm cubes<br />
2 tbs olive oil<br />
600g skinless salmon fillets,<br />
cut into 3cm cubes<br />
2 tbs maple syrup<br />
1 red chilli, thinly sliced,<br />
optional<br />
1 tbs Dijon mustard<br />
1 lemon, juiced<br />
chopped parsley and sliced<br />
chilli, to serve<br />
1. Preheat a barbecue grill or<br />
chargrill on medium-high.<br />
Brush both sides of the<br />
eggplant and capsicum with<br />
half the oil. Barbecue the<br />
eggplant for 3-4 minutes<br />
each side and the capsicum<br />
for 2 minutes each side or<br />
until lightly charred and<br />
tender. Remove to a plate.<br />
Cool for 5 minutes.<br />
2. Thread the salmon, eggplant<br />
and capsicum onto skewers.<br />
Combine the remaining<br />
oil, maple, chilli, mustard<br />
and lemon juice, season.<br />
Brush over both sides of<br />
the skewers. Barbecue the<br />
salmon skewers, basting<br />
with more marinade, for 8<br />
minutes, turning often for<br />
medium or until cooked to<br />
your liking. Serve with salad,<br />
rice or noodles.<br />
Skewered barbecued<br />
vegetables<br />
These are a great way to<br />
encourage the kids to eat their<br />
veggies – they add colour,<br />
flavour and texture to any meal.<br />
Vegetables ideal for<br />
threading onto skewers include:<br />
red onion cut into wedges,<br />
green onions cut into batons;<br />
mushrooms, zucchini cut into<br />
rounds; squash-quartered,<br />
cherry tomatoes, par cooked<br />
corn cobs, par cooked potato,<br />
pumpkin and sweet potato,<br />
eggplant, capsicum.<br />
Quick ideas<br />
Par-cook red skin potatoes in<br />
boiling water until just tender.<br />
Cool then thickly slice and<br />
skewer. Brush with olive oil,<br />
season and barbecue.<br />
Halve button or cup<br />
mushrooms, brush with a little<br />
soy and honey and barbecue.<br />
Thread coloured capsicum,<br />
zucchini and chargrilled<br />
eggplant onto skewers, brush<br />
with oil and barbecue until<br />
tender.<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 75<br />
Food <strong>Life</strong>
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
Pick of the Month:<br />
Raspberries<br />
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
These delicious berries<br />
are a member of the<br />
rose family. During summer<br />
the fruit is spectacular,<br />
especially the Tasmanian<br />
varieties.<br />
Buying<br />
Before buying, first check<br />
the base of the punnet –<br />
there should be no juice<br />
oozing in the base. Berries<br />
should have a sweet aroma,<br />
be evenly coloured with no<br />
signs of bruising or mould.<br />
Storage<br />
Open the punnet and check<br />
there are no soft or damaged<br />
berries; if there are, discard<br />
them as they will encourage<br />
the speedy deterioration of<br />
the remaining berries.<br />
Place unwashed berries<br />
onto a plate, lined with<br />
paper towel, cover loosely<br />
with paper towel and wrap.<br />
Store on the lowest shelf in<br />
the fridge and eat as soon as<br />
possible. Dunk in a bowl of<br />
iced cold water then drain<br />
before serving.<br />
Nutrition<br />
Raspberries are most<br />
famous for their high<br />
content of ellagic acid, an<br />
antioxidant linked with<br />
preventing damage to cell<br />
membranes and reducing<br />
the risk of cancer. They<br />
are rich in Vitamin C, A,<br />
E and a range of B class<br />
vitamins including thiamine,<br />
riboflavin and niacin.<br />
Little pikelet and<br />
raspberry skewers<br />
with marshmallow<br />
fudge sauce<br />
Serves 6<br />
2 x 125g fresh raspberries<br />
Pikelets<br />
1¼ cups plain flour<br />
2½ tsp baking powder<br />
2 tbs caster sugar<br />
1 egg, lightly beaten<br />
¾ cup full cream milk<br />
50g butter, melted<br />
Marshmallow fudge sauce<br />
200g dark chocolate or milk,<br />
chopped<br />
2/3 cup (160ml) thickened<br />
cream<br />
12 white marshmallows,<br />
chopped<br />
1. For the pikelets, sift the<br />
flour and baking powder<br />
into a bowl, then stir in the<br />
sugar. Make a well in the<br />
centre, add egg and milk.<br />
Whisk until the batter is<br />
almost smooth. Stir in 3<br />
teaspoons of melted butter.<br />
2. Heat a non-stick frying pan<br />
over medium-high heat.<br />
Brush the base with a little<br />
melted butter. Spoon a<br />
tablespoon of mixture per<br />
pikelet, into the pan (cook<br />
4-5 at a time). Cook for 2-3<br />
minutes or until bubbles<br />
appear on the surface.<br />
Turn pikelets and cook the<br />
other side for 1-2 minutes<br />
until golden. Remove to<br />
a clean tea towel. Repeat<br />
with remaining butter and<br />
pikelet batter.<br />
3. For the marshmallow<br />
fudge sauce, place the<br />
chocolate and cream into<br />
a microwave-safe bowl.<br />
Microwave on High/100%<br />
for 1 minute; stir and<br />
continue to heat in 30<br />
seconds bursts until the<br />
sauce is smooth. Add<br />
the marshmallows, heat<br />
a further 30 seconds on<br />
High/100%. Stir until<br />
smooth.<br />
4. Thread the pikelets and<br />
raspberries onto skewers,<br />
drizzle with warm fudge<br />
sauce and serve!<br />
In Season<br />
<strong>February</strong><br />
Apricots, Berries<br />
(Blueberries, Blackberries,<br />
Raspberries & Strawberries);<br />
Fresh Figs, Grapes,<br />
Limes, Lychee, Mangos,<br />
Watermelon, Nectarines,<br />
Peaches, Pineapple, Plums;<br />
also Avocadoes, Beans,<br />
Broccolini, Cucumber,<br />
Chillies, Capsicum, Eggplant,<br />
Snow Peas, Sugar Snap<br />
Peas, Radish, Silverbeet and<br />
English spinach, Tomatoes<br />
and Onions.<br />
76 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Tasty Morsels<br />
with Beverley Hudec<br />
Some Tiny Morsels to savour in <strong>February</strong><br />
Smorgasbord fare at<br />
Newport's Rowie's<br />
Ace baker Rowie Dillon’s latest venture<br />
is Sunday lunch at Newport Surf<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Saving Club. Rowie’s by the Sea<br />
has canteen-style dining featuring<br />
a smorgasbord of salads, veggies,<br />
meat and desserts. No bookings, but<br />
grab a table from noon for dishes<br />
like Szechuan pepper ribs, carrot and<br />
potato gratin, fennel and orange salad<br />
and tropical trifle.<br />
Locals can snack out<br />
at 'Summer Bay'<br />
North Palm Beach Surf <strong>Life</strong> Saving<br />
Club’s kiosk – aka Summer Bay Kiosk<br />
– whips up bacon and egg rolls, meat<br />
pies, burgers and fish and chips for<br />
beach goers, surfers and visiting Home<br />
and Away tragics. There are shadecovered<br />
benches to enjoy coffees,<br />
drinks and snacks. The volunteers-run<br />
canteen is open weekends and on<br />
Tuesdays from 9.30am.<br />
Queen Ester's<br />
right royal teas<br />
Swap your morning coffee<br />
for one of Queen Ester’s<br />
freshly steeped mint teas<br />
this summer. This Newport<br />
cafe has been cooking up<br />
a storm since it opened in<br />
November 2021. Lunchtime<br />
eats include Israeli felafel<br />
bowls, chicken shawarma<br />
wraps and vegan specials<br />
such as stuffed capsicum<br />
with pomegranate sauce,<br />
hummus and salad.<br />
True Solace is a<br />
yummy roti toastie<br />
Solace Kitchen’s vintage caravan<br />
has moved from Elanora Heights to<br />
Northgate Church in Belrose. Drop by for<br />
Asian-inspired street food, roti toasties<br />
and take-home frozen curry packs. The<br />
drinks menu has Pablo & Rusty’s coffee,<br />
kefir superfood smoothies and a new<br />
addition. ‘Teh tarik’ is Asian pulled tea,<br />
flavoured with condensed milk.<br />
Tasty Dining Morsels Guide<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Three of a kind: Valentine’s date night<br />
Romance is in the air at<br />
The Royal Motor Yacht<br />
Club (pictured). The iconic<br />
waterfront venue’s $100-a-head<br />
menu will be available for lunch<br />
and dinner. Loved-up couples<br />
get a glass of bubbles and three<br />
courses. Share sushi, calamari<br />
and prawn skewers before<br />
choosing either barramundi or<br />
fillet of beef before finishing<br />
with either croquembouche tart<br />
or raspberry love bomb.<br />
Mona Vale beachfront<br />
restaurant The Basin will<br />
showcase signature dishes.<br />
The three-course $125-a-head<br />
Valentine’s menu features<br />
dishes like scallops in kombu<br />
chilli butter or stracciatella<br />
with zucchini. Main choices<br />
include grilled salmon, confit<br />
potato and shaved fennel or<br />
steak and fries and dulce de<br />
leche parfait for dessert.<br />
With its Hamptons-meets-thebeach<br />
styling, Barrenjoey<br />
House is another romantic<br />
destination that’s picture<br />
perfect for any time of the year.<br />
The Palm Beach restaurant will<br />
be open for lunch and dinner<br />
this Valentine’s Day. And to<br />
make the most of the occasion,<br />
why not book a night? Details<br />
are on the website.<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 77
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
with Gabrielle Bryant<br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
Growing your own plants from<br />
cuttings is easy and addictive!<br />
Nothing is more satisfying than<br />
growing your own plants from<br />
cuttings. Once you begin you will<br />
never trim or prune a shrub or plant again<br />
without trying to grow the pieces.<br />
Early autumn is the perfect time to take<br />
semi-hardwood cuttings from shrubs that<br />
have finished flowering. These cuttings are<br />
taken from the stems that have started to<br />
harden off just below the soft new growing<br />
tips. The colour will have changed from<br />
light green to brown.<br />
Plants that are suitable include camellias,<br />
azaleas, gardenias, geraniums, fuchsias,<br />
hydrangeas, abutilon, begonias, hibiscus<br />
and other late-Spring or Summer flowering<br />
shrubs.<br />
To test if the cutting is mature enough<br />
try bending the stem. If it bends and then<br />
snaps it is ready, if it just bends without<br />
snapping it is too soft.<br />
Take 10cm cuttings, trim back the soft<br />
new growth, cutting the base just below<br />
With the Autumn months<br />
just around the corner, it<br />
is time to think about bulbs for<br />
Spring. Some bulbs will thrive<br />
in our warmer climate while<br />
others need to be lifted once<br />
died down and stored in cooler<br />
conditions to flower.<br />
Freesias, ranunculus,<br />
anemones, ixias, sparaxis and<br />
grape hyacinths are all varieties<br />
that will bloom again year<br />
after year and naturalise in the<br />
garden grown in the full sun, in<br />
a leaf node this is where the roots will<br />
develop from. A node it where a leaf was<br />
previously attached. Remove all the lower<br />
leaves leaving just a couple at the tip.<br />
Fill a small pot with seed raising mix.<br />
Switch on for bulbs for Spring<br />
garden beds with compost and<br />
organic matter.<br />
Bluebells need to be grown<br />
under deciduous trees to<br />
protect them from the heat of<br />
the summer sun.<br />
Daffodils, jonquils, narcissus,<br />
hyacinths and tulips are not<br />
so suitable for planting in the<br />
garden by the coast where they<br />
don’t get the cold winter days,<br />
but they are perfect in pots,<br />
tubs, and window boxes.<br />
Having been grown in the<br />
colder climates of the Southern<br />
regions of Australia they are<br />
certain to flower for the first<br />
year. Enjoy them for this winter<br />
season and bring them inside<br />
when they flower, then lift them<br />
once they die down.<br />
Stored in a cool dry spot<br />
they may well flower again the<br />
following year if planted out<br />
once the Summer heat fades.<br />
There are always early bird<br />
specials to be found on the<br />
internet.<br />
Water it well before planting your cuttings.<br />
Dip the cuttings into rooting hormone<br />
powder (pictured) or for a more natural<br />
medium rub the cut stem with the jelly of<br />
an aloe vera leaf.<br />
With a small stick (a chopstick is perfect),<br />
make a hole in the mix and gently firm<br />
the cutting into the pot. It is better to<br />
place several cuttings into one pot than<br />
individual pots. The closeness will help to<br />
keep the humidity.<br />
Water well once again and cover the pot<br />
with a plastic bag. After a few weeks your<br />
new plants will show new growth. Take<br />
the plastic away and wait until you see<br />
the leaves develop before planting out. It<br />
is better to be patient than to disturb the<br />
newly formed roots too soon.<br />
By growing your own cuttings you can fill<br />
your garden for little or no cost. Has your<br />
neighbour got a plant that you would like?<br />
Just ask for a small cutting and you will<br />
have one as well.<br />
78 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Beautiful clingy climbers<br />
The clerodendrum family is<br />
very diverse, with more than<br />
400 varieties; some are shrubs,<br />
some members are climbers,<br />
but none are easy to find.<br />
Better known are the open<br />
shrubby, sky blue Butterfly<br />
Bush, clerodendrum ugandense,<br />
and the taller growing, delicate<br />
clerodendrum nutans with<br />
cascading white flowers – but<br />
best known of all are the<br />
climbing varieties.<br />
For any gardener, nothing<br />
is more tempting than a bare<br />
wooden fence. Sometimes it<br />
is hard to find a climber that<br />
will cover the wooden slats<br />
that won’t, in time, get out of<br />
control. The Bleeding Heart<br />
vine, clerodenrum thomsoniae,<br />
will reliably cover the fence but<br />
never be a problem. It is semideciduous,<br />
losing some leaves<br />
in Winter but as the weather<br />
warms up it will twine and cover<br />
the fence at Christmas with<br />
white and scarlet flowers.<br />
The summer-flowering, bright<br />
red clerodendum speciossum,<br />
is understandably known as<br />
the Glory Vine. The panicles of<br />
bright red flowers appear over<br />
the warm months of Summer,<br />
contrasting against the dark<br />
green leaves. It is a shrubby<br />
climber, the arching stems need<br />
support as it rambles. Train this<br />
spectacular plant against a wall<br />
or fence with horizontal wires<br />
or lattice.<br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
The flamboyant scarlet Poinciana<br />
Many years ago, there were<br />
very few Poinciana trees<br />
in Sydney, but today as you<br />
drive around the peninsula the<br />
brilliant scarlet flowers of the<br />
Royal Poinciana can be seen in<br />
late Summer.<br />
Also known as the<br />
‘Flamboyant tree’, these trees<br />
rival the violet haze of the<br />
jacarandas in Spring. The<br />
huge scarlet flowers, that<br />
cover the canopy of the tree,<br />
stand high above the lacey,<br />
grass green foliage.<br />
Poinciana trees need to<br />
grow in full sun where the<br />
natural shape of the tree can<br />
develop. They can withstand<br />
drought and salty winds. They<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
need well drained sandy soil.<br />
They grow fast and need little<br />
attention.<br />
Keep the root area clear of<br />
undergrowth that can cause the<br />
tree to become infected with<br />
fungal problems. The wide, flat<br />
canopy naturally grows wider<br />
than the height of the tree.<br />
It is a perfect street tree<br />
where there are no power<br />
lines, and it can grow without<br />
the mutilation of the tree<br />
choppers! Sit back and wait for<br />
the lorikeets to visit every day.<br />
Poincianas can be grown<br />
from cuttings or by seed and<br />
it will take from 6-10 years<br />
before they will flower but<br />
they are well worth the wait.<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 79
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
Jobs this Month<br />
<strong>February</strong><br />
Whatever happened to<br />
Summer? The garden<br />
is confused! One day<br />
a heatwave and the next is<br />
cold with rain. It is no wonder<br />
that the garden is struggling.<br />
Mow the grass regularly to<br />
prevent it growing long and<br />
lanky. It is better to mow<br />
frequently that to suddenly<br />
expose the roots that have<br />
been shaded by tall grass.<br />
Feed the lawn this month for<br />
autumn growth.<br />
Autumn prep<br />
Pull out veggies that are<br />
struggling and prepare the<br />
garden for Autumn planting.<br />
It is good to leave the soil<br />
empty for a couple of weeks<br />
before replanting winter<br />
Dahlias make a comeback<br />
crops. Dig the garden well and<br />
turn in additional compost and<br />
fertiliser.<br />
Rust watch<br />
Frangipani rust is bad with<br />
the high humidity. Remove<br />
all the affected leaves and<br />
put them in the bin – not the<br />
Green bin as the spore will<br />
carry over and infect future<br />
compost. Spray the trees and<br />
the ground beneath with a<br />
mixture of copper and Yates’<br />
Anti-rot. Try to spray under<br />
the foliage if possible.<br />
Move orchids<br />
Move pots of cymbidium<br />
orchids from the shade into<br />
bright light or morning sun.<br />
They will need the light to<br />
If you didn’t buy dahlias tubers in the Spring<br />
when they were available as tubers on bulb<br />
stands, it is not too late. You can buy them<br />
now in full flower in garden centres.<br />
The number of different colours, shapes,<br />
and sizes is quite bewildering. They can be<br />
any colour and vary in shape from tiny round<br />
balls and pompom flowers to the huge heads<br />
of cactus-shaped, double, single or anemoneshaped<br />
blooms that are cherished by florists.<br />
There are dwarf dahlias that grow just 35cm<br />
and some that will reach a height of 2m.<br />
Dahlias are an old-fashioned plant that was<br />
popular in the 1970s – now they’re making an<br />
amazing comeback.<br />
Dahlias need full sun and an open space to<br />
grow that is protected from wind. As the flower<br />
develop their<br />
flower spikes.<br />
Grow Pak Choi<br />
If you are new to growing<br />
vegetables, try a quick crop<br />
of Pak Choi seedlings, or buy<br />
a packet of seed tape. Within<br />
just a few weeks you will be<br />
harvesting your crop and you<br />
find what fun it is to grow<br />
your own veggies.<br />
Trim & prune<br />
Trim back roses, remove any<br />
old flower stems and feed the<br />
bushes. In just a short time<br />
you will have another flush<br />
of flowers in Autumn. Also,<br />
lightly prune back Summerflowering<br />
shrubs. Don’t throw<br />
away the greenery. Select<br />
stem grows, the taller varieties may need<br />
staking. Feed your plants regularly with a liquid<br />
fertiliser. If you want picked flowers to last, it is<br />
best to pick them in the early morning.<br />
Once the flowers are finished the plants will<br />
die down. Let the leaves die back naturally<br />
before cutting them off.<br />
suitable prunings to make<br />
new cuttings. Chop the rest<br />
into smaller pieces and put<br />
them in the compost bin.<br />
Veggie care<br />
Veggies that are affected by<br />
powdery mildew can be safely<br />
sprayed with Eco fungicide.<br />
Read the withholding<br />
instructions carefully before<br />
spraying. Some control can<br />
be achieved by spraying with<br />
a dilution of milk and water.<br />
Feed citrus<br />
It’s the last time to feed citrus<br />
trees before Winter. As new<br />
growth appears protect the soft<br />
new leaves from stink bugs and<br />
leaf miner with Eco oil.<br />
Other chores<br />
Don’t be tempted to remove<br />
any sunburnt leaves that appear<br />
after the random very hot days.<br />
They will protect the rest of<br />
the plant. With such strange<br />
weather patterns there may well<br />
be more hot days to come…<br />
Last, although it is too soon to<br />
plant bulbs, try to decide this<br />
month on any future purchase.<br />
The availability and range of<br />
bulbs in the garden centres<br />
soon runs down.<br />
Crossword solution from page 72<br />
Mystery location: MONA VALE<br />
80 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Times Past<br />
‘Broken Bay Tribe Chief’ Bungaree<br />
The first judge-advocate of New<br />
South Wales, Captain William Collins,<br />
stated in 1799 that Bungaree<br />
was a native of the north side of Broken<br />
Bay. He may have been born in 1775<br />
although that can’t be confirmed.<br />
It was Bungaree’s patron, Governor<br />
Lachlan Macquarie, who bestowed the<br />
title of ‘Chief of the Broken Bay Tribe’<br />
on him in 1815. He even gave him a<br />
crescent-shaped and inscribed brass<br />
breastplate (or gorget) to wear, which<br />
shows in some of the many sketches<br />
and paintings of him.<br />
Apparently only seven years later, the<br />
more specific title of ‘Chief of the Pitt<br />
Water Tribe’ was chosen by Macquarie<br />
– but strangely,<br />
only after they had<br />
moved to Kirribilli.<br />
Prior to this and<br />
in 1802, Bungaree<br />
had become the<br />
first Australianborn<br />
circumnavigator<br />
when he<br />
sailed with Matthew<br />
Flinders. He<br />
used his knowledge<br />
of Aboriginal ‘protocol’<br />
to converse<br />
with local indigenous<br />
people during<br />
the voyage.<br />
It is most likely he<br />
was born around the<br />
Broken Bay area, possibly<br />
even presentday<br />
Patonga, where<br />
the Hawkesbury<br />
River – known to him as Deerubin – met<br />
the bay.<br />
Here he would have swum and played<br />
with the young men of his Garigal clan.<br />
Through hunting and mock battles<br />
with small spears and shields, he became<br />
an expert fisherman, learning to<br />
make his own Mooting or fishing spear.<br />
After learning the traditional laws<br />
and culture of his people, he would<br />
eventually have been initiated into manhood,<br />
a ceremony<br />
known as<br />
yoolung erabadiung.<br />
After<br />
much singing<br />
and dancing<br />
for several<br />
days, the<br />
young men<br />
who were to<br />
become the<br />
INDIGENOUS<br />
RECORD:<br />
Depictions<br />
of ‘Chief’<br />
Bungaree and<br />
his second<br />
wife Queen<br />
Gooseberry.<br />
initiates, had their incisor<br />
tooth knocked out at the ceremony<br />
and were then given their possum-fur<br />
waistband.<br />
After the terrible outbreak of smallpox<br />
in 1789, tribes were in disarray,<br />
with around 70 per cent of the local<br />
Aborigines dead and “the sight of decaying<br />
bodies huddled in rock shelters all<br />
around the harbour”.<br />
Around 1805 he took his first wife<br />
Matora; Bowen (or Boin) was probably one<br />
of their sons, followed by Toby (or Toubi).<br />
On one Baptism record,<br />
Bowen’s name<br />
appears as ‘Bowen<br />
Bungaree’. Bungaree<br />
had a daughter<br />
and another son<br />
to his other wife,<br />
Queen Gooseberry,<br />
from 1815.<br />
In 1815, remnants<br />
of the Broken<br />
Bay people, led by<br />
Bungaree, were<br />
given clothing, agricultural<br />
implements,<br />
a fishing boat and<br />
some farming land at<br />
Georges Head.<br />
Macquarie’s overall<br />
efforts had helped the<br />
Aborigines little and as<br />
essential links with the<br />
land had been disrupted,<br />
traditional Aboriginal<br />
society crumbled.<br />
Bungaree spent much of his later life<br />
in and around Sydney after the collapse<br />
of the Georges Head experiment. Apparently,<br />
Bungaree and his clan moved<br />
their camp to the Governor’s Domain<br />
where age, alcohol and malnutrition<br />
eventually caught up with him.<br />
Bungaree died at Garden Island on<br />
Wednesday 24 November 1830.<br />
TIMES PAST is supplied by local historian<br />
and President of the Avalon Beach<br />
Historical Society GEOFF SEARL. Visit<br />
the Society’s showroom in Bowling<br />
Green Lane, Avalon Beach.<br />
Times Past<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 81
Travel <strong>Life</strong><br />
Travel <strong>Life</strong><br />
Cruise Portugal’s Douro Valley<br />
Avalon Waterways is redefining cruising<br />
by going against the current and away<br />
from the ordinary.<br />
“Delivering unparalleled experiences,<br />
Avalon puts guests in the captain’s seat to<br />
navigate their journey, fuel their passions<br />
and steer clear of the unexpected as they<br />
cruise down the world’s most memorable<br />
and mesmerising waterways,” said Travel<br />
View’s Sharon Godden.<br />
“In 2024, Avalon will make their Douro<br />
debut with a new itinerary and Suite Ship –<br />
the Avalon Alegria. Marking their 15th Suite<br />
Ship in Europe and first sailings in Portugal,<br />
Avalon are now poised to give cruisers the<br />
newest view of the Old World.”<br />
Sharon said hillside vineyards and historic<br />
villages await as you set sail through<br />
Portugal’s postcard-perfect views on their<br />
all-new, eight-day cruise beginning and<br />
ending in opulent Porto.<br />
“You’ll uncover medieval castles,<br />
legendary landscapes, and all the vinho,<br />
olives, and cheese your soul desires with<br />
Avalon’s wide range of included daily<br />
excursion choices – from wine tastings and<br />
bike tours to traditional sightseeing with<br />
expert Local Guides.<br />
“Featuring everything from ancient<br />
Amarante – in the picturesque Minho<br />
region – to the sandstone architecture in<br />
Salamanca Spain, this new cruise promises<br />
countless ways to experience the region’s<br />
scenic splendours and renowned cuisine.”<br />
Living up to its name (which, in<br />
Portuguese, means happiness), Sharon<br />
says the Avalon Alegria – like the rest of<br />
Avalon’s fleet of modern, award-winning<br />
Suite ShipsSM – combines the perfect blend<br />
of elegance and ease – where little touches<br />
are bold, gestures are grand and the views<br />
even grander.<br />
“The Alegria will include Avalon’s<br />
signature, boutique-hotel-inspired<br />
Panorama Suites on two full decks. Each<br />
suite provides guests 200 square-feet of<br />
living space and features the industry’s only<br />
Open-Air Balcony, with the widest-opening<br />
windows in cruising and decadent Comfort<br />
Collection beds that face the scenery.”<br />
This new Suite Ship, built exclusively to<br />
sail the Douro, will accommodate just 102<br />
guests and 33 crew members. Onboard<br />
amenities include an Adventure Centre<br />
with complimentary active gear, an Avalon<br />
Adventure Host to assist with active<br />
excursions and onboard fitness activities,<br />
and a Sky Deck with a swimming pool for<br />
guests to soak in the Portuguese sun.<br />
On board guests can enjoy a culinary<br />
experience as delectable as their sweet sail<br />
down the river.<br />
“From craft cocktails and regional wines<br />
to inspired menus and artisanal dishes,<br />
your gastronomical journey will be fuelled<br />
with a beautiful balance of local flavour,<br />
served in your choice of dining venue.”<br />
*With Avalon’s current New Year Sale,<br />
book and deposit your Douro River<br />
cruise by 28 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2023</strong> and save up<br />
to $1,400 per couple; more info call Travel<br />
View on 9918 4444.<br />
82 FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Stark beauty of Northern Europe<br />
There is nothing quite like exploring<br />
Scandinavia and Northern Europe<br />
by sea as you trace ancient Viking trade<br />
routes. A year-round destination, you can<br />
glide through shimmering Norwegian<br />
fjords, sail into dynamic progressive cities<br />
like Copenhagen, Stockholm and<br />
Reykjavik, soak up the midnight sun<br />
and go in search of the otherworldly<br />
Northern Lights.<br />
You’ll discover remote outposts<br />
surrounded by magnificent natural<br />
beauty as you learn the incredible<br />
true story of the Vikings along the<br />
way.<br />
Travel View’s Gail Kardash says<br />
there’s a reason aptly named<br />
Viking Cruises are considered the<br />
Scandinavia and Northern Europe<br />
experts.<br />
“Their chairman Torstein Hagen<br />
hails from Norway and began his<br />
shipping career there, so they have an<br />
unparalleled understanding of its culture,<br />
landscapes and people,” she said.<br />
“The bespoke voyages allow you to<br />
immerse yourself in the unique history<br />
and culture of each destination on a<br />
deeper level, offering a window into a<br />
destination’s rhythms of local life.”<br />
Destinations include:<br />
Tromso – Norway’s gateway to the Arctic,<br />
where striking wooden structures and<br />
neoclassical architecture are symbolic<br />
of this quaint city. During Winter it is<br />
one of the best destinations in the world<br />
to witness the magical Aurora Borealis.<br />
Home of the Arctic cathedral (pictured).<br />
Reykjavik – The world’s most northerly<br />
capital and settled by the Vikings in 870<br />
AD. Today, Reykjavik is big on character<br />
and renowned for its devotion to the arts.<br />
Stockholm – A city of contrasts, the historic<br />
Gamla Stan district features medieval<br />
architecture and cobblestone streets fit for<br />
a fairytale, while the other side of the city<br />
is home to world-class galleries, trendy<br />
restaurants and modern boutiques.<br />
Bergen – Surrounded by majestic snowcapped<br />
mountains, magnificent fjords<br />
and glaciers with a rich heritage<br />
as a Hanseatic League trading<br />
port, beautifully preserved in the<br />
vibrantly painted wooden buildings<br />
of Bryggen Wharf.<br />
“Incredible optional excursions<br />
along the way include the<br />
Arctic tundra by Husky sled, a<br />
quintessential way to experience the<br />
stark beauty of northern Norway and<br />
its pristine, snow-covered wilderness<br />
and towering fjords,” Gail said.<br />
“You can also pay a rare visit to<br />
the remote port of Honningsvåg in<br />
Northern Norway on a ‘King Crab<br />
safari’, where you’ll see how prized<br />
six-foot king crabs are harvested. Back<br />
ashore, you’ll feast on your catch, with<br />
preparation tips from your cook.” – NW<br />
*Viking Cruises are offering savings of<br />
$1800 to $3600 per couple on a range<br />
of cruises ranging from 8 to 29 days’<br />
duration. More info call Travel view on<br />
9918 4444.<br />
Travel <strong>Life</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong> 83