Pittwater Life February 2023 Issue

The Local Voice Since 1991 

FEBRUARY 2023 

FREE 

pittwaterlife 

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

Editorial 

Council refuses Rock role 

Opponents of the Lizard 

Rock housing development 

proposal are waiting to see 

who the NSW Department 

of Planning appoints as the 

project’s alternative Planning 

Authority after Northern 

Beaches Council rejected the 

“poisoned chalice” role. 

Council and myriad 

community groups and 

political figures have long 

opposed the planning proposal 

to develop land for 450 

dwellings at Belrose. 

Mayor Michael Regan 

said: “We are declining the 

government’s offer… as the 

role is unlikely to give Council 

any meaningful powers to 

review the proposal or prevent 

it from going ahead.” 

Mayor Regan remains 

adamant there are alternatives 

that would still achieve 

economic self-determination 

for Aboriginal people. 

In April 2022, Councillors 

united to request staff write 

to Federal and State MPs and 

ministers to negotiate an 

alternate solution so that the 

landowners, the Metropolitan 

Local Aboriginal Land Council 

(MLALC), could benefit 

financially and that the 

land was preserved as is – in 

perpetuity. 

The responses, if any, are 

unknown. 

Council’s position was 

echoed by Mackellar Federal 

MP Dr Sophie Scamps, who 

called on the State Government 

to step in and purchase the 

land, or agree to a longer-term 

lease before transforming the 

land into an Aboriginal-owned 

National Park, which she says 

was originally suggested by the 

MLALC in 2013. 

“This would be a win-win-win 

situation in that the MLALC 

secures a financial gain in 

addition to the long-term jobs 

that are created for Indigenous 

people within the Park,” she 

said. Story – page 8. – Nigel Wall 


FEBRUARY 2023 3

FREE LOCAL 

MONTHLY 

INDEPENDENT 

DISTRIBUTION 

32,000 

Delivered to householders 

& businesses throughout 

the Pittwater area at the 

beginning of each month. 

AFFORDABLE 

RATES & 

LONG-LIFE 

EXPOSURE 

CALL 

US TO 

DISCUSS 

YOUR AD! 

Tel: 0438 123 096 

PO Box 170 

Mona Vale 1660 

Email: 

info@pittwaterlife.com.au 

Website: 

pittwaterlife.com.au 

Publisher: Nigel Wall 

Managing Editor: Lisa Offord 

Graphic Design: 

Craig Loughlin-Smith 

Photography: Adobe / Staff 

Contributors: Rob Pegley, 

Steve Meacham, Rosamund 

Burton, Gabrielle Bryant, 

Beverley Hudec, Brian Hrnjak, 

Jennifer Harris, Janelle Bloom, 

Sue Carroll, 

Dr John Kippen, Geoff Searl. 

Distribution: John 

Nieuwenhof & Gill Stokes 

pitlifewalkers@gmail.com 

Published by 

Word Count 

Media Pty Ltd. 

ACN 149 583 335 

ABN 95 149 583 335 

Printed by IVE Print 

P: 1300 725 628 

* The complete Pittwater Life 

archive can be found at the 

State Library of NSW. 

Vol 32 No 7 

Celebrating 32 years 

50 



FREE 

pittwaterlife 

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 

PWL_FEB23_p001.indd 1 24/1/2023 7:59 pm 

26 

34 

WALKERS 

WANTED 

Retirees, mums, kids to deliver 

Pittwater Life once a month. 

Permanent and casual runs 

may be available now in: 

Palm Beach, Bilgola, 

Newport, Mona Vale, 

& Bayview. 

EARN TOP MONEY PAID PROMPTLY! 

Email: 

pitlifewalkers@gmail.com 

thislife 

INSIDE: Council will refuse the role as planning authority 

for the Lizard Rock development proposal (p8); former 

fugitive Darko Desic has served his prison term but his 

future remains in limbo (p10); hear more from Pittwater’s 

State Election candidates (p16); readers have their 

say on local matters (p20); the proposal for short-stay 

accommodation on Barrenjoey Headland has angered many 

(p26); land values on the Beaches have skyrocketed (p37); 

and meet female Sail GP groundbreaker Nina Curtis (p50). 

COVER: North Narrabeen rockpool / sunrisephotos.com.au 

XXXXX 2022 

also this month 

Editorial 3 

Pittwater Local News & Features 8-39 

The Way We Were 32 

Seen... Heard... Absurd... 34 

Briefs & Community News 36-39 

Art 40 

Hot Property 42-49 

Life Story 50-52 

Sport 53-55 

Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 56-63 

Money & Law 64-67 

Crossword 72 

Food & Tasty Morsels 74-77 

Gardening 78-80 

ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! 

Bookings & advertising material to set for 

our MARCH issue MUST be supplied by 

WEDNESDAY 8 FEBRUARY 

Finished art & editorial submissions deadline: 

WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 

The MARCH issue will be published 

on WEDNESDAY 1 MARCH 

COPYRIGHT 

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

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

FEBRUARY 2023 The Local Voice Since 1991

Wary Council shuns 

Lizard Rock role 

News 

Northern Beaches Council 

will decline the NSW 

Government’s offer to be 

the Planning Proposal Authority 

for the controversial Lizard 

Rock housing development site 

at Belrose. 

It is wary of a ‘guilt by association’ 

perception that could 

be formed within the community, 

given its long-standing 

and ongoing opposition to the 

development plan. 

Council staff made the recommendation 

to Councillors 

at a hastily convened extraordinary 

Council meeting on 

January 24. 

The Lizard Rock housing 

plan has been driven by the 

Metropolitan Local Aboriginal 

Land Council (MLALC) which 

wants to develop the land it 

owns on the Northern Beaches 

for economic self-determination 

of Aboriginal people. 

The plan, for 450 dwellings, 

has been widely slammed, 

including opposition from 

Council, the State Liberal MPs 

in the seats of Pittwater, Wakehurst 

and Davidson, as well as 

the Greens and local residents 

groups. 

The Aboriginal Support 

Group Manly Warringah Pittwater 

(ASG) also opposes the 

proposal. 

On December 21, the Department 

of Planning and Environment 

advised Council that the 

Sydney North Planning Panel 

had recommended the planning 

proposal for Morgan Road, 

Belrose (Lizard Rock) proceed 

to Gateway determination. 

It offered Council first option 

to become the Planning 

Proposal Authority. 

However, noting Council’s 

opposition to Lizard Rock, 

Council staff advised Councillors 

that if it were to accept the 

role it would be obliged to progress 

the planning proposal, 

whereupon the community 

may perceive that Council supported 

the planning proposal – 

which was contrary to Council’s 

decision of November 2022. 

Further, Council remained 

concerned by what it perceived 

as scant ‘due process’ by the 

Panel at its December 21 

meeting, where the planning 

proposal, Council’s submission 

and a briefing report provided 

by the Department were considered. 

At the meeting the Panel 

determined that the planning 

proposal should be submitted 

to the Department for a 

Gateway determination, with 

qualifications including that 

the number of dwellings was 

capped at 450 and that 10 per 

cent affordable housing was to 

be provided. 

But Council staff noted the 

briefing report provided only 

a “dot-point summary of the 

key issues” from the viewpoint 

of Council (which opposed 

the plan) and the proponent, 

without providing any analysis 

of the merits of the associated 

issues, conclusions or recommendations. 

It said the Record of Decision 

provided limited reasoning for 

a decision of such magnitude 

(just five short paragraphs) 

and no meaningful analysis 

or evaluation of the issues relevant 

to the planning proposal 

– including lack of infrastructure 

and bushfire risk – was 

provided in the Decision or the 

Department’s briefing report. 

8 FEBRUARY 2023 

The Local Voice Since 1991

CONTROVERSIAL: Aerial view of the Lizard Rock allotment at Belrose. 

“No meaningful discussion 

was provided in the Decision 

or the Department’s briefing 

report as to how the significant 

issues raised by the Council 

can be overcome,” the staff 

recommendation said. 

“Due to the paucity of analysis 

or explanation, there is 

limited opportunity for Council 

or the community to understand 

why or how this decision 

has been made.” 

Pittwater Ward Councillor 

and NSW Liberals candidate for 

Pittwater at the State Election 

in March, Rory Amon, said the 

Proposal for Lizard Rock was 

wholly inappropriate and if 

successful, would turn pristine 

bushland into a fire trap. 

“As a volunteer firefighter, 

having directly witnessed the 

horror of the 2019-20 fires, 

attempting to save houses that 

burned to a cinder in relatively 

protected areas, the Lizard 

Rock proposal is a disaster 

waiting to happen,” he said. 

“When fires next visit upon 

the Northern Beaches, with 

one road in and one road out, a 

Lizard Rock development will 

be a catastrophe of Black Friday 

proportions. 

“Planning proposals are 

longstanding mechanisms, 

irrespective of the Government 

of the day. But in local 

communities, they are a cancer 

on our planning system,” he 

continued. 

“State and Local Governments, 

in consultation with 

residents, spend years strategically 

planning and arriving 

at consensus about how their 

communities should look. 

“This involves the primacy of 

environmental considerations, 

expectation management and 

achieving broad-based community 

buy-in. 

“Planning proposals, with 

the stroke of a pen, undo all 

those virtues of our planning 

system.” 

Meanwhile, the NSW Aboriginal 

Land Council (NSWALC) is 

urging all NSW MPs to leave a 

legacy and support the Aboriginal 

Cultural Heritage (Culture 

is Identity) Bill 2022. 

The Private Members’ Bill 

aims to recognise, protect, conserve 

and preserve Aboriginal 

cultural heritage. 

An Upper House Inquiry 

found that new, modernised 

and standalone legislation for 

the recognition, protection, 

conservation and preservation 

of Aboriginal cultural heritage 

in NSW was “both necessary 

and long overdue.” 

The report found the current 

system was failing to protect 

Aboriginal cultural heritage. 

To support the Bill, an Aboriginal 

Cultural Heritage march 

was held in the Sydney CBD last 

November, organised by Metropolitan 

and Darkinjung Local 

Aboriginal Land Councils. 

March organisers called for 

urgent reform. 

NSWALC Councillor Abie 

Wright spoke on the importance 

of preserving Aboriginal 

heritage across NSW, and the 

importance of ensuring this 

was a focus for the Land Rights 

network leading up to the State 

election. 

“Every day we wait for laws, 

is another day our culture and 

heritage is being ruined,” he 

said. 

– Nigel Wall 

News 



News 

Darko’s future in limbo 

Darko ‘Dougie’ Desic, the 

prison escapee who spent 

three decades living in plain 

sight in Avalon before handing 

himself to police during 

the height of COVID in 2021, 

has served his sentence. 

He was released from John 

Morony Correctional Centre 

near Windsor just before New 

Year’s Eve and is now awaiting 

his fate in Villawood Detention 

Centre. 

“It’s disheartening for Dougie,” 

says Peter Higgins, the 

Avalon-based entrepreneur 

who has funded the former 

fugitive’s legal defence since 

his daughter Belle founded 

a Go Fund Me page when 

Darko’s surrender made international 

headline news. 

“He’ll either be sent back to 

Croatia… or come back home 

to Avalon.” 

After serving seven days in 

isolated COVID quarantine, 

Darko is now in a bunkhouse 

at Villawood with around 20 

other detainees. 

The Chinese detainee in the 

bunk below Darko has been 

incarcerated at Villawood for 

five years. 

“Dougie says, ‘How long 

am I going to be in here for?’” 

explains Peter. “As I’ve told 

Dougie, don’t worry about (the 

roommate). His case has got 

nothing to do with yours.” 

Peter is now searching for a 

specialist immigration lawyer 

to argue Darko’s case in conjunction 

with the high-profile 

Paul McGirr & Associates, who 

represented Darko while he 

was in prison after handing 

himself in to Dee Why police. 

In 1992, Darko broke out of 

Grafton high security prison 

with just 18 months left to 

serve of a sentence for cultivating 

cannabis. Fearing he’d 

be deported back to what was 

then war-torn Yugoslavia, the 

Croatian staged an audacious 

escape. 

Famously, with no wish to 

disclose his real identity, he 

lived in Avalon for 30 years 

– even pulling out his own 

teeth when he needed to, 

never visiting a doctor, and 

never claiming a Centrelink 

payment (while also never 

paying tax). 

Stone mason Scott Matthewson, 

who worked with 

Darko, has built the fugitive 

a self-contained bedsit at his 

family home, and hopes to see 

him employed, working again 

as the talented stone mason 

he has become. 

UNCERTAIN: Locals continue to rally 

to keep Darko Desic in Australia. 

“Dougie doesn’t know what 

is going to happen,” Scott says. 

“It’s all a bit ridiculous. “Australian 

Border Force are keeping 

him locked up in Villawood 

to keep the public safe. 

“But Dougie lived here for 

30 years without causing any 

problems. 

“He’s even earned an Aussie 

nickname. 

“I was swimming at Palm 

Beach the other day with a barrister 

and a judge, both locals, 

and we got talking about 

Dougie. I asked them what they 

thought of Dougie’s situation. 

“Both said he should be 

released ASAP, and what a 

waste of taxpayers’ money it 

is keeping him Villawood.” 

Villawood Detention Centre 

now has imposing walls 

around it and a fearsome 

reputation. 

However, it began as a place 

to welcome new migrants seeking 

refuge from impoverished 

post World War II Europe. 

In those happier days, it 

was the birthplace of Australian 

musical royalty. 

When George Young arrived 

with his Glaswegian parents 

and six siblings in 1963, he 

forged a friendship with a 

Dutch boy who changed his 

name to Harry Vanda. 

Together they formed ‘The 

Easybeat’s and masterminded 

the rise of AC/DC featuring 

George’s younger brothers, 

Malcolm and Angus. 

George and Harry also 

wrote John Paul Young’s 1978 

hit, ‘Love Is In The Air’. 

There doesn’t seem much 

love in the air now. 

– Steve Meacham 

Stick to the 

election facts, 

urges Stokes 

Retiring MP Rob Stokes 

says he would like to see 

all candidates for Pittwater 

“stick to the facts” in the 

lead-up to the NSW election. 

Referencing Independent 

for Pittwater candidate 

Jacqui Scruby’s pitch for the 

NSW Government to investigate 

legislating against 

offshore mining so that the 

PEP-11 gas lease could never 

resurface, Mr Stokes said: 

“It’s nothing to do with the 

State – we’ve got a very clear 

policy when it comes to offshore 

gas or oil exploration 

or drilling: it’s not allowed. 

“The only way to ensure 

PEP-11 can never return is to 

change federal law – PEP-11 

is outside State waters. 

“It’s the same with the 

Wakehurst Parkway – the issue 

should be taken up with 

the Federal Government. 

“We committed $18 million 

to Northern Beaches 

Council and $75 million 

which was matched by the 

former coalition government. 

The Commonwealth has now 

pulled that money. 

“We would have liked 

works (flood mitigation and 

black spots) to have been 

done before now but the 

helpful thing would be to get 

the $75 million back from 

the Federal Government. 

“I share (Ms Scruby’s) 

frustration about Council’s 

scheduling of works – but I 

don’t know why it has been 

raised as an issue... it’s been 

addressed.” – NW 



Philanthropist Jennie 

News 

When Clareville resident 

Jennie Mackenzie 

died in October, 2021 

she left millions of dollars for 

research at University of Sydney’s 

Charles Perkins Centre. 

But because of COVID-19 it 

wasn’t until mid-November 

2022 that the ‘Jazz for Jennie’ 

commemoration was held 

at Charles Perkins Centre to 

celebrate her life. 

Her neighbour, Barbie Laird- 

Varley, although at the same 

school as Jennie – Abbotsleigh 

– did not become a friend until 

a few years later. 

“We were part of a group of 

friends, always doing something, 

travelling and trips to 

the country,” Barbie said. 

“Jennie had a fabulous 

personality. She loved a glass 

of bubbles, loved colour, loved 

flamboyant clothing. She was 

my bridesmaid – ‘twice’ – she 

always reminded me.” 

Jennie was an only child, 

Barbie explains, and grew up 

RECOGNITION: Barbie Laird-Varley by the Clareville shore; Jennie Mackenzie; and Jennie’s former house. 

in Mosman. Her mother died 

when she was still at school, 

and her father passed when 

she was in her early 20s. 

“Having no immediate 

family, all her friends were a 

significant part of Jennie’s life. 

Many of us spent a lot of time 

at Jennie’s family beach house 

in Clareville, a tiny fibro shack. 

It was our sanctuary. Eventually, 

she sold the family home 

in Mosman and settled here.” 

Jennie Mackenzie was the director 

of a kindergarten before 

she became an early childhood 

adviser for ABC radio and television 

and associated projects 

for young children – including 

Play School for which she was 

recognised with a Television 

Society of Australia award. 

She also formed with her 

friends a group called the 222 

Committee to support children 

attending a kindergarten in 

East Sydney. 

“We raised heaps of money 

for that kindergarten and others, 

and Jennie became very 

involved with the kindergartens 

too,” Barbie said. 

The fibro shack was pulled 



emembered 

and down and a house, 

designed by architect Bruce 

Rickard, was built on the site. 

“We used to have countless 

barbecues and all gather with 

the children and dogs on the 

beautiful beach, and in summer 

dive off the neighbours’ 

jetty and swim ashore,” Barbie 

recounted. 

“She loved her friends. They 

were very important to her. A 

group of about 12 of us always 

celebrated her birthday on 11 

January, and we’d go over to 

her place and all take food.” 

“David and I live a couple of 

doors up from Jennie’s place 

and she used to come to us 

once a week for a roast, and 

she’d bring hibiscus from the 

bush in her garden, so if Jennie 

was coming I always knew I 

would have fresh flowers.” 

In her 70s Jennie was 

diagnosed with cancer, and 

through her treatment she became 

interested in health and 

medical research. 

She was excited by the work 

at the Charles Perkins Centre, 

with its vision for change and 

multi-disciplinary approach to 

research. 

“In her typically dynamic 

and generous way, Jennie 

went on to be involved as a 

volunteer, mentor, donor and 

ultimately dear friend,” said 

Professor Stephen Simpson, 

Academic Director of the 

Charles Perkins Centre. 

Among others, she supported 

postdoctoral researchers: 

Dr Rosilene Ribeiro, researching 

ways of using nutrition to 

improve health and wellbeing 

of older individuals; and Associate 

Professor Melkam Kebede, 

looking at pancreatic islet cells 

and the relationship between 

obesity and type 2 diabetes. 

Both expressed their immense 

gratitude for her support. 

“Jennie was more like an 

advocate than anything else,” 

Associate Professor Kebede 

said. 

“She cared so much about 

what I do and my professional 

and personal growth. I miss 

her lovely kindness, positivity 

and huge sense of fun.” 

In 2014, Jennie was appointed 

to the Vice-Chancellor’s 

Campaign Board, a group comprising 

of the University’s most 

visionary philanthropic supporters, 

and she was awarded 

the title of Honorary Fellow of 

the University in 2018. 

“She never complained when 

she was ill. Her friends were 

very supportive of her, but she 

was very strong. She always 

looked on the bright side of 

things,” said Barbie. 

At the celebration of her life 

on 15 November 2022, it was 

announced in addition to a 

previous donation of $900,000 

that she had left $20 million to 

the Charles Perkins Centre. 

“How wonderful to be able 

to leave that, and help change 

so many people’s lives,” said 

Barbie. – Rosamund Burton 

News 



News 

Camera Club focuses on future 

Marie Windred is pragmatic about no 

longer being able to hold her prized 

(but heavy) Canon camera – although 

this hasn’t stopped her from taking 

photos. 

The 92-year-old from Mona Vale utters 

the words that no fellow Pittwater 

Camera Club (PCC) member thought they 

would ever hear her say: “I use an iPhone 

now to take photos of my grandchildren 

and great grandchildren. I still like capturing 

the moments, the memory. 

“I’ve given a Canon to my grandson 

and he’s excited so I’m passing down the 

joy of taking photos.” 

The former president and life member 

of PCC which began in 1966, attended 

her last meeting almost two years ago 

(she joined in 1980). Mobility issues are 

increasingly keeping Marie and her husband 

Alf, 93, at home. 

“COVID was devastating for our club 

because we couldn’t meet (at Pittwater 

RSL) and now of course some people 

have moved on,” Mrs Windred said. 

For a club which grew from humble 

beginnings in Did and Charles Usher’s 

loungeroom after they advertised for 

interested photographers, it boasted 45 

members until only a few years ago. 

After they outgrew the Usher’s home 

they met in everything from a church 

hall to a bus depot – “I always found 

places that didn’t cost an arm and a leg,” 

Mrs Windred said of her 28-year presidency 

from 1981 to 2009. 

“Some of the most enjoyable times of 

my life were at a camera club meeting. 

I remember when the bogong moths 

would fly in through the window and the 

girls would all scream. 

“It was great fun, just the enjoyment 

you get from being with other photographers 

and showing each other your work 

MOVING WITH THE TIMES: Marie Windred. 

– it’s always been our aim to help in any 

way we could. 

“I encouraged members to help Year 

12 students and one student ended up 

representing the national icons of our 

society in an exhibition at the Australian 

Museum, another benefited from 

our help by becoming a professional 

photographer.” 

Now Mrs Windred is hoping a new generation 

of amateur, passionate or professional 

photographers will join PCC. 

After she relinquished the presidency 

13 years ago, Peter Squires took on the 

PHOTO: Kat Adamski 

role until COVID hit and now it is held 

by Bill Roberts, of Whale Beach, who is 

one of only a handful of certified master 

picture framers in Australia. 

Mr Roberts, who has been a member 

for 15 years, is looking forward to the 

year ahead. 

“When we had more members it used 

to be more competitive and it made people 

strive to improve their work,” he said. 

“We have a lot less members now so 

it’s more of a social club and we concentrate 

on education with inspiring guest 

speakers. 

“It’s for people who are interested 

in photography to meet like-minded 

people.” 

And Mrs Windred remains the club’s 

strongest supporter. 

The former magazine photographer 

has different artistic pursuits these days, 

including capturing her five children, 10 

grandchildren and two great grandchildren 

with her iPhone camera. 

“I will always support the club in any 

way I can,” she said. 

“But I have a big job to tackle at home 

too – scanning all of my photographic 

slides from the past 66 years. It’s everything 

from the olden days; I’ve decided 

I’ll keep weddings, christenings and 

family history but if it’s ‘just’ a beautiful 

mountain, it can go.” 

The PCC has an exciting agenda 

planned for the year, starting with 

presentation evenings at Pittwater RSL 

Club on February 6 and 20, with external 

judges to critique members’ work. There 

will also be outings and workshops. 

The club is affiliated with the Federation 

of Camera Clubs. – Kat Adamski 

*For further information visit pittwatercameraclub.org 

or email secretary@ 

pittwatercameraclub.org 



News 

‘Let’s do it again at state level’ 

Climate action and environmental 

Park, is set to deliver thousands of jobs 

protection are likely to be two of the 

and generate over $1 billion for the 

most hotly contested issues in Pittwater 

in the upcoming NSW Election, according 

to Independent for Pittwater candidate 

Jacqui Scruby. 

“They were certainly deciding factors 

for voters in Pittwater in last year’s 

Federal election,” Ms Scruby said. “Local 

frustration at reluctant policy concessions 

and lip service rather than action 

from the Morrison Coalition government 

was a major factor behind the election 

of community independent Dr Sophie 

Scamps.” 

Ms Scruby said the community now 

had the chance to do it all again at a 

State level, adding she believed locals 

wanted a member of parliament with 

vision for a sustainable and liveable 

Pittwater, Sydney and NSW, who was 

economy,” she said. 

“But most importantly NSW must seize 

the economic benefits of becoming a 

renewable superpower. In the short term, 

we should be following Queensland’s 

lead and tackle NSW’s $20 billion debt by 

securing more royalties from coal companies 

making windfall profits. 

“We should be transitioning coal-dependent 

areas like the Hunter Valley into 

renewable energy industrial precincts, 

and developing and manufacturing carbon 

smart technology using our supply 

of critical minerals, to set ourselves up 

for a bright future.” 

She said policies to encourage low-cost 

electrification for businesses, homes, including 

rental properties, and transport 

would cut emissions and reduce power 

grounded in practicality and sound 

bills. 

ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS: Jacqui Scruby. 

economic reasoning. 

“NSW needs to take the lead of corporate 

Scruby, a former environmental lawyer, 

management consultant and policy 

advisor to Dr Scamps, continued: “We 

all love living here in large part because 

of Pittwater’s beautiful natural environment 

which we want to conserve. But it 

doesn’t end there – we’re not NIMBYs, 

and what we want for Pittwater, we want 

for our state. 

“Locals don’t want to see the PEP-11 

permit for drilling for oil and gas off the 

coast of Pittwater risking our beaches 

and, by the same token, they also don’t 

want the 26 new coal and gas projects 

that have been approved by the NSW 

Coalition Government since the Paris 

Agreement. 

“It’s incompatible for the NSW government 

to be transitioning the state to renewable 

energy whilst at the same time 

times NSW’s annual emissions. 

“The community is currently fighting 

the changes to conservation zones 

to residential in the Local Environment 

Plan and potential commercialisation of 

Barrenjoey Headland. 

“They also are outraged that taxpayer 

money to the tune of $13m/pa is being 

used to subsidise native forest logging, 

reducing our crucial carbon stores and 

killing our iconic koalas.” 

Ms Scruby said Victoria and WA had already 

committed to ending native forest 

logging and there was pressure on NSW 

to do the same, particularly following 

the devastating reports on biodiversity 

loss, including the inevitable extinction 

of the koala by 2050 if NSW didn’t take 

action. 

“The alternative plan, to use the native 

Australia and better manage climate 

risk. We need to plan coherently at all 

levels of government for the impacts of 

climate change. 

“In Pittwater we need flood mitigation 

for our major roads, better NSW Government 

management of climate adaptation, 

particularly for coastal erosion to avoid 

sea walls and protect homes and businesses 

from the increased insurances 

currently being faced by residents in 

Narrabeen. It will end up costing us more 

if we don’t take action now. 

“Of course, there are critical State 

issues from schools to health care to 

infrastructure that Pittwater needs 

addressing as well, but the people of 

Pittwater want representation on all this 

and more. They deserve a representative 

that reflects their values and embraces 

approving projects that will generate 34 forests to create Great Koala National the future.” 




Greens’ namesake stands 

The Greens have preselected environmental activist 

and statistician Hilary Green to stand for the seat 

of Pittwater at the NSW Election in March. 

Northern Beaches Greens convenor Evan Turner 

said the party was sure Ms Green would live up to her 

name as their candidate. 

“The Greens will be hard to miss with Hilary on the 

ballot paper,” Mr Turner said. “Currently our local 

secretary, she has campaigned for a large variety of 

causes, including human rights, climate change and 

the environment more broadly, as well as against the 

Iraq wars. 

“We are proud to have 

such an outstanding 

candidate representing 

us at what is a critical 

election for Pittwater, 

given the large number 

of issues we’re facing 

and that our local MP is 

retiring.” 

Ms Green has lived 

in Mona Vale for 22 

years after being born 

at Manly; she has spent 

most of her life on the 

Beaches. 

With a PhD in 

Statistics and several 

other degrees to her 

HOPES: Hilary Green. 

name, Ms Green was 

an academic lecturing and researching in Statistics 

at Macquarie and other Sydney universities until five 

years ago. 

She applied this expertise in the Voices of Mackellar 

movement in the lead-up to the last Federal election, 

carrying out all the statistical analysis on data 

collected in its ‘Kitchen Tea Conversations’. 

“I’ve been a Greens voter most of my voting life and 

until now have been a foot soldier,” Ms Green said. 

“However, I’ve decided to stand because I want to show 

Pittwater people that the Greens, as a party, is a powerful 

force for good, and encourage them to embrace this 

progressive movement at the election.” 

– NW 

Amon spruiks delivery 

Liberal Party candidate for Pittwater 

Rory Amon says that 

if given the nod at the State election 

he will build on his record 

of delivering outcomes for community 

as a Northern Beaches 

Councillor as well as add to the 

legacy of achievements of retiring 

MP Rob Stokes. 

Mr Amon, a family lawyer, 

stands by his achievements 

from his five years on Northern 

Beaches Council, which he says 

includes securing $2.5 million 

to fast-track the re-build of the 

Mona Vale Surf Club. 

Other ‘wins’ included protecting 

and enhancing the 

Newport Littoral Rainforest by 

securing $4.6 million to acquire 

and conserve land slated for 

development; and preventing 

inappropriate developments of 

130 apartments in Warriewood, 

“thousands of dwellings in 

fire-prone Ingleside”, and other 

inappropriate development in 

other areas. 

“And I will continue the legacy 

of Rob Stokes, who in recent 

times has delivered over $50 

million to upgrade Mona Vale 

Public School, was instrumental 

in the set-up and success of the 

Keoride public transport service 

which has had over 700,000 

rides in five years, secured $250 

million for the crucial upgrade 

of Mona Vale Road, and delivered 

generous cost of living 

measures to support working 

families,” Mr Amon said. 

“I am passionate about 

preserving the natural beauty 

of Pittwater,” he said. “I want 

STANDING ON RECORD: Rory Amon. 

to ensure the people of Pittwater 

continue to be served by 

a strong advocate in the NSW 

Parliament who has the experience 

and proven track record to 

get things done. 

“There are many projects 

critical to the future of Pittwater 

and I look forward saying more 

about these over the coming 

weeks.” 

In addition to his community 

advocacy work on Northern 

Beaches Council, Mr Amon has 

been a dedicated volunteer firefighter 

with the Davidson Rural 

Fire Brigade for a decade. 

During the 2019-20 bushfires 

that devastated the state, he 

served on the NSW South Coast, 

protecting lives, property and 

wildlife. In recognition of this 

service, he was awarded the NSW 

Premier’s Bushfire Emergency 

Citation in 2020 and also awarded 

the Governor General’s National 

Emergency Medal in 2022. – NW 

News 



News 

6THINGS 

THIS MONTH 

Roller Disco. Skate under the stars 

on the first Saturday of the month (in 

Feb, that’s the 4th) at a pop-up roller 

disco at Avalon Beach Netball court 

from 7pm-10pm. All ages welcome; 

cost is $25. More info 0487 870 971. 

Courtyard connect. Meet new 

people and enjoy conversations, 

guest speakers, games, local history 

and morning tea at this free social 

event for adults and seniors held on 

the first Monday of the month (in Feb, 

that’s the 6th!) at Mona Vale Library 

from 11am-12pm. 

Othello in the park. Such 

Stuff Productions presents 

Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy 

Othello in Catherine Park on 

Scotland Island on Saturday 11 from 

7.30pm-10.30pm (a chartered ferry 

will be leaving Scotland Island from 

Tennis Wharf at 11pm after the show). 

Tickets $40; Concession $20; 

bookings through Humantix. 

Author talk. Avalon Community 

Library presents its first author 

talk for 2023 in conversation with 

local author Jo Riccioni about her 

speculative fiction book The Branded, 

on Wed 22 at 6pm. Also celebrate 

Seniors Week at a free ‘Conversation 

on Aging’ event on Tues 7. Book at the 

library or call 8495 5080. 

Pink Floyd show. Hard to believe it’s 

been 50 years since The Dark Side 

of the Moon was released, becoming 

one of the greatest albums of all time, 

spending more than 18 years on 

the charts. The Pittwater Offshore 

Community’s Flaming Doghouse 

Showband will perform the full album 

plus plenty of Floyd favourites at The 

Ted Blackwood Community Hall, 

Warriewood from 7.30pm on Friday 

24 and Saturday 25. Tickets $48; 

book through trybooking. 

Sew, knit, crochet. Manly Branch 

of the Country Women’s Association 

(CWA) of NSW is 100 years strong 

this year and hosting numerous 

events to educate the Northern 

Beaches community about what 

they do and to share some skills. 

On Saturday 25 (then 22nd April 

and 24th June) they are holding a 

craft day where anyone can learn 

to sew, knit or crochet a bag, a face 

washer or a toy, all materials supplied. 

Sessions will start at 10am, 11am, 

midday and 1pm, at St Matthew’s 

Church, The Corso, Manly; 

manlycwa@gmail.com 



News 

Letters: Readers have their say 

Zones Review 

The Conservation Zones 

Review has nothing to do with 

conservation. It is a guide for 

developers as to what they 

can build and a greenwashing 

exercise that should put our 

Council to shame. 

It is deliberately skewed 

to releasing as much land as 

possible to construction. 

The public have been ignored 

and treated with contempt – 

presented with a mountain 

of subjective documentation 

that no ordinary citizen can 

understand. 

It makes a mockery of the 

environmental and ‘Have Your 

Say’ PR piffle that saturates the 

council’s website. 

I believe this Review and its 

deception is a turning point; 

community trust has already 

been eroded with the current 

DA approval system, so what 

hope can we have in them 

policing slacker regulations, 

with no avenue of appeal? 

If Council thinks a strategy 

of proposing the absurd and 

then compromising with the 

ridiculous will prove they’re 

listening, then they are wrong. 

This Conservation Zoning 

Review should be thrown out. 

Steve Jacobs 

Palm Beach 

State Election #1 

I applaud Independent for 

Pittwater candidate Jacqui 

Scruby for taking a stand on 

local infrastructure issues 

and the integrity of State 

Parliament. Some solid plans to 

achieve her aims would be nice. 

As Jacqui is a conservationist 

I’m surprised that she has 

not announced any plans 

regarding the eradication of 

local feral animals, invasive 

plant, shrub or tree species. 

I will listen to her arguments 

on renewable energy and 

cooking without gas when 

she becomes a cost planner or 

estimating engineer, with a few 

hints on how to cook fried rice 

electrically. 

Meanwhile, I can never vote 

for a Liberal or Labor candidate 

until they stand up and say: “I’d 

love to represent you, however I 

can only do what the unelected 

officials at Head Office tell me 

to do.” When any Liberal or 

Labor candidate can do that, 

we’ll all be wishing for firstpast-the-post 

voting. 

Mike Musgrave 

Newport 

State Election #2 

I’m not particularly interested 

in politics but I have had 

dealings with Rory Amon 

as a councillor regarding a 

walkway collapsing into water 

at Bayview. He definitely made 

some progress with this safety 

concern, which the Council 

once neglected. 

Also, I think Independent 

Jacqui Scruby isn’t doing 

herself any favours with her 

voice running other parties 

down. Just stay focused on 

what you can do, not what you 

think happened in the past 

because of others. 

Lorelle Mainsbridge 

Mona Vale 

Crossings danger 

I can’t believe Council allows a 

right turn into Avalon Parade 

exiting Old Barrenjoey Road. 

I’ve seen 11 cars held up 

waiting for a car to turn right. It 

should be ‘no right turn’. 

More serious are the new 

pedestrian crossings. Now set 

back from the intersection, 

cars, vans and trucks creep 

in seeking to turn right 

from Avalon Parade into Old 

Barrenjoey Road. This blocks 

the view of drivers of cars 

heading west on Avalon Parade, 

endangering pedestrians. I 

even saw an elderly lady on 

a mobility scooter sensibly 

waving a flag from behind 

a van, as she could not see 

approaching traffic and they 

could not see her! 

The Shared Space is a great 

idea but several features make 

it dangerous. 

Robert Upfold 

Avalon Beach 

*Write to us at readers@ 

pittwaterlife.com.au 



Avalon works update 

Northern Beaches 

Council contractors 

will return to Avalon 

in the coming weeks to 

complete works on the 

Shared Spaces project at 

the intersection of Old 

Barrenjoey Road (North) 

and Avalon Parade. 

As reported in Pittwater 

Life last month, the 

project has suffered 

from a series of poor 

construction executions, 

including drainage works. 

As shown by these 

photos taken in January, 

some issues with 

drainage remain. 

Gutters which formerly 

linked to storm water 

drains are now cut-off 

and are prone to ponding. 

Northern Beaches 

Council CEO Ray 

Brownlee said contractors 

had installed two 

additional stormwater 

inlets and works would 

recommence in mid-late 

February to complete 

improvements to the 

streetscape, including 

footpath extensions 

and pedestrian safety 

upgrades. 

“We are continuing to 

support local businesses 

and will complete this 

project to the standard 

the community expects.” 

The two additional 

stormwater pits have 

been installed in Old 

Barrenjoey Road. 

However, pooling of 

water in the drains has 

highlighted the risk of 

mosquitos breeding. 

Two shade structures 

are also slated to 

be installed in Old 

Barrenjoey Rd; however, 

this shading will cover 

only 20 per cent of the 

new outdoor seating. 

Public domain and 

landscaping works will 

recommence mid-late 

February. – NW 

‘SHARED’ CONCERN: Not-shallow puddles 

linger after rain under the new 

street furniture (above); ponding in the 

now-redundant road gutter outside the 

Avalon Rec Centre (below). 

News 



News 

Australia Day Award winners 

Northern Beaches Council’s 

15 Australia Day recipients 

included a trail blazing young 

person with a passion for 

politics, a local mother who 

spends any spare time 

advocating for the 

vulnerable, a senior 

who is a technological 

wizz, and a young 

sailor with aspirations 

of winning a gold 

medal at the Olympics. 

Rachael Jackson of 

Belrose was named 

Citizen of the Year. 

Rachel has assisted 

many community 

groups and managed 

projects and services 

for individuals in 

need. As a member 

of the Frenchs Forest 

Lions Club, she has 

been a key player 

in organising the 

Christmas Carols 

at Lionel Watts Ovals for the 

past six years. The event raises 

much-needed funds for local 

charities. 

As a single mum of three 

WINNER: Rachael. 

WINNER: Noah. 

children, she is an advocate for 

those with disabilities, victims 

of domestic violence and the 

homeless. 

Noah Smith of Bilgola Plateau 

was named Young 

Citizen of the Year. 

With a passion for 

youth and indigenous 

issues, for the second 

year running Noah 

was selected to be the 

NSW Youth Parliament 

Member for Pittwater, as 

the Youth Minister for 

Aboriginal Affairs. 

His advocacy work 

saw him awarded the 

Youth Parliamentarian 

of the Year. Also, a 

member of Bilgola Surf 

Life Saving Club, Noah 

has been awarded the 

Chairmans Award for 

his contribution to the 

Nippers program. 

He is also a member 

of the Northern Beaches 

Council’s Youth Advisory 

Group. – LO 

*Full awards list on Council 

website. 

Upgrading Pittwater’s 

storm response 

NEW ASSETS: The new storm 

response vehicle and trailer. 

NSW State Emergency 

Service (SES) volunteers 

on the Northern Beaches 

have been given a $255,000 

boost to their emergency 

response capability with 

the delivery of a new 

Medium Storm Vehicle and 

General Purpose Trailer. 

The two new assets form 

part of the NSW Government’s 

$116 million Fleet Replacement Program to provide 

volunteers with the best possible resources and equipment. 

Pittwater MP Rob Stokes said the new vehicle and trailer 

were a welcome sight following relentless rain and flooding 

over the past year. 

“The Medium Storm Vehicle is equipped with a comprehensive 

suite of equipment to enhance the volunteers’ capability 

in storms and flood rescues, while the General Purpose 

Trailer will assist with the transport of sandbags, tools, 

water, food, medicines and other items,” Mr Stokes said. 

“These new assets will help our volunteers better protect 

the community, keeping residents safer and stronger when 

severe weather strikes.” 

Over the past three years, volunteers have responded to 

3,500 requests for assistance – the equivalent of going out 

into the community three times a day to help tarp roofs, 

secure trees, resupply goods and ensure the wellbeing of 

residents. 

– Lisa Offord 



Barrenjoey stays in 

News 

The issue of whether 

members of the public 

should be allowed to 

stay overnight in Barrenjoey 

Headland’s heritage buildings 

is back on the agenda – and it 

continues to inflame sections 

of the local community. 

The potential for the short 

stays has been slammed by 

community and residents 

groups plus the majority of 

local politicians. 

A ‘Hands Off Barrenjoey’ 

rally on January 22, attended 

by more than 100 people, saw 

organisers demand that accommodation 

on the headland 

never be allowed to progress. 

Politicians opposed to 

short stays include NSW State 

Election candidates Rory 

Amon (Liberals) Hilary Green 

(Greens), Jeffrey Quinn (Labor) 

and Jacqui Scruby (Independent 

for Pittwater), plus Mackellar 

MP Dr Sophie Scamps. 

Northern Beaches Councillors 

Miranda Korzy and 

STAY OR NOT: The cottages on Barrenjoey Headland. 

Michael Gencher are also 

opposed. 

Pittwater MP Rob Stokes and 

his potential Liberal successor 

Cr Amon are at odds over the 

issue: Mr Stokes wants process 

and consideration to take due 

course; Mr Amon says it’s a 

“flat no”. 

The accommodation proposal 

is outlined in the National 

Parks and Wildlife Service’s 

(NPWS) draft revised plan of 

management, which was exhibited 

late last year. 

The polarising issue has 

rekindled the ire of the Palm 

Beach Whale Beach Association 

which has opposed any 

development or potential commercialisation 

of the headland 

since the NPWS released its 

first Plan of Management (POM) 

for Barrenjoey 20 years ago. 

NPWS’ original POM stated: 

“Adaptive re-use of buildings at 

Barrenjoey Head will be investigated 

and implemented subject 

PHOTO: Andre James 

to environmental assessment… 

under the NSW Heritage Act.” 

Lack of amenities, including 

public toilets, have been a 

stumbling block to progressing 

accommodation; however the 

Government has allocated $2 

million for toilets. 

Mr Stokes says he agrees 

that any future activities at 

the Headland should respect, 

restore and preserve its natural 

and cultural heritage. 

He also said that if the Headland 

was given the green light 

for accommodation, it should 

be managed by the NPWS, and 

not by a third-party operator. 

Mr Stokes views accommodation 

as an option should all 

necessary NPWS assessments 

be met. 

The NPWS said adaptive reuse 

of heritage buildings was 

common. 

“It is generally permissible 

in all parks subject to obtaining 

required environmental 

and heritage approvals,” a 



flames community 

spokesperson said. 

“There are dozens of heritage 

buildings in national parks 

that are used for accommodation 

or other uses. 

“Rental costs are reasonable 

and competitive… all proceeds 

are re-invested in park management.” 

Barrenjoey Headland is 

listed on the State Heritage register 

and as such would require 

Heritage Council approval 

before any changes could be 

made to buildings. 

NPWS has repurposed several 

historic buildings across 

Sydney to open them for public 

use/access including Hilltop 

Cottage, Middle Head officers 

quarters, and Gardeners 

cottage. 

NPWS said that even under 

the plan of management, 

there were several additional 

steps that must be undertaken 

before the buildings could be 

re-used for accommodation. 

Mr Stokes told Pittwater Life: 

“I strongly agree with the Palm 

Beach Association’s concerns 

that any future activities at 

Barrenjoey Headland should 

respect, restore and preserve 

the natural and cultural heritage 

of the precinct. 

“I met with the Association 

on 23 December to hear their 

concerns. I agreed to seek a 

meeting with Environment 

Minister James Griffin, which 

took place on 19 January. 

“I also endorse the view that 

the Headland should be managed 

by the NPWS.” 

Mr Stokes added he was 

“delighted” that Mr Griffin and 

the NPWS had confirmed that 

preservation, restoration, public 

access and public control 

would be enshrined in any new 

POM. 

“I also believe that any 

future use should focus on 

providing greater access to the 

precinct by charities and families 

who might never otherwise 

have the opportunity to enjoy 

such an amazing public place. 

“It would be lovely to see the 

cottages used again. They have 

been locked away from the 

community for far too long.” 

Cr Amon said he stood with 

the members of the community 

who did not support the 

accommodation option. 

He said he had received commitments 

from Mr Griffin that 

the Boatman’s Cottage on the 

headland would not be subject 

to any short-term accommodation 

and would remain as 

accommodation for a caretaker, 

so there was a physical 

presence on site. 

“Also, a Strategic Reference 

Group (SRG) will be formed, 

made up of residents and 

stakeholders. The SRG will 

ensure the final Plan of Management 

reflects community 

feedback, including the potential 

for other uses suggested by 

the community, such as arts 

and cultural spaces.” 

At the January 22 rally, 

opponents aired concerns 

including that the use of the 

cottages for short-stay accommodation 

was not appropriate 

for several reasons, including 

that there was no road and no 

vehicle access to the headland 

to convey guests, their baggage 

and food up to the headland 

and to remove rubbish. 

Also, they said the proposal 

would mean the public would 

be discouraged from visiting. 

Meanwhile a ‘Save Barrenjoey’ 

petition (at Change. 

org) has attracted almost 1500 

signatures. 

The petition maintains 

that appropriate uses of the 

cottages are daytime uses – a 

kiosk to provide drinks and 

snacks to visitors, art gallery/ 

studios/art school, music, historical/interpretation 

displays 

or education, plus sales of 

memorabilia. 


*What do you think? Tell us at 

readers@pittwaterlife.com.au 

News 



News 

Protective eyes in the skies 

Remo Adoncello was enjoying a late staff employed during the 2022-23 season the NSW Department of Primary Industries 

contracted AUAVS to provide shark 

morning swim at Palm Beach when the by the Australian UAV Service (AUAVS). 

shark alarm went off, summonsing the 

New Year crowds in the water between Kiddies 

Corner and the twin black rocks back 

to the safety of the sand. 

The alarm had been triggered by Remo’s 

colleague, drone pilot Sebastian Vega 

Karpov. 

Sebastian had spotted a school of up to 

15 Hammerhead sharks chasing a “bait 

ball” – when small fish gather in an everchanging 

mass for collective protection, 

hoping not to be devoured when it’s their 

turn on the outside. 

Sebastian, a member of Mona Vale SLSC, 

did exactly as he’d been trained to do. 

He rushed the footage to the beach 

patrol which immediately sounded the 

shark alarm. 

Naturally, during the “silly season”, 

it made international click bait news: 

“Sharks attack Home and Away beach”. 

How could it not? 

As the person in charge of the drone 

equipment at Palm Beach, Remo was interviewed 

the following day by Nine’s Today. 

No cliche was spared by the TV crew. 

Cue the theme from Jaws; plus narratives 

including “a feeding frenzy…” and “… 

every swimmer’s worst nightmare”. 

Remo was a voice of reason, pointing 

out Hammerhead sharks are often seen 

around the Northern Beaches, including 

“one (in Palm Beach) locals have labelled 

Bruce”. 

Strictly speaking, what Remo and Seb fly 

aren’t ‘drones’; rather they are “uncrewed 

aerial vehicles”, always piloted by remote 

control by a fully trained human. 

They’re top of the range Mavics and 

Matrices, including a “voice” to warn 

surveillance using drones during the summer 

holiday. It launched on the Northern 

Beaches in 2020. 

Originally only 32 locations in NSW were 

chosen. 

Now, volunteer-operated drones are perusing 

the waters between the flags at just 

about every club on the Northern Beaches. 

Stuart says: “We help out with competitor 

safety at other surf sports events such 

as surfing competitions and Nippers 

carnivals.” 

Sharks (particularly Hammerheads) are 

probably the least concern. 

Rips, rock fishermen on dangerous ledges, 

injured surfers can also be monitored 

from the air in time to launch traditional 

surf life rescuers. 

Yet AUAVS drone operators have also 

partnered the State Emergency Service 

inland during the traumatic floods across 

NSW. 

Stuart quotes figures that show since 

the first season in 2020-1 to this (as yet 

uncompleted) season, the total drone 

flights increased from 12,000 to 31,000. 

Meanwhile shark sights have dropped 

from 250 to 149. 

AUAVS is keen to encourage new drone 

operators to protect our beaches. 

All ages are welcome, but the national 

organisation is particularly interested in 

recruiting teenage girls and boys willing 

to learn a new life and social skill. 

KEEPING WATCH: ‘Drone’ pilot Remo Adoncello 

(Presumably named after the Barry 

Obviously the AUAVS operators are on 

with his UAV at Palm Beach in busy January. 

Humphries-voiced vegetarian Great White 

duty mainly to protect humans. 

in Finding Nemo – and no-one in Australia 

has ever been attacked by a hammerhead.) 

The interviewer asked for Remo’s views 

on shark nets. 

“With the technology we have now we 

can do a better job monitoring from the 

air,” said the member of Whale Beach and 

Avalon Beach SLSCs. 

Palm Beach, South Narrabeen and Dee 

Why are the only three in the Northern 

Beaches Council jurisdiction which had 

swimmers, surfers and paddle boarders of 

any dangers. 

And in a few short years they have revolutionised 

surf life saving. 

“We currently operate at 50 NSW locations, 

covering every local government 

area on the coast from the Victorian border 

to the Queensland border,” says Stuart 

Jackson, the AUAVS supervisor responsible 

for NSW and based at Belrose. 

The state initiative dates to 2017 when 

However, the training and time on the 

job provide a unique aerial perspective 

on the aquatic life most of us never see 

beneath the surf. 

Seals, penguins, “bait balls”. Even Bruce. 

“I got lots of shots of Bruce yesterday,” 

Remo says on the day our photos were 

taken. 

“He was going about his day doing no 

harm to anyone.” 

– Steve Meacham 

PHOTO: Steve Meacham 



James of the write stuff 

News 

For 34-year-old James 

Cripps, late 2022 was a 

whirlwind. Not only did 

he win the Australian Writers’ 

Guild’s prestigious Monte 

Miller award for his script High 

Rotation, he was also one of six 

emerging writers to be selected 

for the career-formative NCIS: 

SYDNEY S1 Script Department 

Program which immerses the 

screenwriters in all facets of 

the script department and 

development process. 

James admits that he nearly 

wasn’t going to apply for the 

program, because his wife, 

Caitlin, was expecting a baby 

in mid-December. 

“A few people told me I 

should apply, and then we 

worked out a way to make it 

happen,” he said. 

Having grown up in Avalon 

until he was five, and then 

lived in Newport for most of 

his life (until Caitlin and he 

moved into a place in North 

Narrabeen in late November), 

he went to Macquarie University 

and obtained a Bachelor of 

Media degree followed by an 

Honours year. 

When he finished uni in 

2010 he became a production 

runner, which he describes as 

the ‘gopher’ on a film crew, 

who runs errands, shuttles 

cast back and forth and gets 

coffees for people. He recalls 

working on Underbelly Razor 

and his first day on a film set 

was in a room at the Royal 

Automobile Club of Australia, 

which had been converted 

into a 1920s Melbourne men’s 

snooker lounge. 

“That was where I later 

PERSISTENT: James Cripps has won a prestigious scriptwriting award. 

got married. We wanted an 

old world vibe, and looked at 

lots of places during COVID. 

I walked into the room and 

went, ‘hey, I’ve been in here 

before’.” 

He made the jump into the 

script department, initially as 

a researcher and then script 

coordinator. He also did script 

editing and occasionally would 

be asked to write a minute’s 

screen time, or a new scene, 

sometimes for the next day, if 

for example an episode of a TV 

series was too short. 

“The career strategy is not 

drowning when constantly 

being thrown in the deep end,” 

he says. 

From 2016 to 2019 James 

worked in-house for the television 

production company 

Screentime Australia and was 

script editor on the ABC series 

Janet King 3. He was also 

involved in the early stages of 

Pine Gap, a Netflix series. 

There is no clear pathway to 

become a screenwriter, James 

explains, but in those three 

years he gained huge insight 

into how and why some projects 

get up, but others don’t. 

He had some money put 

aside to write scripts, so left 

Screentime Australia and took 

that plunge, writing six to 

seven hours a day, six days a 

week, developing several ideas. 

When the money ran out, 

knowing that perception was 

important in the industry and, 

in order to be taken seriously 

as a screenwriter that he could 

not take any job, he only took 

on interesting research jobs. 

During COVID he stepped 

away from the industry 

entirely and worked three 

days a week as a transcriptionist 

for a company whose 

clients included NSW courts 

and the police. It gave him 

just enough money to cover 

bills and expenses. The other 

three days he wrote. 

His horror drama, Blooded, 

was short-listed for the short 

form Monte Miller Award in 

2019. What was initially an idea 

for a web series is now a horror 

thriller feature film, and was 

a finalist in the 2021 AACTA 

Pitch: Bite competition. 

Then last October he was 

awarded the Australian Writers’ 

Guild’s eminent long form 

Monte Miller Award for his 

script High Rotation, a TV series 

about how when a pop star 

steals her lyrics, a bedroom 

songwriter must fight for the 

recognition she deserves by 

breaking into the gated institution 

of the Australian music 

industry. 

“It’s tough,” James says. “I 

still haven’t got that first produced 

script of my own on television. 

I’m getting closer, but I 

didn’t realise it would take this 

long when I first started.” 

But his hard work and persistence 

are certainly paying 

off. The Monte Miller Awards 

showcase the best unproduced 

scripts to the industry. And to 

have been selected as a screenwriter 

for the NCIS: SYDNEY 

S1 Script Department Program 

is another significant achievement. 

“Jot down these names for 

future reference,” said Rick 

Maier, Head of Drama and Executive 

President of Paramount 

ANZ, about the six selected 

screenwriters. “I’m sure we’ll 

all be hearing a lot more.” 

Footnote: James and Caitlin 

welcomed son Miller Lee on 

15 December 

– Rosamund Burton 



The Way We Were 

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

the area’s recent history – and confirming that quite often the more things change, the 

more they stay the same! Compiled by Lisa Offord 

25 Years Ago… 

The Way News We Were 

Stardust Circus was back, setting up at the 

St Ives Showground: “… the closest available 

site since Pittwater Council banned the event 

from its area by not making any public land 

available for it”. There was a story about 

Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club stalwart 

Doug Crane who “… at the age of 70 is 

still doing active beach patrols – just as he 

has done for the last 51 years”. Amongst 

Doug’s observations about how times had 

changed, he said the boom in tourism had 

brought challenges: “When the backpackers’ 

hostel was built, we found people walking 

over the sandhills and diving in out of the 

patrolled area. We’ve talked about putting 

up foreign language signs. I think it’s a good 

idea.” Council’s General Manager confirmed 

construction of the Avalon Skate Park was 

scheduled to begin by the end of April (1998), adding “… 

while there was a great amount of detail to be worked out, the 

council was anxious to see the project go ahead particularly 

after the strong show of community support in raising funds 

for the project”. Almost $14,000 of community money 


for the project had already been raised. 

Festivals were the flavour of the month, 

with organisers of the Pittwater Festival 

seeking contributions to fund the event 

which would take place in March; details 

were released about a major film festival 

which would see films screened in seven 

restaurants or cafes between Narrabeen 

and Palm Beach; and the year’s Newport 

Jazz Festival needed a venue after the 

Newport Arms dropped their sponsorship. 

The team at La Banette were ‘En Vacances’ 

re-opening March 4 and Avalon Beach RSL 

was offering “the best value meals in town” 

– $2 lunch Saturdays and Tuesdays and a 

$7.50 buffet lunch Wednesday to Monday. 

The arts section carried a story about local 

Toni Byrne who “had been exploring the 

creative potential of mosaics with her works adorning many 

churches, schools and boardrooms across Sydney” and the 

ceramic hobby industry was booming with new studios 

opening across the Northern Beaches. Three locals received 

Australia Day Honours. 


As the cover 

cost estimates for One of our most popular magazines to date, 

shot of 

landslip reports Feb 2018 showcased Pittwater’s seven ocean 

Avalon rock 

with “… the much pools and their micro-communities of swimmers 

pool showed, 

bandied-about and supporters. We made enquiries to ensure 

“…Pittwater 

suggestion that readers didn’t miss the NBN connection cut-off 

beaches took 

landowners 

date for their suburb and profiled local marine 

a pounding in 

would have to environmental group Living Ocean and its cofounder 

the extra high 

pay $4,000 for 

Robbi Newman. The Mona Vale Autumn 

tides of late last 

a geotechnical Festival was launched to keep businesses at 

month. With 

report if they the forefront of the local community exiting 

more intense 

wanted to put the busy summer trade period. The State 

storm activity 

additions on 

Government tipped in a further $45,000 to assist 

forecast, the 

their homes 

NB Council with its plan for watercraft storage 

effects of 

or do a 

around Narrabeen 

beach sand 

development on Lagoon. Ten new 

erosion may be 

landslip land… medical graduates 

long term and 

almost 10,000 commenced their 

expensive to 

properties have clinical internships 

fix”. Woolworths 

been added at Mona Vale 

was operating a 

to Pittwater’s Hospital. Six people 

daily bus service 

list of homes to be declared living in our area 

from Avalon to Mona Vale as the at risk of landslip. Many are in a received Australia 

“Avalon supermarket checks out new category which indicates that Day Honours, while 

for five months” for renovations. the prospect of a landslip is ‘very two residents of 

“Meanwhile, Woolworths is still rare’.” Building began on the new Pittwater were 

interested in a site in Newport $8 million Clubhouse at Bayview among a total of 

but rezoning and other planning Golf Club; and at the Australian 15 recognised 

matters… means it will be at least Hobie National Titles held on 

for Outstanding 

two years away.” Concept designs Botany Bay, Palm Beach sailors Community Service 

for an outdoor performance space featured in all classes (except 

in NB Council’s 

in Mona Vale Village Park were Hobie 18) – with eight podium 

own Australia Day 

presented; and Council questioned finishes. 

Awards. 



News 

SEEN… 

If anyone needed reminding that the 

major intersection at Avalon Beach 

was a flood plain and not the place to 

mess about with due to problems with 

drainage, then look at this blast from 

the past (above). This B&W image was 

taken by photographer John Stone in 

1974, from the corner outside current 

Ecodownunder, with Swell cafe next-door but just 

out of site. The view is north/north-west, with Dunbar Park 

in the middle distance… Congratulations to local businesses 

Red Cross Newport and C Side Kids Creative Playcentre 

Collaroy who were judged best Window Displays in their wards 

(Pittwater and Narrabeen) in NB Council’s recent Christmas 

shopping promotion. Pictured are Red Cross’ Heather Menzies, 

Didi Gilder and Gisele Hindhaugh (manager). 

HEARD… 

After being boarded up for two years, the restaurant and café 

spaces at Avalon Beach Surf Lifesaving Club could be occupied 

again – but probably not before next Summer. Council tells us 

it finally released a new tender for the spaces on 15 December; 

these will close on 17 February whereupon submissions will be 

evaluated. It’s expected short-listed applicants will be reported 

to Council in the coming months. The long delay was caused 

by a legal wrangle/settlement with the former out-of-area 

leaseholder; Council says the tender could not be released until 

after the former lease was officially terminated and works 

required inside the premises were completed. We can only 

hope Council has learned a valuable lesson here, given one of 

the peninsula’s hero locations has been left a virtual ghost 

site for so long. 

ABSURD… 

A flashpoint is brewing between the Northern Beaches 

Indoor Sports Centre (NBISC) and the NSW Department of 

Education over what one of NBISC’s directors Alex McTaggart 

says is years of disregard for the not-for-profit organisation’s 

lease terms. He said the lease provides the adjoining 

Narrabeen North Public School and Narrabeen Sports High 

School free but not unfettered use of the Centre, from 8am- 

4pm, for supervised sporting activities. Mr McTaggart said 

NBISC had requested the schools notify them of any times 

they were not scheduling activities, so they might utilise 

for their own purposes. He said 

that request had been met 

by a brick wall for more than 

five years. Mr McTaggart said 

their CCTV camera footage 

showed the schools were 

using the centre just 22 per 

cent of the time. Also, NBISC 

has requested the Department 

stop teachers, students and 

parents from using its car 

park, which sits between the 

centre and the schools. NBISC 

says this compromises their 

insurance policies. Further 

conflict has arisen from the 

new redevelopment 

of both schools as part of 

the upgraded Narrabeen education campus. In December, 

temporary classrooms were erected on land adjoining the 

NBISC; these covered a Right of Way (ROW) path for the public. 

The Department’s contractors have laid a temporary mat 

path as a substitute ROW. NBISC says it’s on their land and 

further exposes them to insurance liability. When Council 

(as the NBISC lease guarantor) approached the Department, 

they were told the temporary path was not on NBISC land. So 

Council has requested a survey to confirm. Meanwhile the 

Return & Earn machine, which sat half on NBISC-leased land 

and half on the Department’s land, was removed in January. 

Mr McTaggart suspects it’s to clear access so heavy machinery 

including cranes can use the corridor for school construction 

works. But the lease states that can only happen if NBISC 

grants permission. So far NBISC has not been approached by 

the Department. A fed-up Mr McTaggart said: “A not-for-profit 

shouldn’t have to contemplate taking legal action against the 

Government.” Watch this space. 



News 

Pittwater News 

‘Saving Pittwater 

from chainsaws’ 

Protecting Pittwater from 

inappropriate development 

will be the focus of a public 

forum, ‘Saving Pittwater from 

the chainsaws’, featuring 

Greens NSW MP Cate 

Faehrmann. Northern Beaches 

Councillor Miranda Korzy said 

the forum would look at how 

residents could strengthen 

and enforce local planning 

and development rules. “This 

event is for those of us who 

still treasure the vision of 

Pittwater as a collection of 

villages connected by the 

bush, beach and water,” 

Ms Korzy said. Speakers, 

including Environment and 

Planning lawyer James Ryan, 

will discuss their problems 

with Council’s Conservation 

Zones Review, its new 

Local Environment Plan, 

Development Applications 

and the NSW Government’s 

planning regime. The forum 

on 2 February (7-9pm) will 

take place in the Angophora 

Room, Nelson Heather Centre, 

Warriewood. More info Evan 

Turner (0418 945 245) or email 

beachesgreens@gmail.com. 

‘No Rules’ at the Studio 

The first 2023 exhibition at hybrid 

creative space The Studio at Careel Bay 

will feature the ‘rule-breaking’ works of 

local Avalon artist Robyn Williams. 

Robyn’s work reflects her love for bold 

forms, grand structures and abstract 

themes. While her background was with 

architects, and in interior and colour 

design, her creative focus then evolved 

into renovating houses, both for herself 

and others. 

“I love smudgy colours but also the 

natural colour of things, be it driftwood 

on the beach or the grain of an old wood 

banister,” she said. 

“I am particularly fascinated by the way 

a painting sits in its environment and its 

ability to change or create an atmosphere 

of its own. Painted oil on canvas lends 

itself to achieve special tonal and textural 

qualities through a process of layering 

and movement as the subject evolves.” 

A percentage of sales from Robyn’s 

‘A Compendium of Subjects – No Rules!’ 

collection will be donated to community 

conservation group Living Ocean. 

Launch night is 2 February at 6pm, with 

works on display until 26 February. Open 

9am-4pm Monday to Friday, 9am-2pm 

Saturdays and 9am-11am Sundays. 

Book for International 

Women’s Day 

Breakfast 

Bookings for the Zonta Club 

of Northern Beaches’ annual 

Pittwater International 

Women’s Day Breakfast, on 

Wednesday 1 March at the 

Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, 

close on 16 February. The guest 

speaker at the breakfast will 



e Samantha Hollier-James 

who co-founded the Tour de 

Cure in May 2007. Tour de Cure 

has raised over $95 million 

funding 647 Australian 

Cancer Research Support and 

Prevention Projects. Also, 

local MP Rob Stokes will 

announce the 2023 Pittwater 

Woman of the Year. The 

breakfast marks International 

Women’s Day (8 March) which 

acknowledges women’s 

contribution to making 

Australia, and the world, a 

better place. Proceeds from 

the breakfast will support 

service projects of Zonta Club 

of Northern Beaches assisting 

local women in need, and 

Zonta International projects 

in developing countries. 

Cost is $60pp; enquiries to 

pittwateriwdbreakfast@gmail. 

com or Susie (0413 623 392). 

More info Zonta NB facebook. 

Avalon swim for 

WorldPride 2023 

Colourful art, performance 

and open-air community 

events will define Council’s 

WorldPride program running 

from 17 February until 

5 March. Locally, Avalon 

Beach will host a ‘Love is 

Love Community Social and 

PrideSwim’ on Sunday 19 

February at Dunbar Park and 

Avalon Beach courtesy of a 

grant secured by the Avalon 

Palm Beach Business Chamber. 

Other events include First 

nations artist Daniel Golding 

on exhibition at Manly Art 

Gallery & Museum; Drag 

Queen story time at Manly 

Library (25 Feb); Rainbow art 

Continued on page 38 

Land values soar on Beaches 

While property prices on the peninsula 

have been susceptible to a correction in 

recent months, new land values attributed 

by the NSW Valuer General show significant 

hikes for the 2021-22 financial year. 

The total land value for the Sydney Coast 

North region – incorporating the Northern 

Beaches, Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Mosman, 

North Sydney and Willoughby – increased 

by 22.6 per cent from $245.6 billion to $301 

billion. 

Residential land values increased by 

23 per cent, with the Northern Beaches 

LGA having a very strong increase – 

particularly in waterfront and beachside 

suburbs including Palm Beach, Whale 

Beach, Newport, Bilgola Plateau, Collaroy, 

Narrabeen, Avalon Beach and Cottage Point. 

The Valuer General noted the area had 

also benefitted from recent infrastructure 

projects, such as the Northern Beaches 

Hospital and significant road upgrades 

including Mona Vale Road. 

Meanwhile commercial land values 

overall increased by 20.4 per cent. Business 

park properties located in Warriewood 

experienced a very strong increase. The 

increases in land values were due to the 

growth of on-demand delivery requiring 

inventory to be closer to customers. These 

properties were also benefitting from recent 

infrastructure upgrades to arterial roads in 

the region. 

Rural land values increased strongly by 

19.6 per cent overall. (Rural land ranges 

from prestige sites to isolated bushland 

sites). The VG said the rural market had 

benefitted from increased demand for larger 

properties with superior access to services, 

attractive natural amenities and work from 

home options. 

The VG noted land value is the value of 

the land only; it does not include the value 

of a home or other structure. Property sales 

were the most important factor valuers 

considered when determining land values. 

The new land values will be used by 

Revenue NSW to calculate land tax for the 

2023 land tax year. More info valuergeneral. 

nsw.gov.au 

News 



Pittwate 

Continued from page 37 

on the Manly Corso as part of 

a city-wide mural program (17 

Feb – 5 Mar); Active Sessions 

from Collaroy Tennis Clubs 

Pride Day (4 Mar); and Running 

Stars Run the Rainbow 

sessions on Sunday mornings 

at Winnererremy Bay Reserve 

and John Fisher Park. 

News 

Alpha sessions 

for Newport 

A series of interactive ‘Alpha’ 

sessions that explore the basics 

of the Christian faith will be 

held in Newport. Organisers 

say it’s about the big questions 

most people ask themselves 

at some stage in their life, 

such as: ‘What am I here for?’ 

Alpha runs in 169 countries, 

with more than 29 million 

people having experienced it. 

Alpha will run from Thursday 

2 February at Pittwater 

Presbyterian Church, Newport. 

Sessions will run for 1½ hours 

each Thursday over a 10-weeks 

period. Each session has 

three phases: food, video and 

discussion. More info Phil or 

Helen (0412 037 251). 

Clubs in favour of 

cashless payments 

ClubsNSW says that despite 

recent media reports to the 

contrary, its member clubs 

support cashless gaming 

technology. ClubsNSW 

Chairman Dr George 

Peponis said while some had 

attempted to misrepresent the 

club industry’s position on 

cashless gaming, it had a long 

track record of support for 

digital payment options and 

responsible gambling. “It’s our 

belief that people should have 

the ability to pay for play on 

a poker machine using cash 

or digital technology – just 

as they have options when it 

comes to paying for everything 

else,” Dr Peponis said. However, 

he added ClubsNSW was 

“not convinced” about an 

untested mandatory cashless 

card. “The international 

experience demonstrates that 

forcing players to use cards 

drives recreational players 

to other forms of gambling, 

in particular to unregulated 

online casinos, and can 

exacerbate problem gambling.” 



News 

Golf scholarships pay dividends 

Palm Beach Golf Club has a proud history of 

supporting and promoting juniors when 

they start out with golf. 

In 2021, with the retirement of long-term 

professional Alan Berry, the Club recognised 

his 40 years’ service by naming a junior 

scholarship program in his honour. The 

Scholarship sees the recipients awarded $1000 

which they can apply towards equipment and 

lessons. 

At the Club’s presentation night last 

December, Chloe Bell and Luca Banderia were 

awarded the Alan Berry Junior Scholarships. 

Both youngsters are already benefitting from 

their awards. 

In January, Chloe, 12 (right), 

won at the Harvey Norman 

Sydney Week of Golf in the 

12-13 years girls division. She 

was first in the net, second in 

the scratch – and 10th overall 

in the 12-18 years girls. (Chloe 

has been using her scholarship 

money for short-game lessons.) 

The Scholarship is a proven 

driving factor with Junior 

development, with 2021 

Scholarship winners Luke Wicks 

and Hugh Webster (pictured, with 

NB Councillor Rory Amon, MP 

Rob Stokes and Club President 

Daniel Hill) going on to win 

Would you like to join a 

group of like-minded 

women for a short meeting, 

an informative guest 

speaker, delicious lunch and 

then an opportunity to join 

a book club or have a game 

of bridge or mahjong, and 

great outings? Learn more 

of what the new Avalon 

Beach Ladies Probus has to 

offer. Meetings are at Club 

Palm Beach on the first 

Tuesday of the month at 

10am, starting 7 February. 

More info Marg (0416 182 

393). At the next meeting 

of Pittwater Mens Probus, 

club member John Porter 

will talk about the making 

of Green Hydrogen through 

electrolysis, a process 

that separates water into 

hydrogen and oxygen using 

electricity generated from 

renewable sources. Meeting 

on Tuesday 14 February at 

Mona Vale Surf Club starts 

10am. Visitors welcome; 

more info Terry Larke (0412 

220 820). The Combined 

Probus Club of Mona Vale 

will hold its next meeting 

from 10am on Tuesday 21 

February, in the auditorium 

at the Pittwater RSL Club. 

Guest speaker is well-known 

colourful personality John 

Webeck (long-time owner and 

custodian of historic Bungan 

Castle at Newport). A man of 

many talents and passions, 

including artist, art dealer, 

historian, past councillor, 

blogger, and celebrant, John 

will deliver a talk about 

‘Genetic Memory’. Visitors 

welcome; more info 1300 

630 488. The guest speaker 

at Newport Probus’ 

February meeting will be 

Kevin Murray, who will talk 

about ‘Science Myths and 

Misconceptions’. The meeting 

on Thursday 2 February 

at Newport Bowling Club 

the 2022 B-Grade and C-Grade Club 

Championships respectively. 

Club President Daniel Hill said: “I 

can’t think of a better way of getting 

young kids into a sport that we all 

love. 

“I joined this club when I was 

13 years old and thanks to the 

welcoming and supportive nature of 

Palm Beach, I never left. 

“I hope we continue to grow the 

number of junior golfers well into 

the future,” he added. 

February local Probus news 

commences 10am. Visitors 

are welcome; more info 

David Newton-Ross (0418 

298572). Palm Beach and 

Peninsula Probus will meet 

at 9.30am on Wednesday 

15 February at Club Palm 

Beach. Classical pianist and 

composer Ambre Hammond 

will speak about her project, 

‘Girl and Piano Truck’. This 

was founded in 2013 to take 

the joy of music to people 

in underprivileged and 

remote areas both here and 

overseas. Visitors welcome; 

more info Carmel (0414 978 

465). Bilgola Plateau Probus 

will meet at Newport Bowling 

Club on Friday 3 February 

commencing 10am. Guest 

speaker is Marie Palmer, 

volunteer with the Harbour 

Trust, who will talk about 

extraordinary places on 

Sydney Harbour. Visitors 

welcome; more info Patricia 

(0438 281 573). 

Vet 

on call 

with Dr Brown 

It is concerning when your 

beloved four-legged family 

member experiences difficulty 

breathing. Dogs can experience 

a variety of respiratory problems, 

ranging from mild to lifethreatening 

conditions. While it 

is important to take your dog 

to the vet if they are having difficulty 

breathing, understanding 

some of the potential causes 

and treatments can help you be 

more informed and ready when 

you get there. 

Some common causes of respiratory 

issues in dogs are allergies, 

infections, or foreign objects 

in the airway. Other causes 

can include heart disease, 

trauma or injuries, lung cancer, 

or even a collapsed trachea 

(the windpipe). In rare cases, 

these symptoms may indicate 

that the animal has consumed 

a toxic substance. Therefore, it 

is important to visit your vet as 

soon as possible so that they 

can determine the exact cause 

and provide proper treatment. 

Once at the vet’s office, 

diagnosis typically starts with a 

physical examination and blood 

work to rule out any underlying 

medical conditions. Treatment 

options could range from medications 

such as antihistamines 

or antibiotics to more aggressive 

treatments like surgery or 

oxygen therapy. In certain cases 

where an infection is suspected, 

fluid samples may need to be 

taken from the lungs and tested 

for bacteria or other organisms 

that could be causing obstruction 

in the airways. 

Breathing problems in dogs 

can be an indication of serious 

underlying health issues which 

require care right away. To 

ensure that your pet receives 

prompt and appropriate treatment 

for their condition, it is 

important to understand what 

some of the common causes 

might be and what types of 

treatments are available for various 

types of respiratory issues 

in dogs. Knowing this information 

will empower you to make 

sure that your pet receives 

quick action when needed! 

For more info call local Sydney 

Animal Hospitals Avalon (9918 

0833) or Newport (9997 4609) 

sydneyanimalhospitals.com.au 

News 



Art Life 

Art Life 

Art school a broad palette for all 

During COVID, local artist Lisa Williams 

saw an opportunity to further her 

passion for creativity while also providing 

others with the chance to broaden their 

own artistic expression. 

And so The Beaches Art School at Mona 

Vale was born. 

Lisa explained that although it was a 

difficult and challenging period for the 

community, it also was a time when many 

people were realising their love for art, or 

rediscovering it after many years. 

“During this time, the importance of 

community was heightened,” Lisa said. 

“I formed The Beaches Art School with 

the aim of creating a strong sense of 

community with a ‘everybody’s welcome’ 

attitude.” 

An experienced artist, Lisa teaches the 

classes at the Art Studio space in Mona 

Vale. 

After growing up on the Northern 

Beaches, Lisa moved to America to study 

painting and received her Fine Arts Degree 

in 2011. 

“I have been painting almost daily ever 

since and I’m passionate about sharing 

my knowledge.” 

Lisa said The Beaches Art School strives 

MASTERSTROKE: The Beaches Art School 

to create a welcoming and supportive 

space for people of all ages and experience 

levels. 

“There is always something new to 

learn and discover in art and during the 

classes students can explore their artistic 

potential and have fun in the process.” 

Weekly art classes are available for 

adults, teens and kids; they are suitable 

for absolute beginners to advanced. 

Classes run year-round and new students 

can start any time. 

“Our classes provide the opportunity 

to explore different mediums, subjects 

and new techniques throughout the year,” 

Lisa said. 

“Students are guided through the artistic 

process and encouraged while they 

develop their new art skills.” 

With the support of the five amazing 

students who started with Lisa in 2020, 

The Beaches Art School has grown to be 

able to provide quality and fun art classes 

six days a week, where new faces are 

welcomed regularly. 

“I feel so lucky that I am able to teach 

each day the skills needed to paint, and 

I’m so grateful for all the students who 

allow me to be part of their week.” 

– LO 

*More info thebeachesartschool.com; 

insta: thebeaches.artschool 



School Life 

Mater Maria chalks record result 

Mater Maria Catholic College 

at Warriewood is 

proudly reflecting on its best 

HSC results on record with a 

coveted ranking in The Sydney 

Morning Herald’s prestigious 

Top 150 Schools List. 

Nineteen students received 

an ATAR above 90, with 

Charlotte Crouch achieving 

the College’s highest ATAR of 

97.2. Seventy-five students 

were on the Distinguished 

Achievers List, 49 per cent 

of the cohort’s results were 

in the top two achievement 

bands; and over 80 per cent 

were in the top three. 

Principal Marc Reicher 

noted that all Drama students 

excelled above 89 per cent, all 

Extension 2 English students 

above 92 per cent, while the 

Visual Arts cohort boasted six 

Distinguished Achievers. 

Additionally, many students 

were selected or nominated 

for exemplary major works in 

a range of subjects. 

HIGH ACHIEVERS: Mater 

Maria’s impressive campus. 

“This significant improvement 

of HSC results is largely 

due to a focus on literacy and 

growth for every student and 

teacher,” said Mr Reicher. “This 

collaborative team approach 

supported our students to 

maximise their results in both 

the HSC and Year 9 NAPLAN. 

“I am immensely proud of 

the graduating class of 2022 

for their persistence over the 

past six years, and I would like 

to thank the entire College 

community for supporting 

them on their various pathways 

to success.” 

Mr Reicher added that many 

students gained early university 

entry, traineeships, apprenticeships, 

and employment 

even before their HSC exams. 

“I am confident they will 

make a significant contribution 

to our society,” he said. 

Located in the tranquil bush 

setting of Warriewood Valley, 

the College is the only coeducational 

Catholic secondary 

school on the Northern 

Beaches. 

It prides itself on providing 

students with an exceptional 

educational experience and 

has specialised learning spaces 

for STEM, digital learning, 

drama, fitness, hospitality, languages, 

music, science, timber, 

textiles and visual arts. 

Students are challenged 

and supported to realise their 

potential with a focus on maximising 

individual growth and 

the College provides opportunities 

for a variety of academic 

pathways. 

The College welcomes 

all families who seek faithcentred 

learning with quality 

education for their sons and 

daughters in Years 7 to 12. 

Its next Open Day is 

Wednesday 8 March at 4pm. 

“We welcome all families 

to come and experience the 

good things that are happening 

at Mater Maria Catholic 

College,” Mr Reicher said. 


School Life 



41

Hot Property 

Hot Property 

Sweet appeal of having nothing to do 

The nationwide issue 

of surging material 

costs, challenges of 

getting tradies on site and 

getting work done in a 

timely manner, has further 

strengthened the appeal of 

fully renovated, impeccably 

presented properties. 

Take for example these two 

listings at Palm Beach which 

are attracting strong interest 

from home-seekers. 

Word is it won’t be long 

before a beautifully 

transformed home set 

50 metres from the 

Careel Bay shoreline 

hooks a buyer. 

An original 

fisherman’s cottage 

just three years ago, 

the property has 

undergone an “end-toend 

renovation” with 

respect to its vintage, 

to create a spacious family 

friendly retreat in a coastal 

style with modern aesthetic. 

One of only 10 homes in 

a peaceful cul-de-sac and 

with dual street access to 

Currawong Avenue, number 

16 Etival Street is touted as 

“one of the most exciting 

properties to hit the market 

in many months.” 

LJ Hooker Palm Beach’s 

marketing team’s observation 

says it all: “The scale and 

dimension of the design truly 

sets this home apart. 

“Its single-level layout 

simply soars with doubleheight 

ceilings framed by 

exposed trusses, while 

balanced by an inspired 

palette of crisp, neutral tones; 

expansive living spaces create 

an immediate connection 

with sun-drenched decks and 

child-friendly lawns in back. 

“With a rear north aspect 

and banks of slider windows, 

it’s a home that’s flooded 

with natural light all year 

long; cool and breezy in 

summer with bi-folds opening 

on to the decks, it’s fully 

insulated for cooler months.” 

The home boasts a master 

with walk-in-robe, designer 

bathroom and French doors 

to the deck; two double 

bedrooms with custom 

wardrobes and a separate 

media room or fourth 

bedroom and an island kitchen 

TRANSFORMED: From fisherman’s 

cottage to expansive family home. 

with stone benchtops, a 

gas range and a full butler’s 

pantry. 

Agent Peter Robinson says 

the property has a price guide 

of $4.4million; it is open for 

inspection on Wednesdays 

and Saturdays from 1pm 

and is listed for Auction on 

February 14. 

* * * 

Meanwhile, beyond the 

copper front door of 

20 Palm Beach Road is a sixbedroom, 

three-level retreat 

“where architectural lines 

partner a tranquil vibe”. 

Designed 

by Michael 

Robilliard 

with 

landscaping 

by Will 

Dangar, 

this 

stunning 

property 

takes in 

views 

STUNNING: 20 Palm Beach Road. 

over the beach with tropical 

gardens adding seclusion and 

inclusions that allow yearround 

entertaining. 

Listing agent Amy Young 

from Laing+Simmons Avalon 

Beach says the home’s 

standout features included 

premium blackbutt custom 

cabinetry, exposed iron 

beams and concrete flooring 

with design elements 

including a “striking” sleek 

black and metallic theme in 

the kitchen (which has double 

Miele appliances – oven, 

dishwasher, steam/combi 

oven – plus Sub-Zero fridge 

and wine fridge); “unique 

stairs” with white contoured 

metal contrasting with 

blackbutt timber steps which 

lead to a bright office; and 

upper sleep zone featuring 

a “blissful” master bedroom 

with a wide balcony and 

clawfoot tub placed for the 

ultimate ocean view. 

On the lower level, a 

sprawling space with home 

gym, media room, living 

room, three bedrooms and 

two bathrooms framed by a 

split-level courtyard provide a 

great guest set-up. 

The property is for sale 

with an 

asking price 

of $11.95 

million; it 

is open for 

inspection on 

Wednesdays 

and Saturdays 

from 10- 

10.30am. 




Hot Property 

Hot Property 

Bellingen hinterland escape beckons 

Give the growing crowds at bulging 

Byron Bay a miss: if you’re 

considering a tree change-style 

escape to the country, to embrace walks in 

nature and relaxing moments while sipping 

a wine on your private veranda at sunset… 

or enjoying the company of friends by the 

glowing firepit – this spectacular mid-North 

Coast property will fit the bill. 

Situated on almost three hectares at 

Bellingen, 30 minutes’ drive south of Coffs 

Harbour, 370 Martells Road is a rare find. 

This classic, unique and stylish, natureinfused 

delight features an inviting and 

spacious five-bedroom home (with three 

bathrooms) delivering a close connection to 

nature via a stylish open-plan kitchen, living 

and dining room that overlooks a green 

valley in the middle of a rainforest. 

Also onsite is a separate one-bedroom 

cottage, perfect for guest or family 

accommodation. 

The main home features high ceilings 

and offers loads of privacy, spread over a 

beautifully proportioned three levels with a 

choice of indoor and outdoor spaces. 

The polished timber floors and a tasteful 

SERENE: Spread over 3 hectares at Bellingen. 

blend of modern updates and classic 

charm creates a warm and welcoming 

feel, while the fireplace and high, vaulted 

ceilings provide light and air flow to ensure 

a comfortable setting all year-round. 

Briar White from McGrath Nambucca 

Heads said the property has been designed 

to work just as well as a family home as it 

does a boutique Bed & Breakfast. 

“This one just happens to come with an 

Airbnb business that’s already set up and 

running, with the addition of the separate 

one-bedroom cottage,” she said. 

Historic Bellingen punches well above its 

weight in terms of arts and culture, foodie 

delights and outdoor activities – and makes 

the perfect base to explore attractions like 

dramatic waterfalls, World Heritage-listed 

rainforest and river activities. 

Bellingen is famed for its cultural 

festivals; the annual Readers and Writers 

Festival focuses exclusively on Australian 

writers, while the Bellingen Fine Music 

Festival is a four-day celebration of classical 

music from a range of eras and cultures. 

The monthly Bellingen Community 

Markets is also a popular event, focusing 

on community, diversity and local crafts 

and producers; while the weekly Bellingen 

Farmers and Produce Market showcases 

produce straight from the farm. 

“This ultimate and idyllic private retreat is 

nestled between Bellingen and pristine 

beaches on the coast,” said Briar. 

“It’s an easy five-and-a-half hour drive 

from Sydney, or choose a direct Qantas or 

Rex Airlines Flight.” 

The property is for sale; price guide 

$2,250,000. – Lisa Offord 

*Contact the listing agent Briar White on 

0428 816 550. 

Easy Avalon living 

Avalon Beach 

3/12-14 The Crescent 

3 Beds / 3.5 Baths / 2 Cars 

Immaculately maintained and beautifully presented, this threebathroom 

townhouse will delight with its harmonious palette and 

perfect northerly aspect. 

It’s just a short stroll to Avalon’s cafes, boutiques, and only 

300m to the beach. 

This stylish townhouse includes an extensive list of extras, 

including a newly renovated kitchen and Scandinavian hardwood 

timber floorboards; master bedroom with ensuite (including underfloor 

heated tiles) and sunny balcony; plus 3.5 bathrooms (with 

additional toilet in laundry). 

It boasts a beautiful living space with fireplace and immaculately 

manicured gardens and entertaining areas. 

There’s internal access to a double lock-up garage with workshop/cellar 

area. With 227sqm on title, it’s the perfect upsizer – or 

downsizer. For sale – contact agent. 

*Contact the listing agents @ LJ Hooker Avalon Beach: 

Thomas Mackay (0429 236 879) or Rana Robb (0416 797 001). 

Peaceful Pittwater rental 

Clareville 

237 Hudson Parade 

3+ Beds / 2 Baths / 2 Cars / For Rent 

Located opposite the waterfront and enjoying close, intimate 

water views, this three-bedroom-plus-study residence is the 

perfect family home (for rent). 

Beautifully presented, it’s fully furnished and boasts high Cathedral 

ceilings creating ample space and an abundance of natural 

light. 

The property features an open and bright living area; modern 

kitchen with gas cooktop and ample storage; and a master 

bedroom with air con and walk-in robe (plus wardrobes in other 

bedrooms). 

Also, there’s a study that’s perfect for working from home, plus 

a spacious deck with beautiful Pittwater views. 

Moments to Clareville shops and transport and within close 

proximity to schools, do not miss your chance to inspect this 

wonderful family home. 

*Contact the leasing agents @ LJ Hooker Avalon Beach: 

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



Life Stories 

Sails pitch 

Expecting a baby in 

May, current NSW and 

ACT Female Sailor 

of the Year Nina 

Curtis aims to quickly 

return to competitive 

SailGP racing. 

Story by Rosamund Burton 

In 2021, Nina Curtis became the first 

female athlete to win a Sail GP event 

when the Australian team won in 

Cadiz. Sail GP announced a Women’s 

Pathway program for Season 2, which ran 

from April 2021 to March 2022, stating 

that the teams must have a female at 

each event. Great Britain ran multiple 

female athletes through their team, but 

Australia chose to have just one, and 

having proved herself at a selection 

camp, that honour fell to Nina. 

“It was such a cool experience for me,” 

the 34-year-old says, “it was a really 

brilliant immersive learning.” 

The Australian team went on to win 

in Sydney in December 2021, before 

winning the Sail GP season at the final 

event in San Francisco in early 2022. 

“To be the first female athlete to ever 

win the SailGP overall was incredible.” 

Nina occupied the sixth sailor position, 

responsible for making sure there are no 

collisions, no rules incidents and that the 

boat sails within the course boundaries. 

Given the speed of these 50-foot foiling 

catamarans it is a crucial role. 

“There are a few specialists who have 

done America’s Cup campaigns and 

sailed boats of this size and foiling 

level… and then there’s the rest of us 

humans,” says Nina. “The boats are so 

fast and so technologically advanced 

and they are incredibly dangerous. It 

requires a skill set that I, and I would 

say every other female in sailing, haven’t 

been exposed to, so we’re playing catch 

up.” 

For Season 3 (May 2022 to May 2023) 

she is one of three women selected for 

the Australian Team, alongside Tash 

Bryant (who like Nina came through the 

Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club youth 

training program) and Lucy Copeland, 

who sailed Nacra 17s. Only one of them 

is on the boat when racing and always 

as the sixth sailor. But they are being 

trained for other positions – Tash Bryant 

to helm and Lucy Copeland for flight 

control, which is the control of the foil 

angle that determines how high out of 

the water the boat flies. Nina is being 

trained in wing trim. 

“It’s really fascinating the level of 

technology/software and programming 

that goes into how this wing operates. 

It’s half coding and half what the 

trimmer is doing. Honestly, I could not 

have ever dreamed of being able to sail 

boats like this. It’s an absolute dream 

come true.” 

Nina, who won 2022 NSW & ACT 

Female Sailor of the Year, was on the 

boat for the Sail GP events in Chicago last 

June, in Copenhagen in August and Saint 

Tropez in September. She is expecting 

her first child in May, so will not be 

on the boat for the remaining three 

events of Season 3 to be held in Sydney, 

Auckland and San Francisco. 

“The goal is to be back in the boat 

by Season 4, the first event of which is 

in Chicago in mid-June.” Nina says the 

team have been incredibly supportive, 

especially as many of them are dads. 

“A space needs to be made for female 

athletes to become mums as well. I feel 

I’ve got something to prove here. I’ve 

got a real hunger to return at a really 

strong level, and show that you can have 

a family as a female athlete in the sport 

of sailing.” 

Nina says her mantra has been to 

always say ‘yes’. “Right through my 

career if an opportunity has come up I’ve 

dropped everything, dived in with gusto 

and figured it out along the way.” 

So she didn’t hesitate to say yes to 

doing the Southern Ocean leg of the 

2017/18 Volvo Ocean race, despite 



limited offshore sailing experience. She 

had done the 2007 and 2008 Sydney to 

Hobart races and some other East Coast 

races. 

That year the Volvo Ocean race, 

wanting to include more females, 

stipulated that boats could either sail 

with seven males, or select to take one 

or two extra females. A boat could 

also have a 50:50 crew of five men, five 

women. 

Nina was given the opportunity to 

sail on Team Brunel because a female 

trimmer, Annie Lush, was injured on 

the previous leg. The offer to Nina was 

as a trimmer for that leg only, but she so 

impressed the team that she stayed on 

the boat for remaining legs of the race 

and the boat finished third overall. 

“The Southern Ocean is like another 

planet,” Nina says. “It’s nothing I’ve ever 

experienced – the sea state, the freezing 

temperatures and the relentlessness 

of the weather. It was extraordinary. I 

was tested physically and emotionally 

in every sense of the word, not just as a 

sailor, but as a human being.” 

And the weather conditions were 

extremely severe that year. Turn the 

Tide on Plastic broke its mast, MAPFRE’s 

mainsail was damaged and Team Sun 

Hung Kai/Scallywag lost overboard 

experienced yachtsman, 48-year-old 

John Fisher, in the horrific gale force 

conditions. 

“Being the most inexperienced person 

in the whole fleet that absolutely rattled 

me. I really lost my confidence when I 

heard the news, and was falling over and 

unable to concentrate. We were in the 

same weather as that of the boat which 

had lost ‘Fish’.” She was fortunate to be 

guided by an experienced older crew 

member who told her, for her own safety, 

she needed to put this information aside, 

and fully focus on her next job. 

Both Nina’s parents, Evelyn Harves and 

Robert Curtis, have a love of sailing. Nina 

tells me her father’s mother was a single 

parent, and unable to afford to buy one, 

built him a Manly Junior, bending the 

boards in the shower and sewing the 

sails. Her maternal grandfather used to 

strap her mother as a 10-year-old into 

the cockpit of his yacht and take her out 

in Southerly busters. Nina was seven 

and her brother, Dean, only five, when 

they started racing a Manly Junior with 

the Bayview Yacht Racing Association 

(BYRA). 

“I am so grateful to my parents 

for instilling that it was never about 

becoming a champion, or making a 

career in sailing, it was about really 

loving it. I couldn’t imagine a better time 

as a kid than being out on the water and 

having an adventure.” 

Growing up at Bilgola Plateau and 

attending Bilgola Plateau PS and then 

Barrenjoey High, Nina continued to 

spend as much time as she could on 

the water sailing Flying 11s and 29ers. 

She was selected for the RPAYC’s youth 

development program at 15. Aged 19, she 

started competing in the Women’s Match 

Racing regattas, claiming a world title in 

2009 and then silver medal at the 2012 

London Olympic Games, trimming on a 

three-person Elliot 6 Metre. 

When match racing was discontinued 

for the Rio Olympic Games, she threw 

herself into the mixed gender Nacra 17 

catamaran racing and learnt to sail a 

Continued on page 52 


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Competing at the London 2012 Olympics; 

Moth Worlds in 2022; early boating on Pittwater; Sail GP Season 

Champions 2022; Taking the win on home waters, Sail GP, Sydney 

event 2022; Rounding Cape Horn in first place in the 2017/18 Volvo 

Ocean Race with Team Brunel; racing the MJ on Pittwater aged eight; 

Hobie World Championships (with now husband Pierre Ainscow) in 

Florida in 2019; at the wheel during the Volvo Ocean Race 2017/18. 




Continued from page 51 

49er (an Olympic skiff). 

“I really did a double 

campaign over those two 

classes that Olympic cycle, 

upskilling in fleet racing, 

dinghy sailing, trapezing and 

multi-hulls.” 

Nina’s brother Dean is a 

rigger, and worked on the 

2017 America’s Cup campaign 

in Bermuda. Nina was staying 

with him and doing some 

commentary work on the 

America’s Cup racing when 

she met Pierre Ainscrow, 

an English physiotherapist 

working for the Swedish 

team. They chased each other 

around the world – he visited 

her in Washington DC, where 

she worked as a personal 

trainer between sailing 

events, he came to Australia, 

and Nina went to England, 

before she signed up for the 

Volvo Ocean race. 

“He deserved a medal for 

keeping our relationship 

together in those early days. 

We didn’t see each other 

much, but he came to all the 

stopovers, and I really knew 

he was the right person for 

me.” 

After the Volvo Ocean 

race, Pierre and Nina (who 

married in January 2022) 

decided to settle in Avalon. 

Eighteen months later COVID 

hit, and there were no sailing 

opportunities. 

Nina had completed a 

degree in human movement 

studies before she started to 

train for the 2012 Olympics, 

so with her personal 

training skills and Pierre’s 

physiotherapy background, 

they decided to start their 

own fitness business. Initially 

they did group training in the 

park, before they acquired 

their own studio gym. Now 

they have two studios and a 

team of 10 people – massage 

therapists, personal trainers 

and naturopaths. 

“It’s the humming health 

hub we dreamed that it could 

be.” 

Pierre is not a sailor, but 

Nina is teaching him, and 

he represented Australia 

with her several years 

ago at the Hobie 16 World 

Championships. 

“He’s not as passionate as I 

am about it, but he does love 

it,” she says. 



Sporting Life 

Cricket appealing to more girls 

The Manly Warringah 

Junior Cricket Association 

(MWJCA) is a case study in 

helping girls’ cricket on the 

Northern Beaches. While some 

cricket clubs across the city 

struggle to get junior girls’ 

teams together, our clubs are 

showing how it’s done. 

Three local cricket clubs 

including Peninsula CC have 

at least two Junior girls’ teams 

and four clubs including Collaroy 

Plateau CC have four 

girls’ teams each, ranging 

from U-11s to U-15s. 

Add to that the Girls’ Only 

Cricket Blast programs that 

most clubs have running 

throughout the season, and 

Sydney Sixers-inspired social 

competitions, and you have a 

program for every girl. 

There are pathways to ensure 

participants can play the game 

at its various stages. If you 

love the game but want to be 

involved in a non-playing role, 

Collaroy Plateau and Peninsula 

Clubs would also love to have 

women volunteers join their 

ranks. 

MWJCA has significantly 

expanded its girls’ cricket program 

over the past few years. 

Initiatives have been put in 

place to encourage participation 

at the junior club level as 

well as a pathway for additional 

cricket opportunities. 

As a recognition of their initiatives 

to grow girls’ cricket, 

the MWJCA won the Initiative 

of the Year’ for their girls’ hub 

at Cricket Australia’s ‘A Sport 

ENJOYING CRICKET: 

The Peninsula U-11s 

and Manly district rep 

Matilda Robinson. 

for All’ Awards. 

The broader initiatives 

have started to show results 

in clubs such as the Peninsula 

CC. For 10-year-old Emily 

Cunningham who plays in the 

club’s U-11 girls’ team, playing 

cricket was just something 

she wanted to do because her 

brother played the sport. 

Now, with two years of 

Woolworths Cricket Blast 

behind her and a spot in club 

cricket, Emily is in her third 

year of playing. 

The Peninsula CC has two 

girls playing rep cricket in the 

U-13 team, Matilda Robinson 

and Sophia Paz. Matilda, 12, 

started playing Woolworths 

Cricket Blast when she was 

eight and also played for Narrabeen 

North Public School. 

The following season, 

Matilda played her first of two 

seasons in U-11s and in her 

second season was named 

Peninsula CC’s Female Player of 

the Year. Matilda now plays rep 

cricket for the Manly Warringah 

U-13 Mollie Dive team along 

with her U-13 Peninsula Cricket 

Club team, The Piranhas. 

“It is heartening to see more 

and more girls playing cricket 

at the Northern Beaches’ Junior 

clubs. We are committed to creating 

pathways for our girls so 

that if they want to take up the 

sport at any level, we have an 

avenue for them to grow,” said 

Gary Searles, Cricket Manager, 

Northern Beaches, Cricket NSW. 

*More info gary.searles@ 

cricketnsw.com.au 




53


Hoop Dreams on Pittwater 


Pittwater is about to get regular 

basketball nights – and it’s making local 

Australian Hall of Fame basketballer Brad 

Dalton feel nostalgic. 

“It reminds me of the early days of NBL, 

where the sport and teams went from 

strength to strength – including what 

became the Sydney Kings of today.” 

Warriewood resident Brad, a two-time 

Olympian and Sydney Kings legend, is set 

to have his first season coaching Manly 

Warringah NBL 1, in the 

semi-professional national 

league that sits just below 

the level of NBL. 

Made up predominantly of 

players in their 20s and 30s, 

it is the stepping stone for 

under-22 stars wanting to 

play in the big league. Some 

76 national clubs across 

every territory play in their 

State Conference (North, 

South, East and Central 

West) for a chance to make 

the finals. 

In many ways it’s already 

ahead of those early NBL days, with Kayo 

signed up to cover and show every match. 

Or you can watch court-side at the 

Indoor Centre at Warriewood, for a very 

reasonable price. 

“We’re introducing something called the 

300 Club,” explains Brad. “For $300 you 

get two season tickets for the 11 home 

games played between March and August, 

as well as an invite to the Season Launch, 

an invite to the End of Season awards, and 

any other member events. 

“You can watch great basketball on 

Pittwater, rather than having to drive to 

Homebush and back – and perhaps pay 

$300 for one night at the basketball. 

“The numbers are limited though, so I’d 

get in quick if you think it’s a good offer. 

If it sells out, then we might not have the 

LEGEND: Brad Dalton. 

ability to pay at the door.” 

Brad is currently looking for great local 

basketball talent as he builds his roster. 

Just like the early days of the NBL, players 

won’t make a wage, but all of their costs 

are covered as they get trained by the best 

and travel the country, putting themselves 

in the shop window for big clubs. 

“Most of last year’s squad have retired, 

so we’re putting together a new team – 

and it’s the chance to play at the highest 

level, pushing on for teams 

like the Sydney Kings.” 

Training will be three 

times a week, reducing 

to two evenings once 

the season starts, with 

games predominantly on a 

Saturday night – one home 

game is on a Sunday and 

there is the odd away game 

on a Friday night. With 12 

teams in the conference 

there are 11 games at home 

and 11 away. 

Along with being part 

of the team or part of the 

crowd, Brad and the team are looking to 

build strong links with local businesses 

and the local community, via all kinds of 

sponsorship opportunities. 

“There are packages available for all 

levels of sponsorship,” says Brad. “From 

player level, to teams, to game nights and 

beyond. Names on shirts and website and 

newsletters. And, of course, the exposure 

on television and other media. 

“There is an opportunity to get in early 

on something that is going to just get 

stronger every season.” 

More of a ‘first dance’ than the Michael 

Jordan doco The Last Dance, an evening 

at Warriewood watching great basketball, 

only a short drive from home, sounds 

an opportunity too good to be missed 

– whether you’re on the court, on the 

ACTION: From 

last year’s 

NBL 1 season. 

sidelines or helping to make it all happen. 

The season kicks off on March 11 

against the Norths Bears. – Rob Pegley 

*The 300 Club is available 

at trybooking.com/events/ 

landing/1007786; email Brad: 

bdaltbasketball@optusnet.com.au 



Avalon SC heads for bumper 2023 

After battling through two seasons of COVID-19 disruption, 

it was ‘Mother Nature’ who provided the biggest challenge 

for Avalon Soccer Club in 2022 with numerous ground 

closures due to the rains that plagued Sydney during the early 

part of the year. 

“We had to endure the wettest football season I can 

remember,” said Club President John Kowtan (JK). “Yet we still 

managed to put on a terrific season, 

which saw the 40th anniversary of the 

junior and senior clubs merging.” 

“From our juniors to our senior 

teams and everyone in between, the 

attitude, mindset and competitive 

spirit within our Avalon community 

has been second to none. 

John extended thanks to all 

concerned: “To our fantastic 

managers, knowledgeable coaches, 

generous sponsors, tireless 

volunteers and the positive and 

determined attitude of our players. 

“Everyone involved with the club 

and the community have been very 

resilient and patient,” he continued. 

“We are all hoping for a bigger, better 

and dryer 2023!” 

Despite the challenging year, and 

being the last club on the peninsula, 

Avalon’s numbers and achievements 

were outstanding. Nearly 1200 

players and 90 teams were registered in 2022 and the Club 

recorded three League Champions, 18 Semi Finalists, 10 

Grand Finalists and five Grand Final Winners. 

“The results were fantastic, and I’d like to commend the 

players and coaches for their achievements,” JK said. 

“But more than that, it was extremely gratifying just to see 

the smiles on the faces of those in our famous red strip, from 

the newest of players in our Under-6 competition, to those 

playing in the Over-45s, all enjoying their football. 

“We really are a club for everyone, and we are incredibly 

proud of the position we have within this amazing 

community.” 

In 2023, the club are expecting a bumper year, with a 

highly competitive group of players keen for more silverware, 

a consistently strong base of juniors and a big focus on 

Women’s football. 

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup is in Australia and NZ this 

winter, so we are expecting to increase our already impressive 

female player numbers given the focus on the game,” said JK. 

HUGE SUCCESS: Season 2023 will see an even bigger 

focus on Women’s football for Avalon Soccer Club. 

“Currently, our female players make up a third of the 

club’s overall numbers, with a lot of girls dual-registering to 

play in our Saturday mixed competition as well. It’s been a 

consistently strong part of the Club, and there’ll be plenty of 

new initiatives around female football this year.” 

2023 also marks the return of a much-loved part of the 

Avalon Soccer Club history as the Women’s Under-16 team 

resume their annual tour to Vanuatu 

after a COVID-enforced hiatus. The 

girls will head over for 10 days in 

July, playing games against local 

teams, making charitable donations 

and community visits, and really 

promoting women’s football in the 

region. 

“The whole tour is based on 

fundraising by the teams themselves, 

so if you see them around over the 

next few months, help them out!” 

Online registrations are now 

open for 2023 via the club’s website 

avalonsoccerclub.com.au – this is the 

best source for information about the 

Club and the season ahead. The Club 

will also hold a ‘Try Football Open 

Day’ at the Careel Bay Clubhouse 

from 10am-3pm on Sunday 5 

February. 

“We’ll have a BBQ going, run some 

skill sessions and give newcomers 

the chance to try out football on the day,” said JK. “The shop 

will be open so grab some gear, meet the committee, ask any 

questions you have.” 

Also, the Club’s ambitious ‘Project 2030’ plan is in the 

works, along with major infrastructure upgrades. 

“We have big plans for where we want to take this Club over 

the next 5-10 years, and we have a vision of where we want to 

be, and create a whole-Club approach, which unifies Juniors 

and Seniors,” JK continued. 

“We have implemented an important Project 2030 

document which highlights the four key Club pillars (Football 

Development; Club infrastructure; Sponsorship / Marketing; 

Member Services) to focus on. 

“We are looking to form Sub-Committees to look after these 

areas so if you want to be involved, please reach out to me 

directly. 

“There’s no better place to play football – join us down at 

The Bay and find out why we say ‘Avalon is Magic’!” 

*More info visit avalonsoccerclub.com.au 

– NW 




55

Health & Wellbeing 

Heads up 

seniors – 

celebrate 

together 


The Seniors Festival is back! Try something new, 

meet new people and have a great time at the 

many free and discounted events being held this 

month for residents aged 60 and over. Here’s a 

taste of some events happening near you... 

Online Safety 

Scams are continually evolving. 

This free information 

session will provide an insight 

into the latest risks, what to 

look or listen for to avoid being 

caught and where to get 

help. The main presentation 

will be followed by a short 

information session on the 

courses AVPALS will be offering 

in Term 1, 2023. Followed 

by afternoon tea! Tuesday 

7th from 1.30pm-3pm at the 

Newport Community Centre. 

Enquiries: 8064 3574 

or email info@avpals.com 

Carers support 

Do you look after a family 

member or friend with disability, 

a medical condition, 

mental illness or who is frail 

due to age? Carer Gateway an 

Australian Government program 

providing free services 

and support for carers can help 

you. Find out all you need to 

know at Mona Vale Library on 

Monday 20th from 10am-1pm. 

Free, no bookings required. 

Square dancing 

The wonderful Newport Ocean 

Waves Square Dance Club 

is offering four demonstration 

nights every Tuesday in 

February where seniors are 

welcome to join in the fun for 

free at the Ted Blackwood Hall, 

Warriewood from 7.45pm-9pm. 

For bookings call Christine 

(0439 821 811) or Bob (0419 

745 628). 

Art gallery tour and tea 

Enjoy morning tea and a special 

guided tour by MAG&M’s 

curators of the three exhibitions 

on display: Manly by 

Ferry: Treasures from the 

Vault; Fair Play: sport as motif 

& metaphor, and Barely Wearable: 

Ruth Downes. Tuesday 

21st from 10am-11.30am. 

Free. Bookings required either 

online or phone 8495 7129. 

Avalon Beach history talk 

Geoff Searle formed the Avalon 

Beach Historical Society 

in 1983. He invites you to 

take a step back in time as he 

presents ‘Early Avalon Beach’ 

followed by morning tea at 

Pittwater Palms on Tuesday 

21st from 11am-1pm. Bookings 

essential. Contact Gary 

Brierley on 0475 705 360. 

Cemetery tour 

Hear the fascinating local history 

linked to Mona Vale Cemetery 

from an experienced 

guide on Tuesday 21st from 

9.30am. Meet at the Caretaker’s 

Office, see inscriptions 

and symbolic religious art and 

hear stories of the pioneers 

who settled and developed 

the area. Reasonable level 

of fitness is required for this 

hour-long tour, wear walking 

shoes, hat and sunscreen and 

bring a water bottle. Bookings 

essential by 10 February 

phone 8495 6127. 

Seniors Group Expo 

Find out how you can share 

your hobby or interest with 

others or discover a new 

pastime at Your Local Seniors 

Group Expo. Browse more 

than 20 information tables 

from local community groups 

and organisations at Newport 

Community Centre on Friday 

24 from 1pm-4pm. The official 

opening by Northern Beaches 

Deputy Mayor Sue Heins will 

be followed by a performance 

by the Third Age Jazz Fusion, 

health and wellbeing presentations 

and giveaways! Free 

transport can be arranged, 

phone Easylink on 9919 0700 

(conditions apply). 

Pittwater Cruise 

Join the crew from Northern 

Beaches Creative Leisure & 

Learning to cruise around 

Pittwater on Monday 27 from 

10am-1.30pm. Take a guided 

walk on the western foreshore 

at Halls Wharf. Re-join the 

ferry, take in the spectacular 

views surrounding Ku-ringgai 

Chase National Park, the 

delightful bays and inlets 

cruising back to Church Point. 

Cost $15 Bookings essential 

by 22 February. Phone 9944 

6027. – Lisa Offord 

*For more details and a listing 

of all events being held 

on the Northern Beaches 

visit NB Council’s website. 



Support for new parents 

Northern Beaches parents can now access GP-referred, free 

specialist perinatal counselling sessions at the new Gidget 

House at Northern Beaches Hospital. 

At the opening of the service late last year, NSW Minister 

for Health Brad Hazzard said providing mental health support 

in the community was a top priority for the NSW Government. 

“Parenting can be difficult for numerous reasons, and we 

must ensure those experiencing perinatal depression and 

anxiety have access to a safe space to seek help,” he said. 

Gidget Foundation Australia is a leading not-for-profit 

organisation that assists thousands of expectant parents and 

their families each year providing free psychological services 

conducted through participating hospitals. 

The opening of Gidget House at Northern Beaches Hospital 

in the foundation’s 21st year was particularly significant, 

as ‘Gidget’ was the nickname of a young Northern Beaches 

mum who took her life while suffering from unrecognised 

postnatal depression. The foundation was established by her 

close friends and family in 2001. 

According to Gidget Foundation Australia research, Sydney 

parents say the biggest challenges about being a new parent 

were the lack of sleep (47%), getting into a routine (37%), 

losing their independence (29%), and accepting their new 

identity as a parent (29%). 

Gidget Foundation Australia CEO Arabella Gibson said: “We 

hope that the more we talk about it, the more parents feel comfortable 

enough to reach out for help and support,” she said. 

“With one in five new mums and one in ten new dads 

experiencing PNDA we know just how hard it is to get better 

without essential support.” 

– LO 





with Bec Johnson, M.Pharm 


Unsettling stomach issues: 

Self-care management tips 

Heartburn, or acid reflux, 

can occur when the 

acidic contents of the 

stomach flow back into the oesophagus 

and irritate the inner 

lining of the oesophagus. This 

can occur for several reasons; 

however most commonly it is 

related to the lower oesophageal 

sphincter (LOS) not closing 

properly to prevent backflow. 

Indigestion refers to uncomfortable 

stomach symptoms in 

general, and can include reflux 

along with bloating, nausea, 

and stomach pain. Reflux commonly 

presents as a rising burning 

feeling from the stomach 

to the throat, an acidic, sour, 

or bitter taste, or a sudden 

increase in saliva in the mouth. 

Risk factors & 

self-care points 

The presence of other medical 

conditions can increase the 

risk of reflux, such as gastrooesophageal 

reflux disease, 

hiatus hernia, and asthma. 

However, the mainstay of 

preventing acid reflux is by 

avoiding triggers and changing 

aspects which may be worsening 

the symptoms. 

Diet – Plays a big role in acid 

reflux and its prevention. 

Foods which are spicy and/ 

or fatty, chocolate, onions, 

tomatoes, and citrus fruits are 

often linked with causing a 

degree of reflux. Drinks containing 

caffeine, such as tea, 

coffee, or energy drinks, along 

with soft drinks and alcohol, 

can also cause or worsen 

reflux. 

Cigarettes – Smoking can 

cause more acid to be 

produced by the stomach, 

increasing the risk of stomach 

contents irritating the oesophagus. 

Nicotine is thought 

to cause relaxation of the 

LOS, leading to heartburn. 

This includes forms such as 

e-cigarettes (vapes) and other 

forms of nicotine replacement 

therapy. 

Rush-eating – Eating a meal 

very quickly causes you to 

swallow more air than usual, 

which can lead to bloating and 

gas along with increasing the 

risk of reflux. Chewing slowly 

and eating small bites at a time 

aids digestion, and can help 

reduce symptoms of stomach 

discomfort. Staying upright for 

around 30-60 minutes after 

eating can also help reduce 

reflux. 

Too much – Eating a large 

meal or overeating can cause 

temporary stretching or 

distorting of the stomach, 

putting pressure on the LOS 

and increasing the risk of the 

stomach contents flowing back 

into the oesophagus. Similarly, 

being overweight or obese 

puts pressure on the LOS due 

to the presence of excess 

weight around the stomach. 

Losing weight is therefore one 

of the best lifestyle changes 

you can make to help reduce 

reflux. Wearing loose clothing 

can also help to reduce symptoms 

by reducing pressure on 

the stomach. 

Stirring up – The intense and 

sometimes jarring movements 

associated with vigorous exercise, 

particularly within 2 hours 

of eating, can force stomach 

acid into the oesophagus. 

Stress – Is a big risk factor for 



eflux. The hormones released 

when we are stressed can 

stimulate the production of 

stomach acid, stress can affect 

the functioning of the LOS, 

can change our eating habits, 

and can slow gut motility. 

Managing stress well, through 

relaxation techniques, yoga, 

exercise, or therapy, can help 

to reduce acid reflux symptoms. 

Treatments 

There are a few over-the-counter 

options available from your 

local pharmacy to help assist 

the management of acid reflux. 

As the acidic nature of the 

stomach contents following a 

meal is the cause of the irritation, 

neutralising the contents 

by using antacids can help 

quickly relieve symptoms. 

Antacids which also contain 

sodium alginate, i.e. Gaviscon, 

can both neutralise the acid 

and form a layer on top of the 

stomach contents to prevent 

the acid from reaching the 

LOS. It is important to speak 

with a pharmacist before 

selecting these – as they can 

contain magnesium, sodium, 

and calcium. 

Antacids are not appropriate 

for everyone and come with 

their own range of possible 

side effects. 

Proton pump inhibitors 

(PPIs) reduce the amount of 

acid produced in the stomach, 

therefore reducing the acidity 

of the stomach contents. These 

medications are not a ‘quick 

fix’ – they generally need to be 

taken for a few days before the 

therapeutic effect is achieved. 

These are available in small 

packets over the counter; 

however you can get larger 

packets on prescription from 

your doctor. 

It is important to monitor 

long-term use with your doctor, 

as the effects of reducing 

the stomach pH can result in 

unwanted effects: 

n Nutrient deficiencies, as the 

absorption of certain nutrients 

such as iron, calcium, and 

vitamin b12 are affected by 

the reduced acidic contents of 

the stomach. The affected absorption 

of calcium is thought 

to increase the risk of bone 

fractures and osteoporosis. 

n Increased risk of infection, 

as the reduced acid of the 

stomach can create an environment 

for which it is favourable 

for certain bacteria to grow. 

n Increased risk of kidney 

disease; while the mechanism 

by which risk is increased 

is debated, it is thought to 

perhaps be due to changes in 

electrolytes (namely calcium 

and magnesium) or the gut 

microbiome, which plays a 

role in immune response and 

inflammation. 

If you have been taking PPIs 

for an extended period, it is 

important to discuss weaning 

off the PPI with your doctor. 

Stopping them suddenly can 

result in rebound acid hypersecretion, 

which can worsen 

symptoms of reflux. 

Make sure to always check 

in with your local pharmacist 

or GP if you have any concerns 

relating to the management of 

heartburn. 

Pittwater Pharmacy & 

Compounding Chemist 

at Mona Vale has operated 

as a family-run business 

since 1977. Open seven days; 

drop in & meet the highly 

qualified and experienced 

team of Len, Sam and Amy 

Papandrea, Andrew Snow 

and Bec Johnson. Find them 

at 1771 Pittwater Rd; 

call 9999 3398. 





with Rowena Beckenham 


Why early intervention is so 

crucial for kids with Myopia 

Myopia, known as 

short-sightedness, is a 

condition that results 

in blurred distance vision. 

This occurs due to refractive 

error; a consequence of an 

elongated eyeball causing 

distant objects to be focussed 

in front of rather than on the 

light-sensitive retina. Low 

levels of outside activity and 

light exposure, prolonged 

near tasks, and having at least 

one myopic parent all increase 

the risk of developing myopia. 

The prevalence of myopia 

is on the rise globally; the 

circumstances of modern living 

have drastically increased 

myopia risk. Children being 

introduced to digital devices 

at an early age has led to increased 

prolonged periods of 

up-close visual focussing and 

reduced time spent outdoors. 

It’s estimated that over 50 per 

cent of the global population 

will be myopic by 2050 – and 

40 per cent of Australians 

already are. Interestingly, 

Aussie kids living in urban 

areas are approximately 2.6 

times more likely to experience 

myopia than those living 

rurally. COVID-19 has also 

had a significant impact on 

the progression of childhood 

myopia as a direct result of 

extended lockdowns. 

Uncorrected myopia has a 

major influence on the quality 

of life of young people, as 

poor vision can substantially 

impact a child’s development 

as well as scholastic performance. 

Some 80 per cent of 

classroom learning is visual 

and therefore it is extremely 

important for a myopic child 

to have the correct care 

and support they require 

to thrive. Early detection is 

also crucial, as each year of 

delay in developing myopia 

significantly reduces the risk 

of a child developing high 

myopia in adulthood. High 

myopia leads to a greater risk 

of developing sight-threatening 

complications in adulthood; 

these include myopic maculopathy, 

glaucoma, cataracts, 

and retinal detachment, all of 

which can lead to significantly 

reduced vision or blindness. 

Myopia management and 

intervention needs to start as 

early as possible, in order to 

delay the onset and slow the 

progression of myopia. We 

recommend that children have 

their eyes tested regularly, 

even if there are seemingly no 

signs or symptoms of visual 

abnormality. Kids should have 

their first eye test before they 

start school, and then every 

two to three years as they 

progress through their primary 

and high school journeys. 

Unfortunately, in Australia, 30 

per cent of Aussie kids have 

never had their eyes tested. As 

a parent it is important to be 

proactive as children themselves 

may not realise they see 

things a bit differently to those 

around them, and in some cases, 

as with pre-myopia, there 

may be no symptoms at all. 

There are several active 

intervention management options 

available to help improve 

eye health in myopic or premyopic 

kids; certain glasses 

lenses are available specifically 

designed for myopia management, 

and can be worn to 

correct vision; daily disposable 

contact lenses are suitable for 

children due to their soft lens 

design and disposable nature, 

and help to correct for myopia 

while slowing the progression 

of the condition; low-dose 

atropine eye drops are administered 

to children at bedtime 

to potentially significantly slow 

the progression of myopia. 

In addition to visiting your 

local optometrist, there are 

several healthy habits to 

implement at home that can 

help protect your child’s eyes. 

Firstly, it is important for kids 

to have balance in their worlds, 

for happy eyes this means 

incorporating outdoor learning 

and play into their daily 

routines for 90 minutes every 

day. All kids should have very 

limited exposure to hand-held 

electronic devices, especially 

infants. If they are using devices, 

good posture is important, 

with eyes at least 50 cm from 

the screen, as is good ambient 

lighting. 

If you have concerns about 

your child’s vision, or just think 

it’s time for a check-up, book 

an appointment to see one of 

our friendly optometrists! 

Comment supplied by 

Rowena Beckenham, of 

Beckenham Optometrist 

in Avalon (9918 0616). 

Rowena has been 

involved in all facets 

of independent private 

practice optometry in 

Avalon for more than 

20 years, in addition to 

working as a consultant to 

the optometric and 

pharmaceutical industry, 

and regularly volunteering 

in Aboriginal eyecare 

programs in regional NSW. 








‘Simple’ habits to 

improve your health 

Many of us struggle to 

state your nervous system is 

prioritise our health due 

in at any time and have some 

to busy schedules, stress and 

simple breathing or moving 

lack motivation. We asked 

tools to help you self-regulate. 

Bayview resident and founder 

Yoga and meditation can help. 

of Billabong Retreat Sydney, 

When you are stressed, your 

Paul von Bergen (pictured 

immune system is downgraded 

and that makes you 

right), for his tips for health 

and wellness in 2023. 

susceptible to illness. 

“Through helping over 

3. Keep moving. It is said that 

30,000 people improve their 

a sedentary life is the new 

health at Billabong Retreat I 

smoking. Incorporate movement 

and exercise wherever 

have found the most important 

lesson is to keep it 

possible. Don’t sit down at 

simple,” Paul said. 

a desk all day – try a saddle 

“While there are many areas then restart again the next chair. Walk up any stairs. Walk 

you can focus on including day. 

to the shops. Every day, move 

eating whole-foods, reducing 4.Review how you did at the your body. 

alcohol, managing your stress end of each day without selfjudgment 

– you are only a prescription drugs where 

4. Avoid antibiotics and 

levels, maintaining regular 

movement, exercising and minimising 

environmental toxins, can be helpful here. 

clever ape after all. A journal possible. Take only what is essential. 

Ask your doctor under 

you can’t do them all at once. Areas in order of priority to 

what conditions they would be 

“So just start with one and work on: 

happy seeing you reduce your 

try to stick to it.” 

1. Wholefood eating. Also 

medications. Only take antibiotics 

as a last resort – they 

Here are von Bergen’s top known as JERF (just eat real 

tips for setting and sticking food). You can tell if it’s real 

trash your gut biome which is 

to intentions: 

food by reading the label and 

critical for physical and mental 

1. Start with a simple intention 

(ie stop eating takeaway make this ingredient? Has it 

asking yourself, did nature 

health. 

5. Minimise environmental 

or junk food), write it down been refined or modified? Eat 

toxins and start in the home. 

and remind yourself of it every only the things that nature offers, 

including organic whole- 

Look at all the kitchen, laundry 

and bathroom products 

morning. 

2. Work as a team with a food fruit, vegetables, nuts 

you have and ask yourself 

wellness friend, share your intentions 

and results together as animal fats and olive oil, 

and seeds, natural oils such 

what chemicals you are constantly 

exposing yourself to. 

and support each other with full fat organic dairy and free 

Throw them all out – all you 

suggestions and kindness. range grass fed meat. There’s 

need is a bit of bicarb, vinegar 

3. When you don’t manage to a lot of great stuff to choose 

and water! 

act according to your intention, 

be compassionate and 2. Manage stress skillfully. The 

from there. 

6. Come to a wellness retreat 

forgiving with yourself and first challenge is to know what 

and let them guide you. 

Taking time out, ideally with 

your wellness buddy can be 

a useful opportunity to reset 

your patterns outside of your 

normal routine. 

You can also listen to Paul’s 

podcast on Apple and Spotify 

– it’s called ‘No Regrets – Love, 

Life & The Universe’. 

– LO 

*Billabong Retreat has a 

special offer for Pittwater 

Life readers – bring your 

wellness buddy to Billabong 

Retreat for free before the 

end of February. Conditions 

apply – see billabongretreat. 

com.au/friend-for-free. 



Hair & Beauty 

with Sue Carroll 

Get your skin glowing for 

2023 with skin care goals 

We are already in the 

second month of 

2023, children are 

back at school, and you finally 

have a few minutes to think 

about yourself for the year 

ahead. In February, we have 

‘Feb Fast’ where we can reset 

dietary and health programs 

– but have you thought about 

your skincare goals? What do 

you want to achieve, how will 

you achieve them and who can 

assist in reaching these goals 

easily and realistically? 

When you set your skin care 

goals, these can do so much 

more than reverse or prevent 

aging. Our largest organ of 

the body requires assistance 

with its health internally and 

externally. Our skin will help 

to maintain a healthier body 

by reducing and keeping out 

harmful pathogens, ensuring 

vital hydration remains intact 

and reducing sensitivities and 

irritations. 

Then as we move into 

another phase of pandemic 

recovery, more considerations 

may change your skin goals 

for 2023 and how it is best 

to approach them. As many 

people have experienced flu, 

COVID, long COVID or all of 

these, their skin condition 

has changed and this may 

require a change in treatments 

and skincare formulations to 

best strengthen and support 

the rejuvenation of the skin. 

There might be evidence of 

inflammation, skin stress, 

and a compromised immune 

response. 

Even if you are already 

visiting an aesthetician 

monthly, it is the perfect time 

to review and possibly update 

your skin care treatments and 

home care regime. The Clinic 

might need updates regarding 

your goals, medications, skin 

care products, shampoo, 

conditioner and special events. 

If there are special events, 

don’t leave it to the last minute 

and expect a miracle. Mature 


skin takes a little longer to be 

revitalised. 

It is also a good time to 

review your products, as here 

on the Beaches we have a hot 

humid summer and a cool 

dry winter, both extremes 

requiring a switch-up of home 

care. Along with the seasonal 

changes comes a change 

in our skin concerns and 

requirements. 

Some other significant skin 

care concerns to review and 

definitely to adhere to for 2023 

are: 

1. Apply your SPF daily no 

matter the season, as it is one 

of the best preventions for 

premature aging; 

2. Cleanse, gauze/ tone and 

nourish your skin morning and 

night with the recommended 

skincare that will assist with 

cleansing, hydrating and 

repairing; 

3. Wash your makeup off every 

night. Even after a long day, it 

can seem like the worst chore. 

Sleeping with your makeup can 

lead to clogged pores and dull 

skin; 

4. Check expiration dates 

on skincare, makeup and 

sunscreen. Old expired 

products usually lose their 

effectiveness and may harbour 

bacteria, increasing the risk of 

infection and irritation; and 

5. Schedule your skin cancer 

screening with your doctor and 

don’t become a statistic this 

year. While trying to schedule 

one more appointment into 

your busy schedule may 

seem inconvenient, surgery 

for melanoma will be more 

inconvenient. 

Introducing a treatment 

series is a great way to 

stimulate your results for your 

skin. Many options, including 

a 90-Day Program (this might 

be a combination of peels, 

microdermabrasion, laser 

and corrective facials), a Peel 

Series (a trio of peels spaced 

anywhere between 2-4 weeks 

apart), Corrective Facials or 

a one-off treatment such as 

a Tixel Infusion or Jet Peel 

treatment. 

Seeking advice from health 

professionals such as a 

naturopath, nutritionist or 

colon therapist to work from 

the inside while also working 

on the outside will achieve 

optimum results for your skin 

completing the health jigsaw 

puzzle. 

No matter what your 

skincare goals are for 2023, 

speaking with a professional 

aesthetician is the perfect 

starting point to assist you in 

reaching your new year’s skin 

resolutions. 

Sue Carroll is at the forefront 

of the beauty, wellness 

and para-medical profession 

with 35 years’ experience on 

Sydney’s Northern Beaches. 

She leads a dedicated team 

of professionals who are 

passionate about results for 

men and women. 

info@skininspiration.com.au 

www.skininspiration.com.au 

FEBRUARY 2023 63 

Hair & Beauty

Business Life: Money 

with Brian Hrnjak 

Business Life 

It’s a New Year... what about 

a brand new super fund? 

It’s back to work for many 

of us – this month we take 

a look at New Year resolution 

season… from a financial 

point of view. 

After nearly 30 years in 

public practice, I can confirm 

that this year has also followed 

a well-trodden path, 

with the time off over Christmas 

resulting in a very busy 

new year for people looking 

to make a few changes to 

their financial arrangements. 

The key theme this year from 

my point of view was clients 

wanting more control of their 

superannuation and in many 

cases this was expressed 

through interest in establishing 

a Self-Managed Superannuation 

Fund (SMSF). 

Aside from the time of 

year, there are also a couple of 

market factors causing people 

to re-evaluate their circumstances. 

Firstly, the local share 

market for the year to January 

has been flat but with a wild 

ride over the past 12 months; 

US shares also experienced 

the wild ride but finished negative 

for the year. Secondly, 

the local residential property 

market has been whacked by a 

series of interest rate rises (to 

the tune of around 15-20 per 

cent in increase). 

Public offer funds will 

soon be issuing half year 

statements and these market 

conditions always make 

people question their existing 

managers. When times are 

good the talk around the dinner 

table is about travel, when 

times are bad it turns to fees. 

Expect to see some members’ 

funds committed to advertising 

to reinforce long term 

performance if conditions stay 

flat or turn poor. But fees are 

only one factor in weighing up 

superannuation choices and 

they shouldn’t be the dominant 

one. 

As a rule of thumb, we 

wouldn’t recommend that 

someone establish a SMSF 

with combined balances below 

$500,000. Only in December 

last year, ASIC withdrew this 

amount as a recommended 

threshold, but this is more 

a testament to the lobbying 

efforts of the SMSF industry 

rather than anything else. Expanding 

on this rule of thumb, 

typically when compared to 

public offer funds, it is not 

cost-effective to establish a 

fund with a balance below 

$500,000. Between $500,000 

to $1 million it ranges from 

neutral to cost effective and 

for balances over $1 million 

it’s a no-brainer. 

The main exception to the 

above thresholds would be, 

for example, a business operator 

looking to secure their 

premises. There are generous 

concessions for business real 

property moving into superannuation 

and the value to a 

business owner of being able 

to lock in their goodwill and 

security of location surpasses 

any nominal threshold. 

But as I mentioned earlier 

the motivation for establishing 

an SMSF should not just 

be cost based. The main 

reasons why I would suggest 

that people establish their own 

funds are: 



Control – first and foremost 

the motivation to take control 

of your superannuation assets 

should be the primary motivator 

for establishing a fund. For 

many, superannuation is 

likely to be their second most 

valuable asset behind the 

family home but this desire 

for control should be matched 

with the ability and the time 

to manage such an important 

asset. 

Choice – the ability to invest 

in a wide range of assets 

not found in public offer 

funds. The example above of 

a fund holding business real 

property and the business 

owner paying rent to their 

own super fund is a powerful 

example of this. Equally 

though, the ability to own 

syndicated property, residential 

property or commercial 

property in whole or part, 

private mortgages, warrants, 

bonds, alternative assets and 

collectables, concentrated 

holdings in shares or to make 

your own decisions about buy 

backs, corporate actions or 

dividend reinvestment. 

Cost – public offer funds 

charge percentage-based fees 

that rise directly in proportion 

to the underlying asset 

holdings. Administration of a 

SMSF tends to be fixed with a 

scale based on complexity or 

volume of transactions. 

Tax – a SMSF has the ability 

to manage taxation outcomes 

in a more specific fashion by 

investing in assets that generate 

higher levels of franking 

credits or tax deferred income 

and there’s no pooling with 

other investors; it’s only the 

direct fund members that benefit. 

Public offer funds deduct 

and remit tax on contributions 

immediately whereas an SMSF 

has use of those funds for up 

to two years until the fund’s 

returns are lodged with the 

ATO. 

Estate planning – superannuation 

does not form part 

of your estate: that situation 

applies regardless of whether 

you use a SMSF or not. A SMSF 

should theoretically reduce 

the risk of death benefits being 

allocated against the member’s 

wishes, as the surviving 

spouse or nominated children 

will usually step into the trustee’s 

role after the passing of 

a member. 

The key factors driving the 


decision to establish a fund 

should therefore be based on 

the desire to achieve control 

and flexibility over your 

superannuation holdings. The 

ancillary benefits that will flow 

as money accumulates in the 

fund will be from taxation, 

costs and estate planning 

factors. 

In terms of the nature and 

profile of SMSF’s in Australia, 

the latest data to the end of 

the September quarter was released 

by the ATO just before 

Christmas last year. 

There are currently more 

than 600,000 funds in existence 

in Australia with nearly 

1.5 million members holding 

average assets per fund of 

$1.47 million. 

The number of SMSF’s grew 

between September 21 and 

September 22 by just over 3 

per cent year on year. Two 

member funds are the dominant 

format with nearly 70 

per cent of funds having only 

two members, single member 

funds represented about a 

quarter of all funds. Some 72 

per cent of members of all 

funds in existence are over 

the age of 50; however, 63 

per cent of the members of 

the funds established in the 

September quarter were under 

50, with over a third being between 

35 and 44, reflecting a 

younger demographic setting 

up funds. 

The dominant asset class 

held by SMSFs is listed Australian 

shares, sitting at about 

30 per cent of all holdings; 

residential and commercial 

property are each below 10 

per cent of assets across the 

majority of funds; and crypto 

currency sits at less than 1 per 

cent of assets for the majority 

of SMSFs 

Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is 

a Director of GHR Accounting 

Group Pty Ltd, Certified 

Practising Accountants. Offices 

at: Suite 12, Ground Floor, 

20 Bungan Street Mona Vale 

NSW 2103 and Shop 8, 9 – 15 

Central Ave Manly NSW 2095, 

Telephone: 02 9979-4300, 

Webs: www.ghr.com.au and 

www.altre.com.au Email: 

brian@ghr.com.au 

These comments are of a 

general nature only and are 

not intended as a substitute 

for professional advice. 


Business Life

Business Life: Law 

with Jennifer Harris 


The gift-giving aftermath – 

and (un)happy Xmas returns 

We’re into the New 

Year and you are 

still recovering 

from having the family for 

Christmas. Everyone seemed 

to enjoy themselves – but 

now is the time for reflecting 

on the air conditioner which 

expels heat instead of chill; 

the toys which broke while in 

the box before the children 

opened them. Then there is 

Jane, all of 17 who loved the 

dress bought for her school 

formal but having worn it 

now wants to take it back to 

the boutique from where it 

was purchased. (At least the 

books, wine and food were 

okay.) 

The air conditioner was 

a gift for the family. Before 

buying, you shopped around 

looking for the best deal. At 

short notice it was delivered 

and installed – bliss! But 

something went wrong. 

What to do? The product 

is under warranty; you 

should have kept the invoice 

and the warranty. Call the 

manufacturer and tell them 

of the problem. Providing the 

fault is within the equipment 

and it has not occurred 

through adaptation etc, they 

should honour the warranty 

and replace or repair. 

The train set came 

from Uncle Louis for Tom 

but when the parcel was 

unpacked the tracks were 

broken and the wheels on 

the goods train had parted 

company. No-one liked to 

make a fuss but Uncle Louis 

gathered it up and assured 

Tom he would replace it or 

get a refund. You hope Uncle 

Louis will be successful. It’s 

just that you hope he kept 

the invoice or receipt or 

proof of purchase or he may 

be further disappointed. 

Retailers, particularly after 

Christmas, are usually very 

wary of returns and Uncle 

Louis will need to prove from 

whom and when the item 

was purchased. 

Now to Jane; she has 

simply changed her mind 

about the dress and thinks 

having only worn it once 

she can just return it. She 

does not understand or 

want to understand that 

you are not legally entitled 

to a refund simply because 

she has changed her mind. 

(With a bit of luck Pittwater 

Life will publish the photos 

of the formal and there 

she will be for all the world 

and boutique owner to see, 

looking as pretty as a picture 

in the now-despised dress.) 

So what are your rights 

as a shopper to a refund 

or replacement? The goods 

you buy must be safe 

and must work the way 

they’re supposed to. The 

information you get about 

a product or service must 

be accurate and the product 

must be labelled correctly. 

You may ask for a refund 

if the goods you have 

purchased: 

n Are so defective that they 

should not have been sold 



e.g. they don’t work, they 

break down or they develop a 

serious fault; 

n They are not suitable for 

their intended purpose; or 

n They do not match the 

sample or description 

provided. 

If this occurs the goods 

should be returned and the 

retailer should refund your 

money. 

However, you may 

negotiate other solutions 

with the retailer, such as a 

replacement or the repair of 

goods. 

You are not entitled to a 

refund when you change 

your mind about a product; 

when you knew or should 

have known about a fault 

when you bought the goods, 

for example as ‘seconds’ 

(however, if a second has 

a fault that you were not 

aware of, or could not have 

discovered upon a reasonable 

inspection when the item 

was bought, your rights are 

not affected); or when you 

are unable to prove from 

whom and when the item was 

purchased. 

Also, when you were 

responsible for damaging the 

goods by not following the 

instructions or misusing the 

product. 

So, next Christmas, as well 

as shopping around for the 

best deal and inspecting the 

goods carefully, remember to 

keep all invoices, dockets and 

receipts as proof of purchase. 

If something goes wrong 

you should stop using the 

goods, let the retailer know 

as soon as possible, and look 

after the goods until they are 

returned to the retailer (take 

along proof of purchase). 

If there is a dispute, ask to 

speak to someone in charge. 

Explain the problem calmly 

and clearly to them. If the 

goods are left with the store, 

get a receipt. If you still have 

problems, contact the Office 

of Fair Trading. 

Comment supplied by 

Jennifer Harris, of Jennifer 

Harris & Associates, 

Solicitors, 4/57 Avalon 

Parade, Avalon Beach. 

T: 9973 2011. F: 9918 3290. 

E: jennifer@jenniferharris.com.au 

W: www.jenniferharris.com.au 




Trades & Services 


AIR CONDITIONING 

Alliance Climate Control 

Call 02 9186 4179 

Air Conditioning & Electrical Professionals. Specialists in Air 

Conditioning Installation, Service, Repair & Replacement. 

BATTERIES 

Battery Business 

Call 9970 6999 

Batteries for all applications. Won’t be beaten on price or 

service. Free testing, 7 days. 

BUILDING 

Acecase Pty Ltd 

Call Dan 0419 160 883 

Professional building and carpentry services, renovations, 

decks, pergolas. Fully licensed & insured. Local business 

operating for 25 years. 

CARPENTRY 

Able Carpentry & Joinery 

Call Cameron 0418 608 398 

Doors & locks, timber gates & handrails; decking repairs + 

more; 25 years’ experience. 

CLEANING 

Amazing Clean 

Call Andrew 0412 475 2871 

Specialists in blinds, curtains and awnings. Clean, repair, 

supply new. 

Aussie Clean Team 

Call John 0478 799 680 

For a good clean inside and outside, windows, gutters and 

small repairs. 

Housewashing - 

northernbeaches.com.au 

Call Ben 0408 682 525 

Established 1999 in Avalon & Collaroy. 

We specialise in soft and pressure washes, plus window and 

gutter cleaning, driveways and rooftops. 

CONCRETING 

Adrians Concrete 

Call Adrian 0404 172 435 

Driveways, paths, slabs… all your concreting needs; Northern 

Beaches-based. 

ELECTRICAL 

Alliance Service Group 

Call Adrian 9063 4658 

All services & repairs, 24hr. Lighting installation, switchboard 

upgrade. Seniors discount 5%. 

Eamon Dowling Electrical 

Call Eamon 0410 457 373 

For all electrical needs including phone, TV and data. 

Pittwater-based. Reliable; quality service guaranteed. 

Warrick Leggo 

Call Warrick 0403 981 941 

Specialising in domestic work; small jobs welcome. Seniors’ 

discount; Narrabeen-based. 

FLOOR COVERINGS 

Blue Tongue Carpets 

Call Stephan or Roslyn 9979 7292 

Northern Beaches Flooring Centre has been family owned 

& run for over 20 years. Carpets, Tiles, Timber, Laminates, 

Hybrids & Vinyls. Open 6 days. 

GARDENS 

!Abloom Ace Gardening 

Call 0415 817 880 

Full range of gardening services including landscaping, 

maintenance and rubbish removal. 

Conscious Gardener Avalon 

Call Matt 0411 750 791 

Professional local team offering quality garden maintenance, 

horticultural advice; also garden makeovers. 

Living Gardens Landscape 

Call Richy 0475 148417 

Lawn & garden maintenance, garden regeneration, stone 



work, residential & commercial. 

Melaleuca Landscapes 

Call Sandy 0416 276 066 

Professional design and construction for every garden 

situation. Sustainable vegetable gardens and waterfront 

specialist. 

Surplus Studio 

Call Marc 0435 743 774 

Permaculture design; connecting people and planet 

by designing ecologically sound human habitats. Free 

consultation. 

Precision Tree Services 

Call Adam 0410 736 105 

Adam Bridger; professional tree care by qualified arborists 

and tree surgeons. 

GUTTERS & ROOFING 

Cloud9 R&G 

Call Tommy 0447 999 929 

Prompt and reliable service; gutter cleaning and installation, 

leak detection, roof installation and painting. Also roof repairs 

specialist. 

Ken Wilson Roofing 

Call 0419 466 783 

Leaking roofs, tile repairs, tiles replaced, metal roof repairs, 

gutter cleaning, valley irons replaced. 

HANDYMEN 

Hire A Hubby 

Call 1800 803 339 

Extensive services including carpentry, outdoor 

maintenance, painting and plastering and more. 

Local Handyman 

Call Jono 0413 313299 

Small and medium-sized building jobs, also welding & 

metalwork; licensed. 

HOT WATER 

Hot Water Maintenance NB 

Call 9982 1265 

Local emergency specialists, 7 days. Sales, service, installation. 

Warranty agents, fully accredited. 

KITCHENS 

Collaroy Kitchen Centre 

Call 9972 9300 

Danish design excellence. Local beaches specialists in 

kitchens, bathrooms and joinery. Visit the showroom in Collaroy. 

Seabreeze Kitchens 

Call 9938 5477 

Specialists in all kitchen needs; design, fitting, consultation. 

Excellent trades. 

MASSAGE & FITNESS 

Avalon Physiotherapy 

Call 9918 3373 

Provide specialist treatment for neck & back pain, sports 

injuries, orthopaedic problems. 

PAINTING 

Cloud9 Painting 

Call 0447 999 929 

Your one-stop shop for home or office painting; interiors, 

exteriors and also roof painting. Call for a quote. 

Tom Wood Master Painters 

Call 0406 824 189 

Residential specialists in new work & repaints / interior & 

exterior. Premium paints; 17 years’ experience. 

PEST CONTROL 

Predator Pest Control 

Call 0417 276 962 

predatorpestcontrol.com.au 

Environmental services at their best. Comprehensive control. 

Eliminate all manner of pests. 





PLUMBING 

Mark Ellison Plumbing 

Call 0431 000 400 

Advanced solutions for sewer & stormwater pipe relining: 

Upfront price, 25-year warranty. 

Total Pipe Relining 

Call Josh 0423 600 455 

Repair pipe problems without replacement. Drain systems 

fully relined; 50 years’ guaranty. Latest technology, best 

price. 

R AINWATER TANKS 

Aquarius Watermaster 

Call 1300 794 850 

Rainwater tanks & pumps to capture and use the rain. Sales, 

service & installation. View large display area at Terrey Hills. 

RUBBISH REMOVAL 

Jack’s Rubbish Removals 

Call Jack 0403 385 312 

Up to 45% cheaper than skips. Latest health regulations. 

Old-fashioned honesty & reliability. Free quotes. 

household rubbish, construction, commercial plus vegetation. 

Also car removals. 

SLIDING DOOR REPAIRS 

Beautiful Sliding Door Repairs 

Call 0407 546 738 

Fix anything that slides in your home; door specialists – 

wooden / aluminium. Free quote. Same-day repair; 5-year 

warranty. 

UPHOLSTERY 

Luxafoam North 

Call 0414 468 434 

Local specialists in all aspects of outdoor & indoor seating. 

Custom service, expert advice. 


One 2 Dump 

Call Josh 0450 712 779 

Seven-days-a-week pick-up service includes general 

DISCLAIMER: The editorial and advertising content in Pittwater Life has been provided 

by a number of sources. Any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor 

or Publisher of Pittwater Life and no responsibility is taken for the accuracy of the 

information contained within. Readers should make their own enquiries directly to 

any organisations or businesses prior to making any plans or taking any action. 






Pittwater Puzzler 

Compiled by David Stickley 

29 Statutory body responsible 

for counterespionage and for 

the collecting of information on 

subversive or terrorist activity (4) 

30 A sudden unexpected event (8) 

Pittwater Puzzler 

ACROSS 

1 Boggle the mind (8) 

6 Item from a restaurant’s 

menu (4) 

8 Storm (7) 

9 Any of various monitor lizards, 

typically large and fast-moving (7) 

11 ‘Chief of the Broken Bay 

Tribe’ (8) 

12 A thing conferred as a 

distinction, especially an 

official award for bravery or 

achievement (6) 

14 Member of a rowing crew (3) 

16 Pop-up skating event held 

at the Avalon Beach Netball 

court (6,5) 

18 One of the world’s largest 

ocean swim events held at Manly 

Beach (4,7) 

22 What a mess! (3) 

24 Australian Hall of Fame 

basketballer who is a Warriewood 

resident, Brad ______ (6) 

25 See 7-down 

27 Nina Curtis has a passion for 

______ (7) 

28 Crowds of people (7) 

DOWN 

2 A short intensive course of 

study (7) 

3 Alfresco (4-3) 

4 Free from suspicion or 

difficulty (2,3,5) 

5 James Cripps won the Australian 

Writers’ Guild’s prestigious Monte 

Miller award for his script ____ 

Rotation (4) 

6 Sporting feature found 

many times in Rat Park in 

Warriewood (7) 

7 & 25-across Series of events 

held for the older people in the 

community (7,8) 

8 A prohibition or restriction 

imposed by social custom (5) 

10 Source of petrol, diesel, and 

other fuels commonly (5) 

13 An informal printed report 

issued periodically to the 

members of a society, business, 

organisation, etc. (10) 

15 Smashed item served on 

toast (3) 

17 A boat with twin hulls in 

parallel (3) 

18 Writes software (5) 

19 Small pieces of confectionery 

made especially with sugar (7) 

20 One of the proteins that goes 

into Food Stuff’s paella (7) 

21 Company who supplies food 

for an event (7) 

22 Money in the bank (7) 

23 They are found in... (5) 

26 No doubt a breakfast option 

at one of the many seaside cafes 

on the Northern Beaches, ____ 

Benedict (4) 

[Solution page 80] 



Food Life 

with Janelle Bloom 


Recipes: janellebloom.com.au; FB: facebook.com/culinaryinbloom Insta: instagram.com/janellegbloom/ 

Meat, seafood and veggies – 

they can be heaven on a stick 

Skewers are like magic wands: no matter what you put on 

them, they always look and taste more delicious than 

regular plated food. So whether you’re thinking sweet, 

savoury, protein or vegetables, or planning the midweek family 

meal, summer barbecues or entertaining friends – we have it all 

‘skewered’ this month! 

Marinated chicken 

and vegetable 

skewers 

Serves 6 

To start: Soak 12 wooden 

skewers in cold water for 30 

minutes; drain. 

10 chicken thigh fillets, 

trimmed cut into 2cm pieces 

1 red capsicum, seeded, cut 

into 2cm pieces 

1 yellow capsicum, seeded, cut 


1 green capsicum, seeded, cut 


1 large red onion, cut into 2cm 

pieces 

2 zucchinis, cut into rounds 

leafy green salad and garlic 

bread, to serve 

Marinade 

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil 

2 tbs lemon juice 

2 tsp smoked paprika 

2 tsp Italian dried herbs 

1. Thread the chicken, 

capsicum, onion and 

zucchini onto the skewers 

and place in a single layer 

in a ceramic baking dish. 

Combine the marinade 

ingredients, then spoon 

over the skewers, turn to 

coat. Season. Cover and 

refrigerate for 30 minutes to 

develop the flavours if you 

have time. Drain and discard 

the marinade. 

2. Preheat a barbecue grill or 

chargrill on medium-high. 

Cook skewers, turning, 

for 15 minutes or until 

vegetables are tender and 

chicken is cooked through. 

Serve with leafy green salad 

and garlic bread. 

Switch: Try switching the 

chicken for pork fillet, salmon, 

beef blade, rump or topside. 

Extra Veg: Other vegetables 

you can use include 

mushrooms, par-cooked potato 

or sweet potato, or fresh corn 

(cut into rounds). 

Lemongrass 

beef skewers 

Serves 4 




600g beef mince 

1 tbs lemongrass paste 

1 garlic clove, crushed 

1 tbs sriracha sauce 

1 tbs teriyaki sauce 

¼ cup dried breadcrumbs 

1 egg yolk, lightly beaten 

olive oil cooking spray 

mixed salad leaves, sliced red 

radish & Asian herbs, to serve 

Vietnamese salad dressing, to 

serve 

1. Combine the mince, 

lemongrass, garlic, sriracha, 

teriyaki sauce, breadcrumbs 

and egg yolk in a large bowl, 

season. Mix well with clean 

hands. Using clean damp 

hands, divide into 8 balls, 

then shape into 10cm long 

sausage shapes. Press onto 

bamboo skewers. 

2. Preheat barbecue plate on 

medium heat. Spray the 

meat well, cook, turning 

occasionally, for 8-10 

minutes, until browned on all 

sides and cooked through. 

Transfer to a tray, cover and 

allow to stand for 5 minutes. 

3. Combine the salad leaves, 

radish and herbs on a 

serving platter. Drizzle with 

salad dressing and toss 

gently to coat. Top with beef 

skewers and serve. 

Tip: Regular (not lean) mince 

is best for this recipe, as you 

need the fat content in it to 

hold the shape together and 

keep it moist. (If you do prefer 

to use lean mince, add an extra 

egg yolk.) 

Switch: Try switching the beef 

mince for pork or chicken 

mince. 

Traditional 

satay pork 

Serves 6 




800g pork rashers, 

1 tbs peanut oil 

2 garlic cloves, crushed 

2 Asian (red) eschalots, peeled 

2 long red chillies, chopped 

¼ tsp ground white pepper 

2 tsp ground coriander 

1 tsp ground cumin 

1 tsp ground turmeric 

15g shrimp paste, optional 

1 tbs finely grated palm sugar 

or brown sugar 

2 tbs light soy sauce 

2 tbs peanut oil, for greasing 

cooked jasmine rice, diced 

cucumber, to serve 

Peanut sauce 

1 tbs peanut oil 

2 garlic cloves, crushed 

2 Asian (red) eschalots, finely 

chopped 

2 tsp chilli paste of sambal 

oelek (Indonesian chilli paste) 

½ cup smooth peanut butter 

270ml can coconut milk 

¼ cup Kecap Manis (Indonesian 

sweet soy sauce) 



For more recipes go to janellebloom.com.au 

2 tsp light soy sauce 

¼ cup roasted peanuts, very 

finely chopped 

1 lime, juiced 

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C fanforced. 

Pour cold water into 

the base of a roasting pan to 

cover the base. Place the pork 

rashers onto a lightly greased 

wire rack then place into the 

pan. Cover tightly with foil 

and cook for 1 hour. Remove 

the pork to a plate (it won’t 

look appealing at this stage). 

Cool to room temperature. 

2. Meanwhile, combine the 

oil, garlic, eschalots, chilli, 

pepper, spices and shrimp 

paste in a small food 

processor. Process until paste 

like. Transfer to a saucepan. 

Add the palm sugar and soy. 

Bring to a gentle boil over 

medium heat. Simmer for 

3-4 minutes until slightly 

thickened. Set aside to cool. 

3. For the peanut sauce, place 

the oil, garlic, eschalots and 

chilli in a saucepan over 

medium heat. Cook, stirring 

5 minutes until soft. Add 

the peanut butter, coconut 

milk, Kecap Manis, soy 

and peanuts, stir until well 

combined. Bring to the boil, 

boil gently 5 minutes until 

thickened slightly. Remove 

from the heat and stir in the 

lime juice. taste, adding more 

lime, chilli or a little sugar to 

adjust to your taste. 

4. Cut the pork into 2cm pieces 

and place into a bowl, pour 

over the marinade and turn 

to coat. Thread onto skewers, 

reserving the marinade. 

5. Heat a greased barbecue or 


chargrill on medium-high 

heat. Cook the satay, basting 

and turning occasionally 

for 8-10 minutes until the 

pork is slightly charred and 

warmed through. Serve with 

rice, cucumber and peanut 

sauce. 

Switch: You can replace the 

pork with chicken thigh fillet, 

beef rump, green prawns or 

tofu – ignore Step 1 for these 

proteins. 

Barbecue maple 

mustard salmon 

skewers 

Serves 4 




1 eggplant, cut into 1cm-thick 

rounds 

2 yellow capsicums, cut into 

3cm cubes 

2 tbs olive oil 

600g skinless salmon fillets, 

cut into 3cm cubes 

2 tbs maple syrup 

1 red chilli, thinly sliced, 

optional 

1 tbs Dijon mustard 

1 lemon, juiced 

chopped parsley and sliced 

chilli, to serve 

1. Preheat a barbecue grill or 

chargrill on medium-high. 

Brush both sides of the 

eggplant and capsicum with 

half the oil. Barbecue the 

eggplant for 3-4 minutes 

each side and the capsicum 

for 2 minutes each side or 

until lightly charred and 

tender. Remove to a plate. 

Cool for 5 minutes. 

2. Thread the salmon, eggplant 

and capsicum onto skewers. 

Combine the remaining 

oil, maple, chilli, mustard 

and lemon juice, season. 

Brush over both sides of 

the skewers. Barbecue the 

salmon skewers, basting 

with more marinade, for 8 

minutes, turning often for 

medium or until cooked to 

your liking. Serve with salad, 

rice or noodles. 

Skewered barbecued 

vegetables 

These are a great way to 

encourage the kids to eat their 

veggies – they add colour, 

flavour and texture to any meal. 

Vegetables ideal for 

threading onto skewers include: 

red onion cut into wedges, 

green onions cut into batons; 

mushrooms, zucchini cut into 

rounds; squash-quartered, 

cherry tomatoes, par cooked 

corn cobs, par cooked potato, 

pumpkin and sweet potato, 

eggplant, capsicum. 

Quick ideas 

Par-cook red skin potatoes in 

boiling water until just tender. 

Cool then thickly slice and 

skewer. Brush with olive oil, 

season and barbecue. 

Halve button or cup 

mushrooms, brush with a little 

soy and honey and barbecue. 

Thread coloured capsicum, 

zucchini and chargrilled 

eggplant onto skewers, brush 

with oil and barbecue until 

tender. 


Food Life


Pick of the Month: 

Raspberries 


These delicious berries 

are a member of the 

rose family. During summer 

the fruit is spectacular, 

especially the Tasmanian 

varieties. 

Buying 

Before buying, first check 

the base of the punnet – 

there should be no juice 

oozing in the base. Berries 

should have a sweet aroma, 

be evenly coloured with no 

signs of bruising or mould. 

Storage 

Open the punnet and check 

there are no soft or damaged 

berries; if there are, discard 

them as they will encourage 

the speedy deterioration of 

the remaining berries. 

Place unwashed berries 

onto a plate, lined with 

paper towel, cover loosely 

with paper towel and wrap. 

Store on the lowest shelf in 

the fridge and eat as soon as 

possible. Dunk in a bowl of 

iced cold water then drain 

before serving. 

Nutrition 

Raspberries are most 

famous for their high 

content of ellagic acid, an 

antioxidant linked with 

preventing damage to cell 

membranes and reducing 

the risk of cancer. They 

are rich in Vitamin C, A, 

E and a range of B class 

vitamins including thiamine, 

riboflavin and niacin. 

Little pikelet and 

raspberry skewers 

with marshmallow 

fudge sauce 

Serves 6 

2 x 125g fresh raspberries 

Pikelets 

1¼ cups plain flour 

2½ tsp baking powder 

2 tbs caster sugar 

1 egg, lightly beaten 

¾ cup full cream milk 

50g butter, melted 

Marshmallow fudge sauce 

200g dark chocolate or milk, 

chopped 

2/3 cup (160ml) thickened 

cream 

12 white marshmallows, 

chopped 

1. For the pikelets, sift the 

flour and baking powder 

into a bowl, then stir in the 

sugar. Make a well in the 

centre, add egg and milk. 

Whisk until the batter is 

almost smooth. Stir in 3 

teaspoons of melted butter. 

2. Heat a non-stick frying pan 

over medium-high heat. 

Brush the base with a little 

melted butter. Spoon a 

tablespoon of mixture per 

pikelet, into the pan (cook 

4-5 at a time). Cook for 2-3 

minutes or until bubbles 

appear on the surface. 

Turn pikelets and cook the 

other side for 1-2 minutes 

until golden. Remove to 

a clean tea towel. Repeat 

with remaining butter and 

pikelet batter. 

3. For the marshmallow 

fudge sauce, place the 

chocolate and cream into 

a microwave-safe bowl. 

Microwave on High/100% 

for 1 minute; stir and 

continue to heat in 30 

seconds bursts until the 

sauce is smooth. Add 

the marshmallows, heat 

a further 30 seconds on 

High/100%. Stir until 

smooth. 

4. Thread the pikelets and 

raspberries onto skewers, 

drizzle with warm fudge 

sauce and serve! 

In Season 

February 

Apricots, Berries 

(Blueberries, Blackberries, 

Raspberries & Strawberries); 

Fresh Figs, Grapes, 

Limes, Lychee, Mangos, 

Watermelon, Nectarines, 

Peaches, Pineapple, Plums; 

also Avocadoes, Beans, 

Broccolini, Cucumber, 

Chillies, Capsicum, Eggplant, 

Snow Peas, Sugar Snap 

Peas, Radish, Silverbeet and 

English spinach, Tomatoes 

and Onions. 



Tasty Morsels 

with Beverley Hudec 

Some Tiny Morsels to savour in February 

Smorgasbord fare at 

Newport's Rowie's 

Ace baker Rowie Dillon’s latest venture 

is Sunday lunch at Newport Surf 

Life Saving Club. Rowie’s by the Sea 

has canteen-style dining featuring 

a smorgasbord of salads, veggies, 

meat and desserts. No bookings, but 

grab a table from noon for dishes 

like Szechuan pepper ribs, carrot and 

potato gratin, fennel and orange salad 

and tropical trifle. 

Locals can snack out 

at 'Summer Bay' 

North Palm Beach Surf Life Saving 

Club’s kiosk – aka Summer Bay Kiosk 

– whips up bacon and egg rolls, meat 

pies, burgers and fish and chips for 

beach goers, surfers and visiting Home 

and Away tragics. There are shadecovered 

benches to enjoy coffees, 

drinks and snacks. The volunteers-run 

canteen is open weekends and on 

Tuesdays from 9.30am. 

Queen Ester's 

right royal teas 

Swap your morning coffee 

for one of Queen Ester’s 

freshly steeped mint teas 

this summer. This Newport 

cafe has been cooking up 

a storm since it opened in 

November 2021. Lunchtime 

eats include Israeli felafel 

bowls, chicken shawarma 

wraps and vegan specials 

such as stuffed capsicum 

with pomegranate sauce, 

hummus and salad. 

True Solace is a 

yummy roti toastie 

Solace Kitchen’s vintage caravan 

has moved from Elanora Heights to 

Northgate Church in Belrose. Drop by for 

Asian-inspired street food, roti toasties 

and take-home frozen curry packs. The 

drinks menu has Pablo & Rusty’s coffee, 

kefir superfood smoothies and a new 

addition. ‘Teh tarik’ is Asian pulled tea, 

flavoured with condensed milk. 

Tasty Dining Morsels Guide 


Three of a kind: Valentine’s date night 

Romance is in the air at 

The Royal Motor Yacht 

Club (pictured). The iconic 

waterfront venue’s $100-a-head 

menu will be available for lunch 

and dinner. Loved-up couples 

get a glass of bubbles and three 

courses. Share sushi, calamari 

and prawn skewers before 

choosing either barramundi or 

fillet of beef before finishing 

with either croquembouche tart 

or raspberry love bomb. 

Mona Vale beachfront 

restaurant The Basin will 

showcase signature dishes. 

The three-course $125-a-head 

Valentine’s menu features 

dishes like scallops in kombu 

chilli butter or stracciatella 

with zucchini. Main choices 

include grilled salmon, confit 

potato and shaved fennel or 

steak and fries and dulce de 

leche parfait for dessert. 

With its Hamptons-meets-thebeach 

styling, Barrenjoey 

House is another romantic 

destination that’s picture 

perfect for any time of the year. 

The Palm Beach restaurant will 

be open for lunch and dinner 

this Valentine’s Day. And to 

make the most of the occasion, 

why not book a night? Details 

are on the website. 


Garden Life 

with Gabrielle Bryant 


Growing your own plants from 

cuttings is easy and addictive! 

Nothing is more satisfying than 

growing your own plants from 

cuttings. Once you begin you will 

never trim or prune a shrub or plant again 

without trying to grow the pieces. 

Early autumn is the perfect time to take 

semi-hardwood cuttings from shrubs that 

have finished flowering. These cuttings are 

taken from the stems that have started to 

harden off just below the soft new growing 

tips. The colour will have changed from 

light green to brown. 

Plants that are suitable include camellias, 

azaleas, gardenias, geraniums, fuchsias, 

hydrangeas, abutilon, begonias, hibiscus 

and other late-Spring or Summer flowering 

shrubs. 

To test if the cutting is mature enough 

try bending the stem. If it bends and then 

snaps it is ready, if it just bends without 

snapping it is too soft. 

Take 10cm cuttings, trim back the soft 

new growth, cutting the base just below 

With the Autumn months 

just around the corner, it 

is time to think about bulbs for 

Spring. Some bulbs will thrive 

in our warmer climate while 

others need to be lifted once 

died down and stored in cooler 

conditions to flower. 

Freesias, ranunculus, 

anemones, ixias, sparaxis and 

grape hyacinths are all varieties 

that will bloom again year 

after year and naturalise in the 

garden grown in the full sun, in 

a leaf node this is where the roots will 

develop from. A node it where a leaf was 

previously attached. Remove all the lower 

leaves leaving just a couple at the tip. 

Fill a small pot with seed raising mix. 

Switch on for bulbs for Spring 

garden beds with compost and 

organic matter. 

Bluebells need to be grown 

under deciduous trees to 

protect them from the heat of 

the summer sun. 

Daffodils, jonquils, narcissus, 

hyacinths and tulips are not 

so suitable for planting in the 

garden by the coast where they 

don’t get the cold winter days, 

but they are perfect in pots, 

tubs, and window boxes. 

Having been grown in the 

colder climates of the Southern 

regions of Australia they are 

certain to flower for the first 

year. Enjoy them for this winter 

season and bring them inside 

when they flower, then lift them 

once they die down. 

Stored in a cool dry spot 

they may well flower again the 

following year if planted out 

once the Summer heat fades. 

There are always early bird 

specials to be found on the 

internet. 

Water it well before planting your cuttings. 

Dip the cuttings into rooting hormone 

powder (pictured) or for a more natural 

medium rub the cut stem with the jelly of 

an aloe vera leaf. 

With a small stick (a chopstick is perfect), 

make a hole in the mix and gently firm 

the cutting into the pot. It is better to 

place several cuttings into one pot than 

individual pots. The closeness will help to 

keep the humidity. 

Water well once again and cover the pot 

with a plastic bag. After a few weeks your 

new plants will show new growth. Take 

the plastic away and wait until you see 

the leaves develop before planting out. It 

is better to be patient than to disturb the 

newly formed roots too soon. 

By growing your own cuttings you can fill 

your garden for little or no cost. Has your 

neighbour got a plant that you would like? 

Just ask for a small cutting and you will 

have one as well. 



Beautiful clingy climbers 

The clerodendrum family is 

very diverse, with more than 

400 varieties; some are shrubs, 

some members are climbers, 

but none are easy to find. 

Better known are the open 

shrubby, sky blue Butterfly 

Bush, clerodendrum ugandense, 

and the taller growing, delicate 

clerodendrum nutans with 

cascading white flowers – but 

best known of all are the 

climbing varieties. 

For any gardener, nothing 

is more tempting than a bare 

wooden fence. Sometimes it 

is hard to find a climber that 

will cover the wooden slats 

that won’t, in time, get out of 

control. The Bleeding Heart 

vine, clerodenrum thomsoniae, 

will reliably cover the fence but 

never be a problem. It is semideciduous, 

losing some leaves 

in Winter but as the weather 

warms up it will twine and cover 

the fence at Christmas with 

white and scarlet flowers. 

The summer-flowering, bright 

red clerodendum speciossum, 

is understandably known as 

the Glory Vine. The panicles of 

bright red flowers appear over 

the warm months of Summer, 

contrasting against the dark 

green leaves. It is a shrubby 

climber, the arching stems need 

support as it rambles. Train this 

spectacular plant against a wall 

or fence with horizontal wires 

or lattice. 


The flamboyant scarlet Poinciana 

Many years ago, there were 

very few Poinciana trees 

in Sydney, but today as you 

drive around the peninsula the 

brilliant scarlet flowers of the 

Royal Poinciana can be seen in 

late Summer. 

Also known as the 

‘Flamboyant tree’, these trees 

rival the violet haze of the 

jacarandas in Spring. The 

huge scarlet flowers, that 

cover the canopy of the tree, 

stand high above the lacey, 

grass green foliage. 

Poinciana trees need to 

grow in full sun where the 

natural shape of the tree can 

develop. They can withstand 

drought and salty winds. They 


need well drained sandy soil. 

They grow fast and need little 

attention. 

Keep the root area clear of 

undergrowth that can cause the 

tree to become infected with 

fungal problems. The wide, flat 

canopy naturally grows wider 

than the height of the tree. 

It is a perfect street tree 

where there are no power 

lines, and it can grow without 

the mutilation of the tree 

choppers! Sit back and wait for 

the lorikeets to visit every day. 

Poincianas can be grown 

from cuttings or by seed and 

it will take from 6-10 years 

before they will flower but 

they are well worth the wait. 




Jobs this Month 

February 

Whatever happened to 

Summer? The garden 

is confused! One day 

a heatwave and the next is 

cold with rain. It is no wonder 

that the garden is struggling. 

Mow the grass regularly to 

prevent it growing long and 

lanky. It is better to mow 

frequently that to suddenly 

expose the roots that have 

been shaded by tall grass. 

Feed the lawn this month for 

autumn growth. 

Autumn prep 

Pull out veggies that are 

struggling and prepare the 

garden for Autumn planting. 

It is good to leave the soil 

empty for a couple of weeks 

before replanting winter 

Dahlias make a comeback 

crops. Dig the garden well and 

turn in additional compost and 

fertiliser. 

Rust watch 

Frangipani rust is bad with 

the high humidity. Remove 

all the affected leaves and 

put them in the bin – not the 

Green bin as the spore will 

carry over and infect future 

compost. Spray the trees and 

the ground beneath with a 

mixture of copper and Yates’ 

Anti-rot. Try to spray under 

the foliage if possible. 

Move orchids 

Move pots of cymbidium 

orchids from the shade into 

bright light or morning sun. 

They will need the light to 

If you didn’t buy dahlias tubers in the Spring 

when they were available as tubers on bulb 

stands, it is not too late. You can buy them 

now in full flower in garden centres. 

The number of different colours, shapes, 

and sizes is quite bewildering. They can be 

any colour and vary in shape from tiny round 

balls and pompom flowers to the huge heads 

of cactus-shaped, double, single or anemoneshaped 

blooms that are cherished by florists. 

There are dwarf dahlias that grow just 35cm 

and some that will reach a height of 2m. 

Dahlias are an old-fashioned plant that was 

popular in the 1970s – now they’re making an 

amazing comeback. 

Dahlias need full sun and an open space to 

grow that is protected from wind. As the flower 

develop their 

flower spikes. 

Grow Pak Choi 

If you are new to growing 

vegetables, try a quick crop 

of Pak Choi seedlings, or buy 

a packet of seed tape. Within 

just a few weeks you will be 

harvesting your crop and you 

find what fun it is to grow 

your own veggies. 

Trim & prune 

Trim back roses, remove any 

old flower stems and feed the 

bushes. In just a short time 

you will have another flush 

of flowers in Autumn. Also, 

lightly prune back Summerflowering 

shrubs. Don’t throw 

away the greenery. Select 

stem grows, the taller varieties may need 

staking. Feed your plants regularly with a liquid 

fertiliser. If you want picked flowers to last, it is 

best to pick them in the early morning. 

Once the flowers are finished the plants will 

die down. Let the leaves die back naturally 

before cutting them off. 

suitable prunings to make 

new cuttings. Chop the rest 

into smaller pieces and put 

them in the compost bin. 

Veggie care 

Veggies that are affected by 

powdery mildew can be safely 

sprayed with Eco fungicide. 

Read the withholding 

instructions carefully before 

spraying. Some control can 

be achieved by spraying with 

a dilution of milk and water. 

Feed citrus 

It’s the last time to feed citrus 

trees before Winter. As new 

growth appears protect the soft 

new leaves from stink bugs and 

leaf miner with Eco oil. 

Other chores 

Don’t be tempted to remove 

any sunburnt leaves that appear 

after the random very hot days. 

They will protect the rest of 

the plant. With such strange 

weather patterns there may well 

be more hot days to come… 

Last, although it is too soon to 

plant bulbs, try to decide this 

month on any future purchase. 

The availability and range of 

bulbs in the garden centres 

soon runs down. 

Crossword solution from page 72 

Mystery location: MONA VALE 



Times Past 

‘Broken Bay Tribe Chief’ Bungaree 

The first judge-advocate of New 

South Wales, Captain William Collins, 

stated in 1799 that Bungaree 

was a native of the north side of Broken 

Bay. He may have been born in 1775 

although that can’t be confirmed. 

It was Bungaree’s patron, Governor 

Lachlan Macquarie, who bestowed the 

title of ‘Chief of the Broken Bay Tribe’ 

on him in 1815. He even gave him a 

crescent-shaped and inscribed brass 

breastplate (or gorget) to wear, which 

shows in some of the many sketches 

and paintings of him. 

Apparently only seven years later, the 

more specific title of ‘Chief of the Pitt 

Water Tribe’ was chosen by Macquarie 

– but strangely, 

only after they had 

moved to Kirribilli. 

Prior to this and 

in 1802, Bungaree 

had become the 

first Australianborn 

circumnavigator 

when he 

sailed with Matthew 

Flinders. He 

used his knowledge 

of Aboriginal ‘protocol’ 

to converse 

with local indigenous 

people during 

the voyage. 

It is most likely he 

was born around the 

Broken Bay area, possibly 

even presentday 

Patonga, where 

the Hawkesbury 

River – known to him as Deerubin – met 

the bay. 

Here he would have swum and played 

with the young men of his Garigal clan. 

Through hunting and mock battles 

with small spears and shields, he became 

an expert fisherman, learning to 

make his own Mooting or fishing spear. 

After learning the traditional laws 

and culture of his people, he would 

eventually have been initiated into manhood, 

a ceremony 

known as 

yoolung erabadiung. 

After 

much singing 

and dancing 

for several 

days, the 

young men 

who were to 

become the 

INDIGENOUS 

RECORD: 

Depictions 

of ‘Chief’ 

Bungaree and 

his second 

wife Queen 

Gooseberry. 

initiates, had their incisor 

tooth knocked out at the ceremony 

and were then given their possum-fur 

waistband. 

After the terrible outbreak of smallpox 

in 1789, tribes were in disarray, 

with around 70 per cent of the local 

Aborigines dead and “the sight of decaying 

bodies huddled in rock shelters all 

around the harbour”. 

Around 1805 he took his first wife 

Matora; Bowen (or Boin) was probably one 

of their sons, followed by Toby (or Toubi). 

On one Baptism record, 

Bowen’s name 

appears as ‘Bowen 

Bungaree’. Bungaree 

had a daughter 

and another son 

to his other wife, 

Queen Gooseberry, 

from 1815. 

In 1815, remnants 

of the Broken 

Bay people, led by 

Bungaree, were 

given clothing, agricultural 

implements, 

a fishing boat and 

some farming land at 

Georges Head. 

Macquarie’s overall 

efforts had helped the 

Aborigines little and as 

essential links with the 

land had been disrupted, 

traditional Aboriginal 

society crumbled. 

Bungaree spent much of his later life 

in and around Sydney after the collapse 

of the Georges Head experiment. Apparently, 

Bungaree and his clan moved 

their camp to the Governor’s Domain 

where age, alcohol and malnutrition 

eventually caught up with him. 

Bungaree died at Garden Island on 

Wednesday 24 November 1830. 

TIMES PAST is supplied by local historian 

and President of the Avalon Beach 

Historical Society GEOFF SEARL. Visit 

the Society’s showroom in Bowling 

Green Lane, Avalon Beach. 

Times Past 



Travel Life 


Cruise Portugal’s Douro Valley 

Avalon Waterways is redefining cruising 

by going against the current and away 

from the ordinary. 

“Delivering unparalleled experiences, 

Avalon puts guests in the captain’s seat to 

navigate their journey, fuel their passions 

and steer clear of the unexpected as they 

cruise down the world’s most memorable 

and mesmerising waterways,” said Travel 

View’s Sharon Godden. 

“In 2024, Avalon will make their Douro 

debut with a new itinerary and Suite Ship – 

the Avalon Alegria. Marking their 15th Suite 

Ship in Europe and first sailings in Portugal, 

Avalon are now poised to give cruisers the 

newest view of the Old World.” 

Sharon said hillside vineyards and historic 

villages await as you set sail through 

Portugal’s postcard-perfect views on their 

all-new, eight-day cruise beginning and 

ending in opulent Porto. 

“You’ll uncover medieval castles, 

legendary landscapes, and all the vinho, 

olives, and cheese your soul desires with 

Avalon’s wide range of included daily 

excursion choices – from wine tastings and 

bike tours to traditional sightseeing with 

expert Local Guides. 

“Featuring everything from ancient 

Amarante – in the picturesque Minho 

region – to the sandstone architecture in 

Salamanca Spain, this new cruise promises 

countless ways to experience the region’s 

scenic splendours and renowned cuisine.” 

Living up to its name (which, in 

Portuguese, means happiness), Sharon 

says the Avalon Alegria – like the rest of 

Avalon’s fleet of modern, award-winning 

Suite ShipsSM – combines the perfect blend 

of elegance and ease – where little touches 

are bold, gestures are grand and the views 

even grander. 

“The Alegria will include Avalon’s 

signature, boutique-hotel-inspired 

Panorama Suites on two full decks. Each 

suite provides guests 200 square-feet of 

living space and features the industry’s only 

Open-Air Balcony, with the widest-opening 

windows in cruising and decadent Comfort 

Collection beds that face the scenery.” 

This new Suite Ship, built exclusively to 

sail the Douro, will accommodate just 102 

guests and 33 crew members. Onboard 

amenities include an Adventure Centre 

with complimentary active gear, an Avalon 

Adventure Host to assist with active 

excursions and onboard fitness activities, 

and a Sky Deck with a swimming pool for 

guests to soak in the Portuguese sun. 

On board guests can enjoy a culinary 

experience as delectable as their sweet sail 

down the river. 

“From craft cocktails and regional wines 

to inspired menus and artisanal dishes, 

your gastronomical journey will be fuelled 

with a beautiful balance of local flavour, 

served in your choice of dining venue.” 

*With Avalon’s current New Year Sale, 

book and deposit your Douro River 

cruise by 28 February 2023 and save up 

to $1,400 per couple; more info call Travel 

View on 9918 4444. 



Stark beauty of Northern Europe 

There is nothing quite like exploring 

Scandinavia and Northern Europe 

by sea as you trace ancient Viking trade 

routes. A year-round destination, you can 

glide through shimmering Norwegian 

fjords, sail into dynamic progressive cities 

like Copenhagen, Stockholm and 

Reykjavik, soak up the midnight sun 

and go in search of the otherworldly 

Northern Lights. 

You’ll discover remote outposts 

surrounded by magnificent natural 

beauty as you learn the incredible 

true story of the Vikings along the 

way. 

Travel View’s Gail Kardash says 

there’s a reason aptly named 

Viking Cruises are considered the 

Scandinavia and Northern Europe 

experts. 

“Their chairman Torstein Hagen 

hails from Norway and began his 

shipping career there, so they have an 

unparalleled understanding of its culture, 

landscapes and people,” she said. 

“The bespoke voyages allow you to 

immerse yourself in the unique history 

and culture of each destination on a 

deeper level, offering a window into a 

destination’s rhythms of local life.” 

Destinations include: 

Tromso – Norway’s gateway to the Arctic, 

where striking wooden structures and 

neoclassical architecture are symbolic 

of this quaint city. During Winter it is 

one of the best destinations in the world 

to witness the magical Aurora Borealis. 

Home of the Arctic cathedral (pictured). 

Reykjavik – The world’s most northerly 

capital and settled by the Vikings in 870 

AD. Today, Reykjavik is big on character 

and renowned for its devotion to the arts. 

Stockholm – A city of contrasts, the historic 

Gamla Stan district features medieval 

architecture and cobblestone streets fit for 

a fairytale, while the other side of the city 

is home to world-class galleries, trendy 

restaurants and modern boutiques. 

Bergen – Surrounded by majestic snowcapped 

mountains, magnificent fjords 

and glaciers with a rich heritage 

as a Hanseatic League trading 

port, beautifully preserved in the 

vibrantly painted wooden buildings 

of Bryggen Wharf. 

“Incredible optional excursions 

along the way include the 

Arctic tundra by Husky sled, a 

quintessential way to experience the 

stark beauty of northern Norway and 

its pristine, snow-covered wilderness 

and towering fjords,” Gail said. 

“You can also pay a rare visit to 

the remote port of Honningsvåg in 

Northern Norway on a ‘King Crab 

safari’, where you’ll see how prized 

six-foot king crabs are harvested. Back 

ashore, you’ll feast on your catch, with 

preparation tips from your cook.” – NW 

*Viking Cruises are offering savings of 

$1800 to $3600 per couple on a range 

of cruises ranging from 8 to 29 days’ 

duration. More info call Travel view on 

9918 4444.

Pittwater Life February 2023 Issue

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?