Pittwater Life February 2023 Issue

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
15 Years Ago…
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.
5 Years Ago…
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.
32 FEBRUARY 2023
The Local Voice Since 1991