Pittwater Life March 2023 Issue

News
Pittwater News
Earth Hour offer
Each year, millions of people,
households and businesses
around the world turn off
their lights and appliances for
one hour during Earth Hour
as a symbolic gesture to show
the need for stronger climate
action. Since its 2007 inception
in Sydney, Earth Hour has
grown into a global event, with
over 190 countries taking part
this year to raise awareness
for energy consumption and
its effects on the environment.
Besides showing that you care
about our planet’s future,
turning off the artificial
lights at night can also be
greatly beneficial to your
(mental) health. Enjoying a less
illuminated, candlelit evening
can still the mind, help you
sleep better, and offers a great
opportunity to reconnect by
turning off the screens and
talking, playing games and
sharing a meal. This year’s
Earth Hour event will take
place on Saturday March 25
from 8.30pm-9.30pm. To help
raise awareness for this great
cause, Northern Beaches’
based Candle Kiosk Supply Co.
is offering a complimentary
candle for every reader.
Don’t be in the dark: head to
candlekiosk.com.au/earthhour
to find out more.
Chess is worth
a check, mate
The Sydney Academy of
Chess is holding an under-18s
chess tournament on Sunday
26 March at the Tramshed
Arts & Community Centre in
Narrabeen, and it may surprise
you to know that it’s been a
regular event over the last few
years. Prior to 2020-21, there
have been four tournaments a
year on the Northern Beaches.
Players taking part start at
as young as five. The cost is
$40, and after registration
at 12.40pm the first round
starts at 1pm. Players compete
in a ‘Swiss’ competition with
every competitor playing six
games with a time limit of
15 minutes per player per
game. Nobody is knocked out,
but instead a ranking system
lists players in a winning
order. You’ll get six games no
matter your standard and it’s
a great learning experience.
Trophies are given at around
3.50pm. All players receive
a certificate of participation
and the tournament is
NSWJCL-rated (the NSW Junior
Chess League). More info
sydneyacademyofchess.com.au
State funding for
local pothole repairs
Northern Beaches Council
is one of the 35 councils
to benefit from funding to
repair locally damaged roads
following severe weather
events last year. The $9.13M
allocated to Council will assist
in the repair of a vast number
of unbudgeted repairs. These
works have commenced and
will be undertaken over the
next 12 months. Council
manages 844 kilometres of
local roads. “In the last 12
months Council has repaired
SailGP inspires local youth
Youngsters from Narrabeen Lakes
Sailing Club, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht
Club and Bayview Yacht Racing Association
rubbed shoulders with the world’s top
sailors last month when the fast-paced
extreme catamaran racing event SailGP
came to town.
As part of SailGP’s youth and community
outreach initiative, nine competing
nations ‘adopted’ clubs around the state
to promote the event, its numerous onshore
career opportunities and inspire
athletes of the future – NLSC was paired
with France, RPAYC with Great Britain and
team USA took BYRA under its wing.
While BYRA may be a small volunteerrun
community club it harbours a big
vision – to lead the way in introducing
learners to foiling sailing.
So they were delighted when the US
teams’ master-foiling craftsman Jimmy
Spithill popped down to Bayview to talk
to juniors and casually mingle with
members a few days before the SailGP on
Sydney Harbour.
Spithill’s special appearance was topped
off by an unboxing of the Nikki – the first
foiling dinghy specifically designed for
kids and lighter sailors – and an on-water
display of various foiling sailing craft.
over 8,500 road maintenance
requests. We’re grateful to
the NSW Government for the
contribution to help us get
on with the job and return
our roads to an adequate
condition,” said Council CEO
Ray Brownlee. Members of
the public can report damage
to local roads via Council’s
Customer Service number
1300 434 434 or online. For
state-owned roads – such
as Barrenjoey and Pittwater
Roads and Wakehurst Parkway
– please report them to
Transport for NSW.
Local Probus
Club News
Scamming is a scourge and
knowing what to do about
it is essential. In March,
Palm Beach and Peninsula
Probus members will hear
from two Cyber Crimes
Prevention officers from
Northern Beaches Police Area
Command at its meeting
on Wednesday 15 March at
Continued on page 32
30 MARCH 2023
The Local Voice Since 1991