Pittwater Life July 2023 Issue

The Local Voice Since 1991 

J ULY 2023 

FREE 

pittwaterlife 

ANGER AT GOVT BACKFLIPS 

BARRENJOEY, LIZARD ROCK, SPORT VOUCHERS & MORE 

NARRABEEN SHARKS HISTORY / AMON DRIVES PEP-11 BAN 

THE WAY WE WERE / MAKE A PIE! / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...

Editorial 

Govt’s ‘Winter of Discontent’ 

It’s shaping as a ‘Winter of 

Discontent’ for many on the 

Northern Beaches following a 

series of backflips by the new 

State Government. 

Despite gaining the trust 

of locals with pre-election 

pledges and assurances on 

key issues including the 

potential commercialisation of 

Barrenjoey Headland, support 

for Council demergers and 

ruling out the controversial 

Lizard Rock housing project at 

Belrose, the Minns Government 

have gone all wobbly legs on 

these and other matters. 

After ‘talking the talk’ they 

have lost their voice. 

In the past month the NSW 

Government has kept the 

book open on short stays on 

Barrenjoey, allowed Lizard 

Rock to progress to the next 

stage of assessment and moved 

to make it nigh on impossible 

for Pittwater to return to its 

own local Council governance. 

That’s because while the 

Government is supportive of 

Councils that wish to demerge, 

that’s only if new Councils can 

foot the cost of demerging. 

Further, local sporting 

associations fear for the 

future of their codes’ 

participation levels after the 

State Government drastically 

overhauled the Active Kids 

Vouchers scheme, relied on by 

thousands of families to help 

cover the cost of their children’s 

sports enrolments. 

On positive notes, Pittwater 

MP Rory Amon has been first 

out of the blocks to take the 

necessary steps that would 

see the controversial PEP-11 

gas and petrol mining licence 

scrapped for good; Mr Amon 

has called on the Government 

and cross benchers to support 

new legislation that would 

effect this. 

And Mackellar MP Sophie 

Scamps has moved to see junk 

food ads restricted. Bravo. 

– Nigel Wall 


JULY 2023 3

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Publisher: Nigel Wall 

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Contributors: Rob Pegley, 

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Vol 32 No 12 

Celebrating 32 years 

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JULY 2023 

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pittwaterlife 

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BARRENJOEY, LIZARD ROCK, SPORT VOUCHERS & MORE 

NARRABEEN SHARKS HISTORY / A MON DRIVES PEP-11 BAN 

THE WAY WE WERE / MAKE A PIE! / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... 

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thislife 

INSIDE: Mackellar MP Dr Sophie Scamps has presented a 

Bill to Parliament aimed at restricting junk food ads (p6); a 

push for the return of Pittwater Council has hit a snag due 

to future funding uncertainty (p8); meet our World Food 

Champion John McFadden (p10); the new NSW Government 

has allowed the Lizard Rock housing proposal process 

to continue (p22); renowned TV journalist Brady Halls is 

retiring (p24); and we look at the 90-year history of the 

Narrabeen Sharks Rugby League Club (p40). 

COVER: Winter wander/ Sharon Green 

also this month 

Editorial 3 

Pittwater Local News & Features 6-37 

The Way We Were 28-29 

Seen... Heard... Absurd... 30 

Community News 32-37 

Life Story: Narrabeen Sharks RL 40-42 

Art 44 

Author Q&A 45 

Hot Property 46-47 

Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 48-53 

Money; Law 56-59 

Crossword 64 

Food & Tasty Morsels 66-69 

Gardening 70-72 

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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. 

JULY 2023 The Local Voice Since 1991

News 

Scamps’ ban on junk food ads 

The President of the Australian 

Medical Association 

(AMA) and the CEO 

of Diabetes Australia (DA) are 

among key health sector leaders 

who have lent their support 

to Independent MP for Mackellar 

Dr Sophie Scamps’ move to 

ban and time-restrict junk food 

marketing on television, radio, 

social media and other online 

environments. 

In June, Dr Scamps tabled a 

Private Members Bill aimed at 

protecting children from junk 

food marketing by removing 

ads from TV and radio between 

the hours of 6am and 9.30pm. 

Junk foods are foods that 

don’t play a role in healthy eating, 

lacking nutrients, vitamins 

and minerals 

and being high in 

kilojoules (energy), 

salts, sugars and 

fats. 

If enacted, the 

‘Healthy Kids 

Advertising Bill’ 

would also place 

an outright ban 

on junk food 

marketing on 

social media, with 

substantial fines 

imposed on broadcasters, 

internet 

service providers, 

and food companies that fail to 

adhere to its guidelines. 

AMA President Professor 

Steve Robson said banning 

junk food ads on TV was an 

important measure that would 

decrease the impact junk food 

advertisers had on impressionable 

young minds. 

“With about one half of all 

Australians having at least one 

BILL: Dr Scamps. 

chronic disease, it’s time we 

took some preventative action,” 

he said. 

DA CEO Justine Cain noted a 

child who watched 80 minutes 

of TV per day would see 

around 800 junk food ads a 

year. 

“The ads are designed to 

encourage children to make 

unhealthy food choices that 

can lead to weight gain and 

ultimately set children up for 

unhealthy lives and a greater 

risk of serious chronic conditions 

like type 2 diabetes,” she 

said. 

“As a community we need to 

do more to protect our children 

from the very serious chronic 

conditions that can result from 

regular unhealthy 

food choices. 

Together we can 

affect change.” 

Dr Scamps, a 

former GP and 

emergency room 

doctor, said she 

was compelled 

to act due to 

the increasing 

prevalence of 

childhood obesity 

and chronic disease, 

with obesity 

estimated to cost 

the health system 

$11.8 billion annually. 

Dr Scamps also said many 

parents in Mackellar had raised 

concerns about the predatory 

targeting of their children by 

junk food companies. 

“A quarter of our children 

are already on the path to 

chronic disease because they 

are over the healthy weight 

range” said Dr Scamps. 

IMPORTANT: Decreasing the impact junk food advertisers have on kids. 

“We know our children are 

exposed to over 800 junk 

food ads on TV alone every 

year, and that there is a direct 

link between those ads and 

childhood obesity. The current 

restrictions are not strong 

enough, and self-regulation is 

not working. 

“If we continue to stand by 

while children are deluged by 

junk food advertising on social 

media and on TV, then we are 

failing them.” 

Dr Scamps said research 

conducted by the Australia Institute 

in late 2022 also showed 

strong public support for regulating 

unhealthy food marketing, 

with two-thirds backing a 

ban on junk food advertising. 

“Approximately 40 countries 

around the world already have 

or are planning to regulate 

junk food advertising. I want 

to see Australia join this list,” 

she said. 

“At a time when our health 

system is under strain, investing 

in preventative health 

measures to combat the rising 

cost of chronic disease is plain 

common sense. The National 

Obesity Strategy found obesity 

costs our health system $11.8 

billion every year and this 

figure will only grow if nothing 

is done.” 

Dr Scamps said she was 

“heartened” by conversations 

she’d had with the Albanese 

Government which led her to 

believe there was “genuine political 

will” to address the issue. 

“Protecting our children 

from obesity and a potential 

future of chronic disease is 

something all sides of politics 

can get behind.” 

Dr Scamps’ Bill was developed 

in consultation with 

public health and marketing 

experts. 

It does not cover print or outdoor 

advertising, sport sponsorship, 

nor content shared by 

food and beverage companies 

on their own websites and 

social media channels. 

– Lisa Offord 

6 JULY 2023 

The Local Voice Since 1991

News 

Council demerger funding jolt 

Supporters of de-amalgamating 

Northern Beaches 

Council to return local 

governance to the old Pittwater 

Council model have hit a major 

hurdle. 

The State Labor Government 

is posturing for the funding 

of any demergers in NSW to be 

worn by the new Councils. 

Some councils including Sydney’s 

Inner West Council have 

pushed ahead with demerger 

plans based on previous assurances 

the costs would be covered 

by the State Government. 

In its business case currently 

before the Minns Government, 

Inner West Council estimated 

the cost of demerging to be 

more than $150 million over 

10 years. 

Inner West Council covers 

36 square kilometres, with a 

population of around 186,000. 

Northern Beaches Council covers 

approximately 250 square 

kilometres with a population 

of 265,000. 

In 2021, the Labor opposition 

had changes inserted in the 

Local Government Act stating 

the minister is “to ensure the 

cost of any de-amalgamation... 

is fully funded”. 

But Channel Nine Entertainment 

Media reports Labor is 

relying on a clause in the legislation 

stating demergers would 

be funded “by making grants... 

Door open on Barrenjoey short stays 

The Palm Beach & Whale Beach Association 

(PBWBA) executive says 

the local community is disappointed 

and frustrated that the Minns Labor 

Government has kept the door open 

on short-stay accommodation options 

for Barrenjoey Headland despite giving 

pre-election assurances to the contrary. 

In new developments, Pittwater MP 

Rory Amon revealed that NSW Parliament 

had been advised last month that 

“options for heritage buildings [on Barrenjoey 

Headland] will be considered 

by the Minister for the Environment 

and Heritage when reviewing the final 

[NSW National Parks & Wildlife] plan of 

management”. 

“During the state election campaign, 

I secured vital concessions from the 

then Liberal Government that the Boatman’s 

Cottage would be maintained as 

COMMITTED: Simon Dunn. 

or using money otherwise 

appropriated by parliament for 

the purpose”. 

A refusal to pay the costs of 

demerging could spell the end 

of all mooted demergers. 

Meanwhile Pittwater’s 

demerger campaign has been 

reinvigorated by a new committee. 

Taking over as Protect Pittwater 

Association President is 

local lawyer Simon Dunn, the 

son of the first elected Pittwater 

Mayor Robert Dunn. 

“Never has there been a 

more critical time to engage 

the Pittwater community to 

protect the natural environment 

of Pittwater,” Mr Dunn 

said. 

“A change of State Governments 

presents both a threat of 

increased reliance on arbitrary 

housing targets, but also an 

opportunity to hold NSW Labor 

to its election promise to allow 

communities who opposed the 

undemocratic forced amalgamations 

to return to their 

former boundaries. 

“The honeymoon for the 

oversized Northern Beaches 

Council is coming to an end, 

with the temporary boost in 

State funding to smooth over 

the community anger now 

drying up. 

“More alarmingly, the promise 

of allowing each former 

council area to maintain its 

own planning controls has 

been forgotten and drastic 

rezoning looms large under 

the guise of so-called ‘harmonisation’.” 

Mr Dunn said that since 

Protect Pittwater’s inception 

in 2017, the committee had 

organised crowdfunding to 

finance legal advice regarding 

a potential challenge to the 

merger, run and supported 

rallies at Parliament House 

and locally, as well as gathered 

more than 3,000 signatures on 

a demerger petition. 

Protect Pittwater is a supporter 

of the Demerge NSW 

Alliance (DNA), joining at least 

10 of the 21 merged mega 

councils, urging the new Labor 

Government to uphold its 

election promise of binding 

plebiscites in local areas to assess 

support for demergers. 

a residence for the local caretaker, that 

the road to the top of the Headland 

would not be upgraded to allow for 

commercial activity on the Headland, 

and that a Strategic Reference Group 

with residents included would be 

formed to determine and finalise the 

Plan of Management,” Mr Amon said. 

“The then Shadow Minister Penny 

Sharpe and Labor candidate for 

Pittwater Jeffrey Quinn attended a 

January 2023 rally – both ruling out 

the proposed commercialisation of 

Barrenjoey Headland… under a Labor 

Government. 

“It’s clear Labor have broken their 

promise to scrap the plan.” 

PBWBA President Dr Richard West told 

Pittwater Life it was extremely concerning 

that Minister Sharpe appeared to be 

wavering in her commitment against 

commercialisation of the heritage-listed 

“Pittwater residents are angry 

about NBC’s failure to meet the 

area’s maintenance and other 

needs, as well as forcing a conformist 

suburban character on 

an area distinguished by a geography 

and ecology not shared 

by the council’s more southern 

regions,” Mr Dunn said. 

“We will be pressuring the 

NSW Government to make appropriate 

changes to the Local 

Government Act to facilitate 

a plebiscite of the residents of 

Pittwater, not the whole of the 

Northern Beaches.” 

Approached for comment, 

Mayor Sue Heins said a demerger 

was “off the cards” for 

Northern Beaches Council. 

“Council is today an exemplar 

of the benefits of an amalgamated 

Council,” she said. 

“In late 2022, Council was 

recognised as the most progressive 

metropolitan council 

in NSW, winning the AR Bluett 

Memorial Award. 

“Council has established 

a strong financial base and 

has become a highly agile and 

responsive Council… an efficient, 

connected, and leading 

organisation. 

“Seven years down the track 

from amalgamating we are 

stronger and more efficient 

than ever.” – Nigel Wall 

*What do you think? Tell us at 

readers@pittwaterlife.com.au 

Lighthouse Keepers’ cottages. 

He said Ms Sharpe had boasted to 

protesters at the January 2023 ‘Hands 

Off Barrenjoey’ rally that it was a 

Labor Government that produced the 

Conservation Management Plan for the 

Headland in 2002. 

“She said: ‘… it was decided then 

that this was a special place and wasn’t 

to be commercialised or privatised.’ 

She also said: ‘… when you start to put 

out all this stuff about adaptive re-use, 

potential for conference facilities, potential 

for accommodation, then you’re 

going to degrade the place straight 

away… and if ever that happens it really 

is unacceptable.’ 

Dr West said he had contacted 

Minister Sharpe’s office to discuss 

alternative uses for the Caretaker 

Cottages but the Association had not 

received a reply. 

– NW 



Anger over sport vouchers overhaul 

Amid growing cost-of-living pressures, thousands of Pittwater 

parents are bracing for the loss of the $100 Active Kids vouchers 

they’ve used to pay for local sports club registrations for the 

past five years. 

The vouchers, introduced by the former Liberal 

State Government in 2018, gifted families two 

$100 Active Kids vouchers plus one $100 Creative 

Kids voucher per child, per year. 

But the State Labor Government has announced 

it is scaling back the program, 

with only two vouchers in total – each for 

$50 – released at the beginning of Terms 

1 and 3 next year. 

Adding salt to the wound, from 2024 

the vouchers will be means-tested – only 

families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part 

A (adjusted household taxable income of 

$80,000 or less) will be eligible. 

The Government announced that as an 

interim measure, the current Active Kids 

and Creative Kids vouchers will be extended 

from July 1 until the new scheme is in place from 1 

February 2024. 

The interim vouchers will be reduced to $50 for school-aged 

children. 

Pittwater MP Rory Amon condemned the Government’s decision 

which he said would impact thousands of families in Pittwater 

that relied on the annual vouchers to enrol their children in 

sporting and creative activities. 

“Under Labor’s cuts, the number of eligible families will be cut 

in half, and those who are still eligible will receive just $100 per 

child per year,” he said. 

“I’m really disappointed Labor has cut these highly successful 

programs when the cost of living is rising and households budgets 

are already under significant pressure.” 

Mr Amon said he had been working with local sporting 

clubs to push back against the cuts, with a community 

petition growing by the day. 

President of Manly Warringah Basketball 

Association Steve Ramage, whose organisation 

co-ordinates the participation of more 

than 4,000 children in basketball on the 

Northern Beaches, said the cuts could 

see up to 1000 local kids withdraw from 

basketball activity. 

“Local school children use between 

1,500 to 1,800 vouchers each year and 

they account for 30-40% of the cost of 

activities,” he said. 

CEO of Manly Warringah Football Association 

Dave Mason said the program had 

been instrumental in leading kids to sign up 

and become active and football players for life. 

“In 2023, 10,539 children used an Active Kids 

Voucher valued at over $1 million. These families will 

now be worse off without the program and football families will 

lose a valuable investment of $1 million per year on the Beaches.” 

CEO of Surf Lifesaving – Sydney Northern Beaches Tracey Hare- 

Boyd said: “We estimate we will lose between 1,000 to 2,000 kids 

from junior activities. 

“These activities also provide immense physical and mental 

health benefits to our nippers. We implore the Government to 

rethink the Active Kids funding.” 


*To sign the petition go to bit.ly/SaveActiveKids 

News 



Meals fit for a ‘King’ 

News 

It’s official: Mona Vale’s 

John McFadden is king 

of the food sport world. 

This talented chef recently 

blitzed the field to take out the 

World Food Champion title in 

Arkansas. 

“It’s been an amazing and 

challenging experience. I 

loved the competitive environment, 

the camaraderie and 

the months of research and 

practice,” John explains. 

“I’ve always been ambitious 

and highly competitive. 

Food is something I love, so 

I thought I’d give it a red-hot 

go.” 

The World Food Championships 

(WFC) is a big name in 

food sport. Website figures 

reveal in 2021, 1500 contestants 

from 42 states and six 

countries wanted to win. 

Since its inception in 2012, 

this tournament has seen 

thousands of industry professionals 

and passionate home 

chefs compete for big buck 

cheques in prize money. 

It’s undeniably American. 

Bacon is one competition 

category; so are burgers and 

steak. Contestants compete 

in elimination rounds before 

each of the 10 category winners 

gains a coveted place at a 

second competition, the Final 

Table. 

Last November, Dallas was 

the elimination battleground 

for the 2022 category hopefuls. 

Winners then had 

until May to sharpen 

knives and hone skills 

for Bentonville and the 

final showdown. 

There’s never been an 

overseas winner until 

the highly disciplined, 

professional and personable 

Aussie came 

along. 

“I’ve had years of 

experience as I’ve been 

in the industry for over 

three decades,” the 

52-year-old says. 

From his first job at 

Peppers on Sea in Terrigal, 

to Hayman Island 

Resort and the Hyatt 

Regency in Kings Cross, 

to his current role as 

National Business Manager 

at Squizify, John is a 

master of his craft. 

John’s ‘red-hot go’ on the 

competition ladder began 

when he clinched the preliminary 

Australian Seafood 

Champion title at Olympic 

Park last May. 

“I found the competition 

online during the backend of 

COVID, I had to submit a dish 

and tell a story,” he says. 

“As we have such great 

seafood here, I entered the 

Seafood Category. 

“My story was a prawn and 

snapper ravioli entree, which 

I cooked for Aaron’s Wish, a 

brain cancer charity event in 

2019.” 

That first-round seafood 

ravioli, one of many of John’s 

standout dishes, culminated 

in Dallas with confit salmon, 

baby beets, pickled cucumber 

and caviar at the final 90-minute 

seafood cook-off. 

Working alone, John 

showed his skills preparing 

and plating one presentation 

confit salmon and 10 tasting 

plates – all done and dusted in 

one hour, 20 minutes and 25 

seconds. John’s approach was 

a competition talking point. 

He was the only solo contestant; 

everyone else competed 

in teams. 

The Seafood Champion 

flew home with a cheque for 

US$7500. 

After months of research, 

preparation and trialling 

dishes, John returned to the 

US for the WFC Final Table, 

where he’d go head 

to head with the nine 

category winners in the 

ultimate food fight club. 

Half would be culled in 

round one, two more 

knocked out in round 

two and three would 

reach the finals. 

Round two saw finalists 

recreating chuck 

roast and beef short 

rib from Yeyo’s, a local 

Mexican restaurant. 

“We had it the night 

before. At the competition, 

we had an open 

pantry full of ingredients 

and just an hour 

to do it,” he says. 

“It was a tough challenge, 

but I must have 

done something right.” 

The final challenge 

DETAIL: John adding the 

finishing touches to his 

winning dishes; the champion 

is greeted by his 

family at Sydney Airport. 

piled pressure on the three remaining 

contestants: 10 dishes 

from scratch and plated up in 

one hour. 

“I made courses three and 

four from a five-course tasting 

menu, five surf-and-turf and 

five lamb dishes,” he says. 

John’s beautifully presented 

scallops with prawn 

and chorizo and lamb and 

spiced carrot purée bagged top 

honours, winning the overall 

competition by more than 12 

points. 

John admits he wouldn’t 

have been able to compete 

without the continual support 

of wife Karen and their 

children – consequently that 

US$100,000 prize will fund 

a special McFadden family 

holiday. 

Back home, there’s been 

such an overwhelming interest 

in his award-winning dishes 

that John has been working 

with restaurateur Doug Fraser 

and the team from Basin Dining 

in Mona Vale. 

“I’m hosting a five-course 

tasting menu showcasing the 

winning dishes,” he says. “I’ll 

be chatting about the dishes 

and the competition.” 

WFC has come full circle 

for the king; John is judging 

the 2023 Australian Qualifying 

Rounds of the World Food 

Championships in Melbourne 

and Sydney. – Beverley Hudec 

*More info worldfoodchampionships.com; 

tickets still 

available for the Champion’s 

dinner on July 5 at basindining.com.au 



PHOTO: WFC

Tree Canopy Plan ‘lacks 

News 

Council is seeking community 

feedback on its 

plan to increase and 

preserve tree canopy across 

the Northern Beaches, ensuring 

it remains one of the largest 

tree canopies in Greater 

Sydney. 

The Draft Northern Beaches 

Tree Canopy Plan proposes 

a range of measures including 

the protection of trees on 

public land, better monitoring 

of the tree canopy across the 

local government area (LGA), 

strengthening the local planning 

frameworks to support 

the retention, protection, 

replacement, and growth of 

private trees, and increasing 

community involvement in 

greening our communities. 

Currently the Northern 

Beaches boasts 37% canopy 

cover – just short of the State 

Government target of 40%. 

Measures to hit the target 

include planting 5,000 

trees per year for 20 years 

on Council-managed land 

PROTECTION: Council’s draft plan 

includes an Iconic Tree Register 

mapping public land. 

and developing tree canopy 

masterplans for priority areas 

that are currently or emerging 

as vulnerable, high heat 

indexed and low canopy locations 

– including Mona Vale, 

Narrabeen and Warriewood. 

A key feature of the plan 

is the implementation of 

an ‘Iconic Tree Register’ for 

public land. 

The draft plan also provides 

for an audit of trees 

in priority areas; measuring 

tree canopy cover every four 

years; and strengthening the 

Local Environment Plan and 

Development Control Plans to 

focus on retention and protection 

of tree canopy. 

Council said it intends to 

continue to investigate and 

act upon unauthorised activities 

that impact on the tree 

canopy, such as illegal vegetation 

clearing, unauthorised 

recreational trails and other 

environmental damage. 

Also, it wants to promote 

the importance of retention 

and protection of trees 

as part of the development 

application and tree removal 

process. 

Environmental group 

Canopy Keepers welcomed 

Council’s draft plan’s proposals 

but wants greater recognition 

and protection of 

‘communities of trees’ as well 

as the naming and inclusion 

of ‘threatened ecological communities’ 

(TECs). 

“There are 28 category 

types of TEC across the 

Northern Beaches, including 

Wagstaff Spotted Gum Forests 

and Littoral Rainforests – 

these ecosystems require protection, 

street markers and an 

urgent awareness campaign,” 

said Canopy Keepers spokeswoman 

Deborah Collins. 

The group also wants to 

see a new focus given to the 

awareness and survival of 

endangered wildlife. 

“Tree canopy is essential 

for wildlife habitat, most 

notably tree hollows,” said Ms 

Collins. 

“Intact canopies offer 

wildlife corridors essential 

for wildlife to travel between 

food and water sources. Tree 

hollows and wildlife corridors 

need to be stand-alone 

criteria when assessing new 

re-zoning protocols and/or 

tree removal permits. 

“And fauna protection stud- 



private land focus’ 

ies need to be made mandatory 

on all new development sites.” 

Canopy Keepers said it 

would also like Council to 

create a web/community 

interface page so that tree 

removal data was easier to 

access, residents could voice 

their concerns, feel heard and 

know that this local empirical 

data was noted and recorded. 

“Canopy Keepers will 

continue to lobby for tree removal 

permits to be displayed 

(as per a DA notice) to better 

facilitate information and 

communication between concerned 

residents, tree loppers, 

Council staff and owners,” 

said Ms Collins. 

“And we will lobby for the 

introduction for tree removal 

permits for trees which fall 

under the 10/50 legislation, 

so that these removals are 

also counted – which every 

year, in their hundreds, these 

removals are neither formally 

approved or counted.” 

Pittwater Ward Greens 

Councillor Miranda Korzy 

told Pittwater Life that Council 

should increase its scope to 

recognise significant trees on 

private land as well. 

“I’m pleased staff have 

finally revealed their latest 

draft of the Tree Canopy Plan, 

after the original one was 

placed on public exhibition in 

2018,” she said. 

“I particularly welcome 

the inclusion of an ‘Iconic 

Tree Register’ recording the 

scientific, social, historic and 

aesthetic values of the Northern 

Beaches’ most significant 

trees on public land. 

“But the greatest loss of 

trees from Pittwater and 

elsewhere in Australia is on 

private land, where many 

significant trees grow. 

“Trees in our backyards 

should also qualify for the 

Iconic Tree Register, because 

many of these are valuable for 

the same reasons as public 

trees – and contribute to cooling 

our suburbs as well as 

providing homes for wildlife. 

“This isn’t an outlandish 

suggestion, with other councils 

across Australia doing 

so, including City of Sydney, 

Randwick, and Georges River 

Councils.” 

Council said the management 

of tree canopy on private 

property was regulated 

by the Environmental Planning 

and Assessment Act. 

It noted there were several 

tree species that were exempt 

and did not require approval 

to be removed, regardless of 

their size. (The exempt tree 

species list can be found on 

Council’s website.) 

Additionally, there were 

exemptions and guidelines 

for tree species that were classified 

as part of a complying 

development, or if the property 

was in a 10/50 zone. 


*Submissions close Sunday 

July 9; view on the ‘Your Say’ 

page on Council’s website. 

News 



News 

Oh yes, it’s the great pretenders 

Why pay hundreds of dollars to 

see a stadium band, spending 

hours in car park queues 

afterwards, when the biggest names in 

rock are regularly performing on the 

peninsula? 

Well, sort of… 

Irish playwright Oscar Wilde said 

that ‘imitation is the sincerest form of 

flattery’. And on the Northern Beaches, 

that flattery will get you everywhere 

– from Manly to Avalon, cover bands 

continue to hit the stage. 

While tribute bands have always been 

popular, COVID took them to new heights. 

As big bands were grounded from touring 

the world, local audiences’ hunger for 

familiar hits needed to be sated. Step 

forward the many talented Aussies in 

costumes and wigs to fill that void. 

It looks like they’re here to stay, and 

here are some of the acts you can see on 

the peninsula imminently, that will help 

you fake it through the night… 

ABBA are perhaps most ripe for the 

imitation game, and two of the best 

ABBA tribute bands will be playing the 

beaches this year. Abbalanche come 

to Dee Why RSL on August 5, with 

Agnetha and Frida in their boots and 

sequins, supported by Bjorn and Benny 

(real names Peter and Bob). Meanwhile 

Abbasback play Collaroy Beach Club in 

December. If you’re a bit of a dancing 

queen and you have a dream, then these 

super troupers might be for you. Do I 

want to go? I do, I do, I do, I do, I do. 

For Fleetwood Mac fans who have 

heard rumours, they aren’t little lies; 

Running in the shadows of Fleetwood 

Mac will play Avalon RSL on August 19, 

while Fleetwood Nicks will be at the 

Collaroy Beach Club on October 14. Both 

TRIBUTE ACTS: Abbalanche are a super-trouper act that will play at Dee Why RSL in August; while 

Simply Divinyls who channel the late, great Chrissy Amphlett will play at the Collaroy Beach Club. 

are great bands, but if you can only see 

one of them, then go your own way. 

To celebrate 50 years of Dark Side of 

the Moon, there are also two Pink Floyd 

experiences in the near future. You can 

shine on like crazy diamonds when The 

Dark Side – Pink Floyd Experience play 

Collaroy Beach Club this coming month, 

on July 22. Or become comfortably 

numb at The Great Gig in the Sky, at 

Dee Why RSL on October 21. (Floyd fans 

will wish they were here.) 

For the Brits there are also plenty of 

choices. Long Way South play a mix 

of punk and Britpop, including Blur, 

Oasis, The Smiths and The Jam. They’re 

at Manly Boatshed on July 1. (And yes, 

they play Wonderwall.) Also look out 

for Monkey Spanner and Voxneon who 

are favourites at Avalon RSL. Monkey 

Spanner play Ska and 2Tone hits such 

as Madness and The Specials, while 

Voxneon are an ’80s synth pop band 

playing Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, 

Human League and Tear for Fears. 

Last but not least, you can’t beat good 

old Aussie Pub Rock. Simply Divinyls 

channel the legendary late Chrissy 

Amphlett as they provide pleasure (but 

no pain) for all the boys in town. In 

fact, they’re so good that when I think 

about them… well, you know. They’ll be 

at Collaroy Beach Club on August 19. 

Also at the Beach Club on September 23 

is the Last Stand Chisel Barnes Show. 

Ideal for the working class man, enjoy 

some cheap wine as you listen to Flame 

Trees and Khe Sanh. And finally – also 

at the Beach Club – Dirty Deeds AC/ 

DC Show is on November 18 and should 

shake you all night long. 

So hells bells, for those about to rock, 

it is not a long way to the top, or indeed 

a highway to hell. Just get back in black 

on the peninsula – and let there be rock. 

– Rob Pegley 

*Check venue websites for tickets 



Still making peace 50 years on 

Palm Beach Golf Club President Daniel Hill reflects on a very personal connection 

to the upcoming 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. 

News 

Palm Beach Golf Club 

celebrates its centenary 

in 2024. In the lead-up to 

this it has been diving into its 

archives and records to make 

sure it has a good showing to 

mark the event. 

As President, my role is to 

support and promote the Golf 

Club. However, this month, I 

wish to pay tribute to my uncle 

Mark Ferguson OAM, President 

of Palm Beach RSL Sub-Branch 

and a Vietnam Veteran. 

Memorial days such as 

ANZAC Day and Vietnam 

Veterans Day are a poignant 

reminder of what we as Australians 

hold true, the values 

we all share, and the ideas we 

aspire towards – together. For 

almost a century, Palm Beach 

Golf Club has played a key role 

in our local community and 

has contributed in times of 

need. We have provided enjoyment, 

recreation and reprieve 

for an immeasurable number 

of people. This includes during 

the COVID-19 lockdowns 

when playing golf was among 

the very few reasons to leave 

your home. Whilst this fades 

into insignificance compared 

to war time, the spirit, camaraderie, 

and consideration 

towards others have all been 

displayed by our members. 

August marks 50 years 

FAMILY TIES: Daniel Hill with his decorated Vietnam War veteran uncle Mark. 

since the end of the war in 

Vietnam. World wars and 

other international conflicts 

have touched every corner 

of the globe, and our Club is 

no different. Over the years, 

many of our members have 

departed our shores to help 

defend the notions of freedom 

and democracy. Extracts 

from early Board papers, in 

June 1940, show our Club 

pledged to assist King and 

Country and support our 

members enlisting. 

In many cases, the experiences 

of war may not be always 

shared between generations. 

In fact, it wasn’t until 

ANZAC Day this year that I 

came to better understand the 

events that my uncle came to 

experience over in Vietnam. 

At the age of 18, Mark 

joined the Army in 1968, at 

the height of the Vietnam 

War. 8RAR were subsequently 

deployed to Malacca, where 

Mark celebrated his 19th 

birthday before deploying to 

Vietnam in 1969. 

8RAR was awarded Meritorious 

Unit Citation, Cross 

of Gallantry with Palm Unit 

Citation for their courage and 

professionalism during OP 

Hammersley. 

At the completion of their 

12-month tour of Vietnam in 

October 1970, Mark had lost 

18 mates and seen another 

108 wounded. The battalion 

was not replaced, as part of 

the drawdown of an unpopular 

war. There was no welcome 

home; the way in which these 

soldiers were treated after 

Vietnam still causes pain for 

most of these veterans today. 

My uncle Mark has been 

President of the Palm Beach 

RSL since 2002, was president 

of the Vietnam Veterans Association 

for 16 years from 

2001-17; he is a Life Member 

of the RSL. 

Mark was awarded the Medal 

of the Order of Australia in 

2020 for service to Veterans 

and their Families. 

In August, there will be a 

celebration to mark the 50th 

anniversary of the end of the 

Vietnam war at Palm Beach 

RSL (Club Palm Beach). 

*Further details visit 

clubpalmbeach.com.au. 



Amon lights PEP-11 ban fuse 

The NSW coalition has seized the initiative 

in ensuring the controversial won’t have the opportunity”. 

posed PEP-11, and nothing has changed. 

looking to drill for gas in NSW waters “For over a decade NSW Labor has op- 

PEP-11 offshore gas exploration licence 

and others like it will never be permitted 

to progress off the NSW coastline. 

PEP-11 is a Commonwealth licence 

granted over Commonwealth waters for 

the exploration and mining of gas and 

oil off the NSW Coast from Sydney to 

Newcastle. For years, the planned exploration 

and possible mining has attracted 

State-wide opposition. 

Before the March State 

Election, the former Perrottet 

Government pledged that if 

re-elected, it would introduce 

legislation to prevent offshore 

coal, gas, mineral and petroleum 

exploration and mining 

in NSW waters. 

Despite losing power, the 

coalition has pushed ahead 

with the commitment, calling 

on the Minns Government to 

back the legislation change 

“For many years, a blame game has 

ensued between State and Federal, Liberal 

and Labor,” he said. 

“But, my community of Pittwater, nor 

do any other communities, care who or 

what is responsible for the lack of action 

in stopping PEP-11. 

“They don’t care if the Government is 

Labor or the Opposition is Liberal. They 

We still oppose it.” 

Mackellar Federal MP Dr Sophie 

Scamps told Pittwater Life it was great to 

see politicians from across the spectrum 

stand up against the PEP-11 licence, no 

matter their “political stripes”. 

“It’s really important that as local representatives 

we work together to achieve 

the best outcomes for our community,” 

Dr Scamps said. 

“So the move by the NSW 

Opposition and Pittwater MP 

Rory Amon is very welcome 

and comes after local independent 

candidates made PEP- 

11 a major issue at the March 

state election. 

“Our community has made 

it clear that we will never 

accept offshore oil and gas 

drilling so any support to end 

it is welcome. 

“We’ve been told time and 

while placing further pressure 

on the Federal Labor Government 

to ban offshore mining 

in neighbouring Commonwealth waters. 

The Minerals Legislation Amendment 

(Offshore Drilling and Associated Infrastructure 

Prohibition) Bill 2023 was introduced 

in NSW Parliament by Pittwater MP 

Rory Amon on June 22. 

The Bill not only bans exploration and 

mining of petroleum, gas and coal in 

State waters, it prevents any approvals or 

development in State waters which would 

facilitate the exploration or mining in 

Commonwealth waters. 

Mr Amon said the coalition’s proactivity 

fulfilled a key election promise and 

“makes it abundantly clear that anyone 

PUSH: The NSW Coalition has tabled legislation that if enacted would stop 

petrol and gas exploration and mining in NSW waters, including PEP-11. 

simply want action, and action is what 

this Bill will deliver once its law,” he said. 

Mr Amon added that to help tackle 

beach erosion, the proposed legislation 

would continue to allow mineral exploration 

or mining in NSW waters for beach 

nourishment, where a clear public benefit 

could be demonstrated. 

Mr Amon said he had every confidence 

that the Bill would pass with State and 

Federal Labor being supportive. 

“I look forward to working across the 

Parliament to see this Bill succeed,” said 

Mr Amon – noting comments from Premier 

Chris Minns, who said in February: 

again that PEP-11 is dead in 

the water. Now is the time for 

NSW and Federal Labor to kill 

off PEP-11 and all offshore oil and gas 

drilling for good.” 

In a statement, local coastal community 

group Surfrider Foundation Northern 

Beaches said: “Our coastal communities 

in NSW ask that MPs from all sides 

of politics work together to cancel the 

PEP-11 lease once and forever, and pass 

legislation that prevents fossil fuel mining 

off our coastline. 

“No grandstanding, no wedging, just 

quiet cooperation to get this done legally, 

legislatively and above all – permanently.” 

The bill is expected to be debated in 

NSW Parliament in early July. – Nigel Wall 

News 



Themes in ‘Tim’ resonate 

News 

Glen Street Theatre 

is bringing Colleen 

McCullough’s critically 

acclaimed 1974 novel ‘Tim’ 

to the stage this month – 

updated for a modern-day 

climate, but with key issues 

including disability as relevant 

as ever. 

“Ultimately it’s about love. 

A non-orthodox love,” says 

award-winning playwright 

Tim McGarry. “The love story 

between a person in their 

50s and another in their 

20s. It challenges the norms 

around love and age, and also 

disability. 

“There’s something in 

this play for everyone,” Tim 

continues. “It’s about family 

dynamics. It’s about grief 

and dealing with it. It’s very 

entertaining and enlightening 

– and it’s also very funny.” 

Opening at Glen Street 

Theatre on 28 July, the work 

is a modern-day adaptation 

of the McCullough’s awardwinning 

novel, which was also 

made into a 1979 film – shot 

at the foot of Barrenjoey 

Headland – starring Mel 

Gibson and American actor 

Piper Laurie. 

While much has changed in 

the 44 years since its release, 

sadly many of the issues are 

still very relevant in 2023. 

Tim McGarry has changed 

the play to reflect modern 

times – in particular he has 

made the female roles more 

empowered and enlightened 

(the female lead Mary is a 

PLAYWRIGHT: McGarry 

Chief Exec, rather than a 

secretary, for instance). But 

the playwright knows from 

first-hand experience that 

much ignorance still exists 

around disability. 

“Like many actors and 

writers, I’ve had other jobs 

alongside my theatre work 

and one has been working in 

group homes,” he explains. 

“That’s highlighted to me the 

lack of understanding people 

have around disability. People 

still unknowingly discriminate. 

“Just because some people 

who are challenged in some 

way can’t communicate at our 

level, they still know exactly 

how they want to live their 

life. 

“We all need to listen a little 

bit harder to what they need, 

rather than assume.” 

Speaking from his home 

in Melbourne, Ben Goss, the 

lead actor playing Tim, says 

he is all too aware of the 

potential for discrimination 

and misplaced assumptions 

around disability. 

EXCITED: Ben Goss 

“I have cerebral palsy,” he 

tells Pittwater Life. “So there 

was an immediate connection 

with the play. I still haven’t 

seen the film version, but the 

script sparked my interest 

straight away. There aren’t 

many disabled characters 

around in our culture. 

“My cerebral palsy is on the 

mild side,” Ben continues, “and 

it’s not immediately apparent 

to people in most situations. 

“I don’t experience much 



on the stage 

prejudice, although growing 

up as a kid it was much 

harder. I had an AFO brace on 

my foot which was very visible 

and made me a bit different to 

the other kids. 

“My disability can cause 

physical, mental and 

emotional challenges at times, 

though. Training at drama 

school was tough as it was 

very physical. And there can 

be barriers to working in the 

industry. I have some great 

role models though who 

help me to stay strong and 

resilient.” 

Ben grew up in North 

Tasmania where he says there 

is an active acting and musical 

scene. He studied acting at the 

VCA in Melbourne, graduating 

in 2019, and ‘Tim’ will be his 

first professional play. He 

admits to a mix of excitement 

and nerves. 

“It will be nerve-wracking, 

but doing the audition I could 

see that it’s a very supportive 

team of great quality,” says 

Ben. “We have four weeks of 

rehearsals, six days a week in 

Sydney, before we go on tour. 

“I’m just really excited to 

get back into the theatre. 

That’s what I trained in, but 

COVID has shifted much work 

to an online space.” 

Playwright Tim, who has 

been in the theatre for 36 

years, is looking forward to 

working alongside Ben for 

the first week of rehearsals, 

helping to hone the script. He 

reveals there is a cast of six, 

playing 11 roles between them 

during the 100-minute play. 

He will then depart for 

numerous other projects, 

including directing a piece 

for the Sydney Chamber 

Orchestra next year. 

He can’t wait to work with 

Ben though, who impressed 

throughout the casting 

process. 

“Ben did a great audition,” 

reveals Tim, “we were looking 

for someone with a lived 

experience… an actor who 

really fitted the bill… and Ben 

blew us all away. 

PROVOCATIVE: ‘Tim’, about a woman in her 50s falling in love with a much 

younger man, has its national premier at the Glen Street Theatre. 

“He said he loved the script, 

but we’ll revisit in rehearsals 

to make sure he’s happy with 

it.” 

Certainly when Pittwater 

Life talked to Ben he was 

more than enthusiastic about 

what lies ahead for Northern 

Beaches audiences. 

“I think people will love it. 

It’s just a beautiful, sweet love 

story at its core. It has complex 

issues, but it’s a feel-good play 

with generosity and love at its 

heart.” 


*More info glenstreet.com.au 

News 



News 

Yana’s a plumb role model 

Apprentice plumber Yana Marks doesn’t shy 

away from doing the heavy lifting both at 

work and when working out, regularly posting 

videos of herself on the job and in the gym. 

Yet when Yana was recently recognised with 

a prestigious plumbing award and weeks later 

snatched several medals – and set records – in 

her first national powerlifting competition, it 

all felt “pretty unreal”. 

Last month the affable 18-year-old from 

Warriewood became the youngest female 

recipient of a Rheem Apprentice Plumber 

Grant, receiving $3000 to assist with TAFE fees 

and textbooks and to help her build her tradie 

toolbox. 

In the second year of her apprenticeship 

working for Rugby stalwart Pete Hammond, 

Yana was among 338 applicants from around 

Australia, with 10 recipients chosen based 

on the impact the grant would have on their 

study and future goals, along with their 

dedication to the industry and commitment to 

their community. 

An advocate for gender equality, Yana told 

Pittwater Life she was proud to be among the 

new wave of apprentices challenging stereotypes. 

“There aren’t a lot of female plumbers, and 

people are still surprised when they see a girl 

tradie… I get a lot of satisfaction by just getting 

in there and doing my job,” she said. 

“I love helping people and even doing the 

simplest thing like fixing a leaking tap can 

make people feel really happy.” 

Yana is also making an impact via social 

media where she hopes her posts are inspiring 

more women to pursue careers in plumbing. 

“I like being able to show other girls what’s 

possible, that plumbing is actually not that 

physically challenging for us and if something 

is difficult there’s always going to be guys 

around to give us extra help,” she said. 

“I regularly have chats with girls who want 

to find out more about plumbing, I have had 

TOP MARKS: Warriewood apprentice Yana. 

girls thank me for giving them the confidence 

to try and I’ve even had people who have 

contacted me to say they have hired a girl after 

they saw me at work – it’s amazing.” 

Yana enjoys lifting weights; 12 months ago 

she was spotted by a powerlifting coach who 

encouraged her train, which she committed to 

most days after work. 

After competing in December and March 

“just for fun” Yana found herself at the APL 

Nationals in Brisbane last month where she 

says she “went great” – 1st in Juniors 1 (with 

records in all three lifts); 2nd in Juniors and 

3rd in the Opens 60s Class… “not much to be 

disappointed with”, she said. – Lisa Offord 

7THINGS 

THIS MONTH 

Ice Skating. Skate your way 

around a pop-up ice rink located 

on the ground floor undercover 

carpark of the Pittwater RSL Club 

from Saturday 1 to Sunday 16 with 

multiple sessions available from 

11am daily – Adults 15yrs and over 

$25; Child 5-14 yrs $20; Child + 

Adult (under 4 yrs) $30. Book at 

Pittwaterrsl.com.au 

Marcia Hines. Expect more than 

two hours of memories, musicality 

and madness as the amazing 

Miss Hines and her touring family 

celebrate her 50th Anniversary 

concert tour at Glen Street 

Theatre on Sat 1 at 7.30pm and 

Sun 2 at 5pm tickets from $60. 

Astronomy shows. Primary 

school-aged kids are welcome 

to explore Indigenous Australian 

astronomy and find out how 

Indigenous cultures describe 

constellations at Mona Vale 

Memorial Hall on Wed 5 from 1pm- 

1.45pm or from 2pm-2.45pm; cost 

$5, bookings essential through 

Mona Vale Library. 

Voice talk. Brooke Prentis 

a First Nations woman will 

present a 45min talk about the 

Voice to Parliament at Pittwater 

Uniting Church, 10 Jubilee Ave 

Warriewood, on Monday 17 

starting at 7.30pm followed by a 

30-minute question and answer 

session. More info 9997 2386. 

MyGov info. Learn how to 

navigate the government’s digital 

services and online accounts 

such as MyGov at this free 

information session presented by 

Services Australia at Mona Vale 

Library on Wednesday 19 from 

2pm-4pm; bookings essential 

through the library or phone 8495 

5028. 

Car boot sale. Pick up vintage 

clothes and shoes and/or 

unwanted household items, 

sports equipment, toys at the 

Avalon Car Boot Sale in Dunbar 

Park on Sat 22 from 8am-2pm. 

Xmas fun. Avalon Beach RSL 

Club is celebrating Christmas in 

July with ham raffles on Friday 7, 

14, 21 and 28 and Xmas food and 

drink specials throughout the 

month. 



Lizard Rock a step closer 

Northern Beaches MPs 

Rory Amon and Michael 

Regan are taking 

the fight to the new State 

Government over the NSW Department 

of Planning’s decision 

to allow the Lizard Rock 

housing rezoning proposal to 

move to the next assessment 

stage. 

The proposal would see 

450 dwellings built by the 

landowner, the Metropolitan 

Local Aboriginal Land Council 

(MLALC), on bushland at 

Belrose. 

On 9 June, Labor wrote to 

Northern Beaches Council 

advising that the plan would 

progress. 

“During the recent election 

campaign, the then Liberal 

Government guaranteed that 

it would stop the Lizard Rock 

development – unfortunately, 

the Labor Party is intent on 

dumping dense development 

on the Northern Beaches, as 

DEBATE: A community petition gathered by Wakehurst MP Michael Regan 

and community opposition to Lizard Rock will be debated in July. 

PHOTO: NB Advocate 

News 

they have threatened to do 

for years, without any proper 

infrastructure in place, or 

being planned,” said Pittwater 

Liberal MP Mr Amon. 

“This is another slap in the 

face of our community.” 

On June 19, Wakehurst 

Independent MP Mr Regan 

tabled a petition in NSW 

Parliament with more 12,000 

signatures, showing the widespread 

community opposition 

to the Lizard Rock housing 

proposal. 

“The size of this petition, 

organised by local group the 

Bushland Guardians, means 

the Government is obliged to 

respond to our community’s 

concerns, and ensure the issue 

is debated in State Parliament,” 

said Mr Regan. 

“The current Lizard Rock 

proposal goes against good 

planning and environmental 

protection principles. 

“It would see the destruction 

of large swathes of 

bushland and place homes 

and people in an area with 

high bushfire risk and limited 

infrastructure. 

“Seriously, have we not 

learned from the most recent 

of bushfires? 

“Further, the latest independent 

studies rule out this 

style of development in high 

bushfire zone areas and is 

why Ingleside was finally 

knocked on the head and its 

dwelling targets distributed 

to areas like Brookvale for 

infill development where 

infrastructure exists.” 

Mr Regan said he would 

continue to work constructively 

with all stakeholders 

to help find a smart solution 

that was fair for both the 

MLALC and the community. 


*Debate on Lizard Rock and 

the community’s opposition 

to the proposal will take 

place in the NSW Legislative 

Assembly from 4-4.30pm on 

Thursday 29 June. General 

public is invited to attend. 



PHOTO: Supplied 

FINAL FRONTIER: For Channel Nine veteran reporter Brady Halls, there was no business like snow business to 

cap off his 45 years in journalism and screen TV, which he says was “never a nine-to-five commitment”. 

Brady’s cold-en 

handshake 

News 

It’s a tough job, but someone has to do good humouredly by Ken Sutcliffe for his lack 

it… after 45 years on the cutting edge of of sports nouse), The Today Show and Midday 

journalism – featuring door knocks on the has seen him travel all over Australia and 

homes of contemptuous criminals and working 

“nearly every continent, sometimes at the 

alongside the likes of steel magnolias pointy end of the plane”. 

Tracy Grimshaw and Kerri-Anne Kennerley – However, A Current Affair is what he will be 

Bayview resident Brady Halls is bowing out. mostly associated with. 

The stalwart Channel Nine veteran will exit “A Current Affair isn’t everyone’s watch,” 

our TV screens on July 7. 

Brady accepts. “But over a million people each 

He recently returned from what he calls night tune in and it remains, 45 years on, one 

“my last hoorah”: a cruise to Alaska. 

of Australian TV’s most popular shows.” 

“It was more the stuff Getaway does but the The job he has retired from was never a 

bosses thought it was a great way for me to nine-to-five commitment. 

finish my career,” Brady explains. “I was very “News and current affairs happen without 

grateful… much better than a murder.” 

notice,” he said. “As such I have been on-call 

Brady’s Alaska journey – the package aired for 45 years. The phone and messages start at 

on A Current Affair over several nights in 6.30am and finish well into the night. 

mid-June – featured husky sledding, bear 

“It’s never been a job where I could plan 

watching and glacier climbing. 

anything, as I simply don’t know where I’m 

Things he couldn’t have imagined that he’d going to be. 

be doing when he started in the late 1970s as “So when I retire on July 7, I plan nothing 

the mail boy at Radio 2CH, a station which but ‘me time’ to relax, indulge in some passions 

was silenced for good in 2022. 

and above all spend more time with my 

Brady’s talent was soon spotted. 

family.” 

From licking stamps and delivering post, he As for his “best” story? 

was soon made a panel operator, then offered “I’m often asked that,” he says. “My honest 

a job as a cadet reporter in the newsroom. answer is that I have no idea. 

“They figured I talked a lot and would be “There have been tens of thousands of 

good at it,” he jokes. 

them over the decades. Many are memorable 

His first on-air story was a shocker that as they changed people’s lives for the better.” 

he’s never forgotten. 

Putting on his “local’s hat”, he observes 

Helen Patricia Moore was labelled “the Pittwater has changed since he and his wife 

babysitter murderer”. Between May 1979 and Debbie moved here almost a quarter of a 

March 1980, the 17-year-old Moore murdered century ago. 

four children she was being paid to look 

Like many long-term residents, Brady laments 

after. 

“the over development” the peninsula 

“It was gruesome and depressing stuff for has been subject to in recent years. 

a kid not long out of school himself,” Brady “Small suburban streets now have dualoccupancy 

admits. 

dwellings and many more cars,” 

His career – which encompasses Nine’s he says. “You celebrate now if you get a good 

Wide World of Sports (where he was hounded parking space at Woolies!” – Steve Meacham 



Women’s World Cup fever 

News 

The festival of football that 

is the Women’s World Cup 

arrives in Sydney in July 

– and excitement is building on 

the Northern Beaches. 

In all, 32 teams from around 

the globe will be jointly hosted 

by Australia and New Zealand 

– the biggest sporting event 

to hit Sydney since the 2000 

Olympics. It kicks off on 20 

July when Australia take on the 

Republic of Ireland at Stadium 

Australia and New Zealand play 

Norway at Eden Park. 

Sydney will be on display 

to the world – 11 matches are 

scheduled at Stadium Australia 

(including the Final on 20 August) 

and the Sydney Football 

Stadium. 

The Australian Matildas are 

loaded with talent and a blend 

of youth and experience – footballers 

of the calibre of Ellie 

Carpenter, Caitlin Foord and 

Katrina Gorry have been part 

of the Matildas outfit for years. 

Then there is Sam Kerr… 

Local Matilda Remy Siemsen 

will be hoping she is picked in 

the final squad. Her pathway 

from BTH Raiders to Manly 

United, Sydney FC and Leicester 

City shows what can be done. 

In the lead-up Narrabeen FC 

players Vicki Halpin (Women’s 

O/40) and her daughters 

Bridget (Women’s All Age) and 

Monique (Women’s U/15) gush 

about the major impact the 

World Cup will have. 

“It’s absolutely fantastic for 

the sport,” says Vicki. “It’ll take 

women’s football to another 

level. There’ll be a real flow-on 

effect to the numbers and participation 

in this country.” 

Vicki is currently Acting 

President, Vice-President and 

Senior Ladies Co-ordinator of 

Narrabeen FC. 

She clearly loves the game 

and recounts how her Women’s 

O/40 team grew from a 

bunch of parents standing on 

the sideline watching their 

children play and has developed 

over nine seasons into a 

close-knit group – firm friends, 

teammates and Grand Final 

winners. 

READY TO CHEER: Vicki Halpin and daughters Bridget (left) and Monique. 

Fitness and strategy are 

also important to her – “I do 

enjoy the game play, the tactics 

behind it,” Vicki says. 

The Northern Beaches will 

showcase its own junior stars 

in the Mini World Cup that the 

MWFA and the local football 

clubs are putting on at Cromer 

Park, supported by Northern 

Beaches Council, Football NSW 

and Sydney FC. 

The action starts on 19 July. 

Six-a-side tournaments for 

U/8 and U/11 Girls will be run, 

with 16 teams in each age division. 

After three pool matches 

the top teams will advance to 

Semi-Finals and Finals on 11 

August. 

The thrill of a random draw 

will see each team representing 

a country playing in the World 

Cup. It will be a virtual way for 

these U/8 and U/11 footballers 

to travel the world and adopt a 

country during the World Cup. 

For a few weeks, they might 

be playing as the Matildas; 

or Scandinavian (as Norway), 

African (as Morocco) or South 

American (as Brazil). 

Involving young female 

referees and coaches in the 

Mini World Cup and supporting 

them with training and education 

for future involvement is a 

MWFA focus. 

“The idea is to have an entire 

tournament that’s being run 

by young girls,” explains David 

Mason, MWFA CEO. 

The Mini World Cup is the 

outcome of a MWFA decision 

to use the World Cup and the 

attention it brings to help drive 

female participation. 

“It’s a wonderful opportunity 

for them to touch and feel 

the top of the sport. This, for 

women’s football, will be huge. 

For young girls, it’s not just the 

ones that want to be a Matilda, 

it’s for the ones that just want 

to play for Avalon and enjoy the 

sport,” David says. 

The growth in women’s and 

girl’s football on the Northern 

Beaches has been on a steady 

burn for the past 15 years. There 

are now more than 6,500 female 

footballers – around 35 per cent 

of total MWFA registrations. 

Vicki says Narrabeen FC had 

two female teams in 2014. It 

now has 22 teams and in May 

celebrated by staging the Narrabeen 

Female Football Festival. 

Scheduling to avoid clashes with 

other sports has contributed. 

“It’s a real advantage for the 

Beaches to have women’s football 

on a Sunday,” she explains. 

David describes football’s appeal: 

“It doesn’t matter what size 

you are, it doesn’t matter what 

height you are, it doesn’t matter 

how fast you are – there’s a spot 

for everybody.” 

For both Vicki and David, 

their ‘dream’ World Cup Final 

will be Australia v defending 

champions USA. 

– Greg McHugh 

*More info mwfa.com.au 



PHOTO: Greg McHugh

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… 


Developer’s eyes were firmly fixed on the Northern Beaches 

and “Pittwater is on the verge of a Council-encouraged 

development boom.” In Avalon, plans were being drawn 

up for the shopping 

block from the Post 

Office to Bellevue 

Avenue and there were 

discussions about a 

project to incorporate 

the Bowling Green Lane 

car park, three adjoining 

properties on which 

a medical centre and 

medium density housing 

was planned, a two-storey 

car park on Dunbar Park 

and a library building 

outside the RSL Club. In 

Mona Vale, Council had 

called for expressions 

of interest to build 

permanent headquarters 

and a civic centre in 

the area bounded by 

Mona Vale Road, Darley 

Street, Pittwater Road, 

and Keenan Street 

and at Palm Beach “an 

upmarket 25-bedroom 

boutique hotel” at 1097 

Barrenjoey Road had 

been approved. In other 

news, the Minister for 

Local Government Ernie 

Page rejected Pittwater 

Council’s proposed 2.5% 

environment levy (watered 

down from its original 

5% levy) which would 

have increased rates by 

$500,000 on an ad valorem 

basis for works specifically designated as “environmental”. 

“The irony is that had the Councillors listened to the people 

more it could have had a levy on an equitable basis of say, 

$50 per household, by 

adopting the proposal 

for a base rate plus an 

ad valorem rate, instead 

of charging rates totally 

on an ad valorem basis.” 

Meanwhile, Council 

announced it had 

adopted a 1.7% increase 

in rates “… which with 

the new increases in 

valuations in many parts 

of Pittwater, will result in 

a substantial increase in 

real terms when the rate 

notices go out shortly.” 

Federal Member Bronwyn 

Bishop had $200,000 

to give away through 

a community grants 

program to celebrate the 

Centenary of Federation 

in 2001; concern 

over the Warriewood 

sewage treatment plant 

brought about calls for 

upgrades to eliminate 

the overflow to the 

ocean; and there was a 

“changing of the guard 

at boathouse” Palm 

Beach, just as work 

had been completed 

“… rebuilding the wharf 

and the famous deck 

over Pittwater which is a 

major attraction to locals 

and visitors”. 





The cover 

captured the 

Navy diving 

tank “one of the 

most popular 

features of the 

Avalon Festival 

last month… 

in which 

Navy divers 

entertained 

lots of small 

children with 

noughts and 

crosses games 

played on 

both sides of 

the glass.” 

In news, 

Pittwater 

Council was 

planning 

to create a 

major new 

childcare 

centre 

at North 

Narrabeen 

Reserve near 

the southern 

end of the 

grandstand 

of the rugby 

park, able 

to take up 

to 106 long-day care pre-school 

children which was expected to 

cost $4.5million and ready by 2010. 

The first solar panels were installed 

on The Coastal Environment 

Centre at Narrabeen; a new CAT 

scanner was ordered for Mona Vale 

Hospital; Aldi announced its plans 

to have a supermarket in Mona 

Vale; Woolworths was due to open 

its refurbished store in Avalon; the 

family operated Ann Wilson Funerals 

celebrated 50 years of caring and 

support; The Greens wanted to 

restrict the number of car parking 

stickers 

issued to ratepayers to one a 

year and increase the cost of 

extra stickers, suggesting the 

move would reduce the burden 

of parking and promote the 

use of public transport with 

the revenue from extra stickers 

used to provide cycleways and 

footpaths; and the mag ran 

an artist’s montage of what 

Newport’s transformation (and 

the new trees in the centre of 

the road) would look like in 20 

years*. 

Following representation from MP 

Rob Stokes and Mayor Michael Regan, 

NB Council was granted a last-minute 

deferral on parts of a State Government 

housing code which could have resulted 

in higher density development in our 

area. Council warned of a “highly volatile 

recycling market” after it was briefed 

about the escalating costs of recycling and 

its ongoing implications for Council. We 

promoted the ‘Swap this for That’ initiative 

– Boomerang Bags and the Surfrider 

Foundation’s Ocean Friendly program 

which encourages businesses to set high 

standards of environmental accountability 

and sustainability; and we ran a feature on 

a bunch of locals who “live without plastic”, 

sharing how they reduced the use of plastic 

and minimised waste. In other news, readers 

learned why residents were increasingly 

embracing Pittwater’s new on-demand 

transport option Keoride; we revealed what 

was behind the façade of the brand-new 

Northern Beaches Hospital with exclusive 

photos of its interior including the inviting 

foyer, light-filled spaces and its state-of-theart 

hybrid operating theatre; we ran an item 

about iconic Barrenjoey House trading hands 

with “flavourof-the-decade 

Boathouse Group” 

taking over the 

reins; the Artists 

and Craftsman 

of Pittwater held 

an exhibition 

and sale in Mona 

Vale and Life 

Stories featured 

fundraising 

legend Beryl 

Driver 

recounting 

her 20-years 

involvement 

with the NSW 

Variety Bash. 

*The artists’ 

images are 

not too far off. 




News 

SEEN… 

Mona Vale resident Karina Page is replacing Rory Amon as 

the newest Liberal member on Northern Beaches Council. 

Mr Amon resigned as a Councillor in April to focus on his 

new role as Pittwater MP. Ms Page was due to be sworn in 

as Pittwater Ward Councillor at Council’s June meeting. Ms 

Page secured her appointment based on a Local Government 

Election countback – she was second on Mr Amon’s ticket at 

the December 2021 Council Election and finished with the 

fourth-most votes in the Ward count. Ms Page is no stranger 

to the arena, having served two terms on Manly Council 

from 1996 to 2004. She has 15 months to connect with locals 

before the community heads back to the ballot box for the 

next NB Council Election… the old chestnut of a swim centre 

for Pittwater is back in the news, with Council forming a 

swimming centre working group, consisting of Pittwater 

Ward Councillors and relevant members of staff to investigate 

feasibility and options. The group will commence analysis 

this month, settling its Terms of Reference, including giving 

consideration to possible sites for a public Aquatic Centre 

in the Pittwater Ward and facilities including for swimming 

lessons, squad training, water aerobics, seniors swim meets 

and general recreation. However, rather than re-inventing the 

wheel, maybe they should first look at the last investigations 

undertaken by the former Pittwater Council? A feasibility 

report in March 2011 noted: “… that any future aquatic facility 

be located in the southern area of Pittwater”. So not north of 

the Bilgola Bends. That should save the working group some 

time. 

HEARD… 

Some light at the end of the (noisy) tunnel for long-suffering 

residents of Palm Beach living close to the bends leading to 

Palm Beach Golf Club: The NSW Government has announced 

a trial of cameras that can detect loud vehicles in a bid 

to combat “hooning” and anti-social driving. Pockets of 

Pittwater, including Palm Beach and McCarrs Creek, have 

been plagued by over-revving motorcycles and souped-up 

cars (deliberately modified for excessive noise), creating 

headaches for residents for decades. Local MP Rory Amon told 

Pittwater Life he would lobby the Government to include Palm 

Beach and McCarrs Creek in its trial. The cameras capture 

an image of a vehicle as well as measure the amount of noise 

it produces. Given constraints on police resources and the 

isolated Pittwater locations, the noise cameras are considered 

an effective means of reducing hoon activity – which is on 

the increase. Data from Revenue NSW shows there were 2498 

modified vehicle and excessive noise fines in the 10 months 

to May 2023 – up from 2360 in the 12 months to June 2022. 

Unnecessary noise or smoke fines carry a $361 penalty. NSW 

environmental regulations set a noise limit of 90 decibels for 

most car exhausts and 94 decibels for motorbikes. Fines for 

vehicles that exceed this level by 5 decibels or less are $150, 

for more than 5 and less than 15 decibels it’s $200 and for 

more than 15 decibels it’s $600. 

ABSURD… 

Thinking of 

selling your 

car the “local” 

way – leaving 

it parked over 

the weekend 

on ‘Newport 

Hill’ with a 

price tag and 

your contact 

phone 

number? You 

might have 

to rethink that in 

future, following a push from Narrabeen Ward Councillor 

Vince De Luca that has revealed the decades-old practice is 

illegal, with fines applicable. Cr De Luca has had a bee in 

(or should that be under?) his bonnet about this for years – 

although his most recent enquiries of Transport for NSW (in 

March) relate to the unofficial car yard along Pittwater Rd at 

Collaroy. Unfortunately for Pittwater residents, we’re tarred 

by the same brush; the practice on Barrenjoey Rd at Newport 

Hill is also considered illegal. Official word from TNSW is: 

“Under the Local Government Act… it is illegal to advertise 

a vehicle for sale or any other article on a public road or in a 

public place without prior approval from council. Motorists 

disobeying parking laws is primarily an enforcement issue, 

which falls under NSW Police and Council jurisdiction.” TNSW 

added police and Council were responsible for determining 

whether targeted enforcement would be likely. On that, 

Council is seeking community feedback before determining 

whether it starts writing tickets or looks to find a way to work 

with community, while taking safety and inconvenience into 

account. If you want to be heard, make a submission to Council 

(‘Your Say’ page) by July 23. 

PHOTO: NB Advocate 



News 

Pittwater News 

Local July Probus Club news 

The guest speaker at the 

next Palm Beach and Peninsula 

Probus Club meeting is 

the former NSW Director of 

Public Prosecution, distinguished 

barrister Nicholas 

Cowdery AO, KC. His talk will 

cover current issues in Criminal 

Justice in NSW, including 

spam fraud, crime trends 

and, if time permits, topics 

such as voluntary assisted 

dying law reforms and drug 

law reform. Meeting 9.30am 

on Wed 19 July at Club Palm 

Beach. Visitors welcome; more 

info Carmel (0414 978 465). 

The next meeting of the 

Combined Probus Club of 

Mona Vale is on Tues July 18 

in the auditorium at Pittwater 

RSL (from 10am). The guest 

speaker will be Liz Nielsen 

– Founder and Life Patron of 

Pinchgut Opera, Australia’s 

premier Baroque opera 

company. Liz had taught commercial 

law and established a 

mediation practice before she 

realised she had effectively 

retired from the law, as Pinchgut 

Opera was far more fun 

and was taking all her time. 

For Pinchgut, Liz has done 

just about every administrative 

task, from negotiating 

contracts and grant applications, 

to making lunches and 

billeting musicians. Her talk 

will provide an insight into 

how Pinchgut quickly developed 

a reputation as one of 

the world’s finest companies, 

specialising in historically informed 

performance. Visitors 

welcome; more info Robert 

(0407 202 266). 

The speaker at the next 

Newport Probus Club meeting 

will be member Hette Mollema, 

who will speak about 

‘Toiletology’ – a history of 

human waste disposal. Meeting 

at Newport Bowling Club 

on Thurs 6 July, commencing 

10am. Visitors welcome; more 

info Di Burrell (0410 465 303). 

If you are interested in 

boats and sailing, don’t miss 

the next meeting of the Bilgola 

Plateau Probus Club at Newport 

Bowling Club on Fri 7 July 

(from 10am). Mark Salmon 

will talk about the history of 

the ‘Kathleen Gillett’, a small 

sailing ketch that now has its 

resting place at the Australian 

Maritime Museum. Visitors 

welcome; info 0415 538 864. 

Narrabeen Lakes Probus 

Club next meets on Wednesday 

26 July at Narrabeen 

Baptist Church. Doors open at 

9.45am for 10am meeting. The 

club has around 80 members 

(visitors welcome, no waiting 

list). Their July speaker will be 

police officer Sandra Fraietta, 

who will speak on schemes 

used by scammers to trick 

unsuspecting folk into giving 

them their money. More info 

call or text 0424 464 047. 

At the next meeting of Pittwater 

Men’s Probus, member 

Bill Sherman will trace the 

history of firearms, from 

their early days in ancient 

China through to the present 

day. Meeting at Mona Vale 

Surf Club, Tuesday 11 July, 

commencing at 10am. Visitors 

welcome; more info Terry 

(0412 220 820). 

Open Day to tour 

Warriewood Brook 

Anglicare’s Warriewood 

Brook Village is holding an 

Open Day on Friday 21 July, 

commencing 10am. On show 

will be the relaxed retirement 

lifestyle available locally, with 

furnished 2- and 3-bedroom 

apartments available to tour 

as well as the Village facilities 

including the recently refurbished 

café and community 

area, gym and indoor heated 

pool. Independent experts will 

be available to assist with any 

questions around the financial 

aspects of retirement living 

and the downsizing process. 

You’ll also be able to chat with 

current residents and hear 

about their experiences. Limited 

places available; register 

via anglicare.org.au/openday. 

Astronomy evening 

at Waratah Park 

Duffys Forest Residents Association 

is hosting another 

‘Evening under the Stars’ at 

Waratah Park from 6.30pm on 

Saturday 15 July. The event 

is being held in conjunction 

with the Northern Sydney 

Astronomical Society (NSAS) 

and owners of the park, the 

Metropolitan Local Aboriginal 

Land Council. The evening 

will kick off with a talk from 

Steve Pratley in the Ranger 

Headquarters. Steve is a 

senior astronomer with NSAS, 

with a special interest in astrophotography 

of distant and 

curious deep-space objects; 

he’ll discuss some of his most 

interesting astrophotography 

objects and the challenges of 

bringing them to life with his 

telescope. Phil Angilley and 

other volunteers from NSAS 

will bring their telescopes, so 

attendees can view interesting 

objects in the night skies, 

starting at about 7pm. Park 

in the top car park of Waratah 

Park and stroll down to 

the Ranger HQ, as the road 

beside it may be used for 

viewing. To assist the association 

in knowing how many 

telescopes to bring, and for 

catering, please RSVP admin@ 

duffysforest.com. 

Panel discussion 

on the Voice 

Mackellar MP Dr Sophie 

Scamps says her recent Voice 

Community Survey showed a 

quarter of people in the electorate 

would like more information 

about the Voice before 

voting in the referendum later 

this year. In a bid to help as 

many people as possible learn 

more about the Voice and what 

constitutional recognition for 

our First Nations Australians 

means, she’ll be hosting a 

community forum and Q&A at 

Pittwater RSL on Wednesday 

26 July. The forum will include 

a panel including Rachel Perkins, 

Director and Co-Chair of 

Yes23, eminent journalist Jeff 

McMullen and human rights 

advocate and former Socceroo 

Craig Foster. Register to attend 

(free) at sophiescamps.com. 

au/events. 

Technology made 

easy for seniors 

Have you ever struggled with 

the demands of modern 

technology? Computer Pals 

Continued on page 34 



Interclub junior tennis a hit 

Junior tennis is alive and well on the Northern Beaches! On 

June 18, Careel Bay and Collaroy Tennis Clubs joined for an 

interclub junior tournament with 12 boys and girls from 

each club aged 10-17 competing in a ‘Fast 4’ doubles round 

robin. 

Not only was the standard of tennis a thrill for the many 

parents and spectators, but the good sportsmanship of all 

players and the camaraderie within each team was noted. 

The inaugural trophy went to the Collaroy juniors 112 to 

84 games. 

Congratulations to Maiia Salbieva (Collaroy) and James 

McSkimming (Careel Bay) for being selected ‘Best and 

Fairest’ by their peers. 

One of the big drivers for organising this event was the 

focus both clubs have on boosting junior participation. 

News 



News 


Continued from page 32 

for Seniors Northern Beaches 

can help you with Android/ 

Apple tablets and phones and 

Apple, Microsoft, Chromebook 

laptops. Lessons are one on one 

for an hour each week during 

term times at The Tramshed 

Arts & Community Centre in 

Narrabeen. Operating hours 

are Monday to Friday 9am 

to 5pm. Fees are $25 Annual 

Membership and $30 per 

term. More info contact Anne 

on 9984 0604 or email anne. 

computerpals@gmail.com 

Plant a tree on 

National Tree Day 

Duffys Forest Residents 

Association invites locals to 

celebrate Planet Ark National 

Tree Day on Sunday July 30, 

from 9am-1pm, when they will 

be planting more than 300 

native tube stock at Waratah 

Park. This is an excellent 

opportunity for individuals 

and families to connect with 

nature and contribute to the 

preservation of the bushland 

surroundings. To RSVP or 

more info contact David 

Harris (0419 684 158) or go to 

duffysforest.com. 

Eyes on the pies 

Daniel Roberts, baker and 

owner of Oliver’s Pies at the 

Careel Bay shops was “stoked” 

to have won two gold and eight 

silver medals in the 2023 Baking 

Association of Australia’s 

‘Best Pie Competition’. 

The golds were for the 

Vegetarian Mexican and 

Smokey Pork & Bourbon which 

are both on their permanent 

menu board. 

*Make your own pie – see 

Food P66 

Resilience 

Strategy Award 


has snared a top gong for 

its Resilience Strategy in the 

recent Local Government 

Excellence Awards. Council 

was the winner in the 


Try outrigging on Pittwater 

Pittwater Outrigging 

Canoe Club is looking to 

rebuild participation within 

the community after a drop 

in memberships post- 

COVID. 

POCC was established 

in 1985 and is an amateur 

sports club. The club runs 

canoe paddling training sessions 

several times per week 

from Rowlands Reserve, Bayview 

and BYRA Sailing Club, 

Bayview, attracting members 

of varying ages 40+ (with 

their oldest member 87). 

The Club needs additional 

funds to purchase lifejackets, 

safety lights, paddles 

and safety gear to accommodate 

more members too. 

The club has recently 

attracted a small group of 

women/members who have 

recovered from breast cancer 

wishing to continue with 

the sport, as paddling helps 

with one of the most difficult 

complications of breast 

cancer; lymphoedema, the 

painful swelling that can 

occur after the surgical 

removal of lymph nodes. 

POCC invites readers to 

try outrigging on Saturday 

mornings from 8-9am at 

Rowlands Reserve, to be 

followed by coffee and 

breakfast. More info 0414 

299 051. 



News 



Innovative Leadership Award 

category for a population 

over 150,000 for the Strategy 

‘Withstand, Adapt, Thrive’. 

Council also received highly 

commended citations 

for its Forestville Library 

24/7 initiative and for the 

redevelopment of the Mona 

Vale Surf Life Saving Club. 

Maureen is Worth 

her weight in gold 

Congratulations to Narrabeen’s 

Maureen Worth, who 

will receive a Distinguished 

Long Service Award at the 

2023 NSW Community Sports 

Awards on June 29. A member 

of North Narrabeen Surf 

Life Saving Club since 1975, 

Maureen has demonstrated 

distinguished service to the 

movement for more than four 

decades and has received 

several Service and Recognition 

Awards – including Life 

Member of North Narrabeen 

SLSC (in 1992), Life Member 

of Sydney Northern Beaches 

Branch (in 2001), followed by 

State Life Member (in 2011). 

She also obtained her 40-Year 

Long Service Award in 2016 

and has also been honoured 

with an award only few members 

have achieved – the 40+ 

Years of Services Award – at 

the 2023 State Championships. 

Maureen was awarded 

Distinguished Service of Surf 

Life Saving Sydney Northern 

Beaches in the 1997-1998 season 

and was also awarded the 

Warringah Shire Community 

Award. The Awards recognise 

outstanding achievements 

and contributions to community 

sport in NSW, which 

is largely carried out by a 

volunteer workforce. 

Nominate now for 

Crown Land Awards 

Nominations are now open for 

statewide awards to recognise 

the efforts of Crown land 

volunteers and organisations 

who manage thousands of 

public reserves across NSW 

on behalf of their communities. 

Crown Lands in the 

Department of Planning and 

Environment is sponsoring 

categories including The Individual 

Excellence in Crown 

Land Management Award – 

for outstanding individuals 

who are a member of an organisation 

or committee that 

manages a Crown reserve; 

and The Crown Land Management 

Excellence Award – for 

an outstanding organisation 

that is involved in the care, 

control or management of a 

Crown reserve. The Crown 

land estate is large and 

diverse covering 30.8 million 

hectares in NSW and providing 

land for everything from 

land for social and community 

infrastructure, recreation, 

tourism, agriculture, 

housing and the environment. 

Crown land provides homes 

for childcare facilities, Scout 

and Girl Guide halls, caravan 

parks, surf clubs, Rural 

Fire Service sites, aged care 

facilities, community halls, 

showgrounds and racecourses 

as well as walking trails, 

campsites, bridges and board 

walks. Nominations close 24 

August. More info awardsaustralia.com/nswactcaa 

Council’s new CEO 


has announced the appointment 

of Mr Scott Phillips 

as its new Chief Executive 

Officer (CEO). Mr Phillips has 

30 years’ experience in the 

local and state government 

sectors. He is leaving the role 

of Chief Executive of Local 

Government NSW and previously, 

was general manager at 

Sutherland and Hornsby Shire 

councils. He has also held 

several executive roles at state 

Head to Market 

Mona Vale Farmers 

Market continues to be 

a wonderful destination for 

anyone looking for highquality 

local fresh produce. 

With an extensive range of 

fresh, seasonal produce and 

gourmet delights, the market 

is a must-visit for anyone 

looking to sample or buy 

farm-fresh vegetables, fruits, 

meats, and other goodies. 

Apart from fresh produce, 

the market also features 

a variety of artisanal 

foods, including bread, 

honey, preserves, and hot 

food options including 

Indian, dim sum, Lebanese, 

Vietnamese, gozleme and 

more. 

You can expect to meet 

the farmers and producers 

themselves, sample their 

fresh goods, and chat with 

them about their goods. 

*Located at Pittwater RSL 

in Mona Vale, the market is 

open every Sunday from 8:30 

am to 1pm. 



Local King’s Birthday Honours 

Congratulations to the three Pittwater residents who were recognised for making substantial 

contributions at local, national or international level in this year’s King’s Birthday Honors list – 

the first in seven decades. 

Locals were awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM), the Medal of the Order of Australia 

(OAM) and one resident was acknowledged with the Public Service Medal (PSM): 

Dr Owen Donald, Avalon Beach – AM 

For significant service to community and public housing, and to urban research. 

Mrs Julie Emerson, Bayview – OAM 

For service to the community through a range of roles, including the 

first female President of Pittwater RSL Club (pictured), President of 

the Australian Driver Trainers Association, Chair of the Nature Based 

Tourism Subcommittee of the NSW Environmental Trust, Chair of 

the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council, Deputy Mayor of 

Pittwater Council, and Director of the Local Government Association 

of NSW. 

Mr Daniel Leavy of Warriewood – PSM 

For outstanding public service through improving vehicle and road 

safety across the NSW road network. As a result of his dedication to his 

role, Mr Leavy contributed to the 2021 NSW road toll being the lowest 

in almost 100 years. 

*The full honours list can be found at the Australian Honors Search 

on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website. 

and local levels in the planning 

profession and serves 

on several industry boards, 

ministerial advisory committees, 

and panels. Mr Phillips 

will join Northern Beaches 

Council from 24 July 2023 

under a five-year contract. 

Govt footpath grants 

Northern Beaches Council has 

received $5.6 million from the 

NSW Government to help fund 

new walking and cycling paths 

to improve safety for pedestrians 

and cyclists. Council 

received $1.7 million for the 

construction of a footpath 

through a section of the Mona 

Vale Strategic Centre. 

The funding was provided 

through Transport NSW’s Get 

NSW Active program which 

will provide $39.5 million to 

50 councils to deliver projects 

that will encourage walking 

and bike riding. Work is scheduled 

to begin in the 2023/2024 

financial year. 

Eco Awards winners 

Over 100 eco-heroes and community 

members attended 

Mona Vale Surf Club on June 

8 as Council revealed the 

winners of the 2023 Northern 

Beaches Eco Awards. Now 

in its 18th year, the awards 

celebrate ordinary people 

doing extraordinary things 

to conserve the local environment 

and the volunteers who 

spend their time enhancing 

the region’s diverse and valuable 

natural habitat. Council 

received 30+ nominations 

across eight categories this 

year, reflecting a strong focus 

on the environment and an 

urgency to ensure we protect 

our area’s unique, natural assets. 

For a full list of winners 

and categories visit Council 

website. 

Vet 

on call 

with Dr Brown 

It is often a surprise to many 

pet parents that their dog is 

suffering from dental disease 

at their veterinary check-up. 

Over 80% of dogs develop 

dental disease by the age of 

three. If we don’t look after 

our pet’s teeth properly, not 

only will they have problems 

with their teeth and gums, 

they can also suffer from issues 

elsewhere in their body. 

Bad breath in dogs is often 

considered normal but it is 

actually due to an unhealthy 

mouth and an overgrowth 

of bacteria. The subsequent 

inflammation (gingivitis) and 

sore, often bleeding, gums 

can allow the bacteria to enter 

the bloodstream and spread 

to their internal organs potentially 

causing severe illness. In 

the later stages of dental disease, 

the teeth become loose 

and can fall out or lead to 

severe bone infections around 

the tooth roots. You may also 

notice dark red areas appearing 

along the gum line and 

brown discolouration (tartar) 

of their teeth. Normal healthy 

teeth should always be white. 

In the early stages the problem 

is often reversible with 

regular dental care. The gold 

standard is daily teeth brushing 

with a special toothbrush 

and dog-specific toothpaste 

(human toothpaste can’t be 

used, as it is toxic to dogs!) 

which will help slow the buildup 

of plaque and tartar. 

Dental chews can also be 

offered, which help to draw 

plaque and tartar off the 

teeth, helping to keep them 

clean. Special prescription 

dental foods are also available 

to help prevent dental 

disease in your dog. (Hills T/D 

prescription food and OraVet 

chews are discounted in our 

practices until the end of our 

dental months.) 

During July and August, Sydney 

Animal Hospitals are offering 

free dental checks with our 

veterinary nurses, along with 

reduced price dental procedures 

and discounts on dental 

pet foods. Call Avalon (9918 

0833) or Newport (9997 4609) 

or book online www.sydneyanimalhospitals.com.au 

News 



One of Pittwater’s oldest and 

most successful sporting 

clubs has commemorated its 

anniversary by publishing a 

book. Author Phil Hunter took us 

on that historical journey. 

Story by Rob Pegley 

Life Stories 

Nothing nervous 

about Narra’s 90s 

For quite an affluent area, the “working 

class” football code of rugby league 

punches above its weight on the 

Northern Beaches. Of course there are 

the Manly Sea Eagles at ‘The Fortress’, 

Brookvale Oval, where thousands stream 

into in their maroon-and-white during 

Winter weekends. But seven kilometres 

up the Pittwater Road are the Narrabeen 

Sharks, who have now been overachieving 

for 90 years. Incredibly, more than 150 

competitions wins have been chalked up in 

those nine decades. 

To celebrate their 90th anniversary, 

the club commissioned a book on their 

history, which life member Phil Hunter 

pulled together with the help of a few 

footy friends. And as he explained to 

Pittwater Life, there are working class roots 

at Narrabeen that gave rise to league’s 

popularity on the Peninsula. 

“A lot of people who moved to Narrabeen 

came from Newton and Balmain, and 

they were often Wharfies or Tradesmen,” 

explains Phil. “It’s still pretty tough now 

and a no-nonsense sort of place.” 

That toughness has often extended 

to the surfing culture of Narrabeen too, 

with the skull and crossbones badge 

of the North Narrabeen Boardriders an 

intimidating icon. And as Phil explains, 

there are strong links between the surf 

and footy clubs. 

“There’s always been a crossover with 

the North Narrabeen Boardriders. Heaps of 

them were playing football for the Sharks 



efore they started surfing. 

“Michael Novakov won four kneeboard 

world titles in the 1980s, and he played 

footy for the Sharks as an 8-year-old. Heaps 

of our players have gone on to do great 

things in the surfing world.” 

But it all started in a barber shop at 

the Tramshed terminus back in the early 

1930s. As early as 1925, three or four local 

Narrabeen men had been representing 

Manly United in the newly formed junior 

league. But in 1932 a group of men 

gathered in Jack McLean’s shop, keen to 

start a team. Within two years they had 

gone on to win their first comp, as Phil 

explains. 

“We won the B Grade in 1934 and in 

those early years we only had two teams – 

in the A and B Grades. Then in the 1940s 

things stopped for a while because of 

World War II, but after the war it really 

kicked on with D and E grades and the 15- 

and 16-year-olds started to come through.” 

Today the Sharks have 28 teams – 

including four girls’ teams. Last season 

six of those teams made their Grand Final, 

with four of them being crowned premiers 

– including the A Grade side for a record 

14th time. 

“We’ve always been competitive,” says 

Phil. “We’ve won a comp in every one of our 

nine decades. And there have been some 

great players over the years. Johnny Bliss 

was a champion beach sprinter and he 

played for Balmain and Manly-Warringah 

in the 1940s. In the ’70s there was Alan 

Thompson and Russell Gartner at the Sea 

Eagles. Russell’s nephew Daniel Gartner 

played for Manly in the ’90s. 

“Anthony Watmough (NSW Blues and 

Kangaroos representative and Sea Eagles 

Premiership winner) also played his junior 

footy with the Sharks. And then Mark 

Gerrard and Wycliff Palu went on to play 

rugby union for Australia after playing 

league with us. 

“Also Jack Elsegood, who went on to play 

for Manly, the Roosters, Australia and then 

compete in the V8 Ute Racing Series.” 

There have also been some great teams 

over the years – one of them boasting 

a famous league name in particular: 

Trbojevic. 

“John Trbojevic, who is the father of 

Tom, Jake and Ben, played in the best side 

we’ve ever had. The three brothers never 

played for us, but John played in a great A 

Grade side in the ’80s. The team all started 

out together young and came through to 

the A Grade side. They lost the Grand Final 

in 1982, and then went on to win it the 

following four seasons in a row from 1983 

to 1986. 

“We also had a great young kids’ side 

in the 1960s – the team stayed together 

and won the Under-10s, Under-11s and 

Under-12s in 1964, 1965 and 1966. Alan 

Thompson (Sea Eagles five-eighth from 

1973-84 who represented Australia and 

played in the first NSW State of Origin side 

in 1980) was in that side.” 

It’s perhaps not surprising then that a 

book was needed, but it took a few years to 

get off the ground. 



CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE: Phil Hunter and Scott Nagle; the Club’s 

first A Grade Premiership in 1935; the squad that won four years in a 

row (1983-86); 1960s Premiers pocket; the Sharks’ first International 

rep John Bliss in 1947; early days 1925; Current President Shane Bullock 

carts it up in 2007; B Grade champs 1934; H Grade Premiers 1966. 





“Back in 2016 Scott Nagle, 

a publisher who had played 

for the Sharks, put together a 

history of the North Narrabeen 

Boardriders,” Phil explains. 

“I’d been the historian for the 

club for a number of years and 

had been collecting stuff, and 

I got in touch with him in 2019 

about doing a book. 

“We put a proposal to the 

club for $20,000 to produce 

the book and they approved it. 

We printed 500 copies which 

arrived in May and the launch 

was at Lake Park on 25 June 

before an A Grade game and 

Alan Thompson, Anthony 

Watmough and Mark Gerrard 

were all there for the event. 

“There was a lot of work 

involved… it was really hard 

getting information from the 

1930s and ’40s in particular. I 

was the driving force, but Scott 

and Brian Adams were a great 

help. We’re really happy with 

the book though and there’s 

been a lot of demand. We’ve 

already sold 100 copies.” 

A big night was held at Dee 

Why RSL as part of the 90th 

Year celebrations, with 200 

people attending. Included 

in those were some of the 

big characters to have graced 

the club alongside the more 

famous names. People such 

as Tony Balkin, who started 

playing as a six-year old and 

played every year until he was 

45. Now a life member, he’s 

also been a coach and still 

contributes to the club he loves. 

Phil says the club has plans 

for the future: “The committee 

are looking to extend the 

clubhouse so that we have 

decking out front and tiered 

seating,” he reveals. “And of 

course women’s rugby league 

is becoming more popular 

and we have many successful 

female teams. I think that will 

continue to grow. 

“And we’re really grateful 

to the continued support we 

get from our sponsors such as 

Mitre 10, Domain Residential 

and Pittwater RSL.” 

We wonder if the 100 years 

celebration and book will be 

even bigger in 2032? 

“I’m sure it will be huge, but 

I don’t know if I’ve got another 

book in me,” laughs Phil. 

“Maybe just an update.” 

And we’re sure there will be 

plenty to update on. 



Art Life 

Art Life 

Colour your world with ACOP art 

The Tramshed Arts and Community Centre at Narrabeen 

will come alive with art and craft from 14-16 

July, with an exhibition and sale by the talented Artists 

and Craftsmen of 

Pittwater. 

The Lakeview 

Room behind the café 

will be transformed 

into a fabulous gallery 

bursting with 

colour – you can 

brighten up your Winter 

with watercolours, 

acrylics, oils, toys, 

clothing, homewares 

and more. 

ACOP says the 

exhibition will provide an opportunity to buy a beautiful 

and unique original piece for your home or Airbnb property 

or find the perfect gifts for your friends and family. 

Whether your taste is traditional or abstract, ACOP 

members are showcasing and selling items to love and 

treasure. 

ACOP artisans, who live across the Northern Beaches 

and Pittwater, are passionate about what they do – so 

spread the word to your friends and family and share that 

passion at their July exhibition and sale. 

– NW 

*More info about the group’s artists, craftspeople and 

the exhibition at acop.com.au; or call Margaret (0402 

846 751). 

Make an artistic connection 

Enviro Art & Design Prize 

Thought-provoking works by 

215 artists and designers 

have been shortlisted for the 

Northern Beaches Environmental 

Art & Design Prize. 

Fresh perspectives on our 

global climate crisis and sustainable 

life on earth will be on 

show at Manly Art Gallery & Museum, 

Curl Curl Creative Space 

and Mona Vale Creative Space 

Gallery from 4 – 27 August. 

The works cover contemporary 

practices, from fashion 

and design to ceramics and 

Ask anybody 

about a 

favourite possession 

and you are 

bound to get a 

story. 

“This is 

particularly true 

when that object 

is handmade, 

and already 

instilled with all 

of the makers’ 

stories and experiences,” 

says 

Pittwater Artists Trail member Susan 

Peacock from metal workshop 

Silver Plus Studio at Ingleside. 

“When you are able to meet the 

maker personally, see their workspace, 

and hear their motivations 

for making their art, you have 

begun a journey,” Susan said. 

“But what becomes the more 

overriding story for that object 

is the one you attach to it going 

forward.” 

Susan observes that spending a 

day travelling the Pittwater Artists 

Trail creates a story in itself, as 

‘trailers’ find themselves perhaps 

visiting an area they had not previously 

known. 

“Whether you 

manage to visit 

the whole trail, 

or choose to 

highlight your 

time with just a 

few artists is up 

to you. 

“Having met 

an artist, heard 

their story and 

then felt motivated 

to make 

a purchase you 

enter the narrative of that object 

and the story becomes something 

far richer. 

“You may have bought the piece to 

remind you of a place or a feeling; 

or perhaps you wish to mark a time 

or event in your life. Whatever it is, 

the relationship between the possessions 

we value and the narrative 

behind them is unmistakeable.” 


*You can start your new narrative 

on the Pittwater Artists Trail 

Saturday 22nd July and Sunday 

23rd, 10am – 4pm. More info 

and trail maps can be found at 

pittwaterartiststrail.com 

small sculpture, painting, 

photography, film and video, 

interdisciplinary collaboration, 

and functional and wearable 

design. 

Among those shortlisted is 

Perdita Phillips (WA) whose film 

‘Wheatbelt Anticipatory Archive 

II’ was developed from 500 

historical aerial photographs of 

farming properties merged and 

overlaid with new images. 

Prize winners will be announced 

on 3 August. – NW 

*More info Council website 



Author Q&A 

Gary’s fact-finding mission 

one for the history books 

Businessman turned military historian and writer Gary Followill (pictured) 

reveals the chain of events that led to one of Australia’s worst wartime tragedies 

and the deaths of more than 2,500 Prisoners of War: the cancellation of the 

rescue mission ‘Operation Kingfisher’. 

Q: What inspired you to write 

‘Operation Kingfisher’? 

It started when I bought 

the book ‘Project Kingfisher’ 

written by Athol Moffitt at 

a second-hand bookstore in 

Narrabeen. Moffitt was the 

Australian prosecutor in 

the Borneo collaborator and 

Japanese war crimes trials 

held at Labuan, Borneo in 

1945-1946. During the trials, 

Moffitt became interested in 

the Sandakan POWs, from the 

start to the ‘Death Marches’. 

Then in 1947, Sir Thomas 

Blamey made a speech at an 

army reunion, in which he 

mentioned that there had been 

a rescue mission planned, but 

the necessary aircraft were not 

made available. This rescue 

mission was called ‘Kingfisher’, 

which called for paratroopers 

to take over the Sandakan POW 

camp, evacuate the POWs onto 

landing craft, to be taken back 

to larger ships and then back 

to Australia. Blamey referred 

in his speech, that “higher 

powers” (meaning US General 

Douglas MacArthur) had 

not made the aircraft for the 

paratroopers available. This 

really caught my interest; a 

POW rescue mission cancelled, 

and all but six of the POWs 

died or were killed, plus all of 

it had been kept a secret from 

the Australian public. It was too 

much for me, I decided I had to 

find out the reason these POWs 

had suffered so much and left 

to die on Death Marches. 

Q: How did it all come 

together? 

At the time I was reading 

‘Project Kingfisher’, I completed 

my first Master of Arts 

in Military History at the 

Australian Defence Force 

Academy. I was wanting to 

continue to study, and one 

suggestion was to do a Master 

by Research, but I needed a 

subject to research. The subject 

matter was no problem – the 

Sandakan POW failed rescue 

mission – and when I spoke to 

Dr Peter Stanley, who would 

be my supervising professor, 

he loved the subject matter. 

I started by reading all the 

existing theories on the 

rescue missions, studying the 

reports and communications 

regarding this period in 

1944-1945. I was fortunate 

that I was still running my own 

company and doing overseas 

business trips, which also 

gave me the chance to visit 

various archives and libraries 

in the UK and USA, as well as 

in Australia. It was the visit to 

the UK archives that finally 

provided the “smoking gun” 

I had been looking for. From 

my study and research, I had 

narrowed down the fact that 

a rescue mission did exist, 

that it had been approved by 

General MacArthur and was 

fully resourced. But I needed 

confirmation of a last piece of 

evidence to put it all together, 

and I found it at the UK 

archives. After four years of 

search and writing, I was able 

to finally submit my thesis to 

the university. My supervising 

professor was quite pleased 

with the result, and strongly 

suggested I turn the thesis into 

a book. Working with local 

writer and writing teacher 

Zena Shapter, we took a very 

dry thesis and converted it into 

a very readable book, during 

the COVID lockdowns. Now 

BigSky Publishing has taken 

the book so that everyone can 

finally learn the real reason the 

mission was cancelled. 

Q: Any interesting early 

feedback from readers? 

The interest from people has 

been great, as the Sandakan 

Death Marches is one of 

Australia’s biggest military 

disasters. Especially, the 

Australian Government tried 

to keep information on the 

Death Marches hidden from 

the Australian public. When I 

describe what I found through 

my research, the usual answer 

I get is “no way!”; readers 

find it hard to believe what 

can happen in wartime and 

the decisions that are made. 

That we now look back at and 

wonder: “how could they do 

that?”. 

*‘Operation Kingfisher: The 

cancelled rescue mission 

that sacrificed the Sandakan 

POWs to the Death Marches’ is 

available in stores and online; 

RRP: $32.99. Gary will be 

signing copies at its launch on 

12 July at Berkelouw Books in 

Mona Vale from 6.30pm. 

Books 


JULY 2023 

45

Hot Property 

Wooden it be lovely: Homes 

that bring you closer to nature 

A direct connection with nature helps us stay happy, relaxed and focussed. If you are looking for a place 

surrounded by lush greenery, you’ll love these three homes… 

Described “like a luxury nature retreat nestled 

within a coastal rainforest”, this ecologically 

designed four-bedroom-plus-study home is only 

minutes from Avalon village at 3 Burrendong Place 

Avalon Beach. The tranquil haven, bordering the 

natural beauty of Stapleton Reserve, is beautifully 

sympathetic to its bushland environment. “A sense 

of calm and privacy lives here,” Agent Amy Young 

of Laing + Simmons Young Property says. The 

aesthetic is warm and organic, with a blend of 

high-spec and natural materials and an array of 

sustainable features designed to minimise living 

costs. Auction July 1 with a guide of $2.2 million. 

Hot Property 

Elevated amidst “the tranquillity of the bushland in 

a private setting”, this dual-level three- bedroom 

home enjoys magical views across Pittwater from 

just about every vantage point. Floor-to-ceiling glass 

frames the panorama, while the open plan design of 

the renovated property at 191 Prince Alfred Parade 

Newport creates a connection to the outdoors. The 

home is on an easy-care block embracing native 

flora and a natural landscape which is “…perfect for 

a low-maintenance lifestyle… you can just spend 

the day exploring your own garden”, says Cherie 

Sevenoaks from LJ Hooker Newport. Auction July 4 

with a guide of $2.1 million. 

Immersed in native bushland at Coasters Retreat 

lies a privately perched three-bedroom hillside 

residence. Boasting soaring ceilings and windows, as 

well as open plan living, entertainment decks extend 

the flow of the home to include a vista of Pittwater 

glimpses and the canopy of natural landscaping. 

Positioned between the wharfs of Bonnie Doon 

and Bennetts, a gentle nature walk takes you to the 

entrance of 29 Coasters Retreat where “the quietly 

commanding structure stops you in its tracks and 

immediately a sense of calm prevails”, says Noel 

Nicholson of Ray White Prestige Palm Beach. For 

sale with a guide of $1.5 million. – Lisa Offord 



Architecture with 

beauty, delight and joy 

Three Northern Beachesbased 

entries in the 2023 

New South Wales Architecture 

Awards have brought home 

top honours. 

More than 130 entries were 

shortlisted across categories 

of public architecture, 

residential architecture, 

sustainability and others. 

This year’s Beaches-based 

award-winning projects 

included Little Manly House by 

CHROFI for best new home. 

The controversial Mona 

Vale Beach Amenities and 

Lifeguard Facility by Warren 

and Mahoney was recognised 

with the Small Project 

Architecture Award. 

The jury described the 

project as “a robust yet poetic 

example of small-scale public 

architecture”. 

“It provides essential 

services whilst creating a 

positive social place and 

integrates beautifully into its 

natural surroundings. 

“Its siting within the 

landscape is exceptional, 

providing both visitors and 

lifeguards with important 

views of the beach and ocean 

pool.” 

Peter Stutchbury 

Architecture’s Dimensions 

X/Farm Stay was also 

awarded for Small Project 

Architecture, with the jury 

noting the project showcased 

the possibilities of prefab 

architecture in creating 

“sustainable, elegant buildings 

with its own compelling 

architectural language”. 

“Farm Stay was a 

prime example of an 

interdisciplinary, sustainable, 

and socially progressive 

approach to prefabrication 

construction which 

nevertheless achieves high 

architectural quality. 

“The plug-and-play 

approach… allows for 

a flexible integration of 

the structure’s piles into 

the natural landscape, 

minimising its impact on the 

groundscape. 

“While ‘Farm Stay’ excels 

in a rural context, it remains 

unclear how it might be 

deployed in a tight urban or 

suburban context. 

“Nevertheless, the project’s 

success in rethinking and 

optimising the supply chain 

demonstrates the potential 

for sustainable, cost-effective 

prefabricated structures more 

broadly”. 

Major awards included 

ARM Architecture’s Sydney 

Opera House renewal, which 

reimagined the interior spaces 

of the concert hall, took the 

New South Wales Architecture 

Medallion for its “symphony of 

design, innovation and acoustic 

excellence,” the jury said. 

The Sulman Medal for Public 

Architecture went to SANAA 

with Architectus for their 

addition to the Art Gallery of 

NSW. 

In residential architecture, 

SAHA’s renovation of Lane 

Cove House won the Hugh 

and Eva Buhrich Award for its 

support of multigenerational 

living – and the Milo Dunphy 

Award for its sustainability. 

All winners progress to 

the National Architecture 

Awards program, which will be 

announced in October . – LO 

Hot Property 



Health & Wellbeing 


I 

mentioned to someone the 

other day that I had recently 

completed a Transcendental 

Meditation course – a Vedic 

Meditation course, to be 

precise. 

“Not that hippy dippy stuff,” 

she replied. “You’ll have a 

Guru next.” 

“Well, yes, I have,” I replied. 

And she rolled her eyes. 

At which point I might have 

told her where to go, but of 

course I’m far too zen for that 

now… 

Joking aside, practising 

meditation with my mantra 

has brought me a level of 

calmness in only a few weeks, 

that I’ve been genuinely 

surprised at. I have a busy 

mind and have tried all kinds 

of things in my time to gain 

some respite. Including what I 

thought was meditation. 

Being taught properly 

to meditate though – 20 

New calm across Pittwater 

minutes in the morning and 

20 minutes in the evening 

of closing my eyes, sitting 

quietly and repeating a 

silent mantra – has been a 

revelation. 

There’s slightly more to 

it than that, but I’m sworn 

to secrecy by my Guru – my 

teacher. 

That might all sound 

whacky, but there is genuinely 

an agreement with your 

teacher when you learn 

transcendental meditation 

that you will keep your mantra 

and the process to yourself. 

And maybe it’s that sort of 

mystery that makes people 

wary. Throw in The Beatles in 

their LSD phase, Flower Power 

and Gurus sitting cross-legged 

– their thumb and forefingers 

joined in a flamboyant circle 

– repeating ‘ohm’ as they 

attempt to levitate, and you 

have a sceptic’s dream. 

In fact, Guru literally 

translates as “dispeller of 

darkness”, from ‘gu’ meaning 

darkness and ‘ru’ meaning 

“that which dispels”. And 

certainly it has brought a 

lightness to my life. 

Talking to my therapist 

(another of my coping 

mechanisms), she was 

massively enthusiastic, citing 

the scientific studies that have 

proved its benefits. Those 

being reducing stress and 

anxiety; relieving depression, 

improved clarity and decision 

making; better memory and 

ability to concentrate; more 

EXPERIENCE: Meditation teacher 

Angela Lyos Braun in India with her 

guru/teacher Thom Knoles. 

energy and productivity; 

helping with sleep; and 

increasing optimism. 

No wonder then that 

my teacher, Angela Lyos 

Braun, says: “Meditation is 

the greatest gift I ever gave 

myself. It has enriched my life 

in so many ways.” 

She continues: “I had a busy 

corporate life of deadlines 

and pressure and constant 

burnout before learning this 

practice. 

“After experiencing firsthand 

the profound results – 

more energy, less stress, better 

sleep, better ability to adapt 

to demands, more fulfilment 

and joy in life, I felt a calling to 

teach this to others.” 

Angela completed her 

teacher training in Vedic 

Meditation in India, taught by 

Thom Knoles, a master who is 

in the long lineage of teachers 

from those days in the ’60s 

when The Beatles learnt to 

meditate in India. 

The course is completed 

over four consecutive days, 

doing 90-minute sessions 

with Angela. After a small 

ceremony she takes you 

through the history and 

background, so that you have 

a thorough understanding of 

‘why’ as well as ‘how’. 

Her calmness, enthusiasm 

and clarity is infectious and 

gives you real incentive to 

stick with the program. 

After the course is complete 

Angela continues to check 

in with you and offer advice 

when needed. She can also 

pass on details for further 

learning, or group meditation 

opportunities. 

It takes six weeks for full 

benefits to start to accrue, 

which includes a gradual 

rewiring of your brain, but 

as Angela says, “benefits 

are immediate as well as 

cumulative”. 

If you’ve never thought you 

had the ability to mediate, 

give it a go with Angela, or 

one of the other practitioners 

in Pittwater. It’s already had a 

profound effect on me and I 

can’t recommend it enough. 

But then, I’m no guru… 




Studio Pilates a reformer hit 

The popularity of reformer Pilates, where 

TONED: Correct 

the low-impact mind-body discipline 

reformer 

is performed on a bed-like frame with 

springs, a sliding carriage, ropes and pulleys, 

might have you believing it’s only for 

technique is 

a focus at 

Studio Pilates 

Avalon Beach. 

the fit and fabulous. 

But don’t be fooled by what you may 

see on your screen – the real beauty of 

reformer Pilates is it is designed for everybody, 

whatever shape you may be in. 

The reformer machine was created by 

Pilates founder Joseph Pilates more than a 

century ago when he was inspired to add a 

level of resistance to low-impact exercises 

and also to help support those who needed 

help during exercise. 

Studio Pilates Avalon Beach has 16 reformers 

and welcomes clients of all abilities 

from beginners to advanced, delivering a 

full-body workout, with a strong focus on 

safety and correct technique, said owner 

and instructor Pamela Maine. 

Pamela said the new luxe space, with 

polished hardwood floors and bespoke 

lighting, has been designed to help “switch 

your mind off from outside distraction so 

you can focus on you”. 

“Reformer Pilates is a brilliant, energising 

way to develop a strong core and build stabilising 

muscles, to help improve strength, 

The reformer can either assist or challenge 

you during your workout. 

“Our 40-minute instructor-led reformer 

Pilates classes are designed by physiotherapists 

and are low-impact but high-intensity,” 

she added. 

“Our safe and effective reformer Pilates 

will have you feeling more toned, flexible 

Whether you’re an early bird, night owl 

or you’re partial to a lunchtime workout, 

Studio Pilates Avalon Beach runs classes 

mornings, afternoons and nights with a 

variety of class packs to choose from with 

no memberships or locked-in contracts. 

Get started with six classes for $60 (new 

clients only); call 0478 827 080 or email 

stamina and flexibility,” Pamela said. and stronger.” 

avalonbeach@studiopilates.com. – LO 





with Bec Johnson, M.Pharm 


Preparation for travel and 

tips to stay fit on the road 

Long-distance travel can 

pose health risks, so it is 

important to be prepared 

before you embark on your 

journey. Here are a few general 

recommendations to consider: 

Before you travel 

n Ensure you visit your doctor 

at least 6-8 weeks before travelling. 

By visiting your doctor, 

you can ensure you will have 

adequate medication supply to 

last you for while you are away. 

n If you are planning on taking 

medication overseas, contact 

the embassy of the country 

you are visiting and ensure the 

medications you need are legal 

there. 

n It is best to keep all medications 

in their original packaging, 

so they are clearly labelled 

with your name and dose, and 

to carry a letter from your 

doctor listing your medications 

and dosages. 

n Ensure all your immunisations 

are up to date well in 

advance of your travelling, 

so any booster doses can be 

administered and immunity 

gained before you travel. 

Pharmacists can now offer a 

range of travel vaccinations 

for administration in store at 

a private cost – contact your 

regular pharmacist for further 

information as not all pharmacists 

are trained to administer 

vaccines. 

n If you are travelling to a 

malarial zone, it is important 

to discuss prophylactic treatments 

with your doctor before 

you leave. 

n Having a dental checkup 

before going away can help 

prevent any dental emergencies 

while you are abroad, 

where it may be more difficult 

to manage. 

It is generally important to 

maintain regular appointments 

with your dentist at least every 

6 months. 

n It is a good idea to prepare 

a first aid kit to take away with 

you. This can include products 

to help manage wounds, allergies, 

pain, motion sickness, cold 

and flu, travellers’ diarrhoea, 

sunburn, and insect bites. 

Preventing DVT 

A DVT (deep vein thrombosis) 

is a blood clot which forms in 

a deep vein of the leg. If this 

moves in the bloodstream to 

other areas of the body, it can 

cause serious problems. Sitting 

or lying still for long periods 

of time can increase the risk of 

DVT, and there are several factors 

which can place individuals 

at higher risk. Symptoms 

of DVT generally include leg 

pain or tenderness, redness or 

warmth of the skin, or swelling 

of the lower limbs. 

Wearing comfortable loose 

clothing while in transit, especially 

from the waist down, and 

moving the legs and feet for a 

few minutes every half an hour 

can help reduce the chances of 

developing DVT. 

Some patients at higher risk 

may require compression stockings 

to aid blood flow up from 

the legs, or medications to thin 

the blood. Drinking plenty of 

water, and avoiding dehydrating 

drinks such as alcohol or 

caffeine can also reduce this 

risk. Speak with your doctor or 

pharmacist for more information 

about preventing DVT. 

On returning 

If any fever- or flu-like symptoms, 

recurrent diarrhoea, 

skin problems, or any unusual 

symptoms are present soon 

after returning from travelling, 

discuss this with your GP to 

ensure any conditions are well 

managed. 

If you were taking a course 

of antimalarials while abroad, it 

is important to finish the entire 

course as prescribed, even if 

this continues after you have 

returned home. 

Please do not hesitate to 

reach out to your local pharmacist 

for any advice before you 

travel abroad. 

Bon voyage! 

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. 



Your guide to Dry July 

Thousands will be giving up alcohol for the month of July, 

raising funds for people affected by cancer and in the process 

improving their health. 

Abstaining from alcohol for a month can improve mood, 

sleep, skin, assist with weight management and increase 

energy levels. 

If you’re going alcohol-free, check out these tips from Cancer 

Council NSW. 

Home ban. Don’t have alcohol in the home. Ask your friends 

or family to store/keep your alcohol for you. 

Non-alcohol drinks. There are plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives 

to embrace such as mocktails, beers and wines and 

you can also enjoy sparkling water, frappes made with ice and 

blended frozen fruit and herbal tea. 

Change socialising. If you typically catch up with friends 

over drinks, swap the pub or the bar for something different, 

such as a coffee catch-up at the local café, or meet up with a 

mate for a walk and talk. 

Prepare. There will be situations where alcohol is on offer. It 

can help to steer clear of events where lots of people are drinking 

but when the time comes decide beforehand what you’ll 

do on a night out. You might choose to stick to non-alcoholic 

options or simply say no to drinks. 

Get support. Ask friends to support you in your month of 

sobriety. It’s a lot easier to get through the month when you 

have a network of people who can encourage you when things 

get tough. 

Change habits. Since it’s winter, you’ll be spending more time 

at home. If you typically relax with alcohol, try other activities 

such as playing board games, or go to bed earlier. - LO 






End-of-life volunteer heroes 

Leanne Broadhead, 

with its Northern Beaches 

“I certainly didn’t know that 

Volunteer Manager Health, Community Palliative Care 

I might be good at or enjoy 

HammondCare is a passionate 

advocate for community 

palliative care and for the 

volunteers she works with. 

“The volunteers are 

amazing – all these people 

that are just here to give,” 

Leanne says. 

But she stresses and 

explains that palliative care 

encompasses more than the 

patient. 

“We care for the family 

Service located on the Mona 

Vale Hospital campus. 

A range of services are 

provided through the 

volunteer program. 

The ‘Life Stories’ service 

matches patients with 

volunteers who share 

common interests or 

connections, to talk about 

their lives and create a lasting 

record for families. 

“It’s really important to 

doing what I’m doing, but 

since doing various roles I’ve 

realised that I can draw on 

those experiences,” he said. 

“Empathy certainly comes 

into it.” 

Michael says 

HammondCare volunteer 

training has set him up with 

extra skills, with being a 

good listener essential for his 

social visits. 

He might bring coffees and 

unit. We care for the carer, understand that life stories LIFE STORIES: HammondCare just chat for a couple of hours 

match volunteers with patients 

not just the patient. It’s can be anything. It’s for their based on shared interests. 

on a social visit – sometimes 

about improving the quality family, it’s for their loved 

he is just the “passenger”, 

of life for someone with a ones, it’s what important to has volunteered since 2020. not the “driver” of the 

life-limiting illness. It’s about them, it’s their life, it’s their He has “held the fort” as a conversations. 

getting specialist care that story,” Leanne says. 

concierge at HammondCare Or he might provide 

will mean you have the best Other services include Wahroonga during the 

support and relief to a family 

care possible and the highest respite visits to provide difficult pandemic days, by playing Scrabble with 

quality of life possible, for as 

long as possible.” 

HammondCare is an 

independent Christian charity 

support to carers and the 

‘Dreams Project’ which 

deliver something meaningful 

and therapeutic for a patient 

– an example is arranging 

bespoke printing of a 

patient’s memoir. 

“We really get to help 

people at a time in life when 

they need help. Our team is 

amazing at taking care of their 

holistic needs, their medical 

needs and then we come in as 

volunteers and give them this 

extra support that they don’t 

expect,” she says. 

Leanne coordinates 37 

volunteers on the Northern 

Beaches and manages around 

150 across Sydney. She’s 

always keen to hear from 

potential new volunteers. 

Michael Olthof of Collaroy 

participated in bereavement 

walking groups, provided 

transport services and 

socialised with patients by 

visiting them at home. 

The walking groups run 

fortnightly and provide 

support to people who 

have recently lost a partner 

or family member. The 

walks around Long Reef or 

Narrabeen Lake bring people 

together, to share stories of 

similar experiences. 

“It gives people an 

opportunity to talk about who 

they’ve lost and how they’re 

doing,” Michael explains. 

When he started 

volunteering, Michael was 

unsure of how he would 

go, even with some family 

experience of grief. 

a patient for a few hours. 

Although English isn’t the 

first language of a particular 

patient he visits, Michael 

says: “Man oh man he can 

come up with some words in 

Scrabble! 

“The thing that I’ve come 

to realise, palliative care is 

actually there to make your 

life better. 

“I can see that my role is to 

be invited into their life and 

to try to make their life a little 

bit better. 

“It’s a two-way thing. It’s 

nice to do something good 

for someone and to know that 

it’s doing good, but it’s good 

for your own soul as well,” he 

says. – Greg McHugh 

*More info or to volunteer 

visit hammondcare.com.au 



Hair & Beauty 

with Sue Carroll 

Enzymes a natural way to 

exfoliate dried Winter skin 

All skin types can benefit 

from enzyme exfoliation 

during the cooler months 

of Winter, when hot showers 

and heaters create superficial 

dryness. Enzymes are a 

naturally occurring solution for 

this challenge by digesting and 

dissolving dead, dry skin cells, 

revealing healthy, radiant skin. 

Enzymes are primarily 

proteins that are necessary for 

life. In the body and cells their 

role ranges from digestion to 

increasing metabolism. They 

speed up the rate of most 

chemical reactions that take 

place in the cells, serving as 

a catalyst for most cellular 

functions. 

When applied topically, 

enzymes are proteolytic, 

meaning they digest the cells 

of the stratum corneum – the 

first layer of the skin. Enzymes 

break down the old cells that 

congest the pores and will 

then prevent the penetration of 

topical serums, which in turn 

hinders overall skin functioning. 

Removing the dead skin cells, 

allows the skin to regenerate 

more quickly, assisting with skin 

concerns such as premature 

aging and acne. Other benefits 

when using enzymes include 

their ability to increase skin 

elasticity and hydration by 

maintaining natural moisture 

levels in the skin. Enzymes 

speed up cellular functioning 

and fight against oxidation and 

free radical damage, protecting 

skin from environmental 

damage. 

In the treatment room 

enzymes and acids can be 

used separately or mixed 

together, each providing their 

own powerful result. Enzymes 

in general are less exfoliating 

than acids like glycolic, salicylic, 

mandelic or lactic. Therefore, 

they are more appropriate 

for sensitive, medically 

compromised, reactive or thin 

skin. Introducing enzymes in 

skin treatments when you are 

pregnant, or breastfeeding 


is particularly useful to still 

allow an effective method of 

exfoliation. 

Enzymes 

1. Mostly sourced from 

vegetables and fruit such as 

pumpkin, (the most exfoliating 

enzyme) pineapple (bromelain 

enzyme), papaya (papain 

enzyme) and apples. 

2. A gentle exfoliation method 

but this can be dependent on 

the pH. 

3. Exfoliates the stratum 

corneum. 

4. Less likely to cause irritation 

to the skin. 

5. Function at a wider pH range. 

6. Digest dead skin cells. 

7. Come in the form of either a 

gommage, gel, cream, liquid or 

powder. 

Acids 

1. Mostly sourced from milk, 

sugar and plant-based products. 

2. Deeper exfoliation method 

with progressive, mid-depth and 

deep peeling levels. 

3. Can be an aggressive method 

of exfoliation. 

4. Are both pH and % dependent 

on the level of exfoliation. 

5. Dissolve dead skin cells. 

Enzymes can be more 

efficiently utilised in the 

treatment room when: 

1. The cleanser being used 

is chosen wisely. A creamy 

cleanser will limit the exfoliation 

intensity compared to a foamy 

or gel-based cleanser. 

2. A pre-peel solution will strip 

the skin of lipids and therefore 

facilitate a more aggressive 

exfoliation. 

3. The use of heat and moisture 

with a steamer or hot towel will 

amplify the enzyme activity. 

Enzymes can be added to 

many treatments in the clinic 

room to increase their efficacy. 

They can be blended with 

antioxidants, pure vitamins 

and hyaluronic acid which will 

increase the support, hydration 

and vital nutrients of the skin. 

Some modalities which will 

benefit from the addition of 

enzymes are: 

n Microdermabrasion results 

using suction and super fine 

crystals to exfoliate the skin 

can be amplified when using 

enzyme exfoliation prior to the 

treatment. 

n JetPeel treatments utilise a 

medical-grade saline solution 

instead of microcrystals from 

the microdermabrasion. 

n Ultrasonic skin exfoliating 

utilises sound waves and 

vibrations that penetrate the 

upper layers of the skin. 

Enzymes are not new in the 

aesthetic arena but are worth 

consideration if you seek 

healthy, hydrated skin. 

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 

JULY 2023 53 

Hair & Beauty

Business Life: Money 

with Brian Hrnjak 

Business Life 

The PwC scandal: one rule 

for them... another for you 

This month, a layman’s 

tour through the PwC 

scandal and as we go, 

we can’t help but reflect on 

some elements of the culture 

underlying the way business 

is done between government 

and the big end of town. 

You would have to have 

been living under a rock 

to not have heard, read or 

seen reports concerning the 

behaviour of the country’s 

– in fact one of the world’s – 

largest accounting firms, PwC. 

The Australian Financial 

Review (AFR) on June 19 

neatly summarised the key 

stages of the scandal, and I 

want to borrow parts from 

their graphic to explain the 

sequence of events: 

1. In early May this year, the 

AFR reported on internal 

emails that showed PwC tax 

partner Peter Collins to have 

leaked secret government 

tax information between 

2014 and 2017 to other 

partners and staff at the 

firm – PwC then used this 

information to advise global 

clients how to dodge tax. 

2. Peter Collins obtained access 

to this information through 

his membership of a 

Treasury advisory group set 

up in late 2013 to develop 

new laws to stop multinational 

companies avoiding 

tax through loopholes – he 

signed three confidentiality 

agreements between 2013 

and 2018. 

3. Between 2014 and 2017 

Collins shared confidential 

information about the 

government’s plans to 

introduce a multi-national 

anti-avoidance law with 

PwC partners and staff 

not involved in the 

project. He is alleged to 

have disclosed what the 

law would contain and 

when it would start. 

4. PwC formed a plan 

called Project North 

America to target 

firms such as 

Google, Apple 

and Microsoft 

to sell them 

and others 

schemes to 

evade these 

laws. PwC is 

said to have 

made $2.5 

million from 

advising 14 

clients. 

5. In January 

2023, the AFR 

reported that 

Collins had been 

deregistered by the 

Tax Practitioners 

Board (TPB) for sharing 

confidential information, 

redacted emails showing 

that multiple partners were 

copied into the information 

was released by the TPB, 

according to The Sydney 

Morning Herald on May 31: 

’50-plus partners and staff 

were implicated’. 

6. The matter has been 

referred to the AFP which 

opened an investigation into 

the leaks. The former CEO 

of PwC is leaving the firm 

early, nine partners are on 

leave and others are stood 

down. The Commonwealth 

has effectively barred PwC 

from further work as have 

major super funds and state 

governments. 

In a nutshell, the PwC brand 

is currently toxic, which is 

quite possibly an existential 

problem for a firm that sells 

professional services based 

on trust and reputation. 

But the problem is not 

necessarily a new one 

according to Crikey’s political 

editor Bernard Keane who 

wrote back in 2019: ‘In 

last week’s corporate tax 

transparency data from 

the Australian Tax Office, 

you won’t find any data on 

four of the country’s biggest 

political donors and most 

influential policy advisers. 

In recent years, the big four 

consulting firms – PWC, KPMG, 

EY and Deloitte – have quietly 

secured a key position in the 

soft corruption of Australia’s 

federal political system, 

exploiting the Coalition’s 

agenda of outsourcing of 

policy advice to secure billions 

of dollars in consultancy 

work while buying access 

and influence with millions 

in political donations and the 

hiring of former politicians 

and staffers.’ 



I can recall it as an issue 

back in the 1990s when 

we called this effect the 

‘corruption of coziness’ and 

to be fair the problem is not 

restricted to the right-hand 

side of politics; there would 

be quite a few Labor exstaffers 

and members also 

occupying roles among the 

big four group as well. 

But call it infiltration, cross 

pollination or whatever you 

like, it also works in reverse. 

The Tax Commissioner, 

Chris Jordan, is himself an 

alumnus of KPMG just as 

many bureaucrats in senior 

positions dotted throughout 

government would be drawn 

from ranks of the big four 

consulting firms. 

The AFR on June 2 referred 

to the TPB as being ‘tiny’ in 

the sense of under gunned 

and asked: ‘Just how the 

tiny Tax Practitioners Board, 

which polices Australia’s 

65,000 tax agents with a staff 

of 150, achieved what the ATO 

couldn’t and brought the PwC 

affair into the light is a saga 

full of unexpected turns.’ 

The AFR reported on June 

7 that the TPB endured a 

meeting with a very angry 

tax commissioner, concerned 

that their investigation may 

damage confidential ATO 

settlements: ‘An infuriated 

Mr Jordan and Mr Hirschhorn 

attended a TPB board meeting 

to argue forcefully that its 

investigators had broken the 

law in accessing these files. 

When it became clear that 

this was, in fact, legal under 

the law, they complained that 

the TPB should have notified 

the ATO about what it was 

doing; that the investigators 

did not need the confidential 

settlements; and that the 

notices to produce might 

disrupt ongoing audits… TPB 

members were shaken by the 

meeting, which triggered a 

rift within the board, some 

of those present said. The 

Tax Office argued that the 

TPB should confine itself to 

small accounting firms and 

sole practitioners rather than 

big four firms, a position 

supported by some board 

members.’ 

To stay with our theme, 

let’s check the pedigree of 

the people referred to in the 

above paragraph: I mentioned 

ATO Commissioner Chris 


Jordan earlier as being ex- 

KPMG, Second Commissioner 

Jeremy Hirschhorn is ex- 

KPMG (and according to The 

Australian on June 21, his wife 

is ex-KPMG and a tax barrister 

regularly providing services 

to the ATO, all appropriately 

disclosed and managed), the 

chair of the TPB is a former 

KPMG tax partner and two of 

six board members of the TPB 

are ex-PwC. 

The statement in the 

paragraph attributed to the 

Tax Office that ‘The TPB 

should confine itself to small 

accounting firms and sole 

practitioners rather than big 

four firms...’ is one of those 

rare glimpses we get into 

the thinking and mindset of 

senior bureaucrats who are 

inculcated with the mindset 

that you don’t get sacked for 

recommending IBM and that 

there is one rule for them and 

another rule for the rest of us. 

Whether PwC ultimately 

survive this crisis will be a 

test of their wills and wallets 

against everyone lined up 

against them – the media, 

state and federal governments, 

their own staff, angry clients, 

competitors. Whether a 

transgression made in a little 

place called Canberra could 

have a global impact, possibly 

to the level that Enron had on 

Arthur Anderson, remains to 

be seen. 

If they do survive, I’m sure 

that many in the business 

community will be left 

wondering for a long time 

how smart these guys really 

are that mispriced the risk of 

losing hundreds of millions 

of dollars in annual ongoing 

revenue for an outcome that 

returned them $2.5 million in 

fees over four years? 

Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is 

a Director of GHR Accounting 

Group Pty Ltd, Certified Practising 

Accountants. Office: Suite 12, 

Ground Floor, 20 Bungan Street 

Mona Vale NSW. 

Phone: 02 9979-4300. 

Web: ghr.com.au and altre.com.au 

Email: brian@ghr.com.au 

These comments are general 

advice only and are not intended as 

a substitute for professional advice. 

This article is not an offer or 

recommendation of any securities 

or other financial products offered 

by any company or person. 


Business Life

Business Life: Law 

with Jennifer Harris 


Insurance contracts: ‘Acts of 

God’ and estimation of risk 

It is a sad and cruel 

occurrence to the hopes 

and dreams of those who 

suffer as a consequence 

of fires and floods, in this 

country, and in nations 

around Southern Asia 

who have been victims of 

tsunamis. This was and is 

incomprehensible. 

In discussions about these 

events some religious leaders 

have commented on such 

matters as an ‘Act of God’, 

or vis major. While this may 

be the subject of theological 

debate it is also a matter for 

insurance lawyers. 

An ‘Act of God’ is a 

concept of an event 

happening independently 

of human volition, which 

foresight and care could not 

reasonably anticipate, or 

at least could not prevent 

or avoid. An earthquake 

and its consequences or 

an extraordinary storm are 

examples of the concept. 

An insurer usually 

specifically excludes such 

occurrences from the risk that 

it carries. 

Insurance is expressed by 

a contract where one party 

undertakes in return for 

payment of a premium to pay 

the insured a sum of money in 

the event of the happening of 

a or one of various uncertain 

events. 

Insurance was originally 

developed as a means of 

spreading the risk among 

maritime traders and was 

known in ancient Greece. 

It further evolved in the 

commercial cities of Italy 

in the 14th century and in 

England in the Admiralty 

Courts in the 16th century. 

Contracts for fire insurance 

were developed after the Great 

Fire of London and Lloyds 

of London later reorganised 

a group of underwriters 

accepting marine risk. 

In 1752, Benjamin Franklin 

organised a group of 

American underwriters. 

Since that time the market 

for insurance has greatly 

developed and most readers 

would be familiar with vehicle, 

home and contents insurance 

and many will have life and 

income protection insurance. 

The main classes of 

insurance are life and other 

personal insurance in which 

a sum becomes payable on 

death, injury or illness and 

liability insurance when the 

sum becomes payable when 

legal liability is incurred 

for personal injuries or 

professional negligence to 

another. Particular policies 

may insure against specialised 

forms of life insurance; for 

example, some barristers 

insure against loss of their 

voice or a concert pianist 

against damage to their hands. 

To be eligible for insurance 

the assured must have an 

insurable interest; that is he 

owns the house he wishes 

to insure and should it have 

burnt down he will have 

suffered financial loss. If after 

investigation it is clear that the 



fire was caused by accidental 

means the pecuniary loss 

detrimental to the assured is 

paid by the insurer. 

Insurance contracts known 

as the policy which sets out 

the terms and conditions 

on which money is payable 

are regulated by federal 

legislation and common law. 

All insurance policies have 

a fundamental premise – the 

duty of utmost good faith. The 

Insurance Contracts Act 1984 

writes into every insurance 

contract a statutory obligation 

on both parties to act with the 

utmost good faith. 

The Contract sets out the 

responsibilities of the parties 

and of particular importance 

for the insured is the duty of 

disclosure in completing the 

proposal form. This enables 

the insurer to estimate the 

risk. 

At the same time the insurer 

must inform the applicant of 

any exclusion clauses which 

limit the insurer’s liability. 

For example, if the driver 

fails a test which shows 

he has an excessive blood 

alcohol content or if injury 

and damage is caused by a 

terrorist attack. 

The duties of good faith 

and disclosure by both parties 

continue during the insured 

period and on renewal of the 

policy. Circumstances may 

change which may affect the 

risk for example your car may 

now be driven by your son and 

daughter who are under the 

age of 25 years. 

Having obtained a contract 

of insurance you should keep 

the policy document in a safe 

place where you can easily 

locate it if required. 

If you need to claim against 

the policy, notify the insurer 

promptly and supply as much 

information as possible. 

If you encounter difficulties 

in making your claim there are 

avenues of dispute resolution. 

The two main schemes are, 

Insurance Enquiries and 

Complaints – for general 

insurance companies and the 

Financial Industry Complaints 

Service, for life insurance 

companies and their agents. 

Insurance claims and 

disputes can be very complex 

as those dealing with the 

aftermath of any one of these 

events will attest. Readers if in 

doubt about a claim it is wise 

to seek professional advice. 

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. 

BATHROOMS 

Northern Beaches Bathrooms 

Call 0475 147 375 

Specialists at complete bathroom 

renovations, mains and ensuites. Prompt, 

reliable. High-quality work. Free quotes. 

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. Lic No. 362901C 

CARPENTRY 

Able Carpentry & Joinery 

Call Cameron 0418 608 398 

Doors & locks, timber gates & handrails, decking 

repairs and timber replacement. Also privacy 

screens. 25 years’ experience. Lic: 7031C. 

Pepper Carpentry 

Call Shane 0406 403 032 

Honest, professional, hard-working; servicing the 

Northern Beaches and surrounding areas. All Carpentry 

and maintenance; decks, pergola, doors, timber floors, 

extensions. carports, stairs, fences, flat packs, joinery. 

Lic No 245509C 

CARS WANTED 

AAA Absolutely Unwanted 

Call Mike 0414 423 200 

All cars, vans, utes and trucks removed free; 

cash up to $30,000. Same-day removal all 

suburbs. 

CLEANING 

Amazing Clean 

Call Andrew 0412 475 2871 

Specialists in blinds, curtains and awnings. 

Clean, repair, supply new. 

All NB Pressure Clean 

Call 0416 215 095 

Driveways, paths, garden walls, awnings, 

house wash. 

CONCRETING 

Adrians Concrete 

Call Adrian 0404 172 435 

Driveways, paths, slabs… all your concreting 

needs; Northern Beaches-based. 

Northern Beaches Concreting 

Call Tony 0417 640 546 

Specialising in driveways; quality work, 

council compliant. FREE quotes. Servicing 

the beaches for 14+ years. 

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; Narrabeenbased. 

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. 

Melaleuca Landscapes 

Call Sandy 0416 276 066 

Professional design and construction 

for every garden situation. Sustainable 

vegetable gardens and waterfront 

specialist. 

Precision Tree Services 

Call Adam 0410 736 105 

Adam Bridger; professional tree care by 

qualified arborists and tree surgeons. 

GUTTERS & ROOFING 

Cloud9 R&G 

Call Tommy 0447 999 929 

Prompt and reliable service; gutter cleaning 

and installation, leak detection, roof 

installation and painting. Also roof repairs 

specialist. 

Fellofix Roofing 

Call Joe 0434 444 252 

All aspects of roof repairs & restoration. 

Fully insured; Honesty & quality the priority. 

Free quote. 






Ken Wilson Roofing 

Call 0419 466 783 

Leaking roofs, tile repairs, tiles replaced, 

metal roof repairs, gutter cleaning, valley 

irons replaced. 

HANDYMEN 

Local Handyman 

Call Jono 0413 313299 

Small and medium-sized building jobs, also 

welding & metalwork; licensed. 

JEWELLER 

Gold ‘n’ Things 

Call 9999 4991 

Specialists in remodelling. On-premises 

(Mona Vale) workshop for cleaning, repairing 

(including laser welding), polishing. Family 

owned for nearly 40 years. 

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. 

Studio Pilates Avalon 

Call 0478 827 080 

No memberships, no lock-in contracts. Get 

started with 6 classes for $60 (new clients only). 

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 

Total Pipe Relining 

Call Josh 0423 600 455 

Repair pipe problems without replacement. 

Drain systems fully relined; 50 years’ 

guaranty. Latest technology, best price. 

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. 

One 2 Dump 

Call Josh 0450 712 779 

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

general household rubbish, construction, 

commercial plus vegetation. Also car 

removals. 

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. 

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 

Coast program has many activities 

available (8) 

30 Movie complex that operates in 

Warringah Mall (5) 

Pittwater Puzzler 

ACROSS 

1 Knucklebones or plastic imitations 

used in a children’s game (5) 

4 People who send masses of 

unwanted emails (8) 

10 Non-woody vegetation (7) 

11 One of the Central Coast stops 

made by Palm Beach ferry services (7) 

12 Becomes more communicative 

(5,2) 

13 As far as something can go (5) 

16 Very popular songs on the charts 

(4) 

17 Park located on the western side 

of Newport, across from Newport 

Public School (9) 

20 Travelled across or passed over 

(9) 

21 Small slender gull having narrow 

wings and a forked tail (4) 

23 Eagerness or longing for more 

than one’s share (5) 

24 Series of vertical lines printed 

on products to provide price and 

inventory information (3,4) 

26 Home of the final of the World 

Food Championships (7) 

28 Sprouted lucerne seeds, used as 

a salad vegetable (7) 

29 Time when the Kids on the 

DOWN 

1 Mona Vale resident who recently 

took out the World Food Champion 

title, ____ McFadden (4) 

2 Community event held in Avalon 

where unwanted items can be sold 

(3,4,4) 

3 The bottom of the ocean (6) 

5 Type of ice-skating rink located 

on the ground floor undercover 

carpark of the Pittwater RSL Club in 

the first half of July (3-2) 

6 Australia’s team who will be 

competing in the 2023 Women’s 

World Cup (8) 

7 The longest division of geological 

time (3) 

8 Breaking into small pieces (10) 

9 Internet locations like 

pittwaterlife.com.au (8) 

14 Author of Fled (2019), based on 

the escape of First Fleet convict 

Mary Bryant, and of The Wreck 

(2020) (3,8) 

15 A static picture taken by a 

camera (10) 

18 An elected local government 

representative having powers 

varying according to locality (8) 

19 A flow of air that blows directly 

against the direction of travel (8) 

22 The fibrous interior of the fruit 

of the dishcloth gourd, which is 

dried, bleached, and used as a bath 

sponge or for scrubbing (6) 

24 Stalwart Channel Nine veteran 

who will be bowing out after 

45 years on the cutting edge of 

journalism, _____ Halls (5) 

25 Long-time Palm Beach Golf Club 

playing group, ____ Army (4) 

27 Snakelike fish (3) 

[Solution page 72] 



Food Life 

with Janelle Bloom 


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

Keep your eyes on the pies! 

Perfect pastry treats to make 

It’s true we are blessed to have some great pie shops here on 

the upper Northern Beaches – but there’s something about a 

home-made pie that is always a treat and so rewarding. A hot 

pie taken straight from the oven to the table is a guarantee that 

everyone will eat dinner (and probably want seconds). I have 

added plenty of tips throughout, as I know pastry can put some 

people off. These recipes come from my handwritten book of alltime 

favs, so I know they will warm your heart… and belly! Enjoy! 

The hot water pastry for 

these pies is quick, easy and 

so delicious – and doesn’t 

require ‘blind’ baking! You 

can use this mixture to make 

1 larger pie (4-5 cup pie tin); 

it will take about 60 – 75 

minutes to bake. 

Chicken, mushroom 

and bacon pies 

(Makes 6) 

1 tbs olive oil 

750g chicken thigh fillets, 

trimmed, chopped 

4 rindless bacon rashers, 

coarsely chopped 

250g button or cup 

mushrooms, sliced 

1 leek, quartered lengthways, 

washed, chopped 

50g butter 

3 tbs plain flour 

2 cups chicken stock 

¼ cup sour cream 

1 tbs Dijon mustard 

Hot water pastry 

3 cups (450g) plain flour 

1 tsp sea salt flakes 

2 egg yolks + 1 egg 

100g lard, chopped 

25g butter, chopped 

1 cup water 

1. Heat half the oil in a frying 

pan over medium heat. 

Add half the chicken. Cook, 

stirring occasionally, for 5 

minutes or until brown all 

over. Transfer to a bowl. 

Repeat with remaining oil 

and chicken. 

2. Add the bacon, mushrooms 

and leek to the pan. Cook, 

stirring until the mushrooms 

soften. Add to the chicken. 

3. Melt the butter in the pan 

over medium heat. Add 

the flour. Cook, stirring 

for 2 minutes. Slowly add 

the chicken stock, whisking 

until smooth. Bring to the 

boil, whisking until the 

sauce thickens and comes 

to the boil. Boil gently for 2 

minutes. Remove from heat. 

Whisk in the sour cream 

and mustard. Stir in the 

chicken mixture, season. Set 

aside for 30 minutes to cool. 

4. Grease a 6 x ¾-cup capacity 

muffin holes or pie pans. 

5. To make the pastry, sift 

the flour into a bowl. Stir in 

the salt. Make a well in the 

centre. Add 2 egg yolks. 

Cover with a little flour. 

6. Place the lard, butter and 

water into a saucepan. Bring 

to the boil. Pour (while 

hot) into the flour. Stirring 

quickly until well combined. 

Turn onto a lightly floured 

surface. Knead until the 

base is smooth. Cut onethird 

of the pastry off. Shape 

both pieces in rounds, 

flatten slightly (this helps 

when rolling out). Wrap in 

greaseproof paper. Set aside 

for 15 minutes. 

7. Place a large flat oven tray 

into the oven to get hot. 

Preheat oven and tray to 

200°C. Roll the larger piece 

of pastry between 2 sheets 

of baking paper to 4mm 

thick. Cut 6 x 16cm circles 

from pastry. Use to line the 

base and sides of the muffin 

holes. Roll remaining pastry 

out to 5mm thick. Cut 6 x 

7cm rounds. 

8. Beat remaining egg. Spoon 

the chicken mixture into 

pastry. Brush edges lightly 

with egg. Place the lids on 

top. Roll the pastry edges 

over the top to meet the 

pastry. Brush pies with egg. 

Poke a small circle into top 

of each pie (to allow steam 

to escape, preventing soggy 

pastry). Place onto the hot 

tray. Bake for 45-50 minutes, 

or until the pastry is golden. 

Stand for 5 minutes. Remove 

from pan and serve. 

Janelle’s Tip: To measure the 

capacity of your tins, pour ¾ 

cup (180ml) water into a jug. 

Pour the water into the muffin 

hole or pie tin, it should come 

to the top. 

These pies were made using 

a pie maker; if you don’t 

have a pie maker, follow the 

recipe using pie tins or ¾ cup 

capacity muffin holes. Cook 

for 30 minutes at 180C. It 

will make 8 or 9. The filling is 

best made the day ahead. 

Massaman beef pie 

maker pies 

(Makes 12) 

4 sheets frozen puff pastry, 

thawed 

4 sheets shortcrust pastry, 

thawed 

1 egg, lightly beaten 

Massaman beef 


1kg beef chuck steak, trimmed, 

cut into 2-3cm pieces 

1 brown onions, finely 

chopped 

2 tbs desiccated coconut 

3 tbs Massaman curry paste 

1 cup (250ml) coconut milk 

1 medium sweet potato, 

peeled, cut into 1cm pieces 

1 tbs finely grated palm sugar 

(or brown sugar) 

1 tbs fish sauce 

2 tsp lemon juice 

1. For the Massaman beef, 

heat 2 teaspoons of the oil 



in an ovenproof casserole 

dish (cast iron gives best 

result) over a high heat. Add 

half the beef. Cook, stirring 

occasionally, for about 2 

minutes, or until browned. 

Remove to a plate, repeat 

with oil and beef. 

2. Reduce the heat to medium, 

add the remaining oil to the 

pan with the onion. Cook, 

stirring until soft. Add 

coconut and curry paste. 

Cook, stirring for 2 minutes 

until fragrant. Return beef to 

pan, stir to coat in the curry 

mixture. Stir in the coconut 

milk and bring to a simmer. 

Press a piece baking paper 

right down onto the surface 

of the casserole (this keeps 

the beef below the sauce. 

Cover with the lid. Cook in a 

slow oven (130°C fan forced) 

for 2 hours. Stir in the sweet 

potato, press the paper back 

onto the surface. Cook for a 

further 1 hour. Combine the 

sugar, fish sauce and lemon 

juice, stir into the beef curry. 

Set aside to cool. 

3. Cut 12 x 11cm rounds from 

the shortcrust pastry and 12 

small 9.5cm rounds from the 

puff. Place on a tray, cover to 

prevent drying out. 

4. Place 4 puff pastry rounds 

into the pie maker holes. 

Spoon about 1/3 cup curry 

into each pastry case. Top 

with puff pastry rounds, use 

a fork the press the edges 

together to seal. Brush the 

tops with egg. Cut a little 

cross in the centre. Close the 

pie maker lid and cook for 

about 10-12 minutes until 

the pastry is golden. Repeat 

in batches to make the 

remaining pies. 

I made a version of this on 

the latest season of ‘The 

Cook Up with Adam Liaw’ – it 

was a winner! 

Greek lamb filo pie 

(Serves 6) 


1 large brown onion, finely 

chopped 

2 garlic cloves, crushed 

2 tsp ground cumin 

2 ground coriander 

1 tsp sumac 

700g lamb mince 

100g grilled marinated 

eggplant, chopped 

100g roasted red capsicum in 

oil, chopped 


2 tbs pine nuts, toasted 

1 lemon, rind finely grated 

3 tbs chopped flat leaf parsley 

16 sheets filo pastry (see tip) 

olive oil, cooking spray 

tzatziki, to serve 


into the oven to get hot. 

Preheat oven to 180°C fan 

forced. Grease a 4cm-deep, 

20cm x 28cm metal slab 

pan or baking dish. 

2. Heat the oil in a large frying 

pan over medium heat. Add 

the onion and garlic, cook 

until soft. Add the spices, 

cook for 4 minutes until 

fragrant. Increase the heat 

to high, add the lamb mince. 

Cook, stirring to break the 

mince up for 8-10 minutes 

until the mince is cooked 

through. Remove from the 

heat, 

3. Stir in the eggplant, 

capsicum, pine nuts, lemon 

rind and parsley. Season 

well. Set aside for 30 

minutes to cool to room 

temperature. Alternatively 

place in the fridge until cold. 

4. Place the filo on a clean 

work surface. Cover with a 

damp tea towel to prevent 

it from drying out. Spray 1 

filo sheet with oil. Top with 

another filo sheet. Spray 

with oil. Repeat layering 

until you have a stack of 8 

filo sheets. Place the filo 

stack over base of prepared 

dish, allowing pastry to 

overhang at short ends. 

5. Spoon mince filling evenly 

over the filo. Spray 1 

remaining sheet of filo 

with oil. Top with another 

filo sheet. Spray with oil. 

Repeat layering with the 

remaining filo sheets. Cut 

the stack into 6 rectangles, 

then each rectangle in half 

on the diagonal. Place the 

filo triangle stacks over 

For more recipes go to janellebloom.com.au 

the mince in pan. Fold in 

the overhanging filo so the 

filling is covered. Spray with 

oil. Place onto the hot tray. 

Bake for 50-60 minutes 

or until golden and crisp. 

Serve warm or at room 

temperature with tzatziki. 

Janelle’s Tip: Antoniou Filo 

Pastry (Fresh found in the 

fridge near pizza and pasta, 

NOT frozen, is by far the best 

Filo to work with). 

Salmon pie 

(Serves 6-8) 

3 x 500g skinless 

salmon portions 


1 brown onion, finely chopped 

2 zucchini, grated 

1½ cups cooked long-grain 

rice, cooled 

3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled, 

finely chopped 

2 tbs chopped flat leaf parsley 

¼ cup sour cream or crème 

fraiche 

1 tbs horseradish cream 


thawed 

extra 1 egg, lightly beaten 

1. Preheat oven to 180°C fan 

forced. Place the salmon, 

in a single layer on a large 

sheet baking paper. Season. 

Top with another sheet 

paper and roll the edges 

together to seal in a parcel. 

Place onto an oven tray. Bake 

for 8 minutes, it should still 

be a little pink in the centre. 

Unwrap and set the salmon 

aside to cool. 

2. Heat the oil in a frying pan on 

medium heat. Add the onion, 

cook stirring for 5 minutes 

until soft. Add the zucchini, 

cook for 1 minute. Transfer 

the mixture to a large bowl. 

Cool for 10 minutes then 

stir in the rice, eggs, parsley, 

sour cream and horseradish 

cream. Season. 

3. Increase oven to 200°C fan 

forced. Place a large flat 

oven tray into the oven to 

get hot. 

4. Lay 2 sheets of puff pastry 

together, overlapping by 

6cm on a large sheet of 

baking paper. Pile the rice 

mixture over the pastry, 

leaving a 5cm border free 

around all edges. Break the 

salmon into chunks and 

place over the rice. 

5. Overlap the 2 remaining 

sheets of pastry and place 

over top of filling. Press 

pastry around edge of 

filling, trim any excess 

pastry. Use a fork to press 

pastry edges together. Score 

the top of the pie diagonally, 

brush with the beaten egg. 

6. Using the paper, slide the 

pie onto the hot tray. Bake 

for 45-50 minutes until 

golden and puffed. Serve 

with horseradish mixed with 

crème fraiche or sour cream. 

Janelle’s Tip: Placing a tray 

into the oven to get hot helps 

crispen the pastry base. 

The hot tray transfers heat 

to the base of the pie tins/ 

tray immediately, starting the 

cooking process before the 

butter melts. 


Food Life



Cheesy 

vegetable pie 

(Serves 4-6) 

1 red onion, roughly chopped 

2 zucchini, halved lengthways, 

chopped 

100g button mushrooms sliced 

1 eggplant, cut into 2cm cubes 

2 red capsicums, roughly 

chopped 

1 medium (500g) sweet potato, 

peeled, cut into 2cm cubes 


450g packet cooked brown rice 

2 tsp ground cumin 

1 tsp ground coriander 

1 tsp paprika 

4 silverbeet leaves, core 

removed, shredded 

2 eggs, lightly beaten + extra 

egg lightly beaten 

1 cup grated tasty cheese 

125g feta, crumbled 

2 sheets shortcrust pastry, 

thawed 


thawed 

1. Preheat oven to 180°C fan 

forced. Line 2 large baking 

trays with baking paper. 

Scatter the onion, zucchini 

mushrooms and eggplant on 

1 tray and the capsicum and 

sweet potato on the other. 

Drizzle with olive oil, season. 

Roast for 30 minutes or 

until just tender, turning the 

vegetables after 20 minutes. 

Set aside to cool. 

2. Warm the rice for 30 

seconds then spoon into a 

large bowl. Stir in the spices, 

silverbeet, 2 eggs, cheese 

and feta. Fold through the 

roasted vegetables. Season. 


into oven. Preheat oven and 

tray to 200°C fan forced. 

Grease and line a 22cm 

(base) pie tin or loose-based 

springform cake pan. 

4. Use the shortcrust pastry 

to line the base and sides 

of the pan. Spoon the 

vegetable mixture into 

pastry. Brush the edges with 

water. Use the puff pastry to 

cover the filling. Press the 

edges together then trim 

the excess. Cut leaf shapes 

out of the puff (you can use 

these to decorate the top). 

Brush with the remaining 

egg. Place the pie onto the 

hot tray. Bake for 35-40 

minutes or until golden. 

Stand for 10 minutes before 

serving. 

Pecan Pie 

(Serves 6-8) 

50g butter, chopped 

2/3 cup firmly packed brown 

sugar 

2/3 cup(160ml) golden syrup 

or dark corn syrup (see tip) 

3 eggs, lightly beaten 

2 tsp vanilla extract 

2 cups(250g) pecan halves 

cream or ice cream, to serve 

Pastry 

1 1/3 cups(200g) plain flour 

2 tbs caster sugar 

125g chilled butter, chopped 

1 egg yolk 

1 tbs chilled water 

1. To make pastry, place 

flour and sugar in a food 

processor. Add butter, 

pulse until it resembles fine 

breadcrumbs. Combine 

the egg yolk and water then 

add to the flour mixture. 

Pulse until the pastry just 

comes together, adding 

water if necessary. 

2. Turn onto a lightly floured 

surface, knead gently 

until smooth. Shape into a 

round then flatten to thick 

disc (easier to roll). Wrap 

in greaseproof paper (not 

plastic). Refrigerate 30 mins. 

3. Roll the pastry out between 

two sheets baking paper 

to a 30cm diameter round. 

Use the pastry to line a 4cm 

deep, 22cm (base) loose 

base fluted tart tin. Trim 

excess pastry. Refrigerate 15 

mins. Place a large flat tray 

into oven. Preheat the oven 

and tray to 200°C fan forced. 

4. Line pastry with baking 

paper, half fill with dried 

rice, dried beans or pastry 

weights. Bake for 20 minutes 

or until light golden. Remove 

beans and paper. Reduce 

oven to 170°C fan forced. 

5. To make the filling, place the 

butter, sugar and Golden 

Syrup in a saucepan over 

medium-low heat. Cook, 

stirring, until butter melts 

and mixture is smooth. 

Remove to a bowl. Set aside 

to cool for 5 mins. Whisk 

in the eggs and vanilla. 

Scatter pecans over pastry 

base. Pour over Golden 

Syrup mixture. Place onto 

the hot oven tray. Bake for 

30-35 mins or until filling is 

firm. Cool in the pan. 

6. Cut into wedges and serve. 

Pick of the Month: 

Kiwi Fruit 

With as much potassium as a banana and more Vitamin 

C than an orange, kiwi fruit is healthy, delicious and 

versatile. (This month look out for the new gold and pink 

varieties.) 

Buying: 

Ripe kiwi fruit should be firm, 

but not hard. They should 

have a sweet floral aroma. The 

skin should be unbroken and 

the kiwi should give slightly 

to gentle pressure at stem end. 

Avoid soft kiwi. 

Storage: 

Refrigerate unpeeled, ripe fruit 

loose in crisper drawer for 3-5 

days. To ripen, leave at room 

temperature for 2-3 days or 

until it gives to gentle pressure. 

Tip: 

To speed up ripening, place 

in a loosely sealed paper bag 

with an apple, banana, or pear 

and keep at room temperature 

until ripe. 

the ends off first, then turn 

the kiwi upright and use the 

sharp knife or vegetable peeler 

to cut off the skin in long 

strips, following the curve of 

the fruit. 

Kiwi fruit, lime jam 

(Makes around 3 cups) 

1 green apple, peeled, grated 

3 limes, juiced 

1½ cups caster sugar 

2 tsp vanilla extract 

1. Peel and roughly chop the 

kiwi fruit. Place in a deep 

wide non-stick frying pan 

with the apple and lime 

juice. Bring to simmer over 

medium-high heat. Add the 

sugar and vanilla, stir until 

the sugar has dissolved. 

2. Bring to a gentle boil, boil 

for about 12-15 minutes, 

stirring occasionally until a 

jam-like consistency. 

3. Spoon hot jam into hot 

sterilised jars. Secure the 

lids. Turn upside down 

for 2 minutes then turn 

upright and allow to cool 

completely. 

4. Store in the fridge for up to 

2 months. 

Preparation: 

Although the skin is edible, 

most of us prefer to peel it. Cut 1kg kiwifruit 



Tasty Morsels 

with Beverley Hudec 

Some Tiny Morsels to savour in July 

Lunch now on menu 

at Palmy's Coast 

Shanil Singh has stepped away from 

the corporate world to take over Coast 

at Palm Beach. He has no plans to 

change the menu, but there will be 

more of a lunch focus, complete with a 

glass of vino. The cafe’s most popular 

dish is the fish burger with grilled 

barramundi, tartare sauce and fries. 

Open daily. 

Berkelo favourites 

heading to Market 

Artisan bakery Berkelo has closed 

the doors on its Mona Vale store. 

However, fans of its signature 

sourdough loaf and other baked 

goodies can still buy them without 

having to drive to Brookvale, Manly 

or Mosman. Go to Narrabeen, where 

Berkelo has a stall at the Friday 

morning markets in Rat Park. 

Locals grow 

frond of Palms 

The Palms, the stylish 

Terrey Hills restaurant with 

a conservatory-like feel, 

is open for dinner from 

Thursday to Sunday night. 

The menu showcases 

topped flatbreads straight 

from the wood oven and 

desserts in jars. Mains 

focus on simple faves like 

flathead and chips and 

sirloin with kipfler potatoes 

and black garlic butter. 

Avalon's new Pocket 

of pizza paradise 

Hello Gordon Hamsey, Anthony Bolognessy 

and Lamborghini! Pocket Pizza 

is bringing its pun-loaded pizzas to 

Avalon. The popular Manly pizzeria will 

move into Leonardo’s site in Simmonds 

Lane. Pocket Pizza’s formula of 

antipasto, pizza, cocktails and beers is 

straight out of Little Italy in NYC. 

Tasty Dining Morsels Guide 

Three of a kind: Sunday lunch 

Sunday isn’t Sunday without 

a traditional Sunday lunch. 

Clareville Kiosk’s menu has 

pork, crackling and apple 

sauce, slow-cooked lamb 

shoulder with mint sauce or 

tenderloin with horseradish. 

Mains (pictured) come with 

Yorkshire pudding, roast 

potatoes, plenty of veg and 

gravy. The first sitting is at 

noon; the second at 2.30pm. 


Will it be roast beef, pork loin 

with crackling or chicken? 

Avalon’s Yorkshire Rose has 

all three. They all come with 

all the trimmings – roast 

spuds, Yorkshire pudding, 

peas, carrots and gravy. Save 

room for an old-fashioned 

pudding. Apple crumble 

comes with custard and sticky 

date pudding has toffee sauce 

and ice cream. 

For a hearty taste of European 

cooking, Terrey Hills is your 

Sunday lunch spot. The 

Kaiser Stub’n authentic 

German and Austrian menu 

delivers a selection of 

chef’s specials. The houseroasted 

pork knuckle comes 

with sauerkraut and bread 

dumpling. Roast duck cuts the 

richness with red cabbage and 

pear potatoes. 


Garden Life 

with Gabrielle Bryant 


Dwarf acacia will hog 

the Summer Limelight 

It is cold and miserable 

in the garden, but as 

soon as the weather 

warms up, nothing can be 

more encouraging than 

the sight of the golden 

wattles that will appear 

lighting up the bush, 

heralding the coming of 

Spring… the golden and 

creamy fluffy pompoms of 

colour dressing the leaves. 

There are wattles of 

every size and shape: 

those that cascade 

down banks or tumble 

over walls; those that 

are small-growing trees 

or shrubs; or the tall 

growing tree, the silver 

wattle that can grow to a 

height of 30m. 

Before you plant, check the mature 

height of the variety you choose. 

The dwarf Acacia 

Limelight is one of the 

most popular garden 

varieties. The compact, 

bright green foliage grows 

in a tight compact ball. In 

the garden it will grow to a 

height of just 1m. 

Acacia Limelight has 

light-green, soft, falling 

foliage that enhances 

rockeries, fills garden 

beds and will grow in 

pots and tubs. 

Wattles are wonderful 

for informal gardens 

but if you want a formal 

garden there can be 

no better plant than a 

grafted standard Acacia 

Limelight in tubs or pots 

that will complement formal driveways and 

modern entrances, townhouse gardens and 

driveways. 

Wonderland of Winter colour 

T 

here is no excuse for a dull and dreary Winter garden. 

Take a look around at all the Winter-flowering shrubs 

and plants. 

Camellias and azaleas may be old fashioned, but 

they are the most reliable Winter-flowering plants. Their 

flowers range in colour from pure white to the darkest 

red; some are single and others are double. Underplant 

them with hellebores, polyanthus or primulas. 

Fill empty spots with Winter-flowering pansies, or the 

cheerful violas of yellow, lilac, burgundy or white. 

Scarlet geraniums, purple salvia, tall pink cane 

begonias, multi-coloured Chinese lanterns, red 

poinsettias, bird-attracting grevilleas, yellow and pink 

leucodendrons and highly scented daphne all add colour. 

True blue 

Butterfly kisses 

The family of clerodendrums that 

are at home in South-East Asia is 

very diverse. Most are climbers, but 

there are also ramblers and shrubs. 

Butterfly kisses (clerodendron 

ugandense) is a fast-growing, 

sprawling shrub from that will grow 

easily in most conditions. The sky 

blue, nectar-laden butterfly flowers, 

that appear in loose cascading 

panicles that grow from the arching 

branches from Spring through 

Summer to Autumn, are loved by 

insects, bees and birds alike. It can 

reach a height of 2-3 metres. 

Butterfly bushes love a sheltered, 

well-drained position, any garden 

soil, sunshine or semi-shade and 

regular water. 

It is great as a shrub in a mixed 

bed with other plants, or it can be 

grown on its own as a hedging plant 

or in a pot. If necessary, lightly 

prune after flowering to keep your 

butterfly bush neat and tidy. 



Divide and conquer your Summer bulbs 

If your Summer-flowering 

bulbs have been growing 

in the garden for several 

years, it is a good idea 

to lift and divide them to 

prevent overcrowding; it is 

not too late to do this but 

make sure you do it before 

the end of the month. 

Always leave bulbs 

in the ground until the 

leaves disappear. The 

dying leaves are feeding 

your bulbs for next year’s 

flowers. Once the foliage 

has died down, dig a 

trench carefully around 

the bulbs, making sure 

to leave a space at least 

7-8cm away from the 

edge of the bulb or clump, 

to prevent damage to 

developing ‘babies’. 

With your hands, 

carefully lift the bulbs from 

the soil, pulling them away 

from the ground. Separate 

the side bulbs from the 

mother bulb by gently 

wriggling them apart. 

Tough like a White tiger 

The ornamental 

cream-and-greenstriped 

foliage of 

Dietes White Tiger is 

one of the toughest, 

landscape plants 

available. White 

Tiger will withstand 

temperatures from 

light frost (once 

established) to the 

hottest days of 

Summer. There are not 

many plants that will 

do this. 

These strong hardy 

plants will survive in 

salty condition in full 

sun or semi-shade. The 

striking, strappy leaves 

add colour and accent 

to gardens. They 

grow in tight clumps, 

making them perfect 

for pots that won’t mind if you go on holiday, small gardens and 

courtyards, for planting along fence lines or planting in mass 

plantings in landscape design. 

No matter what the situation these very decorative plants will 

adapt to your needs; they ask for very little attention but would 

appreciate some slow-release fertiliser in Spring. For an added 

bonus they will dazzle you with flowers in Spring and spot 

flower in Summer and Autumn as well with white and lilac iris 

flowers. 


Before replanting 

them make sure to leave 

adequate space between 

them. Rejuvenate the soil 

with the addition of some 

slow-release fertiliser and 

compost. A quick tip is 

to mark the bulbs with a 

small stake or marker, so 

that you will know where 

they are planted when the 

leaves disappear. 

There are still Summerflowering 

bulbs available 

in the garden centres; 

why not try a new variety? 

Gladioli were for many 

years considered ‘Grandma 

Plants’ thanks to Dame 

Edna Everidge, but now 

they are back in fashion. 

The tall growing ones are 

harder to grow and often 

need TLC and garden 

stakes for support, but the 

dwarf Cottage Gladioli are 

very easy, drought-hardy, 

and will reliably create a 

wonderful display of colour 

in early Summer. 


Garden Life


Jobs this Month 

July 


Time now to prune and 

tidy the garden. Prune 

back roses, cut back 

any weak or twiggy growth. 

Always prune back to an 

outward-pointing shoot, 

keeping the centre of the 

bush open. Spray the bush 

with a copper spray. This will 

clean up any fungal spores 

from the last season and 

strengthen the new growth 

against any sudden drop in 

temperature. 

Watering times 

The past month has been 

dry; it is easy to neglect the 

water in the garden. If the 

ground and pots are dry, 

water in the morning so that 

the plants will get the help of 

the warmer day time hours. 

The nights are very cold 

and wet soil can cause roots 

problems. Make sure that 

plants in pots with saucers 

are not left sitting in water. 

Snail watch 

Orchids are all making flower 

spikes now. Protect them 

from snails that can destroy 

the buds overnight. Use multi 

guard pellets for protection. 

These pellets are fatal for 

snails and slugs but harmless 

to wildlife and birds. 

Vine cull 

Passionfruit vines need to 

be controlled. The fruit is 

only produced on the new 

growth, so cut the vines back 

by 50 per cent to form a solid 

framework. 

Spike turf 

Grass lawns are dormant in 

Winter. Give them some help 

now to get ready for Spring. 

Aerate the turf with a spiked 

roller or a pair of spiked 

sandals before feeding with a 

slow-release lawn food to get 

your grass back to health in 

time for Spring. 

Summer veggies 

It is too cold for Summer 

veggies to be planted in 

the ground, but you can be 

one jump ahead if you sow 

seeds of tomatoes, lettuce, 

broccolini, capsicum, chillies 

and other Summer veggies in 

seed trays now; they will be 

ready to plant out once the 

weather warms up. 

Take stock 

Take a good look at the state 

of your garden. It is a good 

time to lift and divide gingers, 

iris, agapanthus, mondo 

grass, liriope and any other 

perennials or ground covers 

that have outgrown their 

space. 

Support peas 

As your sweet peas begin to 

climb, check that they have a 

strong support to cling to. 

Citrus care 

Citrus trees are beginning to 

shoot; protect their new Spring 

growth. Look out for leaf miner 

that can twist and distort the 

leaves. Control them with a 

fortnightly spay of Eco Oil. 

Prevention is better that cure. 

Crossword solution from page 64 

Mystery location: BROKEN BAY 



Times Past 

‘Dad’s Army’ still teeing it up 

Palm Beach Golf Club will be celebrating 

its centenary in 2024 – but ‘Dad’s 

Army’ have been around for 50 years 

this year. 

It began as a club within a club, made 

up mostly of retired men, united by a love 

of golf but also enjoying each other’s company. 

Over recent years, this company has 

included the all-too-frequent ‘Dad Jokes’ 

with several stand-out contributors! 

Originally the group was formed in 

1973 under the guiding hand of Arthur 

Stockman. However, a younger group 

considered the slower play by the old timers 

was deserving of the title ‘Dad’s Army’ 

and Arthur’s group adopted the name as a 

badge of honour. 

Although some of the ‘Comp only’ golfers 

might poke a little fun at the ‘Army’, 

around 80 per cent of the 60 members are 

also contributing members of the Palm 

Beach Golf Club (PBGC), though this is not 

compulsory. 

The current crop of players includes retired 

doctors, engineers, building supervisors, 

editors, musicians, retailers, mechanics, 

managing directors and tradesmen – a 

OLD SCHOOL: Dad’s Army circa 1973 and in 

1998 (Palm Beach Club historian/author Brian 

Kennedy standing second from right). 

fair cross-section of Australian society! 

One desperate member travels down 

from Nelson Bay each Monday at 5am to 

play golf with Dad’s Army. Another member 

travels by train and bus across Sydney 

from Picnic Point. 

Brian Kennedy, who wrote the 75-years 

history of the PBGC in 1999, has been and 

still is a Dad’s Army devotee since 1996. 

Octogenarians presently number eight; 

this great achievement is celebrated with 

the gift of a bottle of Scotch from the 

‘Army’. Alan Smith backed up his bottle 

with a 2nd when he added a further 10 

years to reach the magic age of 90. 

The standard of golf varies immensely 

and over the years some minor records 

have been captured. One golfer holds the 

‘record’ for the par-3 2nd hole, when it 

took him 25 strokes (22 in the bunker) to 

finally putt out. The ‘Nearest the Pin’ hole 

is named in honour of a previous member 

‘Ned’ Kelly. Some holes-in-one have been 

recorded over the years and the most 

recent was by Mike Brown. 

The first foursome tees off at 9.30am 

and groups follow at seven-minute intervals. 

Carts are used by those unable to 

walk the total par-64, 4,240 metres. 

New members are always welcome and 

further information is available from 

captain Michael Brown or the Secretary/ 

Treasurer Peter Collings (0403 710 789). 

*Thanks to Brian Kennedy for information 

supplied and to Chris Searl for 

the photo taken on 1 May 2023. 

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

Pittwater Life July 2023 Issue

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